Original subtitles

Transcript from schoolboy Subtitle made by Lucky7

I owe everything to George Bailey... Help him, dear Father.

Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend, Mr. Bailey.

Help my son, George, tonight.

He never thinks about himself, God, that's why he's in trouble.

George is a good guy. Give him a break, God...

I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight...

Please, God, something's the matter with Daddy...

Please bring Daddy back.

Hello, Joseph. Trouble?

Looks like we'll have to send someone down.

A lot of people asking for help for a man named George Bailey.

George Bailey. Yes. Tonight's his crucial night. You're right.

We'll have to send someone down immediately. Whose turn is it?

That's why I came to see you, sir.

It's that clock-maker's turn again.

Oh, Clarence. Hasn't got his wings yet, has he?

We've passed him up right along.

Because, you know, sir, he's got the I.Q. of a rabbit.

Yes, but he's got the faith of a child. Simple.

Joseph, send for Clarence.

You sent for me, sir?

Yes, Clarence. A man down on earth needs our help.

Splendid! Is he sick?

No. Worse. He's discouraged.

At exactly ten forty-five P.M., earth-time,

that man will be thinking seriously of throwing away God's greatest gift.

Oh, dear, dear! His life! Then I have only an hour to dress.

What are they wearing now?

You will spend that hour getting acquainted with George Bailey.

Sir...If I should accomplish this mission... I mean, uh, might I perhaps win my wings?

I've been waiting for over two hundred years now, sir...

and people are beginniing to talk.

What's that book you've got there?

Oh, 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.'

Clarence, you do a good job with George Bailey and you'll get your wings.

Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you.

Poor George. Sit down.

Sit down?! What are we...

If you're going to help a man, you want to know something about him, don't you?

- Well, naturally, of course, I... - Well, keep your eyes open.

- See the town? - Where? I...I don't see a thing.

Oh, I forgot. You haven't got your wings yet.

Now look, I'll help you out.

Concentrate.

Begin to see something?

Why, yes! This is amazing!

If you ever get your wings, you'll see all by yourself.

Oh, wonderful!

Yippee!

Okay, boys, let's go.

Hey, who's that?

- That's your problem, George Bailey. - A boy?!

That's him when he was twelve. Back in nineteen nineteen.

Something happens here you'll have to remember later on.

Come on, Marty. Come on, Marty.

- Hee-haw! - Hee-haw!

And here comes the scare-baby, my kid brother, Harry Bailey!

I'm not scared!

Go, Harry! C'mon, Harry! Attaboy, Harry! Come on, Harry!

Help, George! Help! Help!

...Harry, I'm coming!

- Help! - Hang on, Harry!

I'm coming! Chain Gang!

George saved his brother's life that day.

But it caught him that cold which infected his left ear.

Cost him his hearing in that ear.

It was weeks before he was able to go back to his after-school job

at old man Gower's Drugstore.

Mr. Potter!

Who's that? A king?

That's Henry F. Potter.

The richest and meanest man in the county.

Hee-haw! Hee-haw! Go to work, slave...

I wish I had a million dollars! Hot dog!

It's me, Mr. Gower. George Bailey.

- You're late - Yes, sir.

Hello, George. Hello, Mary.

Hello, Violet.

Two-cents' worth of shoelaces?

She was here first.

I'm still thinking.

Shoelaces?

Please, Georgie. I like him.

You like every boy.

What's wrong with that?

Here you are.

- Help me down. - Help you down?!

Made up your mind yet?

I'll take chocolate.

With coconuts?

I don't like coconuts.

You don't like coconuts?

Say, brainless, don't you know where coconuts come from?

Look it here... from Tahiti, Fiji Islands, the Coral Sea!

A new magazine! I never saw it before.

Of course you never.

Only us explorers can get it.

I've been nominated for membership in the National Geographic Society.

Is this the ear you can't hear on?

George Bailey, I'll love you till the day I die.

I'm going out exploring some day, you watch.

And I'm gonna have a couple of harems, and maybe three or four wives.

Wait and see.

- George! George! - Yes, sir.

You're not paid to be a canary.

No, sir...

Mr. Gower, do you want something?

- Anything? - No.

- Anything I can do back here? - Nope.

I'll get them, sir.

...take those capsules over to Mrs. Blaine's.

- She's waiting for them. - Yes, sir...

They have the diphtheria there, haven't they, sir?

Ummm.

Is it a charge, sir?

Yes, charge.

- Mr. Gower, I think... - Aw, get going!

Yes, sir.

Fast there, Captain Cook! Where you headin'?

Got to see Pop, Uncle Billy.

- Some other time, George. - It's important!

There's a squall in there that's shapin' up into a storm.

Uncle Billy, telephone.

- Who is it? - The Bank examiner.

Bank examiner?

Oh, I should have called him yesterday.

Switch it inside.

I'm not crying, Mr. Potter.

Well, you're begging and that's a whole lot worse.

All I'm asking for is thirty days more.

- Pop! - Just a minute, son.

Just thirty short days. I'll dig up that five thousand somehow.

- Shove me up. Shove me up. - Pop!

Have you put any real pressure on these people of yours to pay those mortgages?

Times are bad, Mr. Potter. A lot of these people are out of work.

- Then foreclose! - I can't do that.

- These families have children. - Pop!

They're not my children.

But they're somebody's children, Mr. Potter.

Are you running a business or a charity ward?

- Well, all right... - Not with my money.

Mr. Potter, what makes you such a hard-skulled character?

You have no family, no children.

You can't begin to spend all the money you've got.

So I suppose I should give it to miserable failures like you

and that idiot brother of yours to spend for me.

He's not a failure!

- You can't say that about my father! - George, George, quiet. George, George...

You're not! You're the biggest man in town!

- Run along. - Bigger than him.

- Run along! - Bigger than everybody!

Gives you an idea of the Baileys.

Don't let him say things like that about you, Pop.

All right, son. All right.

