Notes
The clock struck 11 am in Paris. In the manager's office Firmin scornfully eyed a newspaper article: "Mystery after gala night, "it says, "Mystery of soprano's flight!" "Mystified," baffled Surete say, "We are mystified - we suspect foul play!" Bad news on soprano scene -first Carlotta, now Christine!Ah, but still at least the seats get sold -gossip's worth its weight in gold... ". He cackled to himself sitting on the ornately carved wooden desk and continued reading aloud. "Diva tenders resignation! Cover does a moonlight flit! Half your cast disappears, but the crowd still cheers! Opera! To hell with Gluck and Handel -have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit!" Andre strode in paper in his hand, frazzled, "Damnable!Will they all walk out? This is damnable!". Firmin, still with a slight hangover from last night's celebrating, put a hand to his head stumbling over to his agitated partner. "Andre, please don't shout its publicity and the take is vast, free publicity"
"But we have no cast!"
"But Andre, have you seen the queue?" He sorts through some mail on his desk. Finding the two letters from the Phantom, "Oh, it seems you've got one too ..." Andre frowned opening the lovely envelop, white but with an odd black ink that seemed to shine. He began to read:
"Dear Andre, what a charming gala!
Christine enjoyed a great success!
We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left -
Otherwise, the chorus was entrancing,
But the dancing was a lamentable mess!"
""Dear Firmin, just a quick reminder:
My salary has not been paid.
Send it care of the ghost,
By return of post -
P.T.O.:
No one likes a debtor,
So it's better if my orders are obeyed!"
Both were puzzled (though Firmin seemed more amused) at who would have sent such letters. They leaned on the desk curious. "Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain!" They laughed at the writers expense. Firmin compared both letters: "These are both signed "O.G." ...
"Who the hell is he?"
Then it clicked. "Opera ghost!" Firmin was not amused. "It's really not amusing!"
"He's abusing our position!" Andre agreed.
"In addition he wants money!"
"He's a funny sort of specter ..."
"... To expect a large retainer!"
"Nothing plainer - He is clearly quite insane!"
They were interrupted by their handsome young patron, brandishing another black lined envelope, still in his coat and scarf fresh from the outside. "Where is she?". His unexpected entrance caught the two men off guard. "You mean Carlotta?" A confused Andre asked, surly that must be his main concern. "I mean, Miss Daae - where is she?" Raoul frantically told them, having stayed up all night going over what had happened last night. "Well, how should we know?" An unconcerned Firmin snapped. "I want an answer -I take it that you sent me this note?" He angrily shoved the letter under Firmin's nose. "What's all this nonsense?"
"Of course not!" Andre came to his friends defense against the clearly erratic man. "Don't look at us!" Firmin told him. Raoul was now very frightened for her "She's not with you, then?" His heart stopped in his chest. "Of course not!" thinking perhaps the man was implying something lecherous. "We're in the dark ..." Andre confirmed. Raoul had enough "Monsieur, don't argue -Isn't this the letter you wrote?"
"And what is it that we're meant to have wrote?" Firmin asked annoyed. The two men looked at him oddly, having realized his mistake "Written!" Raoul thrust the letter at Andre and proceeded to take his coat and gloves off. Andre read;
"Do not fear for Miss Daae.
The Angel of Music has her under his wing.
Make no attempt to see her again." Firmin held the three letters up next to each other. The hand writing, unique ink and parchment were all one in the same. Raoul was perplexed "If you didn't write it, which did?" Another intrusion as Carlotta stamped in from the other entrance, like a bat out of hell, with Piangi close behind her. She too held a letter and screamed to Firmin. "Where is he?" She bellowed at the two men who were the first she saw. "Ah, welcome back!" Andre tried pleasantly. "Your precious patron -Where is he?" She continued to demand. Begrudgingly Raoul stepped forward "What is it now?" Carlotta shoved the letter in his face and waved it furiously, "I have your letter -a letter which I rather resent!"
"And did you send it?"
"Of course not!" Raoul bellowed angrily.
"As if he would!" Carlotta and Piangi were in utter disbelief, "You didn't send it?"
"Of course not!"
"What's going on ... "Firmin was getting short with everybody, especially this so-called ghost who seemed to be the source of the trouble. "You dare to tell me that this is not the letter you sent?!" She held it out to him properly between her two red silk fingers as though it was a mouse. "And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?" She made a disgruntled noise at his eye roll. The young Vicomte read aloud;
"Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered.
Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight.
Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take her place."
This was meant by a stunned silence. Carlotta looking extremely offended, Piangi looking haughty and pale. The two managers were now completely frustrated with Christine Daae. "Far too many notes for my taste -and most of them about Christine! All we've heard since we came, is Miss Daae's name ..." Just then Madame Giry strode in as though she owned the office with little Meg behind her, still in her ballet clothes. "Miss Daae has returned" She informed them. "In which case, I think our meeting is adjourned." Firmin, was relieved that one problem was solved. "Where precisely is she now?" Andre was a little concerned for the girl; she wasn't the one behind this madness. "I thought it best that she went home ..." Madam Giry told him politely. "She needed rest." Meg piped up. Raoul eagerly approached the ballet mistress, "May I see her?" The older woman looked at him with pity and sadness, she felt sorry for him but she knew Christine wouldn't feel up to it, despite her strong affection for the boy. "No, monsieur, she will see no one." She told him sadly.
