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December 10 2007
George Bailey ran his family's business in the little town of Fenlon Falls. George worked hard while his older brother Harry got all the glory as a war hero fighting in Europe. George worked hard while Old Man Potter the banker did everything he could to ruin the Bailey business, so that he could take it over. George worked hard while his alcoholic Uncle Billy drank up what little profits they made. Did I mention that George wasn't too bright? It didn't help that he stuttered or that everyone in town told him that he looked just like Jimmy Stewart.
The final straw was the night when Uncle Billy somehow lost the deposit money that George had scrimped for years to save. That money was intended to pay off the mortgage held by Old Man Potter, so that George could finally own the business free and clear. Now, Old Man Potter was going to foreclose and take control of everything that George had spent his whole life building.
Consumed by despair, George walked through the dark streets and down to the falls. He stood by the raging river, preparing to throw himself into the water.
"What are you going to do?" asked a voice.
George turned and saw a man in a long dark coat who stood under a street lamp.
"W-w-who are you?" George stuttered.
"My name's Clarence," the stranger said. "And I'm an angel, only I ain't got my wings yet."
"W-w-well, if you must know, I was going to kill myself," George said. "I'm a failure. I wish I'd never been born."
"Don't talk like that," Clarence said. "Come with me."
Clarence led George through streets where every building seemed to be a saloon or a brothel. People passing them had faces pinched by sadness and anger. Clarence stood behind George and put his hand on George's shoulder.
"There," Clarence said. "See what this town would have been like if you'd never been born?"
"W-w-wait a minute," George said. "This neighborhood has always been like this."
"Exactly," Clarence said, then he hit George behind the right ear with the piece of lead pipe he'd been hiding in his coat.
Clarence took George's wallet, watch and shoes, then he went into a honky tonk down the street where Uncle Billy and Old Man Potter sat at a table, waiting for him. Uncle Billy gave Clarence his cut of the deposit money, then he handed the deed to the Bailey business over to Old Man Potter.
"I can't believe that sap fell for the angel story," Clarence said. "Oh well, nobody will find him for days."
Uncle Billy lifted the glass containing his sixth double scotch of the evening.
"Yesh," he said. "Ish a wunnerful life."
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Happy holidays
George
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Posted by gjcondon on 2007-12-11 08:38:20 | Rating: | Views: 109
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Here has always been my problem w/ that movie...Uncle Billy loses this money and it seems that no one comes down on him at all
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Posted by whiteknight
on 2007-12-12 13:18:24
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