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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Eight
Nightlife
Emily races up the stairs to her room. She glances down at her watch. She would have to hurry to get ready for the theater with the grandparents. She flicks on her hot rollers and she picks out her outfit. The phone rings. She picks up the phone after the first ring. "Hello."
"Emily."
"Hello Nikolas."
"So what did you want to do tonight?"
"Oh hell! I'm so sorry, Nikolas, I got roped into going to the theater with my grandparents." Emily regrets. "If it was just grandfather, I'd try to slide out of it but it's also ..."
"Your grandmother. I understand." Nik sighs. "What are you seeing?"
"I have no idea." Emily laughs. "This is something that Grandmother arranged."
"Well I'll see you soon."
"I'm going to hold you to that."
"Good night, Emily."
"Good night, Nik." Emily reluctantly hangs up. Sliding out of her street clothes, she puts in the rollers and quickly, expertly does her make-up. Choosing her heels to make her just a hair taller than grandfather, she fastens them. Then she grabs the dress and carefully pulls it over her head and smoothes the silky long dress down her body. It hugs every line. Sitting down at the dressing table she unrolls her hair and runs a quick brush through the cascading curls. Taking a final look in the mirror she grabs her jacket and small evening purse and starts down the stairs.
"EMILY!" Edward bellows then looks up to see his granddaughter coming down the stairs. Somewhere, sometime she'd grown up. It wasn't his little granddaughter but a young woman that walked smoothly down the stairs.
"I'm right here, Grandfather. Are you ready to go?"
"Your grandmother is already in the Bentley. She has the tickets." Edward offers Emily his arm which she takes, allowing him to escort her to the car.
"What are we seeing?"
"I've no idea. Your Grandmother got comp tickets from the local repertory group. It's the least they can do considering all the money she pours into the place." Edward grumbles.
"It must be so embarrassing for you. Rich as all get out and people keep giving you things for free. It's a good think that Sonny isn't running the theater. He would have charged you a thousand dollars a seat." Emily climbs into the Bentley next to Lila.
"That Hoodlum!" Edward climbs into the car.
"Did someone mention that charming Mr. Corinthos? Such a gentleman." Lila inserts calmly watching as her husband of fifty plus years predictably flushes and begin to sputter. Lila taps on the back of the front seat with her cane. "Reginald, any time."
"On our way, Mrs. Q." Reginald puts the car in gear. Emily settles back into the plush cushions to observe the master at work. Lila has Edward in the palm of her hand.
Meanwhile at the cottage. Nik is feeling stymied. He grabs the Herald and flips to the Entertainment section. Giving thanks he scans an article then races upstairs to change. The Herald article all about the opening of a Tennessee Williams play at the newly refurbished Port Charles Theater is left open on his couch. A refurbishing that could never had been accomplished without the largesse of The Grand Dame of Port Charles-- Lila Quartermaine. Tonight was opening night and a charity benefit. Nik grabs his formal evening clothes. He'd already been prepared for a night out with Emily only the location had changed. Deciding against the tie, he grabs the phone and calls Wyndemere he is quickly put through to Stefan. "Did you get tickets to the play in town?"
"Of course." Stefan grimaces. "While it is necessary to support the locals attempt at culture I see no reason to torture myself with their efforts."
"Good-- then you won't mind if I use the tickets. Can you have the launch pilot or one of the staff meet me at the theater. I'm running a little late here."
"Prior planning, Nikolas..." Stefan prepares to pontificate further.
"No Father, this is an fortuitous opportunity; one which I plan to seize unless I'm delayed."
"This is about Ms. Quartermaine." Stefan's eyes narrow as he considers all the factors.
