Scene 3
THE MANAGERS ' OFFICE
 
(The PHANTOM'S score lies open on the desk.
ANDRE is impatiently flicking through it)
 
ANDRE
Ludicrous!
Have you seen the score?
 
FIRMIN (entering)
Simply ludicrous!
 
ANDRE
It's the final straw!
 
FIRMIN
This is lunacy!
Well, you know my views . . .
 
ANDRE
Utter lunacy!
 
FIRMIN
But we daren't refuse . . .
 
ANDRE (groans)
Not another
chandelier . . .
 
FIRMIN
Look, my friend, what
we have here . . .
 
(He has two notes from the PHANTOM, one of which he 
hands to ANDRE, who opens it and reads):
 
ANDRE
"Dear Andre,
Re my orchestrations:
We need another first bassoon.
Get a player with tone -
and that third trombone
has to go!
The man could not be deafer,
so please preferably one
who plays in tune!"
 
FIRMIN (reading his letter)
"Dear Firmin,
vis a vis my opera:
some chorus-members must be sacked.
If you could, find out which
has a sense of pitch -
wisely, though,
I've managed to assign a
rather minor role to those
who cannot act! "
 
(They are interrupted by the arrival of CARLOTTA and 
PIANGI both furiously brandishing similar notes)
 
CARLOTTA
Outrage!
 
FIRMIN
What is it now?
 
CARLOTTA
This whole affair is
an outrage!
 
FIRMIN
Signora, please . . .
 
ANDRE
Now what's the matter?
 
CARLOTTA
Have you seen
the size of my part?
 
ANDRE
Signora, listen . . .
 
PIANGI
It's an insult!
 
FIRMIN
Not you as well!
 
PIANGI
Just look at this -
it's an insult!
 
FIRMIN
Please, understand . . .
 
ANDRE
Signor! Signora!
 
CARLOTTA
The things I have
to do for my art!
 
PIANGI (stabbing a finger at the open score)
If you .an call
this gibberish "art" !
 
(RAOUL and CHRISTINE enter: CARLOTTA bristles)
 
CARLOTTA (dryly)
Ah! Here's our little flower!
 
FIRMIN
Ah Miss Daae
quite the lady
of the hour!
 
ANDRE (explaining)
You have
secured the largest role
in this "Don Juan".
 
CARLOTTA (half to herself)
Christine Daae?
She doesn't have
the voice!
 
FIRMIN (hearing this, to CARLOTTA)
Signora, please!
 
RAOUL (to the MANAGERS)
Then I take it
you're agreeing.
 
CARLOTTA (aside)
She's behind this . . .
 
ANDRE
It appears we have
no choice.
 
CARLOTTA (unable to contain herself any longer,
points accusingly)
She's the one
behind this!
Christine Daae!
 
CHRISTINE (who has been silent till now, incensed at 
this)
How dare you!
 
CARLOTTA
I'm not a fool!
 
CHRISTINE
You evil woman!
How dare you!
 
CARLOTTA
You think I'm blind?
 
CHRISTINE
This isn't my fault!
I don't want any
part in this plot!
 
FIRMIN
Miss Daae, surely . . .
 
ANDRE
But why not?
 
PIANGI (baffled, to CARLOTTA)
What does she say?
 
FIRMIN (reasonably)
It's your decision -
 
(Suddenly rounding on her)
 
But why not?
 
CARLOTTA (to PIANGI)
She's backing out!
 
ANDRE
You have a duty!
 
CHRISTINE
I cannot sing it,
duty or not!
 
RAOUL (comforting)
Christine . . .
Christine . . .
You don't have to . . .
they can't make you . . .
 
(MEG and GlRY arrive, the latter bearing another note 
from the PHANTOM)
 
GIRY
Please, monsieur:
another note.
 
(The MANAGERS gesture: "read it".  As she reads, ALL 
react variously, as they are singled out)
 
GIRY
"Fondest greetings
to you all !
A few instructions
just before
rehearsal starts:
Carlotta must be
taught to act . . . ,"
 
(The PHANTOM'S voice gradually takes over  
from her)
 
PHANTOM'S VOICE
. . . not her normal trick
of strutting round the stage.
Our Don Juan must
lose some weight -
it's not healthy in
a man of Piangi's age.
And my managers
must learn
that their place is in
an office, not the arts.
 
As for Miss Christine Daae . . .
No doubt she'll
do her best - it's
true her voice is
good. She knows, though,
should she wish to excel
she has much still
to learn, if pride will
let her
return to me, her
teacher,
her teacher . . .
 
Your obedient friend . . .
(The PHANTOM'S voice fades out and GIRY takes over)
 
GIRY
". . . and Angel . . ."