“In the jazz-infused heart of Chicago, two murderesses dance with death and fame, turning scandal into the performance of a lifetime.”
Watch the original version of Chicago
Prologue:
Under the seductive glow of the speakeasy’s lights, jazz music fluttered into the night air, the pulse of Chicago throbbing in sync with the saxophone’s melodious rhythm. Within the club, patrons were ensnared in a world where sin was merely the price of a ticket, and the law was only as pertinent as the amount of bourbon in one’s glass.
Among these joy-seekers was Velma Kelly, a beguiling vaudeville star steeped in charisma and mystery. Her world was one where behind the glitz and cabaret, secrets festered. Clandestine affairs, jealousy, and ambition knotted into a deadly concoction. As she stepped onto the stage that night, she was unaware of how her life was about to descend into a whirlwind of crime and passion.
Unbeknownst to Velma, in the audience sat another woman. With wide-eyed fascination and dreams shimmering brighter than the skyline, Roxie Hart, an aspiring singer herself, admired Velma. Little did she know how inexplicably their lives were about to intertwine, spinning a tale of ambition, scandal, and survival.
Chapter 1: Backstage Betrayal
The mellow notes of the jazz band were still echoing in the air when Velma’s world came crashing down. As the curtain fell and the applause resounded, she discovered her husband and sister, entwined in a lovers’ clasp, their betrayal stark. Blinded by fury, she seized the decorations backstage, crystal daggers that reflected her betrayal and rage.
A cacophonous duality played out—while the audience demanded an encore from the vaudeville star, backstage echoed with chilling screams. When the applause had finally subsided, Velma stood alone, her heart pounding in rhythm with the swiftly fading jazz notes, the lifeless bodies of her husband and sister at her feet.
Amongst the chaos, a figure had watched the whole appalling spectacle unfold from the shadowy wings—Roxie Hart. Her dreams of stardom blurred into a scene of shock and terror as she witnessed Velma’s dramatic transformation from a celebrated artist to a murderer. Roxie had sought fame, but on a stage glittering with passion and talent, she found herself dancing with death instead.
A night that started with jazz and dreams descended into a nightmare, the diabolical music of betrayal and murder playing on repeat. As Velma was led away under the harsh glare of police lights, the speakeasy fell into hushed whispers, and the curtain fell on the first act of a saga that would grip the city of Chicago.
For Roxie, that night served as a gruesome reminder of the lengths some would go to protect their fame and reputation. Yet, instead of deterring her, it only fueled her ambition. Unbeknownst to her, she too was on the precipice of a destiny entangled in crime, and the price of fame would soon reveal itself in all its devastating glory.
Chapter 2: “Caught in the Headlights”
Roxie Hart was the quintessential girl with big dreams trapped within small rhinestones of reality. Aspiring to be a star on the grand stages of Chicago, Roxie had the voice of a nightingale but the luck of a gambler on a losing streak.
One day, her destiny twisted when she stumbled upon a horrifying scene. The sight of the then famed Vaudevillian, Velma Kelly, offstage and drenched in her husband’s blood, was a scene so eerie that it could freeze the warmth of a summer afternoon. But for Roxie, it served as a macabre inspiration. The intoxicating cocktail of fame and infamy intrigued her, as she saw an opportunity for the spotlight she coveted.
Her subsequent affair with Fred Casely, a man who promised her an introduction to the titans of show-business, was her step towards that ambition. Fred was a smooth-talking swindler who promised to take Roxie right to the top. But when he revealed his lies, the rejection stung Roxie hard. She was not a woman to be scorned and channeled her rage into a frenzy of passion and violence.
Armed with nothing more than a half-empty bottle of gin and the audacity of her dreams, Roxie ensured that Fred Casely danced his last dance that fateful evening. But as the smoke from Roxie’s gun dispersed, she found herself staring at Fred’s lifeless body, as it slumped on their cheap rug. The realization of her act and the consequences it would bring hit her harder than a swing from a seasoned boxer. Roxie Hart was now a murderer.
Swiftly the sirens wailed, drawing nearer to Roxie’s apartment, slicing through the thick Chicago night. Roxie’s world began to shrink as the walls of her apartment closed in. Her heart pounded in rhythm with the sirens, her dreams of fame replaced by the nightmare of the noose. Panic-stricken, Roxie turned to her submissive husband Amos, concocting a story of self-defense against a burglar.
However, Amos was not the fool he seemed. He smelled the bitter notes of Roxie’s hastily woven deception, discerning the unfamiliar scent of cologne on the scarf she had used to wipe her tears – Fred’s cologne. His heart was broken, but he wouldn’t be made a fool. Amos called the police, and as he revealed the truth, Roxie found herself caught in the harsh headlights of the law.
Her arrest was swift and brutal. The wailing sirens, the flashing red lights, and the taste of cold, dry fear as the handcuffs bit into her wrists was a grim symphony that played into the depths of the Chicago night. As she was escorted away, Roxie couldn’t help but remember Velma Kelly, and the audacious smirk she wore as the police handcuffed her. Was this what Roxie wanted?
