|
Twisted Every Way
|
(CHRISTINE turns away unhappily)
|
CHRISTINE
|
Twisted every way,
|
what answer can I give?
|
Am I to risk my life,
|
to win the chance to live?
|
Can I betray the man
|
who once inspired my voice?
|
Do I become his prey?
|
Do I have any choice?
|
He kills without a thought,
|
he murders all that's good . . .
|
I know I can't refuse
|
and yet, I wish I could . . .
|
Oh God - if I agree,
|
what horrors wait for me
|
in this, the Phantom's opera . . .?
|
RAOUL (to CHRISTINE, very tenderly)
|
Christine, Christine,
|
don't think that I don't care -
|
but every hope
|
and every prayer
|
rests on you now . . .
|
(CHRISTINE, overcome by her conflicting emotions
|
turns away and hurries out. RAOUL strides forward and
|
addresses an imaginary PHANTOM)
|
RAOUL
|
So, it is to be war between us! But this time, clever
|
friend, the disaster will be yours!
|
(As lights fade, ATTENDANTS stretch a red, velvet rope
|
across the downstage area. OTHERS bring on gilt chairs.
|
CARLOTTA PIANGI and GIRY move downstage to take
|
their places for the next scene)
|
A REHEARSAL FOR DON JUAN TRIUMPHANT
|
(REYER supervises the learning of the new piece from
|
the piano. Present are PIANGI, CHRISTINE,
|
CARLOTTA, GlRY and CHORUS)
|
CHORUS
|
Hide our sword now wounded knight!
|
Your vainglorious gasconnade
|
brought you to your final fight
|
for your pride, high price you've paid!
|
CHRISTINE
|
Silken couch and hay-filled barn
|
both have been his battlefield.
|
PIANGI (wrong)
|
Those who tangle with Don Juan . . .
|
REYER (stopping him)
|
No, no, no! ChorusQrest, please.
|
Don Juan, Signor Piangi - here is the phrase.
|
(He demonstrates it)
|
"Those who tangle with Don Juan . . ."
|
If you please?
|
PIANGI (still wrong)
|
Those who tangle with Don Juan . . .
|
REYER
|
No, no. Nearly - but no.
|
"Those who tan, tan, tan . . ."
|
PIANGI (still wrong)
|
Those who tangle with Don Juan . . .
|
CARLOTTA (to the OTHERS)
|
His way is better. At least he make it sound like
|
music!
|
GIRY (to CARLOTTA)
|
Signora - would you speak that way in the
|
presence of the composer?
|
CARLOTTA (deaf to the implications of this remark)
|
The composer is not here. And if he were here, I
|
would . . .
|
GIRY (cutting in, ominous)
|
Are you certain of that, Signora . . .?
|
REYER
|
So, once again - after seven.
|
(He gives the note and counts in)
|
Five, six, seven . . .
|
PIANGI (wrong again)
|
Those who tangle with Don Juan . . .
|
(Gradually EVERYONE starts either to talk or to
|
practice the phrase simultaneously)
|
CARLOTTA
|
Ah, piu non posso! What does it matter what notes
|
we sing?
|
GIRY
|
Have patience, Signora.
|
CARLOTTA
|
No-one will know if it is right or if it is wrong.
|
No-one will care if it is right, or if it is wrong.
|
CARLOTTA (mocking)
|
Those who tangle
|
with Don Juan!
|
PIANGI (trying again)
|
Those who tan . . . tan . . .
|
(to CHRISTINE)
|
Is right?
|
CHRISTINE (to PIANGI)
|
Not quite, Signor:
|
Those who tan . . . tan . . .
|
REYER (attempting lo restore order)
|
Ladies . . . Signor Piangi . . . if you please . . .
|
(REYER thumps the piano keys, then leaves the piano,
|
and attempts to attract attention using signals. Al the
|
height of the mayhem, the piano suddenly begins to
|
demonstrate the music unaided. It plays with great force
|
and rhythm. ALL fall silent and freeze then suddenly start
|
to sing the piece robotically and accurately. As they
|
continue to sing, CHRISTINE moves away from the
|
group.)
|
ALL EXCEPT CHRISTINE
|
Poor young maiden! For the thrill
|
on your tongue of stolen sweets
|
you will have to pay the bill -
|
tangled in the winding sheets!
|
(As the ENSEMBLE becomes background, CHRISTINE,
|
transfixed, sings independently):
|
CHRISTINE
|
In sleep
|
he sang to me,
|
in dreams
|
he came . . .
|
that voice
|
which calls to me
|
and speaks
|
my name . . .
|
(The scene begins to change. Trance-like, CHRISTINE
|
moves slowly upstage. We hear the distant sound of
|
bells)
|
Little Lotte
|
thought of everything and nothing . . .
|
Her Father promised her
|
that he would send her the Angel of Music . . .
|
Her father promised her . . .
|
Her father promised her . . .
|
|
|
|
-----------------
|
Twisted Every Way
|
Phantom Of The Opera |