AN: All credit of the songs go to their songwriters & performers. I don't own them at all. Just Maria.
"Jake, we seriously need another gig soon! How long is it gonna be before we get a real gig instead of being in a Country bar?" Elwood complained the next morning as he chewed on his dry toast & read the morning paper in the hotel lobby.
"Calm down, man. I got everything under control, we have an appointment with Maury next week" Jake replied calmly
"But we need to get a gig & the 5 grand now!"
Knock knock knock
"Guys! Guys!"
Instantly recognizing the voice, Elwood jolted to the door & opened it. There stood the lovely guitarist herself, with a newspaper in her hand.
"I found us another gig!"
Elwood steps to the side to let her in the room & she drops the newspaper on Jakes bed.
"Good news is that it's gonna pay us 500 for the night." She said with a smile
"And the bad news?" asked Jake as he took a bite from his doughnut
Maria then winced & pointed at the red pen- circled ad. Jake picked up the paper & read it aloud
'Help Wanted: A band willing to provide family-fun entertainment.'
"That doesn't sound that bad" replied Elwood "I'd rather entertain kids than perform in front of bottle throwers."
"Read the location" she responded in monotone with her arms crossed, not liking what they have to hear.
The Brothers turned their attention back to the paper and read:
'Garden-Land strongly promotes…'
"Whoa whoa whoa, Garden Land?" Jake interrupted not believing what he heard "The amusement park? We have to entertain kids in an amusement park? I've seen those stupid employees before; they always dress up in some sort of dumbass costume and perform the sappiest songs on earth! There's no way in hell we're going to this thing!"
"It's either this or nothing!" Maria told him defensively. She had to be blunt about the situation. "If we have a different gig already planned, then tell me & I'll shut up about Garden land."
Elwood & Jake remained silent. They obviously knew that she had a point & that they didn't have any other gigs planned.
Jake sighed & looked at the ad once again. "Well, at least we have something." He grumbled
"Beggars can't be choosers" quoted Elwood as he turned to Maria. "So thank you for choosing our gig."
She shrugs unenthusiastically, feeling sorta bad about her choice of a gig "Sorry I couldn't get you guys anything better. I would've but, the opportunity came for some money & I took advantage of it."
Jake once again looked at the paper & shrugged "At least afterwards we can get on some rides."
Later, the band gathered all of their instruments & headed down south. The park was about 2 hours from Maria's place, so it wasn't as bad as the trip they took to Bob's Country Bunker.
"Ok so where the hell is this place now?" asked Mr. Fabulous impatiently "Another Country bar?"
"As a matter of fact, No." replied Jake "It's at an amusement park. Maria was kind enough to book it for us."
"Hey, thanks!" Murph told her happily "At least we can go on some rides afterwards."
"Thanks" she replied bluntly "at least someone here is looking on the bright side of things."
"Why, what's the matter with the place?" Tom asked
"We have to perform in front of kids & their parents." She replied as-a-matter-of-factly
"Well, It's just a one day thing right? At least we don't have to worry about them hitting us with glass bottles" Don commented
"Exactly the point I told them" Elwood replied
When the band arrived at the parks front gates, they began unpacking the trunk to get their stuff when Maria began talking to Elwood
"Damn, I feel so bad for this."
"It's ok. It's another 500 bucks in our pockets right? Another 500 for the orphanage." He replied.
"I don't know man" she replied pessimistically "I hope we can have 'family friendly' material"
"With Jake on leading mike for tonight, I doubt it." Elwood replied with a hint of doubt
She chuckled a bit & Elwood smiles
I Love her laugh
"Hey, uh…" he began "if things… don't quite work out tonight for whatever reason or if you're bored after the gig…How about we uh…get together again and…do something?"
Another date. Wow, I guess he does like me. Be cool…
"Sure" she replied with a smile and a wink "I'll be looking forward to it."
"Me too" he replied kindly with a small smile
I make him shy? Oh my god, that's so cute!
"Alright people gather around" Jake commanded as the band was setting up their instruments. "I just got back from talking to the manager about our set list for tonight."
"Ok, so what are we gonna be performing?" Murph asked
"The manager said that the songs that the band usually played were related to Nature, gardens, or the outdoors."
"Oh god, please no hippie bullshit" Mr. Fabulous complained
"I say we should play something like 'Build Me up Buttercup' or 'Here Comes the sun.' Those are pretty good & I know them." Maria suggested
Matt then spoke up "How about 'What a Wonderful World' from Louis Armstrong? That describes nature."
"Matt has the idea!" encouraged Maria happily, glad that someone else was contributing to the creative flow.
"I know this one song called 'I'm a King Bee' from Slim Harpo." Elwood mentioned "It's not about nature, but it has bee references such as 'I'm buzzing around your hive' and other stuff"
"Sure" replied Jake with a shrug as he wrote down the songs they were listing. "Thank god, we are able to do this."
"Excuse me; are you the Blues Brothers band?"
Jake turned around & saw the manager carry a box, which looked pretty heavy. She was very pretty so Jake had no hesitation in helping her, hoping to maybe get her number.
Shit, if Elwood can get a chick so can I!
"Yes we are" Jake replied to her proudly. "How may we help you…Christina?" he added as he noticed her nametag
"I'm here to deliver this box of your uniforms." She replied with a smile & set down the box. "It's for your performance tonight."
"Whoah, uniforms?" Elwood asked uneasily. "I don't wanna change."
"Hey, The Beatles had uniforms!" Maria retorted, making a point.
"Good luck tonight!" Christina cried out as she began to walk away giggling.
Why is she giggling? Maria wondered
"She wants me" Jake told the band with a smug smile on his face as he adjusted his tie proudly.
"Shut up Jake" Don replied as he rolled his eyes.
"Let's take a look at the uniforms!" Maria suggested happily.
She began cutting the box top, but once she opened it, she regretted her words immediately,
"Aw Shit."
Later on the whole band was trying on their
Ahem
Interesting uniforms
"THIS IS BULLSHIT!"
"Why do we have to wear this crap?"
"Because they said we had to! That's why!" replied Maria to the grumbling complaining band members. She didn't like it as much as they did, but she found this gig & money's money, so she'll do this to get by. "Are you guys almost done of not, because I am!"
She emerged from her dressing room near the stage in her uniform.
It consisted of a fat suit with black & yellow stripes, fake stinger, wings, & antennas, & black knee high socks.
A Bee costume.
Shortly after she emerged, Jake joined her with yellow sunglasses on.
"You know, this is the first time I see you without your black shades?" she mentioned to him.
"Huh" he replied with a puzzling look, realizing her point.
Elwood then emerged from the dressing room, wearing the bee costume, but still wearing his black shades.
Will I ever see him without them on?
"Well Elwood" she began, chuckling a bit because of how cute he looked. "You are the only bee I know that I would not squish with my shoe or swat with my fly swatter."
"I'll take that as a compliment" replied Elwood, also chuckling. "And let me tell you this, you are the prettiest bee I've ever seen."
"Oh god." Grumbled Jake, grossed out by the sappiness "Go & get married already"
"Shut up." Replied Maria "At least I wasn't ogling at the manager. Oh she wants me" she then added impersonating Jake.
"Go to hell"
"Already there man."
The rest of the band then emerged in their bee costumes & Jake sighed "Lets get this over with…"
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Garden Lands, Happy Garden Concert Hour!"
Gag thought Maria as she heard the kids & their parens cheer
"So please give a "Bee-loved" welcome for our friends, "The Bees Brothers Band"
Bees Brothers? What The…
Before she would finish her thoughts, the curtains opened thus reveling the Bees Brothers band. The parents & kids cheered & Jake looks at them, obviously embarrassed.
"!.2. 1234"
Willie & Murph began playing their instruments, and shortly afterwards, Jake began sining with the rest of the band were singing backing vocals.
Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down)and mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin'
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don't break my heart
"I'll be over at ten", you told me time and again
But you're late, I wait around and then (bah-dah-dah)
I run to the door, I can't take any more
It's not you, you let me down again
(Hey, hey, hey!) Baby, baby, try to find
(Hey, hey, hey!) A little time, and I'll make you happy
(Hey, hey, hey!) I'll be home
I'll be beside the phone waiting for you
Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo
Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin'
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don't break my heart
You were my toy but I could be the boy you adore
If you'd just let me know (bah-dah-dah)
Although you're untrue, I'm attracted to you all the more
Why do I need you so
(Hey, hey, hey!) Baby, baby, try to find
(Hey, hey, hey!) A little time and I'll make you happy
(Hey, hey, hey!) I'll be home
I'll be beside the phone waiting for you
Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo
Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin'
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don't break my heart
I-I-I need you-oo-oo more than anyone, baby
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don't break my heart
Once the song finished, the Band of bees bowed, feeling confident & relieved as the audience cheered.
