Corny, who do you think you're talking to?
If the attorneys don't know who the heir is, who does?
Come on. I've done you a lot of favours. Who's getting the Semple dough?
You're asking the wrong guy. I'm only a press agent.
- Newspaperman? - Wants to know the heir.
- Hang up. - Sorry, Mac, I can't...
- Yeah, but I ain't the attorney. - Hang up!
Mr Cedar is, and I haven't seen him in two days.
- Cedar, we gotta deal with the papers. - I'm not interested.
But it's a great story. Somewhere a guy is walking into 20 million bucks.
My concern is to locate the lucky man.
When I do, keep the newspapers away.
OK, as long as that weekly stipend keeps coming in.
We located him, Mr Cedar.
- Yes, John, we got him. - Here.
Longfellow Deeds, 28, Mandrake Falls, Vermont.
- Thank heaven. - Wire him.
No. I'm going there myself. You too, Anderson. You too, Cobb.
Make three train reservations to Mandrake Falls.
- Where? - Mandrake Falls.
"Welcome to Mandrake Falls...
"where the scenery enthralls...
"where no hardship e'er befalls.
"Welcome to Mandrake Falls. " That's pretty.
- You're sure he lives here? - This is the town, all right.
Well, I hope it's not a wild-goose chase.
No, sir, we checked it thoroughly. He lives here, all right.
I spy a native. Let's ask him.
- Good morning. - Morning, neighbours, morning.
That's an excellent start. At least we've broken the ice.
Do you know a fellow called Longfellow Deeds?
Deeds? Yes, sir. Yes, indeedy.
- Everyone knows Deeds. - Must be a game he's playing.
We'd like to get in touch with him.
- Who's that? - Deeds. Who do you think?
Oh, yes, Deeds. Fine fellow. Very democratic.
You won't have no trouble at all. Talks to anybody.
We'd better try somebody else.
Next time he comes out, I'll straddle him while you ask him your questions.
Morning, neighbours.
Remember us, the fellows who were here a minute ago?
Oh, yes, indeedy. I never forget a face.
Listen, pop.
We've come all the way from New York to look up Deeds.
It's important. It's very important.
Don't get rough, neighbour. Just ask.
Then please pretend, for just one fleeting moment, that I'm asking.
- Where does he reside? - Who?
Longfellow Deeds. Where does he live?
Oh, that's what you want. Why didn't you say so in the first place?
Those fellows don't know what they're talking about. I'll take you there.
If they'd only explained to me, there'd be no trouble.
Oh. Will you come in, please, gentlemen?
- Is Mr Deeds in? - No.
He's at the park arranging a bazaar to raise money for the fire engine.
Mal, you knew he was in the park.
Yeah, but they wanted to see the house.
Can't read their minds if they don't say what they want.
Come in, please.
- A cup of tea? - No, thank you.
Sit down. Sure I couldn't get you a glass of lemonade or something?
That's very kind of you.
- Are you related to him? - No, I'm his housekeeper.
We'd like to find out what he does for a living.
He and Jim Mason own the tallow works, but that's not how he makes his money.
- He makes most of it from his poetry. - He writes poetry?
Oh, my goodness, yes. Longfellow's famous.
He writes all those things on postcards.
You know, for Christmas and Easter and birthdays.
Sit down, please. Here's one. He got $25 for this one.
"When you've nowhere to turn and you're filled with doubt,
"don't stand in midstream hesitating,
"for you know that your mother's heart cries out,
"I'm waiting, my boy, I'm waiting."
Isn't that beautiful? Isn't it a lovely sentiment?
Yeah.
Here he is now.
Break it to him gently. He's liable to keel over from shock.
They've been waiting a long while.
- Who are they? - I don't know.
- Mr Longfellow Deeds? - Yes.
How do you do?
I'm John Cedar, of the New York firm of Cedar, Cedar, Cedar & Budington.
Cedar, Cedar, Cedar & Budington.
Budington must feel like an awful stranger.
- Mr Cornelius Cobb. Mr Anderson. - How do you do?
You gentlemen make yourselves comfortable.
Thank you.
Thanks.
New mouthpiece. Been waitin' two weeks for this.
Kids keep swiping them all the time. They use 'em for bean shooters.
- What can I do for you? - Will you stay to lunch?
- I'd like to ask you a few questions. - All right.
- Are you Joseph and Mary Deeds' son? - Yes.
- Your parents living? - Why, no.
Well, Mr Deeds, does the name of Martin W Semple mean anything to you?
Not much. He's my uncle, I think.
I never saw him. My mother's name was Semple.
Well, he passed on. He was killed in a motor accident in Italy.
He was? Gee, that's too bad.
- If there's anything I can do... - I have good news for you, sir.
Mr Semple left a large fortune when he died. He left it all to you.
Deducting the taxes,
it amounts to something in the neighbourhood of $20 million.
How about lunch? Are the gentlemen staying?
Of course.
She's got some fresh orange layer cake with that thick stuff on the top.
Sure. They don't want to go to the hotel.
Perhaps you didn't hear what I said, Mr Deeds.
The whole Semple fortune goes to you. $20 million.
Oh, yes, I heard you, all right. Twenty million is quite a lot.
- It'll do in a pinch. - Yes, indeed.
I wonder why he left me all that money. I don't need it.
Mr Cobb is an ex-newspaperman.
Associated with your uncle for many years, as a buffer.
Buffer?
Yeah. A glorified doormat.
Rich people need someone to keep away the crowds. Then there's the newspapers.
One must know when to seek publicity and when to avoid it.
Cedar, Cedar, Cedar & Budington. I can't think of a rhyme for "Budington".
Why should you?
Whenever I run across a funny name, I like to find a rhyme. Don't you?
No.
- I've got one for Cobb. - Yeah?
There once was a man named Cobb who kept Semple away from the mob.
Came the turn of the tide, Semple died. Now poor Cobb's out of a job.
- Sounds like two weeks' notice to me. - Huh?
I've gotten the sackeroo in many ways, but never in rhyme.
- I don't mean that. I'll need your help. - That's different, if it's just poetry.
- Are you married? - Who, me? No.
No, he's too fussy for that. That's the matter with him.
There's lots of nice girls right here in Mandrake Falls...
Don't pay any attention to her.
He's got a lot of foolish notions about saving a lady in distress.
Now, you keep out of this.
Saving a lady in distress, eh? We all have dreams like that when we're young.
Incidentally, we'd better get started. You'll have to pack.
- What for? - You're going to New York with us.
- When? - Four o'clock.
I don't think we've got any suitcases.
Well, we could borrow a couple from Mrs Simpson.
She went to Niagara Falls last year.
I'm nervous. I've never been away from Mandrake Falls in my life.
- Like to see Grant's tomb. - I understand.
We'll meet you at the train at 4.00. Congratulations, Mr Deeds.
You're one of the richest men in the country. See you later.
- See you later, kid. - Good day, sir.
Did you hear what he said? Know how much 20 million is?
I don't care. You sit there and eat your lunch. You haven't touched a thing.
For he's a jolly good fellow For he's a jolly good fellow
Which nobody can deny
I can't find him. I looked everywhere. His house is locked up.
- A change of heart. - He wasn't anxious to come.
Here comes the train.
- Look. - What?
That tuba player.
Well...
now I've seen everything.
Goodbye, Mrs Meredith!
Goodbye, Jim!
Bye, Buddy!
Gosh, I got a lot of friends.
- Have a drink? - No, thanks.
- Cigar? - No, thank you.
I wouldn't worry if I were you.
A large portion like this entails great responsibility, but you'll have help.
So don't worry. Leave everything to me.
- I wasn't worried about that. - No?
I was wondering where they're gonna get another tuba player for the band.
- Hello, John. Where you been? - I've been fishing.
Good morning, Mr Cedar.
Good morning. Where are they?
- Waiting for you. - Good morning, Mr Cedar.
- Good morning. - Morning.
- Hello, boys. - Well, what's he like?
We've nothing to worry about. He's as naive as a child. Close that door.
- Get Mrs Cedar on the phone. - What happened?
The smartest thing I did was to make that trip.
- Did you get? - No, but I will get the power of attorney.
I asked him what he was going to do with the money. Know what he said?
Give it away.
- He must be a nitwit. - You had the right hunch.
- John, we can't afford... - I know, Budington.
We can't afford to have the books investigated.
You've said that a thousand times.
- What if they fall into someone's hands? - It hasn't happened yet.
- Half a million dollars, my goodness... - Will you stop worrying!
I got Semple to turn it all over to us. And who got power of attorney from him?
All right, then I'll get it again.
