"2001 - A Comedy Odyssey," Scenes D and E

Act Two opens still in the girls apartment, with continuous action.

After Squiggy says that Lenny literally lost his (Lenny's) wife, Lenny originally had the sad-funny line, "It was an amazing coincidence.  She disappeared the same day as the milkman."

Lenny falling asleep mid-proposal was added.  In the script, "Laverne and Lenny crash the couch down," but all we know is that they're kissing, and it gets a bit more graphic onscreen.

The very last line of the scene, Shirley's "This is supposed to be the happiest moment in a girl's life," was left out.

Moving on to Scene E, it's still in the apartment, "a short time later," so I guess Zeke's last rites didn't take long.

In the script, Squiggy is "wearing bullet-proof vest over tuxedo," rather than part of a knight's armor, which is a better visual gag.

This was dropped, after the girls enter "in wedding gowns that have yellowed with age":

LENNY

The wedding's off.  They ain't wearing white.

LAVEREN

They were white.  You looked better fifty years ago, too.

In contrast, Lenny onscreen tells Laverne she looks wonderful.  Laverne happily jumping and saying, "Hot dog!" about Lenny's manly duties abilities was not in the script.  I do wish they'd kept Squiggy saying he hopes his first child with Shirley is "a twin."

Laverne calling Lenny's name as he exits was added. We lost Shirley calling Laverne "you great fud monster" at the beginning of their fight.

Both in the script and onscreen, the boys haven't seen the girls in 48 years (since '72?  certainly not '53), and Laverne is 83, suggesting she's at least a few months older than 82-year-old Shirley.

Onscreen, this scene ends with Shirley's remark about Laverne and cakes, as she puts her arm around Laverne.  Here's the last half page in the script:

THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER FOR SEVERAL BEATS AND LIGHTLY PUNCH EACH OTHER'S ARMS.

LAVERNE

Maybe I should lose a few pounds.  You think if I ate less dessert, I would retain less water?

SHIRLEY

I'm sure of it.  Maybe if I got new frames, I'd look better in my glasses.

LAVERNE

Sure, then we could start going to the movies again.  You could see, and I could fit in the seats.  Help me up.

SHIRLEY

Can't you just sleep here tonight?

LAVERNE REACTS.  SHIRLEY HELPS HER UP.

Thoughts:

• Laverne and Lenny are more into each other onscreen than in the script.  And would Lenny really care about Laverne being a virgin after all this time?  I mean, I don't think he ever did, unlike Squiggy about Shirley.
• I think it's just as well they left out the last bit, since it undercuts the girls deciding they're happy with their lives and puts things on a more shallow level.
• Overall, the filmed version of Scene E is an improvement, although I still have issues with it.