Wednesday, November 24, 2021

"The Fire Show," Scene A

On January 16, 1979, five weeks before "The Fire Show" would air, its Revised Shooting Script came in.  Let's take a look.

FADE IN:

EXT. GIRLS' APARTMENT - ESTABLISHING SHOT - NIGHT

SNOW IS FALLING.

INT. GIRLS' APARTMENT - NIGHT

LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY ARE IN THE KITCHEN, DRESSED WARMLY.  SHIRLEY IS POURING TWO CUPS OF HOT CHOCOLATE AS LAVERNE WARMS HER HANDS ON ONE OF THE CUPS.

We do see both exterior and interior onscreen.  The first five pages are pretty faithful, although I'll note that the iguana spelled his name "Jeffry" in Season One but it's now "Jeffrey," with an extra E.  Also, Shirley repeatedly calling Lenny "Leonard" was added.

And then when the fire breaks out, Shirley in the script tells the boys, "Don't just stand there.  Do something," so they sing "Night After Night," I kid you not.

Shirley rescuing not just Boo Boo Kitty but Poo Poo Puppy and the Feeney Family Album is from the script by the way.

Here's the last part of the scene, after Squiggy tells Lenny he's been singed:

SQUIGGY
...Quick, let's go back and save those beds.

LENNY
How does he fit that big heart into that little body?

LENNY HEADS FOR THE DOOR WITH SQUIGGY IN HIS ARMS.

I can't picture Lander & McKean going for the random inclusion of one of their classic songs at a time like this.  However, Lenny admiring Squiggy's warmth and bravery, and continuing to carry him in his arms, is adorable.

2 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Yeah, it's really out of character, especially at a time like that.

      Delete

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