SUMMARY
Dana's days are numbered as a Playboy Bunny. Back in the Lake Geneva area she rides her horse by the old Club J-Mar and imagines transforming the bar into the Sugar Shack. She was discouraged from buying the club, but after being fired as a Bunny, Dana went ahead, bought the bar and began to transform it. After being mentioned by Wally Phillips on his radio show opening night at the Sugar Shack was an initial success.
TEN 1-HOUR EPISODE LIMITED SERIES - EPISODE #5
Dana returns to work without any further incidents involving Richard.
Dana returns to work without any further incidents involving
Richard.
DANA (V.O.)
Richard was not the only VIP to be
thrown out of the club. He was
supposed to be a dangerous man with
possible connections to organized
crime, but he never threatened or
bothered me again after that
incident. I continued working long
hours and making good money.
Eventually I was able to buy my
first brand new car, a white
Pontiac Bonneville convertible.
Back in Lake Geneva I fell in love
with and bought an expensive but
beautiful white Arabian Stallion,
and named him Cass.
EXT. LAKE GENEVA COUNTRYSIDE - SOME MONTHS LATER
Dana is riding Cass in the open Lake Geneva countryside,
smartly dressed in white sharkskin hip-huggers and a low-cut
top, Cass and Dana make an attractive couple.
DANA (V.O.)
Together we rode through the serene
Lake Geneva countryside. One
afternoon, while riding just
outside of the city of Lake Geneva,
we passed by the old Club J-Mar.
EXT. CLUB J-MAR
Dana dismounts, ties up Cass, and meanders over to take a
closer look at the old boarded-up building.
She looks inside, after pulling aside a loose board, and
imagines owning a renovated Club J-Mar; her very own
nightclub.
DANA (V.O.)
I dismounted, tied up Cass, and
walked over to the old boarded-up
building. The scene inside seemed
to be a moment from the past frozen
in time. Cobwebbed glasses were
still on tables with chairs
surrounding a dusty dance floor.
There were bottles on the backbar
still filled with liquor. I pushed
aside another board and forced my
way inside.
INT. CLUB J-MAR
Inside, Dana walks around dreaming of turning the old bar
into her nightclub.
DANA (V.O.)
Once inside I could see that a
party of some sort marked the last
night the old Club J-Mar was in
business. Everything was covered
with a thick untouched dusty-white
haze. The temperature was cool and
the atmosphere dreamlike. The
building and furniture seemed to be
in reasonably good condition. It
couldn't cost much to buy this old
building. Just then, the name for
MY club came to me on the tail of
an old memory.
EXT. CHICAGO LOOP - PLANETARIUM (1960)
Darryl and Dana are young lovers parked at the lakefront
listening to the radio which was tuned to WLS.
DICK BIONDI (O.S.)
Dick Biondi here with one of the
hottest songs going, "Sugar Shack,"
by Jimmy Gilmore and the Fireballs.
The song plays for a while.
DANA
What a great name for a nightclub!
DARRYL
What are you talking about?
DANA
Sugar Shack. That song we just
heard on the radio. It would make a
great name for a club. You know, a
cozy place where everybody could go
to spend a sweet night of fun and
frolic. The Sugar Shack. I love it!
INT. CLUB J-MAR
DANA (V.O.)
I had the name and I had the
building. Before deciding to buy
the old Club J-Mar I wanted some
advice on what it would cost to fix
it up so I arranged for a local
carpenter to judge what it would
take to make the necessary
renovations.
The next day the carpenter stops by to give his evaluation
of the property.
DANA
So, what do you think?
CARPENTER
This place is a disaster. Every
joint is weak. You'd be crazy to
pay a single dollar for this
building. Now, you could tear it
down and start over, but that would
cost a small fortune.
DANA
Oh no . . . you can't be serious.
CARPENTER
I'm afraid so. I could use the
business but I'd hate to see you
throw good money after bad. Anyway,
you know where to reach me.
DANA
Thanks for coming out.
Dana decides about buying the Club J-Mar.
DANA (V.O.)
I brought some friends over to look
at the building. No one thought it
was a good idea to move ahead with
buying the building. I couldn't
shake the feeling that I was doing
the right thing despite the lack of
encouragement. I decided that if I
could get my husband to agree to
work with me I could make a go of
it. Although we had been estranged
for months, his mother told me
where I could find him.
