The
Diner of Love
3503 Angel Square Court
Llanview, PA
"Nothin' Could Be Finer Than Some
Lovin' In the Diner"
"There ain't no lovin' like some diner lovin', hey ho"
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"Nothin' Could Be Finer Than Some
Lovin' In the Diner" |
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What can I get you?
Coffee's a dollar
I hope you like whip cream.
I just love the Voice of the Night. We have this special connection. |
MARCAL SCENES ACT II Page 17
Episode 17 "Hello, Again, Mr. Stripper Man"
June 3, 2004 Marcie and Jen are sitting in a booth at the diner. Riley walks up. Marcie: Hey, Riley. Jen: Hey. I was wondering where you'd gone. You looked really out of it. I thought you'd sleep on our sofa all night. Riley: You saw me asleep? Jen: Yeah. Don't worry about it. Riley: No, I just -- I got through with my paper about an hour before the deadline, and I thought I'd grab a couple. Jen: No, no, that's ok. I turned it in for you on time. Riley: Yeah. I am totally screwed. Jen: Why? What's wrong?
Jen: I' m so sorry. I saw that term paper sitting there, and I just assumed it was yours. Riley: It is not your fault. I'm the idiot who bought it on the Internet. Marcie: You bought a paper off of the Internet? Riley: Like, the second I printed it out, I knew she was right, and if I turned it in, I knew I would hate myself because it wasn't my work. So I should have destroyed the damn thing, t instead, I put my good one in my bag and left the other one just lying around. Marcie: Oh, no. So you handed in the one that he bought from the internet. Jen: I'm going to straighten this out. I'm going to go first thing in the morning and talk to the professor. It just happened. It was a mistake. Riley: It won't do any good. I just went, and he said he already had my paper. Marcie: He read the one you bought? Riley: And what's even better, he said it was really good -- too good for me to have written it. And what's more, he's seen it before, so he's going to turn me in to the disciplinary committee, and I'll probably be expelled for plagiarism. Jessica walks up to Jen, Riley and Marcie. Jessica: Hey, guys. Marcie: Hi, Jessica. Jen and Riley: Hey. Marcie: Have a seat. Jessica: Thanks. Oh, I could use a break. I just finished the final draft of my graduation speech. Jen: Hmm. Marcie: That's great. Jessica: Did I walk in on something? Marcie: No. We're just all depressed. None of us are going to be graduating this semester. Jen: Surprise, surprise. Marcie: I have too many incompletes. Jen: I failed too many courses. Riley: And I'm getting kicked out for cheating.
Jessica: Well, Riley, they can't expel you for cheating if you didn't cheat. You wrote the paper. Riley: If I go to the professor now, he'll think I came up with this story after I tried to use the Internet paper. Marcie: There has to be something that you can do. Jen: I'm just going to go to the professor first thing in the morning. Riley: I think it is hopeless, but thank you. Jessica: Oh, no, no, it's not hopeless. It's not over yet. Riley: Well, it is for me tonight because I am wiped, and I'm going to go home and try to get some sleep. Jen: Are you going to be ok? Riley: Yes. Thank you. Good night. Jessica: Good night, Riley. Marcie: See you later. Riley: Bye. Riley leaves.
Jessica: Ok, well, listen, graduation is not the only reason to celebrate right now. It's also the end of the semester, so what do you say? Can I get you two in the mood to party, maybe, tomorrow tonight? Jen: Sounds good to me. Marcie: All right, you don't have to twist my arm that much. Jessica: Ok, great. You guys remember The Hookup? Jen: Mm-hmm. Marcie: Yeah, that's the place where they had all the strippers. Jessica: Yes, and it just so happens tomorrow night they will be stripping. So what do you think? Cold drinks? Hot men? Jen: I say we're going to The HookUp.
