The Phantom of The Opera AUDIOBOOK Short Story by Jennifer Bassett Learn English Through Story
good morning oh and in case i don’t see
you good afternoon good evening and good
night
the phantom of the opera by jennifer
bassett
the opera house in paris
is a very famous and beautiful building
it is the biggest opera house in the
world
work on the building began in 1861
finished in 1875
and cost 47 million francs
it has 17 floors
10 above the ground and seven under the
ground
behind and under the stage there are
stairs and passages
and many many rooms
dressing rooms for the singers and the
dancers
rooms for the stage workers the opera
dresses and shoes
there are more than 2
500 doors in the building
you can walk for hours and never see
daylight under the paris opera house
and the opera house has a ghost
a phantom
a man in black clothes
he is a body without a head
or a head without a body
he has a yellow face
he has no nose
he has black holes for eyes
this is the true story of the phantom of
the opera
it begins one day in 1880
in the dancer’s dressing room
chapter one
the dancers
quick
close the door
it’s him
annie cirelli ran into the dressing room
her face white
one of the girls ran and closed the door
and then they all turned to annie
cirelli
who
where
what’s the matter
they cried
it’s the ghost
annie said
in the passage i saw him
he came through the wall in front of me
and
and i saw his face
most of the girls were afraid
but one of them a tall girl with black
hair laughed
pooh
she said
everybody says they see the opera ghost
but there isn’t really a ghost
you saw a shadow on the wall
but
she did not open the door
or look into the passage
lots of people see him a second girl
said
joseph bouquet saw him two days ago
don’t you remember
then all the girls began to talk at once
joseph says the ghost is tall
and he wears a black evening coat
he has the head of the dead man with a
yellow face and no nose
and no eyes only black holes
then
little mexiri spoke for the first time
don’t talk about him
he doesn’t like it
my mother told me
you mother
the girl with black hair said
what does your mother know about the
ghost
she says that joseph bouquet is a fool
the ghost doesn’t like people talking
about him
and one day joseph bouquet is going to
be sorry
very sorry
but what does your mother know
tell us
tell us
all the girls cried
oh dear
said meg
but please don’t say a word to anyone
you know my mother is the door keeper
for some of the boxes in the opera house
well box 5
is the ghost’s box
he watches the operas from that box
and sometimes he leaves flowers for my
mother
the ghost has a box
and leaves flowers in it
oh meg your mother’s telling you stories
how can the ghost have a box
it’s true
it’s true i tell you
meg said
nobody buys tickets for box five but the
ghost always comes to it on opera nights
so somebody does come there
why no
the ghost comes
but there is nobody there
the dancers looked at meg
but how does your mother know
one of them asked
there’s no man in a black evening coat
with a yellow face
that’s all wrong
my mother never sees the ghost in box
five
she hears him
he talks to her
but there is nobody there
and
he doesn’t like people talking about him
but that evening the dancers could not
stop talking about the opera ghost
they talked before the opera
all through the opera
and after the opera
but they talked very quietly
and they looked behind them before they
spoke
when the opera finished
the girls went back to their dressing
room
suddenly
they heard somebody in the passage
and madam jiri meg’s mother ran into the
room
she was a fat motherly woman with a red
happy face
but tonight her face was white
oh girls
she cried
joseph bouquet is dead
you know he works a long way down on the
fourth floor under the stage
the other stage workers found his dead
body there an hour ago
with a rope around his neck
it’s the ghost
right maggie
the ghost killed him
chapter 2
the directors of the opera house
[Music]
the opera house was famous
and the directors of the opera house
were very important men
it was the first week of work for the
two new directors
mr amar musama and mr fumar richard
in the director’s office the next day
the two men talked about joseph bouquet
it was an accident
mr amar said angrily
or bouquet killed himself
an accident
killed himself
mr furman said
which story do you want my friend
or do you want the story of the ghost
don’t talk to me about ghosts mr amar
said
we have 1
500 people working for us in this opera
