Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, Little Shop of Horrors, Guys and Dolls, Evita, or the song, "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina."
Thank you Notwritten, MSLady17, and ZigBabe for the reviews of Chapter 2!
Yes, all the waiting is over, Jareth is here! He doesn't come until much later in the chapter, but don't worry, there are many more chapters to come all staring Jareth.
Sarah shook her head with her hands on her ears.
"No, no, no," she repeated in a dramatic fashion. "I am not that desperate."
"But Sarah, you said you would do anything to be in the play," Hoggle reminded.
"Anything but that," Sarah said slamming herself down on the bed. She put her face in her hands.
Hoggle sat down beside her.
"I'm sorry, Sarah," Hoggle said looking down at his feet. "I don't know anyone else."
Sarah glanced up. "Are you sure there's no one else in the Underground who can sing?"
"Oh, sure, plenty of us can sing," Hoggle said jumping up. Sarah's face brightened. That soon passed as she watched the dwarf's smile fade. "We just all sound bad. And those who don't, don't know how to teach music. And he's the only one who can read music."
"So?" Sarah asked not wanting to hear the answer.
"So, Jareth's your only choice," Hoggle said at last.
Sarah gave an irate sigh.
"I'm not doing it," Sarah said at last. She stood up and started pacing around her bedroom. "I'm sure there's plenty of other options." She put her hand on the side of her face and thought. "Hmm, let's see the auditions are in a month. I have no training. I wonder how much it would cost to take lessons? I'm guessing about twenty dollars a session. Right?"
Hoggle shrugged.
Sarah continued, "I'm sure I can get a job. I think the ice-cream parlor down by the school is hiring for part-time help."
"There's an idea," Hoggle said.
"Yeah, and it'll get Karen off my back about not being responsible, and needing work experience, and all."
"Two problems at once."
"Then it's settled." Sarah rubbed her face with her palms. "I never want to have to deal with Jareth again if I can help it. That pompous, selfish jerk. I hope he chokes on his fancy goblin food."
"Now, Sarah, you don't mean that," Hoggle said.
"No, I guess not," Sarah said with a sigh. "I just don't wish to ever see him again."
A knock came at Sarah's door followed by her father's voice. Hoggle vanished and Sarah opened the door.
Robert stood there with his arms dangling by his side. Sarah moved aside to allow him entrance to her room. He walked inside trying to hide the sorrow on his face.
"Sarah," he said as he turned to face his daughter. "Karen and I talked these singing lessons over."
Sarah's heart skipped.
Robert hesitated to speak. "We decided if you make the show we'll pay to have you improved by the night the show opens. How's that sound?"
Sarah nodded.
"But you have to stop with these tantrums everytime you don't get your way. You're sixteen years old. And you're supposed to be setting an example for your toddler brother."
Sarah wrinkled her nose in embarrassment over the way she acted at dinner.
"So we have an agreement?" Robert asked extending his hand.
Sarah smiled and accepted his handshake.
"Well, goodnight," Robert said heading for the door.
"Hey, Dad," Sarah called. He stopped at the doorframe and turned around. Sarah smiled wider. "Thanks. I know how much you had to do to get Karen to agree."
"She didn't want to budge," Robert replied with a laugh. "But she'll be just as excited as me when you make it."
Sarah thanked him again as he left. She sat down on the bed trying to make sense of all that happened. She just had to find a way to pay for the lessons up until the audition. For some reason she worried that twenty hours a week at minimum wage would not satisfy the funds.
--
The next morning Sarah woke early and dressed in a slim black dress with matching pumps, and pulled her hair up into a bun. After school she hurried to stop by the ice-cream shop. Sarah stood on the outside of the glass door watching the smiling server inside handing a cone of mint ice-cream to an eager child. Sarah took a deep breath and walked inside.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am, I'll be right with you," the server said as he accepted the cash from the customers.
The family of three sat down at the table, each smiling with a cone of their favorite flavor in hand.
"How can I help you?" the ice-cream man asked.
"Can I speak to the manager?" Sarah asked.
"Certainly," he spoke. He poked his head in the back and called for Crystal.
A plump, blonde woman, wearing an identical uniform as the guy standing out front, stepped behind the counter.
"Yes, I'm the manager, what can I do for you?" Crystal asked.
"Yes, my name is Sarah Williams," Sarah said shaking hands with the manager. "I'm here to apply for the open position."
"I see," Crystal said. "If you will just follow me into the office?"