June 4, 2004 Rex is sitting in a booth staring out of a window, obviously despondent. Jen walks up to the booth. Jen: Hey. Did something happen with my mom? Rex: Your mother? Yeah, I blew it with her. It's over. Jen: And you're this down about it? I didn't even think you cared. Rex: Well, see, you're wrong. I actually did. But now I lost her. Along with everything else. Jen: What's "everything else"? Rex: I can't make the loan payment on my club and my new restaurant. In one week, R.J.'S going to own them both. Go on, tell me it's what I deserve. Jen: Actually, yeah, you did have it coming. Rex stares at her with a hurt expression on his face. Jen: I'm meeting Marcie at graduation. You know, this is really weird, Rex. I've never seen you give up before. Rex: Out of options, Jen. Couldn't make last month's payment, either. Lindsay took care of it. Now? Nothing. Jen: What, she won't help you again? Rex: Said no. Jen: Well, maybe she's smartening up. Rex: Yeah. Yeah. God, why am I even telling you? You hate me. Jen: No -- I don't. You know, I've been thinking about it a lot, and it's kind of -- makes some sort of sick sense that you would want to be with my mom after I didn't want to be with you. Rex: Yeah? Jen: I mean, it was twisted, and it upset me, and it probably ended up hurting my mom a lot. But you're always so determined to get what you want, you don't ever think about any of that other stuff, which is why it's so weird that you're giving up on ultra violet. Rex: You see, there's this thing called money, and -- Jen: What, you can't get cash somehow? Why give up? I'm flunking three classes. I can't even graduate today, but am I giving up? No. I mean, ultra violet made you so happy. You were so pumped about the new restaurant, and you're just going to roll over and take it? It's not even like you, rex. Come on, fight. Rex gets up and walks close to her. Rex: In case you forgot, I love you. Always been the best thing about me. Rex walks away.
Later, Marcie is on the phone talking to Michael. Marcie: I love you, too. Ok, bye. Hi. Jessica: Hi. Marcie: Michael said to say he's sorry. He can't go out with us tonight. Jessica: Well, I hope he can't come out with us tonight. We're going to The HookUp. Remember? Male strippers? You got all your singles ready? Marcie: Yes! Jessica: All right! Marcie: Ok. Jessica: Ok, let's go.
Meanwhile, at The HookUp Club, the Santi family hit man, Carlos, is drinking at the bar and waiting around. The manager of the club, Sara, watches him suspiciously. Carlos: God. I've been waiting for that little punk long enough. Sara: Yeah, no kidding. You know what? Paul Cramer could walk in here right now and the best that you could do is pee on his shoes. Carlos: If you're protecting Cramer, you know who's going to carve you up right along with him? Antonio strolls in with a garment bag slung over his shoulder. He grips Carlos on the shoulder. Antonio: Hey, buddy, what do you say we call it a night? Carlos: Yeah. I was just going. Carlos leaves. Sara: I was -- I was going to yell at you, but thanks. Antonio: You're welcome. Sara: You missed rehearsals. Antonio: I'll try to make up for it when the music starts. Sara: Is that your costume? Antonio: Yeah. Sara: You better get backstage because you're first up. Antonio nods then walks toward the backstage area. Just as he walks away, Jessica, Jen and Marcie walk into the club.
