It's a Wonderful Life

GEORGE

Hey, look! Somebody's driving this cab.

Ernie reaches over and hands George a bottle of champagne done up in gift wrappings.

ERNIE

Bert, the cop, sent this over. He said to float away to Happy Land on the bubbles.

GEORGE

Oh, look at this. Champagne!

MARY

Good old Bert.

ERNIE

By the way, where are you two going on this here now honeymoon?

GEORGE

Where are we going?

(takes out a fat roll of bills)

Look at this. There's the kitty, Ernie. Here, come on, count it, Mary.

MARY

I feel like a bootlegger's wife.

(holding up the money)

Look!

GEORGE

You know what we're going to do? We're going to shoot the works. A whole week in New York. A whole week in Bermuda. The highest hotels – the oldest champagne – the richest caviar – the hottest music, and the prettiest wife!

ERNIE

That does it! Then what?

GEORGE

(to Mary)

Then what, honey?

MARY

After that, who cares?

GEORGE

That does it – come here.

The cab passes the bank, and Ernie sees a crowd of people around the door. He stops the cab.

LONG SHOT

Scurrying people under umbrellas, swarming around the bank doors. Panic is in the air. Attendants are trying to close down. Several people come running past the cab.

INT. CAB

CLOSE SHOT – GEORGE, MARY AND ERNIE

ERNIE

Don't look now, but there's something funny going on over there at the bank, George, I've never really seen one, but that's got all the earmarks of a run.

PASSERBY

Hey, Ernie, if you got any money in the bank, you better hurry.

MARY

George, let's not stop. Let's go!

George gets out of the cab and looks down the street.

GEORGE

Just a minute, dear. Oh-oh...

MARY

Please, let's not stop, George.

GEORGE

I'll be back in a minute, Mary.

George runs off up the street, toward the Building and Loan.

EXT. BUILDING AND LOAN – DAY

CLOSE SHOT – SIDEWALK

An iron grill blocks the street entrance to the Building and Loan. It has been locked. A crowd of men and women are waiting around the grill. They are simply-dressed people, to whom their savings are a matter of life and death.

George comes in with an assumed cheerful manner. The people look at him silently, half shamefaced, but grimly determined on their rights. In their hearts there is panic and fear.

GEORGE

Hello, everybody. Mrs. Thompson, how are you? Charlie? What's the matter here, can't you get in?

No one answers. He quickly unlocks the grill door and pushes it open. Followed by the crowd, George runs upstairs and into the outer offices of the Building and Loan.

INT. OUTER OFFICE – BUILDING AND LOAN – DAY

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT

George, followed by the still-silent people, comes in. Uncle Billy is standing in the doorway to his private office, taking a drink from a bottle. He motions to George to join him.

GEORGE

What is this, Uncle Billy? A holiday?

UNCLE BILLY

George...

He points to George's office. George turns back cheerfully to the crowd.

GEORGE

Come on in, everybody. That's right, just come in.

George vaults over the counter.

GEORGE (CONT'D)

Now look, why don't you all sit down. There are a lot of seats over there. Just make yourselves at home.

UNCLE BILLY

George, can I see you a minute?

The people ignore George and remain standing in front of the teller's window. They all have their passbooks out. George hurries into his office where Uncle Billy is waiting for him.

INT. GEORGE'S OFFICE – DAY

CLOSE SHOT – GEORGE AND UNCLE BILLY

GEORGE

Why didn't you call me?

UNCLE BILLY

I just did, but they said you left. This is a pickle, George, this is a pickle.

GEORGE

All right now, what happened? How did it start?

UNCLE BILLY

How does anything like this ever start? All I know is the bank called our loan.

GEORGE

When?

UNCLE BILLY

About an hour ago. I had to hand over all our cash.

GEORGE

All of it?

UNCLE BILLY

Every cent of it, and it still was less than we owe.

GEORGE

Holy mackerel!

UNCLE BILLY

And then I got scared, George, and closed the doors. I... I... I...

