The Phantom of the Opera Page #7

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The DWARF carries CHRISTINE to a bed. Meanwhile, HARRY is still making his way through the sewer water. The DWARF hears him, takes a hollow tube to breath with, and jumps under the water. HARRY keeps going through the tunnels, and the DWARF's tube is shown as he comes nearer to him, then stops and lies in wait. HARRY walks past the hidden DWARF, who springs up and attacks him. There is a brief struggle and HARRY overpowers the DWARF. CHRISTINE begins to wake up. She looks at PETRIE playing the organ, then turns to see HARRY entering the chamber with the subdued DWARF.

HARRY:

Here, Professor Petrie! You'd better take him.

Startled, PETRIE hurriedly gets up from his seat at the organ and backs away. HARRY pushes the DWARF onto the shore, then gets out of the water himself.

HARRY:

(rushing to CHRISTINE)

Did he harm you?

CHRISTINE:

No.

HARRY now turns his attention to PETRIE.

PETRIE:

How do you know my name?

HARRY:

(coming closer)

I know who you are, Professor, because I made it my business to find out. I also know something else about you. The opera we've been rehearsing... it was composed by you, wasn't it?

PETRIE:

Yes! That is true.

HARRY:

You took it to Ambrose D'Arcy for help in getting it published, didn't you?

PETRIE nods sadly.

HARRY:

What happened?

PETRIE:

What happened? I took him all of my music.

A flashback begins. PETRIE, at that time an ordinary-looking man, stands before D'ARCY in the latter's office. His musical compositions are strewn across a desk for D'ARCY's perusal.

D'ARCY

Fifty pounds, no more.

PETRIE:

But there is ten years' work there. Ten years of my life, sir. Surely fifty pounds is—

D'ARCY

Am I not correct in thinking that you have never had any of your work published, Professor... (glances down at the papers before him) Petrie?

PETRIE:

Not, not yet, but—

D'ARCY

So you are completely unknown.

PETRIE:

Of course. But everybody—

D'ARCY

There are many unknown composers who'd be only too glad to have their works published without any fee at all. Come, I'm a busy man.

PETRIE:

No. There's a full symphony here, sir, and two quartets, and a concerto for viola. And an opera, sir. A new opera, complete!

D'ARCY merely stares back.

PETRIE:

I'm sorry. I accept.

D'ARCY

Come in tomorrow and the papers will be ready to sign.

PETRIE:

It is embarrassing for me to have to ask this... but perhaps you could manage...

D'ARCY

What?

PETRIE:

I owe my landlady quite a sum. A small advance, perhaps.

D'ARCY

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

PETRIE scowls and snatches his satchel off the desk abruptly. D'ARCY stares back at him coldly.

PETRIE:

Thank you.

PETRIE leaves. On the title page of the first manuscript in front of him, D'ARCY crosses out PETRIE's name and writes his own beneath it. Later, outside Piggot's, PETRIE leans down to peer in the window. He sees that D'ARCY's name is being printed on his music. He walks inside and has a conversation with WEAVER, which is inaudible to the audience as the camera is still outside the window. Cut to another part of the city, where D'ARCY is seen talking to his COACHMAN.

D'ARCY

Look at it. Look at it, man. Filthy.

COACHMAN:

Yes, my lord.

D'ARCY

Do you expect me to be seen driving in that?

COACHMAN:

No, my lord.

D'ARCY

Do it again.

COACHMAN:

Yes, my lord.

D'ARCY

Have it ready by this evening.

COACHMAN:

Yes, my lord.

PETRIE approaches D'ARCY.

PETRIE:

Lord Ambrose, please excuse this intrusion, but I must see you. They said I should find you here. My music—

D'ARCY

Tomorrow.

PETRIE:

Tomorrow may be too late. They're printing my music with—

D'ARCY

I think you mean my music, don't you?

PETRIE:

I don't understand.

D'ARCY

I bought it from you, remember?

PETRIE:

Yes, yes, to publish, yes. But they're printing your name on the cover.

D'ARCY

My name on my music. Is that so surprising?

PETRIE:

You can't mean it.

D'ARCY

If you'll kindly excuse me.

PETRIE:

(rushing at D'ARCY)

You thief! Scoundrel! You thie—aah!

D'ARCY strikes PETRIE with his cane, and he falls to the ground.

D'ARCY

(climbing into a cab)

Cabbie, go!

The cab takes off. Fade to Piggot's later that night after closing. PETRIE approaches the door and tries the handle. It's locked. He shatters the door's glass and opens it. PETRIE runs down the stairs and over to shelves with stacks of printed music on them. He begins ripping up the music, then notices a furnace across the room. Grabbing as much of the music as he can carry, he goes over to the furnace, opens its door, and tosses the papers into the flames. He turns back and finds some printing plates.

PETRIE:

(smashing the plates)

It's my music!

PETRIE looks around, then notices some large jars on the floor. He shakes them to find that they are apparently empty. Then he sees a smaller jar on a tabletop, opens the lid, and splutters at the strong odour. He begins to pour the caustic liquid onto the plates. Meanwhile, a flaming piece of paper falls out of the open furnace and the fire quickly spreads. PETRIE notices and attempts to beat the flames with some sacking, which only makes the fire worse. Panicked, he grabs a bucket of liquid and throws it at the fire. Immediately the fire flares up and the liquid, nitric acid, splashes back into his face. Clutching his face and screaming in agony, PETRIE makes his way out of the printer's. The SERGEANT sees him as he rounds a corner and heads to the river. PETRIE leaps into the water and is swept away into the sewer tunnels. On a nearby shore, the DWARF awakens and notices PETRIE floating toward him. He wades into the water and rescues him. The flashback ends.

PETRIE:

Who he is, I do not know, and as he cannot speak, I shall never know. Sometimes he's uncontrollable, like a wild animal. But he has saved my life... and has looked after me ever since.

HARRY:

And you've lived down here all these years?

PETRIE:

And I shall die down here. (he holds out his hands to show that his skin is turning grey) Look. I'm dying already. But before I... before I go... I implore you, allow me to finish one thing. (walking up to CHRISTINE) Let me teach you... let me teach you to use that wonderful voice that God has given you. Then you may never see me again... but you will never forget. (turning toward HARRY) Please, uh, give me a little time. Uh... a month, sir, two weeks. One week even. One week, and I will work a miracle! She will sing for me as she has never sung before. And I will hear my work performed. (falling to his knees before HARRY) Oh, please.

HARRY looks at PETRIE, then toward CHRISTINE as if to ask her opinion. She stands up, her face filled with compassion. Fade to an overhead shot of the auditorium, at least a week later, as the opera is being performed.

CAPTAIN:

As from tonight

There will be a curfew

And every man, woman and child

Will be in their house by sunset

D'ARCY storms through the foyer of the opera house, tossing his coat and hat to men nearby.

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