The Rain Begins
Princes POV
Prince woke up refreshed despite the stress of the previous day. He stretched and looked over at his beloved Bella who was still sleeping. She could be credited for his feeling rested this morning because of her tender care last night as he tossed and turned. It remained both amazing and mysterious to Prince how her gentle cuddling could effect him as it did. He felt totally loved and comforted after being held and sung to by Bella. He was grateful to her and to his Creator for making her so intuitive of his needs and so loving of him and his soul. He turned on his side and kissed her gently on her cheek. He loved her and his love grew with every angelic smile he witnessed and every simple caring act she gave him each day. He was the most blessed man on the planet, of this he was sure. As he continued to watch her sleeping she stirred slightly and he saw her long lashes start to flutter. Within a moment her eyes opened and when she saw him looking at her she smiled and said "good morning baby". "Good morning Bella", he said.
It was 4:30 AM. They had a 6:30 AM sound check scheduled for this morning and then they would be performing at 8:20. While the videos from today were not those intended for submission to any network, they would shoot film to give them an idea of the quality of the shoots to come and if Prince's idea of creating video footage from live performances for use on MTV and BET was workable. Bella started to get up but Prince held her arm gently and said, "Bella, I love you". He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. " My Prince, Bella said, I love you more. Take your shower baby while I make the coffee", she said. She got up and made her morning water, washed her hands and went into the kitchen and put the coffee on. Prince headed into the shower to prepare for this momentous day.
Prince had not been on television or Cloud Stream as it was called today since this journey had begun. He was both excited and a little nervous about it. His work would be seen by many more people than ever had at this point in his life, not just in LA or even California. LA Morning was regionally syndicated throughout the Western States as was Good Morning and some markets like Dallas and Chicago and Detroit even received the morning shows. He was nervous simply because he pictured the number of people seeing the performances at the same time. His thoughts bounced around in his mind as he showered, but began to gain the razor focus he was known for as he moisturized his body and his face. He put on a little mascara and highlighter to emphasize his cheek bones and contour his face and nose for the lights. He also picked out his short Afro until it was perfectly round. He looked in the mirror and was pleased with the outcome. He dressed quickly and went into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Bella was pouring it into his mug as he walked into the kitchen and expertly dressed it to his taste. She had fruit juice, some Oatmeal with strawberries and toast waiting for him as well. The Oatmeal was on low on the stove for Elaine and Carlos when they were ready. The bodyguards had already been served. Bella and Prince held hands and prayed over the food and then ate chatting a bit about the plan this morning. During the sound check, Bella and Elaine would block the choreography as they had never rehearsed in the actual space before. They would arrive in the first costume and have their 2 changes already on a hangers for each one in its own plastic bag to facilitate ease and speed for each change. Prince had arranged for 2 of the Arista Costumers to be there to help the girls change quickly and to handle any emergencies that might arise with the costumes. Prince ran the set list in his head as he ate. He would do all four of the songs for the videos two in each of the two segments of the show that he and the band would be performing. They had decided to do If I Love You as the Opener and then When 2 R in Love, followed by I Love You Still and finally, Bella's Eyes. The film would be sent directly to the Film Division of Arista for review. That was the one thing that was an unknown in Prince's mind...would his idea create film that would be acceptable to MTV and BET. They would know in a few hours...but Prince trusted his judgment and thought it would be a major win for the band, himself and Arista.
Bella got up leaving Prince on clean up duty and went to dress. She asked Prince to knock on Carlos's door as she had not heard them moving around yet and time was flying. Prince knocked on the door and Carlos answered right away. Prince laughed and said "just checking man"! While Bella dressed, Prince rinsed their dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Carlos and Elaine emerged from their room dressed , hungry and excited. They fixed their plates and Prince went into the living room to check that he had everything needed in his Valise...he did. Carlos joined him shortly as did Bella and Elaine finished clearing the rest of morning dishes and was 5 minutes behind Carlos. They made their way to the BMW Aircar with Melvin traveling with them and Frank and Larry driving the SUV in front of them. Since they were aware that Jimmy Sanders knew where they lived, Phil would stay with the house today. They took to the air and arrived at the 5:45 AM to see that most of the band was already there and setting up their instruments. Prince pulled everyone together in a circle and they prayed for God's will to be done in this their first Cloud Stream Performance. The costumers arrived within minutes and the girls began their warm-up stretches. The Set director welcomed them at 6:00 gave them instructions as to what the cue lights on the set meant, and wished them luck. Where they would have normally been in the Green Room as regular guests, since they were all performing or assisting performers...they were all allowed to be in the wings of the set when/if not in front of the camera. The bodyguards did their sweep and settled into strategic places on the soundstage doing what great bodyguards do...fading into the woodwork, ever watchful and prepared to move with lightening speed if needed.