GEORGE

The whole town's gone crazy.

The telephone rings. Uncle Billy picks it up.

UNCLE BILLY

Yes, hello? George... it's Potter.

GEORGE

Hello?

INT. POTTER'S LIBRARY – DAY

MEDIUM SHOT

Potter seated behind his desk, his goon alongside him. Standing in front of the desk is a distinguished-looking man, obviously the president of the bank. He is mopping his brow with his handkerchief.

POTTER

George, there is a rumor around town that you've closed your doors. Is that true? Oh, well, I'm very glad to hear that... George, are you all right? Do you need any police?

INT. GEORGE'S OFFICE – DAY

CLOSE SHOT – GEORGE AND UNCLE BILLY

GEORGE

(on phone)

Police? What for?

INT. POTTER'S OFFICE – DAY

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT – POTTER TALKING ON PHONE

POTTER

Well, mobs get pretty ugly sometimes, you know. George, I'm going all out to help in this crisis. I've just guaranteed the bank sufficient funds to meet their needs. They'll close up for a week, and then reopen.

INT. GEORGE'S OFFICE – DAY

CLOSE SHOT – GEORGE AND UNCLE BILLY

GEORGE

(to Uncle Billy)

He just took over the bank.

INT. POTTER'S OFFICE – DAY

CLOSE SHOT – POTTER ON PHONE

POTTER

I may lose a fortune, but I'm willing to guarantee your people too. Just tell them to bring their shares over here and I will pay them fifty cents on the dollar.

INT. GEORGE'S OFFICE – DAY

CLOSE SHOT – GEORGE AND UNCLE BILLY

GEORGE
(furiously)

Aw, you never miss a trick, do you, Potter? Well, you're going to miss this one.

George bangs the receiver down and turns to meet Uncle Billy's anxious look.

INT. POTTER'S OFFICE

CLOSEUP – POTTER ON PHONE

POTTER

If you close your doors before six P.M. you will never reopen.

He realizes George has hung up, and clicks the phone furiously.

INT. GEORGE'S OFFICE – DAY

CLOSE SHOT – GEORGE AND UNCLE BILLY

UNCLE BILLY

George, was it a nice wedding? Gosh, I wanted to be there.

GEORGE

Yeah...

(looks at string on Uncle Billy's finger)

... you can take this one off now.

An ominous SOUND of angry voices comes from the other room. George and Uncle Billy exit from George's office.

INT. OUTER OFFICE – BUILDING AND LOAN – DAY

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT

More people have crowded around the counter. Their muttering stops and they stand silent and grim. There is panic in their faces.

GEORGE

Now, just remember that this thing isn't as black as it appears.

As George speaks, sirens are heard passing in the street below. The crowd turn to the windows, then back to George.

GEORGE (CONT'D)

I have some news for you, folks. I've just talked to old man Potter, and he's guaranteed cash payments at the bank. The bank's going to reopen next week.

ED

But, George, I got my money here.

CHARLIE

Did he guarantee this place?

GEORGE

Well, no, Charlie. I didn't even ask him. We don't need Potter over here.

Mary and Ernie have come into the room during this scene. Mary stands watching silently.

CHARLIE

I'll take mine now.

GEORGE

No, but you... you... you're thinking of this place all wrong. As if I had the money back in a safe. The money's not here. Your money's in Joe's house...

(to one of the men)

... right next to yours. And in the Kennedy house, and Mrs. Macklin's house, and a hundred others. Why, you're lending them the money to build, and then, they're going to pay it back to you as best they can. Now what are you going to do? Foreclose on them?

TOM

I got two hundred and forty-two dollars in here, and two hundred and forty-two dollars isn't going to break anybody.

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT – ANOTHER ANGLE

GEORGE

(handing him a slip)

Okay, Tom. All right. Here you are. You sign this. You'll get your money in sixty days.

TOM

Sixty days?

