SCENES 8 THRU 10
SCENE 8
THE MANAGER'S
OFFICE
(Desk, chairs,
papers. FIRMIN is scornfully eyeing a newspaper
article)
FIRMIN
'Mystery after gala
night,' it says, 'Mystery of soprano's flight!'
'Mystified, baffled
Surete say, we are mystified- we suspect foul
play!'
(He lowers the
paper)
Bad news on soprano
scene- first Carlotta, now Christine! Still, at
least the seats get sold- gossip's worth its
weight in gold...
What a way to run a
business! Spare me these unending trials! Half
your cast disappears, but the crowd still cheers!
Opera! To hell with Gluck and Handel - It's a
scandal that'll pack'em in the aisles!
(ANDRE bursts in,
in a temper)
Damnable! Will they all
walk out? This is damnable!
FIRMIN
Andre, please don't
shout...It's publicity! And the take is vast!
Free publicity!
ANDRE
But we have no cast...
FIRMIN
But Andre, have you
seen the queue?
(He has been
sorting mail on his desk. Finding the two letters
from the PHANTOM):
Oh, it seems you've got
one too...
(He hands the
letter to ANDRE, who opens it and reads):
ANDRE
'Dear Andre, what a
charming gala! Christine enjoyed a great success!
We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left-
otherwise, the chorus was entrancing, but the
dancing was a lamentable mess!'
FERMIN (reading
his)
'Dear Firmin, just a
brief reminder: my salary has not been paid. Send
it care of the ghost, by return of post - P.T.O.:
No one likes a debtor, so it's better if my
orders are obeyed!'
FIRMIN/ANDRE
Who would have the gall
to send this? Someone with a puerile brain!
FIRMIN (examing
both letters)
These are both signed
'O.G.'...
ANDRE
Who the hell is he?
BOTH (immediately
realizing)
Opera ghost!
FIRMIN (unamused)
It's really not
amusing!
ANDRE
He's abusing our
position!
FIRMIN
In addition he wants
money!
ANDRE
He's a funny sort of
spectre...
BOTH
...to expect a large
retainer! Nothing plainer-he is clearly quite
insane!
(They are
interrupted by the arrival of RAOUL, who
brandishes another of the PHANTOM'S notes)
RAOUL
Where is she?
ANDRE
You mean Carlotta?
RAOUL
I mean Miss Daae- where
is she?
FIRMIN
Well, how should we
know?
RAOUL
I want an answer- I
take it that you sent me this note?
FIRMIN
What's all this
nonsense?
ANDRE
Of course not!
FIRMIN
Don't look at us!
RAOUL
She's not with you,
then?
FIRMIN
Of course not!
ANDRE
We're in the dark...
RAOUL
Monsieur, don't argue-
Isn't this the letter you wrote?
(Realizing his
mistake)
Written!
(RAOUL hands the
note to ANDRE, who reads it)
ANDRE
'Do not fear for Miss
Daae. The Angel of Music has her under his wing.
Make no attempt to see her again.'
(The MANAGERS look
mystified)
RAOUL
If you didn't write it,
who did?
(CARLOTTA bursts
in. She too has a letter, which has cheered her
no more than the others)
CARLOTTA
Where is he?
ANDRE
Ah, welcome back!
CARLOTTA
Your precious
patron-where is he?
RAOUL
What is it now?
CARLOTTA (to
RAOUL)
I have your letter-a
letter which I rather resent!
FIRMIN (to
RAOUL)
And did you send it?
RAOUL
Of course not!
ANDRE
As if he would!
CARLOTTA
Of course not!
FIRMIN
What's going on...?
CARLOTTA (to
RAOUL)
You dare to tell me,
that this is not the letter you sent?
RAOUL
And what is it that I'm
meant to have sent?
(RAOUL takes the
letter and reads it)
'Your days at the Opera
Populaire are numbered. Christine Daae will be
singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a
great misfortune, should you attempt to take her
place.'
