The Night of the Deadly Opera

by Andamogirl

Episode-tag. This story takes place directly after the end of "TNOT Whirring Death." Artemus Gordon accepts to sing the lead role in the opera "Fidelio" at the demand of an old friend of his, Signore Modena, the conductor of the Roma Orchestra. Dr. Miguelito Loveless and Voltaire are still around, preparing something wicked.

2. Act one

THE NIGHT OF THE DEADLY OPERA

By Andamogirl

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ACT ONE

Beaming, Artemus took the old man in his arms and hugged him. "Signore Giulio, sono così felice di rivedervi! I'm so happy to see you again!" he said before parting from the other man, tears of joy in his eyes.

Signore Modena patted Artie's back. Then, parting from the younger man he observed Artemus from head to toe, smiling. "You're now a tall, strong and solid man il mio ragazzo, and you're handsome!" he said. "Are you married?" Artie shook his head. "No? Why? What are you waiting for? … You're not getting any younger you know. Oh, I know why. You like chasing girls far too much, right my boy?"

Blushing, Artie looked at his feet, embarrassed. "Er… I rather do enjoy female company … But I don't chase after women."

Jim shook his head. "No, women are chasing you, Artie, that's different. You're the most popular and courted bachelor in the Capital."

The older agent chuckled. "True, and for you it's the rest of the country, buddy."

Modena placed a frail hand on Artie's chest and tapped it gently. "With such a broad chest and a deep voice, I hope that you're still singing."

Artie smiled. "I actually played the role of an Italian baritone during my last mission. I was Arturo Caruso dell'Artemo."

Sitting on a chair beside the table, Jim smirked. "Sometimes he's singing when he's cooking – or taking his bath. But he has a nice voice," he said.

Modena smiled. "Then you are a baritone?"

Giving his partner a black look, Artie said, "Actually I'm a tenor, but I can sing a countertenor part on my good days. I can be a baritone too, but not too long. It's exhausting. I can modulate my voice easily. When I disguise myself as a woman for assignments I use a voice whose range is close to the female soprano. Actually I could play a whole opera just by myself!"

Giulio Modena grinned. "È meraviglioso! That's wonderful! Actually, my contralto Elena Mioggi is sick – she has a sore throat and lost her voice. I was desperate to find someone to replace her. But I have you Artemus. Contralto is applied to female singers; men singing in a similar range are countertenors – like you."

Stunned Artie blinked twice. "Me?... But I haven't sung anywhere but in the galley or in my bath for years! And you need me to play a part in an opera? I can't. No, no, no. Thank you, but no thank you."

Modena nodded. "I need you, Artemus. Ho bisogno del tuo aiuto, I need your help.The performance of Fidelio is scheduled in two days, and I won't find anyone in such a short delay. You will play the part of Leonora, the leading role. You do still have a photographic memory right? You read one thing once and it's inscribed in your memory, right? Then learning the part in so little time won't be a problem for you, and the opera was translated in English, it would be easier for you, you won't have to sing in German. And as you can disguise yourself into a woman easily, that's absolutely perfect! Please, my boy, I need your help…"

Surprised Jim asked, "Leonora? A woman? You want him to play a woman and sing like a woman? You can do that buddy?"

Raising his chin defiantly Artie said, "Of course I can." He glanced down at the old man looking at him with pleading eyes and sighed in acceptation. "Alright, I'm your new contralto – I mean countertenor. It's lucky I'm on a vacation. I had planned to go fishing…"

Modena took Artie in his arms. "Thank you, Artemus! Thank you very much! Grazie mille." He took a step back and said, "Instead of going fishing, you're going to sing on a stage!" He took Artie's hand in his. "There's a rehearsal scheduled tonight at seven at the opera house. I will have to find someone to modify Leonora's costumes so they fit you…"

Raising his hand Jim intervened. "Don't bother Signore Modena. Give them to Artemus, he's a god with a needle and thread. He creates his own costumes, you know."

Modena was very surprised and then relieved. "Good! Good! There will be two other rehearsals tomorrow for the musical and singing parts this time, one at nine AM and a second one at five PM. Then two others: Wednesday morning at ten AM, an open dress, where family and friends of the cast and reviewers from the media will be there, and then, finally, at four PM, it will be the full rehearsal with all the costumes, scenery, music, etc., just before the first real performance before an audience at the opera house. At six PM I'll conduct the opera Fidelio, and President Ulysses S. Grant will be there, è un grand onore. It's a great honor."

