Don't own Chuck
Chuck and Sarah got everyone back to the suite in the hotel. There they all got ready for a night out. But it did not escape Chuck nor Sam that Sarah hadn't pronounced anything yet about the circus. They got ready Chuck wore a black jacket and tie. Emma and Sarah put on evening dresses and while they were finishing up Chuck took Sam and Molly aside.
"Okay you two listen up I don't want you pestering Sarah anymore about the circus. One way or another we're going to go so chill out for the rest of the evening. Sam that goes double for you."
"What are you talking about? What did I do?" she said. Chuck gave her a look that said he wasn't playing around because they both knew if anyone could get Sarah going it was Sam.
"Chuck, Sweetie, can you zip me up please," said Sarah as she came out of their bedroom and turned in front of him. She paused for a moment and looked at them. "Did I just walk in on something?"
"Nothing important just some last minute instruction on behavior," said Chuck as he zipped her up. "We need to hurry up or we're going to miss the reservation I just made."
"Well if we miss it we miss it. There are plenty of nice places to eat at in Nice and you don't have to get all dressed up to go eat."
"Oh but we're not eating in Nice. No, I booked us a table at the Limun in the Casino-Spa at Monte Carlo. It was the only one that had a menu that would suit everyone's taste buds."
"How sweet… but wait a minute can we take the girls? I think you have to be at least eighteen to enter the casino. We don't want to drive all the way there to find out we have to eat in McDonalds all dressed up." Chuck laughed.
"That would remind me of my prom… but no because this is in the Spa part. I checked to make sure… they can enter and have an overpriced burger so they don't have to experiment with French cuisine. For the price and product, we ought to go eat at McDonalds but I'm in France again with you. I… we did the Eifel tower before now I can experience even more French culture with my gal," said Chuck as he put his arm around her but for a moment he seemed distracted as he looked away.
"What is it? I know that look. Is something wrong? I know I haven't said anything about the flyer yet. But it's not easy," said Sarah. Chuck kissed her to get her to stop speaking.
"No, that's not it. Everything is all right I just felt like there was something missing… I know I'm being silly. I think it was Morgan's guilt trip he tried to lay on us… me before we left. And speaking about the flyer I told the girls no mentioning of it tonight that was what you walked in on before. I want this dinner to be nice and relaxing for everyone especially for you. We haven't had much down time since… well I can't remember when and I want you to enjoy it."
"I don't know what I did to deserve you but now that I've got you I'm not letting you get away. You're all mine buster and don't you ever forget it," said Sarah then she kissed him.
"Ewe yuck, I think I'm going to be sick," said Sam as she and Molly walked in on them. "Molly close your eyes they're at it again. You know there are children present."
"Yes Sam, we know you and Molly are here," said Chuck as he turned to her. "I really think you've been hanging around Casey way too much.
"No, I wasn't talking about us I was talking about Bunny. I'm used to the way you two carry on and your shenanigans by now. Emma wants to know if you two are ready and if we can go down to the car?"
"Shenanigans? Now I know you've been hanging around Casey too much. I think we're done in here," said Chuck. Sarah nodded.
"I've just got to put in my earrings then we can go," she said as she put them on. "Okay come on let's head out and Sam if it wasn't for these shenanigans as you call it you wouldn't be around. Sweetie, can you get the stroller. Do we have everything?"
"Yes let's go before it gets too late. The road to Monaco is windy with a lot of bends and turns in it and I don't want to do a Grace Kelly."
They left the hotel and had the car brought around front. Chuck loaded up their rental full of women then headed out following the signs and his GPS for Monaco.
[Earlier that afternoon]
Otto von Gesundheit was wrapping up work for the evening. He had a small local television program for children and he had just finished that. He was now relaxing in his dressing room with a bottle of Johnny Walker one of his closest and dearest fans. There was a knock on his door but he really didn't want to see anyone especially not another kid looking for an autograph.
"Go away and come back later. I promise I'll gladly give you my autograph next Tuesday for being left alone today."
"Sorry but this can't wait," said a man dressed in black as he and three others came barging into Otto's dressing room. Are you Gesundheit?"
"God bless you," said Otto smiling. This was a regular part of his act. "Didn't you people here me when I told you to go away. Does go away have another obscure meaning known only to bearcats and government agents that means the exact opposite? Maybe in some ancient Sanskrit language but here it means get lost."
"Keep that for you act right now you need to get your things together. You're coming with us," said the lead agent. "We have a plane to catch for France."
"Hold up a minute… halt ein moment bitte... Attendez un instant s'il vous plaît… I'm not going anywhere with you guys. I've got commitments here to take care of. I can't just pack up and leave."
"Yes you can. If you don't believe me you can ask your agent," said the man in black. He held out his phone on speaker. "Please tell Heir Gesundheit he can go?"
"God bless you," said both men in unison. "Henrik is that you? You know about this? What's going on? Why do these men want me to go with them? My grandparents went with people like these during the war and only my grandmother returned. This one who keeps insisting… he's got beady little eyes. I don't trust him he could be a cannibal… or a clownible for all I know… I don't want to end up in the stew."
"You should know I speak German so I can understand everything you're saying," said the man. He checked his watch to check to see how much time they had.
"Good, I was afraid my insults were going to waste. Henrik, tell me what's going on? Do I really have to go with these people?"
"I'm afraid you do. You see… well remember when you asked me to see your tax documents and you wanted the receipts. I told you not to worry about it and I was taking care of it for you. Well you probably should've worried about it and pressed me a little harder. But you do this government gig and we'll both stay out of jail."
"But you won't collect two hundred dollars when I get a hold of you. For now, Henrik you're fired as my manager and when I get my hands around your neck… well you won't have to worry about an old age pension because you won't see another birthday."
"Oh you're just a little upset now," said Henrik. "When you get back I'll have a good gig lined up for you at the Euro Disney. I hear they're looking for something I think you could do and I know a guy in there HRO. Although you might have to change up the act a little and lose a little stomach weight. How's your Farsi?"
"Don't tell me you want me to play Aladdin?" Otto could just picture himself in an Aladdin costume walking in the Disney parade and having kids point at him and laugh. But that was basically what he was doing now.
"No Jasmine," said Henrik. "Listen just think it over. You don't have to commit right away. Just think about it for a little while then let me know when you get back. This could be your big break."
"Henrik… run. Run fast and run far because when I get my hands on you… well I'm going to teach you how to become a contortionist. I'll fit you in a suitcase then mail you to the North Pole."
"This is all fine and okay but we need to get a move on it. Get your things together then let's go our plane will be waiting for us when we get to the airport."
"Well it seems I don't have much of a choice."
An hour later they were in the air heading for Orléans. Otto was looking out the window when the man in black came by sitting down across from him with a couple of glasses and a bottle in his hands.
"Would you like a drink while I debrief you about the mission? I brought you a bottle of Johnny Walker black," said the man as he poured Otto a glass then placed the bottle next to it.
"Oh mister beady eyes I think we speak the same language," said Otto as he took a sip then held the glass up to the light to look through it. "I might have to change my opinion about you. So what is it you want me to do? Let me guess there's a man with a heart condition and you want me to make him laugh so hard he drops over and kicks the bucket."
"Very picturesque but if I wanted to do that I'd use laughing gas which would guarantee me the effect that I wanted…"
"Watch it beady eye. You're on my good list for now but you could easier jump back on the other. So what do you want me to do?"
"We don't want or need you in the field. We want you to train one of our own on how to become a clown. You won't have much time so you're going to have to hit the ground running. Our guy needs to be ready in less than twenty-four hours."
