Title : The Strange Case of Christian and the Duke
Author : peridot mousey
Rating : Remains PG-13 for the same reasons. It's probably a bit of a harsh rating.
Disclaimer : I still don't own Moulin Rouge; I'm not nearly as brilliant as Baz. *smiles* Also, I don't own the novella or musical version of Jekyll and Hyde. I'm just borrowing quite a bit from each and twisting them together into one ulimately warped web of love and lust, reality and facades, good and evil.
Notes : Same as the previous set of notes. Now, for any fans of the J&H musical, you'll notice I changed some of the words in the facade reprise. It fits quite nicely now, I think. Also, I'm changing two -major- things. In Christian's version of the musical, there is only Lucy, not Emma (or Lisa). You'll understand why at the very end. And, Satine isn't going to have consumption. Why? Well, she's going to die anyways, so why make her suffer even more? I know, I'm changing the two big, important things, but I promise the story will be wonderful because of it. *smiles* Also, thanks so much for the reviews!
Chapter 2 : The Poetic Pitch
Just as Christian's fingertips rested upon the typewriter's keys, he was suddenly interrupted by a man, dressed in all black with a cape and top hot, falling through the ceiling. Before Christian could respond, a dwarf dressed as a prostitute walked through the door and introduced himself himself as Toulouse Lautrec.
"I'm terribly sorry about all this. We were upstairs rehersing a play when he fell asleep," Toulouse said, slurring some of his words together due to his strong lisp. "You see, he suffers from narcolepsy - awake one minute, unconscious the next."
"A play?" Christian inquired.
"Yes," Toulouse answered with a quick nod of his head, "Audrey hasn't come up with a name yet. It's based on the novella about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
"Toulouse!" Audrey snapped as she peered through the large hole in the ceiling, "We have got to finish rehersing in order to present this to the financier tonight! Now where are we going to find someone to play-"
"I'll do it!" Christian announced before hearing the description.
After venturing upstairs to the Bohemians' larger room, Christian stood in the Argentinian's dark attire behind the scantily-clad Toulouse. Satie, an interesting bald man with glasses, a scarf, and mismatched attire, sat at the massive organ and played a haunting yet over-whelmingly distracting tune. Toulouse, twitching a bit from the hideous noise, sang Audrey's lyrics, "And the heavenly creatures profoundly state that the sport is perilous."
"No, no, no!" Audrey spat, "Satie, can't we just have a bit of decorative piano? And Tolouse, sing something else."
"What about, the creatures of the sky say-" Satie began, but was quickly cut off by Audrey's glare. The group argued back-and-forth with possible new lyrics.
"The an-" Christian stated, but the arguements kept his words from being heard or acknowledged.
To everyone's surprise, the Argentinian suddenly sat up and said, "People - saying - and - danger-", but suddenly his eyes crossed as he fell back into his unconscious state.
"Melodic symphonies of heavenly creatures announce-" Toulouse stated.
Suddenly Christian, desperate to share his glorious idea, burst into song, "And the angel's proclaim-"
Everyone turned and stared at Christian as he completed the problem piece, "- it's a dangerous game!"
"And the angels proclaim," the Argentinian stated in his Spanish accent, suddenly awake and walking toward the shocked Bohemians, "it's a dangerous game. I love it!"
"And the angels proclaim," Tolouse repeated.
"It's a dangerous game!" Satie sang.
"It's wonderful, Christian!" Toulouse announced, beaming with happiness, "You and Audrey should write the show together!"
But Audrey clearly didn't agree with the idea or even the mere mentioning of the idea. She quickly stormed out the door leaving the Bohemians with their Absinthe and brilliant new poet.
"The boy has talent," the Argentinian announced, suddenly giving Christian an inappropiate touch then, just as suddenly, took a step away. "It's nothing funny, hmph, I just like talent."
"Christian, you must write the show for the Moulin Rouge!" Toulouse announced.
"I - I can't write the show for the Moulin Rouge!" Christian exclaimed, suddenly ready to leap down to his room if necessary. Thoughts of his father's implications of wasting his life with a can-can dancer haunted him. The experiment hadn't even begun yet. He couldn't just enter the Moulin Rouge and get distracted. "I.. I don't even know if I am a true Bohemian Revolutionary."
"Do you believe in truth?" Toulouse asked.
"Yes," Christian stated.
"Beauty?" Satie inquired.
