Why don't you do right? (Esme, Gadget, Open)

[Professor Ratigan]

Ratigan sat in the corner booth of the nightclub, enjoying his cigarette and brandy. For once, he wasn't plotting any diabolical scheme. Even villains needed time off. Ratigan was simply here to enjoy himself for the evening.

The waitress set down another drink in front of Ratigan.

"Pardon me." Ratigan called out to the waitress. She turned back to face him. "I couldn't help but notice how crowded the cafe is tonight. What is happening?"

The waitress chuckled and gave a friendly wink.

"Nothing special, sugar." She said. "Just another Friday night. And Esme always has the stage on Friday."

[esmeralda]

The stage was set, the spotlights turned on. The room was half dark, only lit by the stage lights and from the candles around on the tables in the room. The crowd was quiet, waiting in anticipation. The music started to play softly. A long unusually well-shaped leg showed up between the stage curtains, and soon a young beautiful gypsy girl dressed in a red, glittering dress appeared on the stage.

She moved slowly across the stage as if she owned it, starting to sing softly, causing the men in the audience to sweat.

You had plenty of money in 1922.
You let other women make a fool of you.
Why don't you do right,
like some other men do?

Get out of here,
get me some money too.
You're sittin down and wonderin what it's all about.
If you ain't got no money, they will put you out.
why don't you do right,
like some other men do?

Get out of here,
get me some money too.

Now if you had prepared 20 years ago.
You wouldn't be a wanderin now from door to door.
Why don't you do right,
like some other men do?

Get out of here,
get me some money too.

Get out of here,
get me some money too.

Why don't you do right, like some other men do?

((Reference: Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit))

[Professor Ratigan]

Ratigan watched with wide eyes as the enchanting gypsy sang her song. It seemed as though her eyes were focused on him.

Esmeralda sauntered down the stage A random man offered his hand as she climbed down. She teased him momentarily before pushing him away.

She came towards Ratigan, singing the end of the number just for him.

[Gadget]

Gadget wandered into the nightclub, looking for someplace to get some supper. She'd never seen this place before.

The mouse sat down and looked around for a waiter, when suddenly the lights went down and the floorshow began. Imagine her surprise to see Esmeralda singing on stage!

She has a really good voice, thought Gadget, watching the girl cavort with the men in the audience. I guess that's just what gypsys do.

[esmeralda]

Esmeralda stepped down from the stage, teased Ratigan, and pulled his hat over his face, before she turned to Gadget. She gave her a smile and a wink, before she moved slowly across the room. She was an artist who loved to get in touch with her audience, though she didn't enjoy that the audience touched her. If she had known how to read or write, she wouldn't do this kind of work.

At the age of 16, Esmeralda was already fed up with show-biz, and wanted to break free. But a girl had to work to survive, and entertaining was the only thing Esmeralda could do for a living. Her personal feelings for the job didn't show on her face. She smiled and looked like she really loved her job.

She returned to the stage, and started working with her next number.

Sooner or Later (Madonna)

Sooner or later you're gonna be mine,
Sooner or later you're gonna be fine.
Baby, it's time that you face it,
I always get my man.

Sooner or later you're gonna decide,
Sooner or later there's nowhere to hide.
Baby, it's time, so why waste it in chatter?
Let's settle the matter.

Baby, you're mine on a platter,
I always get my man.

But if you insist, babe, the challenge delights me.
The more you resist, babe, the more it excites me.
And no one I've kissed, babe, ever fights me again.
If you're on my list, its just a question of when.

When I get a yen, then baby, amen.
I'm counting to ten, and then ...

I'm gonna love you like nothing you've known,
I'm gonna love you, and you all alone.
Sooner is better than later but lover,
I'll hover, I'll plan.

This time I'm not only getting, I'm holding my man.

[Professor Ratigan]

Ratigan adjusted his hat and clothes when Esmeralda left him.

How he hated that gypsy. He had underestimated her strength and courage, not to mention her loyalty to her friends. He hated being outsmarted, and how Esmeralda had beaten him at his own game.

And yet, listening to her voice, he knew he'd make it a point to come here every Friday.

Ratigan looked around the crowd. Most of the men were hovering by the stage, trying to get as close to Esmeralda as possible. Seated at the table next to him was a young mouse with bright blue eyes and long blonde hair. He tipped his glass towards her in greeting.

