Baby admitted that she used Lisa's lipstick

I speculate that the original script of the movie Dirty Dancing depicted the sisterly rivalry between Bay and Lisa much more than the finished movie does. In particular, the original script communicated that Baby, in contrast to Lisa, never wore makeup.

One of the very first scenes that was filmed was the scene where Lisa discovers that her lipstick has been used. In the very first days of the filming, the role of Marge was played by the actress Lynne Lipton, who had to drop out because of illness. Lipton is seen playing Marge in this scene:

When Lisa discovers that her lipstick has been used, Baby admits that she was the culprit, but nobody in the family believes her -- because Baby never wears makeup.

Lisa Houseman
I'm a frizzball, a frizzball [looking at her hair in the mirror]

Marge Houseman
No, no, honey, it's not that bad. You still look pretty.

Lisa Houseman
God, I'm so sick of this rain. Remind me never to take my honeymoon in Niagara Falls.

Marge Houseman
Oh, you'll go to Acapulco instead. It'll be fine.

Baby Houseman
I am a genius. I'm a jigsaw genius

Jake Houseman
And where do you think you get it from?

Lisa Houseman
Look what happened? [looking in her cosmetics drawer] It must have been that stupid, stupid maid. What was she doing in my drawer?

Marge Houseman
Well, she probably was trying to straighten up.

Lisa Houseman
I should report her.

Marge Houseman
You don't want someone to lose their job because of this.

Lisa Houseman
This is my only iridescent beige. She should lose her job.

Baby Houseman
Shut up, you spoiled brat. I did it.

Lisa Houseman
Oh, Baby, come off it for once.

Baby Houseman
I did do it. It's true.

Lisa Houseman
Of course, you didn't. What would you be doing with a lipstick?

Jake Houseman
If Baby says it's true, it's true. Baby doesn't lie.

Marjorie Houseman
Baby, where are you going in this rain?

Baby Houseman
Um, they're playing charades in the west lobby.

Lisa Houseman
Quite the little joiner, aren't we? Perhaps this time you'll win a canary.

======

In a previous article titled Take that stuff off your face before your mother sees you, I analyzed Baby's use of makeup in the story. I do not have a video-clip of the finished movie's used-lipstick scene, but the scene's entire dialogue is as follows:

Announcer
(Unseen)
It's rainy day game time. Pin the tail on the guest. Win ten boxes of Kleenex or a billy goat!

Lisa Houseman
God, I am so sick of this rain. Remind me not to take my honeymoon at Niagara Falls.

Marjorie Houseman
So, you go to Acapulco. It'll be fine.

Lisa Houseman
Where is my beige iridescent lipstick? I know I put it in this drawer.

Marjorie Houseman
Baby, where are you going in this weather?

Baby Houseman
Uh, they're having charades in the west lobby.

Lisa Houseman
Quite the little joiner, aren't we?

In the finished movie, the lipstick is missing (not just used) and Baby does not admit that she is the culprit.

======

In the original scene where Lipton plays Marge, Baby's father Jake remarks that "Baby does not lie". This remark indicates that this used-lipstick scene originally occurred earlier in the story -- before Jake discovered that Baby had used his $250 to pay for an illegal abortion.

I speculate further that the rain in this used-lipstick scene is significant in placing the scene's original place in the story. This scene must have preceded immediately the scene where Johnny broke his car window.

======

Since Baby's admission and Jake's remark about her honesty have been removed from the used-lipstick scene, why has the scene been left in the movie at all?

I speculate that Eleanor Bergstein liked the contrast between makeup-wearing Lisa and makeup-never-wearing Baby. Bergstein wanted at least a subtle indication of that contrast to remain in the finished movie. I suppose, however, that only a tiny portion of the movie audience realizes that Baby used Lisa's lipstick.

======

In the original story, the sequence of events went as follows:

1) Lisa complains that her lipstick has been used.

2) Baby admits that she used the lipstick.

3) Lisa does not believe Baby's admission

4) Jake remarks that Baby never lies.

5) After Penny's abortion, Jake realizes that Baby lied to him.

6) Jake orders Baby to wipe off her makeup before her mother sees it.

If Marge sees the makeup on Baby's face, then Marge will wonder whether something strange is going on -- because Baby never wears makeup.

=====

In the finished movie, the sequence of events goes as follows:

1) After Penny's abortion, Jake realizes that Baby lied to him.

2) Jake orders Baby to wipe off her makeup before her mother sees it.

3) Lisa complains that her lipstick is missing.

Baby does not admit to taking the lipstick, and Jake does not praise Baby's honesty.

Practically nobody in the movie audience realizes that Baby took the lipstick.

Practically nobody in the movie audience understands why Jake did not want Marge to see Baby wearing makeup.

====

The original story explained better that Baby -- in contrast to Lisa -- never wears makeup, that Baby did use Lisa's makeup, and that Baby's makeup might alarm Marge that something strange was happening.

I speculate that Bergstein liked this makeup contrast between Baby and Lisa and fought against its total removal from the story. As a compromise in the arguments about the script, two elements remained in the final movie:

1) Jake ordered Baby to remove her makeup before Marge saw it.

2) Lisa complained that her lipstick has been taken.

However, practically nobody in the movie audience realizes that Baby normally never wears any makeup.

======

Read also When and why did Baby use Lisa's lipstick? and The Rainstorm Sequence.