house and everybody is talking about the
ghost
they are all
mad i don’t want to hear about the ghost
okay
miss you firma looked at a letter on the
table next to him
and what are we going to do about this
letter among
do cried mr armor
why do nothing of course
what can we do
the two men read the letter again
it wasn’t very long
to the new directors
because you are new in the opera house
i am writing to tell you some important
things
never sell tickets for box five
that is my box for every operonite
madam jiri the doorkeeper
knows all about it
also
i need money for my work in the opera
house
i am not expensive
and i am happy to take only 20 000
francs a month
that is all
but please remember
i can be a good friend
but a bad
enemy oh
gee
don’t sell tickets for box five
twenty thousand francs a month
mr armand was very angry again
that’s the best box in the opera house
and we need the money for ma
and who is this o.g.a tell me that
opera ghost of course
mr furman said
but you’re right amar
we can do nothing about this letter
it’s a joke
a bad joke
somebody thinks we are fools because we
are new here
there are no ghosts in the opera house
the two men then talked about the opera
for that night
it was faust
and usually la calota sang margarita
calotta was spanish and the best singer
in paris
but today
la carlotta was ill
everybody in paris is going to be at the
opera tonight
said mr amar and our best singer is ill
suddenly
she writes a letter to us just this
morning she is ill she cannot sing
tonight
don’t get angry again armon
mr
said quickly
we have christine daya
that young singer from norway
she can sing margarita tonight she has a
good voice
but she’s so young and nobody knows her
nobody wants to listen to a new singer
wait and see
perhaps daiya can sing better than la
carlotta
who knows
[Music]
chapter three
christine daye
mr furman was right
all paris talked about the new margarita
in faust
the girl with the beautiful voice
the girl with the voice of an angel
people loved her
they laughed and cried and called for
more
daiya was wonderful
the best singer in the world
behind the stage
meg jiri looked at annie cirelli
christine daye never sang like that
before
she said to annie
why was she so good tonight
perhaps she’s got a new music teacher
annie said
the noise in the opera house went on for
a long time
in box 14
philippe the comp deshawny
turned to his younger brother and smiled
well raul
what did you think of dai tonight
raoul the vikon deshoni was 21 years old
he had blue eyes and black hair
and a wonderful smile
the shawnee family was old and rich
and many girls in paris were in love
with the young vikanth
but raoul was not interested in them
he smiled back at his brother
what can i say
christine is an angel that’s all
i’m going to her dressing room to see
her tonight
philippe laughed
he was 20 years older than raul and was
more like a father than a brother
ah
i understand
he said
you are in love
but this is your first night in paris
your first visit to the opera
how do you know christine daye
you remember four years ago
when i was on holiday by the sea in
brittany
raul said
well i met christine there
i was in love with her then
and i’m still in love with her today
the comp designee looked at his brother
hmm i see
he said slowly
well raul
remember she is only an opera singer
we know nothing about her family
but raul did not listen
to him
good families were not important
and young men never listened to their
older brothers
there were many people in christine
dyer’s dressing room that night
but there was a doctor with christine
and her beautiful face looked white and
ill
raul went quickly across the room and
took her hand
christine what’s the matter are you ill
he went down on the floor by her chair
don’t you remember me
raul deshani in
brittany christine looked at him
and her blue eyes were afraid
she took her hand away
no
i don’t know you
please go away i’m not dwell
raul stood up his face read
before he could speak
the doctor said quickly
yes yes please go away
everybody please leave the room
mademoiselle daye needs to be quiet she
is very tired
he moved to the door
and soon everybody left the
room christine daye was alone in her
dressing room
outside in the passage
the young vicomt was angry and unhappy
how could christine forget him how could
she say that to him
he waited for some minutes
then
very quietly and carefully
he went back to the door of her dressing
room
but he did not open the door
because just then
he heard a man’s voice in the room
