Bar has supplied Jack with adequate clothes for a day in town. He walks confidently to Satine's room, trusting that Bar's given her proper 1933 attire.
She really rather likes it. She has too much hair for the hat, and she feels strangely naked when the dress doesn't weigh ten or more pounds, but there's something to the sleek lines of the skirt. And the heels. She adores the heels. The colors are lovely muted earth tones -- it must be fall, she thinks as she slips into the outfit.
Satine is a bit worried that she'll seem out of place, though. She has no idea what the mannerisms of her would-be children's era are like, how they wear their makeup, how they do their hair, all the little things. But she's always had confidence in her ability to pull off a mask off the cuff, and so when she opens the door to her room to find Jack waiting for her, she holds her purse over her head and spins. "Do I look all right?"
Satine lingers behind for a moment while Jack searches the theater. Her gloves hands close over her purse as she takes in the interior -- worn, but once grand, and familiar: if she succeeds with the Duke when she gets back to Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge could look like this.
Jack interrupts her reverie by introducing her to someone. When she sees that it's a round fellow with the entertainment industry written all over him, she relaxes instantly. She has a fondness for men like this. She holds out her hand for James. "Hello. You have a lovely theater."
James smiles widely, his eyes aglow the way mens' would in the presence of a beautiful woman. He shakes Satine's hand firmly and warmly. "It's not my theater, exactly. I'm just renting it. Would you and Jack like to stay for the rest of the rehersal? If you aren't busy."
"Oh, spectacular!" She sits down next to James and leans close. "I love watching actors work. It's almost as wonderful as being onstage yourself. Now," and she lowers her voice so as not to disturb the scene, "I'm afraid you're going to have to fill me in on what's going on. What's the show about?"
"About a shopkeeper. Jack and I, we like to write about the people. We find inspiration by observing the people who live in this city. Well, I came across a shop owner one day who told me his story. Business isn't too good, but the amazing thing is? He always keeps in high spirits. I thought it'd be good to write about someone who stays optimistic for a change. Now old Jack here? He'd disagree, but he's always been a cynic."
James looks at Jack and gives him a wink. Jack just smirks wryly.
"Oh, now sir, I think you may be giving Mr. Driscoll too little credit. He's always been quite jolly when I've been with him. Did you know he's a magnificent dancer?"
Satine winks at Jack too.
"Now, why is this shopkeeper always in high spirits? What keeps him so happy?"
"Is this make jokes about Jack Driscoll day?" says Jack, throwing his hands up in the air.
James just laughs. "Haven't seen him dance but I'm sure he's a charmer with the ladies." A wink. "As for the shopkeeper, for him it's part faith and part family. I guess if you were to combine it into one concept, it'd be love. Love is what keeps him happy. He knows that his store might close tomorrow, but as long as he has his family and God, he's all set. Jack here'd say he was a fool, and I'm not sure I believe in the religion stuff, either, but in times like these it's better to hold on to something. It's better than holding on to nothing."
"Yes, Jack, we're both so terribly charming it was bound to happen." Definitely not teasing.
She listens to the plot with a somewhat distant look in her eyes. "Love lifts us up," she murmurs, without quite knowing why. Then, to James: "It sounds like a fine show. I hope it does very well."
Jack looks at Satine curiously. She seems preoccupied with something. James, meanwhile, nods contentedly to himself. "Thanks. You and Jack are invited to opening night, of course. We'll throw one hell of an after party."
James receives a bright, grateful smile. "You're very kind. Thank you. I don't know if I'll be here when you go up -- I'm not from around here. But if we could, that would be nice." She glances back at Jack before turning to watch the actors again.
Maybe it was the show itself, or maybe it was the cold, but there was something cold and hard in Satine's chest. She took a breath to say something and found it hurt. She cleared her throat.
"I'm sorry, I have to go freshen up a bit. Could you tell me where I could powder my nose?"
Hopefully asking for the bathroom isn't too different in 1933 from 1899.
She really rather likes it. She has too much hair for the hat, and she feels strangely naked when the dress doesn't weigh ten or more pounds, but there's something to the sleek lines of the skirt. And the heels. She adores the heels. The colors are lovely muted earth tones -- it must be fall, she thinks as she slips into the outfit.
Satine is a bit worried that she'll seem out of place, though. She has no idea what the mannerisms of her would-be children's era are like, how they wear their makeup, how they do their hair, all the little things. But she's always had confidence in her ability to pull off a mask off the cuff, and so when she opens the door to her room to find Jack waiting for her, she holds her purse over her head and spins. "Do I look all right?"
Reply
Jack interrupts her reverie by introducing her to someone. When she sees that it's a round fellow with the entertainment industry written all over him, she relaxes instantly. She has a fondness for men like this. She holds out her hand for James. "Hello. You have a lovely theater."
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
James looks at Jack and gives him a wink. Jack just smirks wryly.
Reply
Satine winks at Jack too.
"Now, why is this shopkeeper always in high spirits? What keeps him so happy?"
Reply
James just laughs. "Haven't seen him dance but I'm sure he's a charmer with the ladies." A wink. "As for the shopkeeper, for him it's part faith and part family. I guess if you were to combine it into one concept, it'd be love. Love is what keeps him happy. He knows that his store might close tomorrow, but as long as he has his family and God, he's all set. Jack here'd say he was a fool, and I'm not sure I believe in the religion stuff, either, but in times like these it's better to hold on to something. It's better than holding on to nothing."
Reply
She listens to the plot with a somewhat distant look in her eyes. "Love lifts us up," she murmurs, without quite knowing why. Then, to James: "It sounds like a fine show. I hope it does very well."
Reply
Reply
Reply
"Paris," Jack answers. James nods and looks back at the stage, letting the conversation fade into silence.
After a while, Jack glances at his watch. "I think it's time to go."
Reply
"I'm sorry, I have to go freshen up a bit. Could you tell me where I could powder my nose?"
Hopefully asking for the bathroom isn't too different in 1933 from 1899.
Reply
Jack stood up. "Is everything all right?"
Reply
Turning to James, she curtsies a little. "Thank you so much." She finds her own way to the restroom.
Reply
Leave a comment