Marcie: Jessica, your speech was awesome. Jessica: Thanks. You know what? Forget graduation. We're here to have fun, right? Jen: Even though you're not having any. Jessica: Yeah. Marcie: Come on! Jessica, you know, you're just bummed because Antonio is working, and you're bummed because you ran into Rex. Jen, Marcie and Jessica find a table and sit down. Around them most of the tables are filled with women who are chatting excitedly. Marcie: Wow! I hope this is not going to be like this all night. This wasn't like this when we came here last. Jen: Yeah. Nothing beats a bunch of drunk women lusting after men. Jessica: Oh, I know what does -- a bunch of drunk men lusting after women. Marcie laughs. The women in the club get noisier. There is obvious anticipation in the air. Marcie: You guys, do you want to leave? Jessica: Uh -- I don't know. I mean, originally, I thought it would be a good idea, but it just seems a little shady here, you know? Jen: Well, I don't want to stay if nobody else does. Jessica: What? Oh -- you know, forget it. Let's just go to Capricorn and get some drinks, ok? I can't even hear you guys. Jen: Sounds good. Marcie: Yeah. That's a good idea. Let's go. Jen, Marcie and Jessica leave. The music starts playing. Woman: And now, what you've all been waiting for -- every woman's dream date. Please welcome The Escort! Antonio struts out dressed in a tuxedo. The women who have been drinking a lot and are giddy with anticipation, cheer The Escort. Marcie comes back into the club looking for her purse. Music: Do you feel it coming? To dance or make love, babe I know you want
it so come down and show me what you need so do you feel …feel like coming? Do
you want me to stand alone? Man singer: Take that flower from your ear and come dancing in the rain
with me Woman singer: And do you feel Antonio takes off his jacket and slings it aside. The women scream their approval.
Marcie notices Antonio and drops to her knees and hides under the table. She covers her eyes with her hand but then looks at Antonio’s strip tease through her fingers. Her mouth drops open. Woman singer: Feel like running Man singer: And if you're shy babe, that's ok I know we can fly if we're
dancing in the rain you'll see Antonio takes off his vest. Woman singer: Whoo! Man: And when we dance we can make love bad and when we move you can do no
wrong show me how you feel Antonio toys with the audience by playing with his suspenders and sniffing his shirt. Appalled, Marcie stares for a second longer then sneaks out unnoticed.
June 8, 2004 At the bar in Capricorn, Jen, Marcie and Jessica are having drinks. Marcie is guzzling a Cosmopolitan as if it was a ginger ale with no ice. Jen: (raises her glass) To Jessica’s graduation. The three click glasses. Marcie goes back to guzzling away. Jessica: Thank you. Marcie: Congratulations. Jessica: Well, I hope you guys don't mind that we left The HookUp. Marcie: Are you kidding me? I'm really, really glad that we did. Jen: Yeah, although it was kind of cool. I mean, there's nothing wrong with women watching a bunch of guys take it off. Jessica: Yeah, I just don't think that we'd had enough beer yet to really handle the whole situation.
Jen: You're just jaded because you have one of the hottest guys in town at home. Jessica: Even though he's not at home. He's working some special undercover assignment, and I don't even know what it is, so – Marcie almost chokes on her drink and has a flashback to Antonio stripping. Jessica: Um -- wow. You ok, Marce? Marcie: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Jessica: Good drinks anyway, so – Marcie drains her glass and taps the bar. Marcie: Bartender? Jessica: Oh, wow! I have to call my mom. I'll be right back. She's at the hospital. Jen: All right. Jessica: Be right back. Jessica walks away. Jen looks at Marcie with a raised eyebrow. Marcie: What? Jen: "What"? You've been acting weird ever since we got back from The HookUp. What is wrong with you? Are you secretly mad because we didn't see any strippers? Marcie: No. I saw a stripper -- and it was Antonio
Outside of Capricorn, Evangeline and Antonio talk. Antonio: I can't even begin to tell -- I mean, I can't tell you how weird I felt -- 90% naked, having all these -- these crazy, drunken women throwing money at me. I -- I played it cool, but you know what? I felt like a piece of meat. Evangeline: How much did you get? Antonio: This isn't funny. Evangeline: I'm sorry -- I didn't think it was going to go this far. I would've been there myself. Antonio: That manager, Sara -- she's definitely up to something. Evangeline: So did you get anything that's going to back up what my client says? Antonio: No, but pretty soon. Evangeline: So you're going to keep at it? Antonio: Yeah, yeah. I mean, I'll -- yeah, I'll keep doing this, but if Jessica ever finds out, she'll -- she'll die or kill me.
