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"Can I show you this new song I've written, guys?" Roger asked one sunny morning.
"Of course!" Freddie said. "Show away!"
Roger smiled and ran to find the lyrics he'd left in his room. He was sure everyone would love it. He sung it over and over in his head just to be sure it was perfect.
"So, here it is." Roger said. "It's called I'm In Love With My Car."
Brian looked confused at the title. John didn't know what to feel about it. But Freddie kept his hopes up, thinking it would be some new love song. But when he read the lyrics, he knew it wouldn't be a great song for the album.
"So, what do you think?"
"That is not going on the album." Brian said blankly.
John nodded, but Freddie looked hesitant to say anything.
"It's only because you want this album to be just yours and Freddie's songs!"
"Oh, here we go." Brian said. "It's not like that. It's just a little..."
"Strange." John finished.
It was a little different. All about pistons pumping and having hands on wheels, it wasn't what the band was used to. Roger knew this, but he wouldn't budge.
"I'm being serious here, it's a good song!" Roger shouted. "What's your latest work then?"
"Here, it's better than yours for sure, even that fancy fairy thing of Freddie's is better than this."
"The Fairy Fellers Master Stroke." Freddie said. "And that was a great song."
"You call me sweet like I'm some kind of cheese?" Roger said. "You think that's quality writing?"
"I've already gone through it and Freddie thinks it should go on the album."
"I think yours should be on the album too, Roger." Freddie said.
"Get in!" Roger shouted. "For the B-side, even?"
"Now that is a no."
"I see what you're doing. You're saying it can go on so we don't get upset with each other and so I don't smash the coffee machine or something and then when I ask for the B-side spot you say no because you don't care!" Roger shouted. "I hate you, none of you care about me!"
"Well sorry, we've already decided." John said. "So what are you going to do about it?"
"I'm going to lock myself in that cupboard until I get the B-side spot!" Roger spat. "I mean it."
Everyone just looked as Roger went upstairs and locked himself in the cupboard in his room, just like he said he would.
"Roger, please!" Brian said. "You're just being silly!"
"You're being silly!"
Roger didn't say anything after that. He just sat there in protest, waiting for someone to cave and put his song on the coveted B-side. He wanted this so badly and, in his mind, he'd earned it. It wasn't anything they wouldn't like on the radio unlike Bohemian Rhapsody, as his song was only three minutes compared to the latter's six minute run time.
Later, someone knocked on the cupboard door. It was John with some food for Roger. He didn't answer and he didn't get his food until John left. He had to admit, it was very nice. Brian must've cooked it.
Speaking of Brian, he was next to come to Roger's protest.
"Roger, please come out." He said. "We can talk about this."
"No."
"Please."
Roger didn't reply. Brian sighed and walked into the kitchen where the other two were eating lunch.
"No luck?"
"Nope." Brian said. "I honestly don't know what else we can do."
"I'll talk to him." Freddie said.
"What is it?" Roger asked when Freddie knocked on the door.
"Roger, I was doing some thinking and maybe we could have your song as the B-side."
The cupboard door swung open and Freddie had to move out of the way before it hit him in the face. Roger came out, smiling.
"I knew you'd come around!" Roger exclaimed. "I got the B-side and you didn't! I got the B-side and you didn't!"
"If you brag like that Brian's song can go on instead."
Roger went quiet, but he was screaming inside. That was easier than he thought.
Soon after they had recorded the album, they went to try and get Bohemian Rhapsody on the radio. But no matter how hard they tried, nobody would play it.
"They have no taste in good music!" Freddie shouted as they walked out of the fifth studio that day.
"I'm sure we'll get someone to play it." John said. "Hey, what about Kenny?"
"John, you little beauty!" Freddie exclaimed as he kissed him on the cheek. "I'll call him now."
After a long phone call, Freddie announced the great news that they were to go to Kenny's studio the next day and he'd play it then.
"What do we have here?" Kenny asked when Freddie gave him the tape the next day.
"The single." Freddie said. "Nobody will play it on the radio."
"Forbidden fruit? Don't tempt me!"
"It's because it's six minutes."
"Six minutes?" Kenny asked. "Ah, I'm In Love With My Car."
Roger smiled and said nothing. What a compliment to have your song mistaken for the A-side! By the Kenny Everett!
"Oh no, it's the one on the other side." Freddie said.
Roger walked out. Brian and John just stared in his direction while Freddie helped Kenny get the tape set up.
"Ladies and ladies, here is Bohemian Rhapsody!"
Brian and John followed Roger while Freddie and Kenny shared a bottle of wine.
"Roger!" John shouted. "I know you're upset but please just listen!"
Luckily, Roger was in the corridor. He turned to them with a large frown on his face.
"Why does Freddie have to get all the credit?" He shouted. "Damn you, Freddie Mercury! I hate you with every fibre of my being!"
Freddie had just walked out of the room he was in with Kenny, surprisingly not drunk, and had a look of shock on his face.
"I'll take your song off the B-side and give it to Brian or John!"
"Honestly, I don't care!" Roger said. "You never give us any credit! It's always the great Freddie Mercury who could do no wrong! The amazing Freddie Mercury with the best singing voice and who gets all the single spots!"
Freddie was very hurt. He didn't say or do anything though. He just stood there in complete shock as Roger stamped his foot on the floor.
"I can do wrong." Freddie said. "And I may have a good singing voice but I have my bad days. And as for singles spots, we make sure we all have a chance to be on it. You know that. Come on Kenny, let's go finish that wine."
He clicked his fingers and walked in the opposite direction, keeping his composure the whole time. How he held it all back, he didn't know.
"He has been hard work all week with that bloody car song." Freddie said. "It's seriously annoying me."
"He's just passionate, that's all." Kenny said. "You're very passionate about Bohemian Rhapsody, so much so that you went to tons of radio stations trying to get it played."
"That's true."
Meanwhile, Brian and John were trying to get Roger to apologise to Freddie.
"You hurt his feelings." Brian said. "When Freddie speaks like that he's definitely upset."
"I know."
"And he did make a good point." John said. "You were just trying to find things to be upset about at the end of it."
Roger got up and Freddie did so too. They walked up to each other and stared at each other.
"I'm sorry." Roger said.
"I forgive you."
Not much was said, but not much needed to be said. They hugged each other and that was that. Everyone were a little surprised that it was sorted so quickly, but then again Roger had been a pain all week so it was nice to hear him apologise.
The gang drove home and turned on the radio. Bohemian Rhapsody was on to everyone's surprise and they all cheered when it ended. But then, a very familiar song came on afterwards.
The machine of a dream...
"Is that what I think it is?" Brian asked.
Such a clean machine...
"Yes! It's my song!" Roger cheered. "My song is on the radio!"
Everyone else laughed as Roger celebrated. He was buzzing for the rest of the day and could barely sleep that night. It turned out that if he was patient and didn't argue with everyone, maybe he'd have heard it sooner.