Blanching, Artie stuttered, "The Pre-pre-president? He'll be there?" He grimaced and paled, feeling butterflies in his stomach for the first time in many years. "Oh boy!"

In fact, the last time he had had performance anxiety was when he had sung in front of his parents for the first time, he was six, he remembered. After that, that horrible sensation of intense anxiety associated with pounding heart, abundant perspiration, shaking, wobbling legs and dried mouth had vanished like by magic. He had loved being in front of an audience, he was like a fish in water, he reflected.

Until it came back – now.

Pouring himself another cup of coffee, Jim said, "Relax Artie. Everything's going to be alright." But Artie wasn't convinced of that, he noticed. "You see Signore Modena, President Grant had kind of… adopted Artemus during the war; he's like a son to him. Playing Leonora in front of the President will be like playing and singing in front of his own father… " He smiled mockingly, "That's why Artie has a severe case of stage fright right now…" He took a sip and added, "Don't worry buddy, I repeat: everything's going to be alright, and I won't tell President Grant that it will be you under the wig and dress of Leonora – or I will, I don't know that, yet." Then he chuckled, ignoring his partner's "I'm so going you to kill you" glare aimed at him.

Modena patted his former pupil's arm. "Artemus will be perfect in that role. Actually, it's a bit more complicated Mr. West. You see Artemus is a man, and he'll play the role of Leonora – a woman, who will disguise herself as a man, Fidelio. The opera tells how Leonora, disguised as a prison guard named "Fidelio", rescues her husband Florestan from death in a political prison."

Jim softly laughed. "You're saying that Artie, who is a man, is going to play a woman who disguises herself as a man? That's interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing that opera."

He ignored another icy glare from Artie.

Modena took Artie's hand in his. "He'll be perfect, I'm sure! Tell me that you have a violin and are still practicing, my boy."

Artie nodded. "Yes, I play the violin regularly."

The old man smiled and took his place on the comfortable sofa again. "I'm glad to hear that Artemus. Could you play something to me?"

Smiling, Artie nodded. "With great pleasure. Just give me two minutes to get my violin and a score. I'll be right back." then Artie left the parlor car.

Artemus was back shortly after, holding his violin and a score. He placed it on the table, leaning it on the coffee pot, and settled his violin on his left shoulder and chin. "For you, Master," he said. He cracked his wrist and flexed his neck, before placing the bow on the strings. "Chopin, Nocturne in E flat major, opus 9, number 2. It's my favorite piece."

He began to play. For him everything but music ceased to exist.

He lifted the bow a few minutes later when the piece was finished; lowering his violin he looked at Signore Modena. The old man was crying. "Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.

Modena nodded, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. He was now beaming, his hand above his pounding heart. "No, no, no… è stato bello, è stato bellissimo. That was beautiful, Artemus." He stood and took the other man's hands in his. "I'm so proud of you my boy!"

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Three days later

San Francisco's Opera House

Dress rehearsal

Feeling light-headed, Artemus looked at his trembling hands holding the score where the music and the lyrics of Fidelio, Act II, scene III were written.

Everything was blurry.

He gritted his teeth. 'Come on Artie! You faced the enemy on battle fields without a single tremor and you have stage fright? Get a grip old man!' He thought. 'You didn't have stage fright during the earlier rehearsals, this one is the last, yes, but it's not different from the others.'

Sweating profusely, his heart pounding in his chest, he glanced around him. Everyone was staring at him, musicians, singers, the choir, the extras… all waiting for him to be able to sing.

He relaxed his limbs and the nape of his neck, took a series of deep breaths, and made a few vocalizations before nodding.

He was ready. "I'm ready," he said.

Signore Modena nodded. "Alright, everyone, we start again where we stopped the last time. That was Act II, scene III, the quartet between Leonora, Rocco, Florestan and Pizzaro." He hit his music stand with his baton, lifted it and the music began.

The four singers began their parts:

David Jones playing Florestan started, singing: "A murderer stands before me!"

Carlos Rodriguez playing Pizarro sang in his turn: "No more will I withhold my rage… There is but an instant between thee and death, and thus I sate my fury…" Raising a dagger he tried to stab Florestan who took hurriedly a step backward.