[Gadget]

Gadget had never been in a real nightclub before, and even though she wasn't crazy about it, she applauded politely at the end of Esmeralda's song.

The little mouse watched a rat at a nearby table, as the gypsy singer pulled his hat down over his eyes. He was the only other rodent in the place, as far as she could tell, and he really didn't look like he was having a good time.

"I wonder if they have any menus here." The only thing on her table ws a wine list.

Looking around curiously, Gadget noticed the rat noticing her.

When he tipped his glass to her, she didn't want to be rude or unfriendly, so she smiled back and said a simple, "Hi," although it was doubtful he could hear her over the general noise in the place.

[Captain Phoebus]

Captain Phoebus had finally arrived in the square of land and he had only had one thing on his mind..or should I say one person. He could not stop thinking about the lovely gypsy, Esmeralda whom he loved dearly with his heart and soul. He just couldn't understand or figure out why she would just run away on their wedding day like that. It kinda hurt him, but no matter. It didn't matter because he knew that he was going to see that beautiful gypsy soon.

He began observing the people and the places as he continued on by as he was looking for Esmeralda. He wanted to be with her for she was the love of his life and that would never change. He had also missed his dear son Zephyr whom he has loved very much as well. He, Esmeralda, and Zephyr were going to be together and live as a family.

Next thing you know she seen a beautiful young woman with curly and long black hair, thin, and with the most beautiful figure he had ever seen and standing beside her was a goat. It looked like Esmeralda? Was it? It was.When he realized that it wasn't just a dream and that it was really the love of his life. He began running toward her and shouting "Esmeralda!" with care and pure happiness.

When he got to her he put his arms around her, giving her a hug. A tear almost came to is eye because he was happy to see her but he held it back. He thought "Wow, she is more beautiful than ever! He then looked at her with a smile and then grabbed her hand and kissed it softly and then looked into her eyes and spoke.

"My love, where have you gone? I have missed you so. You look more beautiful than ever!....I just can't explain how I felt ever sense you were gone. Never more shall we part, for together we shall be, and happy we shall live....Esmeralda..I love you more than I did then and I thought about you everyday! I even went looking for you,....but you were nowhere to be found!...My heart was broken, fallen to pieces. Nothing or noone was there to heal my wounded heart!...But you my love..just standing here in front of you...I feel healed again!....Now Esmeralda...I know i'm not worthy of you..but!..."

He then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a beautiful sapphire colored ring box and gets on one knee and opens it as he holds her other hand with the box revealing a beautiful diamond ring. He looked in her eyes and continued speaking.

"But...I kept this ring and hoping one day you would come back to me and you would accept it!...Again! So I am asking you, my angel Esmeralda....Will you be my wife again!"

[esmeralda]

Esmeralda blushed when she heard that familiar voice behind her. It was a voice she hadn't heard since she left France, and a voice she was certain she would never hear again. Then she felt strong arms around her and someone pulled her into a hug. There was something familiar about the man.... Esmeralda looked up at him.

"Phoebus? Is that you? What are yo doing here?"

When he asked her to remarry her, she lowered her eyes. So much had happened since she left France. She could see Kovu's beautiful green eyes in front of her, and her heart twinged in pain. She knew that she could never forget him. She looked up at Phoebus, and smiled gently.

"Phoebus, when you have heard of my life after I came here, I doubt you would wish me as you're wife anymore...."

She looked down, her conscious night black as thoughts went through her mind.

I've been a bad girl.....

[Captain Phoebus]

Phoebus looked to her with a smile and then listened to what Esmeralda had said and then thought about it and then after a moment of thinking he finally gave his honest response.

"No matter, here or there or anywhere, I would always want you and only you as my wife. I love you Esmeralda, you know it to be true! I would never want to break your heart for my feelings for you are true!"

He meant every word that he had just said Esmeralda. He really did love her, and he wanted her back in his life and there was nothing that was going to stop them from being together, or atleast he hoped.

[esmeralda]

Esmeralda looked up at Phoebus with sadness in her eyes. She remembered the short time they had shared in Paris, before she panicked on their wedding day and ran away already during the reception, after some old ladies had started speaking of their wedding nights.

"How can you still love me after I ran away from you? And what I did when I was alone here, was even worse. I don't deserve your love."