"Yes," Christian repeated.
"Freedom?" the Doctor, a strange, old man with a flair for explosives and electricity, questioned.
"Yes," Christian again repeated.
"Love?" the tango-dancing Argentinian asked.
"Love?" Christian stated with a quizzical expression causing the Bohemians to nearly gasp and faint, "Love, above all things I believe in love! Love is like oxygen! Love lifts us up where we belong! All you need is love!"
"See, you can't fool us!" Toulouse said as he and the others released a sigh of relief, "You're the voice of the Children of the Revolution!"
It seemed that there was no way for Christian to disagree with the persistent Bohemian bunch. He somehow came to the logical conclusion in his mind that by going to the Moulin Rouge, perhaps he could find someone with the potential to be the "perfect" love he was searching for - a reason to conduct his test. Immediately after reaching this conclusion, his thoughts were drowned by his first glass of the illusionary green liquid - Absinthe.
"And the angels proclaim," a sparkling green fairy sang as she teasingly danced for the drunken Bohemians, "it's a dangerous game!"
The Bohemians danced around the room, vaguely paying attention to the green fairy's song, for they were lost in one of their own.
"If you live around here,
You need cash in the bank,
'Cause the houses 'round here
Are all flashy and swank,
An' the front bit
Is what's called a façade!"
Christian, now dressed in the Argentinian's best suit, stood upon the so- called balcony, accompanied by the repetitious green fairy and the still- singing Bohemians.
"If you live around here,
You need lots of panache!
If you live in town, dear,
Then you must cut a dash!
't Isn't hard, dear,
To create a façade!"
They followed the green fairy down the stairs and into the street. The effects of the Absinthe were slowly letting go of Christian who wisely only drank one glass. However, the rest of the Bohemians were still flying and singing with the green fairy since they had finished the bottle themselves.
"Here tonight it's festive -
But the Bohemians are restive -
'Cause the young writer
Could be making a scene!"
Christian's eyes were filled with wonderment as he stared at the red, windmill wings of the Moulin Rouge. It was an hour before the doors were open the public, yet a group of already drunken men stood outside howling for the Sparkling Diamond. As Christian was escorted inside by Harold Zidler, the Bohemians sang out the remainder of their song.
"Christian is nervous
For his poetry wasn't rehersed-
He must present it
To the Sparkling Diamond, Satine!"
~*~
"Oh Chickpea," Harold's voice boomed outside Satine's dressing room, "Your... appointment has arrived!"
"What appointment? I only schedule appointments for - after - the show," Satine stated quizzically.
"I don't remember the details of the appointment, but I do remember you have one. He could be one of the possible investors. I really don't know, and I most certainly can't ask," Harold stated.
"He can't be one of the investors; we always escort them to the Elephant. Hmm, this is quite strange. Well, send him in," Satine replied.
Harold nodded and called for Christian who was standing in a hallway. With a bright, fake smile, Harold opened the door, practically pushed him in, and closed the door behind him. Satine appeared from behind her dressing curtain clad in her short, black, Sparking Diamond attire. Her top hat, however, remained upon her dressing table, for her red locks had yet to be pinned up.
"I believe you were expecting me," Satine purred.
"Yes.. yes.." Christian stammered as he stared in complete awe.
"Well, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. Harold failed to mention the... exact details about this appointment, so let me get one basic question answered. Do you prefer the 'Wilting Flower'?" she said, then closed her eyes and whimpered.
"Erm.. no?" Christian replied, unsure of what exactly he was chosing.
"Okay then. 'Bright and Bubbly'?" she said with wide eyes and a bright smile.
"Em.." Christian murmered.
"I suppose not. So, 'Smoldering Temptress' it is," she purred. "Now, do you need anything before we begin? Refreshment? Anything?"
"No, no, I'd just prefer to get it over and done with," Christian stated nervously.
Satine was caught off-guard by his sudden response, but she grinned seductively and replied, "Very well."
A few can-can dancers followed by Marie with extra costumes walked through the shared dressing room. Christian's eyes suddenly went wide, and his nerves were more alarmed. "I was told we could.. do it in private," he stammered.
"Oh really?" she inquired, intrigued by the silly boy's nervousness.
"Yes, yes, a private.. poetry reading," Christian said.
"A poetry reading? I just love a little poetry..." Satine purred.
"Em, Tolouse said you might enjoy it," he added.
