These characters are not mine, they belong to Rupert Holmes, and AMC (or did).
**This story takes place in between what we see in "A Girl Like Maple".**
Maple took a deep break and slid back into the chair at the table that temporarily took residence in Studio A. What was she going to tell Congressman Bob? What would he think if he knew about the real her? Just then, Betty walked into the studio and turned up the lights in the control room. "Maple that was great. You sounded like a real pro."
"Yeah, thanks," the actress said, a little wistfully.
"Maple, is everything okay?" Betty asked, noticing a hint of sadness in her friend’s voice.
"Yeah, Betty, I’m fine," Maple responded quickly as she stood and gathered her note cards from the table. "Say, Betty, how would you feel if you knew that someone changed themselves for you?"
"Well I...This is about the Congressman, isn’t it?"
Maple smiled and nodded as she helped Betty fold up the chairs. "When Congressman Bob heard my real voice after the show, he laughed and started talking about the lower class, the waitress at the ‘greasy spoon’. I didn’t know how to tell him that I’m not exactly the well-spoken lady he thinks I am. Then he asked me to go with him to a banquet at the Van Bueren Grill before I could tell him."
"Maple, I think the best thing you can do is be yourself. Don’t worry what he thinks. Congressman Farraday would be crazy to give up a girl like you," Betty reassured her friend before leaving the room.
Maple turned to see C.J. waving at her from the control room. She’d completely forgotten it was time for 'Beguines from Studio B'. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Maple smiled and nodded at C.J., then took her place behind the microphone. Soon, she was caught up in the show and forgot about Congressman Bob for the moment.
Later, back at her apartment, Maple put on her most sophisticated evening gown and looked in the mirror. Studying her reflection, Maple was amazed at how different she looked and decided that it was okay to keep her secret for one more night. She smiled as she put the finishing touches on her makeup and headed back to the station.
Maple was in the Green Room putting on her earring with the help of the mirror on the cigarette machine when she heard the doors close behind her. She turned and saw Bob looking very handsome in his tuxedo.
The Congressman glanced over the actress in her elegant white dress and smiled. "Miss LaMarsh, you look beautiful. Shall we go?" Bob asked as he extended his arm to her. Maple walked to him and took his offered arm as they left the room and headed to the banquet.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Maple was surprised at her surroundings. There were red, white, and blue banners and ribbons everywhere. The tables were filled with well-dressed people, drinking from fine crystal glasses and eating off expensive dinnerware. She jumped slightly when Bob’s hands touched her shoulders to help her with her coat. He took her arm reassuringly and led her to a table on the platform on the opposite side of the room.
The room quieted as the mayor walked to the podium and proceeded to introduce each person that sad on the platform. Maple turned the Congressman and smiled when he squeezed her hand as the mayor announced "radio personality Maple LaMarsh." Suddenly, Maple felt a wave of satisfaction and excitement wash over her as she knew her disguise was working and decided that she would tell Bob about the real her later.
After the banquet, Maple walked the short distance back to her apartment with the Congressman. As they reached her building, Maple started up the steps, but stopped when Bob softly touched her arm.
"Maple, you are the most wonderful woman I have ever met. Thank you for tonight."
"Bob, I...", she started quietly, but was silenced when Bob put his lips to hers and kissed her.
As they parted, Congressman Farraday smiled and took her hand for a moment before starting down the steps.
Stunned, Maple stood still for a moment, then she smiled as she watched Bob walk to the corner to catch a cab. Once he was out of view, she turned and disappeared inside the building.
Once inside her apartment, Maple changed quickly and settled into bed. She clicked off the light and lay down, but she couldn’t fall asleep. So much had happened that night; so many wonderful things that Maple never thought would happen to her. She was so excited, she needed to tell someone.
Maple sat up, turned on the light and picked up the phone. "Barbican Hotel for Women, please," Maple told the operators on the other end. The operator quickly connected her and a groggy-sounding woman answered the phone.
"Hello. Barbican Hotel for Women."
"Miss Betty Roberts, please," Maple requested, trying not to let her excitement get the better of her.
