Chapter 6
“I don’t like this ending.”
The Duke said this simply, in reply to the
spectacular production that had just been previewed for him.
After weeks of rehearsing the play, Christian and
Satine had kept their love even more of a secret, while the Duke had become
even more stupid. Despite his unintelligence, a dancer labeled Nini Legs in the
Air felt the cold stab of jealousy. She did not want to admit it was jealousy
at the time that she told the Duke what was obvious to everyone else. She
revealed in the most blunt way that Christian and Satine were having a secret
affair, right in front of his eyes. Christian reaffirmed the Duke’s delayed
revelation with one word.
“Because she doesn’t love you!…Him. Becau..she…Because
she doesn’t love hi-..him.”
The Duke had had enough, and Satine had no choice.
She needed to spend the night with the Duke, in order for the show to survive.
She knew what she had to do. But it hurt every part of her to leave Christian,
even for one night.
“I don’t want you to sleep with him,” Christian
spoke just above a whisper to Satine backstage. He had a certain longing in his
voice, but it was full of helplessness, for he had nothing but his heart to
give.
“I…Christian, you promised me…You promised you
wouldn’t be jealous.”
Christian’s eyes were full of pain and agony, but
above all, jealousy. He did not want Satine to leave him at that moment, more
than any moment of his life. He couldn’t bear the feeling inside of him. He
could barely find words.
“No…no…”
Satine had nothing else to do. Her heart was
breaking in two, but she remembered the words that had kept their love alive.
Her cheek brushed against Christian’s sweetly as she closed her eyes and sang
in a whisper to her love.
“Come…what…may…”
Christian replied softly, “Come what may.”
Satine left him with one final longing glance, just
as Christian began to feel a burning sensation in his throat. He watched Satine
walk briskly down the hallway, as his breathing grew shorter. He gasped, and
put his hands on his knees for support. He gasped and coughed a few times
franticly, and waited a moment as the feeling passed. But there was still a
burning sensation inside of him. It was pure, agonizing jealousy.
The time passed slower than anything Christian had
ever experienced. He had given up on taking his mind off Satine. Nothing
worked. When suddenly, the Argentinean spoke these powerful words to the entire
Moulin Rouge theatre of dancers.
“We have a dance…”
He continued to explain and illustrate the entirety
of all the emotions swimming around in Christian’s mind, body and soul. He
couldn’t take the passion, heat, and painful emotions in the room, so he began
to sing his thoughts to himself outside the Moulin Rouge.
“Why does my heart cry…feelings I can’t fight…”
Christian fought back tears as he arrived below the balcony where Satine and
the Duke were standing.
Satine felt the Duke’s unloving, groping hands around her hips, as her saddened
eyes lay upon Christian, standing below. She didn’t even notice the words
coming from her voice.
“Come what may…I will love you…til my dying…day…”
The next word out of her mouth was one that would change everything.
“No.”
The Duke’s hands ceased to rub up and down her waist, as he stood up behind
her.
“No?”
Satine had nothing left to do. She briskly turned around and walked into the
tower, with the Duke’s cold stare following her.
Christian entered his garret feeling utterly and completely helpless. He ran to
his window and looked out onto Satine’s empty room across the street. He
remembered first meeting her, and first realizing the true meaning of love. He
looked up at the sky, and remembered their near perfect evening at the
But the all of his strength was taken from him in that very breath. The breath
was taken from him, as he grabbed onto the nearest stable thing. That thing
that his shaking sweaty hand reached first was the windowsill. It was the same
windowsill that Christian and Satine had sat on together, limbs entwined, on
one perfect morning. The memory of this brought more tears to his eyes, as he
began gasping, coughing, wheezing, and sobbing all at once.
After the some of the most agonizing minutes of his life, Christian had gained
some control. He wiped the drying tears off his face, and continued to stare
helplessly out his window. Just as he felt he could bare it no longer, Satine
burst into his room.
She was in tears herself, exploding into an outburst of emotion and truth that
she had never admitted to herself. Christian reassured her, and through
comforting words and ideas, Satine knew what she wanted to do, deep down within
her.
She and her love would run away together. They didn’t care about the show. They
had each other, and that’s all that mattered. Christian and Satine bid an
emotional yet swift farewell dispersed throughout kisses.
“G-go pack your things, darling…and I’ll be here waiting for you…mmm...ok?”
“Yes…mmm…of course…”
Satine gave one last longing look at her love, as she and Chocolat made their
way back to Satine’s room. As they walked quickly down the street, Satine was
still recovering from the emotional journey the night had taken her through.
She walked into her room to find it extremely dark, so she reached to find a
lamp just as a light turned on without her touching a thing.
Harold Zidler stood before Satine.
“Forgive the intrusion, cherub.”
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"El Tango de Roxanne" from
Moulin Rouge