Walkin’ Down the Strip / Scene: Las Vegas

[JIMMY]
I was drivin' down the strip
Just drivin' down the strip
When I saw this electric sign, several stories high
It said "Deena Jones and the Incredible Dreams"
With an S on the end almost touchin' the sky
I was drivin' down the strip
Just drivin' down the strip

[LORRELL, spoken]
Oh, Jimmy, I don't believe it!

[JIMMY, spoken]
Believe and it shall be yours, baby.

[LORRELL, spoken]
Oh, Jimmy, I miss you. I miss you so much.

[DEENA, spoken]
Jimmy! What are you doin' here?

[JIMMY, spoken]
Deena! I just took the night off from New York. I know Curtis is gonna kill me but nothing was stopping me from seeing my little girls headlining in Vegas!

[C.C., spoken]
This conductor is giving me attitude. He's acting like this is jungle music!

[FRANK, spoken]
I'll talk to him.

[DEENA, spoken]
Now has he told her yet?

[LORRELL, spoken]
Child, it's making me so nervous.

[C.C., spoken]
Hey, Jimmy! How's the new act working?

[JIMMY, spoken]
The new act you wrote for me? Oh it's fierce! Fierce and boring. Real boring, baby.

[C.C., spoken]
Hey, Deena, what are you doing in here? Why aren't you in the star dressing room?

[DEENA, spoken]
Don't start with me, C.C

[LORRELL, spoken]
C.C., has Curtis told Effie yet?

[C.C., spoken]
He just went to her room. He's having a hard time telling her. You know she's been sick.

[JIMMY, spoken]
Effie's sick?

[DEENA, spoken]
She's not sick.

[C.C., spoken]
She must be. She's had to miss seven performances in the last month!

[DEENA, spoken]
Now you know what the problem is and it's something that none of us can deal with anymore

[C.C., spoken]
None of us want to deal with each other anymore. You been noticing that, Deena?

[DEENA, spoken]
Don't start blaming me, C.C. It's not my fault. Curtis has made his mind up so all of us might as well just stop fighting about it. You know, I got problems, too, but I don't keep dragging everybody down with them. I keep working for you, baby, I keep working.

[FRANK, spoken]
Deena, you only have about ten minutes.

[DEENA, spoken]
Yes, Frank, I'm coming.

[JIMMY, spoken]
What is wrong with y'all?! Now this is the worst case of opening night jitters I have ever seen.

[LORRELL, spoken]
Now, C.C., I hope she's gonna be alright tonight.

[JIMMY, spoken]
Baby, don't you worry about a thing. If worse comes to worse, C.C. can put a wig and go out there and do it himself. This Vegas crowd ain't gonna know the difference. Last time I played Vegas, three women thought I was Tony Bennett! Tony Bennett!

[EFFIE, spoken]
Hey, everybody, I'm sorry I'm late but I had to—

[JIMMY, spoken]
Effie!

[EFFIE, spoken]
Oh! Oh! Oh, Jimmy! Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy! You're looking great! You know, I saw you on TV last week, and you sound like Perry Como now.

[JIMMY, spoken]
Oh no no no no no, not Perry, Tony! Tony Bennett!

[EFFIE, spoken]
Excuse me, Jimmy, I've got to get dressed.

[C.C., spoken]
Effie. Effie, don't try to make it.

[EFFIE, spoken]
Look, I'm sorry I missed rehearsals but I'm feeling much better now. I'll make it. Just get my dress.

[JIMMY, spoken]
What?

[EFFIE, spoken]
Where's my dress?

[EFFIE, spoken]
Lorrell, where's my dress?

[MICHELLE, spoken]
I'm so nervous. All those harmonies and those steps, I'll never—

[EFFIE, spoken]
Who's she? C.C., what's going on? Lorrell, what is going on?

[MICHELLE, spoken]
It's none of my business.