Part Two: Reality

XI

"This is insane!" Monsieur Reyer cried, waving the music in front of the managers' noses, "have you looked at this?"

Andre snatched the score from the conductor and placed it on the desk where he began to flip through the sheets, "This is ludicrous! Have you seen this score?" he asked, turning to Firmin.

"Its simply ludicrous," he agreed, looking at it over Andre's shoulder.

"This is the final straw!" Andre said firmly, "it is insane."

"Lunacy," Firmin agreed, "well, you know my views. I say-"

"No," Monsieur Reyer cut in hastily, "we daren't refuse. Who knows what he will do to us."

Both managers sighed and shook their heads angrily. Andre groaned, "So, we are to perform this, this…I don't even know what to call it!"

"An opera,' Antoinette said dryly, entering the office, "messieurs, I have two notes."

"Notes?" Andre asked, "oh, and what do they say this time?"

Antoinette opened one and began to read it, "'Dear Andre, Re my orchestrations: We need another first bassoon. Get a player with tone - and that third trombone has to go! The man could not be deafer, so please preferably one who plays in tune!'"

She then placed the first note on the desk and opened the next, clearing her throat, "'Dear Firmin, vis a vis my opera: some chorus-members must be sacked. If you could, find out which has a sense of pitch - wisely, though, I've managed to assign a rather minor role to those who cannot act!'"

"Oh, so he rhymes his letters now?" Andre muttered, "wonderful. Tell me, is this man completely insane?"

"I would assume so," Firmin grumbled.

"Good luck, gentlemen," Antoinette said, turning to leave, "and good day."

She was almost at the door when it burst open and a very angry Carlotta stormed in, Piangi following closely behind.

"Outrage!" she shrieked, "this whole affair is an outrage! Have you seen the size of my part."

"Signora please…"Andre moaned.

"Now what's the matter?" Firmin asked, trying to sound concerned.

"Its an insult!" Piangi boomed.

"Not you as well, what's an insult?" Andre asked exasperated.

"Signor, Signora," Firmin said, with a strained smile, "I'm sure we can work this out."

"The things I have to do for my art," Carlotta moaned.

"If you can call this gibberish art," Piangi added.

"Please!" Andre half shouted, "if you would stop ranting and explain what the problem is. Some one?"

"I tell you, it is the size of my part," Carlotta repeated haughtily, "Look at it!"

Andre rolled his eyes, "I know what your part is, he made it very clear last night. Miss Daae will be playing the lead. Then, he made it very clear again this morning."

"Christine Daae," Carlotta spat, "she does not have the voice."

"Perhaps not but-" Firmin began.

"She is behind all this!" Carlotta exclaimed, "to further her own worthless career! Christine Daae!"

"How dare she!" Christine hissed, "that evil woman!"

"Shh, Christine they'll hear us," Meg whispered, stepping back from the door.

"Why would I even want to take part in this plot?" Christine asked, "I hate it. This isn't my plot, and I don't' want any part in it. I don't want to sing in this opera."

"I know," Meg said, "and you don't have to. Just tell them you can't do it."

"No…I have to," Christine said, turning away from her friend, "if I don't then…terrible things will happen, and I can't let that happen."

Meg nodded her head and placed a hand on Christine's shoulder, "Then come on, we'll go get some tea and you can think this over."

Christine nodded and went back to the dormitory with Meg. She had been looking at the music that morning, after she had been given her copy to memorize. The music was insane, but the notes were written as if just for her. The lyrics were another thing though, she had felt uncomfortable reading them, let alone performing them next to Piangi. Still, she found that she didn't not want to perform the opera, his opera.

"So, have you looked at the score yet?" Meg asked, sitting on her bed.

"Yes, and its…interesting," Christine said.

"Everyone seemed really incensed by it," Meg said, "are they just overreacting, or is there and actual reason behind it?"

"Umm, I think a bit of both," Christine said, flipping though her score again, "it's a bit…I don't know, different, I guess."

"Could you, sing a bit of it?" Meg asked tentatively, "I just want to know why its so…controversial?"

"I guess…just understand, I don't' exactly know it yet. I'll be sight-reading. So it may not sound very good," Christine explained.

"I know, I just want an idea. You could just read the lyrics, if you wanted."

Christine nodded her head and found the right key, "Past the point of no return - no going back now: our passion-play has now, at last, begun . . . Past all thought of right or wrong - one final question: how long should we two wait, before we're one?"

Christine trailed off and it her lip nervously, "There's more too, before that, that Don Juan sings. Its all very similar."

"I see," Meg murmured, "Christine, why don't we go out to the café and get a treat?"

"Alright, I guess that would be fun."

"It'll be like the old days," Meg said, "when we used to have to sneak out. Come on!"

Antoinette shook her head irritably as the debate continued, "Why would Miss Daae wish this upon anyone? You are being foolish."

"No we are not!" Andre growled, "we are being sensible. Think of it, who has benefited from all this? Miss Daae."

"She has also suffered," Antoinette sighed, "do you not see that?"

"No I do not," Firmin stated, "you stick to ballet."

"Unless…"Andre said thoughtfully, "you could help us. Help us turn the tide on this madman!"

"This is madness," Antoinette said, "there is no way of turning the tide, Messieurs."

"No?" Firmin asked, "and why not. Instead of warning us, help us."

"I wish I could," Antoinette replied.

"Stop making excuses," Andre snapped, "and help us. Unless you're on his side."

"I assure you, I intend no ill…" Antoinette sighed, "but be careful, we have seen him kill, Messieurs."

"What are we to do?" Monsieur Reyer asked, "we cannot refuse him, but it seems foolish to go through with this."

"I do not know!" Firmin groaned, "lets just start rehearsals. We can decide at a later date whether or not we will actually have it performed for an audience."

"Yes," Andre agreed, "that should keep him happy, or a while. Though I have my doubts about this opera."

"It will certainly capture the audience's attention," Antoinette said, "now, if you will excuse me, I have lessons to teach and choreography to look over. Au revoir, Messieurs."

Antoinette left and returned to her room. She had her score sitting on a table and picked it up, dropping into her armchair and rubbing her temples. She had already reviewed what Erik had requested, and it was far from what she would call appropriate.

"You have truly gone mad," she sighed, "and I see no way to get through to you."

With a groan she started or review the costumes, music and choreography. They already had a small performance in two weeks, after that they had decided to start official rehearsals for Don Juan. It was to open at the end of March, if it was to open at all. Antoinette only hoped it would all go well.

"Madame?" a young ballerina asked, knocking on her door.

"Yes?" she asked, getting up and opening the door.

"Oh, we-we're just ready for rehearsal," she stammered, "Monsieur Reyer and the orchestra are ready also."

"Thank you, I will be there in a minute," she replied, "go stretch and warm up."

The ballerina nodded and scampered off. Antoinette sighed and snatched a paper from the small table. It was a list of dancers Erik had selected for Don Juan. They were some of her most experienced and most mature. To her dismay, Meg was one of the dancers selected, and one of the leads, for that matter.

"We shall see," she murmured, replacing the paper, "we shall see."

A/N: Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter, I had fun writing it...I don't know why exactly, but I did. Anyways, school is out, exams are finished and I thinkI passed physics! A miracle in itself. So now I have lots of time to write, chapters should be able to update more often now. Please drop me a review.