Monday, September 13, 2021

"Hi, Neighbors - Book II," Scene D

We're still at La Fondue, "twenty minutes later."  The dialogue begins with the part where Laverne tells Lenny to not just grab food, through her getting tangled in the Wine Steward's salver on a chain, and Laverne winding up with "an Indian burn."  (Onscreen, this comes later and it's with the waiter.) Shirley, as onscreen, in the script suggests "slapping a little butter on it," but they haven't been served quite yet:

ANOTHER WAITER WHEELS THEIR FOOD IN AND BEGINS SETTING PLATES DOWN.  SHIRLEY AND SQUIGGY HAVE LOBSTER.  LAVERNE HAS EGGS AND BRAINS, AND LENNY HAS LAMB CHOPS.

The part about the lobster being killed for Shirley comes here.  But instead of Squiggy suggesting that Shirley "suck on a wing," he says, "I'm too depressed to eat," picks up a claw, and adds, "Maybe I'll just suck on the wing."  And then there's this dropped dialogue:

SHIRLEY
(CLOSE TO TEARS) Squiggy, it was just alive.

SQUIGGY
You gotta eat 'em when they're freshly dead.

SHIRLEY
But why couldn't I have one that died of old age?

SQUIGGY PROCEEDS TO TRY TO GET THE LOBSTER OUT OF ITS SHELL.  IT'S A REAL STRUGGLE.

LAVERNE
Boy, these oofs are great.  What's this good stuff on the side?

WAITER
Cerveres, m'selli.

LAVERNE
What's that?

WAITER
Cow brains.

LAVERNE REACTS.  THE WAITER EXITS.

Then the part where Lenny likes the crepe paper with his chops comes here, followed by the "What am I gonna do with a brain?" bit, and then Lenny's pocket tools, although there's no mention of his shop teacher.  The scene ends with Squiggy telling Lenny, "Give me that," and then he snatches away the small plastic case with Lenny's tools and begins to "cut at food with wrench and saw."  He remarks, "Perfect.  One thing about having a broken heart.  It sure gives you an appetite."

My main thought is that the basic ingredients are here, just waiting to be mixed, with some seasoning like Squiggy's "bib" remark.  And Squiggy is getting reconciled to his heartbreak and depression.

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