"In Between The Lines"
'Until I'm Completely Satisfied'
Part 4 Chapter 3
Summary: After The Duke interrupts Christian and Satine's rehearsal, all three go on a picnic. However Christian is far from amused
...BEWARE, storm clouds may gather!
Author’s Note: Okay this next part may confuse some readers as to where it fits in. The picnic scene isn’t shown until Come What May, yet the Duke interrupting for the picnic is shown before, ‘the lovers are discovered’ rehearsal scene, in the interruption/Your Song montage. As “In Between the Lines” has to follow the lineage of the actual movie, not the DVD out takes etc, I have decided to deal with the picnic at this point in time. As a result however, there will be no ‘Come What May’ sung at the picnic,
because it hasn’t been written yet. Got it? Good!
**Some words from the first scene are by Craig Pierce & Baz Luhrmann**
“Picnic, sweet lady?” The Duke said bursting into the dressing room, basket and blanket in hand.
“Oh, but we have so much to do…so much work. I’ve made the writer cancel his plans for the entire day, in order for us to rehearse. I’d feel terrible if wasted his time.”
Christian silently looked on and let Satine continue the conversation. Truth be known, his heart was still racing from the Duke’s interruption.
The Duke glanced in Christian’s direction and grimaced slightly, contemplating his choices.
“Well, if the young writer can carry a blanket and basket, I don’t see why you both can’t do it in my presence!”
He saddled Christian with the basket and freed his hands to take Satine’s arm.
Walking out the doorway, Satine glanced over her shoulder and saw Christian’s predicament.
‘Sorry,’ she mouthed.
Releasing a heavy sigh, Christian followed the pair out of the dressing room.
***
The Duke had a driver take the trio to St. Ives hilltop, overlooking the city. Christian had attempted to block out The Duke by rehearsing lines with Satine, but from The Duke’s constant interruptions, it was clear no rehearsing would be done. He had merely been brought along to secure Satine’s company.
Upon arrival The Duke hung his head out the side of the carriage, much like an excited puppy.
“My dear, this is the spot!”
Satine smiled politely in return, and took his outstretched hand upon stepping from the carriage.
Christian continued to berate himself for even coming along. Why was he here? So The Duke could flash his power in front of him? So he could show everything he had that Christian didn’t? So The Duke could flaunt his possession of Satine in front of him, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about any of it!?
Carrying the basket and blanket, Christian caught up to the pair. Something had caught The Duke’s eye and he wandered off a few metres, searching through the grass.
After climbing the short distance to the top of the hill, Satine quickly became short of breath.
Christian looked at her concernedly, and making sure The Duke was still rummaging through the dirt, gently rubbed over Satine back, easing the air flow into her lungs.
Forgetting The Duke’s presence, Satine went to give Christian a quick peck on the cheek, but was startled by the announcement of his discovery.
“My dear, a little frog!”
Satine was first amused at the small leaping creature that she saw from a distance, and then flinched, turning toward Christian when The Duke callously squashed the innocent creature like an eight year old school boy.
Christian pursed his lips and looked on without saying a word. He couldn’t bare to be near the man, but he would prefer to be with him and Satine than not at all, and more over, he would prefer that she wasn’t alone with such an unstable...thing.
Christian chose to place the rug on the ground, so that Satine could rest. They sat down on the rug, and small shiver ran through him as Satine’s knee casually rest against his.
The Duke finished scraping his shoe on a nearby tree, and sat down to lunch.
Christian felt physically ill as he watched The Duke hand feed Satine strawberries. He wasn’t jealous, no, no, he just thought the way The Duke treated her was disgraceful...because he could treat her so much better, because they should be able to publicly display their affections and eat strawberries together...he was just angry...he was just...jealous.
Satine’s fake laugh at The Duke’s appalling jokes grated down Christian’s spine.
Christian had had enough. Clearing his throat, he stood and announced, “It’s getting late, and I have to be back soon.”
The Duke looked at the writer incredulously; did this boy think he was calling the shots!?
Satine saw that Christian was visibly irritable, “Oh, yes, I supposed you’re right. I promised Marie I’d have a costume fitting later today anyway.”
Defeated, The Duke decided to be content with the progress he had made with Satine today. He looked expectantly to Christian, waiting for him to pick up the platters, blanket and basket, but he would not be The Duke’s slave boy this time. Instead Christian left The Duke to clear up and went to sit in the carriage.
Satine put a few things in the basket, but left The Duke to finish up when she saw Christian sulking in the black carriage.
Christian sat silently in thought, his eyes fiery, and glared toward the door when it opened. Satine appeared and put her hand out expecting to find Christian’s already there for assistance; yet this time it was not. She looked questioningly to Christian and he mechanically responded.
She sat down beside Christian and gently rubbing his thigh, looked softly into his eyes.
