Chapter 75

Jennifer and I went to see the show on opening night, seeing Jeremy for the first time in a while, with Rose on his arm. He told us that not only was Isabel the best performer in the show, but Charles King as Mr. Applegate was a great scene stealer himself. One of Stuart’s interns, named Henry Turner, was running tech for the show. I was happy for that.

The lights flashed, and we sat down and the overture began. I was watching Jeremy who had grown into a wonderful style of conductor. For only twelve, he’d gotten appreciatively taller.

Right after the overture was over, the curtain opened, with a husband (Joe) sitting in front of a TV, with a wife (Meg) pacing behind him...

MEG (Audrey Cooke)
When we met in nineteen
thirty-eight, it was November
When I said that I would be
his mate, it was December
I reasoned he would be the
greatest husband that a
girl had ever found...
That’s what I reasoned
That’s what I reasoned
Then April rolled around

JOE (Blake Griffin)
Strike three, ball four,
walk a run will tie the score
Yer blind, Ump,
Yer blind, Ump,
Ya mus’ be out-a yer mind, Ump!

MEG
Six months out of every year
I might as well be made of stone
Six months out of every year
when I am with him ... I am alone

JOE
He caught the corner

MEG
Six months out of every year
He doesn’t take me anywhere
Six months out of every year,
when I play cards
Solitaire

The other six months
out of every year
We are hardly ever seen apart
But then the Washington
Senators take over
my place in his heart
Six months out of every year

BOYS
Strike three
Ball four
Walk a run will tie the score
Fly ball
Double play
Yankees win again today

Those damn Yankees
Why can’t we beat ‘em?
He’s pout, he’s safe, he’s out,
he’s safe, he’s out,
he’s safe, he’s out
Yer blind, Ump,
Yer blind, Ump,
you must be out
of yer mind, Ump

GIRLS
Six months out of every year
He lives by the television set

BOYS
He’s out, he’s safe, he’s out!

GIRLS
If you see that man of mine
How does he look?
I forget

BOYS
Le-e-ets go!

GIRLS
Six months out of every year
We know there is no other dame
If he isn’t home by six,

BOYS
He’s out, he’s safe, he’s out!

GIRLS
It’s six to one
There’s a game

BOYS
Le-e-ets go!

GIRLS
Six months out of every year
when we cook for them
it never pays

BOYS
Aahh!

GIRLS
Instead of praising our goulash
They are appraising the
plays of Willie Mays!

BOYS
He’s out, he’s safe, he’s out!

GIRLS
Six months out of every year

BOYS
Strike three, ball four,
walk a run will tie the score

GIRLS
We might as well
be wearing crepe

BOYS
Fly ball double play,
Yankees win again today

GIRLS
Life is just an awful bore
From which there is no escape

BOYS
Those damn Yankees
Why can’t we beat ‘em?
He’s out, he’s safe, he’s out,
he’s safe, he’s out,
he’s safe, he’s out
Yer blind, Ump,
Yer blind, Ump, you must
be out of yer mind, Ump

GIRLS
We’re dying for the mercury
to drop to three below

BOYS
Yay team

GIRLS
We’re crying for the happy
days of icicles and snow

BOYS
Yay team

GIRLS
We don’t mind sleepin’ solo,
that is once a year or so

BOYS
Those damn Yankees

GIRLS
But with them it’s a career

BOYS
What are ya waitin’ for?
April, May, June, July,
August, September

GIRLS
April, May, June, July,
August, September
Six months out of every year

BOYS
Yer blind Ump, Yer blind Ump,
you must be out of yer mind Ump

ALL
April, May, June, July,
August, September
April, May, June, July,
August, September

MEG
Six months out of every year

JOE
Yer blind Ump, Yer blind Ump, you must be...

The audience, including both of us applauded. What a voice Blake had! It had improved since his part of the chorus in LES MISÉRABLES!

After a short scene of Applegate offering his deal and convincing him to leave, my favorite song came up, “Goodbye Old Girl.”

