*page 9*
Carlotta lifts a goblet from a tray and begins to sing, but the tray stays attached to the goblet. The audience is convulsed with laughter.
CARLOTTA'S DRESSING ROOM. Carlotta is lying on a couch. Cholet and Ledoux are nearby.
Ledoux:  We know how it was done. (A beat.) Glue.
Carlotta:  I need a cognac.
MANAGER'S OFFICE. Cholet enters, takes a bottle of cognac from a cabinet, sees Joseph Buquet's corpse in a corner, runs back to Ledoux.
Cholet (gesturing wildly):  Joseph Buquet! Joseph Buquet! (When he and Ledoux enter the office, there is no corpse.)
Ledoux: I am afraid you've been seeing phantoms of another sort.
Cholet (angry):  He wants me to resign. He wants to run this place! Well, I will not resign. You and your men are going after this creature tonight!
Ledoux: Monsieur, in my humble opinion -
Cholet:  I have contacts in high places, Ledoux! I trust you understand what I mean.
STAIRCASE. Ledoux addresses ten policemen, who hold torches and guns.
Ledoux: Let's go! (To Cholet.) Are you coming?
Cholet:  It's not my job, Inspector.
Ledoux:  Let's go! (The police descend.)
REHEARSAL ROOM, night. Christine is singing. The Phantom is so moved, he stops playing the piano.
Christine (stops singing): Have I done something wrong? (He shakes his head.) Doesn't my voice please you?
Phantom: Please me? Ever since I was a child, you are what I've heard in my dreams. (Pause.) I can't teach you any more than this. You're ready.
Christine: For What?
Phantom: To audition for the company.
Christine: But they're not holding auditions anymore.
Phantom:  That doesn't matter. It will happen soon . . . one way or another.
STAIRCASE. Seveeral policemen carry up a policeman who's been throttled by a noose. Cholet is horrified.
Cholet:  This is not the work of a ghost.
Ledoux:  We'll get him. Don't worry.
REHEARSAL ROOM. The Phantom stares out the window.
Christine:  You've never told me where you live.
Phantom:  When you sing, I live in the heavens, and when you do not, down below. (She puts her arms around him from behind. Her touch takes his breath away, but he gently pushes her arms away.)
Christine: How will I ever repay you for this?
STAGE DOOR, day. The Count de Chagny approaches Jean-Claude.
Count: Good day, Jean-Claude.
Jean-Claude:  Monsieur le Count! We weren't expecting you for weeks!
Count: Jean-Claude, please say yes. Is there a girl here name Christine?
Jean-Claude (feigning confusion):  Christine?
Count: Do not joke!
Jean-Claude:  Well, this is remarkable. Is it possible that Monsieur le Count is in love?
Count:  In love? How could I be in love? I hardly know the girl!
Jean-Claude: But that is how it happens.
Count:  Really . . .
Jean-Claude: In my experience it's the only way.
Count: Aha!
Jean-Claude:  We all thought you were immune.
Count:  So did I. (Low voice.) Don't let it get around.
Jean-Claude:  I wouldn't dream of it.
Count: My reputation would be ruined!
Jean-Claude:  I understand.
Count: So, where is she?
Jean-Claude:  Who?
Count:  Don't do this!
Jean-Claude (big smile):  She's inside.
MANAGER'S OFFICE. Cholet is talking with Inspector Ledoux.
Cholet: You understand, I don't mean to put pressure on you now. But if what happened down below came out . . .
Ledoux: It would not be helpful to the police either.
Cholet: No, I didn't think it would.
Ledoux: I know nothing.
Cholet: Good. And we stay vigilant.
Ledoux: I have men posted everywhere.
STAGE DOOR. The Count and Jean-Claude walk toward the backstage area.
Count: Is she in the chorus yet?
Jean-Claude:  The chorus?
Count: I sent her here so she could have singing lessons. She has the most astounding voice!
Jean-Claude:  She's been put in the costume department.
Count:  Costume department? But I sent instructions to Carriere!
Jean-Claude: Monsieur Carriere was fired. There is a new manager now. It's not the same here anymore.
Count:  Well, is she all right?
Jean-Claude (a bit too fast):  She's fine.
Count:  Is there someone looking after her?
Jean-Claude (averting his eyes):  I am.
Count: No, no nothing, Nothing's wrong. (Flora, Florence, and Fleure see them.)
Flora:  Look! The Count de Chagny!
Fleure:  He's back! (They rush over and hug him.)
Florence: When you're not here, there is no one to sing for! (Christine appears, pushing a cart of costumes, looking tired.)
Count: Christine! (Goes to her.) Christine, I swear, I did not intend for you to be doing this!
Christine: It's all right, Monsieur, I am honored just being here.
Count: No! You should be having singing lessons!
Flora (interrupting): Will you be at the bistro tonight?
Count (To everyone): Better than that. Because I am so happy to be back with all of you, I am going to give a party tonight. For the entire company. At the bistro! (To Christine.) And you're my special guest.
