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FIRMIN: |
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"Mystery after gala night" |
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It says "Mystery of soprano's flight" |
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"Mystified", baffled Sûreté say |
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"We are mystified, we suspect foul play" |
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Bad news on soprano scene |
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First Carlotta, now Christine |
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Still, at least the seats get sold |
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Gossip's worth its weight in gold |
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What a way to run a business |
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Spare me these unending trials |
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Half your cast disappears but the crowd still cheers |
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Opera! |
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To hell with Gluck and Handel |
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It's a scandal that'll pack them in the aisles! |
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ANDRE: |
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Damnable! |
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Will they all walk out? |
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This is damnable! |
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FIRMIN: |
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Andre, please don't shout |
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It's publicity, and the take is vast |
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Free publicity |
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ANDRE: |
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But we have no cast! |
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FIRMIN: |
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But Andre, have you seen the queue? |
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Oh, it seems as though you've got one, too |
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ANDRE: |
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"Dear Andre, what a charming gala |
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Christine enjoyed a great success |
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We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left |
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Otherwise, the chorus was entrancing |
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But the dancing was a lamentable mess" |
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FIRMIN: |
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"Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder |
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My salary has not been paid |
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Send it care of the Ghost by return of post, P.T.O. |
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No one likes a debtor |
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So it's better if my orders are obeyed" |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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Who would have the gall to send this? |
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Someone with a puerile brain |
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These are both signed "O.G." |
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ANDRE: |
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Who the hell is he? |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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Opera Ghost! |
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ANDRE: |
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It's really not amusing |
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FIRMIN: |
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He's abusing our position |
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ANDRE: |
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In addition, he wants money |
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FIRMIN: |
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He's a funny sort of spectre |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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To expect a large retainer |
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Nothing plainer, he is clearly quite insane |
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RAOUL: |
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Where is she? |
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ANDRE: |
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You mean Carlotta? |
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RAOUL: |
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I mean Miss Daae. Where is she? |
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FIRMIN: |
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Well, how should we know? |
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RAOUL |
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I want an answer |
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I take it that you sent me this note? |
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FIRMIN: |
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What's all this nonsense? |
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ANDRE: |
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Of course not! |
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FIRMIN: |
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Don't look at us |
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RAOUL: |
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She's not with you, then? |
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ANDRE: |
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Of course not! |
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FIRMIN: |
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We're in the dark |
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RAOUL: |
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Monsieur, don't argue |
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Isn't this the letter you wrote? |
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FIRMIN: |
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And what is it that we're meant to have wrote? |
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Written |
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ANDRE: |
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"Do not fear for Miss Daae |
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The Angel of Music has her under his wing |
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Make no attempt to see her again" |
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RAOUL: |
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If you didn't write it, who did? |
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CARLOTTA: |
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Where is he? |
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ANDRE: |
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Ah, welcome back! |
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CARLOTTA: |
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Your precious patron |
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Where is he? |
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RAOUL: |
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What is it now? |
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CARLOTTA: |
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I have your letter |
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A letter which I rather resent |
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ANDRE: |
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And did you send it? |
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RAOUL: |
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Of course not! |
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FIRMIN: |
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As if he would! |
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CARLOTTA: |
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You didn't send it? |
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RAOUL |
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Of course not! |
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ANDRE: |
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What's going on? |
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CARLOTTA: |
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You dare to tell me |
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That this is not the letter you sent? |
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RAOUL: |
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And what is it |
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That I'm meant to have sent? |
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"Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered |
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Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight |
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Be prepared for a great misfortune |
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Should you attempt to take her place" |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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Far too many notes for my taste |
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And most of them about Christine |
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All we've heard since we came is Miss Daae's name |
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GIRY: |
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Miss Daae has returned |
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ANDRE: |
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I trust her midnight oil |
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Is well and truly burned? |
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FIRMIN: |
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Where precisely is she now? |
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GIRY: |
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I thought it best if she went home |
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MEG: |
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She needed rest |
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RAOUL: |
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May I see her? |
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GIRY: |
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No, monsieur, she will see no one |
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CARLOTTA: |
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Will she sing? |
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Will she sing? |
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GIRY: |
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Here, I have a note |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN/RAOUL/CARLOTTA: |
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Let me see it! |
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FIRMIN: |
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Please! |
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" |
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Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theater is be to run. You have not followed my instructions. |
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" |
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FIRMIN/THE PHANTOM: |
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" |
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I shall give you one last chance... |
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" |