JOE
Goodbye, old girl
My old girl
When you awaken I will be gone
Can’t tell you where I go
It isn’t fair, I know
But trust in me and carry on

Goodbye old friend
My old friend
There’s somethin’
I must let you know
I haven’t said it much
I guess I have lost my touch
But, my old girl, I love you so

No I know it hasn’t all been rosy
We have had squabbling’ days
when tears were brought about
But in a moment or two
we would bill and coo
And never even knew
What we fought about

And now your Joe has to go
But he will come back to you again
So sleep your sleep, old girl
Our love will keep, old girl, till then

The music grew in intensity as Joe walked behind the door on stage ... then the door opened and he was now Peter Chapman, made to look a bit younger, and in a baseball uniform. Neat trick! He really belted...

And though your Joe has to go
He may come back to you again
So sleep your sleep, old girl
Our love will keep,
old girl, till then

Goodbye, old girl
My old girl

We clapped and I realized the great trick they pulled on the audience.

Out came the Kimm brothers, Jon Abrams, Paul Anton and playing Coach Van Buren, Sam Choate ... I could hear taps on their shoes ... cool!

VAN BUREN
You’ve gotta have heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin’
You’ll never win
That’s when the grin should start

You’ve gotta have hope
Mustn’t sit around and mope
Nothin’s half as bad
as it may appear
Wait ‘til next year and hope

When your luck is battin’ zero
Get your chin up off the floor
Mister you can be a hero
You can open any door,
there’s nothin’ to it
but to do it

You’ve gotta have heart
Miles ‘n miles n’ miles of heart
Oh, it’s fine to be
a genius of course
But keep that old horse
Before the cart
First you’ve gotta have heart

ROCKY (Bruce Kimm)
A great slugger we haven’t got

SMOKEY (Robert Kimm)
A great pitcher we haven’t got

VERNON (Jon Abrams)
A great ball club we haven’t got

ROCKY, SMOKEY & VERNON
What have we got?

ALL
We’ve got heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin’
You’ll never win
That’s when the grin should start

ROCKY, SMOKEY,
LINVILLE (Paul Anton)
We’ve got hope
We don’t sit around and mope
Not a solitary sob do we heave
Mister, ‘cause we have got hope

ROCKY
We’re so happy that we’re humming’

ALL
Hmm-hmm-hmm

VAN BUREN
That’s the hearty thing to do

ALL
Hoo-hoo-hoo

SMOKEY
‘Cause we know our ship will come in

ALL
Hmm-hmm-hmm

ROCKY
So it’s ten years overdue

ALL
Hoo-hoo-hoo
We’ve got heart
Miles ‘n miles ‘n miles o’ heart

VERNON
Oh, it’s fine to be a genius of course

BOYS
But, keep that old horse before the cart

VAN BUREN
So what the heck’s the use of cryin’?

SMOKEY
Why should we curse?

ROCKY
We’ve gotta get better,
‘cause we can’t get worse!

ALL
And to add to it, we’ve got heart
We’ve got heart
We’ve got heart

We’ve got heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are
sayin’ you will never win
That’s when the grin should start

SMOKEY
We’re so happy that we’re laughin’

ALL
Ha ha ha

VAN BUREN
That’s the hearty thing to do

ALL
Hoo-hoo-hoo

VERNON
So we ain’t been autographin’

ALL
Ha ha ha

ROCKY
‘Cept to sign an IOU

ALL
Hoo-hoo-hoo

(They formed a lineup, with each of them following Coach’s tap moves. It was quite amazing to watch, although it could have lasted longer.)

ALL
We’ve got heart
Miles ‘n miles n’ miles of heart
Oh, it’s fine to be a
genius of course
But keep that old horse
Before the cart

SMOKEY
Who minds those pop bottles flyin’?

VERNON
The hisses and the boos

VAN BUREN
The team has been consistent

ROCKY
Yeah, we always lose

ALL FOUR BOYS
But we’re laughin’ cause...
We’ve got heart
We’ve got heart

We’ve got heart

A very loud cheer and applause was behind me and my girl.

Nancy Newman came out playing Gloria the reporter, and it turned into a really complicated and well done song and dance to “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal Mo.”

After that, Applegate, along with Lola in a fur coat came out for a mini scene until the music began for her to sing “A Little Brains, A Little Talent,” starting in the fur coat...

