The Man Behind The Mask (Complete)

The Performance

One Week Later
"Christine darling are you ready?"
"Almost."
Christine said finishing her hair for her performance in Don Juan tonight.
Christine walked out of her dressing room with her pink dress on. Erik was wearing one of his usual suits and of course his mask.
"You look beautiful Christine."
"And you look as handsome as ever."
"Shall we go?"
"Yes."
Christine said taking his arm and walking backstage.
"Good luck my angel. I will be in box 5 tonight."
Erik said giving her a kiss as the overture started. Christine let go of Erik and went to the wings.

"Here the sire may serve the dam
Here the master takes his meat!
Here the sacrificial lamb
Utters one despairing bleat!
Poor young maiden! For the thrill
On your tongue of stolen sweets
You will have to pay the bill
Tangled in the winding sheets!
Serve the meal and serve the maid!
Serve the master so that, when
Tables, plans and maids are laid
Don Juan triumphs once again!"

"Passarino, faithful friend
Once again, recite the plan
Your young guest believes I'm you
I, the master; you, the man
When you met, you wore my cloak
She could not have seen your face
She believes she dines with me
In her master's borrowed place!
Furtively, we'll scoff and quaff
Stealing what, in truth, is mine
When it's late and modesty
Starts to mellow, with the wine
You come home! I use your voice
Slam the door like crack of doom!
I shall say, "Come, hide with me!
Where, oh, where? Of course—my room!"
Poor thing hasn't got a chance!
Here's my hat, my cloak and sword
Conquest is assured
If I do not forget myself and laugh"

"No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy!
No dreams within her heart but dreams of love!"

"Master?
Passarino—go away!
For the trap is set and waits for its prey."

"You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge
In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent
Silent
I have brought you
That our passions may fuse and merge
In your mind, you've already succumbed to me
Dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me
Now you are here with me
No second thoughts, you've decided
Decided"

"Past the point
Of no return -
No backward glances:
The games we've played
Till now are at
An end...
Past all thought
Of "if" or "when" -
No use resisting:
Abandon thought
And let the dream
Descend...
What raging fire
Shall flood the soul?
Which rich desire
Unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction
Lies before
Us...?
Past the point
Of no return,
The final threshold -
What warm,
Unspoken secrets
Will we learn?
Beyond the point
Of no return...
You have brought me
To that moment
Where words run dry,
To that moment
Where speech
Disappears
Into silence,
Silence...
I have come here,
Hardly knowing
The reason why...
In my mind,
I've already
Imagined our
Bodies entwining,
Defenceless and silent -
And now I am
Here with you:
No second thoughts,
I've decided,
Decided...
Past the point
Of no return -
No going back now:
Our passion-play
Has now, at last
Begun...
Past all thought
Of right or wrong -
One final question:
How long should we
Two wait, before
We're one...?
When will the blood
Begin to race,
The sleeping bud
Burst into bloom?
When will the flames,
At last consume
Us...?
Past the point
Of no return,
The final threshold -
The bridge
Is crossed, so stand
And watch it burn...
We've passed the point
Of no return..."

Christine removed the black Cloke expecting to see Piangi but instead came face to face with Raoul. She quickly stepped back and turned to Erik in box 5. He looked down on the stage and had some of the security members go to the wings.

"Say you'll share with
Me one
Love, one lifetime...
Lead me, save me
From my solitude...
Say you want me
With you,
Here beside you...
Anywhere you go
Let me go too -
Christine,
That's all I ask of you."

"NO! Security get that man!"
"Never! Say goodbye to your previous angel!"
Raoul said grabbing Christine and running out of the Opera House.