Hey Guys! I don't know why but I just got really inspired today and so I finally finished episode 1. Anyways, so sorry that I took so long to update this and I hope that you all enjoy.
Justice Strauss smiled happily at him and noticed the small object in Klaus's hand. "What's that?" she asked inquisitively.
"It's something my parents had," he told her.
"What is it?" she asked looking at the object a little more closely now that Klaus had held it up a bit more.
"I don't know," he answered her with his own hint of curiosity.
"Hmm," she pondered thoughtfully. "Something, Klaus Baudelaire, is ringing a very faint bell," she said as she strode up her ladder to get to one of the higher sections of books. "A library is like an island in a vast sea of ignorance. Don't you agree?"
"I do. Particularly if the library is tall and the surrounded area has been flooded," he pointed out.
"That's a very good point," she agreed.
"These books look promising," Violet said gently tracing over a certain section of books with her finger.
"Perfect," Max said looking at where Violet was at.
"Let me see what I can find here," the Justice said as she began combing through the books near her while Klaus, Bree, and Sunny gathered around the center table.
"I think I found something," Violet said. "Pasta puttanesca.
"I wonder what that means in Italian," Klaus pondered.
"All we have to do is sautee garlic and onions in a pot, and then add olives, capers, anchovies, diced parsley, and tomatoes to simmer,' Bree said looking over the recipe.
"We still need the pasta," Max said.
"I saw a pasta machine in Count Olaf's kitchen," Violet said. "Looked broken, but I think I can fix it."
"What do we have here?" the Justice asked herself quietly so only she could hear.
"Justice Strauss?" Max asked.
"Yes?" she asked abandoning her train of thought to focus on the Baudelaires.
"Is there a supermarket nearby?" Bree asked.
"Oh no," she answered. "But there is a local open-air market and gin distillery."
They all left to get a ride on the trolly to take them to their destination. "Thanks again for taking us," Violet said to Justice Strauss.
"Oh, you're quite welcome Baudelaires," she told them. "I think it's nice that you're cooking dinner for Count Olaf and your new theatrical family. I had dreams of becoming an actress, you know. An actress and a mother, instead of ending up as a world-renowned member of the judiciary and in a series of strained, platonic relationships," she told them gazing at nothing, thinking about what that would have been like. "Baudelaires? I always find cooking for family to be something of a mitzvah. Do you know what that means?"
"Commandment?" Klaus asked.
"Blessing," she answered. "You children have had such sorrow in your lives already. You deserve the blessing of a new family with Count Olaf and if you don't mind my saying so with me."
They all smiled at her happy to hear that. "We don't mind your saying so," Bree told her. Justice Strauss smiled back at them. They all believed that this would be the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
They got all the food they needed quickly. With Max's smarts and gifts they were able to save as much money as possible for the time that would arise when needed. They happily said their goodbyes to Justice Strauss and made their way inside Count Olaf's mansion.
"Klaus, what's that thing James Brown said?" Violet asked him.
"I feel good," Count Olaf answered. They were all more surprised when an accordion started playing."And a one, and a two, and a Bawka bawka kah!"
Other strange people popped out from the second floor and began singing with him, "It's the count, it's the count It's the count It's the count, it's the count It's the count."
"Who else has such robust good looks In such a large amount? I'm handsome and I'm talented And love your bank account It's the count."
"It's the count It's the count, it's the count. It's the count, it's the count."
"The "C" is for courageous Just another word for brave. O! Oh, my God What a very handsome knave. U! Unbelievable good looks and brains and heart. N! For the knowledge 'cause I'm very, very smart. T! For the talent which is such a crucial factor when you're handsome and good-looking and the world's greatest actor!"
"It's the count, it's the count, it's the count. It's the count, it's the count, it's the count,"
"Who else has such robust good looks in such a large amount? I'm handsome and I'm talented and love your bank account!"
"It's the count, it's the count, it's the count. It's the count, it's the count, it's the count. It's the count!"
Bree didn't smile but still started clapping even while holding Sunny. The rest of the Baudelaires looked at her weirdly. "What? It's polite to applaud someone who's put work and effort into entertaining you in such a manner. Plus, It was catchy."
Max nodded his head a little but the others kept their gazes set.
"She is correct you know," Count Olaf stated. "Orphans these are my theater troupe," he said gesturing to the people who had been singing a little bit ago with him.
They all said hello. One was a bald man with hooks for hands but not like Captain Hook more like tongs. One very tall beefy man, what looked to be two very pale twin women, and the last one was what looked to be a man with hair that reached his shoulders.
"And as anyone in the theater knows, after a grand entrance, the audience is supposed to applaud," Count Olaf said.
"Applaud means go like this," the hook-handed man said as he clapped his alternative hands together.
"We're not an audience," Violet said.
"Actually, we are always an audience. Observing everything around us," Bree told them. " That's why when see something like that or someone do something extraordinary we clap for them. Congratulating them for a job well done."
