Il Muto rehearsals began, and Socks was returned to participate in them, but Sarah had still not returned. The managers were getting nervous about her disappearance. The papers were eating it up, and that was definitely not the kind of publicity the Opera House needed. David was working diligently trying to ascertain the most plausible places she could have disappeared to, while also trying to convince Socks to come back and take her place as the lead of the show.
"'Mystery after gala night, lead soprano disappears after one performance. Foul play is suspected of rival lead who failed to show up for the performance.' This damnable, Specs," David lamented to his partner.
"But the seats are still selling. Gossip is worth gold when it comes to Opera, it seems," Specs pointed out.
"Opera! You call this Opera? What a way to run an opera house. Half of your cast is gone, and still the crowd is cheering."
"Oh, to hell with that. Forget the opera itself: with the gossip going around, we've sold almost all the seats every night."
"Damnable, Specs! It's Damnable! Will we ever be able to keep a lead?! This is not the way to start!" David slammed his fist against the desk.
"David, keep your voice down," Specs warned him. "It's publicity! Free publicity! Just go with it!"
"But we have no cast. Nobody."
"But… have you seen the queue? Oh… you have one too." He took a note up from the table and began to read it out loud. "'Dear David, what a charming gala! Christine was stupendous! We were hardly bereft when Socks decided to leave. On another note, the chorus was wonderful, but the dancing was lacking.'" He looked up at his partner with a shrug, and then looked down to read the other note in his hand. "'Dear Specs, Just a reminder: You haven't paid my salary yet. Send it care of the Ghost by mail. P.T.O.: No one likes a debtor, so it's better if you do as I say.'"
"Who would have the gall to send something like that? Really, this is going too far. Who ever it is has a puerile brain." David sat down and crossed his arms, leaning back in the chair.
"These are both signed O.G.," Specs pointed out.
"Who the hell is that supposed to be? Opera Ghost? Oh, spare me! It's no longer funny. He's abusing our position in the opera."
"And he wants money. He's a funny sort of con-artist if he thinks we're just going to give it to him like that."
The door swung open then was slammed shut again. "Where is she?!" Jack yelled without bothering to announce himself at all.
"You mean Socks?" Specs asked.
"No, I mean Sarah. Where is she?"
"Well, how should we know?" David replied irritably.
"Oh, that's quite an answer. I take it that you sent me this note." He waved a piece of paper at the managers.
"What are you talking about?" Specs asked.
"Of course we didn't! Don't look at us!" David protested.
"Then she's not with you?" Jack looked at them carefully.
"Of course she's not!" David told him sitting up and putting his hands on the desk. "We're as clueless as you as to where she is!"
"Monsieur, don't argue! Isn't this the letter you wrote?"
"And what is it that we're meant to have wrote?" David asked sarcastically. Specs and Jack stared at him.
"Written..." He corrected himself quietly.
"'Do not fear for Miss Jacobs, the Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again.'" Jack looked at the two managers. "Well, if you didn't write it, who did?"
The door swung open and slammed shut once more. "Where is he?!" Socks screamed, as the door opened and closed again, though more quietly than the last two times it had been opened, and Skittery stood behind Socks with his arms crossed.
"Ah, welcome back, Socks!" David greeted her and Specs gave a little bow.
"Your precious patron, where is he?" She asked again, not lowering her voice much.
"What it is now?" Jack asked her, stepping forward into her view.
"I have your letter. And I resent it greatly," she informed him haughtily.
"Did you send it to her, Jack?" Specs asked him.
"Of course I didn't," Jack said with a surprised tone in his voice. "What's going on?"
"You dare to tell me," Socks said in a low voice, pointing from his chest to the letter in her other hand. "That you did not send this letter to me?"
"What is it exactly that I'm meant to have sent to you?"
She thrust the letter into his face and he read it aloud so that all could hear.
"'Your days at the opera house are numbered. Sarah will be taking your place in the performance this evening. Be prepared for a grave misfortune if you try to take her place in the spotlight.'" He read.
There was silence for a moment in the room while everyone pondered the contents of the note.
"There are too many notes for my liking," David said finally. "And every one of them deals with Sarah. All I have heard since I took the position of manager here is her name."