Meanwhile in Capricorn, Jen is watching Marcie inhaling her drink with a measure of astonishment. Jen: You need to slow down. You're not used to this, Marcie. Marcie: I can't help it. I -- I don't know what to say to Jessica. Jen: Why would Antonio be a stripper? It makes no sense. I mean, it's not like he doesn't have a job. Marcie: I don't know. All I know is that I saw a half-naked guy shaking his booty in front of a whole bunch of screaming women, and it was Antonio Vega Antonio walks up to Jen and Marcie. Antonio: What about Antonio Vega? Marcie: Antonio! Um -- uh -- I was just telling Jen, well, you're the best cop on the force, and how lucky Jessica is to have a great guy for a fiancé like you, you know? Antonio: Yeah? And why am I so great? Marcie: Um -- well, you have a great job and you're really handsome, and you have a great body. Antonio: You think so? Marcie: Yeah! Well, yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's -- and I can just tell -- through your clothes. Antonio gives Marcie the Antonio stare. Marcie: (giggles) It's not like I've ever seen you without your clothes off. Jen: You'll have to excuse Marcie. She's had a jump on the Cosmopolitans. Jessica walks over to Antonio. Jessica: Hey! How was your undercover work? Marcie chokes. Jessica: Marcie? Marcie, are you ok? Marcie coughs and nods her head. Jen: She had one too many. Come on. That's enough. Marcie: Hmm. Antonio: So, what did you ladies do tonight? Jen: Not much. Just -- dinner and, you know -- Jessica: Oh, come on. You guys don't have to cover for me. Antonio, we went to this place called The HookUp, and we went to go and see a strip show. Marcie spits out her drink. Marcie: Sorry.
In the meanwhile, Rex strolls into Capricorn. RJ spots him and meets him halfway. R.J.: Ah-ah-ah! Well, are you here to make a payment? Rex: Chill, ok? R.J.: Ok, look, you need a little reassuring, tell you what -- after all your businesses go belly-up, I will let you stay on to manage Ultra Violet. R.J. chuckles and give Rex his best spider to fly stare. Rex: You'll get your money on time. R.J.: Really? What, tooth fairy? Hmm? How? Rex: Don't worry It's a done deal. R.J.: You got Lindsay to change her mind again? Rex: No, she's not giving me anything. Thanks, by the way. R.J.: I do what I can, but whoa, whoa -- what did you do? You find a new sugar mama to pay your mortgage? Rex: Something like that.
At the diner, Barry is sitting in a booth. Roxy comes in and slides across from him. Barry: Hi, Rox. Roxy: Shh! No names. I'm incontinental, ok? So you check out my salon? Barry: Nice place. Roxy: Yeah. I put a lot of blood, sweat, and beers into that place. It's a shame it's going to go up in smoke, but I need the insurance bucks. But I got a favor to ask you. Do you think you could save one wall -- you know, the one with my picture on it? Barry: Sorry. Roxy: Yeah, me, too. My dead sort of son-in-law, he painted it, and he was really good. You know, it made me look hot. Barry: You always look hot to me, Roxy. You sure you don't want me to light your fire? Nigel walks up the booth just in time to hear Barry’s comment. Nigel: I beg your pardon, sir. The only one who's going to be lighting any fires around Ms. Roxanne -- me. Barry: What are you trying to pull here, Rox -- shopping around for the highest bidder? Nigel: You, sir, take that back. Ms. Roxanne is not some wanton you can procure for your own lascivious pleasures. Roxy: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Hey, you both got it wrong. This is Nige. This is my squeeze. Co-habilitating. Nigel: Who are you? And why are you talking about lighting fires? Roxy: Oh, that's an old joke, you know, because Barry and I, we go way back. Right, Barry? Barry: Right. Whatever you say, Rox. Nigel: Then why are you wearing that hat and those glasses? You're obviously trying to conceal something. I want to know what.