Thanks. I'll talk to you tonight.

What!

Why, that medicine should have been there an hour ago.

It'll be over in five minutes, Mrs. Blaine.

Where's Mrs. Blaine's box of capsules?

I feel...

- Didn't you hear what I said? - Yes, sir, I...

What kind of tricks are you playing anyway?

Why didn't you deliver them right away?

Don't you know that boy's very sick?

You're hurting my sore ear.

You lazy loafer!

Mr. Gower, you don't know what you're doing.

You put something wrong in those capsules.

I know you're unhappy.

You got that telegram and you're upset.

You put something bad in those capsules.

It wasn't your fault, Mr. Gower.

Just look and see what you did.

Look at the bottle you took the powder from.

It's poison! I tell you it's poison!

I know you feel bad.

I didn't know...

- Oh... - Don't hurt my sore ear again.

- Don't hurt my sore ear again. - Oh, no, no, no...

Oh, George. George...

Oh, Mr. Gower, I won't ever tell anyone.

I know what you're feeling.

I won't tell a soul.

- Hope to die, I won't. - Oh, George, George...

An overnight bag, genuine English cowhide,

combination lock, fitted up with brushes, combs...

Nope! Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.

Now look, Joe. Now look,

I, I-I want a big one.

What did you stop it for?

I want you to take a good look at that face.

- Who is it? - George Bailey.

Oh, you mean the kid that had his ears slapped back by the druggist?

That's the kid.

Uh-huh. It's a good face.

I like it. I like George Bailey.

Tell me, did he ever tell anyone about the pills?

Not a soul.

Did he ever marry the girl? Did he ever go exploring?

Well, wait and see.

Big...see... I, I don't want one for one night.

I want something for a thousand and one nights.

With plenty of room here for labels from Italy and Baghdad, Samarkand...

a great big one.

- I see, a flying carpet, huh? - Yeah.

I don't suppose you'd like this old second-hand job, would you?

Now you're talking.

Gee whiz, I could use that as a raft in case the boat sunk.

- How much does this cost? - No charge.

That's my trick ear, Joe. It sounded as if you said no charge.

That's right.

Well, what's my name doing on it here?

A little present form old man Gower. Came down and picked it out himself.

He did?!

What do you know about that... my old boss. Isn't that nice?

What boat you sailing on?

I'm working across on a cattle boat.

- A cattle boat? - Okay, I like cows.

- Hello, Mr. Gower. - George!

How are you? Thanks ever so much for the baggage.

- It's just exactly what I wanted. - Aw, forget it.

Oh, it's wonderful of you to think of it.

- Hope you enjoy it. - Oh, oh, oh, oh.

I wish I had a million dollars. Hot dog!

Avast there, Captain Cook! You got your sealegs yet?

Parlez vous Francais, Mister?

Hey, send us some of their picture postcards, will you, George?

Hey, George, don't take any plugged nickels.

Hey, George, your suitcase is leaking.

Hey, Ernie! Hi, Ernie!

- Hiya, George. - Hi, Bert.

- George... - Hey, hey, I, I'm a rich tourist today.

- How about driving me home in style? - Great.

Hop in Your Highness, hop in. And for the carriage trade.

I put on my hat.

- Good afternoon, Mr. Bailey. - Hello, Violet.

Hey, you look good. That's some dress you got on there.

What! This old thing?

Why, I only wear it when I don't care how I look.

- How would you like... - Yes.

Want to come along, Bert? We'll show you the town.

No, thanks. I, uh, I've gotta go home and see what the wife's doing.

Family man.

George! Harry!

You're shaking the house down! Stop it!

Oh, let them alone! I wish I was up there with them.

But Harry'll tear his dinner suit! George!

That's why all children should be girls.

But if they were all girls, there wouldn't be any...

Oh, never mind.

George! Harry! Come down to dinner this minute.

Everything's getting cold and you know, how long we've been waiting for you.

Okay, Mom!

- Here's a present for you, Pop. - Oh, you two idiots!

- George, sit down and have dinner. - I've eaten.

Well, aren't you going to finish dressing for your graduating party?

- Look at you! - I don't care.

It's George's tux. Annie, my sweet, have you got those pies?

If you lay a hand on me, I'll hit you with this broom.

Annie, I'm in love with you, there's a moon out tonight.

Boy, oh, boy, oh, boy, my last meal in the old Bailey Boarding House.

Oh, my lands, my blood pressure!

Pop, can I have the car? I have to take over a lot of plates and things.

- What plates? - Oh, Mom,

I'm Chairman of the Eats Committee and we only need a couple of dozen.

Oh, no, you don't. Harry, now, not my best Haviland.

Oh, let him have the plates, Mother.

Hope you have a good trip, George. Uncle Billy and I are gonna miss you.

I'll miss you too, Pop. What's the matter? You look tired.

- Oh, I had another tussle with Potter today. - Oh.

I thought when we put him on the board of Directors, he'd ease up on us a little bit.

Oh, what's eating that old money-grubbing buzzard anyway?

Oh, he's a sick man. Frustrated and sick.

And his mind's sick in his soul, if he has one.

He hates everybody that has anything that he can't have.

He hates us mostly, I guess.

Gangway! Gangway! So long, Pop.

So long!

- Harry, you got a match? - Very funny. Very funny.

Put those things in the car and I'll get your tie and studs ready for you.

- Now, hurry up, hurry up. - Okay, Mom.

- You coming later? - Don't you drop one of those.

- You coming later, George? - What do you mean,

- and be bored to death? - Couldn't want a better death.

Lots of pretty girls, and we're going to use that new floor tonight, too.

- Oh, I hope it works. - No gin tonight, son!

- Aw, Pop, just a little. - No, son. Not one drop.

Oh!

Boys and girls and music... why do they need gin?

Father, did I act like that when I graduated from high school?

Pretty much.

You know, George, I wish we could send Harry to college with you.

