I DO NOT OWN MOULIN ROUGE. I DO NOT OWN LADY MADONNA. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO JOHN LENNON & PAUL MCCARTNEY

FACE CLAIMS

SINGLE MOTHER- ALIYA MUSTAFINA

Nicolaevsky Train station. St. Petersburg, Imperial Russia. 3 days later.

It had been a long train ride out of France. Fortunately, since they were traveling in the duke's name, what the train lacked in speed, it made up for luxury. Christian, Satine, and Toulouse-Lautrec sat on seats that were as soft as could be, made of fine leather. The food was also delicious. Toulouse swore that he ate half his weight in Foie Gras. The train made a few stops along with way: Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw, before finally making a straight shot up to the capital of Imperial Russia.

As the train pulled into the magnificent city, the 3 bohemians were astonished by sights and sounds of Russian culture.

"I can't believe that we made it here without getting caught." Satine remarked as Christian planted a kiss on her Ruby red lips.

"How could we not? We're free, we're in love. Nothing can stop us!" Christian exclaimed happily as the train finally pulled into a train station as grand as any that existed in Paris. As the trio got off the train, they walked through the station until they slowly ascended the stairs up into the bright lights of the chilly St. Petersburg morning. The city was lively and filled with all manner of people walking about. There were a couple of automobiles driving through, but the normal mode of transportation seemed to be horse drawn wagons or carriages.

"It's magnificent!" Satine declared as they walked on the cobblestone streets, taking in the sight of the Russian capital. There were shops with merchants selling their wares, working class people earning their daily bread, and wealthy folks going for a brisk morning ride.

"It is not as decadent as Paris, but St. Petersburg holds a beauty all its own." Toulouse remarked as he held into his walking stick as they neared what appeared to be the center of the city: St. Isaac's square.

"This should be a good place." Christian said as he let his eyes wander around the square.

"Good for what, my love?" Satine inquired as she held the hand of her beloved poet and squeezed it with all the love that she bore in her heart towards him.

"For Christian to perform his poetry for the good people of St. Petersburg!" Toulouse exclaimed with excitement at the genius of Christian Deering being the Russian people's first taste of the Bohemian revolution.

"You're going to have a poetry reading here?" Satine inquired with a mixture of confusion and amusement.

"Why not? Everyone passing through will see it and then the word of mouth can spread throughout the city!" Christian promised as he breathed in the shining Russian air.

"Which will no doubt lead to a benefactor hearing of your true love's talent and agreeing to fund a new Bohemian production!" Henri finished as he was eager to see what masterpiece Christian would come up with.

"I just need a moment to gather inspiration." Christian muttered as Toulouse began to cry out to the people.

"People of St. Petersburg!" Toulouse cried out, as he stood atop a crate he had procured from a local vendor. "I, Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec Monfa, am pleased to bring you, straight from his first ever engagement in Paris; a brilliant English poet: Christian Deering!" Christian removed his hat and bowed his head. However, the people seemed to be most unimpressed. A woman in her 20's with 3 kids spat in their direction.

"We must work to eat, you think that we have time for your fancy English poetry?" She asked angrily as Toulouse and Satine looked utterly shocked by the lackluster response of the Russian peasantry. Christian however, was humming a tune. Satine knew that look on his face: Christian had found his inspiration.

"Pardon me, Lady Madonna." Christian said as he walked behind the woman.

"What did you just call me?" She asked as Christian began to sing.

"Lady Madonna, children at your feet. Wonder how you manage to make ends meet. Who finds the money when you pay the rent. Did you think that money was heaven sent?" Christian sang with a grin as he began to dance.

"Certainly not." The mother replied as her kids grinned at Christian's antics.

"Friday night arrives without a suitcase, Sunday morning creeping like a nun, Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlace. See how they run." Christian continued.

"This is absurdnyy." She spat while a crowd gathered.

"Lady Madonna, baby at your breast. Wonders how you manage to feed the rest!" Christin sang aloud as he pulled Satine into his arms as they danced about. The crowd began to smile and clap along with the poet. Toulouse began to mimic a trumpet player as he gave the song a much needed soundtrack.

"See how they run!" Christian, Satine, and Toulouse sang in unison.

"Lady Madonna lying on the bed, Listen to the music playing in your head!" Christian sang aloud as the crowd grew bigger and began to cheer him on as they kept up the act.

"Tuesday afternoon is never ending, Wednesday morning papers didn't come, Thursday night your stockings needed mending." Christian added.

"See how they run!" Satine sang as she quickly pecked her post on the lips.

"Lady Madonna, children at your feet. Wonder how you manage to make ends meet!" The trio sang as the crowd of peasants applauded and looked genuinely happy for the first time in their lives. As Christian removed his hat and bowed to the crowd, they began to toss rubles at him and his friends. Toulouse and Christian used their hats to collect the coins being flung at them. As the crowd dispersed, a woman in a maid's uniform came up to them.

"Excuse me, Gospodin Deering?" She asked as Christian looked up at her.

"I believe that's me." He answered.

"My name is Anya Taganova, ladies maid to her Grace: Grand Duchess Militza Nikolaevna of Russia." The ladies maid said as she pointed to a carriage driving away. "She enjoyed your performance and wished to invite you to her husband's estate for private poetry reading." Satine looked hesitant at the offer as Christian took her hand.

"Only if Miss Satine and Mousier Toulouse-Lautrec are invited as well." Christian insisted.

"Of course, my mistress has provided a carriage for you." The maid said as she pointed to a grand carriage with 2 chocolate brown horses and a driver.

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