A Story About Love
Chapter
Three - My Gift is My Song
(To those who haven't seen Moulin Rouge: Remember, Chloe thinks that Brady is Duke Phillip. Brady thinks he's trying to read her his poetry, she thinks she's supposed to make love with the Duke to get financing for the show. I just have to re-state it in case my crappy writing doesn’t capture how funny the first part of the Broe scene is supposed to be.)
Chapter Three: My Gift is My Song
Chloe awoke slowly in her dressing room, brought around by the smelling salts that Marie held in front of her nose. Marie was like a mother to the Moulin Rouge girls, at least the closest thing to a mother that any of them had ever known. Her blue eyes fluttered open, unable to process whatever it was that had happened to her out on the trapeze. She felt hot, sweat breaking out on her forehead, as if her world had been closing in on her.
She rested one delicate hand on the bodice of her dress. It had to have been her costume that encapsulated her tightly which caused her to have a fainting spell. These things were far too heavy, and gave her hardly any breathing room at all.
"Oh... Marie... These silly costumes..."
The club's stage manager came bustling in, directing the other girls to head back to the dance floor. "All right, you girls - get back out front and make those gents thirsty!"
He looked at Marie with concern. "Problems?"
Marie shook her head and waved him and the other girls off. "Nothing for you to be worried about."
"Good. Let's not stand around then."
He quickly walked out, the other dancers leaving with him. Chloe coughed violently, and Marie kindly held up a handkerchief to her mouth. Her coughing fit ended, and she sat back, taking deep breaths in to calm herself.
What she didn't see was what Marie held in her hands. The white handkerchief was spotted with blood, Chloe's blood.
Once she caught her breath, and wiped the sweat from her brow, she stood from the couch and quickly changed into the outfit she would wear to meet the duke. When she had finished dressing, she stood in front of her mirror once again and adjusted her long dark hair.
Marie smiled proudly at her. "That twinkle-toes Duke sure took the bait. With a patron like that, you'll be the next Sarah Bernhardt."
Chloe sighed softly, that's all she ever wanted, to be taken seriously as an actress. No matter what the cost was. "Do you really think I could be like the great Sarah?"
"Why not? You have the talent. You hook that Duke and you'll be lighting up all of the great stages of the world"
Chloe said it out loud, not because Marie needed to hear it, but because she did. "I'm going to be a real actress, Marie. A great actress. And, I'm going to fly away from here."
She looked at her bird in its cage as it sung its happy tune. "That's right, you and me... we're both going to fly away some day."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(Inside the Elephant. Yes, Chloe lives in a small building shaped like an elephant.)
Brady stood at the window in her room, trying to calm his nerves. He hoped, for the sake of the show, that Mademoiselle Chloe would be as taken with his poetry as the bohemians had been. He wanted, so very badly, to be allowed to write 'Spectacular, Spectacular'. But, more than that his heart yearned to be near Chloe. If there was such a thing as love at first sight, then truly, he had fallen in love with her.
Little did Brady know, that just outside the window his four bohemian friends were climbing to the side of the elephant to get a view of the proceedings. Toulouse, the Argentinean, Satie the piano player, and the Doctor found a position to watch from, also hoping that Chloe would be persuaded to take Brady's poetry to Zidler.
The door swung open and she entered with a sly smile on her face. She drank in the appearance of the man she thought was Duke Phillip. Once again, she was selling her body to a man he had just met. But, in this man's case, at least he was handsome. He had soft, shiny blonde hair with at least one stray piece that always seemed to fall forward. And, his eyes were blue and soulful, making Chloe wonder if there was more to this rich, powerful Duke Phillip. Not to mention, even in a tuxedo, it was obvious that he had a physique that was unmatched. Firm, strong and powerful.
Brady turned when he heard her enter, obviously taken aback by her appearance. She was dressed in a black corset, draped in a nearly sheer black dress, accentuating all of her curves in exactly the right places.
Chloe smiled seductively "This is a wonderful place for a poetry reading, don't you think?"
She sashayed towards him and grinned. "Poetic enough for you?"
Brady could hardly speak. She had been beautiful enough in the lights of the Moulin Rouge. But, here alone with her, she was even more perfect. He searched her eyes, knowing that there was far more to this woman than the temptress she had to portray for her 'customers'. He barely stammered out one word. "Yes...'
