Notes I - Phantom Of The Opera

THE MANAGERS' OFFICE 
(Desk, chairs, papers. FIRMIN is scornfully eyeing a 
newspaper article) 
FIRMIN 
"Mystery 
after gala night," 
if 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) 
ANDRE 
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 (calmly) 
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!" 
FIRMIN (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 (examining 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? 
FIRMIN 
And what is it, that we're 
meant to have 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 
You didn't send it? 
RAOUL 
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 lo tire of the intrigue) 
ANDRE/FIRMIN 
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 (drily) 
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! 
FIRMIN (Opens the letter and reads. The PHANTOM'S 
voice gradually lakes 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 servant, 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, 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)