The Point of No Return – Phantom of the Opera

CHIEF:

You understand your instructions?

FIREMEN:

Sir!

CHIEF:

When you hear the whistle, take up your positions.
• I shall then instruct you to secure the doors.
  It is essential that all doors are properly secured.

FIRMIN:

Are we doing the right thing, Andre?

ANDRE:

Have you got a better idea?

CHIEF:

Monsieur le Vicomte, am I to give the order?

RAOUL:

Give the order.

RAOUL:

You in the pit – do you have a clear view of this box?

MARKSMAN:

Yes, sir.

RAOUL:

Remember, when the time comes, shoot. Only if you have to – but shoot. To kill.

MARKSMAN:

How will I know, sir?

RAOUL:

You’ll know.

FIRMIN:

Monsieur le Vicomte, are you confident that this will work? Will Miss Daae sing?

RAOUL:

Don’t worry, Firmin. Andre?

ANDRE:

We’re in your hands, sir.

CHIEF:

My men are now in position, sir.

RAOUL:

Go ahead, then.

CHIEF:

Are the doors secure?

The FIREMEN answering one by one:

“Secure.”‘

PHANTOM’S VOICE:

I’m here: The Phantom of the Opera . . .
• 
  I’m here: The Phantom of the Opera . . .

RAOUL:

You fool, I said only when the times comes!

MARKSMAN:

But, Monsieur le Vicomte . . .

PHANTOM’S VOICE:

No “buts”! For once, Monsieur le Vicomte is right.
• Seal my fate tonight – I hate to have to cut the fun short but the joke’s wearing thin
  Let the audience in … let my opera begin!

Don Juan performance

CHORUS:

Here the sire may serve the dam, here the master takes his meat!
• Here the sacrificial lam butters one despairing bleat!

CARLOTTA AND CHORUS:

Poor young maiden! For the thrill on your tongue of stolen sweets
• you will have to pay the bill -tangled in the winding sheets!
  Serve the meal and serve the maid! Serve the master so that,
  when tables, plans and maids are laid, Don Juan triumphs once again!

DON JUAN:

Passarino, faithful friend, once again recite the plan.

PASSARINO:

Your young guest believes I’m you – I, the master, you, the man.

DON JUAN:

When you met you wore my cloak, with my scarf you hid your face.
• She believes she dines with me, in her master’s borrowed place!
  Furtively, we’ll scoff and quaff, stealing what, in truth, is mine.
  When it’s late and modesty starts to mellow, with the wine . . .

PASSARINO:

You come home! I use your voice – slam the door like crack of doom!

DON JUAN:

I shall say: “come – hide with me! Where, oh, where? Of course – my room!”

PASSARINO:

Poor thing hasn’t got a chance!

DON JUAN:

Here’s my hat, my cloak and sword.
• Conquest is assured, if I do not forget myself and laugh…

AMINTA:

“. . . no thoughts within her head, but thoughts of joy!
• No dreams within her heart but dreams of love!”

PASSARINO:

Master?

PHANTOM:

Passarino – go away, for the trap is set and waits for its prey!

Point of No Return

PHANTOM:

You have come here
in pursuit of
your deepest urge,
• in pursuit of
  that wish,
  which till now
  has been silent,
  silent …

  I have brought you,
  that our passions
  may fuse and merge –
  in your mind
  you’ve already
  succumbed to me,
  dropped all defenses,
  completely succumbed to me –
  now you are here with me:
  no second thoughts,
  you’ve decided,
  decided …

  Past the point
  of no return –
  no backward glances:
  the games we’ve played
  till now are at
  an end …
  Past all thought
  of “if” and “when” –
  no use resisting:
  abandon thought,
  and let the dream
  descend …
  What raging fire
  shall flood the soul?
  What rich desire
  unlock its door?
  What sweet seduction
  lies before
  us … ?

  Past the point
  of no return,
  the final threshold –
  what warm,
  unspoken secrets
  will we learn?
  Beyond the point
  of no return …

CHRISTINE:

You have brought me
to that moment
where words run dry,
• to that moment
  where speech
  disappears
  into silence,
  silence …

  I have come here,
  hardly knowing
  the reason why …
  In my mind,
  I’ve already
  imagined our
  bodies entwining,
  defenceless and silent –
  and now I am
  here with you:
  no second thoughts,

  I’ve decided,
  decided …

  Past the point
  of no return –
  no going back now:
  our passion-play
  has now, at last,
  begun …
  Past all thought
  of right and wrong –
  one final question:
  how long should we
  two wait, before
  we’re one … ?

  When will the blood
  begin to race,
  the sleeping bud
  burst into bloom?
  When will the flames,
  at last, consume
  us … ?

BOTH:

Past the point
of no return,
the final threshold –
• the bridge
  is crossed, so stand
  and watch it burn …
  We’ve passed the point
  of no return …

PHANTOM:

Say you’ll share with
me one
love, one lifetime …
• Lead me, save me
  from my solitude …

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

CARLOTTA:

What is it? What has happened? Ubaldo!

ANDRE:

Oh, my God … my God …

FIRMIN:

We’re ruined, Andre – ruined!

GIRY:

Monsieur le Vicomte! Come with me!

CARLOTTA:

Oh, my darling, my darling … who has
done this?

You! Why did you let this happen?

GIRY:

Monsieur le Vicomte, I know where they are.

RAOUL:

But can I trust you?

GIRY:

You must. But remember: your hand at
the level of your eyes!

RAOUL:

But why … ?

GIRY:

Why? The Punjab lasso, monsieur. First
Buquet. Now Piangi.

