A/N: Allowing myself a moment of pride at writing "Mardi Gras" myself.
[Setting: The Hotel…]
"I want to hear it one more time." Marc snapped his fingers at Wade.
"The whole song?" She asked, somewhat in disbelief.
"No, that last verse and the chorus."
"Stop ordering me around."
"Quit talking and start singing, you crazy little—"
"Okay, okay." Wade took in a deep breath and began to sing.
"It's not my fault I married him
How was I to blame
When he beat me up on our honeymoon
But I loved him just the same…"
"Keep going."
"Life's not a Mardi Gras
Though it was starting off
Grow up and get out, it's not the same anymore…"
"That was beautiful, Wade," Marc nodded, "just beautiful."
"Do you think I'm ready to start singing today?"
"You always were." He sat down next to her on the bed. "So have you given any thought to the whole Glimmer thing?"
"No, I haven't, Marc, I've been too busy being Wade."
"Let's just get to the Schubert before it's too late." He got up, but paused, squinting at the script. "'Mardi Gras' and 'starting off' don't rhyme."
"They sound similar enough to me. Now let's go."
[Setting: The Schubert…]
Wade took in a deep breath. It was finally time for the big Sophie-confronts-Murray song, "Mardi Gras," where she basically tells him that life's not just a huge party and that he's flat broke and needs to deal with it.
"I'm only telling you this cause I love you
And what I tell you is true
But when it comes to reality, Murray, dear
I know you don't have a clue
Life's not a Mardi Gras
Though it was starting off
Grow up and get out, it's not the same anymore
Please don't be sad
And please don't object
But I fear you'll end up in jail someday
Or you'll be a prime suspect
You knew a Mardi Gras
You knew that you'd be glad you saw
But the party is over, the lights ain't bright no more
Grow up and get out, it's not the same anymore…"
Marc shot her a "you're doing great" look and a thumbs-up.
Roger interjected with his line, "You're telling me to grow up? You don't even have the strength to walk out on Samuel!"
"You can't blame me for that!" Wade protested, preparing to sing again.
"It's not my fault I married him
How was I to blame
When he beat me up on our honeymoon
But I loved him just the same
Life's not a Mardi Gras
Though it was starting off
Grow up and get out, it's not the same anymore
Please don't be sensitive
Please don't take it hard
But life is never easy
And that's what you can't disregard
You knew a Mardi Gras
You knew that you'd be glad you saw
But the party is over, the lights ain't bright no more
Grow up and get out, it's not the same anymore…"
"I'm just giving advice." Wade pulled Roger on the bed where he gave a subtle look of depression.
"I'm only telling you this cause I love you
And what I tell you is true
I'm only telling you this cause I love you
And I know everything's so new
I give you advice cause I love you
I know this all seems in a hurry
I give you advice cause I love you
So please show me a smile, Murray."
Marc started clapping, then Ulla, then Max and Leo, until soon enough, the whole theater burst into thunderous applause. Carmen, feeling a bit awkward, clapped very slowly. Even Roger eventually clapped for her.
So this is what being a star feels like, she thought, a bit exhausted. She didn't even know she could sing like that.
When she came down to sit next to Marc, Ulla ran over and hugged her tightly. "Good job!" She exclaimed.
"Thanks, Ulla." Wade could barely breathe.
"You did great." Marc patted her shoulder as Ulla released her. "I think you even won Roger over."
"Ulla thinks you vill be a star!" Ulla spread her arms out wide, accidentally smacking him in the face.
Wade laughed. "Any of you guys up for a trip to the Astor Bar?" She looked at them.
"But Max says you shouldn't drink at rehearsals!"
"Oh, does he?" She shook her head. "I guess I can't do that."
She looked around past Ulla and Marc. Roger and Carmen were talking. She could go talk to them, but she didn't really feel like dealing with those two.
She then noticed Max and Leo talking with a couple of the dancers. The attractive and thin dancers.
Getting a bit jealous, she said goodbye to her two friends and headed towards them.
"Hi, Max, Leo, girls." She waved slightly. "How are you?"
"Fine." Max nodded at her.
"Um, Max, can I ask you something?" What was I going to ask him?
"What?"
She was silent, then snapped out of it. "I know you said I couldn't drink, but who's up for a trip to the Astor Bar?"
"Us!" Marc and Ulla exclaimed.
Max looked at Leo. "I could use a drink right now." Leo shrugged.
"Fine, I guess I'm coming along too." Max agreed.
"Good." Wade replied.
"Uh, Wade," Marc ran over to her quickly, "you wouldn't mind if I invited…?"
"Do whatever you want." She rolled her eyes.
He grinned and headed towards Roger and Carmen.
Max gave Wade a confused look.
One of the chorus girls sighed deeply, putting her head in her hands. "Such a waste of…man." She gushed.
Wade held back a laugh. Yeah, Marc London, Waste of Man. How rich.
[Setting: Astor Bar…]
Wade, Marc, Roger, Carmen, Max, Leo, and Ulla sat at the bar, all with drinks in hand.
"So I think we're making some pretty good progress." Wade tried to break the silence.
"I agree." Marc nodded. "Now I know how I'll express domestic abuse without coming out and beating her."
"I'm suddenly scared." She turned to Max and Leo. "So how did you guys meet?"
They looked at each other, smirked, and then turned back to her. "It's one hell of a story."
Except for the two listeners, they all proceeded to tell the story that all led up to Prisoners of Love.
"Man, I wish we had a story as good as that." Wade shoved Marc playfully.
"Why, how did you two meet?" Leo inquired.
"We were playing together and I hit him on the head with something. He was bleeding badly and my mother made me go apologize. So I let him hit me to be even, but it didn't hurt. He hasn't gotten any tougher."
"Jerk." Marc muttered.
"And the rest, as they say, is history."
"We should get back." Max shook his head. He, Leo, Roger, Marc, and Ulla filed out.
Carmen was about to follow, but Wade pulled him back. "Hey," she asked, "why do you not like me?"
He stared at her, but then walked out, shaking his head.
Wade blinked. Well, that came out of nowhere, she thought. Why did I ask that?