Take it easy. Those books will never leave this office.
Yokel. Nothing but a yokel.
Your uncle was mad leaving all that money to him.
You're as closely related to him as he is, and what did you get?
- I say, what did you get? - Stop yelling.
- He didn't like me. - I told you to be nice to him.
Ten years we've waited for him to kick off.
Then we were gonna be on Easy Street. Yeah, on Easy Street.
- It's too late now. You're a nuisance. - That's just what I'm gonna be.
Until I get some of that money.
He's news! Every time he blows his nose, it's news.
A corn-fed bohunk falling into the Semple fortune is hot copy.
It's gotta be personal with an angle.
What does he think about? How does it feel to be a millionaire?
What does he think of New York? Is he smart, dumb?
He's been here three days. What have you brought in?
- A halfwit could've done better. - We tried...
Am I talking too loud or annoying anybody?
You know Corny Cobb. He's keeping him under lock and key.
Never mind. Use what little brains you've got.
Find out something for yourselves, you imbecilic stupes.
Now get out of here before I really tell you what I think of you.
- What was that? - I said you had dirty plaster.
You too. Thought I could depend on you, but you're as bad as the rest.
- Look. I can do it. - What's gotten into you, Babe?
You'd blast this town open before letting Cobb get away with this.
He's not getting away with anything.
Get some stuff on him and you can have...
- A month's vacation? - With pay.
With pay? Leave four columns open on the front page tomorrow.
I'll keep the whole front page open.
- What are you gonna do? - Have lunch.
The first time I ever had a suit made on purpose.
It's merely a suggestion, Mr Deeds,
but if you give me power of attorney, we'll take care of everything.
Everyone will try to sell you something.
There have been a lot of them already. Strange people.
Salesmen, politicians, all want something.
Haven't had a minute to see Grant's tomb.
Your uncle didn't bother with that sort of thing.
He travelled, enjoyed himself. You should do the same thing.
Besides wanting to be my lawyer, you want to handle my investments?
- Yes. That is to say... - How much extra would it cost?
- No extra charge. - That's a lot of extra work.
But that's a service Cedar, Cedar, Cedar & Budington usually donates.
Budington. I can't think of a rhyme for Budington yet.
The gentlemen from the opera are still waiting in the boardroom.
They're getting a trifle impatient.
I forgot. What do they want?
Your uncle was chairman. They expect you to carry on.
I'll tell them to keep their shirts on and that you'll be down.
Oh, did you send that telegram to Jim Mason yet?
Jim Mason? Oh, yeah, yeah.
No, I didn't send it. I've got it written out, though. Here it is.
"Arthur's been with the tallow works too long.
"Don't think we should fire him. Longfellow. "
Send it. I don't want him to fire Arthur.
Sure, we don't want to fire Arthur.
Arthur was the last baby my father delivered.
You ought to give this matter some thought.
I mean about the power of attorney.
Oh, yes, I will. I'll give it a lot of thought.
A fellow named Winslow here wanted to handle my business for nothing too.
Puzzles me why they want to work for nothing. It isn't natural.
I'd better think about it some more.
That's that.
You go to an awful lot of work to keep a fella warm.
- Yes, sir. - A Mr Hallor to see you, sir.
- Hallor? Don't let him in. - Why not? Who's he?
A lawyer representing a woman. A claim against the estate.
If he has a claim, we'd better see him. Send him in.
He'll cause you a lot of trouble.
How can he make trouble for me? I haven't done anything.
- I told you to take this up with me. - I'm tired of being pushed around.
I don't care how important you are.
- I represent Mrs Semple. - Mrs Semple?
Your uncle's common-law wife has a claim.
- Let the courts decide... - You wouldn't dare take this to court.
I'll leave it to you. Would any court not be in sympathy with a woman
who gave up her best years for your uncle?
- What kind of wife did you say? - Common-law wife.
- On top of that, there's a child. - Child? My uncle?
Yes, sir.
That's awful. She should be taken care of.
Glad to see you're willing to be reasonable.
As his wife, she should have the money. I don't want it...
Don't make any rash promises.
That opera mob is about to break into the mad song from Lucia.
I don't wanna keep them waiting.
- Very good, sir. - I can't go down like this.
Go along with me, Cobb. They're strangers to me.
- What about it, Mr Deeds? - Huh?
Oh. You'll excuse me, won't you? I'll be right back.
Do the opera people always come here for meetings?
- Uh-huh. - Why's that?
Why do mice go where there's cheese?
I'm led to believe the young man's quite childish.
We'll have no difficulty getting the entire amount.
- After all, it's only $180,000. - Excellent idea.
We're very fortunate the young man is so sympathetic toward music.
He plays the tuba in the town band.
- Here he comes. - Good.
The first order of business will be electing a new chairman of the board.
As a gesture toward the best friend that opera ever had, the late Mr Semple,
it's fitting his nephew, Longfellow Deeds, be made our next chairman.
- I therefore nominate him. - Seconded.
- All those in favour? - Aye!
Carried. Our congratulations, Mr Deeds.
- I'm chairman? - Yes. You've just been elected.
- I'm chairman! - Happy voyage.
Right here, Mr Deeds.
- Next, the secretary's minutes. - Move we dispense with it.
- Seconded. - All in favour?
- Aye! - I think they can be dispensed with.
- Now, the treasurer's report. - Dispense with it.
- Seconded. - All in favour?
Quite right. Now, gentlemen, the next order of business...
Just a minute. What does the chairman do?
Well, the chairman presides the meeting.
That's what I thought.
But, if you don't mind, I'm rather interested in the treasurer's report.
The treasurer reports a deficit of $180,000 for the current year.
A deficit? We lost that much?
You see, Mr Deeds, the opera is not conducted for profit.
- It isn't? What is it conducted for? - It's an artistic institution.
- We own an opera house, don't we? - We do.
- And we give shows? - We provide opera.
- But you charge? You sell tickets? - Of course.
- And it doesn't pay? - Impossible. The opera has never paid.
Well, we must give the wrong kind of shows.
There isn't any wrong or right kind. Opera is opera.
I guess, but I wouldn't care to be head of a business that kept losing money.
That's not common sense. Incidentally, where is the $180,000 coming from?
Well, we were rather expecting it to come from you.
- Me? - Naturally.
Excuse me, gentlemen. There's nothing natural about that.
Fire engine!
Gee, that was a pip!
We're gonna have one like that in Mandrake Falls soon, with a siren too.
Where were we?
The opera is not conducted like any ordinary business.
- Why not? - Because it just isn't a business.
Maybe not to you, but it certainly is to me,
if I have to make up a loss of $180,000.
If it's losing that much, something's wrong.
Maybe you charge too much, sell bad merchandise.
A lot of things.
You see, I expect to do a lot of good with that money,
and I can't afford to put it into anything I don't look into.
That's my decision for the time being, gentlemen.
Goodbye, and thank you for making me chairman.
Gentlemen, you'll find the smelling salts in the medicine chest.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Those opera people are funny. They wanted me to put up $180,000.
- What about it? - I turned them down, naturally.
- No, I mean about my client. - Oh.
We'll have to do something about her.
- Tails tonight, sir? - Tails? Why, that's a monkey suit.
You want people to laugh at me? I've never worn one.
Goodbye, and thank you, sir.
Goodbye. Wants me to wear a monkey suit.
- We don't want to appear greedy. - Huh?
- I say, we don't want to appear greedy. - Oh, that.
- What are you doing? - Assisting you, sir.
I don't want anybody holding the ends of my pants. Get up from there.
Imagine that. Holding the ends of my pants.
Mrs Semple is entitled to one third of the estate.
- Don't ever get on your knees again. - No, sir.
What'd you say?
Mrs Semple is entitled to one third of the estate.
One third? That's about $7 million.
Well, we didn't expect that much.
I can get her to settle for one million.
Take up any settlement talk with my office.
I'll do no such thing.
There's only one place you're going, and that's out the door.
- You're making a mistake. - Oh, no, I'm not. I don't like your face.
Besides, there's something fishy about settling for a million
when you can get seven million.
I'm surprised Mr Cedar, who's supposed to be smart, couldn't see through that.
Now, wait a minute, buddy!
One nice thing about being rich, you ring a bell and things happen.
When the servant comes in, I'll ask him to show you to the door.
No use in getting tough. That'll get you nowhere. We've got letters.
- Show Mr Hallor to the front door. - Yes, sir.
There isn't any wife, there aren't any letters, and you're a crook,
so you'd better watch your step.
I can't hold out any longer.
- Lamb bites wolf. Beautiful. - It's only common sense.