christine
you must love me
the voice said
then raul heard christine’s voice
how can you talk like that
when i sing only for you
tonight i gave everything to you
everything
and now i’m so tired
her voice was unhappy
and afraid
you sang like an angel
the man’s voice said
raul walked away
so
that was the answer
christine daya had a lover
but why was her voice so unhappy
he waited in the shadows near her room
he wanted to see her lover
his enemy
after about 10 minutes
christine came out of her room
alone
and walked away down the passage
raul waited
but no man came out after her
there was nobody in the passage
so raul went quickly up to the door of
the dressing room
opened it
and went in
he closed the door quietly behind him
then called out
where are you
i know you’re in here come out
there was no answer
raul looked everywhere
under the chairs behind all the clothes
in all the dark corners of the
room there was nobody there
[Music]
chapter four
the phantom is angry
that was tuesday night
on wednesday morning mr amar and mr
filma were happy men
paris liked the new margarita
everything in life was good
the next opera night was friday
it was faust again
but this time with la carlotta singing
margarita
by wednesday afternoon they were not so
happy
a second letter arrived for them
from o.g
why don’t you listen to me
i am getting angry
leave box five free for me
and where are my twenty thousand francs
on friday
day must sing margarita again
she is now the best singer in paris
la calotta cannot sing
she has a very ugly voice
like a toad
remember
i am a bad enemy
o g
so therma
is this still a joke
mr amar shouted
what are we going to do now eh
is og the director here or are we
don’t shout armon
said mr furman tiredly
i don’t know the answers
let’s talk to madam jiri the door keeper
of box five
perhaps she can help us
but madame jiri was not helpful
madam jiri was not afraid of ghosts
and she was not afraid of directors of
opera houses
people say that you’re a friend of the
opera ghost madam jiri mr amar began
tell us about him
some people say he has no head
and some people say he has no body
said mr fruma
what do you say madam jiri
madam jiri looked at the two men and
laughed
i say that the directors of the opera
house are fools
what
mr amar shouted
he stood up and his face was red and
angry
listen to me woman
oh sit down ahman and listen
said mr filmer
why do you say that madam jiri
because monsieur
the opera ghost is angry with you
when the ghost wants something
he must have it
he is clever and dangerous this ghost
the old directors before you
they knew that oh yes
at first they tried to stop him
then there were many accidents in the
opera house
many strange accidents
and when did these accidents happen
when the ghost was angry
so
the old directors learnt very quickly
the ghost wants box five
he can have it every night
the ghost wants money
let’s give the money to him at once
oh yes the old directors understood very
well
but we are the directors not the opera
ghost
mr amar shouted
he turned to mr therma
this woman is mad
why do we listen to her
on friday night la calotta is going to
sing margarita
and you and i ferma
are going to watch the opera from box
five
well
we can try that amar
but we don’t want any accidents
madam jiri came nearer to the two men
listen to me
she said quietly
remember joseph bouquet
i tell you
the opera ghost is a good friend
but a bad enemy
the two men stared at her
those
words
mr philmar said slowly
why did you say those words
madam jiri
because
the ghost says them to me
i never see him but i often hear him
he has a very nice voice
and
he doesn’t shout at people
[Music]
chapter five
a letter for raoul
that wednesday
a letter also arrived for the young
vicom de shani
he opened the letter
saw the name at the bottom
and smiled for the first time that day
dear owl
of course i remember you
how could i forget you
meet me on thursday at 3 o’clock in the
tuilerie gardens
don’t be angry with me raul please
christine die
raul put the letter carefully into his
angry
how could he be angry with an angel
on thursday
he was in the tuileries gardens by two
o’clock
at ten past three
he began to feel unhappy
at half past three he wanted to die
or to kill somebody
and then
she came
she ran through the gardens to him
and in a second
she was in his arms
oh christine
he said again and again
oh christine
they walked through the gardens together
and talked for a long time
they remembered their happy weeks in
brittany
four years ago