"Of course - wait, Toulouse? Toulouse sent you?" she asked.
"Yes, yes, I'm a writer." Christian said.
"A writer?" Satine inquired in slight disgust, "You're one of Toulouse's charmingly Bohemian yet tragically impoverished writers?"
"Yes, that's right." Christian replied with a slight nod, "He sent me in Audrey's place. She quit, but no worries, I'll be writing the show. Well, if you like my poetry, that is."
"Oh! Audrey! My appointment was with Audrey!" Satine exclaimed, "I'm terribly sorry! Forgive my horrible behavior. I thought you were an investor. Well, ahem, let's just um, get it over and done with, then?"
Christian nodded as he nervously paced a bit while reciting slowly, "It's.. a little bit funny, this- this feeling inside. I'm not one of those who can, who can easily hide."
Satine stared at him. She truly wasn't paying attention to his words. His charming good looks had captured her attention.
"I don't have much money, but- but if I did," he continued, "I'd buy a big house where we both could, could live."
Satine's gaze was making his nervousness even worse. He tried to concentrate, but it was so difficult. "If, if I was a sculptor, but then again, no," he stammered, while trying to focus and remember the words, "Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show... I know it's not much but it's the best I can do."
Christian sighed; he knew this wasn't going so well. He turned around and finally returned her gaze. Suddenly, the words eaisly rolled off his tongue as he sang to her, "My gift is my song, and this one's for you." Once he was quite sure she was paying attention, he continued softly.
"And you can tell everybody this is your song.
It may be quite simple, but now that it's done,
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words,
How wonderful life is while you're in the world."
With hesistant, yet slightly more confident footsteps, Christian strolled slowly toward Satine. He continued to stare back at her then suddenly looked away, intriguing her even more as he sang.
"I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss.
Well a few of the verses well, they've got me quite cross.
But, the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song;
It's for people like you that keep it turned on."
Slowly, Satine stood and stepped closer to the charming, Bohemian poet, for she suddenly didn't enjoy just sitting and keeping her distance. He smiled at her and continued the song, but didn't often meet her gaze directly. It annoyed her, yet it kept her curious as to his true intentions.
"So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do,
You see, I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue.
Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean,
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen."
As Christian continued to sing to Satine, he twirled her around. She felt as though they were dancing upon the clouds in the Paris sky that hung around the Eifel Tower.
"And you can tell everybody
That this is your song.
It may be quite simple,
But now that it's done,
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is
Now you're in the world."
Once they had stopped dancing around the dressing room, Christian held her in a gentle embrace as he nearly whispered the remainder of the song to her.
"I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is
Now you're in the world."
Satine merely stared at him with an uncharacteristically lovesick gaze sparkling in her eyes. Christian broke the awkward silence by slowly releasing her and inquired, "Well, did.. did you like my poetry?"
"Yes.. yes.." she murmered, suddenly a bit nervous.
"Well, would you like to know about the show?" he asked.
She nodded, still staring deeply into his eyes.
"It's based on the novella about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Only, instead of such an old, distrought man... our Dr. Jekyll is a dashing young doctor with a seemingly happy life. But, you see, he struggles constantly because he absolutely loathes the idea of evil being present. He wants to eliminate it completely. No one seems to approve and certainly won't allow him a test subject. He goes out for a drink one night on the wrong side of town, and there he meets a pro- erm, courtesan, the most beautiful courtesan of them all - Lucy," he said.
"Go on," she whispered, completely enthralled.
"Well, Dr. Jekyll isn't impressed with her actions, yet he sees something deeper in her - good, perhaps. He gives Lucy his card and tells her to stop by if she ever needs a friend. He returns home and begins his experiments. To his dismay, the evil force inside him is released - Mr. Hyde. He's a ruthless man who falls in love with Lucy. He pays Lucy to, well, do her job, I suppose.. but Lucy doesn't love him; she loves Dr. Jekyll. So, Mr. Hyde becomes stronger and begins to murder people who stand in his way. Eventually, Hyde kills Lucy. Jeykll, in return, kills Hyde which kills himself as well," Christian explained.
"Wow, that's.. that's amazing. Well, I have no problem with you writing the show. It sounds wonderful to me. I will discuss it with Harold, then perhaps I could... stop by and deliver the news?" Satine said.
"Of course. I'm staying at the Le'Amoure Hotel. Just ask for Christian," he said. "Well, you have a show to do, so, goodbye Mademoiselle Satine."
