A Story About Love
Chapter
Six - The Sparrow
Okay, just another thing to remember for the lyrics to the songs.
For this chapter only:
+++ Phillip sings.
--- Chloe sings
((( Zidler sings
*** Zidler/Phillip sing together.
Confused yet??
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Six: The Sparrow
As Brady and Chloe were inside the elephant confessing their love to each other, and spending the rest of the night wrapped happily in each other's arms, Harold Zidler was in his office at the Moulin Rouge cutting a deal with Duke Phillip. Zidler quickly realized that he was getting much more than he bargained for in Phillip. Not only did he have a terrible temper, he was jealous and possessive to a very disturbing degree. Plus, he lacked all traces of charm or personality. The only thing he really had to offer was money and a fairly meaningless title.
Phillip sat across the desk from Zidler, nervously fidgeting. His hat was sitting his lap and he anxiously tapped it as he gave instructions to Zidler regarding his financing of Spectacular, Spectacular. A stage production that would require the Moulin Rouge to become a real theatre, and not just a nightclub.
"Conversion of the Moulin Rouge into a theater will cost a fantastic sum of money, Zidler. So in return I would require a contract that... umm... binds Chloe to me, exclusively. Naturally, I shall require some security; I shall require the deeds to the Moulin Rouge."
Zidler's eyes widened in surprise and he shook his head uneasily. Phillip wanted the deed to his club, his home... The place that he had built from nothing so long ago. The contract for Chloe, he understood, especially with the kind of money the Duke was investing. But, if the show was not successful and Phillip did not make his investment back, the club would belong to him. Zidler just didn't know if he could give it up.
"My dear Duke...I--"
Phillip's voice rose with anger, his eyes narrowing as he insisted on things going his way or no way. "Pish!... Don't think that I'm naive, Zidler. I shall hold the deeds to the Moulin Rouge. And if there are any shenanigans, my manservant Warner, will deal with it in the only language that you underworld show-folk people understand. Chloe will be mine."
He was gripping the hat in his lap tightly, practically ripping it to shreds. His voice rose to a furious level, clearly he was not someone to be messed with. "It's not that I'm a jealous man. I JUST DON'T LIKE OTHER PEOPLE TOUCHING MY THINGS!"
Zidler looked at him with a touch of fear in his eyes. "I understand, completely Duke Phillip."
Phillip smiled in satisfaction. "Now that we have an understanding, it would appear that you have the means to transform your beloved Moulin Rouge into a theatre. And, I shall woo Chloe over supper tomorrow night."
If Zidler didn't know better, he would have sworn that Phillip was snarling.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(Next Day - First Rehearsal)
Harold Zidler stood in front of the assembled cast of bohemians and Moulin Rouge dancers. He spoke loudly, bursting with pride over the beginning of 'Spectacular, Spectacular' and the remodeling of the Moulin Rouge into a theatre.
"We will have created the world's first completely modern, entirely electric, totally Bohemian, all singing, all dancing, STAGE SPECTACULAR!"
Chloe spotted Brady across the room and smiled at him like she was a schoolgirl with a crush. Never had she felt this way about anyone or anything the way she felt about him. He made her feel younger, and innocent, as if her past sins didn't matter and were washed away by just one kiss.
Brady smiled back at her. They had spent the night together, and then parted as they watched the sun kissing the edge of the horizon, coming up over the buildings of Paris in the distance. They had truly made love -- something that Chloe could have never clamed before. She had called what she did with those other men 'making love', but it never was. What she created last night with Brady was truly making love, each touch a message from their hearts and souls.
Duke Phillip spotted Chloe's smile from where he was sitting, assuming that the lovely lady was smiling at him. And, she most definitely should be if she wasn't. He was certainly paying enough for her company. Phillip was anxious for tonight, he had a dinner planned for them in the Gothic tower, a dinner that was only a tool to seduce her and truly make her his.
The assembled group was startled out of their chairs when a wrecking ball crashed through the wall behind Harold. But, in his trademark form, Zidler just laughed it off.
He proudly pronounced to all those before him, "The show must go on!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Indeed, the show would go on. But, despite Zidler's demands, Chloe would not attend Phillip's supper that night or any of the following nights. Instead, she spent every free moment away from the Moulin Rouge and at Brady's humble apartment. Sometimes they would rehearse, sometimes they would make love, and sometimes they would just hold to each other in the silence, or talk about their hopes and dreams, their future.
