Friday, April 19, AD 2024 4:13pm

Lighthouses in a Foggy World

 

 

LOSE SHOT: JOHN and CONNELL. CONNELL looks around 
               guardedly, to make certain he is not overhead.

                                     CONNELL
                              (confidentially)
                         Yessir. I'm a sucker for this 
                         country.
                              (gets a little sore 
                              about it)
                         I'm a sucker for the Star Spangled 
                         Banner—and I'm a sucker for this 
                         country.
                              (taps table with 
                              his middle finger)
                         I like what we got here! I like 
                         it!
                              (emphasizes each 
                              point)
                         A guy can say what he wants—and do 
                         what he wants—without having a 
                         bayonet shoved through his belly.

               MED. SHOT: As he leans back and nods his head, satisfied 
               he made his point.

                                     CONNELL
                         Now, that's all right, isn't it?

                                     JOHN
                         You betcha.

               The BARTENDER comes in with drink and departs.

                                     CONNELL
                         All right. And we don't want anybody 
                         coming around changing it, do we?

               JOHN shakes his head.

                                     JOHN
                         No, sir.

               TWO SHOT: JOHN and CONNELL.

                                     CONNELL
                         No, sir. And when they do I get 
                         mad! I get b-boiling mad. And right 
                         now, John, I'm sizzling!

               JOHN looks at him, puzzled.

                                     CONNELL
                         I get mad for a lot of other guys 
                         besides myself—I get mad for a guy 
                         named Washington! And a guy named 
                         Jefferson—and Lincoln. Lighthouses, 
                         John! Lighthouses in a foggy world! 
                         You know what I mean?


Screenplay, Meet John Doe (1941)

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