Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #39

JEFFERSON:

Like what, Mr. Taylor?

TAYLOR:

Well now--just to take an example--

putting up a dam--on Willet Creek.

As I look at it--that dam's going to

do the people of our state a lot of

good--

JEFFERSON:

Yes, so I was told, Mr. Taylor, but--

TAYLOR:

(interrupting)

But you have some objections here

and there. And maybe right, for all

I know. But the point is--there's no

sense stopping the whole works now--

specially after some men have worked

hard for a long time to put this

through--

JEFFERSON:

What is your interest in this, Mr.

Taylor?

TAYLOR:

Mine? Why--naturally--whatever

benefits the state is mighty important

to me--owning a lot of its industry--

newspapers and other odds and ends.

And if I thought you had the welfare

of the state at heart, like myself--

for instance, if you were to turn

around and help a project like this

along instead of standing in the way--

why, I'd say you were a man to watch.

For a fellow your age, you'd be in a

spot to make a great start in life.

If you liked business--you could

pick any job in the state and go

right to the top. Or politics. If

you like being a Senator. No reason

why you couldn't come back to that

Senate for the rest of your life.

PAINE:

Jim!

TAYLOR:

(sharply)

Just a minute, Joe!

PAINE:

(fighting)

You can't say *that* to--

TAYLOR:

*I* know what I'm doing! I'll say

what I *want*!

Paine rushes to the door and is gone. There is silence for

an instant. Jeff rises.

TAYLOR:

Sit down, Smith. I'm not through.

Jeff remains standing.

TAYLOR:

As I was saying--the state *needs*

men like you--*smart* men.

(Indicating the boys)

Now, these boys are. And they've

been doing all right. They don't

worry about being re-elected--or

anything else. They take my advice--

and they'll go a lot farther yet.

So, you see, you've got a pretty

important question to settle for

yourself, Smith. But you're smart.

You can decide that right now, can't

you?

Jeff looks from Taylor to the other boys.

TAYLOR:

(after a pause)

Can't you?

JEFFERSON:

(quietly)

You mean--you tell these men--and

Senator Paine what to do?

TAYLOR:

Yes! I've told Senator Paine for

twenty years--

JEFFERSON:

You're a liar!

Jeff turns and starts for the door. Taylor rushes after him.

TAYLOR:

Smith!

(Stopping him at the

door)

You heard what I said. And I've *got*

to have your answer--*now*!

(As Jeff starts to go)

Listen. To put it another way--if

you've got any fool notion of bucking

this thing--if you open your mouth

when that bill is read in the Senate

tomorrow--if you so much as lift a

finger to stop it--you're through--

like no man *ever* was! I'm all ready

for you. Understand? I give you my

word on that. You're finished!

Jeff grabs violently for the door and barges out.

TAYLOR:

I give you my word!

The scene dissolves to PAINE'S PRIVATE SENATE OFFICE, as

Jeff enters, closing the door behind him. Paine, standing

near his desk--strained and miserable--cannot meet Jeff's

accusing, damning gaze.

PAINE:

(faltering)

Jeff--I want to talk to you--sit

down--

Jeff remains standing--his eyes fixed on Paine.

PAINE:

Listen, Jeff--you--you don't

understand these things--you mustn't

condemn me for my part in this without--

you've had no experience--you see

things as black or white--and a man

as angel or devil. That's the young

idealist in you. And that isn't how

the world runs, Jeff--certainly not

Government and politics. It's a

question of give and take--you have

to play the rules--compromise--you

have to leave your ideals outside

the door, with your rubbers. I feel

I'm the right man for the Senate.

And there are certain powers--

influence. To stay there, I must

respect them. And now and then--for

the sake of that power--a dam has to

be built--and one must shut his eyes.

It's--it's a small compromise. The

*best* men have had to make them. Do

you understand?

(Desperately and with

greater emotion as

Jeff is silent)

I know how you feel, Jeff. Thirty

years ago--I had those ideals, too.

I was *you*. I had to make the

decision you were asked to make today.

(Breaking out)

And I compromised--yes! So that all

these years I could stay in that

Senate--and serve the people in a

thousand honest ways! You've got to

face facts, Jeff. I've served our

State well, haven't I? We have the

lowest unemployment and the highest

Federal grants. But, well, I've had

to compromise, had to play ball. You

can't count on people voting, half

the time they don't vote, anyway.

That's how states and empires have

been built since time began. Don't

you understand? Well, Jeff, you can

take my word for it, that's how things

are. Now I've told you all this

because--well, I've grown very fond

of you--about like a son--in fact,

and I don't want to see you get hurt.

Now, when that Deficiency Bill comes

up in the Senate tomorrow you stay

away from it. Don't say a word. Great

powers are behind it, and they'll

destroy you before you can even get

started. For your own sake, Jeff,

and for the sake of my friendship

with your father, please, don't say

a word.

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