Thanks so much for the kind words over the first chapters! There is lots more to come so stay tuned!
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 7: Relations & Performance
"Alright everyone thank you for coming out." Derek's voice booms as he stands up on the stage with Tom beside him. So many old ensemble members came out and 4 of them are Bobby, Jessica and Ana trying to cure a hangover while Sam is non-hangover.
"Now here is how things are going to work, we will run the number once a week here for 3 hours then on October 13th, be here for four, we perform at six and after feel free to stay go or whatever you bloody want I don't care. Tom is going to play our 'American Reporter' since our original is too busy headlining Mormon so Karen if you would get to your plane and everybody else the top of the number please?" Derek continues on and gets louder as it goes on.
"Did I ever tell you that I find Derek very attractive when he is talking?" Bobby slurs a bit at me.
"Okay looks like someone needs to lay off the rums after three." Jessica says as she and Ana usher him to the stage.
I get backstage and into my plane and wait as the number starts and the first run through is actually a breeze for everybody. Tom is so fun to work with on stage and I'm having a blast.
"Alright everyone let's take a 15!" Derek shouts as we all head down to our little spaces and grab our waters and phones.
"Gorgeous darling" I hear from behind and receive a kiss on the cheek from Derek.
"Thank you" I say and he heads over to the table with Tom there waiting and I can easily hear their conversation.
"Ok is there anything the spoiled brat wants other than 'Public Relations'?" Derek asks Tom and I laugh a bit at his remark.
"She is not spoiled and knows a lot into theatre; she has grown up in theatre just like if you and Karen have a little one."
"Who said anything about Karen and I having kids?"
I can feel my heart get caught in my throat, my palms sweat and my head begins to ache. I see Tom look around him and get closer to Derek.
"The Broadway community has you on baby watch Derek."
"Well honestly I have my doubts Tom. Now can we get back to the number?"
I can feel myself getting confused about every word he said.
"Are you okay?" Sam asks as he places a hand on my shoulder
I bite my lip before I can reply "Yeah I'm fine"
"Don't worry. He is under lots of stress so you know how it is." He reassures me as we head to the stage.
"Ok let's take it from the top." Derek says as the ensemble gets in their position and I run backstage to get to the back of the plane.
I make it backstage and then wham! I trip on something and I can feel some nausea hit me but I keep going and run up the stairs as I hear.
"We have so many questions for America's smart dumb blonde!" and the door opens as I trip again and the music cuts. Uh oh I didn't make it to the plane. The fall comes back to me and I shudder again.
"KAREN!" I hear boom across the stage and up the plane set. I get up on my feet and head to the door of the plane where everyone is staring at me.
"Sorry tripped."
"Ok well let's try it again and this time don't trip."
I nod and head back to the bottom of the steps and get my prop coat. I knew Derek would get mad if I screwed up but that is who he is as a director and I respect him for that. I just need to brace myself for what my next screw up will be. We get through the first little bit of the number then once it's Tom and I dancing, we lose count off a step and wonder will he notice.
"NO NO NO!"
He did. Derek comes onto the stage in front of us.
"Now I know how you felt all this time." Tom whispers to me and I let out a small laugh.
"Quit the whispering ladies and for the love of gods, get it right!" he says as he does a quick demo of our dance and storms off stage.
"Looks like somebody is sleeping in the doghouse tonight." Bobby says to Jessica and Ana who burst out laughing but then regain themselves for the rest of the rehearsal.
"Okay everyone same time, same place next week, don't show up hung over you three that is a warning." Derek says as the men help my off of my suit case castle and I grab my bag with my friends.
"So is he sleeping in the doghouse?" Ana whispers to me and I shake my head.
"Well then, see you soon." She replies and her, Bobby, Jessica, Sam and Tom who are linking arms walk out together.
I look back at Derek and see him at the booth still looking at the set, then the laptop and back at the set.
"I actually think that went well." I say and shut his laptop screen and sit on the desk and I watch his eyes widen as they meet mine.
"Derek, hello? Earth to Derek." I say and snap my fingers in his face and then he gets back to reality.
"Sorry love had a moment. Reminded me of something?"
"What? When you would see me as Marilyn in your head? I ask as his arm loops around mine and we begin to walk out.
"Something like that." He smirks back as we walk out of the theater and walk by a poster of 'Swing' and in bold says: 'Eileen & Jerry Rand Present' and I feel Derek tighten up a bit.
"Have you heard anything about their show?"
"Yes….Madonna" he replies very flatly.
"Oh well at least we know 'Carmen' is already looking great with the investors… ."
"You sneak. That's why I love you."
Not long after I'm dipped down in his arms and he kisses me again and I know now, nothing will ruin our tender moments.
