Phantom of the New World

by BrownyWho

In contrast to "Love Never Dies", this sequel of the original "Phantom" keeps the characters ORIGINAL: Ten years later, Madame and Meg Giry are still humane and helpful; Raoul is still passionate and protective; Phantom is still creative, and crazy for his love, Christine, who is still gorgeous and gifted. She is mature now. So this time, it's her turn to guide her teacher.

1. Chapter 1

(The songs from both "Phantom of The Opera" and "Love Never Dies" are integrated into this story. The lyrics are in capital letters.)

SCENE 1

ON AN OCEAN LINER

It's a morning in late 1896. An ocean liner loomed large from dissipating mist. It was approaching New York. Seagulls were flying and chirping around the ship. Many passengers were on the deck, looking around and breathing the fresh air.

A boy about 10 years old dashed onto the deck. He looked bright and spirited. Once on the deck, he ran energetically from one spot to another.

A man also rushed onto the deck. He was around 30 and handsome.

He looked around. When he saw the boy, he shouted, "Be careful, Gustave! We are on a ship!"

The boy replied, "We can see the coastline now! Dad."

"Be safe! We will have plenty of time to look around." The man replied while walking to the boy.

At the same moment, a lady in fine dress rushed on to the deck. She was about the same age as the man. She appeared nervous and panted slightly due to hurry, but still looked gorgeous and elegant.

"Gustave. Raoul." She relieved after seeing the man and the boy. She straightened up her dress and walked toward them.

"Don't make me worry, Gustave." She joined them.

"We will see the Statue of Liberty soon, Mom", the boy replied, "A gift from we French in 1886."

"Exactly 10 years." The man said.

"There may be an celebration." The lady said.

"By the way, Mom, do you know what's America's national anthem?" Gustave asked.

"That I don't know. Do you know about it, Raoul?" The lady asked her husband.

Raoul shook his head.

"Well, Gustave, we don't know, but soon you can ask Aunt Meg." The lady told the boy.

She got excited at the mentioning of Meg, and turned to her husband with a rosy smile, "Oh! Raoul. Meg shall be waiting for us at the port now! I will see her soon! After ten years! And Madame Giry, and the managers! They are all together now!"

But Raoul was not nearly as excited, "Yes, but they will sure persuade you to sing."

"Why can't Mom sing?" Gustave interrupted.

"Because your Mom is Vicontese de Chagny," Raoul replied. "It's alright for a vicontese to watch opera, but not so to play on stage."

"Vicontese. Vicontese." The lady complained in a childish manner, "Oh Raoul, I am not your Christine anymore?"

"No," Raoul responded sternly, then he turned into smile as he saw his wife surprised. He claimed in a dramatic tone, "You are always my Little Lotte."

Christine was relieved at his words, and smiled sweetly, "You still remember it."

Christine looked around. Seeing no other passenger nearby, she cleared her throat and began to sing,

"LITTLE LOTTE LET HER MIND WANDER,"

Her voice was sweet and clear, obviously a professional.

Raoul joined her in singing,

"LITTLE LOTTE THOUGHT, AM I FONDER OF DOLLS"

"OR OF GOBLINS OR SHOES?"

Christine kept on,

"NO, WHAT I LOVE BEST, LOTTE SAID"

"IS WHEN I'M ASLEEP IN MY BED"

Raoul joined her again, but their voice turned lower and slower at the last line,

"THE ANGEL OF MUSIC SINGS SONGS IN MY HEAD…"

They both turned silent. Their smile disappeared.

"I know your passion for singing, Christine." Raoul broke the silence, "I do feel very bad that you couldn't perform all these years, but we need to be careful. We have Gustave now."

"You are right." Christine agreed. "Don't worry about my performing. Gustave is most important now."

They both took a look at Gustave not far from them, and then turned to look afar at the coastline. Christine became thoughtful.

She suddenly turned to Raoul and said, "Don't you see, Raoul? What's in this song has happened to us!"

Raoul looked at her with puzzle. He said cautiously, "What do you mean… We left Paris behind and roamed Europe?"

Christine giggled, "Yes. I had all the chocolates!"

Raoul, "We traveled north and saw the aurora."

Christine became excited, "I had the most adorable of doll of my life!"

Both Christine and Raoul, "Gustave!"

"We had wonderful time together!" Raoul laughed, but his smile faded, "We did have dark stories of the north."

"And dark story of ourselves!" Christine's murmured.

Raoul held Christine's shoulder, "Now Gustave is growing up. We want to settle down."

Christine, "And we heard from Meg and Madame Giry."

Raoul, "They are in the United States."

Christine, "I can't wait to visit them."

Raoul, "The new world is a land full of opportunity."

Christine continued, "A hopeful place to settle down."

Raoul, "To leave the past behind and start anew."

Christine, "Great for Gustave."

They looked at each other.

Raoul, "We will find out."