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It Happened One Night

 

Screenplay by

 

Robert Riskin

 

 

Based on a story by

 

Samuel Hopkins Adams

               The HARBOR at Miami Beach fades in, providing quick views of

               yachts, aquaplanes, and luxurious ship-craft lying at anchor

               in the calm, tranquil waters of tropical Florida. This

               dissolves to the NAME PLATE on the side of a yacht, reading

               "ELSPETH II," and this in turn to a YACHT CORRIDOR where a

               steward is standing in front of a cabin door, near a small

               collapsible table upon which there is a tray of steaming

               food. He lifts lids and examines the contents. A heavy-set

               sailor stands guard near the cabin door.

 

                                     STEWARD

                         Fine! Fine! She ought to like this.

                              (to the guard)

                         Open the door.

 

                                     GUARD

                              (without moving)

                         Who's gonna take it in to her? You?

 

                                     STEWARD

                         Oh, no.

                              (turning)

                         Mullison! Come on!

 

               The view widens to include Mullison, a waiter. His eye is

               decorated with a "shiner."

 

                                     MULLISON

                         Not me, sir. She threw a ketchup

                         bottle at me this morning.

 

                                     STEWARD

                         Well, orders are orders! Somebody's

                         gotta take it in.

                              (he turns to someone

                              else)

                         Fredericks!

 

               The view moves to another waiter, who has a patch of bandage

               on his face.

 

                                     FREDERICKS

                         Before I bring her another meal,

                         I'll be put off the ship first.

 

                                     STEWARD'S VOICE

                         Henri!

 

               The view moves over to a Frenchman.

 

                                     HENRI

                              (vehemently)

                         No, Monsieur. When I leave the Ritz

                         you do not say I have to wait on

                         crazy womans.

 

               The view moves back to include the Steward and the others

               grouped around him.

 

                                     ANOTHER WAITER (A COCKNEY)

                         My wife was an angel compared to

                         this one, sir. And I walked out on

                         her.

 

                                     GUARD

                              (impatiently)

                         Come on! Make up your mind!

 

               A petty officer approaches. He is blustering and officious,

               but the type that is feeble and ineffective. His name is

               Lacey.

 

                                     LACEY

                              (talking quickly --

                              staccato)

                         What's up? What's up?

 

               There is a fairly close picture of the GROUP featuring Lacey

               and the Steward.

 

                                     STEWARD

                         These pigs! They're afraid to take

                         her food in.

 

                                     LACEY

                         That's ridiculous! Afraid of a mere

                         girl!

                              (he wheels on the

                              steward)

                         Why didn't you do it yourself?

 

                                     STEWARD

                              (more afraid than the

                              others -- stammering)

                         Why -- I -- well, I never thought

                         about --

 

                                     LACEY

                              (shoving him aside)

                         I never heard of such a thing! Afraid

                         of a mere girl.

                              (moving to the tray)

                         I'll take it in myself.

 

               They all stand around and watch him, much relieved. He picks

               up the tray and starts toward the door of the cabin.

 

                                     LACEY

                              (as he walks --

                              muttering)

                         Can't get a thing done unless you do

                         it yourself.

                              (as he approaches the

                              door)

                         Open the door.

 

               We see him at the CABIN DOOR as the guard quickly and gingerly

               unlocks it.

 

                                     LACEY

                         Afraid of a mere girl! Ridiculous.

 

               Lacey stalks in bravely, the tray held majestically in front

               of him, while the steward and waiters form a circle around

               the door, waiting expectantly. There is a short pause,

               following which Lacey comes hurling out backwards and lands

               on his back, the tray of food scattering all over him. The

               steward quickly bangs the door shut and turns the key as the

               waiters stare silently.

 

               The scene dissolves to the MAIN DECK of the yacht, first

               affording a close view of a pair of well-shod masculine feet,

               as they pace agitatedly back and forth. Then as the scene

               draws back, the possessor of the pacing feet is discovered

               to be Alexander Andrews, immaculately groomed in yachting

               clothes. In front of him stands a uniformed Captain, but

               Andrews, brows wrinkled, deep in thought, continues his

               pacing.

 

                                     himself)

                         On a hunger strike, huh?

