The velvet curtains open on to the computer screen, leaving the audience
hushed in silent anticipation. Let the show begin.
Act 7: Part one: Round and round the merry go round, back to the beginning.
Christian woke with a start, his housekeeper jostling his shoulder.
"Master James!" she said, trying desperately to wake up the sleeping man.
"Mast-" "Mmmm..not now Netti." "YES, now, master James," she exclaimed, now tugging on his pant leg, using this new method to try and pull him out of bed. "Ha-ha! Netti that tickles." Netti, now thoroughly exasperated was suddenly struck with an idea. Quickly running down the stairs to the kitchen, she grabbed a bucket and filled it with water. "Need to wash those sheets anyway.." she grumbled, as she began to run up the stairs, back to Christian. Now, Netti was a rather..stout woman and also rather old, being almost sixty, and even though she was a housekeeper, running up and down stairs was NOT in the job description.
When she got back into his room, she proceeded in quickly (and forcefully) throwing the bucket of water over his.erm, manhood.
"*GASP!*" Christian was definitely awake now! "Gods, Netti! What did you do that for?!?! If you wanted to wake me up, all you had to do was ask!"
"I DID!" Exclaimed a now very annoyed Netti! "THERE IS A MESSENGER HERE FROM FRANCE!"
"What?" Christian's head came up and his eyes met Netti's. "Yes." She said softly.
Netti knew. Netti was the only one that knew that Satine was real. He had.published a book about her, their time together after about a year, and it had made him famous. More books he had published, and all bestsellers, all about, truth and beauty and freedom and - no. Not love. For he had only found one love. And he would not write about it again.
So Netti knew the importance, of a messenger from France. He dressed quickly and rushed downstairs, Netti following quickly at his heels.
And there he was. A messenger indeed. It was... "Harold?"
*~~~~*
After Managing to steer the man into the office, rather than talk in the front hall, Netti began to prepare tea and crumpets, the traditional English food for guests. Wonder what that gent's here for, she wondered as she munched down on a crumpet.
*~~~~*
"Dear boy! How are you?" Harold Zidler shouted at the VERY surprised boy sitting in front of him, with an expression on his face a mix between confusion and pure unadulterated terror.
"Erm. Harold, I-I er wasn't uh" He looked at Netti who walked in with tea and a tray of crumpets, and raised an eyebrow, as if saying "a little HELP here?!"
"Uh. we weren't expecting you! Uh, master." Netti faltered, not knowing Harold's last name "Zidler" Christian answered encouragingly "Yes! We weren't expecting you master Zidler" "Oh! Well, that's quite alright, this was a rather unexpected visit for myself as well.."
And so, Harold Zidler began to tell Christian and Netti, the tale of why he was here."
"Well, Christian you know that the Moulin rouge has been down and out for em, some time now" Harold started, swallowing every few seconds and playing with the handkerchief. "Yes" Christian replied. Where was this going? He was glad to see Harold, but also had to admit that his mind kept wandering from the subject.
Did he know anything about Satine?
"Well what you don't know is that.the duke holds the deeds to the Moulin rouge."
Christian could NOT believe this. After all this time, the word "duke" evoked such hatred in him that he almost wanted to. to, throw the teapot against the wall!
Netti saw him subconsciously reaching for the teapot handle, and a look of alarm came across her face. Master James might'nt like this duke fellow, and she knew, he had every right to hate the man, but that gave him no right to break their best china! She swooped down and grabbed the teapot from under his fingers. Christian looked up to the flustered housekeeper and shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Sorry Netti" he said. A "humph!" was all he got in return.
Christian turned his attention back to Harold. "You said.the duke, holds the deeds to the Moulin rouge" "Yes," Said Harold a bit nervously. "Wha- how long? Why didn't." "Since that night in the gothic tower," Harold replied slowly and solemnly.
