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All the King's Men (1949) script

by Robert Rossen, based on Pulitzer Prize novel "All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren
 

    Interior: Jack Burden's Desk, The Chronicle, Day

    Jack Burden is looking over the morning edition of "The 
    Chronicle." He reads the society page. A man enters and leans 
    across his desk.

    MAN
   Burden! Jack Burden! The boss wants 
   to see you.

    He folds his paper, rises, and walks by the presses into 
    Madison's office.

    Interior: Madison's Office, Day

    Madison, the city editor, is correcting copy at his desk.

    MADISON
   Hey, Jack, ever hear of a fellow 
   called Willie Stark?

    JACK
   No. Who'd he shoot?

    MADISON
   Oh, county... uh... treasurer, or 
   something like that.

    JACK
   What's so special about him?

    MADISON
   They say he's an honest man. What I 
   want you to do is to hop into your 
   car...

    JACK
   Why, you promised me a vacation.

    MADISON
   Well, that can wait.

    JACK
   Yeah... but there's a... a girl I 
   know.

    He opens his newspaper to the society page and shows Madison 
    a photograph of Anne Stanton.

    MADISON
   Oh... Well, she can wait too.

    Jack takes the paper back and looks at it.

    JACK
   The question is... can I?

    MADISON
   The answer is... get up there.

    JACK
   Right.
        (starts to go)
   Oh... uh... what did you say his 
   name was?

    MADISON
   Who?

    JACK
   The fellow's name.

    MADISON
   Oh, the... uh... Stark... Willie 
   Stark.

    Madison goes on with his work.

    JACK
        (as he leaves)
   Willie Stark...

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Kanoma City, Day

    As Jack Burden's jalopy pulls up before the Kanoma County 
    Courthouse of this back-country, one-street small town.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   I found him in Kanoma City. A typical, 
   hot, dusty, backwoods county seat.

    He gets out of the car, and notices a crowd of people gathered 
    around a platform in the town square. As he walks over the 
    begins to hear the words that Willie Stark is speaking.

    WILLIE
   ...to lie to them in order to line 
   their own dirty pockets with the 
   taxpayers' money. When have the 
   citizens of Kanoma County ever 
   witnessed a campaign like this? Why 
   is the opposition so anxious to defeat 
   me? Why have they used every dirty 
   method known to make sure I'm not 
   elected county treasurer? Well, I'll 
   tell you why...

    A man in shirt sleeves and suspenders, Tiny Duffy, comes out 
    of the local poolroom, listens for a moment to Willie's 
    speech, and signals to two uniformed men to go over and break 
    up the gathering.

    Jack Burden stands close to the platform, next to Willie's 
    son, Tom, who waits patiently to distribute handbills.

    WILLIE
   ...Because they're afraid of the 
   truth... and the truth is this. 
   They're trying to steal your money. 
   Yeah, I said steal. The county 
   commissioners rejected the bid on 
   the schoolhouse. Why? Well, they'll 
   tell you their reason is the job 
   will be done better. The county 
   commissioners would have you believe 
   that they're interested in public 
   welfare. They're interested in 
   welfare, sure. But it's their own. 
   Let's look at the reason in the light 
   of the facts and the figures. That 
   brick factory is owned by one of the 
   commissioners. That same brick factory 
   uses convict labor.

    The sheriff and his deputy push through the crowd.

    SHERIFF
   Sorry, Willie, you'll have to move 
   on.

    WILLIE
   Why?

    SHERIFF
   City Ordinance Number One-Oh-Five: 
   more than five people congregating 
   is disturbing the peace.

    WILLIE
        (ignores him)
   If you folks'll be so kind as to 
   read these handbills, my boy will 
   pass them out among you.

    SHERIFF
   There's an ordinance against that 
   too.

    WILLIE
        (his face grim)
   Pass 'em out, Tom.

    The sheriff pushes Tom back, grabbing the handbills out of 
    his hand. Willie jumps down off the platform.

    WILLIE
   Let him alone!

    The sheriff collars Willie, then notices Jack on the platform 
    snapping a picture.

    SHERIFF
        (to deputy)
   Get that camera! Willie, you're under 
   arrest.

    He takes Willie by the arm and leads him away. The crowd 
    follows them to the courthouse. Tiny Duffy wipes the sweat 
    off his neck and goes back into the poolroom.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Kanoma City Poolroom, Day

    Two of Duffy's men, Pillsbury and a local commissioner, are 
    playing pool as Jack enters.

    JACK
   Where can I find Tiny Duffy?

    PILLSBURY
   Right over there, mister.

    He walks over to Duffy. Some townspeople, who followed him 
    there, gather around him to listen.

    JACK
   Uh, they told me I could get my camera 
   back here.

    DUFFY
   Who told you that?

    JACK
   People. Can I?

    DUFFY
   You the reporter that's been snoopin' 
   around town?

    JACK
   Are you Tiny Duffy?

    DUFFY
   What paper?

    JACK
   Chronicle.

    DUFFY
   You sure come a long way to stick 
   your nose into other people's 
   business.

    JACK
   That's true... Only my boss on the 
   paper can't see it that way.

    DUFFY
   It ain't any of his business either.

    JACK
   Whose business is it?

    PILLSBURY
   Them as is tendin' to it. County 
   commissioners that the voters of 
   Kanoma County elected to tend to 
   their business and not take no buttin' 
   in from nobody.

    JACK
   You a commissioner?

    PILLSBURY
   Yeah. Name's Pillsbury. Dolph 
   Pillsbury.

    2ND COMMISSIONER
   Me too. I'm a commissioner too.

    JACK
   Who isn't a commissioner?

    DUFFY
   He's the head man.

    JACK
        (to Pillsbury)
   Then you're in a position to know 
   where --

    DUFFY
   He's in a position to know nothin'. 
   And to say nothin'.

    JACK
   I thought you said he was head man?

    DUFFY
        (smiling)
   He uses my head.

    PILLSBURY
        (laughing loudly)
   Oh, Tiny, you're a card... Ain't he 
   a card? Yeah, he's a card... Now, 
   who thought up those city ordinances 
   about arresting someone for making a 
   speech?

    DUFFY
   Who's arrested? Nobody's been 
   arrested.
        (looks toward the 
        door)
   Hi, Willie.

    Willie enters, accompanied by the sheriff and his deputy. 
    The others in the room, including Sugar Boy in his bartender's 
    apron, step aside to let him pass through.

    PILLSBURY
   Hi, Willie.

    DUFFY
        (to Sheriff)
   Did you apologize to Willie?

    SHERIFF
        (mumbles)
   Yeah, I apologized to Willie.

    DUFFY
   Did you give him his handbills back?

    SHERIFF
   Yeah, I gave 'em back.

    DUFFY
   Give him back his flag and his bag 
   and...
        (points to Jack)
   give this man his camera.

    WILLIE
   I'm going to be on that same street 
   corner tomorrow, Mr. Duffy.

    DUFFY
   You go right ahead, Willie. We all 
   believe in free speech. We got to... 
   it's in the Constitution.

    WILLIE
   My boy is out distributing those 
   handbills now.

    DUFFY
   It's a free country, Willie. If you 
   can convince the people to vote for 
   you... you go right ahead.

    WILLIE
   What did you want to see me about, 
   Mr. Duffy?

    DUFFY
   I wanted you to meet a fella came 
   all the way up from the state capital 
   to meet you. A reporter. Wants to 
   write you up... maybe put your picture 
   in the paper.

    WILLIE
        (turns to Jack)
   I'm happy to know you, sir.

    JACK
   Burden's my name... Jack Burden. Can 
   we go somewhere where we can talk?

    DUFFY
   Now that ain't polite. Don't you 
   want to hear both sides of the story?

    Jack examines the camera that has just been returned to him.

    JACK
   I know your side.
        (finds the plate 
        missing)
   What happened to the plate your men 
   took from my camera?

    DUFFY
   Must have dropped out. Oh, come on, 
   fellas, let's relax. It's a hot day... 
   Hey, Sugar Boy...

    SUGAR BOY
   Yeah?

    DUFFY
   Bring some cold beer for the boys.

    WILLIE
   None for me, thank you kindly.

    PILLSBURY
   Now you know Willie don't drink, 
   Tiny. His wife don't favor drinking. 
   And Willie's the teacher's pet, ain't 
   you, Willie?

    WILLIE
   I'll have some orange pop if you 
   don't mind.

    Duffy roars with laughter.

    DUFFY
   Orange pop! All right, Sugar Boy. 
   Bring him some orange pop.

    SUGAR BOY
        (stutters)
   Th-th-the p-p-pop's s-s-sold out.

    DUFFY
   Did you hear that, boys? The p-p-
   pop's s-s-sold out.

    They all laugh.

    PILLSBURY
   Now ain't he a card?

    WILLIE
        (his face hard)
   He stutters, Mr. Duffy, but you... 
   you don't say anything.
        (to Jack)
   Let's go, mister.

    They turn and go out.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Dirt Road, Day

    Jack is driving Willie home to his farmhouse. They pass a 
    farmer and his family walking by the side of the road. Willie 
    smiles and waves to them.

    Exterior: Stark Farmhouse, Day

    As the car pulls into the drive we see Pa Stark in his rocking 
    chair on the porch, and Lucy, who stands at the top of the 
    steps, waiting to welcome Willie.

    WILLIE
        (as they go up the 
        steps)
   This is my wife, Lucy, Mr. Burden.

    JACK AND LUCY
   How do you do?

    WILLIE
   That's my pa.

    Jack reaches out to shake his hand.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stark Farmhouse, Night

    Willie finishes chewing his food, pats his mouth with a 
    napkin, and pushes his plate back.

    WILLIE
   Now we'll talk.

    Camera pulls back to include Jack, Lucy, and Pa, all seated 
    around the dinner table.

    JACK
   You've been talking for a long time, 
   Mr. Stark.

    PAPPY
   Willie's got a lot to say.

    LUCY
   You sleepy, Pappy? You want to have 
   a nap?

    PAPPY
   No, I want to hear it.

    Lucy gets up and turns on a light in the kitchen.

    LUCY
   I'm worried about Tom. It's getting 
   dark. He should have been home.

    WILLIE
   He's a strong boy. Don't worry about 
   him. He can take care of himself.

    JACK
   How old is the boy?

    WILLIE
   Fifteen.

    JACK
   How long have you been married?

    WILLIE
   Nine years.

    Willie grins at Jack's look of surprise. Lucy comes back 
    into the room.

    LUCY
        (laughs)
   He was a neighbor's boy. They were 
   poor folks. Both died. I couldn't 
   have any children, so... He's a good 
   boy.

    WILLIE
   Oh, he's the best. I couldn't love 
   him any more if he was my own flesh 
   and blood.

    JACK
        (to Lucy)
   And now you, Mrs. Stark?

    LUCY
   Oh, there isn't very much to tell 
   about me.

    JACK
   How did you meet?

    LUCY
   I was teaching school and one day a 
   pupil walked in. It was Willie. I 
   couldn't have a grown man in the 
   class and Willie wanted to learn so 
   badly... so I married him.

    JACK
   Is that the only reason?

    LUCY
        (pressing Willie's 
        arm)
   Except that I loved him.

    WILLIE
   Get the coffee, Lucy.

    She goes back into the kitchen.

    JACK
   When did they fire you, Mrs. Stark?

    LUCY
        (as she serves the 
        coffee)
   A couple of weeks ago. I'd been 
   teaching for a long time and nobody 
   ever said I wasn't all right. But I 
   don't care. I don't want to teach in 
   a schoolhouse that they built just 
   so somebody can steal some money. 
   And Willie doesn't want to be 
   Treasurer, either, if he has to 
   associate with those dishonest people.

    WILLIE
        (glumly)
   I'm going to run. They can't keep me 
   from running.

    JACK
   If you don't mind the truth, Mr. 
   Stark, you haven't much of a chance.

    WILLIE
   I'm going to run. They're not going 
   to kick me around like I was dirt.

    LUCY
   I don't care if Willie loses... just 
   so he gets the truth to the people. 
   Isn't that true, Willie?

    Willie is silent. Jack looks at him.

    LUCY
   Isn't it, Willie?

    WILLIE
   Hmmm?... Yeah, yeah, sure, that's 
   right.

    LUCY
   Well, if you lose you can give a 
   little more time to studying your 
   law books.

    JACK
   Oh, you studying law too?

    WILLIE
   By myself, at night.

    PAPPY
   Willie's a smart boy.

    WILLIE
   If I ever find the time I'm going to 
   take a course at the university.

    The door opens slowly and Tom comes in from the porch. His 
    clothes are torn and his face is dirty and bloody. He still 
    carries some of the handbills. They rise to their feet and 
    cluster around him.

    LUCY
   What happened, Tommy boy? What's the 
   matter?

    TOM
        (head down, muttering)
   I gave out the handbills, Pa.

    WILLIE
   Speak up. Speak up.

    LUCY
   Let him tell it his own way. Go on, 
   Tommy.

    TOM
   This time they were waiting for me. 
   They took them away from me. Threw 
   them in the dirt and beat me up. I 
   brought some of them back.

    WILLIE
        (pats him on the back)
   Good boy. Have you eaten yet, Tom?

    LUCY
   Let him wash up first.

    As Tom and Pappy go into the other room, a rock comes crashing 
    through the front window, shattering the glass. Willie, his 
    face filled with anger, throws open the door and stalks out 
    onto the porch. Jack stands at the door, watching Willie 
    shout into the darkness around him.

    WILLIE
   I'm going to run... and you're not 
   going to stop me. I'm gonna run even 
   if I don't get a single vote.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    Interior: Jack Burden's Desk, Day

    Jack's fingers type out a story, the last line of which reads 
    "an honest man with courage." He pulls the sheet out and 
    hands it to Madison.

    JACK
   Here you are... the last of the Willie 
   Stark articles. Now can I go?

    MADISON
   Yes. You've earned your vacation. 
   You've been writing these like you 
   really mean them.

    Jack rises and walks toward the door.

    JACK
   I do.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Ferry To Burden's Landing, Day

    Jack's car is ferried across the bay to the slip of Burden's 
    Landing.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   I hadn't been home in a long time. 
   Only a hundred and thirty miles from 
   Kanoma City. It was separated from 
   the mainland by a body of water. For 
   the first time I wondered if it wasn't 
   separated by more than that.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Mrs. Burden's Home, Day

    As Jack arrives, Mrs. Burden and her husband, McEvoy, are 
    seated at a lawn table near the boat landing.

    JACK
   Hello, Mother.

    She runs forward to meet him.

    MRS. BURDEN
   Floyd, Jack's home. Oh, he looks 
   fine... doesn't he look fine?
        (to Jack, coquettishly)
   How do I look, Jackie boy?

    JACK
   You look beautiful, Mother.

    MRS. BURDEN
   I've got so many things planned for 
   you... parties and... it'll be just 
   like old times. But first, let's 
   have a drink.

    MCEVOY
   Can't that wait until this evening?

    She goes ahead and pours the drinks.

    MRS. BURDEN
   Floyd... honey... my son's home.

    MCEVOY
   How long do you plan on staying?

    JACK
        (coldly)
   Two or three weeks. If that's all 
   right with you.

    MRS. BURDEN
   I'm sure your father would be --

    JACK
   Stepfather, Mother.

    MRS. BURDEN
        (reproachfully)
   Now, Jackie... here we all are. Floyd, 
   Jackie, myself.
        (raises her glass for 
        a toast)
   To the best time we've ever had 
   together.

    JACK
   Yes, Mother.

    They drink. Mrs. Burden gulps hers down avidly. Jack looks 
    at her and then at McEvoy.

    JACK
   Excuse me... I...

    He turns and walks back toward the shore. He boards a small 
    motorboat and heads toward a house that can be seen across 
    the water.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Stanton Home (Burden's Landing), Day

    As the boat approaches the shore. Adam Stanton reaches down 
    and pulls the boat up on land. He throws his arm around Jack, 
    and the two climb the hill toward Judge Stanton, who stands 
    waiting to greet him.

    JACK
   Dr. Stanton, I presume.

    STANTON
        (laughing)
   Is my shingle showing?

    JUDGE
   Good to see you, boy. Very good.

    JACK
   Good to see you, Judge. How have you 
   been? What have you been doing?

    They walk back together to the patio tables.

    JUDGE
   Oh, just sitting here... waiting for 
   all of you to come home. You know, 
   when a man starts to get old his 
   eyes stray and play funny tricks on 
   him. As I watched you in that boat I 
   thought sure I saw a boy of twelve 
   with a fishing rod in his hands. And 
   I was sure the first thing he'd say 
   would be...

    Jack catches sight of Anne Stanton walking down the path. He 
    runs to meet her. As they embrace, he looks back at the Judge.

    JACK
   Do you mind if I kiss your niece, 
   sir?

    He kisses her, and they turn and walk away.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Tennis Court (Burden's Landing), Day

    Anne gracefully returns a ball to Jack, then runs to embrace 
    him at the net. Adam, seated near the court, smiles 
    approvingly.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Gulf (Burden's Landing), Morning

    Jack and Judge Stanton in a rowboat, on their way to do some 
    duck hunting.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Gulf (Burden's Landing), Day

    Adam is at the wheel of his sailboat, with Jack and Anne 
    behind him.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stanton Living Room (Burden's Landing), Night

    A party in the Stanton living room. Adam plays the piano. He 
    plays a waltz. Jack and Anne hold each other tightly as they 
    move among the other couples.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Burden Dining Room, Night

    A formal dinner, attended by Jack and Anne, Mrs. Burden and 
    McEvoy, Judge Stanton and Adam. Mrs. Burden is proposing a 
    toast.

