Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #20

PAINE:

What do you mean?

SAUNDERS:

Well, when I first came to Washington,

my eyes were big, blue question marks--

now they're big, green dollar marks--

PAINE:

I see. All right. You finish this

job properly--and you get a handsome

bonus besides--

Saunder's face lights up with interest.

PAINE'S VOICE

And by *properly* I mean--stay away

with Smith every minute--keep him

away from anything that smacks of

politics--see that there's no

recurrence of things like these

newspapers--

The scene dissolves to the SENATE LOBBY, an elevator corridor

leading to the Senate chamber. A CLOCK shows 11:45. Then,

Saunders and Jefferson are seen as they emerge from the

elevator and start forward. People crowd the corridor--there

is surging activity--an air of excitement. Jeff, baffled,

looking around, suddenly looks ahead and stops dead.

JEFFERSON:

Saunders! That's it! We're here!

In the SENATE CHAMBER, seen through the entrance doors, people

are seated in and entering galleries; Senators are walking,

standing in groups, talking; some are at their desks.

On the FLOOR OF THE SENATE CHAMBER, a Page is leading

Jefferson to his desk. Jeff is more agape now than before.

All around him are Senators--in groups or seated. Most of

them are at their desks now. The Page brings him a desk, on

a minority side and way at the rear. Heads turn to follow

Jeff curiously.

BOY:

Here you are, Senator. Not a bad

desk, either. Daniel Webster used to

use it.

JEFFERSON:

Daniel Webster? Sat here? Say--that

man was a great orator.

BOY:

Give you something to shoot at,

Senator--if you figure on doing any

talking.

JEFFERSON:

Not me, sonny. I'm just going to sit

around and listen.

(Picking up calendar)

What's this?

BOY:

Calendar for the day. You'll find

the Senate Manual in the drawer.

Anything else you want, just snap

for a page.

JEFFERSON:

Where's the Majority Leader?

BOY:

The Majority Leader? Right over there.

And that's [ ] the Minority

Leader. They're both pretty good in

the clinches.

JEFFERSON:

Uh-huh. And where's the Press Galery?

BOY:

Right up there over the Vice-

President's chair--the four in the

front row represent the four big

news services. You've met the press

bunch, haven't you?

JEFFERSON:

Oh, yes--they're fine people--regular

people.

BOY:

Look out for those fellows--they

tell the truth about you--sometimes.

That corner over there is reserved

for guides and sightseers who come

in for five minutes to rest their

feet. That section over there is

reserved for Senator's friends. The

front row--the empty one--is for the

President and White House guests--

see that old couple over there--

they've attended every session for

the last twenty years. Over the clock

back here is the Diplomatic section.

They and the page boys are the only

real class we have in this place.

The rest are mostly people who come

here like they go to the zoo--

JEFFERSON:

Those busts up there--all around the

wall--who are they, sonny?

BOY:

All the ex-vice-Presidents. You can

get ten-to-one around here if you

think you can remember their names.

The Vice-President presides over the

Senate--you know that. It's how he

earns his pay. Oh--over there, Senator--

on the east side of the Chair we

still have the old snuff boxes with

real snuff in them if you like snuff.

JEFFERSON:

Thanks very much, sonny--

BOY:

I'll take your hat into the cloak

room.

JEFFERSON:

Here--let me give you a Boy Ranger

button.

BOY:

Swell. Thanks very much.

(He takes Jeff's hand)

Good luck, Senator. Keep your left

up.

Jeff, looking up toward the Press Gallery, sees Saunders and

waves to her.

PAINE comes to Jeff.

PAINE:

Hello, Jeff--sorry, I've been on a

committee all morning. Got your

credentials--when the Vice-President

calls you, you go down that center

aisle and I'll meet you there--he's

about ready to come in now, Jeff.

Good luck--

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