but why did you go away christine
raul asked
why didn’t you write to me
for a minute or two christine said
nothing
then she said slowly
we
were so young
you and i
i was just a poor singer from norway
and you
you were the vicom the sunny
i knew i could never be your wife
but i love you christine
no
shh
listen to me raul please
i went home to norway
and a year later my father died
i was very unhappy
but i came back to france
to paris
i worked and worked at my singing
because i wanted to be an opera singer
not just a good singer
but the best opera singer in paris
and now you are
raul said he smiled
all paris is at your feet
christine turned her face away
and said nothing
christine raul said quietly
i want to ask you a question
who was the man in your dressing room on
tuesday night
tell me
please
christine stopped and stared at him
her face went white
what man
she whispered
there was no man in my dressing room on
tuesday night
raul put his hand on her arm
i heard him
he said
i listened outside the door
and heard a man’s voice
who was he
don’t ask me raul
there was a man’s voice yes
but there was no man in my room
it’s true
oh raul i’m so afraid
sometimes i want to die
who is he
tell me christine please
i’m your friend i can help you
tell me his name
i cannot tell you his name
it’s a secret
whispered christine
i never see him
i only hear his voice
but he is everywhere
he sees everything hears everything
that’s why i didn’t speak to you on
tuesday night
he is my music teacher owl
he’s a wonderful singer
i sang so well on tuesday night because
of him
i am famous because of him
he is my angel of music
and he says he loves me
how can i leave him
chapter 6
la calota sings margarita
on friday morning
la carlotta had her breakfast in bed
she drank her coffee and opened her
morning letters
one letter had no name on it
it was very short
you are ill
you cannot sing margarita tonight
stay at home and don’t go to the opera
house
accidents can happen
do you want to lose your voice
forever
la carlotta was very very angry
she got out of bed at once and did not
finish her breakfast
this is from christine dye’s friends
she thought
they want her to sing again tonight
that die girl is going to be sorry for
this
la calotta
i am the best opera singer in paris
and nothing is going to stop me singing
margarita tonight
at six o’clock that evening the dancers
were in their dressing room
they talked and laughed and put on their
red and black dresses for faust
but meg jiri was very quiet
what’s the matter meg
annie cirelli asked
it’s the opera ghost
meg said
my mother says he’s angry
she’s afraid that something’s going to
happen tonight
oh pooh
the girl with black hair said
who’s afraid of an old ghost
an hour later
mr arma and mr
went into box five and sat down
they were not afraid of ghosts of course
not
there were no ghosts in the opera house
then
mr
saw some flowers on the floor by the
door of the box
the ma
he whispered
did you put those flowers there
mr filmer looked no
i didn’t
he whispered back
did you
of course not you fool
shh
the music’s
beginning la carlotta did not sing for
the first hour
there were no strange voices in box 5
and the two directors began to feel
happier
then
la carlotta came out onto the stage
and mr firma looked at mr amo
did you hear a voice just then
he asked quietly
no
mr amar said
but he looked behind him twice
then three times
and suddenly felt cold
la calotta sang and sang
and nothing happened
then
she began a beautiful love song
my love
begins to quack
everybody stared
what was the matter with carlotta’s
voice
what was that strange noise
quack
carlotta stopped and began the song
again
[Music]
to
i cannot forget
my
crack
it was the noise of a toad
people began to talk and laugh
mr furman put his head in his hands
then he felt mr omar’s hand on his arm
there was a voice in the box with them a
man’s voice
laughing
poor carlotta tried again
and again
i cannot forget my
then
the two directors heard the voice again
behind them
in front of them
everywhere
singing tonight is going to bring down
the chandelier
the two directors
looked up at the top of the opera house
their faces were white
the famous chandelier
with its thousand lights
broke away from its ropes
and crashed down onto the people below
that was a terrible night for the paris
opera house
one woman was killed by the chandelier
and many people were hurt
the opera house closed for two weeks
and la carlotta
never sang again
chapter 7
my angel of music
for a week raul saw christine every day
