The Phantom of the Opera Page #3

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D'ARCY

Of course, I'm a busy man, but I think I might be able to spare you a few minutes now and then. Just a few, mind.

CHRISTINE:

Oh, if only you could, I'd be so grateful.

D'ARCY

I'd expect you to be grateful. (wrapping his arm around CHRISTINE) You're a delicious little thing. I'm going to enjoy teaching you. I have an idea. Let's have the first lesson now, right away.

CHRISTINE:

The theater will be closed.

D'ARCY

My apartment won't.

CHRISTINE:

No, I couldn't.

D'ARCY

I'm an expert teacher.

CHRISTINE:

No, please.

D'ARCY

Do you want to sing in my new opera or don't you?

CHRISTINE:

You know I do.

D'ARCY

Very well, then. (he grins lasciviously at her)

HARRY enters the restaurant.

XAVIER:

Good evening, Mr. Hunter.

HARRY:

Good evening, Xavier. Not too late, am I?

XAVIER:

No, no, no, no.

HARRY hands his coat to XAVIER and is led to a table. He encounters D'ARCY and CHRISTINE on their way out.

HARRY:

Good evening, Ambrose.

D'ARCY

Good evening, Harry.

HARRY:

Miss Charles.

CHRISTINE continues to follow D'ARCY, a troubled expression on her face. Getting an idea, she turns and goes back to HARRY's table.

CHRISTINE:

(showing her discomfort) Mr. Hunter. Lord Ambrose has very kindly offered to coach me in my singing.

HARRY:

Has he?

CHRISTINE:

Tonight.

HARRY:

(shocked) Tonight?

CHRISTINE:

Yes, and I wondered if you could possibly spare the time. That is, if you'd care to.

HARRY:

But of course. (glancing at D'ARCY, his voice filled with wry amusement) Nothing I'd like better than watching Ambrose teaching you how to sing. Shall we go?

XAVIER:

But, Mr. Hunter.

HARRY:

I've changed my mind, Xavier. I'm putting on weight. Ambrose.

D'ARCY

It is rather late. They'll fetch you a cab, Miss Charles.

HARRY:

No need. She can come with me.

D'ARCY turns and leaves.

CHRISTINE:

(smiling gratefully at HARRY) Thank you.

HARRY:

It's a pleasure, believe me. (taking her arm) Miss Charles.

HARRY leads CHRISTINE to the door, where a WAITER stands with her coat.

CHRISTINE:

(turning back toward HARRY) You're not really putting on weight, are you?

HARRY:

(looks down) I don't think so.

CHRISTINE:

Then you must be starving. Please go back. I can easily find my own way home.

HARRY:

Have you eaten?

CHRISTINE:

Why, yes.

HARRY:

But did you actually eat anything?

CHRISTINE:

I was too nervous.

HARRY:

Will you join me for supper, Miss Charles? (he takes her arm once again, leading her back to the dining area) For two this time, Xavier.

XAVIER:

Of course, Mr. Hunter.

Fade to HARRY and CHRISTINE riding in a cab.

CHRISTINE:

Thank you for everything.

HARRY:

(guffaws) He must have been furious!

CHRISTINE:

I suppose tomorrow I shall be back singing in the chorus again.

HARRY:

If there is a chorus tomorrow. We've had a strange run of bad luck with this opera, Christine, from the moment we started rehearsing. First it was little, irritating things. Music disappearing, costumes torn, scenery damaged. Then things got worse, and finally, last night, a man was killed on the stage.

CHRISTINE:

The police say...

HARRY:

The police say it was suicide.

CHRISTINE:

You don't believe that?

HARRY:

I think there is something evil in this theater, Christine. Something or someone trying to stop the opera from ever being performed.

There is a pause. Then CHRISTINE speaks up.

CHRISTINE:

When I was sitting in my dressing room today... I thought I heard a voice speaking to me.

HARRY:

Today? When?

CHRISTINE:

Just after I had the invitation from Lord Ambrose. A voice warned me not to go. He spoke...

HARRY:

He?

CHRISTINE:

Yes, it was a man's voice.

