Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #3

There is a pause while Joe looks at a newspaper.

TAYLOR:

Joe, that's coming a long way in

twenty years since I met you

practising law down there in Main

Street.

PAINE:

Jim--if what you say about the future

is remotely possible--why not do as

I say--drop things like this dam?

TAYLOR:

We can't drop it now, Joe. We bought

the land around this Dam and we're

holding it in dummy names. If we

drop it or delay it--we are going to

bring about investigations, and

investigations will show that we own

that land and are trying to sell it

to the State under phoney names. No,

Joe, in my judgment the only thing

to do is push this Dam through--and

get it over with.

PAINE:

Well, then appoint Miller--if you're

sure he'll take orders.

TAYLOR:

Don't worry about Horace--he'll take

orders. Come on--

He goes to the door quickly, followed by Paine.

In the GOVERNOR'S PRIVATE OFFICE, as Taylor and Paine barge

in, Happy Hubert throws his hands up.

HUBERT:

Well! Thank Heaven!

The dictagraph buzzes.

HUBERT:

(shouting into it)

One minute! Just one minute!

TAYLOR:

Happy, we've got the man. Horace

Miller!

HUBERT:

Horace Mill--!

MCGANN:

(leaping up)

Terrific! A born stooge! Horace'll

perform like a trained seal.

HUBERT:

Jim--if I fling a party man like

Horace in the face of those angry

committees--

TAYLOR:

Happy, for reasons there isn't time

to go into--it's got to be Miller!

We've given you the man. Now write

the ticket.

(Moving to the door)

Come on, Joe. Come on, Chick.

HUBERT:

(following them)

Now, wait fellows--great Heavens.

I've got to see those angry committees

first--feel them out a little--work

for harmony--harmony.

MCGANN:

Harmony--and Horace Miller.

The scene dissolves to the GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, full of

committee people, arranged in rows of chairs, closely packed

together. Hubert, at his desk, is addressing them.

HUBERT:

(spreading the old

oil)

Gentlemen--in considering the

candidates who might answer to the

high qualifications of United States

Senator--there was one name that

shone out like a beacon--one I'm

sure you will enthusiastically approve--

the Honorable *Horace Miller*.

A minor bedlam breaks loose. Excited men rise and shout.

VOICES:

Miller!

Not Horace Miller!

A Taylor Man!

The Veterans will have no part of

him!

A party man! One of Taylor's tools!

Give us a clean man for a change!

The New Citizen's Committee won't

stand for Miller!

HUBERT:

(smiling sickly,

wincing)

--please--

The scene dissolves to the GOVERNOR'S LIBRARY in the HOPPER

HOME, at night. Hubert stands troubledly while Taylor, hat

in hand, is tearing into him and McGann just listens.

TAYLOR:

They put up *their* candidate? Who?

HUBERT:

(swallowing)

Henry Hill.

TAYLOR:

*Henry Hill?* That crackpot? That

long-haired--! Why, you should have

killed that so fast--!

HUBERT:

I--I couldn't, Jim. Those men were--

TAYLOR:

We can't help *what* they were! Forget

'em!

HUBERT:

Jim, that bunch is out for blood. If

I throw Horace in their teeth now--

TAYLOR:

I said forget 'em! Horace Miller

goes to the Senate--and that settles

it!

HUBERT:

I *won't* send Horace Miller!

TAYLOR:

*You won't?*

HUBERT:

I *won't* let you stand there

callously and perhaps wreck my whole

political future!

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