Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #27

JEFFERSON:

Yes. Shall we start on it right now--

or order dinner first?

SAUNDERS:

(mouth drops open)

Pardon?

JEFFERSON:

I said--shall we get started *now*

or--

SAUNDERS:

(weakly)

Yes--sure. Why not?

(Then, very tired)

You don't mind if I take the time to

get a pencil?

She turns mechanically and heads for the outer office.

JEFFERSON:

(calling after her--

laughing in high

spirits)

No! Go right ahead, Miss Saunders.

SAUNDERS:

Thanks very much.

JEFFERSON:

And a *lot* of paper!

As Jefferson starts picking up the telegrams and reading

them avidly, Saunders goes out. In the OUTER OFFICE, McGann

jumps up as Saunders goes to her desk to pick up paper and

pencils, which she does mechanically.

SAUNDERS:

I wouldn't wait if I were you.

MCGANN:

What do you mean? What's going on?

SAUNDERS:

The Head Man's writing a Bill.

MCGANN:

A Bill! Not *him*!

Saunders silently gathers pencils and paper. She starts back

toward the Private Office.

MCGANN:

(calling after her)

What does he want to--? What's *he*

doing writing a Bill?

SAUNDERS:

(without stopping--

giving it the Southern

accent again)

Why, he's a Senator, isn't he? I'm

surprised at you, Mister McGann--

(and she passes into

the Private Office)

McGann is a man fit to be tied. Suddenly he lunges for his

hat and starts out quickly into the corridor.

The scene dissolves to the exterior of PAINE'S HOTEL as Paine

and Susan, dressed for the evening--and in the company of

three other people (an elderly gentleman, a second man and a

middle-aged woman), are entering a limousine waiting at the

curb. A newsman, with camera, is running alongside Paine.

NEWSMAN:

Do you mind, Senator? I'd like a

picture.

Paine stops before the limousine, as the others get inside.

The photographer gets set. Before he can snap it, McGann

rushes up.

MCGANN:

(in a breathless

whisper)

Joe--drop everything and come with

me!

PAINE:

What's the matter?

NEWSMAN:

(motioning McGann

aside)

Do you mind?

MCGANN:

(to Paine)

Smith--do you know what he's doing?--

writing Bills!

PAINE:

Yes, I know. I told him to.

(Putting McGann aside)

Pardon me, Charles. We're late to an

Embassy dinner--

The photographer gets his shot, and Chick leaps back to Paine.

MCGANN:

Joe! You *told* him to!

PAINE:

Yes--a camp bill that will never get

beyond a first reading. So calm down,

Chick--and--goodnight.

Paine gets into the limousine--and the door closes.

MCGANN:

Joe! Jim said--*monuments*!

The car pulls out--and McGann is left on the curb.

The scene dissolves to JEFF'S PRIVATE OFFICE at night,

revealing SAUNDERS AND JEFFERSON. Saunders is against one

end of the desk with papers before her; Jefferson, his coat

off, is walking in circles--in the throes of creating his

bill.

(Dinner trays, with empty dinner dishes on them, are in

evidence.)

JEFFERSON:

(in a brown study)

--that's the main idea, Miss Saunders.

The United States Government isn't

going to buy or build this camp--

just lend us the money. You've made

a note of that, huh?

SAUNDERS:

Yes, Senator--*twice*.

JEFFERSON:

(walking circles)

Uh--have you?

(Running his hand

through his hair)

Did you ever have so much to say

about something--you couldn't say

it?

SAUNDERS:

(dryly)

Try sitting down.

JEFFERSON:

I did--and--and I got right up.

SAUNDERS:

Now, let's get down to particulars.

How big is this thing? Where is it

to be? How many boys will it take

care of? If they're going to buy it--

how do they make their contributions?

Your Bill has to have all that in it--

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