The Phantom of the Opera Page #8

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MAN:

Can I help you, Lord Ambrose?

D'ARCY

Get out of my way.

Cut to the darkened office. D'ARCY walks in to see PETRIE standing at the window. PETRIE turns and approaches him.

D'ARCY

What the devil? What is this foolery? Who are you? Answer me, who are you?

PETRIE:

Good evening, Lord Ambrose.

D'ARCY

Take off that ridiculous mask when you speak to me. Do you hear me? Take it off!

D'ARCY pulls the mask from PETRIE's face, which he sees but the audience does not. He gasps in horror, then turns and runs off, dropping the mask. PETRIE picks it up. Cut to CHRISTINE standing backstage in costume as Joan, while a woman finishes brushing her hair. HARRY approaches and takes CHRISTINE's hand, smiling at her. He gives her a kiss. CHRISTINE walks out onstage. From the wings, HARRY motions to a stagehand, who illuminates the formerly empty box where PETRIE is now standing. CHRISTINE turns toward PETRIE, who taps his chest twice, as a reminder of their vocal lessons. She smiles in acknowledgement.

CHRISTINE:

In the sound of rain

As thunder grows distant

From darkest night to broadest day...

Fade to a later scene of the opera, where CHRISTINE as Joan is dressed in armour and leading an ARMY.

ARMY:

Fear not

Fear not

CHRISTINE:

God's with you

God's with you to Orleans

ARMY:

Fear not

Fear not

The maid

The maid

God and the maid

Will lead us to Orleans

God and the maid

Will lead us to victory

CHRISTINE & ARMY

Will lead us to victory

Fade to the scene depicting Joan's trial. CHRISTINE is led into the courtroom.

JUDGE:

Joan of Arc

You are now to hear

The verdict of this court

Once again

I beg you to repent

And renounce these voices you hear

Declare yourself a heretic

CHRISTINE:

No

I will not

I am not

FRIAR:

Joan, listen to me

If you do not recant

There is only one fate for you

To be burned at the stake

JUDGE:

I can do no more

You know the consequences

It is the decision of this court

To declare you excommunicate

And a heretic

The JUDGE and JURY MEMBERs cross themselves.

CHRISTINE:

No

I am not

JUDGE:

Clear the court

Clear the court

Clear the court

TOWNSPEOPLE:

Burn her

Burn the witch

Burn her

CHRISTINE:

God forgive them

TOWNSPEOPLE:

Burn her

Burn her

Burn the witch

Burn her

Burn her

CHRISTINE:

Lord have mercy

No

TOWNSPEOPLE:

Burn her

CHRISTINE:

No

No

TOWNSPEOPLE:

Burn the witch

Burn the witch

CHRISTINE:

No

No

No

CHRISTINE collapses to the floor. Everyone else exits, and slowly she gets back up.

CHRISTINE:

In the sound of rain

As a storm wept its dying

In darkest night

In broadest day

I heard your voice

In summer sunshine

In one of the boxes, HARRY and LATTIMER look at each other and grin.

CHRISTINE:

In autumn twilight

In winter snow

And now I pray

Do not forsake me

Above the stage, the DWARF is watching.

CHRISTINE:

Show me the way

And I will know

(standing up) I have the strength

All doubt has passed

I have no fear

To come at last

Closeup on PETRIE's single eye as he sheds a tear.

CHRISTINE:

I hear your voice

CHRISTINE turns and walks up a staircase as GUARDs open a doorway filled with flames. Meanwhile, as the DWARF is looking down, a STAGEHAND notices him.

STAGEHAND:

Hey. What are you doing?

The STAGEHAND begins to chase the DWARF. Meanwhile, the curtain closes as the opera ends. The audience applauds. The curtain rises once more and flowers are presented to CHRISTINE. She turns toward PETRIE and he nods. Up above, the STAGEHAND is still chasing the DWARF, who leaps onto the chandelier. The audience notices what's going on and their concerned voices can be heard. PETRIE leans over to see what is happening. All at once the rope holding the chandelier begins to break.

HARRY:

Christine!

The DWARF manages to jump off the chandelier before it falls. PETRIE jumps up and pulls his mask off to get a better view. We finally see his acid-scarred face. He leaps from his box and onto the stage, where he pushes CHRISTINE out of the way of the falling chandelier. It lands on top of PETRIE, crushing him to death. HARRY stares down at PETRIE's corpse, stunned, as CHRISTINE covers her face and weeps. The curtain comes down. Stagehands rush to the scene. Hanging from some rigging above stage, the DWARF looks on sorrowfully. Cut to a shot of PETRIE's discarded mask. Roll credits.

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