(The MANAGERS are
beginning to tire of the intrigue)
ANDRE/FIRMAN
Far too many notes for
my taste-and most of them about Christine! All
we've heard since we came is Miss Daae's name...
(GIRY suddenly
appears, accompanied by MEG)
GIRY
Miss Daae has returned.
FIRMIN (dryly)
I trust her midnight
oil is well and truly burned.
ANDRE
Where precisely is she
now?
GIRY
I thought it best that
she went home...
MEG
She needed rest.
RAOUL
May I see her?
GIRY
No, monsieur, she will
see no one.
CARLOTTA
Will she sing? Will she
sing?
GIRY
Here, I have a note...
RAOUL/CARLOTTA/ANDRE
Let me see it!
FIRMIN (snatching
it)
Please!
FRIMIN (opens
the letter and reads. The PHANTOM'S voice
gradually takes over)
'Gentlemen, I have
now sent you several notes of the most amiable
nature, detailing how my theatre is to be run.
You have not followed my instructions. I shall
give you one last chance...'
PHANTOM'S VOICE (taking
over)
Christine Daae has
returned to you, and I am anxious her career
should progress. In the new production of 'Il
Muto', you will therefore cast Carlotta as the
Pageboy, and put Miss Daae in the role of
Countess. The role which Miss Daae plays calls
for charm and appeal. The role of the Pageboy is
silent-which makes my casting, in a word, ideal.
I shall watch the
performance from my normal seat in Box Five,
which will be kept empty for me. Should these
commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your
imagination will occur.
FIRMIN (taking
over)
'I remain Gentlemen,
your obedient servent, O.G.'
CARLOTTA
Christine!
ANDRE
Whatever next...?
CARLOTTA
It's all a ploy to help
Christine!
FIRMIN
This is insane...
CARLOTTA
I know who sent this:
(Pointing an
accusing finger)
The Vicomte-her lover!
RAOUL
(ironical)
Indeed? (to
the OTHERS)
Can you believe this?
ANDRE (to
CARLOTTA, in protest)
Signora!
CARLOTTA (half
to the MANAGERS, half to herself)
O traditori!
FIRMIN (to
CARLOTTA)
This is a joke!
ANDRE
This changes nothing!
CARLOTTA
O mentitori!
FIRMIN
Signora!
ANDRE
You are our star!
FIRMIN
And always will be!
ANDRE
Signora...
FIRMIN
The man is mad!
ANDRE
We don't take orders!
FIRMIN (announcing
it to EVERYONE)
Miss Daae will be
playing the Pageboy-the silent role...
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Carlotta will be
playing the lead!
CARLOTTA (waxing
melodramatic)
It's useless trying to
appease me! You're only saying this to please me!
Signori, e vero? Non,
non, voglio udire!
Lasciatemi morire! O
padre mio! Dio!
GIRY
Who scorn his word,
beware to those...
CARLOTTA (to
MANAGERS)
You have reviled me!
GIRY
The angel sees, the
angel knows...
RAOUL
Why did Christine fly
from my arms...?
CARLOTTA
You have rebuked me!
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Signora, pardon us...
CARLOTTA
You have replaced me!
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Please, Signora we
beseech you...
GIRY
This hour shall see
your darkest fears...
MEG/RAOUL
I must see her...
CARLOTTA
Abbandonata!
Deseredata! O, sventurata!
GIRY
The angel knows, the
angel hears...
RAOUL
Where did she go...?
CARLOTTA
Abbandonata!
Disgraziata!
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Signora, sing for us!
Don't be a martyr...
RAOUL/GIRY/MEG
What new surprises lie
in store...?
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Our star...!
CARLOTTA
Non vo'cantar!
(All look at
CARLOTTA, as the MANAGERS approach her lovingly)
ANDRE
Your public needs you!
FIRMIN
We need you, too!