Your mother and I talked it over half the night.

Mmm, we have that all figured out.

Harry'll take my job at the Building and Loan, and work there four years,

then he'll go.

- He's pretty young for that job. - Well, no younger than I was.

Maybe you were born older, George.

How's that?

I say, you were born older.

I suppose you've decided what you want to do when you get out of college.

Oh well, you know what I've always talked about...build things...

design new buildings... plan modern cities...

- all that stuff, I was talking about. - Still after that first million before you're thirty.

No, I'll settle for half that in cash.

'Course it's just a hope, but uh,

you wouldn't consider coming back to the Building and Loan, would you?

Well, I...I... Why, Annie, why, why don't you draw up a chair?

Then you'd be more comfortable and you could hear everything that's going on.

I would if I thought I'd hear anything worth listening to.

You would, eh?

- I know it's soon to talk about it. - Oh, now, Pop. I, I,

I couldn't. I couldn't face being cooped up for the rest of my life in a shabby little office...

Oh, I'm sorry, Pop, I didn't mean it that way,

but this business of nickels and dimes and spending all your life

trying to figure out how to save three cents on a length of pipe...I'd go crazy.

I...I wanna do something big and something important.

You know, George, I feel that in a small way we are doing something important.

Satisfying a fundamental urge.

It's deep in the race for a man to want his own roof and walls and fireplace.

And we're helping him get those things in our shabby little office.

I know, Pop. I, uh, I, I know that I, I... I wish I felt...

but I, I've been hoarding pennies like a miser here in order to...

Most of my friends have already finished college.

I, uh, I just feel like if I didn't get away, I'd bust.

Yes, yes. You're right, son.

You see what I mean, don't you, Pop?

This town is no place for any man unless he's willing to crawl to Potter.

And you've got talent, son. I've seen it.

You get yourself an education. Then get out of here.

Pop, you want a shock?

I think you're a great guy.

Oh, did you hear that, Annie?

I heard it. About time one of you lunkheads said it.

I'm going to miss old Annie.

Pop, I think I'll get dressed and go over to Harry's party.

Have a good time, son.

Here you are.

George! Hello!

You know my kid brother, George? I'm going to put him through college.

- Hello, George! - Hee-haw!

Oh, oh, Sam Wainwright.

How are you? When did you get here?

Oh, this afternoon. I thought I'd give the kids a treat.

Old college graduate now, huh?

Yeah. Old Joe College Wainwright, they call me.

Well, freshman, looks like you're going to make it after all.

- Yep. - Hey, hey!

Harry! You're the guy I want to see.

- The Coach has heard all about you. - He has?

Yeah. He's followed every game and his mouth's watering.

He wants me to find out if you're going to come along with us.

Well, I eh, I gotta make some dough first.

Well, you'd better make it fast. We need great ends like you.

not broken-down old guys like this one!

- Hee-haw! - Hee-haw!

George! Welcome back!

Hello, Mr. Partridge, how are you?

Putting a pool under this floor was a great idea.

Saved us another building.

Now, Harry, Sam, have a lot of fun.

There's lots of stuff here to eat and drink.

- Lots of pretty girls around. - Hey, George...

- Hello, Violet. How are you... - Hello. What am I bid?

- George... - Marty. Well, it's old home week.

Marty! Glad to see you.

- Do me a favor, will you, George? - What's that?

- Well, you remember my kid sister, Mary? - Oh, yeah. Yeah.

"Mamma wants you, Marty." "Mama wants you." Remember?

Dance with her, will you?

Oh, me? Oh, well, I feel funny enough already, with all these kids.

Aw, come on. Be a sport.

Just dance with her one time and you'll give her the thrill of her life.

- Aw, go on. - Hey, sis!

And don't be long, Marty! I don't want to be a wet nurse for...

And the next thing I knew, some guy came up and tripped me.

That's the reason why I came in fourth.

If it hadn't been for that, that race would have been a cinch.

I tried to find out who it was later but I couldn't find out.

Nobody'd ever tell you who...whoever, whoever it was because they'd be scared.

- They know what kind of a guy I am... - You remember George?

- This is Mary. Well, I'll be seeing you. - Well...well...well...

Now, to get back to my story, see...

Hey, this is my dance.

Oh, why don't you stop annoying people?

Well, I'm sorry. Hey!

- Well, hello. - Hello.

- You look at me as if you didn't know me. - Well, I don't.

You've passed me on the street almost every day.

Me?! Uh-huh.Uh-uh.

That was a little girl named Mary Hatch. That wasn't you.

O-yes, o-yes, o-yes!

The big Charleston contest!

The prize? A genuine loving cup!

Those not tapped by the judges will remain on the floor. Let's go!

- I'm not very good at this. - Neither am I.

Okay. What can we lose?

Hey, you're wonderful!

What's the matter, Othello, jealous?

Did you know there's a swimming pool under this floor?

And did you know that button behind you causes this floor to open up?

And did you further know that George Bailey is dancing right over that crack?

And I've got the key?

Stand back, everybody! Stand back!

They're cheering us. We must be good.

Get out! Oh, well...

Buffalo Gals, can't you come out tonight?

Can't you come out tonight? Can't you come out tonight?

Buffalo Gals, can't you come out tonight?

And dance

by the light of the moon.

- Oh, Hot dog! Just like an organ. - Beautiful.

I told Harry I thought I'd be bored to death.

You, you should have seen the commotion in that locker room.

I, I had to knock off three people to get this stuff we're wearing here.

Here, let me, let me hold that old wet dress of yours.

Do I look as funny as you do?

I guess I'm not quite the football type.

I... You, you look wonderful!

You know, if it wasn't me talking I'd say you were the prettiest girl in town.

Well, why don't you say it?

Well, I don't know. Maybe I will say it. How old are you anyway?

- Eighteen. - Eighteen?!

Why, it was only last year you were seventeen.

Too young or too old?

