Lyrics:

FIRMIN
'Mystery after gala night,'
it says, 'Mystery of soprano's flight!'
'Mystified baffled Surete say,
we are mystified - we suspect foul play!'

Bad news on soprano scene -
first Carlotta, now Christine!
Still, at least the seats get sold
gossip's worth its weight in gold . . .

What a way to run a business!
Spare me these unending trials!
Half your cast disappears,
but the crowd still cheers!
Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel -
It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles!

ANDRE
Damnable!
Will they all walk out?
This is damnable!

FIRMIN
Andre, please don't shout . . .
It's publicity! And the take is vast!
Free publicity!

ANDRE
But we have no cast . . .

FIRMIN
But Andre,
have you seen the queue?
Oh, it seems you've got one too . . .

ANDRE
'Dear Andre what a charming gala!
Christine enjoyed a great success!
We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left -
Otherwise the chorus was entrancing,
but the dancing was a lamentable mess!'

FIRMIN
'Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder:
my salary has not been paid.
Send it care of the ghost, by return of post.
P.T.O.:
No-one likes a debtor,
so it's better if my orders are obeyed!'

FIRMIN/ANDRE
Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain!

FIRMIN
These are both signed 'O.G.' . . .

ANDRE
Who the hell is he?

BOTH
Opera ghost!

FIRMIN
It's really not amusing!

ANDRE
He's abusing our position!

FIRMIN
In addition he wants money!

ANDRE
He's a funny sort of spectre . . .

BOTH
. . . to expect a large retainer!
Nothing plainer -
he is clearly quite insane!

RAOUL
Where is she?

ANDRE
You mean Carlotta?

RAOUL
I mean Miss Daae -
where is she?

FIRMIN
Well, how should we know?

RAOUL
I want an answer -
I take it that you sent me this note?

FIRMIN
What's all this nonsense?

ANDRE
Of course not!

FIRMIN
Don't look at us!

RAOUL
She's not with you, then?

FIRMIN
Of course not!

ANDRE
We're in the dark . . .

RAOUL
Monsieur, don't argue -
Isn't this the letter you wrote?

FIRMIN
And what is it, that we're meant to have wrote?
(Realizing his mistake)
Written !

ANDRE
'Do not fear for Miss Daae.
The Angel of Music has her under his wing.
Make no attempt to see her again.'

RAOUL
If you didn't write it, who did?

CARLOTTA
Where is he?

ANDRE
Ah, welcome back!

CARLOTTA
Your precious patron -
where is he?

RAOUL
What is it now?

CARLOTTA
I have your letter -
a letter which I rather resent!

FIRMIN
And did you send it?

RAOUL
Of course not!

ANDRE
As if he would!

CARLOTTA
You didn't send it?

RAOUL
Of course not!

FIRMIN
What's going on . . .?

CARLOTTA
You dare to tell me,
that this is not the letter you sent ? !

RAOUL
And what is it that I'm
meant to have sent?

'Your days
at the Opera Populaire are numbered.
Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight.
Be prepared for a great misfortune,
should you attempt to take her place.'

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Far too many notes for my taste -
and most of them about Christine!
All we've heard since we came
is Miss Daae's name . . .

GIRY
Miss Daae has returned.

FIRMIN
I trust her midnight oil
is well and truly burned.

ANDRE
Where precisely is she now?

GIRY
I thought it best that she went home . . .

MEG
She needed rest.

RAOUL
May I see her?

GIRY
No, monsieur, she will see no-one.

CARLOTTA
Will she sing?
Will she sing?

GIRY
Here, I have a note . . .

RAOUL/CARLOTTA/ANDRE
Let me see it!

FIRMIN
Please!

(Opens the letter and reads.
The PHANTOM'S voice gradually takes over)

'Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the
most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be
run. You have not followed my instructions.
I shall give you one last chance . . .'

PHANTOM'S VOICE (taking over)
. . . Christine Daae has returned to you,
and I am anxious her career should progress.
In the new production of 'Il Muto',
you will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy,
and put Miss Daae in the role of Countess.
The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal.
The role of the Pageboy is silent -
which makes my casting, in a word . . . ideal.

I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in
Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should
these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your
imagination will occur.

FIRMIN (taking over)
'I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G.'

CARLOTTA
Christine!

ANDRE
Whatever next . . .?

CARLOTTA
It's all a ploy to help Christine!

FIRMIN
This is insane . . .

CARLOTTA
I know who sent this:
The Vicomte - her lover!

RAOUL
Indeed?
Can you believe this?

ANDRE
Signora!

CARLOTTA
O traditori!

FIRMIN
This is a joke!

ANDRE
This changes nothing!

CARLOTTA
O mentitori!

FIRMIN
Signora!

ANDRE
You are our star!

FIRMIN
And always will be!

ANDRE
Signora . . .

FIRMIN
The man is mad!

ANDRE
We don't take orders!

FIRMIN
Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy-
the silent role . . .

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Carlotta will be playing the lead!

CARLOTTA
It's useless trying to appease me!
You're only saying this to please me!
Signori, e vero?
Non, non, non voglio udire !
Lasciatemi morire!
O padre mio!
Dio!

GIRY
Who scorn his word,
beware to those . . .

CARLOTTA
You have reviled me!

GIRY
The angel sees,
the angel knows . . .

RAOUL
Why did Christine fly from my arms . . .?

CARLOTTA
You have rebuked me!

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Signora, pardon us . . .

CARLOTTA
You have replaced me!

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Please, Signora, we beseech you . . .

GIRY
This hour shall see your darkest fears . . .

MEG/RAOUL
I must see her . . .

CARLOTTA
Abbandonata!
Deseredata!
O, sventurata!

GIRY
The angel knows,
the angel hears . . .

RAOUL
Where did she go . . .?

CARLOTTA
Abbandonata!
Disgraziata!

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Signora, sing for us!
Don't be a martyr . . .

RAOUL/GIRY/MEG
What new surprises lie in store . . .?

ANDRE/FIRMIN
Our star . . .!

CARLOTTA
Non vo' cantar!