PROP ROOM, night. Christine is fixing her hair. The Phantom is at an open panel in the wall.
Phantom: The bistro is what we've been waiting for. At the bistro everyone sings. It's the tradition. You will sing too. Then everyone will hear. There will be no way Carlotta can say no. ANd this is what you will wear. (He holds up a beautiful gown.)
BISTRO, jammed with guests. The Count and Carriere are talking together.
Carriere:  Thank you for remembering me.
Count: Remembering you? Gerard, please! You did not deserve what happened.
Carriere:  Frankly, I didn't think so either. But what does it matter? I should have retired years ago. So tell me about this girl I've heard you are so concerned about. And don't try to pretend there isn't one.
Count:  Gerard, she has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard!
Carriere:  But of course. Like all the women you sent to me for lessons.
Count:  No, no. This one is different. (Watches the front door for Christine's arrival.)
Carriere:  I've never seen you like this. This one really is different. (Alfredo enters and joins Cholet and Carlotta.)
Alfredo (to Cholet):  I just saw the figures. Faust is sold out!
Carlotta (to Cholet): What?
Cholet (as casually as possible):  We decided to announce Faust.
Carlotta: With me in it?
Cholet:  I believe we mentioned you.
Alfredo: That's why it sold out.
Carlotta (to Cholet):  I said I will not sing again and I meant it! Not till this masked fiend is caught!
Cholet: Darling, he has done nothing bad to you in well over a month.
Carlotta: Because I haven't sung in over a month.
Cholet: Yes, and our business shows it.
*page 10*
Carlotta, our audience is waiting for you. (To Alfredo.) Tell her.
Alfredo: Till you came, opera was getting very dull here in Paris.
Cholet: And why?
Alfredo:  Too serious.
Cholet: Exactly! (To Carlotta.) You have shown Paris that opera doesn't have to be that way.
Carlotta:  I am not a buffoon! (She storms off. The Count intercepts her.)
Count:  Madame Carlotta, I have a favor to ask of you. (He whispers in her ear.)
Carlotta:  This girl is what?
Count: My niece.
Carlotta:  Really.
Count: Anyway, I promised her singing lessons.
Carlotta:  So what can I do?
Count:  Well, you could give them to her.
Carlotta: I?
Count:  Who better? And if you would, I'd be willing to cover the company's operating deficits for, let's say, the next three years.
Carlotta: Well, I'd be overjoyed to give her lessons!
Count: I am so relieved.
Carlotta: When can I meet her?
Count: I was hoping tonight. She promised me she'd come, but . . .
Carlotta:  She's shy.
Count: Apparently, extremely.
Carlotta (leaning close to him): Nieces are like that. (Christine enters, and the Count hurries to her.)
Count:  I was afraid you weren't coming.
Cholet (hurrying over to Carlotta): Guess who just arrived.
Carlotta (trying to smile): She's his niece. I just said I'd give her singing lessons.
BAND. As the band begins to play, a tenor goes forward and begins to sing. One by one, other singers join in and bow out, trying to outdo one another. Meanwhile, a shadowy figure peers in through a window.
Count (to Christine): Will you sing? (She nods nervously.) Go on. (She goes forward and begins to sing simply and beautifully. The Count goes to Carlotta.) What do you think?
Carlotta (with difficulty):  It's a sweet . . . little voice. A bit . . . thin.
Cholet (to Carlotta):  Why don't you join in?
Carlotta:  No, no. Wouldn't be fair. (But she can't resist and joins Christine, who begins to improvise and ends on an incredibly high note. The guests cheer wildly and carry Christine around on their shoulders.)
Cholet (to Carlotta):  That woman doesn't need lessons! I'm signing her up for the chorus!
Count (goes to Carriere): Didn't I tell you she was wonderful?
Carriere:  My friend, "wonderful" does not begin to describe that voice. (To Christine, who is carried his way.) Mademoiselle, I am Gerard Carriere, former manager of the opera house.
Christine: Oh yes, of course.
Carriere:  I have to tell you, not only is your voice astonishing in and of itself, but it reminds me of a very great singer I was privileged to hear years ago. Belladova. I am sure you have never heard of her.
Christine:  No.
Carriere: No matter. Enjoy your success. (She is swept on. Jean-Claude comes over.)
Jean-Claude:  Gerard, I have to talk to you.
Carriere:  Not now.
Jean-Claude: Please! It's about this girl. About her voice. (Points toward a window, but the shadowy figure is no longer visible.)
BISTRO EXTERIOR. The Count and Christine get into a carriage and drive off. The Phantom watches from the shadows.
MANAGER'S OFFICE. Carlotta is pacing back and forth.
Cholet:  Will you please stop pacing?
Carlotta:  Not until I find out where she learned to sing like that.
Cholet: She's got natural talent.
Carlotta:  Talent like that is not natural. (She stops.) Someone has been teaching her!
Cholet:  What?
