Date with a Mannequin
By Katie

Disclaimer: the only character that is mine is Jackie Hildebrand and myself. The Laverne and Shirley characters are the property of Gary Marshall and the characters of Juan and Carmen are property of Gabe Kaplan and the Welcome Back Kotter people. (The idea to make them little kids is mine) I also don't know a thing about window dressing so bare with me.

Summary: After a month of working temp jobs, the girls find permanent employment as window dressers at Bloomingdales.

Setting: March 10, 1967
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, The Girls' apartment

Shirley: C'mon Laverne, hurry up, we're gonna be late.

Laverne: I'm comin Shirl, I'm almost done sewing an L on my uniform.

Shirley: Well hurry up!

Laverne: We have plenty of time, I set the clocks back an hour so we'd get there an hour early.

Shirley: (trying to stay calm) Laverne, I want you to stop and think about what you just said.

Laverne: We're not going to be late Shirl. We ARE late! C'mon let's go!

They leave and lock the door behind them and run down the stairs out the door and down the steps, passing Katie and Carmen sitting on Juan.

Two girls: Hi Laverne Hi Shirley

Laverne and Shirley: Hi Katie Hi Carmen

Boy: Hey would you get these two off of me! They're crushing my spleen!

Shirley: (stopping in her tracks) Why are you two sitting on that boy?

Katie: He likes it.

Carmen: He owes us money

Laverne: C'mon Shirl, we're late, they'll still be sitting on him when we get home.

They reach the subway, run down a couple flights of stairs, pay for the train and go through the turnstile. The number 3 train arrives and they get on and head for the city. When they get to their stop, they run up the stairs and tear down the street and into the store. Their supervisor looks at her watch and shakes her head.

Jackie: Well late employees are better than no employees are at all. Laverne, Shirley? Number 4 train right? It can be a real pain sometimes; You're a little late It's no big deal, just be careful not to make it a habit K?

Laverne: (shocked at how cool this woman was being) Okay, you got it.

Shirley: Sorry about being late. Um Miss.

Jackie: Just call me Jackie, In this store we're all on a first name basis. Not like at Bardwells. Is Mr. Hildebrand still stuffy?

Shirley: I shouldn't really say...I

Laverne: Yes.

Shirley: Laverne? (Shocked)

Jackie: It's okay Shirley, I worked there for 3 years before moving back East. I know what he was like.

Laverne: Admit it Shirl, he was a real pain.

Jackie: Yeah that's Uncle Donald alright.

Shirley: Well that's great Laverne, not only did we arrive five minutes late, but also you've Insulted our supervisor's uncle and now we're probably fired.

Jackie: (to Laverne) Is she always like this? Laverne: Try living with her.

Jackie: (suppresses laughter) Shirley, relax, I'm not gonna fire you for Laverne being honest. My uncle is a pain. Why don't we get started on your jobs, you're gonna love this job. It's a lot of fun. The best part? Employee discounts.

Jackie shows them around the department, they put their coats and purses in their lockers put on their smocks and get started on their first display, A St. Patrick's Display.

Shirley: Laverne, can you believe it? I was born to do this job.

Laverne: Yeah this is great, Okay where do we start.

The girls rummage through boxes of props and costumes to get ideas for their first assignment. They are having so much fun; they don't realize it's way past quitting time and have been locked in the window compartment.

Shirley: Wow look at the time, I didn't realize we were here so late.

Laverne: You mean to tell me we worked overtime?

Shirley: Looks that way. Does it matter?

Laverne: No, this is the first job I ever had fun at.

Shirley: Me too. I'll grab our stuff.

Laverne: Okay, I'll the door. (Tries the door and it's locked) Uh Shirl?

Shirley: What?

Laverne: Do you have a key for this door?

Shirley: No why.

Laverne: Oh nothing, we're just locked in that's all.

Shirley: What do you mean we're locked in? (Tries the door) Yep we're locked in. (Starts to panic) Well now what'll we do? How will we eat? (Goes into her high pitched squeal) What if we have to go to the bathroom?

Laverne: Shirl! Don't make me slap you.

Shirley: You just try it sister and you'll be sucking back one of these (threatens Laverne with a knuckle sandwich.)

Laverne: Shirl, calm down, I'm sure there's a way out of here.

They both sit down and try to figure out a way to get out. Two hours pass and they are still sitting there thinking.

Shirley: Well I can't think of anything, It looks like we'll be here all night.

Laverne: But I promised Lenny I'd..nevermind.

Shirley: No, finish what you were gonna say, promised Lenny you'd what.

Laverne: I was gonna go out on a (whispers) date.

Shirley: A what? What was that?

Laverne: Date Date! Okay, I'm going to date Lenny.

