Chapter 18
Scooter peered anxiously out the theatre door, looking for any sign of Zoot and Animal. Rowlf had informed him the two musicians had not arrived yet and he was getting worried. On hearing this Scooter agreed to wait at the door while Rowlf went try to distract Nigel. Unfortunately it had now gone 2.10pm and Nigel was on the warpath, making all manner of threats. Slim had managed to slip out of the orchestra pit unnoticed and came to join Scooter at the door.
“Any sign of them Scooter?” asked Slim anxiously.
“None whatsoever!” replied Scooter.
Slim shook his head in despair. “I hope they get here soon. Nigel is really going to town in there! He’s threatening to have Zoot and Animal removed from the orchestra. He’s say he will…..Mr Kermit!” Slim exclaimed.
“Hello Slim. Is there a problem I need to know about guys?” asked Kermit as he came to join Scooter and Slim at the door.
“Problem? No, no! There’s no problem boss – is there Slim?” replied Scooter eagerly.
“No problems at all Mr Kermit!” agreed Slim.
“Hmm.” said Kermit. ‘There’s a problem! I know that ‘no problem boss’ routine too well!’ he thought. ‘And Slim has learnt it extremely quickly too!’ Rather than pursuing it Kermit said to Scooter “I have a journalist from ‘Dance’ Magazine in my office at the moment Scooter. I am going to be giving her a tour of the Muppet Theatre and I will be unavailable for the next hour or so.”
“Check chief!” said Scooter.
Ever since his big announcement on Saturday night Kermit found everyone involved in the Muppet Show to be very keyed up and excited. It seemed all anybody could talk about was Rudolph Nureyev being on their show, and the situation was not helped by constant requests by the newspapers and television stations for interviews. In an effort to get his troupe to focus on the other four shows which were going ahead between now and Rudolph Nureyev’s appearance Kermit had decided to call an extra rehearsal Tuesday afternoon. Normally only he and Nigel would come in on Tuesday’s to go over what pieces of music the guest wanted to perform and other musical interludes. However Kermit thought an extra rehearsal would be just the thing to help bring everybody back down to earth. Additionally, it would be nice for the journalist Kermit was hosting to get a chance to see the inner workings of the Muppet Theatre.
Scooter remained at the stage door waiting for Zoot and Animal, as Slim had to return to the orchestra pit. A moment later he was joined by Dolores, who had managed to sneak away herself.
“Still no sign of the guys?” she asked Scooter worriedly. “It’s drag city in there at the moment!”
“No.” replied Scooter. Just then Scooter and Dolores saw a taxi pull up, the passenger door opened and Zoot got out.
“Oh thank goodness! They’re here! I’ll go tell Rowlf!” exclaimed Dolores and raced back out to the auditorium. Scooter headed down the steps to join Zoot, who was trying to pull Animal out.
“Come on Animal!” Zoot shouted. “We gotta get inside! Leave that seat cushion alone!” Zoot finally managed to pull Animal out of the cab, then turned and saw Scooter. “Here Scooter, hold onto Animal for a moment please?” he asked. “I gotta go pay the driver!”
“Sure Zoot!” replied Scooter, as he held on tight. Animal was jumping up and down and laughing at Zoot, who had his head stuck through the driver’s side window of the taxi and was arguing.
“Oh for the love of peace – take it all you clown!” Zoot exclaimed as he threw the money at the driver. The driver grumbled something intelligible and drove off. Zoot shook his head with disgust and turned to Scooter “That low-life! He got lost! He ended up taking us out to LA harbour! I finally had to give him directions myself. And just then he said he needed to charge us extra because he would have to fumigate his cab after Animal rode in it!” Animal reacted angrily to Zoot’s last statement, lunging after the taxi, which forced Scooter and Zoot pull hard on this chain to prevent him escaping.
“KILL! KILL!” bellowed Animal at the disappearing cab.
“Later man!” said Zoot, as he dragged on Animal’s chain. “Scooter, do you know what time it is?”
Glancing at his watch Scooter answered “It’s 2.20pm Zoot.”
“Oh man, we are so dead!” moaned Zoot. Heading up the stairs Scooter, Animal and Zoot entered the theatre and were met by Rowlf. “Finally! You’re here!” Rowlf exclaimed “What kept you Zoot?”
“Believe me, you don’t want to know!” Zoot replied.
“Well that is a shame, because I do!” A quiet voice said.
Scooter, Rowlf, Animal and Zoot froze. They slowly turned to face Nigel, registering that his face was dangerously impassive.
“Nice to see you have finally decided to grace us with your presence.” said Nigel before snapping “Musicians lounge – NOW!” Nigel stormed off upstairs while Zoot and Animal followed him. Scooter and Rowlf watched from downstairs as the musician’s lounge door opened and was slammed shut a moment later making them both jump slightly. Slim and Dolores, who had been watching from the wings came over to join them.
“Poor guys.” murmured Dolores. “Nigel is going to give them such a going-over.”
“Do you think we should say anything to Mr Kermit?” asked Slim.
“No he’s busy with a journalist at the moment” replied Scooter.
“Mind you, I think I may just head down to the cafeteria and tell Doctor Teeth and Janice what’s happened.” said Rowlf, leaving the others backstage for the moment. Rowlf was more than a little worried about what Animal might do to Nigel. Without Floyd to keep Animal in line, the fact that he was already angry about what that cab driver had to say about him plus Nigel now having a go at him…..it did not make for healthy contemplation Rowlf thought as he went downstairs.
Doctor Teeth and Janice were sitting together enjoying Gladys’ Kamikaze Special, which consisted of hamburger, fries, apple pie and milkshake, while discussing what would be happening with the Electric Mayhem for the next few shows. Floyd would be unavailable for Rich Little’s show, so Slim Wilson was going to play in the orchestra again and the Mayhem would not appear at all. It would also mean that only Janice, Animal and Zoot would be performing weekly for the foreseeable future. However Doctor Teeth was determined to make the best of the situation and was already busy planning what songs the Electric Mayhem would perform once they were back to full strength.
“I was thinkin’ about doing ‘New York State of Mind’ when Floyd is ready to come back.” Doctor Teeth told Janice, in between bites of his hamburger. “It would be positively perfect – nice and slow, Zoot on the sax, yours truly on piano and we’d be able to showcase Floyd. Perfect!”
“Fer sure it would!” agreed Janice, who was finishing her apple pie. She looked upstairs and commented “Like, I haven’t heard much of the band rehearsing, have you?”
“Now you come to mention it no I haven’t either. Wonder what’s going down?” said Doctor Teeth.
“Doctor Teeth!” called Rowlf, who had just come into the cafeteria.
“Hello Rowlf, do like need me now for Vet’s Hospital?” asked Janice.
“No but we do need Doctor Teeth upstairs.” replied Rowlf.
“Why? Like what’s wrong?” asked Janice, exchanging a worried look with Doctor Teeth.
“Zoot and Animal arrived about 20 minutes late for rehearsal and Nigel has hauled them off for a lecture” explained Rowlf.” I’m worried that Animal…..”
“Say no more!” said Doctor Teeth “Just let me finish my milkshake and I’ll come right up.”
“Thanks Doctor Teeth!” replied Rowlf who turned to head back upstairs. Before Rowlf could begin climbing a massive shout of “Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!” came drifting down from backstage. Doctor Teeth, Janice and Rowlf exchanged horrified glances. There was only one person that voice belonged to.
“Somehow I think I’m gonna have to forget about my milkshake!” murmured Doctor Teeth, leaping up from the table Doctor Teeth raced up the stairs with Janice and Rowlf running behind him.