"And?" Christian answered, short of breath, now leaning to the table. "And.he wants to open it back up again" Harold stated, rather simply. "He wants to WHAT?!" Christian yelled. Just then, a knock was heard on the door. "Master james?" It was Christians' butler, Butler. It was his day off, and Christian was wondering what he was doing back at the manor. "I was quite bored, and felt like coming back early" Butler replied to Christians' unasked question. Butler was a middle aged man, in his late forties, was fit and graceful and he was also- well a gentleman would say "Prefers the company of a man than that of a woman" "Harold, this is my Butler," he paused;" Butler" Ironic isn't it? He thought to himself. "Butler, meet Harold Zidler." Butler eyed the man up carefully. "Hmm. Hello, Master Zidler," He said in an almost .seductive tone? Both Christian and Netti turned to him with raised eyebrows, and somewhat "PLEASE tell me that you didn't just do that" expressions on their faces. "Sorry" Butler replied. "Well, I'll be going then he also said, but not before he took one of the crumpets from the tray and closed the door to the office once again, leaving a bewildered Christian, Netti and Harold still standing. "Right.." Harold said. "Well, that was.interesting". The two men sat back down. All seriousness coming back into the conversation. "The duke has put me back in charge of the Moulin rouge.and I would be very much honored if you would write the new show for us." "You're asking me.to go back there." Christian stated almost mechanically. "What makes you think that I want to see that all again? Do you not think that it doesn't haunt my mind every day?" Netti decided that it was time for her to go, and just as she closed the door softly behind her, she saw Butler standing there, eavesdropping. So she did the only thing that a good housekeeper would do; stop and listen as well. "I can't do that Harold. It'll kill me, I know it. I won't be able to breathe, because all that I'll smell is her scent and I'll go mad. I'm sorry for your trouble Harold. I'm sorry." He began to turn away when Harold spoke again. "She is not dead." He stated simply. Christian turned his head, the world slowing its perfect revolution for just a second as her beautiful face appeared in his mind. "What did you say?" he asked slowly, a look of morbid disbelief coming to his face." "Satine." Harold said again. "She is not dead. Nor is she harmed, but rather imprisoned of sorts, in a high tower; the courtesan waits for her sitar player to rescue her from the maharaja. "He finished softly, a look of pure and true regret and sadness upon his face. "The duke" Christian said, breathing heavily. He sat down and put his head in his hands. "The duke has her." "Yes" Harold answered, his tone as if he were recalling something vital from a memory. "No, no, no, that, it can't be, I- I asked you! All of you! You told me that you didn't know." "They didn't." He said remorsefully. "Only I knew." "For how long?" Christian choked out, his words tinged with agony. "Since the beginning." He paused, "since the very beginning." "And, you didn't tell me?" He asked looking up at him. The pain in his eyes almost unbearable to look at. "I'm sorry Christian. But the Duke would have had you killed if he found out that you knew. He is a jealous man Christian. A very jealous man. But.if you were to write the show, she would be there. The duke almost never lets her out of his sight, or out of the estate. She would be there Christian." "The duke will not allow me to write the show if he holds the deeds to the Moulin rouge." "Let me take care of the duke." Harold said. "This act of betrayal and lies has gone on long enough my boy." "You have a chance, now, to end it. To make things right." Christian looked up at the duke once more. "I suppose I'd better pack" he said. "Good man!" Said Butler, who broke through the door making a grand entrance. Butler also knew of course. "And I suppose I'll be taking the two of you with me as well," Christian said with a laugh. "Will you be there as well?" Butler asked Harold as he shimmied up next to him, invading what Harold called his "air Du personelle" Christian and Netti began to laugh; as Harold stood looking very confused indeed, and could NOT figure out what was so funny. And so their journey would begin. ~finis ACT 7: PART ONE!
Yes, yes, I know, what happened to Satine? Well, that will be explained in Act 7: PART 2! But what else can you expect in part 2? Well how about: The duke finally telling Satine what is happening ~ "Satine, my dear, I have decided that the Moulin rouge will continue its existence as a theatre. Harold Zidler has hired a famous English author to write the new show.I can't for the life of me recall what his name was.oh; I think Zidler forgot to tell me." Dun dun dun..a little cliffy for all of you guys. So as always, review like mad, and look forward to another looooong chapter.