Immediately, Artemus Gordon (disguised as a blond mustached man and playing Leonora) sprang forward with a piercing shriek, and opened her arms wide, protecting Florestan with her body. "Back, tyrant!" He sang with a perfect tenor voice.

Florestan, who was surprised: "Oh, Heaven!" he sang.

Bernado Tiffo playing Rocco sang in his turn: "What would'st thou?"

Leonora: "Wouldn't thou stab him? Through this breast to his! In vain shall be thy fury. With my body I'll protect him."

Pizarro thrusted Leonora away. "Madman!"

Rocco looked at Leonora, "Oh, desist!"

Pizarro frowned angrily, looking at Leonora: "He shall be punished."

Leonora moved again in front of Florestan, shielding her husband with her body again, arms wide opened again and sang with a countertenor voice. "Kill first his wife."

Pizarro was stunned: "His wife!"

Rocco was very surprised too: "His wife!"

Blinking in total surprise Florentina sang: "My wife!"

Leonora looked at Florestan and removed her blond wig and false mustache, revealing long dark curled hair adorned with red ribbons. Then she removed her tight male jacket showing her blouse and her (false) bosom. She smiled tenderly. "Yes, your own Leonora."

Florestan smiled broadly, amazed: "Leonora!"

Leonora turned to the others and sang, fists tightened, ""I am his wife, and have sworn to save him and punish his oppressor."

Pizarro looked to the side, and aside he sang: "What unheard of courage!"

Florestan smiled broadly, overjoyed, "My heart now throbs with joy!" He sang.

Rocco grimaced and sang, "Terror my blood congeals!"

Leonora raised a closed fist: "His rage I defy!" She sang.

Pizarro grimaced with rage: "With rage I am o'erpower'd! Shall I before a woman tremble? Thou also shalt fall before my rage! Stand off, or thou shalt share his death." He stopped singing and then advanced, raising the dagger.

Leonora suddenly drew a small pistol from her (false) bosom and pointed it at him. "Another word, and thou are dead!" She sang.

Suddenly the sound of a trumpet was heard coming from a tower at the end of the stage (a trumpeter was perched on a cardboard tower).

Pizarro took a step back, grimacing, upset: "Ah! The Minister! - Hell and death!" He sang.

Surprised Rocco sang: "What is that? Just Heaven!"

Pizarro and Rocco stood confounded. Leonora hung onto Florestan's neck, burying her face there as the trumpet sounded louder.

Signore Modena stopped the music and the singers stopped singing. They looked at each other and grinning, they applauded each other.

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Later, in Artemus's dressing room

Artie was combing the hair of his long dark-haired wig, sitting on the head of a mannequin, when he heard a knock and the door opened.

He smiled, seeing Jim enter the room. "Hiya Jim."

Holding a rolled newspaper under his arm, the younger man sat on a spare chair and said, "Hi Artie! I know that I shouldn't have been here, but I was hiding in a box on the first storey during your last rehearsal, and you were absolutely wonderful!"

Stopping what he was doing, Artemus, blushing with pleasure, said "You really think so? Honest? You don't say that because you don't want to hurt me?"

Smiling, Jim nodded. "You were great, buddy. Honest! I really loved it when you removed your blond wig – revealing another wig…" He pointed at the long and dark haired wig. "That one… a very feminine wig with the red ribbons. I can imagine that all the people will be surprised tonight – a man who is actually a woman! – and a man, a real one…" He opened the San Francisco Gazette and pointed at an article on the front page. "A journalist was present at the open dress and he wrote an article about the opera… He wrote: blah, blah, bah… Ah! That's my favorite part! Listen, I quote: "The lead role of Leonora is played by Artemus Gordon, who accepted the role at the demand of an old friend of his, Signore Modena, the conductor of the Roma Orchestra, to replace at short notice Signorina Elena Mioggi who is suffering from a sore throat. Artemus Gordon, who is better known to the public as one of the best special agents working for President Grant, sings surprisingly very well with both a tenor voice and a countertenor voice. It's very rare they say. No doubt that President Grant will appreciate Gordon's hidden talent as much as I have appreciated it."… What do you think?"

Blushing with pleasure, Artie said, "I like it… let's hope that the President will like my performance too. Oh boy! I'm so anxious…" Frowning in worry he looked at his right hand – trembling.

