It's a Wonderful Life

JANIE

And not a smitch of temperature.

GEORGE

(laughing)

Not a smitch of temp...

INT. HALL – NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT

As Mary comes through the door, breathless and excited. The four men are watching with open mouths.

GEORGE'S VOICE

Hallelujah!

MARY

(to the men)

Hello.

(sees George)

George! Darling!

INT. STAIRS – NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT

Mary races up the stairs, where George meets her in a fierce embrace.

GEORGE

Mary! Mary!

MARY

George, darling! Where have you been?

George and Mary embrace tearfully.

MARY

Oh, George, George, George.

GEORGE

Mary! Let me touch you! Oh, you're real!

MARY

Oh, George, George!

GEORGE

You have no idea what's happened to me.

MARY

You have no idea what happened...

He stops her with a kiss. She leads him excitedly down the stairs.

MARY (CONT'D)

Well, come on, George, come on downstairs quick. They're on their way.

GEORGE

All right.

INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT

Mary leads George, who is carrying a couple of the kids on his back, to a position in front of the Christmas tree.

MARY

Come on in here now. Now, you stand right over here, by the tree. Right there, and don't move, don't move. I hear 'em now, George, it's a miracle! It's a miracle!

She runs toward front door and flings it open. Ad lib SOUNDS of an excited crowd can be heard. Uncle Billy, face flushed, covered with snow, and carrying a clothes basket filled with money, bursts in. He is followed by Ernie, and about twenty more townspeople.

MARY
Come in, Uncle Billy! Everybody! In here!

Uncle Billy Mary and the crowd come into the living room. A table stands in front of George. George picks up Zuzu to protect her from the mob. Uncle Billy dumps the basketful of money out onto the table – the money overflows and falls all over.

UNCLE BILLY

Isn't it wonderful?

The rest of the crowd all greet George with greetings and smiles. Each one comes forward with money. In their pockets, in shoe boxes, in coffee pots. Money pours onto the table – pennies, dimes, quarters, dollar bills – small money, but lots of it. Mrs. Bailey and Mrs. Hatch push toward George. More people come in. The place becomes a bedlam. Shouts of "Gangway – gangway" as a new bunch comes in and pours out its money. Mary stands next to George, watching him. George stands there overcome and speechless as he holds Zuzu. As he sees the familiar faces, he gives them sick grins. Tears course down his face. His lips frame their names as he greets them.

UNCLE BILLY

(emotionally at the breaking point)

Mary did it, George! Mary did it! She told a few people you were in trouble and they scattered all over town collecting money. They didn't ask any questions – just said: "If George is in trouble – count on me." You never saw anything like it.

Tom comes in, digging in his purse as he comes.

TOM

What is this, George? Another run on the bank?

Charlie adds his money to the pile.

CHARLIE

Here you are, George. Merry Christmas.

Ernie is trying to get some system into the chaos.

ERNIE

The line forms on the right.

Mr. Martini comes in bearing a mixing bowl overflowing with cash.

ERNIE

Mr. Martini! Merry Christmas! Step right up here.

Martini dumps his money on the table.

MARTINI

I busted the juke-box, too!

Mr. Gower enters with a large glass jar jammed full of notes.

ERNIE

Mr. Gower!

GOWER

(to George)

I made the rounds of my charge accounts.

Violet Bick arrives, and takes out the money George had given her for her trip to New York.

GEORGE

Violet Bick!

VIOLET

I'm not going to go, George. I changed my mind.

Annie, the colored maid, enters, digging money out of a long black stocking.

ANNIE

I've been saving this money for a divorce, if ever I get a husband.

Mr. Partridge, the high school principal, is the next donor.

PARTRIDGE

There you are, George. I got the faculty all up out of bed.

(hands his watch to Zuzu)

And here's something for you to play with.

MAN

(giving money)

I wouldn't have a roof over my head if it wasn't for you, George.

Ernie is reading a telegram he has just received.

ERNIE

Just a minute. Quiet, everybody. Quiet – quiet. Now, this is from London.

(reading)

Mr. Gower cables you need cash. Stop. My office instructed to advance you up to twenty-five thousand dollars. Stop. Hee-haw and Merry Christmas. Sam Wainwright.

The crowd breaks into a cheer as Ernie drops the telegram on top of the pile of money on the table.