Don't own Chuck
The next day came early in Orléans especially for Alfredo. He got up with a throbbing headache. Trying to get his eyes to focus he checked his watch to see what time it was and he realized he was late. He jumped out of bed which was a mistake the whole room began to spin in circles. But he couldn't wait so he staggered off to Giovanni's trailer. He knew he was late but he had to try to get there the same but with every step he took his head throbbed a little more and by the time he got there even his eyebrows ached.
"What's going on in here," asked Alfredo as he walked in the middle of a juggling exhibition. "I thought the interview was set for noon?"
"It was," said Giovanni looking at his watch. "But Herr Johann got here early and I couldn't see any reason to put it off. Okay your juggling skills are very good. What else can you do?"
"Hum, not very impressive," remarked Alfredo. Giovanni gave him a look. He saw that Alfredo had the same clothes he had on the day before.
"You haven't moved into your trailer yet or did you and your change of clothes was in the other place?" said Giovanni as he fired a broadside.
"I'm just saying juggling is kind of basic clown skills," said Alfredo ignoring Giovanni's comments. "I think we're here to evaluate this guy not me. Or that's what you told me."
"Sorry for my rude employee's remarks but he isn't wrong either. What else can you do?" Alfredo smiled over at Giovanni thinking he had put him in his place. But John just smiled back then went over to Alfredo and took an apple out of his pocket.
"What do you intend to do with that," asked Alfredo as he watched him take it out then walk towards him. "I don't know you but I've got no intention of becoming William Tells' son with an apple on his head so you can put that thing away."
"What this?… Oh I see the confusion this is my breakfast. I left the hotel so fast this morning I didn't have time for breakfast so I grabbed this to eat later. I didn't want to be late. And you thought I was going to put this on your head? No, not this," said Casey. He pulled out a ripe tomato. "No this goes on your head."
"Oh no it won't. You're not putting that thing on my head. I don't know you and I certainly don't trust you. You need an assistant to do this."
"Are you afraid of a rubber BB gun," said Casey as he put goggles on Alfredo. "I did have an assistant a lovely girl and once she learns to use her white cane she'll be back. Who would've thought Braille would be such a bear to lean… I really should've used goggles before. But you know what they say live and learn."
"You're not learning with me. I protest I didn't come here to do this I was supposed to be interviewing his act not participating in it," said Alfredo but Giovanni was grinning from ear to ear.
"You said you wanted to help me vet Johann and frankly I can't see a better way. You did say juggling was basic clown skills so let's see what else he has. I have to admit I'm loving it so far," said Giovanni as he tried to hold a straight face. As they were talking and Alfredo was yelling Casey shot Alfredo in the leg.
"Ouch! What the crap? You did that on purpose," complained Alfredo as held onto the tomato in his hand and rubbed his thigh. "You need to be careful."
"Sorry that was an accident. I would say friendly fire but you having been too friendly to me," said Casey as he shot him in the other leg. "Now that was on purpose." Alfredo squeezed the tomato making it popped in his hand covering himself with tomato.
"Augh! Are you crazy? Look what you made me do. Well your tomato is gone so the act is over and I'm not impressed at all. I vote no…"
"Oh I've just gotten started," said Casey. He handed Alfredo what looked like a bloody handkerchief to clean his hands as he put an egg holder on his head attached with a ribbon. He tied a nice bow under Alfredo's chin making him look like he was wearing a strange looking bonnet then placed an egg in it.
"No you don't, a raw egg in my hair… no I don't have to put up with this. I run the clown acts at this circus and no, I'm not going to put up with this or you…"
"What's the matter Alfredo? Are you afraid Herr Casey will show you up? Because if you are he's doing a good job of it or maybe you've been in charge too long. A little competition might be just what we need around here. But if you want to give up I can understand," said Giovanni.
"Never, I'll never give up," hissed Alfredo. "Okay but this time point that thing down at the ground then raise it when you're ready to fire and for goodness sake don't miss. That is if at all possible."
