I saw this film yesterday on TCM and was also very dissatisfied with the abrupt ending. Here's the script for the original ending (which was filmed and then deleted at the last minute because the movie was running too long):
The tense, silent shock of the Senate floor is broken and
men start for Jeff's inert form. A tumult goes up, and
JEFFERSON is seen inert--completely gone--as men surround
him. And then--suddenly--off-scene--a pistol shot is heard.
Heads turn violently in the direction of the cloak room.
Women scream.
In the CLOAK ROOM, near the door to the Chamber, Paine is
now struggling with three or four men, who wrest a revolver
out of Paine's hand. In violent desperation, Paine tears
himself loose and rushes for the chamber.
In THE CHAMBER Paine comes toward the center aisle. (Jefferson
still lying face down on the floor.)
PAINE
(crying out to the
Chair)
Expel *me*! Not him. *Me*!
He continues toward the chair as he talks--a man distracted--
the whole house on its feet.
PAINE
Willet Dam is a fraud! It's a crime
against the people who sent me here--
and *I* committed it!
PAINE walks mechanically toward the chair.
PAINE
(shouting)
Every word that boy said is the truth!
I'm not fit for office! I'm not fit
for any place of honor or trust in
this land! Expel me--!
SAUNDERS
(wildly, clutching
Diz)
He did it.
DIZ
Wait a minute. I've got to write
this story.
PRESIDENT
(pounding vainly with
his gavel)
Order, gentlemen, please.
DIZ
(to Saunders)
Will you please let go of me.
SAUNDERS
(screaming)
He did it! Yippee!
The scene dissolves to the HOPPER KIDS, a newspaper between
them--and just yelling at the tops of their lungs:
BOYS
Yeow!
And this is followed by a BONFIRE SCENE, with Boy Rangers
leaping and yelling; and then we see the WINDOW of the offices
of the JACKSON CITY PRESS at night, where a rock goes crashing
through the window, smashing it to smithereens.
This dissolves to HOPPER'S EXECUTIVE OFFICE, in which HOPPER
is surrounded by Edwards and the other members of the
Citizen's Committee. Happy is a lion at bay.
HUBERT
(yelling into their
teeth--in violent
indignation)
Resign! Resign! Who found this
magnificent young American? Who went
down alone--in the dead of night--
and sought out this Lincoln--this--
Resign! Why, I've just begun! I'll
find *more* Jefferson Smiths! I'll
clean out of our glorious state every
*vestige* of James Taylor--I'll--
Now we are in a STREET, in daylight, with the BOY RANGER
BAND marching--playing a martial air--confetti falling on
them. JEFFERSON AND SAUNDERS are in the back of an open car--
band--cheers--confetti! They are both rather dazed. A huge
placard, carried by a Boy Ranger, reads:
JEFFERSON TO THE SENATE
FOR LIFE!
There is a BAND, and there is much cheering. Then the GOVERNOR
AND MRS. HOPPER are seen in the back of an open car. (Band
and cheers and confetti.) Happy is bowing to left and right--
all smiles. He pauses to say:
HUBERT
Emma--it's the White House--no less!
JEFFERSON AND SAUNDERS are in the open car; Jeff looks off,
and is suddenly at attention.
In a GROUP ON THE SIDEWALK, Joseph Paine is watching the
parade. Suddenly Jeff leaps out of the car and heads for the
curb. Saunders tries to stop him. JEFF is pushing through
the crowd--and grabbing for PAINE, who has fearfully started
to move off.
JEFFERSON
Please, sir!--come with me!
PAINE
No, Jeff--please--!
JEFFERSON
I say it's *your* parade, sir! You've
*got* to come!
He pulls Paine with him--back toward the automobile. The
people mill around them.
The scene dissolves to the SMITH LIVING ROOM, as Jeff and
Saunders and Paine enter to Ma, who is waiting. (Outside we
still hear the band and cheers.)
MA
(kissing Jeff's cheek)
Hello, Jefferson.
JEFFERSON
Hello, Ma.
(Indicating Saunders)
Clarissa, Ma. She'll be stayin' a
while--
MA
(takes Saunders' hands)
Fine--
JEFFERSON
And Senator Paine too, Ma--we'd like
to have him--
MA
(warmly)
Certainly would, Joseph.
JEFFERSON
How's Amos, Ma?
MA
Just fine.
JEFFERSON
(taking Saunders'
hand)
We'd better see.
SAUNDERS
Jeff--wait--they want you to speak!
JEFFERSON
Not *me*! Joseph Paine is the man
they ought to be listening to! Come
on!
He drags her off toward pet shop--Paine calling after him,
protesting.
And in the PET SHOP: Saunders and Jeff are seen entering. On
seeing Jeff, the animals go berserk. And in a comparative
lull Jeff says to them:
JEFFERSON
Meet Clarissa, fellas.
And the scene fades out.
THE END
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18 years ago
[deleted]
angelfromhell926
16 years ago
what security, they could have GUNS in the senate. there is no security. But it does seam kind of confusing. whoever wrote the story seemed like they rushed the ending a little bit, and that they had no other ideas to what about happen,and why the pet shop i'm lost lost lost lost lost and finally LOST. why pet shop why? but i was NAWT satisfied with the ending, me and my friend trisha stayed up all night last night (ironic isn't it, i think i was the caffine) watching this and we only stayed up because we wanted to see the ending, and when it ended me and her and her looked at eachother and she says (waking everybody else in the room up) what the *beep* that's it?
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ShellOilJunior
16 years ago
The ending is fine as it is. Further prolonging the story would be foolish and superfluous. Paine and Taylor lose, Smith wins, we all celebrate... what else is needed?
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shantizzay
18 years ago
I like the alternate ending, although I don't think Smith would really have been _that_ gracious to Paine.
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TuFNuT
16 years ago
That ending would have made so much more of an impact and ended the movie on a greater high. Pity it wasn't included in the final version. Although I have no complaints with the final cut. A full 10/10.
Curiosity always killed the cat!
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