Chapter Seventeen
The Return of the Angel
The members of the Opera Populaire had been rehearsing Don Juan for
about two months. On one occasion, the Phantom appeared in the middle
of the stage, disturbing the rehearsal. However, no one complained.
"I apologize for my sudden intrusion," said the Phantom. He pulled out
a small bound manuscript from his cloak. "But I bring you the rest of
Don Juan."
Andre waked over and took the manuscript from him. He began to flip
through the pages. He noticed that a new character had been added.
"Who is to play Jean-Juan?" asked Andre.
"Don't give that role away. I already have someone to play that part.
But you will not be rehearsing with him," said the Phantom.
"What's this nonsense? Are you saying that we are to rehearse without
the performer?" asked Piangi.
"You will understand Signor Piangi, on opening night," said the Phantom.
He then disappeared. Andre turned to the cast. "Well, we better
start rehearsing this bit," said Andre.
"But how are we to rehearse with one of the cast missing?" asked
Carlotta. "Is the Phantom trying to make us look like fools?"
"He said that we would understand on opening night. So until then, we
shall perform without Jean-Juan, whoever he is," said Andre.
And so the cast performed without the company of Jean-Juan. When they
felt that they were ready, they began to sell tickets. They didn't sell
briskly at first. A week before opening night, Andre was visited and
questioned by some reporters.
"Monsieur Moncharmin, what is this opera called?" asked one. Andre
looked at the cover of the opera, his eyes widened.
"Don Juan, by Erik and William Dauphin," said Andre.
"Aren't you worried about the Phantom?" asked another reporter.
"I have a feeling that he won't be disturbing this opera," said Andre.
"What about Monsieur Firmin? Aren't you worried that the Phantom might
kill you like he did to your partner?" Andre frowned and got up.
"That was a most tragic time for me. No, I don't believe that the
ghost will not try to kill anybody, including me. He will just want to
watch the performance. Richard was a very honorable man, he didn't
deserve to die." Andre tried to hold in his tears, he began to walk
out. " I won't be answering any more questions," Andre choked.
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As the days passed by, the seats were sold. Soon all of the tickets were
bought. On opening night, everyone came to the Opera Populaire. Most
of them were a little worried as they passed through the large doors
into the theater. The Phantom entered his box and sat down. He watched
the people take their seats.
"William? Are you here?" he asked. Silence. The Phantom looked down.
"So I am to remain a killer. William, why did you ask me to add another
member to the cast if there was no one to play him?"
Raoul joined Andre in the managers' box and they took their seats. Raoul
looked at the crowd below. " A full house Andre," said Raoul. Andre
nodded.
"If this doesn't please Erik than nothing will," said Andre. Raoul looked at him.
"Who?" The overture started and Andre raised his hand for silence.
Christine walked onto the stage as Amita, Don Juan's true love. Piangi
entered as Don Juan. The two began to sing together in perfect harmony.
The Phantom watched as the scenes slowly passed by, but still there was
no sign of his brother.
Soon it neared the scene where Jean-Juan was to make his entrance. The
cast backstage began to panic. As Carlotta was having a fit, Jonathan,
Gregory and the ballet girls headed out to perform their dance.
"Where is Jean-Juan? He's almost on!" hissed Carlotta.
"Patience signora. I'm sure he'll show," said Piangi.
When the dance was over, Christine and Piangi took their place back on
the stage. Christine had been surprised at first at the sight of the
stage set. It looked remarkably like the Phantom's lair. It had an organ
on one side and a violin on the other.
The Phantom didn't pay close attention to this scene. He knew it by
heart. It was the scene where Don Juan sang about how he lost his
brother in battle when they were young. After the song the Phantom
turned back to the stage. Finally, he was to see Jean-Juan.
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Backstage, everyone began to panic, as there was no sign of Jean-Juan.
Then out of nowhere, a voice began to sing. It was soft at first, but
slowly grew louder. The Phantom stared as he recognized the voice.
William appeared on the stage singing about how he had come to comfort
his brother.
The Phantom stood up in his box, unable to believe his eyes. There was
his deceased brother singing their opera. But William was not the only
visiting spirit. Firmin appeared in the managers' box.
"I believe you're in my seat Raoul," said Firmin. The patron and
manager stared at him.
"Richard? Is it you?" asked Andre. Firmin chuckled.
"I don't know why, but William invited me to come and see his opera,"
said Firmin.
"But you're...." started Raoul.
".....A ghost?" finished Firmin. " Yes I am. I'm still the same though."
"That's what I was afraid of," said Andre. The three laughed and sat
down. Firmin turned to Andre.
"Jennifer and Erik send you their love," whispered Firmin.
Down on the stage, William finished his song. He walked over to his
violin and picked it up. He then returned to the organ and began to
speak.
"Dear brother Don Juan. I have brought with me someone special. The
Angel of Music! He is with us right now!"
Then the spotlight shone on Box-Five. The Phantom was scared, expecting
screams of terror. Instead there was applause.
"Angel of Music! Come down and sing with us! Show Don Juan and his
bride what music really is!"
The Phantom got up and made a great leap from his box to the stage. The
audience roared with delight at the great feat. William turned to
Christine and Piangi. " Sing with us! Let the angel show the true bliss
of music!"
The Phantom sat down at the organ and William placed the violin under
his chin. The two began to play. Christine and Piangi sang along. Up in
the managers' box, Andre was nodding. "This is why it took him so much
longer to finish the opera. He added his brother to it," said Andre.
When the two brothers finished their song, there was thunderous
applause. William walked over to his brother and whispered in his ear.
"You are forgiven." Piangi slowly made his way over to William. He
reached out to touch him. The tenor's hand went right through the young
brother.
William jerked back, gritting his teeth as if in pain. Piangi quickly
backed away, and began to think of a line that would get everything back
under control.
