All characters belong to NBC
Derek's thoughts. Sitting in his London home where he had lived with Karen after all these years.
Derek sat daydreaming of Karen, yes they were older, wiser, and his salt and pepper hair was now just a little more salt peeking through. Karen still had her dark hair.
She was still his goddess. He thought about the day of Beautiful, the day she stole his heart. That night. At his apartment. Dressed in his shirt. She still sent him wild. The circles were still the thing that connected them, had his pulse racing even now. It was this that woke him from his daydream.
...
"So my Dark Lord, what has you smirking in the middle of the day?" Karen had said sitting down. Circling it. "The children will be over soon with the grand kids. Audrey is directing, so she'll be late."
Derek just pulled her close, smiling and found the back of her neck and started the circles, he knew that even after all these years, and he could get the same response on the night after their wedding. Karen knew what he was doing. It was nearly as bad as the first date, when all he did was look at her and she went red. At the Marilyn style restaurant.
…..
"Derek...don't...the kids, oh, you Dark Lord, you know what this is." Derek just smiled his famous smirk, which Karen knew. "Miss Cartwright, after all years, you are still my muse. You make me want you more, come on."
Karen slowly found his hand on her neck, and intertwined their fingers and slowly brought his hand back onto her lap.
"Derek, I bet your heart is beating fast."
"It is." He still had her hand and placed it over his heart. She could feel how fast it was going. Karen cupped his face with her free hand, lent in and kissed him, the way he used to when he was lost for words.
She felt his heart going even faster; she pulled away and said "Later my Dark Lord, you need to calm down." She smirked.
Derek saw the look in her eyes. "Karen if you hadn't come into my life when you did, I would have probably drunk myself to death. You appeared, took control, even when Ben arrived. You are the glue that has kept me together all these years."
Karen sat there, smiling but tears rolled down her face, she knew he had loved her deeply but not that deeply. "Derek, only you could have me smiling and crying at the same time. Now let me freshen up, and get everything ready for the kids." She got up and kissed his head, and left the room.
...
Karen's thoughts
"Oh those circles, oh, he's still as naughty as he was when we got married. Yes we had taken it slow until Audrey arrived, but he found out what really sent me spinning." She looked at the ring, two beautiful stones of their star signs pearl and amethyst and the diamonds that represented their life together then and now.
The doorbell rang and before she could get to the door, Derek was at the door hugging Ben and his granddaughter. Karen slouched in the door frame watching, just like Derek had watched her back in the day. Only he could change on a dime. She smiled and then walked back into the room.
"Benny!" She hugged him tightly. She always had even when he was young, she never wanted him to feel unloved after the start in life he had.
Ben knew what his mom was doing.
…
When he was old enough his mom and dad sat him down and told him about Ivy. He remembered their faces, concern and worry at once.
Without thinking Ben had said, "If it hadn't been for Ivy, I wouldn't have you both. I know I wasn't part of the plan. But I never felt anything but love from you both. Especially you mom, you always made sure I wouldn't feel confused or lost.
I even remember running on stage. Just to hug you. YOU. Not Ivy. I heard you once saying to dad that you would take off the blonde wig so I knew who you were. But I think I always knew who my mom was. And I thank Ivy for giving me both to you."
It was the only time he had seen his dad cry. His mom cried at even the smallest thing. Even TV shows.
…
"Mom? I can't breathe; I don't think I have any ribs left." He started laughing. Karen let go, turning a bright red. Derek stroked her hand and she felt calm in an instant.
Ben walked in with his daughter Christine. His wife Jane was taking up the rear and hugging Derek and Karen. Derek and Karen smiled, even after all these years, Christine's name had come from Andrew Lloyd Webber after Ben had watched Phantom of the Opera. And the Dark Lord looked at his Christine.
Audrey came a little while later; she sat down on the sofa with a deep sigh. Everyone was in the Living Room. "I know that sigh. You got that from me when I was frustrated."
Audrey turned, "Dad sit down and tell me where I'm going wrong. You are a genius at this." Derek crossed the floor and sat beside his daughter.
"Go on, what's happening now."
Audrey looked at Derek. Green eyes met green. "You and moms idea was great. But there's something missing. I can't work it out. I even brought the book home with me."
Karen who had been in the Kitchen came in and went and sat beside her daughter.
Audrey sat in the middle just like when she was a child. Ben had Christine on his lap while Jane sat on the arm of his chair.
