Posts

Image
SPOTLIGHT ON:     FRANCES FAYE, seated at a baby grand piano. Somewhat big-boned and plain-faced, with a severe close-cropped haircut, Frances’ startlingly masculine appearance is tempered somewhat by elaborate eye makeup and sparkling diamond earrings. Playing and singing against lively bongo drums, FRANCES bids her audience her trademark musical salutation:   FRANCES (playing and singing) Good eeeeeeevening....good evening... ladies and gentlemen...how do you do?...how are you?... May I present?... on my right... Jack Costanzo.... on bongos... Lemme hear it now...   We experience Frances at the height of her powers as an enter- tainer, holding the audience in the palm of her hand as she sings throatily and bangs the piano with gusto.   FRANCES (singing) I saw you there one wonderful day...
Image
FADE IN:  INT. Crescendo Club--NIGHT   LEGEND: L.A. 1958.   Over the sound of lively BONGO DRUMS slapping rhythmically and bright HORNS blaring, we tour the smoky, intimate club, with well-dressed guests downing martinis and scotches, smoking cigars and cigarettes incessantly, LAUGHTER erupting at table after table, glasses CLINKING... A waiter leads a tall, dark and handsome, tuxedoed ROCK HUDSON and his handsome young male FRIEND to a table. WAITER Right this way, Mr. Hudson. HUDSON (slipping the waiter a $20) Something farther in back, maybe? The waiter nods and leads the couple to a dark corner. A drunken WOMAN shrieks as they pass. WOMAN ROCK HUDSON! OH MY GOD! The MAITRE ‘D appears, tapping the drunken woman’s COMPANION on the shoulder. MAITRE D’ (discreetly) Shut her up or get her out of here. I’m only going to to tell you once. We follow the maitre d’ back to the entrance, where DESI ARNAZ, shiny black hair slicked back, rumpled tuxedo with bowtie undone, stumble