Meine Damen und Herren, Mesdames et Messieurs,
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Emcee sits in the dressing room... The club manager walks in and confronts the thin man. His gruff voice and obese figure eat up Emcee's thin frail body. "You, one more mess-up and you are gone!" the manager shouts sending a spray of sticky saliva onto a slouching Emcee.
And you curse on the wind
At your fate
Emcee stares at the table until the bulk of the manager is gone from his sight. He prepares to sing Wilkommen. Tears begin forming in his eyes, holding them back he runs up onto the stage.
Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome,
Fremde, Etranger, Stranger.
Glucklich zu sehen, Je suis enchante, Happy to see you,
Bliebe, Reste, Stay.
Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome,
Im Cabaret, Au Cabaret, To Cabaret!
Emcee feels the heat of the spot light on his shoulders and back. As he looks at the audience the thoughts in his mind race around.
Mein damen und herren, madames et monsieurs, Ladies and gentlemen! Gutenabend, Bonsoir, Good Evening! Wie geht? Commment ça va? Do you feel good? Yah, I bet you do! Ich bin euer conferencier, Je suis vorte compere, I am your host!
I am your host, your grotesque host, he thinks to himself. What man in his right mind wears lipstick and eyeliner? Well I am acting but still...
Leave your troubles outside! So life is disappointing? Forget it! We have no troubles here! In here life, is beautiful! The girls are beautiful! Even the orchestra is beautiful!
Ah yes my life is very disappointing, how can I forget it.
Welcome to the Kit Kat Klub!
His performance this time was awful and he knew it.
Auf Wiedersehen
Emcee puts on a coat over his costume. The night was cold. He was still in costume. As he walks out the stage door Emcee shivers from the cold sweat. Pulling his coat tighter he walks sulking, clutching a twenty dollar bill in his hand. No screaming fans for me, he thinks. A tear escapes his eye. The dark makeup runs down his face. Suddenly he feels a small tug on his coat. Emcee sees a small gloved hand in the corner of his eye. He turns around slowly. Crouching down to the young girl's level a small warmth fills his pale face. The short black bangs fall onto his pale brow, covering the lonely eyes. The girl looks at him and says in a tiny voice "Excuse me mister but you dropped this." She hands Emcee the twenty dollar bill. "Thank you," he replies as the girl runs back to her mother. He stands up holding the money. In everything sorrow there is a light of hope, Emcee reminds himself. Walking down the sidewalk he hums a tune, a smile making it's way onto his face.
Danke mein Liebling, und gute Nacht.