ACT TWO

THE ENTR'ACTE OVERTURE BEGINS AS THE AUDIENCE REGAIN
THEIR SEATS.

IMAGE OF THE MASK ON THE SCREEN

FADE TO:

EXT. SKY/OPERA HOUSE. NIGHT. (THREE MONTHS LATER)

A spectacular explosion of fireworks in the starry sky.  We descend to
reveal (MATTE) a glittering opera house.  It is the night of the Gala
Masked Ball.  (ALW Note: Possible brass fanfare version of "Masquerade"
verse).

EXT. OPERA HOUSE. NIGHT. (CONTINUOUS)

Watched by a LARGE CROWD OF ONLOOKERS held back by
GENDARMES, 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).  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. 

EXT. OPERA HOUSE/STABLE YARD. NIGHT. (CONTINUOUS)

A MAN dressed as a skeleton in an opera cape gets out of his carriage
which is led away.  He walks towards the street and bumps right into a
SHADOWY FIGURE which turns, also dressed as a skeleton in an
opera cape.  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 …..

EXT. OPERA HOUSE/STREET/MAIN ENTRANCE. NIGHT. (CONTINUOUS)

FIRMIN

DEAR ANDRE
WHAT A SPLENDID PARTY!

ANDRE

A PROLOGUE
TO A BRIGHT NEW YEAR!

FIRMIN

QUITE A NIGHT!
I'M IMPRESSED!

ANDRE

WELL, ON DOES
ONE'S BEST…..

INT. OPERA HOUSE/ENTRANCE. NIGHT. (CONTINUOUS)

They are greeting GUEST as they go up the steps and take champagne
from a silver tray.

BOTH
(Raising their glasses)

HERE'S TO US!

ANDRE

THE TOAST OF
ALL THE CITY!

FIRMIN

SUCH A PITY THAT THE
PHANTOM CAN'T BE THERE!

We follow them as they walk into..

INT. OPERA HOUSE/MAIN FOYER/STAIRCASE. NIGHT. (CONTINUOUS)

..and CRANE up to reveal the spectacular Opera Ball in full swing. 
This sequence is more of a promenade than a dance, the GUESTS
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. 
(ALW's note: Cut music as on record).

CHORUS

MASQUERADE!
ACE OF HEARTS
FACE OF CLOWN

We see FIRMIN and ANDRE toasting each other.

CHORUS

FACES..
IN THE LIGHT
IN THE SOUND

RAOUL and CHRISTINE have arrived in the main foyer. 
A PHANTOM LOOKALIKE whizzes past.

RAOUL & CHRISTINE

BUT WHO CAN NAME THE FACE..?

ALL

MASQUERADE!
GRINNING YELLOWS.........

.......BUT A FACE WILL
STILL PURSUE YOU!

We pick up ANDRE, FIRMIN, MEG, MME GIRY, PIANGI and
CARLOTTA glasses in hand.

CARLOTTA

WHAT A NIGHT!

PIANGI

WHAT A CROWD!

ANDRE

MAKES YOU GLAD!

FIRMIN

MAKES YOU PROUD!
ALL THE CRÈME
DE LA CRÈME

They have been joined by RAOUL and CHRISTINE. 
We can see CARLOTTA does not appreciate
CHRISTINE's costume.

CARLOTTA

..WATCHING US WATCHING THEM!

RAOUL (To CHRISTINE)

AND OUR FEARS
ARE IN THE PAST!

ANDRE is leading them through the foyer towards
the auditorium.

ANDRE

THREE MONTHS.ETC.

INT. OPERA HOUSE/AUDITORIUM. NIGHT. (CONTINUOUS)

They have arrived in the refurbished auditorium.  A glorious
new chandelier hangs over the empty space.

RAOUL

HERE'S A HEALTH!..ETC

FIRMIN & ANDRE

WHAT A BLESSED RELEASE!

ANDRE is leading them back into the foyer:

ANDRE

AND WHAT A MASQUERADE!

RAOUL and CHRISTINE, however, have remained to share a
moment alone together.  CHRISTINE is admiring a new acquisition:
an engagement ring form RAOUL, which she has attached to a gold
chain around her neck.

