Well, it'a lot later than the "tomorrow" I referred to, but I've finally gotten back to explain the differences between the scripted version of Scene 96 and they way it plays in the film.
One thing that's different from the very outset is that the clock isn't striking nine o'clock in the film, or any other time, nor is a clock even seen. Mrs. Johnson actually appears coming down the corridor -
- before we ever see her anywhere near Mrs. Pettibone, and then as guests mill about she crosses the foyer to Mrs. Pettibone, where she gives an unscripted -
"Ah, Mrs. Pettibone." - greeting, to which Mrs. Pettibone responds with an unscripted -
"Oh. Good evening. How are you?" - to which Mrs. Johnson replies with an unscripted -
"Very well." And is anyone surprised that Jeff gets worked into things? He approaches Roger, shakes his hand and delivers an unscripted -
"Good evening, Mr. Collins. Has Maggie comes down yet?" - to which Roger responds with and unscripted -
"No, I haven't seen her yet." - and Jeff replies with an unscripted -
"Okay. Thank you." - as he moves into the party. And then Roger turns his attention to Mrs. Pettibone as he greets her with an unscripted -
"Good evening, Mrs. Pettibone. How nice to see you." - before Mrs. Pettibone delivers her scripted lines, although she actually delivers them as "Believe me, Roger, only a party at Collinwood would have gotten me out of my house tonight. All those dreadful attacks" - but Roger reassures her with an unscripted -
"Oh, there's nothing to them, I'm sure." - (Hello! Did he not see Daphne?!) and brings Mrs. Pettibone over to Liz with an unscripted -
"You remember Elizabeth." - and Mrs. Pettibone says and unscripted -
"Hello." - to which Liz greets her with an unscripted -
"Good evening, Mrs. Pettibone." - and Mrs. Pettibone responds with an unscripted -
"How are you?" - and then Roger moves on with an unscripted -
"Excuse me." - as the scene begins to dissolve into the next one in the film, though not to the next one in the script, as we'll soon see. But other than what we've just covered, there's no other adlibbing.
Scene 96 surely has to be the most adlibbed scene in the entire film! What's actually a surprise is that DC didn't have Jeff and Todd adlibbing too!!