Sunday, May 26, 2013

PLAYHOUSE PHANTOM Begins

I began the first draft of PLAYHOUSE PHANTOM today (book three in The Bayou Boys Adventure series). This is how I opened (though it will likely change):

            The Phantom sat on the set’s throne within the bowels of the opera house and wrapped his cloak around himself while the company roared threats in the wings. A venomous fog rolled from the stage lip as eerie blue-green light bathed the stage. I burst through the door of the chamber. Behind me the other members of the cast followed. Mary Murray, playing Christine, stood mesmerized, staring into the full-length mirror.
            “Christine!” I said, stopping at my mark holding a sword before me. Mary turned from the glass—a single pin spot shown upon her face from the batten above her.
            “Raoul!” said Mary.
            “Is he…?”
            “He’s gone,” she said, pointing to the throne. I looked and the cloak hung limp on the seat—the illusion of the phantom’s disappearance complete.
            “The Opera Ghost?” asked Steve. Playing Erik, from the crowd.
            “Gone,” she said again softly, “vanished into the bowels of the earth.”
            “You loved him?” I said.
            “I pitied him,” Mary replied, looking into my eyes. I stepped toward her and she stepped toward me, raising her arms. I sheathed my sword and we fell into am embrace and my head bent toward her face. “I love you, Raoul.”
           “I love you, Christine. The phantom…he will not harm you now. I will protect you forever in my arms.” I continued in toward what should be a kiss as the lights faded to black and the house curtain dropped. I could hear the thunderous applause behind the drape as we ran form the stage to prepare for our bows.

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