I can't hold out any longer either.
Being your attorney will be very simple.
You're not my attorney yet, not till I find out what's on your mind.
Get the books straightened out so I can have a look at 'em.
Yes, of course, if you wish.
But you must be prepared. This will be daily routine.
If it becomes annoying, you let me know.
Goodbye, Mr Deeds.
Goodbye, sir.
Even his hands are oily.
Tonight, what would you like in the way of entertainment?
Entertainment?
Your uncle had a weakness for dark ones. Tall and stately.
How would you like yours? Dark or fair?
Tall or short? Fat or thin? Tough or tender?
- What are you talking about? - Women. Ever heard of 'em?
Oh!
- Name your poison, and I'll supply it. - Some other time, Cobb.
OK. You're the boss.
When your blood begins to boil, yell out. I'll be seeing you.
- He talks about women like cattle. - Every man to his taste, sir.
Are all these stories I hear about my uncle true?
Well, sir, he sometimes had as many as 20 in the house at the same time.
- Twenty? What'd he do with 'em? - That is something I never found out.
- Hey! You going out? - Yes. Isn't that all right?
No. You never go out without telling us.
- Who are you? - We're your bodyguards.
- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.
Mr Cobb said stick to your tail.
That's very nice, but I don't want anybody sticking to my tail.
Sorry, mister. Orders is orders.
We get you up in the morning, put you to bed at night.
No matter what we see, we don't see nothin'.
- That's gonna be fun. - Some people like it.
- Will you do something for me first? - Sure.
Put that away, slug. At your service.
- Would you get my trunk out for me? - Certainly.
With pleasure.
We're your bodyguards! You can't do this!
There he is.
- That's him. - That's who?
- Get your cameras, follow me. - What you gonna do?
Never mind. Grab whatever you can get.
It's gonna be the same old thing.
- That dame's nuts. - Right.
You fainted.
Oh, did I? I'm sorry.
- Can I help you? - No, thank you. I'll be all right.
This is my house. I'd like to...
Oh, no, really, I'll be all right.
- What happened? - Well, I guess I walked too much.
I've been looking for a job all day. I found one too. I start tomorrow.
You've been awfully kind. Thank you very much.
Hey! Taxi!
Hey, Stu, follow that cab they just got into, will ya?
- Hurry up! Step on it! - Come on, let's go!
Feel better now?
This tastes so good.
I don't know how I can ever thank you.
Tell me more about yourself.
Well, I guess I've told you almost everything there is to tell.
My folks live in a small town near Hartford.
I'm down here alone trying to make a living.
I'm really just a nobody.
Oh, that was so lovely. Thank you.
You were a lady in distress, weren't you?
- What? - Nothing.
Waiter.
- Has anybody come in yet? - Uh, no. Nobody important.
Be sure and point them out to me.
I'm a writer myself, you know. I write poetry.
Well... you've been having quite an exciting time, haven't you?
With all these meetings, business deals, society people.
- Haven't you been having fun? - No.
That is, I didn't until I met you. I like talking to you, though.
Imagine my finding you right on my doorstep.
- Brookfield's just come in. - Who? The poet? Where?
Over at that big round table. The one that looks like a poodle.
- Look, there's Brookfield, the poet. - Really?
Pardon. Longfellow Deeds, who inherited the Semple fortune, wants to meet you.
Oh, yes. I read about him. He writes poetry on postcards.
Invite him over. Might get a couple of laughs.
- Getting rather dull around here. - It's always dull here.
- I'll get him. - Good.
Mr Henneberry. Mr Morrow. Bill.
This is Mr Deeds and his fiancée from Mandrake Falls.
How do you do, Mr Deeds?
Nice of you to ask us to come and sit with you.
Back home we never get to meet famous people.
- Waiter, a little service here. - Yes, a drink for Mr Deeds.
- I don't want it, thank you. - All poets drink.
How do you go about writing your poems?
We are very interested in one another's methods.
Do you have to wait for an inspiration, or do you just dash it off?
- Well, I... - Morrow just dashes them off.
Yeah. That's what my publishers have been complaining about.
- Well, your readers don't complain. - Oh. Thanks.
How about you, Mr Deeds?
Well, I write mine on order.
The people I work for tell me what they want, and then I write it.
Amazing!
Why, that's true genius.
Have you any peculiar characteristics when you're creating?
- Well, I... I play the tuba. - How original.
I've been playing the harmonica for 40 years. Didn't do me a bit of good.
You wouldn't have one in your pocket?
What, a tuba?
No, a postcard with one of your poems on it.
- Oh, no. - You don't carry a pocketful with you?
Oh, too bad. I was hoping you'd autograph one for me.
- I was too. - Now, wait a minute, boys.
Perhaps Mr Deeds would recite one for us.
That's a very good idea.
Nothing like a poet reciting his own stuff.
How about a Mother's Day poem?
Exactly. Give us one that rings the great American heart.
Yes. Go ahead.
I get the idea. I know why I was invited here. To make fun of me.
- Oh, not at all. - Don't be ridiculous.
- Look, he's temperamental. - What if I am? What about it?
It's easy to make fun of somebody if you don't care how much you hurt 'em.
Your poems are swell, Mr Brookfield, but I'm disappointed in you.
I must look funny to you,
but if you went to Mandrake Falls you'd look as funny,
only nobody'd laugh at you, because that wouldn't be good manners.
Maybe postcard poems are comical, but people think they're good.
Anyway, it's the best I can do. So if you'll excuse me, we'll be leaving.
I guess I found out that all famous people aren't big people.
And if it weren't for Miss Dawson, I'd bump your heads together.
Oh, I don't mind.
Then I guess maybe I will.
Waiter!
Eureka!
Stop it. Go away, go away.
Step aside.
Say, fella, you neglected me and I feel very put out.
Look, sock it right there, will ya? Sock it hard.
- I've got it off my chest. - Oh, listen.
The difference between them and me is I know when I've been a skunk.
You take me to the nearest news-stand and I'll eat a pack of your postcards raw.
Oh, what a magnificent deflation of smugness!
Pal, you've added ten years to my life.
A poet with a straight left and a right hook? Delicious. Delicious.
You're my guest from now on, for ever and a day, even unto eternity.
- Thanks, but we're going sightseeing. - Fine. Fine. Swell.
You've just shown me a sight lovely to behold, and I'd like to reciprocate.
Listen, you hop aboard my magic carpet... Thanks...
I'll show you sights that you've never seen before.
Grant's tomb and the Statue of Liberty?
You'll not only see those, but before the evening's through,
you'll be leaning against the Tower of Pisa, mount Mount Everest.
I'll show you the pyramids and all the sphinxes.
Pal, how would you like to go on a real old-fashioned binge?
- Binge? - Yeah, I mean the real McCoy.
Play saloon with me,
and I'll introduce you to every wit, nitwit and halfwit in New York.
We'll go on a twister that'll make Omar the soused philosopher of Persia
look like an anaemic on a goat's milk diet.
- That oughta be fun, huh? - Fun? Say...
Listen, I'll take you on a bender
that will live in your memory as a thing of beauty and a joy for ever.
Boy? Boy, my headpiece!
O Tempora! O Mores! O Bacchus!
- Oh, you're drunk. - Oh, you're right!
- If we go with him, we'll see things. - I guess we will.
"I play the tuba to help me think.
"A statement made by Longfellow Deeds, New York's new Cinderella Man,
"who last night proved that his late uncle from whom he inherited $20 million,
"was an amateur in the art of standing the town on its cauliflower ear. "
"Cinderella Man. " That's sensational, Babe, sensational.
Took some high-powered acting.
- Did it? - I was the world's sweetest ingenue.
Is he really that big a sap?
He's the original. There are no carbon copies of that one.
"Cinderella Man. " That'll stick to him for the rest of his life.
Can you imagine Cobb's face when he reads this?
If we sold tickets, we'd make a fortune.
- How'd you get the picture? - Had the boys follow us.
Marvellous. "At two this morning, Mr Deeds tied up traffic
"while he fed a bagful of doughnuts to a horse.
"When asked why, he replied,
"To see how many doughnuts the horse would eat before he asked for coffee. "
Beautiful! What happened after that?
I had to write the story. He was so drunk he never missed me.
When are you gonna see him again?
Tonight, maybe. I'll phone him at noon. My lunch hour...
- I'm a stenographer. Mary Dawson. - You're a genius, Babe, a genius.
I moved into Mabel Dawson's apartment, in case Cobb might start looking around.
Good. Don't show your face here. I'll say you're on vacation.
No one'll know where the stories are coming from.
You can get an exclusive out of him every day.
