: Hello, darling.
: Hello Daddy, hello Daddy.
: How do you like it? We're going to put...
: Bless you!
: Did you bring the wreath?
: Yes, Daddy, did you bring the Christmas wreath?
: What wreath?
: Oh, that's the Merry Christmas wreath for the window.
: No, I left it at the office.
: Is it snowing?
: Yeah, just started.
: Where's your coat and hat?
: Left them at the office.
: What's the matter?
: Nothing's the matter. Everything's all right.
: Come on, Pete, you're big boy. You get this star up. Way up at the top.
: There it is.
: That's it, all right. Fill in that little bare spot right there. That's it. Isn't it wonderful about Harry? We're famous, George. Bet I had fifty calls today about the parade, the banquet. Your mother's so excited, she...
: Must she keep playing that?
: I have to practice it for the party tonight, Daddy.
: Mom says we could stay up till midnight and sing Christmas carols.
: Can you sing, Daddy?
: Better hurry and shave. The families will be here soon.
: Families! I... I don't want the families over here.
: Come on out in the kitchen with me while I finish dinner.
: Excuse me. Excuse me.
: Have a hectic day?
: Oh, yeah. Another big red-letter day for the Baileys.
: Daddy, the Browns next door have a new car. You should see it.
: Well, what's the mutter with our car? Isn't it good enough for you?
: Yes, Daddy.
: Excuse me. Excuse me.
: Excuse you for what?
: I burped!
: All right, Tom you're excused. Now go on upstairs and see if Zuzu wants anything. Zuzu wants anything.
: Zuzu. W... What's the matter with Zuzu?
: Oh, she's got a cold. She's in bed. Caught it coming home from school. They gave her a flower for a prize and she didn't want to crush it so she didn't button up her coat.
: What is it, a sore throat or what?
: Just a cold. The doctor says it's nothing serious.
: The doctor? Was the doctor here?
: Yes, I called him right away. He says it's nothing to worry about.
: Is she running a temperature? What is it?
: Just a teensy one, ninety-nine, six. She'll be all right.
: Gosh, it's this old house. I don't... I don't know why we don't all have pneumonia. Drafty old barn! Might as well be living in a refrigerator. Why do we have to live here in the first place and stay around this measly, crummy old town?
: George, what's wrong?
: Wrong? Everything's wrong. You call this a happy family? Why did we have to have all these kids?
: Dad, how do you spell 'frankincense'?
: I don't know. Why, ask your mother.
: Where're you going?
: Going up to see Zuzu.
: He told me to write a play for tomorrow.
: F-R-A-N-K-I-N...
: Hi, Daddy.
: Well, what happened to you?
: I won a flower.
: Wait now. W... Where do you think you're going?
: Want to give my flower a drink.
: All right, all right, I'll give that... give Dad the flower. I'll give it a drink. Now right, here.
: Look, Daddy... paste it.
: Yeah, all right... Give it to me. Now I'll paste this together. Now, there it is, good as new. All right, give the flower a drink. Now, will you do something for me?
: What?
: Will you try to get some sleep?
: I'm not sleepy. I want to look at my flower.
: I know, I know, but you just go to sleep and then you can dream about it, and it'll be a whole garden.
: It will?
: Uh-huh.
: Telephone!
: I'll get it. Hello. Yes, this is Mrs. Bailey. Oh, thank you, Mrs. Welch. I'm sure she'll be all right. The doctor says that she ought to be out of bed in time to have her Christmas dinner.
: Is that Zuzu's teacher?
: Yes.
: Let me speak to her. Hello. Hello, Mrs. Welch? This is George Bailey. I'm Zuzu's father. Say, what kind of a teacher are you anyway? What do you mean sending her home like that, half naked? Do you realize she'll probably end up with pneumonia on account of you?
: George.
: Is this the sort of thing we pay taxes for... to have teachers... to have teachers like you? Stupid, silly, careless people who send our kids home without any clothes on? You know, maybe my kids aren't the best-dressed kids, and maybe they don't have any decent clothes... Aw, that stupid...