In her dank prison cell, Roxie’s mind raced through her options. The final act was yet to unfold. The stage had been set, her audience eagerly waiting, though the spotlight she craved was tinged with a grim specter of the gallows. Yet, Roxie wasn’t going to let her dreams flutter away into the dark Chicago night. She steeled herself for the trials to come. Little did she know, she would be sharing the stage with none other than Velma Kelly.
Chapter 3: “Cellmates”
In the shadowy confines of the women’s prison, Roxie Hart was led to her cell. The clanking of her chains echoed ominously in the silent corridor. She was shoved into her new home and the steel door slammed shut behind her with an air of finality. She was no longer an aspiring singer but a prisoner, cast into a world far removed from the glittering limelight she had dreamt of.
She looked around, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. The cell was small, damp, and packed with two dingy beds, a decrepit metal toilet, and a single chair. The sight of her cellmate sent a jolt through her. She had seen this woman before, on stage, under the spellbinding glow of the footlights. Velma Kelly. They had met once before, in the tumultuous night of a murder and a betrayal.
Until then, Velma had been an emblem of the life Roxie had yearned for. But now, a new reality had set in. She wasn’t sharing a stage with Velma but a prison cell. They were equals in their transgressions, co-conspirators in a twisted journey towards fame or the gallows.
“Roxie Hart”, Velma drawled, a malicious grin spreading on her face. “Welcome to Hell.”
Their lives collided in that small cell, their stories intertwining like thorny vines. They were murderesses, rivals, cellmates, bound by circumstance and a shared hunger for fame. Every single minute together was a psychological chess match. Whereas one wanted her piece of freedom, the other desired the last remnants of her fading stardom. The prison was their battleground; the outside world watched, engrossed.
During their squabbles, they realized how much they could benefit from each other. Roxie was buoyant, naive, and adaptable, like clay waiting to be moulded. Velma, on the other hand, was experienced, shrewd, and hardened by the harsh realities of the world. If they chose to work together, they could be the perfect team. Or if they chose to fight, they could create the most catastrophic rivalry.
Day in and day out, they traded stories, plans, and veiled threats. They danced a dangerous waltz around each other, each trying to gain the upper hand, each trying to outdo the other. Velma revealed her plan to use her trial as a stepping stone back to fame. Roxie, inspired, decided to spin her own tale of innocence. As they spun their stories, they were not just planning their defense but also their comeback. The prison cell was their rehearsal space, the world outside their audience.
But the tension was palpable. Every conversation was a battle, every silence loaded, every shared glance a challenge. The claustrophobic cell, with its bars and walls, was not just a prison but a stage. They rehearsed their pleas, their declarations of innocence, their performances for the jury. Their audience comprised prison guards and inmates, who watched the unfolding drama with bated breath.
In this rollercoaster journey, they learnt to laugh at the irony of their lives. They found humor in the darkest corners, they learned to survive the grueling days with a smile, weaving their grim reality with threads of comedy. This was the plot of their lives; so outrageous, so unbelievable, that they could only laugh and continue with their charade.
The animosity between the two women only heightened the drama, adding more layers to their complex relationship. There were no dull moments in cell block six. It was filled with shouting, laughter, bitter confrontations, and impromptu performances.
Their relationship was an explosive mix of fierce competition and grudging respect. It was a test of wills, an intricate dance of power. As the trial date loomed closer, the tension spiked. Who would outshine the other? Who would win the public’s favor? The answer was yet to be revealed in the midst of their shared tragedies and ambitions. And as each day passed, they couldn’t help but remember that they were not just fighting for fame, but for their lives. Their destinies were twined together, a twisted duet some might sarcastically call ‘friendship’. But in reality, it was a bitter rivalry nurtured by the thirst for fame that would either save them from the gallows or drag them into the abyss.
Chapter 4: “All that Jazz”
Shrouded in the lingering scent of cigarette smoke and stale beer, the shadowy prison cell could hardly be considered a setting for two women striving for popularity. Yet, it was within these bleak, iron confines that Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, once famous in their own realms, dove deeper into their machinations, igniting the fire of a spectacular media frenzy. The ‘innocent’ murderesses, entangled in their separate webs of adultery and betrayal, began to spin their tales.
Eager to exploit the buzz already surrounding their trials, they turned to their lawyer, Billy Flynn. Billy, as cunning as a fox and slick as a hustler, was renowned for taking on some of the city’s most notorious cases. He had a gift, an uncanny ability, to manipulate the press and the jury—a skilled puppeteer pulling strings in a marionette theatre.
Billy’s office was a treasure trove of the city’s dark secrets, filled with newspaper clippings of his most sensational cases. The scent of polished mahogany furniture and faded parchment hung in the air. As Roxie and Velma walked in, they felt their hidden desires slowly surfacing—anxious, but eager for the spectacle to begin.