    MRS. BURDEN
   To all the good times we've had 
   together at Burden's Landing. And 
   especially to this one. Because my 
   son's home.

    JACK
   Thank you, Mother. Thank you very 
   much.

    MRS. BURDEN
   Monty, Anne and I have been discussing 
   Jack's career. What do you think he 
   ought to go in for? Shall he be a 
   lawyer, doctor...

    Jack looks at Anne.

    ANNE
   We were just discussing whether you 
   should...

    JACK
        (to his mother)
   I like what I'm doing, Mother.

    MCEVOY
   You do very well at it. I read your 
   articles about this fellow... Willie 
   Stark. Very convincing... Too 
   convincing for my tastes.

    JACK
   A lot of people like them.

    MCEVOY
   A lot of people are fools. Articles 
   like that shouldn't be permitted. 
   They only tend to incite people.

    JACK
   What are you afraid of?

    STANTON
   I thought they were very good. I was 
   proud of you, Jack. I was particularly 
   interested in Stark's ideas on health 
   and medicine. You know the conditions 
   at the hospital I work in. They're 
   intolerable. I'd like to meet this 
   Willie Stark. He sounds like an honest 
   man.

    MCEVOY
   Honest man? This state is full of 
   these log-cabin Abe Lincolns with 
   price tags on them. The louder he 
   yells the higher his price.

    JACK
   You think you can buy anything, don't 
   you?

    MCEVOY
   Yes, don't you?

    There is a silence. Then McEvoy turns to the Judge.

    MCEVOY
   What do you think, Judge?

    JUDGE
   I think this state could stand a few 
   changes.

    MCEVOY
        (his face white)
   Well, I'll tell you what I think --

    ANNE
        (quickly)
   Oh, please... let's not talk politics.

    MRS. BURDEN
   Anne is right. I absolutely forbid 
   any more of it. I know what we need, 
   we need another toast.
        (to the Judge)
   You propose it, Monty... you're so 
   good at it.

    The Judge picks up his glass and stands up.

    JUDGE
   To the young people... to Anne, to 
   Jack, to Adam... To what lies before 
   them. To the world they'll make... 
   in spite of the mistakes we've made.

    MCEVOY
        (rising)
   The mistakes you've made, not me. 
   You're all still pretty high and 
   mighty, aren't you? You all think 
   this state needs a change. You don't 
   like the way it's run. Well, who's 
   going to run it? Willie Stark? The 
   Judge?
        (to Jack)
   You? You can be bought too. As a 
   matter of fact you have been. And 
   with my money.

    Jack's answer is to throw his liquor in his stepfather's 
    face. There is a pause. McEvoy wipes the liquor off with his 
    handkerchief.

    MCEVOY
        (slowly)
   That's a waste of good liquor.
        (looks at Mrs. Burden)
   Your mother wouldn't approve.

    Jack turns and leaves the room.

    MRS. BURDEN
   Jack...

    She hurries after him.

    Exterior: Veranda, Night

    As Mrs. Burden comes out after Jack. Anne stands in the 
    doorway.

    MRS. BURDEN
   Jack... you go back in and apologize.

    JACK
   Apologize? I'd rather die.

    MRS. BURDEN
   I've got to live with him.

    JACK
   Well, I don't. Neither do you. You 
   don't love him, Mother. You never 
   did.

    MRS. BURDEN
   Son, don't spoil anything now... He 
   can help you.

    JACK
   I can get along without him. You 
   need this house. And the parties. 
   And the cars and the clothes and the 
   lies. I don't. It's the truth, Mother, 
   face it. For once in your life, face 
   it.

    Mrs. Burden appeals to Anne.

    MRS. BURDEN
   Anne, please... please make him 
   understand.

    Anne says nothing. Mrs. Burden goes back into the house.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stanton Living Room, Night

    Anne and Jack sit alone in the room, beneath the portrait of 
    the old Governor Stanton.

    JACK
   Anne, Burden's Landing is a place on 
   the moon. It isn't real. It doesn't 
   exist. It's me pretending I live on 
   what I earn. It's my mother trying 
   to keep herself young, and drinking 
   herself old doing it. It's you and 
   Adam living in this house as though 
   your father were still alive. It's 
   an old man like the Judge dreaming 
   of the past... Anne, come away with 
   me.

    ANNE
   And do what?

    JACK
        (rises impatiently)
   And live in a shack and eat red beans. 
   Anne, what do you want me to do?

    ANNE
   Oh, Jack, Jack, you haven't been 
   sure. You've gone from one thing to 
   the other... a year at law school, 
   and now this job as a reporter...

    JACK
   Are you afraid I can't make a living?

    ANNE
   Oh, no, Jack, it isn't that. I don't 
   care about the money. It... it's 
   just that I... I want you to be 
   something.

    JACK
   What is it you want me to be?

    ANNE
   I don't know. It's just that I want 
   you to be... to do... something 
   important.

    Jack looks up at the portrait of Governor Stanton.

    JACK
   Like your father. All right. I'll 
   run for governor.
        (pause)
   Anne, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I said 
   that.

    ANNE
   All right, Jack. I'll go away with 
   you. I'll do anything you want me to 
   do.

    They kiss.

    JACK
   Anne, I've wanted you to say that 
   more than anything in the world, and 
   now that you've said it... Anne, I 
   guess you were right. I'm not sure 
   of anything, including myself. I'm 
   not sure I could live up to the...
        (looks again at the 
        portrait)
   Anne, wait for me. Please wait for 
   me.

    ANNE
   I'll wait for you.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Madison's Office, Day

    Madison is at his desk as Jack enters.

    MADISON
   Hello, Jack. Cut your vacation short, 
   didn't you?

    JACK
   Yeah.

    MADISON
   By the way, Jack, the fellow you 
   wrote the articles about... uh... 
   Stark.

    JACK
   Yeah?

    MADISON
   He lost.

    JACK
   Well, I guess that's the end of Willie 
   Stark.

    He turns around and walks off toward his desk.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    Interior: Stark Farmhouse, Night

    Lucy and Willie are seated together at the table. Willie has 
    his law books open before him.

    WILLIE
   ...Measure of the damages is caused 
   by...

    LUCY
        (prompting)
   A breach...

    WILLIE
   A breach...

    LUCY
   Of an agreement...

    WILLIE
   Of an agreement...

    LUCY
   To sell personal property...

    WILLIE
   To sell...
        (slams the book shut)
   Oh, two years of this.

    LUCY
        (leaning over to him)
   Oh, go on, Willie, go on.

    He opens the book again.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Willie's Law Office (Kanoma City), Day

    Willie positions the framed diploma on the wall. The camera 
    pulls back to show Tom and Lucy, looking on.

    WILLIE
   Willie Stark... Bachelor of Law...

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Kanoma City Farm, Day

    Close shot of Willie, talking to a farmer.

    WILLIE
   If you'll just let me take your 
   case...

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Farm, Day

    Willie walks beside a farmer who is plowing his field.

    WILLIE
   Really, I'll wait for my fee. Just 
   as long as you want me to.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Willie's Law Office, Night

    Through the window, on which is printed "Willie Stark: 
    Attorney at Law," we see Willie, alone, pacing back and forth 
    in his office.

    LUCY'S VOICE
   Go on, Willie, go on.

    WILLIE'S VOICE
   They're not going to kick me around 
   like I was dirt.

    LUCY'S VOICE
   If you lose you can give a little 
   more time studying your law books.

    WILLIE'S VOICE
   I'm going to be on that same street 
   corner tomorrow, Mr. Duffy!

    DUFFY'S VOICE
   By all means. Free speech, free 
   country, Willie.

    WILLIE'S VOICE
   That brick factory is owned by a 
   brother-in-law of one of the 
   commissioners. The county 
   commissioners rejected the low bid 
   on the schoolhouse.

    Willie crumples a piece of paper in his hand and tosses it 
    against the window.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Schoolhouse (Kanoma City), Day

    A plaque on the school wall reads KANOMA CITY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

    Interior: Schoolroom, Day

    Teacher faces her class. The clanging of a fire bell is heard.

    TEACHER
   All right, children, this is a fire 
   drill.

    The children rise and start to march out of the room in double 
    file.

    TEACHER
   Remember now, walk quietly.

    Exterior: Schoolhouse, Day

    The children's feet, as they climb down the fire escape. 
    Camera pans past children to an iron rod supporting the fire 
    escape. The brick around the rod starts to crumble and it 
    rips loose. The children scream out in fear and agony.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Cemetery, Day

    The whole town is there. Willie Stark, Lucy, Tom stand 
    modestly in the background. Quiet sobbing is heard as the 
    minister reads from the Bible. When he finishes the prayer, 
    he walks past the line of mourners, shaking their hands. The 
    ceremony is over. As they start to go, a man spots Willie, 
    goes over to him, and lifts Willie's arm in the air.

    MAN
   Oh, Lord, I'm punished for voting 
   against an honest man.

    This sudden action brings response; women begin to cry and 
    people push their way forward to grab Willie by the hand.

    VOICES OF THE MOURNERS
   God bless you, Willie. If we had 
   only listened to you, Willie. You 
   were right, Willie. Let me shake 
   your hand, Willie. We should have 
   listened, Willie. You were right all 
   the time.

    On Willie's face is the realization that something important 
    has happened to him.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stark Farmhouse, Night

    An article is pasted in a scrapbook. It reads: "VOICE IN THE 
    WILDERNESS. Recent school tragedy is a potent reminder that 
    a man named Willie Stark..." A hand draws a pencil underneath 
    the name.

    WILLIE'S VOICE
   A voice in the wilderness. A man 
   named Willie Stark...

    Camera pulls back to show Willie at the table busy with his 
    scrapbook. He looks up at Lucy.

    WILLIE
   How about that, Lucy, that's me.

    She looks at him, unsmiling, and sits down to help him clip 
    various articles from other papers.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stark Farmhouse, Night

    A series of clippings are being pasted in the scrapbook. 
    They read:

    A. SCHOOL VICTIMS SUE COUNTY: STARK FILES DAMAGE SUIT

    "Will prove graft cause of tragedy," says Attorney Stark.

    B. CITIZENS COMMITTEE FORMED

    Draft Stark to lead fight to rid state of graft.

    C. CITIZENS COMMITTEE DEMANDS STATE-WIDE INVESTIGATION

    D. Large photograph of Willie. Under it, the caption: RURAL 
    AREAS IN REVOLT

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Madison's Office, The Chronicle, Day

    The clippings are spread out on Madison's desk. He looks up 
    at Jack.

    MADISON
   Get up there. Get up there fast. 
   Your friend, Willie, is hotter than 
   a firecracker.

    Jack starts toward the door.

    MADISON
   Stay there with him.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Harrison's Political Headquarters (State Capital), 
    Day

    A politician points to a map on the wall.

    POLITICIAN
   Look, before this Kanoma City business 
   we had this whole area tied up. Now 
   we're losing to Hickville.

    Camera pulls back, revealing the candidate, Harrison, Tiny 
    Duffy, and a woman, Sadie Burke.

    POLITICIAN
   We must find a way to split that 
   vote.

    HARRISON
   Well, all I know is, the way it is 
   now it looks like I'm not going to 
   win.

    POLITICIAN
   I know a way... find a dummy.

    SADIE
   Find a dummy.
        (looks at Harrison)
   That's what we've got.

    POLITICIAN
   A guy from the sticks... strong enough 
   to grab some votes and dumb enough 
   not to ask questions.

    DUFFY
   If you want to listen to a boy from 
   the sticks, I know just the guy.

    They crowd around to listen.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stark Farmhouse, Day

    Jack sits at the dinner table, with Willie and Lucy. Tom 
    stands next to Willie. Pappy dozes in his chair.

    JACK
   No more politics, eh, Willie?

    WILLIE
   No, I worked too hard in my time to 
   get there. I think I'll just go on 
   practicing law and make a little 
   more money.

    JACK
   The question I'd like to know is, 
   why all the speeches you're making 
   around the countryside?

    Willie is about to answer when he hears the sound of 
    approaching cars.

    WILLIE
   Wonder who that is?

    He goes to the window, and we see a big black limousine 
    turning into his drive. He opens the door and waits as Sadie, 
    Duffy, Dolph Pillsbury, and other politicians climb the steps 
    to meet him.

    DUFFY
   Brought some people all the way up 
   from the state capital just to meet 
   you.
        (turns to others)
   Folks, I want you to meet Willie 
   Stark, the next governor of our state.

    Willie, Lucy, and Tom beam happily. Jack looks skeptically 
    at Sadie, whose only reaction is to smile, politely.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Country Road, Day

    Close shot of three posters on a billboard. They read ELECT 
    JOE HARRISON (HAPPY JOE) GOVERNOR FOR GOVERNOR ELECT McMURPHY 
    WILLIE STARK FOR GOVERNOR.

    The camera pans to the road, where an old Model T comes 
    bouncing along. As it passes we see a poster stuck on its 
    back: WILLIE STARK -- GOVERNOR.

    Exterior: Railroad Station, Day

    Willie Stark walks out on the platform at the rear of the 
    train and talks to some of the townspeople who have gathered 
    at the station.

    WILLIE
   Folks, if you'll just bear patiently 
   with me for a couple of minutes, I'd 
   like to tell you what this state 
   needs. It needs a balanced tax 
   program. Now I'd like to give you 
   the facts and the figures.

    Some of the townspeople start to move away.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Train, Day

    As the train pulls away from the station, Willie turns around 
    to Jack.

    WILLIE
   How did it sound, Jack?

    JACK
   Fine, Willie, fine.

    WILLIE
        (alarmed)
   Say... I forgot to send a telegram 
   to Lucy... Conductor!

    Jack and Sadie exchange looks.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Train Club Car, Day

    Willie, jacket off, works over a speech with Duffy as 
    Pillsbury and Sadie look on.

    WILLIE
   Now right here... right here I'd 
   like to add something about last 
   year's taxes... eh?

    DUFFY
   I wouldn't add a thing. Just give 
   them the facts.

    PILLSBURY
   Yeah... and the figures.

    DUFFY
   Great speech.

    Sadie sips her drink.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Street Corner (Upton), Day

    Willie stands on a platform, next to an American flag, reading 
    from his prepared speech.

    WILLIE
   What this state needs is a balanced 
   tax program. Last year, last year 
   the state claimed to have spent on 
   roads...

    Sadie turns and walks away, no longer able to listen. Jack 
    follows her toward the hotel.

    Interior: Hotel Lobby (Upton), Day

    As Jack and Sadie cross the street, enter the lobby, and sit 
    down next to the front window. We can still see Willie and 
    his small street-corner audience in the background.

    JACK
   Do you mind if I sit with you, Sadie?

    SADIE
        (shrugs)
   Stand... sit...

    JACK
   Thanks... Tell me, what are you on 
   this merry-go-round for?

    SADIE
   I take notes.

    JACK
   For whom?

    SADIE
   For those who pay me.

    JACK
   Which is.

    SADIE
   People.

    JACK
   Smart people.

    SADIE
   Oh, yeah. Anybody that pays me is 
   smart.

    JACK
   You don't have to be smart to frame 
   a guy like Willie Stark.

    SADIE
   No. No, brother, you don't.

    JACK
        (lights a cigarette)
   It is a frame, isn't it?

    SADIE
   Why don't you give me a cigarette?

    JACK
        (gives her the pack)
   To split the vote and win the election 
   for Harrison, huh?

    SADIE
   If you know, why do you ask?

    JACK
   I just want to make sure.

    SADIE
   Yeah.

    JACK
   Look, why don't you tell the boys 
   back home to save their money. Willie 
   couldn't steal a vote from... from 
   Abe Lincoln in the Cradle of the 
   Confederacy.

    SADIE
   I wish the poor... had enough sense 
   to have somebody give him a good 
   greasing for the beating he's going 
   to get. 'Cause this way all he gets 
   out of it is the ride.
        (looks at Willie 
        through the window)
   Hey, those speeches! Ain't they awful? 
   Ain't they just plain awful? Question 
   to you: if somebody told him he was 
   a sucker, do you think he'd quit?

    Willie has just finished his speech and is on his way over 
    to the hotel.

    JACK
   I don't know, Sadie. I really don't 
   know.

    WILLIE
        (as he comes into the 
        lobby)
   Did it sound all right, Mr. Burden?

    JACK
   Fine, Willie, fine.

    WILLIE
   Thanks.

    He and Jack go upstairs together. Sadie watches them.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Sadie's Hotel Room (Upton), Night

    Sadie lies on her bed, listening to Willie in the next room, 
    rehearsing one of his speeches.

    WILLIE'S VOICE
   Now, friends, if you will bear 
   patiently with me for a few minutes, 
   I'll give you the figures. What we 
   need is a balanced tax program...

    JACK'S VOICE
   No, Willie, no.

    Sadie pulls off a shoe and hurls it at the wall.

    SADIE
   What I need is some sleep. Shut up!

    Interior: Jack's Hotel Room (Upton), Same Time

    Willie lies on his bed. Jack finishes shaving in the bathroom 
    as he continues to rehearse him.

    JACK
        (shouting back at 
        Sadie)
   Shut up yourself!
        (goes to bed, shakes 
        Willie)
   Listen, Willie, try it on your feet 
   this time.