Oh, no, no. Just right. Your age fits you.

Yes, sir, you look a little older without your clothes on.

I, I mean, without a dress. You look older.

I, I mean, younger. You look... y-y-you just look...

- Oh, oh! - Oh, oh!

- Oh, no. I wanna... - Sir, my train, please!

A pox upon me for a clumsy lout.

Your...your caboose, me lady.

- You may kiss my hand. - Ummm.

Hey.

Hey, Mary.

As I was lumbering down the street,

down the street, down the street...

Okay then, I'll throw a rock at the old Granville house.

Oh, no, don't! I-I love that old house.

No. You see, you make a wish and then try and break some glass.

And you got to be a pretty good shot nowadays, too.

Oh, no, George, don't.

It's full of romance, that old place.

I'd like to live in it.

- In that place?! - Uh-huh.

I wouldn't live in it as a ghost. Now watch.

There's a window right on the second floor there, see?

- What did you wish, George? - Well, not just one wish. A whole hatful.

Mary, I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow

and the next day and the next year and the year after that.

I'm shaking the dust of this crummy little town off my feet

and I'm gonna see the world.

Italy, Greece, the Parthenon... the Colesseum.

Then I'm coming back here and go to college and see what they know

and then I'm going to build things.

I'm gonna build air fields.

I'm gonna build skyscrapers a hundred stories high.

I'm gonna build bridges a mile long.

Well, are you gonna throw a rock?

Hey, that's pretty good.

What'd you wish, Mary?

Buffalo Gals, Can't you come out tonight?

Can't you come out tonight? Can't you come out tonight?

Buffalo Gal, Can't you come out tonight?

And dance by the light of the moon.

What'd you wish when you threw that rock?

- Oh, no. - Come on, tell me.

If I told you, it might not come true.

What is it you want, Mary?

What do you want?

You, you want the moon?!

Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.

Hey, that's a pretty good idea.

- I'll give you the moon, Mary. - I'll take it. Then what?

Well then, you could swallow it,

and it'd all dissolve, see?

And the moon beams'd shoot out of your fingers and your toes

and the ends of your hair.

Am I talking too much?

Yes!

Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?

How's that?

Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?

Want me to kiss her, huh?

Aw, youth is wasted on the wrong people!

Hey, hey, hold on. Hey, mister, come on back out here.

I'll show you some kissing that'll put hair back on your head.

What are you...

Mary?

Okay, I give up. Where are you?

Over here, in the hydrangea bushes.

Here you are. Catch.

Wait a minute. What am I doing?

This is a very interesting situation!

- Please give me my robe. - Hmm.

A man doesn't get in a situation like this every day.

I'd like to have my robe.

Not in Bedford Falls anyway.

- Ooooouch! Oh! - Gesundheit.

- George Bailey! - This requires a little thought here.

Give me my robe!

I've read about things like this, but I never...

Shame on you! I'm going to tell your mother on you!

Oh, my mother's way up on the corner over there.

I'll call the police!

They're way downtown. They'd be on my side, too.

Then, then, then I'm going to scream!

Maybe I could sell tickets.

Let's see. No, no, the point is, in order to get this robe...

I've got it. I'll make a deal with you, Mary.

George! George!

George! Come on home. Quick.

You father's had a stroke!

What?!

Mary! Mary, I'm sorry. I've got to go.

Come on, George. Let's hurry!

- Did you get a doctor? - Yes. Campbell's there now.

I think that's all we'll need you for, George, I know you're anxious to make a train.

I have a taxi waiting downstairs.

I want the Board to know that George gave up his trip to Europe

to help straighten things out here these past few months.

Good luck to you at school, George.

- Thanks. - Good luck! So long!

Now we come to the real purpose of this meeting...

to appoint a successor to our dear friend, Peter Bailey.

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to get to my real purpose.

- Wait just a minute now. - Wait for what?

I claim this institution is not necessary to this town.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to dissolve this institution

and turn its assets and liabilities over to the receiver.

Potter, you dirty, contemptible...

I'll wring his neck, so help me, George,

- you hear what that buzzard... - Mr. Chairman,

it's too soon after Peter Bailey's death to talk about chloroforming the Building and Loan.

Peter Bailey died three months ago.

I second Mr. Potter's motion.

Very well. In that case, I'll ask the two executive officers to withdraw.

But before you go,

I'm sure the whole Board wishes to express its deep sorrow

- at the passing of Peter Bailey. - Thank you very much.

It was his faith and devotion that are responsible for this organization.

I'll go further than that.

I'll say that to the public, Peter Bailey was the Building and Loan.

Oh, that's fine, Potter, coming from you,

considering that you probably drove him to his grave.

Peter Bailey was not a business man.

That's what killed him. Oh, I don't mean any disrespect to him, God rest his soul.

He was a man of high ideals, so-called.

But ideals without common sense can ruin this town.

Now, you take this loan here to Ernie Bishop...

you know, that fellow that sits around all day on his brains in his taxi, you know.

I happen to know the bank turned down this loan, but he comes here

and we're building him a house worth five thousand dollars.

- Why? - Well, I handled that, Mr. Potter.

You have all the papers there.

His salary, insurance. I can personally vouch for his character.

- A friend of yours. - Yes, sir.

You see, if you shoot pool with some employee here,

you can come and borrow money.

What does that get us?

A discontented, lazy rabble instead of a thrifty working class.

And all because a few starry-eyed dreamers like Peter Bailey

stir them up and fill their heads with a lot of impossible ideas.

- Now, I say... - Just a minute. Just a...

Just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter.

You're right when you say my father was no business man. I know that.

Why he ever started this cheap penny-ante Building and Loan, I'll never know.

But neither you nor anybody else can say anything against his character,

because his whole life was...

Why, in the twenty-five years since he and Uncle Billy started this thing,

he never once thought of himself. Isn't that right, Uncle Billy?

He didn't save enough money to send Harry to school, let alone me.

But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter.