CARLOTTA (unassauged)
Would you not rather
have your precious little ingenue?
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Signora, no! The world
wants you!
(The MANAGERS adopt
their most persuasive attitudes)
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Prima donna, first lady
of the stage! Your devotees are on their knees to
implore you!
ANDRE
Can you bow out when
they're shouting your name?
FIRMIN
Think of how they all
adore you!
BOTH
Prima donna, enchant us
once again!
ANDRE
Think of your muse...
FIRMIN
And of the queues round
the theatre!
BOTH
Can you deny us the
triumph in store? Sing, prima donna, once more!
(CARLOTTA registers
her acceptance, as the MANAGERS continue to
cajole and the OTHERS reflect variously on the
situation)
RAOUL
Christine spoke of an
angel...
CARLOTTA (to
herself, in triumph)
Prima donna, your song
shall live again!
ANDRE/FIRMIN (to
CARLOTTA)
Think of your public!
CARLOTTA
You took a snub but
there's a public who needs you!
GIRY (referring
to CHRISTINE)
She has heard the voice
of the angel of music...
ANDRE/FIRMIN (to
CARLOTTA)
Those who hear your
voice liken you to an angel!
CARLOTTA
Think of their cry of
undying support!
RAOUL
Is this her angel of
music...?
ANDRE (to
FIRMIN)
We get our opera...
FIRMIN (to
ANDRE)
She gets her limelight!
CARLOTTA
Follow where the
limelight leads you!
MEG
Is this ghost an angel
or a madman...?
RAOUL
Angel or madman...?
ANDRE/FIRMIN (aside)
Leading ladies are a
trial!
CARLOTTA
Prima donna, your song
shall never die!
MEG
Voice of hell, or of
heaven...?
GIRY
Heaven help you, those
who doubt...
CARLOTTA
You'll sing again, and
to unending ovation!
RAOUL
Orders! Warnings!
Lunatic demands!
GIRY
This miscasting will
invite damnation...
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Tears...oaths...lunatic
demands are regular occurrences!
MEG
Bliss or damnation?
Which has claimed her...?
CARLOTTA
Think how you'll shine
in that final encore! Sing, prima donna, once
more!
GIRY
Oh fools, to have
flouted his warnings!
RAOUL
Surely, for her sake...
MEG
Surely he'll strike
back...
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Surely there'll be
further scenes-worse than this!
GIRY
Think, before these
demands are rejected!
RAOUL
...I must see these
demands are rejected!
MEG
...if his threats and
demands are rejected!
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Who'd believe a diva
happy to relieve a chorus girl, who's gone and
slept with the patron? Raoul and the soubrette,
entwined in love's duet! Although he may demur,
he must have been with her!
MEG/RAOUL
Christine must be
protected!
CARLOTTA
O, fortunata! Non ancor
abbandonata!
ANDRE/FIRMIN
You'd never get away
with all this in a play, but if it's louldly sung
and in a foreign tongue, it's just the sort of
story audiences adore, in fact a perfect opera!
RAOUL
His game is over!
GIRY
This is a game you
cannot hope to win!
RAOUL
And in Box Five a new
game will begin...
GIRY
For, if his curse is on
this opera...
MEG
But if his curse is on
this opera...
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Prima donna, the world
is at your feet! A nation waits, and how it hates
to be cheated!
CARLOTTA
The stress that falls
upon a famous prima donna! Terrible diseases,
coughs and colds and sneezes! Still, the dryest
throat will reach the highest note, in search of
perfect opera!
MEG/GIRY
...then I fear the
outcome...
RAOUL
Christine plays the
Pageboy, Carlotta plays the Countess..
GIRY
...should you dare
to...
MEG
...when you once
again...
ALL
Light up the stage with
that age-old rapport! Sing, prima donna, once
more!
PHANTOM'S VOICE
So, it is to be war
between us! If these demands are not met, a
disaster beyond your imagination will occur!
