Chapter 1
Harold Zidler was a shrew business man. He hadn't managed to keep the Moulin Rouge up and running for over ten years without some skill and cunning. Although he had believed that saving her after the debacle with the Duke and Satine would be beyond even his diplomatic talents. Somehow, however, he had pulled it off.
Satine's death seemed to have softened the Duke's anger some what. Clearly the man had harboured some feelings for the woman, despite popular opinion that it was simply her beauty that interested him. Zidler had managed to persuade him that the most fitting tribute to the lady would be the legendary success of the Spectacular Spectacular. People were already buying tickets to see the show again. At this rate they could keep it going well into the next year.
Convinced by the profitability of the project, the Duke had purposefully kept Zidler on tenterhooks before he agreed to continue funding the new theatre.
Delighted, Zidler had set about employing the age old motto 'The Show Must Go On'. Satine's replacement was a charming young blonde named Lucille. She carried the role with flair and panache, and it wasn't long before the Duke had his sights on her shapely form. Encouraging the girl to be responsive to his suggestions, Zidler had been ecstatic when his match-making resulted in a marriage proposal. As a reward of sorts, the Duke had returned to him the deeds for the club, on the proviso that he be party to a greater share of the profits. But since the Moulin Rouge was making almost double what it used to, Zidler saw no problems with that.
The loss of Lucille however was a blow. Yet another replacement girl - his third lead in the space of a year - would have to be found and soon. General revelry was the order of the day at the moment, but as soon as they were set, Zidler was eager to get started on their next - as yet unwritten - masterpiece. The only directive he had given to Toulouse and his group of writers had been that it must be more spectacular than the Spectacular Spectacular. Bigger, bolder, brighter and better than anything ever seen. They had bizarrely suggested something about nuns in Switzerland, but Zidler had scoffed at the idea and told them to lay off the absinthe for a while.
Sitting in front of the stage with Toulouse, Satie, The Argentinean and Nini he sunk his head into his hands as yet another tone deaf looks-like-she's-been-kicked-in-the-face-by-a-horse girl ploughed her way relentlessly through a musical number. Did she call that dancing? It looked like she were being electrocuted. And who had done her make-up? A man with a slop bucket?
When she finished, with an attempted splits leaving her fallen on the floor, Zidler looked up with something akin to a grimace.
"Yes, very nice," he said, falsely, "We'll let you know."
Next to him, Nini rolled her eyes, "Let you know that you were bloody awful that is! My knickers have got more talent than you. Go on, clear off!"
The girl scurried away almost terrified.
Zidler shook his head. He had promised the top spot to Nini if he couldn't find anyone. He sincerely hoped it didn't come to that though. Nini was bad enough already. Add an ego on to that personality and he'd create a monster.
"Next!" he hollered forcefully, praying that this would be the one.
It seemed that someone up above was attentive to his prayers as a vision of a woman stepped on stage. Tall, slim, blonde with pale skin and pouting red lips. 'Oh please, God,' Zidler thought, looking to the heavens, 'Let her be able to sing'.
He needn't have worried. She was a star from the moment the music began to play. She sang her way through a sexy, sassy number - All That Jazz - pouting, flouncing, twirling and high kicking with easy. Her voice was powerful and sultry. Men working around the theatre came around to watch. A sure fire sign she would be a hit.
It seems Zidler had found his 'man'.
When she finished - with a high kick that revealed plenty of leg, slipping gracefully into a full splits - Zidler stood and applauded, followed by Satie, The Argentinean and the others who had gathered around to watch. The only two not show their appreciation of the performance were Nini and Toulouse. Unsurprisingly, Nini had the most sullen look on her face. Clearly she knew she had been out done. Toulouse was a different matter. He sat, arms folded, gaze fixed at the stage, with an expressionless look on his face. Zidler frowned and bent down to talk to him.
"What's the matter, Toulouse?" he asked as he nudged him, "Didn't you like her?" He usually wouldn't care so much about a writer's opinion, but they had gone on and on about getting the right muse and inspiration, eventually driving him to invite them to the auditions. They did hold his fortune in their hands after all - he could cope with pandering to them a little.
Toulouse frowned in return and reached up to pull two large wads out of his ears, "I'm sowwie. Did you say something?"
Zidler looked at the wads and rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you haven't listened to a single one!"
Toulouse shook his head, "No. I listen to the first few, but was fearful for my heawing and took appwopwiate measures. I mustn't have my artistic bwilliance tainted by such caterwauling." He glanced up at the blonde on the stage, "Was she good?"
