Chapter Five
An Investor
Jade and Christian stared at each other, no one spoke until
Roxanne said, "So, who are you?"
Christian, Jade and the young man turned to face Roxanne
surprised that she had spoken.
"My name is Christian, I have come from London to take Jade back
to her home. I am her uncle." Christian explained.
Everyone turned to look at Jade who said simply, "I'm not going
back."
"Jade, you have to come back; your father is worried about you." Christian explained, keeping
his gaze fixed on Jade and not looking around the Moulin Rouge.
"So worried about me that he sent you to come and get me? I am deeply
touched." Jade said her voice full of sarcasm.
"Maybe I should go.." The boy said.
Jade turned to face him. "No that's okay," She shoot a look at Christian,
"we're finished here."
Roxanne decided that even though it wasn't her place to say anything about
Christian taking Jade home but she decided to help Jade introduce herself to her "new friend." She bent down to whisper in Jade's ear. "Maybe you should introduce yourself to your 'fan club'." She suggested.
Jade nodded and turned to the boy. "My name is Jade." She said and smiled.
The boy smiled back. "Hi, I'm Alex." He said.
Roxanne said, "I'm Roxanne, great now we all know each other." She was
trying to lighten up the tense moment.
Christian hadn't said anything since he introduced himself. "Jade, you
don't understand, you have to come home. Your father truly is worried about you." Christian
said.
Jade shook her head. "No, you can go home without me. I'm staying."
Jade said firmly.
Christian just sighed. "Jade, I cannot leave without you; your father
made me promise. I will wait until you release that you will have no life or future here."
Christian said firmly, just like Jade.
"No, you don't understand. I already am something here; I am the star of
the Moulin Rouge. I am the star of Spectacular Spectacular." Jade said, not grinning this
time but some pride was apparent in her voice.
"Spectacular Spectacular?" Christian's face went pale again.
Jade could tell something was wrong but didn't want to ask him what it was.
Even Roxanne and their new friend Alex could tell that something was wrong with the new guest
at the Moulin Rouge.
The silence continued until it was broken by the sound of one of the clubs
back doors opening. Harold walked in, smiling obviously having something to tell them.
His smile faded when he saw Christian standing with his new star as well as
Roxanne and another boy, they were all silent but were startled by the sudden appearance of
the club's owner. "Christian?" Harold muttered.
Christian looked up at Harold, without smiling or with any emotion in his
voice his said, "Harold."
Harold joined the party of four, standing beside Jade and Roxanne.
They all just stood their, exchanging looks. Jade was beginning to think that there was
something more to her uncle then him just being a famous poet from London, regretting
coming here to bring her home because he hated to travel.
Before Jade could think the matter over any farther, Harold turned to her.
"Jade, Roxanne we have a slight problem with our stage projection. We also have some good
news." Harold began.
Jade and Roxanne nodded for him to continue.
"You see, all the girls are excited about performing the show and Marie is
making the costumes. However, in order to get the old stage back in order and able to use
and turn into a theater we will need an investor. A rich investor." Harold said.
Jade looked at Roxanne and Alex as if to say, "Well, do I look rich to
you." Roxanne shrugged her shoulders; Alex just stared at them. Jade turned to look at
Christian, who was looking down at the floor.
Finally, Alex spoke up. "I might know someone whom can help." He said,
smiling at Jade. Jade smiled back.
Harold looked at Alex, as if noticing him truly for the first time.
"Well, that's wonderful." He said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"See, my father is the head of a very large company which always has plenty of money left
after expenses and such. I'm sure he would be happy to invest, as long as he thought the
show was worthwhile." Alex said.
Jade smiled again and looked over at Roxanne who was also smiling. Harold was also smiling.
"No problem there, just bring him to our lovely club and I'm sure we can convince him." He
said and looked over at Christian.
Jade also looked at Christian, who had a far off look in his eyes. Alex nodded.
"I'll be back with him as soon as I can." Alex said. He headed for the door after saying
good-bye to Jade and "nice meeting you" to the other three.