"Oh I think we have a misunderstanding. You think I'm going to shoot the egg off your head. No, I was just showing you my BB pistol…"
"What have you got an elephant gun?" said Alfredo as he laughed. "That's an old joke. You can't use an elephant gun because you need an elephant gun license. It's not really that funny anymore."
"But I've got one," said Casey as he pulled out a document from his pocket in the form of a scroll that unrolled and unrolled on the floor. "However, it would be ridiculous to shoot an egg with an elephant gun. If I wanted to shoot the egg, I'd need an egg gun but that's just silly… or is it?" said John as he paused for effect. "Of course it is. No, I had my apple now I need the rest of my breakfast." He pulled three knives from his sleeve.
"Hold on there," said Alfredo as he broke out in a sweat. "Put those things away I didn't sign up for this. This is a clown act not a knife throwing act."
"Does one necessarily negate the other? Now if you'll just hold still we can get this over with," said Casey as he made the sign of the cross.
"Hold up there. What did you just do?" said Alfredo. Now he was really nervous. "How many time have you done this before?" Sweat was pouring off his forehead.
"Oh lots of times," said John as he tossed one of the knives in the air then pretended to try to catch it but he missed and it stuck in the floor next to his foot. "Maybe I should get steel toed shoes."
"You think… Lots of times doesn't tell me much," said Alfredo even more scared now that he saw Casey miss catching the knife. "I want exact numbers."
"Fifteen all together," said Casey as he got himself ready like a baseball pitcher on the pitcher's mound reading the catcher's signal shaking off a couple.
"What are you doing? Do you have some sort of nervous tick? Hey wait a minute what did you mean about 'all together'?"
"'All together' meant the ones that were successful and those… well that weren't. God rest their souls," said Casey as he made the sign of the cross again. "Now if you'll stand still and stop clowning around I can get this over with and go out for a short stack afterwards."
"Hold up for a minute. I've got another question for you. Of the fifteen times you tried this act how many of those where successful?"
"Your minutes must be longer than mine because it sure seems that at least ten have passed since you started yelling wait a minute. I don't remember actually," said Casey as he started holding up his fingers and thinking. "I guess it depends on what your definition of successful is."
"How about ones that didn't involve the spilling or letting of blood," said Alfredo. It didn't make him feel better went Casey held up his fingers with the knifes under his arm as he started calculating again in his head. "Come on man this isn't high math."
"But it's more than the fingers I have so I need to know which hand is going to have to do more work than the other. But the one hand can't tell the other hand or it will protest…"
"Oh give me a break. This is ridiculous," said Alfredo as he got mad but Giovanni was busting a gut laughing so hard. "And you find this funny?"
"I think it's absolutely hilarious," said Giovanni. "He's playing you like a violin and the funny part is you don't realize it. This act is great much better than that slap stick crap you people put on."
"Well, I'm not very impressed," said Alfredo. "I don't think this is funny at all. I'm risking my life and you're over there laughing away. Why don't you come over and trying being the Blue Bonnet?"
"I remember now," said John as he interrupted Alfredo's complaining. "I remember I was afraid I had forgotten but there was one time when my assistant walked away. The others… well they're in a better place now."
"Hold on, you've only done this successfully once," said Alfredo one last time. However, Casey had as much 'hold on' as he could take. He threw two knives in rapid succession one caught Alfredo in the lose fabric of his jacket under his arm and the other landed above the right shoulder. Alfredo was effectively nailed to the wall unable to move.
"Now you won't move around," John said. Then he threw the last knife. It sailed through the air cut the top of the egg off before sticking to the wall above Alfredo's head.
"Don't move," said John as he took a spoon from his pocket then retrieve the egg. "I told you I didn't have time for breakfast," he said as he started eating it. "Nothing like a three-minute egg to get your day started right. Oh Alfredo you might want to go grab another pair of pants. Yours look a little humid."
"Excellent routine," said Giovanni as he stood up and applauded. "Welcome to the Grimaldi circus. You're going to make an excellent addition around here. Come with me and let me show you around. Just follow me I want to take you by the Zorros. They are our high wire act and before you showed us out best performers. But I think you can give them a run for their money. Come along and follow me. I'm not easily impressed but you've done it."