Smiling Jim patted his partner's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't be, buddy. You were great and I'm sure that President Grant will love your performance."

Combing his wig again, reassured a little, Artie nodded. "I hope you're right."

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Later, in the presidential box

President Grant lit his cigar and turned towards Colonel James Richmond, head of the Secret Services sitting at his right next to his best friend and personal physician Dr. Henderson, Colonel and CMO of the Washington Military Hospital. "I'm looking forward to seeing Artemus," he said and then he chuckled. "That man will never cease to amaze me! He's going to sing the lead part in an opera. Incredible!"

Colonel Richmond nodded. "He can do anything Sir, he's a multitalented man. I'm not surprised he can sing a part in an opera."

Grant smiled. "And play a woman's part, no less. It won't be the first time he has played the role of a woman. He has done it at least three times already."

Henderson shook his head and corrected, "Four, Sir. The last time was six months ago. He was disguised as a red-haired Artemis McGordon when he captured the ex-confederate Colonel Ford-Belmont who had tried to assassinate you, Sir – and ended in hospital with a bullet in his leg." He pointed at the big black bag sitting at his feet. "I came with my medical emergency kit, Mr. President, just in case. Artemus Gordon and his partner are magnets for trouble and bullet magnets too."

Jim West entered the box shortly after and bowed respectfully. "Mr. President, Dr. Henderson, Colonel Richmond, my respects, Sirs. I know that I'm on a vacation, but I just reviewed your security detail Mr. President, force of habit. Everything is perfect." He smiled. "Now excuse me, Sirs. I have to go to my place in the front row. It's going to begin soon."

Grant patted the empty seat at his left side. "Seat down here, Jim. You'll have a better view here and the sound is better too."

Smiling Jim accepted with pleasure. "Thank you Sir." He took his place in the seat and looked down at the empty stage and closed curtain.

Signore Modena entered the vast room a couple of minutes later, baton in hand and joined his musicians already there to the applause of the spectators.

He took his place behind his music stand, lifted his baton and the music of Fidelio, written by Ludwig Van Beethoven in 1805 began.

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Much later, on the stage

Rocco and Florestan moved hurriedly through the Guard and the People, heading towards the Minister, Don Fernando standing between Pizarro and his officers.

On the left side were the State Prisoners accompanied by Jaquino and Marcellina. They all threw themselves on their knees before Don Fernando.

Rocco and Florestan did the same shortly after. Then, the chorus of Prisoners and People began. Finally, Leonora, Rocco, Florestan and Pizarrro did their parts.

In the middle of the last scene (Act II, scene VIII), Rocco sang: "The monster, within this very hour, had planned to do a deed of murder on Florestan."

Pizarro sang: "Murder! On him!"

Rocco pointed to himself and Leonora. "Yes, my lord! He sought to involve us in his crime, but your arrival upset his plans," he sang.

The chorus sang: "Punishment befalls the wretch, who oppresses the innocent; Justice holds aloft, for punishment, the sword of Revenge.

Don Fernando turned to Rocco and sang: "His threatened death has been averted! Now, take off his chains! Yet, stay! You, heroic woman! You, alone, deserve the happiness completely to set him free!"

Leonora grabbed the keys, and beaming with joy hastened to unfasten the chains which bound Florestan, who rushed into her arms. He hugged her, kissing her on her forehead.

Leonora, tears of joy streaming down her face, sang: "Oh, what a moment!"

Florestan grinned, crying with joy too. "Oh, happiness inexpressible!" he sang.

Relieved, smiling, Don Fernando sang, "O heaven! How just are all thy judgments!"

Rocco and Marcellina sang ensemble: "Thou triest—but dost not forsake."

The chorus sang, "Whoever has possessed such a partner of his heart, let him join in our jubilee! Never can the praise be too loudly sounded of the wife that is the preserver of her husband!"

Florestan sang, "Thy fidelity has restored me to life! Thy virtues have unnerved the wicked!"

Opening his arms wide, then resting his hand on his false bosom, Artemus sang, "Love guided my endeavors, such true love as never knows…"

But he didn't finish his sentence. A frown crossed his face.

Pause.

One of the soldiers of the opera guard was pointing his rifle – with a scope - in the direction of the auditorium, in the precise direction of the presidential box, he noticed with dread. He immediately leapt on the extra at the same time as the man pulled the trigger.

BANG!

Tbc.