It was Saturday when the Macross made it into Jupiter's orbit. Dave pumped the pedals to his bike faster so that he could get to the amphitheater before curtain rise. Mimi's big shot was tonight, playing the leading lady in the first play in space. Dave had made a promise to be there early and see her backstage for a bit before she went on but he had been busy. He had been on watch since this morning, his relief finally came around fifteen hundred hours, giving Dave enough time to run to his cabin and hit the showers and throw on a new set of clothes he had picked up from one of the shop keepers aboard the ship.
Dave glanced at his watch. "Damn," he cursed," the show's just about to start!"
He saw the theater just up ahead, he would make it very soon, however, by this time the good seats are most likely all taken.
"Where is he," Mimi asked herself once more as she paced backstage once more. She looked absolutely stunning in her costume; it was a replica of an old Southern belle gown, it was an elegant blue dress with white trimming, costume pearl jewelry hung from around her neck and her ears, her hair was curled up so that it looked like ribbons were flowing all around her. She looked breath taking, but her blue eyes were tense as she questioned where her boyfriend could be, he promised to meet her before curtain call.
"Wow, Mimi, you look gorgeous," Stan said as he made his way into the wing. He looked quite handsome in his Union uniform. It traced his frame nicely, his barrel chest swelled beneath the blue outfit which was only surpassed by his broad chin and gleaming smile.
"Stan," Mimi choked out as she nearly jumped out of her skin. She was sure that she was alone in this side of the backstage area. She turned to see the fine looking gentleman standing before her in his period costume. He looked very attractive.
"I'm sorry, I forgot, I'm not allowed to see you until we were on stage together," Stan said as he relaxed his appearance some to show that he was sorry but at the same time, playful.
"You're thinking about a groom not allowed to see his bride until they were at the alter," Mimi corrected him.
"Silly me, I get those two confused all the time," Stan said with one of his patented winning smiles.
Mimi fell helpless to his antic and laughed to herself, she tried stifling it as much as she could, though, after all, she was suppose to be upset.
"Is there something wrong," he asked her as he moved in closer.
Mimi was right about to tell Stan about Dave but then she fell silent for a moment. Should she tell him? Would he even care about her relationship problems? She knew that she had to say something to him.
"I guess I'm just a little nervous, that's all," she lied.
"You want to know my secret to avoiding stagefright," Stan began, "just pretend everyone in the audience is in their underwear."
Mimi laughed at the absurdity. She totally expected that he would say something like that but she wanted him to say it. This time she did not control herself from laughing and she let it all out.
"That's it, laugh, it'll make you feel better and it'll lose weight for you," Stan kidded.
The director poked his head into this wing and found his two leading actors.
"Everyone take your places, the curtain goes up in two minutes," he roared through his megaphone.
"Well, here goes," Mimi said as she hugged Stan for support, she has the opening line.
"Break a leg," Stan said.
"Thanks," she said and gave him a peck on the cheek. She then scampered up the stairway to the stage. She took her place center stage and psyched herself up. The two minute warning was given and soon it would be go time.
This play will be bigger than anything she has ever done before. The plays back in highschool were so little compared to this. Also, about highschool plays, only friends and family came to watch you and support you, this is an entire theater filled with strangers, the pressure was definitely turned up.
"Oh Johnny, where are you my love," Mimi rehearsed her opening line over and over again, each time trying out something different with her character's accent.
Dave locked his bicycle up against a railing and made his way inside the amphitheater. An usher led him way into the last row of seats up on top of the hill. When he took his seat Dave looked down on a minuscule theater.
"My god, she'll look like an ant from here," Dave huffed quietly to himself.
The skylights dimmed above the theater and the crowd quiet down as the curtains began to rise. Down bellow was what looked like the interior of a Southern mansion. Center stage was Mimi, all dressed up like a doll. She moved closer towards the audience as if she were looking out a window, a fan fluttering in her hand as she cooled herself.
"Oh Johnny, where are you my love," she spoke with a Southern accent. She played her part well, she looked very distraught that her lost love has yet to return from the war with the Union.
Dave watched the play, enthralled, he has seen Mimi act before, but this seems a lot different than her old school ones. He couldn't help by smile to himself as he watched her carry out her role perfectly.
And as the play went on, the dreaded kiss scene came up.
Mimi held her back towards the other man and turned around real quickly, looking quite upset. She pointed her finger towards the man and ran her line, "Get out, just get your things and kindly leave, sir."