"Whats next?" asked Tom Malone
"Here comes The Sun" replied Elwood. He then turned to Maria with a small smile "Do you want to do this one, since this is your influence?"
She smiled and shrugged "Sure what the hell?"
She grabbed an acoustic guitar & began playing the beautiful melody.
Here comes the sun, doo n' doo doo here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, doo n' doo doo here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, doo n' doo doo here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
She motioned to the guys to join as backing vocals & they glady do, noticing the crowd singing along.
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, doo n' doo doo here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right
Once she was done, she took a bow & let Elwood sing the next song
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
His voice is perfect for this song Maria thought as she played along.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
He bowed once again and let Jake sing the encore song, one that seemed to suit him pretty good.
Well I'm a king bee; Buzzing around your hive
Well I'm a king bee baby; Buzzing around your hive
Yeah I can make honey baby Let me come inside
Well I'm a king bee; Want you to be my queen
Well I'm a king bee, baby ;Want you to be my queen
Together we can make honey The world has never seen
Well, buzz a while...
A buzz buzz
A buzz buzz
A buzz buzz
Sting you bad...
He began getting acrobatic as he did somersaults onstage & Maria tried hard not to burst out laughing
Well I'm a king bee; Can buzz all night long
Well I'm a king bee, baby; Can buzz all night long
Yeah I can buzz better baby
When your man is gone
The whole band then took a bow before the curtains closed. While the band was packing everything, Christina came towards them with a huge grin on her face and a decent sized envelope.
"Hey guys, you were awesome tonight! Here's your pay!"
Jake took it & took out the 500 bucks "thanks" he replied cockily "Say uh if you're not busy…"
"Hey Christy, let's get on the tilt a whirl babe,"
Jake's grin disappeared once he saw a taller man approach her & kissed her cheek
"Well guys, you can spend the rest of the night here with unlimited rides if you want"
The guys began to cheer as they quickly went to the dressing room to change into normal clothes
Christina leaves & Jake looks disappointed
"Sorry man" Maria told him with a pat on the back
Once she was done dressing, Elwood was waiting for her outside & he approached her
"Hey, let's spend the rest of the night here" he offered "we can get on anything for free"
A huge grin spread on her face. She loved roller coasters & the adrenaline she gets while on them. "Sure!"
Before she stopped & thought about she was doing, she grabbed Elwood's hand & ran excitedly to the biggest Roller coaster in the park, "The Death-mobile"
She's holding my hand..
"Uh Maria…" he began as they stood in line.
She turned to him & noticed she was still holding his hand
"Oops; sorry" she apologized as she blushed & quickly let go.
I wish I could've held it longer…
"Excuse me, coming through!"
Elwood & Maria turned their heads & saw Jake push past the people & headed towards them.
"Brace yourself Maria; this roller coasters pretty brutal." He told her
"It's ok. I love the adrenaline" she answered
"Consider this a warm up to Elwood's crazy driving." He told her. "I don't call him 'Mr Motorhead' for nothing."
She smiles at Elwood & shrugged "Oh well. As I said, I love the adrenaline."
"She is definitely for you" Jake mumbled to his brother..
Elwood gave him a look & the coaster approached them. Maria got in first, then Jake & then Elwood.
"Uh Jake, can you & Elwood switch?" she asked him.
She wants to sit next to me?
Elwood smiled at her a bit but then the coaster began moving
"Too late" replied Jake as the coaster went up a steep path. He didn't mean to separate to two daters, & he felt guilty he did so. "Sorry"
Elwood & Maria rolled their eyes & rested their chins on their hands as the ride continued; rather disappointed that Jake once again ruined their chance of getting closer together…
AN: I got the Idea for "The Bees Brothers" from an SNL sketch in which John Belushi & Dan were in a bee band. Dan & John looked so adorable!
And of course Once again I made Jake ruin the flirtation
I'm so mean
BUT Elwood & Maria will have a chance to be alone
But when?
Stay tuned!