Paris Opera House, 1905

~

"Sold! Your number, sir?"

The man handed his number to the porter, who gave it to the auctioneer.

"Thank you. Lot 663, ladies and gentlemen, a poster for this house's production of Hannibal by Chalumeau."

"Showing here."

The porter shows the poster to everyone.

"Do I have ten francs?"

"Five!"

"Five then. Five, I am bid."

"Six!"

"Seven!"

"Against you, sir. Seven."

"Eight!"

Eight. Going once. Going twice."

The auctioneer banged his gavel.

"Sold, to Gerard Author Way."

He gave his number to the porter, who gave him a new number.

"Lot 664, ladies and gentlemen, a wooden pistol and three human skulls from the 1831 production of Robert Le Diable by Meyerbeer."

The porter showed the item to everyone.

"Ten francs for this?"

"Ten!"

"Ten, thank you. Ten francs still."

"Fifteen!"

"Thank you, sir. Fifteen, I am bid! Going at fifteen. Going once. Going twice."

The auctioneer banged his gavel.

"Sold! Your number sir?"

The man handed his number to the porter, who gave it to the auctioneer.

"Lot 665, ladies and gentlemen, a paper-mache musical box in the shape of a barrel organ. Attached, the figure of a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals. This item was discovered in the vaults of the theatre, and is still in working order."

The porter holds it up.

"Showing here."

He plays the music box. The sound catches the ear of the old Gerard Way.

"We'll start with twenty francs."

No one responds.

"Fifteen, then?"

"Fifteen!"

"Fifteen, I am bid."

Gerard raises his shaking hand; assisted by his nursemaid.

"Thirty!"

"Thirty francs. Going once. Going twice."

The auctioneer banged his gavel.

"Sold, for thirty francs to Gerard Author Way. Thank you, sir."

The porter handed the music box to Gerard. As he looks upon it, he begins to recall a memory.

A memory that he longed to see again.

A collector's piece indeed
Every detail exactly as he said.
He often spoke of you, my friend.
Your velvet lining, and your figurine of head.

Will you still play, when all the rest of us are dead?"

"Lot 666, a chandelier in pieces."

The porter presented the item, with had a cloth tapped over it.

Gerard immediately knew what it was.

"Some of you may recall the strange affair of the "Phantom of the Opera", a mystery never fully explained. We are told, ladies and gentlemen, that this is very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster. Our workshops have restored it and fitted up parts of it with wiring for the new electric light, so that we may get a hint of what it may look like when re-assembled."

The auctioneer nodded to the porter, who stood next to the chandelier.

"Perhaps we may frighten away the ghost of so many years ago with a little illumination! Gentlemen!"

The porter removed the cloth; revealing the chandelier.

Everyone stood back in a great fright as it was raised to the ceiling; shimmering with flash and light.

Gerard watched the chandelier and began to remember the day the Paris Opera fell under the dominion of the Phantom of the Opera.