AN: Well, I managed to survive yet another insane NYE…no arrests or hospitalizations, but I am still hella tired! LOL. Here's the next part…let's all keep in mind that I am no Baz, mmmkay? LOL.
The Nightclub of Your Dreams
Chapter Four: Silly Love Songs
"Richard…that's…that's the most beautiful thing I've ever…ever heard," Monica whispered, her face only inches from his.
"Richard? Who's Richard?"
"Oh, I'm sorry…shall I call you Monsieur Burke?" Monica giggled.
"I, uh…" Chandler looked perplexed, and his silence raised alarms in Monica.
"What's going on?" Monica asked suddenly, as she backed away from Chandler.
"It's just…well, my name is Chandler Bing, and—"
"Chandler? What kind of name is Chandler?"
"I—"
"Did Richard send you?"
"No…um, I'm a writer."
"A writer?"
"Y-yes. You see, I ran into…I mean literally ran into Joey Tribianni, and—"
"Joey! Oh god, you're one of Joey's little projects, aren't you!!?" Monica gasped.
"Well, I—"
"Oh! I'm going to kill him!! I—I have to find Richard! Oh, this is a disaster!" Monica threw on her robe, and began rooting around for her shoes.
"Well, I…" Chandler started, but soon realized that Monica wasn't even aware of his presence anymore.
"A-ha!" Monica said triumphantly, as she pulled a rogue red stiletto sandal from underneath the bed.
"Monica…" Chandler said, as Monica began racing for the door. Monica spun around, and Chandler could not help but notice that the look she'd had on her face when he was singing to her had disappeared.
"I have to find Richard," she said shortly.
"But I—" Monica left before Chandler could finish his thought. Sighing heavily, he turned and looked out the window, noting that the lights on the Boulevard seemed a bit dimmer.
How wonderful life is, when you're in…the world.
~*~
"Monica, what are you doing here?" Jack asked, as Monica raced through the lobby.
"The man that…that wasn't Richard!"
"Are you sure? Tall, handsome…thick mustache?" Jack asked.
"No he was…well, he was kind of tall and handsome…"Monica's mind drifted slightly. Very handsome, she added to herself, "but NO mustache!"
"Jack," Richard called, as he approached.
"Richard, there you are! Monica has been looking for you!" Jack shot Monica a look.
"Yes! Richard, where have you been?" Monica plastered on a seductive smile.
"I was…taking advantage of some of your club's more…interesting features," Richard smiled wryly, and Monica cringed internally.
"Well, Monica has been looking forward to…making your acquaintance," Jack implied.
Richard looked Monica up and down, and grinned, "Shall we ascend to your room then, Monica?"
Monica put on her brightest fake smile and took Richard's hand, "Of course," she whispered, and led him toward the elevators.
The doors opened with a whoosh, and Richard and Monica turned to walk into the elevator, but stopped short when Chandler walked out of it.
Monica's eyes widened, and she felt her stomach flutter, as Chandler shot her a look. He then looked up at Richard, his lip stiffening. Hesitating for just a moment, Chandler stepped out of the couple's way.
Monica stole another glance at Chandler, and the words he sang earlier rang in her ears. As the doors began to slide shut, Chandler looked back at Monica, and something in his eyes told her that she was making a huge mistake.
"Richard," she said suddenly, as the doors closed, "I think that you and I should discuss…the um, the show. I mean, I think that we have a lot to cover, and I know that—"
"Just what did you have in mind," Richard smiled, taking her statements as insinuations.
"I think…you should meet the writer!" Monica said, and hit the 'L' button on the elevator.
~*~
"Chandler!" Ross called, as he, Joey, Phoebe and Gunther approached.
"Hey guys," Chandler smiled.
"How'd it go?" Joey asked.
"Awful. She…she thought I was Richard Burke!"
"What? I just saw Richard with Rachel!" Phoebe said.
"With Rachel?" Ross echoed, his face revealing his envy.
"Yeah, well, now Richard's with Monica," Chandler spat.