On this particular day, early in the evening when the sun was still shining outside, she was relaxing as Brady acted out the newly written scenes for the show. Toulouse was in the kitchen, fixing some sort of supper for them all, as Brady flew about his apartment enthusiastically.
Brady spoke in his best impression of the Argentinean, who would be playing the part of the penniless sitar player. "Tell me you don't love me!"
He continued on in his own voice, telling the story. "Mad with jealousy, the evil Maharajah forces the courtesan to make the penniless sitar player believe she doesn't love him."
Toulouse shouted in approval from the kitchen as Chloe was laughing with delight. She had never known someone with such beauty and love in their soul, and enthusiasm for his work.
Brady went to the window and imitated the Argentinean again. "'Thank you for curing me of my ridiculous obsession with love!' says the penniless sitar player, throwing money at her feet and leaving the kingdom forever!"
He went to the balcony and mocked like he was going to jump as Chloe shouted for him not to. Toulouse clapped his hands with delight, shouting "Brilliant! Brilliant!" from his place inside the apartment.
Brady came back inside and Chloe was giggling girlishly, echoing Brady's own words from the rooftop of the elephant. "Oh, but a life without love, that's -- that's terrible."
Brady nodded in agreement and took a seat next to her, as she smiled brilliantly at him. Chloe could not remember a time when she had smiled so easily, and felt so comfortable around anyone. He had opened her heart, not just to love but also to happiness and true bliss. He laughed with her and continued the story, "Yes, but the sitar player... with the magical sitar..."
Toulouse came waddling in from the kitchen excitedly. "That's my part, Brady, that's -- that's -- that's my part, Brady. The magical sitar that can only speak the truth says... he says..."
Toulouse struggled to remember the line that Brady had written for him, but Brady gladly picked up the slack. He gently clasped Chloe's hand in his and smiled sincerely at her, reciting the line as he looked in the eyes of his soul mate.
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As the days passed, it had become all too easy for Brady and Chloe to spend time together right under the nose of the completely oblivious Duke Phillip. After all, he was the writer and she was the star of the show. They played off like all the time they spent together was because they were so dedicated to making the show the best it could possibly be.
And Phillip was definitely too much of a fool to be wise to their schemes. He had even nearly caught them locked in an embrace in Chloe's dressing room, but apparently they backed away from each other just in time. He had yet to have his chance to woo Chloe, as she continually cancelled their dinners together.
In fact, the only time that Phillip spent with her, Brady would be there also. He invited her out on picnic lunches, but insisted that Brady come along because they had too much "work" to do. Phillip would attend every rehearsal, but Chloe spent more time stealing glances from her beloved than listening to the Duke prattling on about whatever a bore like him would prattle on about.
At one particular rehearsal, Chloe sat next to the Duke as they observed one of the elaborate dance numbers being rehearsed on the half-built stage. Phillip was rambling on about a piece of land he owned just outside of Paris, or something to that effect. Chloe was not listening, in fact, she never listened to a word he had to say. She was far too focused on Brady and the show.
Brady interrupted by putting his head in between them and smiling. He looked at Chloe, his glance telling her exactly what his words meant. "Mademoiselle Chloe, I haven't quite finished writing that new scene. The...um... 'Will the lovers be meeting at the sitar player's humble abode?' scene. And I wondered if I could work on it with you later tonight."
Phillip glared at the young writer with a mixture of desperation and suspiciousness. He turned back to Chloe, his tone pleading and insistent. "But -- my dear, I've arranged a magnificent supper for us in the Gothic Tower."
Brady tried to backpedal, still fearing that their affair would be revealed to Phillip. "Well, it's not important. We -- we could work on it tomorrow."
Chloe whipped her head around and looked at Brady with shock. She would do everything in her power to avoid dining with Phillip. He was boring, possessive and downright loathsome. "How dare you? It cannot wait until tomorrow. 'The lovers will be meeting in the sitar player's humble abode.' scene is the *most* important in the production. We'll work on it tonight until I'm completely satisfied."
