Page 79 of Score
Two dollars! Well, we may as well buy the tickets toMacbethfrom the scalper we gon’ pay two dollars.
TILDA (BATTING HER LASHES AND LEANING INTO THE MAN, LINKING HER ARM THROUGH HIS)
Seeing as how you said they need pretty girls, seem like we’d be doing y’all a favor gracing this here establishment.
Man grins and bends down to whisper in Tilda’s ear.
TILDA (ROLLING HER EYES AND NODDING)
Alright. It’s a deal. I’ll see you at the end of the night.
He hands her a voucher that simply says “Gerald.”
TILDA
Now they not gon’ look at me like I’m crazy if I give ’em this, are they?
MAN
Nope. That’s your good time all night on me. You just make sure you see me before you go.
TILDA (GRABBING DESSI’S HAND AND WALKING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, SHOUTING OVER HER SHOULDER)
You got a deal, Gerald.
DESSI (LOOKING OVER HER SHOULDER AT GERALD)
What was that all about?
TILDA
I gotta show him my tits on the way out.
DESSI
Tilda, no. You ain’t gotta do that!
TILDA
He’s harmless. Flash him a lil’ nip. It’s worth it to see Gladys Bentley.
They are seated and when Tilda gives the waitress the slip of paper with Gerald’s name, they get to order one drink each. Singing waiters circulate around the smoke-filled room. Tilda picks up a program and reads.
TILDA
Looka here, Bama.
Mae Johnson, Gladys Bentley, Lee Simmons, Dusty Fletcher, Pearl Baines, and—
DESSI
All them singing tonight?
TILDA
Look like.
Tilda sips her drink and pulls a cigarette from her clutch.
