Beyond the Lake

The dummy of Christine sits crumpled on a large throne. The Phantom drags Christine roughly out of the boat. She frees herself and backs away as he stares blackly out front. Braving her terror, she addresses him fiercely.

Christine:
Have you gorged yourself at last, in your lust for blood?

No reply.

Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?

Phantom: (coldly)
That fate, which condemns me to wallow in blood
has also denied me the joys of the flesh…
this face—the infection which poisons our love…

He takes the bridal veil from the dummy, and moves slowly towards her.

This face, which earned a mother’s fear and loathing…
A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing…

He places the veil on her head.

Pity comes too late! Turn around and face your fate:
an eternity of this before your eyes!

They are almost touching. She looks calmly and coldly into his face.

Christine:
This haunted face holds no horror for me now…
It’s in your soul that the true distortion lies…

The Phantom suddenly senses Raoul’s presence. Behind the portcullis, Raoul climbs out of the water.

Phantom:
Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest!
(to Raoul)
Sir, this is indeed an unparalleled delight!
I had rather hoped that you would come.
And now my wish comes true—
you have truly made my night!

Raoul: (pleading, grasping the bars of the gate)
Free her! Do what you like, only free her!
Have you no pity?

Phantom: (to Christine, dryly)
Your lover makes a passionate plea!

Christine:
Please, Raoul, it’s useless…

Raoul:
I love her! Does that mean nothing?
I love her? Show some compassion…

Phantom: (snarling furiously at Raoul)
The world showed no compassion to me!

Raoul:
Christine… Christine…
(to Phantom)
Let me see her…

Phantom: (dryly)
Be my guest, sir…

He guestured, and the fence rises. Raoul enters and rushes to Christine.

Monsieur, I bid you welcome! Did you think that I would harm her? Why should I make her pay for the sins which are yours?

So saying, he takes the Punjab Lasso and before Raoul has a chance to move, catches him by the neck. The end of the rope, of which the Phantom has let go, remains magically suspended in mid-air. Raoul desperately tries to get the taut rope off his neck, with Christine helping him, but it doesn’t work.

(taunting)
Order your fine horses now! Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now—except perhaps Christine…

He turns to her.

Start a new life with me—buy his freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to his death!
This is the choice—
This is the point of no return!

Christine: (Now on the ground, turns to Phantom)
The tears I might have shed for your dark fate
grew cold and turned to tears of hate…

Raoul: (despairing)
Christine, forgive me, please forgive me…
I did it all for you, and all for nothing…

Christine: (looking at the Phantom, but to herself)
Farewell, my fallen idol and false friend…
One by one I’ve watched illusions shattered…

Phantom: (to Christine)
Too late—for turning back, too late
for prayers and useless pity…

Raoul: (to Christine)
Say you love him, and my life is over!

Phantom:
Past all hope of cries for help:
no point in fighting fighting—

Raoul:
…Either way you choose he has to win…

Phantom:
…For either way you choose you cannot win!
So do you end your days with me
or do you send him to his grave?

Raoul: (to Phantom)
Why make her lie to you to save me?

Christine:
Angel of Music…

Phantom:
Past the point of no return…

Raoul:
For pity’s sake, Christine, say no!

Christine:
…why this torment?

Phantom:
…the final threshold…

Raoul:
Don’t throw your life away for my sake…

Christine:
When will you see reason…?

Phantom:
His life is now the prize which you must earn!

Raoul:
I fought so hard to free you…

Christine:
Angel of Music…

Phantom:
You’ve passed the point of no return…

Christine:
…you decieved me—I gave my mind blindly…

Phantom: (to Christine with quiet fury—almost snarling at her)
You try my patience—make your choice!

He faces the other direction. She reflects for a moment, then with resolution moves slowly towards the Phantom.

Christine: (quietly at first, then with growing emotion)
Pitiful creature of darkness…
What kind of life have you known…?
God gave me courage to show you
you are not alone…

Now both are facing each other. She calmly takes his face and pulls it down to hers, kissing him long and full on the lips as Raoul watches in horror and wonder. As they parted, they both stare at each other in wonder for a brief moment.
The Phantom takes a lighted candle and holds it above Raoul’s head. A tense moment. But the suspended ropes suddenly falls harmlessly—the Phantom has burnt the thread by which the noose was held. Resigned, he addresses Raoul, as we hear the offstage voices of the approaching mob.

Mob:
Some:
Track down this murderer—he must be found!
Hunt out this animal, who runs to ground!
Too long he’s preyed on us—but now we know:
the Phantom of the Opera is there, deep down below…

Others:
Who is this monster, this murdering beast?
Revenge for Piangi! Revenge for Buquet!
This creature must never go free!

Phantom:
Take her—forget me—forget all of this…
Leave me alone—forget all you’ve seen…
Go now—don’t let them find you!
Take the boat—swear to me—never to tell…
the secret you know of the angel in hell…
Go…
Go now—go now and leave me!!

Raoul and Christine move off towards the boat. The Phantom looks mockingly at his mask. The musical box starts up magically, and he listens to it.

Masquerade… Paper faces on parade…
Masquerade… Hide your face,
so the world will never find you…

Christine re-enters and walks slowly towards him. She takes off her ring and gives it to the Phantom. Before she could leave, he gently takes hold of her hands.

Phantom:
Christine, I love you…

She looks at him with sadness a moment more and then hurries off. The Phantom puts the ring on his finger and goes over to Christine’s veil, grasping the delicate material as if holding onto it for dear life. He quietly sobs and utters ‘I love you’ over and over again. In the distance, we see Christine and Raoul moving off in the boat.

Christine: (to Raoul)
Say you’ll share with me one love, one lifetime…
say the word and I will follow you…

Raoul:
Share each day with me…

Christine:
…each night…

Both:
…each morning…

Phantom: (looking after her)
You alone can make my song take flight—
it’s over now, the music of the night…!

The Phantom walks slowly towards the throne. He takes his place on it, sitting on his cloak.
The mob including Meg, appears above, climbing down the portcullis. As the Mov enters the lair, the Phantom wraps his cloak around himself and disappears. All that he has left was his mask.

Meg crosses to the throne and picks up his mask in her small hand.

The End

* Next… *