Sing Us a Song, Roderich! You're the Piano Man!

by miistical

"I slightly wish for someone to tell each of their tales. From how they were born, to who they were, to how they came into this pub and stayed, and if they were to get out, what would they do. Sometimes I wonder if that is what I am doing, and that is why they always come to hear me play. It is then that I wish for someone to tell my tale."

2. The Piano Man's Story

Scene One

[The time was the winging 20's and it was a regular night for the town's pub, The Mitternacht. Yet the night held something for this never-changing town as a traveler made their way to this old, harkened pub.]

Traveler [tired]: Hey Bartender, bring me schnapps. And Piano Man, play me something sweet.

[The Traveler sits at the bar, nice and close to the piano. The Piano Man continues playing as he talks.]

Piano Man [smoothly]: You're new here, aren't you?

Traveler [roughly]: Why yes I am, I'm just passin' through.

Piano Man: Along with your tune, would you care for a tale?

Traveler: I don't see why not. What is your tale, piano man?

Piano Man: Well, why don't you listen and find out for yourself, Traveler. There once was a man in Austria, his name Roderich. He was of 22 years and a great musician. Roderich was such a prodigy that he gained his way into a famous orchestra.

Traveler: What? How did he do it? What was the orchestra's name?

Piano Man: How he did it, no one knows. The orchestra's name shall not be said- it is useless to know.

Traveler [suspiciously]: Well then… carry on.

Scene Two

[The Piano Man continues his story and lays out the setting. It was the early 1900's and a rainy day in Vienna, Austria. At a grand opera house, where a professional orchestra was readying to play, an echoing crash ripped through the sounds of tuning instruments. People scattered about in search of the source. One of the violin players were heard crying out in despair.]

Violin Player: Why would anyone destroy my precious violin?! Who did this?!

[Another crash signaled another broken instrument, leading the other musician's and their stamping feet to a cello, now in pieces.]

Cello Player: No! We have to catch the person behind this! [turns to face other musicians] Who is here? Perhaps we will find the crook out if we know who is missing!

Bass Player: I now only of one man who is not here! Roderich Edelstein!

Traveler: Wait! Wait!

Piano Man [impatiently]: What is it?

Traveler: Why did they blame this...Roderich?

Piano Man [exasperatedly]: Well, let me continue and you will know.

[The Piano Man clears his throat, not missing a single beat as he started another song, and started up the story once more.]

Piano Man: Now, everyone searched high and low for the missing man. They were sure that because the piano player, like myself, was gone, he must have been the culprit! Soon enough they finally found him in none other than the dressing room.

Bass Player [shouting]: There you are, you fiend!

Roderich [confused]: Me, a fiend?

Violin Player [hissing slightly]: Yes, you! You shall be punished for what you have done!

Roderich [angrily]: And what is that of which I've done?

Bass Player: You have destroyed our precious instruments!

Roderich [shocked]: Never have I or would I ever do that!

[A shorter, blonde man elbowed his way to the front of the crowd to point accusingly at Roderich.]

Blonde Man: Don't you dare lie to us, Roderich! You were the only one who was not present during the atrocious acts! You must be the convict!

Piano Man: Because there were no other suspects and Roderich did not have an alibi, he was immediately kicked out of the orchestra.

[The Piano Man stopped speaking and focused completely on the music. The Traveler waited until after two more melodies before speaking out.]

Traveler [surprised]: Is that it?

Piano Man: Why would there be more?

Traveler: Well, where did Roderich end up?

Piano Man [he looks to the Traveler with a raised brow]: Here.

Scene Three

[The Traveler nearly spat out his drink while the Bartender looked on in amusement and laughter. The Traveler glared at the chuckling Bartender but all the Bartender did was smirk back at the flushed Traveler. The Traveler turned back to the Piano Man, glaring at his still-playing form.]

Traveler: Well, who then?!

[The Piano Man finishes his piece before standing up and announcing his break. The Piano Man closed the case on the ivory keys before sitting down once more, this time beside the Traveler.]

Piano Man: Do you really want to know?

Traveler [exasperated]: Yes, I really do!

Piano Man [to the Bartender]: Gilbert, get Elizabeta.

Gilbert: Right on it.

[Gilbert leaves to get Elizabeta.]

Traveler [confused]: Who is Elizabeta? Why is she needed?

[Gilbert comes back with a waitress.]

Gilbert: Here's your wife.

Traveler [shocked]: Wife?!

Piano Man: Elizabeta, please take this man outside.

Traveler: What?!

Elizabeta: Of course, Roddy!

Traveler [head going back in forth between Elizabeta and the Piano Man]: Wait, you didn't answer my question!

[Elizabeta takes the Traveler by the back of his collar and drags him outside. The Traveler is too shocked to do anything but follow the woman out.]

Traveler [outside]: Can you at least tell me who Roderich is?

Elizabeta: You should know! I called his name! [Elizabeta smiles before swishing back inside.]

Traveler: Called him name? But you didn't… wait… Roddy?

[Elizabeta pokes her head through the doorway.]

Elizabeta [while grinning]: Shh! I didn't say anything!

[Elizabeta winked before disappearing back inside and leaving the lone Traveler outside with nothing but his thoughts and the Piano Man's story.]