Teleplay to Arthur Kopit's "The Phantom of the Opera" as published in the March 1991 volume 43 No6 Literary Cavalcade.
Why is "The Phantom Of The Opera" so appealing to audiences-decade after decade rendition after rendition? Read the splended version in this issue. Dramatized for television by prize-winning playwright Arthur Kopit, it remains true to the spirit of the original novel, but dispenses with excess baggage.
ARTHUR KOPIT: "The Phantom of the Opera" based on Gaston Leroux's haunting classic.........page 3.
Characters
Carlotta
Carriere
Joseph Buquet
Cholet
Christine
Phantom
Jean-Claude
Inspector Ledoux
Flora
Count de Chagny
Florence
Alfredo
Fleure
Belladova
Since then, there have been numerous versions for various media: stage, movie screen, TV screen, and musical recording. Why is this tale so appealing - and so enduring? Its themes are timeless. Like Beauty and the Beast, it dramatizes the conflict between inner and outer realities. Like Frankenstein and Pygmalion, it explores the plight of the mad genius. And like so many myths, it suggests the necessity of visiting an underworld to gain knowledge and expertise.
The version of The Phantom of the Opera that follows was written for television in 1990 by prize-winning playwright Arthur Kopit. While it is much closer to the original than most, it is enriched by Oedipal overtones. And like the recent musical version by Andrew Lloyd Webber, it employs humor to make the tragedy all the more wrenching. If Gston Leroux were alive today, he would no doubt take great pleasure in attending a performance of this spirited offspring.
| *page 5* | |
| OPERA HOUSE PARIS. A staircase going downward. Carlotta, a prima donna, glares at elderly Joseph Buquet. | |
| Carlotta: | Well, what are you waiting for? |
| Buquet: | One of the stage hands said I shouldn't go down there. |
| Carlotta: | You're listening to a stage hand? Maybe you don't want to work for me anymore at all? |
| Buquet: | No, no! I do. You want an inventory of what? |
| Carlotta: | Of everything you can find down there . . . old costumes, old sets. I want to know exactly what it is we are inheriting. (Buquet descends.) |
| STAGE DOOR. Christine, a young woman carrying a bundle, approaches the stage door. | |
| Christine (to Jean-Claude): | I'm supposed to see a Monsieur Gerard Carriere. I believe he's the manager. The Count de Chagny sent me. He said Monsieur Carriere could arrange for me to have singing lessons. (She holds out a letter of introduction. Flora, a member of the chorus, is nearby.) |
| Jean-Claude: | Monsieur Carriere has just been fired. (Florence and Fleure join Flora.) |
| Flora (with mischievous glee): | Guess who sent her. (All three approach Christine.) |
| Florence: | Dear, by any chance did the Count de Chagny send you here? |
| Christine (eager): | You know him? (They open their lockets, each of which contains his picture.) |
| Fleure: | Dear, we're all curious. Where did he find you? |
| Christine: | At a country fair. |
| Fleure (To her cohorts): | He's branching out. |
| Christine: | I believe he was on his way to his chateau. |
| Florence: | And thought you had nice legs. |
| Christine: | Nice legs? No. He heard me singing fold songs. |
| Flora: | And thought you had a nice voice. |
| Christine: | Yes! |
| Florence: | And asked if you'd like lessons. (Christine nods. The women giggle.) |
| Christine: | Are you all friends of his? (They nod.) |
| LOWER DEPTHS. Joseph Buquet moves through a room filled with old machinery. He sees a figure and screams. The figure quickly puts on a mask. | |
| STAGE DOOR. Christine sits outside on her bundle. | |
| Jean-Claude (taking pity on her): | Hey. Come on in. Maybe the new manager will help you. Not promising any-thing. (She jumps up, overjoyed.) |
| GRAND FOYER. Carriere is surrounded by the whole opera company. | |
| Carriere: | Dear friends, the truth is, it was time for me to leave. (Sound of booing.) No, really, I have been here far too long. I give you your new managing director, Alain Cholet! (Tepid applause.) And of course, his talented wife . . . |
| Cholet (to Carriere in a low voice): | Carlotta. |
| Carriere: | Carlotta. (Tepid applause.) |
| Cholet: | This is a moment we will never forget! (A note flutters down. A member of the company takes it to Carriere, who reads it.) What is going on? |
| Carriere (in a low voice): | I'll explain in my office. |
| Cholet: | You mean my office. |
| Carriere: | Of course. Forgive me. |
| GRAND STAIRCASE. Cholet and Carriere walk downstairs. | |
| Carriere: | Who is Joseph Buquet? |
| Cholet: | My wife's costume man. She sent him to see what's down below. |
| Carriere: | I think he found something he wasn't looking for. (Hands Cholet the note.) |