    WILLIE
   Oh, no. Wait a minute. My feet are 
   killing me. Let me stay here, huh?

    JACK
   All right... Look, Willie, you tell 
   'em too much. Just tell 'em you're 
   going to soak the fat boys and forget 
   the rest of the tax stuff.

    WILLIE
        (pathetically)
   That's what I say.

    JACK
   But it's the way you say it. Willie, 
   make 'em cry. Make 'em laugh, make 
   'em mad, even mad at you. Stir 'em 
   up and they'll love it and come back 
   for more. But for heaven's sake don't 
   try and improve their minds.

    WILLIE
        (suddenly)
   A man don't have to be governor.

    JACK
        (surprised)
   What?

    WILLIE
   A man don't have to be governor.

    Pause.

    JACK
   Well, they haven't counted up the 
   votes yet.

    WILLIE
        (quietly)
   Oh, I'm going to lose, Mr. Burden. I 
   know that. Don't try and fool me. 
   I'm not going to lie to you. I wanted 
   it. I wanted it so badly I stayed up 
   nights thinking about it. A man wants 
   something so badly he gets mixed up 
   in knowing what he wants. It's 
   something inside of you. I would 
   have made a good governor. Better 
   than those other fellows.

    There is a knock on the door.

    JACK
   Come in.

    WILLIE
        (almost to himself)
   A great governor.

    Sadie enters. She immediately spots the liquor, and pours 
    herself a drink.

    SADIE
   Since you won't let me sleep you 
   might at least give me a drink.

    WILLIE
        (muttering)
   Build them highways... greatest system 
   of highways in the country.

    JACK
        (to Sadie)
   Help yourself.

    WILLIE
   I'll build schools.

    SADIE
        (to Jack)
   What's up?

    JACK
   Nothing... except Willie here has 
   been saying as how he's not going to 
   be governor.

    SADIE
        (directly, to Jack)
   So you told him.

    JACK
   I don't tell anyone anything... I 
   just listen.

    SADIE
        (goes to Willie)
   Who told you?

    WILLIE
   Told me what? Told me what?

    SADIE
   That you're not going to be governor.

    WILLIE
        (getting up)
   Jack! Told me what?... Told me what?

    Jack says nothing. Sadie gulps down her drink, bangs the 
    empty glass on the bureau top, and turns to face Willie.

    SADIE
        (loudly)
   All right! That you've been framed, 
   you poor sap.

    Willie looks at her steadily for a moment.

    WILLIE
        (quietly)
   Framed?

    SADIE
   And how! Oh, you decoy, you woodenhead 
   decoy! And you let 'em. You let 'em 
   because you thought you were the 
   little lamb of God. But you know 
   what you are?
        (she waits for his 
        answer; he has none)
   Well, you're the goat! You are the 
   sacrificial goat! You are a sap... 
   because you let 'em.

    JACK
   Sadie! That's enough.

    SADIE
   Enough? He didn't even get anything 
   out of it. Oh, they'd have paid you 
   to take a rap like that, but they 
   didn't have to pay a sap like you. 
   Oh, no, you were so full of yourself 
   and hot air, all you wanted was a 
   chance to stand up on your hind legs 
   and make a speech: my friends, what 
   this state needs is a good five-cent 
   cigar. What this state needs is a --

    WILLIE
        (to Jack)
   Is it true?

    SADIE
        (prayerfully, to the 
        ceiling)
   He wants to know if it's true.

    WILLIE
   Is it true?

    JACK
   That's what they tell me.

    There is a long pause. Willie looks almost as if he is going 
    to cry. Sadie pours out another drink, a stiff one.

    SADIE
        (handing it to him)
   Here.

    Willie drinks it all.

    JACK
   Hey, lay off that. You're not used 
   to it.

    SADIE
        (jeeringly)
   He's not used to a lot of things. 
   Are you, Willie?

    JACK
        (angrily)
   Why don't you lay off of him, Sadie?

    SADIE
        (ignores Jack)
   Are you, Willie? Are you? Are you... 
   are you, are you, are you?

    She shoves the bottle at him. He takes it and pours himself 
    a drink.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Sadie's Hotel Room (Upton), Morning

    Willie is snoring on the bed. Sadie's coat is thrown over 
    him. She is in the bathroom, applying lipstick. Jack enters.

    SADIE
   Hi.

    JACK
   Well, things seem to have quieted 
   down.

    SADIE
        (laughs)
   Yeah, I quieted him down.

    JACK
   Yeah. How was he? Noisy?

    SADIE
   Oh, he reared some. He's been telling 
   me all the things he's going to do. 
   He's going to do big things, this 
   fella. He's going to be President. 
   He's going to kill people with his 
   bare hands. I quieted him down... 
   Hey! Who's Lucy?

    JACK
   His wife.

    SADIE
   He talks like she's his mammy... 
   she's going to blow his nose for 
   him.

    Jack sits on the bed next to Willie.

    JACK
   Well, I'll take him from here on in. 
   They're waiting for him at the 
   barbecue.

    Sadie pulls her coat off Willie and goes to the door.

    SADIE
   Yeah, well give me a receipt for the 
   body and I'll be on my way.

    She leaves. Jack bends over Willie, who continues to snore.

    JACK
   Hey, Willie, Willie... come on, wake 
   up, Willie. Come on, Willie.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Fairgrounds (Upton), Day

    A crowd mills about underneath a banner that reads HEAR WILLIE 
    STARK MAMMOTH BARBECUE -- UPTON FAIRGROUNDS

    Exterior: Fairgrounds, Day

    Willie, staggering a bit, hung over, reacts painfully to the 
    staggering height of the Ferris wheel. He leans on Jack for 
    support, and they walk on.

    Exterior: Fairgrounds, Day

    Willie takes a seat on the children's swing as Jack goes off 
    to get some coffee. Two little girls stare curiously at him. 
    Willie waves them off. Jack returns with the coffee and pours 
    some whisky in it. Willie tips his hand, forcing him to pour 
    more, then gulps his drink down.

    Exterior: Bandstand (Upton), Day

    Duffy, Pillsbury, and the other politicians stand on the 
    platform, waiting for Willie. A band plays march music. Duffy 
    goes over to Sadie, who is standing on the steps of the 
    platform.

    DUFFY
   Where is he?

    SADIE
        (pointing)
   There he is.

    Escorted by Jack, Willie approaches the platform and stumbles 
    up the steps past Sadie.

    SADIE
   Whoops!

    DUFFY
        (to Jack)
   Is he drunk?

    JACK
   Never touches the stuff. Lucy doesn't 
   favor drinkin'.

    Duffy follows Willie up on the platform.

    SADIE
        (to Jack)
   How'd you get him here? He was out 
   stiff.

    JACK
   Hair of the dog that bit him.

    SADIE
   Hair? He must have swallowed the 
   dog.

    On the platform, Duffy looks uneasily at the bleary-eyed 
    Willie. The band suddenly plays a fanfare, and the chairman 
    steps up to the microphone.

    CHAIRMAN
   Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me a 
   great deal of pleasure to introduce 
   to you that true man of the people, 
   the next governor of the state... 
   Willie Stark.

    There is scattered applause as Willie steps forward to speak.

    WILLIE
   My friends...

    He turns his face from side to side, and fumbles in the right 
    side of his coat pocket to fish out his speech.

    WILLIE
   My friends... I...

    He tries to focus on the speech, which he clutches before 
    his eyes with both hands. Then he lifts his head, and looks 
    directly at the people who have come to hear him. As he 
    speaks, the camera focuses on the faces of these people: the 
    farmers, workers, hicks, red-necks who are Willie's audience, 
    Willie's people.

    WILLIE
   I have a speech here. It's a speech 
   about what this state needs. There's 
   no need in my telling you what this 
   state needs. You are the state and 
   you know what you need... You over 
   there... look at your pants. Have 
   they got holes in the knees? Listen 
   to your stomach. Did you ever hear 
   it rumble from hunger?... And you, 
   what about your crops? Did they ever 
   rot in the field because the road 
   was so bad you couldn't get them to 
   market?... And you. What about your 
   kids? Are they growing up ignorant 
   as dirt, ignorant as you, 'cause 
   there's no school for them?... No, 
   I'm not going to read you any speech.

    He throws his speech away. Duffy looks alarmed.

    WILLIE
   But I am going to tell you a story. 
   It's a funny story...

    SADIE
        (from the steps)
   Hey!

    WILLIE'S VOICE
   ...So get ready to laugh.

    SADIE
   What's he up to?

    JACK
   Shut up!

    WILLIE
   Get ready to bust your sides laughing, 
   'cause it's sure a funny story. It's 
   about a hick... a hick like you, if 
   you please. Yeah, like you. He grew 
   up on the dirt roads and gully washes 
   of a farm. He knew what it was to 
   get up before dawn and get feed and 
   slop and milk before breakfast... 
   and then set out before sunup and 
   walk six miles to a one-room, slab-
   sided schoolhouse. Oh, this hick 
   knew what it was to be a hick, all 
   right. He figured if he was going to 
   get anything done, he had to do it 
   himself. So he sat up nights and 
   studied books. He studied law because 
   he thought he might be able to change 
   things some... for himself, and for 
   folks like him.

    Sugar Boy listens intently, sharing in the anger in Willie's 
    speech.

    WILLIE
   No, I'm not going to lie to you. He 
   didn't start off thinking about the 
   hicks and all the wonderful things 
   he was going to do for them. No. No, 
   he started off thinking of number 
   one. But something came to him on 
   the way. How he could do nothing for 
   himself without the help of the 
   people. That's what came to him. And 
   it also came to him, with the powerful 
   force of God's own lightning, back 
   in his home country, when a 
   schoolhouse collapsed because it was 
   built of politics... rotten brick. 
   It killed and mangled a dozen kids. 
   But you know that story. The people 
   were his friends because he fought 
   that rotten brick. And some of the 
   politicians down in the city, they 
   knew that... So they rode up to his 
   house in a big, fine, shiny car and 
   said as how they wanted him to run 
   for governor...

    Jack, electrified, grips Sadie's arm.

    JACK
   Sadie, he's wonderful... wonderful...

    Duffy fidgets as Willie continues to pace and speak, his 
    face filled with conviction, and with fury.

    WILLIE
   ...So they told the hick... and he 
   swallowed it. He looked in his heart 
   and he thought in all humility how 
   he'd like to try and change things. 
   He was just a country boy who thought 
   that even the plainest, poorest man 
   can be governor if his fellow citizens 
   find he's got the stuff for the job. 
   Well, those fellows in the striped 
   pants... they saw the hick and they 
   took him in.

    He points his finger at Duffy, who is coming over to speak 
    to him.

    DUFFY
        (low voice)
   Willie, what are you trying to do?

    Willie turns on him, roaring.

    WILLIE
   There he is! There's your Judas 
   Iscariot.
        (he pushes Duffy across 
        the platform)
   Look at him... lickspittle... nose-
   wiper.

    Duffy gestures frantically to the band.

    DUFFY
   Play! Play!

    WILLIE
        (pushing him again)
   Look at him!

    DUFFY
   Play anything.

    The band starts to play, adding to the pandemonium. Willie 
    shouts above it.

    WILLIE
   Look at him! Joe Harrison's dummy! 
   Look at him!

    DUFFY
   That's a lie!

    WILLIE
   Look at him!

    Duffy signals to some of his goons standing near the platform.

    DUFFY
   Go get him, boys... go get him.

    Sugar Boy leaps up on the platform, his pistol drawn and 
    pointed at Duffy's men. Willie throws up his arms to silence 
    the crowd.

    WILLIE
   Now, shut up! Shut up, all of you. 
   Now, listen to me, you hicks. Yeah, 
   you're hicks too, and they fooled 
   you a thousand times, just like they 
   fooled me. But this time I'm going 
   to fool somebody. I'm going to stay 
   in this race. I'm on my own and I'm 
   out for blood.

    The camera moves in close on Willie's face.

    WILLIE
   Listen to me, you hicks...

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Willie's Speeches, Day and Night

    A series of close-ups of Willie's face as he shouts and jeers 
    his message, always accompanied by the loud and frenzied 
    cheers of the crowd. Superimposed over his face is the figure 
    of Jack Burden, at his desk, typing out his stories.

    WILLIE
   Listen to me and lift up your eyes 
   and look at God's blessed and 
   unflyblown truth... And this is the 
   truth. You're a hick. And nobody 
   ever helped a hick but a hick himself.

    Loud cheers and yells.

    WILLIE
   All right, listen to me... listen to 
   me. I was the hick they were going 
   to use to split the hick vote. But 
   I'm standing right here now on my 
   hind legs... even a dog can learn to 
   do that. Are you standing on your 
   hind legs? Have you learned to do 
   that much yet? Here it is, here it 
   is, you hicks. Nail up anybody who 
   stands in your way! Nail up Joe 
   Harrison! Nail up McMurphy! And if 
   they don't deliver, give me a hammer 
   and I'll do it myself.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    NEWSPAPER HEADLINE

    There is a photograph of Willie and a headline that reads

    STARK CHANCES BOOMING

    Superimposed over the newspaper is a shot of a crowd 
    applauding and yelling for Willie.

    Interior: Joe Harrison's Campaign Headquarters, Night

    Duffy, Pillsbury, and other aides stand looking at a poster 
    of Willie.

    POLITICIAN
   I want his throat cut, from ear to 
   ear.

    Exterior: Willie's Campaign Montage

    Rock crashes through a window, knocking down a poster of 
    Willie.

    Poster being torn off the side of a building.

    A man is attacked as he tries to distribute leaflets.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Jack Burden's Desk, The Chronicle, Night

    Jack is working on a story when Madison comes to his desk.

    MADISON
   No use going any further, Jack. We 
   aren't printing them any more.

    JACK
   I thought the Chronicle line was --

    MADISON
   Divide and conquer? Stark is getting 
   too big for his britches and the 
   hicks are getting too smart. We're 
   now supporting Harrison.

    JACK
        (stands up)
   How do you square that?

    MADISON
   I work here.

    JACK
        (putting on his coat)
   Well, I don't... not any more.

    MADISON
   Jack, you fool.

    JACK
   If you had any guts you'd print 
   this...

    MADISON
   I work here. I take orders.

    JACK
   I know. You've got a wife and three 
   kids and your boy goes to Princeton.

    MADISON
   You won't find it easy to get another 
   job.

    JACK
   I'm too rich to work.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Street Outside State Capitol, Day

    NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READS

    HARRISON WINS CLOSE RACE
    STARK SWEEPS RURAL AREAS
    CITY VOTE DECIDES ELECTION

    Superimposed over newspaper is a crowd cheering at Harrison's 
    victory parade. Willie, raincoat thrown over his shoulders, 
    looking grim, and Sadie and Sugar Boy are part of that crowd. 
    They turn away and walk toward a bar.

    Interior: Bar, Day

    Jack is already at the bar. Willie, Sadie, and Sugar Boy 
    join him there.

    JACK
   We didn't do so good.

    WILLIE
   Double bourbon.

    SADIE
        (sitting next to Jack)
   Same for me.

    WILLIE
   And a beer.
        (to Jack)
   I hear you got fired from the paper.

    JACK
   You heard wrong, Willie. I quit.

    WILLIE
        (passing the beer 
        back to Sugar Boy)
   You're smart. 'Cause before I'm 
   through with that mob they're not 
   going to have enough money left to 
   pay the boy that cleans the spittoons.

    JACK
   How do you feel, Willie?

    WILLIE
   I feel fine, fine. You see, Jack, I 
   learned something.

    Willie and Sadie exchange looks.

    JACK
   Yeah... what?

    Close shot of Willie.

    WILLIE
   How to win.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    Exterior: Road, Day

    Jack stands on the side of the road, thumbing a ride.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   I didn't see Willie again until his 
   second campaign... four years later.

    Interior: Office, Night

    Jack turns in some copy to a man at a desk.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   I drifted from job to job...

    Exterior: Street, Day

    Jack and others in front of an employment agency.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   ...That is, whenever I could find 
   one.

    Interior: Bar, Night

    Jack, at the bar, looking haggard and disheveled, picks up a 
    newspaper and turns to find a photograph of Anne. The caption 
    reads STANTONS ARRIVE HOME.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   But always further and further away 
   from Anne, and the life at Burden's 
   Landing.

    Exterior: Street, Day

    Camera pans with Jack as he trudges along the street.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   But Willie wasn't drifting. He knew 
   where he was going.

    We see an insert of a newspaper. It has a caricature of 
    Willie, swinging a sledge hammer. The caption reads

    STARK ATTACKS ADMINISTRATION
    CHARGES OLD MACHINE STILL CORRUPT

    JACK
        (voice over)
   He had his foot in the door and he 
   kept right on pushing to get in. He 
   had lost the election but he had won 
   the state... and he knew it... and 
   the people knew it.

    MONTAGE: WILLIE'S LIFE

    Writing on a fence: THE PEOPLE'S WILL SHOULD BE THE LAW OF 
    THE STATE... WILLIE STARK Painted on a rock: KNOWLEDGE BELONGS 
    TO THE PEOPLE... WILLIE STARK

    Lettering on a barn: FREE MEDICINE FOR ALL PEOPLE -- NOT AS 
    A CHARITY BUT AS A RIGHT... WILLIE STARK

    Poster on a building: MY STUDY IS THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE... 
    WILLIE STARK

    JACK
        (voice over)
   They were all hopping on his 
   bandwagon... even Tiny Duffy.