"Will the tickets be waiting?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll fill you in later." Nik hangs up without saying goodnight and hurries to the car. He presses the speed limit to the max even breaks it here and there but never to the extent as to be excessive and draw the attention of the police. He parks his car in the local lot and walks over to the theater. No valets. No neon lights, not in a great neighborhood. Nikolas looks around and looks beyond the cracks in the sidewalk and sees an old classic neighborhood. Not old by European standards of course, but probably once upon a time this had been the "nice" neighborhood for the seafaring gentry of a bustling port town. Now the grand houses were converted to apartments although there appeared to be a few efforts to revitalize the neighborhood. The theater was a great start. Gibbon meets him infront of the box office and hands over the tickets. Nikolas thanks him and offering the ticket to the usher is directed to a box seat. Nikolas' luck holds. The Cassadine Box is next to the Quartermaine Box. Nikolas looks down at the program for the first time finding out what he was about to see. "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof." Nikolas is distracted as the curtains are pulled back on the box need to him and Edward seats first Lila and then Emily. Rising from his seat he walks the short distance between the two boxes. "Mr. and Mrs. Quartermaine. Emily. What a pleasant surprise."
"Surprise humph." Edward grumbles watching Nikolas cagily. "If I didn't know better..." Lila puts a hand on his arm silencing him.
"I was just going back down to the lobby for a refreshment. Perhaps I can bring you something back, Mrs. Quartermaine?"
"That would be lovely, dear." Lila smiles at Nikolas. "Emily, you haven't seen the theater since they finished the renovations perhaps you'd like to accompany Nikolas."
"If you wouldn't mind?"
"I'd be honored." Nikolas holds out his arm which Emily takes. They clear the curtains before Emily speaks again.
"How did you know? I didn't even know!" Emily exclaims.
"Your grandmother was written up along with the theater." Nik explains. "I took a chance. You look beautiful."
"Thank you." Emily smiles. "You look quite dashing yourself. I feel like something out of a Merchant and Ivory film." Nik looks at her blankly. "Nevermind, that'll be the next movie marathon. Although Lucky is sure to hate it."
"Why is that?"
"They're chick flicks."
"Chick flicks?" Nikolas grins; he might not be familiar with the slang but it's self explanatory.
"You'll see." Reaching the lobby Nikolas and Emily stand to the side for a moment checking out the refurbished theater. It had been the passion of a society matron a century ago and no expense had been spared back then when it was built. It had fallen on hard times with the advent of movies and then with television. As the neighborhood deteriorated so had the theater. It had been boarded up for a decade before Lila had taken an interest in it when it had been brought to her attention by Reggie. Reginald used his little time off to do work in the small repertory troupe. One of the original plays being produced was something that Reggie had written. Lila had brought in craftsmen from all over the country, specialists to restore the theater to its former glory while modernizing it to take into consideration technological advances. "Can my Grandmother cook or what?" Emily gushes.
"It's a gem." Nikolas agrees. "But you can't tell from the outside."
"That's next. Now that the inside is perfect, they are going to work on making the front pretty. But that is just paint and the perfect sign. Reggie says that the theater is booked solid with acts: musicals, concerts. The local rep group has a rotation of plays already planned. The high school is going to do their play here as is PCU. Dance recitals. And there has been some interest from some of the traveling theater groups. It's not big enough for the Big Broadway shows but it is convenient for the people that are trying something out and trying to get it to Broadway. The Rochester Shakespearean troupe got burned out of their theater so they are going to be coming here after the summer is over."
"Why then?"
"Cause they are doing Shakespeare in the park until then down in Rochester. No matter how enthusiastic the fans-- no way they are going to brave a New York winter to see a play outdoors. It would be suicide."
"True, but what a classy way to go." Nikolas laughs. Comfortable with each other, they people watch for awhile. Ned and Alexis are there. Carly and AJ too since Jason has Michael for the weekend. Amanda Barrington was there with an escort young enough to be her grandson (but who wasn't). Lucy Coe was there with Scott Baldwin and his parents. Kevin Collins and Eve Lambert with Victor and his new bride. Glancing down at his watch, Nikolas excuses himself to brave the crowded refreshment stand. He brings back beverages for all of them and Emily takes the lead back to the boxes making sure that nothing interferes with Nikolas' balance. They reenter the Quartermaine box. Lila is people watching as the crowd begin to take their seats. Nikolas offers the refreshments to Lila and Edward. "I think that they made an exception when I said this was for you." He tells Lila.
