The Managers' Struggle with the Ghost

The subplot of Richard and Moncharmin's attempts to resist and then reluctantly comply with the ghost's demands.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

First Contact with the Ghost

First Contact with the Ghost The Red Ink Clause When Richard and Moncharmin take over the Opera, their predecessors, Debienne and Poligny, reveal a mysterious clause in the memorandum-book: a monthly allowance of twenty thousand francs for the Opera Ghost, and the permanent reservation of Box Five. The new managers laugh it off as a joke. The First Letter The next morning, they receive a letter in red ink from the ghost, demanding that Box Five be reserved and that Christine Daae sing Margarita. The letter is accompanied by a cutting from a theatrical review. The managers send the box to Debienne and Poligny, thinking it is their prank. The Ghost's Response The ghost thanks them for the box but then complains that it was sold. When they sell the box again, the ghost causes a disturbance: the box is invaded by laughing occupants who claim a voice told them the box was taken. The managers begin to realize the ghost is not a joke.

The Chandelier Disaster

The Chandelier Disaster The Ghost's Warning After the managers ignore the ghost's demands, Carlotta receives anonymous threats. On the night of Faust, the ghost's voice is heard in Box Five, saying, 'She is singing to-night to bring the chandelier down!' The chandelier crashes into the audience, killing the new box-keeper. The Investigation The inquest rules the accident as wear and tear, but the managers know the ghost is responsible. They are terrified and begin to believe in the ghost. They reinstate Mme. Giry and try to appease the ghost by paying the allowance. The Aftermath The chandelier disaster marks a turning point. The managers are now haunted by the ghost's power. They become paranoid and secretive, walking backward to avoid being touched. Their behavior is noticed by the whole opera house, and people begin to think they are mad.

The Magic Envelope Theft

The Magic Envelope Theft The First Payment The managers place twenty thousand francs in an envelope and give it to Mme. Giry to deliver to the ghost's box. They watch the envelope all evening, but when they open it, the notes have been replaced with flash paper. The ghost has tricked them. The Second Attempt For the next payment, Richard and Moncharmin devise a plan: Mme. Giry will slip the envelope into Richard's pocket, and Moncharmin will watch him constantly. But the ghost uses a trap-door in the office floor to steal the money right under their noses. The Final Surrender After the second theft, the managers are defeated. They accept that they cannot outwit the ghost. They pay the allowance regularly and stop trying to investigate. The ghost eventually returns the money, but the managers never fully recover their composure.

first days of the new management

the night of the ghost's ultimatum, during Faust

after the chandelier, during the next month's payment