some days christine was quiet and
unhappy
someday she laughed and sang
she never wanted to talk about the opera
house
or her singing
or raul’s love for her
raul was very afraid for her
who
or what
was this strange teacher
this man’s voice
her angel of music
then
one day
there was no christine
she was not at her home
not at the opera house not at their
meeting places
raul looked everywhere
and asked everybody
where was christine dying
but nobody knew
two days before the opera house opened
again
a letter arrived for raul
it was from christine
meet me in an hour
at the top of the opera house
on the tenth floor
the tenth floor of the opera house was a
dangerous place
there were hundreds of ropes going down
to the stage below
it was a long
long
way down
raoul and christine sat in a dark corner
and raul took christine’s hands
her face was white and tired
listen raul
she said quietly
i’m going to tell you everything
but this is our last meeting
i can never see you
again no christine
raul cried
i love you
and we
shh
quietly
perhaps he can hear us
he’s everywhere in the opera house raul
who
what are you talking about christine
my angel of music
i couldn’t meet you last saturday
because he came for me
and took me away
i was in my dressing room in the opera
house
and suddenly
he was there in front of me
i saw the voice for the first time
he wore black evening clothes
and a mask over his face
he took me through many secret doors and
passages
down
down under the opera house
there is a lake down there
a big lake
the waters are black and cold
he took me across the lake in a boat to
his house
he lives there owl
in a house on the lake
under the opera house
raul stared at her
was his beautiful christine mad
christine saw his face
and said quickly
it’s true raul
it’s true
and he
he is the phantom of the opera
but he’s not a ghost
he’s not an angel of music
he’s a man
his name is eric
and he loves me
he wants me to be his wife
no raul listen
there is more
he told me all this in his house
in a beautiful room
he said that no woman could ever love
him
because of his face
he was so unhappy
then he took off his mask
and i saw his face
she began to cry
and raoul put his arms around her
oh raul
he has the most terrible face
it is so ugly
i wanted to scream and run away
but where could i run too
he has the face of a dead man raul
but he is not
dead he has no nose
just two black holes in his yellow face
and his eyes
sometimes
they are black holes
sometimes they have a terrible red light
she put her face in her hands for a
second
then she said
i stayed in his house for five days
he was very good to me
and i felt sorry for him raul
he wants me to love him
and i told him
i told him no christine no
you’re going to be my wife
come away with me at once today
you can’t go back to him
but i must
christine said quietly
he knows about you raul
he knows about us
he says he’s going to kill you
i must go back to him
never
said raul
i love you christine
and i’m going to kill this eric
the word whispered round the opera house
raul and christine stared
what was that
raul said afraid
was that
his voice
where did it come from
i’m afraid raul
christine whispered
i’m singing margarita again on saturday
what’s going to happen
this
raul said
after the opera on saturday night
you and i are going away together
come on let’s go down now
i don’t like it up here
they went carefully along a dark passage
to some stairs
then suddenly stopped
there was a man in front of them
a tall man in a long dark coat
and a black hat
he turned and looked at them
no
not these stairs
he said
go to the stairs at the front
and go quickly
christine turned and ran
raul ran after her
who was that man he asked
it’s the persian
christine answered
but who is he what’s his name
why did he tell us to go to the front
stairs
nobody knows his name
he’s just the persian
he’s always in the opera house
i think he knows about eric
but he never talks about him
perhaps he saw eric on those stairs
and wanted to help us
hand in hand they ran quickly down the
stairs
through passages then more stairs and
more passages
at one of the little back doors to the
opera house
they stopped
on saturday night then
after the opera
raul said
i’m going to take you away
and marry you
christine looked up into his face
yes raul
then they kissed
there by the door of the opera house
their first kiss
chapter 8
where is christine daye
on saturday morning
compte philippe looked across the
breakfast table at his brother
don’t do it raul please