CHRISTINE

THINK OF IT!
A SECRET ENGAGEMENT

RAOUL

BUT WHY IS IT SECRET.

CHRISTINE

(Nervously)
PLEASE LET'S NOT FIGHT

RAOUL

(Taking hold of the ring and holding
it up to her face)
CHRISTINE, YOU'RE FREE

CHRISTINE

UNTIL THE TIME IS RIGHT

RAOUL

WHEN WILL THAT BE?.

CHRISTINE

LET'S NOT ARGUE.

RAOUL

LET'S NOT ARGUE

CHRISTINE takes him by the arm to lead him out.

CHRISTINE

PLEASE PRETEND

RAOUL

IN CAN ONLY HOPE I'LL

CHRISTINE

YOU WILL

BOTH

UNDERSTAND IN TIME.

INT. FOYER/STAIRCASE. NIGHT. (CONTINUOUS)

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.  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. 
he 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.

ALL

MASQUERADE!
PAPER FACES ON PARADE!..

.LET THE SPECTACLE
ASTOUND YOU!

But, at the height of the activity, MEG looks up and suddenly sees the
terrifying reflection of the HUGE RED PHANTOM in the mirrored doors
of the LOGE.   She SCREAMS.  A GROTESQUE FIGURE suddenly
appears on the upper balcony, ten feet tall, dressed all in crimson, with a
death's head.  The PHANTOM has come to the party.  CHRISTINE
and RAOUL, standing on the other end of the balcony, are mesmerized.

PHANTOM

WHY SO SILENT, GOOD MESSIEURS? 
DID YOU THINK THAT I HAD LEFT YOU FOR GOOD?
HAVE YOU MISSED MY, GOOD MESSIEURS?
I HAVE WRITTEN YOU AN OPERA!

He brandishes an enormous bound manuscript.

PHANTOM

HERE I BRING THE FINISHED SCORE -
"DON JUAN TRIUMPHANT"!

And he throws it to ANDRE down below.

PHANTOM

I ADVISE YOU TO COMPLY -
MY INSTRUCTIONS
SHOULD BE CLEAR -
REMEMBER, THERE ARE WORSE THINGS
THAN A SHATTERED CHANDELIER.

(Note: new last two lines needed)

(ALW's note:  new music, a further anticipation of  "POINT OF NO
RETURN") 

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, moving ever closer towards each other until they arrive face to face
on the mezzanine.  The PHANTOM reaches out, grasps the chain that holds
the secret engagement ring, and rips it from CHRISTINE's throat.  RAOUL
interposes.  The PHANTOM turns on him furiously.

PHANTOM

HER CHAINS ARE STILL MINE -
SHE BELONGS TO ME!

There is a FLASH AND A PUFF OF SMOKE.  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. 

INT. TRAP. NIGHT. (CONTINUOUS)

The trap door snaps shut above him.  RAOUL has landed in a box, a
painted magic box and the walls are closing in on him.  Just when it
seems the may crush him, they fall away.  RAOUL is in almost total
darkness in a BRILLIANT AND FIENDISHLY DESIGNED MAZE.

INT. MAZE. NIGHT. (CONTINUOUS)

We can make out a DEMONIC LABYRINTH.  RAOUL catches a
glimpse of a red cloak.  He races after it, only to face A MIRROR. 
Shafts of light seep through cracks in the brickwork of the corridor.  In
each of these, RAOUL sees the red cloak whip through.  RAOUL is
catching up.  ANOTHER MIRROR.  He turns a corner, the PHANTOM
is standing in front of him.  RAOUL reaches him and touches the
PHANTOM's shoulder.  The PHANTOM swivels.  His limbs whirr like
a machine.  RAOUL is staring at the AUTOMAT OF THE RED DEATH
PHANTOM.  He is unaware, however, that the noose of the Punjab Lasso
is now hovering behind him.  A hand reaches out and pulls RAOUL violently
out of the way.  The lasso whips harmlessly through the empty air.  RAOUL
turns to see who has saved him.  MME GIRY.