During this, CAMERA MOVES CLOSER to George. Nick, the bartender, is watching him solicitously. Seated on the other side of George is a burly individual, drinking a glass of beer. George is mumbling:
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

INTERIOR MARTINI'S BAR �� NIGHT CLOSE SHOT �� The place is an Italian restaurant with bar. The bottles sparkle. There are Christmas greens and holly decorating the place. It has a warm, welcoming spirit, like Martini himself, who is welcoming new arrivals. The booths and the checkered-cloth-covered tables are full. There is an air of festivity and friendliness, and more like a party than a public drinking place. George is seated at the bar �� he has had a great deal to drink, far more than he's accustomed to.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

George is out of the door by now. CAMERA MOVES CLOSER to Potter.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

POTTER (sarcastically) 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 dollar? You know why? Because they'd run you out of town on a rail . . .But I'll tell you what I'm going to do for you, George. Since the state examiner is still here, as a stockholder of the Building and Loan, I'm going to swear out a warrant for your arrest.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

POTTER (snorts) They're going to believe that one. What've you been doing, George? Playing the market with the company's money?
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

GEORGE (desperate) Please help me, Mr. Potter. Help me, won't you please? Can't you see what it means to my family? I'll pay you any sort of a bonus on the loan . . . any interest. If you still want the Building and Loan, why I . . .
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POTTER (casually) Oh, so that's what the reporters wanted to talk to you about?
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I've got to raise eight thousand dollars immediately.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

He looks around him, then quickly goes out the front door of the house. Mary goes to the phone, picks it up.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

GEORGE (gasping for breath) I'm sorry, Mary, Janie. I'm sorry. I didn't mean . . . you go on and practice. Pete, I owe you an apology, too. I'm sorry. What do you want to know?
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

INTERIOR LIVING ROOM �� NIGHT CLOSE SHOT �� The room has suddenly become ominously quiet, the only SOUND being George's labored breathing. George goes over to a corner of the room where his workshop is set up �� a drawing table, several models of modern buildings, bridges, etc. Savagely he kicks over the models, picks up some books and hurls them into the corner. Mary and the children watch, horrified. George looks around and sees them staring at him as if he were some unknown wild animal. The three children are crying.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

But before he can think of an insult to top Welch's, we hear a click on the phone.
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Mary once more tries to take the phone from him.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

(on phone) 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.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

GEORGE (to Mary) Wait a minute.
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(to George) She's hung up.
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Mary speaks quickly in to the phone.
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MARY (cont'd) 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.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script

George enters shot, and stands listening to her.
>> It's a Wonderful Life Movie Script