TANNENHAUSEN took the sleep inducer from Clara saying “So this is how you knock out my men.”
“Give that back to me.” insisted Clara.
“No.” said the baron, “Men. Take Jacqueline back to my bedchamber. And as for these three, dispose of them. Make it look like an accident.”
“No baron.” said Jacqueline, “Let them go. You’ve got me. But my uncle helped my mother care for me after my father died. Don’t kill them. I can’t live with myself if they’re dead.”
“Well that’s too bad.” said the baron, “You’re gonna have to live without them.”
Immediately, Jacqueline broke free and ran to the trio who were also being held.
“If that’s what you want,” she said, “then let me die with them as well. And have me killed first.”
“Jacqueline.” said a shocked Helga.
Jacqueline ignored her mother.
“Baron Von Tannenhausen.” she said, “If you want me then let these three go. Let my uncle go to the Konzerthaus and conduct his Choral Symphony and let my mother live in peace. And give that thing back to this stranger and let her go her way.”
“You’re in no position to make demands.” insisted the baron, “You are my future wife as agreed by both our parents.”
“Not both our parents.” retorted Jacqueline. She pulled out some letters and documents and showed it to both her mother and uncle. “Look at the signatures of father and his parents.” she said to her mother, “And look at the letters I received from the baron.”
Both brother and sister did. While reading it, Helga’s face turned to anger.
“A forgery.” she said, “That’s not my husband’s signature nor are those of the Tannenhausens’.” Looking at the baron, she said “They’re yours!”
The baron’s henchmen looked at their master in complete disbelief.
“It was a signed agreement that when I reached the age of consent, I would be the wife of Baron Von Tannenhausen.” said Jacqueline, “Tell me baron. How did your parents die?”
“My father was killed during the Napoleonic Wars. My mother died shortly after due to a broken heart.” said Tannenhausen.
“And how about my father?” asked Jacqueline.
“He was also killed during the same wars that my father fought in.” said Tannenhausen.
“No way they weren’t.” said Jacqueline, “My father and both your parents were murdered so they couldn’t tell you that they didn’t sign the agreement.” Turning to her mother, she said “You were tricked into signing that agreement by making it look like the others agreed to do the same.”
Helga looked at the baron with severe shock.
“Tell me one thing.” asked the baron, “How do you think my parents and your father actually die?”
“You hired some assassins.” said Jacqueline, “First you had my father killed and then yours. And when your mother heard the news she was given wine to drink but you poisoned it.”
“How did you know all of that?” demanded Tannenhausen, “And where did you get those papers?”
“From the bedchamber you locked me into.” said Jacqueline. Showing a small piece of paper to her mother she said “This is the receipt for the hemlock. Note the date: The same day his mother died.”
Helga was shocked when she looked at it.
“Oh dear.” said Clara.
“And just one more thing.” said Jacqueline, “The assassins who the baron hired were themselves killed just so Tannenhausen would avoid paying them. And so was the assassins killers and so forth.”
“But why would the baron do such a thing?” asked Helga.
“I don’t know.” said Jacqueline.
“I do.” said Clara, “If Tannenhausen doesn’t pay the killers for their services, the killers go forth and blow the whistle on him. It all makes sense.”
“And add to it,” said Jacqueline, “the fact that you left the papers in my little prison indicates that not only is he evil, he’s stupid. Wait till the magistrate hears about this.”
“It’ll never happen.” said Tannenhausen, “Seize them men.” But the men refused. “Are you deaf as Beethead here?” demanded the baron, “I said seize them!”
“No.” said one of the henchmen, “And it’s Beethoven. ‘Deaf as Beethoven’ you murderer.”
“What did you call me?” demanded the baron charging the man. However more men stepped in and intervened on the henchman’s behalf. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.
“We don’t take orders from men who murders parents.” said the henchmen.
They had the baron hemmed onto a manure cart in which Tannenhausen fell in. Just then, another of the baron’s henchmen arrived with a constable saying “There he is.”
“Coming through.” said the constable.
The henchmen allowed a pathway to the baron who was subsequently pulled from the manure. Meanwhile, the baron dropped the inducer during the melee and Clara picked it up.
“Baron Von Tannenhausen,” said the constable, “In the name of the Emperor of Austria, you are under arrest for the murders of your parents, the murder of Beethoven’s brother-in-law, several other murders, forgery and kidnapping. What do you say about it?”
The baron spat out a thesis and said “I hate manure.”
The constable turned to Helga saying “I’m going to need a statement.”
Jacqueline stepped in. “I have something to say.” she said, “The baron started noticing me when I was seven.” Her mother was shocked at this but the daughter went on. “He told me that someday when I grew up, I would be his wife. But the sound of that frightened me. But I knew one weakness he had: He didn’t like singing, especially from me. So I started to sing and the baron put his hands over his ears. However he was persistent and went out of his way to have me for his own. So he had my father murdered and made to look like that he was killed in battle. And then, upon learning that his own parents didn’t want him near me he had them killed as well. And immediately forged their signatures and got my mother to sign.” Turning to the baron, she said “Baron I hope you understand that when you rot in a dungeon, you think of the words ‘honor thy mother and father’.”
“Is that all?” asked the constable.
“It is.” said Jacqueline.
Turning to the baron, the constable said “Come with me.”
And the baron was taken away.
Meanwhile, Jacqueline flung herself into the arms of her mother saying “You and Uncle Ludwig are the best friends in the world for me.”
“Thank you, Jackie.” said Helga.
“Jackie.” said Jacqueline, “You called me Jackie.”
“That’s what you wanted to be called all you life, didn’t you?” asked Helga..