INT. DARRYL'S APARTMENT
Darryl is shacked up with an old hooker and has been on a
bender for days. He drags himself to the door to respond to
Dana's repeated knocking.
DANA
Darryl, are you in there, it's
Dana. I want to talk to you.
DARRYL
What the hell are you doing here?
DANA
Get dressed, there's something we
need to discuss.
DARRYL
Listen, Dana, if it's about money .
. .
Dana turns her back and waits outside the door for Darryl to
get dressed. He
opens the door and steps into the hallway.
DANA
Let's find a restaurant so we can
talk.
DARRYL
Let's find a bar so we can talk!
INT. NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
Dana and Darryl are sitting in a booth.
Drinks are being served, Darryl's having a beer, Dana
coffee.
DANA
Look, bygones are bygones. Let's
say we put everything behind us as
of today and start over. I found
this bar up in Lake Geneva and I
want to buy it. I believe we can
get our marriage back on track. If
you feel that way too, then come
with me and see the building--see
what you think. It needs renovating
but we could work on it together.
Just think, we'd have our own
business!
Darryl pauses to quickly process Dana's proposal, then
responds.
DARRYL
Well Dana . . . it might be worth a
try.
DANA
Alright. You go home and in a few
days I'll pick you up and we'll
drive to Lake Geneva.
EXT. RURAL WISCONSIN ROAD
Darryl and Dana drive up to the old Club J-Mar along Highway
H just outside of Lake Geneva.
Along the way they get into a number of personal issues
festering under the surface.
DARRYL
So, I suppose you have your pick of
guys at the Playboy Club.
DANA
Well, being a Playboy Bunny does
mean something, Darryl.
DARRYL
I know that's true. About your
club, what are you going to name
it, again?
DANA
Don't you remember . . . that day
down by the lake front . . . we
were parked near the Planetarium
and listening to the radio . . .
that song came on, you know, "Sugar
Shack" and I told you I thought it
would make a great name for a
nightclub.
DARRYL
That's right . . . you did say
that, didn't you?
EXT. CLUB J-MAR (1966)
Dana and Darryl drive up to the old building.
They get out of the car and approach, then enter the
building.
Darryl looks around and begins to share Dana's passion to
realize her dream to own her own nightclub.
DARRYL
Do you really think it could work,
Dana? It would be quite an
adventure, wouldn't it . . . and
I'd be back with the kids. You know
I've always loved you . . .
Dana cringes inside. So many nights she'd cried herself to
sleep hoping to hear those words.
DANA
I've never stopped loving you
either, Darryl.
Darryl agrees to help Dana with the club.
DANA (V.O.)
With Darryl ready to give our
marriage another try and willing to
work with me to renovate the Club
J-Mar, I didn't hesitate to buy the
building. I kept working for
Playboy during the week. Darryl got
a job and even started visiting me
at the Playboy Club. We spent the
weekends in Lake Geneva getting our
Sugar Shack ready to open. We
shared our first real Christmas
together as a family with feelings
for each other. Darryl toasted in
the new year of 1966 with only one
glass of champagne. This was going
to be our year. Our family would
stay together, the Sugar Shack
would open, and I would continue to
supplement our income by working
for Playboy. That was the plan . .
. until disaster struck!
INT. PLAYBOY CLUB (1967)
Dana is back working a night shift after the holidays when
Toni LeMay, the Bunny Mother, finds Dana, hands her a list,
and gives her some nervous instructions.
TONI LEMAY
Dana, track down all the Bunnies on
this list and make sure they stay
late for an after-hours meeting.
DANA
What's this about? No one's going
to be happy about hanging around
after 4 A.M. unless it's something
important.
TONI LEMAY
Just be there . . . by the way
you're on the list too.
Dana soon shows the list to another BUNNY on the list.
BUNNY
We're getting fired, aren't we?
DANA
Are you out of your mind? They
wouldn't fire fifteen of us at one
time . . . in the middle of the
night . . . would they?
INT. PLAYBOY CLUB - MEETING ROOM
Toni LeMay looks up at Dana from behind her desk--
emotionless.
TONI LEMAY
It's over, Dana.
Looking at the group.
TONI LEMAY
(continuing)
I can't save any of you. The
official reason is that all of you
are too old. We're going to have
only really young kids on the floor
from now on.