Sarah nodded and headed for the door Crystal pointed to. She walked into the backroom then dawdled inside the tiny office. The desk was covered with paperwork, pens, and two empty Styrofoam cups. Posters lined the wall along with the list of important numbers.
Crystal motioned for Sarah to sit down in the cushioned chair across from the one at the desk. Sarah followed the orders and crossed her legs. She handed Sarah a sheet of paper to fill out her personal information before the actual interview began.
"So, Sarah, how did you hear about this position?" Crystal asked.
"I come here every Friday night with my friends and saw you were hiring," Sarah replied.
"Oh, that's interesting," Crystal said. "And I take it that you're a high school student, so you must be applying for a server position."
Sarah nodded.
"Have you any experience with serving the public?"
Sarah shrugged. "I baby-sit often. And I've been in plays."
"But nothing like this setting?"
Sarah shook her head.
"Oh well, I guess we all must start somewhere. Are you involved in any activities that may hinder your work?"
"Just the drama club," Sarah replied. "They meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons." She paused. "Then when play rehearsals start."
Crystal sighed. "Sarah, I'll be honest with you. You are the eighth person to apply for this position. You have no work experience and limited hours available to work. Tell me, what will you bring to this company if hired?"
Sarah froze.
Crystal's eyes widened waiting for her response.
It was time to pull out all those hours of improv training. "Well," Sarah began. "I'm a diligent worker. I'm easy to work with, that being why I've been casted in so many plays. I'm also a fast worker. And I know how to treat customers so they'll come back more often."
Crystal nodded. "Those are all great qualities, Sarah. I'll look over your application and give you a call by the end of the week to tell you whether or not you got the job. If you get the job I'll need to see documentation to prove you are allowed to work. If you don't get the job, hopefully you'll find work elsewhere."
Sarah shook hands with Crystal and thanked her for her time.
--
After the talk with Crystal Sarah drove around to local voice teachers for quotes on the cost of lessons. That night Sarah sat at her vanity table with a notepad trying to calculate with the maximum amount of hours allowed to work, minus taxes, and the fees for voice lessons, how long it would take her before she could pay for them. Sarah groaned as she realized it would be another month before she'd have enough to even begin training.
Sarah cringed at the thought of having to beg her parents again to take the lessons. They were already being kind enough to help her out if she passed the auditions. Sarah leaned back wondering if that was something they came up with to pacify her since they knew she lacked the vocal skills necessary to pass. She didn't want to mention anything about getting a job until she knew for sure it was hers.
Sarah stared at herself in the mirror.
"Perhaps I'm not as bad as I think," Sarah said aloud to herself.
She smiled at her reflection. She physically resembled her gorgeous mother, the woman who stood on stage every night enchanting everyone sitting in the house. The papers raved over the angelic voice that escaped the mortal's mouth every night. Sarah looked up out the window for she now knew her mother was truly in the choir of angels.
Having made sure to learn the lyrics after the spectacular performance her mother gave, Sarah began to sing the chorus to "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina." If my mother was able to chill everyone with her voice I can do the same. She sang to the top of her lungs, then suddenly ceased upon hearing her voice fall flat.
Sarah stood up and tried the song again. Her screeching voice shattered her own ears.
Toby rushed in the room.
"Sarah, you okay?" he asked in panic.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Sarah replied.
"I heard a ghost," Toby said.
"It was just a nightmare, Toby," Sarah said taking hold of his hand.
"No, I wasn't sleeping," Toby retorted. "In your room. I thought a ghost had you."
"There's no ghost in here," Sarah assured him. She pointed to a circular talisman hanging on her wall. "See that, Toby. It protects me from evil spirits."
"Toby, what are you doing out of bed?" Karen asked with her hands on her hips. Having heard Toby's shouts she rushed up to discover their reason.
"I thought Sarah was hurt by a ghost," Toby said. "I heard it go, 'Oh, oh, ee, nah!'"
Karen snickered, trying to hide her laughter behind her fingers. Sarah sulked as she realized what her brother spoke of.
"Sarah," Toby said looking back at his sister. "Can I have your ghost thing tonight?"
Sarah nodded and fetched the charm off the nail. Her brother's small hand grasped the shiny, teal item and carried it into his room.
"Goodnight, Sarah," Karen said holding back a laugh.
Sarah shut her door then threw herself on her bed. She clutched her blanket and wept into her pillow until sleep kidnapped her.