    Newspaper caricature: it shows Willie on a bandwagon headed 
    for the state capitol. Everyone is trying to climb aboard. 
    Caption is THEY'RE ALL FOR WILLIE NOW. Huge poster on the 
    side of a building: MY STUDY IS THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE. 
    Camera pans up to photograph of Willie on the poster.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   Yep, Willie came back like he said 
   he would.

    Interior: Willie's Office, Day

    Willie is being interviewed by a group of reporters. Sugar 
    Boy lounges nearby, leaning against the wall.

    WILLIE
   Do you want to know what my platform 
   is? Here it is: I'm going to soak 
   the fat boys and I'm going to spread 
   it thin.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Circus Grounds, Day

    We see balloons with inscriptions reading "I'm for Willie," 
    and a large banner stretching overhead, saying FREE CIRCUS 
    TODAY -- COMPLIMENTS OF WILLIE STARK. The crowd moves about, 
    gazing at the clowns, animals, the trapeze act.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   Willie was right -- he'd learned how 
   to win...

    Exterior: Park, Day

    A truck loaded with beer kegs pulls into the park. On the 
    back of the truck is a sign: BIG STARK RALLY TODAY -- FREE 
    BEER -- FREE FOOD -- EVERYBODY INVITED. Superimposed over 
    this is the image of dollar bills floating through the air.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   He spent a lot of money doing it... 
   an awful lot of money... I was 
   beginning to wonder where he got it 
   from.

    Montage: Willie's Second Campaign

    Hand holding check made payable to Willie Stark Campaign 
    Fund... $7000. Willie's hand reaches out and takes it.

    Hand holding check payable to cash for $5000. Superimposed 
    is Willie, looking on, and his hand endorsing the back of 
    the check.

    Another check to the Stark Campaign Fund for $3500. Poster 
    of Willie is superimposed.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   There were rumors throughout the 
   state that Willie was making deals 
   with all kinds of people... strange 
   deals... for Willie Stark.

    Crowd milling about circus grounds, with Willie's poster 
    superimposed.

    Fireworks exploding. Crowd cheers.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   The second time out, it wasn't a 
   campaign... it was a slaughter. It 
   was Saturday night in a mining town.

    Huge poster is affixed to the side of a building. It bears 
    Willie's face, and his slogans.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Hotel (State Capital), Day

    Crowd stands about as Willie and Jack make their way into 
    the hotel.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   He came back and he took me with 
   him.

    Interior: Hotel Lobby, Day

    The lobby is packed as Willie, Jack, Sugar Boy, and Pillsbury 
    enter. Willie makes signals to Duffy to tag along with the 
    entourage. Willie leans over to speak to the room clerk.

    WILLIE
   This is Jack Burden, a friend of 
   mine. From now on he's going to live 
   here. Give him anything he wants.

    The group starts up the stairs, past the officers who are 
    standing guard. Duffy stops to speak to one, pointing his 
    finger at some of his men standing below.

    DUFFY
   Let these boys through, officer.

    WILLIE
        (to Jack)
   Duffy works for me now.

    JACK
   It looks like everybody works for 
   you.

    They start up the second flight of stairs.

    WILLIE
   No. No, not yet. But I want to keep 
   him around. He reminds me of something 
   I never want to forget.

    Willie stops and looks around at Duffy's men hurrying up the 
    steps.

    WILLIE
        (to Duffy)
   Come on, come on, come on, come on. 
   Are these the boys?

    DUFFY
   These are the boys that can get the 
   boys.

    WILLIE
   How many do you think we can get?

    DUFFY
   Fifty.

    WILLIE
   How much?

    DUFFY
   Five dollars a head.

    WILLIE
        (to Sugar Boy)
   What do you think, Sugar? Do they 
   look like good boys?

    SUGAR BOY
   T-t-they b-b-better be.

    WILLIE
   Get a hundred... All right, go on, 
   all of you. Blow. Blow, blow. You 
   too, Duffy. Go on.

    Duffy and his men turn and go downstairs.

    WILLIE
        (to Jack)
   Handbill distributors.

    JACK
   If they all look like them I'd hate 
   not to take one.

    WILLIE
   That's the object. Not like when 
   they beat up my boy Tom.

    JACK
   How is Tom?

    WILLIE
   Oh, he's fine. He starts college in 
   the fall.

    JACK
   Oh. And Lucy?

    Willie's expression changes. He starts up the stairs.

    WILLIE
   Fine... fine.

    Interior: Willie's Campaign Office In Hotel, Day

    The place is a beehive of activity, with typists and 
    messengers scurrying about, all supervised by Sadie.

    SADIE
   Hey, I need a boy... Where's a boy?
        (boy runs up)
   Take that downstairs; they're waiting 
   for it. Right away, on the double.
        (to typist)
   Listen, baby, you've got to double-
   space all of this... he can't read, 
   see.

    The door opens and Willie, Jack, and Sugar Boy come in.

    JACK
   Sadie!

    SADIE
        (to typist)
   And they need four copies.
        (looks up)
   Hi, Jack. How are you?

    WILLIE
   Sadie is my secretary now.
        (to messenger, trying 
        to squeeze by)
   Oh, pardon me.

    As Willie and Jack walk toward adjoining room, Sadie calls 
    out:

    SADIE
   Fix your tie, Willie.

    Interior: Bedroom Hotel Suite, Day

    Willie and Jack enter from the office.

    WILLIE
   Hey, Sugar.

    Sugar Boy appears in the doorway. Sadie slips by into the 
    room.

    WILLIE
   Keep everybody out of here. I want 
   to talk to Jack and Sadie alone.

    He walks over to Jack, who leans back on the bed.

    WILLIE
   From now on you're working for me.

    JACK
   Doing what?

    WILLIE
   I don't know. Something will turn 
   up, won't it, Sadie?

    SADIE
   Yeah. We need a college man around... 
   for research.

    WILLIE
   How much did they pay you on that 
   newspaper?

    JACK
   Three hundred dollars a month.

    WILLIE
        (laughs)
   I could buy you cheap, couldn't I?

    JACK
   For a bag of salt.

    WILLIE
   No. No, I don't play that way. I 
   like you, boy. I always have. I'll 
   tell you what I'll do. I'll give you 
   four hundred dollars a month and 
   traveling expenses.

    JACK
   You throw money around like it was 
   money.

    Willie gets up and walks to the window.

    WILLIE
   Money?... I don't need money. People 
   give me things.

    JACK
   Why?

    WILLIE
   Because they believe in me.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Burden's Landing, Day

    Willie's car is on the ferry crossing the bay to Burden's 
    Landing. Sugar Boy drives the car off the ferry and up the 
    road toward the house.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   I was going home again. But this 
   time it was different. Now I had a 
   feeling that maybe the waiting was 
   over... for me, and for Anne.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stanton Living Room (Burden's Landing), Night

    Close shot of Willie standing in front of the fireplace, 
    beneath the portrait of Governor Stanton.

    WILLIE
   It's a far cry from where I come 
   from... to this house.

    Camera pulls back. The room is crowded with people, all of 
    them friends of the Stantons. Anne, Adam, Judge Stanton, 
    Mrs. Burden, and McEvoy are part of the audience sitting 
    around the fireplace. Jack stands next to Willie.

    WILLIE
   And standing here under the portrait 
   of one of the greatest governors of 
   this state, talking to you people... 
   well, it's an honor I never thought 
   I'd have.

    JACK
   Are there any questions?
        (looks around)
   Mr. McEvoy.

    MCEVOY
        (smiles)
   No, I have no questions.

    JACK
   Judge?

    JUDGE
   A few... but it will hold.

    STANTON
   I have a question.

    WILLIE
   Shoot.

    STANTON
   A lot of people in this state have 
   been saying that you've been making 
   deals... some of them with the very 
   groups that you claim you're against. 
   Is that true?

    JACK
   Adam, you know how rumors start...

    WILLIE
   Yes. Yes, that's true. I have nothing 
   to hide. I'll make a deal with the 
   devil if it'll help me carry out my 
   program. But believe me, there are 
   no strings attached to those deals.

    STANTON
   You're sure about that?

    WILLIE
   Doc, Jack here has been telling me 
   how you feel about things... how 
   you'd like to see a new hospital 
   built, a hospital that's the biggest 
   and best that money can buy. You 
   want those things, Doc, because, 
   well, because you're a man who wants 
   to do good. Now, I'd like to ask you 
   a question.

    STANTON
   Shoot.

    The guests laugh good-naturedly.

    WILLIE
   Do you know what good comes out of?

    STANTON
   You tell me, Mr. Stark.

    WILLIE
   Out of bad... that's what good comes 
   out of. Because you can't make it 
   out of anything else. You didn't 
   know that, did you?

    STANTON
   No, I didn't... There's another 
   question I'd like to ask you. You 
   say there's only bad to start with 
   and the good must come with the bad. 
   Who's to determine what's good and 
   what's bad?... You?

    WILLIE
   Why not?

    STANTON
   How?

    WILLIE
   Why, that's easy. Just... just make 
   it up as you go along.

    More laughter. Willie smiles and goes on.

    WILLIE
   Folks, there's a time to talk and 
   there's a time to act. I think the 
   time to act is right now. And with 
   your support, I not only will win 
   but I will do all of the things I 
   promised. I need your help. Oh, I 
   need it badly. But I'm not going to 
   beg for it. In the name of this state 
   which we love... in the name of the 
   governor in whose house we meet... I 
   demand it.

    There is immediate applause. Anne is the first to rush over 
    and shake Willie's hand.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Stanton Home, Night

    The last of the guests are leaving. Jack and Willie remain 
    with the Judge, Anne, and Adam.

    WILLIE
        (to Judge)
   Well, what do you say, sir?

    JACK
   You've got to say yes. With you in 
   the race...

    JUDGE
   I'm an old bird... I...

    WILLIE
   But a game one.

    They laugh.

    WILLIE
   Look, I'll give you complete power 
   as attorney general. You can do 
   anything you see fit. I'll swing the 
   ax to clear the way for you. Is that 
   a deal?

    The Judge smiles, then puts out his hand.

    JUDGE
   It's a deal.

    They shake hands.

    WILLIE
   Jack, we have to get back to town... 
   a lot to do.
        (shakes hands with 
        Adam)
   Dr. Stanton.

    Jack kisses Anne on the cheek. Anne comes over and shakes 
    Willie's hand.

    ANNE
   I'm very glad to have met you.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    Interior: Hotel Lobby (State Capital), Day

    People stand before the election return board in the hotel 
    lobby. Camera pulls back, revealing a newspaper picture of 
    Willie, and the headline

    STARK ELECTED GOVERNOR
    WILLIE WINS

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Street Outside Willie's Hotel Balcony, Night

    A crowd stands below Willie's hotel window, chanting together:

    CROWD
   We want Willie! We want Willie!

    A high angle from the balcony shows Anne, Jack, and Adam in 
    the center of the excited crowd, looking expectantly upward. 
    Some of the people around them are carrying torches. Arc 
    lights play over the dome of the state capitol in the 
    background. In response to the chants, Willie appears on the 
    balcony. With him, standing on the balcony, are Tom and Lucy. 
    The crowd erupts into cheers as he steps outside.

    WILLIE
        (raises his hands for 
        silence)
   This is not a time for speechmaking. 
   I should get on my knees and ask God 
   to give me strength to carry out 
   your will.

    Loud cheers. Adam watches Anne. She applauds. Willie looks 
    down at the crowd and continues his speech.

    WILLIE
   This much I swear to you. These things 
   you shall have. I'm going to build a 
   hospital. The biggest that money can 
   buy... and it will belong to you. 
   That any man, woman, or child who is 
   sick or in pain can go through those 
   doors and know that everything will 
   be done for them that man can do. To 
   heal sickness. To ease pain. Free. 
   Not as a charity, but as a right. 
   And it is your right that every child 
   shall have a complete education. 
   That any man who produces anything 
   can take it to market without paying 
   toll. And no poor man's land or farm 
   can be taxed or taken away from him. 
   And it is the right of the people 
   that they will not be deprived of 
   hope...

    The crowd applauds, and Willie waves. We see Anne, face aglow, 
    turn to Jack.

    ANNE
   Does he mean it, Jack? Does he?

    STANTON
        (as he walks away)
   That's his bribe.

    Anne and Jack watch Adam as he leaves.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    Montage: Willie Becomes Governor

    Willie, Sadie, and Jack leaving their old campaign 
    headquarters.

    Willie, Sadie, Jack, and others going upstairs in the 
    governor's mansion. The ousted politicians are just packing 
    up and leaving.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   What if it was his bribe! He swept 
   the old gang out of office. What if 
   they hollered like stuck pigs? He 
   jammed through bill after bill and 
   the people got what they wanted.

    Willie yelling at the legislators during a session.

    WILLIE
   I demand that this bill be passed. 
   Nobody's going to tell me how to run 
   this state.

    Road excavation -- a bulldozer clears away dirt.

    A huge crane maneuvers over a dam site. Men are seen working 
    on the girders of a large power plant.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   He started to build the roads, the 
   schools, the power dams, to change 
   the face of the state from one end 
   to the other... His methods?

    Shots of uniformed policemen roughing up citizens. Willie 
    and Sugar Boy move in on a man being held by cops.

    Willie looks on as Jack thumbs through his little black book.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   Politics is a dirty game... and he 
   played it rough and dirty. Willie's 
   little black book was a record of 
   sin and corruption. And me, Jack 
   Burden? I kept the book and added up 
   the accounts.

    Willie in a nightclub, surrounded by some show girls. A 
    photographer takes a picture of Willie with a girl balanced 
    on his knee.

    Willie leads a marching band out onto a football field.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   Clown, show-off, playboy, they yelled 
   at him. Building football stadiums. 
   Fiercely proud of his son who played 
   in them.

    Shot of Tom in football uniform running across the field 
    with the ball. Willie, in the stands, hugs Lucy.

    WILLIE
   Oh, look at him go. He's going to be 
   All-American.

    Willie makes an inspection of the police. He stops to adjust 
    an officer's tie.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   They said he was building up a private 
   army. But he was building, always 
   building...

    Sign at building excavation reads HERE ON THIS SITE WILL BE 
    ERECTED THE GOVERNOR STARK HOSPITAL -- "TO HEAL SICKNESS. TO 
    EASE PAIN. FREE. NOT AS A CHARITY -- BUT AS A RIGHT"... WILLIE 
    STARK.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   Always playing up to the crowd. 
   Letting them trample on tradition. 
   Well, tradition needed trampling on.

    A square dance at the governor's mansion. Willie dances with 
    Anne.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   The crowd loved it... Willie loved 
   it... and so did I.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    Interior: Executive Office Corridor, Day

    Jack walks down the corridor on the way to Willie's offices.

    Interior: Willie's Executive Offices, Day

    As Jack enters from the corridor, Sadie is coming out of 
    Willie's private office.

    SADIE
        (through open door)
   You low-down, no-good redneck...

    She slams the door hard. We hear Willie laugh.

    JACK
        (to secretary)
   What goes on here?

    SECRETARY
   That's what Sadie wants to know.
        (she shows Jack 
        newspaper containing 
        photograph of Willie 
        at the nightclub)
   The boss poses for too many pictures.

    Jack grins, then walks into Sadie's office.

    SADIE
   I'll kill him.

    JACK
   Why, Sadie, I'm surprised at you.

    SADIE
   I'll kill him.

    She goes to the door to yell to the secretary.

    SADIE
   I hate all women.

    She slams the door again, and returns to her desk.

    SADIE
   Was she pretty?

    Jack shoves the paper at her. She ignores it.

    SADIE
   Was she pretty?

    JACK
   If I met her on the street I'd never 
   recognize her.

    SADIE
   Was she pretty?

    JACK
   How should I know? I wasn't looking 
   at her face... Look, if it's going 
   to cause all this grief, why don't 
   you let him go?

    SADIE
   Let him go? I'll kill him. I'll drive 
   him out of this state.

    JACK
   Just because a guy's sitting with a 
   couple of girls on his knees in 
   public...

    SADIE
   Public or private... I know him. How 
   about what happened in Chicago? That 
   girl on skates... and the time you 
   both went to St. Louis... There's a 
   new invention, you know, Photography 
   and newsreels. Willie Stark in a 
   nightclub... Willie Stark with a 
   blonde.

    JACK
   You could always bleach your hair.

    SADIE
   I could also break every bone in his 
   neck. After all I've done for him... 
   Now he goes two-timing me.

    JACK
   He's been two-timing Lucy. So there's 
   another kind of arithmetic for what 
   he's doing to you.

    SADIE
   Lucy?
        (laughs)
   If she had her way he'd be back in 
   Kanoma City slopping the hogs right 
   now. And he knows it. He knows what 
   she'd do for him. She had her chance.

    JACK
   You seem to think Lucy's on her way 
   out, don't you?

    SADIE
   He'll ditch her... Give him time.

    JACK
   You ought to know.

    She slaps his face.

    JACK
   Hey, you got the wrong guy. I'm not 
   the hero of this piece.

    The door to Willie's office bursts open and Willie dashes 
    out.

    WILLIE
   All right, come on, both of you. 
   Let's go, hurry it up.

    They go out through the reception room, pick up Sugar Boy, 
    and head down the corridor.

    WILLIE
   Come on. Pillsbury put his hand in 
   the pork barrel and got caught. You 
   know, I never did trust that guy.