At Capricorn, RJ and Rex continue their conversation. R.J.: Oh, should you really be throwing money around like that? Rex: Relax. Your cash is coming. R.J.: You know, if you are thinking loan shark, let me give you a little friendly, free advice. You know, they are not generally nice or forgiving people. I know. I used to be one. Rex: What do you call this current shakedown? But I'm paying, so got it all under control. In the meanwhile, Antonio is shocked to hear that Jessica, Jen and Marcie were at The HookUp. The four of them are sitting in a booth. Antonio: So you ladies went to The HookUp. Jessica: Yeah, but don't worry. We left almost immediately. Marcie: Yeah, right in the nick of time. Jen: Yeah, we didn't want to have to deal with a bunch of male strippers. Antonio: Good. Jessica: Why? Why is that good? Antonio: Oh, it's just not the safest thing, that's all. Jessica: Or maybe you're just jealous about us going to see a bunch of boys taking their clothes off. Antonio: Ok. You're right. How would you like it if I was hanging out at strip clubs?
Jessica: Well, first of all, I wouldn't care. And second of all, I wasn't hanging out. I was there celebrating my graduation with some friends. Antonio: So it was one-time thing. Jessica: No, I didn't say that. Jen slides out of the booth and looks at Marcie. Jen: Let's go to the bathroom, Marcie. Marcie jumps up and stumbles around and out of the booth. Marcie: Right. Let's go. Whoa. Marcie giggles. Marcie: We're just going to -- we're going to take off. Marcie laughs then Jen and Marcie huddle close and walk away quickly. They stand some distance away and chat. Marcie: Did you see how nervous Antonio was when he found out that we were at The HookUp? Jen: He did seem a little freaked out. Marcie: I know! I couldn't stop talking. Jen: What are we going to say -- "Are you a stripper?" Rex walks up to them. Rex: Whoa! You're kidding, right? Jen: Rex. Rex: I know you were looking for something to do with your life, and you definitely have a talent for it, but -- Jen: Shut up. Rex: Stripping. Why? When I'm having so much fun? Jen: Why are you in such a good mood tonight? Rex: I came up with a way to get the extra money I needed. Marcie: (glances over at Antonio) Yeah, hopefully, not like some people.
In the booth, Jessica and Antonio continue their conversation. Jessica: Are you going to tell me where I can go? Antonio: That's not what I meant. Jessica: That's what it sounded like. Antonio: Yeah, well -- look, I'd just l like to know where you go. Jessica: Really? Even though I don't know where you've been going lately at night? Antonio: Is that what this is about? Jessica: No, I'm sorry. It's not. I just -- I have to tell you, though, it's really been bothering me that I have no idea what you've been doing, even though it is for work. Antonio: Honey, all I can do is ask you to trust me. Jessica: Well, honey, all I can ask you to do is trust me, too. Antonio: Look, jess, this isn't about trusting you, ok? I -- I love you. I don't want anything to happen to us. Jessica: Well, it won't. I love you, too.
Jen and Marcie are sitting at the bar watching Antonio and Jessica, who are still sitting in the booth. Marcie: Look at the way he's working her. A couple of hours ago, he was totally dancing for all those other women! Jen: God, I still can't believe it. Marcie: I know!
In the booth, Antonio’s phone rings. Antonio: I got to take this, ok? Antonio slides out of the booth and walks some distance away. Marcie rushes over to the booth and leans over toward Jessica. She points her finger at Jessica and then leans in closer and puts her finger on Jessica’s nose.
