It took about two, maybe three weeks, until they were finally ready enough to perform Near's play in front of people. They had costumes that fit their sizes and character (Near was actually forced to wear something other than his white pajamas to play his part of the manager) and each had all their lines memorized. They all followed Near nervously as he walked to the center of the stage to announce the play.
"Good evening, everyone." He started. "I know that this is the first you've seen of Wammy's in a while, and I am sure you're all excited to see them---us---again. However, we are not to perform our usual tricks and songs. Instead, one of us has written a play that we will do. We hope you will enjoy it." He bowed and the curtain closed.
"Go get ready." He whispered and they all fell into positions, urging other characters out onto the stage. Watari had thought, since it was an opera house, that they needed more characters, and that certain spots needed to be filled. He had gone back to Wammy's and brought back another caravan full of people. He himself had gained the role of Monsieur Reyer, the conductor. Mello scaled the top of the stage easily, staying out of sight. They had added onto the stage, making it high enough that Mello could be hidden properly and they could have a good amount of space for a few of the later scenes, but still have it visible to the people below. The curtain opened again and the play began with a chorus of singing, Watari on the piano behind them, and dancing. They parted suddenly, some of them tripping over each other, as three males made their way through.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen." A voice rang out as a warning. "As you can see, rehersals are underway for a new production---Chalumeau's Hannibal."
"Master Lefevre," Watari started, coming from the piano. "We are rehearsing!" Next to one of the girls, Wedy turned, taking deep breaths and covering her eyes as she controlled her temper. The dancers and singers from Wammy's looked from Wedy to the three men in their midst.
"Monsieur Reyer, Madam Giry," He said soothingly. "Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention." He called out louder. They all turned to him. "As you know, there have been rumors of my retirement. I want you to know, they are all true." From the front of the stage, Misa smiled and made a triumphant noise, pointing at Moji, who sighed and nodded in defeat towards Misa. The others toward the back started making comments among themselves. "So, these are your new managers: Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre." Aiber and Near bowed respectively and another person made his way through.
"And we are deeply honored," Aiber said. "To introduce our new patron, the Vicompte the Chagny." Matt came forward and smiled at the girls. Excitedly, Linda whispered something to Halle, both girls standing near the front of the stage.
"Raoul..."
"You know him, Christine?" Linda tore her eyes away from Matt and smiled at Halle.
"When we were younger, in the house by the sea...well, I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts." She said, smiling at Raoul again.
"My parents and I are honored to support the arts, especially the world-renown Opera Populair." He said. Misa walked forward instantly, her hand out.
"Our leading prima donna, La Carlotta Guidicelli, for five seasons. And our leading male Ubaldo Piangi." Matt took Misa's hand and kissed it, then nodded in Moji's direction. Moji bowed back and Misa smiled.
"Well, I believe I'm keeping you from your rehearsal." He left, passing by Linda and Halle. Linda tried to smile.
"He wouldn't recognize me." Linda said sadly. Halle shook her head.
"He didn't see you." The rehersal started again and Wedy lead Near and Aiber around, talking about the ballet and motioning them to move every once in a while. The practice stopped, with Misa complaining about something-or-other (something unimportant) and, not knowing what to do besides what the previous manager told them, Aiber and Near spouted compliments at Misa, one after the other, and encouraged her to sing for them. She smiled and went back to the center stage, right beneath where Mello sat above stage, waiting.
"Think of me,
Think of me fondly when we've said goodbye." Misa started. Half the audience winced---she went too high.
"Remember me once in a while
Please promise me you'll try." Near shut his eyes and Aiber controlled and urge to cover his ears.
"When you find that once again you long
To take your heart back and---"
"Signora!" Came a startled cry from a manager as Mello dropped the rope he had been holding onto, which dropped a piece of scenery that Near had hung a few minutes before. He fled instantly, not being seen by the audience below, despite their attempts to look for him. Rester ran to the spot Mello had been, and the audience saw him, pointing and whispering.
"He's here," Halle whispered to Linda, loud enough for everyone to hear. "The Phantom of the Opera!"
"Buquet!" Aiber yelled up. Rester looked down, pulling the rope and the scenery off of Misa, who was being helped up by Near. "For God's sake, what's going on up there?"
"Don't look at me, Monsieur." Rester called back. "God as my witness, I wasn't at my post. There's no one here, and if there was..." He trailed off, with a slight chuckle. "Well, it must have been a ghost." Wedy disappeared.