At 6:30 AM on the button, Prince began the sound check starting with each musician checking the tuning of his instrument against the Piano key tones. Once satisfied with that, Prince began the first song. As the chords of If I Love You began, Bella and Elaine blocked out the movement of the dance. The dimensions of the sound stage they had been given and used in the rehearsal hall were perfect and the choreography fit beautifully. The check moved on to When 2 R In Love and that went equally as well. One of the leaps into a pirouette in I Love You Still had to be contained some but that was easily accomplished. Finally Bella's Eyes chords sounded and Bella blocked that piece without any needed modifications. Prince wanted to do Bella's Eyes again musically, which they did and when completed the second time was musical perfection. It was 7:10 AM and it was time for this sound stage to go dark behind the curtain as the audience would begin to be admitted at 7:20 AM and would be allowed to continue to enter until 7:45 AM when the entry doors would be closed. The show began at 8:00 straight up! The musicians sat silently in place and Prince was upfront with his guitar right near the microphone. The girls were on a sofa to the side of the stage and would enter and take their places at 7:55 AM when directed to by the Set Director. Prince would be interviewed briefly on the air in between the two performance segments by one of the shows anchors, Britt Jenson. He felt comfortable enough with that...but wanted to get it over with.
The house lights went down and the familiar theme song of LA Morning began to play. The announcer said the LA Morning trademark..."Welcome to another LA Morning. Here's Britt and Kyle". The show had begun. The show followed the normal morning format, a little joking around between the anchors, some brief local stuff about traffic and morning drive times with some shots of the sky as the sun came up a little earlier this morning from the LA Morning Helicopter and then to a commercial. When they returned, Kyle said, "we have a real treat for you this morning LA. You may have heard the buzz around town about a band called Royal and the World Changers...as they have been performing at a few of the more intimate venues in town for some time. There were a few shouts and whistles and some stray clapping. Well they are about to drop their first album Titled If I Love You and it will be available for streaming in about 4 weeks on the Arista Stream...they are also appearing tomorrow on our competitor's show...Good Morning LA, yes I can say that, (the audience laughed) and will be on Late Night Cloud Stream on both networks on Thursday and Friday of this week. They will be in concert on Saturday for the Pan Hellenic Council. All proceeds from the concert will go to The Pan Hellenic Scholarship Fund. The concert will be at the Largo at the Coronet on Saturday night at 7:00 PM. Tickets will be available only to the Greek community through Noon today and then will be open to the public though the Arista Ticket Network or the ticket booth at the Largo at the Coronet. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Royal and the World Changers doing the title song, If I Love You!
The curtain opened, the lights came up as Carlos went crazy on the drums. As he did his thing, the audience got more and more excited and then the rest of the instrumental music began. Prince sang his soul out on this first cut and the girls danced like the energy machines they were. It was killer and as the song ended, you heard the soon to be infamous on the 1. The audience was standing whistling and clapping. The Anchor, Kyle said, "we have to go to commercial. When we come back would you like to hear another"? The audience went crazy and shouts of yeah and then Royal, Royal, Royal could be heard as the show cut to the commercial. Bella, Elaine and Prince had moved into the wings changing quickly into their black and silver outfits and then took their places waiting for the When 2 R In Love Cue. As they came back from commercial...Kyle simply said...Ladies and Gentlemen, Royal and the World Changers performing When 2 R In Love. The dance for this piece was very sensual. On the verse containing the line "their stomachs pound every time the other comes near"....the girls hips moved in a syncopated fashion just like the music, emphasized by the drums...and the audience went nuts again. As always, as Prince sang, he used phrasing, volume and range changes, subtle dance moves, as well as facial expressions to draw the audience into the musical story being told. When he moved to the center of the stage between Elaine and Bella and began to dance in unison with them as he sang, women in the audience could be heard screaming and shouting both his name and in general. The song ended and the curtain dropped. The audience showed their appreciation by clapping and shouting and whistling as Kyle announced another commercial. The girls and Prince took a couple of swigs of Gator Aid and then and centered themselves as the commercial break ended. The curtain came back up and the camera followed the very tall, blond, Britt to Prince's position on stage and she began the brief interview. He introduced the band members and then Bella and Elaine and then answered some questions about how long they had been together, who composed the music and lyrics and did arrangements, to which Prince answered he did with the help of Carlos on some of the songs... asking Carlos to stand again. Britt said that she thought she had heard that he and Carlos were both college grads...he smiled and said all of his band members were college graduates except for Bella and Elaine and they would be graduating in the spring of the next year. Britt said" well ladies you heard it...not only is he sexy , and seriously fine...but smart too. I think we better pay attention...Royal and The World Changers are going to be very, very big. Would you like to hear another song"? All kinds of noise indicating yes came from the audience. "Well after this commercial you will".
Welcome back to the LA Morning Britt said as the commercial break ended. Once again here is Royal and the World Changers singing I Love You Still. The song reached into the hearts of the audience and brought a playful, lighthearted sense of love to all under its spell. Prince sang as though he was being led by the mythical Goddess of Love herself reaching into the imagination of every woman present and making her his own. As the song ended someone in the audience shouted "Royal I love you too...marry me"! Laughter and clapping ensued. The lights dimmed and a final commercial cut away for the segment occurred. Prince and Bella scrambled to change into their Purple outfits.
