Clara/ Lefevre:
Ladies and gentlemen - Madame Giry, thank
you - may I have your attention, please?
As you know, for some weeks there have
been rumours of my Imminent retirement.
I'm not old enough!
I can now tell you that these were all true and
it is my pleasure to introduce to you the
two gentlemen who now own the Opera
Populaire, M. Richard Firmin and M.
Gilles Andre.
(Polite applause. Some bowing.
CARLOTTA makes her presence felt)
Gentlemen, Signora Carlotta Giudicelli, our
leading soprano for five seasons now.
Donna: Finally some recognition
Eleven/ Andre:
Of course, of course. I have experienced all
your
greatest roles, Signora.
Clara/Lefevre:
And Signor Ubaldo Piangi.
Mickey: Thank you!
Rory/ Signor:
An honour, Signor.
Eleven/ Andre:
If I remember rightly, Elissa has a rather
fine aria in Act Three of "Hannibal". Aren't I supposed to be ignorant?
I wonder, Signora, if, as a personal favour,
you would oblige us with a private
rendition? (Somewhat acerbic). Unless, of
course, M. Reyer objects . . . If myself objects?
Donna/ Carlotta:
My manager commands . . .
M. Reyer?
This is so boring!
Nine/ Reyer
My diva commands. Will two bars
be sufficient introduction?
Donna: Diva... That's new. I like it!
Rory/ Firmin:
Two bars will be quite sufficient. Wow, my character is so deep.
Nine/ Reyer (ensuring that CARLOTTA is ready)
Signora?
CARLOTTA
Maestro. When will something interesting happen?
(The introduction is played on the piano)
CARLOTTA
Think of me,
think of me fondly, These songs are so random.
when we've said
goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while -
please promise me
you'll try.
When you find
that, once
again, you long
to take your heart . . .
Wait, why do I stop?
Angel: Be patient! You people are so hard to work with! I should have chosen the cast of Torchwood. They're so much more efficient.
(As CARLOTTA is singing a backdrop crashes to the
floor cutting her off from half the cast)
BALLET GIRLS/CHORUS
He's here:
the Phantom of the Opera . . .
He is with us . . .
It's the ghost . . .
Mickey/ Piangi: (looking up, furiously)
You idiots! For once, I'm calling someone the idiot.
(He rushes over to CARLOTTA)
Cara! Cara! Are you hurt?
Donna: No, it didn't even land in me!
Clara/ Lefevre:
Signora! Are you all right? Buquet!
Where is Buquet ? Who is Buquet?
Mickey/ Piangi
Is no one concerned for our prima donna?
Donna: Oi! He's right! Diva on the ground!
Clara/ Lefevre:
Get that man down here !
(to ANDRE and FIRMIN)
Chief of the flies. He's responsible for this. Who even plays him?
War Doctor: Me.
Ten: Aw, not you!
Eleven: Why him?
Angel: Just shut up!
(The drop is raised high enough to reveal upstage an old
stagehand, JOSEPH BUQUET, holding a length of rope,
which looks almost like a noose)
Clara/ Lefevre:
Buquet! For God's sake, man, what's going on up there? Hello again.
War Doctor/ Buquet:
Please monsieur
don't look at me:
as God's my witness,
I was not at my post.
Ten: He was too busy destroying Gallifrey.
Eleven: Of course, he forgot.
Ten: Forgot what?
Eleven: You'll find out.
War Doctor/ Buquet:
Please monsieur
there's no one there:
and if there is, well
then, it must be a ghost . . . Or Gelth
Nine: Oh yeah, Rose. Remember them? Charles Dickens!
Rose: How could I forget?
Rose/ Meg (looking up)
He's there; the Phantom of the Opera ... This is getting repetitive.
Eleven/ Andre:
Good heavens!
Will you show a little courtesy?
Rory/ Firmin: (to MEG and the OTHERS)
Mademoiselle, please!
Rose: Please what?
Eleven/ Andre: (to CARLOTTA)
These things do happen.
Donna/ Carlotta:
Si! These things do happen! Well, until you stop these
things happening, this thing does not happen! I love this role.
Ubaldo! Andiamo!
(PIANGI dutifully fetches her furs from the wings)
Ten: What did I say, perfect casting, they're like twins!
Donna: I can still hear you, Martian!
Ten: I- I'm not from Mars.
