| "In Between The Lines" 'The Show Must Go On' Part 2 Chapter 2 |
| Zidler had arrived and was standing in the suspended orchestra pit, addressing the cast and crew of �Spectacular! Spectacular!� �Now, I�m sure we all know why we are here, but I wanted to make it official and offer our thanks to the man behind the event that will change all of our lives. Everyone give a hearty round of applause to The Duke of Monroth! Due to his considerable, ahem, �donation�, we now have the capacity to turn our beloved Moulin Rouge, INTO A THEATRE!� exclaimed Harold Zidler, owner of the Moulin Rouge. Everyone turned and excitedly applauded in The Duke�s direction. He stood from his chair and nodded his head in appreciation to them all, enjoying the attention that was being lavished upon him. However, he noticed there was one person who wasn�t looking in his direction. Satine was drifting in and out of listening to Zidler, something she had come to do over the years. Her mind was miles away. She noticed everyone cheering and applauding for The Duke. �Why applaud him?� She thought. Surely Christian�s input is far more important than any amount of money could ever be. If anyone were going to be �the man behind the event that will change all of our lives� certainly that man would be their new, talented writer. Satine sat, still in thought. She could feel a hot gaze on the back of her neck and turned only to meet Christian�s soft grey eyes. They locked eyes for a split second and both warmly acknowledged each other�s presence. Although to anyone else in the hall, it was unnoticeable. It was the first time they had interacted with one another since morning and the tension between the two was escalating. Oddly, Satine still felt she was being watched and upon turning away from Christian, her eyes caught the source of her uneasiness; The Duke. He acknowledged her with a suggestive slight of head and she responded by plastering on her crowd-pleasing smile, which was reserved for paying customers only. This seemed to please him, so Satine turned around to once more face Zidler and listen to the remains of his speech. �We will have created the world's first completely modern, entirely electric, totally Bohemian, all singing, all dancing, STAGE SPECTACULAR!� Zidler finished. Everyone cheered, until seconds later a large wrecking ball came crashing through the wall behind Zidler, almost taking him out in the process. Shocked, everyone leapt out of their seats in fear of their safety. The Duke flew out of his chair; melodramatically barrel rolled and dived for cover underneath Warner�s chair beside him. Meanwhile, Warner himself did not move a muscle. However, everyone�s alarm proved to be short lived, as within moments Zidler sprung back up from behind the balcony, completely covered in dirt, dust and mortar to announce, �The Show Must Go On!� crowd breathed a sigh of relief and excitedly began discussing the newly proposed theatre as they made their way outdoors. Christian leapt from his seat and went to make sure that Satine was unharmed. He approached her, his eyes revealing the sincerity and warmth of what he desired to say, but in front of Toulouse and Rico, could only voice, �Mademoiselle Satine, are you all right?� She smiled, �Yes, no need to worry,� she said, unconsciously touching his forearm in reassurance. Her touch awakened every nerve in his body, as if electricity were flowing through him. As he had to leave rather quickly this morning, no plans were made. He was desperate to speak to her alone and invite her out for the evening, however it seemed that would have to wait. They all turned to observe The Duke, reappearing from beneath Warner�s chair, and evidently he had set course across the hall in search of Satine. The Duke approached Satine, brushing off remnants of what his clothing had collected on his aerobatic dive to the floor. �Well, quite a shock, eh my dear?� said The Duke gesturing to the newly formed hole in the wall. �Oh yes. Are you all right Dear Duke?� Satine asked and couldn�t resist adding, �You seem quite shaken.� �Oh no, my dear, just employing Daddy�s old �Drop and roll� procedure,� he said as if it were a secretive piece of army information, that upon using it, should make him revered. The following silence of the group voiced their thoughts; that he was doing otherwise, and had been hiding under the skirt of his mother like a frightened child. The Duke looked from face to face and decided to overlook their disrespect. �Warner informs me, that it was just some over enthused, bohemian ready to �get the show on the road.