Marcie: Jessica, I hate to be the one to break this to you, but I need to tell you something. Jen comes over to the booth and touches Marcie on the arm. Jen: Come on, Marcie, let's go. Marcie: No, I want to tell Jessica something. Jen: You've had too much to drink. She's not used to this. I'm just -- I'm going to get her home. Jessica: Well, I want to hear what she has to tell me. Go ahead, Marcie. Marcie: Well, um -- see, I wanted to talk to you about tonight and us going out and, um -- what I saw. And, uh – Antonio walks up and stands behind Jessica. Antonio: What did you see, Marcie? Marcie: Uh -- I saw -- I saw -- the bar tab. (pounds the table) Right. And, um -- well, I wanted to pay for your gradubation -- um, your graduation present. I wanted to pay for the tab as a graduation present, and because most of the mine were drinks -- I mean, most of the drinks were mine, so I might as well -- Jessica: Marcie, you don't have to do that. It's ok. Marcie: No, I do. I really do, because -- because you're a really good friend of mine, an-- and, you know, I've never had really good friends like you and Jen before, and I'm -- I just want to be a really good friend, you know, and I don't -- sometimes I just don't know how to do that, and -- Jessica: That's ok, that's ok. Marcie, Marcie, you are a really good friend. I'm really happy that we're friends, and I hope that we get to hang out a lot more. Marcie: Yeah. Antonio: Yeah, which means you'll be seeing a lot of me, too. Marcie has a flashback to Antonio stripping and starts laughing hysterically. Jessica: What's so funny? Marcie: What? (glances over at Jen) Jen, you were right. Those Cosmopolitans, they go right to your head (sways) -- whoo -- you better -- you better take me out of here before I say something really stupid. Jen: Come on. Ok. Marcie: Oh, sorry. Sorry. Thank you.
Marcie and Jen are sitting at the bar. Marcie is barely sitting up straight and is drinking coffee. Jen: I'll be right back. Marcie: Uh-huh. Jen walks over to Rex. Jen: Look, I'm really glad that you got the money you needed. Rex: I took your advice not to give up. Jen: Didn't that feel good, getting something on your own without using people? Rex: Yes. Not always easy to do that. Jen: Well, you didn't take the easy way out. I'm proud of you. Rex: You really mean that? Jen: Yeah. Maybe there's hope for you yet. So how'd you get the money, anyway? Marcie walks over to Jen. Marcie: Oh -- Jen, I need to talk to you. Jen: (looks at Rex) Good luck. Rex nods and leaves. Marcie: Listen, now that I'm a little more sober, I think that I should still tell Jessica. Jen: No. Marcie: Yes. Jen: Stay out of it. Marcie: No, listen -- wouldn't you want to know if your boyfriend was a stripper? Jen: Well, maybe he's just doing some kind of undercover business for the police. Marcie: From what I saw, Antonio wasn't any under-- ever any under-- under any cover at all!
Later, Marcie and Jen are once again at the bar. They look over at the booth where Jessica and Antonio had been sitting. Marcie: You know, it's a really good thing that Jess and Antonio left, because I really don't know how much longer I could have gone on without telling them. Jen: You know, I still think there's more to it than that. Marcie: Antonio's not working undercover, I'm telling you! I don't know what he's up to, but I'm going to find out.
June 10, 2004 Marcie and Michael are sitting in a booth at the diner. A waitress brings over coffee to them. Marcie: Gracias. Here you go. Michael: So, are you going to tell me the big news, or, what, are you just going to leave me hanging here? Marcie: "The Killing Club"? It's officially a book -- well, a manuscript. Michael: Congratulations. That's terrific.
