SWNOVELS Reel: Chapter 17
INTERIOR – SAVOY BALLROOM – NIGHT
TWO SHOT – Dessi and Tilda. They are in the employee’s coatroom, preparing for their shift as hostesses at the Savoy. Both wear loose ’30s era dresses. They hang up their coats. Tilda starts to walk out, but Dessi catches her arm and snatches the slouchy hat from her head.
DESSI
You gonna dance with that hat on?
She hangs the hat on a nearby hook, looks around, checking for any witnesses, and pulls Tilda into her arms.
DESSI
And you forgot my kiss.
She cups Tilda’s face and kisses her, rubbing her back intimately.
TILDA (WHISPERING AND PULLING AWAY)
You crazy! You gonna get us fired, Bama.
DESSI
Buchanan don’t care ’bout two girls kissing.
TILDA (WHISPERING)
I’ll kiss you when we get home. I need to find a man to kiss tonight so we can make rent.
DESSI
Don’t say that, Till. Don’t do that. I told you we’ll figure it out. You don’t have to—
TILDA
Look, I been on my own since I was fourteen and I been knowing what’s what since then. Don’t make me no never mind if I gotta give a little something up to get a little something back.
DESSI
What about a rent party? Folks from the third floor raised all their rent in one night last month.
TILDA
You ain’t gonna find my hand out asking for something I can get myself. They oughta be ashamed, charging Negroes twice as much when we ain’t got half what they got.
DESSI
Well, we know shame don’t come in white.
TILDA
Sho don’t.
She gestures to the red dress hugging her curves.
TILDA
But rent come in red.
Dessi pulls Tilda into a hug and kisses her neck.
DESSI
How about you let me find a way? Give me tonight to raise the rent. You know he can’t do it like I can.
They exchange a heated glance before Tilda shakes her head.
TILDA
That don’t pay the rent, Bama.
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.
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.
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.
Dessi starts humming “Body and Soul.”
DESSI
Oh, I love that song.
CAL
You sing?
DESSI (LAUGHING)
For an audience of none.
CAL
You sound like you can do a lil’ something.
DESSI (SHRUGS)
I’m okay, but I get scared.
CAL
Well order you some breakfast and I’ll be back on our first break.
Cal heads up to the stage. Time lapse of Dessi eating and enjoying her pancakes and grits while Cal’s band plays. Montage ends with the sun rising outside, illuminating the room.
CAL (INTO MICROPHONE ONSTAGE)
Looks like we’re the last ones standing. Well, I think we saved the best for last. I got a special treat for you.
Turns and whispers to the band members, who nod.
CAL
Making her debut right here at the Radium Club singing “Body and Soul,” my very good friend who I just met tonight, Odessa Johnson.
Dessi gapes at him with a mouthful of grits.
CAL
Don’t be shy and don’t make me look like a fool up here. Come on, Odessa.
The few patrons still remaining give Dessi encouraging applause and wolf whistles. Dessi stands up like she’s headed for the stage, but dashes for the door. Cal runs, catches her around the waist and drags her to the stage.
DESSI
You crazy? I can’t sing.
CAL
I heard you. I think you can, and you won’t know ’til you try.
Cal hands her the mic and picks up his trumpet, standing beside her.
CAL
I’ll be right here, and there’s hardly anybody still around. What you got to lose?
The first strains of “Body and Soul” begin. Dessi holds the mic awkwardly, flicking nervous glances around the club. She begins haltingly, and continues with growing confidence.
DESSI
My days have grown so lonely,
For you I cry, for you dear only,
Why haven’t you seen it,
I’m all for you body and soul
You know it’s you that I am longin’,
Oh, I tell you I mean it,
I’m all for you body and soul
I can’t believe it,
It’s hard to conceive it,
That you’d throw away romance
Are you pretending,
It looks like the ending,
Unless I can have one more chance to prove, dear
My life a wreck you’re making,
You know I’m yours for just the taking,
Oh, I tell you I mean it,
I’m all for you body and soul
My days have grown so lonely,
For you I cry, for you dear only,
Oh, why haven’t you seen it,
I’m all for you body and soul
By the end, people are applauding and Cal gives her a hug onstage. Covering her face with both hands, Dessi laughs.