Inside My Mind: The Phantom of the Opera as told by Miss Christine Daae

Chapter 10: From Prima Donna to Page Boy

"Ah welcome back!" Andre greets Carlotta, who sounds like she just got the worst news of her life. "Your precious patron, where is he?" She is clearly out to get an answer. "What is it now?" Raoul asks, not amused in the slightest. "I have your letter, a letter which I rather resent". What has the Phantom done now? "Did you send it?" Firmin asks Raoul. "As if he would" Andre chimes in. "Of course not!" Raoul replies, clearly shocked that they would accuse him. "You didn't send it?" Carlotta and Piangi ask. Again, now just annoyed, Raoul replies "Of course not".

"You dare to tell me, that this not the letter you sent?" Carlotta sounds so sure that it was Raoul who sent the letter. She will never learn. "And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?" Raoul asks with a bit of sass in his voice. He takes the note and Carlotta gasps. Raoul reads "Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take her place." Oh please listen to the Phantom and cast me as the countess!

The managers, who are clearly not impressed by this charade, suddenly seem to have a revelation. They seem to be speaking only to each other. "Far too many notes for my taste, and most of them about Christine. All we've heard since we've came is Miss Daae's name". *SMACK!* Madame Giry's cane hits the floor. She announces that "Miss Daae has returned". Sarcastically, Firmin says "In which case I think our meeting is ADJOURNED". "Where precisely is she now?" Andre asks. "I thought it best, that she went home", Madame Giry responds. Meg chimes in "She needed rest". Boy did she hit that nail on the head. I was exhausted after last night.

"May I see her?" Raoul asks. I would love to see him, but Madame Giry shoots him down saying "No Monsieur, she will see no one." Carlotta and Piangi jump on that comment and ask with anticipation "Will she sing, will she sing?" "Here, I have a note" Madame Giry says. Like students waiting for exam results, Raoul, Andre, Carlotta and Piangi all respond "Let me see it". I laugh when Firmin belts out a loud "PLEASE" and takes the note from Madame Giry. He opens it, scans it over and then begins to read.

"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most AMIABLE NATURE, detailing how MY theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions...." As he continues, I hear the Phantom's voice take over, sending chills down my spine. "I shall give you one last chance. Christine Daae has returned to you, and I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of Il Muto, you will therefore cast Carlotta as the page boy, and put Miss Daae in the role of Countess." Oh I hope they listen to him. His voice continues. "The role which Miss Daae plays call for charm and appeal. The role of the page boy is silent which makes my casting in a word, ideal". He's got that right.

He concludes "I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me." The Phantom's voice fades and I can hear Firmin say, "Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain gentlemen, your obedient servant. O.G." There is silence before Meg chimes in "Christine, Christine." "CHRISTINE!" Carlotta shrieks. "Whatever next?" Firmin asks. "It's all a ploy to help CHRISTINE!" How dare she say that? She's the one who walked out. "This is insane" Firmin comments. "I know who sent this, the Vicomte her lover" Carlotta says. "Indeed", Raoul replies sarcastically, "Can you believe this?"

Andre, taking Carlotta's side, approaches her and says "Signora, this changes nothing. Signora" "You are our star!" Firmin adds. Pffft, sure Firmin, remember, she walked out! "And always will be", Andre says. "Signora, the man is mad", he assures her. No he isn't, he just wants what's best for the opera house. "We don't take orders". Then Firmin says the eleven words I didn't want to hear. "Miss Daae will be playing the Page Boy, the SILENT ROLE".