CHORUS Masquerade! Paper faces on parade . . . Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade . . . Masquerade! Look around - there's another mask behind you! Flash of mauve . . . Splash of puce . . . Fool and king . . . Ghoul and goose . . . Green and black . . . Queen and priest . . . Trace of rouge . . . Face of beast . . . Faces . . . Take your turn, take a ride on the merry-go-round . . . in an inhuman race . . . Eye of gold . . . Thigh of blue . . . True is false . . . Who is who . . .? Curl of lip . . . Swirl of gown . . . Ace of hearts . . . Face of clown . . . Faces . . . Drink it in, drink it up, till you've drowned in the light . . . in the sound . . . RAOUL/CHRISTINE But who can name the face . . .? ALL Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds . . . Masquerade! Take your fill - let the spectacle astound you! Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads . . . Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you! Masquerade! Seething shadows breathing lies . . . Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you! Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering eyes . . . Masquerade! Run and hide - but a face will still pursue you! GIRY What a night MEG What a crowd! ANDRE Makes you glad! FIRMIN Makes you proud! All the creme de la creme! CARLOTTA Watching us watching them! MEG/GlRY And all our fears are in the past! ANDRE Six months... PIANGI Of relief! CARLOTTA Of delight! ANDRE/FIRMIN Of Elysian peace! MEG/GIRY And we can breathe at last! CARLOTTA No more notes! PIANGI No more ghost! GIRY Here's a health! ANDRE Here's a toast: to a prosperous year! FIRMIN To the new chandelier! PIANGI/CARLOTTA And may its splendour never fade! FIRMIN Six months! GIRY What a joy! MEG What a change! FIRMIN/ANDRE What a blessed release! ANDRE And what a masquerade! CHRISTINE Think of it! A secret engagement! Look - your future bride! Just think of it! RAOUL But why is it secret? What have we to hide? CHRISTINE Please, let's not fight . . . RAOUL Christine, you're free! CHRISTINE Wait till the time is right . . . RAOUL When will that be? It's an engagement, not a crime! Christine, What are you afraid of? CHRISTINE Let's not argue . . . RAOUL Let's not argue . . . CHRISTINE Please pretend . . . RAOUL I can only hope I'll . . . CHRISTINE You will . . . BOTH . . . understand in time . . . ALL Masquerade! Paper faces on parade! Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade! Masquerade! Look around - There's another mask behind you! Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads . . . Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you! Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds . . . Masquerade! Take your fill - let the spectacle astound you