7

1ST WHITE MAN
You see that, fellas?

ROSE MARIE trembles fearfully beside LES and clings to his arm.

A tense silence cloaks the Imperial Ballroom like a dark shroud.  BLACK COUPLES fearfully back slowly away from LES and ROSE MARIE.  WHITE COUPLES eye them with pity, morbid curiosity, and excitement.   

The TWO REDNECK DEPUTIES stiffen, on edge.  The 1ST REDNECK DEPUTY speaks soothingly to the GLARING WHITE MEN:

1ST REDNECK DEPUTY
Now, c'mon, ya'll just calm down.  
Folks are having a good time…let's 
not spoil the fun.  
  
1ST WHITE MAN
The fun was spoilt the instant that…
(indicates LES)
…nigger, there, touched a white woman! 
(to GLARING WHITE MEN)
Are we gonna stand for that?

JIMMIE stares at them from the bandstand with cold intentness.  He mumbles to himself:

JIMMIE
What?  You interrupt our number with
this shit?