The Manager's Office

(Scene 8)

A desk, chairs, papers. Firmin is scornfully eyeing a newspaper article.

Neville sang, ""Mystery after gala night." It says, "Mystery of soprano's flight!" "Mystified baffled Surete say, we are mystified- we suspect foul play!"" He lowers the paper. "Bad news on soprano scene. First Cralotta, now Christine! Still, at least the seats get sold. Gossip's worth its weight in gold. What a way to run a business! Spare me these unending trials! Half your cast disappears, but the crowd still cheers! Opera! To hell with Gluck and Handel- it's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles!"

Andre bursts in, in a temper

Blaise sang, "Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable!"

Neville sang back harshly, "Andre please don't shout….It's publicity! And the take is vast! Free publicity!"

Blaise sang back, " But we have no cast…".

Neville sang calmly, " But Andre, have you seen the queue?" He has been sorting through the mail on his desk. Finding the two letters from the Phantom. "Oh, it seems you got one too…"

He hands the letter to Andre who opens it and reads.

Blaise sang the letter. ""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!""

Neville sang reading his. ""Dear Firmin, Just a brief 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!""

Blaise and Neville sang together outraged. "Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain!"

Neville sang, examining both letters. "They are both signed "O.G"…"

Blaise sang back, "Who the hell is he?"

Both sang immediately realizing who it is. "Opera ghost!"

Neville sang unamused, "It's really not amusing!"

Blaise sang on, "He's abusing our position!"

Neville sang back, "In addition he wants money!"

Blaise sang, "He's a funny sort of spectre…"

Both sing looking at each other, "…to expect a large retainer!

Nothing plainer- he is clearly quite insane!"

They are interrupted by the arrival of Raoul, who brandishes another of the Phantom's notes.

Harry sang worried as hell, "Where is she?"

Blaise sang hoping, "You mean Carlotta?"

Harry sang looking at Blaise strangely, " I mean Miss Daae- where is she?"

Neville sang back dryly, "Well, how should we know?"

Harry demanded, "I want an answer- I take it that you sent me this note?"

Neville looked shocked. "What is this nonsense?"

Blaise sang back, "Of course not!"

Neville sang gesturing to him and Blaise. "Don't look at us!"

Harry sang, "She's not with you, then?"

Neville sang back almost disgusted. " Of course not!"

Blaise began to argue, "We're in the dark…."

Harry sang back raising his hands. "Monsieur, don't argue- Isn't this the letter you wrote?"

Neville asked, "And what is it that we're meant to have wrote? He corrected himself after soon realizing his mistake. "Written!"

Raoul hands the note to Andre, who reads it.

Blaise sang as he read the letter, ""Do not fear for Miss Daae. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again.""

The managers look mystified.

Harry said puzzled, "If you didn't write it, who did?"

Carlotta bursts in. She too has a letter, which has cheered her no more than the others.

Pansy sang enraged, "Where is he?"

Blaise said back, "Ah, welcome back!"

Pansy sang back, "Your precious patron- Where is he?"

Harry rolled his eyes and said, "What is it now?"

Pansy sang scathingly to Raoul. "I have your letter- A letter which I rather resent!"

Neville looked at Raoul and sang, "And did you send it?"

Harry shot back, "Of course not!"

Blaise sang on Raoul's side. "As if he would!"

Pansy asked confused, "You didn't send it?"

Harry, a bit annoyed, answered, "Of course not!"

Neville sang mystified, "What's going on…?"

Pansy sang unbelievingly to Raoul. "You dare to tell me, that this is not the letter you sent!"

Harry asked, "And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?" Raoul takes the letter and reads it. ""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.""

The managers are beginning to tire of the intrigue.

Blaise and Neville sang together. "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…"

Giry suddenly appears, accompanied by Meg.

Luna sang, "Miss Daae has returned."

Neville spat dryly, "I trust that her midnight oil is well and truly burned."

Blaise said worried, "Where precisely is she now?"

Luna sang back, "I thought it best that she went home…"

Ginny piped up, "She needed rest."

Harry asked pleadingly, "May I see her?"

Luna said motherly, "No monsieur, she will see no one."

Pansy asked anxiously, "Will she sing? Will she sing?"

Luna sang back, "Here I have a note…"

Harry, Blaise, and Pansy spoke, "Let me see it!"

Neville spat snatching it. "Please!"

He opens the letter and reads. The Phantom's voice gradually takes over. ""Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance…""

Draco's voice sang taking over. "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 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. I shall watch the performance from my usual seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur."

Neville spoke taking over. ""I remain, Gentlemen,

Your obedient servant, O.G.""

Pansy sang "Christine!"

Blaise sang, "Whatever next….?"

Pansy sang accusingly, "It's all a ploy to help Christine!"

Neville sang "This is insane…"

Pansy sang pointing an accusing finger. "I know who sent this: The Vicomte- her lover!"

Harry sang in an ironical tone, "Indeed?" He sang to the others, "Can you believe this?"

Blaise sang to Carlotta in protest. "Signora!"

Pansy sang half to the managers, half to herself. "O traditori!"

Neville said to Carlotta. "This is a joke!"

Blaise said to her as well, "This changes nothing!"

Pansy sang, "O mentitori!"

Neville said again in protest, "Signora!"

Blaise said, "You are our star!"

Neville said finishing for him, "And always will be!"

Blaise said pleadingly, "Signora…"

Neville said "The man is mad!"