Act 7: Part one: Round and round the merry go round, back to the beginning.
Christian woke with a start, his housekeeper jostling his shoulder.
"Master James!" she said, trying desperately to wake up the sleeping man.
"Mast-" "Mmmm..not now Netti." "YES, now, master James," she exclaimed, now tugging on his pant leg, using this new method to try and pull him out of bed. "Ha-ha! Netti that tickles." Netti, now thoroughly exasperated was suddenly struck with an idea. Quickly running down the stairs to the kitchen, she grabbed a bucket and filled it with water. "Need to wash those sheets anyway.." she grumbled, as she began to run up the stairs, back to Christian. Now, Netti was a rather..stout woman and also rather old, being almost sixty, and even though she was a housekeeper, running up and down stairs was NOT in the job description.
When she got back into his room, she proceeded in quickly (and forcefully) throwing the bucket of water over his.erm, manhood.
"*GASP!*" Christian was definitely awake now! "Gods, Netti! What did you do that for?!?! If you wanted to wake me up, all you had to do was ask!"
"I DID!" Exclaimed a now very annoyed Netti! "THERE IS A MESSENGER HERE FROM FRANCE!"
"What?" Christian's head came up and his eyes met Netti's. "Yes." She said softly.
Netti knew. Netti was the only one that knew that Satine was real. He had.published a book about her, their time together after about a year, and it had made him famous. More books he had published, and all bestsellers, all about, truth and beauty and freedom and - no. Not love. For he had only found one love. And he would not write about it again.
So Netti knew the importance, of a messenger from France. He dressed quickly and rushed downstairs, Netti following quickly at his heels.
And there he was. A messenger indeed. It was... "Harold?"
*~~~~*
After Managing to steer the man into the office, rather than talk in the front hall, Netti began to prepare tea and crumpets, the traditional English food for guests. Wonder what that gent's here for, she wondered as she munched down on a crumpet.
*~~~~*
"Dear boy! How are you?" Harold Zidler shouted at the VERY surprised boy sitting in front of him, with an expression on his face a mix between confusion and pure unadulterated terror.
"Erm. Harold, I-I er wasn't uh" He looked at Netti who walked in with tea and a tray of crumpets, and raised an eyebrow, as if saying "a little HELP here?!"
"Uh. we weren't expecting you! Uh, master." Netti faltered, not knowing Harold's last name "Zidler" Christian answered encouragingly "Yes! We weren't expecting you master Zidler" "Oh! Well, that's quite alright, this was a rather unexpected visit for myself as well.."
And so, Harold Zidler began to tell Christian and Netti, the tale of why he was here."
"Well, Christian you know that the Moulin rouge has been down and out for em, some time now" Harold started, swallowing every few seconds and playing with the handkerchief. "Yes" Christian replied. Where was this going? He was glad to see Harold, but also had to admit that his mind kept wandering from the subject.
Did he know anything about Satine?
"Well what you don't know is that.the duke holds the deeds to the Moulin rouge."
Christian could NOT believe this. After all this time, the word "duke" evoked such hatred in him that he almost wanted to. to, throw the teapot against the wall!
Netti saw him subconsciously reaching for the teapot handle, and a look of alarm came across her face. Master James might'nt like this duke fellow, and she knew, he had every right to hate the man, but that gave him no right to break their best china! She swooped down and grabbed the teapot from under his fingers. Christian looked up to the flustered housekeeper and shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Sorry Netti" he said. A "humph!" was all he got in return.
Christian turned his attention back to Harold. "You said.the duke, holds the deeds to the Moulin rouge" "Yes," Said Harold a bit nervously. "Wha- how long? Why didn't." "Since that night in the gothic tower," Harold replied slowly and solemnly.
