Marvella joins a team -edit 2

Marvella joins a team-edit 2

fiction
edward w pritchard

Act 1 Scene 1

draft 2

Marvella is a failed exotic dancer at a men's club near the expressway just outside of Youngstown, Ohio. The other dancers make fun of her, and joke at her expense. Marvella can't keep herself from tripping and falling off the long bar counters, and several times she had tumbled awkwardly and heavily to the floor. The patrons don't accept her clumsiness well, because they are embarrassed to see one of the girls as needing even if momentarily the milk of human kindness. It's a mood killer. Although Marvella blames the tripping on customers poking her with dollar bills and upsetting her balance, Mrs. Robertson the club owner, sees it different. Mrs. Roberston, an ex-dancer herself here at the strip club, blames Marvella's falls on Marvella's nearsightedness, lack of coordination; and in her 30 day review warned Marvella she is about to be sacked from her job. This job for Marvella is destined to be another in a history of short term employments.

Marvella is sitting in the strip club this morning and is reading a fax she received a few minutes ago. Mrs. Robertson, the club owner watches Marvella as she reads the facsimile. Mrs. Robertson has read the fax and she is happy for Marvella. Mrs. Robertson has of course head of Mr. Sophia, the wealthy businessman who sent the fax to Marvella. Mrs. Robertson assumes Mr. Sophia is an admirer and suitor from afar of Marvella and feels relief that the dancer she is about to let go; maybe by a stroke of luck, caught the eye of a wealthy patron of the club.

Marvella asks Mrs. Robertson for permission to meet with the customer and asks Mrs. Robertson her opinion on the matter. Mrs. Robertson is paternal with all her dancers but especially so with girls like Marvella, who is a lost sheep. As a precaution Mrs. Robertson asks the bouncer Bo-Fly to keep an eye on the meeting between Mr. Sophia and Marvella. Mrs. Robertson offers Marvella use her office for the meeting.

Marvella fax's Mr. Sophia back, confirming that a meeting at 8PM tonight is fine.

end act 1 scene 1