Giovanni waved for John to follow him then they left leaving Alfredo pinned to the wall. He couldn't believe it they just walked off and left him nailed to the wall there.
"Excuse me a little help here would be appreciated. Hey come back here, I can't get loose. Hey guys don't leave me here like this it's not funny anymore. Hey guys," yelled Alfredo but they were long gone and he was stuck to the wall like a fly on wall paper.
"Isn't this just peachy keen," said Alfredo as he slipped out of his jacket. But he found the knife that had his shoulder pinned to the wall had cut through his shirt so after he took the jacket off he had to tear his shirt sleeve almost off to get himself free.
"Crap, that was my best jacket and shirt," he said as he cringed at the sound of his shirt tearing. But it was the only way to get free. "I just met you Johann Casey and already I don't like you. You'd better mind you'd manners around me," He mumbled to himself as he trudged back to his trailer.
"Must've been some rough night Alfredo," said one of the roadies. Alfredo walked by in his shirt with one sleeve just barely hanging on. "Looks like you're almost missing part of your shirt. Must've been some wild times."
"Screw off and die. Just get out of my face and go away," huffed Alfredo as he pushed his way past the roadie heading back to his trailer where he could change. "I'm so going to get my revenge even if it takes me the rest of my life."
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In the Zorros' trailer everyone had moved back in and they were talking over their number. But once that was out of the way. They moved on to talking about one last job while they were in Orléans to put money back in their coffers and them back into the black. But as much as Raul wanted to go through with it Rita didn't.
"Raul, it's foolhardy to try this now. The police and the gendarme are all around us watching and waiting. If you go out tonight there's a good chance, you'll get caught or worse."
"The police aren't looking at us because of the cat. They're here looking at Alfredo or at least at his clowns. He might deny knowing who they were in the hotel but that isn't going to fly for long. But that's his problem not ours, we need money for Papa's debts and what your boyfriend Giovanni is paying us isn't enough to cover all our and Papa's debts…"
"If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times he's not my boyfriend. Yes, he's a boy… well a man and he's my friend but that's all there is. It doesn't matter why the gendarme are hanging around just the mere fact that they are ought to make you more cautious. One slip up we're all done for and you should keep that in your mind."
"Well, Rita dear, being cautious won't get the bills paid or put food on our table. Besides we'll be careful so you don't need to worry about us."
"That's easier said than done beside I'm asking you to stay in tonight," said Rita as she thought of some other way to hold them in. "You know I'm going to need help getting everything packed up for transport to Monte Carlo after the show. I hope you don't expect me to do all that by myself."
Their conversation was cut short when there was a knock at their door. Raul signaled for them to be quiet. At first he was worried that it was the gendarme as he went over to see who it was.
"Oh it's you," said Raul as he opened the door. "Do you want to come in or do you want us to send Rita out to you?"
"Who is it," asked Rita. Her ears piqued when she her name mention so she went over to see who was at their door. Then she saw him standing there outside. It was Giovanni with another man.
"Oh hi," he said when he saw her. "No, I'm just showing Johann Casey around. He's the new clown I hired and just wait until you see his act. It's really great what we've been needing around here for a while."
"I bet that pissed off Alfredo," said Raul as he smiled. "I wish I could've been there to see Alfredo's reaction. I'm sure that was spectacular in itself."
"I don't think he was very happy but he'll get over it," said Giovanni. "Johann let me introduce you. This is Raul, Marco and Rita Zorro. The high wire act I was telling you about. I'm counting on both your acts to bring in new revenue for the circus. Come on Johann I'll show you to the clowns' trailer where you'll be bunking then I can introduce you to the rest."
"Well, it was a pleasure meeting you," said Casey then turned and left with Giovanni. Rita stood in the doorway and watched them disappear. Raul and Marco noticed her staring but they thought it was for Giovanni.
"If you want to go after your boyfriend go right ahead," said Raul being the first one of the two brothers to speak up. "You've got our blessing I don't know what you're waiting for."