LOLA
I took the zing out
of the King of Siam
I took the starch
out of the sails
Of the Prince of Wales
It’s no great art, gettin’
the heart of a man
On a silver platter
A little brains-a little talent
With the emphasis on the latter!

I made mince-meat out
of a sweet young farmer!
I knocked the fight
out of a knight
When I pierced his armor
And I will bet,
I can upset every male
In a Yale regatta!
A little brains-a little talent
With the emphasis on the latter!

Applegate got behind her and removed the fur coat, revealing a very tight and partially translucent outfit. She started now to walk with a strut, leading with her hips, as she sang.

You gotta know
just what to say
and how to say it
You gotta know
what game to play
and how to play it
You gotta stack those decks
with a couple-a extra aces
And this queen has her aces
In all the right places!

I have done much more
than that old bore, Delilah!
I took the curl out of
the hair of a millionaire
There is no trick gettin’
some hick who is cool
Just a little warmer
A little talent-a little brain
With the emphasis
on the former!

Split up a home, way
up in Nome, Alaska!
And wrecked the
life of every wife
Down in Madagascar
Ask me why weak men
will die for me
Strong men simply shatter
A little brains-a little talent
With the emphasis on the latter!

You gotta know just what to
do and how to do it
You gotta know what tea to
brew and how to brew it
You have seen the sign that
says George Washington
once slept here
Well tho’ nobody spied him
Guess who was beside him?

(She was mesmerizing!)

Bring on that boy,
he will be a toy to Lola
Just one more case she
can erase with that old zambola
What’s my plan?
Same as with any man
I will use the standard platter
Plus a little this-a
and a little that-a
With the emphasis on the latter!

Her dancing and singing caused a minor kerfuffle, but I stood up applauding her, with Jenn and others joining me.

The final number of the first act was her performing “Whatever Lola Wants,” with Joe sitting on a bench trying to ignore her. She had on a different, but still short and sexy red dress

When she was finished she laid back on the bench ending with her head on his lap to the cold end of the music.

I hope he was wearin ga cup?

A standing ovation was the only possible reaction to this ambitious and energetic young lady deserves. She pulled him down and gave him an unscripted kiss as the curtain closed.

Besides Princess, Charles, who was finally starting to grow taller a little, came out to tell about the “Good Old Days...”

APPLEGATE
Whenever I am from
time to time depressed
And a trauma wells and
Swells within my breast
I find some pride
deep inside of me
As I fondly walk
the lane of memory

His vocal tricks and some neat real magic during this kept you on the edge of your seat all through the number.

The mean-spirited changing back during the baseball game, brought back the old version of Joe who was hoping to be taken back by his wife ... and they sing “A Man Doesn’t Know” to Applegate having a conniption fit the whole time...

MEG
A woman doesn’t know
what she has
Until she loses it
When a woman has
the love of a man
She abuses it
I didn’t know what
I had when I
Had my old love
I didn’t know what I had ‘til
I said, “Goodbye old love.”
Yes, a woman doesn’t know
what she has ‘til it is
No longer around

MEG & JOE
But the happy thought is
Whatever it is that’s lost
May someday once again
Be
Found!

A blackout and curtain, and the show was over.

The curtain re-opened and the Bows began. I stood up again, not caring if I was the only one doing it or not. When Princess came out I whistled as loud as I could. She blew me a kiss as flowers were brought up to her from Brian and Jeff.

The curtain closed and the houselights came on.

Jenn and I waited for everyone to come out front. Isabel had slipped back on the fur coat and made her way out. Jenn and her hugged tightly and so did we. I got my hand under the coat and squeezed her ass. She gave me a safe and sane kiss then excused herself to change back into street clothes.

When she came back out she was mobbed with young boys wanting her autograph. Jeff Bell was one of those boys, whispering something to her.

She did a few more autographs, then gave me the kind of kiss we aren’t supposed to have in public. Jeff walked away, apparently abashed in public. “I didn’t know what to say to him. I thought us kissing might help,” she said.

The three of us headed back to the rebuilt, two-story house, waiting for Stuart to show up. Clarice and Michael were living together and Jennie had said “Yes,” to my invitation.