                              (a grunt)ANDREWS

                              (murmuring to

                         When'd she eat last?

 

                                     CAPTAIN

                         She hasn't had a thing yesterday --

                         or today.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         Been sending her meals in regularly?

 

                                     CAPTAIN

                         Yessir. She refuses them all.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (snappily)

                         Why didn't you jam it down her throat?

 

                                     CAPTAIN

                         It's not quite that simple.

                              (he shakes his head)

                         I've dealt with prisoners in my time,

                         but this one --

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         Absurd!

                              (muttering)

                         All this fuss over a snip of a girl.

                              (suddenly)

                         I'm going down to see her myself.

 

               He leaves with determination, followed by the Captain, and

               both are then seen walking in the direction of the cabin,

               Andrews grim.

 

                                     CAPTAIN

                         This is dangerous business, Mr.

                         Andrews. After all, kidnapping is no

                         child's play.

 

               But Andrews ignores him and merely stares grimly forward.

               They arrive in front of the cabin door, where Lacey is

               brushing himself off, and where a couple of waiters are

               picking up the last pieces of the broken dishes.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         What's this! What's happened here?

 

                                     LACEY

                              (pathetically)

                         She refused another meal, sir.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         Get another tray ready. Bring it

                         here at once.

                              (to the guard)

                         Open the door.

 

               The Guard unlocks the door and Andrews enters. Then we get a

               view of the CABIN at the door, as Andrews enters and closes

               the door behind him. He looks around and his eyes light on

               his prisoner, following which the view swings over to ELLIE,

               a beautiful girl in her early twenties. At the moment, she

               holds a small vase over her head ready to heave it, and her

               eyes flash angrily. At sight of her new visitor, however,

               she lowers the vase and sets it on a small table.

 

                                     ELLIE

                         What do you want?

 

               Andrews doesn't stir from the door.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         What's this about not eating?

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (sitting)

                         I don't want to eat!

                              (raising her voice)

                         And there's one more thing I don't

                         want! Definitely! That's to see you.

 

               She lights a cigarette. Andrews watches her a moment.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         Know what my next move is? No more

                         cigarettes.

 

                                     ELLIE

                         Why don't you put me in chains?

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         I might.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (now seen at close

                              range)

                         All right! Put me in chains! Do

                         anything you want! But I'm not going

                         to eat a thing until you let me off

                         this boat!

 

               She stares petulantly out at the blue sky, but Andrews comes

               over and sits beside her.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (tenderly)

                         Come on, Ellie. Stop being silly.

                         You know I'm going to have my way.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (moving away)

                         I won't stand for it! I won't stand

                         for your running my life! Why do you

                         insist on it!

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (still tender)

                         You ought to know why. Because --

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (interrupting)

                         Yes. I know.

                              (she's heard it a

                              million times)

                         Because I'm your daughter and you

                         love me. Because you don't want me

                         to make any mistakes. Because --

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (joining in)

                         Because marrying that fool King

                         Westley is --

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (snappily)

                         You're wasting your time. I'm already

                         married to him.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (sharply)

                         Not so far as I'm concerned, you're

                         not.

                              (they are interrupted

                              by a knock at the

                              door)

                         Yes?

 

               The door opens and several waiters parade in with trays of

               steaming food.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (starting for them;

                              threateningly)

                         How many times have I told you not

                         to bring any food in here.

 

               The waiters back up, frightened, but Andrews saves them.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         Wait a minute! Don't get excited!

                         This isn't for you.

                              (to the waiters)

                         Put it right here.

 

               Ellie glares at her father, and wanders over to the window

               seat, while the waiters occupy themselves setting the table.

               Andrews putters around the food, lifting the lids from which

               tempting aromas emanate. He shuts his eyes, murmuring "oohs"

               and "ahs."

 

               A close-up of ELLIE shows her, too, drinking in the inviting

               aromas; and for a moment she weakens. A close view of ANDREWS

               shows him glancing toward Ellie to see her reaction; whereupon

               Ellie's face (again appearing in a close-up) freezes. Then

               Andrews and the waiters come into view.

 

                                     FIRST WAITER

                         Anything else, Monsieur?