We'll have the other papers crazy.
- Babe, I could kiss ya! - Oh, no. No.
- Our deal was for a month's vacation. - Sure.
- With pay. - You'll get it, Babe.
Mr Deeds. Mr Deeds, sir.
You really must get up. It's late.
- You're Walter, aren't you? - Yes, sir.
Just wanted to make sure.
If you'll permit me to say so, sir, you were out on quite a bender last night.
Bender? You're wrong, Walter.
We started out to a binge, but we never got to it.
Yes, sir.
- What's that? - A prairie oyster, sir.
Prairie oyster?
Yes, sir. It makes the head feel smaller.
Oh.
- Has Miss Dawson called yet? - No Miss Dawson has called, sir.
She was the lady in distress. She wouldn't let me help her.
- Had a lot of pride. I like that. - Oh, I do too, sir.
I'd better call her up and apologise. I don't remember taking her home.
I'd venture, you don't remember much of what happened last night, sir.
What do you mean? I remember everything.
Hand me my pants. I wrote her phone number on a piece of paper.
You have no pants, sir.
You came home last night without them.
- I did what? - You came home without any clothes.
You were in your shorts. Yes, sir.
I couldn't walk around on the streets without any clothes. I'd be arrested.
- That's what the two policemen said. - What two policemen?
They brought you home.
They said you kept walking up and down the street shouting,
"Back to nature! Clothes are a blight on civilisation! Back to nature!"
Listen, Walter, if a man named Morrow calls up, tell him I'm not in.
He may be a great author, but...
I think he's crazy. The man's crazy, Walter!
Yes, sir.
Oh, by the way, did you?
- The knee. - But how will I put on the slipper, sir?
Yes, sir.
I beg pardon, sir, but did you ever find what you were looking for, sir?
Looking for?
You kept searching my pockets last night, sir.
You said you were looking for a rhyme for "Budington".
- Better bring me some coffee. - Very good, sir. I beg pardon.
A telegram came for you, sir.
I'll get you some black coffee, sir.
Did you see all this stuff in the paper?
- Arthur wants to quit. - Arthur? Who's Arthur?
He's the shipping clerk at the tallow works.
Wants a $2 raise, or he'll quit.
What do I care? Did you see this stuff in the paper?
How did it get in there? What did you do last night?
What did you do to those bodyguards? Said you locked them up.
- They insisted on following me. - What do you think bodyguards are for?
- What do they mean, "Cinderella Man"? - Are those stories true?
"Cinderella Man"?
They'd call you anything if you gave 'em a chance. They got you down as a sap.
- I'll punch this editor in the nose. - No, you don't! Get this clear.
Socking people in the nose is no solution for anything.
- Sometimes it's the only solution. - Not editors. Take my word for it.
- If they're gonna poke fun at me... - Listen, Longfellow. You got brains, kid.
You'll do swell if you curb your homicidal instincts and keep your trap shut.
These newshounds are gunning for you.
- What about this "Cinderella Man"? - I'll take care of that, if you'll help me.
But I can't do anything if you go around talking to people.
Will you promise me to be careful from now on?
- Yes, I guess I'll have to. - Thank you.
If you feel the building rock, it'll be me, blasting into this editor.
Cobb's right. I mustn't talk to anybody.
- Miss Dawson on the phone, sir. - Who? Miss Dawson?
- Yes, sir. - Fine. Give me the phone, quick.
She's the only one I'm gonna talk to.
- Awfully nice of you to show me around. - I enjoy it.
The aquarium was swell. If I lived in New York, I'd go every day. I bet you do.
I'd like to, but I have a job to think of.
- You'd better keep following that bus! - Keep your shirt on!
- No pictures tonight. - I oughta get him drunk again.
Got any news? I mean, has anything exciting been happening lately?
Sure. I met you.
What's happening about the opera?
Oh, that. We had another meeting. I told 'em I'd be chairman if...
- I'm chairman, you know. - Yeah, I know.
I told 'em I'd play along if they lowered prices,
cut down expenses and broadcast.
Oh. What'd they say?
Gee, you look pretty tonight.
- What'd they say? - Huh? Oh.
They said I was crazy, that I wanted to run it like a grocery store.
- What are they going to do? - Do you always wear your hair like that?
Isn't it a scream? "Cinderella Man. " The dope.
I'd like to get my hooks into that guy.
Someone's probably taking him for plenty.
If they were men, I'd knock their heads together.
- Have you seen the papers? - Uh-huh.
That's what I like about you. You think about a man's feelings.
I'd like to punch the fella in the nose that's writing that stuff.
"Cinderella Man. "
Pretty soon everybody'll be calling me Cinderella Man.
Would you like to walk the rest of the way? It's so nice out.
- Yes. - Yeah, let's.
Hey, wise guys, he's getting off.
Come on, pull up to the kerb!
Oh, come on. Don't you want to see it?
Well, feast your eyes. Grant's tomb.
Is that it?
Hey, beetle puss. The tomb.
Well, there you are. Grant's tomb. I hope you're not disappointed.
- It's wonderful. - To most people it's an awful let-down.
Huh?
I say, to most people it's a washout.
That depends on what they see.
- And what do you see? - Me?
Oh, I see a small Ohio farm boy becoming a great soldier.
I see thousands of marching men.
I see General Lee, with a broken heart, surrendering.
I can see the beginning of a new nation, like Abraham Lincoln said.
And I can see that Ohio boy being inaugurated as president.
Things like that can only happen in a country like America.
Excuse me.
Sorry, Mr Hopper. Mr Cedar won't answer his phone.
What's going on?
The three C's and B have been in there over an hour.
I don't want to be critical, but...
I know. We haven't got power of attorney.
- But you said... - I can't strangle him, can I?
It's ridiculous for us to worry about him.
Look at these articles. "Cinderella Man. "
- He's carrying on like a idiot. - Exactly what I said...
Who cares?
- Yeah? - Mr and Mrs Semple are waiting.
- Let 'em wait. - They've been in every day this week.
- Who? - Relatives of old man Semple.
They keep insisting they should have some nuisance value.
- Nuisance value? - If not for Deeds, they'd be rich.
Nuisance value... Maybe they have.
Maybe they have, maybe they have...
Mr and Mrs Semple, please.
How do you do? I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting.
What was my secretary thinking, keeping you waiting this long?
- Will you have a cigar, Mr Semple? - Thanks.
- There's Times Square. - You can almost spit on it.
Why don't you try?
It's breezy up here.
You're worried about those articles they're writing about you?
Oh, I'm not worrying any more.
They'll go on writing 'em until they get tired.
You don't believe all that stuff, do you?
- They just do it to sell the newspapers. - Yeah, I guess so.
What puzzles me is why people seem to get so much pleasure
out of hurting each other.
Why don't they try liking each other once in a while?
Shall we go?
Here's a nice place.
Yeah. Anyway, there aren't any photographers around.
You said something to me when you first met me I've thought about a great deal.
- What's that? - You said I was a lady in distress.
Oh, that.
- What did you mean by that? - Nothing.
Have you got a?
Are you engaged or anything?
- No. Are you? - No.
- You don't go out with girls very much. - I haven't.
- Why not? - Oh, I don't know.
You must've met a lot of society girls. Don't you like them?
I haven't met anybody here that I like particularly.
They all seem to have St Vitus' Dance. Except you, of course.
People here are funny.
They work so hard at living, they forget how to live.
Last night, after I left you,
I was walking along, looking at the tall buildings,
and I got to thinkin' about what Thoreau said.
"They created a lot of grand palaces here,
"but they forgot to create the noblemen to put in them. "
I'd rather have Mandrake Falls.
- I'm from a small town too, you know. - Really?
- Probably as small as Mandrake Falls. - What do you know about that!
It's a beautiful little town, too.
Grove poplar trees right along main street.
Always smells as if it just had a bath.
- I've often thought about going back. - You have?
Oh, yes.
I used to have a lot of fun there. I loved going fishing with my father.
You know, that's funny. He was a lot like you, my father was.
He talked like you, too.
Sometimes he let me hold the line while he smoked.
We'd just sit there for hours.
After a while, for no reason, I'd go over, kiss him, sit in his lap.
He never said very much, but once I remember him saying,
"No matter what happens, honey, don't complain. "
He sounds like a person well worth knowing.
- He played in the town band, too. - He did?
- I play the tuba. - Yeah, I know.
- What did he play? - Drums. He taught me to play some.
- He did? - Mm-hmm. I can do Swanee River.
- Would you like to hear me? - Sure.
Let's see, now.
- Oh, I suppose you could do better. - Sure. I can sing Humoresque.
