2.

2nd draft

The dinner after the gala performance, held to say farewell to retiring managers Poligny and Debienne. Sorelli heads the crowd with her suitor Phillipe.

PHILLIPE

Gossipy dancers

and noble romancers

are okay day to day,

but sometimes I love to get away.

I love the opera!

It's exciting,

all the fighting,

righteous duelers

killing rulers,

bloody deaths

and arias on dying breaths,

heartbroken brides

and suicides,

I love the opera!

I love opera ordinarily,

but tonight particularily

I'd say the show

did blow me away.

Must have been that singer,

Christine Daae.

SORELLI

Her voice used to sound

like a rusty hinge.

She sang, all around,

we'd inwardly cringe.

PHILLIPE

Why would they give Christine the lead

if they thought her voice made ears bleed?

SORELLI

It's strange, as if it were arranged.

Carlotta, the prima,

sang like she had emphysema.

When she starting wheezing,

the music wasn't pleasing.

She rushed off in shame,

but then Christine came

and broke into a song

that showed us all wrong

in thinking she was lame.

Somehow she knew

the part by heart.

So God save her soul,

they gave her the role.

PHILLIPE

I agree it's fishy,

but the dame was dishy,

so I don't give a damn.

SORELLI

But I confess,

I am impressed

at her progress.

What great teacher taught her

so none has forgot her?

Enter Raoul, Phillipe's brother.

RAOUL

All talking of Christine Daae?

Or gawking at that great display?

PHILLIPE

Brother,

is she none other

than your childhood sweetheart long ago?

RAOUL

Why, yes! I thought I'd say hello—

SORELLI

She fainted after the show.

You might want to wait

'til she sits up straight

before you get acquainted.

RAOUL

I'm the beau of this show,

I am noble, true and clever.

I'll wait, but I won't stray,

I'll wait forever and a day.

A toast to the managers is called. Sorelli stands on the rostrum, with the retiring managers Poligny and Debienne at her side.

SORELLI

I call a toast

to the men in the post

of manager.

While they were in charge,

the Ghost was at large,

but in their control,

the death toll dropped,

and less shows flopped

in whole.

By the truckload

they used to die,

and then you showed,

but now it's bye.

Our death rate

may escalate,

but you deserve your lives.

Everyone applauds, truly touched. Poligny and Debienne step up for a word.

POLIGNY

Managing the Opera is a noble career,

but now is the time to end it, we fear.

DEBIENNE

We've had it with this wretched place—

That Ghost invades our personal space.

Nervous laughter. Poligny hurriedly gestures to the new managers, Richard and Moncharmin.

POLIGNY

These gents will take the Opera off our hands.

DEBIENNE

They claim they'll handle its demands.

POLIGNY

Messieurs Richard and Moncharmin!

Come now, there's no harm in

letting us applaud you.

Richard and Moncharmin wave. The crowd applauds and returns to its chatter.

MONCHARMIN

We do not get to make a speech?

RICHARD

What was it that you wished to preach?

MONCHARMIN

It's the principle of the thing.

RICHARD

Moncharmin, do not be a ding-a-ling.

Poligny grabs the new managers and leads them to the side.

POLIGNY

Gents, we must converse

before we must disperse.

Please now, don't be daunted,

but this opera's haunted.

RICHARD

Haunted? Gentlemen, you jest!

DEBIENNE

I must protest,

we are possessed

by a Ghost of a most

vicious nature.

RICHARD

How merry you are!

MONCHARMIN

How utterly full of sherry you are!

DEBIENNE

I'm sober cold,

so hear what you're told.

The Ghost has rules

that only fools

would flout.

We may seem brainless,

but it will be painless

if you don't doubt

what we speak about.

POLIGNY

First and worst:

A share of what the opera's grossed

must be handed to the Ghost.

RICHARD

A Ghost who wants money?

Why men, you're too funny.

POLIGNY

This is no joke, no silly prank,

and my comrades, to be frank,

I don't advise resistance

to the Opera Ghost's existence.

DEBIENNE

Along with cash, the Ghost demands

the private Box Five in his hands.

MONCHARMIN

Why should we believe you?

POLIGNY

When we leave you,

you will.

He will threaten

to kill.

It's getting old,

but we're still in his hold,

so there must be something to it.

DEBIENNE

In a note he'll send details.

At first we laughed these letters off,

but do not at your betters scoff,

for disaster will prevail.

Poligny and Debienne grab suitcases from under the table and dash off.

RICHARD

That's serious joking.

MONCHARMIN

What crack were they smoking?

Meanwhile, Raoul has embarked on a search for Christine. He corners the opera's box-keeper, Mme. Giry.

RAOUL

Pardon—do you work here?

MME. GIRY

Oh, I go berserk here.

I'm the box-keeper,

the on-the-job sleeper,

and my pay could be no cheaper.

Still I'd like to pull a Reaper

on the managers for leaving.

The new chaps won't believe in

the tales I tell

the wails I yell

of a Ghost who dwells—

RAOUL

I just wanted to know:

where did Miss Daae go

at the end of the show?

MME. GIRY

Any more wooers

I'll throw down the sewers!

RAOUL

As the beau of this show,

I am gallant

and I've talent

for making women swoon,

but I'm no lovesick loon.

I used to know Christine

before her opera scene.

I'm not lying!

I knew her father

when he was dying.

It was a bother,

all of that crying.

I remember it quite clearly,

dearly and sincerely.

MME. GIRY

Even if you're not a suitor,

which I think you are,

she is meeting with the tutor

who made her a star.

RAOUL

aside

Would that I could reach her!

casually to Mme. Giry

Tell me, is this teacher

of the male variety?

MME. GIRY

Yes, but do not question Christine's propriety.

RAOUL

aside

Still my heart does fill with anxiety.

MME. GIRY

He's not a man of society.

Once a recluse,

he made Christine his muse.

RAOUL

A recluse that fond

of a beautiful blonde?

I find that suspicious,

aside

and for my love not auspicious.

to Mme. Giry, confidentially

I think that I should check on them.

MME. GIRY

Jealousy isn't good looking,

You get this face

like you smell a trace

of cauliflower cooking.

Why don't you sit down, have a drink,

and try not any thoughts to think?

RAOUL

You truly trust her with this obvious madman?

It's clear to me he has an evil plan.

MME. GIRY

If I allow you a secret to own,

will you at long last leave me alone?

RAOUL

If this man it tells of.

MME. GIRY

He is no man, but an Angel above—

an Angel of Music from her dead dad.

I surmise from the size

of your bugged-out eyes

that you must think me mad,

but you too would believe

Angels weren't just for the naive

if you heard his song!

In heaven it belongs,

it's melodic and euphonic,

it could never be demonic.

I've never seen his face,

and neither has she,

but we both agree,

we'd wed him on the spot,

with that voice he must be "hot."

She nudges Raoul, grinning, but he moves away.

RAOUL

The Angel of Music was naught but a story

Christine's father told her when she dreamt of glory.

It seems to me you've been into the wine.

MME. GIRY

Your request to see Christine I decline.

RAOUL

I shall then get directions from one with less spine.