There are a lot of people asking for help for a man named George Bailey. Joseph - Angel: Looks like we'll have to send someone down. George Bailey: Oh, did you hear that, Annie?Īnnie: I heard it. George Bailey: Pop, you want a shock? I think you're a great guy. Pa Bailey: This town is no place for any man unless he's willing to crawl to Potter. George Bailey: You see what I mean, don't you, Pop? I just feel like if I don't get away, I'd bust.
Most of my friends have already finished college. But I've been hoarding pennies like a miser in order to. It's deep in the race for a man to want his own roof and walls and fireplace, and we're helping him get those things in our shabby little office. Pa Bailey: You know, George, I feel that in a small way we are doing something important. I want to do something big and something important.
#IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE QUOTE HOW TO#
Oh, I'm sorry Pop, I didn't mean that, but this business of nickels and dimes and spending all your life trying to figure out how to save three cents on a length of pipe. I couldn't face being cooped up for the rest of my life in a shabby little office. Pa Bailey: I know it's soon to talk about it. Potter: Gives you an idea of the Baileys. Little George: Bigger than him, bigger than everybody! Little George: You're not! You're the biggest man in town! Little George: He's not a failure! You can't say that about my father! Potter: Oh, I suppose I should give it to miserable failures like you and that idiot brother of yours to spend for me! You can't begin to spend all the money you've got. Potter, what makes you such a hard-skulled character? You have no family, no children. Potter: Are you running a business or a charity ward? Not with my money! Pa Bailey: But they're somebody's children, Mr.
Potter: Have you put any real pressure on these people of yours to pay those mortgages? And all because a few starry-eyed dreamers like Peter Bailey stir them up and fill their heads with a lot of impossible ideas! What does that get us? A discontented, lazy rabble instead of a thrifty working class. You see, if you shoot pool with some employee here, you can come and borrow money. I can personally vouch for his character. I happen to know the bank turned down this loan, but he comes *here* and we're building him a house worth five thousand dollars. You know, that fellow that sits around all day on his brains in his taxi, you know. Now, you take this loan here to Ernie Bishop. But ideals without common sense can ruin this town. Oh, I don't mean any disrespect to him, God rest his soul. Potter: Peter Bailey was not a businessman. George Bailey: There they are! Bert, what do you know about that! Merry Christmas! George Bailey: Ha, ha, ha, ha! My mouth's bleeding, Bert! My mouth's bleeding! Zuzu's petals. I saw your car plowed into that tree down there and I thought maybe you - hey, your mouth's bleeding. You kiddin'? I've been looking all over town trying to find you. Bert? Do you know me?īert: Know you? Huh. George Bailey: Now get outta here, Bert, or I'll hit you again! Get outta here!īert: What the sam hill you yellin' for, George? Please, God, let me live again.īert: Hey, George! George! You all right? Hey, what's the matter? George Bailey: Clarence! Clarence! Help me, Clarence! Get me back! Get me back, I don't care what happens to me! Get me back to my wife and kids! Help me Clarence, please! Please! I wanna live again. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be! But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about. Do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5,000? Just remember this, Mr. Wait? Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they're so old and broken down that they. what'd you say a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Doesn't it make them better citizens? Doesn't it make them better customers? You. But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Isn't that right, Uncle Billy? He didn't save enough money to send Harry away to college, let alone me. why, in the 25 years since he and his brother, Uncle Billy, started this thing, he never once thought of himself. But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I'll never know. You're right when you say my father was no businessman.