GEORGE

Well, now that's what you agreed to when you bought your shares.

There is a commotion at the outer doors. A man (Randall) comes in and makes his way up to Tom.

RANDALL

Tom... Tom, did you get your money?

TOM

No.

RANDALL

Well, I did. Old man Potter'll pay fifty cents on the dollar for every share you got.

(shows bills)

CROWD

(ad lib)

Fifty cents on the dollar!

RANDALL

Yes, cash!

TOM

(to George)

Well, what do you say?

GEORGE

Now, Tom, you have to stick to your original agreement. Now give us sixty days on this.

TOM

(turning to Randall)

Okay, Randall.

He starts out.

MRS. THOMPSON

Are you going to go to Potter's?

TOM

Better to get half than nothing.

A few other people start for the door.

CAMERA PANS WITH George as he vaults over the counter quickly, speaking to the people.

GEORGE
Tom! Tom! Randall! Now wait... now listen... now listen to me. I beg of you not to do this thing. If Potter gets hold of this Building and Loan there'll never be another decent house built in this town. He's already got charge of the bank. He's got the bus line. He's got the department stores. And now he's after us. Why? Well, it's very simple. Because we're cutting in on his business, that's why. And because he wants to keep you living in his slums and paying the kind of rent he decides.

The people are still trying to get out, but some of them have stood still, listening to him. George has begun to make an impression on them.

GEORGE (CONT'D)

Joe, you lived in one of his houses, didn't you? Well, have you forgotten? Have you forgotten what he charged you for that broken-down shack?

(to Ed)

Here, Ed. You know, you remember last year when things weren't going so well, and you couldn't make your payments. You didn't lose your house, did you? Do you think Potter would have let you keep it?

(turns to address the room again)

Can't you understand what's happening here? Don't you see what's happening? Potter isn't selling. Potter's buying! And why? Because we're panicky and he's not. That's why. He's picking up some bargains. Now, we can get through this thing all right. We've got to stick together, though. We've got to have faith in each other.

MRS. THOMPSON

But my husband hasn't worked in over a year, and I need money.

WOMAN

How am I going to live until the bank opens?

MAN

I got doctor bills to pay.

MAN

I need cash.

MAN

Can't feed my kids on faith.

During this scene Mary has come up behind the counter. Suddenly, as the people once more start moving toward the door, she holds up a roll of bills and calls out

MARY

How much do you need?

George jumps over the counter and takes the money from Mary.

GEORGE

Hey! I got two thousand dollars! Here's two thousand dollars. This'll tide us over until the bank reopen.

(to Tom)

All right, Tom, how much do you need?

TOM

(doggedly)

Two hundred and forty-two dollars!

GEORGE

(pleading)

Aw, Tom, just enough to tide you over till the bank reopens.

TOM

I'll take two hundred and forty-two dollars.

George starts rapidly to count out the money. Tom throws his passbook on the counter.

GEORGE

There you are.

TOM

That'll close my account.

GEORGE

Your account's still here. That's a loan.

Mary turns and slips out through the crowd, followed by Ernie. George hands the two hundred and forty-two dollars to Tom, and speaks to Ed, the next in line.

GEORGE (CONT'D)

Okay. All right, Ed?

ED

I got three hundred dollars here, George.

Uncle Billy takes out his wallet and takes out all the cash he's got.

GEORGE

Aw, now, Ed... what'll it take till the bank reopens? What do you need?

ED

Well, I suppose twenty dollars.

GEORGE

Twenty dollars. Now you're talking. Fine. Thanks, Ed.

(to Mrs. Thompson, next in line)

All right, now, Mrs. Thompson. How much do you want?

MRS. THOMPSON

But it's your own money, George.

GEORGE

Never mind about that. How much do you want?

MRS. THOMPSON

I can get along with twenty, all right.

GEORGE

(counting it out)

Twenty dollars.

MRS. THOMPSON

And I'll sign a paper.

GEORGE

You don't have to sign anything. I know you'll pay it back when you can. That's okay.