With September over, it all begins again!

All the October shows were concerts making things much easier as far as I was concerned.

Joan Prefontayne was the obvious Pseudolus again, and both Jenn and Isabel had asked for taking “Funny Thing” off to recharge their batteries. I ended up making it even more diverse than RENT might end up becoming.

It may have been the second string making up the cast, but they have an astounding group concept to be their best. There would be no togas or era costuming.

We were using the music from the film, minus the “Orgy Music.”

KISMET, the GSS October show, has the ‘First String,’ with a strong chorus to make the music sound very good. We had Jenn, Princess, James, all the Newmans, Prefontaynes and Mitchells back. I even put Sharon Sizemore in the chorus making her happy.

Jeff Bell joined us and became enamored of Steve Neff’s little sister Shirley, taking his focus off my sister. Princess is in BYE BYE BIRDIE playing the Ann-Margaret part and a harem girl in KISMET.

With us moved in to our re-furnished seven bedroom home, the home we left was cleaned out of first floor furniture, and it became our temp GSS Orchestra rehearsal hall.

With Principal McGowan’s approval, we started using Saturdays for GSS rehearsals to get some musical numbers learned for Christmas time. I took enough breaks so we could spend five hours at it.

The words of Keith Lockhart saying we should record and sell our own records started popping in my head from time to time. We have no available time to do something like that, I figured, at least not yet.

I had a private conversation with Brian and Jeff.

“Does having the right to perform the numbers give us the right to record them as well?”

“Essentially, that’s correct,” Jeff said, “But there are royalties to be paid to the songs composer and/or publisher. The current mandatory royalty is $09.1 cents per song for songs under five minutes long. It increases from time to time.”

“Whose music do you want to record, Michael?” Brian questioned.

“All the music from FROZEN, including the songs that weren’t in the movie. Christopher Beck wrote the scoring and general music and husband wife team Robert and Kristen Lopez wrote all the songs, both lyrics and music.”

“Considering how popular that is right now,” Brian said, “Don’t hold your breath, Michael.”

“Does that mean you’re not even going to ask anybody about it?” I said.

“Let’s say for a moment, I can get the rights for maybe 15 cents a song per copy sold, how soon and where would you want to do this ‘recording?’” he said using air quotes for the first time I recalled.

“The new GSS Entertainment and Recording studio. It will be built on the north end of the Palace Property. I plan on having Kevin Young be my architect and GC.”

“Oh, it’s being moved and renamed?” Jeff said with a laugh.

“As far as when, with the green light to do it, I can talk the kids into an occasional Sunday to put it all out in a day.”

They both looked at each other Brian said, “You’re not kidding, are you, son?”

“No, Sir ... I am not. I don’t entirely understand the method to get the music in people’s hands. I will be needing your expertise in that matter.”

“Who else knows about this idea of yours?” Jeff asked.

“Stuart, who is pricing all of the paraphernalia for the studio. On my say-so, he will be purchasing additional mics and stands and the recording equipment,” I said.

“So, this isn’t a really new idea, you have been thinking about this for a long time, haven’t you, Michael?”

I smiled in response to that.

“I will do what I can, as will Jeff. The price could go up before things are settled, I need you to understand that,” Brian said.

“I understand that, both of you. I am glad I finally talked to someone about this. The girls, Isabel and Jenn, have been asking to do more of the music from the show.”

I went back inside the house from the back yard and they were both standing there wondering what I had been talking about. I told them... “Later.”

We went in to have dinner with the Grandys, O’Sullivans, Miss Robinson and the four of us. By the way, Stuart completely moved out of his apartment and is settled in the second largest room in the new place.

After a lovely meal of chicken and noodles, on the way to our place, using Jennie’s Honda Odyssey, I explained, expecting absolute silence of the news of recording FROZEN under the possible GSS record label.

Of course, Princess’ first question was “Who would sing what?”

“Well, I figured Joan would sing the Anna songs...”

SLAP!

“Oww, you are the one who asked the ridiculous question, so a ridiculous response was in order. Slap me again that hard, and I will return the favor. I am serious, young lady.”

“Sorry? You know I love you ... so assuming I sing Anna and Jenn sings Elsa, what about the other people?”