ALL
Once more!
SCENE
9
A PERFORMANCE OF
'IL MUTO' BY ALBRIZZIO
(During the
overture RAOUL, ANDRE and FIRMIN take their
respective seats-RAOUL in Box Five, the MANAGERS
in a box opposite)
RAOUL
Gentlemen, if you would
care to take you seats? I shall be sitting in Box
Five.
ANDRE
Do you really think
that's wise, monsieur?
RAOUL
My dear Andre, there
would appear to be no seats available, other than
Box Five...
(The front cloth
rises to reveal an 18th Century salon, a canopied
bed centre-stage. The COUNTESS is played by
CARLOTTA, SERAFIMO, the page boy, is disguised as
her maid and is played by CHRISTINE. At this
point they are hidden behind the drapes of the
bed, which are drawn. In the room are TWO EPICENE
MEN: one a HAIRDRESSER and one a JEWELLER. The
JEWELLER is attended by MEG. There is also an
OLDER WOMAN, the COUNTESS' confidante. All apart
from MEG are gossiping with relish about the
COUNTESS' current liaison with SERAFIMO)
CONFIDANTE
The say that this youth
has set my Lady's heart aflame!
1ST FOP
His Lordship, sure,
would die of shock!
2ND FOB
His Lordship is a
laughing-stock!
CONFIDANTE
Should he suspect her,
God protect her!
ALL THREE
Shame! Shame! Shame!
(The canopy drapes
part and we see the COUNTESS kissing SERAFIMO
passionately. As the recitative begins, the
lights and music dim on stage, and our attention
turns to the MANAGERS in their box)
IN THE BOX
ANDRE
Nothing like the old
operas!
FIRMIN
Or the old scenery...
ANDRE
The old singers...
FIRMIN
The old audience...
ANDRE
And every seat sold!
FIRMIN
Hardly a disaster
beyond all imagination!
(They chuckle, and
nod to RAOUL in the opposite box. He acknowledges
them)
ON STAGE
COUNTESS
Serafimo-your disguise
is perfect.
(A knock at the
door)
Who can this be?
DON ATTILIO
Gentle wife, admit your
loving husband.
ATTENTION BACK ON
STAGE
(The COUNTESS
admits DON ATTILIO. He is an old fool)
DON ATTILIO
My love-I am called to
England on affairs of State, and must leave you
with your new maid. (Aside) Though
I'd happily take the maid with me.
COUNTESS (Aside)
The old fool's leaving!
DON ATTILIO (Aside)
I suspect my young
bride is untrue to me. I shall not leave, but
hide over there to observe her!
DON ATTILIO (to
COUNTESS)
Addio!
BOTH (to
each other)
Addio!
(He goes,
pretending to leave, then hides and watches the
action)
COUNTESS (CARLOTTA)
Serafimo-away with this
pretence!
(She rips off
SARAFIMO'S skirt to reveal his manly breeches)
You cannot speak, but
kiss me in my husband's absence!
Poor fool, he makes me
laugh! Haha Haah! etc. Time I tried to get a
better better half!
COUNTESS AND CHORUS
Poor fool, he doesn't
know! Hoho, Hoho, etc. if he knew the truth, he'd
never, ever go!
(Suddenly from
nowhere, we hear the voice of the PHANTOM)
PHANTOM'S VOICE
Did I not instuct that
Box Five was to be kept empty?
MEG (terrified)
He's here: the Phantom
of the Opera...
(General reaction
of bewilderment, CHRISTINE looks fearfully about
her)
CHRISTINE
It's him...I know
it...it's him...
CARLOTTA (Finding
a scapegoat in CHRISTINE, hisses at her)
Your part is silent,
little toad!
(But the PHANTOM
has heard her)
PHANTOM'S VOICE
A toad, madame? Perhaps
it is you who are the toad...
(Again unease.