I bet you don't even know how it goes.
Sure. You sing it over again, and I'll do Humoresque with it.
- You better be good. - Do they want to make it a quartet?
- Ready? - Yeah.
Fire engines.
Fire engine! I wanna see how they do it. Wait for me.
Looks like the evening won't be wasted.
Hello. What do you want?
Captain Deeds, fire volunteer, Mandrake Falls.
Hi, Cap. Boys, meet the captain.
- What's the matter, hon? - Nothing.
What's up, Babe? Something's eatin' you.
No, it's nothing.
My unfailing instinct tells me something's wrong.
Don't be ridiculous.
You haven't gotten very far. That's where you were an hour ago.
Let's go down to Joe's. The gang's waitin'.
I can't write it. I don't know what's the matter with me.
Uh-uh.
Hello? Yeah, she's here. Who wants her?
Who?
Oh, yes. Yes, just a moment.
It's him. Whatchamacallit. The Cinderella Man.
Hello.
Couldn't sleep. Wanted to talk to you. Do you mind?
No, not at all. I couldn't sleep either.
I wanted to thank you again for going out with me.
Huh?
I don't know what I'd do without you. You've made up for all the fakes I've met.
Well, that's very nice. Thank you.
You know what I've been doin' since I got home?
I've been workin' on a poem.
It's about you.
Sometimes it's kind of hard for me to say things, so I write 'em.
I'd like to read it sometime.
Maybe I'll have it finished next time I see you. Will I see you soon?
Gosh, that's swell, Mary. Goodnight.
Mabel, that guy's either the dumbest imbecile in the world
or the grandest thing alive. I can't make him out.
- I'm crucifying him. - People have been crucified before.
- Why do we have to do it? - You started out to be a success.
- Then what? - Search me. Ask the Gypsies.
Here's a guy that's wholesome and fresh.
To us he looks like a freak.
Do you know what he told me tonight?
When he gets married he wants to carry his bride over the threshold.
The guy's barmy.
Is he? Yeah, I thought so too.
I tried to laugh, but it stuck in my throat.
Cut it out, will ya? You'll get me thinking about Charlie again.
He's got goodness, Mabel.
Do you know what that is?
Of course you don't. We've forgotten. We're too busy being smart alecs.
Too busy in a crazy competition for nothing.
I beg pardon, sir.
- Madame Pomponi is on the telephone. - Who?
She says everything is all set for the reception.
Don't come in when I'm playing.
- She's on the telephone. - Get out. The evil finger's on you.
- The finger, sir? - Get out!
Stop!
- Did you hear that? - What, sir?
Why, that's an echo, sir.
- You try it. - Me, sir?
Louder.
- You try it. - Me, sir?
Louder.
You try it.
All together.
Again.
Let that be a lesson to you.
Go back to your rooms, both of you.
Hello, darling.
- So good of you to come. - Madame Pomponi.
- I'm so happy to have you here. - I'm dying to see the Cinderella Man.
- Shh. He may hear you. - Even if he did, he wouldn't understand.
- Bad as that, eh? - I hear he believes in Santa Claus.
Will he be Santa Claus? That's what I wonder.
- Slippers ready for the Cinderella Man? - Think he'll go for that?
With $20 million, he doesn't have to have looks.
He won't have it long with that Pomponi woman hanging around.
My dears, I hear that he can't think unless he plays his tuba.
- You're a fool, Babe. - I just couldn't stand seeing him again.
Running away is no solution. What'll I say if he calls up?
Tell him I had to leave suddenly. Got a job in China, someplace.
- You're acting like a schoolgirl. - What else can I do?
Keeping this up's no good. He'll find out sometime.
At least I can save him that.
- Where is everybody? - Come on, Babe. The artillery's ready.
It's those two sore spots again.
- Should've been down to the office. - Mac threw Cobb out.
- Boy, was he burning. - No, you don't.
One drink, and then we're ready to shoo.
- We're not going out. - You have a date with him.
It's off. He's having a party at his house.
- What's the matter with her? - You wouldn't know.
- Run along. Peddle your little tin-types. - What?
Throwing us out of here is getting to be a regular habit.
Is Mary Dawson here? I'm Longfellow Deeds.
Yes. Of course. Longfellow Deeds.
Come in. Step in, please.
You're Mabel, her sister, aren't you?
Yes. Yes. Of course. Her sister.
Yes, I've been her sister a long time.
- Is she home? - Yeah. What?
- Is Mary home? - Oh, Mary. Yes, of course.
I don't know whether she's home or not. I'll see. There she is.
- Hello. - Hello, Mary.
I waited in the park over an hour. I thought maybe you'd forgotten.
I didn't think you'd come, with the party.
I wouldn't let them stop me from seeing you, so I threw them out.
- You threw them out? - You mean, by the neck?
Sure. They got on my nerves, so I threw them out.
That'll be in the papers tomorrow, give them something else to laugh at.
I don't mind, though. I had a lot of fun doing it.
- Like to go for a walk? - Yeah, if it isn't too late.
I'll get my hat.
Nice day out... Nice night, wasn't it... Isn't it?
Yes. Lovely. We've had a lot of nice weather lately.
Yeah. It'd be a nice night to go for a walk, don't you think?
Yeah, I think it'd be a swell night to go for a walk. A nice long one.
- Ready? - Gosh.
- She looks better every time I see her. - Thank you.
Goodnight. I won't keep her out late.
Thank you so much. Goodnight.
- My foot's asleep. - No, you don't.
- Listen, she told us... - No more photographs.
Glad you wanted to take a walk, Mary, 'cause I wanted to talk to you.
Let's just walk, hmm?
All right.
Mary, I'm going home.
Are you? When?
- A day or so, I think. - I don't blame you.
A man ought to know where he fits in. I don't fit in here.
I had an idea I could do something with the money,
but they kept me so busy I haven't figured it out.
I guess I'll wait till I get back home.
Do you mind if I talk to you, Mary? You don't have to pay any attention.
No, I don't mind.
All my life I've wanted somebody to talk to.
Back in Mandrake Falls, I used to always talk to a girl.
- A girl? - Only an imaginary one.
I used to hike a lot, and I'd always take this girl with me,
so I could talk to her.
I'd show her my pet trees and things.
It sounds kind of silly, but we had a lot of fun doing it.
She was beautiful.
I haven't married, 'cause I've been kind of waiting.
You know, my mother and father were a great couple.
I thought I might have the same kind of luck.
I've always hoped that someday that imaginary girl would turn out to be real.
- Well, here we are again. - Yes, here we are again.
- Goodnight. - Goodnight.
Mary, I...
- Excuse me. - Goodbye, darling.
Don't let anybody hurt you again, ever. They can't anyway. You're much too real.
You go back to Mandrake Falls. It's where you belong. Goodbye.
Mary.
You know the poem I told you about? It's finished.
- Would you like to read it? It's to you. - Yes. Of course.
You don't have to say anything, Mary. You can tell me tomorrow what you think.
"I tramped the Earth with hopeless feet,
"searching in vain for a glimpse of you.
"Then heaven thrust you at my very feet,
"a lovely angel, too lovely to woo.
"My dream has been answered, but my life's just as bleak.
"I'm handcuffed and speechless in your presence divine.
"For my heart longs to cry out. If it only could speak.
"I love you, my angel. Be mine. Be mine. "
Oh, darling.
You don't have to say anything now. I'll wait till tomorrow to hear from you.
Hey! What's the big idea?
Stop it, Babe. Stop it.
You're quitting? You might as well tell me I'm quitting.
What's bothering you?
Last night he proposed to me.
Proposed to you? He asked you to marry him?
- Yes. - Why, Babe! That's terrific!
"Cinderella Man woos mystery girl. Who is the?"
- Print that and I'll blow your place up. - Sorry, Babe. I just got carried away.
That's too bad. That would've made a swell story.
So, he proposed to you?
What a twist. You set out to nail him, and...
Yeah. Funny twist, isn't it?
You haven't gone and fallen for that mug, have you?
Well, I'll be. That's tough, Babe.
- What are you going to do? - I'm going to tell him the truth.
Tell him you're Babe Bennett? Tell him you've been making a stooge out of him?
I'm having lunch with him today. He expects an answer.
- It's going to be pretty. - You're crazy. You can't do that.
He'll probably kick me right down the stairs. I hope he does.
I'll put you on another job. You need never see him again.
That's the rub.
Oh, it's as bad as that?
Telling him's the long shot. I'm going to take it.
Well, it was fun while it lasted, Mac.
I'll clean out my desk.
- How's it going? - Quite all right, sir.
