Testo: Phantom Of The Opera. Notes II.

THE MANAGERS ' OFFICE
(The PHANTOM'S score lies open on the desk.
ANDRE is impatiently flicking through it)
ANDRE
Ludicrous!
Have you seen the score?
FIRMIN (entering)
Simply ludicrous!
ANDRE
It's the final straw!
FIRMIN
This is lunacy!
Well, you know my views . . .
ANDRE
Utter lunacy!
FIRMIN
But we daren't refuse . . .
ANDRE (groans)
Not another
chandelier . . .
FIRMIN
Look, my friend, what
we have here . . .
(He has two notes from the PHANTOM, one of which he
hands to ANDRE, who opens it and reads):
ANDRE
"Dear Andre,
Re my orchestrations:
We need another first bassoon.
Get a player with tone -
and that third trombone
has to go!
The man could not be deafer,
so please preferably one
who plays in tune!"
FIRMIN (reading his letter)
"Dear Firmin,
vis a vis my opera:
some chorus-members must be sacked.
If you could, find out which
has a sense of pitch -
wisely, though,
I've managed to assign a
rather minor role to those
who cannot act! "
(They are interrupted by the arrival of CARLOTTA and
PIANGI both furiously brandishing similar notes)
CARLOTTA
Outrage!
FIRMIN
What is it now?
CARLOTTA
This whole affair is
an outrage!
FIRMIN
Signora, please . . .
ANDRE
Now what's the matter?
CARLOTTA
Have you seen
the size of my part?
ANDRE
Signora, listen . . .
PIANGI
It's an insult!
FIRMIN
Not you as well!
PIANGI
Just look at this -
it's an insult!
FIRMIN
Please, understand . . .
ANDRE
Signor! Signora!
CARLOTTA
The things I have
to do for my art!
PIANGI (stabbing a finger at the open score)
If you .an call
this gibberish "art" !
(RAOUL and CHRISTINE enter: CARLOTTA bristles)
CARLOTTA (dryly)
Ah! Here's our little flower!
FIRMIN
Ah Miss Daae
quite the lady
of the hour!
ANDRE (explaining)
You have
secured the largest role
in this "Don Juan".
CARLOTTA (half to herself)
Christine Daae?
She doesn't have
the voice!
FIRMIN (hearing this, to CARLOTTA)
Signora, please!
RAOUL (to the MANAGERS)
Then I take it
you're agreeing.
CARLOTTA (aside)
She's behind this . . .
ANDRE
It appears we have
no choice.
CARLOTTA (unable to contain herself any longer,
points accusingly)
She's the one
behind this!
Christine Daae!
CHRISTINE (who has been silent till now, incensed at
this)
How dare you!
CARLOTTA
I'm not a fool!
CHRISTINE
You evil woman!
How dare you!
CARLOTTA
You think I'm blind?
CHRISTINE
This isn't my fault!
I don't want any
part in this plot!
FIRMIN
Miss Daae, surely . . .
ANDRE
But why not?
PIANGI (baffled, to CARLOTTA)
What does she say?
FIRMIN (reasonably)
It's your decision -
(Suddenly rounding on her)
But why not?
CARLOTTA (to PIANGI)
She's backing out!
ANDRE
You have a duty!
CHRISTINE
I cannot sing it,
duty or not!
RAOUL (comforting)
Christine . . .
Christine . . .
You don't have to . . .
they can't make you . . .
(MEG and GlRY arrive, the latter bearing another note
from the PHANTOM)
GIRY
Please, monsieur:
another note.
(The MANAGERS gesture: "read it". As she reads, ALL
react variously, as they are singled out)
GIRY
"Fondest greetings
to you all !
A few instructions
just before
rehearsal starts:
Carlotta must be
taught to act . . . ,"
(The PHANTOM'S voice gradually takes over
from her)
PHANTOM'S VOICE
. . . not her normal trick
of strutting round the stage.
Our Don Juan must
lose some weight -
it's not healthy in
a man of Piangi's age.
And my managers
must learn
that their place is in
an office, not the arts.
