Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN screenplay by Robert Riskin based on a story by Clarence Budington Kelland Shooting Draft, 1936 Property of Columbia Pictures FADE IN: EXTERIOR - MONTAGE 1. QUICK SHOTS OF A CAR SPEEDING AROUND CURVES IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION. THE CAR JUMPS A BRIDGE, HURTLES INTO SPACE, CRASHES IN A FIREBALL. FOLLOWED BY NEWSBOYS HAWKING SPECIAL EDITIONS, PEOPLE ON STREETCORNERS BUYING AND READING NEWSPAPERS WITH A SUCCESSION OF BANNER HEADLINES: "MARTIN W. SEMPLE, FINANCIER, DIES IN ITALY," "CIVIC LEADER KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT," "DISCLOSURE OF BANKER'S WILL AWAITED" AND FINALLY "SEMPLE HEIR AS YET UNKNOWN" DISSOLVE TO: INTERIOR - EDITOR'S OFFICE, DAILY MAIL 2. CLOSE SHOT of Mac, the editor, at his desk, barking into the telephone. MAC Say listen, Corny, who do you think you're talking to? If the Semple attorneys don't know who the heir is, who does? (listens) Aw, come on Corny, I've done you a lot of favors. What do you say - who's getting the Semple dough? CUT TO: INTERIOR - CEDAR'S PRIVATE OFFICE 3. CLOSE SHOT Of Cornelius Cobb - a hardened ex-newspaperman, customarily impatient, grouchy and nervous - victim of the New York tempo. His friends call him "Corny." COBB (on the phone) You're asking the wrong guy, Mac. I'm only a press agent. THE CAMERA PULLS BACK GRADUALLY TO REVEAL a plush law office, leather chairs and shelves of books. Arthur Cedar, attorney, briskly enters scene and seats himself at his desk.