Looking at Dana.
TONI LEMAY
(continuing)
This is not easy for me, especially
with you, Dana.
The Bunnies are in shock and Dana is crying.
DANA
Will I ever be able to come back.
TONI LEMAY
No, I'm afraid not.
Dana's anguish turns to rage.
DANA
This was deceitful and wrong--after
all we've done for Playboy. Toni,
mark my words, when this Playboy
Club no longer exists, Dana Montana
will be famous for a club that she
owns and operates!
Dana and the other Bunnies are fired.
DANA (V.O.)
We were upset and stunned as we
gathered our things and left the
Chicago Playboy Club for the last
time. The firings were big news. I
was interviewed for newspaper
articles and by Wally Phillips from
WGN Radio. My dream of opening the
Sugar Shack was set back, but not
shattered. I found another cocktail
waitress job in the Loop and
finally we were ready for opening
night.
ACT III
INT. SUGAR SHACK (1966)
Dana, Darryl, and the staff are making final preparations
for opening night.
Down to their final penny, Darryl takes some returnable soda
bottles back in order to buy cigarettes while Dana touches
up the final coat of varnish on the bar.
DANA
Darryl, here's two more bottles.
Remember, get me a pack of Camels.
DARRYL
Alright, is there anything else we
need?
DANA
No, that I think we're ready . . .
ready as we'll ever be. I'm going
to check the varnish on the bar,
just to make sure it's dry.
DARRYL
Did you hear from Wally Phillips
yet?
DANA
No, but he owes me one after the
interview I gave him in January
over the Bunny firings.
DARRYL
Yeah, but that was news . . . this
is business.
DANA
I know, but I've got a feeling
he'll give us a plug.
DARRYL
Anyway, being Memorial Day weekend
there sure are a lot of Chicago
people in Lake Geneva celebrating.
A few of them might find their way
here if they heard about us on the
radio.
DANA
That's what I'm hoping.
Four hours later it's time to open the doors to the Lake
Geneva Sugar Shack.
DARRYL
Look outside, Dana, there must be
50 people already in line!
Dana takes her position at the door, prepares to check ID's
and take a modest cover fee.
Everything is ready and the Sugar Shack opens its doors for
the first time.
One CUSTOMER recognizes Dana and speaks to her as he pays
the cover.
CUSTOMER
So, you're Bunny Dana . . . yeah,
Wally Phillips said you were in
business for yourself and that we
should stop by.
DANA
Yep, that's me . . . former Bunny
Dana Montana. Well, I'm going to
have to thank Wally Phillips the
next time I talk to him.
CUSTOMER 2
Dana, what band will be playing
tonight?
DANA
Tom Thumb and the Three Fingers,
have you heard of them?
CUSTOMER 2
Sure have!
DANA
And to spice things up we've got a
couple of gorgeous GO-GO Girls.
INT. INSIDE SUGAR SHACK
Dana opens the club but struggles to make ends meet.
DANA (V.O.)
Our opening night was a success.
The band and the Go-Go Girls were a
hit. Darryl and I made a good team.
He managed the bar area and I
worked the crowd. He even had a
theatrical sense of humor that was
on display at the club. In the
weeks that followed our opening,
Darryl would don a Batman cape and
perform some dance antics on stage
whenever the band played the song,
"Batman." Throughout the rest of
the summer of 1966 business was
booming, the bills were paid, and
some money was banked, but not
enough to carry us through the lean
winter months. Lake Geneva was a
summer resort community and there
weren't enough local residents to
support most businesses during the
long winter months. When business
began to fade, so did Darryl,
taking a job in Chicago and
disappearing back into his bottle.
I took a job as a supermarket
checker, just to keep food on the
table. To compound our problems, I
became pregnant with our third
child during the better days over
the summer which further stretched
our meager resources. Somehow I
made it to spring and with the
opening of the 1967 tourist season
the Sugar Shack was back in
business once again. Rock bands
were packing them in over the
summer of '67. Lake Geneva always
attracted large numbers of tourists
over the Fourth of July, many of
whom were unruly college students
whipped into a frenzy by current
events creating social unrest
during the turbulent '60s. This was
the decade of President Kennedy's
election and assassination, the
Berlin Wall, Russian space
advances, the Civil Rights Movement
and the Cuban missile crisis, the
Freedom March on Washington,
bell-bottoms, the pill, smoking
pot, and burn-the-bra
demonstrations as as women became
more militant in seeking rights
that the men in our society took
for granted. The Civil Rights Act
of 1963 carried a woman's rights
rider. Marilyn Monroe is found dead
in 1962 and the President's
Commission makes public the needs
of women in American society. Betty
Friedan's best-selling book, The
Feminine Mystique, implanted the
possibility of equal-rights change
in the minds of millions of
American women. The Vietnam War had
escalated by 1967 and involved over
250,000 American soldiers as
combatants in the most unpopular
war in history. Demonstrations were
taking place all over the country.
