Raoul POV
Opera Populaire /Back to 1919
The Nurse/Nun and the Liveried Chauffer assist me into the back of my elegant car. As the nurse and driver get seated, I look up to see Madame Giry leaving the theatre. As my car moves away slowly, we both look to each other - two old friends that have shared many dark secrets - who know we will probably never see each other again. With great effort, I make a chivalrous gesture. I raise my silk top hat and places it over my heart.
Madame Giry is moved, and does a tiny, elegant curtsy. I am leaving my hat off, rest back in the expensive leather seat. My mind once again fills with haunted dreams of the past. I look in the side mirror.
The old, scarred Theatre disappearing in the distance. It moves in closer to my eyes as rear-view Black and White side mirror fills my mind and it once again bursts into color and I am.
Opera Populaire - 1870 - Morning
Firmin walks hurriedly toward the theatre, carrying a newspaper, large queues outside the theatre. Everybody wants a ticket.
Andre POV
Inside the Grand Foyer - Day
Passing cleaners with mops, Firmin enters, reading:
"Mystery after gala night" it says," Firmin sings.
"Mystery of soprano's flight!" Firmin sings.
"Mystified," all the papers say," Firmin sings.
"We are mystified - we suspect foul play!" Firmin sings.
He lowers the paper
"Bad news on soprano scene - first Carlotta, now Jamila! Still at least the seats get sold - gossips worth its weight in gold..." Firmin sings.
He strides towards Andre's office at the other end.
"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
Have a scandal and you're sure to have a Hint!" Firmin sings.
Andre bursts out of his office, in a temper, confronting Firmin in the busy corridor.
"Damnable? Will they all walk out? This is damnable!" I sing.
"Andre, please don't shout... it's publicity! And the take is vast! Free publicity!" Firmin says.
"But we have no cast..." I sing, groaning.
"But, Andre, have you seen the queue?" Firmin sings calmly.
Firmin is now leading me back to my office I produce a black bordered letter.
"Oh, it seems you've got one too..." Firmin says.
Grand Foyer - Day
As they march in. I open the letter and read the letter that was sent to me.
"Dear Andre, what a charming gala! Jamila was, in a word, sublime. We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left - on that note, the diva's a disaster, must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime?" I sing.
Meanwhile, Firmin has picked up another letter from his desk. It also has a black border. He reads it out.
"Dear Firmin, just a quick reminder: my salary has been paid this time. Next month, you shall pay, not someone who feels it shall be responsible. 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!" Firmin sings.
"Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain!" We both say.
"These are both signed "O.G."…" Firmin states, after studying both notes.
"Who the hell is he?" I ask.
"Opera ghost!" We both sing
And back down the corridor.
"It's nothing short of shocking." Firmin sings.
"He's mocking our position!" I sing.
"In addition, he wants money!" Firmin sings.
"What a funny aberration..." I sing.
"...to expect a large retainer! Nothing plainer - he is clearly quite insane!" We both sing.
We are interrupted by the arrival from the stairs of Raoul, who brandishes another of the Phantom's notes.
"Where is she?" Raoul sings.
"You mean Carlotta?" I ask.
"I mean Miss Daae - where is she?" Raoul sings.
"Which one?" We ask.
"Jamila!" Raoul sings.
"Well, how should we know?" Firmin asks.
"I want an answer - I take it that you sent me this note?" Raoul sings
"What's all this nonsense?" Firmin asks.
"Of course not!" I sing.
"Don't look at us!" Firmin sings
All three start off back towards Firmin's office.
"She's not with you, then?" Raoul sings.
"Of course not!" Firmin sings.
"We're in the dark..." I sing.
"Monsieur, don't argue - isn't this the letter you wrote?" Raoul asks.
"And what is it, that we're meant to have wrote?" Firmin sings.
"Written!" Firmin says after realizing his mistake.
Raoul hands the note to me and I read it.
"Do not fear for Miss Jamila Daae. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again." I read.
Firmin and I look mystified.
"Well, if you didn't write it, who did?" Raoul asks.
Grand Foyer
We are just about to go into Firmin's office when Carlotta, closely followed by Piangi and her retinue (Seamstress, maid, hairdresser) explodes into the foyer and heads up the grand staircase. She, too, has a letter, which has cheered her no more than the others.
The Managers are beginning to tire of the intrigue. They escort Carlotta toward the grand staircase. Everyone has followed them.
"Far too many notes for my taste - and most of them about Jamila! All we've heard since we came is Miss Jamila Daae's name..." We sing.
And walk straight into Madame Giry accompanied by Meg.
Meg POV
"Miss Daae has returned." Momma says.
"I hope no worse for wear as we're concerned" Firmin says, looking at Raoul.
"Where precisely is she now?" Andre asks.
"I thought it best that she was alone..." Mama says.
"She needed rest..." I sing.
"May I see her?" Raoul asks.
"No, monsieur, she will see no-one, especially you the one who laughed and called her names when she was a child for the race she was born into." Madame Giry says.
Everyone then glares at Raoul as even though Carlotta may be jealous of her talent, she respects Jamila and they have had girl days in secret as Carlotta needs her reputation and Jamila kind, caring and does for everyone.
"Will she sing? Will she sing?" Carlotta asks, worried that the managers will put pressure on Jamila. Piangi because he sees Jamila as a sister and acting as husband and wife...
Andre and Firmin try to escape up the stairs. Everyone follows.
