Ch. 10: Finale
Georg walked through the cold streets of Paris. He had already checked Maria's hotel to no avail. Sitting down on a bench, he looked up at the stars. 'Where could she be on a night like tonight?' he wondered. Suddenly a thought popped into his head. Taking one long glance at the starry sky he headed back in the direction he came.
Walking briskly Georg approached Notre Dame with confidence. Sensing Maria's presence the second he opened the door to the church, quickly intimidated him. Saying a quick prayer he walked up the many stairs to the bell tower. He walked into the small room that instantly brought back memories of Maria's profound joy of being at the top of Notre Dame and looking down. He looked over at the window slowly and found a small women gazing at the stars silhouetted by the moonlight. Georg took a deep breath and cleared his throat.
"I thought I might find you here." He told her softly. Maria looked up and realized whom it was. She quickly turned back around and looked out at the night. Sensing he was unwelcome Georg stepped into the room more, but didn't try gong any closer to her. "Maria I know you don't feel like talking to me, but will you at least listen?" He muttered.
She again turned around and gazed at him. This time her eyes lingered longer and met his, causing her quickly to turn around again.
"Do you have any idea how hard that was on me?" She pointed out, still not facing him.
"I know, and I'm sorry." Georg stammered. "I heard the whole story from Aime. I didn't realize that you went through all that."
"You could've just trusted me. I told you I wanted to tell you when I first fell in love with you. But I couldn't, not when all of France loved the new Renee." Maria explained. "I was sure I would lose you when you finally learned the truth. And I did." A tear started to role down her pale face. Georg looked into her pained eyes.
"No you didn't. It wasn't your fault…I listened to the wrong people. I can't believe I did that to you." He told her. "I thought I was in love with Renee. I know I was angry when I first found out you were Maria, but I'm not anymore."
"Maybe we could just start over." Maria suggested. Georg nodded.
"Okay, will you marry me Maria?" He asked holding out the same ring she had thrown at him earlier. Maria smiled at him sadly.
"No, Georg I mean maybe we can start over and be friends." Georg got up from his knees.
"That is what you want?" He asked suspiciously.
"Well…yes I think so…" Maria stuttered. Georg looked dejected, but decided if that was all he could get then he wanted to at least be friends.
"Friends?" Georg held out his hand, Maria looked at it sadly. "The truth is, you really don't know what you want, do you? You are surprised I could ever love you after all that has happened." Maria looked at him stunned at how well her could read her thoughts.
"Yes Georg I suppose that is true. It was hard to lie to you for months. I love you so much the last thing I ever wanted to do was keep this secret from you." Maria stopped short; both of them noticing that she had said love not loved. "I wish things could've worked out differently."
"Why?" He asked. "I probably would never have met you if it weren't for this secret. I don't know what I would've done without you. If I never knew you…you changed me Maria…you've made me a better person."
"Georg I…" Maria began.
"Maria do you know where we are?" He asked as he came closer to her and the window.
"In the bell tower." Maria told him.
"Yes, and this is where we had our first kiss." He grinned. He moved closer to her, noticing she wasn't ready yet so he whispered in her ear.
"It is all settled now."
"What's settled?" She asked.
"Well I talked to the managers and you my dear are cast as Marie for closing night…if you want it of course." He told her.
"What? But how did you…"
"I can explain later. First I need to settle something else." He added.
"What would that be?" She asked knowingly. He took her hand into his and again kneeled on the stone floor.
"Maria, I love you. It doesn't matter what your name is, or what class you dwell in. What matters is you are my match…the one I love. Please tell me I haven't lost you." Maria smiled with tears filling her eyes. "I was one of the happiest people in the world when I met you. I would be the luckiest man in the world if you, Maria Rainer, would be my wife." Maria nodded with tears streaming down her face. Georg slid the shinny ring on her finger and they kissed long and full.
"I love you." Maria whispered to him softly before they went into a deep loving kiss.
Maria smiled with contentment as he wrapped his arms around her mumbling her name in her ear. She felt ecstatic that he finally was calling her with her name and that he loved her.
The next morning the news of everything that happened the previous day had reached the children who had thousands of questions to ask Maria.
"Your name's Maria?"
"How do you sing that well if you are a chorus member?"
"Are you wearing a mask?"
"Were you and Renee twins separated at birth?"
Maria laughed at the last question that came out of Kurt's tongue. All morning she had been entertaining the children by answering thousands of intriguing questions that the funniest comedian in the world couldn't come up with. Georg had been happily watching her answer all the questions as he stood and laughed at her replies.
"Well Kurt I hope I'm not a twin with her. It would be very humiliating to have to be a sister with her." Maria told him.
"Yeah! She was terrible last night." Kurt told her.
"The worst singer I've ever heard." Louisa added.