After a few moments, a very tired sounding Betty came to the phone.
"Hello," she said in mid-yawn.
"Betty, its me, Maple."
"Maple, is anything wrong?" Betty asked, suddenly sounding slightly panicked.
"No, everything’s fine. I just needed to tell someone about tonight. It was so...magical," Maple described, searching for the right word.
"Oh. But Maple, its two...’ Betty started.
"Betty, it was so wonderful. The banquet was really beautiful and the Congressman Bob was absolutely charming," Maple told Betty excitedly.
"Maple, that’s wonderful. I’m really happy for you, but, um, could we talk about this tomorrow? I really need to get some sleep," Betty asked as she stifled another yawn.
"Yeah, sure. Goodnight, Betty. See you tomorrow," Maple said before she hung up the phone.
Maple put the phone back on the night stand and lay back against her pillow to go to sleep, dreaming of her Congressman Charming.
7:45 AM
"Good morning, Maple," Gertie greeted her as she came through the door.
"Morning Gertie!", Maple said cheerfully as she took off her coat and hung it on the coat rack in the corner.
Just then Betty came around the corner with an armful of scripts and letters. "Oh, hi Maple. How was the banquet?" Betty asked as she set the scripts on Gertie’s desks.
"Betty, remember what I said about the Congressman yesterday in your office? Well, I was completely wrong about him. Bob is totally different. When he was giving his speech yesterday, he talked with such power and emotion. Betty, I’ve never met anyone like that. And the best part was he treated me like a real lady."
"So, did you tell him?" Betty asked as she put some letters in the box next to Gertie’s desk.
"Tell him what?" Gertie asked, clueless to the previous day’s events.
"Well, not exactly, but..." Maple said sheepishly.
"Maple, I thought we decided that you were going to tell him!" Betty said, sounding a little upset.
"I will. Betty, you need to understand that all my life, men have treated me like...that kind of girl. With Bob, it's different, as long as he doesn’t know about the real me."
"But you still need to tell him," Betty said, flipping through her mail.
"Okay, I guess you’re right. I’ll tell him tonight," Maple said, giving in.
8:00 PM
Maple and the other women of the station listened in the Green Room as the Congressman finished his speech. Maple found herself feeling more and more anxious as Bob went on with his speech, talking about being proud of who you are and gaining the respect of those around you. She’d told Betty that she was waiting until the time was right to tell him, and she decided that time was now. She had to take the chance that Bob wouldn’t accept who she was.
Maple left the room and walked to reception where she waited for Bob while he finished in the studio.
Suddenly, Bob was standing there, watching her. "Now there’s a woman I’d be honored to carry over the threshold of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."
Maple looked away, knowing she need to tell him as he kissed her hand.
"Bob," she whispered, then took a deep breath and said in her normal voice, "I need that I should speak to you for a minute."
The Congressman drew back slightly in surprise and laughed. "Say, what’s that voice?"
"It’s my voice," Maple explained, "and with it I need to tell you a few things...twenty three things."
"Then tell me," Bob responded calmly.
"Well, first of all, I’m not really the daughter of a millionaire in New York. You see, before I came to work here, I was a fan dancer at the Crimson Follies, and I..." Maple told him, before he interrupted her.
"It's okay, I’ve heard enough. Maple, there are some things you don’t know about me. I’m not really the upper-class gentleman people think am either. Actually, I’m from Sheepshead Bay, in Brooklyn. But as a Congressman I want to do everything I can to help my career and I don’t think dating a girl...like you would help me get into office.
"Bob, does this mean?" Maple asked, her voice a little shaken.
"Maple, I’m sorry. I’d really like to see you again, as long as its our little secret," he said with a small smile.
"Bob, I’m sorry I can’t do that. If you can’t accept me for me, well then..."
"Then I’m sorry too," Bob said quietly. He lightly kissed her cheek and left the station.
Stunned, Maple stood still for a moment, a few tears falling down her cheeks. Then she turned and headed back to the Green Room, hoping to forget about her Congressman Charming.
THE END
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