39

The WHITE COLLEGE STUDENTS burst into applause in the balcony.

AUNTIE MAMA, standing next to the MIDDLE-AGED MAN, eyes DOTTIE quizzically as she joins in the APPLAUSE from the COLORED ELITE on the ballroom dance floor.

VIVIAN and ETTA stand next to the seated DOTTIE on the bandstand.

VIVIAN  
(stage whisper)
Dorothy Jean…
(louder) 
Dorothy Jean…

DOTTIE looks up sharply as if suddenly emerging from a thick fog.

ETTA
(smiling kindly)
We're on.

JIMMIE spins around on his heels, leaps in the air and lands on the downbeat. The full ORCHESTRA comes in “on the one,” grooving fast and furious and taking no prisoners.

THE DANDRIDGE SISTERS, dancing to the rhythm, beaming, glide gracefully to the center of the bandstand and begin SINGING the 8TH CONTEMPORARY HIT SONG.

Their SINGING continues OVER the following scenes: