Chapter 7: Crises Averted
"Do you have an answer?" Mr. Carlyle asked. It was Thursday morning.
"Yes I do," Phillip told him. "And I'm coming back to you. And you're not going to ruin the circus."
"What makes you think that you CAN?" Mr. Carlyle asked.
"Carlyles involved in scandalous activities" wouldn't that make the headlines?" Phillip stated.
"What are you talking about?" Mr. Carlyle demanded.
"Remember all those times during the financial crisis when you were talking about needing money when I was teen, when you thought I wasn't listening?" Phillip said. "Every time it was brought up, there was always a mention of shipping hops and the fear of getting caught. Hops is, after all, an ingredient often put in beer for flavoring." He stopped and allowed what he was implying to sink into his parents' minds. "I wonder what the rest of your "friends" would think if that got out? Or even the police?"
"Phillip, you wouldn't," his mother said.
"I will IF you ruin the circus," Phillip told her. "If you do, I will take you down with us."
"What makes you think that the press will believe you?" Mr. Carlyle asked. "You're a scandal remember?"
"Because I have proof," Phillip informed him. "I have a copy of the shipment papers indicating that you were shipping hops illegally into the US to make beer. Now, here's the new deal. You leave the circus alone and I'll leave YOU and your reputation alone."
"You're BLACKMAILING us!?" Mr. Carlyle said angrily. "Us your parents?!"
"Yes," Phillip answered. "And don't forget that the reason I am is because you were trying to blackmail ME first. So do we have ourselves a deal?"
"You'd rather stay with those freaks than us?!" Mrs. Carlyle questioned.
"Yes, because those "freaks" are my family," Phillip told them. "And they've been a better family than you and father ever were. Now, do have a deal? You leave me and the circus alone and I'll leave you and your reputation alone." He held out his hand. "Deal?" Mr. Carlyle shook it quickly.
"Deal," Mr. Carlyle said. He then dropped Phillip's hand.
"Well then, good day," Phillip responded. He tipped his hat to them before leaving. Once he left the gate he smiled a mile wide. It was over. "Yes! Yes!" He ran off to the circus to tell Anne.
He arrived at the tent and nearly collided into Barnum.
"Woah! What's gotten you in such a good mood?" Barnum asked.
"I'll tell you later. Do you know where Anne is?" Phillip asked.
"She's getting the new equipment out of the storage "closet"," Barnum told him. "Why…" But Phillip had run off before he could finish his question. Phillip found Anne in the storage "closet". He ran up to her.
"Anne! Anne!" he exclaimed. She worlded around to face him. "It worked! It worked!" She smiled and they hugged. "It's over."
"What worked?" W.D asked as he walked in on them. "And what's over?" They broke their hug and faced W.D.
"My blackmail on my parents," Phillip told him. "It worked."
"You blackmailed your parents?" W.D questioned. He nodded.
"They won't do anything to us unless they want to go down too," Phillip said.
"Wow," W.D said. "Way to go, Carlyle."
"So THAT'S why you're so happy," Barnum as he joined them in the "closet". "So I'm guessing this means you're staying."
"Wouldn't have it any other way Barnum," Phillip told him. "Though, there is one thing we need to do before you leave."
"And what is that?" Barnum asked.
"TWO ringmasters, one night only," Phillip said. "What do think?" Barnum smiled.
"Tonight or tomorrow?" Barnum asked.
"Tonight," Phillip answered. "Now, to address the other problem. Do you know where Marie and the other members of her cult are?"
"I'll go get them for you," Barnum told him. "They'll be in your office tent."
"Thanks," Phillip said. Barnum left to round them up. Phillip turned to Anne. "After I take care of this, we can start planning the wedding."
"No more interruptions?" Anne said.
"No more interruptions," Phillip repeated. He kissed her. "I'll be back."
"Mister Barnum, why did you call this meeting?" Marie asked.
"He didn't." The "cult" turned to see who had spoken. It was Phillip. "I did." He walked up to the front where P.T was standing.
"I'll leave you all to it," he said before he left the "office". The "cult" turned to Phillip.
"Now, why do you hate me?" Phillip asked. "Because the only reason I've gathered are one, where I'm from, two, my methods, and three, hating me because your friends are. Are there any more?" They didn't say anything for five whole minutes. "That's it? Good. First of all, you know as well as I do that to judge someone based on where they're from is ridiculous. A lot of you are judged on that and so is P.T. To do the same makes you no different than the snobs. Second of all, my method of taking things slower is for safety and to prevent accidents. It's not because I think you're children and can't handle the big things. It's to make sure we don't have accidents on stage and someone gets injured. And some times you're right. It IS childish at times and it can come off as that even though it isn't. I do it that way because I'm trying to pace you so you don't feel rushed every time I introduce a new thing. Cause in the past there were several almost accidents because of rushed routines. I'm not saying we haven't had them but there have been fewer cases of it on stage. The third reason isn't really a reason. It's bandwagon." He paused to give them a chance to speak. They didn't.
"Listen, you don't have to like me, but you at least have to respect me as your boss. We don't have to see eye-to-eye on everything and if you have a complaint, let me know. I'm more than happy to listen. You may be right some times. If you are, we'll fix the problem. If you're not, I'll explain how. So, are you willing to work WITH me instead of conspiring against me? The choice is yours. You can stay here regardless but it would make things easier for all of us if we co-operate. Again, the choice is yours."