Chapter 2:
A dreary rain falls on the town of Bedford Falls. A young man of 15, dressed in knee-high socks, knickers a collared shirt and suspenders runs along the sidewalk, clutching a large envelope. He passes the street-side storefronts, many empty and shuttered. He passes the long faces in the long lines at the soup kitchen. He passes a homeless citizen asking for a handout. The courier makes a sharp turn at a two-story office building. In a flash he bounds up the steps, stopping at the front door, knocking as he catches his breath. The shiny plaque near the front door confirms that this is his destination. It reads, "Congressman August Kraft, United States House of Representatives, State of New York, 38th Congressional District".
The courier knocks again, this time with gusto. A burly man of roughly 60 years answers. He wears a well-tailored business suit with a red waistcoat. His thinning hair and bushy mustache are mostly silver. An eyepatch covers his left eye. As the door opens, a voice from behind the man is heard, "The committee is on the line and is requesting a response!" "Indeed!" replies the man in the red waistcoat. "Well, tell them to expect an answer soon!"
The man turns his attentions to the boy in the rain. "Yes?" The boy responds, "Delivery for Congressman Kraft." "I'm Kraft." the man replies as he takes the package from the boy, "Thank you," the congressman nods at the boy and swings the door to close it. However, the door bounces open, as doors will when a shoe-clad foot has been strategically placed on the threshold. The shoe belongs to the delivery boy, "He said to see you about payment." "Did he now?" the legislator replies with a sarcastic tone as he reaches for his wallet. The courier receives payment, and based on his reaction, the amount provided by the congressman is very generous.
August closes the door and opens the package. Inside is a legal document, a contract for purchase of the Bedford Falls Tool and Machine Works. August leafs through the documents, pausing at the last page. At the bottom is the signature of Henry F. Potter, dated May 15, 1932.
Kraft pauses momentarily, as if weighing his options. He extracts a document that sits atop many other documents on his desk. It is a wedding invitation from Mary Hatch and George Bailey. It is dated May 15, 1932. August frowns at the invitation. Moments later, the congressman releases a decisive sigh. He takes a pen from his desk and signs the document. Next, he locates his official seal, and he affixes it to the document. "Rudy!" he calls out to a staffer across the room. As Rudy approaches, the congressman turns to grab a small envelope, already sealed, already addressed, resting patiently on the corner of his desk. August leans close to Rudy, whispers instructions and hands the envelope to him. Rudy nods, dons a trench coat, buries the envelope in a pocket and heads out into the rain to hail a cab.
August resumes his examination of the documents from the package. He lifts the telephone receiver and dials a number. "Henry? It's August," the congressman said, speaking into the receiver.
The terse voice on the other end of the line belongs to the same person who signed the contract, Henry Potter. "I take it the documents have arrived."
August replies, "They have."
"And the ceremony?" Potter queries.
"Will begin at 1 pm, rain or shine."
Potter responds with fury, "Confound it man! Can you or can you not take direction? I gave specific instructions that it should begin at 2 pm!"
"The time change was unavoidable. Of course if you would rather discontinue our agreement…"
Potter seethes, "The agreement remains in place. What other disappointing news do you have?"
"None!" says August. "All the other arrangements have been made, as requested. The location, the band…"
"And anonymity?"
"Is assured until I introduce you." Kraft responded. "Your man can keep your car parked on the other side of the tracks during the introduction. I'll signal you from the podium with a green flag when it is time for you to approach."
"Green flag, yes," Potter muses. "After which our little arrangement will be concluded."
Kraft interjects, "They're going to wonder Henry."
"What do you mean?"
"The townsfolk. They will wonder why the richest, least helpful person in town would suddenly want to save the Tool and Machine Works, the building that was a crowning achievement of his rival. They will have no idea."
"And let's keep it that way."
The click on the other end of the line confirms to August that the conversation has ended. August hangs up the receiver and places the contract in the wooden tray on his desk. The breeze from a nearby open widow ruffles the pages slightly.
Kraft grabs his keys, his briefcase and an umbrella and heads for the front door. He stops before he makes contact with the door handle. He turns on his heels and backtracks toward his desk. August seizes a silver-edged photo frame containing a picture of what might be a father a mother and a young boy. August smiles at the picture, "This is your day, too!" Sliding the frame into the front pocket of his satchel, August exits the office. It remains an overcast day, although the rain has subsided.