And what's wrong with that?

Why...here, you are all businessmen here.

Doesn't it make them better citizens? Doesn't it make them better customers?

You...you said that uh... what'd you say just a minute ago...

They, they had to wait and save their money before they even thought of a decent home.

Wait! Wait for what?

Until their children grow up and leave them?

Until they're so old and broken-down that they...

Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars?

Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about...

they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community.

Well, it is too much to have them work and pay and live and die

in a couple of decent rooms and a bath?

Anyway, my father didn't think so.

People were human beings to him,

but to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle.

Well, in my book, he died a much richer man than you'll ever be.

I'm not interested in your book. I'm talking about the Building and Loan.

I know very well what you're talking about.

You're talking about something you can't get your fingers on, and it's galling you.

That's what you're talking about, I know.

Well, I, I, I've said too much.

I... You're, you're the Board here. You do what you want with this thing.

There's j-just one thing more though.

This town needs this measly one-horse institution

if only to have some place where people can come without crawling to Potter.

Come on, Uncle Billy.

Sentimental hogwash. I want my motion.

Oh boy, that was telling him, George, old boy.

You shut his big mouth. You should have heard him.

What happened? We heard a lot of yelling.

Well, we're being voted out of business after twenty-five years.

Easy come, easy go.

Here it is. "Help wanted - Female."

You still want me hang around, George?

Yeah, I'll be right down.

Hey, you'll miss your train.

You're a week late for school already. Go on.

- What's going on in there? - Oh, never mind. Don't worry about that.

They're putting us out of business. So what?

I can get another job. I'm only fifty-five.

- Fifty-six. - Go on, go on.

Hey, look, you gave up your boat trip, now you don't want to miss college, too, do you?

George! George!

They voted Potter down. They want to keep it going.

- Whoopee! - You did it, George, you did it.

But they got one condition, only one condition.

- What's that? - That's the best part of it.

They've appointed George here as Executive Secretary to take his father's place.

Oh, no! But, Uncle Billy...

You can keep him on. That's all right.

As Secretary you can hire anyone you like.

Dr. Campbell, now let's get this thing straight.

I'm leaving. I'm leaving right now.

I'm going to school. This is my last chance.

Uncle Billy here, he's your man.

But, George, they'll vote with Potter otherwise.

I know, I know, he didn't go.

That's right.

Not only that, but he gave his school money to his brother, Harry, and sent him to college.

Harry became a football star.

Made second team All-American.

Yeah, but what happened to George?

George got four years older, waiting for Harry to come back

and take over the Building and Loan.

Oh, there are plenty of jobs around for somebody that likes to travel.

Look at this. There...

Venezuela oil fields - Wanted. Man with construction experience.

Here's the Yukon, oh, right here - wanted - man with engineering experience.

There she blows.

You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are?

- Uh-huh. - Breakfast is served, lunch is served, dinner...

No, no, no, no!

- Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles. - Peanut?

There's the Professor now.

- Old Professor Phil Beta Kappa Bailey! All-American. - Well, if it isn't old George Geographic Explorer Bailey.

What? No husky dogs? No sled?

Uncle Billy, you haven't changed a bit.

- Nobody ever changes here, you know that. - Oh, am I glad to see you.

- Say, where's mother? - She's home, cooking the fatted calf.

- Come on. Let's go. - Oh, wait! Wait, wait, wait, wait a minute.

George, Uncle Billy, I want you to meet Ruth.

- Hello. - How do you do.

- Ruth Dakin. - Ruth Dakin Bailey, if you don't mind.

Huh?

Well, I wired you I had a surprise. Here she is. Meet the wife.

Well, what do you know - wife.

Well, how do you do. Congratulations.

What am I doing? Congratulations!

They're married... why didn't you tell somebody?

...Oh, I can't wait to see Tilly's face.

- Did you really marry him? - Why, yes...

What's a pretty girl like you doing marrying this two-headed brother of mine?

Well, I tell you. It's purely mercenary.

My father offered him a job.

Oh, he gets you and a job? Well, Harry's cup runneth over.

Uh, George, about that job, Ruth spoke out of turn.

I never said I'd take it.

You've been holding the bag here for four years, and...

well, I won't let you down, George.

I would like to... Oh, wait a minute. I forgot the bags.

I'll be right back.

It was a surprise to me. This is the new Mrs. Bailey, my nephew's wife.

Old, old friends of the family.

- Oh, of course, I've heard him speak of you. - And I want you to tell you,

we're going to give the biggest party this town ever saw.

Here, have some popcorn.

George, George, George, that's all Harry ever talks about.

Uh, uh, uh, Ruth, uh, this, uh, what about this job?

Oh, well, my father owns a glass factory in Buffalo.

He wants to get Harry started in the research business.

- Well, is it a good job? - Oh, yes, very.

- Not much money, but, uh, good future, you know. - I know.

Harry's a genius at research.

- My father just fell in love with him. - And you did, too.

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

I feel so good. I could spit in Potter's eye.

I think I will. I think I will.

What did you say? Huhh?

Oh, maybe I'd better go home.

Where's my hat? Where's my...

Oh! Oh, thank you, George, which is mine?

- The middle one. - Oh, thank you, George, old boy, old boy.

Now, look, if you'll point me in the right direction...would you do that, George?

- Right down here. - Oh...Old Building and Loan pal, huh...

Now you just turn this way and go right straight down there.

That way, huh?

My Wild Irish rose...

I'm all right. I'm all right.

The sweetest flower that grows...

Hello, Mom.

That's for nothing.

- How do you like her? - Oh, she's swell.

Looks like she can keep Harry on his toes.

Keep him out of Bedford Falls anyway.

Did you know that Mary Hatch is back from school?

- Uh-huh. - Came back three days ago.

Hmmm...

- Nice girl, Mary. - Hmmm.

Kind that will help you find the answers, George.

- Hmmm... - Oh, stop that grunting.

