IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
	La sceneggiatura	I suoni	Jimmy Stewart	La gallery

LA SCENEGGIATURA

EXTERIOR BRIDGE OVER RIVER –– NIGHT

MEDIUM SHOT –– The same part of the bridge where George was standing before Clarence jumped in. The wind is blowing as it has all through this sequence. George comes running into shot. He is frantically looking for Clarence.

GEORGE: Clarence! Clarence! Help me, Clarence. Get me back. Get me back. I don't care what happens to me. Only get me back to my wife and kids. Help me, Clarence, please! Please! I want to live again!

CLOSEUP –– George leaning on the bridge railing, praying.

GEORGE: I want to live again. I want to live again. Please, God, let me live again.

George sobs. Suddenly, toward the end of the above, the wind dies down. A soft, gentle snow begins to fall.

CLOSE SHOT –– George sobbing at the railing. The police car pulls up on the roadway behind him, and Bert comes into scene.

BERT: Hey, George! George! You all right?

George backs away and gets set to hit Bert again.

BERT (cont'd): Hey, what's the matter?

GEORGE (warningly): Now get out of here, Bert, or I'll hit you again! Get out!

BERT: What the Sam Hill you yelling for, George?

GEORGE: Don't . . . George?

George talks hopefully –– George touches Bert unbelievingly –– George's mouth is bleeding again.

GEORGE (cont'd): Bert, do you know me?

BERT: Know you? Are you kiddin'? I've been looking all over town trying to find you. I saw your car piled into that tree down there, and I thought maybe . . . Hey, your mouth's bleeding; are you sure you're all right?

GEORGE: What did . . .

George touches his lips with his tongue, wipes his mouth with his hand, laughs happily. His rapture knows no bounds.

GEORGE (cont'd)
(joyously): My mouth's bleeding, Bert! My mouth's bleed . . .
(feeling in watch pocket): Zuzu's petals! Zuzu's . . . they're . . . they're here, Bert! What do you know about that? Merry Christmas!

He practically embraces the astonished Bert, then runs at top speed toward town.

LONG SHOT –– George runs away from camera yelling:

GEORGE: Mary! Mary!

EXTERIOR RESIDENTIAL STREET –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– George's wrecked car is smashed against the tree. He comes running into shot, sees the car, lets out a triumphant yell, pats the car, and dashes on.

EXTERIOR MAIN STREET BEDFORD FALLS –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– George sees that the POTTERSVILLE sign is now replaced by the original YOU ARE NOW IN BEDFORD FALLS sign.

GEORGE: Hello, Bedford Falls!

He turns and runs through the falling snow up the main street of the town. As he runs, he notices that the town is back in its original appearance. He passes some late shoppers on the street:

GEORGE (cont'd): Merry Christmas!

PEOPLE (ad lib): Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, George!

EXTERIOR THEATRE –– NIGHT

PAN SHOT –– As George runs by:

GEORGE: Merry Christmas, movie house!

EXTERIOR BEDFORD FALLS EMPORIUM –– NIGHT

PAN SHOT –– as George runs by:

GEORGE: Merry Christmas, emporium!

EXTERIOR BUILDING AND LOAN OFICES –– NIGHT

PAN SHOT –– As George runs by:

GEORGE: Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!

EXTERIOR BANK –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– George notices a light in Potter's office window, and races across the street.

INTERIOR POTTER'S OFFICE –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– Potter is seated working at his desk, his goon by his side. George pounds on the window.

GEORGE (from outside): Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter!

George runs off as Potter looks up from his work.

POTTER: Happy New Year to you –– in jail! Go on home –– they're waiting for you!

INTERIOR GEORGE'S HOME –– NIGHT

The lights are on. There is a fire in the fireplace. The Christmas tree is fully decorated with presents stacked around.

INTERIOR ENTRANCE HALL –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– Carter, the bank examiner, a newspaper reporter and photographer, and a sheriff, are waiting in the hall for George. George comes dashing in the front door.

GEORGE (excitedly): Mary . . .

