Flash forward to Paris 1919
The carriage came to a stop from the traffic. A young couple walked in front of the carriage. Munkustrap watched the couple stand in front of a jewelry shop, and the queen kissed the tom.
His eyes flashed with the memory of the kiss he and Demeter shared when they were younger of the roof of the Opera Populaire.
Back to Paris 1870
Fireworks blew up in the sky, creating amusement for kittens and adults everywhere. Tonight was the Bal Masque, and cats were showing up in fancy outfits and costumes.
"Ah, Bustopher!" Gus cried. He was linking arms with a queen that Bustopher did not recognize.
"Hello Gus!" Bustopher said. He, too, was linking arms with a queen Gus didn't recognize.
"What a splendid party!" Gus exclaimed as they walked up the steps.
"The prologue to a bright new year," Bustopher added.
"Quite a night, I'm impressed."
"Well, one does one's best!"
"Here's to us, the toast of all the city."
"What a pity that the PhanTom can't be here!" Bustopher said sarcastically. They posed at the door for a picture before continuing. Inside, cats were dancing and singing about the masquerade.
Demeter and Munkustrap were walking along the hallway. She fingered a ring that hung on a chain around her neck.
"Think of it-a secret engagement!" She said happily. "Your future bride!"
Munkustrap sighed and faced her. "But why does it have to be a secret? What have we to hide?" He kissed her but Demeter pulled away.
"Munkustrap, don't. They'll see!"
"Well, let them see! It's an engagement, not a crime." She silenced him with a quick kiss. They waltzed onto the dance floor and began following everyone's movements. All around, cats were laughing and having a good time.
Skimbleshanks was standing near the staircase and conducting, although there was no orchestra. He nodded at Demeter and Munkustrap, smiling. The song drifted off as a presence was being sensed. Everyone turned to see the PhanTom standing at the top of the stairs. He wore his usual black cape, but swapped the mask for a different one-a skull mask.
He descended down the stairs slowly, and with each step he took boomed through the opera house. He glanced sideways at the cats as he continued making his way down.
"Why so silent, good Messieurs?" He sang. "Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good Messieurs? I have written you an opera. Here I bring the finished score." He held up a black folder and threw it on the ground, making some music sheets fall out. "Don Juan Triumphant! Fondest greeting to you all. A few instructions just before rehearsal starts: Bombalurina must learn to act, not her normal trick of strutting around the stage."
Asparagus Jr. stood in front of Bombalurina. Macavity rolled his eyes and continued down the stairs. He looked at his managers and cocked his head to the side. "And my managers must learn that their place is in an office, not the arts!"
"As for our star, Demeter." He turned to look at Demeter. By then, Munkustrap left her side to fetch a sword. "No doubt she'll do her best, it's true her voice is good. She knows though, should she wish to excel, she has much to learn. If pride will let her return to me, her teacher. Her teacher."
Demeter and Macavity stared at each other. Demeter began to slowly walk towards Macavity. She stopped a few inches away from him. His eyes flashed down to the ring around her neck. He lifted his paw and angrily yanked it off her neck.
"Your chains are still mine, you belong to me!" Munkustrap arrived in time to see him yank the ring off her and he ran towards him. Macavity turned and ran up the marble steps. He grabbed onto his cape and the floor caved in, making Macavity escape. Munkustrap dropped into the hole before it closed up.
Mirrors surrounded Munkustrap. Images of the PhanTom were all around him. He had no idea which was the real PhanTom. A noose dropped by Munkustrap's head. Grizabella snuck up behind him and grabbed him, pulling him out of the trap.
"Grizabella, please!" Munkustrap pleaded as he followed Grizabella to her room.
"Please, I know no more than anyone else."
"I know you're lying!"
Grizabella glared at him. "Very well." She let Munkustrap inside her room. She turned on a big lamp and they sat down on the couch. "It was years ago. There was a traveling circus in the city-gypsies. I was very young, studying to becoming a dancer. I lived in the dormitories of the opera house."
"Come," a very tall and greasy tom said. "Come and see the devil's child!"
"We followed him inside his tent. There was a cage with a young tom who looked a kitten. He wore a potato sack over his head and was playing with a toy monkey that wore cymbals. The kitten looked up and met my gaze. The older tom walked over and whipped him repeatedly. He yanked the sack off the kitten and held his head up, making everyone stare at his deformed face. After everyone had gotten a good look, he let the kitten go."
"Everyone left the tent. I was the last to leave, but had the strange feeling to look back. The tom was collecting the money the cats had thrown it. The kitten grabbed onto a rope near him, and began chocking the tom to death. After the tom died, the kitten picked up the monkey, and noticed me staring at him in shock. I knew he couldn't stay there. I got him out of his cage."
"Murder!" A cat yelled, looking at me and the kitten. We ran out of the circus. I took him to the opera house, and opened a window. We climbed through, escaping the horrible life for the young kitten.
"I hid him from the world and its cruelties. He has known nothing else of life since then, except this opera house. It was his playground, and now his artistic domain. He's a genius! He's an architect, designer, composer, and a magician."
Munkustrap sat in silence as Grizabella's story sunk in. "But clearly Grizabella, genius had turned to madness."