Jade stared after Alex, smiling. Roxanne tapped Jade on the shoulder,
as if snapping her out of a trance. Roxanne raised an eyebrow as if to say, "I saw the way
you looked at him." Jade just smiled.
Almost half an hour after Alex had left to fetch his father,
the other four were still sitting in the main part of the club. Christian hadn't said a
word to anyone; Jade had seated herself beside him and was trying to figure out something
to say. Roxanne and Harold were hurriedly discussing plans for the show, songs, dances and
costumes.
The opening of the club door startled everyone. Alex entered followed
by a man in his early fifties or late forties; he had blonde hair, which was beginning to
gray, and wore a business suit. The four that were sitting at the club tables all stood as
Alex introduced his father, Sam Warner. Harold held out his hand to shake but Sam refused.
"Father, this is Mr. Harold, this is Jade, this is Roxanne and this is Jade's uncle
Christian." Alex introduced.
"Well, I haven't got time to talk, what is this play about and why
should I invest?" Sam asked.
Jade shot a nervous look to Roxanne, who looked at Harold. Harold
offered Sam a seat, he took it.
Harold rounded the others up -including Christian- in a
"huddle" type thing. "What are we going to do? What's the story about?" Jade asked.
Harold looked at Christian, who shook his head -answering some
unspoken question. "Well, we could always go back to the original idea of the play." Harold
suggested.
Behind them, Sam cleared his throat. "I'm waiting." He said, the
impatientness was clearly heard in his voice.
Everyone turned around with forced smiles. Harold nudged Jade forward.
Jade swallowed and began to think. "You see the story is about..." She swallowed again and
paused. She turned back to look at Christian. Christian could see the fear and doubt in her
eyes. "Love." He mouthed.
Jade smiled and turned back to Sam. "Love, the story is about love." She
said.
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Love?" He said scornfully.
Harold smiled and stepped forward. "It's set in Switzerland." He said.
Sam frowned. "Switzerland?" His voice was full of degust.
"Don't pick Switzerland!" Alex shouted, his father hated the country of
Switzerland for a reason unknown to him.
Jade thought fast; she remembered the "elephant" outside of the Moulin
Rouge. "India." She muttered. "India! It's set in India!" She shouted, smiling when she saw
the look of degust vanish from Sam's face.
Christian managed to smile as he stepped beside Jade. "And there's a
court- a singer. The most beautiful singer in all of India." He said, looking at Jade.
Roxanne stepped up beside Jade as well. "And one day her kingdom is invaded by an evil
Maharaja and in order to save her kingdom.." Roxanne paused, out of ideas.
"She must sing a song, a beautiful song." Christian suggested.
Alex stepped up behind Jade. "And her songs magical, they make however
hears them fall in love with her." He said. Jade looked back at him; Alex smiled, which
caused Jade to blush.
"So, she must sing the Maharaja her song so that he will leave the
kingdom in peace. Even though he will be in love with her." Christian said.
"But, on the night she is to sing her song, she mistakes a penniless,"
Jade bit her lip and paused, "sitar player," She looked at Christian who nodded. "for the
Maharaja." Jade finished.
"Yes, and the sitar player is dressed as a Maharaja because.." Roxanne said, once again out of ideas.
"He's appearing in a play." Harold finished for her.
"Right and the singer doesn't know it's not him so she sings him her song and he falls in love with her!" Jade said.
"And she also falls in love with him." Alex added.
"Then she finds out that the sitar player really isn't the Maharaja and
before the sitar player can explain, the Maharaja appears. So, the singer must hide the
sitar player from the Maharaja. She sings the Maharaja her song. But it's not good for her
because she's really in love with the sitar player." Jade said, pleased with herself for
coming up with that.
"So, the next day the Maharaja goes to the singer's father and says that he
will leave the kingdom in peace only if the singer leaves with him." Harold said.
