Dawn of the Dead (er) - The Dance Remix

ACT ONE

SUE and DAWN arrive at J'Adore dance studio fifteen minutes before Salsa Burn class. DAWN is wearing a bright pink shirt and leggings. She smiles while watching the Pilates class finish their stretching. SUE is not wearing pink. Nor is she smiling. Aside from Sue's dark mood, the studio is bright and cool.

DAWN: (points to cover of Men's Health Magazine featuring Kellan Lutz): Hot!
SUE: The next word that comes out of your mouth better be some brilliant (expletive) Mark Twain (expletive). Cause it's definitely going on your tombstone.
DAWN: (looking surprised): Really? You can't still be mad at me for dragging you to last week's class. That's crazy!
SUE: (stands and whispers in Dawn's ear): We all go a little mad sometimes... Haven't you?

(Cut to previous night's Dance Hall montage. Cue Rihanna music. Dawn glimpses sight of herself in mirror. Shudders. Fade out.)

Perky, blonde Salsa instructor KASHA takes to the floor and immediately launches into Latin dance warm-up. DAWN smiles as the steps appear to come more naturally than previous weeks. SUE is not smiling.

SUE: 1, 2, "Sue" is coming for you...
DAWN: (mops sweat off brow with the back of her hand) Coming? Coming where? To class next week? Awesome! I knew you'd love it.
SUE: 3, 4, better lock the door
DAWN: (squats and sways hips side to side): Didn't you hear the beep? We locked the car doors.
SUE: 5, 6, grab your crucifix
DAWN: (circles hips around, and around...) No, I'm ok. I'm sore from Dance Hall last night but not quite begging for help from a higher power. (pops hips side, front, side, and back) How are you feeling?
SUE: 7, 8, Better stay up late.
DAWN: (pops chest to the front, to the back, to the front) Are you kidding? I'm traveling 12 hours tomorrow. Early to bed for me.
SUE: 9, 10 never sleep again.
DAWN: (finished warm up and takes a long drink) Nah. I can't do all nighters anymore. Getting too old.


ACT 2

KASHA turns up the volume on the stereo and begins Salsa movements. DAWN seems to be keeping up with the steps that have become more natural now. Twilight descends over the studio. (Nobody sparkles.)

DAWN: (whispers to Natalie in row ahead) I'm so sore from Dance Hall. (Natalie smiles and nods. Her reply is drowned out by the music.) I wasn't sure I could get out of bed after that workout. I almost cried.
SUE: No tears please. It's a waste of good suffering.

KASHA hands floor over to MEL who announces she will be leading the class through some random steps in time with the World Cup theme song by Shakira. DAWN smiles - she secretly longs to *be* Shakira. (Cut to Shakira dance montage. Fade back to studio.) MEL introduces four new steps - they look fun. They are not easy. SUE fixes DAWN with murderous glare.

DAWN: (shrugs) Let's give it a try. Should be challenging, right?
SUE: A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.
DAWN: (shaky laugh) Uh, good one.

Shakira song ends. Class claps and compliments MEL on her improvisation. KASHA launches into Cha Cha steps.

DAWN: Nobody puts baby in a corner.
SUE: che che che che, ha ha ha. Che che che, che, ha, ha , ha
DAWN: I love how I'm starting to understand this. It's an amazing workout when you're actually doing it.
SUE: che che, che, che. Ha, ha, ha.
DAWN: (frowning at mirror) But I still don't think I'm doing the arms right.
SUE: Che, che, che, che. Ha, ha, ha.
DAWN: Are you saying something? It's not "ha" - it's CHA.
SUE: che che, che, che, ha, ha, CHA.

KASHA completes several Latin dance routines. DAWN is proud of the relative fluidity of her hip movements, and has even tried timing the arms. Her chest is slightly puffed out with pride. Sweat is pouring from her skin. She has almost polished off her second bottle of water. With 15 minutes left in class, she is confident she will survive the night. KASHA announces she will lead two intense exercise moves before stretching. One will focus on the abdominals. The other on the glutes. SUE fixes DAWN with a murderous glare.

SUE: (grins, though not in a happy way, but more in a Jack Nicholson, Shining, way): What an excellent day for an exorcism.
DAWN: (grunting through first full song of ab crunch things) I am so glad you're going to do something about that attitude. I know you're having fun! Go ahead, exorcise that gloom away.

(Cut to montage of fun things. Like hot baths. Chocolate. Stopping to smell the flowers.)

ACT 3

SUE and DAWN stagger toward SUE'S locked vehicle. DAWN is sore and sweaty, but she is smiling.

DAWN: So, any premonitions?
SUE: I see dead people.
DAWN: (scans the parking lot. Waves to new dance friends.) Where? Here?
SUE fixes DAWN with murderous glare.
DAWN: Oh! Me! You still want to kill me?
SUE: (grins) Be afraid. Be very afraid.

To be continued....

The Book In My Bag Today: Kindred in Death, J.D. Robb