Hmmm.

Can you give me one good reason why you shouldn't call on Mary?

- Sure - Sam Wainwright. - Hmmm?

- Yes, Sam's crazy about Mary. - Well, she's not crazy about him.

Well, how do you know?

- Well, did she discuss it with you? - No.

- Well then, how do you know? - Well, I've got eyes, haven't I?

Why, she lights up like a firefly whenever you're around.

Oh...

And besides, Sam Wainwright's away in New York and you're here in Bedford Falls.

And all's fair in love and war.

Well, I don't know about war.

Mother of mine, I can see right through you, right to your back collar button...

- trying to get rid of me, huh? - Uh-huh.

Well, here's your hat, what's your hurry.

All right, Mother, Old Building and Loan pal,

I think I'll go out and find the girl and do a little passionate necking.

Oh, George...

Now if you'll just point me in the right direction...

this direction?

Good night, Mrs. Bailey.

- Excuse me... - Now, wait a minute.

I think I got a date.

But uh, stick around, fellows, just in case, huh?

We'll wait for you, baby.

- Hello, George-Porgie! - What?

- Hey, uh...What gives? - Nothing.

- Where are you going? - Oh, I'm...probably end up down at the library.

Georgie, don't you ever get tired of just reading about things?

- Yes. What are you doing tonight? - Not a thing.

Are you game, Violet? Let's make a night of it.

Oh, I'd love it, Georgie. What'll we do?

Let's go out in the fields and take off our shoes, and walk through the grass.

Huh?

Then we can to up to the falls. It's beautiful up there in the moonlight,

and there's a green pool up there,

and we can, uh, s-swim in it.

Then we can climb Mt. Bedford,

and smell the pines and watch the sunrise against the peaks,

and we'll stay up there the whole night,

and everybody'll be talking and there'll be a terrific scandal...

Georgie, have you gone crazy?

Walk in the grass in my bare feet?

- Why, it's ten miles up to Mt. Bedford. - Shhh...

- You think just because you... - O-O-Okay, just forget about the whole thing.

What are you doing, picketing?

Hello, Mary.

I just happened to be passing by.

Yes, so I noticed.

- Have you made up your mind? - How's that?

Have you made up your mind?

- About what? - About coming in.

Your mother just phoned and said you were on your way over to pay me a visit.

My mother just called you? Well, how did she know?

- Didn't you tell her? - I didn't tell anybody.

I just went for a walk and happened to be passing by, idiot.

What do you... went for a walk. That's all.

- I'll be downstairs, mother. - All right, dear.

Well, are you coming in or aren't you?

Well, I'll come in for a minute. But I...

I didn't tell anybody I was coming over here, you know.

- When did you get back? - Tuesday.

Where'd you get that dress?

- Do you like it? - It's all right.

I thought you'd go back to New York like Sam and Angie, and the rest of them.

Oh, oh, I worked there a couple of vacations. But...

I don't know... I-I guess I was homesick.

Homesick? For Bedford Falls?

Yes, and my family, and... Oh, everything.

Would you like to sit down?

All right, for a minute.

I-I still can't understand it though. You know I didn't tell anybody I was coming here.

Would you rather leave?

No, I don't want to be rude.

Well, then sit down.

What's this?

Some joke, huh?

Well, I see it still smells like pine needles around here.

Thank you.

And dance by the...

What's the matter?

Oh, oh, yeah...yeah...

Well, I...

It was nice about your brother Harry, and Ruth, isn't it?

Oh...yeah, yeah. That's all right.

Don't you like her?

Well, of course, I like her. She's a peach.

Oh, it's just marriage in general you're not enthusiastic about, huh?

No. Uh, marriage is all right for Harry and Marty and Sam and you.

Mary! Mary!

Who's down there with you?

It's George Bailey, Mother.

George Bailey?! What's he want?

I don't know.

What do you want?

Me?

Not a thing. I-I just came in to get warm.

He's making violent love to me, Mother.

You tell him to go right back home, and don't you leave the house, either.

Sam Wainwright promised to call you from New York tonight.

But your mother needn't...

You know I - I didn't come here to...

What did you come here for then?

I don't know. You tell me.

You're supposed to be the one that has all the answers.

- You tell me. - Why don't you go home?

That's where I'm going. I don't know why I came here in the first place.

- Good night. - Good night!

Mary! Mary!

- The telephone. It's Sam! - I'll get it.

Whatever were you doing that you couldn't hear?

Mary, he'swaiting!

Hello.

I forgot my hat.

Hee-haw! Hello, Sam, how are you?

Aw, I'm great. Gee, it's good to hear your voice again.

Oh, well, that's awfully sweet of you, Sam.

There's an old friend of yours here. George Bailey.

You mean old moss-back George?

Yes. Old moss-back George.

Hee-haw! Put him on.

W-Wait just a minute. I-I'll call him. George!

He doesn't want to speak to George, you idiot!

He does so. He asked for him.

Geo-George! George, Sam wants to speak to you.

- Hi, Sam. - Well, George Bailoffski!

Hey, a fine pal you are.

What're you trying to do? Steal my girl?

W-W-What do you mean? Nobody's trying to steal anybody's girl.

H-Here...here's Mary.

No, no, wait a minute. Wait a minute. I want to talk to both of you.

- Here to you. - Tell Mary to get on the extension.

- You tell him. - Mother's on the extension. We...

I am not!

We can both hear. Come here.

We-We're listening, Sam.

Well look, I have a big deal coming up that's going to make us all rich.

George, you remember that night in Martini's Bar when, eh,

you told me you read someplace about making plastics out of soybeans?

Jelly beans?

Shut up, will you?

Do you remember out of jelly- ...out of soybeans?

Huh? Yeah, yeah, yeah... soybeans. Yeah.

Well, listen. Dad snapped up the idea.

And he's going to build a factory outside of Rochester.

How do you like that?

Rochester? Well, why Rochester?