| Cholet (reads): | "Joseph Buquet broke the rules." (Puzzled.) Rules? |
| Carriere: | There is a ghost in this opera house. And he has certain rules that must be obeyed. |
| Cholet: | What? |
| Carriere: | "All you need to know / Is don't go down below." |
| Cholet: | What's that? |
| Carriere: | The rules. |
| Cholet: | Is this a joke? |
| Carriere: | Would that it were. For as long as I've been here, so has he. If you hadn't fired me so precipitously, I'd have told you all about this. |
| Cholet: | Carriere, if this is a joke, it isn't funny. |
| Carriere: | It's not, I assure you. During the days of the Paris Commune there were torture chambers down there. That's his domain. And anyone who goes down there does not return. He calls himself the Phantom of the Opera. |
| Cholet: | Carriere, I do not believe in ghosts. |
| STAIRWAY. Carriere, alone, descends to a lower level of the opera house. | |
| Phantom's Voice: | What is going on? |
| Carriere: | Is he dead? |
| Phantom's Voice: | Answer my question. |
| Carriere: | Erik! |
| Phantom's Voice: | Yes, he's dead. They were warned! The man went where he shouldn't! I had no choice! |
| Carriere: | Of course you did. You could have let him go. |
| Phantom's Voice: | If I had, he'd have gone right back up. And they'd be down after me with guns and dogs in a second. He found out where I live. (Phantom appears wearing a mask.) And he saw my face! Why did you let him go down there? |
| Carriere: | I didn't know he was going down. |
| Phantom: | But that's your job! |
| Carriere: | I've been replaced. |
| Phantom: | Replaced? |
| Carriere: | I didn't learn about it till today. That's why this happened. (They move through the vaults.) |
| Phantom: | This man who's replacing you - does he, per chance, believe in ghosts? |
| Carriere: | No. |
| Phantom: | What am I to do? |
| Carriere: | I don't know. |
| Phantom: | I will have to make him believe, that's what. |
| Carriere: | I'm afraid that won't be so easy. |
| Phantom: | If I can't, they will all be down after me, just as I feared. |
| Carriere: | Not necessarily. |
| *Page 6* | |
| Phantom: | Of course they will. They'll come looking for poor old Buquet. |
| Carriere: | They don't know he's dead. |
| Phantom: | They'll certainly know he's missing. |
| Carriere: | I'll take care of that. |
| Phantom: | How? |
| Carriere: | Leave it to me. |
| Phantom: | Your . . . (with difficulty) farewell gift. |
| Carriere: | If you like. |
| Phantom: | Will I . . . see you again? |
| Carriere (averting his eyes): | I will try. |
| Phantom: | It's all changed now, isn't it? |
| Carriere: | Erik, at best I had a few more years. You must have known! |
| Phantom: | I had rather hoped you would be able to pick your successor. |
| Carriere: | Yes, alas, so had I. (Silence. Then a shrill soprano's voice is heard, warming up.) |
| Phantom: | The place really is haunted! (Opens a trapdoor and peeks through.) Who is this? |
| Carriere: | Without looking, I would say, with confidence, Carlotta. |
| Phantom: | Who is she? |
| Carriere: | A member of the new company. |
| Phantom: | But she can't sing. |
| Carriere: | That is obviously something she doesn't know. |
| Phantom: | Well, someone should tell her! What is she doing in the star's dressing room? |
| Carriere: | She's the new star. |
| Phantom: | How did that happen? |
| Carriere: | She's married to the new manager. |
| Phantom: | Not only does this man not believe in gosts; he has no taste! How did he get this position? |
| Carriere: | Bribery. |
| Phantom: | Oh, lovely. This means she's probably going to sing all the time! What kind of horror are you leaving me in? |
| Carriere: | This is not my doing. |
| Phantom: | I know that. Wait! You say she's married to the new manager. |
| Carriere: | Yes. |
| Phantom: | I suppose she'll be choosing the opera season, too. |
| Carriere: | I gather she intends to run everything. |
| Phantom: | I'm coming with you! |
| Carriere: | Erik . . . |
| Phantom: | Ahh, but I can't, can I? Sometimes I forget that I am fit for nowhere but these gloomy vaults. (Walks off.) |
| STAGE. Carriere hands a note to the stage manager. | |
| Carriere: | Take this to Madame Carlotta. |
| STAGE DOOR. Cholet looks astonished. | |
| Cholet: | Lessons? (Christine nods.) |
| Jean-Claude: | She was sent by the Count de Chagny. |
| Christine: | He heard me singing at a fair and thought I had talent. |
| Cholet: | And who is the Count de Chagny? |
| Jean-Claude: | One of our biggest patrons. |
| Christine (hands the Count's letter to Cholet): | You see? |
| Cholet (reading it): | "Give this girl lessons." (Looks at Christine.) Yes, I see. (Carlotta storms into view with Carriere's note in her hand.) Darling? This lovely young girl would like some singing lessons. What can we do? |
