Lletres: Phantom Of The Opera. Notes I.

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