As for Miss Christine Daae . . .
No doubt she'll
do her best - it's
true her voice is
good. She knows, though,
should she wish to excel
she has much still
to learn, if pride will
let her
return to me, her
teacher,
her teacher . . .
Your obedient friend . . .
(The PHANTOM'S voice fades out and GIRY takes over)
GIRY
". . . and Angel . . ."
(Attention now focuses on RAOUL whose eyes are
suddenly bright with a new thought)
RAOUL
We have all been
blind - and yet the
answer is staring us
in the face . . .
This could be the
chance to ensnare our
clever friend . . .
ANDRE
We're listening . . .
FIRMIN
Go on.
RAOUL
We shall play his
game - perform his
work - but remember we
hold the ace . . .
For, if Miss Daae
sings, he is certain
to attend . . .
ANDRE (carried along by the idea)
We make certain
the doors are barred . . .
FIRMIN (likewise)
We make certain
our men are there . . .
RAOUL
We make certain
they're armed . . .
RAOUL/ANDRE/FIRMIN (savouring their victory)
The curtain falls -
his reign will end!
(ALL have been listening intently. GIRY is the first to
express a reaction. CHRISTINE remains silent and
withdrawn)
GIRY
Madness!
ANDRE
I'm not so sure . . .
FIRMIN
Not if it works . . .
GIRY
This is madness!
ANDRE
The tide will turn!
GIRY
Monsieur, believe me -
there is no way of
turning the tide!
FIRMIN (to GIRY)
You stick to ballet!
RAOUL (rounding on GIRY)
Then help us!
GIRY
Monsieur, I can't . . .
RAOUL
Instead of warning us . . .
RAOUL/ANDRE/FIRMIN
Help us!
GIRY
I wish I could . . .
RAOUL/ANDRE/FIRMIN
Don't make excuses!
RAOUL
Or could it be that
you're on his side?
GIRY (to RAOUL)
Monsieur, believe me,
I intend no ill . . .
(to ANDRE and FIRMIN)
But messieurs, be careful -
we have seen him kill . . .
ANDRE/FIRMIN (to GIRY)
We say he'll fall
and fall he will!
CARLOTTA
She's the one behind this!
Christine!
This is all her doing!
PIANGI
This is the truth!
Christine Daae!
RAOUL
This is his undoing!
ANDRE/FIRMIN (to RAOUL)
If you succeed
you free us all -
this so called "angel"
has to fall!
RAOUL
Angel of music,
fear my fury -
Here is where you fall!
GIRY (to RAOUL)
Hear my warning!
Fear his fury!
CARLOTTA
What glory can
she hope to gain?
It's clear to all
the girl's insane!
ANDRE (to FIRMIN)
Christine sings
We'll get our man . . .
PIANGI
She is crazy!
She is raving!
FIRMIN (to ANDRE)
If Christine helps
us in this plan . . .
RAOUL
Say your prayers,
black angel of death!
CHRISTINE (vainly pleading amidst the tumult)
Please don't . . .
ANDRE (to FIRMIN)
If Christine won't,
then no-one can . . .
GIRY (to RAOUL)
Monsieur, I beg you,
do not do this . . .
PIANGI/CARLOTTA
Gran Dio!
Che imbroglio!
ANDRE/FIRMIN
This will seal his fate!
CHRISTINE (bursting through the hubbub with a
great cry)
If you don't stop,
I'll go mad! ! !
(to RAOUL, pleading)
Raoul, I'm frightened -
don't make me do this . . .
Raoul, it scares me -
don't put me through this
ordeal by fire . . .
he'll take me, I know . . .
we'll be parted for ever . . .
he won't let me go . . .
What I once used to dream
I now dread . . .
if he finds me, it won't
ever end . . .
and he'll always be there,
singing songs in my head . . .
he'll always be there,
singing songs in my head . . .
(ALL stare at her)
CARLOTTA
She's mad . . .
RAOUL (to CHRISTINE)
You said yourself
he was nothing
but a man . . .
Yet while he lives,
he will haunt us
till we're dead