| Carlotta: | Nothing. Look how she stands. Look at what she's wearing! Where did you grow up - on a farm? |
| Christine: | Sort of. |
| Carlotta: | The world of opera has nothing to do with farm life! (To Cholet, furious.) Why are you asking me this? |
| Cholet: | She has a patron who's powerful. |
| Carlotta: | Ah. (To Christine.) There's only one way to learn to sing. Observe singers! My dear, I am going to let you work for me in the costume department. (To Cholet.) She has just replaced Joseph Buquest as my costumer. Buquet has quit. |
| Cholet: | Quit? |
| Carlotta: | He sent me this note. Doesn't like "the working conditions." Can you believe it? After all I've done for that man! Good riddance is what I say! (She storms off.) |
| LATER, same place. Christine is gathering costumes in a cart. | |
| Jean-Claude: | Where are you staying? |
| Christine: | No place. I have no money. |
| OUTSIDE PROP ROOM. Jean-Claude unlocks the door. | |
| Jean-Claude (to Christine): | I'm not supposed to do this. You mustn't tell anyone. (They enter. Just off the prop room is a small room with a cot.) You can stay here till you can afford something else. |
| Christine: | This is like a dream come true! |
| Jean-Claude: | But! At night, do not wander around the opera house. This place is huge. You can get lost. |
| STAGE, later that night. Christine stands on the stage, enthralled, looking out at the dark opera house. | |
| PHANTOM'S DOMAIN. The Phantom hears the distant sound of a woman singing - and rushes up a stair case. | |
| OPERA BOX FIVE. That Phantom watches Christine singing onstage. | |
| MORNING. As Christine watches a rehearsal, the Phantom watches her from above the stage. | |
| EVENING. As Christine explores the dark opera house, the Phantom follows. She suddenly turns. He retreats. She stats to go on. | |
| Phantom: | No! Stop! (She stops, startled.) Please. Don't be afraid. I'm a friend. As well as an admirer. (She tried to see him.) No, please. I would appreciate it greatly if you would be so kind as to just stay where you are. (She is still.) Thank-you. Let me explain. Last night I heard you sing. I know, you thought you were alone. You were not. Mademoiselle, your voice is astonishing. An angel's voice is what it is, exquisite in tone and shape, in fact in every detail, except . . . it is untrained. Without training, your voice will never attain the heights for which I know it has been destined. (With difficulty.) I would like to help bring you there. And I can. I am myself a singer of . . . some renown. (She moves closer.) No, stay there. There is a condition. I have never taken any students. For until last night, I have never wanted to. If others hear I am giving lessons, they will want them as well. There-fore, if you choose to let me be your guide, I must insist that I remain anonymous. And I will do so by wearing a mask. (Pause.) Please, there's no need for an answer now. Good night. (He disappears.) |
| WOMEN'S DRESSING ROOM. a month lateer, Flora, Florence, and Fleure are putting on makeup. Christine hums merrily as she arranges costumes. | |
| Flora (to Florence): | What's she got to be happy about? |
| Florence: | Been here over a month, all she does is hum. |
| Fleure (jealous): | She's getting better at it, too. |
| Flora: | I can't stand it! |
| Fleure (to Christine): | Dear, have you heard from the Count? (Christine looks away, hurt and sad.) That shut her up. (They giggle.) |
| CORRIDOR. Jean-Claude hurries toward Christine. | |
| Jean-Claude: | Christine! I've found you a place to stay! And it won't cost you anything! |
| Christine: | Thank you. But I'm really very happy with my room. (She walks off.) |
| Jean-Claude (calling): | But I'm not supposed to let people stay here! |
| Phantom's Voice: | Jean-Claude. (Jean-Claude recognizes the voice.) |
| Jean-Claude (to the walls, frightened): | What? |
| Phantom's Voice: | Let her . . . please as a kindness to me. |
| CARLOTTA's DRESSING ROOM, the night of her Parisian debut. As she vocalizes, a wall panel opens and two hands replace some fresh flowers with wilted ones. When Carlotta notices the wilted flowers, she is shaken. | |
| MANAGER'S OFFICE. Inspector Ledoux enters. Cholet is behind his desk. | |
| *Page 7* | |
| Cholet (holding up a note): | Listen to this! "Norma is a fine opera and I approve of its selection. What I do not approve of is your wife being in it." Does not approve of my wife being in it! This is the most important moment of her career! And the Phantom of the Opera does not approve? |
| Ledoux: | Monsier, it is only a note. |
| Cholet: | From a ghost! Since when do ghosts write? And this has been going on all month. Insults and demands. Listen to this one. (Reads another note.) "I expect Box Five held for my exclusive use at all performances. Phantom of the Opera." |
