IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
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LA SCENEGGIATURA

INTERIOR HIGH SCHOOL GYM –– NIGHT

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT –– At one end of the room an orchestra is playing. George wends his way through the dancing couples toward a supper table. He and Harry are carrying plates and pies.

GEORGE: Here you are.

Several of the boys take the plates from him. George looks at them, feeling very grown up and out of place.

HARRY (introducing George): You know my kid brother, George. I'm going to put him through college.

Sam Wainwright comes in behind Harry, waggles his hands at his ears as he talks.

SAM: Here comes George. Hello, hee-haw!

George swings around, delighted to hear a familiar voice.

WIDER ANGLE –– including Sam and Marty Hatch. Sam is assured and breezy, wearing very collegiate clothes.

GEORGE: Oh, oh. Sam Wainwright! How are you? When did you get here?

SAM: Oh, this afternoon. I thought I'd give the kids a treat.

GEORGE: Old college graduate now, huh?

SAM: Yeah –– old Joe College Wainwright, they call me. Well, freshman, looks like you're going to make it after all.

GEORGE: Yep.

Sam sees Harry and leaves George in the middle of a gesture.

SAM (to Harry): Harry! You're the guy I want to see. Coach has heard all about you.

HARRY: He has?

SAM: Yeah. He's followed every game and his mouth's watering. He wants me to find out if you're going to come along with us.

HARRY: Well, I gotta make some dough first.

SAM: Well, you better make it fast. We need great ends like you –– not broken down old guys like this one.

George and Sam wiggle their fingers at their ears, saluting each other.

GEORGE: Hee-haw!

SAM: Hee-haw!

An elderly, fussy school principal comes over to George.

PRINCIPAL: George, welcome back.

GEORGE: Hello, Mr. Partridge, how are you?

PRINCIPAL: Putting a pool under this floor was a great idea. Saved us another building. Now, Harry, Sam, have a lot of fun. There's lots of stuff to eat and drink. Lots of pretty girls around.

Violet Bick comes into the scene and turns to face George. She is waving her dance program at him.

VIOLET: Hey, George . . .

GEORGE: Hello, Violet.

VIOLET: Hello, what am I bid?

Marty Hatch enters scene.

MARTY: George.

GEORGE: Hiya, Marty. Well, it's old home week.

MARTY: Do me a favor, will you, George?

GEORGE: What's that?

MARTY: Well, you remember my kid sister, Mary?

GEORGE: Oh, yeah, yeah.

SAM: "Momma wants you, Marty." "Momma wants you, Marty." Remember?

MARTY: Dance with her, will you?

GEORGE: Oh . . . me? Oh, well, I feel funny enough already, with all these kids.

MARTY: Aw, come on. Be a sport. Just dance with her one time and you'll give her the thrill of her life.

SAM: Aw, go on.

MARTY (calling off): Hey, sis.

GEORGE: Well, excuse me, Violet. Don't be long, Marty. I don't want to be a wet nurse for . . .

He stops suddenly as he sees Mary, staring at her.

CLOSEUP –– Mary Hatch. She is standing talking to one of the boys, Freddie, a glass of punch in her hand. For the first time, she is wearing an evening gown and she has gained assurance from the admiration of the boy with her. She turns around and for the first time she sees George. For a second she loses her poise, staring at him.

FREDDIE'S VOICE: And the next thing I know, some guy came up and tripped me. That's the reason why I came in fourth. If it hadn't been for that . . .

CLOSE SHOT –– George, staring at Mary.

FREDDIE'S VOICE (cont'd): . . . that race would have been a cinch. I tried to find out who it was later . . .

CLOSEUP –– Mary, still staring at George, and smiling.

FREDDIE'S VOICE (cont'd): . . . but I couldn't find out. Nobody'd ever tell you whoever it was because they'd be scared. They know . . .

MEDIUM CLOSEUP –– Mary and Freddie. Marty comes into scene, followed by George.

FREDDIE (cont'd): . . . what kind of . . .

MARTY (interrupting): You remember George? This is Mary. Well, I'll be seeing you.

GEORGE: Well . . . Well . . . Well . . .

FREDDIE: Now, to get back to my story, see . . .

Mary hands her punch cup to Freddie, and she and George start dancing.

FREDDIE (cont'd): Hey, this is my dance!

GEORGE: Oh, why don't you stop annoying people?

FREDDIE: Well, I'm sorry. Hey!

MOVING SHOT –– following George and Mary as they dance.

GEORGE: Well, hello.

MARY: Hello. You look at me as if you didn't know me.

GEORGE: Well, I don't.

MARY: You've passed me on the street almost every day.

GEORGE: Me?

MARY: Uh-huh.

GEORGE: Uh-uh. That was a little girl named Mary Hatch. That wasn't you.

A WHISTLE is heard offscreen, and the MUSIC stops.

CLOSE SHOT –– Harry on the orchestra platform, whistle in hand.

HARRY: Oyez –– oyez –– oyez . . . The big Charleston contest. The prize? A genuine loving cup. Those not tapped by the judges will remain on the floor. Let's go!

CLOSEUP –– George and Mary. As the MUSIC starts and couples begin dancing once more, they look at each other.

GEORGE: I'm not very good at this.

MARY: Neither am I.

GEORGE: Okay –– what can we lose?

They start their Charleston. We see a SERIES OF SHOTS of various couples doing their routines, some good, some bad.

CLOSEUP –– Freddie leaning against the railing around the dance floor, looking daggers at George. Mickey, a young punk who has had one too many, is beside him.

MICKEY: What's the matter, Othello –– jealous? Did you know there's a swimming pool under this floor? And did you know that button behind you causes this floor to open up? And did you further know that George Bailey is dancing right over that crack? And I've got the key?

Freddie needs no more. He takes the key from Mickey and turns the switch. The floor begins to part in the middle, each half sliding under the bleacher seats. Pandemonium starts. Dancers begin to scream as they try to get off. Some are so engrossed in dancing they continue at top speed. Teachers and elders start to scurry off. As the floor opens, it reveals an attractive, lighted swimming pool.

George and Mary are so busy dancing they don't notice the floor opening. Spotlights concentrate on them. They mistake the screams for cheers.

CLOSE SHOT –– George and Mary dancing.

GEORGE: They're cheering us. We must be good.

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT –– the crowd watching George and Mary dancing. They move backwards until finally they reach the edge of the floor and fall into the pool below.

SERIES OF SHOTS –– George and Mary still trying to dance in the water –– the crowd on the edge cheering them –– some of the crowd leap into the pool –– the principal trying to restore order, finally clasps his hands like a diver and leaps in himself.