"Goodbye, Christian.." she said softly as he walked out the door. Satine's heart fluttered about within her chest as though she had been given new wings. Still, she knew she wasn't able fly. Not yet. Something about the Bohemian poet had intrigued her and allowed her to catch a glimpse of real love.
"He's.. perfect.." she thought aloud, "how wonderful life is now Christian is in the world. As she continued to think, she stared out the small window and her thoughts became a song which she sang but knew he would never hear.
"I peer through windows,
Watch life go by,
Dream of tomorrow,
And wonder why."
She sighed wistfully and sat down at her dressing table. She stared at her little, caged bird and sang to it as though it understood completely.
"The past is holding me,
Keeping life at bay.
I wander lost in yesterday,
Wanting to fly,
But scared to try."
Suddenly, Satine smiled as she thought of her beautiful, Bohemian poet and continued to become lost in her song.
"But if someone like you
Found someone like me
Then suddenly,
Nothing would ever be the same.
My heart would take wing,
And I'd feel so alive!
If someone like you
Found me!"
She thought about all the times she had longed for someone to truly love her instead of pay her to indulge their fantasies. She always said "diamonds were a girl's best friend", but diamonds couldn't buy her the perfect love she had always dreamt of. She sighed and sang out her thoughts.
"So many secrets
I long to share.
All I have needed
Is someone there...
To help me see a world
I've never seen before.
A love to open every door,
To set me free
So I can soar!"
Satine danced around, as if trying to re-create the dream-like enchantment Christian had danced her into, while she completed her thoughtful singing.
"For if someone like you
Found someone like me
Then suddenly,
Nothing would ever be the same!
There'd be a new way to live,
A new life to love,
If someone like you
Found me!"
"Oh, if someone like you
Found someone like me
Then suddenly,
Nothing would ever be the same!
My heart would take wing,
And I'd feel so alive!
If someone like you
Loved me!
Loved me!
Loved me!"
Suddenly, Satine stopped dancing around and quickly regained her composure. She twirled her red locks into a bun and pinned it up then placed the black, top hat upon her head. "Someone like you won't find someone like me. You deserve better, Christian," she whispered.
Author : peridot mousey
Rating : Remains PG-13 for the same reasons. It's probably a bit of a harsh rating.
Disclaimer : I still don't own Moulin Rouge; I'm not nearly as brilliant as Baz. *smiles* Also, I don't own the novella or musical version of Jekyll and Hyde. I'm just borrowing quite a bit from each and twisting them together into one ulimately warped web of love and lust, reality and facades, good and evil.
Notes : Same as the previous set of notes. Now, for any fans of the J&H musical, you'll notice I changed some of the words in the facade reprise. It fits quite nicely now, I think. Also, I'm changing two -major- things. In Christian's version of the musical, there is only Lucy, not Emma (or Lisa). You'll understand why at the very end. And, Satine isn't going to have consumption. Why? Well, she's going to die anyways, so why make her suffer even more? I know, I'm changing the two big, important things, but I promise the story will be wonderful because of it. *smiles* Also, thanks so much for the reviews!
Chapter 2 : The Poetic Pitch
Just as Christian's fingertips rested upon the typewriter's keys, he was suddenly interrupted by a man, dressed in all black with a cape and top hot, falling through the ceiling. Before Christian could respond, a dwarf dressed as a prostitute walked through the door and introduced himself himself as Toulouse Lautrec.
"I'm terribly sorry about all this. We were upstairs rehersing a play when he fell asleep," Toulouse said, slurring some of his words together due to his strong lisp. "You see, he suffers from narcolepsy - awake one minute, unconscious the next."
"A play?" Christian inquired.
"Yes," Toulouse answered with a quick nod of his head, "Audrey hasn't come up with a name yet. It's based on the novella about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
"Toulouse!" Audrey snapped as she peered through the large hole in the ceiling, "We have got to finish rehersing in order to present this to the financier tonight! Now where are we going to find someone to play-"
"I'll do it!" Christian announced before hearing the description.
After venturing upstairs to the Bohemians' larger room, Christian stood in the Argentinian's dark attire behind the scantily-clad Toulouse. Satie, an interesting bald man with glasses, a scarf, and mismatched attire, sat at the massive organ and played a haunting yet over-whelmingly distracting tune. Toulouse, twitching a bit from the hideous noise, sang Audrey's lyrics, "And the heavenly creatures profoundly state that the sport is perilous."
