Chapter 4: New Management
1919
Meg walked downstairs and walked on the old stage and stood where she and Christine were that day, that new management came.
" Grandmother, this is the stage?" the girls asked
" Yes, it is," Meg said, " And the start of a new life of the Opera Populaire," Meg said
She touched the tattered curtains and looked behind the stage. She sighed and closed her eyes to picture the old Opera Populaire.
1870
" I heard there's new management," several of the chorus girls said
Christine and Meg ran down the steps in their costume for the new production. Christine looked at everyone else and Meg looked at Christine.
" Something's going to happen today," Christine said
" Everyone is excited about this new production," Meg said
They came down hearing Carlotta singing her part loudly and sharply. Meg and Christine giggled all the way down the steps then warmed up. Madame Giry looked at Meg and Christine and they warmed up in silence, then smiled after Madame Giry walked off. There was a sudden disruption in the flow of music as Monsieur Reyer gave a loud complaint, that he was rehearsing. Monsieur Lefevre assured Monsieur Reyer that it would only take a moment. The girls gather around and looked at the three men that stood there.
" Who are they?" Meg asked
" I don't know," another chorus girl said
" I like to introduce Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre. They are taking over the Opera Populaire. The rumors of my retirement are true and I am pleased to pass the responsibility to them ," Monsieur Lefevre said
There were applauds for the new mangers and then they introduced the new patron, who came in time. Christine walked forward a little and stared at him.
" It's Raoul," Christine said
Meg looked at Christine and walked over.
" Is that him the one you were talking about?" Meg asked
Christine nodded and said, " Yes, I guess you could say were childhood sweethearts. He use to call me " Little Lotte"."
" He's so handsome Christine," Meg said
As Raoul was introduced to the company and they walked past Meg and Christine. Christine sighed with the excuse of " he wouldn't remember me"
" He didn't see you," Meg said
They went off to rehearse and the new mangers watched and Madame Giry told them about the ballet.
As they danced to the side and let Carlotta enter again and then closed the space up. Carlotta seeing that the managers were only watching the chorus girls made her attempt to show off.
Carlotta threaten to leave and the mangers started to grovel at Carlotta's feet. Meg and Christine watched and the stagehands sighed.
Finally they pleaded enough and gave her the opportunity to sing for them. She was quick to agree and stood there. Monsieur began to play and Carlotta began to sing.
Though someone did not like her singing and it was then that the scenery piece fell and tumbled over her. Meg looked up and saw a shadow leave and she grabbed Christine's arm.
" It's him….the Phantom of the Opera," Meg said
Christine and Meg looked up again and the shadow was gone. Monsieur Lefevre and the other two helped Carlotta. Monsieur Lefevre fussed at Joseph Buquet, but Buquet only pleaded for himself in saying it wasn't him. He then added that perhaps it was a ghost. The chorus girls looked at Buquet and then sighed. Carlotta fussed at all three of them and this time left for good. Monsieur Lefevre left with his final words and walked off.
" She will be back…won't she?" Andre asked
" Think so Monsieur," Madame Giry said, " I have a note from the Opera Ghost."
" Your all obsessed," Richard said
" He welcomes you to his opera house," Madame Giry started, " And you are to continue to leave box five open for his use only."
" His Opera House!" Richard exclaimed in frustration
" And he wants you to know his salary is due," Madame Giry said
" His salary!" Richard piped
" Yes, Monsieur Lefevre gave him 25,000 francs," Madame Giry said
" 25,000 francs!" Richard exclaimed
" Perhaps you can afford more with the Vicomte as your new patron?" Madame Giry questioned
Richard looked at Madame Giry and fussed at her about losing the star and that there would be no money if they didn't have one. Andre stuttered around for the words of an understudy, but Monsieur Reyer told him there was none. Richard complained that they would have to refund a full house.
" Christine Daaé can sing it," Madame Giry said
" What a chorus girl? No," Andre said
" She has been taking lessons from a great teacher, she's very good," Madame Giry said
" Who is your teacher?" Andre asked
Christine looked at him and told him she didn't know his name. They let her go ahead and Monsieur Reyer started the piece from the beginning. Meg watched as Christine surprised everyone with her voice. She smiled and it was a dream as the music welcomed the peacefulness.
It was then that audience watched in amazement as she astounded them. Meg watched from the side and smiled, her mother placed her hand on her shoulder.
" She's amazing Mama," Meg said
After the performance Meg walked around the celebration backstage and went down to the chapel where she thought Christine might be.
" Christine, Christine," she called
She enter and smiled.
" Where in the world have you been hiding. Really you were perfect," Meg said, " Who is this great tutor?"
Christine looked over at her friend as she knelt down. Christine smiled and hugged her friend
" Christine, you were amazing, you have truly showed them that there is more to a chorus girl than just dancing," Meg said
Christine smiled and looked at the candle.
