It's a Wonderful Life, Final ScriptMEDIUM CLOSE UP 末 Potter is seated at his desk, his goon beside him. He is signing some papers. George is seated in a chair before the desk, without a hat or coat, covered lightly with snow.
GEORGE: I'm in trouble, Mr. Potter. I need help. Through some sort of an accident my company's short in their accounts. The bank examiner's up there today. I've got to raise eight thousand dollars immediately.
POTTER (casually): Oh, so that's what the reporters wanted to talk to you about?
GEORGE (incredulous): The reporters?
POTTER: Yes. They called me up from your Building and Loan. Oh, there's a man over there from the D.A.'s office, too. He's looking for you.
GEORGE (desperate): Please help me, Mr. Potter. Help me, won't you please? Can't you see what it means to my family? I'll pay you any sort of a bonus on the loan . . . any interest. If you still want the Building and Loan, why I . . .
POTTER (interrupting): George, could it possibly be there's a slight discrepancy in the books?
GEORGE: No, sir. There's nothing wrong with the books. I've just misplaced eight thousand dollars. I can't find it anywhere.
POTTER (looking up): You misplaced eight thousand dollars?
GEORGE: Yes, sir.
POTTER: Have you notified the police?
GEORGE: No, sir. I didn't want the publicity. Harry's homecoming tomorrow . . .
POTTER (snorts): They're going to believe that one. What've you been doing, George? Playing the market with the company's money?
GEORGE: No, sir. No, sir. I haven't.
POTTER: What is it 末 a woman, then? You know, it's all over town that you've been giving money to Violet Bick.
GEORGE (incredulous): What?
POTTER: Not that it makes any difference to me, but why did you come to me? Why don't you go to Sam Wainwright and ask him for the money?
GEORGE: I can't get hold of him. He's in Europe.
POTTER: Well, what about all your other friends?
GEORGE: They don't have that kind of money, Mr. Potter. You know that. You're the only one in town that can help me.
POTTER: I see. I've suddenly become quite important. What kind of security would I have, George? Have you got any stocks?
GEORGE (shaking his head): No, sir.
POTTER: Bonds? Real estate? Collateral of any kind?
GEORGE (pulls out policy): I have some life insurance, a fifteen thousand dollar policy.
POTTER: Yes . . . how much is your equity in it?
GEORGE: Five hundred dollars.
POTTER (sarcastically): Look at you. You used to be so cocky! You were going to go out and conquer the world! You once called me a warped, frustrated old man. What are you but a warped, frustrated young man? A miserable little clerk crawling in here on your hands and knees and begging for help. No securities 末 no stocks 末 no bonds 末 nothing but a miserable little five hundred dollar equity in a life insurance policy. You're worth more dead than alive. Why don't you go to the riff-raff you love so much and ask them to let you have eight thousand dollar? You know why? Because they'd run you out of town on a rail . . .But I'll tell you what I'm going to do for you, George. Since the state examiner is still here, as a stockholder of the Building and Loan, I'm going to swear out a warrant for your arrest. Misappropriation of funds 末 manipulation 末 malfeasance . . .
George turns and starts out of the office as Potter picks up the phone and dials.
POTTER (cont'd): All right, George, go ahead. You can't hide in a little town like this.
George is out of the door by now. CAMERA MOVES CLOSER to Potter.
POTTER (cont'd)
(on phone): Bill? This is Potter.
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