CARLOTTA and the CONDUCTOR confer and pick up the
opening of the scene)
CARLOTTA (As
the COUNTESS)
Serafimo, away with
this pretence! You cannot speak, but kiss me in
my croak!
(Instead of
singing, she emits a great croak, like a toad. A
stunned silence. CARLOTTA is as amazed as anyone,
but regains herself and continues. More
perturbing, however, is a new sound: the PHANTOM
is laughing-quietly at first, then more and more
hysterically)
CARLOTTA (as
the COUNTESS)
Poor Fool, he makes me
laugh-Hahahahaha!
Croak,croak, croak,
croak, croak, etc.
(As before. The
PHANTOM'S laughter rises. The croaking continues
as the chandelier's lights blink on and off. The
PHANTOM'S laughter, by this time overpowering,
now crescendos into a great cry):
PHANTOM'S VOICE
Behold! She is singing
to bring down the chandelier!
(CARLOTTA looks
tearfully up at the MANAGER'S box and shakes her
head)
CARLOTTA
Non posso piu... I
cannot...I cannot go on...
PIANGI (rushing
on)
Cara, cara...I'm
here... is all right...Come...I'm here...
(ANDRE and FIRMIN
hurry out of the box onto the stage. PIANGI
ushers the now sobbing CARLOTTA offstage, while
the MANAGERS tackle the audience)
FIRMIN
Ladies and gentlemen,
the performance will continue in ten minutes'
time...
(He addresses Box
Five, keeping one eye on the chandelier as it
returns to normal)
...when the role of the
Countess will be sung by Miss Christine Daae.
ANDRE (improvising)
In the meantime, ladies
and gentlemen, we shall be giving you the ballet
from Act Three of tonight's opera.
(to the CONDUCTOR)
Maestro-the ballet-now!
(The MANAGERS
leave, the stage is cleared and music starts
again. The BALLET GIRLS enter, as a sylvan glade
flies in. They begin the Dance of Country nymphs.
Upstage, behind the drop, a series of threatening
shadows of the PHANTOM. MEG is aware of them and
dances out of step. When this culminates in one
gigantic, oppressive, bat-like shadow, the
garrotted body of JOSEPH BUQUET falls onto the
stage, causing the sylvan glade to fly out.
Pandemoium)
CHRISTINE
(calling for help)
Raoul! Raoul!
(RAOUL runs on
stage and embraces her)
RAOUL (to
CHRISTINE, leading her away)
Christine, come with
me...
CHRISTINE
No...to the roof. We'll
be safe there.
(CHRISTINE and
RAOUL hurry off)
FIRMIN
(Attempting to
placate the audience, as STAGE-HANDS and POLICMEN
crowd onto the stage)
Ladies and gentlemen,
please remain in your seats. Do not panic. It was
an accident...simply an accident...
SCENE
10
THE ROOF OF THE
OPERA HOUSE
(A statue of
'LaVictoire Ailee' - the same as that which tops
the proscenium. It is twilight. CHRISTINE and
RAOUL rush on)
RAOUL
Why have you brought us
here?
CHRISTINE
Don't take me back
there!
RAOUL
We must return!
CHRISTINE
He'll kill me!
RAOUL
Be still now...
CHRISTINE
His eyes will find me
there!
RAOUL
Christine, don't say
that...
CHRISTINE
Those eyes that burn!
RAOUL
Don't even think it...
CHRISTINE
And if he has to kill a
thousand men-
RAOUL
Forget this waking
nightmare...
CHRISTINE
The Phantom of the
Opera will kill...
RAOUL
This phantom is a
fable.. Believe me...
CHRISTINE
...and kill again!
RAOUL
There is no Phantom of
the Opera...
CHRISTINE
My God, who is this
man...
RAOUL
My God, who is this
man...
CHRISTINE
...who hunts to
kill...?
RAOUL
...this mask of
death...?
CHRISTINE
I can't escape from
him...
