Scene 4

The orchestra segues from "Isn't It Incredible?" to a wild accelerated rendition of "Doing La Conga". A conga line of SERVICEMEN and GIRLS appear in one led by JOLENE. DIXIE ANN is further back. Behind her is BUZZ NORDLANDER, a very thin, bespectacled soldier.
JOLENE
                                         Down in Rio de Janeiro,
                                         Every señorita and caballero
                                         Is doin'
                                         La Conga!

                                         If you go to Venezuela,
                                         Every butcher, baker, soldier, sailor
                                         Is doin'
                                         La Conga!

 Da-da-da-da-dum-dum,
 Da-da-da-da-dum-dum
 That's the way you do the dance;
 Da-da-da-da-dum-dum,
 Da-da-da-da-dum-dum
 It's your ticket to romance!

 So while the moon is shinin' above---
 Come do La Conga!
 La Conga!
 And you are bound to find love!
 

(THEY dance off stage left. Curtains part and we are in the USO that same night. Upstage left is a small civilian BAND. On the right hand side we have a table with a coffee urn and plates of sandwiches. The conga line dances on from the left as the orchestra builds to a smashing crescendo. The song over, a breathless JOLENE heads for one of the chairs along the side wall.)
JOLENE
This is too much for an old married lady.

YOUNG SOLDIER

My old married lady should only look like you.

JOLENE

Flatterer. Do you any of you handsome gentlemen have a cigarette?

                                                           (Each pulls out a pack at the same time.)

JOLENE

Eeeny…meany…miney…mo… I'll take a Lucky. Lucky Strike Green Has Gone to War. Every time I hear that slogan I keep wonderin' why white is a more patriotic color than green, don't you? (SHE takes one from one of the Sailors as DIXIE ANN approaches with BUZZ.)
DIXIE ANN
Honey, you remember Buzz Nordlander. He's Margaret Casey's grandson.

BUZZ

I lived behind you when I was in the ninth grade.

JOLENE

                                                           (trying hard to remember)
Why, Buzz Nordlander…

DIXIE ANN

He was down from Philadelphia. His parents were gettin' divorced.

BUZZ

I heard what you said about Lucky Strike green. You see green dye contains metals needed for the war effort.

JOLENE

I remember now. You were the boy who always had his hand up and always knew all the answers in Mama's economics class. Are you visitin' your grandma?

DIXIE ANN

That's the funny thing. He just happens to be stationed at Ft. Bragg.

JOLENE

Well, I declare!

                                                           (The band begins "True Romance".)

DIXIE ANN

Dance with him Jolene. He confessed to me he used to have the most terrible crush on you.

JOLENE

                                                           (to Buzz)
Oh, honey, I would love to! But I am exhausted.

DIXIE ANN

Come, Buzz. I'll dance with you.

FIRST SAILOR

That there's my favorite song.

SECOND SAILOR

Come on, Mrs. Halligan.

JOLENE

You boys go and find some partner your own age. I'm not used to so much excitement.

YOUNG SOLDIER

Aw, come on, Jolene. (SHE shakes her head. BOYS go in search of others as HANDSOME SAILOR suddenly appears before her. Dressed in a tight navy sailor's uniform, he is approximately the same age as Jolene, and he is absolutely gorgeous. Without saying a word, HE takes the cigarette from her hand, stamps it out on the floor, then leads her by the arm to the dance floor. SHE is too speechless to protest. THEY begin a slow dance, his holding her close to him. HE begins to sing in an excellent baritone, just like in the movies.)
HANDSOME SAILOR
                                            In a crowded room,
                                            On a busy street,
                                            You don't know why,
                                            But your eyes will meet.
                                            And soon you're floating
                                            In some magic dance---
                                            That's true romance,
                                            That's true romance. (The OTHERS continue to dance, but, unlike the movies, are amazed
 at his suddenly bursting into song like that. DIXIE ANN, who is dancing with BUZZ, cannot believe her eyes. BUZZ regards the Handsome Sailor with deep envy.)
HANDSOME SAILOR
                                           On a lonely road,
                                           A deserted square,
                                           You look up and see
                                           He is standing there.
                                           And soon you're certain
                                           By his loving glance,
                                           It's true romance,
                                           It's true romance.

                                           You think it's perfectly grand
                                           When he says "hello";
                                           You find he's taking your hand
                                           And will never let go,
                                           He'll never let go.

                                           Such things that happen
                                           Are never by chance---
                                           It's true romance,
                                           It's true romance.

(JOLENE melts in his arms as THEY dance closer and closer. OTHER COUPLES now dance in front of them. When the music stops, JOLENE and HANDSOME SAILOR have disappeared. DIXIE ANN excuses herself, leaves Buzz and searches the room. SHE approaches a GIRL.)
DIXIE ANN
Violet, have you seen my sister? (GIRL shakes her head. A look of delighted surprise comes over DIXIE ANN's face.)
 
LIGHTS SLOWLY DIM