Starting Over
All You Got
It was their last night in Montmatre, they had been there for two weeks. They had decided to go and see the play again as a way of finishing their visit. Once again they were sitting near the front. As the curtain finally fell and the applause started, Chocolat stepped through. The crowd hushed.
'We have some friends who have come over from London and it's their last night with us.'
'Aaaahhh!' A sympathetic sound came from the audience.
'And one of those friends is a very important lady to me. We were trying to think of what to get her to say thank you for all the years of friendship she has given us. Finally we decided that nothing materialistic could do it so we wrote a song for her. Take it away, Satie!'
The orchestra started to play. 'This is for you, Satine.'
'I heard you say that no one seems to care 'bout you,
It's in your eyes, you think that life's unfair to you,
Just give it all you got, my friend,
Just give it all you got, it's not the end.
Cos you ougtha know
There's a reason for these changing seasons
God only knows how much your heart can bear
So don't you let go
Everybody has their up and down times
Everybody needs to know how much their loved, my friend
So hold on, it's not the end.
As I remember everything you touch
Would turn to gold,
You held the secrets
To make your grandest dreams unfold,
You were the very best of us all
But the sun that rises still falls
Yea you oughta know.
Cos you ougtha know
There's a reason for these changing seasons
God only knows how much your heart can bear
So don't you let go
Everybody has their up and down times
Everybody needs to know how much their loved, my friend
So hold on, it's not the end.
It's just a love song
Cos everybody needs a friend
I'll be right here for you
It's just a simple prayer
From the bottom of my heart
That he'll never let you go.
Cos you ougtha know
There's a reason for these changing seasons
God only knows how much your heart can bear
So don't you let go
Everybody has their up and down times
Everybody needs to know how much their loved, my friend
So hold on, it's not the end.'
Satine had tears in her eyes as she ran up the steps and flung her arms around her oldest friend. He was the one who always looked out for her and even now she had Christian, she knew he would never stop.
'Thank you so much.' She whispered through her tears. 'You have no idea how much that means to me.'
'I think I do.' He said, remembering the look on her face when Christian sang to her. 'Don't be away for so long next time.'
'I won't.' She promised. 'I will write to you.'
'Make sure you do.' Chocolat kissed her cheek lightly.
'Darling?' Christian stepped up beside them. 'It's time to go.'
'Let me go and say goodbye to Harold and Marie.' She said and hurried off to find them.
***
Everyone was sitting in the carriage, waiting for Satine to come out. They had decided to get a carriage back to the station because it was a lot colder than when they had arrived and they had managed to aquire two extra suitcases of gifts. Finally a red headed figure came out, bundled up against the snow. She jumped up into the carriage and settled herself in the corner next to Peter. No one said anything as they slipped through the streets. Satine gazed out of the window, a tear trickled down her cheek. Even though she had left before, this time was different. This time she was leaving under happy circumstances.
Christian bit his lip as he saw Satine crying. He hated to see her like this, it broke his heart. What he wouldn't give just to hold Satine but he knew Satine wouldn't like it. Working at the Moulin Rouge had caused her to put a front on. She hardly ever cried in front of anyone, always slipping away to be by herself. Christian didn't see one tear fall from her eyes until the day before the wedding. They had been talking when suddenly Satine burst into tears, confessing all about the Duke. After she had calmed down she explained that Harold had told her crying made you look weak, which was why she only allowed herself to cry in private. Slowly, Satine began to be more open about her emotions but only in front of Christian since he already knew her inside out. Only when she was really upset would Satine cry in front of anyone else.
The carriage arrived at the station and Satine jumped out, jamming her hands into her pockets. The air was cold and as she breathed out, it appeared as if smoke was coming from her mouth. The driver approached her.
'I've sent your luggage onto your train, Ma'am.'
'Thank you. My husband will pay you.'
'Yes, Ma'am.' The driver went up to Christian who handed him some notes.
'Thank you for the lift.' Christian told him. The driver nodded and got back into his carriage. 'Let's go! It's absolutely freezing.'
'My sentiments exactly.' Phyl muttered, pulling her coat tighter around her.
***
The 11.46 Paris to Calais train was practically empty. Only a few compartments were occupied. They were well lit but freezing. Everyone still had their coats, scarfs and hats on.
'Why is it so cold?' Phyl asked through chattering teeth.
'I don't know.' James replied, peering up and down the corridor. 'Here comes the guard.'
'I'm terribly sorry about the cold but I'm afraid the heating's broken. Here are some blankets and the dining room is absolutely free.' He handed some blankets to James and then went to the next compartment.
'Free food?' Peter asked.
'Let's go!' Satine said. This was an opportunity not to be missed.
***
Nearly everyone was in the dining car. All the warm food that was being ordered created a makeshift heater. The train suddenly plunged into a tunnel and it became a lot darker outside because before there was the light from the stars. The train chugged along nicely in the tunnel, going quite fast. There was a screeching and the train suddenly braked, skidding on the tracks. Things began to shake and everyone looked around, trying to work out where it was coming from. The shaking became more violent and a screaming went round from the women as the carriage seemed to collapse on one side with a bang and stopped. The whole train was plunged into darkness.