“All that jazz,” Billy murmured, poring over their cases, his nimble fingers caressing the worn-out legal documents. He saw the opportunity – their twisted narratives could captivate the city’s imagination. He started crafting tales of victimization and innocence around these women. He orchestrated their public image, painting them as deceptively innocent angels falsely accused—the sweet jazz babies of Chicago.
Meanwhile, Roxie and Velma, dressed in the tragic robes of naïveté, began rehearsing their stories—each line, each word, each glance coordinated for maximum effect. They learnt to cry on cue, to wrap the audience around their trembling fingers, to play the victim while batting doe eyes at the jury.
Soon, their tales seeped into the city’s bloodstream. The headlines screamed their names, gossip columns dissected their lives, and hushed whispers in the alleyways echoed their fabricated stories. The city was hooked on the scandal. Everyone waited, holding their breath for the trials to begin.
In their cells, Roxie and Velma revelled in the attention, their names on the lips of every Chicagoan. They practiced their roles diligently, mirroring the other’s movements, adding a touch of authentic vulnerability. They learnt to move like chess pieces, understanding that their survival depended on it. They were only pawns in this media circus, but they aimed to become the queens.
Thus, the ‘jazz killers’ were born—the cynosure of the city, the proverbial phoenixes rising from the ashes of scandal. Their rise was adorned with flashes of neon lights and jazz music reverberating in the air. The hypnotic performance of innocence swept over Chicago, ensnaring the city in a web of anticipation. Their lives might have been caught in a vice grip, but their fame shone brighter than ever, casting long, distorted shadows on the bloodied footprints they had left behind.
In this chapter of their tormented lives, Roxie and Velma had discovered their unusual path to fame—a dance of deception and drama, set to the beat of their heart, and orchestrated by an attentive audience, unaware of their manipulation. They relished the applause, the recognition, the fame—it was the lifeline they clung to, their only escape from the gallows of reality.
In the end, amidst the cacophony of their orchestrated innocence and the pulsating rhythm of Chicago’s heartbeat, the jazz music played on—an eerie lullaby, echoing the rise of two stars from the wreckage of their past, dancing to their tunes of crime, scandal, and survival. Indeed, it was all that jazz.
Chapter 5: “A Battle of Wits”
The incessant thrum of anticipation buzzed in the air as the day of the trial loomed. Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, two women united by crime and the relentless pursuit of fame, were caught in a relentless tug of war. For them, the courtroom was the stage, and the jury, the audience. The stakes couldn’t be higher: the limelight they craved or the looming shadow of the gallows.
Their lawyer, the suave and shrewd Billy Flynn, acknowledged the situation’s gravity but couldn’t help but revel in the exhilarating challenge. He had two murderesses, sizzling tabloid topics with narratives that glued the public to their radios. The key was to skillfully pit them against each other, ensuring that they both remained in the limelight and, in effect, safe from the gallows.
Unquestionably, the stage was set for a battle of wits.
Velma was a seasoned performer, a fallen angel ruthlessly discarded by the city she danced for. Her story was one of betrayal, of love turned sour, a narrative that brought tears and scandalized gasps from the sympathetic public. Yet, she was no innocent. Velma was cunning and relentless, possessing a sharp intellect and a sharper tongue. She knew precisely how to razzle-dazzle the jury, the judge, and the flashing cameras, with her feline grace and husky voice casting a spell.
On the other side, there was Roxie, the naive ingenue turned femme fatale. Her wide-eyed vulnerability, coupled with a fiery defiance, painted a picture of a woman wronged, a woman who acted in self-defense. Roxie held an ace up her sleeve, an unexpected twist to her narrative—the echo of an unborn child’s heartbeat that she hoped would be her trump card.
Predictably, the tension between Velma and Roxie ascended to dizzying heights as the courtroom drama unfolded. Both women began to play the game, matching each other move for move. They twisted and turned their stories, adeptly utilizing their lawyer’s advice to keep the public intrigued and themselves relevant.
Flashes of comedy and drama paraded through the courtroom, enthralling their audience. An obtuse judge, a cynical matron, dramatic outbursts, teary confessions, and fabricated tales of abuse swirled into a wild vortex of sensationalism. Here, amidst the sea of black robes and stern faces, the two women danced their dance. Tears would spring up at opportune moments, and voices would tremble with rehearsed trepidation. Their performances were peppered with humor, their sly wit and biting sarcasm causing unexpected laughter to ripple through the stone-cold courtroom.
Underneath this comedy and drama, however, lay an undercurrent of desperation. Every smirk, every tear, and every word were battles fought in the war for survival. The women, under the camouflage of flamboyant theatrics, were just two desperate souls clinging to their last strains of hope.
As the chapter of their lives titled ‘A Battle of Wits’ neared its climax, one thing was sure: the courtroom had never seen a spectacle quite like this before. The battle lines were drawn. The stage was set. Offstage, the gallows loomed. However, Velma and Roxie were performers through and through. The spotlight was theirs, and they would dance their dance until the curtain call, regardless of the consequences.