Chloe walked towards the table covered with different fruits, and bottles of champagne. "A little supper? Maybe some champagne?"
"I'd... I'd rather just uhm... get it over and done with."
Chloe paused with surprise. No foreplay necessary. This Duke was a man of action. She turned back to him with one eyebrow raised and moved immediately towards the bed, lying down on her side.
"Oh... very well... then why don't you come down here and let's get it over and done with?"
Brady's eyes widened in surprised. She wanted him to read her poetry in bed? He might have been able to oblige her request had he not been trembling so nervously. "I'd prefer to do it standing."
"Oh." Chloe stood and looked at him curiously.
"You don't have to stand I mean. Sometimes it's that - it's quite long."
Chloe looked at him with shock. Granted, most men she had been with liked to brag needlessly about their... girth. But, this was still somewhat surprising.
Brady continued on, as Chloe sat back down on the bed. "And I-I'd like you to be comfortable. It's quite modern what I do and it may feel a little strange at first but -- but I think if you're open then -- then you might enjoy it."
"I'm sure I will."
Brady breathed in deeply, trying to find the words to say. The words that would convince her that he was a writer. "I... Oh... Ugh... I... The sky is..."
Chloe pulled herself to the edge of the bed and looked at him with concern. "Are you all right?"
"I'm just a little nervous. Sometimes it takes a while... for you know... inspiration to come."
Chloe stood and nodded in understanding. "Oh yes, yes, of course. Let me help."
She walked towards him and placed her hand at the front of his pants. "Does that... inspire you?"
Chloe grabbed him by the lapels of his tux jacket and threw him to the bed, straddling herself on top of him. "Let's make love!"
"Make love?" Brady stared at her with shock. Either this woman was more forward than he thought, or she had drunk one too many glasses of absinthe.
"You want to, don't you? Come on, feel the poetry! Come on... feel it... feel it tiger!"
Chloe ran her hands over him, eliciting a soft moan from his mouth. A moan that was a mixture of surprise and pleasure. She started to unzip his pants and grinned wickedly at him. "Oh! Big boy!"
Toulouse was watching through the window and turned to the other bohemians to shout out with surprise. "He's got a huge... TALENT!"
"Yes, I need your poetry now!"
Brady rolled out from underneath her and on to the floor. Under normal circumstances, a beautiful woman on top of him would have been a welcome experience. But, he was here for the poetry reading, and nothing else.
"It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside. I'm not one of those who can easily hide. -- Is this okay? Is this what you want?"
Chloe rolled on the floor and Brady stood. She thought she understood. The Duke wanted her to be turned on by his words, so she played the act to the hilt.
"Oh poetry, yes, yes, yes this is what I want, naughty words. Ohh..."
She began writhing on the floor, moaning and yelling loudly at him as he continued saying the words that were on the top of his head. Words that were directed straight towards her heart. But, Chloe didn't understand, all she knew was that it was her job to make love to the Duke tonight.
" I--I don't have much money, but, boy, if I did I'd buy us a big house where we both could live..."
"Oh yes, yes...Oh yes... oh naughty!"
"If I were a sculptor, but then again no. Or a man who makes potions for a traveling show."
"Oh...don't...don't...don't...don't stop!"
"I know it's not much... But, it's the best I can I do."
Chloe was still moaning with mock pleasure, but in the back of her brain she was listening to his words. Words that were far too wonderful to come from a man who needed to pay for the services of a courtesan.
Brady paused and looked at her strangely, the rest of the words that he wanted to say to her coming to mind suddenly. He sang out to her, his voice strong, clear and full of the love he was feeling in his heart.
***My gift is my song. And this one's for you.***
Chloe paused and looked up at him, her expression immediately changing. He didn't want to make love at all, he wanted to make music. And, his voice was beautiful, shooting straight to the heart she sometimes forgot she had.
***And you can tell everybody that this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done...
I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind...
That I put down in words...
How wonderful life is now you're in the world.
Sat on the roof and I kicked off the moss
Well, some of these verses, well they,
they got me quite cross***
Chloe stood and stared at him curiously. This Duke Phillip was talented, and handsome... and if she wasn't mistaken she saw love in his eyes.
