(Erika is kneeling over Meg, while they make out, Erika kisses her neck)

E: And you're sure no one will find us?

M: Believe me. Only my mother knows where I'm hiding when I need my privacy. And why should she care?

E: Alright!

(Kisses her again)

(Off the stage Madam Giry says things like "this way" "come, hurry" or "be careful")

(Madam Giry, the Phantom and Christine enter the stage)

E: Oh my god, mum! What are you doing here?

M (Embarrassed): Mum!

C: Erika!

P: Meg!

M: Christine!

P: Erika? This can't possibly be what I'm thinking…

MG: Meg?

P&MG: What is going on here?

C: Let go off my daughter! Please!

P: Meg… your mother… (Turns around to MG) You said she had a gun.

M: I have. (Meg takes out the gun, Erika and Christine gasp)

C: Did you have to remind her?
P: She would have revealed it anyway.

C: Please Meg, drop the gun! Don't harm her! She's innocent!

(They all stare at Christine)

C: It's only a figure of speech. Meg, don't do anything stupid.

M: Would "something stupid" be alright then? Like in the song?

P: Don't you dare sing it! This isn't an occasion to sing.

M: How come you know?

P: I'm a composer.

C: Let go off Erika, I beg you! Meg!

M: Oh don't worry, I won't shoot her.

(Christine gasps)

M (pointing the gun at Christine): I'll shoot you. You'll do much better.

P: Meg! Don't do it!

M: Why did you come here anyway? Why did you have to sing again? What is wrong with you? Why do you always have to destroy things?
You had to pull the mask off this poor guy's distorted face just to reveal how ugly he was, in the last musical. Then you forced Raoul to follow you down into the basement vault so that his hiding place had to be found. Then you even ruined your own career when you married Raoul and had to stop singing! And now you came back to destroy my life and my career. Do you know how selfish that is?

P (takes out a gun and points it at Meg): Meg, put the gun down.

M: It's always Christine. It's always about Christine! God damn it, even this whole scene is about Christine! And if I shoot you now, this will be the last scene and it was all about Christine and I guess your singing will go on for minutes about your stupid mistress relationship, your stupid life and how you're dying. (Sighs) What to do…?
P: Meg! Put the gun down, I don't want to hurt you.

C: What do you mean by that? Why don't you do something? Shoot her or she's going to shoot me!

E: No, don't! Please Mr. XXX, I love her.

C: Shut up Erika. This isn't about you.

M: It's always about you, right, Christine? Oh for god's sake, I don't want you to have that final big scene. There must be something I could do… Can't I just push you off stage and shoot you there? While no one sees it, where no one can witness your tragic death?

P: But we will hear it… she'll sing nonetheless.

C: Is this you plan to rescue me?

P: I don't want to hurt her.

C: Just shoot her. You've killed before.

P: No, I haven't and will you stop claiming that?

C: But you killed Joseph Bouquet and Senior Piangi.

P: I told you I didn't kill anybody.

C: Yes you did.

P: No, I didn't.

M: Stop talking or I'll kill you. I've had enough of your voice, Christine!

C (Through her teeth): Do something.

P: I can't kill her. I've never killed before.

C (Still trough her teeth): You don't have to lie to me. I know it. And I can close my eyes, see? I won't even look when you kill her.

P: I can't kill her. And I won't.

MG: He's right, you know?

(They turn around to MG who is now pointing a gun at the Phantom)

P: Oh my god, that's ridiculous.

MG: You couldn't let Christine stay with Raoul, could you? You had to stop her from making him unhappy.

M: Mum, stop that nonsense. That's my big scene. I want to kill Christine.

MG: You've had your chance. You blew it.

M: But, mum…!

P: Okay, how about this: we will now all put our guns down and try to come to terms.

C: Just shoot Meg, you coward!

E: No please, Mr. XXX!

C: Will you stop calling him by that stupid name?

E: Alright, I should refer to him then as…?

MG: Father.

(They stare at Madam Giry)

MG: And now all of you: cut it out! I've had enough of this. This has gone too far.
Meg, if you only had killed her while you had the chance, then there would have been no more misunderstandings. No more things to explain. Christine would have been dead, you would have been crushed but no one would be standing in your way, in career terms. And I wouldn't be doomed to still be in this idiot's shadow!

God Lord, now I have to explain the plot. But don't worry, I won't give a lecture. So, in a nutshell:

(To Erika, referring to the Phantom) He's your father. That's the reason for this stupid name of yours. No offence. It's referring to the book, therefore it's negligible.

(To Meg) You're a disgrace and you know it. (To Erika) And so are you.

(To the Phantom) Not to mention you. After all these years and my support… come on! A whorehouse? That's all? You could do better than that. At the Opera Populaire they were respecting you. They were scared to death if someone dared to speak of you. And now…? You're even worse than Meg!

(To Christine) But he's right, you know? He never killed anybody. I did.

M / C&P: Mum! / Madame Giry?

E: You… you are my father? But I tried to… And you didn't stop me from harassing you?

C: It wouldn't have stopped you from making out with him even if you had known it back then.

E: You're right. He's got such a big organ… in his den.