And so, the fight for fame and freedom continued. The grand farce of the trial turned into a tale of unparalleled drama, filled with comedy, crime, and a hint of tragedy. But who would be the lead was yet to be seen. Would it be Velma, with her savage wit and sultry allure? Or would it be Roxie, with her calculated innocence and secret weapon?
Only time and the jury would tell, as the world watched with bated breath, captivated by the drama and comedy that unfurled in a Chicago courtroom, back in those thrilling and sordid days of the roaring twenties.
Chapter 6: “Courtroom Capers”
The rhythm of Chicago’s heartbeat echoed in the courtroom as the city prepared for the most sensational trial of the Jazz Age. The gallery buzzed with anticipation and the jury was poised to drink in every single word of the courtroom drama unfolding.
At the center of the charged atmosphere were Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, two murderesses turned media sensations. With Charisma and a dash of the unexpected, they transformed their trials into a theatrical spectacle, leaving the public enthralled and the jury beguiled.
Billy Flynn, their silver-tongued lawyer, known for his knack of turning criminals into celebrities, was ready. He had a flair for the dramatic, and he knew exactly how to play the crowd. He stirred the pot, bringing an element of comedy to the otherwise grim proceedings. The courtroom was his stage, the jury his audience, and he was ready to put on a show.
Velma was the first to take the stand. The former vaudeville star was in her element. With a sultry smile and a husky voice, she regaled the court with her tale of betrayal and heartbreak, painting herself as a victim rather than a perpetrator. She played up the drama, her eyes welling up with tears at just the right moments, evoking sympathy from the courtroom.
Just as the audience was swaying toward Velma, Roxie took the stage. The young, doe-eyed singer had a different approach. She spun a tale of innocence lost, a young woman led astray by the allure of fame and the promise of love.
A surprise testimony by Roxie’s gullible husband, Amos, infused with his pathetic attempts to gain public sympathy, became a comedic interlude. His unabashed loyalty, despite Roxie’s blatant manipulations, made him the city’s laughing stock. A moment of hilarity amidst the drama, unpredicted and potent.
Billy masterfully spun the women’s stories, his words dancing through the air, capturing everyone’s attention. He twisted the narrative around, using the media to turn these murderesses into martyrs, victims of bad luck and worse men.
Just as the crowd was eating from the palm of his hand, the prosecution delivered a blow. A surprise witness, a quiet girl who claimed to have seen Roxie in concert the night of the murder, her eyes filled with rage.
The room fell silent, hanging onto her every word. The tension was palpable. Roxie, always quick on her feet, turned this around into an impassioned speech on the hardships of being a woman in the heartless world of showbiz, drawing a round of applause from the enamored spectators.
As the day drew to a close, it was clear that the fluidity of fame was in full display. Public sympathy swayed from one defendant to another, riding the wave of their narratives. The conclusion of the day was as unpredictable as its start, a perfect blend of drama, comedy, betrayal, and unexpected twists. The line between right and wrong blurred as the curtain fell on the day’s proceedings, leaving all of Chicago waiting for the next act of this courtroom caper.
Chapter 7: “A Change of Heart”
The bustling city of Chicago was no stranger to scandal, but the courtroom drama between Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart was turning out to be the grandest spectacle of the 1920s. The public reveled in the scandalous tales spun by Billy Flynn, their slick lawyer who never lost a case. The ladies, facing the gallows, engaged in a bitter rivalry, each seeking fame that might offer them salvation.
The courtroom was a chaotic symphony of reporters, spectators, and jurors, their faces etched with anticipation. Billy, a master puppeteer, spun the narrative, painting Roxie and Velma as victims of men’s capricious whims. The ladies, donning innocent personas, delivered performances worthy of Broadway. But beneath the surface, the stakes were high; the noose was drawing closer with every passing day.
Then, the unexpected happened – the curveball that the ‘Chicago Twosome’ didn’t see coming. Roxie Hart, the girl-next-door turned murderess, discovered she was pregnant. The news sent a ripple through the city, causing a dramatic shift in the narrative.
For Roxie, the revelation was a shock, but it soon dawned on her that this could be her trump card. The aura of motherhood, its inherent vulnerability, and innocence, could sway the public and the jurors in her favor. The news leaked, and instantly, Roxie, the murderess, became Roxie, the expectant mother.
As the tide turned towards Roxie, Velma Kelly stood in the shadows, wrestled with her emerging insecurities. Once the star of the show, she now feared her impending obsolescence. She couldn’t let her chance at salvation slip away. So, like a cornered animal, she decided to fight.
As Roxie reveled in her newfound sympathy, Velma plotted a revelation of her own. The next court hearing promised to be a grand spectacle. The stage was set, the actors ready, and as the ladies walked into the courtroom, they knew that more than their freedom was at stake. The city’s heartbeat quickened; they were about to witness the most dramatic act of this ongoing spectacle.