(sees the men): Well, hello, Mr. Bank Examiner!

He grabs his hand and shakes it.

CARTER (surprised): Mr. Bailey, there's a deficit!

GEORGE: I know. Eight thousand dollars.

SHERIFF (reaching into pocket): George, I've got a little paper here.

GEORGE (happily): I'll bet it's a warrant for my arrest. Isn't it wonderful? Merry Christmas!

The photographer sets off a flash bulb.

GEORGE: Reporters? Where's Mary?
(calling): Mary!

George runs to the kitchen. He gets no answer. As he goes:

GEORGE (cont'd): Oh, look at this wonderful old drafty house! Mary! Mary!

He comes running back to the hall.

GEORGE (cont'd): Have you seen my wife?

CHILDREN'S VOICES: Merry Christmas, Daddy! Merry Christmas, Daddy!

INTERIOR STAIRS –– NIGHT

MEDIUM SHOT –– The three children are at the top of the stairs. They are in their pajamas.

GEORGE: Kids!

George starts to run up the stairs, and the old familiar knob on the banister comes off in his hand. He kisses it lovingly and puts it back, then continues up the stairs.

GEORGE (cont'd): Pete –– kids –– Janie –– Tommy.
(takes them in his arms) I could eat you up!

INTERIOR TOP OF STAIRS –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– George and the kids. He is hugging them.

GEORGE: Where's your mother?

JANIE: She went looking for you with Uncle Billy.

Zuzu comes running out of her bedroom. George crushes her to him.

ZUZU: Daddy!

GEORGE: Zuzu –– Zuzu. My little gingersnap! How do you feel?

ZUZU: Fine.

JANIE: And not a smitch of temperature.

GEORGE (laughing): Not a smitch of temp . . .

INTERIOR 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!

INTERIOR 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.

INTERIOR 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!
[*editor's note: I feel compelled to point out that this word is pronounced "juke-a-box" in the film itself. To me, the movie would lose a little something without that charming, superfluous "a"!]

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.

MARY (calling out): Mr. Martini. How about some wine?

As various members of the family bring out a punch bowl and glasses, Janie sits down at the piano and strikes a chord. She starts playing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and the entire crowd joins in the singing. We see a SERIES OF SHOTS of the various groups singing the hymn, and some people are still coming in and dropping their money on the table. Carter, the bank examiner, makes a donation; the sheriff sheepishly looks at George and tears his warrant in small pieces. In the midst of this scene, Harry, in Naval uniform, enters, accompanied by Bert, the cop.

HARRY: Hello, George, how are you?

GEORGE: Harry . . . Harry . . .

HARRY (as he sees the money): Mary –– looks like I got here too late.

BERT: Mary, I got him here from the airport as quickly as I could. The fool flew all the way up here in a blizzard.

Mrs. Bailey enters scene.

MRS. BAILEY: Harry, how about your banquet in New York?

HARRY: Oh, I left right in the middle of it as soon as I got Mary's telegram.

Ernie hands Harry a glass of wine.

HARRY (cont'd): Good idea, Ernie. A toast . . . to my big brother, George. The richest man in town!

Once more the crowd breaks into cheering and applause. Janie at the piano and Bert on his accordion start playing "Auld Lang syne," and everyone joins in.

CLOSE SHOT –– George, still holding Zuzu in his arms, glances down at the pile of money on the table. His eye catches something on top of the pile, and he reaches down for it. It is Clarence's copy of "Tom Sawyer." George opens it and finds an inscription written in it: "Dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings, Love Clarence."

MARY (looking at book): What's that?

GEORGE: That's a Christmas present from a very dear friend of mine.

At this moment, perhaps because of the jostling of some of the people on the other side of the tree, a little silver bell on the Christmas tree swings to and fro with a silvery tinkle. Zuzu closes the cover of the book, and points to the bell.

ZUZU: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.

GEORGE (smiling): That's right, that's right.

He looks up toward the ceiling and winks.

GEORGE (cont'd): Attaboy, Clarence.

The voices of the people singing swell into a final crescendo for the