"Exactly orphans," the Count agreed, spreading his arms flamboyantly. "And we have been preparing an exciting new production that, on opening night, will change your life. All of the artistic and financial aspects of my career are finally coming together like two pieces of a bread in the middle of a sandwich."
"Eaaayyy, le'ay," Sunny said.
"What my sister means is…" Violet started.
"I don't care what she means," he said exasperated. "I don't have time to learn a second language besides whatever it is I'm speaking right now."
They looked to each other slightly concerned.
"In any case, we demand the delicious meal that you promised myself and my troupe," he told them. Sunny mumbled something he couldn't understand. "You know, every time she talks, it's like the tines of a fork are being jammed into my…."
"What my sister means is, dinner will be served shortly," Klaus told him.
"What are we supposed to do until then?" Olaf asked annoyed.
"We could wait patiently," one of the henchmen offered.
"How about some wine, Olaf?" another said.
"Yes, yes, wine," a different one said.
"We had that nice rosay last time," One of the pale twins told them.
"It wasn't rosay, it was just watered down," the other twin commented.
Olaf gave a long dramatic sigh before finally saying, "Okay, fine. I'll open up a box of the Merlot."
An associate of mine named Brillat-Savarin famously said, "To invite people to dine with us is to make ourselves responsible for their well-being as long as they are under our roofs." But he was an 18th century philosopher and gourmand and these were three children with very little catering experience. Nevertheless, the Baudelaire orphans snapped into action.
"This pasta maker reminds me of the one built by Thomas Jefferson," Violet laughed a little bit.
Max joined her laughter and then asked, "Will it work?"
"It will now," she said proudly.
Klaus and Bree were working on the sauce together when Klaus said, "I wonder if Count Olaf's troupe will enjoy this meal."
"Your mother used to say, that actors will eat anything. I say we find out if she was right," Bree smiled lovingly at him. Klaus gave her a similar look. His face soon however turned sad and miserable. Bree got down on her knees and pulled him into strong, gentle hug.
He couldn't cry. He didn't know why. All he could do was shut his eyes tightly and hold onto his big sister who was still here for him. "I miss them," he told her quietly.
She slowly rubbed his back, comforting him as best she could. Though she didn't care about their parents the way that Klaus, Violet, Sunny or even Max did, she could imagine how he felt. It wasn't the same, but what more could she do? After all, she'd never even known her's.
"Why did they have to die?" he asked, his breathing had become hitched. "Why?"
"I don't know," she told him. "Klaus, Your mom and dad are looking down at you and Violet and Sunny, Max too, and you want to know what they want to tell you right now?"
"What?" he asked.
"Klaus, Our little boy," she started. "Son, We love you so much. We can't tell you how much we didn't want to leave you. Though we're not physically with you, we're here in the memories you have in us. And we won't go for a long time. Max and Bree are going to protect you. Have an adventure. Go and make memories of your own. Love and laugh and learn. We love you and we always will."
Klaus hugged her tighter to which she reciprocated. He was silent for a while thinking about all that she'd said. How much she was probably right. She always knew what to do. What to say. Then he told her, "I love you Bree."
She smiled and said, "I love you too Klaus."
While they waited for the pasta to boil, Violet and Max sauteed the garlic, and washed and chopped the anchovies. Klaus and Bree peeled the tomatoes and pitted the olives. While Sunny banged on a pot with a wooden spoon, singing a rather repetitive song she had written herself.
By the time it was time for the youngest Baudelaire to chop the parsley with her teeth all five children felt less miserable than they had since they first came to Count Olaf's.
Max looked over to Violet and said, "I think Mom would be proud of how you made your own pasta, baby sis."
"Thanks Max," she said as she leaned into him. "Maybe we can make this our home after all."
"Remember what Father said when he burnt the quesadillas?" he asked her.
"Yeah," she told him."Better than nothing."
They stayed like this for a little bit before he kissed the top of her head and got everything ready to be served up.
They all took something or another and brought it to the eating area where everyone was sitting just as they heard Count Olaf yell,"When are we going to eat?!"
"Dinner is served," Violet said as they entered.
"Wow, that was quick," Olaf said surprised.
"And it smells delicious," one of the henchmen said.
Olaf groaned before continuing, "I mean, As I was saying, before the help interrupted there is no "I" in acting no selfish urges, no arrogance, no ego, no vanity, no dangerous overabundance of inflated self-regard.
There is only what the French call a certain… escargot."
Now I could tell you every time the Baudelaires and Ms. Porter found themselves rolling their eyes or gave concerning looks to one another or even almost laughed but that would be very boring and very consistent so I implore you to just imagine for yourselves.
"Mmm-hmm," the bald man agreed.
"It is the first burst of applause when the curtain rises. The second burst of applause when the leading man glides out from the wings, faces his crowd and recites the…."
"Soliloquy?" the same henchman offered up.
