Notes / Prima Donna

"Mystery after gala night," if says, "Mystery of soprano's flight!" "Mystified baffled Surete say, we are mystified - we suspect foul play!" (He lowers the paper) 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 bursts in, in a temper)  Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable! Andre, please don't shout . . .It's publicity! And the take is vast! Free publicity! But we have no cast . . . But Andre, have you seen the queue? (He has been sorting mail on his desk. Finding the two letters from the PHANTOM): Oh, it seems you've got one too . . . (He hands the letter to ANDRE, who opens it and reads)  "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!" "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!" Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain! These are both signed "O.G." . . . Who the hell is he? BOTH (immediately realizing) Opera ghost! It's really not amusing! He's abusing our position! In addition he wants money! He's a funny sort of spectre . . . . . . to expect a large retainer! Nothing plainer - he is clearly quite insane! (They are interrupted by the arrival of RAOUL, who brandishes another of the PHANTOM'S notes) Where is she? You mean Carlotta? I mean Miss Daae - where is she?  Well, how should we know? I want an answer - I take it that you sent me this note? What's all this nonsense? Of course not! Don't look at us! She's not with you, then? Of course not! We're in the dark . . . Monsieur, don't argue - Isn't this the letter you wrote? And what is it, that we're meant to have wrote? (Realizing his mistake) Written ! (RAOUL hands the note to ANDRE, who reads it) "Do not fear for Miss Daae. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again." (The MANAGERS look mystified) If you didn't write it, who did? (CARLOTTA bursts in. She too has a letter, which has cheered her no more than the others) Where is he? Ah, welcome back!  Your precious patron - where is he? What is it now? I have your letter - a letter which I rather resent! And did you send it? Of course not! As if he would!  You didn't send it? Of course not! What's going on . . .? You dare to tell me, that this is not the letter you sent ? !  And what is it that I'm meant to have sent? (RAOUL takes the letter and reads it) "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." (The MANAGERS are beginning lo tire of the intrigue) 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 suddenly appears, accompanied by MEG) GIRY Miss Daae has returned. FIRMIN (drily) 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 (snatching it) Please! (Opens the letter and reads. The PHANTOM'S voice gradually lakes 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: (pointing an accusing finger) The Vicomte - her lover! RAOUL (ironical) Indeed? (to the OTHERS) Can you believe this? ANDRE (to CARLOTTA, in protest) Signora! CARLOTTA (half to the MANAGERS, half to herself) O traditori! FIRMIN (to CARLOTTA) 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 (announcing it to EVERYONE) Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy - the silent role . . . ANDRE/FIRMIN Carlotta will be playing the lead! CARLOTTA (waxing melodramatic) 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 (to MANAGERS) 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! (ALL look at CARLOTTA, as the MANAGERS approach her lovingly ----------------------------------------------- ANDR' Your public needs you! FIRMIN We need you, too! CARLOTTA Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue? ANDR'/FIRMIN Signora, no! The world wants you! ANDR'/FIRMIN Prima donna, first lady of the stage! Your devotees are on their knees to implore you! ANDR' Can you bow out when they're shouting your name? FIRMIN Think of how they all adore you! BOTH Prima donna, enchant us once again! ANDR' Think of your muse... FIRMIN And of the queues round the theatre! BOTH Can you deny us the triumph in store? Sing, prima donna, once more! RAOUL Christine spoke of an angel... CARLOTTA Prima donna, your song shall live again! ANDR'/FIRMIN Think of your public! CARLOTTA You took a snub, but there's a public who needs you! GIRY She has heard the voice of the angel of music... ANDR'/FIRMIN Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel! CARLOTTA Think of their cry of undying support! RAOUL Is this her angel of music...? ANDR' We get our opera... FIRMIN She gets her limelight! CARLOTTA Follow where the limelight leads you! MEG Is this ghost an angel or madman...? RAOUL *Angel or madman...? ANDR'/FIRMIN Leading ladies are a trial! CARLOTTA Prima donna, your song shall never die! MEG Voice of hell, or of heaven...? GIRY Heaven help you, those who doubt... CARLOTTA You'll sing again, and to an unending ovation! RAOUL Orders! Warnings! Lunatic demands! GIRY This miscasting will invite damnation... ANDR'/FIRMIN Tears...oaths... lunatic demands are regular occurrences! MEG Bliss or damnation? Which has claimed her...? CARLOTTA Think how you'll shine in that final encore! Sing, prima donna, once more! GIRY Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings! RAOUL Surely, for her sake... MEG Surely, he'll strike back... ANDR'/FIRMIN Surely, there'll be further scenes - worse than this! GIRY Think, before these demands are rejected! RAOUL ...I must see these demands are rejected! MEG ...if his threats and demands are rejected! ANDR'/FIRMIN Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl, who's gone and slept with the patron? Raoul and the soubrette, entwined in love's duet! Although he may demur, he must have been with her! MEG/RAOUL Christine must be protected! CARLOTTA O, fortunata! Non ancor abbandonata! ANDR'/FIRMIN You'd never get away with all this in a play, 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! GIRY This is a game you cannot hope to win! RAOUL And in Box Five a new game will begin... GIRY For, if his curse is on this opera... MEG But if his curse is on this opera... ANDR'/FIRMIN Prima donna, the world is at your feet! A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated! CARLOTTA The stress that falls upon a famous prima donna! Terrible diseases, coughs and colds and sneezes! Still, the driest throat will reach the highest note, in search of perfect opera! MEG/GIRY ...then I fear the outcome... RAOUL Christine plays the Pageboy, Carlotta plays the Countess... GIRY ...should you dare to... MEG ...when you once again... ALL Light up the stage with that age-old rapport! Sing, prima donna, once more! PHANTOM (spoken) So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur! ALL Once more!