She lowered her head and spoke barely audible, tears glittering in her long, dark eyelashes.

"After I arrived here, I have been flirting around with other men, playing with their hearts and was for a short time married to a lion, Kovu. He was transformed into a human to be with me, but he is a lion now. I still have warm feelings for him, and I can't forget him."

She took a deep breath.

"I THINK those were most of my sins. If I can think of more, I will let you know."

[Captain Phoebus]

He listened and then he took a breath and then looked back into her eyes. It hurt him a little finding out this stuff but he still felt lucky to be around her. He paused for a moment and thought and with full care and honesty he responded.

"How could I still love you?...I do love you! I adore you! I worship the rain, that waters the grass on the ground you walk on. Being with you would make me the most happiest man in the world. It doesn't matter what you did, that was the past. At least you were happy at some point, I mean because..all I ever wanted to do was make you happy!"

He looked into her eyes and and seen her eyes water seeing a tear almost fall so he wiped away that tear and held her hands and looked back into those beautiful eyes of her's and continued.

"I know im not worthy of you, but im in love with you and I want to marry you again. I want to make it official. I'm glad you told me this because it shows me that your being honest and Esmeralda, I trust you! Now if you want to be with Kovu, then I will of course step aside because all I ever care about is your happiness. Do you remember what my favorite nickname was for you?...Yeah it was princess, and you know..you've always been my princess and you will be my princess for all time..but it's your choice who you want to be with and I don't want to force you into something. I love you more now than I did then. I want us to be together, it's your choice love. So princess my princess, the question still remains....will you marry me again?"

[esmeralda]

Esmeralda looked into Captain Phoebus eyes. She still remembered how he had gotten in trouble in Paris, just because he had risked so much to save her. Not once had he been angry with her, or blamed her for the things that went wrong. And she had repaid him by running away like a chicken because some old ladies frightened her by speaking of their wedding nights. Esmeralda was almost certain that Captain Phoebus was not a monster, like the husbands of those ladies obvioiusly were.

His words, and the understanding he showed, melted her heart. She had not expected him to be this understanding. Not after what she had done. She had expected jealousy rage, scolding, harsh words, but not this declaration of love. She lifted her eyes and looked quietly up at him while he spoke.

"You are not angry with me? I have just confessed my sins to you, and you do not hate me?"

Her eyes gave away that her heart was already melting by his words. His hands were so strong and warm, holding around hers, and she felt just as safe as she had done in Paris.

"Oh, Phoebus. It is I who am not worthy of you. And still, after all this time that has passed, you still have kept a special place in my heart."

She lowered her head, thinking of Kovu. Where ever he was, she hoped he would be happy. It was time to let go, and to let him choose his life, like she now was choosing hers. Her voice was quiet when she once again looked up at Captain Phoebus.

"I will not go back to Kovu. What we had was great, but it would be unfair to pull him into the dangers I am constantly facing. He is one of my best friends, and I will never forget him. But we will never be a couple again."

As soon as the words were spoken, she felt peace, as if she had done something right. She smiled and looked up at Phoebus, her emerald eyes glittering.

"I must admit I was happy, being with you. You always made me feel safe. It is too soon for me to find out what I feel for you just yet, but if you want to give our relationship a second chance, I guess we can try."

[Captain Phoebus]

Phoebus looked into the beautiful eyes of Esmeralda and heard her words as she felt guilty of what she had done to him but it didn't matter to him because he trusted her and he knew that she would never do anything to hurt him again. He loved Esmeralda with all of his heart and soul.

"I could never hate you, i adore you! I am not angry. I trust you Esmeralda! I'm not worried about Kovu, I am sure that you two are just friends now! I believe you my love!"

He then gave her a short kiss on the lips and then grabbed her hand and held it.

"Now, we shall toast our engagement!" he said with a smile

He loved Esmeralda so, and he was so happy that they were together once again and getting married again. He wanted to be with her for she was the love of his life and he felt a lot better now knowing that she was back in his life, and for good this time.

[esmeralda]

Esmeralda blushed when Captain Phoebus kissed her before holding her hand. Only now she remembered that they were in a nightclub and that there were people around them. She looked up at him and smiled shyly.

"Well, that works better if we have something to toast in, don't you think?"

She took his hand and led him over to the bar, giving him a smile.

"Fruit champagne?"