[bad word] 

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 . . .
 [bad word] 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! [bad word] 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!

GIRY

And what a masquerade!

CHRISTINE

Think of it!
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!