“That’s a much more eloquent question, don’t you think so, Stuart?”

“I said that I’m sorry ... Mr. Thomas.”

“The only person I am sure of is Charles King singing “In Summer.” I may have an audition within the GSS for the roles of Kristoff, Hans, Bulda and the rest.”

“Bulda, who is Bulda?” Jenn asked.

“The lead singer for “Fixer-Upper,” I answered. “Remember, the movie doesn’t come out until the day before Thanksgiving. When you see Brian the next time give him a nice big hug or kiss, OK?”

“You could use all the men’s voices for that opening number,” Jennie said from the driver’s seat.

“That’s a great idea, we have twenty-two guys. Besides that, there’s practically enough music for a double CD set ... over fifty unique pieces of music,” I said.

“How about Jeff Bell for Hans?” Princess said.

I just glared at her. She giggled then asked, “Do we have the voices for all the people in “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?”

“You mean the littlest Anna and Elsa? That may be an issue. I am still working on that,” I responded.

“Here we are,” Jennie said, opening the garage and putting her Honda in the third garage hole.

We went inside and I got everyone to come with us. I pulled out the FROZEN score I had been holding onto.

I started playing the music that had no lyrics, and they all loved it.

“Jennie, which song would you like to sing? Look through it for a moment,” I said.

Something got her attention, “How about ‘More Than Just The Spare?”

She sang it quite eloquently, differently than any of the younger ladies I can think of.

We all loved her voice quality. The girls hugged her and I gave her a great big kiss that she immediately responded to.

Our new group hadn’t been very sexually active since she moved in, but I was ready for Jennie ... right now!

I picked her up and on my shoulder and said, “Goodnight” to the rest of the household.

They giggled and left to their rooms.

“What’s going on Michael?” I heard her Ms. Robinson ask.

“You are getting me for the night, if you want that?”

“Do you mean ... making love?”

“No, I mean like fucking you until your eyes roll back in your head ... that’s what I mean, Jennie Marie.”

I threw her on the bed and started to undress myself. She watched me slowly as I took off my shirt.

“Oooh, you are so buff Michael,” she said.

“You better start undressing, or I am going to be stripping you in just a minute.”

She did, unbuttoning her top. I had never been able to tell how curvaceous she was until just now. She was a nice C-cup as her white bra came into view.

I reached under her skirt and pulled her panties and stockings completely off.

“Michael, wait a minute, please?”

“When I am ready to ravage, nothing can stop me gorgeous. How long since someone has licked your pussy until you climaxed?”

“N-Never. I can’t climax like that ... I never could.”

“You haven’t had me try yet, get naked, please?”

She was, so I dropped my boxers to the sound of “Oooooh, that might be too big for me Michael.”

I began with a tongue licking she thoroughly enjoyed ... to the point of holding my open mouth hard against her. I dug like one of those boring machines, until I felt her squirt straight into my mouth.

“Hmmmmm Tasty,” I remarked.

I straddled her, putting my manster between her titties and she licked me with every stroke that came close to her mouth.

“Do you think you are slick enough to take all of me inside your wet pussy, Marie?”

“How did you ever find out my middle name, Michael?”

“I was on intimate terms with administration, and I don’t mean Richard Summers, my dear,” I said pulling from between her breasts and preparing to slide between her crevasse.

“Awwwwwww, dear sweet Michael, I never had anything so big and so deep inside me before.”

As I began to thrust inside her over and over, I said to her, “I will do this as often as my fiancée will allow me to. Please remember, that I am a very busy person, my beautiful Marie!”

I stopped talking and began to take masterful strokes deep up inside this previously unknown woman until I finally popped a nice load of Michael Milk inside her.

We woke up naked in each other’s arms, and she said, “Michael, I have only had one other lover and you are clearly much bigger and better. Thank you. I know I am practically the age of your mother, but ... Wow!”

“Thank you as well. Let’s get a shower before the girls walk in on us.”

She giggled and said, “OK Michael” getting out of bed and leading me into the bathroom. She had to drop and pee. I started the shower.

“Is it safe to assume, I am not the only thirty-year-old you have taken to bed?”