Brady couldn't help the satisfied grin that spread over his lips. Phillip attempted to interrupt in protest. "But my dear --"
Chloe stood and waved her hand to dismiss him. "Dear Duke, excuse me."
As she walked away, Brady was still grinning. He patted Phillip on the back before leaving. "I'm sorry."
On stage, Zidler was giving instructions to the cast as Brady and Chloe fled off to the balcony of the theatre. "Bright and early tomorrow morning, we'll begin on act two: the lovers are discovered!"
Brady caught up with Chloe in the balcony, high above the fray down below. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and they began kissing passionately. They assumed that nobody could see them, but they had assumed wrong. Zidler spotted them out of the corner of his eye, and felt his anxiousness rising. And, the tension increased tenfold when Phillip came towards him.
"Zidler!"
"My dear Duke, everything is arranged for that special supper in the Gothic Tower tonight."
Phillip snapped at him angrily, frustrated with the lack of attention he was receiving from Chloe. "Oh yes, you might as well eat it yourself, Zidler. Her affections are waning..."
"Impossible!" was what Zidler said, but what he was really thinking was: *Please don't turn around, because then you'll see that you never had her affections to begin with.*
"I understand how important your work is to her, but she's always at it with that damn writer. If I don't see her tonight, I'm leaving!"
Phillip noticed that Zidler was listening but his eyes were on something else, something behind him. He tried to turn and see whatever it was that he was looking at, but Zidler stopped him.
"No! Dear Duke! I'll insist Chloe takes the night off."
Phillip exhaled slowly, trying to keep calm. "All right, all right... eight o'clock then."
Upstairs in the balcony, Brady broke off from the kiss breathlessly and brushed her cheek with his fingers. "You'll come? Tonight?"
Chloe giggled softly and nodded. "Yes..."
"What time?"
Chloe was still laughing, her lipstick was all over his face, and he looked absolutely adorable. "Eight o'clock."
Brady smiled back at her, his blue eyes wide, he looked completely intoxicated with her love. "Promise?"
"Yes!" Chloe waved him off as he headed towards the stairs. "Go!"
She was still giggling girlishly as she watched him walk away. Chloe had been searching for true happiness her entire life, and she had finally found it in this handsome young writer. She sighed softly and turned around, running straight into a grimacing Harold Zidler.
His eyes flashed with anger and fear, knowing that he could lose everything because of Chloe's affections towards Brady. "Are you mad? The Duke holds the deeds to the Moulin Rouge. He's spending a fortune on you. He's given you a beautiful new dressing room. He wants to make you a star. And you're dallying with the writer?"
Chloe shook her head, and did her best to lie to him. "Oh... Harold, don't be ridiculous..."
Zidler shouted at her furiously. "I SAW YOU TOGETHER!"
Chloe's face contorted with worry, and she continued her lies. "It's nothing, It's just an infatuation. It's nothing."
"The infatuation will end. Go to the boy; tell him it's over. The Duke is expecting you in the Tower at eight."
Chloe frowned and watched Zidler walk away. She couldn't do it, it was unfair. She finally had the happiness she had longed for, and Harold was going to force her to give it up. Now that she had one taste of true love, she didn't know if she could go back to her old ways. And she knew, without a doubt, that she could not be with Phillip. Brady loved her, but to Phillip she was just a belonging, a piece of property that he owned. Like a porcelain figure behind a glass case, and nothing more.
She walked across the balcony, the tears flowing freely from her eyes. Her skin felt cold and clammy, and a thin sheen of sweat had broken out on her face. Through her sobs, she sang the lyrics that were in her heart.
---If I should die this very moment...<
I wouldn't fear.
For I've never known completeness.
Like being here, wrapped in the warmth of you...
Loving every breath of you.
Why live life from dream to dream? And dread the day...---
Chloe gasped loudly and gripped the railing with her hand. She began coughing violently, and could not stop. Her heart filled with fear as once again the blackness closed in around her again. She felt her eyes close and she fainted towards the floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Brady waited all night for her to come. He paced over the floors of his apartments until he was too tired to stand. When he tried to lie on his bed and close his eyes, the only thing he saw was her.
Where was she? Had she changed her mind about them? Was she off betraying him with Phillip? So many questions plagued his mind as he waited until late in the night for her to arrive. All the while wondering what possible reasons she could have for standing him up.