"What you're asking for is impossible. It takes a lifetime of hard work and dedication to the art to become a clown. Even still there are those who don't make it. Being a clown is something you're born with like an extra gene… the clown gene."
"We're not asking you to make him perfect. He just has to be able to pass himself off as a clown. There is a sizable payday at the end if you can get him to pull this off."
"Sizeable? How sizeable are we talking about? And all I have to do is have him talk the talk and walk the walk. I still don't know if it's possible."
"My boss told me to offer you… well how does a hundred thousand sound for less than a day's work. It will be in cash so there will be no taxes."
"Not paying taxes is what got me on this plane. No, I think two hundred and fifty or a quarter of a million would sound even better. For that I'll teach him how to juggle, sculpt with balloons and do magic."
"It's a deal than," said the Agent. He reached over took the bottle of scotch and poured them both a drink. "A toast to clowns everywhere."
"I'll drink to that," said Otto as he took a sip. He started thinking about the curriculum as well as how he was going to teach it in his head.
"Maybe I shouldn't say anything," said the man in black. "But I was authorized to go as high as a half a million to get you to sign on for this mission." Otto laughed as he picked up his glass and took a sip.
"That's cool but I hate to tell you this I would've sign on if you'd offered me a grand easy. I was bluffing when I said two fifty," said Otto as he raised his glass. The man in black follow suit. "Okay if I'm going to teach I need a pad and paper so I can give you a list of things I'm going to need."
"We can make that happen," said the man in black as he reached into his brief case and took out a note pad. He handed it to Otto along with a pen. Otto spent the remainder of his time onboard making a list then mapping out what he was going to teach and how.
"I hope you man has thick skin because I'm going to have to come down heavy on him if this is going to work."
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At the center circus trailer, Giovanni and Rita were going over the acts arranging them in a logical sequence then allotting them a certain amount of time in center stage. They were almost done when Alfredo walked in on them. He looked over at Rita and she looked back at him. Giovanni knew there was no love lost between them he just didn't know why.
"Well speak up," said Giovanni. "You just walked in and interrupted us. My father might put up with your rude behavior but I won't. You want to come in you knock first then wait until you're told to come in." Alfredo growled then knocked on the doorframe.
"Is that better for you," said Alfredo as he tried to stare down Giovanni but he wasn't going to be intimidated especially by someone who at least on paper worked for him.
"It's a beginning but because you have to ask it tells me we've got a long way to go still. So you're in now what is it you wanted to tell me?" Alfredo looked over at Rita.
"Maybe I ought to step outside and let you two talk in private," she said as she got up and started for the door.
"No, hold on and sit back down. There are no secrets here… at least I don't have any," he said as he looked at Alfredo. Alfredo grinned looking at Rita. "Hey look at me and tell me what you want."
"Okay, some of my men have skipped out on me so I'm going to be short handed the first few nights until I can come up with some more clowns."
"You can't do this to me you know these first shows are the most important. I hope this isn't some sort of scheme to get more money because the pie has already been divided and there just isn't any going back or renegotiating at this late date."
"I understand that and no I'm not trying to renegotiate anything with at least you," said Alfredo as he looked at Rita. "I'm just stating a fact… I'm shorthanded and I'll do something about it but it will take a couple of days."
"Well if your men jumped ship and went to work for another circus I could have them blackballed from all the big tops. That would be what the deserve you just don't leave your friends in a lurch. It's just not done and as my father always preached the circus is like an extended family. Family doesn't treat family like this."
"They're no longer in the circus business from what I understand. They've gone into gardening more specifically in nurturing plant growth… I think I heard one of them went to work with daises. They all went down under to find employment."
"Oh I hear there are a lot of job prospects in Australia. In a certain sense I admire them for having the courage to strike out on their own…"
"From what I hear they had some help from a Mr. Wesson and Smith. Anyway that's my situation right now but like I said I should be able to get back up in a couple of weeks."
"What is it? A couple of weeks or a couple of days. First you've been talking about it taking you a couple of days to find replacements. Now you just said two weeks."