Shirley: Are you crazy?

Laverne: No, I'd be crazy not to date him. I'm tired of hiding my real feelings.

The truth is Lenny's always liked me and I've always liked him too. Remember when I sang that song with him at Cowboy Bills hoot night? Well, ever since then, I've grown to love him and I'm tired of hiding it. You have Carmine, Edna has Pop. Katie has Juan and they're little kids for crying out loud. Why shouldn't I have someone too.

Shirley: Okay, Vernie, take it easy. I'm sorry. You're not crazy, you deserve a steady man in your life and Lenny is very sweet.

Laverne: Well it doesn't matter, after tonight, he won't ever speak to me again.

Shirley: This isn't anyone's fault. It's an accident that's all. We'll get out of here.

Laverne: Yeah I guess you're right. (they both sigh) Hey what's this? (pulls out a little bottle from her purse) oh wow, I forgot I had this.

Shirley: Ooh Sherry, let me have some I'm thirsty?

Laverne: Well don't drink the whole thing, I have another one in here somewhere.

Shirley: Where did you get these?

Laverne: Oh well remember last year when I flew to Milwaukee to be Terry's maid of honor? Well they gave these out.

Shirley: Complimentary Sherry?

Laverne: I don't know, they were free.

Shirley: Ever read a book? That's what Complimentary means, free.

Laverne: Oh... I read books, scabs of them.

Shirley: Don't start that up again.

They each drink one of the little bottles, all of the contents. Time passes and they are now tipsy, they dress up the guy mannequins as Lenny Carmine and Squiggy. Things get weird from there.

Shirley: Oh Carmine, the things you say (pretending that he's whispering in her ear)Please, Laverne will hear you. What was that. Oh I'd love to dance.

Laverne: Hey will you two keep it down over there, Lenny and I trying to make out. (she's kissing Mannequin Lenny).

Shirley: You're such a wonderful dancer, why I just love...(she accidentally pulls mannequin Carmine's head off and goes into her high pitched squeal) Oh my goodness, I decapitated my poor Carmine! I'm a murderess!

Laverne: Excuse me Lenny, Shirl is having some sort of breakdown. What's that? Oh yeah you're right, that's very funny.

Shirley: What did he say about me!

Laverne: Nothing Shirl, it wasn't about you, it was about mold.

Shirl: (she jumps up and stands behind the third mannequin) Hello! Would you girls like to accompany us eligible spatulas to a mud fight in Central Park?

Laverne: (laughing) Shirl that's so funny. You sound just like him.

Shirley: I know, I have a knack for impressions, maybe I should be a comedian.

They are now rolling on the floor in fits of laughter. They eventually fall asleep.
Around 1am, Laverne woke up to hear the sound of a turning lock.

Laverne: Shirl, Shirl! Wake up..(whispering)

Shirley: (still dreaming) Oh Carmine...

Laverne: Aww C'mon Shirl...just once. I'm tired of Taking cold showers.

Shirley: (opens her eyes)very funny Laverne.

Laverne: Shhh...do you hear that?

Shirley: Yeah you just said shh..

Laverne: You're still drunk...Not that...someone's trying to get in here.

Shirley: Here, you take an arm and I'll take a leg.

Laverne: Okay, you stand on that side.

They arm themselves with body parts and get ready to defend themselves.The door unlocks and starts to open. The girls scream and so does the person on the other end. They pull out a flashlight and shine it on themselves.

Jackie: Girls It's just me!

Laverne: Oh thank god, Jackie, we got locked in here.

Shirley: We were brainstorming for ideas and we had so much fun we didn't' realize how late it was and we got locked in here when the store closed.

Jackie: Well it's okay now. Huh, I see you two had a little party in here.

Shirley: We're sorry, we'll clean up. We have a few more posters to hang up and we'll be done.

Jackie: It looks fabulous, I like how you used the travel posters and the clothes. And the idea of dressing that mannequin up as Saint Patrick.

Laverne: Yeah that was my idea.

Shirley: I did the shamrocks.

Jackie: You both did a wonderful job, Why don't both go home and enjoy your weekend, I'll see you on Monday.

Both: Thanks again Jackie, see you Monday.

The girls grab their coats and start heading out the door. They pass by the store window and take a long look at the work they did.

Shirley: Laverne: I think we've found our niche.

Laverne: Yeah, I think you're right. I can't get over how good that looks.

Shirley: It does look good doesn't.

Laverne: Yeah, I guess we should get going I'm tired and my head hurts.

Shirley: Okay, I just want to look at our window a few minutes more.

They stood there marveling at their handiwork and then head for the subway home. They got down to the platform and the roar from the subway made their heads pound so they decided splurged for a cab and went home.

The End.



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