" Meg, I believe I have been blessed with a gift," she said, " When your mother brought me here to stay, there was always someone looking out for me. The voice was there when I came here every night to light a candle for my father and in my sleep."
" Christine, do you think this voice is your father coaching you?" Meg asked
" Who else would it be?" Christine questioned
Christine stood up and looked at the stain glass angel.
" It's wonderful to know," Christine said, " That there is truly someone looking out for us."
Meg smiled and they walked as Christine spoke of an angel and Meg told her she must have been dreaming. Meg took Christine to her mother and her mother took Christine to the dressing room.
Meg walked down the hall and bumped into Raoul.
" I'm sorry," she said
" Excuse, but could you tell me where Christine Daaé is?" she asked
" Go down that hall and to your left," Meg said
" Thank you," Raoul said
Meg smiled and walked off to change into her casual practice clothing. She went off and had no idea what would happen next.
Later that evening Meg went to check on Christine and she walked down the hall. Her lantern dangling from her hand. She took the keys out and unlocked the door, then entered to find the room empty.
" Christine," Meg whispered
She looked around and set the lantern down with the keys. She looked seeing light from a crack in the mirror, she slid it open and walked through it. She closed it and saw the dressing room from the other side. Meg continued down the dark, damp hallway and whispered. She continued until a hand grabbed her shoulder and she turned around.
" Mama," she said
" Come now," Madame Giry said in a disappointed voice
She went up to the room and Joseph Buquet was telling a story of the Phantom. She ignored him and went to her bedside.
Meg sat down and then looked out her window and she saw a shadow guiding Christine across the roof top.
" The Phantom of the Opera," she thought, " he has Christine."
She ran down and her mother told her to stay where she was. She sighed and did as she was told this time. Worry entered her eyes as she heard footsteps below the dormitories.
The next morning Meg walked down the hall and entered another room. Christine was asleep and her mother walked in.
" Meg, come on go get ready Christine will be fine," Madame Giry said
" Where was she Mama?" Meg asked
" Safe away from the other people," Madame Giry said
Madame Giry grabbed a letter left for her by Erik and walked with Meg, to the lobby of the opera house. She heard talking going on and Madame Giry interrupted them with announcing Christine's return.
" I thought it best she was alone," Madame Giry said
" She needed rest," Meg added
" May I see her," Raoul asked
" No Monsieur she will see no one," Madame Giry said
" Will she sing? Will she sing?" bother Carlotta and Piangi questioned
" Here I have a note," Madame Giry said
" Let me it see!" everyone exclaimed
" Please," Richard said
He took the note and began to read it and the demands that Erik made were quite simple. Christine was to play the countess and Carlotta was to play the pageboy. Carlotta did not like this at all and Richard continued to the read the letter. He demanded that box five left open and if these commands were not met than a disaster beyond their imagination would occur.
" It's all about Christine!" Carlotta exclaimed as she push past Meg and Madame Giry
Carlotta went on a rampage and decided she wanted to quit, but her mind was changed when Andre and Richard assured her that they needed her, that her public needed her and that the production needed her. Madame Giry sighed and Meg looked at her mother. Madame Giry was instructed to get Christine ready for the production.
That night the production started and Madame Giry watched. Meg was afraid in her own way of the Phantom. She knew he would kill anyone without thought and probably do much more to make his point.
As the production went on there was a disturbance.
" Did I not instruct that box five was to be empty!" the Phantom's voice rang
Meg looked up in fear and breathed deep.
" The Phantom of the Opera," she said
" It's him," Christine said
" Your part is silent you little toad," Carlotta said shaking her fan at Christine
Carlotta got Monsieur Reyer to play again and as she began to sing she crocked like a frog. She became nervous and she started again and this time it was endless. She ran off stage and the Richard and Andre told them to close the curtains. They announced that the ballet would play while the roles were switched. Meg walked to the backstage and Madame Giry helped Christine get ready. Meg quickly changed and went out as they opened the curtain, though it was madness. They were all dancing in confusion and Meg was afraid of another attack.
As they danced what went on in the rafters was about to effect them all. Meg looked from the corner of her eyes to keep watch.
Suddenly without warning Joseph Buquet fell from the rafters with a noose around his neck. Meg and the others screamed at the sight of this as they gathered together. The audience screamed as well and Joseph Buquet was let go and hit the ground.
Meg ran off stage and told Madame Giry and she ran with her daughter.
" He's dead, the Phantom killed him," Meg cried
The others joined Meg in crying to Madame Giry. Madame Giry looked up and saw Erik walking off in the shadows.
" Erik," she thought, " Why?"
Meg found no comfort in that performance and healing wounds were reopened to that night her beloved Comte was killed by the same man.
" Why?" she thought, " Why are these things happening?"