Moe opened the door and walked in, followed by Autumn. "Sarah has returned."
"I trust she is quite exhausted," David said sarcastically.
"Where is she now?" Jack asked anxiously.
"I thought it best to send her to bed," Moe informed him.
"She needed rest," Autumn chimed.
"May I see her?" Jack asked Moe.
"No, she won't see anyone."
"Will she sing tonight?" Socks asked Moe seriously.
"Here, I have a note," Moe said, holding it out.
"Let me see it!" Jack, Socks and Skittery chimed in unison.
"Please," Specs pushed through and took the note from Moe.
"'Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theater is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I will give you one last chance. Sarah has returned to you, and I am anxious that her career should progress. In the new production of 'Il Muto', you will cast Miss Jacobs as the Countess, and make Socks the Page Boy. The roll of Countess calls for charm and appeal, and the roll of the page boy is silent. This makes my casting, in a word, ideal.
I will watch the performance from my place in box five, which will be kept empty for me. If you ignore these commands, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.'" Specs read, then looked up at David in shock.
"What will he think of next?" David said dejectedly.
"Sarah! It's all a ploy to help Sarah! I know who sent this one! The Vicomte - Her lover!"
"Indeed, can you believe that? This is insane." Jack protested.
"Socks, darling, pet, it's a joke! It doesn't change a thing!" David assured her.
"You're still the countess," Specs chimed. "And Sarah is the page boy! You are our star! And you always will be!"
"This man is mad; we don't take orders from anyone!"
"It is useless trying to appease me. You're only saying that to keep me here."
"That Sarah Jacobs is trying to replace your true star," Skittery stated loyally. "No person could play the countess with the zeal that Socks does."
Socks looked pleased at Skittery's assertions and rewarded them with a kiss on the cheek.
"If you ignore his word, I have nothing but pity for you. Only bad comes from defying the Angel of Music," Moe warned in a low voice. Autumn attached herself to her mother's arm. "He will see. He knows everything…"
"Why did he take her from me for so long? What will he do, Madame Jenkins?" Jack asked worriedly.
"You have replaced me!" Socks accused the managers harshly and turned her back to them.
"No, no, Socks! We haven't! You are our diva! Our star!" Specs assured her.
"This hour will see your darkest fears," Moe told Jack ominously.
"I must see her," he replied desperately.
"He knows, he hears! It's not safe, Jack! You must not go and see her tonight!"
"Where did she go?"
"Socks, you must sing for us!" David pleaded.
"Don't be a martyr," Moe warned Jack.
"What new surprises lie in store?" Socks said dejectedly. "RiffRaff will play the lead next, I'm sure."
"No, no! You are our star!" Specs told her.
"Your public needs you! We need you!" David groveled. He dropped to his knees before her. "Your devotees are on their knees to beg you to come and play the countess tonight."
"Would you not rather have Sarah play it?" Socks asked sarcastically.
"Can you bow out when all your fans are shouting your name? They expect to see you at the theater tonight! Imagine how heartbroken they'll be if they see Sarah on the stage instead of you!"
Socks turned towards him.
"You are our Prima Donna! You will play our lead! Your public needs you!" David continued to plead.
Socks sighed. "You know, you're right. I can't desert my public." She stepped forward and looked up as if inspired, standing in the direct center of the room. "Prima Donna, your song will live again, and you will never be overshadowed by that chorus girl."
"This can come to no good," Moe warned, but her warnings fell on deaf ears.
Socks breathed in deeply and turned to Skittery. "Come, we must go ready ourselves for the performance this evening," she told him with a smile, and sauntered out, her nose once more up in the air.
David and Specs gave each other congratulatory smiles. They had their lead back, and the chorus girl had returned safely from her sojourn.
Moe pursed her lips. "See you this evening, gentlemen," she bade them, and turned to the door. She exited with Autumn on her heels.
Jack nodded at them with a dejected air and left as well, hoping that if he went to Sarah's house, he might still get to see her, despite what Moe had warned him.
David and Specs sat down in their seats. David sighed and undid his tie. Specs put his glasses on the table.
"That could have gone much worse," he admitted, soliciting a nod from David.