"I think somebody's jealous!" Phoebe said in a singsong tone.
"She…I thought she…" Chandler shook his head.
"You thought she what?" Ross asked.
"Mr. Bing?" Chandler turned to see Monica and a very dejected looking Richard heading their way.
"M-Monica," Chandler said, astounded that she even remembered his name.
"This is Richard Burke," Monica smiled.
"THE Richard Burke?" Phoebe asked flirtatiously.
"The one and only," Richard said pompously.
"Richard, this is the writer, Chandler Bing," Monica continued.
"Ah yes, the writer," Richard echoed mockingly, "So Chandler, what…what exactly is this story about?"
"About?" Joey laughed uncomfortably.
"It's about love," Chandler smiled, his eyes locked on Monica's, "It's about love, overcoming all obstacles."
"Love?" Richard asked incredulously.
"Yes, it's set in Medieval England!" Joey said.
"What, no, it's set in India!" Ross argued.
"It's set in Paris," Chandler yelled, "You see, it's…"Chandler looked around the casino, then looked down at the card key he was still holding, "it's 1899, and there is a penniless…poet, who travels from England to Montmartre, so that he can join the Bohemian Revolution!"
"Yes, yes!!" Joey nodded enthusiastically.
"And…he meets these people, who…who are writing a show for the famous Moulin Rouge! And he goes with them…and he meets the head dancer…and she mistakes him for…for a Duke. He wasn't trying to trick her or anything; he just wanted to sell her on his…poetry. He wanted to work on her show," Chandler watched, as Monica flushed.
"He reads her the poetry, but when she discovers that he is not the Duke, she leaves him…"
"Awww," Ross, Phoebe, Gunther, Joey and Jack said simultaneously.
"But the poet wins her heart…only she must stay with the Evil Duke, or the Moulin Rouge will be destroyed…" Chandler smiled.
"It sounds…like a good start," Richard said flatly, though the others were nearly bursting with joy.
"Perhaps we should…discuss this further?" Monica smiled.
"Richard, why don't you and I discuss the…finer details, while the ideas are still fresh in your mind?" Jack suggested.
Richard looked over at Monica, who sauntered over to him, and wrapped her arms around him. Chandler did his best not to pull a face as he watched the sordid scene.
"Richard," she purred, "I'm awfully tired. How about you and I get together tomorrow night, to work out our…agreement," she purred.
Richard smiled, finding Monica just as enchanting as everyone else did. He found himself completely drawn to her, and quickly agreed, simply to please her.
"Fine…I'll see you tomorrow…" Richard leaned in, and kissed Monica hungrily, before following Jack up to his office.
Monica excused herself from the others, and made her way back up to her room. She changed quickly, putting on a gown that was much more comfortable that what she had been wearing. She looked at the clock, and noted that it was almost 3am. She sighed, realizing that she wasn't very sleepy, and knowing full well why—Chandler. Why couldn't she get him—or that damn song—out of her head? She wandered toward the window, and her eyes fell to the floor as something shiny caught her eye. She bent down to pick it up, and noted that it was a silver Zippo lighter. She flipped open the top, and flicked the lighter, watching for a long moment, as the solitary flame danced in her hand. Flipping the lid shut, she turned over the lighter, and noted that it was engraved: CMB
CMB? Whose initials were CMB? Chandler Bing? Perhaps. Monica smiled, and pulled on her robe, before sliding the lighter into her pocket. She made her way downstairs, and into the casino.
Chandler sighed, as he looked down over the casino. He stood on the platform of the Eiffel Tower replica, watching as the last group of tourists made their way back into the elevator. Concealing his presence from the elevator operator/tour guide, he watched the elevator descend the tower, before sitting dejectedly in the far corner of the main platform.
Late in the night when I'm all alone
And I look at the clock and I know you're not home
I can't help myself
I've got to see you again
I could almost go there
Just to watch you be seen
I could almost go there
Just to live in a dreamBut no I won't go for any of those things
To not touch your skin is not why I sing
I can't help myself
I've got to see you again
I could almost go there
Just to watch you be seen
I could almost go there
Just to live in a dream
No I won't go to share you with them
But oh even though I know where you've been
I can't help myself
I've got to see you again
"Joey told me I might find you here," Monica's voice came from nowhere, and startled Chandler.