The weeks pass and nothing really exciting happens. 'Carmen's workshop is in one month and with Derek gone for a week, things will be getting down to the wire there so stressful husband at home for me! We still can't find understudy recruitment after Annie and our other one Serena left so I have to make sure I don't hurt myself again. Get this, one week ago Derek seen them auditioning for 'Material Girl!' the Jerry and Bobby show and literally almost made them cry. I laughed at that because I think they both really wanted me out and for them to step in and got kind of scary sometimes. But today is the sweet 16 and I'm ready to head back to the show that started it all.
"Break a leg sweet cheeks!" Bobby shouts as he and everyone else head to their positions and I climb up the stairs to my plane.
"Here she is!
Miss Marilyn Monroe
Will she have the answers
That our readers want to know?
From India and Paris
And from just across the pond
We have so many questions
For America's smart dumb blond"
I hear and give one last breath before I go out and see roughly 200 seats filled and the birthday girl right in center.
"Here I am "Please let us peek behind closed doors
I dropped in from the sky
For Look and Life and all the boys
From Peek and U.P.I"
Where no one is allowed!"
"Well I'm pretty good in private
But the truth is, I'm better in a crowd"
I'm let off the plane and the dancing begins.
"I relate to men of so many nations
But public relations
Are my favorite kind"
"You're the story that we're glad we're assigned" "Dealing with one man
Can lead to frustrations
But public relations
I have never declined"
"Cause we're the guys who'll never leave ya behind" "A bunch of men "Gimme, gimme
With pad and pen
Is a way to have some fun
But ladies, listen to me
Confidentially?
Nothing ever beats a one on on
Still, you come to me
For sex in quotations
So I'll use public relations
To give you a piece of my mind
A piece of your mind
Cause the answer to a question
Is the way you're defined, like"
"What do you sleep in?"
"Well I adore Chanel No. 5 and not much more"
"Any advice for a girl in the city?"
"If you're two-faced, at least make one of them pretty"
"The studio says, "lateness is your favorite crime"
"True, I've been on a calendar, but never on time"
"When you posed nude, your inhibitions were gone?"
"Well, that's not quite true, I kept the radio on!"
Our dance is right on count this time and we give a smirk at one another knowing we did it right.
"Yes, to chase the blues "When your life's a mess
Boys, I chase the newsboys!
Fame has plenty of perks"
Call the foreign press"
"Be they Indian, Parisian, British
German, or Turks"
Some of the dancers bring up our birthday girl onto the stage and some bring out a giant cake that says 'Happy Birthday Isabella!' "I am glad you crave Cause when I'm alone
My best conjugations
Yes, public relations
Is my favorite sound
I can pick up the phone
Cause the forth estate
Is always around!
Yes, it's just good public relations"
The song ends and everybody claps and Tom leads everyone in singing happy birthday and I meet her and she is super nice and not the spoiled girl I would have assumed. Really down to earth. Derek and I join in eating some of the cake which is great and just a nice evening out.
"So is this considered date night?" I ask
"Sure you can say that." He smirks and then someone calls him over.
"Give me a minute darling." He says and kisses my forehead and I stand alone enjoying my cake.
"Karen!" I hear someone shout and turn around to see Julia walking this way.
"Hi Julia what are you doing here?"
"Izzy is my goddaughter to. How Tom and I met besides being Gatsby fangirls. So anyways I actually wanted to give this back to you." She says and pulls out my bracelet I forgot I lost. "You left at the party."
"Thank you so much where did you find it?"
"In my guest room. Plus one of Derek's cufflinks." She says and a sort of 'I know what you did' look.
Busted!
"Oh Julia I am really sorry about that it's just-"
"Honey you don't have to explain you're in love. A kinky get together like that is normal for love birds. Well I'll be right back I'm going to go get some cake." She says and wanders to the cake where Tom is.
I can feel my face turn red of embarrassment about that. Now I get to tell Derek the good news: she didn't kill me! However as I make my way over to Derek, my route changes as I feel something weird inside of me and come up my body. I bend over clutching my stomach and realize I'm going to be sick and literally run to the bathroom and puke I think almost every ounce of me.
"Oh my god Karen are you alright?" I hear from Jessica as she rushes to my side and I cough it off.
"Why? Why did that happen?"
"Sweetie you were just tossed around in the air and ate cake that is not the best combination."
"I guess you're right." I say and lean over the sink and wash myself off.
"But I did it 8 times a week and never threw up why all of a sudden now?" I ask Derek as we walk arm and arm in the busy streets of New York City out of costume and vomit free.
"You haven't done it in so long your body probably just had a lot to take in darling. I've seen worse happen. So consider yourself lucky."
I smile up at him and rest my head on his shoulder. "I do every night."
The rest of our night ended peacefully with packing and talking by the warm fire and falling asleep in each other's arms. This is something beautiful I get to endure every day and I wouldn't change a thing.
A.N. Hey guys I hope you are enjoying it so far! Karen as Marilyn holds a special place for me so why not bring it back!?
Even though Smash is over, it will still live on with it's legacy.
Please rate/review/favourite/follow