- Gold? - Yes, sir.
- Fourteen karat. - Yes, sir.
- Is that the best you got? - Yes, sir.
Flowers are too high. I won't be able to see her.
- Get a smaller bowl. - A smaller bowl.
- Yes, sir. A smaller bowl. - Did you get that stuff?
- Stuff, sir? - That goo that tastes like soap.
Yes, sir. Here it is. The pâté de foie gras, sir.
Fine. Have a lot of it, 'cause she likes it. Now you got the idea.
That's fine. Sit over there, will you?
- Me, sir? - Yeah.
- You're too tall. Slink lower, will you? - Yes.
More.
Now forward.
How is this, sir?
- Perfect... Perfect. - I wish you luck, sir.
Thank you. Now, don't touch a thing. Leave everything as it is.
Yes, sir.
Walter? Walter?
- Walter, where are you? - What is it, sir? Anything happened?
"Anything happened"? I got to get dressed.
- But she isn't due for an hour, sir. - What's an hour? Time flies.
- My tie? - Yes, very good, sir.
Yes, sir.
Just as I suspected, wise guy.
I don't mind you making a sap out of yourself, but not out of me.
Will you tell the gentleman I'm not in?
Mary Dawson, hmm? Mary Dawson, my eye.
She took you for a sleigh ride New York will laugh about for years.
She's the slickest two-timing, double-crossing...
- What are you talking about? - Go ahead. Sock away.
And then try to laugh this off.
She's the star reporter on the Mail.
Every time you opened your kisser, you gave her another story.
She slapped that moniker on you: Cinderella Man.
- She's a double dose of cyanide. - Shut up!
Babe, I can't let you quit now. Are you going through with this?
This is for you. All the head waiters in town.
You can buy scandal from them at reasonable prices.
I've seen them get in a rut like you before, but they come back.
Hello? Yes? Just a minute. It's for you.
Soon you'll get the itch so bad, you'll work for nothing.
Babe Bennett? Just a minute.
- Hello, Mary? - Hello, darling.
Have you been writing those articles about me?
Why, I was just leaving. I'll be up there in a minute.
Look... Yes, I did, but I was just coming up to explain.
Listen, darling. Wait a minute. Please.
Listen.
I beg pardon, sir. Should I serve the wine with the squab, sir?
I beg pardon, sir?
If I knew you were going to take it so hard, I would've kept my mouth shut.
Sorry.
Pack my things, Walter. I'm going home.
Yes, sir.
You shouldn't be running away like this. What'll happen to the estate?
They can have the estate.
Nobody's going to kick me out. Let me go!
I want to see that guy! Let me go!
I want to see him! Let me go! There he is.
I wanna look at him. I wanted to see what kind of a man you were.
A man that spends thousands on a party, while people around him were hungry.
The Cinderella Man?
Did you think how many families could be fed
on what you pay to get on the front pages?
Let him alone.
If you know what's good for you, let me get this off my chest.
How did you feel feeding doughnuts to a horse?
Got a kick out of it? Got a big laugh?
Ever think of feeding doughnuts to human beings? No!
- Shall I call the police, sir? - No! What do you want?
That's all that's worrying you: What do I want?
A chance to feed a wife and kids. I'm a farmer. A job.
- That's what I want. - A farmer? You're a moocher.
I wouldn't believe you on a stack of Bibles.
You're a moocher like all the rest, so get out.
Sure, everybody's a moocher to you.
A mongrel dog eating out of a garbage pail is a moocher to you.
- This won't do you any good. - Stay where you are! Get over there!
You're about to get some more publicity, Mr Deeds.
You're about to get on the front page again.
See how you're going to like it this time.
What good's your money when you're six feet under? Never thought of that.
All you ever thought of was pinching pennies, you money-grabber.
You never gave a thought to those starving people in the bread lines
not knowing when their next meal was, not able to feed their wife and kids.
Not able to...
I'm glad I didn't hurt nobody. Excuse me.
Crazy. You get all kinds of crazy ideas.
Sorry.
I didn't know what I was doing.
Losing your farm after 20 years' work.
Seeing your kids go hungry.
Game little wife saying everything's going to be all right.
Standing there in the bread lines.
It killed me to take a hand-out. I ain't used to it.
Go ahead and do what you want with me, mister.
I guess I'm at the end of my rope.
Could I take some of this home with me?
- Are you married? - Yes, sir.
- Any children? - No children.
I think you'll qualify. Take this to that desk for further instructions.
- Thank you very much. - Next, please.
- How many does that make? - You've okayed 819.
- Is that all? It's going awfully slow. - We need 1100 more.
Hello? Yes. Yeah.
The water development seems OK. I don't like the road layout.
Come up tonight about ten and bring the maps. Right.
Here's the order for the ploughs. We got a good price.
Fine. Thanks. I'll look them over later.
Mr Deeds, my wife wanted me to tell you she prays for you every night.
I... Well, thanks.
- How do you do? Your name? - George Rankin, sir.
No, no, we're not buying any bulls. What's that?
Listen, fellow. Bull's what I've been selling all my life.
He's ordered me to turn everything over to him.
Work fast, before he disposes of everything.
I told you something could be done. I knew it all the time. Sign it.
- We may get into trouble. - Don't be squeamish.
There's millions involved. You're his only living relative.
- What's it say? - It's your agreement if we win.
My end is going to be expensive. I have important people to take care of.
I have the legal machinery ready to go. I've been working on it.
Say the word, and we'll stop him in his tracks.
- Sign it! - All right.
- Charlie, we're off. Papers all set? - All set.
Go to it. And Charlie?
Find who wrote those articles and subpoena him.
- So what is your name? - Christian Swenson.
- Farmer? - Yes, ma'am.
- Where is your farm? - South Dakota, north.
- South Dakota North? - South Dakota, but on the top.
- What about knocking off for lunch? - Not hungry.
I want to get through this work and go home.
What are you trying to do, keel over?
You haven't been out of this house in two weeks.
Maybe I'll have a sandwich. Do you mind waiting?
Sure. If you like to have a sandwich, I can give you one, please.
Thanks. Thank you.
Never mind, Cobb.
Good.
Cobb!
- Get lunches for the rest of them. - What?
There must be 2,000 of them out there.
- That doesn't make them less hungry. - OK, Santa Claus. 2,000 lunches.
- Say something. - Go ahead. Tell him.
Mr Deeds, the boys here wanted me to say a little something.
They just wanted me to say that...
Well, they wanted me to say that we think you're swell.
And that's no baloney.
- Say something more. - Give me a chance, fellows.
We're all down and out. A fellow like you comes along, it gives us hope.
They just wanted me to say that I've...
That's him.
- Are you Longfellow Deeds? - Yes.
Sheriff's office. We got a warrant to take you into custody.
- A what? - A warrant for your arrest.
- What's up? What do you wonks want? - I have an insanity warrant to execute.
- Insanity? Who says he's insane? - A relative of the late Martin Semple.
The charges are that Mr Deeds is insane and incapable of handling the estate.
Somebody got panic-stricken? Where are you going to take him?
- County Hospital. - It's only temporary.
A hearing will follow immediately.
That's fine.
Just because I wanna give this money to people who need it, they think I'm crazy.
That's marvellous. That makes everything complete.
- Let's go. - Wait. We're going to get a lawyer.
- I'll call Cedar. - Don't bother.
I'm from Mr Cedar's office. He represents the complainant.
- Let's go. We're wasting time. - All right. But get your hands off me.
Come on. Get back.
Step back.
Get back!
Everybody in town has been here to see him.
Yes, sir. I will. Goodbye. Sorry, lady. It's you again.
- Please. I've got to see him. - Listen, he don't want to see nobody.
- Will you just give him my name? - Listen.
There isn't a thing the matter with that guy, till I mention your name.
What are you going to do? Sit back and let them railroad you?
It's as pretty a frame-up as ever hit this rotten town.
If you'd just let me get you a lawyer.
You can't walk into that court without being ready to protect yourself.
Cedar's too smart. With the talent he's lined up against you, you'll cook.
Listen, I know just how you feel.
A blonde in Syracuse put me through the same paces.
I came out with a sour puss, but full of fight.
Come on. You don't want to lay down now.
They're trying to prove you're nuts. They'll shove you in the bug house.
The moment they accused you of it, they had you half licked. You gotta fight.
Go on. Sit down, won't you? Yes.
So long, Mr Cobb.
Corny, listen, I've got to see him. I've got to talk to him.
Haven't you done enough damage already?
Somebody's got to help him. He hasn't a chance against Cedar.
I've got Mac lined up and the paper's behind him.
