INT. HOWARD THEATRE—STAGE LEFT WINGS. DAY.

THE DANDRIDGE SISTERS watch as HAROLD exchanges friendly greetings with a handful of PERFORMERS before making a beeline in their direction.

                         ETTA
                (surprised)
       Is he headed toward us?

DOROTHY regards the approaching HAROLD contemptuously. 

                       DOROTHY
       What's on his mind?
 
                        VIVIAN
       Brace yourselves.  One of us is 
       about to get fired on.  
 
                       DOROTHY
       He wouldn't dare.
 
                         ETTA
                (beaming)
       I say, "Fire away!"