Summary

It's 2018, and former movie star Phineas Taylor "P.T." Barnum is ready to fulfill his dream of directing the most inspiring movie-musical ever! Where Lettie plays matchmaker, Jenny Lind is a diva in more ways than one, and Charity is just trying to keep everyone in one piece. Not for Jenny Lind fans. There is some discussion of difficult issues like slavery, racism, class division, violence, body image, homophobia, and very occasional language. However, this is overall a fun, lighthearted story. I don't own the Greatest Showman. Enjoy!

Chapter One: Quiet on the set! (The Beginning)

At 3 A.M in a modest apartment in California, Anne Wheeler was rudely awakened by her cell phone ringing. She rolled over sleepily to see W.D.'s name on the screen, and her annoyance turned to worry. Her brother cherished sleep even more than she did and would never call this late.

"What's the matter?!" Anne cried as soon as she picked up.

"Anne, you'll never believe it!" W.D. didn't sound upset, worried, or scared. He sounded excited. "My roommate just told me about a part for a new movie that was just posted - they're looking for a pair of sibling trapeze artists, a boy and a girl! This part was practically made for us! The notice was posted by some rich actor who now wants to direct his own movie-musical…". Anne rolled her eyes and flopped back down on the bed.

"I can't believe you woke me up at-", her eyes darted toward the clock on her nightstand, "3:05 in the morning for this. April Fool's was two weeks ago, W.D."

"Yeah, and you totally fell for the old "human chair" prank!" Anne could easily imagine her brother's smirk at the other end of the line. He had scared her half to death that day, sneaking into her apartment and impersonating her furniture. "But," W.D. continued, "This isn't a prank. It's the real deal. I heard that the guy already got both Jenny Lind and Tom Thumb to sign on."

Anne was impressed. "What did you say this guy's name was? The movie star-turned-director?"

She heard paper shuffling around on WD's end. "Ummm….Phineas "P.T." Barnum? The name vaguely rings a bell…".

Anne sat bolt upright in her bed. If the name "vaguely rang a bell" for W.D., bells the size of Big Ben clanged for her. "Get changed, pack up anything you need to audition, and be ready to meet my cab. We need to be first in line for that part tomorrow morning - er, that is, today." Anne jumped out of bed to get ready.

Started by his sister's abrupt change in demeanor, WD wasn't sure how to reply. "Right now, in the middle of the night? What's the rush?" Anne didn't reply. "Anne?" No response. "She must've hung up" WD muttered to himself. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, then went to go change and pack his things. He had no idea why his sister was suddenly so excited about this part, but her ambitious attitude and intuition in the film industry had landed both of them some nice roles in the past. He may as well go along for the ride.

6 hours earlier, singer and actress Lettie Lutz had had a late-night telephone meeting with her agent, Michael, about the same film. He was enthusiastic, both about the movie's premise and about her chances of landing a part. "There are three large female roles in the movie. Barnum's wife is played by - well, his wife, no surprise there. And there are rumors that he just snagged Jenny Lind for the part of the opera singer. But if the rumors are true, well, that's not a surprise either."

"Jenny Lind, The Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind?" Lettie cried.

"Exciting, isn't it? And there's no person better to play an opera singer than an opera singer!" the man exclaimed.

"I'm not sure about that." Lettie was frowning. "The term opera diva isn't only referring to her artistic prowess. Her temper tantrums are legendary, even in the film and pop music industries."

"I swear, Loretta, if I didn't know better, I wouldn't believe you were an actress! Where is your daring, your spontaneity, your desire to take risks?"

"Don't call me Loretta," Lettie said shortly. Somehow, Michael always managed to lead the conversation off track, and annoy her in the process. "What's the third part?"

"As part of his circus, Barnum recruits a bearded lady - an outcast, shunned by society, yet she becomes the face of the whole revolution!" he enthused. On the other end, Lettie couldn't help but smile. Sometimes Michael could be so dramatic, it was a wonder that he himself wasn't an actor. "A few large musical numbers, including a solo power ballad, decent speaking parts and screen time…".

"Well, that all sounds good."

"Great! Auditions start tomorrow - check your email for the info, and let me know afterwards how the auditions went. Ciao, Lettie!"

"Wait!" Lettie blurted out. He waited. "Well, I was wondering, the, the rumors," she stammered, "are they true?"

"Which rumors?"

"That Barnum is kinda-" she whistled and spun her finger in a circle next to her ear, though he couldn't see the gesture, - "odd."

"Most definitely."

"Oh."

"But don't worry - it still sounds like a fun project. Plus, don't forget, he's super rich to boot."

"True," she agreed. "Check in with you tomorrow."

Even if Barnum was a bit of a whack-job, and Lind was the biggest drama queen since Keira Knightley, they were both legends in their art - and what was life without a little bit of craziness?

Phillip Carlyle couldn't believe his eyes. He must be seeing things - that couldn't really be a royal flush hand laid out on the table there, the only thing capable of beating his straight flush. He stared at the cards in shock.

"Ha!" His head snapped up to look at his friend and fellow actor George Mitchell, who slapped the table jubilantly. "I won! And now you have to pay up - get ready to try out for Barnum's train wreck of a film!" Phillip groaned. He really should know better at this point than to gamble, especially when George was involved.

"Maybe it wouldn't be so bad," Phillip said optimistically. "I mean, P.T. Barnum's name is known in every entertainment circle there is."

"Yeah, 'cause he's a whack job! Even if he wasn't, a rich man with money to burn, directing his first-ever film, and a musical at that - it can't end well."

Unfortunately, Phillip agreed with George. He sighed, shouldered his bag, and started to brace himself for what was to come. As he left, he heard George shout after him,

"Don't forget! As part of the bet, if you win the part, you have to go through with it!"

Phineas Taylor "P.T." Barnum surveyed the crowd with satisfaction, delight, anticipation - it was finally happening. After months of work, he was ready to begin fulfilling his dream of directing his own movie-musical. Next to him, his wife Charity bit her lip anxiously.

"What is it, dear?"

"Well - " Charity began. She stopped. How to put into words what she was feeling? "You know I support you, and I am very excited about this project we're undertaking -"

"It will be magnificent!" her husband agreed.

"Yes." she took a deep breath. Some days it seemed as though her husband had the attention span of a squirrel. "It's just, no one has ever attempted what we're aiming to do, Phin. What you're aiming to do. Acting just isn't the same as directing. If we crash and burn, I don't know how we'll recover." Charity was well aware of the irony of the situation. Worrying about how producing a movie - that was all about following your dreams in spite of people's prejudices - would affect their professional reputation was enough to make her head spin. But she just couldn't put her fears to bed. This was, by far, the riskiest thing they had ever done. Phineas took her hand and pressed a kiss to her temple.

"You worry enough for the both of us. Take a deep breath, smile! Even if everything goes to hell, we can handle it. We always have. But it won't. Look around you, sweetheart! This is the beginning of something we've worked for for a long time."

Charity did smile, in spite of herself. No matter how it ended, it would be an adventure - and Phin would be by her side through it all.