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