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xoxo
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Chapter Five: Miss Daaé In The Role Of Countess
Previously,
Madame Antoinette Giry's Office, The Palais Garnier Opera House, Paris, France, June, 1894
Christine waited patiently for Madame Giry to return, she turned to look back wall, and she tilted her head slightly. This is that another one of Erik's secret passages?
Even though she's courting The Phantom Of The Opera. She still can't remember all of Erik's secret passages were, she almost laughed to herself. She heard the sound of the door opening to Antoinette and Meg. Christine rush to embrace Meg then pulling back as they stand with their hands behind their back and their feet crossed. Antoinette smiles at them, appreciating their respect. But her eyes seemed to be telling a different story.
Holding her new costume, it was the countess dress, that she tried on, moments before. It was the pageboy's costume. "My dear, I'm so sorry."
"We did try to warn them," Meg said taking the heels from her mother and offering them to Christine. Christine sighed taking the heels from Meg. "I know you did my friend, we were watching." Meg looks at her mother and then her friend, "You were watching?"
"The angel sees, the angel knows." Christine sings to her, Meg gasps, "Your phantom is a genius."
"I know." She grins.
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The Stage Of The Opera, The Palais Garnier Opera House Paris, France, June, 1894
"Gentlemen, if you would care to take your seats? We shall be sitting in Box Five." Raoul walked up to take his seat. "Do you really think that's wise, monsieur?" André doubted. "My dear André, there would appear, to be no seats available other than Box Five," Raoul assured him.
They say that this youth
Has set my lady's heart aflame
His Lordship sure would die of shock
His Lordship is a laughing stock
Should he suspect her, God protect her
Shame, shame, shame
This faithless lady's bound for Hades
Shame, shame, shame
Serafimo, your disguise is perfect
Why, who can this be?
Gentle wife, admit your loving husband.
"Every seat sold!" André boasted. "Hardly a disaster beyond imagination," Firmin muttered.
.
My love, I am called to England on affairs of State
And must leave you with your new maid
Though I'd happily take the maid with me.
Carlotta rolls her eyes "The old fool's leaving!"
I suspect my young bride is untrue to me
I shall not leave but shall hide over there
To observe her
Addio
Addio
"Serafimo, away with this pretence." Carlotta pulls off Christine's skirt and bonnet and they walked over to the sofa. "You cannot speak. But kiss me in my husband's absence." Carlotta holds up her fan and pretends to kiss.
Poor fool, he makes me laugh
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Time I tried to get a better, better half
Poor fool, he doesn't know
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
If he knew the truth he'd never ever go
Erik growled from the catwalks. "Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be kept empty?"
"He's here, The Phantom of the Opera!" Meg cried out to Christine, who held her hand. "Erik please don't do this," Christine whispered looking up in the catwalks trying to find him. Carlotta grabs her aggressively. "Your part is a silent, little toad!"
Erik growls again at Carlotta's insult to his angel. "A toad, madame? Perhaps it is you who are the toad."
Carlotta smiles and looks down at Monsieur Meyers, "Maestro, da capo, per piacere. Serafimo, away with this pretence. You cannot speak, but kiss me in my..." Carlotta croaks. Erik begins to laugh, his laughter echoes throughout the stage, causing the audience to become distress.
"Poor fool, he makes me laugh, Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha." Carlotta croaks again.
Erik's laughter increases, he yells out to the audience. "Behold! She is singing to bring down the chandelier!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, we apologise. The performance will continue in 10 minutes' time when Miss Christine Daaé will be sung the role of the Countess." Monsieur Firmin yells from Box 5.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" André pants as he ran down the stairs onto the stage. "In the meantime, ladies and gentlemen, we shall be giving you the ballet… Uh, from Act…" he stammered, flipping through the program. "….Three of tonight's opera. Maestro, bring the ballet forward." Laughing sheepishly. "Ah, the ballet." He laughs at the audience before he growled.
"Now!"
And Eloise, Ivy, Lily, Clarissa, Belle and Mary all ran out to the stage, wearing woodland-inspired costumes, rushing into their positions before they began to dance.
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Christine Daaé's Dressing Room, The Palais Garnier Opera House Paris, France, June, 1894
Christine rushed into her room, with Antoinette and Meg trailing behind her. Camille stood, waiting with Christine's original costume. "Leave us, Camille, Meg and I can take it from here, go and wait for the others."
"Of course Madame." Camille then left the room.
Christine pulls of the shirt and begins to take off her pants. "No, no my dear, leave them on. Here Meg, help me lift the dress up." Antoinette said as she pulled Christine's costume down. Christine whispered, "He isn't pleased was he, Madame." Antoinette nods "Let's just get this on, so the show can continue."