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         No. Everything seems quite

                         satisfactory. I may want some more

                         of that delicious gravy. I'll ring.

 

                                     WAITER

                         Very good, Monsieur.

 

               The waiters bow their way out as Andrews pecks at the food.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (making clucking noise)

                         Heavenly!

 

               Now Ellie appears in the foreground, with Andrews at the

               table in the background.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (disdainfully)

                         Smart, aren't you! So subtle.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (chewing on a mouthful

                              of food)

                         If Gandhi had a chef like Paul, it

                         would change the whole political

                         situation in India.

 

                                     ELLIE

                         You can't tempt me.

                              (shouting unnecessarily)

                         Do you hear? I won't eat!

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (quietly)

                         Please. I can't fight on an empty

                         stomach. Remember what Napoleon said.

 

                                     ELLIE

                         I hope you're not comparing yourself

                         to Napoleon. He was a strategist.

                         Your idea of strategy is to use a

                         lead pipe.

 

               Andrews eats silently while Ellie rants at him, walking around

               and puffing vigorously on her cigarette.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (muttering)

                         Most humiliating thing ever happened

                         to me.

                              (shuddering)

                         A bunch of gorillas shoving me in a

                         car! That crowd outside the justice

                         of the peace -- must have thought I

                         was a criminal -- or something.

 

               A close view of ANDREWS intercuts with part of Ellie's speech.

               At the end of her speech he smacks his lips, enjoying the

               food with too great a relish. Then the two are seen together.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (after a pause --

                              strongly)

                         Where are you taking me?

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (carelessly)

                         South America.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (aghast)

                         South America!

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         We leave Miami in an hour. Soon's we

                         get some supplies aboard.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (threateningly)

                         You'll have a corpse on your hands!

                         That what you'll have. I won't eat a

                         thing while I'm on this boat.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (buttering bread)

                         In that event, we won't need so many

                         supplies.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (exasperated)

                         What do you expect to accomplish by

                         all this? I'm already married!

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         I'll get it annulled.

 

                                     ELLIE

                         You'll never do it! You can't do it!

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (now seen close as he

                              speaks between

                              snatches of food)

                         I'll do it if it takes every penny

                         I've got. I'll do it if I have to

                         bribe that musical comedy Justice of

                         the Peace! I'll do it -- if I have

                         to prove that you were dragged in,

                         staggering drunk. You probably were.

                              (he smacks his lips)

                         Mmm -- mmm. This filet mignon is

                         divine!

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (seen with her father)

                         What've you got against King Westley?

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         Nothing much. I just think he's a

                         fake, that's all.

 

                                     ELLIE

                         You only met him once.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         That was enough. Do you mind handing

                         me the ketchup?

 

                                     ELLIE

                         You talk as if he were a gigolo --

                         or something.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (rising -- reaching

                              for ketchup)

                         Never mind -- I'll get it myself.

                              (he falls back in his

                              chair)

                         Gigolo? Why, you took the word right

                         out of my mouth. Thanks.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (seen closer now,

                              with Andrews)

                         He's one of the best fliers in the

                         country. Right now he's planning a

                         trip to Japan.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         You're going to finance him, I

                         suppose.

 

                                     ELLIE

                         Why not? Look what he's doing for

                         aviation. It takes courage to do

                         what he does. And character! At least

                         he's accomplished something

                         worthwhile. I suppose you'd like to

                         have me marry a business man. Well,

                         I hate business men -- particularly

                         if you're a shining example.

 

               He grins, not at all offended, knowing she doesn't mean it.

 

                                     ELLIE

                         Your whole life is devoted to just

                         one thing. To accumulate more money.

                         At least there's romance in what

                         he's doing.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (unequivocally)

                         He's no good, Ellie, and you know

                         it. You married him only because I

                         told you not to.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (strongly)

                         You've been telling me what not to

                         do since I was old enough to remember.

                              (screaming)

                         I'm sick of it!