Olaf sighed and continued, "I'm That's His soliloquy. It is the thrill of the 14th mandatory standing ovation. I give and I give to my public just as I give and I give to these orphans. But sometimes, and every actor does this, I ask myself, 'Is it worth it? Is it really worth it to chase an enormous fortune?'" he cleared his throat and looked down at his plate to find the pasta puttanesca. Annoyed he asked, "Where's the roast beef?"
"What?" Klaus asked."
"The roast beef," Olaf repeated harsher.
"We didn't make any roast beef," Violet told him with a hint of aggression in her voice. "We made puttanesca sauce and homemade pasta."
"What?" he asked angrily. "No roast beef?"
"You didn't tell us you wanted roast beef," Klaus said with the same tone.
"Look at my guests! They they can hardly touch this revolting foreign food," He told them. Everyone spat out their food or quickly finished what they had in their mouth. They clearly didn't want to in the slightest. "In agreeing to adopt you, I became your father. And as your father, I am not someone to be trifled with."
"You can't go easy on children," the hook-handed man told them. "They need to be taught to obey their elders."
"You asked them to make dinner," a twin started.
"And all they did was slap together some disgusting sauce," the other finished.
"That's what happens with wealthy kids," the guy with longer hair said. "Money is really a corrupting influence."
"I demand that you serve roast beef to myself and my guests!" Olaf slammed his fist down on the table.
"We don't have any," Max repeated, "we made pasta puttanesca."
Count Olaf took Sunny from Violet and held her way up in the air.
"Sunny!" Bree called. "Put her down."
"Alas, poor Sunny," he chuckled menacingly as Sunny began crying.
"Let her go!" Max yelled at him.
"Oh, oh," he said swaying her around before finally putting her down on the table and sliding her down to the other end. He laughed once more before saying, "This table is a mess. There's hardly a place to put down a baby."
"Sunny!" Violet called as she rushed to get her.
"We're leaving for rehearsals," Olaf told them.
"But the baby said there was chocolate pudding!" one of the henchmen complained.
"You children are to clean the table, and wash the dishes, and polish the silver, and rinse out all the wine bottles for recycling, and then you are to go straight to your beds," he said.
"You mean our bed?" Klaus asked angrily. "You've only provided us with one bed."
"If you want another bed, tomorrow you may go into town and purchase one," Olaf suggested.
"You know perfectly well we haven't any money," he told him.
" course you do," he stated. "You three lucky orphans are inheriting an enormous fortune."
"The money our parents left behind is not to be used until Violet…."
The sound of the slap echoed throughout the room. Everyone but Bree was frozen in shock at the actions that had transpired. Bree was on the ground in an instant, gathering up her little brother. Everyone stared at them. Bree turned to look up at Count Olaf. "You really are a despicable man."
"The theater awaits," Olaf said ushering his henchmen out of the room.
Bree closed her eyes tightly for a second and then focused all of her attention on Max, Violet, and Sunny. "Start taking care of the dishes and I'll join you in a little while," she told them.
Max moved Violet and Sunny to the kitchen to work on something that wasn't in the kitchen.
With that, Bree turned and looked at Klaus and gently asked, "Are you alright?"
"No," he told her honestly. It wasn't harsh it was just real.
"I'm so sorry," she told him.
He looked at her curiously, "Why? It's not your fault."
"I was supposed to protect you," she told him, "and I didn't."
Klaus held her tighter. "No one thought that was going to happen. You couldn't have possibly known."
She held him tighter too. At that minute, she knew that no matter what, her brother would always love her. No matter what. And the same went for him. He took him upstairs and did what she could about the bruise before tucking him in the bed. She joined Max downstairs who was washing a wine glass.
"Hey," he said as she entered the room. "How's Klaus?"
"He'll be okay," she told him before picking up a towel and began drying whatever Max handed her. "He's shaken but not traumatized. I put him in the bed. I set up some makeshift hammocks for Sunny and Violet. It's not much but it's better than before."
"That's good," he told her. They were silent for a while. Both falling into the rhythm of the other. At last the final dish was washed and dried. "So are we doing anything tonight?"
"I don't know," she shook her head. "On one hand, we might find a bed in the junkyard but I don't know where one is and then we'd have to explain how it got there to Count Olaf and there's just so many things that come along with that."
"Hey," he said gently as he softly took her arm. "Tomorrow. Everything can be planned out tomorrow. For now, let's just get some sleep. Tomorrow is something that we can worry about when it gets here."
She nodded and gave one more hug that day. They both knew that today was not their last day. But what they didn't know was that their days ahead were filled with one horrible event after another. Toil and hardship around every corner. The Baudelaire and Porter orphans knew they had to find a way out of their dreadfully unfortunate circumstances, and, perhaps, solve the mystery of how they ended up in them.
I have the same dedication to researching and presenting this story no matter what dangers it puts me in. Trouble and strife can cover this world like the dark of night, or like smoke from a suspicious fire.
And when that happens all good, true and decent people know that it's time to volunteer.
Let me know what you guys think. Reviews are my fuel. Merry Christmas guys!