Originally Posted by
supremester
Gil told me Berry wanted Flo gone for quite a while. They were all tired of the tardiness and Berry felt getting rid of Flo would solve a lot of problems and get Mary to be on time as well. He said Diana and Mary wanted Flo to stay and ignored Berry's comments and threats on the subject. As things grew worse, Gil stepped in but to no avail. He was there the first night Flo was a last minute no show. He never said she was drunk, btw [[but I think he preferred not to make that an issue) . He did say that everyone was on edge waiting for her and when it was announced they would go on without her, he went to the girl's dressing room. There he saw Diana, fully made up in costume, slunk down on a chair against the wall sobbing. He said she looked so small - that her eye makeup and stage attire were bigger than she was. "Just skin and bones sticking out of a dress. No human form. It struck how this little nothing could be the reason everyone is here." He felt like crying himself. He went over to her and bent down and hugged her. She asked through her tears, lost, "what are we gonna do?" and he assured her "we'll be fine." He said she was exhausted, had no idea how they could do a show as a duet and was scared for Flo. The group ended that night and they knew nothing could stop the inevitable change now. I think he said Mary was crying as well. He got up and quietly but assuredly told them what to do. In 5 minutes they were conversing and in 10, Diana was talking out loud about how they'd do this and that. That this wasn't going to be so bad. Mary joined in and they got ready and went on just a few minutes after start time. They were great. He was so proud of them. They did what they had to do and made it work in the round. Afterwards, they were sad, angry and spent. I think they were a duo again the next night - then Marlene came in. He was surprised Flo was given another chance and speculated that Diana had something to do with it because Gordy wasn't having it. Oh, he praised their singing and Mary adjusting her voice to make "a complete sound with Diane." I never asked him what a complete sound was. It happened again a while later and Flo was suspended. I wonder how marlene was paid - did she get Flo money? was Flo paid? He also mentioned that both Diana & Mary were angry at Flo but still looved her and it was very tough. He always referred to Miss Ross as Diana and always referred to Flo as Florence. He was firm in that Flo's drinking was not the issue - he said she just simply couldn't keep up.
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