I apologize for not updating sooner. Finals were overwhelming, and then the beginning of summer captivated me. Enjoy!
Chapter 5: A Night at the Moulin Rouge
1895, seventeen years later…
"There," Satine said, as she added the last clip to her mother's hair.
"I cannot believe we're still here," Celestine said as she blankly stared at her made-up appearance.
"What do you mean, Mama?" Satine asked, sitting in the chair in the corner.
"I am too old to be working here," Celestine said, getting up from the vanity and she began to pace the room. Her costume was more modest now; a bit longer, but still low-cut. Celestine no longer worked as a prostitute and dancer, but as one of the women who arranged for men to see the woman of their choice. By command of Zidler, Celestine had to look as if she were part of the men's fantasies.
"It is all part of this vivid atmosphere I have created!" he had exclaimed.
"Forty and one years is not so old, Mama," Satine said. She had picked up her copy of Shakespeare's, Hamlet and began to read. For her twenty-fifth birthday, her mother, Uncle Harold and Aunt Marie put savings together to buy three tickets to see Hamlet at one of Paris' most elegant theatres. Sarah Bernhardt would play the part of Hamlet. Satine was already a great admirer of the woman's work ad longed to be as great of a stage actress, "At least you no longer have to work as a whore."
"Satine!" Celestine exclaimed, "Don't say something so terrible words. It is hurtful."
Satine felt herself flush. She hadn't meant to be cruel. Around the Moulin Rouge, that is what the women were called, among several other terms.
"Mama, I am sorry. I didn't mean…" Satine started, but Celestine cut her off upon looking at the clock neat the door of the apartment.
"I must go dear! The show starts very soon! I need to see everything is in order," Celestine said. She kissed Satine on the forehead and hurried out the door.
Satine crept to the window. She pulled the curtain back so as to see her mother head in the direction of the Moulin Rouge but then abruptly hurry off towards the entrance on the street.
Jacques, Satine thought. Jacques Montellier was Celestine's secret affair. While the women who worked at the Moulin Rouge were forbidden to form an attachment, Celestine strongly defied her brother's strict rules. Celestine hadn't told Satine of Jacques, but she had told Maries; who promptly notified Satine of each detail. Jacques was a gentleman; meaning he had no particular line of work, simply a lot of money. He had come to the Moulin Rouge with a friend, but left with Celestine. Over the past three years, he leaving the Moulin Rouge with Celestine evolved into him waiting for her outside of the place and taking her to dinners and his small mansion on the other side of town.
While Satine worried that her mother could still be found by the authorities for her previous crime, she also wished her mother every happiness with Monsieur Montellier.
Not only did Celestine's absence provide freedom to herself, but to Satine as well. By the age of twenty-five, Satine was just a beautiful as her mother. Harold had begged Celestine to allow Satine to be a dancer in one of the dance halls, with the promise of not selling her. Celestine refused then, and every time after. With Celestine out of the Moulin Rouge every night, Satine escaped to the dance halls. There, she put on costumes and joined in on the provocative dancing and singing. Apparently, she had been asked for on more than several occasions. She always denied.
"Someday, my sweet little sparrow, you will want to! These men offer large sums for you!" Harold said in response.
Once Celestine was out of sight, Satine was out of the apartment door. She met Chocolat in the back of the main dance hall.
"You're late," she said, hiding a smile.
"Mama made sure she looked perfect this evening," Satine said, climbing three steps to the back door. As soon as she entered, noise burst into existence. Music was playing, women were shouting about for lost clothing, or shouting for assistance. The stage manager's strict cries called for everyone to be on the dance floor in five minutes.
"Will she ever tell you about, Jacques?" Chocolat asked. Satine smiled back.
"Well, I see that you are all ready," she exclaimed, as she scanned Chocolat's appearance. He wore a silk, blue vest and orange, pinstriped trousers. He wore orange dance shoes and a red top hat.
"I lost most of my costume," he said, looking quite uncomfortable indeed.
"I can see that," Satine said as she fingered through racks of dressed and other costumes.
"Satine! Where have you been?" Marie said, entering the dressing area.
"Sorry Marie!" Satine said, not really paying attention but attempting to find a costume.
"I couldn't cover for your mother until you got here. Andre is still pursuing head counting and reporting everything back to Harold. Little suck-up, that one," Marie huffed.
"Here," Satine said, pulling forth an emerald green, dancing costume. There were only beads for straps, and fake gems and sparkles were sewn into every inch of the costume. Feathers lined the neckline, and ruffles were sewn inside. Marie paired it with matching elbow length gloves and heels.
After quickly doing her make-up, Satine went in line with the other dancers. Each dancer entered the dance floor on the beat of the drum. Discs in front of lit torches mad the lighting flash dramatically as they were moved back and forth by stage hands. With the new electric light, Harold had purchased many other lighting effects as well.
Satine smiled as she entered and walked to her formation. The guests seemed to mob the boxes on the sides and the small side bars of the lower level overflowed. The music was wild. Everything whirled around her. Each one of her senses was excited for more. The smell of the cologne, heat and alcohol, the lights flashed off of the brightly dressed dancers, the music was fast and heavy, the air was hot and oppressive but it somehow mad everything that much more erotic.
The dancers began their standard dance, the Can-Can by Offenbach. It was the most exciting for them men. As the dancers kicked up their legs high into the air, it was possible for them to catch a glimpse of something they normally did not.
Hours into the night and early morning, Satine danced. She danced with different men, she danced in the rehearsed dances, and she danced with Chocolat in danced they had created themselves. Satine never tired. She put on a new face, created a new lie for each dance and each partner.
Chocolat had been right when her that the Moulin Rouge was a starting ground for her acting.
When all was done, Satine had a satisfying ache in her legs and was delightfully overheated. Chocolat walked her back to her apartment while dozens of women in their beaded, silk costumes led men to the giant Elephant in the middle of the garden. There they would sit with their customers over supper, and then entice them into lovemaking. By morning, all the magic would be gone. Satine closed her eyes and breathed in before going inside the apartment.
"It is not that wonderful," Chocolat said.
"Oh, but it is," she replied, smiling at him, "Good night. See you tomorrow."
He nodded and walked off. Satine stepped inside. Her mother sat on the chair. She had obviously been crying. Satine was startled, for she had not expected her mother to be home from Jacques until morning.
"Why, Satine?" her mother asked, quietly, "Why does it captivate you so? How can you see the excitement in such a hellish place?"
Satine lowered her eyes in guilt and closed the door behind her.