The Phantom of the Opera

Chapter 7

(The night of the gala, the Opera House is once again a full house. Raoul is standing by Firmin and Andre by the entrance.)

Firmin:

Ah, yes. Lovely night for an opera.

Andre:

Indeed, Firmin.

Raoul:

Well, it seems it's time to take our seats. I'll shall being seating in Box 5.

(The managers look at each other and then at the young man.)

Firmin:

Do you think that's wise, monsieur?

Raoul:

My dear man, there aren't many more seats other than the one in Box 5. Enjoy the show.

The crowd settles in the theatre as the pit warms up. The managers are in one of the boxes and Raoul is in Box 5. Christine is backstage getting ready for the show. Madame Giry comes in.)

Giry:

Gala begins in two minutes, Miss Daae.

Christine:

Thank you. (Giry leaves. Then, she sees the Phantom's rose on her table. She picks it up.) I believe I shall be seeing you, tonight. . . Erik.

(Then the music starts to play and the show Il Muto begins.)

Confidante:

They say that this youth has set my Lady's heart aflame!

Fop 1:

His Lordship, sure, would die of shock

Fop 2:

His Lordship is a laughing-stock!

Confidante:

Should he suspect her, God protect her!

All:

Shame! Shame! Shame!
This faithless lady's bound for Hades!
Shame! Shame! Shame!

(The curtain opens. Carlotta, playing the Countess, and Christine, playing Serafimo, are on stage, which is set as a bedroom.)

Carlotta:

Serafimo - your disguise is perfect.
(Knock from the door.) Who can this be?

Don Attilio:

Gentle wife, admit your loving husband.

(Don Attilio walks on stage and "spanks" Meg, who is playing a jeweler. The manager and Raoul are impressed.)

Don Attilio:

My love - I am called to England on affairs of State,
And must leave you with your new maid.
(To the audience) Though I'd happily take the maid with me.

(Laughter.)

Carlotta:

(To the audience) The old fool's leaving!

Don Attilio:
I suspect my young bride is untrue to me. I shall not
leave, but shall hide over there to observe her!
Addio!

Carlotta:
Addio!

Both:
Addio!

(He kisses her on the cheek and "leaves", instead, he hides and
watches the action. When he's not looking, Carlotta wipes the kiss off.)

Carlotta:

(Rips off Christine shirt.)

Serafimo - away with this pretence!

(Cast Gasps)
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence!

(As the song continues, Erik comes from a secret door leading him to a hiding place near the chandelier. He watches but he is not happy.)

Carlotta:

Poor fool, he makes me laugh!
Haha, Haha...
Time I tried to get a better half!

All:

Poor fool, he doesn't know!
Hoho, Hoho...
If he knew the truth, he'd never, ever go!

Erik:

Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be kept empty?

(Everyone looks up and start to gossip to one another. Buquet who is the only one can see him leaves his post.)

Meg:

(To Giry) Mother, it's him: the Phantom of the Opera.

Christine:

It's him. I know it, it's him.

Carlotta:

(Snarls at Christine Quietly) Hey! Your part is silent, you . . . little toad. (Turns to crowd and chuckles nervously.)

Erik:

A toad, Madame? Well . . . Perhaps it is youwho are the toad.

(Carlotta ignores him and turns to Reyer in the pit.)

Carlotta:

You! Back to the last number!

(Reyer scrambles through his music. Music Starts again.)

Carlotta:

Serafimo, away with this pretence!
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my ... CROAKS!

(Everyone gasps and then they start to laugh at her. Music continues.)

Carlotta:
Poor fool, he makes me laugh -
Hahahahaha!
Croak, croak, croak, croak, croak, croak

(As she croaks, the laughter grows, then Erik is chuckling a little. She is embarrassed and runs of stage crying. Firmin and Andre come on. Curtain closes.)

Firmin:

Stop the music. Stop, stop, stop . . . STOP! (Awkward moment of silence) Oh, pardon me. (Chuckles nervously and clears his throat.)
Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize, the performance will continue in ten minutes' time. When the role of the Countess will be played by . . . by-by-by (Looking behind the curtain and pulls out Christine.) Miss Christine Daae!

(Audience applause. Firmin pushes her backstage.) Get her ready!

(Erik is clapping with the audience when, he hears Buquet coming. He disappears and Buquet appears.)

Andre:
In the meantime, ladies and gentlemen, we will be giving you the ballet from Act Three of tonight's opera.

Reyer:

What?

Firmin:

Ah yes. The ballet from Act Three. . . NOW!

(Reyer once again is scrambling through his sheets of music. As the managers leave the stage, Andre bumps into Meg. The music starts and ballet begins.)

(During the ballet, Buquet is on the hunt for Erik.)

Buquet:

Now, let's see whose the genius really is. (He starts is search.)

(Erik is standing in the background.)

Erik:

Yes, let's.

(Meg turns in his direction and he vanishes. She process to her route. Buquet looks around, but can't find him. Then, he gets hit in the face.)

Buquet:

What the- (Gets hit twice.)

(Erik chuckles wickedly.)

Buquet:

Come out and fight!

(Then, Erik appears behind him.)

Buquet:

(Gasps.)

Erik:

With pleasure, monsieur.

(They begin to fight by hand. No one can hear them, they are too busy watching the show. Soon, Buquet was beaten Erik down and winning. There, Erik holds a lasso behind his back. When Buquet swings his fist, Erik slips away and wraps the lasso around Buquet's neck.)

Buquet:

(Pleading.) Monsieur, please! Let me go! I'm begging you! Please!

(Erik tugs the rope tight, but after seeing his pleasing eyes he lets go.)

Buquet:

(Gasps for sir.)

Erik:

Consider yourself lucky, monsieur. (He begins to walk away.)

Buquet:

Oh, you bet. (Pulls out a gun and loads it.) I wonder how much money I'll for killing you.

(But as quick as a flash, Erik kicks the gun out of Buquet's hand and hits him, causing him to lose his balancing. He grabs the ropes.)

Erik:

(Reaches his hand out to Buquet.) Quick! Take my hand!

(Buquet looks at the black hand and then to the phantom. He lets go.)

Erik:

NO!

(The corpse of Buquet hangs over the stage where everyone can see it.)

(Meg Screams.)

(Screaming and Gasping continue throughout the theatre. Erik looks down at the body and then disappears.)

Firmin:

Ladies and gentlemen! Please remain in your seats! Do
not panic! It was an accident . . . simply an accident!

(Raoul runs backstage and meets Christine.)

Raoul:

Christine, are you all right?

Christine:

Yes, I'm fine.

Raoul:

Come, we have to get out of here.

Christine:

No, Raoul! To the roof. It's safer.

(She guides him to the roof. Erik sees them escape and follows them.)