“Yes, it is ... but I am not one to kiss and tell,” I responded.

“At least Clarice?” she intoned.

“Not telling.” I said from behind her. I reached around and fondled her nice breasts.

“You really like tits, don’t you Michael?”

“Yeah, I do,” I answered quickly.

“HELLO?”

“We’re in the shower. Give us a moment please.”

“All we have is small towels in here Michael.”

“So?”

“OK then,” she said taking my arm as we finished and walked out together.

“Why do you were such baggy blouses, Ms. Robinson ... you are beautiful,” Princess said looking at her.

After dressing we all went to breakfast, then school together.

My phone rang, “Yes Stuart?”

“How did you know it was me?”

“I have attached a song to your phone number. It’s called “Lighting Candles,” I answered.

“Clever boss, so ... do you want me to go ahead and buy the recording equipment I told you about?”

“Yeah, go ahead and have it delivered ... to my folk’s house. You have the address already. We’re going to have some fun this year, aren’t we?”

“Damn right we are Boss.”

After school and the WEST SIDE STORY rehearsal, we, including Stu, all went to meet Kevin at the far north end of the Palace Property.

“What are we doing here, exactly?” Jennifer asked as I helped her out of the car.

“This,” I said, “Is the site of my latest dream, everyone.”

“Uh-oh,” Isabel said, “That sounds expensive.”

“This is going to be the home of The GSS Housing Facility, the Palace Bowl Theatre, the GSS Rehearsal & Recording Studio, and the most luxurious restaurant for miles, The Palace Ball Restaurant in the Sky!”

“Goodness gracious Michael,” Jennie said, “This will be your most ambitious project to date, won’t it?”

Kevin got out and unrolled a set of unofficial architect plans, flashing a smile at the girls. I got out my baton and pointed, “Here, in the middle, but 60 feet below grade will be the Palace Bowl Outdoor Theatre. Kevin and Ken will design it together. It will have a gradient slope that will seat close to 9,000 people.”

“But not on the ground,” Kevin added. “It will be a concrete foundation with rot-resistant red oak wood seating with a comfortable slat of the same wood to hold your back up.”

I got out my laptop to show a picture of the Hollywood Bowl. “This will not just be for the GSS to perform at. We have nearly nine months of good weather these days. Maybe we can get Keith Lockhart and his Orchestra to visit and perform.”

“That’s only one place, but you mentioned four,” Stuart quipped putting his arm around his girl.

“Directly above it will the GSS Rehearsal & Recording Studio, a two story facility, that will hold our Concert and Theatre Rehearsal Space on the fifth floor, and our recording studio on the sixth floor.”

“Wait a minute, Michael,” Isabel said, “What happened to the first, second, third, and fourth floors?”

“I think I know this,” Stuart said. “The Palace Bowl will be those floors. For the curtains and flyers and all the rigging it will need when its putting on a concert, play, or musical.”

She gave him a nice kiss.

Jennie said, “So that must mean The Palace Ball Restaurant in the Sky must be on the top?”

“On the equivalent to the seventh, eighth, and ninth floor,” Kevin said. “This madman in our midst wants it to look like a snow globe. That is above my paygrade.”

We all laughed as Jennie placed a hand on his back and said, “If that is what Michael wants, I’m certain, a nice big strong fellow like you can make it happen Kevin?”

Whoa, what just happened?

“So,” Isabel pondered out loud, “That leaves the GSS Housing Facility. Where is that going to be, Lo ... Michael?”

Kevin turned to the final page of drawings to explain, “Miss Chapman, remember how this is going to be centered on the property?”

She nodded her head, as Stu got a hold of her.

“We will be building four stories of homes, with all the usual trimmings. That works out to about 110 nice-sized single story homes going east and west and another 8 that go north and south, See, on the drawing?”

“Michael, does that mean all the GSS families will move in? It makes sense to put the people where the studios are, doesn’t it?” my Jennifer figured out.

“That was my logic behind it all,” I said... “Kevin, is it safe to assume that we would hit bedrock before water or oil?”

“With it being so near the freeway, I would expect we should drill to find it ourselves, before the city or county mandates we do that. Can I go ahead and schedule that, Boss?”