all this talk about ghosts and phantoms
i think the girl is mad
she’s not mad
and i’m going to marry her
raul said
she’s only a little opera singer
philippe said unhappily
and she’s very young
are you still going to love her in 10 or
20 years time
raul drank his coffee and did not answer
there were two more unhappy faces in the
opera house too
the directors now understood about og
they didn’t want any more accidents
box five is free tonight for og
day singing margarita
and here is twenty thousand francs
madam jiri can leave the money in box
five for him
is that everything
mr amma asked mr firma
it’s a lot of money
mr furman said unhappily
he thought for a minute
what about some flowers in box five
madame jiri says that o.g likes flowers
oh gee can bring his own flowers
shouted mr omar
the evening began well
the chandelier was now back in place
with new ropes
all paris was in the opera house
everybody wanted to hear christine
dyer’s voice again
people also knew about the love story
between christine dye and the vicom de
shoni
there are no love secrets in paris
people watched the compt and the v-compt
in box 14 with interest
young men from families like deshawnee
do not marry opera singers
when christine came onto the stage her
face was white and she looked afraid
but she sang like an angel
ah
what a voice
all paris was in love with christine
daye
she began to sing the famous love song
suddenly
every light in the opera house went out
for a second
nobody moved or spoke
then a woman screamed
and all the lights came on again
but christine daye was no longer on the
stage
she was not behind the stage
she was not under the
stage nobody could find her
the opera house went mad
everybody ran here and there shouted and
called
in the director’s office people ran in
and out the police came and asked
questions
but nobody could answer the questions
mr armand got angry and shouted
and mr thurman told him to be quiet
then madam jiri arrived in the office
with her daughter meg
go away woman
mr amar shouted
miss you
there are three people missing now
madam jiri said
meg
tell the directors your story
this was meg’s story
when the lights went out we were just
behind the stage
we heard a scream
i think it was christine dyer’s voice
then the lights came back on
but christine wasn’t there
we were very afraid
and we began to run back to our dressing
room
there were people running everywhere
then
we saw the vikkomtashani
his face was red and he was very angry
where’s christine
where’s christine he shouted
suddenly
the persian came up behind him
and took his arm
he said something to the vicant and they
went into christine daye’s dressing room
yes
and then
mr furman said quickly
what happened next
nobody knows
meg’s face was white
we looked into christine dyer’s dressing
room
but
but there was nobody there
chapter nine
the house on the lake
[Music]
when the lights came on
raul ran
he ran downstairs and along passages
through the opera house to the back of
the stage
in the passage outside christine’s
dressing room
a hand took his arm
the matter my young friend
where are you running to so quickly
raul turned
and saw the long face of the persian
under his black hat
christine
raul said quickly
eric’s got her
where is she help me
how do i get to his house on the lake
come with me
said the persian
they went quickly into christine’s
dressing room
the persian closed the door
and went to the big mirror on one wall
there’s only one door into this room
raul began
wait
the persian said
he put his hands on the big mirror
first here
then there
for a minute nothing happened
then
the mirror began to move and turn
and a big dark hole opened in it
raul stared
quick
come with me
but be careful
the persian said
i know eric
i understand his secrets
put your right hand up near your head
like this
and keep it there all the time
but why
raul asked
remember joseph bouquet
and the rope around his neck
eric is a clever man with ropes in the
dark
they went down
down
down under the opera house
they went through secret doors in the
floors
then along passages and down dark stairs
the persian listened carefully all the
time for strange noises
when do we get to the lake
raul whispered
we’re not going by the lake
eric watches it all the time
no
we go round the lake and get into eric’s
house from the back
i know some secret doors
soon they were there
in the dark the persian felt the wall
carefully with his hands
ah
here it is
he whispered
the wall moved under his hands
and a small door opened
very quietly
they went through