Mickey/ Piangi:
Amateurs !
Clara/ Lefevre:
I don't think there's much more to assist you,
gentlemen. Good luck. If you need me, I shall be in
Frankfurt . I'm basically done for the entire show! Later, I'm going swimming!
Nine: How did she find the pool?
Eleven: No idea.
(He leaves. The COMPANY looks anxiously at the NEW
MANAGERS)
Eleven/ Andre.
La Carlotta will be back. I really doubt it.
River/ Giry
You think so, messieurs? I have a message, sir, from the
Opera Ghost.
(The GIRLS twitter and twirl in fear)
Rory/ Firmin:
God in Heaven, you're all obsessed!
Jack: Who wouldn't be obsessed with me?
River/ Giry:
He merely welcomes you to his opera house and
commands you to continue to leave Box Five empty for
his use and reminds you that his salary is due.
Rory/ Firmin:
His salary? A ghost has a salary, interesting.
River/ Giry
Monsieur Lefevre paid him twenty thousand francs a
month. Perhaps you can afford more, with the Vicomte de
Chagny as your patron.
(Reaction to this from the BALLET GIRLS.
CHRISTINE takes hold of MEG nervously)
Eleven/ Andre: (to GIRY)
Madame, I had hoped to have made that
announcement myself.
What's the big deal?
River/ Giry: (to FIRMIN)
Will the Vicomte be at the performance tonight,
monsieur? Why should I care?
Rory/ Firmin:
In our box. Okay cool...
Eleven/ Andre
Madame, who is the understudy for this role?
Nine/ Reyer
There is no understudy, monsieur - the
production is new. What does that have anything to do with things.
Eleven:
I asked my wife!
Rose: WIFE?
Eleven: Ignore that.
Rose/ Meg:
Christine Daae could sing it, sir. Sorry Amy.
Rory/ Firmin:
The chorus girl ?
The daughter of the famous violinist. And my wife.
Rose/ Meg: (to FIRMIN)
She's been taking lessons from a great teacher. Jack is a great teacher...
Eleven/ Andre
From whom ?
Amy/ Christine: (uneasily)
I don't know, sir . . .
Rory/ Firmin:
Oh, not you as well!
(turning to ANDRE)
Can you believe it? A full house - and we have to cancel ! What a pessimist!
River/ Giry
Let her sing for you, monsieur. She has been well taught.
Nine/ Reyer (after a pause)
From the beginning of the aria then, mam'selle. A reprise, really?
Amy/ Christine:
Think of me
think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while -
please promise me
you'll try. Already did this...
Rory/ Firmin:
Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves.
Amy: You try having to sing opera!
Eleven/ Andre:
Don't fret, Firmin.
Amy: At least the Doctor has some faith!
Amy/Christine:
When you find
that, once
again, you long
to take your heart back
and be free -
if you
ever find
a moment,
spare a thought
for me. Who am I even singing to?
(Transformation to the Gala. CHRISTINE is
revealed in full costume)
We never said
our love
was evergreen,
or as unchanging
as the sea -
but if
you can still
remember
stop and think
of me . . .
He's never going to remember, just get over it!
Think of all the things
we've shared and seen -
don't think about the things
which might have been . . . But weren't.
Think of me,
think of me waking,
silent and
resigned. Why?
Imagine me,
trying too hard
to put you
from my mind.
Nah, I'll move on.
Recall those days
look back
on all those times,
think of the things
we'll never do -
there will
never be
a day, when
I won't think
of you . .
Just you wait...
(Applause, bravos. Prominent among the bravos, those
of the young RAOUL in the MANAGERS' box)
Ten/ Raoul:
Can it be?
Can it be Christine? No... of course it is!
Bravo!
(he raises his opera-glasses)
What a change!
You're really
not a bit
the gawkish girl
that once you were...
Amy: Oi! You haven't even met me yet!
Ten/ Raoul:
She may
not remember
me, but
I remember
her...
Stalker.
Amy/ Christine:
We never said
our love
was evergreen,
or as unchanging
as the sea -
but please
promise me,
that sometimes
you will think
of me!
I actually hit that! Take that, Centurion!
A/N
What did you think? 50th anniversary reference! I just had to do it. Who's excited for the Christmas Special? Next is Angel of music!
Please review!
Angelofmusic4ever