"And her acting was…abominable and it was the nastiest excruciatingly painful form of torture to watch her." Brigitta nodded and smiled. "I thought my eardrums would rupture."
"Get your nose out of the dictionary!" Kurt yelled at his sister.
"Well she was bad…" Marta underlined.
"Children, lets stop this talk about Renee, all right? It is not polite." Maria told them. They all nodded dejectedly.
"Father where are we going to? After tonight I mean?" Liesl asked. Maria looked at Georg worriedly.
"Well children, I'm not sure. The borders to Austria have just been closed. The Nazis have taken over, we can't go back to Austria…unless I join the Nazi's side." He told them. Seven eyes grew large with fear.
"Maria and I have discussed it and have decided we will head for America, just as soon as we are able to board a boat." He responded.
"Father we barley have anything though!" Friedrich cried.
"We have each other." Maria reassured. "That is all that matters. When we run out of money we can sing." Maria told them.
"Like a singing group?" Gretl asked. Maria nodded at her. "Oh boy! I'm going to be part of a singing group!" Maria smiled and Georg hugged her closely.
"We'll make it some how Georg…I know it." Maria reassured.
"Yes I know we will." Georg whispered as he gave her a kiss.
Night fell and Maria was, for the last time, in the role of Marie in "La fille du régiment." Maria was fabulous and at by the last note of the song before intermission the audience was already on its feet. By the last note of Maria's career at the Paris Opera House the audience was loudly appauding and shouting for an encore. Maria smiled apperciatively as the cast burst into applause. Aime gave her friend a hug and stepped up to a the top of the stage.
"Thank you ladies and gentlemen. We would like to thank everyone involved in this performance and let you in on a secret. Renee Jeter decided to leave the company earlier this year. She left and we decided to find a replacement. Mr. Barret decided for her to pretend to be Renee and for months she was herself, just under the name of Renee Jeter. Today I want to present to you the true person you have come to know and love, Maria Rainer." Aime told them. The audience burst into applause as Maria was given white Edelwiess by every member of the cast and Mr. Legard.
Georg and the seven children walked up and handed her more flowers. Maria thanked them with tears in her eyes. Mr. Legard smiled and walked downstage.
"Goodevening everyone. I would like to say that Maria has been a shinning light in the often times, corrupt buisness of theatre. She has demonstrated that major stars don't have to be rude and arrogent, but rather they can be cheerful and helpful. Maria has changed the city and this theatre and because of her this world is a better place. Her name will hang on the wall with all the other famous performers as the most inspiring actress of our time. Thank you Maria and I wish you and your family the best of luck in the future, wherever that may lead you." Maria smiled and thanked him. She stepped up for her turn to speak.
"I just want to say thank you for supporting and loving me throughtout this whole ordeal. I am sorry you never knew my name until today, but I was myself, through all of this nonetheless. I would love to continue performing here, but sometimes things happen and life moves on. Thank you all for having an impact on my life and I pray that all of you have a happy, wonderful, well-lived lives. Thank you and so long." The audience applauded Maria and she found Georg and gave him a quick kiss on stage.
After the ceromony was over Maria answered questions one last time and then calmly went around the room talking to people. Mr. Legard found her in the crowd and gave her some money as a prize and a gift, which Maria happily accepted after much insisting and prodding by Mr. Legard. Once he had convinced her she may need it, she took it happily. Maria then told all the cast members goodbye, walking slowly to Aime.
"Aime…" She started as she gave her a big hug. "I don't know what to say." Maria told her honestly. Aime smiled through her tears.
"Good luck Maria. I told you it would all work out. You are very lucky you know." Maria nodded.
"I know." She whispered.
"Keep in touch okay?" Aime asked. "You know where I'll be." She added nodding at the Opera House.
"Yes, maybe you'll be the next big star Aime. Break a leg for me." Maria told her. Aime smiled.
"I will. Always remember to keep singing, Maria. It will brighten up your days always. Goodbye." Aime said with one last hug. Maria smiled, taking the singing as a metaphor for living life.
"Goodbye." Maria whispered.
Georg gathered all the children on the outside steps.
"Wait here, I will be back." He instructed. Georg went inside and found Maria. "Are you ready to go?" He asked her. She nodded and he gave him a hug. Putting his arms around her he walked her out of the building. Maria stood back, taking one last glance at the Paris Opera House.
"Are you going to miss it?" Georg asked leaning closer to Maria. Maria smiled suddenly.
"Not as much as I would've missed you if you left without me." Maria told him. He smiled and kissed her passionately. Letting his hand rest on her back, they began to walk, with their children, away from Paris and on to their new life together.
J'ai Fini!
Notes: Well how did you like it? Please tell me what you think. Thank you for reading. Oh yes I am doing on Eagle's Wings next so look for that to be up again, eventually. Thanks again for reading and I hope you liked it!