The Phantom of the Opera Page #6

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ROSSI:

Then you had better ask for it now because you most certainly need it.

D'ARCY

What did you say?

The music starts up again.

D'ARCY

Stop it! Stop it I say! You're dismissed.

ROSSI:

Good morning, gentlemen.

ROSSI leaves the auditorium and the rest of the orchestra begin to follow suit.

D'ARCY

What are they playing at? Stop them!

LATTIMER:

Stop, stop! Where are you going? Stop, I say!

D'ARCY

(to the orchestra members) You're dismissed! They're all dismissed. (he sees BILL laughing) You too! (to LATTIMER) And you—you come to my office. At once.

HARRY walks into the main door of the opera house. Several men pass him on their way out.

MAN #1

Good morning, sir.

MAN #2

Good morning, sir.

HARRY:

Good morning.

MAN #3

Good morning, sir.

MAN #4

Good morning, sir.

HARRY:

Good morning. (seeing BILL) What's happening, Bill?

BILL:

We've all been dismissed.

HARRY:

You too?

BILL:

Yes, and I can't say I'm sorry.

MAN #5

Good morning, sir.

HARRY:

Good morning.

BILL:

Good morning, sir.

MAN #6

Good morning.

Cut to D'ARCY's office.

D'ARCY

How could they do this to me? My first opera and I'm let down on every side. First, I'm haunted by ghosts, and now all this. It really is too much. Well, say something. What am I going to do?

LATTIMER:

I think you should ask Mr. Hunter to come back.

D'ARCY

What? What did you say?

LATTIMER:

I think you should apologize to Mr. Hunter and ask him to come back.

D'ARCY

How dare you?

LATTIMER:

I dare because as manager of this opera house I am responsible to my director for its welfare. And if I allow you to carry on in this manner, we shall all be made bankrupt.

D'ARCY

I refuse to stay and listen to this treason.

LATTIMER:

Very well. But if you go, I shall take it upon myself to ask Mr. Hunter to return.

HARRY:

(standing in the doorway) Well done, Lattimer.

D'ARCY storms out.

LATTIMER:

(sitting down)

Oh, I think, I feel quite... oh...

HARRY:

Brandy. Where do you keep it?

LATTIMER points to a cabinet and HARRY goes to it.

LATTIMER:

I-I don't know how I dared.

HARRY:

(laughing)

I'll never forget the expression on his face.

HARRY hands LATTIMER a glass of brandy and he takes a sip.

LATTIMER:

Oh, Mr. Hunter, what have I done?

HARRY:

You've just proved that you're a man and not a mouse. You've also persuaded me to come back and help you clear up this mess.

LATTIMER:

Will you? Will you really?

HARRY:

(pouring himself a glass of brandy)

I'll just join you in one of these to celebrate, then we'll get down to work, shall we?

Later, HARRY is seen directing the cast of the opera onstage. BILL approaches.

HARRY:

Thank you, gentlemen, thank you. Now, would you two change places? That's good. Oh, would you come forward a few paces, please? Thank you. (seeing BILL) Oh, Bill. (BILL whispers something to him) I am sorry, ladies and gentlemen, I shall have to leave for a few minutes. I hope I won't be very long. Carry on, Bill.

BILL:

(realising he doesn't have the book) Harry. (HARRY hands it to him) Right, we'll go from the opening scene.

Fade to MRS. TUCKER's boarding house, where HARRY has gone after learning CHRISTINE has disappeared.

MRS. TUCKER

Her bed hasn't been slept in, but she must have gone up there because her coat was hanging in the wardrobe and the window was wide open, and I never leave the window wide open... because you know why.

HARRY:

She can't have left very early, can she, without your knowing?

MRS. TUCKER

Well, I'm up at half past five every morning. I don't sleep very well at the best of times. Wind, you know. I'm terribly troubled with the wind.

HARRY:

Just as soon as she does return, perhaps you could ask her to come to the theater.

MRS. TUCKER

I shall tell her at once, Mr. Hunter. I just can't think what could have happened to her.

In the underground chamber, CHRISTINE vocalizes as PETRIE plays the organ.

PETRIE:

Better. Again. (CHRISTINE vocalizes) Better. Again.

CHRISTINE vocalizes again. The DWARF is shown watching. Meanwhile, HARRY is searching CHRISTINE's dressing room. He opens cabinets and bangs on the walls, looking for anything suspicious. Cut back to CHRISTINE vocalizing wearily.

CHRISTINE:

I can't.

PETRIE stands and slaps CHRISTINE twice.

PETRIE:

You little fool! You think you can become a great singer without suffering? Do you think that I have not suffered? (he walks a short distance away, talking to himself) The scoundrel. But sir, there is ten years' work there. Ten years of my life. Surely fifty pounds is... (his voice trails off into what sounds like a mixture of low, deranged laughter and sobs) I'm sorry, I accept. (bowing) Thank you. Thank you.

CHRISTINE stares at PETRIE in bewilderment. Seeming to come back to reality, he sits down at the organ.

PETRIE:

Sing! Use that wonderful gift that God has given you!

PETRIE plays the organ, and CHRISTINE gets back up in resignation. Back in CHRISTINE's dressing room, HARRY is still looking around. He goes to a lamp and moves it slightly.

CHRISTINE:

(singing)

No, no! No, no, no, no.

PETRIE:

Good. Now the melody. (he begins playing Joan's aria) Listen carefully to the phrasing. You begin very quietly. Then build. Keep the tone spinning. Build your voice until the auditorium is filled with the beautiful sound of it.

During a thunderstorm, HARRY is standing with SERGEANT VICKERS at the river.

HARRY:

How can you be sure that he died? That's what I want to know. What makes you sure?

VICKERS:

Current's very fast here, sir. He'd never have stood a chance. That's why we're sure.

HARRY:

Did you drag the river? Well, did you?

VICKERS:

I've just said the river runs very fast, sir. What would have been the good? Now, I've got work to do, sir, even if you haven't.

HARRY:

All right, Sergeant. Well, thank you anyway.

VICKERS walks away. HARRY leans down to look into the river. He climbs down a set of steps leading to the grating seen previously. Suddenly, he hears CHRISTINE's voice coming from beyond it. HARRY looks around and sees a boat nearby. In the underground chamber, CHRISTINE faints from exhaustion. PETRIE stands and attempts to pull her up, but is unsuccessful.

PETRIE:

(to the DWARF) Water.

The DWARF takes a cup and fills it with sewer water. He gives it to PETRIE, who splashes the water across CHRISTINE's face, then hands the cup back to the DWARF. CHRISTINE begins to awaken, and PETRIE pulls her up.

PETRIE:

Now, this time sing properly. Do you understand? Use your voice, do you understand? Use your voice from here. (beats his chest)

At the river, HARRY has gotten into the boat and is making his way toward the sewer grating. Once he reaches it, he ties the boat to a bollard and removes his coat. He slides into the water and swims under the grating and into a large tunnel toward another grating. Back in the chamber, CHRISTINE has again passed out.

PETRIE:

(to the DWARF, while caressing CHRISTINE's cheek) Let her sleep. (hearing a noise) Huh? What was that? (he goes to the organ and begins crumpling up the sheet music) Scoundrel, scoundrel! It's my music, it's my music, it's my... (he stops and puts his hands to his head, then sits back down and plays the organ again)

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