Part 9

Part 9 Reading Time: 3 minutes

INT. HARLEM NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT

Bertie and Bunny walk in and are shown to a table as the band strike up.

Cab Calloway singing Jumpin’ Jive

CAB CALLOWAY is singing Jumpin’ Jive.

Bunny and Bertie are watching with the crowd. Bunny thinks the song is coming to an end, and her curiosity can no longer be silenced.

BUNNY

Bertie, tell me what’s going on. Who was that woman?

BERTIE

Peter’s fiance ... or she was but she is no longer thanks to one Bertram Wooster.

BUNNY

But... Who is Peter?

BERTIE

Peter Keating. You met him in Monaco a couple of years ago. Some sort of distant relation of the Woosters.

BUNNY

Oh, that dish... Yes. - But how could his fiance think you’re him?

BERTIE

Never saw his face apparently.

BUNNY

What?

THE NICOLAS BROTHERS have joined in and are just after hopping up on a table.

The Nicholas Brothers dancing up a storm

BERTIE

Oh, look - marvelous stuff, eh?

Bunny is about to needle him further but when she sees the dancing she is entranced.

BUNNY

Why yes.

INT. LOG CABIN IN THE WOODS - NIGHT

Peter is sitting by the fire, stoking it occasionally, but mostly staring into nothing and contemplating things.

The sound of AN OWL SHRIEKING stirs Peter and he listens attentively for a moment.

He looks around the room. There is a cigarette case over on a bookshelf.

He goes over to the bookshelf and lights himself a cigarette. As he is doing so he notices a notebook. He picks it up and starts looking through it. It is clearly something Peter owned as a child. It is filled with notes and drawings. He is delighted to have rediscovered it.

He lights himself a cigarette, sits back down by the fire and starts reading through it.

There is some SCREECHING SOUND outside but Peter is far too absorbed by the notebook and memories to hear it.

Peter looking through his old notebook — Peter and his notebook

INT. DOMINIQUE’S BEDROOM, FAMILY HOME - NIGHT

Dominique enters her room. Closes the door behind her as if she’s closing it against the world. She breathes deeply.

Goes over to the bed, lies back and stretches out on it in an almost feline way.

INT. HARLEM NIGHT CLUB - LATE NIGHT

It’s the end of the night. Only a few people are left in the club.

Bertie and Bunny have had a little to drink and Bunny is speaking very animatedly to Bertie about something. An usher is trying to move them up and out.

BUNNY

And now, now he’s talking about some ranch or something. Honestly can you see me among a bunch of cowboys?

BERTIE

Yes. - I mean... no?

INT. HARLEM NIGHT CLUB, BACKSTAGE - LATE NIGHT

EDEE DUBRAY (Billie Holliday) is over at the side with her cigarette tray and totting up the take.

As Rosie is walking to her dressing room the manager, MR LLOYD, is walking past.

MR LLOYD

Great set Red.

ROSIE

Thanks Mr. Lloyd.

He continues on walking. Rosie spots Edee.

ROSIE

HEY MR. LLOYD!

MR LLOYD

What honey? Did something catch fire?

ROSIE

Mr Lloyd you gotta hear Edee sing.

MR LLOYD

Well, the line-up’s pretty full as is ... but a friend of yours - sure honey send her down to me Monday.

ROSIE

No Mr. Lloyd. Edee.

She points over to Edee, who has taken off her tray and hat, mussed up her hair and fixed herself up with a large smile.

EDEE

I’d really love to sing for you Mr. Lloyd.

MR LLOYD

Well...

He looks at his watch, then at Rosie, then back at Edee.

MR LLOYD

Alright. But I’ve a very pressing engagement so make it quick, OK girls?

Edee and Rosie both rush off to get some of the band back on the stage. Some guys are still sitting there having a drink and chatting but most have left.

They are rushing back and forth and to begin with Mr. Lloyd is amused but he keeps checking his watch and he’s growing impatient.