success!

(NORA doesn't wait for one, she throws open the doors. Music starts as a flood of PATRONS come parading into the gallery. They cheer and chatter as they crowd inside, tossing their coats, hats, and handbags into the ASSISTANT'S arms. Some of them head straight to the paintings, others head to the bar, still others spark up enthusiastic conversations. Leading the parade is TIMOTHY in a Castro hat, beard, aviator sunglasses, neck scarf, T-shirt, and blazer, tight, pegged jeans with wallet chain, and Vans. His ENTOURAGE follows closely behind him, as always dressed the same.)

TIMOTHY                AREN'T JAIR NEWMAN'S PAINTINGS SOMETHING, THOUGH? 

COMPANY            OH YES, OH YES, OH YES! 

TIMOTHY             AND ISN'T CHARLES' GALLERY THE NEW PLACE TO GO?

COMPANY            THE BEST, THE BEST, THE BEST!

TIMOTHY             IF YOU EVER DOUBTED CHARLES' REBOUNDING

COMPANY            CONFESS! CONFESS! CONFESS!

TIMOTHY             'CAUSE ALL IN ALL YOU MUST AGREE THIS OPENING'S

COMPANY            A SUCCESS! A SUCCESS! A SUCCESS!

CHARLES              Timothy! How good of you to come.

TIMOTHY             (They shake hands as if meeting for the first time.) I wouldn't miss it, Charles.

                                    Congratulations. This Jair Newman person is amazing.

                                    And your new gallery is already the center of the world.

CHARLES              No thanks to you. 

TIMOTHY             I call them like I see them, Charles. 

                                    (He winks as CHARLES, laughing,  turns to chat with some PATRONS. TIMOTHY talks with his ENTOURAGE. While this is happening, NORA is sitting at the bar chatting with a MYSTERIOUS MAN with a thick beard. He's wearing a hat and dark sunglasses. They seem to be getting along very well.)

NORA                       DOESN'T JAIR NEWMAN HAVE A GENTLE TOUCH?

COMPANY            A CARESS! CARESS! CARESS!

NORA                       HIS LINES ARE THICK AND SENSUOUS, HIS COLORS RICH.

COMPANY            NOTHING  LESS! NOTHING LESS! NOTHING LESS!

NORA                       MOM, I KNOW THAT IF YOU WERE ALIVE TODAY,

COMPANY            MAY YOU REST! MAY YOU REST! MAY YOU REST!

NORA                       YOU'D SAY, "CONGRATULATIONS, HONEY, HE'S A MARVELLOUS BOY."

COMPANY            HE'S A SUCCESS! A SUCCESS! A SUCCESS!

                                    (Just then, AMANDA rushes in. She pauses and gives her coat to the                                                                                                          obviously overburdened ASSISTANT, scanning the scene. TIMOTHY sees her.)

TIMOTHY             (warm) Amanda? I didn't expect to see you again.

AMANDA                (looking around, astonished) Timothy! Wow. What's going on here?

                                    What is all this? I've never heard of this, how do you say it? Jair—

TIMOTHY             Newman. His mother was Turkish and his father was a Jew. 

                                    No one's ever heard of him. (conpiratorially) As soon as I found him, 

                                    I talked Charles into taking a risk on him.  Can you believe it?

                                    This gallery opening is his first show on the West Coast.

AMANDA                Impressive. What a warm reception.

TIMOTHY             (winking) I guess word travels fast. Have a crab cake?

AMANDA                (smiling, standing next to him) I'd love one.

T & A                         RAISE YOUR GLASSES! 

                                    THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT.

                                    RAISE YOUR GLASSES, 

                                    THE FUTURE'S TONIGHT. TONIGHT!

CHARLES              DOESN'T JAIR NEWMAN HAVE A SPECIAL GIFT?

COMPANY            HE'S BLESSED! HE'S BLESSED! HE'S BLESSED!

CHARLES              HOW QUICKLY HE'S BECOME A MASTER OF HIS CRAFT. 

COMPANY            WE'RE IMPRESSED! WE'RE IMPRESSED! WE'RE IMPRESSED!

CHARLES              AFTER THAT ORDEAL WITH MY LAST GALLERY

COMPANY            WHAT A MESS! WHAT A MESS! WHAT A MESS!

CHARLES              I THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HELPING THIS TO BE

COMPANY            A SUCCESS, A SUCCESS, A SUC—

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