Daily Dialogue — October 22, 2015
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: 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!
— It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) screenplay by Francis Goodrich, Albert Hackett and Frank Capra
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Selflessness. Today’s suggestion by Rob Peterson.
Trivia: Frank Capra filmed a number of sequences that were later cut; the only remnants are rare stills that have been unearthed. A number of alternative endings were considered, with Capra’s first script having George fall to his knees saying The Lord’s Prayer (the script called for an opening scene with the townspeople in prayer). Feeling an overly religious tone didn’t have the emotional impact of family and friends coming to George’s rescue, the closing scenes were rewritten.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Rob: “Gave his ear to save his brother. Gave up college. Gave up his honeymoon. The whole movie is about sacrifice, but this scene shows how George influences ALL of Bedford Falls, not just the Building & Loan. When Mary shouts, “How much do you need?” it makes me tear up almost as much the famous ending. And, that Tom — what a jerk.”
Agreed. One of the central themes of the movie is selflessness. But in the end, George discovers his authentic sense of self. Also agreed: Tom is a jerk.