"Right, the singer's father aggress but doesn't know that his daughter is
in love with the sitar player." Christian said.
"So, the singer and sitar player have to hide their love from everyone else
while the Maharaja prepares to take the singer back to his kingdom." Roxanne finished.
Everyone looked at each other, proud at the story they had constructed.
Sam still didn't seem very convinced. Harold frowned. "It will be.." he began "Spectacular
Spectacular, no words in the vernacular can describe this great event; you'll be dumb with
wonderment." Harold began to sing. "Returns are fixed at 10%, you must agree that's excellent
." Harold joined the other four so that they formed a line. "And on top of that fee, you'll
be involved," Harold paused. He was waiting for them to join in. "Artistically." They all
sang.
"So exciting the audience will stop and cheer! So delighting it will run for fifty years." They all sang, the words were light and jumpy.
"The story has intrigue, danger and romance." Jade sang, the words were
fast and she was making them up as she went along. "Electric lights, machinery!" Jade sang.
"Oh the electricity!"
"So exciting the audience will stop and cheer! So delighting it will
run for fifty years! So exciting the audience will stop and cheer! So delighting it will
run for fifty years!" Everyone sang together and got down on their knees. "Spectacular
Spectacular, no words in the vernacular can describe this great event, you'll be dumb with
wonderment!" They sang and jumped back to their feet.
"The hills are alive with the song of music." Christian sang.
Sam seemed interested now. "Yes but what happens in the end?" He asked.
The five looked at each other and began gathering anything they could find to make quick
props and costumes. Roxanne jumped to the side of the club and pulled a large rope that let
down a curtain in the middle of the club. Jade found of box under one of the tables; inside
was fabric of all colors. She tossed the fabric around to the others to make costumes.
Harold grabbed a feather duster and large bulk of white fabric. Christian stepped out from
behind the curtain and cleared his throat.
Roxanne drew the curtain back to reveal the others; Harold was dressed
as the Maharaja, using the feather duster as a staff or something, the cloth was his hat;
Jade and Alex were in each other's arms, Jade had quickly down her hair up in a bun and had
a piece of light purple fabric wrapped around her head, she had also laid a piece of blue
fabric on her lap to make her short skirt look like a dress; Alex, Roxanne and Christian
weren't wearing any costumes but Alex had bent the box that Jade had found the fabric in to
look like a sitar -it didn't really but it was worth a try.
"The singer and sitar man are pulled apart by an evil plan." Christian sang.
Harold raised his hand and Jade and Alex separated.
"But in the end he remembers her song." Alex sang.
"And their love is just to strong." Jade sang, looking over at Alex.
Everyone quickly joined together again. "So exciting the audience will stop and
cheer! So delighting it will run for fifty years." Everyone sang.
Harold began to wave his feather duster in a fanning motion. Roxanne,
Jade, Christian and Alex pretending to bow at his feet. "I am the evil Maharaja!" Harold
bellowed.
Jade looked up at him. "Oh Harold, no one could play him like you could."
Jade cooed.
Harold looked pleased. "No one's going to." He said.
Everyone jumped up again. "So exciting it will make them laugh and cry! So
delighting.. " They sang
Sam interrupted, "And in the end should someone die?"
The five exchanged confused looks. Jade shrugged. "So exciting the audience
will stop and cheer! So delighting it will run for fifty years!"
Everyone quickly could back in their places; Roxanne ran to be beside Jade and Alex but
tripped over a small lamp. The lamp fell to the floor making the bulb explode; there was a
small explosion and smoke. When the smoke cleared away -which is quickly did- everyone was
in the places; Jade and Alex in each other's arms, Harold standing with his feather duster
as the evil Maharaja, Roxanne and Christian on either side of the Jade and Alex. They all
forced smiles and waiting for Sam's answer on whether he would invest.
"Generally I like it." He said. The five all jumped up and cheered.
Alex and Jade hugged; Jade quickly kissed Alex on the cheek. They blushed and then went to
join the other three by Sam, thanking him.
