(We find BIRDLACE, BOLAND, BERNSTEIN, FECTOR, and GIBBS in a prostitute’s

dingy room. Milk crates as chairs. A “sleeping” area hidden, perhaps by a bed sheet
hung up like a curtain. STEVENS emerges from the hidden room, having just had his
turn, smug and self-satisfied.)

STEVENS
Who’s next?

(BERNSTEIN salutes.)

BERNSTEIN
How was it?

STEVENS
Best she ever had.

(CHIPPY enters, donning a threadbare robe. She is tired. She’s had it with
servicemen tonight.)

BERNSTEIN
(formal, polite)
Good evening, I’m Bernstein.

CHIPPY
Okay, listen sweetheart, I hate to do this, but I gotta change our plans.

BERNSTEIN
How do you mean?

CHIPPY
It’s been a long night. A girl can only take so much, you know.

BOLAND
You kidding with this shit?

CHIPPY
You don’t like it, there’s the fuckin’ door.

STEVENS
(slaps CHIPPY’s ass)
Make ‘em and break ‘em, what can I say?

BERNSTEIN
We’re United States Marines, Ma’am. Can’t you make a little exception?

CHIPPY
Not tonight.
 BERNSTEIN
(getting worked up)
But tonight’s all I got. I can’t go over there a– a–
(BOLAND gives BERNSTEIN a private word of encouragement. Then BERNSTEIN
turns back to CHIPPY.)
I’m gonna do it if it kills me.

CHIPPY
Not with me, you ain’t.

BIRDLACE
(intervenes)
Let’s go, Bernstein, we’ll find you one who will.

BERNSTEIN
I’m ready now! C’mon, it’s not fair: we got money, we got plenty.

(BERNSTEIN crowds CHIPPY, in her face.)

It’s no big deal, just one more –

CHIPPY
Watch it, peanut.
(Now, BERNSTEIN grabs her.)
Hey!

(BERNSTEIN is determined, unwilling to fail in front of his friends.)

BERNSTEIN
You give it out all the time, no problem. So, what, you think you can just jerk me around–

CHIPPY
Listen you little piece of–

BERNSTEIN
(throws her towards the bed)
I’m not a little anything.

BIRDLACE
Bernstein–

CHIPPY
Get your paws off–

BIRDLACE
Hey–
 BOLAND
He asked you nice–

BIRDLACE
(pulls BERNSTEIN off her)
Enough!

(Everyone freezes. CHIPPY surveys the room. Six MARINES. She’s obviously
outnumbered.)

CHIPPY
Okay. Okay.
(to BERNSTEIN)
Just you. Fifty bucks.

BOLAND
(to BERNSTEIN, fraternal)
You take your time now.

BERNSTEIN
Semper Fi, Do or Die.