<br>
THE STAGE OF THE PARIS OPERA, 1905<br>
<br>
(The contents of the opera house is being auctioned off. <br>
An AUCTIONEER, PORTERS, BIDDERS, <br>
and RAOUL, seventy now, but still bright of eye.<br>
The action commences with a blow from the AUCTlONEER's gavel)<br>
<br>
AUCTIONEER<br>
<br>
(spoken) Sold. Your number, sir? Thank you.<br>
<br>
(spoken) Lot 663, then, ladies and gentlemen: <br>
a poster for this house's production of "Hannibal" by Chalumeau.<br>
<br>
PORTER<br>
<br>
(spoken) Showing here.<br>
<br>
AUCTIONEER<br>
<br>
(spoken) Do I have ten francs? Five then. Five I am bid. <br>
Six, seven. Against you, sir, seven. Eight.<br>
Eight once. Selling twice. Sold, to Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny.<br>
<br>
(spoken) <br>
Lot 664: a wooden pistol and three human skulls <br>
from the 1831 production of "Robert le Diable" by Meyerbeer. <br>
Ten francs for this. Ten, thank you. <br>
Ten francs still. Fifteen, thank you, sir Fifteen I am bid. <br>
Going at fifteen. Your number, sir?<br>
<br>
(spoken) 665, ladies and gentlemen: a papier-mache musical box, <br>
in the shape of a barrel-organ.<br>
Attached, the figure of a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals. <br>
This item, discovered in the vaults of the theatre, still in working order.<br>
<br>
PORTER (holding it up)<br>
<br>
(spoken) Showing here. (He sets it in motion)<br>
<br>
AUCTIONEER<br>
<br>
(spoken) May I start at twenty francs? Fifteen, then? Fifteen I am bid.<br>
<br>
(The bidding continues. RAOUL. eventually buys the box for thirty francs)<br>
<br>
(spoken) Sold, for thirty francs to the Vicomte de Chagny. Thank you, sir.<br>
<br>
(The box is handed across to RAOUL. <br>
He studies it, as attention focuses on him for a moment)<br>
<br>
RAOUL (quietly, half to himself, half to the box)<br>
<br>
A collector's piece indeed . . <br>
every detail exactly as she said . . .<br>
<br>
She often spoke of you, my friend ....<br>
Your velvet lining, and your figurine of lead...<br>
<br>
Will you still play, when all the rest of us are dead?<br>
<br>
(Attention returns to the AUCTIONEER, as he resumes)<br>
<br>
AUCTIONEER<br>
<br>
(spoken) Lot 666, then: a chandelier in pieces. <br>
Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera: <br>
a mystery never fully explained. <br>
We are told ladies and gentlemen, <br>
that this is the very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster. <br>
Our workshops have restored it <br>
and fitted up parts of it with wiring for the new electric light, <br>
so that we may get a hint of what it may look like when re- assembled. <br>
Perhaps we may frighten away the ghost of <br>
so many years ago with a little illumination, gentlemen?<br>
<br>
(The AUCTIONEER switches on the chandelier. <br>
There is an enormous flash, and the OVERTURE begins. <br>
During the overture the opera house is restored to its earlier grandeur. <br>
The chandelier immense and glittering, rises magically fromthe stage, <br>
finally hovering high above the stalls)<br>
 <br>