“It is.” said Jacqueline.
Just then, Clara spotted a clock tower. It was showing the time of 7:30.
“The concert.” she said, “We’ve got to hurry if Beethoven has to perform.”
“Just one thing.” said Jacqueline. Turning to her uncle, she said making him read her lips “Uncle Ludwig, I want to sing in the Choral tonight.”
Beethoven looked up and asked her sister “Is it true.” Helga nodded affirmatively. “Well do you want to let her sing.” Again, Helga nodded affirmatively.
Jacqueline looked at her mother and said “Oh thank you mother.”
“Yes.” said Beethoven, “You shall sing in the Choral tonight.”
“Thank you dear uncle.” said Jacqueline as she kissed him.
“We must hurry if we have to be there on time.” said Clara.
At once, the quarry got into the carriage and was driven off to the Konzerthaus.
++++++
Calpurnia, the Beatles and Fred were already there. On their way there, they stopped over at Beethoven’s house where, thanks to the fact that several of the servants were still Fred’s friends, Calpurnia was able to get into one of Helga’s dresses so she could pass off as her. They also got some uniforms to wear when they went onstage.
While the Beatles kept Fred occupied, Calpurnia produced her walkie-talkie and said “Clara come in.”
“Clara here.”
“Calpurnia here. Clara, I’m in the Konzerthaus with the Beatles and Fred.”
“The Konzerhaus?” exclaimed Clara, “What are you doing there?”
“Waiting for the outcome of your mission.” said Calpurnia.
“Well, it was successful.” said Clara, “I’ve rescued Beethoven, his sister and her daughter. The baron is in jail and we’re coming your way. However, we might be late.”
“Well then, we’ve got a plan.” said Calpurnia.
“What plan is that?” asked Clara.
“Just listen.” said Calpurnia as she took her walkie-talkie up to a balcony box seating area and held it over a railing. Turning, back to the Beatles and Fred saying “Ready.”
“Yes we are.”
“Calpurnia come in.” said Clara’s voice, “What’s going on?”
Meanwhile the Beatles and Fred had ran down to the ground floor and up to the stage. The people in the audience were murmuring among themselves at the sight of the five.
John went to the front of the stage saying “Ladies and Gentlemen. There will be a slight delay in the maestro’s arrival so we have a little downtime here. For your entertainment, the orchestra will be conducted by the man who organized it twenty years ago tonight. His name is Fred Pepper. His band was called the Lonely Hearts Club Band. Before you knew it, he was fighting for England and his band went to someone else. Meanwhile poor Freddy went as far as Sergeant before he was discharged. Ever since then he was working as a house servant for the man who had his band. But he’s back and for one more time only he’s going be conducting the band he started performing new songs that we composed for him. Ladies and gentlemen let’s give it up for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club band.”
While John was talking, the Fred and the rest of the Beatles slipped some sheet music to the startled orchestra players for them to perform. Then, John and the Beatles picked up their guitars with Ringo getting behind a drum and took their positions. Then, Fred took the podium and tapped the music stand with his baton.
“One, two, three, four…”
Immediately, Beatles began to pluck at their guitars bringing out music the audience had never heard before.
It was twenty years ago today,
That Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
They’ve been going in and out of style
But they’re guaranteed to raise a smile.
So may I introduce to you
The act you’ve known for all the years,
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
And then, if on cue, the orchestra roared into life accompanying the Beatles in the performance. And then:
We’re Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,
We hope you will enjoy the show,
We’re Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,
Sit back and let the evening go.Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely,
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.It’s wonderful to be here, it’s certainly a thrill,
You’re such a lovely audience,
We’d like to take you home with us,
We’d love to take you home.I don’t really want stop show,
But I thought that you might like to know,
That the singer’s going to sing a song,
And he wants you all to sing along.So let me introduce to you
The one and only Billy Shears
And Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
There was a big build-up from the orchestra to the applause of the crowd. And then the Beatles sang out.
Billy Shears!
At that moment, Ringo came out from behind his drums and went to the front of the stage singing
What would think if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me.
Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song,
And I’ll try not to sing out of key.I get by with a little help from my friend,
I get high with a little help from my friends,
Going to try with a little help from my friends.
Just then, the rest of the Beatles started to sing:
What will I do when my love is away.
Ringo responded by singing:
Does it worry you to be alone.
Then the rest of the Beatles sang again:
How do I feel at the end of the day.
Ringo responded:
Are you sad that you’re on your own.
The rest of the Beatles:
No I get by with a little help from my friends,
Do you need anybody,
Ringo:
I need somebody to love.
The rest of the Beatles:
Could it be anybody,
Ringo:
I want somebody to love.
The rest of the Beatles:
Would you believe in a love at first sight,
Ringo:
Yes I’m certain that it happens all the time.
The rest of the Beatles:
What do you see when you turn out the light,
Ringo:
I can’t tell you but I know it’s mine.
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends.
The rest of the Beatles:
Do you need anybody,
Ringo:
I need somebody to love.
The rest of the Beatles:
Could it be anybody,
Ringo:
I want somebody to love
I get by with a little help from my friend,
Yes I get by with a little help from my friends,
With a little help from my friends.
When the song was finished, Calpurnia pulled back her walkie-talkie and asked “How was that Clara?”
“As Marty would say ‘That’s a song you want to rock too.” said Clara, “We’re here now.”
“Good.” said Calpurnia, “We’ve got some spare clothes for you and Helga if you didn’t stop off at Beethoven’s house first.”
“That’s great.” said Clara, “Clara out.”
“Roger.” said Calpurnia, “Calpurnia over and out.”
At that, she put away her walkie-talkie and waited for Clara and Helga.