The courtroom, buzzing with anticipation, fell silent as Velma took the stand. With a steely gaze and a hardened resolve, she confessed that her husband and sister’s deaths weren’t acts of passion, as previously confessed, but acts of self-defense. Her revelation instantly shifted the momentum back into her favor. The audience watched, mouths agape, as Velma spun a tale so raw and relatable that it nearly eclipsed Roxie’s maternal innocence.
The announcement left Roxie speechless. Billy Flynn, the composed lawyer, for the first time, seemed to have lost control of the narrative. The audience, who’d come expecting an execution of law, found themselves in a whirlpool of plots and sub-plots that left them astoundingly perplexed. The drama was not only about the crimes committed, but also about the victims and the redeemers.
As the spectators were sent into a tizzy, the curtain fell on the seventh act of this thrilling saga. The media frenzy amplified, the public sympathy volleyed between the two ladies, and the future shrouded in uncertainty, the drama was far from over.
The stage was set for the next act, and Chicago held its breath, as everyone braced for an even wilder ride in this intoxicating game of crime, fame, and survival. But for Velma and Roxie, it wasn’t just a game anymore – it was a matter of life and death.
Chapter 8: “The Climax Conundrum”
The fervor of the courthouse was like a well-stoked fire. It was as if every citizen of Chicago had come to witness the spectacle, the dramatic denouement of the trials of Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart. Roxie, basking in the glow of public sympathy thanks to her sudden pregnancy, was perceived as the innocent wronged woman. Velma, on the other hand, was pacing her cell anxious as a caged tiger, brainstorming her next drastic move.
Yet, Roxie was increasingly uneasy. The thrill of fame, the sweet intoxication of being adored had begun to sour. Amidst the bright lights and blaring headlines, she felt a pang of disquiet. She had spun such a tale of tragedy and deceit to win public favor that her real life had become a blur. Her brash, confident demeanor was cracking, revealing a woman trapped in her own web of lies.
In contrast, Velma was grappling with the bitter reality that her star was fading. She, the seasoned vaudevillian, was being upstaged by Roxie, a mere chorus girl. The mounting desperation led to a calculated yet desperate move. She approached Roxie with an outrageous proposition: a double act. A plan that would keep them both in the limelight, even behind bars.
Roxie, who had heretofore shunned Velma due to her stinging jealousy, was taken aback. She pondered the offer in the solitude of her cell, weighing up the pros and cons. A strange, uneasy alliance forming amidst the chaotic whirl of events.
Meanwhile, the two trials became a spectacle, akin to a circus. The cunning lawyer Billy Flynn conducted the proceedings like a ringmaster, manipulating the press and jury to his clients’ advantage. His precise, tactical moves were straight out of a rollicking board game with the women’s lives hanging in the balance.
However, the balance of public opinion began to shift drastically due to an unexpected entry. A new inmate, Kitty Baxter, a wealthy heiress who had gunned down her unfaithful husband and two women, was thrust into the mix. The press, ever insatiable for fresh stories, lapped it up greedily. The Roxie-Velma rivalry was temporarily eclipsed, much to their chagrin.
Roxie, sensing her fame slipping away, made a shocking revelation. She claimed her pregnancy was a farce – a dramatic, theatrical stunt pulled off with a cunning mix of padding and convincing acting. The public was incensed at the deception.
This revelation became Velma’s unsuspected boon. She seized the opportunity, wooing the press over to her side, playing the role of the betrayed, innocent woman to perfection.
In the rapidly changing equation, Roxie, from the beloved, pregnant victim became the manipulative siren, while Velma re-established herself as the misunderstood star. The shifting sands of public sentiment reflected the fleeting, fickle nature of fame. The two women, once the adored darlings of Chicago, had become its infamous anti-heroines.
As the chapter closed, Velma and Roxie found themselves at odds, yet bound together by their ruthless ambition and the precarious situation they had landed themselves in. The courthouse awaited the final act. The climax was building to an explosive finale, yet the dice had yet to be rolled for the final play in the game of fame, survival, and deception.
Chapter 9: “The Final Verdict”
The courthouse was a whirlwind of emotion as the final day of the trial dawned. The public awaited the verdict with bated breath, their loyalties divided between the two captivating murderesses, Velma and Roxie. The grim atmosphere was electric, crackling with anticipation. The irony of this once-commonplace location becoming the epicenter of one of the most dramatic scandals in 1920s Chicago was not lost on the gossip-hungry spectators.
The court officer announced the entrance of the judge, bringing an immediate hush over the buzzing crowd. The click-clack of his gavel echoed in the tense silence. It was time for the final act of this macabre spectacle. The two defendants, Roxie and Velma, were escorted to their respective stands. Their presence seemed to amplify the intensity of the courtroom scene, their mere existence now a symbol of a city’s fascination with crimes of passion.