"These things do happen." Near started, hoping to calm Misa down. Misa stared at him incredously.
"For the past three years, these things do happen!" She screeched suddenly, turning to the ex-manager. "And did you stop them from happening? No! And you two!" She yelled, pointing from him to Near and Aiber suddenly. They both turned to her. "You are as bad as him! 'These things do happen'!" She mimicked angrily, putting both hands int a 'stop' gesture. "Mah, NO!" Misa took a deep breath. "Until you stop these things from happening, this does not happen!" She whirled around and left, shouting.
"Amateurs." Rester said, shaking his head.
"What do we do?" Aiber asked. Watari, from his position next to Rester, sighed.
"She will come back, won't she?" Near asked a few seconds later. Wateri shrugged. "Surely, there must be a-a-a understudy---"
"Understudy?" Watari repeated, shocked. "There is no understudy for La Carlotta!"
"Excuse me, monsieurs." Wedy said, appearing suddenly by the two males. They turned to her. "I have a message from the Opera Ghost."
"God in Heaven, you're all obsessed!" Aiber cried. Wedy glared at him quickly.
"He welcomes you to his opera house---"
"HIS opera house?" Aiber interrupted, eyes wide. Wedy ignored him.
"---and commands that you leave Box Five empty," She pointed at the box in question. "For his continued use, and reminds you that his salary is due."
"Salary?" Aiber cried, taking the letter from her.
"Oui. Master Lefevre gave him 20,000 francs a month."
"20,000 francs?" Aiber looked from the note to her and back.
"Perhaps you can afford more, with the Vicompte as your patron?" Wedy said. Aiber looked shocked as he tore up the note.
"I had planned to make it public, but it seems we will have to cancel as we have no star! A full house, Andre, we shall have to refund a full house!" He cried.
"Christine Daae could sing it." Wedy offered, pulling Linda away from Halle.
"A chorus girl? Don't be silly." Near said, turning away from Misa.
"Let her sing for you." Wedy insisted. "She has been well taught by a great teacher." This gained Near's interest.
"Who?" Linda smiled softly.
"I don't know his name." She said, looking a bit embaressed.
"Come, come, my dear." Linda moved between Near and Aiber with Wedy's encouragement.
"All right, then, from the top of the aria." Watari commanded, going back to the piano and starting the song.
"Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves." Aiber complained.
"Well, she's very pretty." Near commented. Then Linda started singing.
"Think of me
Think of my fondly when we've said goodbye.
Remember me, once in a while
Please promise me you'll try." Linda glanced back at Wedy and she motioned her forward. Linda took a few steps.
When you find that once again you long
To take your heart back and be free
If you ever find a moment
Spare a thought for me." The curtain shut behind her and Linda was alone on the stage.
"We never said our love was evergreen
Or as unchanging as the sea
But if you can still remember
Stop and think of me.
Think of all the things we've shared and seen
Don't think about the way things might have been." On one side of the stage, Near and Aiber stood, watching Linda with a proud look on their face. On the other side, Matt stood, looking shocked.
"Think of me
Think of me waking silent and resigned.
Imagine me
Trying too hard to put you from my mind.
Recall those days, think back to all those times,
Think of the things we'll never do.
There will never be a day when I won't think
Of you!" From the top of the stage, there was a movement that caught everyone's eye---the quick flash of something white against the dark sky. On the side of the stage with Matt, he took a step forward.
"Can it be?
Can it be Christine?" He wondered. "Bravo!" Clapping, he smiled at Linda.
"Long ago, it seems so long ago
How young and innocent we were.
She may not remember me,
But I remember her."
"Flowers fade
The fruits of summer fade
They have their seasons, so do we.
But please promise me that sometimes
You will think..." Linda took a deep breath from the stage and people looked at Linda again.
"Of me!" Linda finished strongly, to everyone's applause, and Near smiled at Aiber, the three on stage applauding as well. Linda bowed and disappeared behind the curtain.
All right, two chapters in one day, yay! ok, if anyone's curious, i dunno how many chapters this is gonna take. but the next few chapters will be the actual play of The Phantom of the Opera. i'll be using lines and songs from the movie version of it, and of course nothing belongs to me. this will be the only time that i actually discribe the play, so bear with me here, ok?