Marty Page #9

The two cavaliers turn their heads and look off-screen in

the direction of the three girls. Apparently, the girls are

still there. Marty and Angie relinquish their lounging

positions against the wall and slouch along past the line of

stags with a show of determined unconcern. They edge through

the crush of people on the non-dancing margin of the dance

floor and slowly push their way toward the...

THREE GIRLS.

Marty and Angie come in and start to approach the three girls.

The girls, aware of the boys' presence, stiffen and their

chatter comes to a halt. Angie advances to one of the girls.

ANGIE:

Waddaya say, you wanna dance?

The girl looks surprised, as if this were an extraordinary

invitation to receive in a dance hall, looks confounded at

her two friends, shrugs, detaches herself from the wall,

moves to the outer fringe of the pack of dancers, raises her

hand languidly to dancing position and awaits Angie with

ineffable boredom. Marty, smiling tentatively, addresses the

SHORT GIRL.

MARTY:

Excuse me, would you care for this

dance?

The Short Girl gives Marty a quick glance of appraisal, then

looks quickly at her remaining friend.

SHORT GIRL:

(but not unpleasantly)

I don't feel like dancing just yet.

MARTY:

Sure.

He turns and heads sluggishly in the direction of the stag

line.

THE STAG LINE.

A TRAVEL SHOT follows Marty, as he moves past the line of

stags, all of whom are watching him. CAMERA HOLDS as he finds

his old niche by the wall, leans there. A moment later, he

glances guardedly down to where the short girl and her friend

are.

MARTY'S P.O.V.:
The Short Girl is approached by a dapper

young BOY who asks her to dance. She smiles, excuses herself

to her friend and follows the boy out onto the dance floor.

Marty stares at the Short Girl. He shrugs, he's used to this

kind of thing, then turns his attention bleakly back to

watching...

THE DANCE FLOOR.

The band starts up again and the MUSIC blares. It's a Lindy

Hop number. Couples swirl past; the MUSIC comes up BIG.

THE BALLROOM.

Marty leans against the wall, smoking and watching the dancers

swirl past. Dr. Keegan's VOICE is heard.

DR. KEEGAN

(off-screen)

You here stag or with a girl?

Marty's attention is on the passing couples, so he doesn't

seem to hear. ANGLE WIDENS to include the Doctor standing on

Marty's right. Suddenly aware of the Doctor, Marty turns his

head.

MARTY:

You say something?

DR. KEEGAN

Yeah. I was just asking you if you

was here stag or with a girl.

MARTY:

I'm stag.

DR. KEEGAN

Well, I'll tell you. I got stuck on

a blind date with a dog, and I just

met an old girl I used to know, and

I was wondering how I'm gonna get

rid of the girl I'm with. Somebody

to take her home, you know what I

mean? I'd be glad to pay you five

bucks if you take her home for me.

MARTY:

(confused)

What?

DR. KEEGAN

I'll take you over, and I'll introduce

you as an old army buddy of mine,

and then I'll cut out. Because I got

this other girl waiting for me out

by the hatcheck, and I'll pay you

five bucks.

MARTY:

(stares at the man)

Are you kidding?

DR. KEEGAN

No, I'm not kidding.

MARTY:

You can't just walk off onna girl

like that.

Dr. Keegan shrugs, moves down the line of stag guys. Marty

turns to watch him, still a little shocked at the proposition.

The Doctor approaches THREE STAGS and obviously broaches the

subject with one of them. This STAG seems more receptive to

the idea. Dr. Keegan takes out a wallet and gives the Stag a

five dollar bill. The Stag detaches himself from the wall

and, a little ill-at-ease, follows the Doctor.

Marty stands against the wall, watching the Doctor and the

Stag, who come in and move past him. Concerned and curious,

Marty stares after them, then moves out of his leaning

position, following in their general direction.

Marty moves through the crush of young men and women in the

area around the dance floor.

ALCOVE NEAR ARCHWAY.

As Marty reaches the alcove that separates the dance floor

proper from the lounge, he pauses and looks off toward the

booths.

LOUNGE.

Clara sits about halfway down the length of the booths. Dr.

Keegan and the Stag stand over her, talking to her. She is

looking up at them, her hands nervously gripping a Coca Cola

glass. Dr. Keegan is obviously introducing the Stag to Clara

and is going through some story about being called away on

an emergency. The Stag is presented as her escort-to-be, who

will see to it that she gets home safely.

Clara is not taken in by any of this, although she is trying

hard not to seem affected. She politely rejects the Stag's

company and will go home by herself, thanks for asking anyway.

Dr. Keegan makes a few mild protestations, and then he and

the Stag leave the booth and start back toward the archway.

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