(Note that on the page for Act One, Scene A, it's singular "Hi, Neighbor, Book II," which I think came up with the first HN. But it is plural on the title page, so I'm going with that.)
Onscreen we get a voiceover of the girls talking about having no dates as they leave work, but in the script we go straight to "LENNY AND SQUIGGY'S APT - FRIDAY EVENING." The description of the apartment and Squiggy's entrance carried over, although in the script the boys have only two "mismatched dinette chairs" rather than three.
The dialogue in the first three pages is surprisingly faithful, although we lost Squiggy observing, "And don't forget, Lenny, I'm your best friend, so you owe me plenty," to which Lenny replied, "That's true."
In the script, it's Squiggy rather than Lenny who suggests Lenny's shirt needs ironing, so then Lenny said, "Where's the rolling pin?" Squiggy replied, "Don't be stupid. That's women's work. If you need something ironed, I'll get the girls up here." Onscreen, he would want the girls as fashion advisers.
Another change from script to screen is, before Lenny exits to the bathroom, script-Squiggy yells down the dumbwaiter, "Shirley! Laverne! Come up here! Lenny's bleedin' to death!" So Lenny is around to say, "Boy, are they gonna be disappointed." And here's how it went when the girls enter in a "a state of panic":
LAVERNE
Where's the blood?
SHIRLEY
Tourniquets! T...!
LAVERNE
Where is he? Is he alive?
SQUIGGY
Who?
SHIRLEY
Lenny!
LENNY (O.S.)
What?
SHIRLEY
He's breathing.
The girls are less diplomatic in the script than onscreen when Squiggy asks what they think of the outfit he's planning to wear for the big date:
LAVERNE
I hope love is blind.
SQUIGGY
What is that supposed to mean?
LAVERNE
Uh uh uh.
SHIRLEY
What Laverne is trying to say is that your wardrobe is really sad....
The filmed scene ends with Laverne telling Squiggy that he's slight and Lenny is irregular, but here's how it goes in the script:
LENNY
That's great. (TO SQUIGGY) You're slight and I'm irregular.
LAVERNE
Well, don't just stand there. Go on. Go on.
SHIRLEY
Yes, run down and pick up your tuxedos.
LENNY
I'll go down and warm up the truck. (HE EXITS)
SQUIGGY
Shirl, if I didn't like you so much, I'd kiss you. (HE EXITS)
SHIRLEY
That's the nicest thing Squiggy ever said to me.
LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY EXIT, AD LIBBING.
Thoughts:
- The thing about Lenny "owing" Squiggy feels very in character for both.
- I prefer the girls as fashion advisers to ironers, especially since that's what they end up being anyway.
- I also prefer the girls reacting to Lenny "swallowing his comb" and not knowing about Squiggy's trick.
- The "slight & irregular" line works better as an exit line for Laverne, but I do wish that Squiggy's "compliment" of Shirley had made it in.
Lenny "swallowing" his comb is a lot funnier I think, but yep, I miss the compliment.
ReplyDeleteDitto.
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