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| Chapter Five |
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�Yes, it is me, Michael,� Webber said, stroking a gaudily waxed moustache, �Welcome, and please, do make yourselves at home.� �But, why?� Ted asked on behalf of the four, all too stunned and angered by the sudden betrayal. Webber glanced hatefully at Ted and Michael, but spoke to Antonio, �Will you get me some, um, Doughnuts? Yes doughnuts, I really like them American pastries. I�d really like some doughnuts; and, be sure to take your time.� |
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| �Yes, sir, of course,� Antonio replied obediently, bowing to his master, �I, Antonio, shall do anything you wish!� With a twirl, Antonio tried to make a dramatic exit, but the cloak he had donned tangled around him in the effort, and he fell heavily to the floor, all the while knocking several large boxes down around him. Standing up, he ran out of the warehouse without hesitating to look back at his captives, who were laughing hysterically at his expense once more. �Fool,� Webber said menacingly as soon as Antonio was gone, �Do you want to know the truth? I picked him because he was the worst possible option! It�s true! I want the movie to flounder! I am so sick of hearing about how great Phantom is! Everyone is so blinded by their love of Phantom, that they hardly notice my most glorious creation, my maximum opus, Cats! So, once I make this abysmal movie, everyone will stop loving Phantom, and will discover the splendours and spectacle of Cats!� Webber clasped his hands together, and threw his head back in a maniacal burst of laughter. �Silly Webber,� Amy said, shaking her head, �That won�t make the phans love Phantom less, it will just make them hate you more!� Ted and Michael both began laughing, causing Webber�s ire to grow. �What?� Webber asked, taken aback by her impetuous remark, �How dare you question me?� �Well,� Kiki added, �She IS right. The choice of actor won�t have any impact on the devotion phans still have for it. I think you�re just bitter that you wrote it for Sarah, it made her career, and THEN she left you!� Webber�s face turned bright red and he moved threateningly toward the girls. �Leave Christi...Sarah...out of this!� He said venomously, �Oh right, I forgot, YOU�RE STILL FRIENDS!� Kiki said with sarcasm. �Shut up! Shut up right now! I am Andrew fricken Lloyd Webber!� �I didn�t know there was an F in his initials.� Ted whispered to Michael who chuckled silently. �I am the greatest composer of our time! I don�t have to listen to this!� He said beginning to advance on the tied up women. �If you harm one hair on their heads, Webber...� Michael said defensively, before he was interrupted. �You�ll what?� Webber laughed, �Come and get me? Dear Crawford, it seems to me like you�re not going anywhere for a very long time! Banderas did take care of that, at least!� �Poor Banderas,� Amy said in horror, suddenly realizing Webber�s cruelty. The others nodded solemnly in their agreement, only making Webber�s face contorted in a nearly comical rage. �He�s just a boy, he doesn�t know any better,� Michael added, shaking his head sympathetically. Quietly, Amy sniffled, as if she might cry for her captor. �Excuse me! Are you people insane?� �He�s asking us?� Amy whispered to Kiki who snickered. �He is your kidnapper! Aren�t you mad at him? Don�t you just want to throttle him so that hokey accent of his will be silenced forever?!� Andy asks shocked. �At one point that was true,� Kiki admitted, �but, now that we know the truth, I feel too bad for him to hurt him!� �But, but...he kidnapped you!� Webber stammered, �He probably blundered it up, too!� �No, no! He did a really good job! I was impressed by this kidnapping of his,� Ted said, in a chipper voice. �Poor lad, so cute, and he tried so hard! He�s going to be crushed when he finds out about your treachery,� Amy reflected. �It�s not very nice, tricking him like that.� Kiki added with a pout. �I�m not a very nice guy!� Webber exclaimed defensively and menacingly. Crossing his arms across his chest, he stamped his foot in rage. �Not only is he not nice, but he�s captain obvious too....� Amy giggled then looked straight at their captor, �I mean, you did kidnap us. Hey, nice moustache, by the way!� �Yeah, Webber,� Michael laughed, �I am truly loving this Snidely look you�re going for. It�s so pretentious and comical...just like you�ve always been!� Ted began to laugh so hard he looked as if he might cry, and squeezed his eyes shut as he fervently nodded his agreement. �I made both of you!� Webber exclaimed, �And I don�t need to take treatment like this from the likes of you! I mean I was going for debonair French, Crawford... debonair like you were when you looked at my wife as if you couldn�t live without her!� �I WAS ACTING!� Michael exclaimed, shaking his head at Webber�s supposition, �I was acting in a part that YOU wrote with the understanding that the Phantom was desperately in love with Christine!� Amy and Kiki both sided at the mention of the Phantom�s love, but Webber simply grew angrier. "Oh sure, I assume that's why you KISSED her too!" Andrew bellowed. "...YES! Damn it yes you bloody imbicile! You did write it!" Michael said dumbfounded with Webber�s insanity. Webber stood still for a moment, pensively considering the exchange then smiled menacingly �Well, at least in my musicals you were guaranteed to have more actual shows than cast recordings.� He calmly said. �Not cool man, just not cool�� Ted said in disgust with Webbers insult. Kiki looked over to Michael who was gazing at her sadly and then looked at his feet. Andrew then laughed and walked off, leaving the four in some semblance of solitude. �Michael...� Kiki�s voice pleaded. "No, no he's right, what was I thinking? Dancing and singing vampires." "NO! You musn�t think that! Singing vampires are sexy!� Kiki blurted out not only suprising him enough to lift his head, but Ted also to look at her slightly amused. �I mean, uh� everyone� um... right Amy?" She asked her friend who was lost in thought about Ted. �Huh? Oh Vampires, uh, yeah.� She said casually. Kiki looked over at her pleadingly so that Amy would elaborate more for Michael�s feelings sake, also so that she wasn�t completely embarrassed by her outburst. �OH! I mean vampires are TOTALLY sexy.� Amy said perking up and then looking over to Ted. �I wish I got the part�� Ted muttered looking back over longingly at Amy. �Thanks Kiki.� Michael said sheepishly, �well, now that the entertainment�s gone, whatever shall we do to pass the time?� �Oh, oh, I know!� Kiki exclaimed in sudden delight, before beginning to sing, �Where in the world have you been hiding? Really you were perfect! I only wish I knew your secret! Who is this new tutor?� Taking her cue, Amy began Christine�s part, �Father one spoke of an angel...I used to dream he�d appear...Now as I sing I can sense him, and I know he�s here! Here in this room he calls me softly, somewhere inside, hiding...� As they sang, however, Webber had slowly returned, drawn in by their voices. The men all listened to the melodious rythme�s they created as they sang, and for a moment, they thought Andrew might fall over entranced, instead he made an instant decision, and interrupted Amy before she reached the next line, �Now you two are singers! Well then, we shall simply have to separate the four of you. God, where is Banderas when you need him?� �Here, Sir!� Antonio said breathlessly, running back into the warehouse, carrying a Dunkin� Doughnuts box, �It is I, Antonio, I have return with your doughnuts yes!� �Ah, excellent,� Webber said, taking the box and patting Antonio on the shoulder, �Now I have a job for you! I�ve decided these four need to be separated. Please take the girls to another part of the building, so that we can insure no plots are hatched...� �With pleasure,� Antonio smiled, as he untied the girls and led the brusquely away. Kiki and Amy shot forlorn looks to Ted and Michael before disappearing from sight. **TBC** |