Synopsis
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is the story of George Bailey, a typical American dreamer. As a young man George is filled with dreams and aspirations of becoming an explorer of the world and building cities of the future. He is raised in the small town of Bedford Falls where his father, a hard working honest man, runs the local Building and Loan and helps people better their circumstances. He does this honorably, despite the interference of the grumpy and stingy Mr. Potter, ‘the richest and meanest man in George works at the Building and Loan for four years in order to save for college. He is a young man prepared to go off and see and change the world. Life, however, has other plans for him. Unfortunately George’s father dies from a stroke. In order to preserve his father’s legacy, George trades in his dreams and takes over his father’s business. This causes him to stay in the small town of Bedford Falls. George eventually falls in love and marries Mary Hatch, a young woman who has loved him since she was a child. They live in a drafty, but cozy home and have four children.
George now runs the Building and Loan with his forgetful Uncle Billy. When war comes, George is unable to fight because of an ear injury from saving his brother Harry when they were children. Harry, however, goes off to war and becomes a famous fire pilot, winning the Congressional Medal of Honor.
On the day his brother is to return home, George gives his Uncle Billy an envelope with a considerable deposit for the Building and Loan. Billy carelessly hands the envelope, concealed in a newspaper, to Mr. Potter when trying to shows him an article. Mr. Potter uses this to hatch a scheme to bankrupt the Building and Loan. When George and Billy discover that the envelope is missing, they go into a frenzy to try and find it with no avail. Soon the complications is George’s life seem to much, and seeing the impending doom of his father’s business George is driven to attempt suicide, by jumping off a bridge.
Enter Clarence, George’s Guardian Angel eager to earn his wings. George tells Clarence that he wishes he had never been born. Clarence then shows George that world.
George is able to see the profound effect he has had on each and every person in his life. He sees the fate that awaited them if he was not there to intervene. Upon seeing his wife Mary and she not recognizing him George begs Clarence to return him to his home, “I want to live.”
George returns home ready to face the consequences of losing the money and the closing of the Building and Loan. He rushes to his home to see his family and hold his children. When he gets there Mary is not home, but a policeman and State Department head are there waiting to take him to prison for theft. Mary then busts through the door. George overjoyed to see his wife muffles her exclamation about the group of people coming to their home. The whole family looks outside to see a crowd of people eager to give whatever they can to help George because of the good he has done for them. At the close of the play George’s daughter Zuzu hears a bell and tells her father something that she learned in school.
“Every time a bell rings and angel gets its wings.”
To which George replies, “Attaboy Clarence.”