An Investor
Jade and Christian stared at each other, no one spoke until
Roxanne said, "So, who are you?"
Christian, Jade and the young man turned to face Roxanne
surprised that she had spoken.
"My name is Christian, I have come from London to take Jade back
to her home. I am her uncle." Christian explained.
Everyone turned to look at Jade who said simply, "I'm not going
back."
"Jade, you have to come back; your father is worried about you." Christian explained, keeping
his gaze fixed on Jade and not looking around the Moulin Rouge.
"So worried about me that he sent you to come and get me? I am deeply
touched." Jade said her voice full of sarcasm.
"Maybe I should go.." The boy said.
Jade turned to face him. "No that's okay," She shoot a look at Christian,
"we're finished here."
Roxanne decided that even though it wasn't her place to say anything about
Christian taking Jade home but she decided to help Jade introduce herself to her "new friend." She bent down to whisper in Jade's ear. "Maybe you should introduce yourself to your 'fan club'." She suggested.
Jade nodded and turned to the boy. "My name is Jade." She said and smiled.
The boy smiled back. "Hi, I'm Alex." He said.
Roxanne said, "I'm Roxanne, great now we all know each other." She was
trying to lighten up the tense moment.
Christian hadn't said anything since he introduced himself. "Jade, you
don't understand, you have to come home. Your father truly is worried about you." Christian
said.
Jade shook her head. "No, you can go home without me. I'm staying."
Jade said firmly.
Christian just sighed. "Jade, I cannot leave without you; your father
made me promise. I will wait until you release that you will have no life or future here."
Christian said firmly, just like Jade.
"No, you don't understand. I already am something here; I am the star of
the Moulin Rouge. I am the star of Spectacular Spectacular." Jade said, not grinning this
time but some pride was apparent in her voice.
"Spectacular Spectacular?" Christian's face went pale again.
Jade could tell something was wrong but didn't want to ask him what it was.
Even Roxanne and their new friend Alex could tell that something was wrong with the new guest
at the Moulin Rouge.
The silence continued until it was broken by the sound of one of the clubs
back doors opening. Harold walked in, smiling obviously having something to tell them.
His smile faded when he saw Christian standing with his new star as well as
Roxanne and another boy, they were all silent but were startled by the sudden appearance of
the club's owner. "Christian?" Harold muttered.
Christian looked up at Harold, without smiling or with any emotion in his
voice his said, "Harold."
Harold joined the party of four, standing beside Jade and Roxanne.
They all just stood their, exchanging looks. Jade was beginning to think that there was
something more to her uncle then him just being a famous poet from London, regretting
coming here to bring her home because he hated to travel.
Before Jade could think the matter over any farther, Harold turned to her.
"Jade, Roxanne we have a slight problem with our stage projection. We also have some good
news." Harold began.
Jade and Roxanne nodded for him to continue.
"You see, all the girls are excited about performing the show and Marie is
making the costumes. However, in order to get the old stage back in order and able to use
and turn into a theater we will need an investor. A rich investor." Harold said.
Jade looked at Roxanne and Alex as if to say, "Well, do I look rich to
you." Roxanne shrugged her shoulders; Alex just stared at them. Jade turned to look at
Christian, who was looking down at the floor.
Finally, Alex spoke up. "I might know someone whom can help." He said,
smiling at Jade. Jade smiled back.
Harold looked at Alex, as if noticing him truly for the first time.
"Well, that's wonderful." He said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"See, my father is the head of a very large company which always has plenty of money left
after expenses and such. I'm sure he would be happy to invest, as long as he thought the
show was worthwhile." Alex said.
Jade smiled again and looked over at Roxanne who was also smiling. Harold was also smiling.
"No problem there, just bring him to our lovely club and I'm sure we can convince him." He
said and looked over at Christian.
Jade also looked at Christian, who had a far off look in his eyes. Alex nodded.
"I'll be back with him as soon as I can." Alex said. He headed for the door after saying
good-bye to Jade and "nice meeting you" to the other three.