MEG:

Like this, monsieur. I’ll come with you.

GIRY:

No, Meg! No, you stay here!

Come with me, monsieur. Hurry, or we
shall be too late …

Down once more/Track down this Murderer

PHANTOM:

Down once more
to the dungeon
of my black despair!
• Down we plunge
  to the prison
  of my mind!
  Down that path
  into darkness
  deep as hell!

  Why, you ask,
  was I bound and chained
  to this cold and dismal place?
  Not for any
  mortal sin, but the
  wickedness of
  my abhorrent face!

MOB:

Track down this murderer!
He must be found!

PHANTOM:

Hounded out by
everyone!
Met with hatred
everywhere!
• No kind word from
  anyone!
  No compassion
  anywhere!
  
  Christine, Christine …
  Why, why … ?

GIRY:

Your hand at the level of your eyes!

RAOUL:

… at the level of your eyes …

MOB:

Your hand at the level of your eyes!

• Track down this
  murderer –
  He must be found!
  Hunt out this
  animal,
  who runs to ground!
  Too long he’s preyed on us –
  but now we know:
  the Phantom of the Opera
  is there,
  deep down below …
  
  He’s here: the Phantom of the Opera …

CHRISTINE:

Have you gorged yourself
at last, in your
lust for blood?

• Am I now to be
  prey to your
  lust for flesh?

PHANTOM:

That fate, which
condemns me
to wallow in blood
• has also
  denied me
  the joys of the flesh …
  this face –
  the infection
  which poisons our love …

  This face,
  which earned
  a mother’s fear
  and loathing …
  A mask,
  my first
  unfeeling scrap
  of clothing …

  Pity comes
  too late –
  turn around
  and face your fate:
  An eternity of this
  before your eyes!

CHRISTINE:

This haunted face
holds no horror
for me now …
• It’s in your soul
  that the true
  distortion lies …

PHANTOM:

Wait! I think, my dear,
we have a guest!
• Sir, this is indeed
  an unparalleled delight!
  I had rather hoped
  that you would come
  And now my wish comes true –
  You have truly made my night!

RAOUL:

Free her!
• Do what you like,
  only free her!
  Have you no pity?

PHANTOM:

Your lover makes
a passionate plea!

CHRISTINE:

Please, Raoul, it’s useless …

RAOUL:

I love her!
• Does that mean nothing?
  I love her!
  Show some compassion …

PHANTOM:

The world showed no
compassion to me!

RAOUL:

Christine …
Christine …
• Let me see her …

PHANTOM:

Be my guest, sir …

Monsieur, I
bid you welcome!

• Did you think that
  I would harm her?
  Why should I make
  her pay
  for the sins which
  are yours?
  
  Order your fine horses now!
  Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!
  Nothing can save you now –
  except perhaps Christine …

  Start a new life with me –
  Buy his freedom with your love!
  Refuse me, and you send your lover to his
  death!
  This is the choice –
  This is the point of no return!

CHRISTINE:

The tears I might have shed
for your dark fate
• grow cold, and turn to tears
  of hate …

RAOUL:

Christine, forgive
me, please forgive me …
• I did it all
  for you, and all for
  nothing …

CHRISTINE:

Farewell,
my fallen idol
and false friend …
• We had such hopes, but now these hopes lie murdered

PHANTOM:

Too late for
turning back,
• too late for
  prayers and
  useless pity …

RAOUL:

Say you love him,
and my
life is over!

PHANTOM:

Past all hope
of cries for help:
no point in fighting …

RAOUL:

Either way
you choose,
he has to win …

PHANTOM:

For either way
you choose,
you cannot win!
• So, do you end
  your days with me,
  or do you send
  him to his grave?

RAOUL:

Why make her lie
to you, to save me?

CHRISTINE:

Angel of Music …

PHANTOM:

Past the point
of no return –

RAOUL:

For pity’s sake,
Christine, say no!

CHRISTINE:

… why this torment?

PHANTOM:

… the final threshold …

RAOUL:

Don’t throw your life
away for my sake …

CHRISTINE:

Why do you curse mercy?

PHANTOM:

His life is now the prize
which you must earn!

RAOUL:

I fought so hard
to free you …

CHRISTINE:

Angel of Music …

PHANTOM:

You’ve passed the point
of no return …

CHRISTINE:

… you deceived me –
I gave my mind
blindly …

PHANTOM:

You try my patience –
make your choice!

CHRISTINE:

Pitiful creature
of darkness …
What kind of life
have you known … ?
• God, give me courage
  to show you
  you are not
  alone …

MOB: Some:

Track down this
murderer –
he must be found!
• Hunt out this
  animal,
  who runs to ground!
  
  Too long he’s
  preyed on us –
  but know we know:
  the Phantom of the Opera
  is there,
  deep down below …

Others:

Who is this monster,
this murdering beast?
• Revenge for Piangi!
  Revenge for Buquet!
  This creature
  must never go free …

PHANTOM:

Take her – forget me – forget all of this …
• Leave me alone – forget all you’ve seen …
  Go now – don’t let them find you!
  Take the boat – swear to me never to tell
  The secret you know of the angel in hell!
  Go …
  Go now – go now and leave me!

  Masquerade …
  Paper faces on parade …
  Masquerade …
  Hide your face,
  so the world will
  never find you …

  Christine, I love you …

CHRISTINE:

Say you’ll share with
me, one
love, one lifetime …
• say the word
  and I will follow you…

RAOUL:

Share each day with me …

CHRISTINE:

… each night …

BOTH:

… each morning …

PHANTOM:

You alone
can make my song take flight –
• it’s over now, the music of the night …

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