[[[[NOTES:]]]]      FIRMAN    "Mystery after gala night"    It says "mystery of sopranos flight"    "mystified" all the papers say    "we are mystified we suspect foul play"       Bad news on soprano scene -   first Carlotta, now Christine!   Still, at least the seats get sold   gossip's worth its 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!      ANDRE   Damnable!   Will they all walk out?   This is damnable!      FIRMIN   Andre, please don't shout . . .   It's publicity! And the take is vast!   Free publicity!      ANDRE   But we have no cast . . .      FIRMIN   But Andre,   have you seen the queue?   Oh, it seems you've got one too . . .      ANDRE   "Dear Andre what a charming gala!   Christine enjoyed a great success!   We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left -   Otherwise the chorus was entrancing,   but the dancing was a lamentable mess!"      FIRMIN   "Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder:   my salary has not been paid.   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/ANDRE   Who would have the gall to send this?   Someone with a puerile brain!      FIRMIN   These are both signed "O.G." . . .      ANDRE   Who the hell is he?      BOTH    Opera ghost!      FIRMIN   It's really not amusing!      ANDRE   He's abusing our position!      FIRMIN   In addition he wants money!      ANDRE   He's a funny sort of spectre . . .      BOTH   . . . to expect a large retainer!   Nothing plainer -   he is clearly quite insane!      RAOUL   Where is she?      ANDRE   You mean Carlotta?      RAOUL   I mean Miss Daae -   where is she?      FIRMIN   Well, how should we know?      RAOUL   I want an answer -   I take it that you sent me this note?      FIRMIN   What's all this nonsense?      ANDRE   Of course not!      FIRMIN   Don't look at us!      RAOUL   She's not with you, then?      FIRMIN   Of course not!      ANDRE   We're in the dark . . .      RAOUL   Monsieur, don't argue -   Isn't this the letter you wrote?      FIRMIN   And what is it, that we're meant to have wrote?   (Realizing his mistake)   Written !      ANDRE   "Do not fear for Miss Daae.   The Angel of Music has her under his wing.   Make no attempt to see her again."      RAOUL   If you didn't write it, who did?      CARLOTTA   Where is he?      ANDRE   Ah, welcome back!      CARLOTTA   Your precious patron -   where is he?      RAOUL   What is it now?      CARLOTTA   I have your letter -   a letter which I rather resent!      FIRMIN   And did you send it?      RAOUL   Of course not!      ANDRE   As if he would!      CARLOTTA   You didn't send it?      RAOUL   Of course not!      FIRMIN   What's going on . . .?      CARLOTTA   You dare to tell me,   that this is not the letter you sent ? !      RAOUL   And what is it that I'm   meant to have sent?      "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."      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Far too many notes for my taste -   and most of them about Christine!   All we've heard since we came   is Miss Daae's name . . .      GIRY   Miss Daae has returned.      FIRMIN   I trust her midnight oil   is well and truly burned.      ANDRE   Where precisely is she now?      GIRY   I thought it best that she went home . . .      MEG   She needed rest.      RAOUL   May I see her?      GIRY   No, monsieur, she will see no-one.      CARLOTTA   Will she sing?   Will she sing?      GIRY   Here, I have a note . . .      RAOUL/CARLOTTA/ANDRE   Let me see it!      FIRMIN   Please!      (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 . . ."      PHANTOM'S VOICE (taking over)   . . . Christine 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 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 normal seat in    Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should    these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your    imagination will occur.      FIRMIN (taking over)   "I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G."      CARLOTTA   Christine!      ANDRE   Whatever next . . .?      CARLOTTA   It's all a ploy to help Christine!      FIRMIN   This is insane . . .      CARLOTTA   I know who sent this:   The Vicomte - her lover!      RAOUL   Indeed?   Can you believe this?      ANDRE   Signora!      CARLOTTA   O traditori!      FIRMIN   This is a joke!      ANDRE   This changes nothing!      CARLOTTA   O mentitori!      FIRMIN   Signora!      ANDRE   You are our star!      FIRMIN   And always will be!      ANDRE   Signora . . .      FIRMIN   The man is mad!      ANDRE   We don't take orders!      FIRMIN   Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy-   the silent role . . .      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Carlotta will be playing the lead!      CARLOTTA   It's useless trying to appease me!   You're only saying this to please me!   Signori, e vero?   Non, non, non voglio udire !   Lasciatemi morire!   O padre mio!   