Tom Hanks and Jimmy Fallon perform Bridge of Spies scenes written by precocious grade-schoolers

Tom Hanks and Jimmy Fallon act out &quot;Bridge of Spies&quot; — (Image credit: The Tonight Show)

Chris, 8, got a hard lesson about the vagaries of show business on Thursday's Tonight Show. Tom Hanks and Jimmy Fallon put on their acting berets to read some scenes from Bridge of Spies — not the Steven Spielberg thriller that Hanks stars in, but scripts sent in by grade-schoolers who were given only the name to work off of. Hanks and Fallon started out with Chris' script, and it was surprisingly good — so good, Hanks slipped it into his pocket, saying, "That deserves a second look." The second scene, a confusing love story sent in by 7-year-old Jack, was passed over by Hanks, who said it needs a little polish. But at the end of the last scene — a heartfelt thriller with a twist by Luke, 7 — Hanks was so impressed he took out Chris' script and put in Luke's: "That's the one right there."

So what did we learn? Hanks is better at staying in character than Fallon. Young children can write compelling dramas, and/or watch too much TV. And screenwriters and agents, Tom Hanks likes a script about friendship with a happy ending. Watch the young playwrights make their debuts below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.