Swingers in Ameri-Swing: A Dance Fantasia on National Swing

A rehearsal studio in Burbank, California, 1954. DANNY and BETTY are stretching and warming

up for a big audition.

BETTY: Gosh golly gee Danny, to tell you the truth, I’m pretty nervous about our dance.

DANNY: We’ve been practicing for 10 weeks, Betty. There’s nothing to get worked up over.

Don’t flip your wig.

BETTY: In any other audition I’d say “Ice it.” But this is Disneyland! It’s a bit hard to focus when

Walt Disney himself is on the other side of that door.

DANNY: Don’t get cranked, Betty. We love to dance, this should be a blast for us. C’mon, just

pretend we’re back home at one of the soda shoppes dancing with the greasers and gals and

sharing an eggcream.

BETTY: Maybe we never shoulda left, Danny. I wish I was home with those cats now.

DANNY: But California is where it’s at. This is our dream. Auditioning is no cracker jack prize,

but getting a steady gig like this might get my dad off my back about going to that new Air Force

Academy in Colorado. I was too young for Korea, but now that I’m 18, I’m ripe for the draft. If I

don’t have a good enough excuse to not join the airforce, my dad’s gonna think I’m a commie. I

don’t wanna end up in Indo-China, Betty!

(Eugene enters.)

BETTY: I know, Danny. I can’t lose you, either. GEE this audition is heated. And that’s pretty

darn unusual in this cold war. Look at the competition, there’s no way our kiddie soda shoppe

moves would work out here! We can find another job for us.
DANNY: Walt wants wholesome. All those California Dancers are too crazy for Disneyland. I

think we’re ready to swing down Mainstreet, U.S.A.

EUGENE: I’m sorry to interrupt, but I overheard you said you used to do this dance back home?

I got a callback based on my wholesome face, but golly gee, I’m lost when it comes to dancing.

Is there any way you’d be willing to show me the basics?

DANNY: Buzz off, square. We gotta practice our moves.

BETTY: C’mon, Daddy-O. We’ve got plenty of time! We can help him out. Where would we be if

people hadn’t helped us along the way? C’mon kid, I’ll show ya. What was your name?

EUGENE: Oh, it’s Ro-um, Eugene. My name’s Eugene.

BETTY: Well...Eugene...the basic step goes like this: (does step) Pretty simple, huh?

DANNY: Well the guy’s step is a little different. Like this, Eugene: (does step).

EUGENE: Like this? (does some awful version of the step)

DANNY: You’re an everyday Mickey Mouse.

EUGENE: Is that a good thing?

DANNY: Um-

BETTY: What Danny’s trying to say is that you’re definitely on the right track. Why don’t you take

off those binoculars and dance with me.

EUGENE: But I can’t see without my glasses.

BETTY: You don’t see swing. You feel it in your dancin’ feet!

(Eugene and Betty Dance. At first he is pretty shaky, but then he gets the hang of the basic

step.)

EUGENE: I’m dancing! I’m actually dancing!

BETTY: See! It just takes some practice. Danny was a regular spazz when I first taught him,

weren’t ya?
DANNY: That’s what I get for trying to hang with a paper shaker like Betty. Man, was I

embarrassed when my boys saw me dancing in a soda shoppe.

BETTY: But when we danced for the first time, boy, did we fall in step like we’d been dancing for

years. Now we’re goin’ steady.

EUGENE: Sounds like you two are a real kit and kaboodle.

DANNY: So kid, ya think you’re ready to take on the more advanced steps? Cuz that’s where it

gets boss.

EUGENE: I think so!

BETTY: Danny, drop the needle and let’s swing!

DANNY drops the needle and Shake, Rattle, and Roll starts playing. They swing. It’s awesome.

Everyone’s excited.

EUGENE: Now we’re cookin’ with gas!

BETTY: Now we’re ready to take on the audition.

DANNY: Come on snake, let’s rattle!

EUGENE: Before ya go, let me give you a bit of advice that my dad used to give me, as a bit of

a thank you.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

When you're fast asleep

In dreams you will lose your heartaches

Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday

Your rainbow will come smiling through

No matter how your heart is grieving

The dream that you wish will come true

BETTY: Wait a minute, that sounds familiar.

DANNY: Hot dog! That’s a Walt Disney Tune.

EUGENE: I’m afraid i’ve been a bit of a shuckster. My name’s not Eugene. It’s actually Roy. Roy

Disney Jr.

BETTY: You’re Walt’s nephew! Well don’t I feel like a wet rag.

EUGENE: You two helped me, even though you had bigger fish to fry. To me, that embodies the

Disney spirit more than anything the other competitors did. On behalf of my Uncle, I’d like to

extend an offer to you both to dance at the opening day celebrations of Disneyland, with the

option to continue after that.

BETTY: Danny! You don’t have to go to Indo-China after all!

DANNY: Betty, we did it! We’re gonna be made in the shade!

EUGENE: You two enjoy your evening. I’ll see ya on opening day.

BETTY: Thank you Mr. Disney.

DANNY: Yes, we can’t thank you enough.

EUGENE: Please, call me Roy. And really, you two are a real wish upon a star.

(Eugene Exits)

DANNY: Let’s cut outta here, babydoll. I wanna blow some bread on a real nice rock.

BETTY: Danny! You don’t mean…

DANNY: I’m committed, Betty. Let’s get hitched.