ACT TWO PART TWOBEFORE THE PREMIERETHE OPERA HOUSE ON THE NIGHT OF THE
PREMIERE OF "DON JUAN TRIUMPHANT''
( The orchestra is tuning. A whistle sounds-the
CHIEF FIRE OFFICER is reviewing two FIRE
MARSHALS in tin helmets. A worklight on a
stand illuminates them.
Also present are RAOUL, ANDRE and FIRMIN,
supervising the proceedings, and a
MARKSMAN, at present hidden in the pit )
CHIEF
You understand your instructions?
FIREMEN ( severally )
Sir!
CHIEF
When you hear the whistle, take up your positions.
I shall then instruct you to secure the doors.
It is essential that all doors are properly secured.
FIRMIN'
Are we doing the right thing, Andre?
ANDRE
Have you got a better idea?
CHIEF
Monsieur le Vicomte, am I to give the order?
RAOUL
Give the order.
( The CHIEF blows his whistle. The FIREMEN fan
out, leaving RAOUL, the CHIEF and the
MANAGERS on stage )
RAOUL ( to the MARKSMAN )
You in the pit - do you have a clear view of
this box?
MARKSMAN ( appearing from the pit )
Yes, sir.
RAOUL Remember, when the time comes, shoot. Only
if you have to - but shoot. To kill.
MARKSMAN
How will I know, sir?
RAOUL
You'll know.
FIRMIN
Monsieur le Vicomte, are you confident that
this will work? Will Miss Daae sing?
RAOUL
Don't worry, Firmin. Andre?
ANDRE
We're in your hands, sir.
CHIEF
My men are now in position, sir.
RAOUL Go ahead, then.
( Sounding his whistle again, the CHIEF shouts
into the auditorium ):
CHIEF
Are the doors secure?
( Exit doors are slammed all over the building, the
FIREMEN answering one by one: "Secure."!
The orchestra falls silent. Very quietly from
nowhere, we hear the VOICE of the PHANTOM )
PHANTOM'S VOICE
I'm here: The Phantom of the Opera. . .
( ALL look around apprehensively. FIREMEN start to
run in the direction of the VOICE )
PHANTOM'S VOICE ( from somewhere else )
I'm here: The Phantom of the Opera. . .
( Again, they follow the VOICE. This happens several
times, the PHANTOM'S VOICE darting more and more
bewilderingly from place to place. Finally it is heard
from Box Five, and in the confusion the MARKSMAN
fires a shot. RAOUL rounds on the MARKSMAN furiously )
RAOUL
Idiot! I said: only when the
times comes!
MARKSMAN
But, Monsieur le Vicomte. . .
( The PHANTOM'S VOICE cuts in, filling the
building. All look up )
PHANTOM'S VOICE
No "buts"! For once, Monsieur le Vicomte
is right. . .
Seal my
fate tonight - I
hate to have to
cut the fun short
but the joke's
wearing thin. . .
Let the audience in. . .
Let my opera begin!
...............................................................
"DON JUAN TRIUMPHANT"( The set of the final scene of "Don Juan TRIUMPHANT"
A huge hall with an arch. Behind the arch, which has curtains,
is a bed. A fine table, laid for two.
PASSARINO, DON JUAN'S servant, is directing the STAFF
as they make the room ready. They are a crowd of
sixteenth century ruffians and hoydens, proud of their
master's reputation as a libertine )
CHORUS
Here the sire may serve the dam,
here the master takes his meat!
Here the sacrificial lamb
utters one despairing bleat!
CARLOTTA AND CHORUS
Poor young maiden! For the thrill
on your tongue of stolen sweets
you will have to pay the bill -
tangled in the winding sheets!
Serve the meal and serve the maid!
Serve the master so that, when
tables, plans and maids are laid,
Don Juan triumphs once again!
.................................................................
( SIGNOR PIANGI, as Don Juan, emerges from behind the arch.
MEG, a gypsy dancer pirouettes coquettishly for him.
He throws her a purse. She catches it and leaves )
DON JUAN
Passarino, faithful friend,
once again recite the plan.
PASSARINO
Your young guest believes I'm you -
I, the master, you, the man.
DON JUAN
When you met you wore my cloak,
with my scarf you hid your face.
She believes she dines with me,
in her master's borrowed place!
Furtively, we'll scoff and quaff,
stealing what, in truth, is mine.
When it's late and modesty
starts to mellow, with the wine. . .
PASSARINO
You come home! I use your voice -
slam the door like crack of doom!
DON JUAN
I shall say: "come - hide with me!
Where, oh, where? Of course - my room!"
PASSARINO
Poor thing hasn't got a chance!
DON JUAN
Here's my hat, my cloak and sword.
