Daily Dialogue — May 31, 2012
DOROTHY: Excuse me, I’m wondering if you can help me? I’m looking for the Russian Tea Room.
GEORGE: This is the Russian Tea Room.
DOROTHY: Oh, my stars, so it is. This is really embarrassing.
GEORGE: (slightly nervous) Yeah… well… this is it.
He goes in. Dorothy sweeps in after him.
INT. RUSSIAN TEA ROOM — DAY — GEORGE & DOROTHY
George sits at a table. A beat, and Dorothy sits next to him.
GEORGE: (startled) What the hell is this?
DOROTHY: Do you mind awfully? I’m new in town and I’m wondering if you’d buy me lunch.
GEORGE: (rising) Waiter!
DOROTHY: Oh, let’s not order yet.
Dorothy gently cups George’s buttocks.
GEORGE: Are you crazy?
DOROTHY: (in Michael’s voice) It’s Michael, you schmuck.
There is a long pause. George sits down slowly.
GEORGE: Jesus, I begged you to get some therapy.
DOROTHY: You also told me nobody would hire me again.
GEORGE: You think this is going to change anything?
DOROTHY: I’ve got a soap, George. I’m the new Woman Administrator on “Southwest General.” I almost didn’t get the part. They thought I was too feminine.
GEORGE: You’ll never get away with this.
DOROTHY: I GOT away with it, look around.
GEORGE: You’re psychotic.
They stop talking as a WAITER appears.
WAITER: Something from the bar?
GEORGE: A double vodka. Quick!
WAITER: And the lady?
DOROTHY: Dubonnet, with a twist.
— Dorothy (Dustin Hoffman), George (Sydney Pollack), Waiter (Tobin Bell), Tootsie (1982), screenplay by Murray Schisgal and Larry Gelbart, story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is lies, suggested by BillieJeanVK. Today’s suggestion by The Bark Bites Back.
Trivia: Writer Larry Gelbart once said that he did not meet the other writers on this project until they were on stage together collecting their awards.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from TBBB:
What is great about this is George mistakes Michael for being a woman, Dorothy. When “Dorothy” acts ignorant of her surroundings, George is slightly taken aback — you’re here! This is the place!
When Dorothy then sits down at the same table as George, he objects, asking if she’s crazy — this following his initial reaction to her outside.
When Michael reveals himself as Dorothy, George sincerely believes he’s crazy, that he begged him to get therapy and that he’ll never get away with it. No sooner said than the Waiter shows up and takes his order, then asks “And for the lady?”
Not only has Michael fooled George, but he’s proving he will, in fact, get away with it — the kicker being the drink he orders, a dobennet, with a twist.
Of course the scene continues to play out as acquaintances of George show up providing further fodder for Michael.
All in all, a classic scene built around the context of a lie and whether or not Michael will get away with it.
What TBBB said!
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