By the time that Christine got to the phantom's lair, the opera ghost had somehow already gotten Raoul into an elaborate wedding dress. Christine stared at him for a minute. Just as she was wondering why that crazy Madame Giry told her to keep her hands at the level of her eyes, she felt the rope go over her neck. Next thing she knew, she was tied to the door, and the phantom was chocking her.

She tried her best to stay in character, and begged the phantom for mercy. So far, the phantom hadn't noticed anything. This surprised her and she couldn't help wondering if it was because she was a really great actress, the phantom was really out of it, or perhaps Raoul was just very feminine.

Raoul was horrified that Christine would be so stupid to come down there, when everything he had done so far was to prevent that from happening.

Just when they thought they were both done for, the phantom gave them a choice. It would have been a terrible choice even if it wasn't for the unusual situation, but that just complicated it.

The phantom turned to Raoul,

"Start a new life with me

buy his freedom with your love

refuse me and you send your lover to his death

this is the choice, this is the point of no return!"

Raul panicked, he knew that either way he chose, they would both be in terrible trouble, even if he saved Christine, the phantom would soon find out who Raoul really was and kill him. Well, at least that would free Christine, that is, assuming that the phantom would keep his promise anyway, which Raoul highly doubted.

Then, Raoul was forced to make the hardest decision of his life. After trying, and failing to reason with the phantom, he finally had to try to soften him up, by taking pity on him.

" Pitiful creature of darkness

what kind of life have you known

God give me courage to show you

you are not alone!"

Then Raoul kissed the phantom, and after a short time, he could tell that the phantom was now close enough to realize what had happened, and that the person he was kissing was not Christine. FAIL

The phantom broke away from Raoul and began shaking and crying from shock.

"Take her, forgive me, forget all of this!"

The phantom said to them both, tearfully.

"Leave me alone, forget all you've seen!"

"No problem!" Raoul muttered to himself.

"Go now, don't let them find you!"

Raoul began untying Christine, who was also shaken and choking.

"Take the boats, swear to me never to tell

the secret you know, of the angel in hell"

Raoul thought that was going a bit far, and couldn't help feeling a little offended.

"Go now! Go now and leave me!"

...

After he recieved back the ring he had given to Christine, by who he was pretty sure was actually her, the phantom broke down in confusion and shock and sang to his music box while he watched Christine and Raoul row away.