HARRY:

Did you recognize it?

CHRISTINE:

No, I'd never heard it before. He spoke quietly but very clearly, so that I could hear every word.

HARRY:

But you couldn't see him?

CHRISTINE:

No.

HARRY:

Was it dark?

CHRISTINE:

No.

HARRY:

Perhaps he was hiding somewhere. In the wardrobe, in a cupboard.

CHRISTINE:

I didn't see him because he wasn't there.

HARRY:

Are you afraid?

CHRISTINE:

Afraid? No.

HARRY:

Would you go back there with me?

CHRISTINE:

Now?

HARRY:

Yes.

CHRISTINE:

Yes, I...

HARRY:

(leans out the window) Cabbie?

The CABBIE stops the horse.

CABBIE:

Hello?

HARRY:

Take us to the opera house.

CABBIE:

What, now?

HARRY:

Now.

CABBIE:

Well, it's closed.

HARRY:

Yes, I know. Quick as you can.

CABBIE:

All right. Come on, girl.

HARRY and CHRISTINE walk into the opera house to find a group of charwomen laughing. HARRY stands in the doorway for a moment, watching them with amusement.

WOMAN #1

No one ever seems to lose anything worth losing nowadays.

WOMAN #2

No. Like a nice diamond tiara, eh?

WOMAN #3

(noticing HARRY) Hello, what have we here?

WOMAN #4

If you've come to see the show, you're a bit late, dearie.

WOMAN #2

Ain't he handsome.

WOMAN #1

Oh, he's lovely.

WOMAN #4

(as CHRISTINE enters) He's got his girlfriend with him.

WOMAN #3

Looking for a nice dark corner to do a bit of courting, was ya?

HARRY:

Good evening. My name is Hunter. I'm the producer of the opera.

WOMAN #3

Yeah, and I'm the queen of England. (cackles) Now be off with you and do your wooing elsewhere.

HARRY:

But I assure you...

WOMAN #3

(coming after HARRY with a broom) Go on, go on! Get out of here!

HARRY:

You haven't found a small diamond brooch, have you?

WOMAN #3

Oh. When did you lose it?

HARRY:

Last night.

WOMAN #4

Last night?

WOMAN #3

Where was you sitting?

HARRY:

Stalls.

WOMAN #4

Front or back?

HARRY:

Uh, front.

WOMAN #4

That's me! (begins rummaging excitedly through her sack)

WOMAN #3

Le-le-let me give you a hand, dear.

WOMAN #4

Keep your thieving hands away! It's all mine what's in here!

HARRY:

Do you think it might still be in the theater?

WOMAN #3

He's right. Come on, girls.

The women take off to the auditorium, still bickering amongst themselves. HARRY and CHRISTINE head toward the dressing room. They enter it and HARRY lights a gas lamp.

HARRY:

Now, can you remember which direction this voice came from?

CHRISTINE:

Well, not exactly.

HARRY:

Well, sit down just as you were sitting when you heard it. (CHRISTINE sits down) Now, you were sitting there and the voice came from...

CHRISTINE:

The voice came from somewhere over there. (she notices the lamp being extinguished) The gas!

HARRY rushes over and tries to turn the lamp back on, but it will not work.

CHRISTINE:

Harry.

HARRY:

Don't be afraid.

PETRIE:

(unseen)

Mr. Hunter. Mr. Hunter, I do not want you meddling with something that does not concern you. Do you understand?

HARRY:

No, I do not. Who are you?

PETRIE:

Get away from here, get away. You do not know what may happen to you.

HARRY:

I'm not easily frightened. (he lights a match)

PETRIE:

Then you should be. My threat is not an idle one. There are forces of evil at large in the opera tonight. Leave the girl and go while you may. Do you hear me? Leave the girl here and go!

HARRY's match burns out just as screaming is heard. HARRY and CHRISTINE come back out to see the charwomen rushing from the auditorium.

WOMAN #3

It's him!

WOMAN #1

The Phantom!

WOMAN #2

We saw him.

CHRISTINE:

Harry, look!

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