Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #52

Paine turns abruptly and hurries out. Taylor grabs for the

phone.

TAYLOR:

Hendricks! Line up all the papers in

the State! Don't print a word of

what Smith says--not a word of any

news story coming out of Washington!

Understand? Defend the machine. *Hit*

this guy! A criminal--convicted by

Senate--blocking relief bill--starving

the people. Start protests coming.

Wires. Buy up every minute you can

on every two-watt radio station in

the State. Keep 'em spouting against

Smith! McGann's flying out--be there

in five hours. Stop your presses--

yank out the stories you got in 'em

now--and get going--*get that whole

State moving*--!

In HENDRICK'S OFFICE:

HENDRICKS:

Okay, Jim. Goodbye.

(He hangs up the phone,

then flips a

dictograph key)

Stop the presses!

The scene dissolves to the JACKSON CITY PRESS--a huge printing

press--slowing down--and men leaping on it and beginning to

tear out sheets being printed; then to a RADIO STATION where

a man is broadcasting.

MAN:

--Jefferson Smith is guilty! This

filibuster is a cowardly attempt to

turn your attention from the true

facts--!

We see ANOTHER MICROPHONE, at which another man is thundering:

MAN:

(foaming)

--it's an open-and-shut case!

Jefferson Smith was--

In MA SMITH'S SITTING ROOM, Ma is seen in a rocking chair,

surrounded by kids--some of whom hold papers. All are

listening to the radio--the voice of the preceding scene:

RADIO VOICE:

(continuing from above)

--caught red-handed--stealing from

boys!

A yowl goes up.

BOYS:

(wildly)

They're lying!

A bunch of lies!

RADIO VOICE:

(continuing--but lost

in uproar)

A Committee of the United States

Senate found him guilty! Like the

blackguard he is! He is trying to

save what's left of his name--by

attacking Joseph Paine, Willet Dam!

He doesn't care what it may cost the

people of this country--!

BOYS:

(continuing unbrokenly;

waving paper)

Why don't they tell us what Jeff's

saying!

Yeah! What about Jeff?

They can't say that!

What's *Jeff* saying?

We see ANOTHER MICROPHONE and a man broadcasting.

MAN:

--to gain his own contemptible ends,

this man is blocking a bill--

Then a ROOM, with a group of people--a family--listening.

RADIO VOICE:

(continuing from above)

--vital to you and this entire nation.

Relief will be stopped! Men will be

thrown out of jobs--!

Through the last line of the above, the man of the family

yells:

MAN:

I always knew that Smith was a phoney!

Then the HOPPER DINING ROOM, with the family at dinner. Four

of the boys are crowded around Happy Hopper, at the head of

the table, where a portable radio is blasting away.

RADIO VOICE:

--and to save his own hide, this is

what Jefferson Smith is going to do!

He's going to destroy everything

Joseph Paine and his political party

have done for this State. Joe Paine

has brought us great Federal grants,

prosperity--and now the Willet Dam.

But Smith will destroy that, too--!

KIDS:

It's a lie!

It's a dirty lie!

Jeff never destroyed nothin'.

What do you mean--'destroy'?

How do you get that way?

HAPPY:

(yelling)

Quiet!

EMMA:

(distracted)

*Will you please sit down to dinner*!

RADIO VOICE:

(continuing)

Yes! Jefferson Smith will keep money

out of this State, and work for

thousands--with a deed and a signed

contract against him.

KIDS:

(wildly)

It's a frame!... Why don't somebody

*do* something?... You *know* it's a

frame, Pop!... When ya gonna be a

man and stop this dirty Taylor from--

?

HAPPY:

Silence! I *am* a man!

The butler has entered while the Radio voice has continued

with the following:

RADIO VOICE:

In other words, this man who couldn't

get away with stealing money for

himself, is going to take money away

from you, but he will not get away

with it. Citizens of this State know

the facts. They will brand Jefferson

Smith as he deserves!

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