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LEFEVRE
Ladies and gentlemen - Madame Giry, thank you - may I have your attention please? As you know, for some weeks there have been rumors of my imminent retirement. I can now tell you that hese were true, and it is my pleasure to introduce to you the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire, M. Richard Firmin and M. Gilles Andre.
(Polite applause. Some bowing. CARLOTTA makes her presence felt.)
Gentlemen, Signora Carlota Guidicelli, our leading soprano for five seasons now.

ANDRE
Of course, of course. I have experienced all your greatest roles, Signora.

LEFEVRE
And Signor Ubaldo Piangi.

FIRMIN
An honour, Signor.

ANDRE
If I remember rightly, Elissa has a rather fine ariain Act Three of 'Hannibal'. I wonder, Signora, if, as a personal favour, you would oblige us with a private rendition?\par
(Somewhat acerbic)
Unless, of course, M. Reyer objects...

CARLOTTA
My manager commands... M. Reyer?

REYER
My diva commands. Will two bars be sufficient introduction?

FIRMIN
Two bars will be quite sufficient.

REYER (insuring that Carlotta is ready)
Signora?

CARLOTTA
Maestro?
(The introduction is played on the piano)

CARLOTTA
Think of me,
think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while -
please promise me
you'll try.

When you find
that, once
again, you long
to take your heart...
(As CARLOTTA is singing, a backdrop crashes to the floor, cutting her off from half the cast)

MEG/BALLET GIRLS/CHORUS
He's here:
the Phantom of the Opera...
He is with us...
It's the ghost...

PIANGI (looking up furiously)
You idiots!
(He rushes over to CARLOTTA)
Cara! Cara! Are you hurt?

LEFEVRE
Signora! Are you all right? Buquet? Where is Buquet?

PIANGI
Is no one concerned for our prima donna?

LEFEVRE
Get that man down here.
(To ANDRE and FIRMIN)
Chief of the flies. He's responsible for this.
(The drop is raised high enough to reveal upstage an old stagehand, JOSEPH BUQUET, holding a length of rope, which looks almost like a noose)

LEFEVRE
Buquet? For God's sake, man, what's going on up there?

BUQUET
Please, Monsieur, don't look at me: as God's my witness I was not at my post.

Please, Monsieur, there's no one there: and if there is, well then, it must be a ghost...

MEG (looking up)
He's there: the Phantom of the Opera...

ANDRE
Good heavens will you show a little coutesy?

FIRMIN (to MEG and OTHERS)
Mademoiselle, please!

ANDRE (to CARLOTTA)
These things do happen.

CARLOTTA
Si! These things do happen! Well, until you stop these things happening, this thing does not happen! Ubaldo! Andiamo!
(PIANGI dutifully fetches her furs from the wings)

PIANGI
Amateurs!

LEFEVRE
I don't think there's much more to assist you, gentlemen. Good luck. If you need me, I shall be in Frankfurt.
(He leaves. The company looks anxiously at the NEW MANAGERS)

ANDRE
La Carlotta wil be back.

GIRY
You think so, Messieurs? I have a message, sir, from the Opera Ghost.
(The GIRLS twitter and twirl in fear)

FIRMIN
God in heaven, you're all obsessed!

GIRY
He merely welcomes you to his opera house and commands you to continue to leave Box Five empty for his use and reminds you that his salary is due.

FIRMIN
His salary?

GIRY
Monsieur Lefevre paid him twenty thousand francs a month. Perhaps you can afford more, with the Vicomte De Chagny as your patron.
(Reaction to this from the BALLET GIRLS. CHRISTINE takes hold of MEG nervously)

ANDRE (to GIRY)
Madame, I had hoped to have made that announcement myself.

GIRY (to FIRMIN)
Will the Vicomte be at the performances tonight, Monsieur?

FIRMIN
In our box.

ANDRE
Madame, who is the understudy for this role?

REYER
There is no understudy, Monsieur - the production is new.

MEG
Christine Daae could sing it, sir.

FIRMIN
The chorus girl?

MEG (to FIRMIN)
She's been taking lessons from a great teacher.

ANDRE
From whom?

CHRISTINE (uneasily)
I don't know, sir...

FIRMIN
Oh, not you as well!
(turning to ANDRE)
Can you believe it? A full house - and we have to cancel!

GIRY
Let her sing for you, Monsieur. She has been well taught.

REYER (after a pause)
From the beginning of the aria then, mam'selle.

CHRISTINE
Think of me,
think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while -
please promise me
you'll try.

FIRMIN
Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves.

ANDRE
Don't fret, Firmin.

CHRISTINE
When you find
that, once
again, you long
to take your heart back
and be free -
if you ever find
a moment,
spare a thought
for me...

(Transformation to the Gala, CHRISTINE is revealed in full costume)

We never said
our love was evergreen
or as unchanging as the sea -
but if you can still remember,
stop and think of me...

Think of all the things
we've shared and seen -
dont't think about the things
which might have been...

Think of me,
think of me waking silent and resigned.

Imagine me, trying too hard
to put you from my mind.

Recall those days,
look back on all those times,
think of the things we'll never do -
there will never be a day,
when I won't think of you...

(Applause, bravos. Prominent among the bravos, those of the young RAOUL in the MANAGER's box)

RAOUL
Can it be?
Can it be Christine?

Bravo!

(He raises his opera-glasses)

What a change! You're really not a bit
the gawkish girl that once you were...

(Lowering his opera-glasses)

She may not remember me,
but I remember her...

CHRISTINE
We never said our love was evergreen,
or as unchanging as the sea -
but please promise me,
that sometimes, you will think of me!

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