Daily Dialogue — May 22, 2012

EXTERIOR RAILROAD STATION — DAY — FOUR YEARS LATER

MEDIUM SHOT — Characteristic activity; a number of people
waiting for the train. Uncle Billy is seated on a baggage wagon
eating peanuts as George
paces up and down in front of him.

JOSEPH’S VOICE
George got four years older, waiting for Harry to come back and
take over the Building and Loan.

GEORGE
Oh, there are plenty of jobs around for somebody that likes to
travel. Look at this.
(takes some folders from his pocket)
There . . . Venezuela oil fields — wanted, man with construction
experience. Here’s the Yukon, right here — wanted, man with
engineering experience.

The WHISTLE of the approaching train is heard.

GEORGE (cont’d)
Thar she blows. You know what the three most exciting sounds in
the world are?

UNCLE BILLY
Uh-huh. Breakfast is served; lunch is served; dinner . . .

GEORGE
No, no, no, no! Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles.

UNCLE BILLY
Peanut?

WIPE TO:

EXTERIOR TRAIN — DAY

MEDIUM SHOT — The train comes to a stop, and Harry is among the
first to get off, followed by an attractive girl about the same
age as he is. George
rushes into the shot, and as the brothers embrace:

GEORGE (joyously)
There’s the professor now! Old professor, Phi Beta Kappa Bailey!
All American!

HARRY
Well, if it isn’t old George Geographic Explorer Bailey! What? No
husky dogs? No sled?
(to Uncle Billy)
Uncle Billy, you haven’t changed a bit.

UNCLE BILLY
Nobody ever changes around here. You know that.

GEORGE
Oh, am I glad to see you.

HARRY
Say, where’s Mother?

GEORGE
She’s home cooking the fatted calf. Come on, let’s go.

HARRY
Oh, wait. Wait . . . Wait a minute.

CLOSE SHOT — the group, including Ruth Dakin. This is the young
lady who came off the train with Harry. In the excitement of
greetings she has been
momentarily forgotten. She stands, smiling, waiting.

GEORGE
Hello.

UNCLE BILLY
How do you do.

HARRY
Ruth Dakin.

RUTH
Ruth Dakin Bailey, if you don’t mind.

George and Uncle Billy stare, astounded.

UNCLE BILLY
Huh?

HARRY
Well, I wired you I had a surprise. Here she is. Meet the wife.

George is thunderstruck. He takes Ruth’s hand.

UNCLE BILLY
Well, what do you know — wife.

GEORGE
Well, how do you do. Congratulations. Congratulations. What am I
doing?

He kisses Ruth. CAMERA MOVES WITH them down the platform.

GEORGE
Harry, why didn’t you tell somebody?
(to Ruth)
What’s a pretty girl like you doing marrying this two-headed
brother of mine?

RUTH (smiling)
Well, I’ll tell you. It’s purely mercenary. My father offered him
a job.

George stops, with a sinking feeling. Uncle Billy and Ruth
continue out of shot. Harry stops with George.

UNCLE BILLY (as he moves off)
Oh, he gets you and a job? Well, Harry’s cup runneth over.

HARRY
George . . . about that job. Ruth spoke out of turn. I never said
I’d take it. You’ve been holding the bag here for four years, and
. . . well, I won’t let you
down, George. I would like to . . . Oh, wait a minute. I forgot
the bags. I’ll be right back.

He runs out of the shot, George watching him.

CLOSE SHOT — George slowly moves after Uncle Billy and Ruth. He
is thinking deeply.

UNCLE BILLY’S VOICE
It was a surprise to me. This is the new Mrs. Bailey, my nephew’s
wife. Old, old friend of the family.

RUTH’S VOICE
Oh, of course. I’ve heard him speak of you.

UNCLE BILLY’S VOICE
And I want to tell you, we’re going to give the biggest party
this town ever saw.

CAMERA MOVES WITH George as he comes into the scene. Ruth
detaches herself from the group and offers George some popcorn.

RUTH (to George)
Here, have some popcorn. George, George, George . . . that’s all
Harry ever talks about.

GEORGE (quietly)
Ruth, this . . . what about this job?

RUTH
Oh, well, my father owns a glass factory in Buffalo. He wants to
get Harry started in the research business.

GEORGE
Is it a good job?

RUTH
Oh, yes, very. Not much money, but a good future, you know.
Harry’s a genius at research. My father fell in love with him.

GEORGE
And you did, too?

Ruth nods, smiling.

— George (James Stewart), Harry (Todd Karns), Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell), Ruth (Virginia Patton), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), screenplay by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and Frank Capra, story by Philip Van Doren Stern

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is siblings suggested by mommyfollows. Today’s suggestion by typingprincess.

Trivia: James Stewart cited George Bailey as being his favorite character. The part was originally developed at another studio with Cary Grant earmarked for the role. When Frank Capra inherited the project, he rewrote it to suit Stewart.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Typingprincess commented about this scene: “The sibling relationship between George and Harry probably isn’t what most people think of when they consider this movie, but I’ve always loved how much is expressed between these brothers with what isn’t said.”