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ACT TWO - Paris, January 1882
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Scene
1
ENTR’ACTE/
MASQUERADE
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(FADE
IN: EXTERIOR OF THE OPERA HOUSE CUT to:
WIDESHOT of CARRIAGES coming their way to the main entrance, seen with the exterior in the
background.Watched by a LARGE CROWD OF ONLOOKERS held back by GENDARMES, [CUT to: from the
other side of the CARRIAGES] the magnificently COSTUMED GUESTS step out of their CARRIAGES
and make their way up to the main entrance. (Note: The Ball could have a color theme eg.
Black and white/silver and gold). [CUT to: WIDESHOT of the backs of the COSTUMED GUESTS]
The stairs are lined with GUARDSMEN. PHOTOGRAPHERS take pictures of the guests. The flash
powder burst. The ONLOOKERS applaud the most lavish costumes. With its torchlight façade,
the whole building, cleaned and restored, seems reborn after the disaster of the
chandelier. Banners proclaim the grand re-opening and the new season. [CUT to: WIDESHOT of
RAOUL and CHRISTINE] We then see RAOUL and CHRISTINE, both in costume, approaching each
other from opposite areas. They meet, exchange glances, and move inside. [CUT to: WIDESHOT
of exterior of opera house] As the title bars are played, we see a menacing scarlet shape
cross the screen, moving too fast and too close to be viewed in detail, but recognizable
to the audience.)
(CUT
to: CLOSE-UP of MAN as skeleton in opera cape. A
MAN dressed as a skeleton in an opera cape gets out of his carriage which is led away.
[CUT to: CLOSE-UP of MAN as skeleton in opera cape, then CUT to: CLOSE-UP back view of
MAN] He walks towards the street and bumps right into a SHADOWY FIGURE which turns, also
dressed as a skeleton in an opera cape. [CUT to: CLOSE-UP of MAN and SHADOWY FIGURE seen
from side view, face to face] They look at each other nervously.)
ANDRE
M'sieur
Firmin?
FIRMIN
M'sieur
Andre?
(Each
raises his mask to the other. ANDRE has walked into FIRMIN. Relief and laughter. The set
off towards the …..MAIN ENTRANCE.)
FIRMIN
Dear
Andre what a splendid party!
ANDRE
The
prologue to a bright new year!
FIRMIN
Quite
a night! I'm impressed!
ANDRE
Well,
one does one's best . . .
(
[Have camera view follow them.] They are greeting GUEST as they go up the steps and take
champagne from a silver tray.)
(CUT
to: CLOSE-UP of ANDRE and FIRMIN)
ANDRE/FIRMIN
(raising their glasses.)
Here's
to us!
ANDRE
A
toast to all the city!
FIRMIN
Such a
pity that that Phantom isn’t here!
(CUT
to: back view of ANDRE and FIRMIN and have the camera follow them. We follow them as they walk into... THE MAIN FOYER
And we crane up to reveal the spectacular Opera Ball in full swing. This sequence is more
of a promenade than a dance, the GUESTS [in front of camera] reveling in their own
magnificence. For all this there is a strangely eerie aspect to the crowd, too many
PHANTOM LOOK-ALIKES and SKELETONS for comfort. There is general movement up and down the
central horseshoe staircase; a grandiose spectacle with the music. We would see the
masquerade at different angles, WIDESHOTS, and CLOSE-UPS.)
CHORUS
and CROWD
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!
Swish
and swirl... Fish and fowl... Gull and goat... Skull and scowl...
Flash
of green... Splash of brown... Ace of Hearts... Face of clown...
Faces
. . . Take your turn, take a ride on the merry-go-round . . . in an inhuman race . . .
Kurd
and king... Bird and beast... Ghoul and goose... Fool and priest...
Curl
of lip... Twirl of cape... Trace of rouge...Face of ape...
Faces
. . . Drink it in, drink it up, till you've drowned in the light . . . in the sound . . .
(Crowds
part away and we zoom in on CHRISTINE and RAOUL)
RAOUL/CHRISTINE
(in an almost whispery voice.)
But
who can name the face . . .?
Once
again, the masquerade is seen at different angles, WIDESHOTS, and CLOSE-UPS.)
ALL
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!
(We
end with a WIDESHOT of the CHORUS and the CROWD.)
(The
ENSEMBLE activity becomes background, as [camera pulls back to see] ANDRE, FIRMIN, MEG,
GIRY, PIANGI and CARLOTTA come to the fore, glasses in hand.)
GIRY
What a
night!
MEG
What a
crowd!
ANDRE
Makes
you glad!
FIRMIN
Makes
you proud!
All
the creme de la creme!
(They
have been joined by RAOUL and CHRISTINE. We can see CARLOTTA does not appreciate
CHRISTINE's costume.)
CARLOTTA
Watching
us watching them!
MEG/GlRY
And
all our fears are in the past!
ANDRE
Two
months...
PIANGI
Of
relief!
CARLOTTA
Of
delight!
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Of
Elysian peace!
MEG/GIRY
And we
can breathe at last!
(They
have arrived in the refurbished auditorium. A glorious new chandelier hangs over the empty
space.)
CARLOTTA
No
more notes!