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THE PHANTOM: |
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Christine Daae has returned to you |
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And I am anxious her career should progress |
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In the new production of "Il Muto" |
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You will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy |
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And put Miss Daae in the role of countess |
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The role which Miss Daae plays |
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Calls for charm and appeal |
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The role of the pageboy is silent |
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Which makes my casting in a word, ideal |
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(I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.) |
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FIRMIN: |
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" |
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I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant. O.G. |
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" |
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CARLOTTA: |
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Christine! |
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FIRMIN: |
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Whatever next? |
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CARLOTTA: |
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It's all a ploy to help Christine |
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FIRMIN: |
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This is insane |
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CARLOTTA: |
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I know who sent this |
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The Vicomte, her lover |
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RAOUL: |
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(scoffing) |
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Indeed! |
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Can you believe this? |
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ANDRE: |
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Signora! |
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This is a joke |
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This changes nothing |
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FIRMIN: |
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Signora! You are our star! |
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ANDRE: |
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And always will be! |
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FIRMIN: |
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Signora, the man is mad! |
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ANDRE: |
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We don't take orders |
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FIRMIN: |
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Miss Daae will be playing the pageboy! |
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The silent role |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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Carlotta will be playing the lead! |
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CARLOTTA: |
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It's useless trying to appease me |
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You're only saying this to please me |
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ANDRE: |
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Your public needs you! |
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FIRMIN: |
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We need you, too! |
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CARLOTTA: |
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(unassuaged) Would you not |
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rather have your |
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precious little |
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ingenue? |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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Signora, no! |
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the world wants you! |
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(The MANAGERS adopt their most persuasive attitudes) |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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Prima donna |
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first lady of the stage! |
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Your devotees |
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are on their knees |
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to implore you ! |
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ANDRE: |
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Can you bow out |
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when they're shouting |
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your name? |
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FIRMIN: |
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Think of how they all |
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adore you! |
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BOTH: |
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Prima donna, |
|
enchant us once again! |
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ANDRE: |
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Think of your muse... |
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FIRMIN: |
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And of the queues |
|
round the theatre! |
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BOTH: |
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Can you deny us the triumph |
|
in store? |
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Sing, prima donna, once more! |
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(CARLOTTA registers her acceptance as the MANAGERS continue to cajole and the OTHERS reflect variously on the situation) |
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RAOUL: |
|
Christine spoke of an angel... |
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CARLOTTA: |
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(to herself, in triumph) |
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Prima donna |
|
your song shall live again! |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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(to CARLOTTA) |
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Think of your public! |
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CARLOTTA: |
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You took a snub |
|
but there's a public |
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who needs you! |
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GIRY: |
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(referring to CHRISTINE) |
|
She has heard the voice |
|
of the angel of music... |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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(to CARLOTTA) |
|
Those who hear your voice |
|
liken you to an angel! |
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CARLOTTA: |
|
Think of their cry |
|
of undying |
|
support ! |
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RAOUL: |
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Is this her angel of music...? |
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ANDRE: |
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(to FIRMlN) |
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We get our opera... |
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FIRMIN: |
|
(to ANDRE) |
|
She gets her limelight! |
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CARLOTTA: |
|
Follow where the limelight |
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leads you! |
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MEG: |
|
Is this ghost |
|
an angel or a madman...? |
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RAOUL: |
|
Angel or madman...? |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
|
(aside) Leading ladies are a trial! |
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GIRY: |
|
Heaven help you, |
|
those who doubt... |
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CARLOTTA: |
|
You'll sing again, |
|
and to unending |
|
ovation! |
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RAOUL: |
|
Orders! Warnings! |
|
Lunatic demands! |
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GIRY: |
|
This miscasting |
|
will invite damnation... |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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Tears...oaths... |
|
Iunatic demands |
|
are regular occurrences! |
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MEG: |
|
Bliss or damnation? |
|
Which has claimed her...? |
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CARLOTTA: |
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Think how you'll shine |
|
in that final encore! |
|
Sing, prima donna, |
|
once more! |
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GIRY: |
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Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings! |
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RAOUL: |
|
Surely, for her sake... |
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MEG: |
|
Surely he'll strike back... |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
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Surely there'll be further scenes - |
|
worse than this! |
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GIRY: |
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Think, before |
|
these demands are rejected! |
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RAOUL: |
|
...I must see |
|
these demands are rejected! |
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MEG: |
|
...if his threats |
|
and demands are rejected! |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
|
Who'd believe a diva |
|
happy to relieve a chorus girl, |
|
who's gone and slept with the patron? |
|
Raoul and the soubrette, |
|
entwined in love's duet! |
|
Although he may demur, |
|
he must have been with her! |
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MEG/RAOUL: |
|
Christine must be protected! |
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CARLOTTA: |
|
O, fortunata! |
|
Non ancor |
|
abbandonata! |
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ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
|
You'd never get away |
|
with all this in a play, |
|
but if it's loudly sung |
|
and in a foreign tongue |
|
it's just the sort of story |
|
audiences adore, |
|
in fact a perfect opera! |
|
RAOUL: |
|
His game is over! |
|
GIRY: |
|
This is a game |
|
you cannot hope to win! |
|
RAOUL: |
|
And in Box Five |
|
a new game will begin... |
|
GIRY: |
|
For, if his curse is on this opera... |
|
MEG: |
|
But if his curse is on this opera... |
|
ANDRE/FIRMIN: |
|
Prima donna |
|
the world is at your feet! |
|
A nation waits, |
|
and how it hates |
|
to be cheated! |
|
CARLOTTA: |
|
The stress that falls upon a |
|
famous prima donna! |
|
Terrible diseases, |
|
coughs and colds and sneezes! |
|
Still, the dryest throat |
|
will reach the highest note, |
|
in search of perfect |
|
opera! |
|
MEG/GIRY: |
|
...then I fear the outcome... |
|
RAOUL: |
|
Christine plays the Pageboy, |
|
Carlotta plays the Countess... |
|
GIRY: |
|
...should you dare to... |
|
MEG: |
|
...when you once again... |
|
ALL: |
|
Light up the stage |
|
with that age old |
|
rapport! |
|
Sing, prima donna, |
|
once more! |
|
PHANTOM'S VOICE: |
|
So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not |
|
met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur! |
|
ALL: |
|
Once more! |
