"Excuse Me, May I Cut In," Scene 7

We head down to the "Jefferson High Auditorium - Night."  This dialogue was dropped, after Couple Number Seven is "somewhat awkward":

SHIRLEY

Look at that.  Laverne's a shoo-in.

RICHIE

Yeah.  Listen, I'm glad you came with me tonight.  Are you having a nice time?

SHIRLEY

Hm?  Oh, sure.

RICHIE

If you're bored, the science lab is empty.  Just you, me and the bunsen burners.

Onscreen, Shirley wonders where Laverne is and Richie says Laverne is practicing with Potsie in the hallway.

This was omitted:

SHIRLEY

Would you gentlemen excuse us?

SHE PULLS LAVERNE ASIDE.

SHIRLEY (CONT'D)

All right, give it to me straight, is he any good?

LAVERNE

Terrific.  You can go out and buy a TV Guide right now.

Debra Lee is described as "pretty and obnoxious," which is fair.

A couple Potsie lines-- the introduction of Laverne and "How's she going to explain?"-- were given to Richie.  Shirley replied to the latter with "You don't want to know," instead of squealing in fear.  

This was mostly left out after Richie says journalists are supposed to be witty:

SHIRLEY

(LAUGHING) Carmine, you know Potsie.  And this is my date, Richie Cunningham; Richie, this is Carmine.

CARMINE

Hi, Richie.  Call me the Big Ragoo.  Hey, I wanted to wish Laverne good luck.  Where is she?

SHIRLEY

She's out spreading good cheer.  What did you think of these other couples?

CARMINE

I'm honor bound to secrecy.  (STARTS AWAY, COMES BACK) Laverne's got a great shot.

The line about the teacher being trapped in a locker was added.  In the script, Debra Lee kicks Potsie in just one shin, not two.  And it is Shirley who "takes the number eight off Potsie and puts it on Richie," rather than Laverne doing this.  In the script, Richie says, "Oh, would you like to dance," rather than saying he can't dance very well.

The description of the dancing is vague, e.g. Richie "starts dancing well."  The scene and the act ended with Shirley hugging them both.

Thoughts:

• Richie onscreen is more gentlemanly in this scene at least, not trying to lure Shirley into the science lab.
• Shirley is more obviously out for the TV in this version.
• The extra stuff with Carmine is cute if not necessary.
• Other than that, what we'd see onscreen was pretty close to this, just more fleshed out, especially the dancing.