"But Mary, I don't see why it must be this way," he pleaded.
"You don't get it do you," she began as she walked past him, coming up to the center stage as if looking out into the distance.
The man pursued and waited behind her.
"Your from the North, I from the South, if the soldiers find you hear, they'd kill you," Mimi said.
"I don't care Mary, let them find me, I will announce that I love you to death itself if I can't have you," the man said as he sat his hands on her shoulders.
"Don't call me that, you will only refer to me as ma'am," Mimi said defensively.
"Dammit Mary," the man said as he spun her around to face him, "I love you," he said and then the two kissed.
Dave felt that old familiar rage spark up once more when he saw Stan and Mimi embrace in their kiss. Everyone else in the audience feel silent as they fell in love with the two's performance and display of raw emotion on the stage. Meanwhile Dave was forcing a lump in his throat down into his gut. He felt crushed when he witnessed the sight. This wasn't like it was at practice, this looked real. Stan and Mimi embraced each other until the audience finally burst out in a round of applauds. One by one the crowd stood, giving the actors a standing ovation. The play had concluded with Mary and Stan's character, Jack, kissing and falling in love. The curtains fell and the lighting returned.
Dave was the only one sitting. Even when the curtained rose once more with the entire cast and the director, bowing, and accepting more and more applause, Dave did not stand. To make things worse, he saw Stan give Mimi a large bouquet of roses from a stagehand offstage.
"That does it," he said to himself. He was boiling. He got up to leave, letting the crowd pay their respects to the actors while he got on his bicycle and rode it around back where he would wait for Mimi.
Nearly over an hour later Mimi and Stan exited the building, laughing arm-in-arm with each other.
"Ahem," Dave coughed out from his bike.
"Dave, hey, how are you," Mimi said as she flung on to her boyfriend.
"Dave, you're Mimi here is quite an actress here, I would love to see her in future plays or screenshots," Stan said as he extended his hand out for Dave to shake. But Dave did not accept Stan's hand.
"Sorry I'm late, Mimi, I had guard duty, as you know, I am a real soldier," Dave said, emphasizing the part where he said "real soldier" to Stan.
"You didn't just get here, did you," Mimi asked, oblivious to the shot Dave just took at Stan.
"No, I got here right when the curtain rose, you were excellent, Mimi," Dave said, making sure not to mention her co-star.
"You're so kind," Mimi said.
"You two seem busy, I'll leave you guys alone," Stan said.
"Oh, you're taking off," Mimi asked as she turned her attention away from Stan.
"Yeah, but I'll still see you tomorrow for brunch, right," Stan asked before he left.
The nerve of this guy arranging a date with Mimi right in front of Dave's face.
"Sure, see you tomorrow," Mimi said with a wave to the departing Stan.
Dave was silent and got on his bike.
Mimi walked over to her own and unlocked it. She put the lock into her backpack and hopped on. The two then rode their way to Mimi's cabin complex.
"You're awfully quiet," Mimi said.
"Am I," Dave asked. He rode just before Mimi by a bit so she wouldn't see the scowl on his face.
"Is there something the matter," she inquired.
Just tell her, Dave. Get it all off your chest and give her something to think about. Expose Stan as the rat that he is. But as he searched for the words, Mimi read his mind.
"Are you still jealous about Stan," she asked, mousy, she hope that she was wrong.
"As a matter of fact, yeah," Dave said. "I see how he looks at you, and I saw the roses he gave you."
"I gave those roses to the director," she said defensively.
"What about this whole brunch thing, he asked you out on a date right in front of me," Dave exclaimed.
"Dave, you're getting loud, I don't think everyone wants to hear about our troubles," Mimi said in a hushed tone. She was embarrassed that he would just blurt this out at her while they rode their bikes among the patrons of her play here in the mock city.
"I just want to know one thing," Dave started, "are you attracted to him?"
"What, I think you're making a big deal out of nothing, he's just a friend, nothing more," she corrected him. Now Mimi was the one who was getting upset. These allegations, Dave's cavalier attitude whenever Stan's around, not to mention all of those canceled dates.
"Is this a yes, or what," Dave said, "tell me quick, I have patrol in twelve hours."
Dave's sarcasm was insulting Mimi so she braked and allowed Dave to ride up ahead for a bit before he realized that he had left her behind.
"Dave, you can be such an asshole," she said. "I'll take myself home, thank you."
Dave felt like the victim now as he watched Mimi ride past him. She did not even look at him as she rode by.