Roxie’s lawyer, Billy Flynn, was the epitome of a flamboyant maestro, passionately dancing through the proceedings as if the courtroom was his stage. He turned his closing argument into an extravagant performance, skillfully reframing Roxie’s crime as a desperate act of a wounded woman, manipulated and deceived by a cruel lover. The audience, entranced, hung on to every word, their sympathy manipulated like putty in his hands.
In contrast, Velma’s lawyer played it calm and collected, relentlessly hammering the point that Velma was a victim of circumstances, entrapped in a toxic marriage where her husband’s infidelity pushed her over the edge. His argument was less fireworks and more a slow-burning flame, but it resonated with the jury, each word reinforcing the image of Velma as a scorned woman seeking justice.
As both attorneys presented their cases, the courtroom drama was interspersed with comedic moments. At one point, Billy Flynn humorously held up an oversized photograph of Roxie’s deceiving lover, his face adorned with a devilish grin. The audience erupted in laughter, providing much-needed relief in the tense courtroom setting.
Finally, the time arrived for the verdict. The judgement would not only determine the fate of these two women but also question the enthralling spell they had cast over the city. As the jury filed back into the room, an eeriness descended, the weight of the impending verdict suffocating the room.
With a deep, sonorous voice, the foreman read out the verdict, “In the case of Velma Kelly, we the jury find the defendant not guilty.” A wave of relief washed over Velma, leaving her breathless. The crowd erupted into a tumultuous applause, the sound overwhelming, the tension finally broken.
Then came Roxie’s turn. Amidst the chaos of Velma’s acquittal, Roxie’s face was a canvas of hope and terror. Her eyes flickered to the crowd, then back to the foreman in quick, anxious dashes. “In the case of Roxie Hart, we the jury find the defendant not guilty.” The courthouse exploded in cheers, the dramatic climax leaving the spectators with a strange sense of euphoria.
Ironically, as the two women walked free, their faces mirrored the spectrum of emotions felt by Chicago. Yet amidst the tumultuous celebrations, they couldn’t help but notice the fleeting nature of their fame.
The whirlwind of the trial had ended but left in its wake a landscape altered forever. The media frenzy began to die down, the spotlight moved on, leaving Roxie and Velma to grapple with the aftermath. They had escaped the gallows, and yet, they found themselves on a different type of death row. As the city gradually forgot the sensational murderesses, they felt the shadow of obscurity creeping in, threatening their hard-won fame. Would they ever taste the intoxicating allure of the limelight again?
However, the final chapter of their story was yet to be written, setting the stage for a resolution as unexpected as the twists that had preceded it.
Chapter 10: “The Encore”
The city of Chicago relished in the aftermath of the sensational trials. Velma and Roxie were free, and the headlines that once screamed their names were now occupied by the next sensation. The public’s fickle affection had shifted, leaving the women in the shadows once more. The bittersweet taste of fleeting fame lingered, interspersed with the stark reality of their newfound anonymity.
Roxie stood in front of the mirror, the once bright eyes filled with dreams of stardom now reflecting a world-weary wisdom. She contemplated her reflection, her hand instinctively cradling her belly. The baby, the innocent life that had been her ticket to winning the public’s sympathy, was now the only living being who didn’t see her as a has-been.
Meanwhile, Velma, too, confronted her new reality. From a lauded Vaudeville star and the city’s infamous femme fatale, she was now just another nameless face lost in the crowd. She wandered through the city’s bustling streets, her heart echoing the rhythm of the jazz music that used to accompany her dance performances.
An idea struck Velma, as sudden as a thunderbolt. What if they could turn the tables once again? They had danced with death and survived. They had held an entire city captive, not with their innocence, but the lack of it. What if they brought their unique blend of drama, comedy, and crime to the stage? In the world of vaudeville, where scandal was spicy and morals were malleable, they could be stars again.
In the dark corner of a shabby bar, Velma found Roxie, nursing a drink alone. She pitched her idea, and for the first time, Roxie looked at her not as an adversary, but as an ally. Roxie, with everything to gain and nothing to lose, agreed to join forces. They would take the world by storm, not as criminals, but as performers.
Rehearsals began with zest. They transformed their tumultuous journey into a riveting performance filled with comedy, suspense, and passionate dance numbers, embodying the very essence of Roaring Twenties’ Chicago. Their struggles fueled their artistry, their competition bred creativity, and their shared infamy bound them together.
On opening night, they were a bundle of nerves. Would they be accepted or shunned? Would their notorious past be their downfall or their triumph? The applause that greeted them as they shimmied onto the stage in sequined flapper dresses, feather headbands, and determined smiles, was deafening. The audience loved them, for what they were, and what they were not. The duo was back in the spotlight, their complicated past becoming their passport to a new lease on life.
Their performance was a delicate blend of comedy, crime, and drama, mirroring the tumultuous saga of their own lives. The audience was left bewitched, the newspapers had new headlines to print, and the city had its newest sensation – the infamous Murderess Duo of Chicago.