The riots in Lake Geneva in the
summer of '67 were inspired by an
entire nation writhing from
political and social unrest. The
Sugar Shack was poised to ride the
crest of a tidal wave of cultural
transition to a new horizon of
entertainment that was destined to
make a strong social statement.
DANA (V.O.)
(continuing)
The bad press hurt tourism for the
rest of the summer. Business
suffered and by the time I closed
the Sugar Shack for the winter I
was down to my last dollar. It was
another scrape-by off season but
there was something to look forward
to. In the spring, Playboy was
planning to open a club and resort
complex in Lake Geneva. Every
business in the area, including the
Sugar Shack, stood to benefit. I
was intimately familiar with the
Playboy Club conventioneer
clientele that began dropping in to
visit the Sugar Shack. As expected,
they wanted more, or should I say
less, from our Go-Go Girl
entertainment. Under lots of
pressure, I agreed to let the
dancers go topless. Because of the
Playboy spin-off revenues I was
able to keep the Sugar Shack open
on a shortened weekend schedule
longer into the winter months, but
by March my finances were seriously
strained. I decided to seek a loan.
INT. LAKE GENEVA BANK
Dana is sloshing through the snow up to the bank's front
door.
She enters the warm building and believes that on the
strength of her business and it's role in the community
economy there is a good chance she will get a much-needed
loan from the BANK LOAN OFFICER she'll have to deal with.
BANK LOAN OFFICER
Yes, Ms. Montana, what can I do for
you? Please, have a seat.
DANA
As you may know, I'm a customer at
your bank. I own and operate the
Sugar Shack nightclub just outside
of town.
BANK LOAN OFFICER
Yes, I'm aware of that.
The loan officer rolls his eyes in a subtle gesture of
judgmental disgust.
DANA
Well, I'm sure you're also aware
that any business operating in the
Lake Geneva area is hit hard during
the long winter off season.
BANK LOAN OFFICER
That is certainly true.
DANA
I've been in operation for two
years and I brought financial
statements to show you that the
business is sound based on summer
revenues.
BANK LOAN OFFICER
May I take a look at those.
Dana hands them over.
DANA
This time of year my operating
budget reaches rock bottom. I'd
like to apply for a $3,500 loan for
a three to six-month period. I
should have no problem repaying the
loan by September.
The loan officer just sits quietly, listening with a cold
blank expression on his face.
BANK LOAN OFFICER
Miss Montana . . . I understand you
have three small children and you
are separated from your husband. I
think I've also been told that you
are presenting topless dancers in
your club. Miss Montana, I can
assure you that the board of
directors of this bank would take a
very dim view of my lending their
money out to someone like you. No .
. . no, Miss Montana, you are just
not the kind of person that we
consider a good risk. To be honest
, I just don't think you're going
to make it in our business
community.
Dana is becoming visibly upset.
DANA
You don't understand. I'm good for
the money . . . and I really need
it badly. I just need your help for
a couple of months . . . please
help me.
BANK LOAN OFFICER
It's a closed issue. Under no
circumstances could I possibly
approve such a loan request.
Dana becomes visibly angry.
DANA
Now, you listen to me. I've worked
hard all my life to make an honest
living and I won't be talked to
like some street bum. I am going to
make it in this town and when I do
you'll never see a penny of my
money at this bank . . . and it may
amount to millions . . . millions,
do you hear me!
The loan officer is visibly shaken by Dana's outburst.
DANA
(continuing)
And, if I make enough money I'm
going to buy this bank just to fire
your ass, DO YOU HEAR ME!
Dana stands up and pounds on his desk.
DANA
(continuing)
Furthermore, I'm closing all of my
accounts as of today.
Dana turns to leave with tears streaming down her face.
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