Carlotta and Piangi were less gentle, demanding to know the burning question: Will she sing? Will she sing?" They shrieked to her. Giry held up yet another black lined envelop, "Here, I have a note ..." Firmin and Piangi groaned. Meg looked on nervously having seen him hand the letter to her mother the night before. The phantom had laid Christine's exhausted body down on the bed and briefly spoke to her mother. Meg had watched from the gap in the door terrified but overwhelmed by curiosity. He'd turned and saw her spying. His dark eyes burned, into her little blue ones sending chills through her as though he could see inside her soul. In the present, Raoul, Carlotta and Andre rushed towards the calm Giry. "Let me see it!" Firmin, always the level headed of the managers called for order, "Please!" She handed him the letter. He ripped the now similar red seal open and read:
"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature,
Detailing how my theatre is to be run. Firmin paused furious at this specters proclamation that he owned the theatre. However he continued;
"You have not followed my instructions.
I shall give you one last chance ..."
As he read they could all almost hear the voice of a man somewhere deep in the distance. Perhaps they were imagining it or perhaps the ghost was truly with them.
"... Shall give you one last chance ... Christine Daae has returned to you,
And I am anxious her career should progress.
In the new production of "Il Muto", you will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy,
And put Miss Daae in the role of the Countess.
The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal.
The role of the Pageboy is silent - which makes my casting, in a word, ideal. The flowing almost lyrical writing halted as he came to the end written in bright red ink. "I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept open for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur ..." They all noticed that feeling of being watched as well as the mysterious faint voice stopped leaving only Firmin's harsh one. "... I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant, O.G.". A stunned silence fallowed. No one knew what to say or who to blame. This wasn't a prank; it had become a serious threat. Meg felt more afraid than ever for her close friend. She held her mother's arm, "Christine ... Christine." She whispered to herself sadly, praying for her safety and hoping she would be wary of her "Angel of Music". Meg began to connect the opera ghost to Christine's angel.
Carlotta was furious; she was being threatened and insulted by someone obsessed with a flimsy ballerina? The drab orphan who all of a sudden found her voice after years of never being capable of singing a note. "Christine!" She screeched. Andre threw up his hands exasperated "Whatever next ...?" Carlotta and Piangi meanwhile conspired against the little singer. "It's all a ploy to help Christine!" Firmin rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness of the situation, "This is insane ..."
"I know who sent this The Vicomte - her lover!"
"Indeed? Can you believe this?" the young man sneered at the overly made up diva. Andre however was a little more sensitive "Signora!" He rushed to her side, only to be blocked by Piangi "How can you do this?" She of course played her part as the victim perfectly "I am unwanted!" Firmin was not playing along at all; "This is a joke!" his partner was "This changes nothing!"
"I am unwelcome!"
"Signora!" Firmin was ready to tell the prissy little woman off but Andre's pleading look stopped him, "You are our star!"
"And always will be!"
"Signora ..."
"The man is mad!"
"We don't take orders!"
Having had enough Firmin formally put his foot down to make a point, "Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy - the silent role ..." Andre joined him, "Carlotta will be playing the lead!" Piangi strode behind the diva and placed a protective hold on her shoulders "You don't deserve her!" Carlotta put on a teary voice and waved a dismissive hand "It's useless trying to appease me!"
"Appease her –"Piangi parroted, miming her gesture. "You're only saying this to please me!" Andre tried to approach her but was blocked by Piangi "To please her –". The Italian duo locked hands and shared a moment of over exaggerated passion. "I will not listen! You thus insult the honor of your prima donna? Padre mio! Dio!"
Ignoring the foolishness Madame Giry attempted once again to warn every one of the impending danger. "Who scorn his word, beware to those ..." she was over powered by Carlotta's whining "You have reviled me!"
"The angel sees, the angel knows ..."
Raoul completely oblivious to the madness around him puzzled over why Christine had so quickly left him. "Why did Christine fly from my arms ... ?" Meg observed him lost in thought and shared his concern, she feared for her friend "Christine ..." the moment was again interrupted by the antics of the talent and the management.
"You have rebuked me!" she cried indignantly. For their part the managers could only apologize "Signora, pardon us ...". Not that it did much good or that she was even listening "You have replaced me!" . They gave it their best groveling, "Please, Signora we beseech you ..." . The dance mistress would be so easily taken in "This hour shall see your darkest fears ...". Christine's two friends had other concerns "I must see her ..." that didn't seem to trouble anyone else. "This is uncalled-for for This is unfounded! This is unheard of!" the opera stars were in their own world, headless of the danger. "The angel knows, the angel hears ..." unfortunately so was Raoul, "Where did she go?" He stared at the letter trying to make sense of it all or trying to find a clue.
However the drama had reached its peak. Carlotta was in full rage "You are unthinking! You are unfeeling!" and Piangi was right by her side "They are unthinking. They are unfeeling." The managers gave one more attempt "Signora, sing for us! Doesn't be a martyr ..." While Mega and Raoul wondered what would happen next in this game "What new surprises lie in store ... ?" . Finally the mangers decided the best tactic was to feed the beast "Our star!" they shouted in excited unison to the pair, " You go too far! ". Andre had enough was adamant to end it "Your public needs you!" he told the fiery red head grasping the parasol she thrust at him like a spear. "We need you, too!" Firmin, replied in the most begrudging way with a look of sickness on his squinted face. Carlotta turned around slowly and dramatically took off her gloves "Would you not rather have your precious little ingénue?" she asked already knowing the answer. "Signora, no! the world wants you!", and the groveling had begun.