| Ledoux: | I was told the previous manager always gave him Box Five. |
| Cholet: | Well, he's not getting any such favored treatment from me. Not in my opera house. |
| CARLOTTA'S DRESSING ROOM. Carlotta is searching the room in a panic. | |
| Carlotta: | Where is my wig? |
| Christina: | I don't understand. It was here a moment ago. (A wall panel opens and a wig box slides onto a shelf.) |
| Carlotta (finding the wig box): | Thank goodness! |
| STAGE. As Carlotta begins to sing, she also begins to scratch her head frantically. The audience laughs, assuming this is intended comedy. | |
| MANAGER'S OFFICE. Carlotta is lying on a couch. Cholet is at his desk. Alfredo enters. | |
| Alfredo: | We found Madame's wig-maker. |
| Carlotta: | I want him killed! And fed to the vermin that were in that wig! |
| Alfredo: | It was not his fault. Someone locked him in a room. |
| Cholet: | Where is Ledoux? |
| Alfredo: | I'll go find him. (He leaves.) |
| Phantom's Voice: | You can't say I didn't warn you. |
| Cholet: | Who said that? |
| Phantom's Voice: | Who do you think? (Cholet and Carlotta stare at the walls, frightened.) The sooner you both leave, the sooner your ordeal will be over. Forgive me if I don't stay to chat, but I have other matters to attend to now. |
| Carlotta: | Who was that? |
| Cholet: | It's hard to explain. |
| PROP ROOM, night. Christine enter. | |
| Phantom: | Christine. |
| Christine: | Maestro! (She turns and sees the Phantom standing at an opening in a wall.) Did you see what happened to Carlotta? |
| Phantom: | No. |
| Christine (sympathetic): | Her debut was a disaster! |
| Phantom: | Oh, that's too bad. No, I was preparing for our next lesson. (He gestures to the opening in the wall. |
| *page 8* | |
| she smiles and walks through.) | |
| MANAGER'S OFFICE. Carlotta is still on the couch. Newspaper reviews cover Cholet's desk. | |
| Ledoux: | You heard him? |
| Cholet: | Yes. Through the walls. |
| Ledoux: | He said, "I am the Phantom"? |
| Cholet: | Not in so many words. |
| Ledoux: | Monsieur, you are upset and I don't blame you. These are not good reviews. However, let me say, as someone who has never liked opera, I never knew it could be so funny. |
| Cholet: | I am telling you the Phantom is behind all this! And it's because he wants to drive us mad! |
| Ledoux: | Why? |
| Cholet: | Because...that's what he's doing. |
| ANOTHER ROOM. Ledoux points to a blueprint of the opera house interior. | |
| Ledoux: | If this creature does exist, supposedly he lives way down here. On the lowest level, they say there is a sort of lagoon - part of a subterranean river system that flows underneath Paris. All this is his domain, and anyone who ventures down does not return. Or so people say. |
| Cholet: | So what's he doing up here? |
| Ledoux: | He moves through walls, through doors. He comes up because he loves opera. |
| Carlotta: | What's he look like? |
| Ledoux: | I've never met anyone who's actually seen him. But the rumor is he wears a mask, and if you're unlucky enough to see his face, you die. |
| Cholet: | I want him caught. |
| REHEARSAL ROOM, night. The Phantom sits at the piano. Christine is singing scales beautifully, then stops. | |
| Christine: | I'm not comfortable with the upper register yet. |
| Phantom: | You will be. You're doing well. You're already a finer singer than most of the company. |
| Christine: | That's not possible. |
| Phantom: | But it is. You have a gift. Your voice is the voice of angels. And very soon - sooner than I'd thought - you will sing on the stage. |
| Christine: | It's like a dream. |
| Phantom: | Except it's real. Sometimes dreams can be real. You are music itself. |
| Christine: | I wish my father were alive. |
| Phantom: | Was he a musician? |
| Christine: | A violinist. He would play and I would sing. He brought me here once! I was just a child. It was his dream that someday I'd sing here. |
| Phantom: | He has watched over you. |
| Christine: | I like to think so. |
| Phantom: | There's no doubt of it. |
| Christine: | Do you know the Count de Chagny? |
| Phantom (glaring): | Why? |
| Christine: | He's the one who told me to come here. Here me singing at a country fair. |
| Phantom: | He's not worthy of you. |
| Christine: | Why? (He turns away.) Please? |
| Phantom: | He comes to the opera for the wrong reasons. (He turns to her.) He loves the beauty of faces more than the beauty of music. (She turns away.) Have I hurt you? (She shakes her head no.) Good. That is something I would never want to do. |
| STAGE, opening night of La Traviata. | |
---* Part 2 *---
---* Part 3 *---
---* Part 4 *---
---* Part 5 *---