I can get Livingston. With a lawyer like that, he's a chance.
You're wasting your time. He doesn't want lawyers.
He's so low, he doesn't want help. You can take a bow for that.
As swell a guy as ever hit this town and you crucified him for some headlines.
You've done your bit. Now stay out of his way.
There he is now.
Here he is.
Cedar wants to make a settlement.
Here's your chance to get out of the whole mess. What do you say?
Rise, please.
Supreme Court, State of New York, now in session.
The Honourable Judge May presiding. Be seated.
The court wishes to warn those present it will tolerate no disturbances.
Regarding the sanity hearing of Longfellow Deeds...
You represented by counsel, Mr Deeds?
I understand you have no counsel,
and you have no intention of defending any of these charges.
Now, if you wish to change your mind, the hearing can be postponed.
Crazy.
Proceed.
In the interest of my client, relative of the late Martin W Semple,
we cannot permit the fortune to be dissipated by a person
whose incompetency and abnormality we shall prove beyond doubt.
I have a series of articles written by a newspaperwoman,
who witnessed his conduct since he came to New York.
She tells how, in mid-conversation, he'd suddenly begin playing his tuba.
She tells of his attack on several eminent writers for no reason.
I, myself, unable to keep pace with his mental quirks and fearful of assault,
turned down an opportunity to represent him as his attorney.
This newspaperwoman, who we've subpoenaed to testify,
tells how he held up traffic for an hour feeding doughnuts to a poor horse.
We have photographs to substantiate this episode,
and others of him jumping about a fire engine.
This scarcely sounds like the action of a man
in whom the disposition of $20 million may safely be entrusted.
The writer of these articles,
whose integrity in the newspaper world is unquestioned,
held him in such contempt that she quite aptly named him the Cinderella Man.
We have witnesses from Mandrake Falls,
who will tell of his conduct throughout his lifetime,
proving that his derangement is neither a recent nor a temporary one.
We have others who will tell of his unusual behaviour,
when he invited great leaders in music to his home
and then proceeded to forcibly eject them.
- I hope he can explain that. - Yes.
Only recently, when he was in the County Hospital for observation,
he not only refused to be examined by these state psychiatrists,
but he actually made a violent attack upon them.
In these times, with the country incapacitated by economic ailments
and in danger with an undercurrent of social unrest,
the promulgation of such a weird, fantastic and impractical plan,
as contemplated by the defendant,
is capable of fomenting a disturbance from which we may not recover.
It is our duty to stop it.
Our government is aware of its difficulties.
It can pull itself out of its economic rut without the assistance of Mr Deeds.
His attempted action must therefore be attributed
to a diseased mind, afflicted with hallucinations of grandeur
and obsessed with an insane desire to become a public benefactor.
Your Honour, we would like to call our first witness, Louise "Babe" Bennett.
Miss Bennett, please.
Raise your right hand, please.
Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?
- I do. - State your right name.
- Louise Bennett. - Take the stand.
Miss Bennett, are you employed by the Morning Mail?
- I ask you direct your attention to me. - This is ridiculous.
- Answer the question. - The hearing's ridiculous.
- That man's no more insane than you. - Outrageous!
It's obviously a frame-up. They're trying to railroad this man for money.
Another outburst and I shall hold you in contempt.
We are not interested in your opinion. You are to here to testify.
Sit down and answer questions. Proceed.
Thank you. Are you employed by the Mail?
No.
You're under oath. Are you employed by the Mail?
No, I resigned last week.
Prior to that time, were you employed by the Mail?
- Yes. - You followed the activities of Deeds?
- Yes. - Did you subsequently write about him?
- Yes. - Are these the articles?
- Yes. - Were you present?
- Yes. - Are they true? They did take place?
- They just make him look silly. - You saw them?
- That's all. - It isn't all. I'd like to explain...
- I submit these articles as evidence. - Let go! What kind of hearing is this?
Are you trying to persecute the man? Somebody's got to defend him!
- Please. - I've a right to be heard.
I've attended dozens of cases like this. They're conducted without any formality.
Anybody can be heard. My opinion's as good as these quacks'.
I know him better than they do
One more utterance from you and I shall place you under arrest!
I'm willing to hear anything you say, but it must be done in an orderly fashion.
When you've learned respect, you may return.
Until then, go back to your seat and calm down.
This way, Miss.
Order in the court.
Mr Deeds, have you anything to say in defence of these articles?
Mr Deeds?
- Mark these Exhibit "A" for the plaintiff. - Yes, Your Honour.
Proceed.
They're rather timid, Your Honour, and wish to be together.
I'll only have one testify.
- Get on with it. - What is your name, please?
- Jane Faulkner. This is my sister Amy. - Yes. Amy.
I'll direct my questions to you, Miss Jane. You may answer for both.
Do you know the defendant?
Yes. Of course we know him.
How long have you known him?
- Since he was born. - Yes. Elsie Taggart was the midwife.
- He was a seven-months baby. - Thank you. That's fine.
Do you see him very often?
- Most every day. - Sometimes twice.
- Must we have the echo? - Suppose you just answer, Miss Jane.
Will you tell the court what everybody at home thinks of Longfellow Deeds?
- They think he's pixilated. - Yes. Pixilated.
- He's what? - What was that you said he was?
- Pixilated. - That's rather a strange word to us.
- Can you tell us what it means? - Perhaps I can explain.
"Pixilated" is an early-American expression
from the word "pixies", meaning "elves".
They'd say, "The pixies had got him", as we'd nowadays say a man is "barmy".
Is that correct?
Why does everyone think he's pixilated? Does he do peculiar things?
He walks in the rain without his hat and talks to himself.
- Sometimes he whistles. - And sings.
Anything else?
- He gave Chuck Dillon a thumping. - Blacked his eye.
- And why? - For no reason, I guess.
He always does it. We run into the house when we see him coming.
Never can tell what he's going to do.
- He sure is pixilated. - Yes. He's pixilated, all right.
Thank you, ladies. That's all.
They kept hollering, "Back to nature!"
I thought they looked harmless enough, so I took them home.
I never thought he was cracked.
I'm a waiter. He kept pressing me to point out the celebrities.
I'm coming out of the kitchen minutes later,
he's mopping up the floors with them.
I never figured he was looking for trouble.
He threw us out bodily, but bodily!
We was hired as his bodyguards, see? But he locks us in a room, see?
If that gets around in our profession, we get the bird.
So I says to my partner, "Let's quit this guy. He's nuts!"
I'm very fond of Clarissa. She's a nice horse.
And when he started feeding her doughnuts,
I yelled down to him, "Mind what you're doing down there. "
I wouldn't mind, sir, but Clara won't eat nothin' but doughnuts now.
If the court pleases, I call upon Dr Emil Von Hallor,
if he'll give us his opinion.
He is the eminent psychiatrist, a great authority on the subject.
He's here on a lecture tour and has volunteered his services.
- Dr Von Hallor. - Dr Von Hallor.
Do you swear the testimony you give before this court
shall be the truth and nothing but the truth?
- Name? - Emil Von Hallor.
Take the stand.
Dr Von Hallor, would you tell the court what your opinion is of this case?
This is purely a case of manic depression.
A case of this kind, patients sometimes go on for years before being detected.
You remember, in my last book,
there were some very fine examples, especially the young nobleman.
Yes, Dr Von Hallor. Very interesting.
It reminds me very much of this one.
It takes so long to detect them,
because their mood changes so often and so quickly.
Now, Your Honour, may I show you? May I use the chart?
By all means.
Below here, they are extremely depressed,
melancholy, impossible to live with and often become violent.
From this mood, the manic depressive might gradually change
until they reach this state.
Here is lucidity. Here they are normal, as normal as you or I.
Assuming, of course, that we are normal.
Then the mood changes again
until they reach this state,
a state of highest exultation.
Here, everything is fine. Here, the world is beautiful.
Here, they are so elated... How to express it?
...they would give you the shirts off their backs.
How would you say that applied to Mr Deeds' case?
The symptoms are obvious.
When he was here, on top of the wave,
he felt nothing but kindliness and warmth for his fellow man.
He wanted to have them around him, so he decided to give a big reception.
But in the meantime, his mood has changed.
He's now at the bottom of the wave: Depressed, melancholy.
So when his guests arrive, he throws them out.
They are now his imaginary enemies.
Other instances of high elations are
when he plays his tuba, when he writes his poetry,
when he chases fire engines in a desire to help humanity.
This is contrasted with his present mood,
which is so low that even the instinct for self-preservation is lacking.
Your Honour, this is decidedly a case of manic depression.
