The Point of No Return - Phantom of the Opera

Notes/Prima Donna

FIRMIN:

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!
Ah, but still at least the seats get sold —
gossip’s worth its weight in gold …

Diva tenders resignation!
Cover does a moonlight flit!
Half your cast disappears,
but the crowd still cheers!
Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel —
have a scandal and you’re sure to have a hit!

ANDRE:

Will they all walk out?
This is damnable!

FIRMIN:

It’s publicity!
And the take is vast!
Free publicity!

ANDRE:

But we have no cast …

FIRMIN:

have you seen the queue?
Oh, it seems you’ve got one too …

ANDRE:

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:

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!”

BOTH:

Someone with a peurile 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:

Nothing plainer —
He is clearly quite insane!

RAOUL:

Where is she?

ANDRE:

You mean Carlotta?

RAOUL:

FIRMIN:

Well, how should we know?

RAOUL:

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:

Isn’t this the
letter you wrote?

FIRMIN:

Written!

ANDRE:

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 —

CARLOTTA/PIANGI:

Where is he?

RAOUL:

What is it now?

CARLOTTA:

a letter which I
rather resent!

FIRMIN:

And did you send it?

RAOUL:

Of course not!

ANDRE:

As if he would!

CARLOTTA/PIANGI:

You didn’t send it?

RAOUL:

Of course not!

FIRMIN:

What’s going on … –

CARLOTTA:

that this is not the
letter you sent?!

RAOUL:

“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:

and most of them
about Christine!
All we’ve heard since we came,
is Miss Daae’s name …

GIRY:

Miss Daae has returned.

FIRMIN:

ANDRE:

GIRY:

MEG:

She needed rest.

RAOUL:

May I see her?

GIRY:

CARLOTTA/PIANGI:

GIRY:

Here, I have a note …

RAOUL/CARLOTTA/ANDRE:

Let me see it!

FIRMIN:

“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:

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 the 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 open for me.
Should these commands
be ignored,
a disaster beyond your
imagination will occur …

FIRMIN:

MEG:

Christine … Christine.

CARLOTTA:

Christine!

ANDRE:

Whatever next … ?

CARLOTTA/PIANGI:

FIRMIN:

This is insane …

CARLOTTA:

RAOUL:

Indeed? Can you believe this?

ANDRE:

Signora!

PIANGI:

How can you do this?

CARLOTTA:

I am unwanted!

FIRMIN:

This is a joke!

ANDRE:

This changes nothing!

CARLOTTA:

I am unwelcome!

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:

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

PIANGI:

You don’t deserve her!

CARLOTTA:

It’s useless trying to appease me!

PIANGI:

Appease her —

CARLOTTA:

PIANGI:

To please her —

CARLOTTA:

You thus insult the honour
of your prima donna?

CARLOTTA/PIANGI:

GIRY:

CARLOTTA:

You have reviled me!

GIRY:

RAOUL:

MEG:

Christine …

CARLOTTA:

You have rebuked me!

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

Signora, pardon us …

CARLOTTA:

You have replaced me!

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

GIRY:

MEG/RAOUL:

I must see her …

CARLOTTA/PIANGI:

This is unfounded!
This is unheard of!

GIRY:

RAOUL:

Where did she go?

CARLOTTA:

PIANGI:

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

RAOUL/GIRY/MEG:

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

Our star!

CARLOTTA/PIANGI:

You go too far!

ANDRE:

Your public needs you!

FIRMIN:

We need you, too!

CARLOTTA:

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

Prima donna,
first lady of the stage!
Your devotees
are on their knees
to implore you!

ANDRE:

FIRMIN:

BOTH:

ANDRE:

Think of your muse …

FIRMIN:

BOTH:

Sing, prima donna,
once more!

RAOUL:

Christine spoke of an angel …

CARLOTTA:

but there’s a public
who need you!

GIRY:

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

CARLOTTA:

RAOUL:

Is this her angel of music … ?

ANDRE:

We get our opera …

FIRMIN:

She gets her limelight!

CARLOTTA:

PIANGI:

MEG:

RAOUL:

Angel or madman … ?

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

Leading ladies are a trial!

CARLOTTA:

PIANGI:

When she sings we see heaven

MEG:

Voice of hell, or of heaven … ?

GIRY:

CARLOTTA:

RAOUL:

GIRY:

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

PIANGI:

MEG:

CARLOTTA:

Sing, prima donna,
once more!

GIRY:

RAOUL:

Surely, for her sake …

PIANGI:

Surely heads will roll …

MEG:

Surely he’ll strike back …

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

GIRY:

RAOUL:

PIANGI:

MEG:

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

who’s gone
and slept with her patron?
Raoul and his soubrette,
entwined in love’s duet!
Although he may demur,
he must have been with her!

MEG/RAOUL:

Christine must be protected!

PIANGI/GIRY:

Honour must be protected!

CARLOTTA:

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

but if it’s loudly sung
and in a foreign tongue,
it’s just the sort of story
audiences adore, in
fact, a perfect opera!

RAOUL:

His game is over!

PIANGI:

Their game is over!

GIRY:

RAOUL:

GIRY:

MEG:

ANDRE/FIRMIN:

A nation waits,
and how it hates
to be cheated!

CARLOTTA/PIANGI:

Terrible diseases,
coughs and colds and sneezes!

Still, the dryest throat
will reach the highest note,
in search of a perfect opera!

MEG/GIRY:

… then I fear the outcome …

RAOUL:

GIRY:

… should you dare to …

MEG:

… when you once again …

ALL:

Sing, prima donna,
once more!