"And?" Christian answered, short of breath, now leaning to the table. "And.he wants to open it back up again" Harold stated, rather simply. "He wants to WHAT?!" Christian yelled. Just then, a knock was heard on the door. "Master james?" It was Christians' butler, Butler. It was his day off, and Christian was wondering what he was doing back at the manor. "I was quite bored, and felt like coming back early" Butler replied to Christians' unasked question. Butler was a middle aged man, in his late forties, was fit and graceful and he was also- well a gentleman would say "Prefers the company of a man than that of a woman" "Harold, this is my Butler," he paused;" Butler" Ironic isn't it? He thought to himself. "Butler, meet Harold Zidler." Butler eyed the man up carefully. "Hmm. Hello, Master Zidler," He said in an almost .seductive tone? Both Christian and Netti turned to him with raised eyebrows, and somewhat "PLEASE tell me that you didn't just do that" expressions on their faces. "Sorry" Butler replied. "Well, I'll be going then he also said, but not before he took one of the crumpets from the tray and closed the door to the office once again, leaving a bewildered Christian, Netti and Harold still standing. "Right.." Harold said. "Well, that was.interesting". The two men sat back down. All seriousness coming back into the conversation. "The duke has put me back in charge of the Moulin rouge.and I would be very much honored if you would write the new show for us." "You're asking me.to go back there." Christian stated almost mechanically. "What makes you think that I want to see that all again? Do you not think that it doesn't haunt my mind every day?" Netti decided that it was time for her to go, and just as she closed the door softly behind her, she saw Butler standing there, eavesdropping. So she did the only thing that a good housekeeper would do; stop and listen as well. "I can't do that Harold. It'll kill me, I know it. I won't be able to breathe, because all that I'll smell is her scent and I'll go mad. I'm sorry for your trouble Harold. I'm sorry." He began to turn away when Harold spoke again. "She is not dead." He stated simply. Christian turned his head, the world slowing its perfect revolution for just a second as her beautiful face appeared in his mind. "What did you say?" he asked slowly, a look of morbid disbelief coming to his face." "Satine." Harold said again. "She is not dead. Nor is she harmed, but rather imprisoned of sorts, in a high tower; the courtesan waits for her sitar player to rescue her from the maharaja. "He finished softly, a look of pure and true regret and sadness upon his face. "The duke" Christian said, breathing heavily. He sat down and put his head in his hands. "The duke has her." "Yes" Harold answered, his tone as if he were recalling something vital from a memory. "No, no, no, that, it can't be, I- I asked you! All of you! You told me that you didn't know." "They didn't." He said remorsefully. "Only I knew." "For how long?" Christian choked out, his words tinged with agony. "Since the beginning." He paused, "since the very beginning." "And, you didn't tell me?" He asked looking up at him. The pain in his eyes almost unbearable to look at. "I'm sorry Christian. But the Duke would have had you killed if he found out that you knew. He is a jealous man Christian. A very jealous man. But.if you were to write the show, she would be there. The duke almost never lets her out of his sight, or out of the estate. She would be there Christian." "The duke will not allow me to write the show if he holds the deeds to the Moulin rouge." "Let me take care of the duke." Harold said. "This act of betrayal and lies has gone on long enough my boy." "You have a chance, now, to end it. To make things right." Christian looked up at the duke once more. "I suppose I'd better pack" he said. "Good man!" Said Butler, who broke through the door making a grand entrance. Butler also knew of course. "And I suppose I'll be taking the two of you with me as well," Christian said with a laugh. "Will you be there as well?" Butler asked Harold as he shimmied up next to him, invading what Harold called his "air Du personelle" Christian and Netti began to laugh; as Harold stood looking very confused indeed, and could NOT figure out what was so funny. And so their journey would begin. ~finis ACT 7: PART ONE!
Yes, yes, I know, what happened to Satine? Well, that will be explained in Act 7: PART 2! But what else can you expect in part 2? Well how about: The duke finally telling Satine what is happening ~ "Satine, my dear, I have decided that the Moulin rouge will continue its existence as a theatre. Harold Zidler has hired a famous English author to write the new show.I can't for the life of me recall what his name was.oh; I think Zidler forgot to tell me." Dun dun dun..a little cliffy for all of you guys. So as always, review like mad, and look forward to another looooong chapter.