It was their last night in Montmatre, they had been there for two weeks. They had decided to go and see the play again as a way of finishing their visit. Once again they were sitting near the front. As the curtain finally fell and the applause started, Chocolat stepped through. The crowd hushed.
'We have some friends who have come over from London and it's their last night with us.'
'Aaaahhh!' A sympathetic sound came from the audience.
'And one of those friends is a very important lady to me. We were trying to think of what to get her to say thank you for all the years of friendship she has given us. Finally we decided that nothing materialistic could do it so we wrote a song for her. Take it away, Satie!'
The orchestra started to play. 'This is for you, Satine.'
'I heard you say that no one seems to care 'bout you,
It's in your eyes, you think that life's unfair to you,
Just give it all you got, my friend,
Just give it all you got, it's not the end.
Cos you ougtha know
There's a reason for these changing seasons
God only knows how much your heart can bear
So don't you let go
Everybody has their up and down times
Everybody needs to know how much their loved, my friend
So hold on, it's not the end.
As I remember everything you touch
Would turn to gold,
You held the secrets
To make your grandest dreams unfold,
You were the very best of us all
But the sun that rises still falls
Yea you oughta know.
Cos you ougtha know
There's a reason for these changing seasons
God only knows how much your heart can bear
So don't you let go
Everybody has their up and down times
Everybody needs to know how much their loved, my friend
So hold on, it's not the end.
It's just a love song
Cos everybody needs a friend
I'll be right here for you
It's just a simple prayer
From the bottom of my heart
That he'll never let you go.
Cos you ougtha know
There's a reason for these changing seasons
God only knows how much your heart can bear
So don't you let go
Everybody has their up and down times
Everybody needs to know how much their loved, my friend
So hold on, it's not the end.'
Satine had tears in her eyes as she ran up the steps and flung her arms around her oldest friend. He was the one who always looked out for her and even now she had Christian, she knew he would never stop.
'Thank you so much.' She whispered through her tears. 'You have no idea how much that means to me.'
'I think I do.' He said, remembering the look on her face when Christian sang to her. 'Don't be away for so long next time.'
'I won't.' She promised. 'I will write to you.'
'Make sure you do.' Chocolat kissed her cheek lightly.
'Darling?' Christian stepped up beside them. 'It's time to go.'
'Let me go and say goodbye to Harold and Marie.' She said and hurried off to find them.
***
Everyone was sitting in the carriage, waiting for Satine to come out. They had decided to get a carriage back to the station because it was a lot colder than when they had arrived and they had managed to aquire two extra suitcases of gifts. Finally a red headed figure came out, bundled up against the snow. She jumped up into the carriage and settled herself in the corner next to Peter. No one said anything as they slipped through the streets. Satine gazed out of the window, a tear trickled down her cheek. Even though she had left before, this time was different. This time she was leaving under happy circumstances.
Christian bit his lip as he saw Satine crying. He hated to see her like this, it broke his heart. What he wouldn't give just to hold Satine but he knew Satine wouldn't like it. Working at the Moulin Rouge had caused her to put a front on. She hardly ever cried in front of anyone, always slipping away to be by herself. Christian didn't see one tear fall from her eyes until the day before the wedding. They had been talking when suddenly Satine burst into tears, confessing all about the Duke. After she had calmed down she explained that Harold had told her crying made you look weak, which was why she only allowed herself to cry in private. Slowly, Satine began to be more open about her emotions but only in front of Christian since he already knew her inside out. Only when she was really upset would Satine cry in front of anyone else.
The carriage arrived at the station and Satine jumped out, jamming her hands into her pockets. The air was cold and as she breathed out, it appeared as if smoke was coming from her mouth. The driver approached her.
'I've sent your luggage onto your train, Ma'am.'
'Thank you. My husband will pay you.'
'Yes, Ma'am.' The driver went up to Christian who handed him some notes.
'Thank you for the lift.' Christian told him. The driver nodded and got back into his carriage. 'Let's go! It's absolutely freezing.'
'My sentiments exactly.' Phyl muttered, pulling her coat tighter around her.
***
The 11.46 Paris to Calais train was practically empty. Only a few compartments were occupied. They were well lit but freezing. Everyone still had their coats, scarfs and hats on.
'Why is it so cold?' Phyl asked through chattering teeth.
'I don't know.' James replied, peering up and down the corridor. 'Here comes the guard.'
'I'm terribly sorry about the cold but I'm afraid the heating's broken. Here are some blankets and the dining room is absolutely free.' He handed some blankets to James and then went to the next compartment.
'Free food?' Peter asked.
'Let's go!' Satine said. This was an opportunity not to be missed.
***
Nearly everyone was in the dining car. All the warm food that was being ordered created a makeshift heater. The train suddenly plunged into a tunnel and it became a lot darker outside because before there was the light from the stars. The train chugged along nicely in the tunnel, going quite fast. There was a screeching and the train suddenly braked, skidding on the tracks. Things began to shake and everyone looked around, trying to work out where it was coming from. The shaking became more violent and a screaming went round from the women as the carriage seemed to collapse on one side with a bang and stopped. The whole train was plunged into darkness.