"Mimi," he called, "Mimi, come back, wait up, do something!"
She did not comply, she raced back home with her full speed. Dave watched her ride down the street and turn towards the ramp which lead to the upper section where she lived. Dave felt that icy clutch gripping at his chest once more. His heart was breaking and it hurt.
Dave glanced at his watch. "Damn," he cursed," the show's just about to start!"
He saw the theater just up ahead, he would make it very soon, however, by this time the good seats are most likely all taken.
"Where is he," Mimi asked herself once more as she paced backstage once more. She looked absolutely stunning in her costume; it was a replica of an old Southern belle gown, it was an elegant blue dress with white trimming, costume pearl jewelry hung from around her neck and her ears, her hair was curled up so that it looked like ribbons were flowing all around her. She looked breath taking, but her blue eyes were tense as she questioned where her boyfriend could be, he promised to meet her before curtain call.
"Wow, Mimi, you look gorgeous," Stan said as he made his way into the wing. He looked quite handsome in his Union uniform. It traced his frame nicely, his barrel chest swelled beneath the blue outfit which was only surpassed by his broad chin and gleaming smile.
"Stan," Mimi choked out as she nearly jumped out of her skin. She was sure that she was alone in this side of the backstage area. She turned to see the fine looking gentleman standing before her in his period costume. He looked very attractive.
"I'm sorry, I forgot, I'm not allowed to see you until we were on stage together," Stan said as he relaxed his appearance some to show that he was sorry but at the same time, playful.
"You're thinking about a groom not allowed to see his bride until they were at the alter," Mimi corrected him.
"Silly me, I get those two confused all the time," Stan said with one of his patented winning smiles.
Mimi fell helpless to his antic and laughed to herself, she tried stifling it as much as she could, though, after all, she was suppose to be upset.
"Is there something wrong," he asked her as he moved in closer.
Mimi was right about to tell Stan about Dave but then she fell silent for a moment. Should she tell him? Would he even care about her relationship problems? She knew that she had to say something to him.
"I guess I'm just a little nervous, that's all," she lied.
"You want to know my secret to avoiding stagefright," Stan began, "just pretend everyone in the audience is in their underwear."
Mimi laughed at the absurdity. She totally expected that he would say something like that but she wanted him to say it. This time she did not control herself from laughing and she let it all out.
"That's it, laugh, it'll make you feel better and it'll lose weight for you," Stan kidded.
The director poked his head into this wing and found his two leading actors.
"Everyone take your places, the curtain goes up in two minutes," he roared through his megaphone.
"Well, here goes," Mimi said as she hugged Stan for support, she has the opening line.
"Break a leg," Stan said.
"Thanks," she said and gave him a peck on the cheek. She then scampered up the stairway to the stage. She took her place center stage and psyched herself up. The two minute warning was given and soon it would be go time.
This play will be bigger than anything she has ever done before. The plays back in highschool were so little compared to this. Also, about highschool plays, only friends and family came to watch you and support you, this is an entire theater filled with strangers, the pressure was definitely turned up.
"Oh Johnny, where are you my love," Mimi rehearsed her opening line over and over again, each time trying out something different with her character's accent.
Dave locked his bicycle up against a railing and made his way inside the amphitheater. An usher led him way into the last row of seats up on top of the hill. When he took his seat Dave looked down on a minuscule theater.
"My god, she'll look like an ant from here," Dave huffed quietly to himself.
The skylights dimmed above the theater and the crowd quiet down as the curtains began to rise. Down bellow was what looked like the interior of a Southern mansion. Center stage was Mimi, all dressed up like a doll. She moved closer towards the audience as if she were looking out a window, a fan fluttering in her hand as she cooled herself.
"Oh Johnny, where are you my love," she spoke with a Southern accent. She played her part well, she looked very distraught that her lost love has yet to return from the war with the Union.
Dave watched the play, enthralled, he has seen Mimi act before, but this seems a lot different than her old school ones. He couldn't help by smile to himself as he watched her carry out her role perfectly.
And as the play went on, the dreaded kiss scene came up.
Mimi held her back towards the other man and turned around real quickly, looking quite upset. She pointed her finger towards the man and ran her line, "Get out, just get your things and kindly leave, sir."
"But Mary, I don't see why it must be this way," he pleaded.
"You don't get it do you," she began as she walked past him, coming up to the center stage as if looking out into the distance.
The man pursued and waited behind her.
"Your from the North, I from the South, if the soldiers find you hear, they'd kill you," Mimi said.
