Episode#38-Before the Performance

(In Christine's dressing room. Gustave hums the song in his head while Christine gets ready)

Gustave-oohhhhh

Christine-Gustave, could you hand me those earrings? The diamond ones on the left. There, how do I look?

Gustave-You look so beautiful, so very beautiful, like a queen in a book.

Christine-You two are beautiful, so very beautiful, once this performance is through, we'll spend sometime, just us two, wont that be fun!

*Quietly, enter:Raoul*

Gustave-Father! Doesn't mother look lovely tonight?

Raoul-Indeed she does, like the first time I came to her dressing room door

Christine-And look at you Raoul!

Raoul-*laughs*

Christine-You look just like that handsome boy in the opera box, the one who would always toss me a single red rose

Raoul-Please Gustave, if you don't mind, would you wait outside a while?

Gustave-May I go exploring? By myself

Christine-Yes, but stay backstage my dear, when I'm finished, meet me here

Gustave-I will *Leaves*

Raoul-*Kneels at her feet* Since our wedding day, things have gone astray

Christine-Raoul-

Raoul-I'm not proud of the way that I've acted

Christine-We've both been-

Raoul-The demands I've made, all the hopes miss layed, I'm aware of the price they've exacted. Though, I've no right to ask you to, there's one thing more I'd have you do, If you love me as I love you

Christine-Anything darling

Raoul-Don't sing the song dear

Christine-What! But Raoul

Raoul-You have to know somethings terribly wrong dear.

Christine-But I have to do this. It's what we agreed to

Raoul-That hell, spawn demon. He's had us playing his game all along dear.

Christine-Let me just get through this, listen, please, I need to.

Raoul-You need so much, its true, and I've denied you. You need the man you knew, back here beside you. You'll have him back, I vow, just ask it of me, but we must leave here now, if you still love me

Christine-...You mean it Raoul, truly?

Raoul-Booked a passage for three on the Atlantic queen and it leaves in an hour and lets be on it for both our sakes, and the child's. Leave this place behind *leaves*

Phantom-He knows his love is not enough, he knows he isn't what you need. He knows your made of finer stuff, I think on that, we're all agreed. It's time to leave him in the dust, it's time to be who you should be, its time to do now as you must, and set the music in you free. In moments, mere moments, drums will roar. There you'll stand just like before. The crowd will hush and then in one sweet rush, I will hear you sing once more. And music, our music, will swell and then unwind. Like two strands of melody, AT LAST ENTWINED!Will fill us, complete us, make us whole, seal our bond forever more. Tonight for me, embrace you destiny, let me hear you sing once more. *leaves*

Christine-Twisted every way, what answer can I give? I know I can't refuse and yet I wish I could, oh God...

*flash back to 1707 when Christine must sing for the Phantom*

Raoul-Christine, Christine, don't think that I don't care, but every hope and every prayer rests on you now