***But the sun's been kind
while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting
but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue***
Chloe smiled shyly at him as he moved closer. He gently took her hand in his and kissed the top of it, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. Something she never felt when she was with one of her 'patrons.'
***Anyway the thing is, what I really mean...
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen***
Brady took her other hand and spun her around. He suddenly made her believe in magic. Just one smile and one glance from his blue eyes made her feel as they were dancing on the rooftops of Montmartre. The moon above them seemed to sing along to Brady's song, as the stars fell down over them like a rain of glitter.
***And you can tell everybody that this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
Hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world
Hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words,
how wonderful life is now you're in the world...***
Brady pulled her into his arms, dipping her backwards. She looked up at him and saw something she had never felt before. Love. Could it even be possible? A woman who had been taught not to love was falling in love with this man and his beautiful song.
She breathlessly spoke to him, amazed with how different she felt being held by his arms than all the arms that had held her before. She was safe here, and filled with the warmth of love. "Oh...I can't believe it. I'm in love. I'm in love with a young, handsome talented Duke."
Brady's eyes widened in surprise. "Duke?"
Chloe laughed softly and nodded. "Oh...not that the title's important of course"
"I'm not a duke." Brady shook his head in confusion.
"Not a duke?"
"I'm a writer."
Chloe dropped her chin with shock. This definitely explained a lot. This amazing man in front of her was not a duke, not the one she was supposed to be with tonight.
"A writer?"
"Yes, a writer."
Chloe let go of him and walked a few steps away, crossing her arms angrily. Zidler would be furious, the Duke would be furious. She would have to forget about the magic, the stars and the moon, all of it. This was not what was supposed to happen.
Brady looked at her nervously. She was obviously disappointed with something. He didn't think it to be his poetry, not by the way she had looked at him as he sang. Perhaps, it was just him that disappointed her. Brady, the penniless writer.
"Well... Toulouse..."
Chloe threw her hands up in frustration. "Toulouse? Oh no! You're not another of Toulouse's oh-so-talented, charmingly Bohemian, tragically impoverished protégés"
Brady shrugged slightly and stammered. "Well, you might say that."
"Oh! I am going to KILL HIM! I'm going to kill him..." Another one of Toulouse's ploys to get to her and Zidler. She should have figured. No Duke she had ever met would be that talented and wonderful.
"The Duke." She muttered it to herself and then walked towards the door, opening it slightly. Zidler was on the other side with a man who must have been the real Duke Phillip. She shouted with surprise and slammed the door shut immediately. "THE DUKE!"
"The Duke?"
She looked at Brady with fear in her eyes. "Hide! Out the back!"
Brady looked around for a place to hide, not finding anything. He kneeled on the floor and Chloe threw up the sides of her dress so that he could hide behind her, as the door opened and Zidler walked in with Phillip behind him.
"My dear, are you decent for the Duke? Where were you?"
"I-I-I... I was waiting."
"Dearest Duke, allow me to introduce Mademoiselle Chloe."
Chloe nervously smiled at him, doing her best to fake sincerity. "Monsieur, how wonderful of you to take time out of your busy schedule to visit."
The corners of Phillip's mouth turned up in a nervous smile of his own. He was handsome, yes, but not even close to as handsome as the writer who was quickly making his way from behind her dress to behind the table filled with food and drinks. In fact, Chloe thought to herself that he was downright creepy with his pencil-thin mustache, and hair that was a little too long, and his strange beady little eyes.
"The pleasure I fear will be entirely mine, my dear."
Zidler smiled proudly and quickly went to make his exit. "I'll leave you two squirrels to get better acquainted. Ta-ta!"
Phillip reached for his hand, planting a kiss on top of it. It made a chill run up her spine, but not a good kind of chill. There was something about this Duke that was a bit off-kilter. "A kiss on the hand may be quite continental."
Chloe grinned and slipped her hand out of his. "But diamonds are a girl's best friend."
"After tonight's pretty exertions on the stage, you must surely be in need of some refreshment my dear."
Phillip moved towards the table where Brady was hiding, and Chloe jumped in fear. "DON'T!"
Phillip turned back to her and she attempted to play it off, trying to distract his attention from Brady's hiding place. "Don't... Don't you just love the view? Hmmm?"
"Charming."
He turned back to the table again, and Chloe wracked her brain for another distraction. He could not find the writer here, it would most certainly cause a disaster. She grabbed on to him, turning him around from the table again.