"No, no, no!" Audrey spat, "Satie, can't we just have a bit of decorative piano? And Tolouse, sing something else."
"What about, the creatures of the sky say-" Satie began, but was quickly cut off by Audrey's glare. The group argued back-and-forth with possible new lyrics.
"The an-" Christian stated, but the arguements kept his words from being heard or acknowledged.
To everyone's surprise, the Argentinian suddenly sat up and said, "People - saying - and - danger-", but suddenly his eyes crossed as he fell back into his unconscious state.
"Melodic symphonies of heavenly creatures announce-" Toulouse stated.
Suddenly Christian, desperate to share his glorious idea, burst into song, "And the angel's proclaim-"
Everyone turned and stared at Christian as he completed the problem piece, "- it's a dangerous game!"
"And the angels proclaim," the Argentinian stated in his Spanish accent, suddenly awake and walking toward the shocked Bohemians, "it's a dangerous game. I love it!"
"And the angels proclaim," Tolouse repeated.
"It's a dangerous game!" Satie sang.
"It's wonderful, Christian!" Toulouse announced, beaming with happiness, "You and Audrey should write the show together!"
But Audrey clearly didn't agree with the idea or even the mere mentioning of the idea. She quickly stormed out the door leaving the Bohemians with their Absinthe and brilliant new poet.
"The boy has talent," the Argentinian announced, suddenly giving Christian an inappropiate touch then, just as suddenly, took a step away. "It's nothing funny, hmph, I just like talent."
"Christian, you must write the show for the Moulin Rouge!" Toulouse announced.
"I - I can't write the show for the Moulin Rouge!" Christian exclaimed, suddenly ready to leap down to his room if necessary. Thoughts of his father's implications of wasting his life with a can-can dancer haunted him. The experiment hadn't even begun yet. He couldn't just enter the Moulin Rouge and get distracted. "I.. I don't even know if I am a true Bohemian Revolutionary."
"Do you believe in truth?" Toulouse asked.
"Yes," Christian stated.
"Beauty?" Satie inquired.
"Yes," Christian repeated.
"Freedom?" the Doctor, a strange, old man with a flair for explosives and electricity, questioned.
"Yes," Christian again repeated.
"Love?" the tango-dancing Argentinian asked.
"Love?" Christian stated with a quizzical expression causing the Bohemians to nearly gasp and faint, "Love, above all things I believe in love! Love is like oxygen! Love lifts us up where we belong! All you need is love!"
"See, you can't fool us!" Toulouse said as he and the others released a sigh of relief, "You're the voice of the Children of the Revolution!"
It seemed that there was no way for Christian to disagree with the persistent Bohemian bunch. He somehow came to the logical conclusion in his mind that by going to the Moulin Rouge, perhaps he could find someone with the potential to be the "perfect" love he was searching for - a reason to conduct his test. Immediately after reaching this conclusion, his thoughts were drowned by his first glass of the illusionary green liquid - Absinthe.
"And the angels proclaim," a sparkling green fairy sang as she teasingly danced for the drunken Bohemians, "it's a dangerous game!"
The Bohemians danced around the room, vaguely paying attention to the green fairy's song, for they were lost in one of their own.
"If you live around here,
You need cash in the bank,
'Cause the houses 'round here
Are all flashy and swank,
An' the front bit
Is what's called a façade!"
Christian, now dressed in the Argentinian's best suit, stood upon the so- called balcony, accompanied by the repetitious green fairy and the still- singing Bohemians.
"If you live around here,
You need lots of panache!
If you live in town, dear,
Then you must cut a dash!
't Isn't hard, dear,
To create a façade!"
They followed the green fairy down the stairs and into the street. The effects of the Absinthe were slowly letting go of Christian who wisely only drank one glass. However, the rest of the Bohemians were still flying and singing with the green fairy since they had finished the bottle themselves.
"Here tonight it's festive -
But the Bohemians are restive -
'Cause the young writer
Could be making a scene!"
Christian's eyes were filled with wonderment as he stared at the red, windmill wings of the Moulin Rouge. It was an hour before the doors were open the public, yet a group of already drunken men stood outside howling for the Sparkling Diamond. As Christian was escorted inside by Harold Zidler, the Bohemians sang out the remainder of their song.