Well, why not? Can you think of anything better?

Oh, I don't know... It's just...

Why not right here?

Y-You remember that... that old tool and machinery works?

W-Well, you tell your father he can get that for a song.

And all the labor he wants, too.

Half the town was thrown out of work when they closed down.

Is that so? Well, I'll tell him.

Hey, that sounds great.

Oh, baby, I knew you'd come through.

Now here's the point,

Mary...Mary, you're in on this, too. Now listen, have you got any money?

- Money? Yeah...well, a little. - Well now, listen.

I want you to put every cent you've got into our stock, you hear?

And George, I may have a job for you,

that is, unless you're still married to that broken-down Building and Loan.

Well, this is the biggest thing since radio. And I'm letting you in on the ground floor.

Oh, Mary... Mary...

Well, I-I'm here.

Uh, would you tell that guy I'm giving him the chance of a lifetime, you hear?

The chance of a lifetime.

H-He says it's the chance of a lifetime.

Now you listen to me.

I don't want any plastics. I don't want any ground floors.

And I don't want to get married ever to anyone. You understand that?

I want to do what I want to do.

And you're... and you're...

- Oh, Mary...Mary... - George...George...George...

Mary... Would you? Would you...

Here they come! Here they come!

Goodbye.

First Harry. Now George.

Annie, we're just two old maids now.

You speak for yourself, Mrs. B.

If either of you two see a stranger around here, it's me.

Hey, look! There's somebody driving this cab.

Bert the cop sent this over.

He said to float away to Happy Land on the bubbles.

- Oh, look at this. Old Bert. Champagne! - Good old Bert.

By the way, where are you two going on this here now honeymoon?

Where are we going?

Look at this. There's the kitty, Ernie.

Here, come on, count it, Mary.

I feel like a bootlegger's wife. Look!

You know what we're going to do? We're going to shoot the works.

A whole week in New York. A whole week in Bermuda.

The highest hotels, the oldest champagne,

the richest caviar, the hottest music, and the prettiest wife!

Wow! That does it! Then what?

- Then what, honey? - After that, who cares?

That does it, come here, come here, come here!

Don't look now, but there's something funny going on over there at the bank, George.

I've never really seen one, but that's got all the earmarks of being a run.

Hey, Ernie, if you got any money in the bank, you better hurry.

- George, let's not stop. Let's go. - Just a minute, dear.

- Oh-oh... - Please, let's not stop, George.

I'll be back in a minute, Mary.

Well, hello, everybody. Mrs. Thompson, how are you?

Charlie? What's the matter here, can't you get in?

What is this, Uncle Billy? A holiday?

George...

Come on in, everybody. That's right.

Just come on in.

Now look, why don't you all sit down?

There are a lot of seats over there.

Just make yourself at home.

George, can I see you a minute?

- Why didn't you call me? - I just did, but they said you left.

This is a pickle, George. This is a pickle.

All right now, what happened? How did it start?

Well, how does a thing like this ever start? All I know is the bank called our loan.

- When? - About an hour ago.

- I had to hand over all our cash. - All of it?

Every cent of it and it still was less than we owe.

Holy mackerel!

And then I got scared, George, and closed the doors. I...I...I...

The whole town's gone crazy.

Yes, h-hello?

George, it's Potter.

- Hello? - George,

there is a rumor around town that you've closed your doors. Is that true?

Oh, well, I'm very glad to hear that. George, are you all right?

- Do you need any police? - Police? What's for?

Well, mobs get pretty ugly sometimes, you know.

George, I'm going all out to help in this crisis.

I've just guaranteed the bank sufficient funds to meet their needs.

They'll close up for a week and then reopen.

He just took over the bank.

I may lose a fortune, but I'm willing to guarantee your people too.

Just tell them to bring their shares over here, and I will pay fifty cents on the dollar.

Aw, you never miss a trick, do you, Potter?

Well, you're gonna miss this one.

If you close your doors before six P.M., you will never reopen.

George, was it a nice wedding? Gosh, I wanted to be there.

Yeah...

You can take this one off now.

Now, just remember that this thing isn't as black as it appears.

I have some news for you folks.

I was just talking to old man Potter and he's guaranteed cash payments at the bank.

The bank's going to reopen next week.

But, George, I got my money here.

Did he guarantee this place?

Well, no, Charlie. I didn't even ask him.

- We don't need Potter over here. - I'll take mine now.

No, but you...you... you're thinking of this place all wrong.

As if I had the money back in a safe.

The, the money's not here.

Well, your money's in Joe's house... that's right next to yours.

And in the Kennedy House, and Mrs. Macklin's house, and, and a hundred others.

Why, you're lending them the money to build,

and then, they're going to pay it back to you as best they can.

Now what are you going to do? Foreclose on them?

I got two hundred and forty-two dollars in here

and two hundred and forty-two dollars isn't going to break anybody.

Okay, Tom. All right. Here you are. You sign this.

- You'll get your money in sixty days. - Sixty days?

Well, now that's what you agreed to when you bought you shares.

- Tom...Tom... Did you get your money? - No.

Well, I did. Old man Potter'll pay fifty cents on the dollar for every share you got.

- Fifty cents on the dollar! - Yes, cash!

- Well, what do you say? - Now, Tom,

you have to stick to your original agreement.

- Now give us sixty days on this. - Okay, Randall.

- Are you going to go to Potter's? - Better get half than nothing.

Tom! Tom!

Randall, now wait a minute, wait...

now listen...now listen to me.

I-I beg of you not to do this thing.

If Potter gets ahold of this Building and Loan,

there'll never be another decent house built in this town.

He's already got charge of the bank. He's got the bus line.

He's got the department stores. And now he's after us.

Why? Well, it's very simple.

Because we're cutting in on his business, that's why.

And because he wants to keep you living in his slums

and paying the kind of rent he decides.

Joe, you had one of those Potter houses, didn't you? Well, have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten what he charged for that broken-down shack?