Conquest is assured,
if I do not forget myself and laugh. . .
( DON JUAN puts on PASSARINO's cloak and goes into
the curtained alcove where the bed awaits.
Although we do not yet know it, the Punjab Lasso has
done its work, and SIGNOR PIANGI is no more.
When next we see DON JUAN, it will be the PHANTOM.
Meanwhile, we hear AMINTA ( CHRISTINE )
singing happily in the distance )
AMINTA ( CHRISTINE - offstage, entering )
". . .no thoughts
within her head,
but thoughts of joy!
No dreams
within her heart
but dreams of love!"
PASSARINO ( onstage )
Master?
DON JUAN ( PHANTOM - behind the curtain )
Passarino - go away!
For the trap is set and waits for its prey. . .
...............................................................
( PASSARINO leaves. CHRISTINE (AMINTA) enters.
She takes off her cloak and sits down. Looks about her.
No-one. She starts on an apple.
The PHANTOM, disguised as DON JUAN pretending to be
PASSARINO, emerges. He now wears PASSARINO's robe,
the cowl of which hides his face.
His first words startle her )
The Point Of No ReturnDON JUAN ( PHANTOM )
You have come here
in pursuit of
your deepest urge,
in pursuit of
that wish,
which till now
has been silent,
silent. . .
I have brought you,
that our passions
may fuse and merge -
in your mind
you've already
succumbed to me
dropped all defences
completely succumbed to me -
now you are here with me:
no second thoughts,
you've decided,
decided. . .
Past the point
of no return -
no backward glances:
the games we've played
till now are at
an end. . .
Past all thought
of "if" or "when" -
no use resisting:
abandon thought,
and let the dream
descend. . .
....................................................
What raging fire
shall flood the soul?
What rich desire
unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction
lies before
us . . .?
Past the point
of no return,
the final threshold -
what warm,
unspoken secrets
will we learn?
Beyond the point
of no return. . .
...............................................................
AMINTA ( CHRISTINE )
You have brought me
to that moment
where words run dry,
to that moment
where speech
disappears
into silence,
silence. . .
I have come here,
hardly knowing
the reason why. . .
In my mind,
I've already
imagined our
bodies entwining
defenceless and silent -
and now I am
here with you:
no second thoughts,
I've decided,
decided. . .
Past the point
of no return -
no going back now:
our passion-play
has now, at last,
begun. . .
Past all thought
of right or wrong -
one final question:
how long should we
two wait, before
we're one. . .?
......................................................
When will the blood
begin to race
the sleeping bud
burst into bloom?
When will the flames,
at last, consume
us . . .?
BOTH
Past the point
of no return
the final threshold -
the bridge
is crossed, so stand
and watch it burn. . .
We've passed the point
of no return. . .
( By now the audience and the POLICE have realised that
SIGNOR PIANGI is dead behind the curtain, and it is
the PHANTOM who sings in his place. CHRISTINE knows it too.
As final confirmation, the PHANTOM sings ):
...............................................................
PHANTOM
Say you'll share with
me one
love, one lifetime. . .
Lead me, save me
from my solitude. . .
( He takes from his finger a ring and holds it out to her.
Slowly she takes it and puts it on her finger. )
Say you want me
with you,
here beside you. . .
Anywhere you go
let me go too -
Christine
that's all I ask of. . .
...............................................................
( We never reach the word 'you', for CHRISTINE quite
calmly reveals the PHANTOM'S face to the audience. As
the FORCES OF LAW close in on the horrifying skull,
the PHANTOM sweeps his cloak around her and vanishes.
MEG pulls the curtain upstage, revealing PIANGI'S body
garotted, propped against the bed,
his head gruesomely tilted to one side. She screams. )
TRANSFORMATION TO:
REVERSE VIEW OF THE STAGE
( POLICE, STAGEHANDS, etc. rush onto the stage in confusion.
Also: ANDRE, FIRMIN, RAOUL, GIRY, CARLOTTA and MEG )
CARLOTTA
What is it? What has happened? Ubaldo!
ANDRE
Oh, my God. . . my God. . .
FIRMIN
We're ruined, Andre - ruined!
GIRY ( to RAOUL )
Monsieur le Vicomte! Come with me!
CARLOTTA ( rushing over to PIANGI's body )
Oh, my darling, my darling. . . who has done
this...?
( hysterical, attacking ANDRE )
You! Why did you let this happen?
( She breaks down, as PIANGI's body is carried off on
a stretcher )
GIRY
Monsieur le Vicomte, I know where they are.
RAOUL
But can I trust you?
GIRY
You must. But remember, your hand at the
level of your eyes!
...............................................................
RAOUL
But why. . .?
GIRY
Why? The Punjab lasso, monsieur. First
Buquet. Now Piangi.