and then the door closed behind them
they could not get out
inside the room it was very dark
he waited and listened
the persian put his hands on the wall
oh no
he whispered
it was the wrong door
this is eric’s torture room the room of
mirrors
we are dead men become
dead men
at first raul did not understand
but he soon learnt
the lights came on and they heard a
man’s laugh
eric knew they were there
the room was all mirrors
walls
floor ceiling
there were pictures in the mirrors of
trees and flowers and rivers
the pictures moved and danced in front
of their eyes
and the room was hot
it got hotter
and hotter
and hotter
raul was thirsty
hot and thirsty
and the rivers in the pictures danced
and laughed at him
he closed his eyes
but the rivers still danced
water
he needed water
but the mirrors laughed at him
soon
he could not move or speak
or open his eyes
he was not thirsty now
just tired
so tired
oh christine i’m sorry
he thought
i wanted to help you
and now i’m dying
through a mirror in the wall
christine watched her love her in the
torture room
behind her eric stood
with his hands on her arms
he’s dying christine
dying
watch him carefully
no
don’t close your eyes
watch him
christine could not speak
she wanted to scream
but no words came
then she found her voice again
how can you do this eric
why don’t you kill me
because i love you christine
marry me be my wife and love me
then raul and the persian can live
slowly
christine turned
she looked into eric’s terrible ugly
face
and spoke again
very quietly
yes eric
from this minute
i am your wife
she put her arms around eric’s neck
and kissed him
kissed him slowly and lovingly
on his ugly mouth
then
she took her arms away and said slowly
poor
unhappy eric
eric stared at her
you kissed me
he whispered
i didn’t ask you but you kissed me
really
oh christine
my angel
that was my first kiss from a woman
even my mother never kissed me
she gave me my first mask when i was two
years old
she turned her face away from me every
time i came near her
eric put his ugly face in his hands
and cried
then he went down on the floor at
christine’s feet
you are free christine free
go away and marry your owl and be happy
but remember eric sometimes
go now
quickly
take raul under persian and go
chapter 10
[Music]
madam jiri visits the persian
for weeks
all paris talked about that night at the
opera
everybody asked questions
but nobody knew the answers
where was christine daye
where was the vicom deshani
were they alive
or dead
and the phantom of the opera
some weeks after that famous night
madam jiri went out one afternoon to a
small house near the riverly gardens
she went in
and up the stairs to some rooms at the
top of the house
the persian opened the door
looked at him
my friend
you know the answers
please tell me
are they alive
or dead
come in
the persian said quietly
they sat down on some chairs by the
window
and looked out across the riverly
gardens
yes
the persian said slowly
the phantom is dead now
he did not want to live any longer
i saw his body three days ago
and because of that
i can talk to you about him
he cannot kill me now
so
the phantom was really a man
madam jiri asked
yes
his name was eric
that was not his real name of course
he was born in france but i knew him in
persia
he was a famous builder and i worked
with him there
for a time
i was his friend
but not for long
when he came to paris i came after him
i wanted to watch him
he was a very clever very dangerous man
he could be in two or three places at
the same time
he could be in one place
and his voice could come from another
place
he could do many clever things with
ropes and mirrors
and secret doors
you see
he helped to build the opera house
he built secret passages underground
and his secret house on the lake
he could not live in the outside world
because of his terrible ugly face
unhappy eric
we can feel sorry for him madam jiri
he was so
clever and so ugly
people screamed when they saw his face
and so he lived this strange life
half man
a phantom
but he was a man in the end
he wanted a woman’s love
he stopped
and madam jiri asked quietly
and
christine daye
what happened to them
the persian smiled
ah yes
what happened to young raul and the
beautiful christine
who knows
[Music]
nobody in paris ever saw raul and
christine again
perhaps they took a train to the north
and lived a quiet happy life together
there
perhaps christine’s wonderful voice
is still singing
somewhere in the cold and beautiful
mountains of norway
who knows
[Music]
you