EXT. DUNBAR HOTEL—CENTRAL AVENUE. DAY.

The venerable Black-owned and operated Dunbar Hotel, commonly referred to as the Waldorf-Astoria of the West Coast.  It is the epicenter of Black Showbiz.

Title:  Dunbar Hotel. Los Angeles, California.

Dapper JAZZ MUSICIANS, PRIZE FIGHTERS and BOOKIES congregate on the sidewalk.  They are laughing and talking trash as they eyeball the comely MOVIE EXTRAS and SHOWGIRLS who parade in and out of the Dunbar and along Central Avenue.

                     RUBY (V.O.)
       …Duchess, you'd better be nice to
       me.  If you're joking I swear I'm 
       gonna put a hex on you…

INT. DUNBAR HOTEL—HALLWAY PHONE BOOTH. DAY.

CAMERA SLOWLY CLOSES IN ON RUBY in the phone booth at the end of the hallway.  SOUND of a PIANO tinkling an improvisational cool jazz composition.

                         RUBY
                (into phone)
       …You're not joking?  Really?  You 
       mean it?  Our babies are going on 
       the road with Jimmie de Lavallade, 
       the "King of New Or-leans?"

On AUNTIE MAMA’s end of the line we HEAR the CLANGING SOUND of a passing TROLLEY CAR.

              AUNTIE MAMA (V.O. ON PHONE)
       That's what it says on the contract. 
       And the ink has dried!