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

LA SCENEGGIATURA

EXTERIOR 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.

EXTERIOR 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.

MAN: Who?

BERT: The groom, idiot. Come on, get that ladder.

MAN (disgustedly): What are they –– ducks?

CLOSE SHOT –– side porch of house. Bert and the man are putting up travel posters to cover up the broken windows.

BERT: Get that ladder up here.

MAN: All right –– all right.

BERT: Hurry up . . . hurry up . . . hurry up.

MAN: I'm hurrying.

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT –– George is approaching the front door of the house, on which a sign is hanging: "Bridal Suite." Ernie looks out through the curtain covering the broken glass of the front door.

ERNIE: Hiya . . . Good evening, sir.

Ernie opens the door, revealing himself as a homemade butler. This has been accomplished by rolling up his pants and putting on an old coachman's hat. George enters.

ERNIE: Entray, monsieur, entray.

INTERIOR GRANVILLE HOUSE –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– George enters. The house is carpetless, empty –– the rain and wind cause funny noises upstairs. A huge fire is burning in the fireplace. Near the fireplace a collection of packing boxes are heaped together in the shape of a small table and covered with a checkered oil cloth. It is set for two. A bucket with ice and a champagne bottle sit on the table as well as a bowl of caviar. Two small chickens are impaled on a spit over the fire. A phonograph is playing on a box, and a string from the phonograph is turning the chickens on the spit. The phonograph is playing "Song of the Islands." Mary is standing near the fireplace looking as pretty as any bride ever looked. She is smiling at George, who has been slowly taking in the whole set-up. Through a door he sees the end of a cheap bed, over the back of which is a pair of pajamas and a nightie. Ernie exits and closes the door.

MARY (tears in her eyes): Welcome home, Mr. Bailey.

GEORGE (overcome): Well, I'll be . . . Mary, Mary, where did you . . .

They rush into each other's arms and hold each other in ecstasy.

EXTERIOR SIDE OF HOUSE –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– Bert and Ernie, standing in the pouring rain, start singing "I Love You Truly."

INTERIOR HOUSE –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– George and Mary. They remain embraced.

GEORGE: Oh, Mary . . .

MARY: Remember the night we broke the windows in this old house? This is what I wished for.

GEORGE: Darling, you're wonderful.

EXTERIOR SIDE OF HOUSE –– NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT –– Bert and Ernie. They finish their song, and Ernie kisses Bert on the forehead. Bert slams Ernie's hat on his head.