PHANTOM:

ALL:

Once more!

Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh

RAOUL:

I shall be sitting in Box Five.

ANDRE:

RAOUL:

there would
appear to be no seats available
other than Box Five.

CONFIDANTE:

They say that this youth has set my Lady’sheart aflame!

1ST FOP:

His Lordship sure would die of shock!

2ND FOP:

His Lordship is a laughing-stock!

CONFIDANTE:

Should he suspect her, God protect her!

ALL THREE:

This faithless lady’s bound for Hades!
Shame! Shame! Shame!

ANDRE:

Nothing like the old operas!

FIRMIN:

Or the old scenery …

ANDRE:

The old singers …

FIRMIN:

The old audience …

ANDRE:

And every seat sold!

FIRMIN:

Hardly a disaster beyond all imagination!

COUNTESS:

Who can this be?

DON ATTILIO:

My love – I am called to England on affairs of State,
and must leave you with your new maid.
(Aside) Though I’d gladly take the maid with me.

COUNTESS:

(aside)The old fool’s leaving!

DON ATTILI0:

I shall not leave, but shall hide over there to observe her!
Addio!

COUNTESS:

Addio!

BOTH:

Addio!

CARLOTTA:

You cannot speak, but kiss
me in my husband’s absence!

Poor fool, he makes me laugh!
Time I tried to get a better
better half!

Poor fool, he doesn’t know!
If he knew, the fool, he never
would have gone!

PHANTOM:

MEG:

He’s here: the Phantom of the Opera …

CHRISTINE:

It’s him! I know it, it’s him!

CARLOTTA:

Your part is silent … little toad!

PHANTOM:

CARLOTTA:

You cannot speak, but kiss
me in my … croak!
Poor fool, he makes me laugh!
Croak! Croak!

PHANTOM:

ANDRE:

the performance will continue
in ten minutes time,
when the
role of the Countess will be
sung by Miss Christine Daae.
In the meantime, ladies and
gentlemen, we shall be giving you
the ballet from Act Three of tonight’s
opera.
Maestro, the ballet, NOW!

CHRISTINE:

Raoul! Raoul!

RAOUL:

Christine! Come with me!

CHRISTINE:

No, we must go up! To the roof!

ANDRE:

Why Have You Brought Me Here?/Raoul, I’ve been there

RAOUL:

Why have you brought me here?

CHRISTINE:

Don’t take me back there!

RAOUL:

We must return!

CHRISTINE:

His eyes will find me there!

RAOUL:

Christine, don’t say that …

CHRISTINE:

Those eyes that hurt …

RAOUL:

Don’t even think it …

CHRISTINE:

RAOUL:

Forget this waking nightmare …

CHRISTINE:

RAOUL:

Believe me …
there is no Phantom of the Opera!

CHRISTINE:

My God, who is this man?

RAOUL:

My God, who is this man?

CHRISTINE:

Who hunts to kill?

RAOUL:

His mask of death …

CHRISTINE:

I can’t escape from him …

RAOUL:

Whose is this voice you hear?

CHRISTINE:

I never will … !

RAOUL:

With every breath …

BOTH:

the Phantom of the Opera is here
Inside your/my mind …

RAOUL:

There is no Phantom of the Opera!

CHRISTINE:

to his world of unending night …
to a world where the daylight
dissolves into darkness …
darkness …

Raoul, I’ve seen him …
Can I ever forget that sight?
Can I ever escape from that face?
So distorted, deformed …
It was hardly a face,
in that darkness …
darkness …

But his voice filled my spirit
with a strange, sweet sound …
In that night, there was music
in my mind …
And through music, my soul
began to soar …
And I heard as I’ve never
heard before!

RAOUL:

CHRISTINE:

those pleading eyes
that both threatened …
and adored …

RAOUL:

Christine … Christine …

PHANTOM:

Christine …

CHRISTINE:

What was that?

All I Ask of You

RAOUL:

Forget these
wide-eyed fears.
I’m here,
nothing can harm you –
my words will
warm and calm you.

Let me be
your freedom,
let daylight
dry your tears.
I’m here,
with you, beside you,
to guard you
and to guide you …

CHRISTINE:

turn my head
with talk of summertime …
Say you need me
with you,
now and always …
promise me that all
you say is true –
that’s all I ask
of you …

RAOUL:

let me
be your light.
You’re safe:
No-one will find you –
your fears are
far behind you …

CHRISTINE:

a world with
no more night …
and you,
always beside me,
to hold me
and to hide me …

RAOUL:

let me lead you
from your solitude …

Say you need me
with you
here, beside you …
anywhere you go,
let me go too –
Christine,
that’s all I ask
of you …

CHRISTINE:

say the word
and I will follow you …

BOTH:

CHRISTINE:

Say you love me …

RAOUL:

You know I do …

BOTH:

That’s all I ask
of you …

Anywhere you go
let me go too …
Love me –
that’s all I ask
of you …

CHRISTINE:

They’ll wonder where I am!
Wait for me, Raoul!

RAOUL:

Christine, I love you!

CHRISTINE:

be with them at the door …

RAOUL:

And soon, you’ll be beside me …

CHRISTINE:

You’ll guard me and you’ll guide me …

I Gave You My Music

PHANTOM:

Made your song take wing …
and now, how you’ve
repaid me:
denied me
and betrayed me …
He was bound to love you
when he heard you sing …
Christine …

CHRISTINE/RAOUL:

say the word
and I will follow you …

Share each day with
me, each
night, each morning …

PHANTOM:

Go!!!

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