(Christine, Erika and Meg giggle)

P: Will you stop those stupid jokes? Otherwise I have to beg Madam Giry for shooting me, the next time someone mentions an organ. I've had enough of this.

MG: He's right. You should take this more seriously.

The only one left is Le Vicomte de Chagny. But I guess I can still catch him later.

C: What has he to do with all this?

MG: He's just a minor role. But you know: Everybody has to play a role.

M: Mum, what are you talking about?

MG: It's always the same. A pity, isn't it? Our little Phantom friend can't do anything right and you, Meg, realize things only when they're too late. You two are just useless pawns in my game.
All these years at the opera Populaire… Meg would never have had a chance without somebody's help. Just look at her! She's not that pretty… and though her singing isn't that bad… who had wanted to see her performing on stage. Besides, that she's only a ballet dancer I figured it would be best for her to improve herself. To have a career. (To the Phantom) And I'll never forget the day I met you at the opera again. God, I was stunned to see you again. Sure there would be something happening, with a mad man under the stage whom no one ever sees, who prepares his one livelihood in the subbasement of the opera. And I waited for an accident to happen.

But nothing happened. This freak, this ignorant genius turned out to be totally harmless. His intentions were musical, only. No burning down the Opera house. No abducting or molesting young sopranos. I was worried he'd be more frightened of the ballet dancers then they were of him. I had to do something. I had to!
Poor Joseph Bouquet. Only two days before his retirement and CRACK! Hanged on stage, like one of the sandbags he had worked with all these years.
What else could I have done? They had to be scared of the Phantom of the Opera. And if he wouldn't do it…

I was sure one wasn't enough. And I also hoped that he might get the hint and would kill someone next time himself. But it didn't seem to work. And his "Don Juan" performance seemed perfect. I simply had to tell him that Senior Piangi choked himself to death on something he had just eaten, which was a sure thing to happen someday and may have happened if I hadn't killed him after the first act. But that Christine… She had to come with him; she had to follow him so that Raoul searched for both of you. And why shouldn't I know where he lived if he kept "asking" me for delivering those letters? Not only that I delivered them. I may have made some minor changes, but what a result! I just had to write something about salaries and "accidents beyond our imagination" which would occur and… they respected you. They were frightened.

P: How could you kill Senior Piangi? He was nice.

MG: He despised your music! Why wasn't that enough for you to snuff him?

M: But mum, why? Why did you do this? What did Joseph Bouquet do? Or Senior Piangi? How could you do this?

MG: There had to be a change. Someone had to do… something. And it seemed perfect. Everything was the Phantom's fault. If Bouquet accidently dropped a sandbag on some ballet dancers – it was the Phantom! If someone banged his foot on some of the requisites – it was the Phantom. And if one of the girls realized that she had been impregnated after having too many drinks after a performance… it was always the Phantoms fault. Though they didn't even know… (Smiles) He wouldn't have guessed what to do with an unconscious girl.

C: He sure new as soon as he met me.

P: I've told you several times IT was only in your dreams!

C: Yeah, but you were good, there.

MG: Erika was the only "accident" you ever had, wasn't she?

P: That was no accident. I was tricked.

C: It wasn't my fault. I was only joking about being on my period. And I thought you knew that.

M: Maybe Christine will stop being embarrassing as soon as I kill her?

P: Believe me, she won't. She will never stop being a disgrace.

C: You're the one to talk.

P (to Madam Giry): Why did you have to change my notes?

MG: Yours were just too… disgraceful. No offence. But "What a great night. I'd love to hear more from the young soprano. She seems talented. But nevertheless, my dear directors, it's still your decision." That's just… pitiful. How should they learn respect? How should things change?

C (To the Phantom): Is this an occasion to sing?

P: Could be.

C: But she isn't going to sing, is she?

P: Hopefully not.

MG: Don't worry. I'm not that stupid. I won't concentrate on some piece of music while you all run away. That would even be too dumb for this musical. Or, at least, I hope so. Well that's sorted out then. I've had my monologue, everything's explained…

M: Time to die Christine!

MG: Meg! Who granted you the privilege to act first?

M: You had your monologue. I want my shooting scene.

MG: You don't deserve it.

M: And your monologue?

MG: I explained the plot. You were as useless as always.

M: That's not fair!

P: You should really aim to improve your relationship.

M: He said aim, you heard it. It's my shooting scene after all.

MG: Shut up! (to the P) You're a fine one to talk! You didn't even tell your daughter that you're her father and Christine is two-timing you and it doesn't seem to bother you.

P: I wouldn't say that two are enough for her.

C: Why do you put the blame on me? You brought the other two guys… and the whip

(Awkward Silence)

C: …and the choking chain…

P (Sighs): There isn't even a word to specify her.

M: Sure there will be one: DEAD! (Laughs)

MG: Stop it Meg! We'll settle it once and for all. I'll count to three and everybody who feels obliged to shoot someone may do as he sees fit.

P: Madame Giry! Please!

C: Now you're even begging for it.

P: You always wanted me to beg for it.

MG: Shut it! Both of you!

(Madam Giry clears her throat)

C (whispers): She's mad!

MG: One…

P: No, please!

MG: Two…

The "Three" will be next week. As well as the thrilling conclusion.
STAY TUNED!