"Christian is nervous
For his poetry wasn't rehersed-
He must present it
To the Sparkling Diamond, Satine!"
~*~
"Oh Chickpea," Harold's voice boomed outside Satine's dressing room, "Your... appointment has arrived!"
"What appointment? I only schedule appointments for - after - the show," Satine stated quizzically.
"I don't remember the details of the appointment, but I do remember you have one. He could be one of the possible investors. I really don't know, and I most certainly can't ask," Harold stated.
"He can't be one of the investors; we always escort them to the Elephant. Hmm, this is quite strange. Well, send him in," Satine replied.
Harold nodded and called for Christian who was standing in a hallway. With a bright, fake smile, Harold opened the door, practically pushed him in, and closed the door behind him. Satine appeared from behind her dressing curtain clad in her short, black, Sparking Diamond attire. Her top hat, however, remained upon her dressing table, for her red locks had yet to be pinned up.
"I believe you were expecting me," Satine purred.
"Yes.. yes.." Christian stammered as he stared in complete awe.
"Well, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. Harold failed to mention the... exact details about this appointment, so let me get one basic question answered. Do you prefer the 'Wilting Flower'?" she said, then closed her eyes and whimpered.
"Erm.. no?" Christian replied, unsure of what exactly he was chosing.
"Okay then. 'Bright and Bubbly'?" she said with wide eyes and a bright smile.
"Em.." Christian murmered.
"I suppose not. So, 'Smoldering Temptress' it is," she purred. "Now, do you need anything before we begin? Refreshment? Anything?"
"No, no, I'd just prefer to get it over and done with," Christian stated nervously.
Satine was caught off-guard by his sudden response, but she grinned seductively and replied, "Very well."
A few can-can dancers followed by Marie with extra costumes walked through the shared dressing room. Christian's eyes suddenly went wide, and his nerves were more alarmed. "I was told we could.. do it in private," he stammered.
"Oh really?" she inquired, intrigued by the silly boy's nervousness.
"Yes, yes, a private.. poetry reading," Christian said.
"A poetry reading? I just love a little poetry..." Satine purred.
"Em, Tolouse said you might enjoy it," he added.
"Of course - wait, Toulouse? Toulouse sent you?" she asked.
"Yes, yes, I'm a writer." Christian said.
"A writer?" Satine inquired in slight disgust, "You're one of Toulouse's charmingly Bohemian yet tragically impoverished writers?"
"Yes, that's right." Christian replied with a slight nod, "He sent me in Audrey's place. She quit, but no worries, I'll be writing the show. Well, if you like my poetry, that is."
"Oh! Audrey! My appointment was with Audrey!" Satine exclaimed, "I'm terribly sorry! Forgive my horrible behavior. I thought you were an investor. Well, ahem, let's just um, get it over and done with, then?"
Christian nodded as he nervously paced a bit while reciting slowly, "It's.. a little bit funny, this- this feeling inside. I'm not one of those who can, who can easily hide."
Satine stared at him. She truly wasn't paying attention to his words. His charming good looks had captured her attention.
"I don't have much money, but- but if I did," he continued, "I'd buy a big house where we both could, could live."
Satine's gaze was making his nervousness even worse. He tried to concentrate, but it was so difficult. "If, if I was a sculptor, but then again, no," he stammered, while trying to focus and remember the words, "Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show... I know it's not much but it's the best I can do."
Christian sighed; he knew this wasn't going so well. He turned around and finally returned her gaze. Suddenly, the words eaisly rolled off his tongue as he sang to her, "My gift is my song, and this one's for you." Once he was quite sure she was paying attention, he continued softly.
"And you can tell everybody this is your song.
It may be quite simple, but now that it's done,
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words,
How wonderful life is while you're in the world."
With hesistant, yet slightly more confident footsteps, Christian strolled slowly toward Satine. He continued to stare back at her then suddenly looked away, intriguing her even more as he sang.
"I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss.
Well a few of the verses well, they've got me quite cross.
But, the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song;
It's for people like you that keep it turned on."
Slowly, Satine stood and stepped closer to the charming, Bohemian poet, for she suddenly didn't enjoy just sitting and keeping her distance. He smiled at her and continued the song, but didn't often meet her gaze directly. It annoyed her, yet it kept her curious as to his true intentions.
"So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do,
You see, I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue.
Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean,
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen."
