The point of no return

A desk, chairs and paper appears on stage. Blaise as Firmin is eyeing the papers scornfully.

Blaise 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's scene. First Carlotta now Christine! Still at least the seats get sold. Gossip's worth it's 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!"

Draco who is playing Andre bursts in he sang, "Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable!

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

Draco sang back, "But we have no cast…"

Blaise calmed down, "But Andre, have you seen the queue? He starts to sort through the mail on the desk. Finding two letter from the Phantom, "Oh it seems you got one too….."

Blaise hands Draco a letter and Draco starts to sing again, " "Dear Andre what a splendid gala! Christine enjoyed the great success! We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left- otherwise the chorus was entrancing but the dancing was a lamentable mess!""

Blaise then sang his letter," Dear Firmin just a brief reminder. My salary has not be paid. Send it care of the ghost, by return of post P.T.O.: No on likes a debtor, so it's better if my orders are obeyed!"

They both sang out raged, "Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain!"

Blaise sang, " These are both sighned O.G.."

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

They both immediately sang, " Opera Ghost!"

Blaise sang, "It's really not amusing!"

Draco sang back, "He's abusing our position!"

"In addition he wants money!"

"He's a funny sort of spectre…"

They both sing,"…to expect a large retainer! Nothing plainer- he is clearly quite insane!"

Joey enters brandishing one of the Phantom's note.

Joey sang worried, " Where is she?"

Draco sang hoping, "You mean Carlotta?"

Joey gives Draco a strange look, " I mean Miss Daae- Where is she?"

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

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

Blaise sang, "What is this nonsense?"

Draco looked shocked, "Of course not!"

Blaise sang again, "Don't look at us!"

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

Blaise sang back disgusted, "Of course not!"

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

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

Blasie asked, "And what is it that we're meant to have wrote?" He corrected himself "Written!"

Joey handsDraco the note, who reads it.

Draco 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.

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

Pansy bursts in. She too has a letter.

Pansy enraged sang, "Where is he?"

Draco sang, "Ah, welcome back!"

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

Joey rolled his eyes, "What is it now?"

Pansy sang scathingly to Joey, "I have a letter- A letter which I rather resent!"

Blaise looked at Joey, "And did you send it?"

Joey shot back, "Of course not!"

Draco singing on Joey's side, "As if he would!"

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

Joey sang back annoyed, "Of course not!"

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

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

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

Draco and Blaise start to sing, "Far too many notes for my taste- And all of them about Christine! All we've heard since we came is Miss Daae's name…"

Ginny and Hermione appear.

Ginny sings, "Miss Daae has returned."

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

Draco sang worried, "Where precisely is she now?"

Ginny sang back, "I thought it best if she went home…."

Hermione piped up, "She needed rest."

Joey pleaded, "May I see her?"

Ginny sang motherly, "No monsieur she will see no one."

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

Ginny sang back, "Here I have a note…."

Joey, Draco and Pansy spoke, "Let me see it!"

Blaise spat snatching it, "Please!"

He opened the letter and read. Harry'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 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 you imagination will occur."

Blaise spoke taking over, "I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant O.G."

Pansy sang, "Christine!"

Draco sang, Whatever next…..?"

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

Blaise sang, "This is insane…"

Pansy pointing at Joey sang, "I know who sent this: The Vicomte- her lover!"

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

Draco sang, "Signora!"

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

Blaise sang, "This is a joke!"

Draco joined in, "This changes nothing!"

Pansy sang, "O mentitori!"

Blaise sang in protest again, "Signora!"

Draco said, "You are our star."

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

"Signora!" Draco said .

Blaise said, "This man is mad…"

Draco stated, "We don't take orders."

Blaise turned around and announced, "Miss Daae will be playing the pageboy-the silent role…"

Draco and Blaise sing 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 moiré! O padre mio! Dio!"

Ginny sang warningly, "Who scorn his word, beware of those…"

Pansy sang to the managers, "You have reviled me!"

Ginny continued, " The Angel sees the Angel know…."

Joey sings confused "Why did Christine fly from my arms….?"

Pansy sang melodramatically "You have rebuked me!"

The managers bowed their heads "Signora, pardon us…"

Pansy shrieked, "You have replaced me!"

The managers said pleadingly, "Please Signora, we beseech you…"

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

Hermione and Joey sang, "I must see her…"

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

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

Joey sang, "Where did she go…?"

Pansy sang shrilly, "Abbandonata! Disgraziata!"

Draco and Blaise sang, "Signora, sing for us. Don't be the martyr…"

Ginny, Joey and Hermione sing, "What new surprises lie in store…?"

Blaise and Draco sang, "Our star…!"

Pansy sang firmly, "Non vo' cantar!"

They all look at Pansy, as the managers approach her lovingly.

Draco started to grovel, "Your public needs you!"

Blaise continued, "We need you too!"

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

The both managers sang untruthfully, "Signora, no! The world wants you!"

Blaise and Draco sing together, "Prima Donna fist lady of the stage! Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!"

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

Blaise followed, "Think of how they'll adore you!"

They both sang, "Prima Donna, enchant us once again!"

Draco continued, Think of your muse…"

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

They both sang, "Can you deny us the triumph in store? Sing, Prima Donna, once more!"

Pansy registers her acceptance as Blaise and Draco continue to cajole and the others reflect variously to the subject.

Joey sang to himself, "Christine spoke of an Angel…"

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

Blaise and Draco sang to Pansy, "Think of your public!"

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

Ginny sang referring to Zara, "She has heard the voice of the Angel of Music…?

The managers sang, "Those who hear your voice liken you to a Angel!"

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

Joey sang, "Is this her Angel of Music…?"

Draco sang to Blaise, "We get our Opera.."

Blaise sang to Draco, "She gets her limelight!"

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

Hermione sang, "Is this ghost an Angel or madman…?"

Joey repeated, "Angel or madman…?"

Blaise and Draco sang this aside, "Leading ladies are a trial!"

Ginny sang, "Heaven help, those who doubt…"

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

Joey sang again, "Order! Warnings! Lunatic demands!"

Ginny sang, "The miscasting will invite damnation…"

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

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

Pansy sang, Think how you'll shine in that final encore! Sing, Prima Donna, one more!"

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

Joey sang, "Surely, for her sake…"

Hermione sang, "Surely he'll strike back…"

The managers sang, "Surely there'll be further scenes worse than this!"

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

Joey sang at the same time, "…I must see these demands are rejected!"

Hermione also sang at the same time, "…If his threats and demands are rejected!"

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

Hermione and Joey sang, "Christine must be protected!"

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

Blaise and Draco 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 audience's adore, in fact a perfect opera!"

Joey sang, "His game is over!"

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

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

Ginny sang, "For if his curse is on the opera.."

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

Blaise and Draco 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, coughs and colds and sneezes! Still, the driest throat will reach the highest note, in search of the perfect opera!"

Hermione and Ginny sang together, "…then I fear the outcome…"

Joey sang, "Christine plays the pageboy, Carlotta plays the Countess…"

Ginny sang, "…should you dare…"

Hermione sang, "…when you once again…"

Everyone began to sing, "Light up the stage with that age old rapport! Sing, Prima Donna, once more!"

Harry'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!"