Beyond the Lake

(Scene 9)

The dummy of Christine sits crumpled on a large throne. The Phantom drags Christine roughly from the boat. She frees herself and backs away as he stares blackly out front. Braving her terror, she addresses him fiercely.

Hermione sang, "Have you gorged yourself at last, in your lust for blood?" After a moment of silence, she sings again. "Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?"

Draco turned to her and sang coldly, "That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood has also denied me the joys of the flesh…this face- the infection which poisons our love…" He took the bridal veil from the dummy, and moves slowly toward her. "This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing…A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing…" He placed the veil on her head angrily. "Pity comes to late- turn around and face your fate: an eternity of THIS before your eyes!"

They are almost touching. She looks into his face calmly and coldly.

Hermione sang, "This haunted face holds no horror for me now…It's in your soul that the true distortion lies…"

The Phantom suddenly senses Raoul's presence. Behind the portcullis, Raoul climbs out of the water.

Draco spat, "Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest!" He turned to Harry. "Sir, this is an unparalleled delight! I had rather hoped that you would come. And now my wish comes true- you have truly made my night!"

Harry sang pleadingly, grasping the bars of the gate. "Free her! Do what you like only free her! Have you no pity?"

Draco sang to Hermione dryly. "Your lover makes a passionate plea!"

Hermione pleaded, "Please, Raoul, it's useless…"

Harry pleaded, "I love her! Does that mean nothing? I love her! Show some compassion…"

Draco rounded on Harry furiously and snarled at him. "The world showed no compassion to me!"

Harry sang, "Christine…Christine…" He looked at Draco, "Let me see her…"

Draco smiled slyly. "Be my guest sir…" He gestured and the fence rose. Harry entered the lair. "Monsieur, I bid you welcome! Did you think that I would harm her? Why should I make her pay for the sins which are yours!" So saying, he took the Punjab Lasso and, before Harry had a chance to move, caught him by the neck. The end of the rope, which Draco had let go of, remained magically suspended in midair. In a taunting manner he sang, "Order your fine horses now! Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes! Nothing can save you now- except perhaps Christine…" He turned to her and continued. "Start a new life with me- but his freedom with your love! Refuse me, and you send your lover to his death! This is the choice- This is the point of no return!"

Hermione sang to Draco, "The tears I might have shed for your dark fate grow cold, and turn to tears of hate…!"

Harry sang despairingly, "Christine, forgive me, please forgive me…I did it all for you and all for nothing…"

(The following few things go on simultaneously.)

Hermione sang looking at Draco, but really to herself. "Farewell my fallen idol and false friend…One by one I've watched illusions shattered..."

Draco sang, "Past all hope of all cries for help: no point in fighting…"

Harry sang, "Either way you choose, he has to win…"

Draco sang, "For either way you choose, you cannot win! So, do you end your days with me, or do you send him to his grave?"

Harry sang to Draco, "Why make her lie to you, to save me?"

Hermione sang, "Angel of Music…"

Draco sang, "Past the point of no return…"

Harry pleaded, "For pity's sake, Christine, say no!"

Hermione sang, "…why this torment?"

Draco sang, "…the final threshold…"

Harry sang, "Don't throw your life away for my sake…"

Hermione sang, "When will you see reason…?"

Draco sang, "His life is now the prize you must earn!"

Harry sang, "I fought so hard to free you…"

Hermione sang, "Angel o0f Music…"

Draco sang, "You've passed the point of no return…"

Hermione sang, "…you deceived me- I gave you my mind blindly…"

Draco hissed at Hermione, "You try my patience- make your choice!"

Hermione reflected for a moment, then with resolution moved slowly toward Draco. She sang quietly at first, then with growing emotion. "Pitiful creature of darkness…What kind of life have you known…? God give me courage to show you, you are not alone…" Now calmly facing him, she kissed him long and full on the lips.

The embrace lasts a long time. Raoul watches in horror and wonder. The Phantom takes a lighted candle and holds it above Raouls's head. A tense moment, but the suspended rope suddenly falls harmlessly- the Phantom has burned the thread by which the noose was held. Resigned, he addresses Raoul, as we hear the offstage voices of the approaching mob.

Some of the mob sang, "Track down this murderer- he must be found! Hunt out this animal, who runs to ground! Too long he's preyed on us- but now we know: the Phantom of the Opera is there deep down below…"

The rest of the mob sang, "Who is this monster, this murdering beast? Revenge for Piangi! Revenge for Buquet! This creature must never go free…"

Draco said, "Take her- forget me- forget all of this…Leave me alone- forget all you've seen…Go now- don't let them find you! Take the boat- leave me here- go now, don't wait…Just take her and go- before it's too late…Go…Go now- go now and leave me!"

Raoul and Christine move off toward the boat. The Phantom looks mockingly at his mask. The musical box starts up magically and he listens to it.

Draco sang crying, "Masquerade…Paper faces on parade…Masquerade…Hide your face so the world will never find you…"

Christine re-enters and walks slowly towards him. She takes the ring off her finger and places in the Phantom's hand. She closes his fingers over it with hers.

Draco sang as he placed his hand over Hermione's cold, trembling hand. "Christine, I love you…"

Christine hurries off toward the boat. The Phantom takes the ring and puts it on his finger. In the distance, we hear Christine singing to Raoul, as the boat pulls away in shadow.

Hermione sang, "Say you'll share with me, one love, one lifetime…say the word and I will follow you…"

Harry sang, "Share each day with me…"

Hermione sang, "…each night…"

Harry sang, "…each morning…"

Draco sang looking after Hermione, "You alone can make my sing take flight- it's over now, the music of the night…"

The Phantom walks slowly towards the throne. He takes a seat on it sitting on his cloak. The mob, including, Meg, appears above, climbing down the portcullis. As the mob enters the lair, the Phantom wraps his cloak around himself and disappears. Meg crosses to the throne and picks up his mask in her small hand.

FIN!