When I See You Smile
by Brittany
Chapter Twelve
Outside the Majestic Theater
"I cannot believe how amazing that was!" Liz breathed, still trying to
control her emotions.
Lucky smiled down at her, his gaze lingering on her lips. "Me either."
Liz realized what he meant and blushed. "I meant the play." She said.
Lucky looked as though he had been hit, and started to withdraw his arm from
around her shoulders
Liz grinned mischievously, and grabbed his hand to stop him. "As for
the......other part," her gaze dropped to his lips, "I think I'll need another
demonstration before I decide."
Lucky laughed and squeezed her against his side. "That sounds like something
worth pursuing," Lucky glanced up at the line of taxi's by the curb, and
steered Liz toward one. "But we will have to do that later, right now we have
dinner reservations." Lucky helped Liz into the back-seat of the distinctive
yellow cab and gave his instructions to the driver. "Windows on the World
please, The World Trade Center?"
The driver nodded and patted Lucky on the shoulder, "Yeah kid, I know where
Windows on the World is, just hop in, Marco will take care of you."
Lucky slid in next to Liz and picked up her hand. She turned her eyes from
the glittering streets of NYC and smiled brightly at him. "I know I'm
starting to sound like a broken record Lucky, but thank you so much for
today." She glanced up at the cabbie and whispered as she touched her fingers
to her lips, "For everything today."
Lucky smiled gently at her, took her fingers from her lips and kissed the
tips of them, "I just wanted to give you a day to remember." He smiled into
her eyes and leaned toward her.
"And just wait until you see where he's taking you for dinner little lady."
Marco said from the drivers seat "Windows on the World has the best view in
the whole city. "
Lucky sighed and stopped the downward descent of his lips. Liz grinned at
him and shrugged before turning her attention to Marco. "Where exactly *is*
Windows on the World?" Liz asked him curiously
"Why, it's on the top of the World Trade Center, and at night, the lights of
New York are spread out below you in a beautiful display." Marco waxed
poetic, "In fact I took the Mrs. there for dinner on our 25th wedding
anniversary."
Lucky smiled indulgently at Liz as she sighed and held her hand to her chest.
"That sounds SO sweet." She said to Marco "How long have you been married?"
"It will be 30 years next month," Marco replied glancing in the rearview
mirror "and it seems like only yesterday, we were right where you two are
now."
Lucky laughed at the sappy expression on Liz's face and whispered to her, "I
told you that you were a sucker for goopy stuff."
Liz elbowed him in the stomach and listened as Marco continued. "Don't you
two ever take one-second with each other for granted, because I tell you, one
day, you'll wake up and your life will be half over." Marco sighed heavily
"And you don't want to have one regret or one 'I should have done this-that-or
the other when I had the chance.' No fear is too big to overcome, when you
have someone you love at your side"
Liz looked at Lucky and smiled, leaning up against him. "Ain't that the
truth." She whispered.
Marco glanced back again at the young couple, smiling he asked "So you went
to see Phantom huh? What did you think?" He immediately saw the young
woman's face light with joy.
"It was the most awe-inspiring thing I have ever seen!" Liz answered
excitedly "I can't decide what my favorite part was." She paused for a
moment and thought. "When Christine was singing into the mirror and suddenly
the Phantom appeared, that was great! And when they were going down to the
labyrinth and the stairs they were running on were going up and down." Liz
was motioning with her hand so they would know what she was talking about.
Next to her Lucky was laughing silently and marveling at how expressive she
was being.
Marco too, was enjoying Liz's youthful enthusiasm. "How about when the boat
is moving across the lake?" He asked, winking at Lucky in the rearview
mirror.
By now, Liz was leaned forward in her seat nodding, "I loved that too, how
the lights rose out of the lake, that was so cool! The special effects in the
show were really amazing. But how about at the beginning of the second act,"
Lucky leaned up as well and interrupted, "You mean Masquerade? I love that
song, It's my favorite song on the soundtrack and my favorite scene in the
play. When they are all dancing on the staircase. And the Phantom appears at
the top, with that outfit and the death's head mask," Lucky was waving his
hand in front of his face, "I love how when the Phantom appears, the music
suddenly changes. Man, that is a great scene."
Liz smiled over at Lucky "Oh, but when the Phantom was above the rooftop and
heard Raoul and Christine singing? You could feel his pain, his betrayal.
That was so sad. "
Marco nodded at both of them, "Yeah, every time I go see it, I find something
new, a new favorite scene, a new favorite song. It's an amazing piece of
work."
Lucky sat back and pulled Liz up against him. She started thoughtfully out
of the window. "I think the best part, the part that will stay with me
forever is that She came back, that Christine came back and kissed him. I
think she loved him. His scars didn't matter, Christine knew who he was on
the inside and she loved him. Not in spite of his scars, and not because of
them, but regardless of them." Liz glanced over at Lucky "Everyone should
have someone like that in their life."
Lucky squeezed her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. Marco smiled
once more at them in the mirror "I think my favorite part is when the Phantom
lets her go, and he sings that line, " Marco starts to sing in an amazingly
beautiful voice. " 'You alone could make my song take flight, it's over now,
the music of the night.' And then he goes to sit on the throne and vanishes."
Marco glanced back again and Liz could see his eyes glittering with un-shed
tears "Then Meg crosses the stage and removes his cloak from the throne and
all you see, is the mask." Marco blinked hard before giving a harsh laugh.
"It gets me every time, and gives me chills just thinking about it."
Liz smiled sweetly at him and leaned forward, she placed her hand on Marco's
beefy shoulder. "It's nice to find someone who still lets things touch them.
Who can appreciate something beautiful."
Marco reached back and patted Liz's hand. He met Lucky's eyes in the mirror.
"Hang on to this one young man, I can guarantee you, there isn't another one
like her out there." Marco looked up then and slowed to a stop. "Well, here
we are kids, The World Trade Center. Just go right in through those doors and
the doorman will direct you." Marco said, pointing at the glass entrance.
Lucky and Liz slid out of the car, and Marco rolled down his window. Marco
put his hand out and Lucky, after a quick glance at the meter, pressed a $50
bill into it. "Keep the change man, it was worth every penny." Lucky said
cryptically.
Marco smiled and placed the bill on the dash, and grasped Lucky's hand in a
firm shake. "You take care of her, she's a real treasure, and if you don't
guard her real close, someone may snatch her away." Marco smiled at Liz.
"Same goes for you young lady, you don't find many gentlemen anymore, you'd be
wise to hang on to him." And with those sage words of wisdom Marco put his
taxi in gear and drove off into the night.
Liz and Lucky stood with their arms around each other and watched as the
taillights faded into a red blur, then turned to go into the famous building.
***Note: I've seen Phantom 3 times. In two shows Christine returned after
the Phantom had released her, in order to give him back a ring, but she also
kissed him. In one of the shows she just returned the ring. This is the Kiss
to which Liz is referring. I want to say again. This show has touched my
life in a major way
the chance to see it, either on Broadway or in a touring company, or even if
your local theater puts it on, go see it. It is an amazing play. If you
would like to read the Libretto please go here~~~>
Phantom of the Opera Libretto It is the Phantom script in
it's entirety, including lyrics, stage directions and descriptions of the
onstage action. :-)) If you are at all curious about Liz and Lucky's
conversation please go read it.