"Monica," Chandler stuttered, and stood up quickly as she approached.
"You do know that this thing is closed…you aren't supposed to be here," Monica smiled.
"I couldn't help myself…I always seem to want what I can't have," Chandler said quietly.
Monica flushed slightly, then composed herself and held out the silver lighter, "This yours?"
"Yeah…how did you?" Chandler took the lighter, and struggled to ignore the spark that ignited his soul when their fingers touched.
"I—uh, it was in my room," Monica stuttered.
"Oh," Chandler smiled.
"Anyway, I should…I should go," Monica turned to call for the elevator.
"Wait! Please, just wait a second!" Chandler called out, and Monica turned to look at him.
"I was wondering…I mean…if I wasn't a penniless wannabe writer…would you…I mean, could you…?"
"I…I really have to go," Monica shook her head.
"Silly of me," Chandler laughed sadly, "to think that someone like you could love someone like me."
Monica turned and looked at Chandler, "I…I can't fall in love," she stuttered quickly.
"What?" Chandler approached her, looking confused.
"Love will only…ruin everything. I want to be a star, and I can't afford to…"
"But Love is like Oxygen! Love is a Many Splendor Things, Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong, All You Need is Love!"
"What? Why are you listing off silly love songs?" Monica laughed, and turned to walk away.
How can I just let you walk away?
Just let you leave without a trace?
When I stand here taking every breath with you, oh.
Monica turned and looked at Chandler as he sang out his plea. Smiling at the new game, she sang back;
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
Chandler smiled,
But I can't help falling in love with you!
Monica shook her head, and turned away from Chandler.
You'd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs
But I look around me and I see it isn't so
Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs
And what's wrong with that?
I'd like to know
'Cause here l go again
Chandler climbed up the scaffolding, and swung down toward Monica, who was giggling.
Love is a many splendored thing
It's the April rose that only grows in the early spring
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king
"Get down from there!" Monica yelled, bur Chandler continued.
Once on a high and windy hill
In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Monica finally pulled him down, and shook her head, while trying to fight her heart.
Men grow cold
As girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end
I was made for loving you baby
You were made for loving me!
En haut de la rue St-Vincent
Un poète et une inconnue
S'aimèrent l'espace d'un instantMais il ne l'a jamais revue
Monica smiled slyly, unaware that Chandler was fluent in French.
Cette chanson il composa
Espérant que son inconnue
Un matin d'printemps l'entendra
Quelque part au coin d'une rue
I have a face I cannot show
I make the rules up as I go
It's try and love me if you canAre you strong enough to be my man?
Just because I will always love you!!
Monica smiled, and wrapped her arms around Chandler's neck.
I can't help loving you…
How wonderful life is, now you're in the world!
"I think this may end…badly," she warned.
"I don't care," Chandler whispered, and kissed her passionately.
("Just to See You Again"~Jesse Harris; "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"~Phil Collins; "Can't Help Falling In Love (With You)"~ George Weiss - Hugo Peretti - Luigi Creatore; "Silly Love Songs"~Paul McCartney & John Lennon; "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"~ Jule Styne and Leo Robin; "I Will Always Love You"~Dolly Parton; "La Complainte de la Butte"~ By Georges Van Parys, Jean Renoir; "I Was Made for Loving You"~ by Paul Stanley, Desmond Child, Vini Poncia; "Strong Enough"~Sheryl Crow; "Your Song"~Elton John and Bernie Taupin)
Rough translation of La Complainte de la Butte (courtesy http://www.bestofewan.com) C. Marcotte with help from Alex, Diane and Laeti
At the top of St-Vincent street
A poet and a (female) stranger
Loved each other the space of a moment
But he never saw her again
This song he wrote
Hoping that his (female) stranger
Will hear it on a spring morning
Somewhere on a street corner