Carlotta:  No one can sing like that without lessons. She's been lying.
Cholet: But why?
Carlotta:  Because, my dear, she's a liar! I knew it from the start. Where does she live?
Cholet (embarrassed): I understand . . . here.
Carlotta: Here at the opera house?
Cholet: Somewhere . . . in an old room.
STAGE DOOR. Carlotta wakes up Jean-Claude.
Carlotta: Where is Christine?
Jean-Claude:  Still out.
Carlotta:  When she comes back, let me know. I'll be upstairs in out suite. (She storms off.)
MOONLIT MEADOW. The Count and Christine are walking.
Count:  Why do I keep thinking I've met you before? I thought it the instance I saw you singing in that village fair. I even thought I recognized your voice. Am I dreaming?
Christine: No more than I. (Pause.) Don't you remember the little girl in the kitchen?
SEQUENCE OF SHOTS. A little girl is working in a kitchen while a well-dressed boy eats in a large dining room with his stern grandmother. The boy listens to the girl singing. As the boy and girl play tag in a vineyard, the grandmother watches, frowning. The boy cries as the girl and her father leave the chateau.
Count (overwhelmed): Christine, I've missed you. It's no wonder I recognized your voice. I've heard it every night since I was a child. (Kisses her.)
Christine (suddenly): What time is it?
Count:  Time?
Christine:  Please? (He takes out a watch. She looks at it with alarm.) I have to go!
Count: But -
Christine: Please!
CARRIAGE, stopping at the opera house. The Count and Christine are inside.
Count:  But why are we stopping here?
Christine:  Because . . . it's where I have to go. (Kisses him lightly, gets out, and runs inside.)
PROP ROOM. Christine enter.
Christine: Maestro! (No wall panel opens.) Maestro! (Silence.) Maestro, please forgive me! (Sound of footsteps. Carlotta enters.)
Carlotta:  Don't be frightened. I simply
*page 11*
had to see you. You were so . . . fantastic tonight.
Christine:  Thank you.
Carlotta:  So fantastic that I couldn't sleep. (Pause.) So this is where you have been living.
Christine: Yes, it's, uh, just temporary.
Carlotta: Dear, there's something I can't quite understand.
Christine:  What?
Carlotta: How you learned to sing so well. Because technique like yours simply does not come on its own. So who has been training you? (Christine turns away.) Don't you trust me?
Christine: Of course I trust you.
Carlotta:  Then why won't you say?
Christine: There's nothing to say.
Carlotta:  Do you deny that you've been taking lessons?
Christine (barely audible):  No.
Carlotta: So then who's been teaching you?
Christine: I can't say.
Carlotta: Can't say?
Christine:  I gave my word!
Carlotta:  To whom? Your teacher?
Christine:  Yes.
Carlotta:  Your teacher said, "Don't tell Carlotta who I am"?
Christine (wearily):  No.
Carlotta:  You mean you decided that?
Christine: He said don't tell anyone.
Carlotta:  You think I'm annyone?
Christine: Please!
Carlotta: So how much did these lessons cost?
Christine (too weary to fight back):  Nothing.
Carlotta: For lessons like these? My dear, I would pay a king's ransom for lessons like these! Wherever did you meet this saintly teacher?
Christine:  I can't say.
Carlotta:  So this is how you repay my generosity.
Christine: Please!
Carlotta:  Letting you stay here, against all regulations, rent free!
Christine: All right! But you must swear never to tell another soul.
Carlotta: You have my word.
Christine:  The fact is, I don't know his name.
Carlotta (startled):  Well, what does he look like?
Christine: I'm not sure.
Carlotta:  Not sure?
Christine: I've never seen his face.
Carlotta:  Dear, I'm afraid I don't understand. Does this fellow give lessons in the dark?
Christine: He wears a mask.
Carlotta (stunned):  A mask? (Christine nods. Carlotta hurries away.)
Christine:  Maestro! Forgive me!
MANAGER'S SUITE. Carlotta rouses Cholet, who's fallen asleep at his desk.
Carlotta:  Guess who her teach is.
PROP ROOM. Christine looks miserable. A knock on the door.
Christine (hopefully):  Maestro?
Cholet (outside):  No, Christine. It's Alain Cholet. I know it's late, but I have something very exciting to tell you. (She opens the door.) I don't think you're right for the chorus. I have a better plan.
CARLOTTA'S SUITE. Carlotta is staring at her husband in disbelief.
Carlotta:  You gave her the part of Marguerite in Faust?
Cholet:  You said you wouldn't sing it.
Carlotta:  Well, I didn't mean for you to give it to her!
Cholet:  She's a very good singer. It'll be good for business.
Carlotta: She's my costume girl!
Cholet:  Exactly! Can you imagine the publicity we'll get?
Carlotta:  That's exactly what I'm thinking of.
Cholet:  Darling -
---* Part 1 *---

 

 

---* Part 3 *---
---* Part 4 *---
---* Part 5 *---