6

—she CRASHES flat on her back at the feet of the astonished BLACK COUPLE, LES and ROSE MARIE.

DOTTIE gasps in mid-song:

DOTTIE
Oh—! 

A LOUD GROAN rises from the WHITE SECTION, followed by furious grumbling.

VIVIAN and ETTA break off singing and gaze perplexedly at DONNA LEE sprawled on the dance floor.

The ORCHESTRA music falters.  JIMMIE turns round to see what is causing the ruckus.  The music stops. 

LES instinctively helps DONNA LEE to her feet.  She nods thanks to him, and is brushing the dust from her skirt, smiling, when—

—CYRUS suddenly yanks her back across the fallen red velvet rope and shoots a menacing look to LES.

DONNA LEE attempts to calm CYRUS.  She laughs and reassures him that she is not hurt only embarrassed at her clumsiness.

But to several GLARING WHITE MEN, fueled with cheap booze, it is no laughing matter.  They are ticked off at LES’ brazen affront to Southern womanhood.