A/N: And now – after endless hours of torture, and for all that is good and random (to quote the fourth reviewer, Adele) – the conclusion of "Planning Period".

Standard Disclaimer Still Applies

Chapter Four
Planning Period II

"The part of Raoul will be played by Robert Chase and the part of Carlotta Giudicelli will be played by Lisa Cuddy, leaving Allison Cameron to the part of Christine and Doctor Gregory House to play the Phantom of the Opera!"

Time slowed and seemed to swirl around the four doctors like mother-of-pearl frosting as the tension finally broke and the cast released an audible sigh of relief. In a short moment, however, time sped back up; finding Lisa and Allison grabbing each other like little school girls and jumping for joy in the aisle, while Chase patted House on the shoulder and murmured his congratulations.

Claire was beaming. "I'm glad everyone is pleased with my selections, but there will be plenty of time for celebrating later. Shall we get back to work?"

Realizing they were being called out, Drs. Cameron and Cuddy let go of each other and returned to their seats, flushed with embarrassment.

"I have scheduled costume fittings for Friday, November 19th, so hopefully they will be done by then. You will come in one by one for your fittings, so please make a note of your call time.

"I expect to see Dr. House at 6:00 a.m., followed by Dr. Cameron at 6:30. Doctor Chase will follow her at 7:00, and Dr. Wilson and Mr. Foster have been scheduled for 7:30. I need to see Dr. Cuddy promptly at 8:00 a.m., followed by Ms. Warner and Miss Simpson at 8:30. 9 o'clock is Dr. Foreman, 9:30 is Mr. Richards and Mr. Strathmore; 10 is Mr. Mullins and Mr. Dykstra, 10:30 is Mr. Miller and Miss Simpson, 11 is Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Daily and I expect to see the Ballet Rats at 11:30 for a group fitting.

"Why I have to be here so early?" House grumbled. "I have some complicated costumes, don't I? Why I can't I come in at 11?"

"Because we are also having a bit of a rehearsal that day. You will show me your skills after your fitting, and then you and Dr. Cameron will rehearse together, and then Dr. Chase will join you, and so on and so forth."

House sneered, but said nothing.

"Don't expect any downtime on Saturday…We're having a makeup test that day to make sure the makeup department knows what they're doing for each of you, and to make sure you know what you're doing, as some of you will be expected to do your own makeup for the dress rehearsals and each performance. This is also a heavily scheduled day, so please make a note of your times.

"The Ballet Rats will have a group makeup session at 6:00 a.m., Daily and Johnson will come in at 7:00, and I will see young Miss Simpson and Mr. Miller at 7:30. Dykstra and Mullins, I need you at 8:00, Strathmore and Richards, 8:30 and Wilson and Foster at 9:00. I would like to see Dr. Foreman at 9:30, elder Simpson and Ms. Warner at 10:00 and Dr. Cuddy needs to be here by 10:45. Doctor Chase, if you would come at 11:30, the makeup department will probably be able to see Dr. Cameron by 12:15. As for our star, I am told the makeup people will see Dr. House at 1:00 and hope to be done by 4:00." Claire took a sip of her water. "Speaking of which, Dr. House, do you have a problem?"

"Yes, in fact I do. Why the hell does the makeup department want to spend three hours with me?"

"Why Gregory, I thought you knew!"

"Knew what?"

"The Phantom doesn't hide in the bowels of the opera house because he lacks your rapier wit…It's because he was born with a birth defect…A rather mangled face. You'll have to shave so that the prosthetics will fit properly and not destroy your skin when the makeup department takes them off. They'll slick your hair back (and put a wig on later), exfoliate your face, moisturize it, then attach the prosthetic pieces, put in your contacts and airbrush your face to pull it all together. It's a very involved process…Takes about three hours."

Cowed for once, House slid down into his seat.

"On the 18th, we'll begin a week of technical rehearsals. The light and sound people will have practiced several times by then, but we'll have to make sure everything is adjusted and synchronized. Can't have a spotlight shining in Dr. Cuddy's eyes when she's trying to sing an aria!

"I don't know if it was a scheduling error or not, but fortunately, it's one in your favor. As the current calendar reads, you have the weekend of November 26th and 27th off. However, I wouldn't make any plans for that Saturday if I were you…We might need to stick in a rehearsal there.

"Otherwise, I will not see any of you again until the 28th when we have the first dress rehearsal. Unlike the majority of the month before, the dress rehearsals will take place from 6:00 p.m. to around 11:00 p.m., so make sure you make a note of that.

"Three dress rehearsals and the big night arrives! The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. sharp on December 1st!

"Well, that's it for today. We have eight long weeks of hard work ahead of us, but it will all turn out well in the end." Claire shut her notebook with a snap and looked out at her cast. "4:30 tomorrow, ladies and gentlemen…Don't forget! Cast dismissed!"

In a room of leaping hearts, Lisa Cuddy dropped a bomb. "Doctors, I expect to see you in the hospital conference room in ten minutes!"

A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your kind words! I'd thank every reviewer personally for everything they've said, but then it would take a week every time I write a chapter!

Your devotion is truly meaningful…Keep reading, my friends…The best is yet to come!

AYDY