whats-a-man-to-do-detective-jimmy

[Title: What’s A Man to Do - Song featured in Storytime with Lady Season 2, Jackie’s Back.] [MUSICAL INTRO: Music fades in. A slow, jazzy groove curls through the room — a tenor saxophone carrying a warm, wandering melody. A French horn adds soft, golden swells, and a deep, vibrating bassline pulsing like a heartbeat under dim lights.] [VOICE OF BETTIE — ULTRA‑FEMME, Speaking in French] Bonjour... [pause] [Music floods in.] Bienvenue. [Music fills the room.] [VOICE OF BETTIE — ULTRA‑FEMME, Speaking in French] Qu’est‑ce que tu veux que je fasse ? [A brief silence.] [VOICE OF DETECTIVE JIMMY, the male lead steps into the pocket of the groove. He alone carries the verses of the jazzy love song.] [VERSE 1 — SOLO, VOICE OF DETECTIVE JIMMY delivers noir tinged spoken‑word with clipped baritone ferver of a gumshoe, softened by adoration.] “What do you want me to do?” she asked — Her voice, a sunset breeze, soft and strong. Asking the impossible of me… Can a man command the ocean? Can he pretend he has any control at all? A jazzy rift in the parlor — slow, tidal… my breathlessness inevitable. Something ancient in her eyes, something dangerous in the air we share. I was a tiny boat adrift on the vast expanse of her ocean, lost in her dance — her platinum afro halo mocking the moon. Yemayá… is that you? [PRE‑CHORUS — SOLO, VOICE OF BETTIE ] Quel est ton fantasme ? Tout ce que tu veux, je peux l’être. L’océan, le ciel, l’univers… Cette pièce est ton monde. [CHORUS — SOLO, DETECTIVE JIMMY (sung lightly)] Dreamscapes of you — What’s a man to do Once his fantasy — has come true. [SOLO, VOICE OF BETTIE] « Fais un rêve de moi… » Make a dream of me. [VERSE 2 — SOLO, VOICE OF DETECTIVE JIMMY delivers noir-tinged spoken‑word with clipped baritone fervor of a gumshoe, softened by adoration.] The walls fell away as she danced — rolling, rising, falling like the turning tide, setting me afloat. Expecting restraint… I am not a saint, just a mere mortal holding fast to my boat. Can a man survive out here… all alone? [Pause] [Slows down, Talking} A man can dream — REM sleep, visceral… my awakening unthinkable. Something captivating in her pirouette, my heart happily capsized by the chocolate coquette. [Pause] [Slows down, Talking} Oh, to know helplessness — spellbound by the goddess… Oh yes, oh yes. Yemayá… is that you? [PRE‑CHORUS — SOLO, VOICE OF BETTIE ] Quel est ton fantasme ? Tout ce que tu veux, je peux l’être. L’océan, le ciel, l’univers… Cette pièce est ton monde. [CHORUS — SOLO, DETECTIVE JIMMY (sung lightly)] Dreamscapes of you [Whispers and echoes] What’s a man to do Once his fantasy — has come true. [SOLO, VOICE OF BETTIE] « Fais un rêve de moi… » Make a dream of me. [BRIDGE — CHANGE VOICE TO VOICE OF BETTIE — ULTRA‑FEMME, Singing in French with a wailing saxophone following the FEMALE VOICE lines] La danse est un langage universel. Je peux voir que tu comprends ce que je dis. Rêve de moi quand tu seras de retour chez toi après tes vacances. Ta déesse personnelle, rêvant de toi depuis l'autre côté de l'océan. BREAKDOWN — SOLO, DETECTIVE JIMMY (spoken‑word) At the time... I didn't know what she was saying But it sounded GOOD to ME. I understood her body language. Trusted the tide. In a single song, I had been transported to a place I never thought I would be — shifting the rudder, heart all aflutter. [PRE‑CHORUS — SOLO, VOICE OF BETTIE ] Quel est ton fantasme ? Tout ce que tu veux, je peux l’être. L’océan, le ciel, l’univers… Cette pièce est ton monde. [CHORUS — SOLO, DETECTIVE JIMMY (sung lightly)] Dreamscapes of you — What’s a man to do Once his fantasy — has come true. [SOLO, VOICE OF BETTIE] « Fais un rêve de moi… » Make a dream of me. [VERSE 3 — SOLO, VOICE OF DETECTIVE JIMMY delivers noir-tinged spoken‑word with clipped baritone ferver of a gumshoe, softened by adoration.] [VERSE 3 — SOLO, DETECTIVE JIMMY noir spoken‑word, clipped baritone softened by adoration] I was hopelessly in love. Before the last note of the jazzy groove, baptized in the water, flooding the parlor, on a mystical voyage ensnared by the goddess — the rogue wave my player’s game wasn’t ready for. Oh yes… oh yes. [pause] Now we laugh about it, and celebrate our anniversary on the Bay of Biscay, renewing our vows, casting out all doubt... {Echoes and whispers] giving in to Yemayá, who still stirs the tide. [FINAL CHORUS — DUET, VOICE OF JIMMY and VOICE OF BETTIE, BIG CABARET FINISH] Dreamscapes of you [Whispers and echoes] What’s a man to do Once his fantasy has come true. [Ad‑lib to fade‑out] Dreamscapes of you [Whispers and echoes] What’s a man to do Once his fantasy has come true. [SOLO, VOICE OF BETTIE] « Fais un rêve de moi… » Make a dream of me.