It was gala night. The newest play, DON JUAN TRIUMPHANT was premiering. Crowds lined the box office to buy tickets. Posters covered the walls announcing a new lead actress- Buffy Daaé! Inside the Opera House, the Chief of Police was instructing his men to lock every door except the main entrance way. "Do you understand your orders?" he asked them. "YES SIR!" was his answer. The men ran off to every exit. Xander came up on stage, and looked up to Box 5. "Do you have a clear view of Box 5?" "Yes, sir!" said the marksman across the way. Then Xander addressed the Chief. "Remember- shoot only to kill." He then returned to his seat in the manager's box.
The Chief shouted out into the empty theater, "ARE ALL THE DOORS SECURE?" Sounds of locking doors echoed throughout the auditorium. One by one, the police shouted back, "SECURE!" Suddenly, the orchestra fell absolutely silent. Out of nowhere, the voice of the Angel came. "I'm here! The Angel of the Opera!" His voice repeated everywhere. The marksman whirled around wherever he heard the voice. Then he saw, for a split second, the phantom-like man in Box 5. He fired a shot, piercing a hole in the curtain. "IDIOT!" shouted Xander. "You'll kill someone! I said only when the time is right!" "But, Monsieur Le Vicomte, I-"
The Angel's voice cut through his words. "No buts, dear boy. For once, Monsieur Le Vicomte is right. Seal my fate tonight. I hate to cut the fun short, but the joke's wearing thin. Open the doors- let my audience in!" Once the whole house was silent, the curtains parted. Ubaldo Piangi played the role of Don Juan. Carlotta Giudicelli played a mere gypsy girl, along with young Willow Giles. Oz Gotect played Don Juan's faithful servant- Passarino. The chorus sang of the great return of Don Juan. Servants rushed around, preparing a banquet for 2, and put fresh sheets on the double bed. Don Juan's newest girlfriend, a young peasant named Aminta, had captured his heart. He planned to make her his- tonight.
Don Juan put on Passarino's cloak, and hid behind a drape. A small, barely silent gasp came from it. Passarino folded back the bed sheets. When he heard Aminta come in, he ran to the drape. "Master?" When Piangi didn't come out, Oz lost his character. "Piangi?" he whispered in his normal voice. A cloaked figure swept out from the drape, scaring Oz. The figure spoke in a clear, unknown voice- only the Angel's was that beautiful. "Passarino- go away, for the trap is now set, and waits for it's prey . . ." He went to where Aminta was singing to the audience. She stopped, and waited for her cue. Oz left, and the figure sang. His first words startled Buffy. She whirled to him, half shocked.
Angel
"You have come here.
In pursuit of your deepest urge.
In pursuit of that wish
which 'till now has been silent . . .
Silent . . .
I have brought you
so our passions may fuse and merge.
In your mind you've already
succumbed to me.
Dropped all defenses,
completely succumbed to me.
And now you are here with me;
No second thoughts.
You've decided.
Decided . . ."
His voice changed into a soft, seducing tone.
Angel
"Past the Point of No Return.
No backward glances.
The games we've played 'till now
are at an end . . .
Past all thoughts of 'if' or 'when'.
No use resisting.
Abandon thought, and let
the dream descend.
What raging fire
shall flood our souls?
What rich desire
unlocks our doors?
What sweet seduction lies
before us?
Past the Point of No Return.
The final threshold.
What warm, unspoken secrets
will we learn?
Beyond the point of no return."
Buffy joined in, transfixed by her teacher's voice.
Buffy
"You have brought me
to the moment where words run dry.
To that moment where speech disappears
Into silence . . .
Silence . . .
I have come here.
Hardly knowing the reason why.
In my mind, I've already imagined
our bodies entwining
defenseless and silent.
And now I am here with.
No second thoughts-
I've decided . . .
Decided . . .
Past the Point of No Return.
No going back now.
Our passion-play has now,
at last, begun.
Past all thought or right-or-wrong.
One final question:
How long should we wait
before we're one?
When will the blood begin to race?
The sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames at last consume us?"
By that time, the audience and police had realized that the cloaked figure was not Piangi. He and Buffy stood close to each other, still singing their song.
Both
"Past the Point of No Return.
The final threshold.
The bridge is crossed,
so stand and watch it burn!
We've passed the point of no return . . ."
Buffy then knew that is wasn't Piangi who was seducing her, but the Angel! She wanted to run, but found she couldn't leave him. The police, Xander, and cast were lingering by the curtains, unsure of what to do. The Angel looked deep into Buffy's eyes. They were overflowing with love, devotion, and murder. He gently sang to her the song Xander had, proposing his love to Buffy.
Angel
"Say you'll share with me
One love, one lifetime.
Lead my, save me from
my solitude . . ."
The Angel took a ring off from his finger, and handed it to Buffy
"Say you want me with you
here, beside you . . .
Anywhere you go let me go, too!
Buffy, that's all I ask of-"
He never got to say 'you', for at that moment, Buffy took off his mask, calmly. The Angel couldn't turn away from the audience, and everyone saw his hidden face. Willow pulled back the drapes, and saw Piangi dead- his head tilted to one side. He had been killed by the Punjab Lasso! Willow screamed, horrified . . .
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