Marcie: It does feel pretty good. Michael: Yeah. Well, where is it? Let me see it. Marcie: No, no, no, no. It's not that finished. Michael: What are you talking about? You're going to have to let me read it sometime. Marcie: Ugh. Michael: Well, I don't know how we're going to build any kind of solid relationship here if you won't, you know, show me the book. You're keeping stuff from me here. I don't know if I like it. Marcie: That's actually a good question. Michael: What? Marcie: I'm not talking about us. I'm talking about Jessica and Antonio. Michael: What about Jessica and Antonio? Marcie: Well, let's just say that Antonio has another job and Jessica doesn't know about it. Michael: What's the job? Marcie: He's a stripper. Michael: A what? Marcie: A stripper, and I don't know if I should tell Jessica or not. Michael: How did you find this out about Antonio? Marcie: I saw him at work. Michael: You -- you saw him at the strip club? Marcie: Yes. The HookUp -- you know, they have a male strip show, but I -- when we got there, we decided that it really wasn't our thing, so we left. But I left my purse, so I had to go back in, and that's when I saw him stripping. Michael: Are you sure it was him? Marcie: Yes, I'm positive, and I wish I wasn’t. Michael: I guess that's a stupid question. There's got to be some sort of an explanation. I mean, maybe he's doing an undercover operation, or an uncovered operation. Marcie: Be serious about this. Come on. I mean, that's what Jen thought, but I don't know about a case like this. And you know I know everything that goes on at the police station. Michael: What are you going to do? Marcie: I don't know. Could you imagine if Jessica found out that way? Could you imagine if she walked in and saw him stripping?
Marcie: Stop. Michael: I'm sorry. No, it's not -- it's not funny.
Jessica: Guess you never know with those two. Natalie: Hey, listen to me. Antonio wouldn't lie to you, all right? If he says he's got this big case that he can't talk to you about, then that's that. Jessica: Yeah, I know, I know. I just -- I just wish that he would at least tell me, you know, where he is or something about what it's about, you know. It's just so hush-hush about everything, and it's making me worried. Natalie: Well, I think Antonio can take care of himself, and I don't think that there's much you can do about it anyway, so -- except you could have your own secret. Jessica: What do you mean? Natalie: Well, Antonio doesn't want you to go to The Hookup, so go to The HookUp and don't tell him!
At The HookUp Club, Antonio strolls in. Sara: Hey, welcome back. I told you you'd make a lot of money. Antonio: Yeah, you were right. Sara: You know, you're early. The show is not until another half-hour. Antonio: I thought I'd have a beer. Sara: Here you go. Antonio spots another of the strippers sitting at a booth. He walks over to him and slides into the booth. Antonio: How you doing, man? Got a minute? You know, I'm kind of new at this whole stripping thing. You guys ever get raided? Stripper Man: The boss finds out you're asking questions, you won't be around long.
Later, Antonio talks to Evangeline on the phone. Antonio: Yeah, I'm sorry I have to quit with no notice. Evangeline: Well, you have your orders, so I guess I understand. Antonio: But, listen, I do believe your client's innocent, and I'll do whatever I can to clear his name. Evangeline: I appreciate it. You know, he knows that there's money going through that club that isn't on the books, but he is not in any way involved with the Santi family. Antonio: Hold on. Sara: Wrap it up. 15 minutes till show time.
Natalie: Come on, Jess! We're going to The HookUp! Let's go! Jessica: Oh, Natalie, I don't know. I -- Antonio and I had this huge talk about it at Capricorn, and it's loud there, women are crazy -- I don't know. Natalie: Yeah, so what? They're having fun. Let's go. Jessica: You really want to go, don't you? Natalie: Come on! It'll be just this once. I promise I'll never ask you to go again. Please, please, please, please?
Marcie: Hey. Jessica: Hey, Marcie, how are you? Marcie: Hi. Jessica: We're going out tonight. You want to come with? Natalie: Going to The Hookup. Marcie: No! No, no, you can't go to The Hookup. Natalie: Why not? Marcie: Well, because Michael wanted me to invite you guys to Jen's house. We're having a backgammon playoff. Natalie: Well, you know, Marce, I think I'm going to have to go with the strip joint. Marcie: No, no, no, no. Antonio said that place is in a really bad part of town. You really can't go there. Natalie: Antonio just doesn't want his fiancée going to a strip joint. Jessica: Marcie, you know, I promised Natalie I'd go, and it's going to be fun, so -- you know, can you just tell Michael maybe another night? Ok? Marcie: Yeah. Natalie: We'd better go. We're going to miss the show. Jessica: Ok. By Marcie. See you later. Marcie: Bye, guys. Natalie: Bye! Marcie: Have fun. Natalie: Thank you. Jessica and Natalie walk away. A moment later, Michael walks up to Marcie. Michael: Hey, Marcie. Marcie: Oh -- Michael: Honey, I'm sorry I made you wait. Marcie: (grabs Michael’s hand) Yeah, listen, that's ok. Come on, we got to hurry. Michael: Wait, what -- Marcie: (drags Michael behind her) I'll tell you on the way. Come on. Michael: Ow. Where are we going?