In a world driven by the thrill of scandal and the charm of the unexpected, Velma and Roxie found their niche. Their story, captivating, comedic, filled with criminal intrigue and dramatic twists, was a natural fit for the theatrical world. They became the city’s guilty pleasure, the entertainment everyone loved to hate and hated to love.
In the end, fame found them once again, more for their audacity than their innocence. They rose from the ashes of scandal, weaving the threads of their misdeeds into the fabric of their performance, enticing the audience with a tantalizing blend of sin and sequins, crime and comedy, drama and dance.
The final act came to a close with a bang. Velma and Roxie stood arm in arm, basking in the thunderous applause. Fame might have been a fickle friend, but they had harnessed its power, turned it into their ally. As the curtains fell, they knew they had regained their limelight, not as murderers, but as the infamous, unvanquished queens of vaudeville. Their tale ended not on a note of defeat, but on a high note of triumph, a comedic climax that resonated with the essence of their indomitable spirit.
And so, the story of Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, two murderesses from the heart of 1920s Chicago, remains legend. Not for their crimes, but for their comeback, their tenacity, their ability to turn tragedy into comedy, crime into art. Because you see, in the end, they realized something crucial — the world loves a good story, especially one that ends with a laugh.
Some scenes from the movie Chicago written by A.I.
Scene 1
FADE IN:
INT. SULLY’S JAZZ CLUB – NIGHT
The sound of jazz MUSIC fills the air. CIGARETTE SMOKE clouds the room. Close up on VELMA KELLY (30s, confident, petite and stunning) on stage singing and dancing. The crowd CHEERS, CLAPS, and WHISTLES in appreciation.
CUT TO:
INT. BACKSTAGE – CONTINUOUS
Velma’s husband CHARLIE (40s, ruggedly handsome) and her sister, VERONICA (late 20s, a less glamorous version of Velma) are in a passionate embrace. In the mirror, a figure emerges. Let’s call her ROXIE HART (20s, naïve, pretty).
CUT TO:
INT. SULLY’S JAZZ CLUB – STAGE – CONTINUOUS
Velma finishes her number, the CROWD ROARS. She takes a bow, blowing kisses and exits the stage.
CUT TO:
INT. BACKSTAGE – CONTINUOUS
Velma enters. She freezes, witnessing Charlie and Veronica. Her face is a canvas of betrayal. Roxie slips into the shadows, her eyes wide in shock.
VELMA:
(whispering)
Charlie…Veronica…
CHARLIE:
(surprised)
Velma!
It’s a moment of chaos. Velma reaches for a nearby CANDLEABRA and lashes out at Charlie. Veronica SCREAMS. Charlie falls, blood pooling. Veronica, terrified, backs away. Velma advances, rage filled. Veronica stumbles and hits her head.
CUT TO:
INT. BACKSTAGE – LATER
Velma, out of breath, looks at the lifeless bodies. Roxie, hiding, is terrified. Velma reaches for a discarded BOTTLE of WHISKEY, drinking deeply. She picks up the phone, dialing frantically.
VELMA:
(voice shaking)
Police? I need to report a…a murder…
FADE OUT.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Scene 2
INT. ROXIE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
A dusty phonograph PLAYS a tune. Roxie, dressed in a flapper dress, dances around the room with her lover, FRED.
Suddenly, the music stops and Roxie finds herself holding a gun.
ROXIE
(whispering)
You promised me fame, Fred.
FRED
(sniggers)
And you believed me?
Roxie SHOOTS. Fred falls. Roxie gasps, staring at the gun, aghast.
INT. POLICE STATION – NIGHT
Detective O’HARA, a grizzled veteran, looks at a terrified Roxie in the interrogation room.
O’HARA
(sighs)
Another dame romanced by jazz and bullets…
EXT. COOK COUNTY JAIL – DAY
A BLACK MARIA drives Roxie into the jail. Jail matron MAMA MORTON watches her arrival, smirking.
INT. COOK COUNTY JAIL – CELL – DAY
Roxie, a lost girl in a dangerous world, walks into the cell. She looks nervously at her new cellmate – VELMA KELLY.
MAMA MORTON
(laughs)
Welcome to the Murderess Row, Roxie.
FADE OUT.
Scene 3
INT. COOK COUNTY JAIL – DAY
Cell bars SLAM shut on ROXIE HART (25, ingenue with a hint of steel). She looks around, taking in her new surroundings.
ACROSS THE CELL
VELMA KELLY (30, hardened yet glamorous) lounges on her bunk, watching Roxie with an amused smirk.
VELMA
Careful, sweetheart. This ain’t some dressing room.
Roxie WHIRLS around, eyes wide. She’s heard about Velma.
ROXIE
And you’re Velma Kelly.
VELMA
In the flesh.
Awkward silence hangs. Roxie shuffles around, trying to find a comfortable spot. Velma LAUGHS.
