Chapter Sixteen
The Rehearsal
The cast got together. Reyer began to play the music on the piano.
Everyone paused and listened as Reyer played. When Reyer was finished he
seemed to be in a trance. Andre walked over and placed a hand on Reyer's
shoulder. The pianist jumped.
"Reyer? Are you alright?" asked Andre.
"I don't know. That music, there's something odd about it," said Reyer.
"What's odd about it is that it's not music! It's terrible!" snarled Carlotta.
"I beg to differ Signora, some parts of this are very touching, and at
the beginning when......" Piangi stopped his criticism when he caught a
glare from Carlotta. ".....of course every now and then it turns out to be
gibberish!" Andre put the music aside and looked at the opera script.
He flipped to the end and stared.
"Odd," said Andre.
"What is it?" asked Jonathan.
"There's no ending. It hasn't been completed," said Andre. Piangi
threw his copy into the air. Papers flew everywhere. The ballet girls
laughed as they took cover from the falling papers.
"For the love of God! Gracias Signor Phantom! Gracias for giving us an
incomplete opera to perform!" Andre and Reyer began to pick up the
scattered papers.
"Really Signor Piangi! Was that necessary? This is an opera! That
makes it art!" snarled Andre.
"Did we number the pages?" asked Reyer as he picked up a couple sheets.
"Art? Hah! This is what I think it is, garbage!" Carlotta sneered.
Then a noose fell and landed at her feet. She shrieked and ran over to
Piangi.
"Garbage Signora? Don Juan garbage? How dare you! It took ten years
for my brother and I to write this!" snarled the Phantom. He then turned
his anger on Piangi. " And you Signor Piangi, if you ever treat my opera
like that again, I can promise that you will not be in another opera!"
"Phantom? The opera is not complete. I assume that you shall be giving
us the rest of Don Juan," said Andre.
"Yes, it's taking longer than I expected. It is hard to finish an
opera when one of the composers is dead," said the Phantom. Andre
lowered his head.
"I understand, don't worry, we will be performing your opera, I
promise," said Andre.
"You're a good man Andre. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you are
not. Good luck with Don Juan," said the Phantom. Then it was silent.
Piangi picked up the noose. He turned to Andre.
"Signor Moncharmin, are we performing this to forgive him or is he
forcing us to perform?" asked Piangi. Andre ignored the question.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen. Let's start from act one, scene five,"
said Andre. The cast got in position. Piangi took his place by
Christine. Carlotta looked on angrily. Raoul walked over to her.
"Don't worry Carlotta, Christine loves me. Piangi is still your
lover," said Raoul with a grin. Carlotta glared at him.
"Don't speak to me patron. Don't you have a grave to visit?" she
hissed. Raoul glowered at her.
"Don't try my fury Carlotta," growled Raoul. He walked away and took a
seat in the aisle to observe. Reyer went back to the piano and began to play.
"My dear Amita, your grace and beauty are like those of an angel- I
knew that no other woman could ever be more lovely than you my dear
belle," Piangi sang.
"Oh Don Juan, I feel the same for you- I only have to look into your
eyes to know what you say is true," Christine sang. Andre sat next to
Raoul as the performance continued.
"Listen Andre, I told you Christine sang like an angel. She even
sounds wonderful with Piangi," said Raoul.
"Yes, she does sing very well. I'm just worried about Carlotta. She's
really insulted by this. She might even leave the theater," said Andre.
Raoul turned to Andre.
"Well, you have to admit, Carlotta sometimes does hog the stage.
That's where she earns the title 'Prima Donna'. A very disagreeable
person," said Raoul. The two began to snicker.
"Shh! Shh!" Andre said as he giggled. The performance continued and
ended without a flaw. Jonathan, Gregory and Meg waked over to the
manager and patron.
"We couldn't help but notice that you two were laughing. What's so
funny?" asked Jonathan. Andre stared at them.
"Nothing that would interest you," said Andre. Gregory sat next to Andre.
"Andre, anything that makes people laugh interests us," said Gregory.
"Yes, did you make a joke about someone?" asked Meg. Raoul took out
his watch.
"Meg, isn't it time for your dance lesson?" asked Raoul trying to draw
away the crowd. Meg frowned.
"I can no longer have lessons. Christine says that my angel is dead,"
said Meg. Jonathan and Gregory stared at her.
"But angels can't die!" exclaimed Gregory.
"Well, he hasn't visited me for a while. I'm starting to believe that it's true," said Meg.
"Meg, maybe you should return to your room and rest," said Andre.
