"Debutante Ball" script, Scene B

As on the episode, we head straight to the Hotel Pfister Ballroom on Saturday night:

THIS IS AN ELEGANT BALLROOM.  THERE IS A NUMBER OF DIGNIFIED GUESTS MILLING ABOUT.  SEVERAL MEN ARE WEARING MEDALS.  EVERYONE IS IN FORMAL ATTIRE.  THERE IS A LARGE RAMP UPSTAGE CENTER, A LARGE BUFFET TABLE WITH HORS D'OEUVRES AND A PUNCH BOWL.  THERE IS A BAND PLAYING AND SEVERAL WAITERS AND WAITRESSES ARE CIRCULATING, SERVING DRINKS, ETC.

LENNY ENTERS.  HE IS DRESSED BEAUTIFULLY, IN WHITE TIE AND BLACK TAIL.  HE HAS MEDALS ON HIS CHEST.

Then it goes into the episode we know, for about six pages.  Note that Laverne's costume is described simply as "a ball gown complete with hoops."  The amused look Laverne and Lenny share after she "hangs her parasol on back of man exiting" was definitely not scripted, nor was their amusement after Lenny "snatches two drinks and gives one to Laverne."

We lost this Laverne line after the "here, bumpkin" sequence, "What a funny guy, huh?  They call him the crazy Count of Poland."  Also, "everyone has been watching" Laverne's troubles with the soggy sandwich, but on the episode, most people are oblivious.  (They do notice the hoopskirt problems.)

Instead of Laverne saying she'd love to sign the guest book, in the script she says, "Great.  I hope I get on the mailing list," which is a quietly funny little line.

On the episode, after Laverne points out Lenny to the Hostess and Evelyne, she says, "Quite a guy, isn't he?", but in the script it's "Ain't he cute?"

This is what we lost after he reaches into his pocket for a dime and Laverne tells him never mind:

LAVERNE TAPS A MAN ON THE SHOULDER.  HE TURNS AROUND.  HE IS ELEGANT AND GOOD LOOKING.

LAVERNE

Whoa oh.  What a cutie you are.

DUKE

Thank you very much, Senorita.  You look charming yourself.

HOSTESS

This is the Duke.

LAVERNE

Hi, Duke.  Got a dime?

DUKE

Yes, I have.

DUKE HANDS HER A DIME.

LAVERNE

If this don't work, I'll use it on the candy machine.

THE HOSTESS REACTS.

These are not dramatic changes but I think they are significant.  Laverne's embarrassment is played up more in the script, as is her interest in the duke (who for some reason is Spanish?), so that when she dances with him later it would presumably have more significance. 

But this isn't a Duke/Laverne episode, it is a Lenny/Laverne episode, and her interest in him is arguably stronger in this scene in the script than onscreen, although there we get some nice little visual moments of teaming up.  He is "dressed beautifully," which is a contrast to his appearance in the first scene, and presumably Laverne shares that opinion.  (We'll hear more about how she sees his elegance, later.)  The ambiguous "quite a guy" was supposed to be her admiring his cuteness to two complete strangers.  I said in my review of the episode that he is "her neighbor that she seems to appreciate in a fresh way," and I'd argue that the script makes that abundantly clear.  But we'll get to more conclusive evidence later.