"I don't care Mary, let them find me, I will announce that I love you to death itself if I can't have you," the man said as he sat his hands on her shoulders.
"Don't call me that, you will only refer to me as ma'am," Mimi said defensively.
"Dammit Mary," the man said as he spun her around to face him, "I love you," he said and then the two kissed.
Dave felt that old familiar rage spark up once more when he saw Stan and Mimi embrace in their kiss. Everyone else in the audience feel silent as they fell in love with the two's performance and display of raw emotion on the stage. Meanwhile Dave was forcing a lump in his throat down into his gut. He felt crushed when he witnessed the sight. This wasn't like it was at practice, this looked real. Stan and Mimi embraced each other until the audience finally burst out in a round of applauds. One by one the crowd stood, giving the actors a standing ovation. The play had concluded with Mary and Stan's character, Jack, kissing and falling in love. The curtains fell and the lighting returned.
Dave was the only one sitting. Even when the curtained rose once more with the entire cast and the director, bowing, and accepting more and more applause, Dave did not stand. To make things worse, he saw Stan give Mimi a large bouquet of roses from a stagehand offstage.
"That does it," he said to himself. He was boiling. He got up to leave, letting the crowd pay their respects to the actors while he got on his bicycle and rode it around back where he would wait for Mimi.
Nearly over an hour later Mimi and Stan exited the building, laughing arm-in-arm with each other.
"Ahem," Dave coughed out from his bike.
"Dave, hey, how are you," Mimi said as she flung on to her boyfriend.
"Dave, you're Mimi here is quite an actress here, I would love to see her in future plays or screenshots," Stan said as he extended his hand out for Dave to shake. But Dave did not accept Stan's hand.
"Sorry I'm late, Mimi, I had guard duty, as you know, I am a real soldier," Dave said, emphasizing the part where he said "real soldier" to Stan.
"You didn't just get here, did you," Mimi asked, oblivious to the shot Dave just took at Stan.
"No, I got here right when the curtain rose, you were excellent, Mimi," Dave said, making sure not to mention her co-star.
"You're so kind," Mimi said.
"You two seem busy, I'll leave you guys alone," Stan said.
"Oh, you're taking off," Mimi asked as she turned her attention away from Stan.
"Yeah, but I'll still see you tomorrow for brunch, right," Stan asked before he left.
The nerve of this guy arranging a date with Mimi right in front of Dave's face.
"Sure, see you tomorrow," Mimi said with a wave to the departing Stan.
Dave was silent and got on his bike.
Mimi walked over to her own and unlocked it. She put the lock into her backpack and hopped on. The two then rode their way to Mimi's cabin complex.
"You're awfully quiet," Mimi said.
"Am I," Dave asked. He rode just before Mimi by a bit so she wouldn't see the scowl on his face.
"Is there something the matter," she inquired.
Just tell her, Dave. Get it all off your chest and give her something to think about. Expose Stan as the rat that he is. But as he searched for the words, Mimi read his mind.
"Are you still jealous about Stan," she asked, mousy, she hope that she was wrong.
"As a matter of fact, yeah," Dave said. "I see how he looks at you, and I saw the roses he gave you."
"I gave those roses to the director," she said defensively.
"What about this whole brunch thing, he asked you out on a date right in front of me," Dave exclaimed.
"Dave, you're getting loud, I don't think everyone wants to hear about our troubles," Mimi said in a hushed tone. She was embarrassed that he would just blurt this out at her while they rode their bikes among the patrons of her play here in the mock city.
"I just want to know one thing," Dave started, "are you attracted to him?"
"What, I think you're making a big deal out of nothing, he's just a friend, nothing more," she corrected him. Now Mimi was the one who was getting upset. These allegations, Dave's cavalier attitude whenever Stan's around, not to mention all of those canceled dates.
"Is this a yes, or what," Dave said, "tell me quick, I have patrol in twelve hours."
Dave's sarcasm was insulting Mimi so she braked and allowed Dave to ride up ahead for a bit before he realized that he had left her behind.
"Dave, you can be such an asshole," she said. "I'll take myself home, thank you."
Dave felt like the victim now as he watched Mimi ride past him. She did not even look at him as she rode by.
"Mimi," he called, "Mimi, come back, wait up, do something!"
She did not comply, she raced back home with her full speed. Dave watched her ride down the street and turn towards the ramp which lead to the upper section where she lived. Dave felt that icy clutch gripping at his chest once more. His heart was breaking and it hurt.