 

               And as Andrews ignores her, she starts moving around the

               table toward him. -- Next she appears sitting on the edge of

               Andrews' chair, and she throws her arm around his shoulder.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (pleading sweetly)

                         Aw, listen, Dad. Let's not fight

                         like this any more. I know you're

                         worried about me -- and want me to

                         be happy. And I love you for it. But

                         please try to understand. You're not

                         being fair, darling. This isn't just

                         a crazy impulse of mine. King and I

                         talked about it a lot before we

                         decided to get married. Look -- why

                         can't we give it a trial -- let's

                         say -- for a year or so. If it's

                         wrong, King and I will be the first

                         to know it. We can get a divorce,

                         can't we? Now, be a dear, and let me

                         off the boat. Keeping me prisoner

                         like this is so silly.

 

               Andrews has been listening silently throughout the speech,

               giving no indication of his feelings in the matter.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (unimpressed)

                         You'll be set free when the marriage

                         is annulled.

 

               A close-up of ELLIE, her eyes blazing angrily, shows her

               slowly edging away from her father, while he continues.

 

                                     ANDREWS' VOICE

                              (carelessly)

                         So there's no use being a stubborn

                         idiot.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (hissing)

                         I come from a long line of stubborn

                         idiots!

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (again seen with her;

                              calmly)

                         A time will come when you'll thank

                         me for this.

 

                                     ELLIE

                              (wildly)

                         I won't thank you! I'll never thank

                         you!

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         Please don't shout.

 

                                     ELLIE

                         I'll shout to my heart's content!

                         I'll scream if I want to.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (reaching for it)

                         Ah! Coconut layer cake. Nice and

                         gooey, too. Just the way I like it.

 

               He is about to insert the first bite in his mouth when Ellie,

               her temper vanishing completely, overturns the small serving

               table, dumping its contents into her father's lap. The

               movement is so unexpected that Andrews, the fork still

               suspended near his mouth, stares at her stupefied. Then

               realizing what she has done, his eyes flash in anger. Dropping

               his fork, he rises and goes over to her, while she stands

               facing him defiantly. Without a word or warning, he slaps

               her a stinging blow across the cheek. For a moment she doesn't

               stir, her eyes widening in surprise, and staring at him

               unbelievingly. Then turning abruptly she bolts out of the

               door. Andrews remains motionless, his eyes shutting painfully;

               it is the first time he has struck her, and it hurts.

 

                                     ANDREWS

                              (calling)

                         Ellie!

                              (and he starts for

                              the door)

 

               Next on the DECK, at the open cabin door, Andrews is seen,

               staring off at something and an amazed, frightened look comes

               into his eyes. Then, as viewed from his position at the cabin

               door, Ellie appears standing on the rail; and with a

               professional dive, she leaps into the water. A full view of

               the DECK reveals the crew and the officers scurrying around,

               several of them shouting: "Somebody overboard!"

 

                                     ANDREWS

                         It's my daughter! Go after her.

 

                                     CAPTAIN

                              (shouting)

                         Lower the boats!

 

               General excitement reigns; several of the crew dive into the

               water; others release the boat lines. Following this Ellie

               is seen swimming furiously against the giant waves. Next she

               appears as a small speck in the distance, while half a dozen

               of the crew are swimming in pursuit.

 

               At the SIDE OF THE YACHT one of the boats has already been

               lowered, and two men jump in and grab the oars. The men seem

               to be gaining on Ellie. In the distance several small motor

               boats are anchored, and over the sides of the boats their

               owners are fishing. Ellie seems to be headed in their

               direction.

 

               One of the motor boats appears closer. A middle-aged man

               sits on the stern, holding lazily to his line, his feet

               dangling in the water as the boat is tossed around by the

               turbulent waves. ELLIE is then again seen swimming. She looks

               back, and the next scene shows the men rowing toward her,

               and gaining on her. Thereupon we see Ellie ducking under the

               water.

 

               The middle-aged fisherman is suddenly startled by Ellie's

               face which appears from under water, right between his legs.

               Ellie puts her finger up to her lips, warning him to shush,

               and he is too dumb-founded to say anything. As the pursuing

               boats come near, Ellie ducks under the water again and the

               boats scoot right by the fisherman. Then Ellie's head bobs

               up; she peers ahead of her, and seeing that her pursuers

               have passed her, she smiles victoriously.

 

                                     ......

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