--
The next day at school Sarah dropped by Mr. Booker's office. The room was well organized with two shelves containing strictly plays. A third bookshelf held textbooks and other readings about theatre history or anything else that had to do with the stage. On his desk sat a half-full coffee mug with the Greek tragedy and comedy masks painted on the side. Beside the mug was a framed photograph of the cast of Guys and Dolls from his senior year of college. The teacher himself stood towards the center of the group in the costume he wore when portraying Sky. In the center of the desk were a stack of sides covered with blue cardboard, separated by character. Beside that were four sets sheet music for the upcoming musical, each according to its own vocal range.
The teacher stepped in his office to find Sarah waiting on him.
"Ah, Sarah, what brings you out today?" Mr. Booker laughed. "I do hope you'll be at the meeting this afternoon."
"I will," Sarah answered. "I had some free time and decided to get the practice material for the show."
Mr. Booker nodded and handed Sarah one of the sides for Audrey. His hand hovered over the music.
His eyes met hers. "Sarah, are you an alto or a soprano?"
Sarah shrugged. "I don't know."
"Well, I'll give you one of each, and come time you'll audition with whichever one you feel more comfortable with." He handed her the two sheets. "Audrey's part is better suited for a soprano as is one of the three narrators. The other two will most likely be played by altos."
That answered Sarah's question.
"See you later," Mr. Booker said as Sarah headed for the door.
She stopped before she ran into the fluffy-haired Brenda.
"Sarah, I'm surprised to see you here," Brenda said with a snort.
"Brenda, I take it you're here for the materials as well," Mr. Booker said. "I must say the two of you have the greatest ambitions at this school. Which is probably why both of you are always prepared the day of auditions. A trait all good actresses must have." He handed Brenda the spoken script. "And what is your vocal range?"
"Technically I'm a mezzo-soprano," Brenda exclaimed. "But for this show I am willing to go beyond my normal range to hit the very high notes. I have been told before that I have everything to make me a perfect soprano, but I also sing the lower notes too well, so they put me in between."
Mr. Booker raised his eyebrows then handed her the soprano music.
"Good luck to you both," Mr. Booker said with a smile then sat down to finish his work.
The two girls stepped outside his office.
"Good luck, Brenda," Sarah said before passing her.
Brenda grabbed Sarah's arm. "Don't ever offer me that. I don't need it." She looked up and down her rival. "You however, need all the luck in the world."
Sarah scowled as Brenda walked past her, swaying her hips with every step.
Brenda smirked and approached Sarah a second time. "By the way, I heard you tell your friends about hoping to get voice lessons." Brenda laughed heartily. "Sarah, don't waste your money. You can learn from the greatest teacher in the world and it won't do you any good." She waved at her friends as she ran to join them. She took one last glimpse at Sarah. "Good luck, Sarah!" she called with a cackle. Her brainless friends joined in with the laughter.
Sarah held back the urge to cry. She barely said anything for the remainder of the day. Later that day, after the club meeting, Sarah hurried home and stormed up to her room.
She summoned Hoggle. The dwarf appeared in her room two seconds later.
"Sarah, you look upset," Hoggle said putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Brenda..." She trailed off into tears.
"Sarah, what happened?" Hoggle asked. "Did she hurt you?"
Sarah shook her head.
"I have to win," Sarah spoke. "And I'm beyond desperate now. I have to win against her. She'll never give me a moment's peace until I do."
"What do you mean?" Hoggle asked.
She gave him the sincerest look. "Hoggle, do you still think Jareth will help me?"
"The Goblin King?" Hoggle asked. "I don't know if he will. But you can always ask him."
Sarah nodded. "I'm willing to do anything to get this role."
She took hold of Hoggle's hand and the two of them disappeared from the human world.
--
Sarah opened her eyes to find herself standing outside the courtyard of Goblin Castle. She took a deep breath and ascended the steps with the dwarf by her side. The guards glared at her as she walked by, whispering to one another.
She stepped into the throne room and immediately felt to urge to vomit. The filthy goblins ran, jumped, shouted insults, and held belching contests all around the room. They ceased all activity upon viewing the woman who defeated the labyrinth once before. They all spoke to one another, their main concern being what business she held in the Underground.
Ever since she waltzed into their king's life, they rarely saw him smile anymore. What melodies did escape his lips of recent were the saddest themes. Only twice since her last visit did he leave the structure of his own palace.
Jareth sat lazily on the throne staring off into the distance. Sarah observed the bored frown that covered his face. For the first time she wondered if this was the entirety of his life. For a moment she felt sorry for him.
Jareth glanced up to find her heading his way. He stood and ordered something from the nearby goblin that was out of Sarah's hearing range.
The goblins parted to make a path for the human. Her face flushed as she stood before the king.
