The Phantom of the Opera Page #2

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MARIA:

In the sound of rain

As thunder grows distant

From darkest night

To broadest day

I hear your voice

In summer sunshine

In...

A piece of scenery is slit open from behind, and through it swings the corpse of a MAN hanging from a noose. MARIA and the audience scream. PETRIE closes the small curtain in the empty box. Fade out.

Outside the opera house, a worker pastes a banner which says "Postponed indefinitely" over the poster. Cut to D'ARCY and LATTIMER in the office.

D'ARCY

Of course, I appreciate that the police had to be called in. After all, the criminal must be apprehended and punished.

LATTIMER:

Of course, my lord.

D'ARCY

At the same time, Lattimer, I rely on you to see that not one breath of scandal attaches itself either to my name or to the name of my opera.

LATTIMER:

I have already given instructions to the police to that effect.

D'ARCY

The whole affair has been acutely embarrassing for me. It's been quite terrible, you understand? I doubt if the damage to my work can ever really be repaired. Maria has refused ever to sing in this country again. Heaven knows where we'll ever find anyone to take her place.

LATTIMER:

Mr. Hunter is already investigating that possibility, my lord.

D'ARCY

In what way is he "investigating that possibility"?

LATTIMER:

He is holding auditions this morning, my lord.

D'ARCY

Without consulting me?

LATTIMER:

He said he thought it would be the best thing.

D'ARCY

I shall decide what is best and what is not best for my opera. How dare he?

Onstage in the auditorium, a young woman, CHRISTINE CHARLES, is singing with a piano accompaniment. HARRY sits in the front row watching her. As CHRISTINE sings, the curtain in the empty box rolls up once more and PETRIE's eye is seen as he looks out.

CHRISTINE:

A garden I know of roses

By moonlight silvered o'er

Upon the lake reposes

A lovely lotus flower

Upon lake reposes

D'ARCY

(coming down the aisle) Hunter!

HARRY:

Shh!

D'ARCY

Listen to me, Hunter!

HARRY:

You listen to her.

CHRISTINE:

A lovely lotus flower

And there we will sit and rest us

Under the palm tree shade

And dream that love has blessed us

And joy will never fade

That joy will never fade

All the others onstage applaud.

HARRY:

What's your name?

CHRISTINE:

Christine Charles, sir.

HARRY:

You sang that beautifully, Miss Charles. I don't think we need to look any further, do you?

D'ARCY

She's a very lovely girl.

HARRY:

She's got a very lovely voice, too. Go wait in your dressing room, Miss Charles. I'll leave you to fix the contract, shall I? She'll need a bit of coaching, of course. We should be able to open in a week or two with a bit of luck. Bill, Act 1, Scene 1. Start rehearsing in fifteen minutes.

BILL:

Right. Come along, girls.

D'ARCY

(handing LATTIMER a note) Give that to Miss Charles.

Cut to the dressing room, where chorus girls are talking to CHRISTINE as they get into their costumes.

GIRL #1

That was very good.

GIRL #2

You sang wonderfully.

GIRL #3

I wish I could sing like that.

GIRL #4

So do I.

GIRL #2

I'm sure you'll get the part.

GIRL #5

Absolutely wonderful.

GIRL #6

It was marvelous.

LATTIMER opens the door and looks in.

LATTIMER:

Miss Charles.

CHRISTINE:

Yes?

LATTIMER:

(giving CHRISTINE the note) From Lord Ambrose D'Arcy.

CHRISTINE:

Thank you.

LATTIMER leaves and the girls gather round CHRISTINE excitedly.

GIRL #1

I say!

GIRL #2

What is it?

GIRL #4

What does it say?

GIRL #3

What have you got?

GIRL #1

Tell us.

CHRISTINE:

I'm to dine with him tonight!

GIRL #5

Oh, you lucky girl.

GIRL #1

Caviar and champagne!

GIRL #3

I say, how marvelous.

CHRISTINE:

But I've got nothing to wear.

GIRL #1

You can borrow my blue.

GIRL #5

I'll loan you my green.

GIRL #3

You're about my size.

GIRL #6

Wardrobe will lend you something.

GIRL #4

No, this is an occasion. You must have something new.

CHRISTINE:

But I can't possibly afford anything.

GIRL #4

Well, how much can you afford?

CHRISTINE:

A few shillings. That's all I have.

GIRL #4

Well, I can let you have five.

CHRISTINE:

Oh, no.

GIRL #3

I can spare half a crown.

GIRL #1

Me too.

CHRISTINE:

You mustn't.

STAGEHAND:

Onstage, ladies, please.

GIRL #4

Now, you stay here and get ready, and as soon as we've got a moment for you we'll come and help you choose it.

CHRISTINE:

Oh, but really...

GIRL #1

Come on, girls.

GIRL #3

Good luck.

GIRL #7

Congratulations. Don't worry.

The other girls leave and CHRISTINE sits down at the dressing table. PETRIE, unseen, begins to speak to her.

PETRIE:

Young woman. Young woman, listen to me.

CHRISTINE:

Who is that? Who are you?

PETRIE:

Be quiet and listen. You sang well, but you will sing better. I shall teach you. When you sing, it will be only for me.

CHRISTINE:

Please, who are you?

PETRIE:

Only for me, do you understand?

CHRISTINE:

I understand what you say, but...

PETRIE:

You are dining with Ambrose D'Arcy tonight. Be warned, he is a vile and vicious man.

CHRISTINE:

Who are you? Where are you hiding? Please tell me.

One of the chorus girls reenters the dressing room.

GIRL #4

I forgot this. (she picks up a piece of clothing and leaves)

CHRISTINE:

Please, tell me who you are.

Later that evening, CHRISTINE arrives at an upscale restaurant.

XAVIER:

(bowing) Mademoiselle.

CHRISTINE:

I believe Lord Ambrose D'Arcy is expecting me.

XAVIER:

Of course.

XAVIER removes CHRISTINE's coat and leads her to a table where D'ARCY is waiting for her.

D'ARCY

(standing as she approaches) How charming you look, my dear.

XAVIER:

Shall I serve the champagne, my lord?

D'ARCY

Of course.

CHRISTINE:

It's very pretty here, isn't it?

D'ARCY

I expect you'll have guessed why I invited you here?

CHRISTINE:

Yes, I think so.

D'ARCY

We'll eat a little, drink a little champagne, then we'll talk about it. (he picks up his glass and drinks)

Some time later, a tipsy D'ARCY goes to pour more champagne into CHRISTINE's glass, which is already full.

CHRISTINE:

No, thank you.

D'ARCY

I insist.

CHRISTINE:

No, really, thank you.

D'ARCY

A brandy, then? Oh, waiter!

WAITER:

Yes, my lord?

D'ARCY

Tell Xavier we don't want to be disturbed.

WAITER:

Yes, my lord.

D'ARCY refills his glass and scoots his chair closer to that of CHRISTINE.

D'ARCY

Now... that little matter we were going to discuss. About your singing in my new opera. You guessed it was that, didn't you?

CHRISTINE:

Yes.

D'ARCY

Of course, you did. You've got a brain in that pretty little head of yours. A brain and a voice. A good singing voice. Small, mind you, needs training, but it's there. Just wants bringing out, training.

CHRISTINE:

Oh, I know.

D'ARCY

Needs a lot of training.

CHRISTINE:

I realize that, of course.

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