Blaise said "We don't take orders!"

Neville said announcing it to everyone, "Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy- the silent role…"

Blaise and Neville said in triumph, "CARLOTTA WILL BE PLAYING THE LEAD!"

Pansy sang waxing melodramatic. "It's useless trying to appease me! You're only saying this to please me! Signori, e vero? Non, non, non voglio undire! Lasciatemi morire! O padre mio! Dio!"

Luna sang warningly, "Who scorn his word, beware to those..."

Pansy sang to managers. "You have reviled me!"

Luna sang more. "The angel sees, the angel knows…"

Harry asked confused "Why did Christine fly from my arms…?"

Pansy sang melodramatically, "You have rebuked me!"

Blaise and Neville said bowing their heads slightly, "Signora, pardon us…"

Pansy shrieked, "You have replaced me!"

Blaise and Neville said pleadingly, "Please, Signora, we beseech you…"

Luna sang, "This hour shall see your darkest fears…"

Ginny and Harry sang together, "I must see her…"

Pansy sang, "Abbandonata! Deseredata! O, sventurata!"

Luna sang, "The angel knows, the angel hears…"

Harry sang, "Where did she go…?"

Pansy sang shrilly, "Abbandonata! Disgraziata!"

Blaise and Neville sang pleadingly, "Signora, sing for us! Don't be a martyr…"

Ginny, Harry, and Luna all sang, "What new surprises lie in store…?"

Blaise and Neville sang, "Our star…!"

Pansy sang firmly, "Non vo' cantar!"

All look at Carlotta, as the managers approach her lovingly.

Blaise started the groveling. "Your public needs you!"

Neville continued, "We need you, too!"

Pansy sang unassuaged. "Would you not rather have your precious little ingénue?"

Blaise and Neville sang untruthfully, "Signora, no! The world wants you!"

The managers adopt their most persuasive attitudes.

Blaise and Neville sang together, "Prima donna first lady of the stage! Your devotees are n their knees to implore you!"

Blaise sang, "Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?"

Neville followed, "Think of how they all adore you!"

Both sang, "Prima donna, enchant us once again!"

Blaise continue, "Think of your muse…"

Neville sang, pointing his finger in the air. "And the queues round the theatre!"

Both sang, "Can you deny us the triumph in store? Sing, prima donna, once more!"

Carlotta registers her acceptance as the managers continue to cajole and the others reflect variously to the situation.

Harry sang to himself, "Christine spoke of an angel…"

Pansy sang to herself, in triumph. "Prima donna your song shall live again!"

Blasie and Neville sang to Carlotta. "Think of your public!"

Pansy sang, "You took a snub but there's a public who needs you!"

Luna sang referring to Christine. "She has heard the voice of the Angel of Music…"

Blaise and Neville sang, "Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel!"

Pansy sang, "Think of their cry of undying support!"

Harry sang, "Is this her angel of music…?"

Blaise sang to Firmin. "We get our opera…"

Neville sang to Andre. "She gets her limelight!"

Pansy sang, "Follow where the limelight leads you!"

Ginny sang, "Is this ghost an angel or a madman...?"

Harry repeated, "Angel or madman…?"

Blaise and Neville sang this as an aside. "Leading ladies are a trial!"

Luna sang, "Heaven help you, those who doubt…."

Pansy sang, "You'll sing again and to an unending ovation!"

Harry sang, "Orders! Warnings! Lunatic demands!"

Luna sang, "This miscasting will invite damnation…"

Blaise and Neville sang, "Tears…oaths…lunatic demands are regular occurrences!"

Ginny asked puzzled, "Bliss or damnation? Which has claimed her…?"

Pansy sang, "Think how you'll shine in that final encore! Sing, prima donna, once more!"

Luna sang, "Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings!"

Harry sang, "Surely, for her sake…"

Ginny sang, "Surely he'll strike back…."

Blaise and Neville sang, "Surely there'll be further scenes worse than this!"

Luna sang, "Think before these demands are rejected!"

Harry sang with Luna, "…I must see these demands are rejected!"

Ginny sang with Harry and Luna, "…if his threats and demands are rejected!"

Blaise and Neville sang, "Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl, who's gone and slept with the patron? Raoul and the soubrette, entwined in love's duet! Although he may demur, he must have been with her!"

Ginny and Harry sang, "Christine must be protected!"

Pansy sang, "O, fortunata! Non ancor abbandonata!"

Blaise and Neville sang, "You'd never get away with all this in a play, but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue it's just the sort of story audiences adore, in fact a perfect opera!"

Harry sang, "His game is over!"

Luna sang, "This is a game you cannot hope to win!"

Harry sang, "And in Box Five a new game will begin…"

Luna sang, "For if his curse is on this opera…"

Ginny sang, "But if his curse is on this opera…"

Blaise and Neville sang, "Prima donna the world is at your feet! A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!"

Pansy sang, "The stress falls upon a famous prima donna! Terrible diseases, coughs and colds and sneezes! Still, the driest throat will reach the highest note, in search of perfect opera!"

Ginny and Luna sang, "...then I fear the outcome…"

Harry sang, "Christine plays the Pageboy, Carlotta plays the Countess…"

Luna sang, "...should you dare to…"

Ginny sang, "...when you once again…"

Everyone sang, "Light up the stage with that age old rapport! Sing, prima donna, once more!"

Draco's voice filled the Great Hall, "So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur!"

Everyone sang, "Once more!"