venus

CHRISTINE
You were once
my one companion . . .
you were all
that mattered . . .
You were once
a friend and father -
then my world
was shattered . . .
Wishing you were
somehow here again . . .
wishing you were
somehow near . . .
Sometimes it seemed
if I just dreamed,
somehow you would
be here . . .
Wishing I could
hear your voice again . . .
knowing that I
never would . . .
Dreaming of you
won't help me to do
all that you dreamed
I could . . .
Passing bells
and sculpted angels,
cold and monumental,
seem, for you,
the wrong companions -
you were warm and gentle . . .
Too many years
fighting back tears . . .
Why can't the past
just die . . .?
Wishing you were
somehow here again . . .
knowing we must
say goodbye . . .
Try to forgive . . .
teach me to live . . .
give me the strength
to try . . .
No more memories,
no more silent tears . . .
No more gazing across
the wasted years . . .
Help me say
goodbye


The PHANTOM emerges from behind the cross)
PHANTOM (very soft and enticing)
Wandering child . . .
so lost . . .
so helpless . . .
yearning for my
guidance . . .
(Bewildered, CHRISTINE looks up, and murmurs
breathlessly):
CHRISTINE
Angel . . . or father . . .
friend . . . or
Phantom . . . ?
Who is it there,
staring . . . ?
PHANTOM (more and more hypnotic)
Have you
forgotten your Angel . . .?
CHRISTINE
Angel . . . oh, speak . . .
What endless
longings
echo in this
whisper . . .!
(RAOUL appears in the shadows and watches for a
moment transfixed)
PHANTOM (now drawing CHRISTINE towards him)
Too long you've wandered
in winter . . .
RAOUL (to himself a murmur)
Once again
she is his . . .
PHANTOM
Far from my
far-reaching gaze . . .
RAOUL
Once again
she returns . . .
CHRISTINE (increasingly mesmerized)
Wildly my mind
beats against you . . .
PHANTOM
You resist . . .
PHANTOM/CHRISTINE
Yet your/the soul
obeys . . .
RAOUL
. . . to the arms
of her angel . . .
angel or demon . . .
still he calls her . . .
luring her back, from the grave . . .
angel or dark seducer . . .?
Who are you, strange
angel . . .?
PHANTOM
Angel of Music!
You denied me,
turning from true beauty . . .
Angel of Music!
Do not shun me . . .
Come to your strange
Angel . . .
CHRISTINE
Angel of Music!
I denied you,
turning from true beauty . . .
Angel of Music!
My protector . . .
Come to me, strange
Angel . . .
(CHRISTINE moves towards the figure of the
PHANTOM)
PHANTOM (beckoning her)
I am your Angel of Music . . .
Come to me: Angel of Music . . .
RAOUL (suddenly calling out)
Angel of darkness!
Cease this torment!
(Inexorably the PHANTOM continues to beckon
CHRISTINE)
PHANTOM
I am your Angel of Music . . .
Come to me: Angel of Music . . .
RAOUL (in desperation)
Christine! Christine listen to me!
Whatever you may believe, this man . . .
this thing . . . is not your father!
(to the PHANTOM)
Let her go! For God's sake, let her go! Christine !


יהי זכרך ברוך

2.12.1934 - 23.12.2008