The Phantom of the Opera2004

[Scene of the Masquerade at the Opera; Firmin and Andre walk in with masks on and a lady on each arm]

Firmin:
Mosieur Andre!

Andre:
Mosieur Firmin!

Firmin:
[sings] Dear Andre, what a splendid party!

Andre:
[sings] The prologue to a bright new year!

Firmin:
Quiet a night, I’m impressed!

Andre:
Well, one does ones best,

Andre and Firmin:
Here’s to us!

Andre:
The toast of all the city,

Firmin:
What a pity that the Phantom can’t be here!

Crowd:
[sings] Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade; hide your face, so the world will never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade. Masquerade. Look around, there's another mask behind you! Flash of mauve, Splash of puce, Fool and king, Ghoul and goose, Green and black, Queen and priest, Trace of rouge, Face of beast, Take your turn, take a ride on the merry-go-round, Eye of gold, Thigh of blue, True is false, Who is who? Curl of lip, Swirl of gown, Ace of hearts, Face of clown, Faces! Drink it in, drink it up, till you've drowned in the light, in the sound!

Raoul and Christine:
But who can name the face...

Crowd:
Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds. Masquerade! Take your fill - let the spectacle astound you! Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads. Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you! Masquerade! Seething shadows, breathing lies... Masquerade!You can fool any friend who ever knew you! Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering eyes... Masquerade! Run and hide - but a face will still pursue you!

Madame Giry:
What a night!

Meg Giry:
What a crowd!

Andre:
Makes you glad!

Firmin:
Makes you proud! All the crème de la crème!

Carlotta:
Watching us watching them!

Madame Giry and Meg:
And all our fears are in the past!

Andre:
Three months...

Piangi:
Of relief!

Carlotta:
Of delight!

Andre and Firmin:
Of Elysian peace!

Madame Giry and Meg:
And we can breathe at last!

Carlotta:
No more notes!

Piangi:
No more ghosts!

Madame Giry:
Here's to health!

Andre:
Here's a toast to a prosperous year!

Firmin:
To our friends who are here!

Piangi and Carlotta:
And may its splendor never fade!

Firmin:
Three months!

Madame Giry:
What a joy!

Meg Giry:
What a change!

Andre and Firmin:
What a blessed release!

Madame Giry:
And what a masquerade!

Christine:
Think of it! [holding up a necklace with an engagement ring strung on it] A secret engagement. Look, your future bride! Just think of it!

Raoul:
But why is it secret? What have we to hide? You promised me. [starts to kiss her]

Christine:
No Raoul, Please don't, they'll see.

Raoul:
Well, then, let them see. It's an engagement, not a crime! [sings] Christine, what are you afraid of?

Raoul and Christine:
Let's not argue. Please pretend; you will understand in time! /I can only hope that I understand in time!

[Pan shot of all the people dancing]

Crowd:
[sings] Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade; hide your face, so the world will never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade. Masquerade. Look around, there's another mask behind you! Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads. Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you! Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds. Masquerade! Take your fill - let the spectacle astound you!

[The Phantom appears at the top of the stairs; crowd silences]

The Phantom:
[singing as he descends the staircase] Why so silent, good monsieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good monsieurs? I have written you an opera! Here I bring the finished score – “Don Juan Triumphant”!

[Holds up opera play]

The Phantom:
[looks around] Fondest greetings to you all. A few instructions now before rehearsals start: Carlotta must be taught to act, not her normal trick of strutting 'round the stage.

[Points walking stick at Piangi]

The Phantom:
Our Don Juan must lose some weight; it's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age. And my managers must learn that their place is in an office! Not the arts. As for our star, Miss Christine Daaé...

[Stares at her for a moment, then starts to walk further down the steps]

The Phantom:
No doubt she'll do her best. It's true her voice is good; she knows, though, should she wish to excel, she has much still to learn, if pride will let her return to me, her teacher... her teacher...

[They both stare at each other for a long moment; The Phantom approaches her, and notices Christine's engagement ring on a necklace chain around her neck; he grabs it and yanks it off her neck]

The Phantom:
Your chains are still mine! You belong to me!

[The Phantom disappears in a cloud of fire; people gasp; Raoul runs and jumps into the opening in the ground the Phantom disappeared into; he finds himself in a room full of spinning mirrors, with the Phantom appearing and disappearing in the reflections; Raoul fruitlessly tries to hit the Phantom with sword; Madame Giry appears out of no where and pulls him out room]