"No, I'm fine Monsieur Moncharmin," said Meg. She and the two dancers
returned to the ballet girls.
"So what was so funny?" asked Tonya.
"They wouldn't say," answered Jonathan.
"They were probably making a joke about one the performers," said
Gregory.
"Well, that would explain why they wouldn't tell us," said Lori. Christine walked over.
"Christine, you sounded wonderful!" said Mary.
"Thank you," said Christine.
"I never thought I'd see the day you sang along side with Piangi,"
said Lisa. Christine sat down next to Meg.
"I'm sorry about your angel Meg," said Christine.
"Would someone please explain to me why everyone is talking about
angels? We're performing the work of a phantom and you're talking about
angels!" exclaimed Gregory. Jonathan patted his friend on the shoulder.
"Hey. Let's go get something to eat," said Jonathan. The two got up
and left the ballet girls. Lori got up and began to twirl.
"You were lucky Meg. I would have loved to have an angel," said Lori.
Meg smiled at her.
"Yes, I just don't understand. How could he die?" asked Meg.
"As I told you. Our two angels were brothers. That means your angel was
mortal as well. He was killed Meg, I'm sorry," said Christine.
Meg and the girls stared at Christine. The young Giry looked like she
was about to burst out in tears. Meg got up and left the group so that
she could be alone. Tonya looked at Christine.
"How did you know that about Meg's angel?" asked Tonya.
"My angel was the brother of hers. He told me that his brother had
been killed. I just couldn't bring myself to tell her," said Christine.
Raoul came over to the group and took Christine's hand.
"Christine, you sounded beautiful," said Raoul.
"It was only a rehearsal. You're too kind," Christine said blushing.
The patron put his mouth to Christine's ear.
"Very soon you and I shall be together. I love you Christine."
"I love you too Raoul." Then the patron walked back over to Andre.
"What were you two lovebirds up to?" asked Andre.
"Nothing important. When do you suppose that the Phantom will finish
the opera?" asked Raoul.
"We mustn't push him. He's doing the rest of it on his own and it's
probably very difficult for him." Raoul nodded. Then the patron and
manager noticed that Carlotta was heading in Christine's direction. " Oh
dear. Raoul this looks like the job for two men. Would you please go
over and get Christine?"
Raoul headed over in Christine's direction. "Carlotta!" Andre called.
The prima donna turned around and headed over to Andre. In the meantime,
Raoul had gotten Christine and began to lead her away from the stage. He
brought Christine up into Box-Two.
"This is where Philippe and I would watch the performances," said
Raoul. The two sat down in the chairs.
"It's a good box Raoul. You must have enjoyed the operas."
"Only when you were in them." Christine smiled at him.
"We shall be so happy together Raoul." She looked at her ring. "It
won't be long now." Raoul took Christine's hand.
"What about your tutor?" asked Raoul.
"He is allowing me to spend time with you. I am not deceiving him," said Christine.
"Why the sudden change in plans?"
"I believe he felt sorry for you." Raoul laughed.
"Sorry for me? Somehow I doubt that's true."
"Why?"
"Because he never wanted to talk to me, nor allowed you to spend any
time with me."
"He is very strict. I couldn't risk losing him Raoul."
"But you could lose me?" he asked shocked.
"I thought he was an angel at the time. I already told you about him."
"But even after you found out he was mortal, you still didn't spend an
evening with me."
"Raoul please. It's getting so close to our wedding, let's not
argue."
"You're right Christine. I'm sorry." He kissed Christine's hand. " Let
us return to the rehearsal my love." Raoul and Christine then left the box.
The Phantom entered through a wall and stared at where Christine and
Raoul had been seated. " So it's finally happened. You have given into
that boy's looks and charm. I suppose I should be happy for you
Christine, but I am not," said the Phantom softly. He went back into the
wall. " I leave Christine to spend time with that boy and they end up getting engaged."
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Back down on the stage Piangi was talking with Christine. "I must
admit, you sounded quite good today Miss Daae," said Piangi.
"Thank you signor," said Christine. "It's an honor to hear you say that."
"Well, I was shocked. I didn't know you could sing so well. The last
time I heard you sing, you were in the chorus." Raoul walked over.
"It's amazing what a few singing lessons can do, isn't it Piangi?"
asked Raoul. The tenor nodded to the patron and returned to Carlotta.
Raoul turned to Christine.
"Your voice has impressed Piangi- you indeed are an opera star." The
two held each other close, not even realizing that two sad blue eyes had
been watching their every move.
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