� No doubt he was preoccupied with your beloved Green Fairy� The Duke finished, with an upturned nose, intent on belittling those around him in return. This was only returned by more silence. Rico and Toulouse rolled their eyes. After all, no one was going to pick a fight with The Duke of Monroth. Well, at least not for now. �Satine, about supper; I was hoping we could dine out tonight,� said The Duke. Satine held her breath, she and Christian instinctively looked to each other. Christian�s look was pleading her not to go, and in return Satine was begging him to think of an excuse for her. She hoped she would get to spend some time with Christian this evening, and didn�t even want to imagine an evening alone with The Duke. �But mademoiselle Satine, you promised we could begin...work on �Spectacular! Spectacular!� this evening,� Christian interrupted. Satine exhaled and followed on from his lead, �Oh, yes,� she smiled, �I had completely forgotten about that.� Irritated, The Duke added, �Is that completely necessary?� Once again, Satine looked to Christian. After all, he was the writer, the one with the imagination. �Well, we really need to get started on the first draft, and the lead actress�s word of approval is critical to the success of this play,� said Christian, sheepishly smiling at Satine. The Duke didn�t look convinced. Christian halted nervously and Satine nodded her head at him to continue. �...And...well, we don�t want to delay things and cause excess expenditure. I�m sure The Duke would rather put his money to use on other things,� he said, implying Satine. Satine rested her hand on The Duke�s bicep, in an attempt to sweeten the deal. There wasn�t a man yet, who hadn�t succumb to her advances. Well, unless you count Christian last night, and then it seemed in turn she had surrendered to his. �Well if you put it that way, you may do what is necessary,� he said, removing Satine�s hand from his arm to kiss it goodbye, as he left. �You two make quite a pair.� Toulouse said, after witnessing their joint manipulation of The Duke. This time it was Christian�s turn to look shocked. He turned to Satine and she looked him in the eye. �They know,� she said. �But how...did you...?� Christian started, �because I didn�t. Not one word,� he babbled. This drew a giggle from Satine. He was adorable when he thought he was in trouble. �You don�t give these �lowly bohemians� enough credit,� said Satine echoing Rico�s statement earlier. Christian looked perplexed. �It�s all right, they figured it out. Apparently we�re that obvious,� she told him and they both smiled. Toulouse decided it was best to leave the two to sort things out between themselves. �Come Rico, there�s absinthe to be drunk!� he announced and they both made their exit. The sun was setting outside, and for the first time all afternoon, the lovers were alone, in each other�s company. Christian shuffled his feet on the dusty wooden floorboards; it was time to make his move. �Alone at last!� Satine thought. Now they could make plans for the evening. �I was...� they said simultaneously, and then laughed at the occurrence. �You were saying?� Christian asked Satine. �I was...wondering if you would like to keep me company this evening. It doesn�t appear that I�ll be performing here for a while...so...� she said trailing off as she looked around the empty dancehall. "I'd love to,� Christian replied almost instantly. Satine smiled, �I hope you don�t think this is too forward...but could we perhaps go to your place? I mean, we don�t have to, it�s just...The Duke has been appearing in my boudoir uninvited...and I figured, at least he wouldn�t know where I...where we would be,� she explained. �No, no, that�s fine with me. As a matter of fact, I was going to suggest the same thing,� Christian said with a twinkle in his eye and then something occurred to him. �But...well, you do know it�s not much. A modest garret was all I could afford, but I think you�ll find it�s quite comfortable.� "I'm sure it�s lovely, Christian,� said Satine and shaking her head continued, �You worry too much.� This caused him to blush. �Should I bring anything?� Satine courteously asked. �Just yourself,� he replied sincerely. Now it was Satine�s turn to change into a pale shade of pink. There was a silence between the two as they looked in each other�s eyes and shared a peaceful moment. �You two about done in here? I�m going to lock up,� called the stage manager. Satine looked around. The place had been completely vacated. �We�re just leaving,� she called back. She grabbed Christian by the arm and led him out into The Garden. �What time tonight?� Satine asked. �Well, it�s already getting dark and I have to show you the way sometime...I was hoping you�d come with me now,� a hopeful Christian said. He didn�t want to waste time waiting alone, until he could see her again. Satine thought about what he had just said. True, she would need to know how to find his place and she didn�t have anything else to do...although she wouldn�t mind changing her outfit. �Sure.� Satine said, she just couldn�t see herself saying no to him, and she couldn�t imagine a time when she�d want to. Christian was delighted. �You hungry?� He asked. �A little,� she replied. �We can get something on the way,� Christian replied taking her hand and leading her into the streets of Montmartre. |