PHANTOM (furiously propelling the boat onwards)
Down once more
to the dungeon
of my black despair!
Down we plunge
to the prison
of my mind!
Down that path
into darkness
deep as [bad word] #33;

(He rounds on her, bitterly)

Why, you ask,
was I bound and chained
in this cold and dismal place?
Not for any
mortal sin, but the
wickedness of
my abhorrent face!

(He hears the offstage voices of the pursuing MOB)

MOB (offstage)
Track down this murderer!
He must be found!

PHANTOM (moving off again)
Hounded out by
everyone!
Met with hatred
everywhere!
No kind word from
anyone!
 [bad word] 
anywhere!

Christine, Christine . . .
Why, why . . .?

(RAOUL and GIRY appear above. They make their way
down, meeting a pack of rats. GlRY screams and lowers
her guard. The rats and the RATCATCHER pass them.
GIRY raises her hand again)

GIRY
Your hand at the level of your eyes!

RAOUL
. . . at the level of your eyes . . .

MOB (offstage)
Your hand at the level of your eyes!

GIRY
He lives across the lake, monsieur. This is as far as
I dare go.

RAOUL
Madame Giry, thank you.

(She turns to go back up the slope. RAOUL looks at the
water. He removes his coat and plunges in. The MOB
appears at the top of the slope. [bad word] 
down to the lake edge, their torches flickering.)

MOB
Track down this
murderer -
He must be found!
Hunt out this
animal,
 [bad word] to ground!
Too long he's
preyed on us -
but now we know:
the Phantom of the Opera
is there
deep down below . . .

He's here: the Phantom of the Opera . . .

(They turn back up the slope. Perhaps there is another
way in. The gate to the lair descends, as the rest of the
lair appears.)

Scene 9
BEYOND THE LAKE

(The dummy of CHRlSTlNE sits [bad word] on a large
throne. The PHANTOM drags CHRISTINE roughly out of
the boat. She frees herself and backs away as he stares
blackly out front. Braving her terror, she addresses him
fiercely).

CHRISTINE
Have you gorged yourself
at last, in your
lust for blood?

(no reply)

I now to be
prey to your
lust for flesh?

PHANTOM (Coldly)
That fate, which
condemns me
to wallow in blood
has also
denied me
the joys of the flesh . . .
this face -
the infection
which poisons our love . . .

(He lakes the bridal veil front the dummy, and moves
slowIy towards her)

This face,
which earned
a mother's fear
and loathing . . .
mask,
my first
unfeeling scrap
of clothing . . .

(He places the veil on her head)

 [bad word] 
too late -
turn around
and face your fate:
an eternity of this
before your eyes!

(They are almost touching. She looks calmly and coldly
into his face)

CHRISTINE
This haunted face
holds no horror
for me now . . .
It's in your soul
that the [bad word] 
distortion lies . . .

(The PHANTOM suddenly senses RAOUL'S presence.
Behind the portcullis, RAOUL climbs out of the water)

PHANTOM

Wait! I think, my dear,
we have a guest!

(to RAOUL)

Sir, this is indeed
an unparalleled delight!
I had rather hoped
that you [bad word] 
And now my [bad word] [bad word] -
you have [bad word] made my night!

RAOUL (pleading, grasping the bars of the gate)
Free her!
Do what you like
only free her!
Have you no pity?

PHANTOM (to CHRISTINE, dryly)
Your lover makes
a passionate plea!

CHRISTINE
Please, Raoul, it's useless . . .

RAOUL
I love her!
Does that mean nothing?
I love her!
Show [bad word] . . .

PHANTOM (snarls furiously at RAOUL)
The world showed no [bad word] to me!

RAOUL
Christine . . .
Christine . . .