Thank you very much, Doctor.
Your Honour, we rest.
Are you going to let them get away with it? They've got you cooked.
He's sunk.
Mr Deeds...
Before the court arrives at a decision, isn't there anything you wish to say?
Come on. Don't be a sap.
- You both concur? - Absolutely.
All right.
Mr Deeds...
In view of the extensive testimony, your continued silence,
and on the recommendation of the doctors,
the court considers it advisable, for your own safety,
that you be committed to an institution as prescribed by law.
You need medical attention, Mr Deeds.
Perhaps in a little while...
No! Wait a minute. You can't do it. You've got to make him talk.
- I object! - Please. I know how horrible I've been.
No matter what happens, do this for me.
- Please. - You said I could speak.
You said I could have my say. Please let me take the witness chair.
He must be made to defend himself before you decide.
- Take the stand. - Thank you.
- She has no bearing on the case. - Let her speak.
I know why he won't defend himself. He's been hurt.
He's been hurt by everybody, principally by me.
He's been the victim of every crook in town.
The newspapers made him a target for their feeble humour.
I was smarter than the rest. I got closer so I could laugh louder.
Why shouldn't he keep quiet?
Every time he said anything, it was twisted around.
He can thank me for it. I handed them a laugh.
A fitting climax to my sense of humour.
- This is preposterous. - I wrote those articles.
I was going to get a raise, a month's vacation.
But I stopped writing them when I found out what he was all about.
He could never fit in with our distorted viewpoint,
because he's honest and sincere and good.
If that man's crazy, the rest of us belong in strait-jackets!
- This is absurd. She's in love with him. - What's that got to do with it?
- You are, aren't you? - Yes!
Her testimony's of no value.
Why shouldn't she defend him? Typical womanhood. Protect the weak.
Nobody dislikes the boy. I have a fond affection for him.
- But that doesn't mean to say... - I can verify what Miss Bennett said.
I'm her editor. She told me what a swell fellow this man was.
Anything Babe Bennett says is OK with me.
If you've anything to say, take the stand.
I've already said it. I just thought I'd like to get my two cents in.
Don't be a sucker. Speak your piece.
- I've got a couple of cents. - Sit down.
- I've been with him since he came here. - Sit down! There will be no interruptions.
- How about us, Mr Deeds? - What about us, Mr Deeds?
- Order! - Don't leave us out in the cold!
They're trying to frame you.
- Stop this. - Order!
Order!
In the interest of Mr Deeds, I have tolerated a great deal of informality.
But if there is one more outburst, I shall have the courtroom cleared.
- Your Honour? - Yes?
I'd like to get in my two cents' worth.
Take the stand.
Proceed.
I don't know where to begin. There has been so much said about me that...
About my playing the tuba. It seems like a lot of fuss has been made about that.
If a man's crazy just because he plays the tuba, somebody'd better look into it,
because there are a lot of tuba players running around.
I don't see any harm in it. I play mine whenever I want to concentrate.
That may sound funny to some people,
but everybody does something silly when thinking. For instance...
The judge here is an "O" filler.
- A what? - An "O" filler.
You fill in all the spaces in the O's with your pencil. I was watching.
That may make you look a little crazy, just sitting around, filling in O's,
but I don't see anything wrong, 'cause that helps you think.
- Other people are doodlers. - Doodlers?
That's a name for people who make foolish designs on paper when thinking.
It's called doodling. Almost everybody's a doodler.
Did you ever see a scratch pad in a telephone booth?
People draw the most idiotic pictures when they're thinking.
Dr Von Hallor here could probably think up a long name for it,
because he doodles all the time.
Thank you.
This is a piece of paper he was scribbling on.
One minute it looks like a chimpanzee.
The next minute it looks like a picture of Mr Cedar. You look at it.
Exhibit "A" for the defence.
Looks kind of stupid. But that's all right.
If Dr Von Hallor has to doodle to help him think, that's his business.
Everybody does something different. Some people are ear pullers.
Some are nail biters.
That Mr Semple over there is a nose twitcher.
The lady next to him is a knuckle cracker.
So you see, everybody does silly things to help them think.
Well, I play the tuba.
- Nice work, toots! - Order in this court!
This is becoming farcical. I demand Mr Deeds confine himself to facts.
Let him explain his wanderings in his underclothes,
his feeding doughnuts to horses.
Proceed.
Mr Cedar's right. Those things do look kind of bad, don't they?
But to tell you the truth, Your Honour, I don't remember them.
I guess they happened, because I don't think a policeman would lie,
but I was drunk.
It was the first time I was ever drunk. It's probably happened to you some time.
I mean, when you were younger. It's likely to happen to anybody.
Just the other morning, I read about Mr Cedar's own son,
how he got drunk and insisted on driving a taxicab while the driver sat inside.
Isn't that so?
- Your Honour, I object. - Proceed.
Now, about the Faulkner sisters.
That's funny, Mr Cedar going to Mandrake Falls to bring them here.
- Do you mind if I talk to them? - Not at all.
Jane, who owns the house you live in?
- Why, you own it, Longfellow. - Yes, you own it.
- Do you pay any rent? - No, we don't pay any rent.
Good heavens, no.
- We never pay you rent. - Are you happy there?
- Oh, yes. - Yes, indeed.
Now, Jane, a little while ago you said I was pixilated.
Do you still think so?
Why, you've always been pixilated, Longfellow.
- Always. - That's fine.
I guess maybe I am.
Now, tell me something, Jane. Who else in Mandrake Falls is pixilated?
Why, everybody in Mandrake Falls is pixilated, except us.
Now, just one more question.
You see the judge here. He's a nice man, isn't he?
- Do you think he's pixilated? - Yes.
Yes, indeed.
You haven't yet touched upon the most important point:
This rather fantastic idea of yours to give away your entire fortune.
It is, to say the least, most uncommon.
Yes, I was getting to that, Your Honour.
Suppose you were living in a small town, getting along fine,
and suddenly somebody dropped $20 million in your lap.
Suppose you discover all that money was messing up your life,
was bringing vultures around your neck, making you lose faith.
You'd be worried.
You'd feel that you had a hot potato in your hand, and you'd want to drop it.
Dr Von Hallor here would say you were riding on those bottom waves,
because you wanted to drop something burning your fingers.
If this man carries out his plan, repercussions will rock the foundation
of our entire government.
Please, Mr Cedar. Proceed.
Personally, I don't know what Mr Cedar is raving about.
No matter what system of government we have,
there'll always be leaders and always be followers.
Like the road in front of my house, on a steep hill.
Every day, I watch the cars climbing up.
Some go lickety-split up that hill, some have to shift into second.
Some sputter and shake and slip back to the bottom again.
Same cars, same gasoline, yet some make it and some don't.
I say the fellows who can make the hill should stop and help those who can't.
That's all I'm trying to do, help fellows who can't make the hill.
What does Mr Cedar expect me to do? Give it to people who don't need it?
If you don't mind, I'll ride on those top waves for a minute.
All you fellows up there, all those who applied for a farm, stand up.
See them? They're the ones I'm trying to help.
Mr Cedar and Mr Semple don't need anything. They've got plenty.
It's like I see one fellow in a rowboat who's tired of rowing
and wants a free ride and another who's drowning.
Who would you expect me to rescue? Mr Cedar, who wants a free ride?
Or those men who are drowning?
Any 10-year-old child will give you the answer to that. Thank you. Sit down.
Now, my plan was very simple.
Give each family 10 acres, a horse, a cow and some seed,
and if they worked the farm for three years, it's theirs.
If that's crazy, I ought to be sent to an institution,
but I don't think it is, and Mr Cedar doesn't either.
Before the hearing, he offered to call everything off if I made a settlement.
He wouldn't think I was crazy if he got paid off.
It's a lie growing in his warped imagination.
I never heard anything so stupid in my life.
It's an insult to our intelligence to listen to such ravings.
- You will permit Mr Deeds to finish. - But, Your Honour...
- Anything else, Mr Deeds? - No.
Yes. There is one more thing I'd like to get off my chest.
- Proceed. - Thank you, Your Honour.
Order! Order this man back to his chair!
Order!
Remain seated and come to order. The court is again in session.
Before the court announces its decision, I want to warn all who are here
that the police have orders to arrest anyone creating a disturbance.
Mr Deeds, there has been a great deal of damaging testimony against you.
Your behaviour, to say the least, has been most strange.
But in the opinion of the court, you are not only sane,
you are the sanest man that ever walked into this courtroom. Case dismissed.
You nose twitcher.
I knew it, I knew it. You...
- He's still pixilated. - He sure is.