"Here, I have a note..." Mama sings.
We all groan.
"Let me see it!" Carlotta, Piangi, Andre, and Raoul say.
"Please!" Firmin says after snatching it.
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..." Firmin starts to say.
Inside the Phantom's Lair - Day
Erik POV
The Phantom's model of the Opera Populaire. We see in particular the stage of the opera house with the set for Il Muto. Figurines, exact reproductions of the cast, in wax, Carlotta and Jamila included, populate the stage.
The Phantom's hand, in a white glove, comes into shot. It removes the head from the Jamila figurine and swaps it with that of Carlotta's.
"Jamila 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 Jamila Daae in the role of Countess. The role which Miss Jamila Daae plays calls for charm and appeal, the role of the Pageboy is silent - which makes my casting, in a word, ideal." I sing.
We also see Box Five within the model:
"I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur..." I sing.
The Phantom's hand taps the miniature chandelier of the model opera house.
Auditorium
The real chandelier tinkles as if disturbed by a gust of wind.
Backstage
Workers look up and react to tinkling chandelier.
Grand Foyer
Everyone looks up as if they heard the distant sound of the chandelier.
"...I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, O.G." Firmin reads.
"Jamila." Carlotta says, faking anger, the phantom seeing that, seeing the worry in her eyes.
Carlotta barrels towards the grand staircase. Everyone follows.
"Whatever next...?" Andre asks.
"It's all about a ploy to help Jamila! Trying to apologize!" Carlotta says.
"This is insane..." Firmin sings.
Carlotta plunges down the stairs followed by everyone.
"I know who sent this." Carlotta sings, pointing an accusing finger.
"The Vicomte - her bully as a child but now wants to be a lover!" Carlotta says.
'Indeed?" Raoul says in a ironic voice.
"Can you believe this?" Raoul sings to the others.
"Signora!" Firmin says in protest.
She heads for the doors to the theatre.
Backstage/Dressing Room Corridor
As everyone races down the corridor, other singers, dancers, hair and makeup artists appear out of the dressing rooms to watch.
"O traditori!" Carlotta sings.
"This changes nothing!" Andre says.
"O mentitori!" Carlotta sings.
"Signora!" Firmin says.
Backstage/Carlotta's Dressing Room
And they all arrive in Carlotta's dressing room. She is like a whirlwind: trunks and cases appear, dresses, boas, wigs, furs, shoes, fly through the air into the trunks. She is packing to leave.
"You are our star!" Andre tells Carlotta.
"And always will be!" Firmin sings.
"Signora.." Andre says..
"The man is mad!" Firmin says.
"We don't take orders!" Andre sings.
"Miss Jamila Daae will be playing the Pageboy - the silent role..." Firmin anounces to everyone.
"Carlotta will be playing the lead!" Andre and Firmin say.
"It's useless trying to appease me... you're only saying this to please me! I will not listen! You thus insult the honor of your prima donna? Padre Mio! Dio!" Carlotta sings, dramatically.
"... appease her ... to please ... her ... padre Mio! ... dio!" Piangi sings..
"Who scorn his word, beware to those... The angel sees, the angel knows." Mama sings.
"You have reviled me! You have rebuked me!" Carlotta sings.
"Signora, pardon us...?" Andre and Firmin sing.
"You have replaced me!" Carlotta sings.
"Please, Signora, we beseech you..." Andre and Firmin sing.
"This hour shall see your darkest fears..." Mama sings.
"Signora, sing for us! Don't be a martyr. What new surprises lie in store? Our star...!" Andre and Firmin sing.
The company opens main opera doors to a crowd of people who rush towards Carlotta. A man holds out a rose.
"Would you please give this to Miss Jamila Daae?" the man asks Carlotta..
Christine POV
Foyer
Andre and Firmin steal behind her, close the doors and stand with their backs to them. All look at Carlotta, as the Managers approach her lovingly.
"Your public needs you!" Andre sings.
"We need you, too!" Firmin says.
"Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?" Carlotta asks, unassuaged.
"Signora, no! the world wants you!" Andre and Firmin say.
Carlotta POV
Backstage/Carlotta's Dressing Room - Night
I am preparing for the evening performance of Il Muto. I am surrounded by my seamstress, wigmaker, maid and Piangi. Through the following, I am strapped into my corset, bosoms heaving, perfume, powdered, wigs and beauty spots are applied. Most importantly, I am constantly spraying my throat from a crystal bottle. Meanwhile, Andre and Firmin fawn magnificently; they have brought me bonbons, oysters, huge flowers, another nasty little dog. Piangi groans. They drink champagne from my slipper, Firmin a little disgusted by this, and grovel like pros.
"Prima Donna, First Lady of the stage! Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!" Andre and Firmin sing.
Raoul POV
Backstage/Dressing Room Corridor
I am searching for Jamila and Christine.
Jamila POV
Backstage/Humble Dressing Room
Madame Giry is preparing a very nervous me as the Pageboy. Meg and Christine are with us.
Carlotta POV
Backstage/Carlotta's Dressing Room
"Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?" Andre asks.
"Think of how they all adore you!" Firmin sings.
"Prima Donna, enchant us once again!" they both sing.
"Think of your muse..." Andre sings.
"And of the queues round the theatre!" Firmin sings.
"Can you deny us the triumph in store!" they both sing.
"Sing, Prima Donna, once more!' Andre, Piangi and Firmin sing.