: He... Hello, Mrs. Welch. I... I... I want to apologize. Hel... lo... hello... She's hung up.
: I... I... I'll hang her up.
: Hey you. I'll knock your block off!
: What is that? Hello? Who is this? Oh, Mr. Welch! Okay, that's fine, Mr. Welch. Gives me a chance to tell you what I really think of your wife.
: George...
: Will you get out and let me handle this? Hello? Hello? What? Oh, you will, huh? Okay, Mr. Welch. Any time you think you're man enough. You... hello... any... Oh...
: Dad, how do you spell 'hallelujah'?
: How should I know? What do you think I am, a dictionary? Tommy, stop that! Stop it! Janie, haven't you learned that silly tune yet? You play it over and over again. Now stop it! Stop it! I'm sorry, Mary. Janie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that... You go on and practice. Pete, I owe you an apology, too. I'm sorry. What do you want to know?
: Nothing, Daddy.
: What's the matter with everybody? Janie, go on. I told you to practice. Now, go on, play.
: Oh, Daddy...
: George, why must you torture the children? Why don't you...
: Mary...
: Bedford two-four-seven, please.
: Is Daddy in trouble?
: Yes, Pete.
: Shall I pray for him?
: Yes, Janie, pray very hard.
: Me, too?
: You, too, Tommy. Hello, Uncle Billy?
UNIT 3
: I'm in trouble, Mr. Potter. I need help. Through some sort of an accident my company's short in their accounts. The bank examiner got there today. I've got to raise eight thousand dollars immediately.
: Oh, that's what the reporters wanted to talk to you about?
: The reporters?
: Yes, they called me up today from your Building and Loan. Oh, there's a man over there from the D.A.'s office, too. He's looking for you.
: Please help me, Mr. Potter. Help me, won't you, please? Can't you see what it means to my family? I'll pay any sort of a bonus on the loan, any interest. If you still want the Building and Loan, I'm...
: George, could it possibly be there's a slight discrepancy in the books?
: No, sir. There's nothing wrong with the books. I've just misplaced eight thousand dollars. I can't find it anywhere.
: You misplaced eight thousand dollars?
: Yes, sir.
: Have you notified the police?
: No, sir. I... I didn't want the publicity. Harry's homecoming tomorrow...
: They're gonna believe that one. What've you been doing, George? Playing the market with the company's money?
: No, sir, no, sir. I haven't.
: What is it, a woman then? You know, it's all over town that you've been giving money to Violet Bick.
: What!
: Not that it makes any difference to me, but why did you come to me? Why don't you go to Sam Wainwright and ask him for the money?
: I can't get ahold of him. He's in Europe.
: Well, what about all your other friends?
: They don't have that kind of money, Mr. Potter. You know that. You're the only one it town that can help me.
: I see. I've suddenly become quite important. Wha... What kind of security would I have, George? Have you got any stocks?
: No, sir.
: Bonds? Real estate? Collateral of any kind?
: I have some life insurance, fifteen thousand dollar policy.
: Yes... how much is your equity in it?
: Five hundred dollars.
: Five hundred dollars! And you ask me to lend you eight thousand. Look at you. You used to be so cocky! You were going to go out and conquer the world. You once called me a warped, frustrated old man. What are you but a warped frustrated young man? A miserable little clerk crawling in here on your hands and knees and begging for help. No securities, no stocks, no bonds, nothing but a miserable little five hundred dollar equity in a life insurance policy. You're worth more dead than alive. Why don't you go to the riff-raff you love so much and ask them to let you have eight thousand? You know why? Because they'd run you out of town on a rail. But I tell you what I'm going to do for you, George. Since the ah... state examiner is sill here, as a stockholder of the Building and Loan, I'm going to swear out a warrant for your arrest. Misappropriation of funds, manipulation, malfeasance... All right, George, go ahead, George. You can't hide in a little town like this. Bill? This is Potter.