"Brother! I did not mean to harm you! I just wanted to see if you were
real!" said Piangi. William looked up at him.
"It is alright brother, I can understand your curiosity," said
William. The young brother then lowered to his knees, appearing to be
very weak. The managers and Raoul looked on worried. The Phantom got
down next to his brother.
"William?" asked the Phantom softly.
"Yes Erik?" said William even softer.
"Please tell me, who was the man that had helped us all those times?"
William pointed up to the managers' box.
"Andre," said William. He then slowly collapsed to the floor and
closed his eyes. The Phantom looked up. All eyes were upon him. It was
up to him to end the opera. He stood and sang.
"And now Don Juan has his bride- and the angels return to the sky!"
sang the Phantom. He then covered himself and his brother with his cloak
and dropped through a trap door.
The Phantom listened to the thunder of applause. He removed the cloak to
see his brother, but William was gone. The Phantom dashed to
Box-Five. When he entered, he looked at the audience. They were on their
feet and applauding.
" A standing ovation," whispered the Phantom. He then looked over to the
managers' box and saw that there were three men. He leaned over, and
was shocked to see Firmin in the box. Firmin noticed him and nodded. The
Phantom nodded back.
The cast of Don Juan walked onto the stage and bowed. Once again the
spotlight shone on Box-Five. The Phantom bowed and jumped down to the
stage. The audience was cheering even louder now. He, Christine and
Piangi joined hands. They didn't seem to notice the coldness because the
Phantom was wearing gloves. The three walked up and bowed. Never had the
Phantom felt so welcome. He was no longer an opera ghost, but a member
of the Opera Populaire.
The audience then stopped applauding. They were waiting for Jean-Juan.
They were waiting for William. The Phantom decided to explain.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you are waiting for Jean-Juan." The
audience murmured in agreement. " I am sorry to say that he cannot join
us in this curtain call, for he is indeed dead."
There was a gasp of confusion. Jonathan ran over to the curtain and
began to close it. The audience thought that it was part of the act and
applauded again.
The two managers and the patron walked onto the stage. "You did a
wonderful job! I never knew you had such a voice, Christine!' said
Firmin. The entire cast jumped in bewilderment.
"Monsieur Firmin?" asked Carlotta.
"Well I have seen enough, this theater is going to do just fine. But I
believe you need another man to help run this opera house. So I
recommend Erik Dauphin!" said Firmin. Everyone but the Phantom, Andre
and Christine were confused by the name. Christine turned to the
Phantom.
"Will you accept? Will you help run the theater?" The Phantom looked
at her and then at the cast. He smiled.
"If the job is offered, I shall work by Andre's side," said the Phantom. Now the cast
members knew who Erik was. Then William appeared on the stage. The Phantom ran
to him.
"Well done my dear brother. You are now no longer forced to live in
the dark cellars," said William. The Phantom looked at his brother.
"William, I shall never forget all that you've done for me," said the Phantom.
"And I shall never forget you Erik," said William.
Firmin and Andre walked over to William's side. William turned to Andre
and bowed to him. " You've done a marvelous job on our opera. I thank you."
Firmin then took out his watch. "Oh my, I think we should be going.
Jennifer's waiting for us," said Firmin.
"We'll see you next season," said William, and the two spirits disappeared.
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The next day Andre led his new partner into his new office.
"Well, here it is Erik. I'm sure you're going to like running the
theater," said Andre. The Phantom nodded.
"I remember how William used to sneak in here and was 'paid' our
twenty thousand francs," said the Phantom. The Phantom smiled at the old
manager. "I'm glad to know that all this time you had tried to help
him." Andre stared.
"He told you?" asked Andre. The Phantom nodded. " Come Erik, we are to
meet our Prima Donna and patron for lunch."
"But of course," said the Phantom. They left the office and met Christine and Raoul in the
theater's diner. They took their seats.
"How's our prima donna? " Andre asked as he smiled.
"I'm fine. I can't believe Carlotta quit," said Christine.
"Well, we still have Piangi, and he sings just as well at your side"
said the Phantom. " I hear that you are soon to be Madame Chagny. Is it true?"
"It is, isn't it wonderful news?" asked Andre. The Phantom nodded his
agreement. Andre took a sip of tea and then turned back to the Phantom.
"So Erik, what do you suggest our next opera should be?" asked Andre.
"How about Il Muto? Christine has charm and appeal. She would make the
perfect Countess," said the Phantom.
"Excellent choice," commented Raoul. Andre picked up a newspaper.
"Care to hear the reviews of Don Juan?" asked Andre. The Phantom
turned to him, his eyes like those of an eager child.
"Please!" exclaimed the Phantom.
" 'Don Juan was a new opera that was just introduced. Its composers,
Erik and William Dauphin, not only wrote and composed it, but starred in
it as well. The emotion that the two portrayed was magnificent and the
disappearing effects stole the show. How Don Juan was able to make it
appear that his hand actually passed through Jean-Juan still remains a
mystery. This opera unfortunately was performed only once. Hopefully
this great opera will return very soon.' " Andre put down the paper. " Is Don
Juan ever going to be performed again?" The Phantom smiled at Andre.
"I could recreate the disappearing effects with a few mirrors, but
nobody could ever play the violin like my brother," said the Phantom.
"Yes, your brother had a wonderful talent," said Raoul. The Phantom
turned around and looked at a booth. There was someone in a long black
cloak writing a message down. Reyer was passing by. The man stopped
Reyer, handed him the message and pointed to the Phantom.
Reyer walked over and gave the note to the Phantom. He opened it and
read it aloud.
Tell me when Don Juan returns. I shall be waiting.
W.D.
Everyone turned back to where the man had been sitting, but he was gone.
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