Here, Ed. You know, you remember last year when things weren't going so well,

you couldn't make your payments.

You didn't lose your house, did you? Do you think Potter would have let you keep it?

Ca-Can't you understand what's happening here?

Don't you see what's happening?

Potter isn't selling. Potter's buying.

And why? Because we're panicky and he's not. That's why.

He's picking up some bargains.

Now, We-We can get through this thing all right.

We-We've got to stick together, though. We've got to have faith in each other.

But my husband hasn't worked in over a year and I need money.

- How am I going to live until the bank opens? - I got doctor bills to pay.

- I need cash. - I can't feed my kids on faith.

How much do you need?

Hey! I got two thousand dollars.

Here's two thousand dollars. This'll tide us over until the bank reopens.

All right, Tom, how much do you need?

Two hundred and forty-two dollars.

Aw, Tom, just enough to tide you over till the bank reopens.

I'll take two hundred and forty-two dollars.

- There you are. - That'll close my account.

Your account's still here. That's a loan.

Okay. All right, Ed?

- I got three hundred dollars here, George. - Alright, now, Ed...

wh-wh-what'll it take till the bank opens? What do you need?

- Well, I-I suppose twenty dollars. - Twenty dollars. Now you're talking.

Fine. Thanks, Ed.

All right now, Mrs. Thompson, how much do you want?

- But it's your own money, George. - Never mind about that.

- How much do you want? - I can get along with twenty, all right.

- Twenty dollars. - And I'll sign a paper.

You don't have to sign anything.

I know you-you'll pay it when you can.

That's okay. All right, Mrs. Davis?

- Could I have seventeen-fifty? - Seven...

Bless your heart, of course you can have it. You got fifty cents?

- Seven... - We're going to make it, George.

- They'll never close us up today! - Six, five, four,

three, two, one...

Bingo!

We made it. Close the door, Ernie. We made it. Look.

Look, we're still in business. We're still got two bucks left.

Well, look, let's have some of that. Let's celebrate, huh.

G-Get some glasses, Tilly.

Well, a couple of financial wizards.

Those Rockefellers.

Get a tray for these two great big important simoleans here.

We'll save them for seed. A toast.

A toast! A toast to Mama Dollar and to Papa Dollar,

and if you want to keep this old Building and Loan in business,

- you better have a family real quick. - I wish they were rabbits.

I wish they were, too.

Okay, let's put them in safe and see what happens.

- Folks, folks, wedding cigars! - Oh-oh...wedding!

Holy mackerel, I'm married! Where's Mary? Mary...

Well, poor Mary.

Look, I've got a train to catch. Well, the train's gone.

I wonder if Ernie's still here with his taxicab?

George, there's a call for you.

Look, will you get my wife on the phone? She's probably over at her mother's.

- Mrs. Bailey is on the phone. - I don't want Mrs. Bailey.

I want my wife. Mrs. Bailey! Mrs...oh, that's my wife.

Here, I'll take it in here.

Mary! Hello. Listen, dear. I'm sorry...

What? Come home? What home?

Three-twenty Sycamore? Well, what...

whose home is that? The Waldorf Hotel, huh?

Hey, this is the company's posters, and the company won't like this.

How would you like to get a ticket next week?

- Haven't you any romance in you? - Sure I have, but I got rid of it.

Liver pills!

Who wants to see liver pills on their honeymoon?

What we want is romantic places, beautiful places...places George wants to go.

- Hey, Bert. Here he comes. - Come on, we got to get this up. He's coming.

- Who? - The groom, idiot.

This is their honeymoon. Come on. Get that ladder.

What are they - ducks?

- Get that ladder up here. - All right, all right.

- Hurry up. Hurry up. Hurry up. - I'm hurrying.

Hiya...Geo...uh...good evening, sir.

Entree, Monsieur.

- Entree. - Islands of Hawaii,

Where skies of blue are calling me.

Where balmy air and golden moonlight

caress The waving palms of Waikiki.

Welcome home, Mr. Bailey.

Well, I'll be...

Mary, where did you...

I Love You Truly,

Truly, Dear.

Life with Its Shadows,

Oh, Mary...

Life with Its Tears.

Remember the night we broke the windows in this old house?

Fade into Dreams, - This is what I wished for.

When I Feel You Are Near,

- Darling, you're wonderful. I Love You Truly,

Truly, Dear.

- Martini, you rented a new house? - Rent?

- You hear what he say, Mr. Bailey? - What's that?

I own the house.

Me, Giuseppe Martini, I own my own house.

No more we live like pigs in this Potter's Field.

Hurry, Marie!

Come on... Bring the baby.

This is like a dream!

I'll take the kids in the car.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Bailey.

All right, kids. Here.

Get in here.

Now get right up on the seat there.

Get the...get the dog!

You've got a goat too!

- All right. Goodbye. - Goodbye, everybody!

All in.

Mr. and Mrs. Martini, welcome home.

Good old George. He's always making a speech.

Hee-haw!

- Sam Wainwright! - Oh, who cares!

Bread! That this house may never know hunger.

Salt! That life may always have flavor!

And wine!! That joy and prosperity may reign forever.

Enter the Martini castle!

Look, Mr. Potter, it's no skin off my nose.

I'm just your little rent collector.

But you can't laugh off this Bailey Park anymore. Look at it.

Congressman Black is here to see you.

Oh, tell the congressman to wait. Go on.

Fifteen years ago, a half-dozen houses stuck here and there.

There's the old cemetery, squirrels, buttercups, daisies.

I used to hunt rabbits there myself.

Look at it today.

Dozens of the prettiest little homes you ever saw.

Ninety per cent owned by suckers who used to pay rent to you!

Your Potter's Field, my dear Mr. Employer, is becoming just that.

And are the local yokels making with those David and Goliath wisecracks.

Oh, they are, are they?

Even though they know the Baileys never made a dime out of it.