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!
(The ENSEMBLE activity becomes background, as ANDRE, FIRMIN, MEG, GIRY, PIANGI and CARLOTTA come to the fore, glasses in hand)
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! (At the height of the activity a grotesque figure suddenly appears at the lop of the staircase. Dressed all in crimson, with a death's head visible inside the hood of his robe, the PHANTOM has come to the party. With dreadful wooden steps he descends the stairs and takes the centre of the stage)
PHANTOM: Why so silent, good messieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good messieurs? I have written you an opera! (He takes from under his robe an enormous bound manuscript) Here I bring the finished score - "Don Juan Triumphant" ! (He throws it to ANDRE) I advise youto Comply - My instructions should be clear - Remember, There are worse things, Than a shattered chandelier . . . (CHRISTlNE, mesmerized, approaches as the PHANTOM beckons her. He reaches out, grasps the chain that holds the secret engagement ring, and rips it from her throat) Your chains are still mine - you will sing for me! (ALL cower in suspense as the music crescendos, until suddenly, his figure evaporates) (BACKSTAGE)