"Oh! I feel like dancing." Chloe purred sexily at him and began dancing around the room.
"Would you like a glass of champagne?" This duke was, if nothing else, persistent. He turned back to the table yet again, and Chloe shouted out to keep him from looking in Brady's direction.
"NO! It's a little bit funny..."
"What is?"
"This..." Chloe was at a loss, trying to remember the words that Brady had sung so well to her just minutes ago. She looked over Phillip's shoulder and saw the writer pop up, and he mouthed the words to her. *Feeling*
Chloe nodded and looked back at Phillip. "Feeling inside..."
Her eyes darted to Brady once again and he continued mouthing the words to her, as she quickly repeated them to Phillip. "I'm not one of those who can easily... Hide."
Chloe threw herself to her knees, gazing up at Phillip, as she motioned for Brady to come out from behind the table with one hand. "I know I don't have much money, but if I did, I'd buy a big house where we both can live."
Chloe opened Phillip's legs and looked through them at Brady, trying to mime to him that this was his best opportunity for escape. She looked back up at Phillip and sang softly to him.
***I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind.
That I put down in words,
How wonderful life is now you're in the world.***
Chloe stood and smiled, Phillip was obviously enticed by her words. "That's very beautiful."
"It's from "Spectacular, Spectacular." Suddenly with you here, I finally understood the true meaning of those words." Out of Phillip's line of sight, Chloe pointed for Brady to make his exit now. "How wonderful life is now you're in the world."
Phillip stared at her in confusion. "And what meaning is that my dear?"
Brady quietly opened the door that led into the hallway to exit. But, he caught a look at the Duke's lackey, Warner standing guard outside. Chloe kept her smile plastered on, but inside she was anxiously trying to find a way for Brady to escape. And, now she knew the front door wasn't going to cut it.
She grabbed Phillip by the arms and threw herself on the bed, pulling him down on top of her. "NO, NO, NO! Duke, don't you toy with my emotions. You-you must know the effect you have on women. LET'S MAKE LOVE! You want to make love don't you? I knew you felt the same way! Oh, oh Phillip!"
As she was doing that, Brady had quickly moved across the floor towards the window exit. He paused to look at her, his eyes pleading with her not to make love to the Duke tonight. Brady was powerfully in love with this woman, and his feelings were so strong that he could hardly explain it.
Chloe caught his glance, and looked back towards Phillip. She knew it was her duty to do so, but no part of her wanted to sleep with this man. Her heart was now and forever held by the man with the beautiful poetry and the soul to match. "Yes, you're right, Phillip. We should wait, until opening night."
Brady looked at her with satisfaction written all over his face. He knew that she felt it too, the magic between them that had occurred her tonight.
Phillip stared at her strangely. "What? Wait?"
Chloe nodded enthusiastically and pushed him away. "There's a power in you that scares me. You should go."
"Go? But I just got here."
Chloe stood and the duke followed. She laid her hand on his chest and pushed him towards the door. "Oh yes, but we'll see each other everyday during rehearsal. We must wait; we must until opening night."
She smiled at him and pushed him through the door, quickly closing it on him. Chloe turned towards Brady and stared at him frantically. "Do you have any idea what would happen if you were to be found?"
He walked towards her and she looked at him, a thing sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead. She suddenly gasped, and once again felt the darkness close in. Chloe passed out, and Brady caught her in his arms.
"Oh... Oh my God. Chloe? Hello? Wake up... Maybe I'll just put you on the bed."
Brady gently carried her to the bed laying her in front of him. He tried to shake her tenderly, hoping that she would wake up. The door opened and Phillip walked in as Brady was leaning over Chloe's unconscious form on the bed.
"I forgot my hat..." Phillip gasped and stared at them in shock. "Foul play?"
***
(to be continued...)
If you haven't seen the movie, I recommend that you do. It's way better than how I'm writing this version.
I know, everybody is wondering how I'm possibly going to do a Happy-Broe twist when I already stated in the first chapter that Chloe is dead. But... I am doing it. In fact, the last chapter is practically written already, and it will be interesting. I hope. Considering how crappily I am writing the rest of these chapters, the last chapter should be the best chapter of them all. LOL.
-Hope Grace-