MEG ( holding up her hand )
Like this, monsieur. I'll come with you.
GIRY
No, Meg! No, you stay here!
( to RAOUL )
Come with me, monsieur. Hurry, or we shall be too late. . .
THE LABYRINTH UNDERGROUND( Meanwhile, down below, we see the PHANTOM and
CHRISTINE in the boat, crossing the underground lake )
......................................
PHANTOM ( furiously propelling the boat onwards )
Down once more
to the dungeon
of my black despair!
Down we plunge
to the prison
of my mind!
Down that path
into darkness
deep as hell!
( He rounds on her, bitterly )
Why, you ask,
was I bound and chained
in this cold and dismal place?
Not for any
mortal sin, but the
wickedness of
my abhorrent face!
.......................................................................
( He hears the offstage voices of the pursuing MOB )
MOB ( offstage )
Track down this murderer!
He must be found!
PHANTOM ( moving off again )
Hounded out by
everyone!
Met with hatred
everywhere!
No kind words from
anyone!
No compassion
anywhere!
...............................................................
Christine, Christine. . .
Why, why. . .?
( RAOUL and GIRY appear above. They make their way
down, meeting a pack of rats. GlRY screams and lowers
her guard. The rats and the RATCATCHER pass them.
GIRY raises her hand again )
...........................................................
GIRY
Your hand at the level of your eyes!
RAOUL
. . .at the level of your eyes. . .
MOB ( offstage )
Your hand at the level of your eyes!
GIRY
He lives across the lake, monsieur. This is as
far as I dare go.
RAOUL
Madame Giry, thank you.
( She turns to go back up the slope. RAOUL looks at
the water. He removes his coat and plunges in.
The MOB appears at the top of the slope. They come
down to the lake edge, their torches flickering. )
...............................................................
MOB
Track down this
murderer -
He must be found!
Hunt out this
animal,
who runs to ground!
Too long he's
preyed on us -
but now we know:
the Phantom of the Opera
is there
deep down below. . .
He's here: the Phantom of the Opera. . .
( They turn back up the slope. Perhaps there is another
way in. The gate to the lair descends, as the rest of the lair appears. )
BEYOND THE LAKE( The dummy of CHRlSTlNE sits crumpled on a large
throne. The PHANTOM drags CHRISTINE roughly out of the boat.
She frees herself and backs away as he stares blackly out front.
Braving her terror, she addresses him fiercely ).
CHRISTINE
Have you gorged yourself
at last, in your
lust for blood?
( no reply )
Am I now to be
prey to your
lust for flesh?
PHANTOM ( Coldly )
That fate, which
condemns me
to wallow in blood
has also
denied me
the joys of the flesh. . .
this face -
the infection
which poisons our love. . .
...............................................................
( He lakes the bridal veil from the dummy, and
moves slowIy towards her )
This face,
which earned
a mother's fear
and loathing. . .
A mask,
my first
unfeeling scrap
of clothing. . .
( He places the veil on her head )
.......................................................................
Pity comes
too late -
turn around
and face your fate:
an eternity of this
before your eyes!
( They are almost touching. She looks calmly
and coldly into his face )
...............................................................
CHRISTINE
This haunted face
holds no horror
for me now. . .
It's in your soul
that the true
distortion lies. . .
( The PHANTOM suddenly senses RAOUL'S presence.
Behind the portcullis, RAOUL climbs out of the water )
PHANTOM
Wait! I think, my dear,
we have a guest!
( to RAOUL )
Sir, this is indeed
an unparalleled delight!
I had rather hoped
that you would come.
And now my wish comes true -
you have truly made my night!
RAOUL ( pleading, grasping the bars of the gate )
Free her!
Do what you like
only free her!
Have you no pity?
PHANTOM ( to CHRISTINE, dryly )
Your lover makes
a passionate plea!
CHRISTINE
Please, Raoul, it's useless. . .
........................................................
RAOUL
I love her!
Does that mean nothing?
I love her!
Show some compassion. . .
PHANTOM ( snarls furiously at RAOUL )
The world showed no
compassion to me!
RAOUL
Christine. . .
Christine. . .
( to PHANTOM )
Let me see her. . .
PHANTOM ( drily )
Be my guest, sir. . .
( He gestures, and the fence rises. RAOUL enters )
Monsieur, I
bid you welcome!
Did you think that
I would harm her?
Why should I make
her pay
for the sins which
are yours?
.........
.....................................
( So saying, he takes the Punjab lasso and, before RAOUL
has a chance to move, catches him by the neck. The end
of the rope, of which the PHANTOM has let go, remains
magically suspended in mid-air )
( taunting )
Order your fine horses now!
Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now -
except perhaps Christine. . .
( He turns to her )
...................................................