"I did? I didn't realize it. Well let's split the difference and say a week just to be safe," said Alfredo. Giovanni had caught him trying to slip one by. Now Giovanni was trying to pin down Alfredo which was like trying to nail slim to the wall.
Well you that might be okay," said Giovanni. He had a sudden idea and pulled out an envelope from his desk drawer. "I was going to ignore this but it came in the mail today and now it seems like a God send. It's as if this was was timed with your guys decision to leave."
"So what is in it?" asked Rita. All the chatting made her curious. "How is that going to solve our shortage of clowns."
"It's a job inquiry from a Johann Casey. He was going to tour with a circus that went bankrupted before they left the States. He was already here and so now he's looking for work."
"You're not seriously thinking about letting this guy work here. We don't know anything about him. Where is he from and where did he study?
"Well he sent his resume and I have to admit it is quite impressive. You asked where he's from," said Giovanni as he pulled the out the CV. "According to this he's from Switzerland and he studied under Glock aka Charles Wettach."
"No, that can't be. Let me see that," said Alfredo as he grabbed the papers from Giovanni's hand. "This has got to be made up. I don't want him here."
"Well I do… so too bad so sad," said Giovanni as he yanked them back. "He's coming tomorrow for an interview and I'm going to take him on at least until you can cover the people you've got missing. We can get by without animals but we can't get by without clowns. What kind of circus would this be without clowns?"
"You're right," said Rita. She saw how upset Alfredo was so she decided to stir up the pot. "Alfredo you have to admit Giovanni's right we need this guy. Or is there another reason you don't want him here. Does it have anything to do with professional jealousy? He did study under the great Glock. Who did you study under the great schmuck?"
"Funny very funny and I don't have anything to worry from this guy. So what if he's got a pedigree that doesn't mean anything. That doesn't tell us if he can make people laugh…"
"I know you're not going there. Maybe you should try to make our audiences laugh instead of scaring their kids and making they run back to their parents then leaving. If you did that maybe we could spend long in the towns we visit and make more," said Rita. "Why don't you just admit it you're afraid this new guy will out do you."
"That's absolutely ridiculous," growled Alfredo. He started to go for Rita but Giovanni stood up and got in the middle.
"That's enough you two. He's coming tomorrow I'm going to interview him then we go from there. Whether this is a short gig or long one depends entirely on him," said Giovanni. "Alfredo, he'll be boarding with you guys so you need to tell your people, the ones you have left, that they'll need to make room for him."
"Why can someone else put him up? Put him with the Zorros or anywhere else. I have enough trouble keeping track of my own people let alone a stranger and his gear."
"I'm sorry but clowns stay with clowns. Besides didn't you just say that your people went down under?" "So you should have plenty of room to spare. Alfredo, suck it up," said Giovanni. "If you'll excuse us now we need to get back to running to planning our tour."
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The charter arrived in Orléans airport and a black Land Rover Discovery was waiting. Otto was whisked off to a farmhouse on the outskirts of the city. He looked around wondering what he'd gotten himself into or better what had Henrik gotten him into. Finally, the vehicle stopped and the door opened.
"Your student is inside waiting for you," said the agent he'd been flying with. He got out of the vehicle and walked inside.
"Colonel Casey, this is your teacher Otto von Gesundheit. Herr Gesundheit this is Colonel Casey your student. I'll have the things you wanted brought in for you."
"Good I'll need them and that bottle of scotch. This is going to be a challenge. Herr Colonel do you consider yourself a funny man."
"What do you mean by funny? Do I make an idiot out of myself? Not only no but hell no."
"Now drop your pants," said Otto. Casey looked at him and growled. "Now that's good. Growl and drop your pants then repeat what you just said and I can guarantee you'll have everyone laughing. We've got a lot of work to do and a short time to do it in so let's get to it. Drop your pants."