Prince and Bella were back in place as the commercial ended. In a voice over, Kyle said without being seen...Singing Bella's Eyes...Royal and the World Changers...The piano chords of Bella's Eyes began. The guitars made their entrance as did the soft sexy drum sass of the snare drums. Bella began to move and her movement was the extremely skilled, exquisite combination of the sensual and the innocent at the same time. Prince's vocals were absolute perfection. They told the story of deep love, separation, emotional longing, sexual hunger and then joy with a restrained, but excited timber in his voice. It was perhaps the best vocal she had heard Prince do in many years. The sexy sax began its soulful journey of a solo and then Prince's vocals screamed an emotion filled re-entry to the focal point! As the last chords were played and the guitar strings came to their rest, Prince caught Bella's eye and as they looked at each other, they knew, that who they were, had just been defined musically for the world to see. His eyes caressed her; hers reflected the depth of her love for him. And then the moment was broken by pandemonium coming from the audience in appreciation of what they had just witnessed. Wild clapping ensued joined by a chant of Royal, Royal, Royal. The World Changers were on their way to complete their mission given to them from the hidden world beyond the stars! As taught in the Bible, their gifts were making room for them. Paradise and the Creator, would have Their way!
Prince and the girls changed into street clothes. The band collectively fist bumped and congratulated one another. Prince was very proud of each of them and told them so and thanked them. The videographers said they were headed to the lab now and would call as soon as the video's were edited so that Prince and his team could come and view them. Christian had said to call him no matter the hour, as he wanted to be there for first viewing along with Barry Wright. They thought that even with a few wrinkles they should have them ready no later than 8:00 tonight and maybe earlier.
The body guards checked the vehicles and the beautifully appointed touring bus for the band and after determining all was clear, Prince, Carlos and the girls got into the BMW Aircar and followed the SUV out of the parking structure and took to the air for home. It had been a wonderful morning marked by stunning performances and they were truly happy, pleased and felt truly blessed. They were also tired. They got to the house and decided to shower, change and go back out for brunch at the Palm in Beverly Hills. Frank said he wanted to drive them in the SUV and he did and this time Phil and Melvin rode along. Larry was promised a plate and stayed at the house. They got to the Palm and settled into a joyful meal and shared their feelings of accomplishment and hope for a great video outcome. After eating, settling the bill and collecting Larry's meal...they headed back to the house. They would relax and enjoy the rest of this day waiting for the call about the edited videos.
The Rain Begins
Jimmy Sanders POV
Jimmy woke up, only because nature was calling. He stumbled into the bathroom and tried to do his business despite the fact that his head was pounding like a bass drum was inside it. He headed back into the bedroom. He needed a taste to stop the banging in his head. He reached into the suit jacket pocket and pulled out the ivory vial. Opening it, he was shocked to see it only had enough in it for one spoon. Snorting it, he headed to the garage still in his boxers and with bare feet, to get the other vial. He retrieved it from its hidden place in the glove compartment. He opened it and was glad to see it was still nearly full. But that also meant he needed to get with his boy today because this was the last of his supply. He tapped some of the precious poison into the spoon worn around his neck and snorted into his previously deprived nostril. Moving back into the house and his bedroom, he looked at the clock. It was almost 4:00 PM. Hell, what time did he roll in last night? He couldn't remember and didn't want to expend the energy to try. He went to the bed stand and picked up his phone and called Arman who said he would have a pound for him in about an hour. He went into the kitchen and made coffee...and turned on the Cloud Stream out of habit. As soon as the coffee was ready he poured himself a cup and drank two large sips of the black liquid down. After he finished one cup he poured and began to drink another. He flipped the channel and an advertisement for the 5:00 news came on. He decided he would go back into the bedroom and watch it from there. Turning off the Cloud Stream in the kitchen, back to the bedroom he went. He sat in one of his huge chairs after turning on the set. He watched some mindless comedy crap for a few minutes and then changed to the 5:00 news channel. He caught a commercial for Good Morning LA speaking to the guests for tomorrow morning's show. He focused when he heard "and a very special performance by Royal and the World Changers". Damn, he had missed the rest of the commercial so all he knew was that they would be on the show in the morning. The 5:00 news show came on and when it got to the entertainment section, he saw Royal and the band playing Bella's Eyes while Bella was dancing. Holy shit she was beautiful and hot. He watched her closely and his dong started getting hard. They cut away from the rest of Bella's performance making some reference to the reception by the audience. He could still hear Royal's vocals in the background. As the song ended, he then heard the incredible pandemonium coming from the audience. "Shit, they like that little MF", he said out loud, but to no-one but himself. That really pissed him off. He picked up a shoe and threw it toward the Cloud Stream. He heard cracking. It didn't break, but he had managed to crack his 63 inch Cloud Stream. "I hate that little asshole; I hate him", he thought. His headache was back so he went and laid back down. "I am going to handle this punk as soon as I feel better". He laid down on the bed and fell into a fitful sleep!