Start a new life with me -
Buy his freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to his
death!
This is the choice -
This is the point of no return!
CHRISTINE ( to the PHANTOM )
The tears I might have shed
for your dark fate
grow cold, and turn to tears
of hate. . .
.......................................................................
RAOUL ( despairing )
Christine, forgive
me please forgive me. . .
I did it all
for you, and all for
nothing. . .
CHRISTINE ( looking at the PHANTOM but to herself )
Farewell
my fallen idol
and false friend. . .
One by one
I've watched
illusions shattered. . .
PHANTOM ( to CHRISTINE )
Too late for turning back,
Too late for prayers and useless pity...
Raoul ( to CHRISTINE )
Say you love him,
and my life is over!
PHANTOM
Past all hope
of cries for help:
no point in fighting -
RAOUL
Either way
you choose,
he has to win. . .
PHANTOM
For either way
you choose,
you cannot win!
So, do you end
your days with me,
or do you send
him to his grave?
.......................................................................
RAOUL ( to PHANTOM )
Why make her lie
to you, to save
me?
CHRISTINE
Angel of Music. . .
PHANTOM
Past the point
of no return -
RAOUL
For pity's sake,
Christine, say no!
CHRISTINE
. . .why this torment?
PHANTOM
. . .the final threshold. . .
RAOUL
Don't throw your life
away for my sake. . .
CHRISTINE
When will you see
reason. . .?
PHANTOM
His life is now the prize
which you must earn!
RAOUL
I fought so hard
to free you. . .
CHRISTINE
Angel of Music. . .
PHANTOM
You've passed the point
of no return. . .
CHRISTINE
. . . you deceived me -
I gave my mind
blindly. . .
................................................................
PHANTOM ( to CHRISTINE )
You try my patience -
make your choice!
( She reflects for a moment, then with resolution moves slowly towards the PHANTOM )
CHRISTINE ( quietly at first, then with growing emotion )
Pitiful creature
of darkness . . .
What kind of life
have you known. . .?
God give me courage
to show you
you are not
alone. . .
...............................................................
( Now calmly facing him, she kisses him long and full
on the lips. The embrace lasts a long time. RAOUL watches
in horror and wonder.
The PHANTOM lakes a lighted candle and holds it above
RAOUL's head. A tense moment. But the suspended rope suddenly
falls harmlessly - the PHANTOM has burnt the thread
by which the noose was held. Resigned,
he addresses RAOUL, as we hear the offstage voices
of the approaching MOB )
...............................................................
MOB
Some:
Track down this
murderer -
he must be found!
Hunt out this
animal,
who runs to ground!
Too long he's
preyed on us -
but now we know:
the Phantom of the Opera
is there
deep down below . . .
Others:
Who is this monster,
this murdering beast?
Revenge for Piangi!
Revenge for Buquet!
This creature
must never go free. . .
..........................................................................
PHANTOM
Take her - forget me - forget all of this. . .
Leave me alone - forget all you've seen. . .
Go now - don't let them find you!
Take the boat - leave me here - go now,
don't wait. . .
Just take her and go - before it's to late. . .
Go. . .
Go now - go now and leave me!
............................................
( RAOUL and CHRISTINE move off towards the boat.
The PHANTOM looks mockingly at his mask. The
musical box starts up magically, and he listens to it )
Masquerade. . .
Paper faces on parade. . .
Masquerade. . .
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you. . .
.........................................................
( CHRISTINE re-enters and walks slowly towards him.
She takes off her ring and gives it to the PHANTOM )
PHANTOM
Christine, I love you. . .
( She hurries off The PHANTOM puts the ring
on his finger )
CHRISTINE ( In the distance, to RAOUL,
as the boat pulls away in the shadow )
Say you'll share with
me, one
love, one lifetime. . .
say the word
and I will follow you. . .
PHANTOM ( calling out to Christine )
I Love You...!!!
RAOUL
Share each day with me. . .
CHRISTINE . . .each night. . .
BOTH . . .each morning. . .
PHANTOM ( looking after her )
You alone can make my song take flight -
it's over now, the music of the night. . .
.................................................................
( The PHANTOM walks slowly towards the throne.
He takes his place on it, sitting on his cloak.
The MOB including MEG, appears above, climbing
down the portcullis. As the MOB enters the lair, the
PHANTOM wraps his cloak around himself and disappears. )
...............................................................
( MEG crosses to the throne and picks up his mask in her small hand )
.....................
...........................................
END OF ACT TWOFINIS. 
....
....
Of course this would have been the final scene if I were ChristineMost of these lyrics I copied from The Complete Phantom of the Opera by George Perry,which is published by Henry Holt and Company. The lyrics and images are copyright of The Really Useful Company.