    Some newsmen are waiting on the top landing.

    NEWSMEN
   Have you heard about Pillsbury? What 
   do you intend to do about Pillsbury? 
   How about it, Governor?

    Willie pushes by them.

    WILLIE
   Later, boys, later.
        (to Jack)
   Say, Jack, go back and get the Judge. 
   Let's get him over to my hotel just 
   as soon as you can.

    They all hurry after Willie as he rushes down the stairs.

    Interior: Lobby State Capitol, Day

    Anne is about to go up the stairs when she meets Willie and 
    the others on the way down.

    ANNE
        (to Willie)
   I waited for you.
        (she sees Sadie)
   Hello.
        (back to Willie)
   You promised we could... uh... discuss 
   my charity project... Children's 
   home?

    WILLIE
   Well, I'm very sorry. Something very 
   important came up. You'll call me 
   later, won't you?

    ANNE
   Yes, certainly.

    SADIE
   We're late.

    Anne watches as they cross the lobby and exit.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stark's Hotel Suite, Night

    Close shot of Willie, seated, with his feet propped up on a 
    table. Pillsbury stands before him. Jack, Sadie, Duffy, and 
    Sugar Boy are also in the room.

    WILLIE
   Look at you, Pillsbury. Fifty years 
   old, gut-sprung, teeth gone, never 
   had a dime. If the Almighty had 
   intended for you to be rich he'd 
   have taken care of that a long time 
   ago. The idea of you being rich... 
   that's plain blasphemy. Ain't that a 
   fact?

    Pillsbury doesn't answer.

    WILLIE
   Answer me!

    PILLSBURY
   Yes.

    WILLIE
   Louder, man. Don't mumble. Speak up. 
   Say it's a fact, a blasphemous fact.

    PILLSBURY
   It's a fact, a blasphemous fact.

    Sugar Boy laughs loudly. The phone rings and Sadie picks it 
    up.

    SADIE
   Yeah?... Oh, I see.
        (hangs up)
   Dumond can't come. He says his wife 
   is sick.

    WILLIE
   I don't care if she's dying. Sugar, 
   get the car. Get him and bring him 
   over here.

    Sugar Boy exists. Willie turns back to Pillsbury.

    WILLIE
   Now, you know what you're supposed 
   to do, don't you, Pillsbury? You're 
   supposed to stay poor and take orders. 
   Oh, there'll be some sweetening for 
   you from time to time... but Duffy'll 
   take care of that. Don't you go 
   setting yourself up on your own again, 
   do you understand that?

    PILLSBURY
   Yes.

    WILLIE
   Louder, man. And say, I understand 
   that.

    PILLSBURY
   I understand that.

    WILLIE
   Give him a pen and some paper, Sadie.

    There is a knock on the door.

    WILLIE
   See who that is, Duffy.

    Judge Stanton enters.

    WILLIE
   Oh, hello, Judge. Sit down. I'll be 
   with you in just a couple of seconds.
        (back to Pillsbury)
   Now write what I tell you to write... 
   Dear Governor Stark. I wish to resign 
   as auditor due to ill health, to 
   take effect as soon as you can relieve 
   me. Respectfully yours.
        (after a pause)
   Did you sign it?

    PILLSBURY
   No.

    WILLIE
        (roaring)
   Well, sign it! Don't put any date on 
   it. I can fill that in when I need 
   it.

    Pillsbury signs the paper.

    WILLIE
   Now bring it to me.

    Pillsbury moves slowly, so Sadie yanks the paper out of his 
    hand and passes it to Willie.

    WILLIE
   Now get out.

    Pillsbury slinks out of the room.

    JUDGE
   The papers have the story.

    WILLIE
   Yeah, I know.

    JUDGE
   They're talking about impeachment 
   proceedings.

    WILLIE
        (rising)
   Against who?

    JUDGE
   This time, Pillsbury.

    WILLIE
   I got that "this time," Judge.

    JUDGE
   How true is it?

    WILLIE
   It's too true.

    The phone rings.

    SADIE
   Yes?
        (hands phone to Willie)
   This is it, Willie. Jeff Hopkins on 
   the wire.

    Willie takes the phone, but puts his hand over the mouthpiece 
    so that he can speak to Jack.

    WILLIE
   What have we got on Hopkins, Jack?
        (as Jack riffles 
        through the black 
        book)
   Hello, Jeff. About that Pillsbury 
   business...
        (reads from black 
        book Jack holds out 
        for him)
   Here's what I want you to do when it 
   comes up in the legislature. Now, 
   wait a minute, wait a minute. You 
   listen to me.
        (still reading from 
        book)
   You got a mortgage coming due on 
   that place of yours in about five 
   weeks, haven't you? You'd like to 
   get it renewed, wouldn't you?
        (pause)
   All right, Tiny'll talk to you in 
   the morning.

    He grins and hangs up the phone.

    WILLIE
   Get going, Tiny.

    Duffy leaves.

    JUDGE
   You haven't answered my question. 
   Why are you saving Pillsbury's hide?

    WILLIE
   I'm not a bit interested in 
   Pillsbury's hide. It's something 
   much more important than that. If 
   the McMurphy boys get the notion 
   they can get away with this, there's 
   no telling where they'll stop.

    JUDGE
        (quietly)
   Or where you will... Pillsbury is 
   guilty. As attorney general of this 
   state, it's my job to prosecute.

    WILLIE
   Judge, you talk like Pillsbury was... 
   was human. He isn't. He's a thing. 
   You don't prosecute an adding machine 
   if the spring goes busted and makes 
   a mistake. You fix it. Well, I fixed 
   him. I'm not a bit interested in 
   Pillsbury. It's something much bigger 
   than that.

    JUDGE
        (getting up)
   Yes, it is.

    JACK
   He's right, Judge. Can't you see 
   that he's right?

    JUDGE
   He's right because you want him to 
   be right. Because you're afraid to 
   admit you've made a mistake. Do it 
   now before it's too late.
        (to Willie)
   I'm offering my resignation as 
   attorney general. You'll have it in 
   writing by messenger in the morning... 
   dated.

    WILLIE
        (softly)
   It took you a long time to make up 
   your mind, Judge. A long time. What 
   made you take such a long time?

    JUDGE
   I wasn't sure.

    WILLIE
   And now you are?

    The Judge nods.

    WILLIE
   I'll tell you what you are. You're 
   scared. You sat in that big easy 
   chair of yours for thirty years and 
   played at being a judge. Then all of 
   a sudden I came along and put a bat 
   in your hand, and I said, go ahead, 
   Judge, start swinging. And you did. 
   And you had a wonderful time. But 
   now you're scared. You don't want to 
   get your hands dirty. You want to 
   pick up the marbles... but you don't 
   want to get your hands dirty. Look 
   at my whole program, Judge. How do 
   you think I put that across?

    JUDGE
   I knew how, but I never knew why.

    He starts to leave.

    WILLIE
   You're not by any chance thinking of 
   going over to McMurphy's boys, are 
   you?

    JUDGE
   I'm through with politics.

    WILLIE
   I'm happy to hear that.
        (extends his hand)
   No hard feelings.

    JUDGE
        (ignores the hand)
   Goodbye, Governor.
        (to Jack)
   Are you coming with me, Jack?

    Jack turns away.

    JUDGE
   You're making a mistake.

    He goes. Willie closes the door behind him.

    WILLIE
   Do you think he means it when he 
   says he's through with politics, 
   Sadie?

    SADIE
   No. No, I don't.

    WILLIE
   What about you, Jack?

    JACK
   I've known the Judge all my life. 
   He's always meant everything he's 
   said.

    WILLIE
   All right. All right. Take it easy. 
   I'll take your word for it.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Willie's Hotel, Night

    Willie's car draws up to the curb. Sugar Boy hops out to 
    open the door for Willie.

    Sadie is watching him from a window upstairs in the hotel. 
    Anne is in the back seat; Willie leans down to talk to her.

    WILLIE
   Sugar, take Miss Stanton home.
        (to Anne)
   When am I going to see you again?

    She doesn't answer.

    WILLIE
   What's the matter, Anne?

    ANNE
   Please take me home now, Sugar Boy.

    WILLIE
   You've got to understand me.

    ANNE
        (turns away)
   I understand you. It's myself I don't 
   understand.

    WILLIE
   Do you think I like sneaking around 
   corners any more than you do? But 
   right now, with the Pillsbury business 
   and with your uncle quitting... If I 
   got a divorce...

    ANNE
   Maybe we'd better stop seeing each 
   other.

    WILLIE
   No. No, we won't stop seeing each 
   other, will we?

    ANNE
        (slowly)
   No.

    WILLIE
   Because you believe in what I tell 
   you.

    ANNE
        (puts her hand on his)
   Because I believe what you tell me.

    Sadie approaches.

    SADIE
   Good evening, Governor Stark.
        (looks at Anne, but 
        talks to Willie)
   I thought you might like to know 
   that Judge Stanton kept his promise.
        (directly to Willie)
   He gave the story to every paper in 
   town.

    WILLIE
   Sugar, meet me at the hotel as soon 
   as you can.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    NEWSPAPER HEADLINE

    ATTORNEY GENERAL RESIGNS:
    STANTON ACCUSES STARK OF
    QUASHING PILLSBURY GRAFT

    Interior: State Legislature Assembly Room, Day

    Duffy stands in the forground, looking in on the uproar and 
    confusion of the assembly.

    SENATOR
   These are serious charges that Judge 
   Stanton has given to the press. This 
   legislature is entitled to a complete 
   and full report on the Pillsbury 
   affair. Let the truth be known.

    2ND SENATOR
   Let it come out.

    3RD SENATOR
   I move that we adjourn.

    4TH SENATOR
   I second the motion.

    CHAIRMAN
   All those in favor, say aye... Motion 
   carried. The house is adjourned.

    As Duffy turns and walks away, other senators rise up in 
    their seats in protest.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    MONTAGE: PILLSBURY SCANDAL

    Sign on building reads: CITIZENS COMMITTEE MEETING, Subject: 
    PILLSBURY SCANDAL, 8 P.M. Tonight -- Town Hall.

    A man pastes a strip across the sign: CANCELED.

    A man is making a speech to a small group of people.

    MAN
   If you let Willie Stark get away 
   with the Pillsbury graft, there's no 
   telling...

    Thugs break up the meeting. The speaker is beaten up. Jack 
    Burden turns through the pages of the little black book.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stark's Hotel Suite, Day

    Willie is lying on the bed. Jack is seated. Sadie and Sugar 
    Boy stand nearby.

    JACK
   But we beat the Pillsbury rap... 
   It's over.

    WILLIE
   These things are never over. I'll 
   tell you what I want you to do, Jack. 
   I want you to start a new page in 
   that black book of yours... under 
   then name of Judge Stanton.

    JACK
   You're crazy. There's nothing on the 
   Judge.

    SADIE
   Why? Because his name is Stanton?

    WILLIE
   Ssshhh, easy.

    JACK
   What if I won't do it?

    WILLIE
   You know, some of this has rubbed 
   off on you.

    JACK
   What are you going to do? Have me 
   shot?

    WILLIE
   No... no... but I'll have to get 
   myself a new boy.

    JACK
   I tell you there's nothing on the 
   Judge.

    WILLIE
   Jack, there's something on everybody. 
   Man is conceived in sin and born in 
   corruption.

    JACK
   It's a waste of time.

    WILLIE
   What's the matter, Jack? Are you 
   afraid you might find something out?

    Jack stares at him.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Burden's Landing Ferry, Night

    Jack's car is seen coming across on the ferry.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   I kept saying to myself that Willie 
   was wrong about the Judge. If there 
   was anything left at Burden's Landing, 
   it was honor. I had to believe that.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stanton Living Room, Night

    Jack and Anne stand together in the living room.

    JACK
   Anne, I want to ask you a question. 
   Was the Judge ever broke? Really 
   broke?

    ANNE
   Why do you want to know?

    JACK
   I don't want to know, but I've got 
   to.

    ANNE
   Did he tell you --

    JACK
   Did who tell me?

    ANNE
   I don't know. I... how should I know 
   if the Judge was ever broke?

    She walks away from him. Adam enters, carrying bundles of 
    food and two wine bottles.

    STANTON
   Hello... Come on, Anne, take this 
   food and start cooking. I'm hungry.

    Anne takes the grocery bundles. Jack grabs the wine.

    JACK
   Me, I'm on the thirsty side. Bring 
   some glasses, Anne, quick.

    He joins Adam, who has opened the piano.

    STANTON
        (laughing)
   It's been a long time since I played 
   this thing. What do you say we wake 
   up the ghosts, huh?

    JACK
        (calling to Anne)
   Another glass, Anne, for a ghost.

    STANTON
        (starting to play)
   Remember the last time I played this? 
   You and Anne were dancing?

    Anne returns with three glasses. Jack grabs her around the 
    waist and whirls her around.

    JACK
   Shall we dance?

    ANNE
   Let's... let's have a drink first.

    Adam starts to pour the wine.

    JACK
   No, no... keep playing. Anne and I 
   want to hear this, don't we, Anne?
        (Jack pours the wine)
   Adam... ghost... and me.

    STANTON
   What shall we drink to?

    JACK
   To the ghost?... To Adam, to the 
   director of the new medical center.

    STANTON
        (bangs the piano keys)
   Don't you ever stop working for him?

    ANNE
   Adam!

    STANTON
   I came up here to get away...

    JACK
   I'm sorry, Adam.

    ANNE
   Well, I'm not. What's wrong with 
   being the director of the new medical 
   center?

    STANTON
   Nothing, except that I'm not going 
   to take it.

    JACK
   Why? Because your uncle resigned?

    STANTON
   That's partly it. There are other 
   things.

    ANNE
   What other things?

    STANTON
        (looks at her)
   You too?

    ANNE
   Yes, me too.

    JACK
   Anne, if Adam doesn't want to discuss 
   it, let's not.

    STANTON
   All right, let's discuss it.

    ANNE
   But calmly.

    STANTON
   Calmly. Go ahead, Jack. Why do you 
   think he wants me?

    JACK
   Because you're the best man for the 
   job.

    STANTON
   It could have nothing to do with my 
   name being Stanton?

    JACK
   It could have. Let's grant that.

    STANTON
   That's your answer.

    JACK
   No, it's not. If that were the only 
   answer I wouldn't be with him any 
   more. There's another side of it. 
   I've learned something from him. You 
   can't make an omelet without cracking 
   eggs.

    STANTON
   Or heads.

    ANNE
   But at least a hospital will be built, 
   and the sick will be cared for.

    STANTON
   At what price?

    JACK
   At any price.

    STANTON
   Do you really believe that, Jack?

    JACK
   I really believe that Stark wants to 
   do good. You do too. It's a matter 
   of method. Many times out of evil 
   comes good. Well, pain is an evil. 
   As a doctor you should know that.

    STANTON
   Pain is an evil; it is not evil. It 
   is not evil in itself. Stark is evil.

    JACK
   The people of the state don't think 
   so.

    STANTON
   How would they know? The first thing 
   he did was to take over the newspapers 
   and the radio stations. Why be so 
   afraid of criticism? If Stark is 
   interested in doing good, he should 
   also be interested in the truth. I 
   don't see how you can separate the 
   two. No, Stark is not for me.

    ANNE
        (upset)
   No, Stark is not for you. Well, what 
   is for you? Pride. Pride, that's all 
   it is... foolish, stupid pride. All 
   you've ever talked about is what you 
   could do if... if somebody would 
   tear down and build. All right, all 
   right, somebody has, and he's given 
   it to you. But he's not for you. No, 
   he's not for you.

    She throws down her glass and runs crying from the room. 
    Adam goes after her.

    STANTON
   Anne... Anne...

    Interior: Stanton Hallway and Stairs, Night

    Anne runs upstairs and Adam follows. The Judge comes out of 
    his room to see what has happened, sees Jack standing at the 
    foot of the stairs, hesitates a moment, and then goes back 
    to his room without speaking.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: County Recorder Room, Day

    Jack enters and speaks to a clerk, who then directs him to 
    one of the files. He starts to look through the files marked 
    MORTGAGES DEFAULTED.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   Will I find anything, Judge? Will I? 
   I didn't find it all at once. It 
   takes a long time to go through old 
   courthouse records and musty deeds... 
   a very long time. But it wasn't too 
   hard for me. I was well trained in 
   research, especially this kind.

    He pulls out a file.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   I found what I didn't want to find.

    He takes the file back to the clerk.

    JACK
   Have some photostat copies made of 
   these. I'll be back tomorrow for 
   them.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Jack's Hotel Bedroom, Day

    Jack is lying on his bed, looking over the documents that 
    relate to the Judge. He looks haggard and worried. There is 
    a knock on the door. Jack doesn't answer; the knock is 
    repeated.

    JACK
   Who is it?

    SADIE'S VOICE
   It's me, Sadie Burke.

    JACK
   Wait a minute.

    He hides the documents under his pillow.

    JACK
   All right, come in.

    She comes in, sniffs the air.

    SADIE
   Phew! Awful lot of smoke. Awful lot 
   of whisky. You sober?

    JACK
   Stone.

    SADIE
   I'll have one with you.
        (starts tidying up 
        the room)
   What are you hiding out for?

    JACK
   I'm not. I've been sleeping.

    SADIE
   For four days? You've been back in 
   town for four days.

    JACK
   Willie knows everything.

    SADIE
   Willie's worried about his boy.

