PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - A SHORT ADAPTATION
A maestro at contemporary Paris goes to the World War I and gets locked in a house with a bomb that blows. He wakes up at the hospital and looks at the mirror shocked, then tries to commit suicide by jumping on the Seine River from the room´s window. He enters the opera house and steals a Carnival mask and a costume. Then, on early 40´s, rumors of the opera house being haunted by "The Phantom" are heard all around the city, there´s a rehearsal for the new production of "Faust" to star American starlet – Christine Daaé, which promises to be a great success. Christine talks with the conductor about giving up the role, for the delight of Spanish prima donna – Carlotte. Christine believes her voice won´t reach higher notes and she´s comforted by her boyfriend – Raoul. Raoul leaves and the Phantom seduce Christine with his music and his voice. He lures her to the catacombs, where he tells her about the accident in the war; that´s why he wears the mask, but he confesses that nothing of his past will keep them from loving each other. He tells her that he can coach her to sing, but only if she goes away with him forever, so he gives her a wedding ring, that keeps her, somewhat, away from other men.
After days of training, he dresses her for the female lead of "Don Giovanni" and brings her up again through a trapdoor. He scares the people seating in Box 5 and seats there. She sings and makes great success. Afterwards, when the theater is closing, he finds out that Christine has taken away the ring. He get furious and follows her and Raoul to the rooftop where they plan to leave for the representation of "Don Giovanni" at the opera matinee. On the morning, Raoul pays a coachman to wait outside the theater till after the performance. With everything planned, Raoul presents Christine with a bouquet of roses as she locks herself in the dressing room, put the ring back and dresses as a bride. She enters the passageway in the mirror to the underground depths of the theater, where the Phantom waits for her. He puts Christine in the costume and takes her through the trapdoor, though she´s unaware of his diabolical plan. During a scene from the opera that features a masquerade ball, he murders one of the actors and dresses under his clothing. He frightens Christine singing with the other sopranos, but with a different lyric "You shall always be mine, now and forever on". She screams and the curtain falls. She gets unconscious and is brought to the dressing room. Carlotte finally takes the place she sang 25 years before.
The Phantom, change masks and watches from Box 5. He enters a passageway that leads him to the staff area, where he cuts the chandelier rope so that it crashes into the public as an attempt to kill Raoul, who changes places with an elder lady before it feel and she got crushed. Raoul follows the Phantom through the trapdoor. He gets the boat across the sewer till the Phantom´s lair and unmasks him as he plays the organ. But the Phantom is... normal. He´s not deformed at all, but rather handsome instead. He tells Raoul that his true disfigurement lied inside his flesh, he was a maniac who wanted somebody to love and be loved in return. Raoul says that he´s a psycho and he will never get Christine away from him. They start a fight and Raoul falls in the lake. The Phantom tries to save Raoul, but it´s too late...
Christine wakes up in her dressing room after a terrible nightmare. She calls for Raoul, no answer. Then the mirror gets shining and the Phantom appears, without the mask. Christine´s frightened and asks who is he. He tells her that he´s name is Erik and he won´t harm her. He offers her his arm and she accepts and they leave the Opera House with hands giving, and they take fly, through beyond the sky and universe.
THE END