Jade stared after Alex, smiling. Roxanne tapped Jade on the shoulder,
as if snapping her out of a trance. Roxanne raised an eyebrow as if to say, "I saw the way
you looked at him." Jade just smiled.
Almost half an hour after Alex had left to fetch his father,
the other four were still sitting in the main part of the club. Christian hadn't said a
word to anyone; Jade had seated herself beside him and was trying to figure out something
to say. Roxanne and Harold were hurriedly discussing plans for the show, songs, dances and
costumes.
The opening of the club door startled everyone. Alex entered followed
by a man in his early fifties or late forties; he had blonde hair, which was beginning to
gray, and wore a business suit. The four that were sitting at the club tables all stood as
Alex introduced his father, Sam Warner. Harold held out his hand to shake but Sam refused.
"Father, this is Mr. Harold, this is Jade, this is Roxanne and this is Jade's uncle
Christian." Alex introduced.
"Well, I haven't got time to talk, what is this play about and why
should I invest?" Sam asked.
Jade shot a nervous look to Roxanne, who looked at Harold. Harold
offered Sam a seat, he took it.
Harold rounded the others up -including Christian- in a
"huddle" type thing. "What are we going to do? What's the story about?" Jade asked.
Harold looked at Christian, who shook his head -answering some
unspoken question. "Well, we could always go back to the original idea of the play." Harold
suggested.
Behind them, Sam cleared his throat. "I'm waiting." He said, the
impatientness was clearly heard in his voice.
Everyone turned around with forced smiles. Harold nudged Jade forward.
Jade swallowed and began to think. "You see the story is about..." She swallowed again and
paused. She turned back to look at Christian. Christian could see the fear and doubt in her
eyes. "Love." He mouthed.
Jade smiled and turned back to Sam. "Love, the story is about love." She
said.
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Love?" He said scornfully.
Harold smiled and stepped forward. "It's set in Switzerland." He said.
Sam frowned. "Switzerland?" His voice was full of degust.
"Don't pick Switzerland!" Alex shouted, his father hated the country of
Switzerland for a reason unknown to him.
Jade thought fast; she remembered the "elephant" outside of the Moulin
Rouge. "India." She muttered. "India! It's set in India!" She shouted, smiling when she saw
the look of degust vanish from Sam's face.
Christian managed to smile as he stepped beside Jade. "And there's a
court- a singer. The most beautiful singer in all of India." He said, looking at Jade.
Roxanne stepped up beside Jade as well. "And one day her kingdom is invaded by an evil
Maharaja and in order to save her kingdom.." Roxanne paused, out of ideas.
"She must sing a song, a beautiful song." Christian suggested.
Alex stepped up behind Jade. "And her songs magical, they make however
hears them fall in love with her." He said. Jade looked back at him; Alex smiled, which
caused Jade to blush.
"So, she must sing the Maharaja her song so that he will leave the
kingdom in peace. Even though he will be in love with her." Christian said.
"But, on the night she is to sing her song, she mistakes a penniless,"
Jade bit her lip and paused, "sitar player," She looked at Christian who nodded. "for the
Maharaja." Jade finished.
"Yes, and the sitar player is dressed as a Maharaja because.." Roxanne said, once again out of ideas.
"He's appearing in a play." Harold finished for her.
"Right and the singer doesn't know it's not him so she sings him her song and he falls in love with her!" Jade said.
"And she also falls in love with him." Alex added.
"Then she finds out that the sitar player really isn't the Maharaja and
before the sitar player can explain, the Maharaja appears. So, the singer must hide the
sitar player from the Maharaja. She sings the Maharaja her song. But it's not good for her
because she's really in love with the sitar player." Jade said, pleased with herself for
coming up with that.
"So, the next day the Maharaja goes to the singer's father and says that he
will leave the kingdom in peace only if the singer leaves with him." Harold said.