    JACK
   Willie's boy is worried about Willie's 
   boy.

    SADIE
   Well, why don't you put something on 
   the phonograph -- a low-down, mean 
   blues. Play it over and over again 
   until you're sick of it. Then crack 
   it and go back to work.
        (sits down)
   I do it all the time.

    JACK
   That's not my problem.

    SADIE
   No, it isn't your problem.
        (gets up again)
   I'll wait for you if you want to 
   powder your nose.

    Jack goes into the bathroom.

    JACK
   I'll be with you in a minute.

    Sadie wanders around. She goes to the dresser, upon which is 
    a photograph of Anne Stanton. She picks up the picture and 
    places it so she can see it in the mirror and compare it 
    with her own reflection.

    SADIE
   Hmmm. Yeah, I can see it. I've got 
   to look in the mirror to be able to 
   see it. Soft, white skin... not like 
   mine.
        (runs her hand across 
        her cheeks)
   I had smallpox when I was a kid. 
   Where I lived it seemed nearly all 
   the kids had smallpox...

    Jack watches her through the open bathroom door.

    SADIE
   It leaves your face hard. Then she's 
   got poise. Look at the way she holds 
   her head... at just the right angle. 
   That takes training. That takes years 
   of training...

    Jack, towel in hand, comes out and stands behind her. He 
    looks at her in the mirror, puzzled.

    SADIE
   I see what Willie sees. Willie's got 
   big ideas, Jack.

    JACK
   What do you mean?

    SADIE
   A girl like that could be a governor's 
   wife. Or even a President's.

    JACK
   What are you talking about?

    SADIE
   He ditched Lucy, he ditched me, and 
   he'll ditch you.

    JACK
        (shaking her)
   Answer me!

    SADIE
   He'll ditch everybody in the whole 
   world because that's what Willie 
   wants. Nobody in the world but him.

    JACK
   What are you talking about?

    SADIE
   You and your high-tone friends. What 
   do they know? What do they know about 
   anything? Why did you have to mix 
   her in?

    JACK
   You're crazy, Sadie. You're out of 
   your mind.

    SADIE
   Am I? Well, why don't you go down 
   and ask her. Or ask him. Ask Willie.

    JACK
   Shut up!

    SADIE
   Go ahead, ask him.

    JACK
   Shut up!

    SADIE
   Ask him!

    He slaps her hard.

    SADIE
   Ow-oo... oh... oh.

    She starts to laugh.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Football Field, Day

    A football team is practicing on the field. Willie watches 
    from the bench. A player kicks the ball and Tom misses it. 
    Jack walks over to Willie.

    JACK
   He's off today.

    WILLIE
   It's only practice. He'll be all 
   right tomorrow... You been gone a 
   long time, Jack.

    JACK
   Yeah. I figured if you needed me 
   you'd yell.

    WILLIE
   Why'd you lay around the hotel?

    JACK
   Thinking.

    WILLIE
   About what?

    JACK
   Things.

    WILLIE
   What did you find on the Judge?

    JACK
   Nothing.

    WILLIE
   You sure you didn't find anything on 
   the Judge?

    JACK
   Yeah, I'm sure.

    WILLIE
   You're going to keep trying, aren't 
   you?

    JACK
   If you want me to.

    WILLIE
   I want you to. There's something 
   else I want you to do too.

    JACK
   What? Bucket boy? Towel slinger? 
   What?

    WILLIE
        (looks at him closely)
   What's eating you, Jack?

    JACK
        (avoiding it)
   What else do you want me to do?

    WILLIE
   If you've got something on your mind, 
   boy, spit it out. We've been together 
   too long to play games.

    JACK
   What do you want me to do?

    WILLIE
   I hear your pal Adam Stanton turned 
   down the job as director of the 
   hospital. That's bad. Especially at 
   a time like this.

    JACK
   Oh? How did you hear it?

    WILLIE
   Why? What difference does it make?

    JACK
   I just wanted to know.

    WILLIE
   I heard it around.

    JACK
        (insistent)
   How did you hear he turned it down, 
   Willie?

    Out on the field the boys have stopped playing and are huddled 
    around the coach.

    WILLIE
   I'll be right back, Jack. I want to 
   see what's happening here.

    He goes over to the group on the field. The coach is talking 
    to Tom.

    COACH
   You going to practice the way I tell 
   you.

    TOM
   I'm going to do it the way I want to 
   do it.

    Willie comes up to them.

    WILLIE
   Tom, come here. What's going on here?

    COACH
   I don't care if he is your son, 
   Governor... No special rules for 
   him.

    TOM
   It doesn't make any difference to me 
   either way... whether I play or not.

    WILLIE
   Well, it does to me.
        (to coach)
   What do you want him to do?

    COACH
   To behave himself. Like the rest of 
   the boys. Four times this season 
   he's broken training. He comes on 
   the practice field half potted.

    WILLIE
   Tom, you're going to have to obey 
   the rules. Do you hear me? You're 
   going to obey the rules.

    TOM
   I put 'em across, don't I? Every 
   Saturday I put 'em across and I can 
   still do it, drunk or sober. That's 
   all you want, isn't it... for me to 
   put 'em across so you can big-shot 
   it around? Isn't that all you want?

    He walks away.

    WILLIE
   Tom!
        (to coach)
   He's a little high-strung.
        (goes after Tom)
   Tom, come here. Tom!

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Highway, Foggy Day

    Sign in foreground reads: WILLIE STARK HIGHWAY U.S. 56. A 
    car swerves around a bend and careens down the highway.

    Tom and his girl friend Helene are in the car. Tom is 
    drinking.

    HELENE
        (laughing)
   Come on, Tommy... let's go faster. 
   Come on...

    The car goes across a bridge, weaving. Two motorcycle cops 
    parked there start to give chase.

    Tom's car swerves out of control and crashes through a fence.

    The two motorcycle cops ride out to the field to the wrecked 
    car. They find Tom and Helene, unconscious. One of the cops 
    picks up the empty bottle and hands it to the other.

    2ND COP
        (looking at Tom)
   It's the governor's son.

    He throws the bottle away.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

    GOVERNOR'S SON HURT: 
    GIRL NEAR DEATH IN CRASH

    Below the headline is a picture of Helene Hale's father. 
    Another picture of Mr. Hale on the front page. Caption reads:

    GIRL'S FATHER CLAIMS DRUNK DRIVING CAUSE OF WRECK 
    ADMITTANCE TO HOSPITAL DENIED PRESS

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Governor's Mansion, Night

    Lucy and Mr. Hale walk across the large reception room toward 
    Willie. Jack, Sugar Boy, and Duffy stand around in the 
    background.

    LUCY
   Willie, Mr. Hale's here to see you.

    Willie comes to meet them, a drink in his hand. He is 
    obviously drunk.

    WILLIE
   Go on upstairs, Lucy. I have some 
   business I want to talk over with 
   Mr. Hale.

    HALE
   What I've got to say anybody can 
   listen to... Where's your boy?

    WILLIE
   Now... now, don't get excited.
        (to Sugar Boy)
   Get me another drink, Sugar.

    HALE
   My daughter may die.

    WILLIE
   She's not going to die. She'll get 
   the best medical attention there is. 
   No expense will be spared.

    HALE
   Where's your boy?

    LUCY
   I'll get him.

    WILLIE
   Wait a minute, Lucy. He's asleep. 
   And the doctor said after a good 
   night's sleep he'll be all right.

    LUCY
   No, he won't be all right unless you 
   make him all right. I'll get him.

    She goes.

    WILLIE
   Lucy!
        (to Hale)
   You care for a drink?

    HALE
   No thanks.

    WILLIE
   Accidents will happen, you know.

    HALE
   Accidents? Your boy was drunk.

    WILLIE
   I saw the police report. There... 
   there was nothing about drunkenness 
   on the police report.

    HALE
   Whose police and whose report? I say 
   the boy was drunk. And I know it.

    Tom comes down the stairs, with Lucy.

    HALE
        (to Tom)
   Right here before your father... I 
   want you --

    TOM
   Mr. Hale --

    WILLIE
   Tom, the doctor says you need rest, 
   boy.

    TOM
        (turns on him)
   I don't want you to try to cover up 
   for me. I was wrong... that's all 
   there is to it.

    WILLIE
   You don't know what you're talking 
   about. I saw the police report --

    TOM
   I don't care what the police report 
   says. I was driving and I was drunk. 
   It's all my fault.
        (to Hale)
   Anything you want to do to me, you 
   can do. Whatever you want me to do, 
   I'll do.

    WILLIE
   Nobody has to do anything. Stop 
   worrying. I'll take care of 
   everything.

    TOM
   I don't want you to take care of 
   anything.

    Tom looks ill; he presses his hand to his forehead.

    WILLIE
   Tom, go on upstairs and get some 
   rest, boy. Go on... go on... go on.

    Tom walks slowly toward the stairs.

    WILLIE
   Sugar, help him... Mr. Hale, come on 
   over and sit down. You sure you 
   wouldn't care for a drink, Mr. Hale?

    Hale sits down, shakes his head.

    WILLIE
   Hey, Tiny, go home. Go on, out of 
   here... out of here. Go on.

    Duffy leaves, disgruntled. Willie sits on a coffee table. He 
    pours himself another drink.

    WILLIE
   What business did you say you were 
   in?

    HALE
   I didn't say.

    WILLIE
   What business are you in?

    HALE
   Trucking business.

    WILLIE
   Trucking business. Trucks run on 
   state roads. If a man in the trucking 
   business had a contract with the 
   state, a big one, that would be pretty 
   good, wouldn't it?
        (to Jack)
   Go on, Jack. Tell him what would 
   happen.

    Jack is silent.

    WILLIE
   Go on, tell him.

    HALE
   You're trying to bribe me, aren't 
   you?

    WILLIE
   No, no. No, I'm not trying to bribe 
   you. I'm... I'm only talking things 
   over with you, that's all.

    HALE
   You're pretty good at talking. I 
   remember when you first started 
   talking. A place called Upton. You 
   did a lot of talking then and the 
   things you said made sense, to me 
   and a lot of other people. I believed 
   in you... I followed you... and I 
   fought for you. Well, the words are 
   still good. But you're not.
        (rises)
   And I don't believe you ever were.

    He walks out of the room.

    WILLIE
        (after a pause)
   Sugar, follow him. Keep calling in.

    Sugar goes, leaving just Jack and Willie. Willie, very drunk, 
    tries to get up but falls against the piano.

    WILLIE
        (yells)
   Lucy!... Lucy!

    He staggers up the long stairway. Halfway up he tumbles, 
    groaning. Jack helps him to his feet.

    JACK
   I'd like Anne to see you now. I'd 
   like Anne to see you now, you drunken 
   sot!
        (drags him up the 
        stairs)
   Come on.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    NEWSPAPER

    Photograph of Helene Hale on front page. Headline reads:

    GIRL CRASH VICTIM DIES

    Under the photograph there is a caption:

    FATHER MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARS AFTER BARING BRIBE OFFER BY 
    GOVERNOR STARK

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Governor's Mansion, Day

    Willie, Jack, and Sugar Boy are accosted by a group of newsmen 
    as they come down the stairs.

    NEWSMEN
   What about the girl's father, 
   Governor? Have you a statement to 
   make?

    WILLIE
   All right, all right, gentlemen. 
   I'll give you a statement. This whole 
   thing is a mess of lies. It's a frame. 
   The man that made that statement... 
   have him repeat it to my face. He 
   can't. He vanished. Let me ask you 
   some questions. Where has he gone? 
   Where is he?

    REPORTER
   Maybe you could answer those questions 
   too, Governor.

    Sugar Boy makes a move for the reporter but Willie holds him 
    back.

    WILLIE
   I won't dignify that question with 
   an answer.

    ANOTHER REPORTER
   One more question, Governor... Where's 
   your son?

    WILLIE
   At the football stadium, where he's 
   supposed to be. He's going to play 
   for State University, which this 
   administration is responsible for. 
   He's not hiding from anybody, 
   gentlemen. He'll be out there in 
   full view of seventy thousand cheering 
   fans.
        (starts down the stairs)
   One of which will be me. See you, 
   men.

    He leaves, followed by Jack and Sugar Boy.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Football Field, Day

    The game is in progress and the stands are packed. But there 
    is no cheering. Instead we hear boos, and shouts for Tom.

    CROWD VOICES
   Where's Stark? How about Tommy Stark? 
   Hey, Willie, send your boy in.

    Exterior: Willie's Box

    Willie, Jack, Sugar Boy, and Lucy are in one box. Sadie and 
    Duffy sit in the adjoining one. Willie is standing up. The 
    crowd continues to heckle him.

    WILLIE
   Why don't they put him in!

    MAN
   Come on, Willie... send your boy in.

    A drunk comes over to his box.

    DRUNK
   What's the matter, Willie... is your 
   little boy ashamed to show his face?

    DUFFY
   Shut up!

    Willie signals angrily to the police.

    WILLIE
   Get that man out of here! Come on, 
   get him out of here.

    The man is dragged away. The crowd boos, and Willie gets up 
    and leaves the box, followed by Jack.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stadium Dressing Room, Day

    Tom is sitting on one of the massage tables with a towel 
    around his shoulders as Willie and Jack come in. The sound 
    of the boos can still be heard.

    WILLIE
   They're booing you.

    TOM
        (holds his head)
   Ever since the accident, my head...

    WILLIE
   The doctor said it was nothing.

    TOM
   Get dizzy... can't see... dizzy...

    WILLIE
   You're scared... plain scared.

    TOM
        (looks up angrily)
   Get out of here!

    WILLIE
   Atta boy... get mad. Show some spirit. 
   Jack, tell him what his playing means. 
   Go on, tell him.

    JACK
   You can never tell about a head 
   injury. Maybe the boy's hurt.

    WILLIE
   He's hurt? I'm hurt. It wasn't me 
   that wrapped that car around the 
   tree. It wasn't me that got drunk. 
   But me, I'm takin' the rap.
        (softer, to Tom)
   Go on, kid. Get out there and play. 
   Show 'em the kind of stuff a Stark 
   is made of.

    TOM
        (coldly)
   I wouldn't know.

    Enraged, Willie slaps him. Tom fights back, and Jack has to 
    pull them apart.

    JACK
   Tom... cut it out!

    TOM
        (breathing heavily)
   All right, I'll play. Now get out of 
   here.

    Camera holds on Tom as Jack and Willie leave. He picks up 
    his uniform, stops, then rubs his head.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Football Stadium, Day

    Tom is on the field. He runs up to the coach.

    P.A. ANNOUNCER
   Stark's going in!

    The boos turn to cheers. The crowd applauds.

    Willie signals from his box to the coach. He wants Tom sent 
    in. Tom runs out on the field and joins the team. The players 
    are lined up, in position to play. Tom shakes his head, as 
    if trying to clear it.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Football Stadium, Time Lapse

    The crowd yells excitedly. Tom, looking weary, gets the ball 
    and runs with it downfield. Three players tackle him hard 
    and fall on him. A silence falls over the stadium as he fails 
    to get up with the others.

    In Willie's box, everyone is standing.

    LUCY
   Tommy... Tommy... Tommy!

    Willie rushes out onto the field and kneels beside Tom as 
    the doctor and stretcher bearers arrive.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Hospital Waiting Room, Night

    Lucy and Willie are waiting for news about Tom. Sugar Boy 
    comes in with a paper bag and sets it on a table.

    SUGAR BOY
   B-b-boss, you gotta eat. You g-g-
   gotta.

    Willie motions him away.

    WILLIE
   I'm the one that made him play. I 
   sent him in.

    LUCY
   Sit down, Willie. Please sit down.

    WILLIE
   I sent him in.

    LUCY
   What difference does that make now?

    Jack comes in.

    WILLIE
   What goes on?

    JACK
   There isn't a plane flying.

    WILLIE
   They gotta fly. This is my son. He's 
   got to live.

    Adam Stanton enters.

    STANTON
   I just got a call from Dr. Birnham. 
   The earliest he can possibly get 
   here will be tomorrow morning.

    WILLIE
   Isn't there anybody else we can get?

    JACK
   I still think Dr. Stanton should 
   operate.

    STANTON
   That's up to Governor Stark. He wanted 
   another doctor... a specialist. I 
   sent for one.

    WILLIE
   How bad is it really, doctor?

    STANTON
   He's unconscious... and paralyzed.

    Lucy slumps in her chair.

    WILLIE
   Has he got a chance?

    STANTON
   To live? Yes.

    WILLIE
   What do you mean?

    STANTON
   Even if the operation's successful -- 
   that is, if he lives -- I think he'll 
   be paralyzed for life.

    WILLIE
   You'll do everything you can, won't 
   you? Anything between you and me.. 
   that won't count, will it? It doesn't 
   have to. Look, doc, anything you 
   want in the world you just ask for 
   it and you got it. Go on, doc... ask 
   for it.

    STANTON
        (coldly)
   There are some things, Governor Stark, 
   that even you can't buy. Do you want 
   me to operate, or don't you?

    LUCY
   Yes... I want you to operate.
        (stands up)
   Please, may I see Tom now?

    STANTON
   Yes.

    They leave together.

    WILLIE
        (to Jack)
   How much does the doc know?

    JACK
   About what?

    WILLIE
   Oh, you know what I'm talking about.

    JACK
   About what?

    WILLIE
   About Anne and me.

    JACK
        (after a pause)
   He doesn't know a thing... not a 
   thing.