As Christian continued to sing to Satine, he twirled her around. She felt as though they were dancing upon the clouds in the Paris sky that hung around the Eifel Tower.
"And you can tell everybody
That this is your song.
It may be quite simple,
But now that it's done,
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is
Now you're in the world."
Once they had stopped dancing around the dressing room, Christian held her in a gentle embrace as he nearly whispered the remainder of the song to her.
"I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is
Now you're in the world."
Satine merely stared at him with an uncharacteristically lovesick gaze sparkling in her eyes. Christian broke the awkward silence by slowly releasing her and inquired, "Well, did.. did you like my poetry?"
"Yes.. yes.." she murmered, suddenly a bit nervous.
"Well, would you like to know about the show?" he asked.
She nodded, still staring deeply into his eyes.
"It's based on the novella about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Only, instead of such an old, distrought man... our Dr. Jekyll is a dashing young doctor with a seemingly happy life. But, you see, he struggles constantly because he absolutely loathes the idea of evil being present. He wants to eliminate it completely. No one seems to approve and certainly won't allow him a test subject. He goes out for a drink one night on the wrong side of town, and there he meets a pro- erm, courtesan, the most beautiful courtesan of them all - Lucy," he said.
"Go on," she whispered, completely enthralled.
"Well, Dr. Jekyll isn't impressed with her actions, yet he sees something deeper in her - good, perhaps. He gives Lucy his card and tells her to stop by if she ever needs a friend. He returns home and begins his experiments. To his dismay, the evil force inside him is released - Mr. Hyde. He's a ruthless man who falls in love with Lucy. He pays Lucy to, well, do her job, I suppose.. but Lucy doesn't love him; she loves Dr. Jekyll. So, Mr. Hyde becomes stronger and begins to murder people who stand in his way. Eventually, Hyde kills Lucy. Jeykll, in return, kills Hyde which kills himself as well," Christian explained.
"Wow, that's.. that's amazing. Well, I have no problem with you writing the show. It sounds wonderful to me. I will discuss it with Harold, then perhaps I could... stop by and deliver the news?" Satine said.
"Of course. I'm staying at the Le'Amoure Hotel. Just ask for Christian," he said. "Well, you have a show to do, so, goodbye Mademoiselle Satine."
"Goodbye, Christian.." she said softly as he walked out the door. Satine's heart fluttered about within her chest as though she had been given new wings. Still, she knew she wasn't able fly. Not yet. Something about the Bohemian poet had intrigued her and allowed her to catch a glimpse of real love.
"He's.. perfect.." she thought aloud, "how wonderful life is now Christian is in the world. As she continued to think, she stared out the small window and her thoughts became a song which she sang but knew he would never hear.
"I peer through windows,
Watch life go by,
Dream of tomorrow,
And wonder why."
She sighed wistfully and sat down at her dressing table. She stared at her little, caged bird and sang to it as though it understood completely.
"The past is holding me,
Keeping life at bay.
I wander lost in yesterday,
Wanting to fly,
But scared to try."
Suddenly, Satine smiled as she thought of her beautiful, Bohemian poet and continued to become lost in her song.
"But if someone like you
Found someone like me
Then suddenly,
Nothing would ever be the same.
My heart would take wing,
And I'd feel so alive!
If someone like you
Found me!"
She thought about all the times she had longed for someone to truly love her instead of pay her to indulge their fantasies. She always said "diamonds were a girl's best friend", but diamonds couldn't buy her the perfect love she had always dreamt of. She sighed and sang out her thoughts.
"So many secrets
I long to share.
All I have needed
Is someone there...
To help me see a world
I've never seen before.
A love to open every door,
To set me free
So I can soar!"
Satine danced around, as if trying to re-create the dream-like enchantment Christian had danced her into, while she completed her thoughtful singing.
"For if someone like you
Found someone like me
Then suddenly,
Nothing would ever be the same!
There'd be a new way to live,
A new life to love,
If someone like you
Found me!"
"Oh, if someone like you
Found someone like me
Then suddenly,
Nothing would ever be the same!
My heart would take wing,
And I'd feel so alive!
If someone like you
Loved me!
Loved me!
Loved me!"
Suddenly, Satine stopped dancing around and quickly regained her composure. She twirled her red locks into a bun and pinned it up then placed the black, top hat upon her head. "Someone like you won't find someone like me. You deserve better, Christian," she whispered.