Dio!      GIRY   Who scorn his word,   beware to those . . .      CARLOTTA   You have reviled me!      GIRY   The angel sees,   the angel knows . . .      RAOUL   Why did Christine fly from my arms . . .?      CARLOTTA   You have rebuked me!      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Signora, pardon us . . .      CARLOTTA   You have replaced me!      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Please, Signora, we beseech you . . .      GIRY   This hour shall see your darkest fears . . .      MEG/RAOUL   I must see her . . .      CARLOTTA   Abbandonata!   Deseredata!   O, sventurata!      GIRY   The angel knows,   the angel hears . . .      RAOUL   Where did she go . . .?      CARLOTTA   Abbandonata!   Disgraziata!      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Signora, sing for us!   Don't be a martyr . . .      RAOUL/GIRY/MEG   What new surprises lie in store . . .?      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Our star . . .!      CARLOTTA   Non vo' cantar!      [[[[PRIMA DONNA:]]]]      ANDRE   Your public needs you!      FIRMIN   We need you, too!      CARLOTTA   Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Signora, no!   The world wants you!      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Prima donna first lady of the stage!   Your devotees are on their knees to implore you !      ANDRE   Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?      FIRMIN   Think of how they all adore you!      BOTH   Prima donna,   enchant us once again!      ANDRE   Think of your muse . . .      FIRMIN   And of the queues round the theatre!      BOTH   Can you deny us the triumph in store?   Sing, prima donna, once more!      RAOUL   Christine spoke of an angel . . .      CARLOTTA   Prima donna, your song shall live again!      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Think of your public!      CARLOTTA   You took a snub,   but there's a public who needs you!      GIRY   She has heard the voice of the angel of music . . .      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Those who hear your voice,   liken you to an angel!      CARLOTTA   Think of their cry,   of undying support !      RAOUL   Is this her angel of music . . .?      ANDRE   We get our opera . . .      FIRMIN   She gets her limelight!      CARLOTTA   Follow where the limelight leads you!      MEG   Is this ghost an angel or a madman . . .?      RAOUL   Angel or madman . . .?      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Leading ladies are a trial!      GIRY   Heaven help you,   those who doubt . . .      CARLOTTA   You'll sing again,   and to unending ovation!      RAOUL   Orders! Warnings!   Lunatic demands!      GIRY   This miscasting will invite damnation . . .      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Tears . . . oaths . . .   Iunatic demands are regular occurrences!      MEG   Bliss or damnation?   Which has claimed her . . .?      CARLOTTA   Think how you'll shine in that final encore!   Sing, prima donna, once more!      GIRY   Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings!      RAOUL   Surely, for her sake . . .      MEG   Surely he'll strike back . . .      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Surely there'll be further scenes -   worse than this!      GIRY   Think, before these demands are rejected!      RAOUL   . . .I must see these demands are rejected!      MEG   . . . if his threats and demands are rejected!      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl,    who's gone and slept with the patron?   Raoul and the soubrette, entwined in love's duet!   Although he may demur, he must have been with her!      MEG/RAOUL   Christine must be protected!      CARLOTTA   O, fortunata!   Non ancor abbandonata!      ANDRE/FIRMIN   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 audiences adore,    in fact a perfect opera!      RAOUL   His game is over!      GIRY   This is a game you cannot hope to win!      RAOUL   And in Box Five,   a new game will begin . . .      GIRY   For, if his curse is on this opera . . .      MEG   But if his curse is on this opera . . .      ANDRE/FIRMIN   Prima donna, the world is at your feet!   A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!      CARLOTTA   The stress that falls upon a famous prima donna!   Terrible diseases, coughs and colds and sneezes!   Still, the dryest throat will reach the highest note,   in search of perfect opera!      MEG/GIRY   . . . then I fear the outcome . . .      RAOUL   Christine plays the Pageboy,   Carlotta plays the Countess . . .      GIRY   . . . should you dare to . .      MEG   . . . when you once again . . .      ALL   Light up the stage with that age old rapport!   Sing, prima donna, once more!      PHANTOM'S VOICE   So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not    met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur!      ALL   Once more!