Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I'll never know.

#qt0461014-b / read by Shriram-60

But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against his character ..

#qt0461014-c / read by Shriram-60

Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. You're right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that.

#qt0461014-a / read by Acharya-92

because his whole life was .. in the 25 years since he and his brother, Uncle Billy, started this thing, he never once thought of himself.

#qt0461014-d / read by Narmadha-83

He didn't save enough money to send Harry away to college, let alone me.

#qt0461014-e / read by Shriram-60

But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter, and what's wrong with that?

#qt0461014-f / read by Shriram-60

Why... here, you're all businessmen here. Doesn't it make them better citizens? Doesn't it make them better customers?

#qt0461014-g / read by Narmadha-83

You said .. 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.

#qt0461014-h / read by Narmadha-83

Wait? Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they're so old and broken down ..

#qt0461014-i / read by Narmadha-83

Do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5,000?

#qt0461014-j / read by Shriram-60

Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community.

#qt0461014-k / read by Acharya-92

Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath?

#qt0461014-l / read by Narmadha-83

Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him.

#qt0461014-m / read by Shriram-60

But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle.

#qt0461014-n / read by Subhajit-81

Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be!

#qt0461014-o / read by Subhajit-81

Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?

#qt0461025 / read by Shriram-60

You see, George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?

#qt0461033 / read by Subhajit-81

A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town.

#qt0461034 / read by Narmadha-83

Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.

#qt0461037 / read by Subhajit-81

Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.

#qt0461045 / read by Narmadha-83

George, I am an old man and most people hate me.

#qt2136349-a / read by Shriram-60

But I don't like them either, so that makes it all even.

#qt2136349-b / read by Shriram-60

You know just as well as I do that I run practically everything in this town but the Bailey Building and Loan.

#qt2136349-c / read by Teja-84

You know, also, that for a number of years I've been trying to get control of it. Or kill it.

#qt2136349-d / read by Shriram-60

But I haven't been able to do it. You have been stopping me.

#qt2136349-e / read by Teja-84

In fact, you have beaten me, George, and as anyone in this county can tell you, that takes some doing.

#qt2136349-f / read by Shriram-60

Now take during the Depression, for instance. You and I were the only ones that kept our heads.

#qt2136349-g / read by Narmadha-83

You saved the Building and Loan, I saved all the rest.

#qt2136349-h / read by Shriram-60

Yes, well, most people say you stole all the rest.

#qt2136349-i / read by Teja-84

The envious ones say that, George. The suckers.

#qt2136349-j / read by Shriram-60

Now, I have stated my side very frankly. Now let's look at your side.

#qt2136349-k / read by Teja-84

Out of which, after supporting your mother and paying your bills, you're able to keep, say, ten, if you skimp.

#qt2136349-m / read by Narmadha-83

A child or two comes along and you won't even be able to save the ten.

#qt2136349-n / read by Teja-84

Now, if this young man of 28 was a common, ordinary yokel, I'd say he was doing fine. But George Bailey is not a common, ordinary yokel.

#qt2136349-o / read by Narmadha-83

He is an intelligent, smart, ambitious, young man who hates his job, who hates the Building and Loan almost as much as I do.

#qt2136349-p / read by Teja-84

A young man who's been dying to get out of this small town and on his own ever since he was born.

#qt2136349-q / read by Subhajit-81

A young man who has to sit by and watch his friends go places because he's trapped.

#qt2136349-r / read by Teja-84

Yes, sir, trapped into this small town and frittering his life away, playing nursemaid to a lot of garlic eaters.

#qt2136349-s / read by Teja-84

Do I paint the correct picture or do I exaggerate?

#qt2136349-t / read by Teja-84

Peter Bailey was not a businessman. That's what killed him.

#qt2138755-a / read by Shriram-60

Oh, I don't mean any disrespect to him, God rest his soul.

#qt2138755-b / read by Teja-84

He was a man of high ideals. So called. But ideals without common sense can ruin this town.

#qt2138755-c / read by Teja-84

Now, you take this loan here to Ernie Bishop. You know, that fellow that sits around all day on his brains in his taxi, you know.

#qt2138755-d / read by Shriram-60

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. Why?

#qt2138755-e / read by Teja-84

Well, I handled that, Mr. Potter. You have all the papers there. His salary, insurance. I can personally vouch for his character.

#qt2138755-f / read by Narmadha-83

You see, if you shoot pool with some employee here, you can come and borrow money.

#qt2138755-g / read by Teja-84

What does that get us? A discontented, lazy rabble instead of a thrifty working class.

#qt2138755-h / read by Teja-84

And all because a few starry-eyed dreamers like Peter Bailey stir them up and fill their heads with a lot of impossible ideas!

#qt2138755-i / read by Teja-84