51

INT. HOWARD THEATRE—CENTER STAGE—ORCHESTRA PIT. DAY.

A swelling MURMUR of heightened anticipation arises from the AUDIENCE as VOICE floats to Center Stage in front of the curtain. 

He stands there, still, poised, looking out at the sea of EAGER FACES.  Then he nods toward the orchestra pit.

The DRUMMER lays down a steady rhythmic back-beat on the snare drum and swish cymbal with his nylon brushes.

GERI is seated in the proscenium box once occupied by HAROLD and LOLA.  A bright smile lights up her face as she observes the hushed, joyously expectant AUDIENCE on the floor.

VOICE begins speaking, on the drumbeat, in a mellifluous phrasing pattern that could sell ice to an Eskimo.

                        VOICE
       And now…the moment you have so         
       eagerly anticipated…has finally 
       arrived.  You have read extensively,
       various newspaper accounts, of their 
       standout performances on the Broadway 
       Stage…in smash hits such as Babes in 
       Arms and The Ziegfeld Follies.

VOICE’s melodic cadence sends ecstatic shivers rippling down the spines of TWO SATIN DOLLS, bedecked in white mink coats and fake diamonds, who are seated in the front row.  They are obviously his “protégées.”