It’s a Wonderful Life

Hollywood has taken a beating lately for its supposed secularism. That’s unfair, considering that Tinseltown has produced some of our most iconic shared Christmas memories. Here’s an excerpt from a classic, produced 58 years ago. Incidentally, could there have been a George Bailey without a Jimmy Stewart?

EXTERIOR HOUSE -- NIGHT

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT

George stands a moment, stunned. Then he turns and runs out to the sidewalk, until his face fills the screen. His features are distorted by the emotional chaos within him. We see Clarence leaning on the mail box at the curb, holding his volume of “Tom Sawyer” in his hand.

CLARENCE

Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?

GEORGE (quietly, trying to use logic)

I’ve heard of things like this. You’ve got me in some kind of a spell, or something. Well, I’m going to get out of it. I’ll get out of it. I know how, too. I ... the last man I talked to before all this stuff started happening to me was Martini.

CLARENCE

You know where he lives?

GEORGE

Sure I know where he lives. He lives in Bailey Park.

They walk out of scene.

EXTERIOR CEMETERY -- NIGHT

MEDIUM SHOT -- George and Clarence approach the tree from which the “Bailey Park” sign once hung. Now it is just outside a cemetery, with graves where the houses used to be.

CLARENCE

Are you sure this is Bailey Park?

GEORGE

Oh, I’m not sure of anything anymore. All I know is this should be Bailey Park. But where are the houses?

The two walk into the cemetery.

CLARENCE (as they go)

You weren’t here to build them.

CLOSE MOVING SHOT -- George wandering like a lost soul among the tombstones, Clarence trotting at his heels. Again George stops to stare with frightened eyes at:

CLOSE SHOT -- a tombstone. Upon it is engraved a name, Harry Bailey. Feverishly, George scrapes away the snow covering the rest of the inscription, and we read:

IN MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED SON -- HARRY BAILEY -- 1911-1919.

CLOSE SHOT -- George and Clarence.

CLARENCE

Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine.

George jumps up.

GEORGE

That’s a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional

Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that

transport.

CLARENCE (sadly)

Every man on that transport died. Harry wasn’t there to save them because you weren’t there to save Harry. You see, George, you really had a wonderful life. Don’t you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?

CLOSEUP -- George and Clarence.

GEORGE

Clarence ...

CLARENCE

Yes, George?

GEORGE

Where’s Mary?

CLARENCE

Oh, well, I can’t ...

GEORGE

I don’t know how you know these things, but tell me -- where is

she?

George grabs Clarence by the coat collar and shakes him.

CLARENCE

I ...

GEORGE

If you know where she is, tell me where my wife is.

CLARENCE

I’m not supposed to tell.

GEORGE (becoming violent)

Please, Clarence, tell me where she is.

CLARENCE

You’re not going to like it, George.

GEORGE (shouting)

Where is she?

CLARENCE

She’s an old maid. She never married.

GEORGE (choking him)

Where’s Mary? Where is she?

CLARENCE

She’s ...

GEORGE

Where is she?

CLARENCE (in self-defense)

She’s just about to close up the library!

George lets Clarence go, and runs off. Clarence falls to the ground, where he rubs his neck.

CLARENCE (to himself)

There must be some easier way for me to get my wings.

*

Excerpt from “It’s a Wonderful Life”® used by permission of Republic Entertainment Inc.®, a Paramount/Viacom company. All rights reserved.