"I don't believe I requested your presence," Jareth said without emotion.
"I know," Sarah said timidly.
"Then what brings you to my home?"
Sarah opened her mouth to find the words missing.
The goblin returned with a goblet of wine for Jareth. He raised the glass to his lips then chugged down the liquid and handed the empty cup back to his servant before standing up to face Sarah. He noticed Hoggle standing beside her.
"It seems Sarah is at a loss for words," Jareth spoke. "What is her business here, Hoghead?"
Hoggle scowled. "Hoggle," he corrected. "She has come to ask you a favor."
"Oh really?" Jareth asked. "Is that true, Sarah?"
She looked down and nodded.
"Well, don't keep me in suspense, what do you request?"
Sarah raised her eyes to meet his cold ones.
"Will you help me?" she asked silently.
"That all depends on what you want," Jareth replied. "Though I don't see why you seek help from me. Why don't you ask assistance from one of your many friends?"
"They can't help me," Sarah answered. "Only you can."
"So you ignore me for almost a year, speak horridly of me behind my back, then ask me for help?"
Sarah's face reddened.
"Come now, Sarah, even you know you shouldn't treat people that way," Jareth said with a laugh.
"So you won't help me?" Sarah asked.
"I don't see why I should," Jareth replied.
Sarah lowered her eyes to the floor. "I'm sorry for wasting your time." She turned and headed for the door.
"Sarah!" Jareth called.
She looked over her shoulder to find him following after her.
"I said I don't see any reason I should. I never said I wouldn't."
Sarah cracked a smile.
"Then will you?" she asked.
"How about tell me what you need help with, then I'll make a decision," Jareth replied.
Sarah opened her mouth but Jareth turned away. He noticed all the goblins were standing around listening to every word they spoke.
"Perhaps we should go someplace more private," Jareth suggested. He beckoned for Sarah and Hoggle to follow him to the deserted ballroom, one of the few locations off limits to the goblins without Jareth's permission.
The two of them followed close behind the king, both afraid of getting lost in the immense castle. He opened the doors to the grand ballroom. Sarah's eyes widened at the sight she vaguely remembered the last time she wondered the Underground. It still glistened much like it did the last time she paid it a visit. The tables were covered in white cloths that draped to the floor. A candlelit chandelier illuminated the shadowed room. However it felt intimidating and bare without the elaborate dancers covering the open space in the center.
"Would you like a drink?" Jareth asked.
Sarah shook her head, never again consuming something from the that land.
"Then perhaps we should get straight to the point," said Jareth.
Sarah spoke quietly. "You know I do theatre, right?"
He nodded.
"Well there's a musical coming up and I want to be in it." Jareth nodded, trying to find why any of these matters concerned him. "The problem is I don't know how to sing."
Jareth's lips curved upwards.
"What?" Sarah asked.
"Nothing," Jareth said stroking the sides of his mouth.
"And you're the only one I know who can sing well," Sarah said. She looked into Jareth's mismatched eyes. "I mean really well. Extremely well."
"Enough with the flattery," Jareth commanded.
"Will you teach me how to sing?" Sarah asked with wide eyes.
Jareth laughed.
"What's so funny?" Sarah whined.
"Come on, you can't be that bad," Jareth said.
"You don't want to know," Hoggle spoke.
Sarah shot Hoggle a glare.
Jareth's smile faded. "You can't be serious. Come, let me hear a few notes."
"I warned you," Hoggle said clasping his hands over his ears.
Sarah began to sing the very same song she sang the previous night. "Don't cry for me, Argentina. The truth is I never left you."
"Stop, stop, stop," he ordered. She opened her eyes to find agony painted on the goblin king's face. He touched his ears. "It sounds as if two chipmunks were fighting on a glass surface."
Sarah's eyes began to water as her face switched to a scarlet hue once more.
Jareth's stomach sank. "I did not mean to insult you, my dear," he said. "But if I am to be a good teacher then I must be honest with you at all times. And as of now that's how bad you sound."
Sarah wiped away the liquid lining her eyelids and smiled. "Then does that mean you'll help me?"
Jareth nodded. "How long until we have to have you ready for this musical?"
"Three months, the auditions are in three weeks," Sarah answered.
"Then we must start immediately," Jareth replied. He looked down at Hoggle. "Tell Mill I'm going to need some more wine."
Yes, it seems that Jareth has his work cut out for him. I hope I didn't make him come off as a jerk, but it's how I would imagine he'd react to Sarah asking him for a favor after all that time of ignoring him.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you think so far.