"You are such an idiot sometimes. I told you he wasn't my… oh never mind it's not worth the breath to repeat myself. I wasn't watching Giovanni. I was watching this new guy, Johann…"
"What's this Giovanni has competition? Does he know? I don't want to say anything but that guy… Johann is a little too old for you. Unless you're into dating father figures that is, but Papa will never approve of him and besides he's a clown of all things."
"Can you get your mind out of the gutter and you head out of … well you know where. I not asking for much but at least for a little while? I've seen him somewhere else I know I have but I can't for the life of me place it."
"Maybe you saw his act somewhere like on TV," said Raul. "But with makeup on, clowns are hard to recognize… I mean when they're not wearing it. Oh you know… they look like a different person."
"No, it doesn't have to do with circus or his clown act," said Rita as her brothers looked at her. "I just know it doesn't I know him from somewhere else. I know I do." This was bothering her. She'd always prided herself on her memory and now that seemed to be failing her too.
"Well when you go to bed tonight it will probably come to you. That's usually how these things work themselves out. Right now we need to get over to the big top and make sure our equipment has been set up properly. The roadies do a good job but there are somethings I prefer to do myself. As Papa used to say a few minutes for safety can save you from a life time of grief."
"And he was right. Yes, we all should go over and check things out. While we're there we should run through the act once on the ground then once in the air," said Marco.
"Very good little brother," said Raul. "I see you're finally taking interest in family matters more so than our sister." Rita got mad and shoved Raul.
"What's that supposed to mean," said Rita then she let it go. "Marco's right we need to run through the act then we should break for a bit then come back before the crowds start pouring in. Raul, why don't you go ahead we'll be right over."
"Okay but hurry up, we don't have all day and there are things I need to get ready too," said Raul. He left the trailer and closed the door behind.
"Marco, when we break you should have enough time to go back to the hotel and see if a certain young waitress is available to come to tonight's performance."
"I don't know who you're talking about," he said with a coy smiled. "We invited all the people from the hotel to be our guests."
"All? I don't remember all being invited. There was Pierre, but you might want to deliver your invitation personally to a particular waitress by the name of Brigitte. Does the name sound familiar to you? Marco do me a favor don't go out with Raul this evening? After the show disappear… go out with your friend… go anywhere just don't go with Raul."
"Raul is our brother I have to go out with him if says we go out we go out. He needs me and you know he does so why are you telling me this."
"It will break my heart if you get hurt or caught. I don't want to visit you in prison or the morgue and it will do the same to Brigitte. If you're serious about this girl, then you need to take into consideration her feelings and what your nighttime activities will do to her. Do you want to hurt her?"
"No of course not, that would be the last thing I'd want to do. But Raul is smart he knows what he's doing… The police don't have a clue who we are."
"For now they don't but your luck will run out like it did for Papa and our uncle that no one talks about. Raul won't listen but I'd hoped you would. Hotel… hotel… yes that's where I know him from…"
"Do you feel okay?" said Marco. As they were talking the door to the trailer opened up and Raul came back in visibly angry.
"I've been waiting for you two to come. What's taking you two so long? Rita if you're going to talk about me at least have the courage to talk to my face and not go around my back."
"What? Oh yes you're right," she said as she sat down looking at the floor. Raul looked over at Marco with a puzzled expression he shrugged his shoulders back.
"I knew I'd seen him that Johann Casey before now I remember where. I saw him in the hotel talking to Pierre shortly before everything happened there but what does all this mean?"
"I don't know," said Raul. "But if what you say is true then we need to keep an eye out for him. We're took close to getting Papa back for us to let anything interfere with it. The circus is a dangerous place to work in."
"No, absolutely not that isn't us. Alfredo might do something like that but we are not him and we'll never be like him. Raul just listen to yourself have we sunk so low that you'd contemplate doing what… taking a man's life? Papa never hurt anyone and we're not going to hurt anyone. We make the drop get Papa back but no one else is going to get hurt at least not by our hands."