"I'm disappointed in them, Madame Giry. Erik gave them clear instructions, and it's Erik's box, which he pays for, I just hope isn't mad that I let them control me." Erik enters from the mirror, immediately looked away. Antoinette pulled Christine behind her as Meg laced up Christine's costume. "Erik I know you love her, but please consider that she's changing." Madame Giry scold at him, making him blush, causing both Meg and Christine to giggles at him.
"Oh is The Phantom Of The Opera been scolded at?" she smirked causing Erik to groan. Antoinette moves aside to let him see Christine, he then pulls her into his arms. "I'm not angry at you my love, you did the right thing by doing what you've all always done. It's those fools who run my theatre don't understand what you have become."
"I know mon ange. One day you'll be abled to run a theatre the way you desire too, and not have anyone hold you back." she reminds him. As he tries to pull away, she holds him still. "You aren't going to do anything drastic are you?"
"Well I was planning on bringing down the chandelier," Erik said with a tease. Christine gasps and slaps his shoulder, "Erik no."
"I'm only teasing, my love. But I might still keep it in mind." he smirks.
As the cast of Il Muto takes their bows, clapping along as Christine runs in last bowing towards the audience with her wig, slightly falling out of her curly hair, taking her bow. Once the curtain closed on the stage, Christine ran to her friends who congratulate her again. "Oh, Christine you were hilarious!" Ivy laughed as they all walked backstage.
"I know, thank you, oh Meg I'm so glad we did that performance together." Christine smiled holding Meg's hands.
"I know, oh dear your wig." Meg brushes it back. Christine looks in the back stage mirror laughing at her sight, noticing Camille in the reflection.
"Camille can you help me?"
Camille laughs as she pulls out the pins of the wig and it lands in her hands. "Mademoiselle, the managers have informed me of no more wigs for you, especially after tonight's slight disaster."
The girls giggle as Christine made a dramatic sigh of relief. Antoinette's staff hits the floor, as the girls scurried off to their dorms. Meg hugs her friend and wishes her goodnight, giving her a knowing look, and causing Christine to giggle. "Come, my dear," she said offering her hand. "the master is waiting for you."
Antoinette began to unlace the heavy costume and pulled it over her head. Placing the costume as side, Christine went to her closet and grabbed her nightgown and robe, donning them both. "Come my dear," Antoinette holds out her hand and Christine takes it as the two women leave the dressing through the mirror. As they walk over the threshold, Christine pulls back the leaver to close her mirror shut. Picking the already-lit lantern that Erik left for her. They ventured out to Erik's Lair.
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The Catacombs Of The Palais Garnier Opera House, Paris, France, June, 1984
"I never thanked you for saving me with Raoul," Christine said as they walked down the stairs. "Well, he did want to see you, I said that he only had three minutes, before I realised that rehearsals had already begun, I had to play my part, my dear."
"I know, thank you." She stopped to help Antoinette step over one of Erik's traps. "I will tell him soon, that my angel of music is my suitor, but right now doesn't seem, right and after, his reaction to the letters."
"I think this is something you and Erik need to consider," Antoinette said as if the protective mother came out of her. "I know if it was Meg, I would, but with you Christine you are my daughter just as Erik is my son, and I love you both so much and I'll continue to love and protect you both as long as I live."
"And I'm so happy that you both have found each other. you may not see it, Christine but you've changed him." Christine smiled, at Antoinette's comment. As the lake came into sight, Antoinette takes hold of the lantern. "This, my dear is where we part, for the night. He will return to your room later tonight."
Christine nods as Antoinette places a kiss on her forehead. "Will you be alright returning above?" Christine asked.
"I'll be fine cherie, I've got my staff," Antoinette reassures her. Stomping it on the ground, making Christine jump as it echoes all over the lair.
"Alright then, goodnight, Madame Giry."
"Goodnight, Christine."
Christine watches as Antoinette turns to leave and walks back up the stairs. Turning towards Erik's gondola noticing that the candles around the lair had been lit. Carefully entering the boat, grabbing the oars she began to row towards her angel. As she got closer and closer, the gate rose, as if it knew who she was.
The sight of the familiar rocky cavern, where they've spent an endless amount of hours of singing, talking and laughing. She will always feel at home here. When she docked the boat at the bank. That was when she saw her mask-lover waiting for her.
Christine…
And she shivered at his voice, placing her cold hand into his warm one.
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xoxo
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Songs:
Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh / Il Muto: Andrew Lloyd Webber