The Ghosts Reign and the New Managers

Traces how the Opera Ghost imposes his will on the new managers, Richard and Moncharmin, through letters, demands, and supernatural incidents.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Ghosts Ultimatum Arrives

The Ghosts Ultimatum The Red Ink Letter The morning after the retirement gala, Firmin Richard and Armand Moncharmin find a letter written in red ink on their desk. The letter demands the restoration of Box Five, the reinstatement of Mme. Giry, and the payment of a monthly allowance of twenty thousand francs. The handwriting is childish and clumsy, matching the red ink clause in the memorandum-book left by their predecessors. The Managers Skepticism Richard and Moncharmin initially laugh off the letter as a practical joke by Debienne and Poligny. They refuse to take the ghost seriously and sell Box Five, leading to a series of disturbances. The ghost retaliates by causing Carlotta to croak like a toad on stage and by dropping the chandelier, killing the new box-keeper. The Escalation Despite the catastrophe, the managers still refuse to capitulate. They attempt to outwit the ghost by using a safety-pin to secure the money in Richards pocket, but the notes vanish anyway. The ghost continues to demand payment and manipulate events from behind the scenes.

The Safety-Pin Fiasco

The Safety-Pin Fiasco The Plan to Trap the Ghost Richard and Moncharmin decide to catch the ghost in the act. They place twenty thousand francs in an envelope, have Mme. Giry slip it into Richards pocket, and Moncharmin pins the pocket shut with a safety-pin. They lock themselves in the office, certain that no one can steal the money without detection. The Disappearance When the clock strikes midnight, Moncharmin checks the pocket: the pin is still there, but the notes are gone. The two managers turn on each other, each suspecting the other of theft. The ghost has outwitted them again, demonstrating his mastery of the buildings secret passages. Aftermath The incident deepens the mystery and fuels the managers growing fear. They realize they are dealing with a real, cunning adversary who operates through trap-doors and hidden mechanisms. This sets the stage for their eventual compliance with the ghosts demands.

The Ghosts Final Demand

The Ghosts Final Demand The Ultimatum Letter On the morning of the performance of Faust, the managers receive another letter from the ghost. It repeats the demand for the monthly allowance, threatens to turn the performance into a house with a curse upon it, and insists that Christine Daae sing Margarita instead of Carlotta. The letter is accompanied by the customary envelope and a note reminding them of the previous successful payment. The Managers Compliance Terrified by the chandelier disaster, Richard and Moncharmin decide to comply. They place the twenty thousand francs in the envelope and hand it to Mme. Giry, as instructed. However, they also plan to watch her closely and catch the ghost in the act. This leads to the bizarre scene of Richard bowing to no one and walking backward to avoid being touched. The Theft Repeated Despite their precautions, the money vanishes again, this time from Richards pocket while he is being watched. The ghost has used a trap-door in the office floor to reach up and snatch the notes. The managers are left humiliated and convinced that the ghost is a supernatural entity.

first days of the new management

after the chandelier fall, during the performance of Faust

the night of Christine Daae's abduction