PIANGI
No
more ghost!
GIRY
Here's
a health!
ANDRE
Here's
a toast: to a prosperous year!
FIRMIN
To the
new chandelier!
PIANGI/CARLOTTA
And
may its splendour never fade!
FIRMIN
Two
months!
GIRY
What a
joy!
MEG
What a
change!
FIRMIN/ANDRE
What a
blessed release!
ANDRE
And
what a masquerade!
(They
clink glasses and move off RAOUL and CHRISTINE [who come up to screen], however, have
remained to share a moment alone together. She is admiring a new acquisition: an
engagement ring from RAOUL, which she has attached to a gold chain around her neck.)
CHRISTINE
Think
of it! A secret engagement! Look - your future bride!
Just
think of it!
RAOUL
But
why is it secret? What have we to hide?
CHRISTINE
You
promised me...
RAOUL
Taking hold of the ring and holding it up to her face)
You
promised me..
CHRISTINE
No,
please don’t let them see . . .
RAOUL
Then
let me see. It's an engagement, not a crime!
Christine,
What are you afraid of?
CHRISTINE
Let's
not argue . . .
RAOUL
Let's
not argue . . .
(CHRISTINE
takes him by the arm to lead him out.)
CHRISTINE
Please
pretend . . .
RAOUL
I can
only hope I'll . . .
CHRISTINE
You
will . . .
BOTH
...understand
in time . . .
(CUT
to WIDESHOT of RAOUL and CHRISTINE with their backs to the camera.) (They arrive back in
the foyer to find the GUESTS in the midst of a vast waltz. CHRISTINE and RAOUL join the
dance which becomes increasingly intense. As she spins, we see her POV, flashes of
skull-like faces and masks similar to those of the PHANTOM. The camera swoops down and
over the GUEST, spins within them (LOUMA/STEADICAM) and around them. The GUESTS are
dancing up the horseshoe staircase into the upper foyers. CHRISTINE is dancing excitedly,
but she keeps on glimpsing the vision of the FEARFUL MASKS.
[NOTE:
To get an idea of how the masquerade would be seen from CHRISTINE’S POV here, think
of the dream sequence in “Labyrinth”, where Sarah dances with the Goblin King
and sees everyone in masks, eerily looking at her.] (She stops and leans on RAOUL's arm as
the GUESTS march majestically back down either side of the staircase, converging in the
center, and down through the main foyer. RAOUL and CHRISTINE remain upstairs. The movement
of the GUESTS is magnificent and a little eerie. Film in different angles here to make it
more eerie.)
ALL
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!
(But,
at the height of the activity, [move camera from CROWD to CLOSE-UP of MEG looking up] MEG
looks up and [CUT to: reflection seen from MEG’S POV, gradually closing in] suddenly
sees the terrifying reflection of the HUGE RED PHANTOM in the mirrored doors of the LOGE. [CUT
to: CLOSE-UP of MEG and CROWD] She SCREAMS. [CUT to: WIDESHOT of GROTESQUE FIGURE] A
GROTESQUE FIGURE suddenly appears on the upper balcony, dressed all in crimson, with a
death's head. The PHANTOM has come to the party. [CUT to: CLOSE-UP of CHRISTINE and RAOUL]
CHRISTINE and RAOUL, standing on the other end of the balcony, are mesmerized.) (Zoom in
from backs of CROWD, including CHRISTINE and RAOUL, to the PHANTOM.)
PHANTOM
Why so
silent, good messieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have
you missed me, good messieurs? I have written you an opera!
(He
takes from under his robe an enormous bound manuscript.)
Here I
bring the finished score - "Don Juan Triumphant" !
(Move
camera from the PHANTOM to ANDRE and FIRMIN in CROWD. He
throws the MANUSCRIPT to ANDRE.)
I
advise you to comply - my instructions should be clear -
Remember
there are worse things than a shattered chandelier . . .
(CUT
to: WIDESHOT of CROWD, PHANTOM, CHRISTINE, and RAOUL. (Magically, the lights dim,
isolating the PHANTOM and CHRISTINE. Spellbound, the GUESTS below watch as CHRISTINE and
the PHANTOM descent their respective staircases, united by their music, [FADE to: WIDESHOT
of the PHANTOM and CHRISTINE] moving ever closer towards each other until they [FADE to:
CLOSE-UP of the PHANTOM and CHRISTINE] arrive face to face on the mezzanine. The PHANTOM
reaches out, [CUT to: CLOSE-UP of chain, then move camera up quickly to CHRISTINE’S
shocked face and RAOUL then comes into shot] grasps the chain that holds the secret
engagement ring, and rips it from CHRISTINE's throat. RAOUL interposes. [CUT to: the
PHANTOM seen over RAOUL’S shoulder] The PHANTOM turns on him furiously.)
Her
chains are still mine - she will sing for me!
(There
is a FLASH AND A PUFF OF SMOKE. [CUT to: RAOUL seen from below, then CUT to the trap door
seen from RAOUL’S POV] The PHANTOM has disappeared down a trap door in the center of
the mezzanine. But RAOUL has seen the door in the smoke. In an instant, he leaps in after
the PHANTOM.)
