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SCENE ONE
REHEARSALS FOR 'HANNIBAL' BY CHALUMEAU

(We have reached the great choral scene in which HANNIBAL and his army return to save Carthage from the Roman invasion under Scipio. HANNIBAL is UBALDO PIANGI; ELISSA, Queen of Carthage (his mistress) is CARLOTTA GIUDICELLI. The two leading slave girls are played by MEG GIRY and CHRISTINE DAAE. MME. GIRY is the ballet mistress. M. REYER, The repetieur, is in charge.

We join the opera towards the end of ELISSA's (CARLOTTA's) great aria. She is alone, holding a present from the approaching HANNIBAL, a bleeding severed head)

CARLOTTA (at the climax of an extravagant cadenza)
This trophy from our saviours, from the enslaving force of Rome!

(A STAGEHAND carries a ladder across the stage. OTHERS are seen still constructiong parts of the scenery)

GIRL'S CHORUS
With feasting and dancing and song, tongiht in celebration, we greet the victorious throng, returned to bring salvation!

MEN'S CHORUS
The trumpets of Carthage resound! Hear, Romans, now and tremble! Hark to our steps on the ground!

ALL
Hear the drums - Hannibal comes!
(PIANGI enters as HANNIBAL)

PIANGI (HANNIBAL)
Sad to return to find the land we love threatened once more by Roma's far-reaching grasp.

REYER (interrupting him)
Signor... if you please: 'Rome'. We say 'Rome', not 'Roma'.

PIANGI
Si, si, Rome, not Roma. Is very hard for me.
(Practising)
Rome... Rome...
(Enter LEFEVRE, the retiring manager of the Opera, with M. FIRMIN and M. ANDRE, to whom he has just sold it)

REYER (to PIANGI)
Once again, then, if you please Signor: 'Sad to reurn...'

LEFEVRE (to ANDRE and FIRMIN)
This way gentlemen, this way. Rehearsals, as you see, are under way, for a new production of Chalumeau's 'Hannibal'.
(Sensing a hiatus in the rehearsal, LEFEVRE attempts to attract attention)

LEFEVRE
Ladies and gentlemen, some of you may already, perhaps, have met M. Andre and M. Firmin...
(The new managers are politely bowing when REYER inturrupts)

REYER
I'm sorry, M. Lefevre, we are rehearsing. If you wouldn't mind waiting a moment?

LEFEVRE
My Apologies, M. Reyer. Proceed proceed...

REYER
Thank you, Monsieur
(Turning back to PIANGI)
'Sad to return...', Signor...

LEFEVRE (sotto voice to ANDRE and FIRMIN)
M. Reyer, our cheif repetiteur. Rather a tyrant, I'm afraid.
(The rehearsal continues)

PIANGI (HANNIBAL)
Sad to return to find the land we love threatened once more by Rome's far-reaching grasp. Tomorrow we shall break the chains of Rome. Tonight, rejoice - your army has come home.
(The BALLET GIRLS begin their dance. LEFEVRE, ANDRE, and FIRMIN stand centre-stage watching the ballet. They are in the way. The ballet continues under the following dialouge)

LEFEVRE (indicating PIANGI)
Signor PIANGI, our principal tenor. He does play so well opposite La Carlotta.

GIRY (exasperated by their presence, bangs her cane angrily on the stage)
Gentlemen, please! If you would kindly move to one side?

LEFEVRE
My apologies, Mme. Giry.
(Leading ANDRE and FIRMIN aside)
Madame Giry, our ballet mistress. I don't mind confessing, M. Firmin, I shan't be sorry to be rid of the whole blessed business.

FIRMIN
I keep asking you, Monsieur, why exactly are you retiring?

LEFEVRE (ignoring this, calls his attention to the continuing ballet)
We take pride here in the excellence of our ballets.
(MEG becomes prominent among the dancers)

ANDRE
Who's that girl, Lefevre?

LEFEVRE
Her? Meg Giry, Mme. Giry's daughter. Promising dancer, M. Andre, most promising.
(CHRISTINE becomes prominent. She has absent-mindedly fallen out of step.)

GIRY (spotting her, bangs her cane again)
You! Christine Daae! Concentrate, girl!

MEG (quietly to Christine)
Christine... What's the matter?

FIRMIN (to LEFEVRE)
Daae? Curious name.

LEFEVRE
Swedish.

ANDRE
any relation to the violinist?

LEFEVRE
His daughter, I believe. Always has her head in the clouds, I'm afraid.
(The ballet continues to its climax and ends. The CHORUS resumes)

CHORUS
Bid welcome to Hannibal's guests - the elephants of Carthage! As guides on our conquering quests, Dido sends Hannibal's friends!
(The ELEPHANT, a life-sized mechanical replica, enters. PIANGI is lifted, in triumph, on to its back)

CARLOTTA (ELISSA)
Once more to my welcoming arms my love returns in splendour!

PIANGI (HANNIBAL)
Once more to those sweetest of charms my heart and soul surrender.

CHORUS
The trumpeting elephants sound - hear, Romans, now and tremble! Hark to their step on the ground - hear the drums! Hannibal comes!
(At the end of the chorus LEFEVRE claps his hands for silence. The elephant is led off. Two STAGEHANDS are revealed operating it from within)

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