    Jack turns and walks away.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Hospital, Night

    Anne has been waiting outside the hospital. She turns to 
    Jack as he comes out the door.

    ANNE
   Jack, how is he?

    JACK
   The boy?

    ANNE
   Yes.

    JACK
   He'll live.

    ANNE
   Oh, thank God. How is --

    JACK
   Willie?

    ANNE
   He blames himself, doesn't he?

    JACK
        (as he walks down the 
        street)
   He'll find someone else to blame in 
   a few days.

    ANNE
        (following him)
   Oh, I tried to call here at the 
   hospital, but I just...

    They walk together, along the waterfront.

    JACK
   Anne... Anne, why did you do it?

    ANNE
   He wasn't like anybody I ever knew 
   before.

    JACK
   You mean he wasn't like me.

    ANNE
   He wasn't like anybody I ever knew 
   before. I love him, I guess. I guess 
   that's the reason.

    JACK
   Everybody loves him.

    ANNE
   He wants to marry me.

    JACK
   Are you going to?

    ANNE
   Not now. It would hurt him. A divorce 
   would hurt his career.

    JACK
   His career!

    ANNE
   Jack... Jack, what are you going to 
   do? You can't leave him now. He needs 
   you now more than he ever did before.

    JACK
   What Willie needs, Willie's got.

    ANNE
   You don't know him. You've known him 
   all these years and you don't really 
   know him at all.

    JACK
   What about Adam?

    ANNE
   Adam?

    JACK
   Well, you don't have to worry about 
   him. If Adam finds out it'll be easy 
   to prove a Stanton is no different 
   than anybody else.
        (gives her the papers 
        on the Judge)
   Just show him these. Willie was 
   right... a man is conceived in sin 
   and born in corruption. Even Judge 
   Stanton. Show them to him, Anne. 
   Change the picture of the world that 
   Adam has in his head, just like our 
   picture of it has been changed.

    He grips her by the shoulders.

    JACK
   Wipe out everything he's ever believed 
   in. It'll be good for him. There's 
   no God but Willie Stark. I'm his 
   prophet and you're his...
        (pushes her aside, 
        then feels sorry and 
        walks after her)
   Oh, Anne... Anne, I'm sorry. I didn't 
   mean... Anne!

    A policeman comes over.

    POLICEMAN
   What's going on here?

    Jack catches up to Anne. He takes her arm and they start to 
    walk back together.

    JACK
   It's all right, officer... we both 
   work for Willie Stark.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    Exterior: Hospital Site, Day

    Willie, Anne, Adam, and Jack inspect a construction site. 
    There are newsmen and photographers present.

    WILLIE
        (to Adam)
   Right over there, that's going to be 
   the main building... fifteen stories 
   high, like on the model. Over there, 
   that's the laboratory. Finest 
   technical equipment in the world.

    STANTON
   What are you trying to convince me 
   of? I've taken the job.

    WILLIE
   Why?

    STANTON
   My reasons are my own. Why are you 
   building a hospital?

    WILLIE
   To do some good for the people of 
   the state.

    STANTON
   And get some votes.

    WILLIE
   Oh, there are lots of ways to get 
   votes.

    STANTON
   Yes, I know... I won't stand for any 
   interference.

    WILLIE
   I won't interfere. I may fire you, 
   but I won't interfere.

    STANTON
   If that's a threat, you're wasting 
   your time. You know what I think of 
   your administration.

    WILLIE
   Yes, I know. I'll tell you what... 
   You stay on your side of the fence; 
   I'll stay on mine. Is that a deal?

    They climb up onto the platform, where the newsmen gather 
    around to take pictures. Willie and Adam shake hands.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   Now he had us all... me, Anne, and 
   Adam. Now we all worked for him.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    Interior: Projection Room, Day

    Willie, Jack, and Sugar Boy are watching a newsreel, similar 
    in style to the March of Time newsreels. A producer, his 
    assistant, and two policemen are also in the room.

    NARRATOR'S VOICE
   And so the eyes of the entire nation 
   are now focused upon Governor Willie 
   Stark, an amazing phenomenon on the 
   American political scene. The whole 
   state is filled with his 
   accomplishments -- each of them, of 
   course, bearing his personal 
   signature, to make sure that no one 
   will ever forget who gave them to 
   the state.

    MONTAGE: THE NEWSREEL

    Large plaque on side of the highway: THIS BRIDGE WAS BUILT 
    DURING THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR STARK. A TOLL 
    BRIDGE STOOD HERE FOR FIFTY YEARS... NOW THE PEOPLE TRAVEL 
    FREE

    Camera pans to shot of the bridge.

    Plaque over college entrance: STARK COLLEGE... THAT EVERY 
    MAN, WOMAN, OR CHILD, RICH OR POOR, SHALL HAVE AN EDUCATION... 
    WILLIE STARK

    Shot of library -- lettering reads WILLIE STARK LIBRARY. 
    KNOWLEDGE BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE Shot of bad road running 
    through dry, barren land.

    NARRATOR'S VOICE
   This is the way the roads used to 
   be. But there are those who claim 
   that they were adequate for the 
   people's needs, that you don't need 
   a four- or six-lane highway for a 
   horse and buggy.

    Shot of horse pulling a plow.

    The empty, untraversed STARK HIGHWAY.

    NARRATOR'S VOICE
   When Stark boasts of his great school 
   system, his critics say: you can't 
   go to school and work in the fields 
   at the same time. And they question 
   the benefit of these projects, 
   charging that the need and the poverty 
   of the people is as great as before.

    Shot of large school. Camera cuts to men working in the field, 
    then to ramshackle barn, and to a farmer walking across his 
    rotted cornfield.

    NARRATOR'S VOICE
   Willie Stark has never forgotten the 
   source of his power: the people who 
   supported him.

    Willie talking to the farmers.

    NARRATOR'S VOICE
   He still keeps in touch with these 
   people of the backwoods, making 
   periodic trips to such places as 
   Kanoma City, now famous as his 
   birthplace...

    Willie's official car and escort speeding through a street. 
    Sign reads: KANOMA CITY, BIRTHPLACE OF WILLIE STARK

    Shot of Willie having his picture taken with Lucy and Pappy 
    on the porch of the old farm.

    Willie mending the fence on the farm. Willie feeding the 
    pigs.

    NARRATOR'S VOICE
   For those who say that Willie Stark 
   is a man of destiny, there are others 
   who claim that he is a man of evil, 
   a man who cares neither for the people 
   nor the state, but only for his own 
   personal power and ambition.

    Willie making a speech to a huge crowd of cheering people.

    Willie inspecting his police force.

    Willie pounding the desk in the state legislature.

    NARRATOR'S VOICE
   Obviously, these ambitions go far 
   beyond the boundaries of the state. 
   Just how far, only time will tell. 
   Meanwhile, he is here...

    Big close-up of Willie as he delivers a speech.

    NARRATOR'S VOICE
   ...and from the looks of things, he 
   is here to stay. Willie Stark: messiah 
   or dictator?

    The picture goes off and the lights in the room come on.

    PRODUCER
   How do you like it, Governor?

    Willie stands and faces the producer.

    WILLIE
   How many theaters will this play in?

    PRODUCER
   All over the country.

    WILLIE
   Hear that, Jack. All over the country.

    They start to leave. Willie stops for a moment.

    WILLIE
   Oh, there's one thing in there I 
   didn't like too well. That messiah 
   or dictator.

    PRODUCER
   That's our point of view, Governor. 
   And that's the way it stands.

    There is a silence. Willie's face is hard. Then he grins.

    WILLIE
   All right, all right, that's the way 
   it stands... as of now.

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    NEWSPAPER HEADLINE

    STARK BEGINS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN 
    STATEWIDE TOUR STARTS WITH VISIT TO KANOMA CITY

        DISSOLVE TO:

    EXTERIOR: STARK FARMHOUSE, DAY

    Tom and Pappy Stark are seated on the porch. Tom is in a 
    wheelchair. Lucy comes onto the porch as the sound of sirens 
    is heard, and Willie's two cars, motorcycle escort, and the 
    car of reporters turn onto the drive. Tom, upset, flips his 
    cigarette away as the cars stop in front of the porch. Lucy 
    puts her hand on his shoulder to calm him. Then Willie climbs 
    up the steps to greet Lucy.

    WILLIE
   Hello, Lucy... How are you making 
   it, Pa?... How are you, Tom?

    Tom doesn't answer. Lucy offers her cheek to Willie. Sadie, 
    Jack, and Sugar Boy wait at the bottom of the steps, along 
    with the reporters.

    LUCY
   I made some refreshments for your 
   friends. I'll get them.

    SADIE
   I'll help.

    LUCY
        (firmly)
   No, thank you. Thank you kindly.

    JACK
   If you don't mind, Mrs. Stark... the 
   boys have to get back to make the 
   morning editions.
        (to photographers)
   Set 'em up on the porch, fellows. 
   We'll take some pictures out here, 
   first.

    He starts arranging the family for the picture.

    JACK
   Mrs. Stark, please... All right, 
   fellows, take one down there, will 
   you please... Shoot it up this way.

    The cameras click.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Stark Farmhouse, Night

    Willie is finishing his meal, seated at the table with his 
    family and Jack. Sugar Boy stands behind Willie. Sadie has 
    left the table and is examining the room.

    WILLIE
        (on the last bite)
   You're still a great cook, Lucy. 
   Great cook.
        (gets up)
   Well, I guess I better be getting 
   back to town. Nice to have spent the 
   day with the family.
        (kisses Lucy on the 
        forehead)
   Goodbye, Lucy.
        (extends his hand to 
        Tom)
   Tom.

    TOM
        (ignores the gesture)
   Goodbye.

    WILLIE
   Take care of yourself, Pappy. Oh, 
   uh... how do you like the new radio 
   I got you?
        (walks over to it)
   You know how it works? You can get 
   police calls on it. Come here, come 
   here... I'll show you.

    Pappy leans over as Willie demonstrates how it works.

    WILLIE
   This one for police calls up here.

    He turns the dial.

    POLICE BROADCAST
   Car sixty-two, proceed to five-
   eighteen Oak Street. Tom Jones beating 
   his wife again.

    Pappy laughs delightedly. He reaches out to turn the dial.

    WILLIE
   All right, go ahead, go ahead.

    ANNOUNCER'S VOICE
   We interrupt this program to bring 
   you a special announcement. This 
   afternoon, the body of Richard Hale, 
   father of the girl who died in the 
   automobile accident involving the 
   governor's son, was found. A medical 
   examination revealed he was beaten 
   to death.

    Tom starts to wheel toward Willie, but Lucy restrains him.

    ANNOUNCER'S VOICE
   The ugly charge of "official murder" 
   has been hurled at the administration 
   by a coalition of Stark's opponents, 
   led by Judge Stanton, lately an 
   outspoken critic of the 
   administration.

    WILLIE
        (to Jack)
   Your friend, the Judge.

    ANNOUNCER'S VOICE
   Thus an almost forgotten incident 
   provided the spark that might set 
   off the explosion needed to rock 
   Willie Stark out of power. The latest 
   report is that impeachment proceedings 
   may be instituted...

    Willie turns off the radio. There is a silence. Then Willie 
    turns to Lucy.

    WILLIE
   How long will it take you to pack? I 
   want you to go back to Capital City 
   with me tonight.

    LUCY
   Why?

    WILLIE
   Because I need you.

    TOM
   What for?

    WILLIE
        (still speaking to 
        Lucy)
   I'll explain all of that later. Now, 
   Lucy, do like I say.

    JACK
   I'll wait outside.

    WILLIE
   You stay right here, Jack. I want 
   you bear witness to what I've got to 
   say.

    LUCY
        (indicating Sadie)
   She can be a witness too.

    SADIE
        (starting toward the 
        door)
   I'm going back to the capital and 
   get hold of Duffy.

    WILLIE
   You stay right here, Sadie.

    SADIE
   Somebody's got to go back to the 
   capital. I'll go in the other car.

    WILLIE
   All right, then tell Duffy not to do 
   anything or say anything until I get 
   there.

    SADIE
   Yes, Governor.

    She leaves.

    TOM
   Now he needs us. Now that he's in 
   trouble he needs us, so he can lead 
   us around like monkeys with rings in 
   our noses. So he can say to people, 
   look at me, feel sorry for me... 
   just a family man with a wife and a 
   crippled son...

    WILLIE
        (shouts)
   Shut up!

    LUCY
   Willie!

    TOM
   Why don't you leave us alone?

    Tom wheels himself into his own room. Lucy starts to follow.

    WILLIE
   Leave him alone. How many scrapes 
   have I gotten him out of? How many 
   girls?

    LUCY
   Willie, stop.

    WILLIE
   It's not him they're after. It's me. 
   How many halfwitted apes do you think 
   I'm going to have to pay to square 
   this one? What do you think this is 
   going to cost me?

    LUCY
   What do you think it cost him?

    Suddenly Willie turns his face away.

    WILLIE
        (in a broken voice)
   A man builds for his son. That's all 
   he builds for.

    LUCY
   Willie!
        (turns and goes into 
        Tom's room)
   Tom... Tom.

    Willie looks up at Jack and Pappy.

    WILLIE
   Give me a drink, Jack.

    Jack hands him a bottle and he takes a slug.

    WILLIE
   She'll go.

    Pappy shakes his head.

    PAPPY
   No good, Willie. No good.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Stark Farmhouse, Night

    Pappy stays behind on the porch as Tom is carried in his 
    wheelchair down the steps and into Willie's car. Lucy follows. 
    The motorcycle escort leads them away from the farm.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Highway, Night

    As the cars speed to Capital City.

    Interior: State Legislature, Night

    There is great excitement in the assembly room. One senator 
    steps forward and addresses the speaker of the house.

    SENATOR
   Mr. Speaker, I offer a house 
   resolution. Whereas Willie Stark, 
   governor of this state, has been 
   guilty of incompetence, corruption, 
   and favoritism in office -- yes, and 
   other high crimes -- that he is hereby 
   impeached, and ordered to be tried 
   by the senate.

    His resolution is met with a mixture of cheers and boos.

    Exterior: State Capitol, Night

    A huge crowd is gathered outside. Pillsbury, Sadie, and Duffy, 
    waiting with the crowd, step forward as they see Willie's 
    car approach. Newsmen take pictures as Willie gets out of 
    the car.

    WILLIE
        (as he meets Duffy)
   What's the score?

    DUFFY
   They're lined up against you solid. 
   They had a meeting.

    WILLIE
   How do you know? Were you there?

    DUFFY
   Me? What would I be doing there?

    WILLIE
   Selling me out.

    He starts up the steps of the building.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Willie's Executive Offices, Night

    WILLIE
   How many votes have we got?

    SADIE
        (going through some 
        files)
   Eleven.

    WILLIE
   We need twenty.

    DUFFY
   We might be able to dig up a few 
   more.

    WILLIE
   Yeah. Do you know how?

    DUFFY
   No.

    Willie turns to Jack.

    WILLIE
   Oh, Jack. Come here. What have you 
   got in your black book about that 
   old friend of yours?

    JACK
   Who do you mean?

    WILLIE
   You know who I'm talking about... 
   your old friend, the Judge.

    JACK
   If and when you need it.

    WILLIE
   If and when? I need it right now. 
   He's got four senators wrapped up in 
   his hip pocket. Come on, come on, 
   boy... what have you got?

    JACK
   I'm going to give him a break. If he 
   can prove it isn't true, I won't 
   spill it.

    WILLIE
   I ought to bust you, Jack.

    JACK
   I promised two people I'd do it this 
   way.

    WILLIE
   Who are they?

    JACK
   Myself... and someone else. It doesn't 
   matter who. I'm going to give him a 
   break.

    WILLIE
   All right, give him a break. But if 
   you got the facts, you got the facts. 
   The truth is sufficient... just like 
   it says in the Bible.

    JACK
   That's the way it's going to be.

    WILLIE
   All right, boy... I'll trust you. 
   Where are you going?

    JACK
        (on his way out)
   I'll be around.

    Willie turns to go into his private office.

    SADIE
   Who else do you think he promised, 
   Willie?

    Willie shrugs.

    SADIE
   You'd be smart... play square with 
   him. You're going to need people 
   like us around.

    WILLIE
        (as he shuts his door)
   Are you sure?

        DISSOLVE TO:

    MONTAGE: THE IMPEACHMENT

    Willie's car speeding down a road.

    Willie, with Lucy and Tom seated behind him, addressing crowd.

    Willie speaking from the back of a train to a railroad station 
    audience.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   The chips were down, and Willie knew 
   it. He was fighting for his life. He 
   roared across the state making one 
   speech after another. And all of 
   them added up to the same thing... 
   "It's not me they're after, it's 
   you!"

    Close-ups of Willie, speaking to the people.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   Willie hollered foul. Willie knew if 
   you hollered long enough, hard enough, 
   and loud enough, people begin to 
   believe you. Just in case they didn't, 
   he organized spontaneous 
   demonstrations.

    Sign on back of a car: FIGHT WITH WILLIE

    Crowds carrying signs: WIN WITH WILLIE

    Willie talking on the telephone. Sadie listens.

    WILLIE
   Tell the boys to get the hicks out. 
   Bring 'em in from the sticks, empty 
   the pool halls. Turn 'em out. Turn 
   the yokels out.