"Right, the singer's father aggress but doesn't know that his daughter is
in love with the sitar player." Christian said.
"So, the singer and sitar player have to hide their love from everyone else
while the Maharaja prepares to take the singer back to his kingdom." Roxanne finished.
Everyone looked at each other, proud at the story they had constructed.
Sam still didn't seem very convinced. Harold frowned. "It will be.." he began "Spectacular
Spectacular, no words in the vernacular can describe this great event; you'll be dumb with
wonderment." Harold began to sing. "Returns are fixed at 10%, you must agree that's excellent
." Harold joined the other four so that they formed a line. "And on top of that fee, you'll
be involved," Harold paused. He was waiting for them to join in. "Artistically." They all
sang.
"So exciting the audience will stop and cheer! So delighting it will run for fifty years." They all sang, the words were light and jumpy.
"The story has intrigue, danger and romance." Jade sang, the words were
fast and she was making them up as she went along. "Electric lights, machinery!" Jade sang.
"Oh the electricity!"
"So exciting the audience will stop and cheer! So delighting it will
run for fifty years! So exciting the audience will stop and cheer! So delighting it will
run for fifty years!" Everyone sang together and got down on their knees. "Spectacular
Spectacular, no words in the vernacular can describe this great event, you'll be dumb with
wonderment!" They sang and jumped back to their feet.
"The hills are alive with the song of music." Christian sang.
Sam seemed interested now. "Yes but what happens in the end?" He asked.
The five looked at each other and began gathering anything they could find to make quick
props and costumes. Roxanne jumped to the side of the club and pulled a large rope that let
down a curtain in the middle of the club. Jade found of box under one of the tables; inside
was fabric of all colors. She tossed the fabric around to the others to make costumes.
Harold grabbed a feather duster and large bulk of white fabric. Christian stepped out from
behind the curtain and cleared his throat.
Roxanne drew the curtain back to reveal the others; Harold was dressed
as the Maharaja, using the feather duster as a staff or something, the cloth was his hat;
Jade and Alex were in each other's arms, Jade had quickly down her hair up in a bun and had
a piece of light purple fabric wrapped around her head, she had also laid a piece of blue
fabric on her lap to make her short skirt look like a dress; Alex, Roxanne and Christian
weren't wearing any costumes but Alex had bent the box that Jade had found the fabric in to
look like a sitar -it didn't really but it was worth a try.
"The singer and sitar man are pulled apart by an evil plan." Christian sang.
Harold raised his hand and Jade and Alex separated.
"But in the end he remembers her song." Alex sang.
"And their love is just to strong." Jade sang, looking over at Alex.
Everyone quickly joined together again. "So exciting the audience will stop and
cheer! So delighting it will run for fifty years." Everyone sang.
Harold began to wave his feather duster in a fanning motion. Roxanne,
Jade, Christian and Alex pretending to bow at his feet. "I am the evil Maharaja!" Harold
bellowed.
Jade looked up at him. "Oh Harold, no one could play him like you could."
Jade cooed.
Harold looked pleased. "No one's going to." He said.
Everyone jumped up again. "So exciting it will make them laugh and cry! So
delighting.. " They sang
Sam interrupted, "And in the end should someone die?"
The five exchanged confused looks. Jade shrugged. "So exciting the audience
will stop and cheer! So delighting it will run for fifty years!"
Everyone quickly could back in their places; Roxanne ran to be beside Jade and Alex but
tripped over a small lamp. The lamp fell to the floor making the bulb explode; there was a
small explosion and smoke. When the smoke cleared away -which is quickly did- everyone was
in the places; Jade and Alex in each other's arms, Harold standing with his feather duster
as the evil Maharaja, Roxanne and Christian on either side of the Jade and Alex. They all
forced smiles and waiting for Sam's answer on whether he would invest.
"Generally I like it." He said. The five all jumped up and cheered.
Alex and Jade hugged; Jade quickly kissed Alex on the cheek. They blushed and then went to
join the other three by Sam, thanking him.