"Thank you dear." Lila graciously says. She sips the lemonade and remembers times past. This old theater had brought back many memories. The house lights flash.
"Mrs. Quartermaine, would it be okay if Emily and I sat together in the next box. My father had a prior commitment and was unable to attend this evening." Edward looks ready to protest but Lila nods. Emily and Nik walk over to the next box and take their seats just as the lights go dim. Nik holds a hand out to Emily. She takes it and settles back to enjoy the play. Before the play starts a single spotlight holds center stage. Reginald walks out resplendent in his formal attire. He thanks everyone for coming to the opening night of the theater. Then he specifically thanks Lila for her contributions making the evening possible. There is a round of applause and a soft spotlight focuses on Lila in the Quartermaine box. Catching everyone's attention, Reggie announces the charities that benefit from the sold out performance. Bowing to the audience, Reggie thanks them once again for coming and leaves the stage.
As the final curtain comes down and the applause fades, Emily bites her lip. "Now I know for certain that grandfather didn't pick out the play." She grimaces.
"Hmm." Nikolas supposes, "A few too many "Big Daddy" elements in the Quartermaine family?"
"Well they aren't waiting for him to die or anything like that. But the whole family sucking up and currying favor. It reminded me of an ELQ board meeting." Emily shudders.
"And I don't know, what do you think--- Carly the Cat?" Nik suggests. "Desperate for acceptance, scheming and lying to get it?"
"Maybe, although not as badly as before. She pointed out to me that lying wasn't like the flu-- you don't just get over it."
"When did that happen?"
"We were up at her property, and she suckered me into giving her some information. I should have known better. Now I have to be on guard as to what she is going to do with it." Emily sighs.
"And she is a friend of yours?" Nik wonders.
"Family and friend. She rebuilt my relationship with AJ. Being around Carly and especially being under her wing is empowering. She shows you that anything is possible, and if you think it's not-- you're just looking at it from the wrong angle or you don't want it bad enough. So I guess the lying and scheming for sure. Carly the Cat. I wonder what she thought of the play?"
"If anything is possible, do you think that there is anyway that I can see you tonight?"
"Emily, it's time we were leaving." Edward glares at Nikolas.
Emily takes Nik's hand and gives him a hug her face close to his ear. "Luke's place in about an hour."
"Emily!" Edward insists.
"Coming Grandfather." Emily turns away from Nikolas and follows Edward and Lila down to the lobby. They run into AJ and Carly there. Carly is looking around the theater with approval. Since she married AJ they'd spent a lot of time in theaters going to plays, musicals even the opera. Each weekend that Jason had Michael; AJ planned quality time with Carly: Trips to New York City, Cape Cod-- even a weekend down in Virginia Beach.
"Miz Lila, it's wonderful -- absolutely perfect." Carly kisses Lila on her powdered cheek. "It's like nothing I've ever seen before. AJ's taken me to bigger places, maybe even grander places but this..." Carly is speechless. "It's just perfect. I can't believe it's in Port Charles."
Edward tries to draw AJ into a conversation about an ELQ contract Edward has been micromanaging. AJ is having none of it. With a hand at his wife's waist, he reminds, "Grandfather, it's all been handled and the signing will take place on Monday as scheduled."
"I'm just so revved up from the performance, I know there is no way that I can sleep." Emily says to the grandparents but looks at Carly. "Isn't there some tradition about staying up to see the reviews or something?"
Carly catches Emily's hint and embroiders it. "AJ and I were planning on going over to... Luke's? (Emily barely nods) for just that reason. Emily, would you like to go with us?"
"Emily, that sounds lovely." Lila states. Reminds me of what I did back in my youth. Enjoy yourself, dear and tell me all about it over brunch in the morning." Lila puts her chair in motion. Edward catches up to her to protest.
"Lila, what do you think you're doing? Emily is already spending too much time with Carly. She's a horrible influence on the girl!"
"Hush Edward or have you failed to realize that we will have the house all to ourselves?" Lila winks at Edward.
"REGINALD! GET THE CAR!"