Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #33

In the PAINE LIVING ROOM:

SUSAN:

There's trouble brewing some place

and I'm to turn on my glamour for

him. I've got to take him out. You

sympathize, don't you, Saunders?

In JEFFERSON'S PRIVATE OFFICE:

SAUNDERS:

(with a glance at the

occupied Jeff)

Awkward, isn't it?

In the PAINE LIVING ROOM:

SUSAN:

Here's what you've got to do for me.

Take him out and buy him a suit of

clothes that fits--and a hat. A

manicure and haircut wouldn't do any

harm--and if you can get in a little

practice with a fork and a teacup--.

As one woman to another, Saunders--

that is, I hate to ask you to do it,

but--

In JEFFERSON'S PRIVATE OFFICE:

SAUNDERS:

(into the phone)

But as one woman to another, of

course.

In the PAINE LIVING ROOM:

SUSAN:

Thanks, Saunders. And now--is--uh--

young Lochinvar around?

In JEFFERSON'S PRIVATE OFFICE:

SAUNDERS:

Yes--right here. Just a second--

(Extending phone to

Jeff)

Miss Paine.

JEFFERSON:

(looking up as if he

had been kicked)

*Who*! Miss--! Is that--? Why didn't

you--? Holy smoke;

(Grabbing the phone--

breathlessly)

H-hello... Yes, Miss Paine... How--

how are you, Miss Paine...? What?...

Escort *you* Gee--I mean--*sure*--

*yes*! I'd be--. Reception for a

*princess*! Gosh!... Thanks, Miss

Paine. Yes. I--I'll be there! Goodbye,

Miss Paine.

(Hanging up, and

getting up excitedly)

Did you hear that?--Escort Susan

Paine--reception for a princess!

Imagine her calling me--asking *me*--

!

SAUNDERS:

Get your hat, Senator. We've got a

lot to do between now and tomorrow--

JEFFERSON:

Wow!

As he makes a dive for his hat, the scene dissolves to

glimpses of the shopping tour of Jefferson Smith:

He has the Prince Albert coat of a new suit on--standing

before a mirror--the sleeves too short--looking *really*

like a scarecrow--and being frightened of his own image in

the mirror. Saunders is standing by, supervising.

He is trying to walk in a pair of pointed black shoes. His

feet hurt terribly.

He is trying on hats. We catch one that sits on his head

like a peanut. He looks to Saunders, who shakes her head.

In a barber's chair--his hair being cut--his nails are being

manicured. He stares unbelievingly down at the manicurist's

work.

Jeff, in his rooms, is getting all tricked out in his new

clothes. Saunders ties his tie and puts a flower in his

buttonhole.

Finally the scene dissolves into the PAINE LIMOUSINE, and we

see, at last, the full result of the dressing of Jefferson

Smith--togged out from top to toe, and very uncomfortable.

Susan snatches glances at the effect, out of the corner of

her eyes.

JEFFERSON:

(with a struggle)

I--I'm awfully glad to be--that is,

it was nice of you to--

(Giving up, he makes

an attempt at

conversation)

Uh--how's your father?

SUSAN:

Splendid.

JEFFERSON:

Uh--that's good. And--uh--you?

SUSAN:

I'm splendid, too.

JEFFERSON:

That's--that's splendid.

SUSAN:

And how's your bill, Senator?

JEFFERSON:

Oh, the bill. Oh--splendid--I mean--

(With a disarming

smile)

I--I just can't seem to talk in this

suit.

(Her eyebrows lift)

I'll tell you a secret. It's brand

new.

SUSAN:

Well! You don't say!

JEFFERSON:

(intimately--boyishly)

It's just as well to tell you--because

if we're going to get off on the

right foot--I mean--in case I act

sort of strange--it's the suit.

SUSAN:

(at a loss)

Well--I--

JEFFERSON:

(laughing)

Funnier things have happened. Ma

says when Pa was courting her, he

acted strange for months. Didn't

make sense--or anything. And one

day, on a hunch, Ma said: "Clayton,

so help me, you talk like a man whose

collar is too tight to bear." "Not

the collar, Mary," he said, "my

shoes." "Well, for land's sake," Ma

said, "Take the pesky things off!"

Which Pa did, an' they were engaged

within a week.

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