Marcie and a clearly abashed Michael walk into The Hookup Club. The place is filled with women who are cheering a stripper on the stage. Marcie: I hope we're not too late.
Michael: Can we just do what we came here to do and then get the hell out of here, please? Marcie: Yeah, ok. You find Jessica and Natalie, and I'm going to go backstage and find Antonio somehow and tell them they're on their way, ok? Michael: Ok, good luck. Marcie: Bye. Marcie walks confidently toward the stage and the stripper spots her and begins to focus his attention on her. He shimmies up to her, wraps a scarf around her neck, dances with her…The crowd cheers enthusiastically. Marcie giggles and tries to get away with some measure of dignity.
Marcie: No! Oh, no, no, no, no! No, really, really, I don't -- ok! No, no! Michael, help me! N no, no, no, no! No, no, no! No, wait a minute -- see, this is yours. You need to wear this, yeah. The crowd cheers and Marcie finally manages to extract herself from the stripper's attention. She rushes away and takes an alternative route to the backstage area. She approaches a door and knocks. The door opens and the stripper who she was just dancing with opens the door and then strikes a pose.
Marcie: Oh -- hi. Hello, again, Mr. Stripper man. I was looking for someone who works with you. His name is Antonio. Stripper Man: Don't know him. Marcie: No, no, you have to know him. He's Puerto Rican, he has dark hair, dark eyes -- Stripper Man: You mean this guy? He points to Antonio who has just emerged on stage. Marcie looks over and her face falls.
Marcie: Yes.
The crowd cheers the arrival of The Escort.
Meanwhile, out in the club, Jessica and Natalie are treated to the astonishing sight of Antonio gyrating in full stripper mode. The crowd cheers. The music plays. Singer: Show me how you feel just come dancing all night with me.
Antonio bumps and grinds. Natalie’s wide eye stare turns into barely contained hilarity. Jessica sinks further and further into mortified shock. Jessica: I -- I have to….Oh…. I can't let him see me here. Natalie: Jess, no, no, no, no. If you get up, he's going to see you.
Antonio unbuttons his shirt, drips to his knees and sniffs it. The crowd cheers. Singer: I see you smile and hear the sweet sounds you drive me crazy
In the meanwhile, Marcie has rejoined a clearly uncomfortable Michael who is standing at the edge of the club as close to the door as possible. Michael: I can't believe I'm seeing this. Marcie: Yeah, well, I don't want to see what's going to happen when Jessica watches him. Michael: So, then let's get the hell out of here. Marcie: All right, let's go. Marcie and Michael get the hell out of there.
Antonio continues to throw what he feels are his assets around and the crowd cheers. Jessica’s watches with a opened mouth stare but then springs to life. She jumps up. Jessica: I -- I can't watch any more of this. Natalie: Jessica -- no, no, no, Jess – Jessica ties to rush away but bumps into Sara. Sara: Hey, watch it! The commotion draws everyone’s attention, including Antonio’s. He sees Jessica.
Episodes
Episode
18
MARCAL
All Snappies courtesy of Jen's OLTL Screencaps, The Recovery Room & Vetyver. Thank you, Jen, Shane & Vet for letting me use your beautiful snappies.
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