But, little did he know in these last fatal days... That a force, darker than jealousy and stronger than love had begun to take hold of Chloe.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Zidler peered through his telescope into the windows of the Gothic Tower. He had hoped to find Chloe and Phillip dining together, but instead saw only the Duke and his servants.
When he realized that Chloe had not shown up, and the Duke was preparing to leave, he dashed out the door. Zidler ran as quickly as his rotund figure would allow him to, rushing to the Gothic Tower, just in time to stop the duke. He wracked his brain for another lie to tell him, and shouted the first thing that came to his head.
"SHE'S CONFESSING!"
Phillip raised both eyebrows doubtfully. "Confessing? What kind of imbecile do you take me for Zidler?"
"She suddenly had a terrible desire to go to a priest and confess her sins."
"What?"
Zidler was a master of deception, able to come up with any kind of lie and tell it without even stumbling over his words. "She wanted to be cleansed of her former life. She says she looks upon tonight as her wedding night."
Phillip looked at him questioningly. "Her wedding night?"
"She's like a blushing bride... She says you make her feel like a..." Zidler searched for the exact word he wanted to use and then smiled slightly. "Virgin."
"Virgin? "
"You know... Touched for the very first time."
Phillip looked to be enticed by the idea of it, and somewhat proud that he had that effect on Chloe. "The first?"
Zidler nodded as he growled over his words, trying to keep Phillip's interest. "She says it feels so good... inside... when you hold her... and you touch her..."
"Like a virgin?"
"She's made it through the wilderness somehow. She's made it through. She didn't know how lost she was, until she found you."
Zidler smiled confidently as the Duke's servants began dancing to the song he sang.
((( She was beat, incomplete. She'd been had! She was sad and blue...
But you made her feel... Yes you made her feel... Shiny and new!
Ahh! Like a virgin! Touched for the very first time!
Like a virgin... Your hearts beat both in time!
She'll give you all her love! Her fear is fading fast!
Been saving it all for you! Only love can last!
She's so fine and she's mine. She'll be yours until the end of time. )))
Zidler grabbed the white lacy tablecloth and put it over his head like a mock wedding veil and continued.
((( 'Cause you made her feel... Yes, you made her feel. She has nothing to hide!
Like a virgin! Touched for the very first time!
Like a virgin. Your hearts beat both in time.
Like a virgin! Feels so good inside!
When you hold her... And you touch her... and ohh... ohhh! )))
Zidler danced with Phillip, spinning him around the room until he stopped breathlessly. He began singing, each word emphasizing how extremely he possessive he was of Chloe.
+++She's so fine. And she's mine.
Makes me strong. Yes she makes me burn...
And her love thawed out... Yes, her love thawed out what was scared and cold!
((( Like a virgin! )))
***Touched for the very first time! Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.***
((( Like a vir-ur-ur-ur-gen! )))
+++When your hearts beat both in time!+++
((( Like a virgin! )))
+++Feels so good inside!+++
((( When you hold her! And you touch her! And you hold her! And you touch her! )))
***La-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahhhh...! Like a viirrrrrrgeeen!***
Phillip and Zidler ended the song with a flourish dancing over the tabletops, with the servants surrounding them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yes, Harold Zidler's brilliant lies had once again averted a disaster. But, as Harold would learn later, when he came to Chloe's dressing room that night, his lies could not save her from the icy grip of death. She was still unconscious and surrounded by both Marie and the Doctor. He understood now, she would probably be unconscious until the next morning, and had been unable to make her appointment with Phillip.
Zidler looked at the doctor sadly, fearing the worst, and hearing exactly that. The doctor returned his worried expression and broke the bad news to him. "Monsieur Zidler... Mademoiselle Chloe is dying. She has consumption."
Zidler looked at him with shock and misery. He had known it was bad, but he didn't know it was this bad. He walked towards where she was passed out on the couch and tenderly held his hand. "My little sparrow is dying..."
And in that instant, Zidler made a decision. He had to allow Chloe to live out the last days of her life oblivious to what her future held. Let her enjoy it while she still could, and let the show go on.
He looked towards Marie and spoke softly. "She mustn't know, Marie. The show must go on."