“Christian, there’s nothing I can do. I have to play along, it’s not just for me, I have everyone at the Moulin Rouge to think about.”
Christian sighed, and clasped his hand over hers, “I know...I know, but I just can’t... I don’t like him, and I don’t like the way he treats you like a possession.”
Satine smiled weakly and looked deeply into Christian’s eyes.
“I love you,” he voiced with sincerity, to the point where it almost hurt.
“I...oh! Dear Duke, glad you could finally join us!” Satine said ripping her hand out of Christian’s grasp as The Duke fumbled with the picnic equipment upon entering the carriage.
Christian’s heart sank as The Duke took Satine by the arm, bringing her to sit by his side. The entire ride home his eyes kept trailing back to The Duke’s hand, where it so casually, yet proudly, rest upon Satine’s thigh.
He was just glad that in a few minutes he could get out of this confined hell and could see Satine, alone, later that evening.
As they pulled up to Montmartre Square, Satine prepared to descend from the carriage. However, once more The Duke grabbed her by the arm before she could leave. Looking to Christian, then disregarding his presence, The Duke began, “Uh…my dear, I, I had been thinking, if we were to go into Paris for a few days this weekend, I’d gladly invest more in Zidler’s production.”
Satine looked at The Duke warily. Christian’s eyes grew wide, though his face revealed no more of the intense anger that he was indeed feeling.
“Uh, we could look at the latest fabrics, for the production of course, and uh, stay in a nice hotel. I personally know the man who owns the Le Mont Blanc”
“Oh...” Satine ventured tentatively, “would Marie be coming with us?”
“Well, no, I have only managed to secure one room, but I’m sure a woman such as yourself has fine knowledge and taste when it comes to these things,” he said in a blatantly clear double entendre.
‘He’s like a lusty school boy!’ Christian thought with disgust.
However, he was sure Satine would find a way of declining the invitation, she always did, but was shocked when Satine darted a glance in his direction, then returned to The Duke, “...I’ll see what my schedule permits. Good evening Dear Duke.”
Satine left the carriage, leaving Christian alone, sitting directly across from The Duke.
He looked at The Duke’s expectant stare and finally registered that he was supposed to get out of the carriage now. Satine was gone after all, why would The Duke need him there?
Christian leapt from the carriage and went to follow Satine, but couldn’t with The Dukes heavy gaze upon him. If he thought things were bad now, they would certainly be much worse if The Duke ever found out about their relationship. He slammed the carriage door shut in frustration, and stormed off in the direction of his garret.
Satine turned around, shocked by the loud noise, and saw Christian’s stormy departure. The Duke caught her eye, and smiled brightly in her direction before instructing the driver to carry on.
This time Satine did not reciprocate his enthusiasm.
Concerned, Satine made her way up to Christian’s garret. She didn’t knock before entering, and saw Christian slumped in front of his typewriter, but he was not writing.
Christian darted a glance in her direction, then immediately looked away.
“So now that The Duke’s out of the way, I become visible? Is that how it works Satine?”
“Christian...”
“I can’t believe you’re actually thinking about going away with him! You and I know very well it has nothing to do with materials for the production, but I guess you’d rather not see that if it’s for the good of ‘everyone at the Moulin Rouge’, ” he said in a mocking tone.
“Christian...” she began again, trying to reason.
“Why are you even here? I don’t have anything for you. I can’t give you diamonds and pay for fancy trips! Hell, we can’t even be seen in public together!”
Satine gave up reasoning, “Christian, you’re being paranoid! You knew what the deal was when we met, it’s not like I’ve slept...”
Christian became enraged, “What? Not like you’ve slept with him!? What’s the difference, his hands and mouth are constantly all over you.”
Satine fell silent, did he really think that little of her? Did he think she would lie about being in love with him, about wanting only him, needing only him? A burning tear trailed its way down her face.
“And you think I like that?” Satine responded composedly, yet with a sting in her voice. “Christian, I didn’t have Daddy to pay for my schooling, my clothes, a roof over my head. All I have to rely on is myself; I do what I have to do to get by. I may not be proud of it, but I certainly don’t need other people judging me, particularly when they have NO IDEA what I’ve been through, what I’ve had to do!”
“So when money calls, you run?” Christian responded callously and without thought.
Satine’s soft hand, which had so often caressed her dear poet’s cheek, struck him with an almighty force.
Both stood staring fiercely at each other, in shock of Satine’s sudden reaction. Christian winced, rubbing his hand where hers had been just seconds before.
“I expected more of you Christian James.” Satine voiced coldly and then left the garret, slamming the door behind her.
Christian stood, silent, and clearly upset, his eyes close to tearing.
Still rubbing his throbbing cheek he voiced, “What have I done?”
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