"Very," enthused Satie.
"Stupendous," the Argentinean agreed.
"Well, hire her then," Toulouse said with a nod.
"I was going to," Zidler replied, a little tersely at having been ordered around by the writer. Looking down at his list, he discovered that there was only one more girl to go. Might as well let her have her moment. Who knows what she had done in order to get herself to an audition here. He smiled up at the girl already on the stage, waiting confidently for her verdict.
'She knows how good she is,' Zidler thought with a nod, 'One of the qualities of a true star'.
"Well then.....Mademoiselle Chanterelle," he said, consulting his notes for her name, "If you would like to stand to one side, we can let you know shortly."
Chanterelle nodded with a smile and moved off of the stage.
"Next!" Zidler shouted.
The girl walked onto the stage, apparently uncertain as to what she was. Shy and unsure, or confident and outgoing? Zidler found it hard to tell. In fact, he found it hard to tell anything. She was unreadable.
Beautiful though. Shorter than the previous girl and less buxom, but still graceful. She wore a dress of midnight blue which complimented her pale skin. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, straight as a die, and her eyes were a fathom of the unknown. What such a girl was doing in such a place as this he didn't know. She looked like she should be the beloved daughter of a wealthy Earl, not plying her trade on the boards of a glorified bordello.
She asked the pianist for a note to start her off and he obliged.
Then she began. And Zidler thought he must be in heaven, for here was an angel.
Her voice was sweet and pure. Soft and yet powerful. A quality he had rarely heard in a showgirl, but undoubtedly beautiful. He sat back to listen, glancing across to see Toulouse and the others similarly spellbound.
Is this home?
Is this what I should learn to believe in?
Try to find
Something good in this tragic place
Just in case
I should stay here forever
Held in this empty space
Oh, but that won't be easy
I know the reason why
My heart's far, far away
Home's a lie....
--
For a short moment, Christian believed the song was in his head. Sung by some tormenting fairy which was yet another invention of his ravaged mind. But then he remembered the auditions. Toulouse had tried to get him to go along but he had refused. He didn't want to watch them find the impossible once more - another replacement for Satine.
Over the length of the morning he had managed to block out the songs and singers from his mind. They were mere background noise, intruding on his melancholy. But this voice - this voice pierced through his subconscious. It was different. Sweeter. Gentler. Almost enchanting.
Moving himself cautiously off of the floor, he made his way to the window and sat on the frame. He couldn't see the singer from here, but he could hear her better. Hear the words. And found himself thinking what a sad song it was for such a lovely voice to be singing....
Oh, but that won't be easy
I know the reason why
My heart's far, far away
Home's a lie....
Is this home?
Is this were I should learn to be happy
Never dreamed that home cold be dark and cold
I was told everyday in my childhood
Even when we grow old
Home will be where the heart is
Never a word a so true
My heart's far, far away
Home is too
Is this home?
Am I here for a day or forever?
Shut away
From the world until who knows when
Oh but then
As my life has been altered once
It can change again
Build higher walls around me
Change every lock and key
Nothing lasts
Nothing holds
All of me
My heart's far, far away
Home and free.....
--
Her voice faded softly away into the purest note. For a long moment there was silence. No one wanted to break the spell.
Eventually, Zidler shook himself out of his trance.
"Well, Mademoiselle...."
"Vianne," she said, when she saw him searching for her name.
Zidler smiled, "Mademoiselle Vianne. That's a rare beauty indeed. I think I speak for us all when I say we haven't heard the likes of it today."
"Thank you," she said, clearly uncertain if that was a good or a bad thing.
Zidler smiled like the Cheshire Cat, "Mademoiselle, if you and Mademoiselle Chanterelle would like to collect your things, I think we have some discussion to do in my office."
Both girls looked a little perplexed but complied.
"Which one will you hire?" Toulouse asked, tugging on Zidler's coat as the man stood up.
"Both," he said simply.
"Both?" Satie enquired, "But surely there's only room for one headlining girl.
"My, dears," he said with a shrew grin, "What you are failing to grasp here is a perfect business opportunity. Some of our clientele like the daring femme fatale, and some prefer the innocent princess. We can have both. The devil and the angel. Surely such a prospect can get your creative minds flowing if nothing else?"
Toulouse joined Zidler's smile. The man certainly knew his business. And yes, this did provide a whole new set of possibilities.