Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 151085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
* * *
DESSI
Gimme ’til tomorrow. I’ll raise the rent. Come home with me tonight. Save all your kisses for me.
* * *
A tall Black man dressed impeccably walks in and they pull apart.
* * *
CHARLES BUCHANAN
You girls ready? We got a crowd out there tonight.
* * *
DESSI AND TILDA IN UNISON:
Yes, Mr. Buchanan.
* * *
VIEW ON SAVOY BALLROOM FLOOR
Dessi and Tilda rush out into the beautifully decorated ballroom, packed with dancers. The atmosphere is electric. Both bandstands are filled with musicians.
* * *
CHARLES BUCHANAN (TOUCHING DESSI’S SHOULDER AND POINTING TO A TALL MAN ACROSS THE ROOM)
Got you one.
* * *
Dessi’s head turns in the direction Buchanan points and she spots the man. She takes Tilda’s arm and whispers in her ear.
* * *
DESSI
Don’t forget. Gimme ’til tomorrow to get the money. Meet me back at the coatroom when the shift ends.
* * *
Tilda hesitates, nods, and then heads off for the man she’s supposed to teach to dance. Dessi approaches the one Buchanan pointed out, a tall, well-dressed man.
* * *
DESSI
Wanna dance?
* * *
He looks down at her, his smile widening.
* * *
CAL HAMPTON
I do now. I’ll follow your lead any night.
* * *
DESSI
You know this is just for a dance, right?
* * *
CAL
Might start that way. You never know.
* * *
DESSI
Oh, I know. We dancing?
Dessi starts teaching Cal the basics of a few dances. They laugh when he steps on her toes and can’t get the steps right.
* * *
DESSI
You’re no good at this.
* * *
CAL
I’m good at other things.
* * *
DESSI
Not at flirting either.
* * *
CAL
I mean my horn. I’m a trumpet player.
* * *
DESSI
Oh. A musician, huh? I don’t believe you.
* * *
CAL
I can prove it, but I had to leave my trumpet in coat check. Come with me to the Radium Club when you get off. See for yourself.
* * *
DESSI
When I get off? We don’t shut down ’til three o’clock in the morning.
* * *
CAL
Night’s just gettin’ started. Jam sessions and breakfast ’til the sun comes up. Just over off 142nd Street. Whatta ya say, doll?
* * *
DESSI
I say don’t call me doll, and I don’t think so. Me and my roommate gotta get home.
* * *
CAL
If you change your mind . . .
* * *
DESSI
I won’t, but thanks for stepping on all my toes with your two left feet.
* * *
They laugh and Dessi leaves for the next customer. Cal stands on the sidelines and watches her go with a smile.
* * *
VIEW ON DANCE FLOOR
Dance sequence/montage showcasing the lindy hop, the flying charleston, snakehips and rhumboogie. Cal stands by all night, not dancing again, but watching Dessi from the sidelines. At the end of the night, Dessi thanks her last customer and looks around for Tilda. When she doesn’t see her, she heads for the coatroom, collects her hat and exits the building.
* * *
EXTERIOR – LENOX AVENUE – OUTSIDE THE SAVOY – NIGHT
Dessi stands on the street, scanning the well-dressed people leaving the Savoy. Cal approaches her, holding up his trumpet case for her to see.
* * *
CAL
Told ya I was a musician.
* * *
DESSI
Hmmmmh. If you say so.
* * *
CAL (LAUGHING)
I’ll show you if you come with me to the Radium. You been on the track all night. Come have some breakfast.
* * *
DESSI
No, I ain’t—
* * *
She spots Tilda with a well-dressed man headed in the opposite direction. Tilda looks over her shoulder at Dessi guiltily and then shrugs. Dessi glances down at the sidewalk and blinks away tears.
* * *
CAL
It’ll be a good time. Best music in the city. White boys show up, too. Benny Goodman and Harry James came last week. And best grits you ever had.
* * *
Dessi looks in the direction Tilda went, seeing her red dress swallowed by the late-night crowd. She forces a smile and looks up at Cal.
DESSI
Did you say grits?
* * *
CAL (LAUGHING)
Best in Harlem. Come on.
* * *
EXTERIOR MOVING SHOT on Cal and Dessi talking inaudibly with a jazz music bed under the shots as they walk the few blocks to the Radium Club.
* * *
INSERT shots of Harlem nightlife, buildings lit up, Tillie’s Chicken House, The Log Cabin, the Theatrical Grill, well-dressed white patrons entering the Cotton Club, and finally ending on the entrance to the Radium Club.
* * *
INTERIOR - RADIUM CLUB – NIGHT
When Cal and Dessi enter, the club is filled with smoke and people and music. A dimly lit stage sits in the center of the room, and a small band tunes up.
* * *
CAL
I gotta get up there. I was waiting for a certain hostess to finish her shift and now I’m late.
* * *
DESSI
Oh, you in the band?
* * *
CAL
I am tonight.
* * *
DESSI
What y’all playing?
* * *
CAL (PULLING HIS TRUMPET FROM ITS CASE)
“Body and Soul” is the only one I know for sure. We kinda just figure it out as we go some nights.