RAOUL
Whose is this voice you
hear...
CHRISTINE
...I never will!
RAOUL
...with every
breath...?
BOTH
And in this labyrinth
where night is blind, the Phantom of the Opera is
here: inside your/my mind...
RAOUL
There is no Phantom of
the Opera...
CHRISTINE
Raoul, I've been
there-to his world of unending night...To a world
where the daylight dissolves into
darkness..darkness...
Raoul, I've seen Him!
Can I ever forget that sight? Can I ever escape
from that face? So distorted, deformed, it was
hardly a face, in that darkness...darkness...
(trancelike, then
becoming more and more ecstatic)
But his voice filled my
spirit with a strange, sweet sound...In that
night there was music in my mind...and through
music my soul began to soar! And I heard as I'd
never heard before...
RAOUL
What you heard was a
dream and nothing more...
CHRISTINE
Yet in his eyes all the
sadness of the world...Those pleading eyes, that
both threaten and adore...
RAOUL (comforting)
Christine....Christine...
PHANTOM (unseen,
a ghostly echo of RAOUL'S words)
Christine....
CHRISTINE
What was that?
(A moment, as their
eyes meet. The mood changes)
RAOUL
No more talk of
darkness, Forget these wide-eyed fears. I'm here,
nothing can harm you-my words will warm and calm
you.
Let me be your freedom,
let daylight dry your tears. I'm here, with you,
beside you, to guard you and to guide you...
CHRISTINE
Say you love me every
waking moment, turn my head with talk of
summertime...
Anywhere you go let me
go to...Love me-that's all I ask of you...
Say you need me with
you, now and always...promise me that all you say
is true-that's all I ask of you...
RAOUL
Let me be your shelter,
let me be your light. You're safe: No one will
find you-your fears are far behind you...
CHRISTINE
All I want is freedom,
a world with no more night...and you, always
beside me, to hold me and to hide me...
RAOUL
Then say you'll share
with me one love, one lifetime...let me lead you
from your solitude...
Say you need me with
you here, beside you...anywhere you go, let me go
too-Christine, that's all I ask of you...
CHRISTINE
Say you'll share with
me one love, one lifetime...say the word and I
will follow you...
BOTH
Share each day with me,
each night, each morning...
CHRISTNE
Say you love me...
RAOUL
You know I do...
BOTH
Love me- that's all I
ask of you...
(They
kiss)
Anywhere you go let me
go too...Love me-that's all I ask of you...
(CHRISTINE starts
from her reverie)
CHRISTINE
I must go-they'll
wonder where I am...wait for me, Raoul!
RAOUL
Christine, I love you!
CHRISTINE
Order you fine horses!
Be with them at the door!
RAOUL
And soon you'll be
beside me!
CHRISTINE
You'll guard me, and
you'll guide me...
(They hurry off.
The PHANTOM emerges from behnd the statue)
PHANTOM
I gave you my
music...made your song take wing...and now, how
you've repaid me: denied me and betrayed me...He
was bound to love you when he heard you sing...
Christine....Christine....
RAOUL/CHRISTINE
(offstage)
Say you'll share with
me one love, one lifetime....say the word and I
will follow you....Share each day with me, each
night, each morning...
PHANTOM
You will curse the day
you did not do all that the Phantom asked of
you...!
(As the roof of the
opera house disappears, the opera curtain closes
and the PRINCIPALS in 'Il Muto' appear through it
for their bows, CHRISTINE conspicuously dressed
in CARLOTTA'S costume. Simultaneously, we hear
the maniacal laughter of the PHANTOM and we see
him high above the stage, perilously rocking the
chandelier. The lights of the chandelier begin
flickering and, at a great cry from him, it
descends, swinging more and more madly over the
orchestra pit.)
PHANTOM
Go!!
(The chandelier
falls to the stage at CHRISTINE'S feet)
END OF ACT ONE
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