(to woman next in line)

All right, Mrs. Davis.

MRS. DAVIS

Could I have seventeen-fifty?

GEORGE

Seven...

(he kisses her)

Bless your heart, Of course you can have it. You got fifty cents?

(counting)

Seven...

WIPE TO:

INT. OUTER OFFICE BUILDING AND LOAN – NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT

George, Uncle Billy and Cousin Tilly are behind the counter, watching the minute hand of a clock on the wall as George counts off the seconds. Cousin Eustace is ready to close the door.

UNCLE BILLY

(excitedly)

We're going to make it, George. They'll never close us up today!

GEORGE

(counting)

Six... five... four... three... two... one... Bingo!

Cousin Eustace slams and locks the door, and scurries around the counter to join the others.

GEORGE (CONT'D)

We made it! Look...

(holds up two bills)

... look, we're still in business! We've still got two bucks left!

Uncle Billy is taking a drink out of his bottle.

GEORGE (CONT'D)

Well, let's have some of that. Get some glasses, Cousin Tilly.

(to Uncle Billy)

We're a couple of financial wizards.

UNCLE BILLY

Those Rockefellers!

GEORGE

Get a tray for these great big important simoleons.

UNCLE BILLY

We'll save them for seed. A toast!

They raise their glasses.

GEORGE

A toast! A toast to Papa Dollar and to Mama Dollar, and if you want the old Building and Loan to stay in business, you better have a family real quick.

COUSIN TILLY

I wish they were rabbits.

GEORGE

I wish they were too. Okay, let's put them in the safe and see what happens.

The four of them parade through the office; George puts the two dollars in the safe.

CLOSE SHOT – GROUP AROUND THE SAFE DOOR

As George comes out:

COUSIN EUSTACE

(handing out cigars)

Wedding cigars!

GEORGE

(startled)

Oh-oh... wedding! Holy mackerel, I'm married! Where's Mary? Mary...

(he runs around looking for her)

Poor Mary. Look, I've got a train to catch.

(looks at his watch)

Well, the train's gone. I wonder if Ernie's still here with his taxicab?

George rushes into his office to look out the window.

COUSIN TILLY

(on telephone)

George, there's a call for you.

GEORGE

Look, will you get my wife on the phone? She's probably over at her mother's.

COUSIN TILLY

Mrs. Bailey is on the phone.

INT. GEORGE'S OFFICE

MEDIUM CLOSEUP – GEORGE IS THOROUGHLY RATTLED

GEORGE

I don't want Mrs. Bailey. I want my wife. Mrs. Bailey! Oh, that's my wife! Here, I'll take it in here.

(picks up phone)

Mary? Hello. Listen, dear, I'm sorry... What? Come home? What home? Three-twenty Sycamore? Well, what... whose home is that? The Waldorf Hotel, huh?

WIPE TO:

EXT. OLD GRANVILLE HOUSE – NIGHT

MEDIUM LONG SHOT

An old-fashioned, run-down house, unpainted and warped by the weather. It once had class but has not been lived in for years. This is the house that George and Mary will live in from now on. The rain is pouring down. A faint glow of light shines out from bottom windows. George hurries into scene. He stops to make sure it is the right number before going up the steps.

EXT. SIDE OF HOUSE – NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT

Bert and man working in rain, sorting through travel posters.

MAN

Hey, this is the company's posters, and the company won't like this.

BERT

How would you like to get a ticket next week? Haven't you any romance in you?

MAN

Sure I have, but I got rid of it.

BERT

(reading poster)

Liver pills! Who wants to see liver pills on their honeymoon? What? They want romantic places, beautiful places... places George wants to go.

A sharp whistle is heard.

CLOSE SHOT – WINDOW OF HOUSE

Ernie is leaning from the window.

ERNIE

Hey, Bert, here he comes.

CLOSE SHOT – BERT AND MAN

BERT

Come on, we got to get this up. He's coming.