    More men with WIN WITH WILLIE signs. Man directing crowd 
    from top of bus. Other bus loads of people are seen, all of 
    them bearing signs.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   In case anyone hollered back, he 
   organized spontaneous slugging. Willie 
   pulled every trick he ever knew -- 
   and added a few more.

    Crowd looks on as two uniformed police drag a man away. 
    Willie's car waiting. Two thugs talk things over with a man 
    on his doorstep.

    Willie discussing matters with a man in his office. Two cops 
    stand with him.

    Willie and Jack in the car. Sugar Boy drives. It is night. 
    Sugar Boy drives fast, and has to swerve to avoid colliding 
    with a truck.

    JACK
   Hey, Sugar!
        (To Willie)
   You'll never live to be impeached!

    WILLIE
   Boy, I'll live to be President...

    Jack and Sugar wait in the car as Willie leans out the car 
    window to talk to a senator. He offers the man a piece of 
    paper.

    WILLIE
   I've got fourteen senators to vote 
   against impeachment. If I win, you're 
   out of politics.

    SENATOR
        (refuses to sign)
   I'll do whatever the Judge says.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Highway, Night

    Willie's car, as it races down the highway.

    JACK
        (voice over)
   And always the trail led to one 
   place... Burden's Landing... and the 
   Judge.

    Exterior: Ferry to Burden's Landing, Night

    Willie's car coming across on the ferry.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Stanton Home, Night

    As Willie's car stops and they all get out.

    WILLIE
   You sure you don't want me to go in 
   with you?

    JACK
   I'm sure.

    WILLIE
   Well, hurry it up, boy. We've got 
   places to go.

    Jack goes into the house alone.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Interior: Judge Stanton's Study, Night

    Jack and the Judge are seated opposite each other.

    JACK
   Judge, I beg you, as a favor to 
   yourself, to me... call up, release 
   your votes.

    JUDGE
   I made a mistake once, Jack... when 
   I resigned. It was too easy then, 
   just resigning, pulling out. No, 
   Jack, I've made my choice. I have 
   nothing more to lose.

    JACK
   Judge, you know what Stark is capable 
   of. Think it over. I'll leave now. 
   I'll come back tomorrow and we'll 
   talk about it again. You can give me 
   your answer then.

    The door opens and Willie and Sugar Boy enter.

    WILLIE
   I can't wait until tomorrow. I'm a 
   very impatient man.

    JACK
        (rising)
   I told you not to come in here.

    WILLIE
        (ignoring him)
   Is it true, Judge, that you're behind 
   the impeachment proceedings?

    JUDGE
   Yes, it's true.

    Willie takes a seat in an easy chair.

    WILLIE
   I wanted to hear you say it with 
   your own silver tongue.

    JUDGE
   Well, you've heard it. If that's all 
   you came to hear you could have saved 
   yourself a trip.

    Willie picks up a decanter off the table.

    WILLIE
   Mind if I pour myself a drink? How 
   about you, Judge, will you have one? 
   You better... You're going to need 
   it.

    Jack and Judge Stanton remain standing, silently watching 
    Willie.

    WILLIE
   What'd he say, Jack?

    JACK
   You'll get your answer tomorrow.

    WILLIE
   Are you kidding? Did you show it to 
   him, or didn't you?

    JUDGE
   Show me what?

    WILLIE
   That's what I figured. Let's get 
   down to cases, Judge. Do you remember 
   a man with the name of Littlepaugh?

    The Judge shakes his head. He doesn't.

    WILLIE
   Remember the Fortune Electric Company?

    JUDGE
   Of course. I was their counsel for 
   over ten years.

    WILLIE
   Remember how you got the job?

    JACK
   How did you find out?

    WILLIE
        (hands the Judge some 
        papers)
   Do you remember how you got the job?

    The Judge examines the papers.

    WILLIE
   You know, Judge, dirt's a funny thing. 
   Some of it rubs off on everybody. 
   How did you get the job, Judge? 
   Blackmail?

    JUDGE
        (to Jack)
   I swear I never even remembered his 
   name. Isn't that remarkable, Jack? I 
   never even remembered his name. It's 
   all so long ago it's hard for me to 
   realize it ever happened.

    WILLIE
   Yeah. But it did.

    JUDGE
   Yes, it did. But it's difficult for 
   me to realize it.

    JACK
   For me too, Judge.

    JUDGE
   Thanks for that much.

    WILLIE
   Well, I guess you know what the next 
   move is, don't you?

    JUDGE
   Yes, I do. Jack Burden. Willie Stark's 
   hatchet man.

    JACK
        (to Willie)
   I asked you... how did you find out?

    JUDGE
   This would never stand at law, not 
   for a minute. It happened over twenty-
   five years ago, and you could never 
   get any testimony. Everybody is dead.

    WILLIE
   Everybody except you, Judge. You're 
   alive. And people think you're a 
   certain kind of man. And you just 
   couldn't bear for people to think 
   otherwise.

    JUDGE
   Ever since then I... I've done my 
   duty. I... I'm responsible for many 
   good things.
        (looks at the papers 
        again)
   But I also did this.

    WILLIE
   Yes, yes, you did.

    JACK
   Judge, I beg of you, call and release 
   your votes, for your sake.

    JUDGE
   You have tender sensibilities for a 
   hatchet man.
        (goes to the door)
   Good night, gentlemen.

    WILLIE
   How about my answer?

    JUDGE
   You'll have it in the morning.

    WILLIE
   I want it tonight.

    JUDGE
   In the morning. Good night, gentlemen.

    There is silence. Then the three men get up to go. The Judge 
    closes the door behind them.

    Interior: Stanton Hallway, Night

    As the three men walk to the front door.

    JACK
   How did you find out?

    WILLIE
   We've got a lot to do. It's getting 
   late, Jack. Let's get back to town.

    JACK
   You know we're through, don't you?

    WILLIE
   Aw, you don't mean that, boy.

    The front door opens, and Adam and Anne come in.

    STANTON
   What are you doing here?

    WILLIE
   It's all right, doc. Just here to 
   discuss some politics with the Judge.

    STANTON
   Oh, I see.
        (starts upstairs)
   Well, good night.

    WILLIE
   Good night.

    JACK
        (to Anne)
   Did you give him --

    WILLIE
   Wait a minute, Jack --

    JACK
   Answer me. Did you give --

    A shot is fired. They turn and rush into the Judge's study. 
    They find the Judge face downward in his leather chair. Adam 
    and Jack kneel beside him. Willie, holding on tightly to 
    Anne's arm, stands in the doorway. Jack picks up the Judge's 
    pistol and looks at Adam.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: Stanton Home, Night

    Jack comes out of the house, followed by Anne and Adam.

    STANTON
   Aren't you going back with him?

    JACK
   No.

    STANTON
   Why not? You belong with him. Jack, 
   how could you have done it? When 
   Anne brought me those papers she 
   told me you promised not to tell 
   Stark until...

    JACK
   Yeah. I know.
        (walks away)
   Well, I kept my promise.

    Adam looks unbelievingly at Anne. She looks away.

    STANTON
   Anne? Anne?

 FADE OUT

    FADE IN:

    Interior: Jack's Hotel Room (State Capital), Day

    Jack looks out the window. A portable radio is blaring out 
    the news.

    ANNOUNCER'S VOICE
   From all over the state they're 
   streaming in. From the hill country 
   and farms, the lumber camps... by 
   boat, by train, by horse, and on 
   foot. Willie Stark's army.

    Through Jack's window we see the street blocked with cars 
    and people, all headed for the State Capitol Building. Anne 
    is in the crowd, trying to get across the street. Seeing 
    Jack in the window, she pushes her way across and enters the 
    hotel. He slams the window shut and comes back into the room.

    ANNOUNCER'S VOICE
   The state capital is filled with 
   rumors, one of which is that Stark 
   is planning to seize power by force. 
   As commander of the state militia, 
   he has --

    Jack turns it off. He goes over to his bed and starts putting 
    clothes into a valise. There is a knock on the door. He 
    ignores it. Another knock.

    JACK
   Come in. The door's open.

    Anne enters.

    ANNE
   Jack...

    JACK
   What do you want?

    She starts to cry. He grabs her, pulling her face close to 
    his.

    JACK
        (bitterly)
   No, I want to see you cry.

    He lets her go and she falls to the bed, sobbing.

    JACK
   Stop it!

    ANNE
   I called you. All afternoon I've 
   been calling you.

    JACK
   I know. I was here.

    ANNE
   You've got to tell Adam. You've got 
   to see him.

    JACK
   Tell him what?

    ANNE
   He knows about me and...

    JACK
   About you and Willie?

    ANNE
        (nods)
   I tried to explain to him. I... I 
   tried to explain to him that it wasn't 
   the way he thought it was.

    JACK
   How was it, Anne? You tell me.

    ANNE
   He hit me, Jack. My own brother... 
   he hit me.

    JACK
   Your brother is an old-fashioned 
   man. He believes in his sister's 
   honor. Me, I'm a modern man.
        (slams clothes into 
        the valise)
   The twentieth-century type. I run.

    ANNE
        (rises)
   I'm frightened, Jack.

    JACK
   For who? Your brother, or Willie?

    ANNE
        (quietly)
   We're through.

    JACK
   Who's through with who?

    ANNE
   He called me this afternoon. He's 
   going back to Lucy. He said it was 
   better that way.

    JACK
   Better for who? Him.

    ANNE
   Both of us.

    JACK
   Did he tell you that too when he 
   asked you to betray the Judge? At 
   least I walked out on him.

    ANNE
   Oh Jack... help me, please, please. 
   Adam's all I've got left now. Oh, 
   Jack, if you ever loved me...

    JACK
   If I ever loved you.
        (pause)
   I'll go find Adam.

    He takes up his coat.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    EXTERIOR: HOSPITAL SITE, DAY

    A large billboard. It reads HERE ON THIS SITE WILL BE ERECTED 
    THE GOVERNOR STARK HOSPITAL -- TO HEAL SICKNESS -- TO EASE 
    PAIN -- FREE. NOT AS A CHARITY BUT AS A RIGHT. WILLIE STARK

    Adam enters, looks at the sign, and walks on.

    Exterior: Street Near Capitol Building, Day

    Crowds of people headed toward the building, some with WIN 
    WITH WILLIE signs. A marching band plays music for them.

    Exterior: Capitol Building, Day

    Crowd waiting outside the building. Mounted policemen keep 
    them in line. From a large platform, loaded with people, 
    comes the chant "We want Willie, we want Willie." Jack pushes 
    his way through the people and speaks to a policeman standing 
    guard on the Capitol steps.

    COP
   Where do you think you're going?
        (recognizes Jack)
   Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't recognize 
   you.

    JACK
   Do you know who Dr. Stanton is?

    COP
   Yes sir.

    JACK
   Did he try to come through here today?

    COP
   Haven't seen him, sir.

    JACK
   Well, can you check the other 
   entrances?

    2ND COP
   There's no other entrances today. 
   The other entrances are blocked off. 
   Orders are to take no chances.

    COP
   If you care to come inside and wait, 
   Mr. Burden, we can find you a seat.

    JACK
   No, thanks. I'll wait out here. If 
   Dr. Stanton shows up, let me know. 
   Pass the word along to the boys, 
   will you?

    COP
   Yes sir.

    Jack turns and looks at the large crowd. A voice from a public 
    address loudspeaker begins to yell out commands to the crowd.

    LOUDSPEAKER
   All right now. Everybody... that 
   means everybody... let's let Willie 
   know we're here! All together: WE 
   WANT WILLIE. WE WANT WILLIE.

    The chant is picked up enthusiastically by the crowd.

    Interior: State Legislature, Day

    The speaker is trying to speak over the clamor of the 
    chanting.

    SPEAKER
   We will first proceed to take the 
   judgment of the senate on the question 
   of the impeachment of the governor.

    SENATOR
        (rising)
   Mr. Speaker, this is a farce to ask 
   us to vote in the face of the kind 
   of intimidation and pressure that 
   has been exerted here in the past 
   few weeks. Even that crowd outside, 
   yelling on cue, is part of that 
   pressure.

    CROWD NOISE
   We want Willie. We want Willie.

    Willie gets up, and goes to the window.

    Exterior: State Capitol, Day

    The crowd, with Jack in the foreground. The crowd suddenly 
    goes wild as they see Willie appear at the window. In the 
    growing darkness he seems only a shadowy figure as he raises 
    his hands to wave to the crowd.

    We see various shots of people straining to get a little 
    closer to the steps in order to see him better. Willie then 
    turns and goes back into the room.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: State Capitol, Day

    The crowd again, still waiting. The camera pans upward to a 
    loudspeaker.

    ANNOUNCER
   Attention, please. Attention, please. 
   This is a special announcement from 
   Willie Stark to you people out there. 
   He doesn't want any one of you to 
   leave...

    The camera moves over the faces of the people listening.

    ANNOUNCER
   He wants you to stay in front of 
   this state Capitol until the fight 
   is over. If you want Willie Stark to 
   win, stay where you are.

    They cheer. Camera picks up Jack watching the crowd's 
    reaction, then up to a plaque over the entrance to the Capitol 
    Building. It reads THE PEOPLE'S WILL IS THE LAW OF THIS STATE -- 
    GOVERNOR STARK.

    ANNOUNCER
   Do you hear me... stay where you 
   are. Don't go away. Stay where you 
   are. Don't go away.

        DISSOLVE TO:

    Exterior: State Capitol, Night

    Newsmen, photographers stand about, bored. The crowd, every 
    bit as large, is quiet but expectant. Everyone holds still 
    as the announcer's voice is heard again.

    ANNOUNCER
   Attention, please. Attention, please. 
   The balloting on the impeachment 
   proceedings against Governor Stark 
   has just ended. This is the result: 
   Willie Stark has won.

    The crowd explodes. People break through the police barriers. 
    Mounted policemen ride in quickly to prevent a riot. Camera 
    picks up Anne in the crowd, trying to push through.

    Jack stands on the steps of the Capitol, watching it all. 
    Suddenly Willie appears at the top of the steps, followed by 
    Sugar Boy. Sadie, Duffy, Pillsbury follow close behind. Willie 
    grabs hold of the mike and addresses the suddenly hushed 
    crowd.

    WILLIE
   They tried to ruin me. But they are 
   ruined. They tried to ruin me because 
   they did not like what I have done. 
   Do you like what I have done?

    Loud applause, and cries of "yes."

    WILLIE
   Remember, it's not I who have won, 
   but you. Your will is my strength, 
   and your need is my justice, and I 
   shall live in your right and your 
   will. And if any man tries to stop 
   me from fulfilling that right and 
   that will, I'll break him. I'll break 
   him with my bare hands. For I have 
   the strength of many.

    Having finished, he waves at them all. Then he notices Jack 
    and comes down the steps to greet him.

    WILLIE
   Hello, Jack boy, I'm glad you're 
   here. I knew you'd come back.

    He walks back up the steps, his arm around Jack's shoulders. 
    They start to go into the building that way when Willie sees 
    someone. He smiles and puts out his hand.

    WILLIE
   Oh, doctor, I'm very glad to see 
   you.

    Adam is seen, waiting at the entrance of the building. Before 
    Willie has taken a step Adam fires several shots into him. 
    Willie falls to the ground and Sugar Boy whips out his pistol 
    and fires at Adam. Three policemen with tommy guns open fire, 
    shooting into Adam's already fallen body. Then they turn and 
    point their guns at the mob of people rushing toward Willie, 
    forcing them back.

    COP
   Stand back, everybody. Stand back.

    Sugar Boy kneels beside Willie. Sadie stands against a pillar, 
    looking down on him.

    SUGAR BOY
        (nearly crying)
   D-does it hurt m-much, boss? D-d-
   does it hurt much?

    Jack looks up to see Anne struggling through the screaming 
    mob to get to Adam. She looks at Adam for a moment, then 
    turns away.

    JACK
   Anne, Anne... Where are you going?

    She doesn't answer, only walks away. He runs after her and 
    catches hold of her arm.

    ANNE
   I don't know. Leave me alone.

    JACK
   To do what?

    ANNE
   I don't care.

    JACK
   No, that's too easy.

    ANNE
   I don't know, I don't know, I don't 
   know.

    JACK
   I do.

    ANNE
   Leave me alone, please.

    JACK
   No, no more.

    ANNE
   He's dead.

    JACK
   We're alive.

    ANNE
   My brother's dead.

    JACK
   We've got to go on living.

    ANNE
   How?

    JACK
   So that Adam's death has meaning, so 
   that it wasn't wasted. Anne, our 
   life has to give his death meaning. 
   Don't you see that? Look at those 
   people...

    He turns her around so that she can see the crowds still 
    struggling to get a look at Willie.

    JACK
   Look at them! They still believe in 
   him. And we've got to make them see 
   Willie the way Adam saw him, or 
   there's no meaning in anything... 
   anything.

    A policeman approaches.

    POLICEMAN
   Mr. Burden... the governor's asking 
   for you. You better hurry. He's going 
   fast.

    JACK
        (to Anne)
   Will you wait here?

    No reply.

    JACK
   Will you wait here?

    She nods her head slowly. Jack walks through the building to 
    the pillar against which Willie has been propped. Sugar Boy 
    is still beside him. He stands behind Sadie and Duffy, looking 
    down at Willie.

    WILLIE
   It could have been the whole world, 
   Willie Stark. The whole world... 
   Willie Stark. Why did he do it to 
   me... Willie Stark? Why?

    His head droops to the side and he dies.

 FADE OUT

        THE END


 
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