VELMA (CONT’D)
You’re gonna need thicker skin than that to survive here, Roxie.
ROXIE
And you’d know?
Velma rises, walks to Roxie, face inches away.
VELMA
Better than anyone else here, darling.
Suddenly, GUARDS march by their cell. Roxie jumps but Velma hardly flinches. Roxie watches her, realization dawning.
ROXIE
We’re not so different, you and me.
Velma, with a knowing smile, leans back on her bunk.
VELMA
That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. But it’ll be fun watching you figure it out.
FADE OUT.
Scene 4
INT. COOK COUNTY JAIL – DAY
A cacophony of VOICES and CLANGING metal fills the air.
In a dreary corner, BILLY FLYNN (40s, slick lawyer) sits across from VELMA KELLY (30s, fiery-eyed vaudeville star) and ROXIE HART (20s, naive yet cunning).
BILLY
Ladies, listen. You’re not just prisoners. You’re headline news. The public’s eating out of your hands.
Velma rolls her eyes. Roxie, wide-eyed, leans in.
ROXIE
So what do you suggest, Billy?
Billy smirks, leans back in his chair.
BILLY
We sing. We dance. We give ’em all that jazz.
INT. COOK COUNTY JAIL – PRESS ROOM – DAY
Billy guides Roxie into the room, filled with REPORTERS and FLASHBULBS. The room hushes. Roxie, trembling, steps onto the makeshift stage.
BILLY
(whispering)
They’re your audience, Roxie. Now, sing ’em your tune.
Roxie takes a deep breath, then launches into a theatrical recounting of her ‘tragic’ story. The reporters are riveted, scribbling notes furiously.
INT. COOK COUNTY JAIL – DAY
Roxie returns to her cell, triumphant. Velma, watching from her cell, grits her teeth.
VELMA
(mutters)
Over my dead body.
INT. COOK COUNTY JAIL – PRESS ROOM – DAY
Velma takes the stage, telling her own irresistible tale of betrayal and murder. She outshines Roxie, reaping headlines and public sympathy.
INT. COOK COUNTY JAIL – NIGHT
Velma and Roxie in their respective cells, reading newspaper articles about each other. A rivalry brews, their fight for freedom morphing into a fight for fame.
Scene 5
INT. JAIL – DAY
We see VELMA and ROXIE sitting on opposite sides of the cell, eyeing each other warily. BILLY FLYNN, their lawyer, walks in confidently.
BILLY
(stands between them)
Ladies, remember, we’re selling to the public. You two are not just women wronged, you’re stars. Make them love you.
VELMA
(smirks)
Better step up your game, Roxie.
ROXIE
(cocks an eyebrow)
Oh, I’m in the game alright.
BILLY
(interjects)
Enough with childish bickering. If you two want to make it out alive, you better learn to work together.
They exchange glances but say nothing.
EXT. COURTROOM – DAY
VELMA, dressed as an innocent woman, is the first to testify. She delivers a powerfully emotional testimony about her husband’s betrayal, exaggerating for effect.
INT. COURTROOM – DAY
Velma’s performance is followed by ROXIE, who feigns innocence and teary-eyed vulnerability to win over the jury.
INT. COURTROOM – DAY
After a series of compelling testimonies, the courtroom drama reaches its peak. Suddenly, Roxie bursts into a ridiculous, dramatic improv performance, leaving the jury and spectators in shock and amazement. Velma looks on, her eyes filled with stifled rage as Roxie basks in the limelight.
FADE OUT.
Scene 6
INT. COURTROOM – DAY
A packed room, buzzing with anticipation. Reporters, Spectators, Jury Members, all waiting eagerly for the show to begin.
BILLY FLYNN (40s, slick and confident) walks in, followed by ROXIE HART (early 30s, nervous yet determined), dressed in an innocent white dress.
BAILIFF
(Orderly)
All rise!
Everyone stands as the JUDGE (60s, stern) walks in.
JUDGE
You may be seated.
Everyone sits. BILLY looks at ROXIE and gives her an encouraging smile.
BILLY
(Whispering)
Just follow the plan.
She nods. He stands up, turns to the COURTROOM.
BILLY
Your honor, members of the jury, I am here to represent Roxie Hart, a woman who merely wanted to live her dream, but instead became a pawn in a cruel game…
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COURTROOM – LATER
The PROSECUTOR (50s, stern but slightly nervous) sweatily questions VELMA KELLY (mid-30s, tough but vulnerable) on the witness stand.
PROSECUTOR
Can you testify that Roxie Hart told you she killed her lover?
VELMA pauses, glares at ROXIE.
VELMA
(Lies)
Yes. She told me she’d do anything for fame.
The COURTROOM gasps. BILLY stands up, smirking.
BILLY
May I remind the court that Velma Kelly is also on trial for murder?
Another gasp. Roxie smirks too, lapping up the drama.
FADE OUT:
TO BE CONTINUED…