Derek took the book and had a look. "Right, where do you feel something is missing? I mean it's a classic, never needed tweaked before."
Audrey flicked the pages. "It's here; I think a lot of the audience won't get it. Not everyone will know the story. Derek glanced at Karen, and she returned the look. "Darling, there's a book, a film, and soundtrack. Plus it even gets discussed on social media." Karen said.
"Yes I know but, there's something that feels off. I can't explain it." Derek looked again at where Audrey was worried about. "This, this is the main reason that the character is the way they are."
"Derek let me see?"
Karen took the book, and read it a few times. "Why do you feel it's not right? It's like touching history." "Or a sack of turnips." Derek laughed. Karen swatted him. That's another history Mr. Wills!" Karen smiled. "Don't forget Les Mis was based on true events, though now it's just seen a musical."
"Oh mom, I find the audience lags at that point. Plus there's someone mucking about in the theater, when it's empty. Moving props and messing with scenery." Derek raised an eyebrow. "And you never said. Darling this is your baby. It's your show." "No, not any more Dad. I'm done. There's nothing left in the tank."
Audrey slumped down. Karen put her arms around her daughter. Then she asked "What does the Company Manager have to say?"
"He's not taking me seriously. I mean this isn't my first show. I've been directing for years now, even my "stage name" scares a few in theater circles." She laughed a tired laugh. "If I had your persona dad, you were the Dark Lord; the West End knew not to mess with you."
"I just looked grumpy all the time and bellowed a lot. Isn't that right dear?" Karen just rolled her eyes.
"Listen, Ben, take Jane, Christine and Audrey out for a coffee or something. Your dad and I are going to brainstorm this." Karen said. Ben and the others left and Karen and Derek looked at the scene.
"Can you believe this is the scene that drags? It's a great scene. Marilyn, finding out her mother trying to kidnap her when she was young. It's only really a shadow-self looking back. And it's a brief scene, not even filler." Derek stated. Karen watched her husband was donning his mask once more. "Derek? Derek? Oh Dark Lord!" Derek looked up with his eyebrow raised.
"We knew Marilyn's history because we lived it every day for years, even fixing it when it opened at the Palladium. But now, no one wants to sit and watch theater like that. They want it streamed and downloaded. We need to find a way to bring people into theater and pay attention and not email on their cells."
"Darling. You can breathe now; wow I had forgotten your passion for this show." Said Derek. Smiling.
"The show that brought us here, living the life you never dared to dream of? And here we are looking at the show that will bond us long after we're gone." Karen said. "Again breathe." Derek smirked.
"Right, first things first. Who is messing with the props and scenery? We can run it and see where it lags. I'll ring Eileen; see if she can sway the theater to let us look. Said Derek"
Karen was getting butterflies, to go back and see where it all began. She felt very Norma Jean. "Derek, we can't step on Audrey's toes. She has a lot of respect in this town. We can't swoop in like Batman and Batgirl to save her. We have to do this quietly. She has to keep her theater reputation."
"Well the original director and star having a peek and watching a warm up wouldn't look that strange. Sure Mackintosh and Webber are always popping in and watching their shows and no one bats an eye"
"Right okay, ring Eileen, and try see if we can get in tomorrow early while the cleaners are in so we can see what has been messed up. Audrey has made a list." Noted Karen.
Derek rang Eileen, who was very surprised to hear from Derek. She had semi-retired, but still kept in with Baron Lloyd Webber. Webber agreed. Eileen rang Derek back and said the stage door would be waiting on them in the morning.
Call finished. Ben and the others arrived back. Audrey's husband Maxwell who was a theater critic came in the door with Norma, he and Audrey's daughter.
They all looked at Derek and Karen who were still looking over the book. There were lots of, "What if? Maybe? Derek didn't look up, "Looks like everyone is back I see. Don't even ask, I always had to know who was late when I was in charge. Didn't I Miss Cartwright?" He laughed.
Audrey couldn't wait. "Well!? What do you see?"
Karen had a faraway look on her face. Yet she replied. "We have a few ideas, but we're going to see if they work. Don't worry. We're not taking over." Audrey had a grin on her face. "Please do, let me see, let me learn. When are you seeing it?"
"We are going tomorrow. But your mom has enough food to feed an army, so let's dig in."
Derek and Karen smiled at each other. Tomorrow history was going to repeat itself. And they could not wait. They headed in to the kitchen, hand in hand. Bombshell was back!