_Prologue

_{The Stage of the West Capital Opera, 705}

The contents of the opera house is being auctioned off.  An auctioneer, porters, bidders and Yamcha, seventy now, but still bright of eye.  The auction commences with a blow from Auctioneer Tien's gavel.

_{Auctioneer Tien
Sold. Your number sir? Thank you.}

_{Lot 663, then, ladies and gentlemen: a poster for this house's production of "Hannibal" by Chalumeau.}

_{Porter Chaozu
Showing here.}

_{Tien
Do I have ten zeni?  Five then, five I am bid.  Six, seven.  Against you, sir, seven.  Eight.  Eight once.  Selling twice.  Sold, to Yamcha, Vicomte de Chagny.}

_{Lot 664: a wooden pistol and three human skulls, from the 631 production of 'Robert le Diable' by Meyerbeer.  Ten zeni for this.  Ten, thank you.  Ten zeni still.  Fifteen, thank you, sir.   Fifteen I am bid.  Going at fifteen.
Your number, Sir?}

_{Lot 665, ladies and gentlemen: a papier-mâché musical box, in the shape of a barrel-organ.
Attached, a figure of Bubbles in Persian robes, playing the cymbals.
This item, discovered in the vaults of the theatre, still in working order…}

_{Chaozu (holding it up)
Showing here. (He sets it in motion)}

_{Tien
May I start at twenty zeni?  Fifteen, then?  Fifteen I am bid.}

_{The bidding continues.  Yamcha eventually buys the box for thirty zeni.}

_{Sold for thirty zeni to the Vicomte de Chagny.   Thank you sir.}

_{The box is handed across to Yamcha.   He studies it, as attention focuses on him for a moment.}

_{Yamcha (half to himself, half to the box)
A collector's piece indeed... every detail exactly as she said...
She often spoke of you, my friend... your velvet lining and your figuring of lead...
Will you still play, when all the rest of us are dead?}

_{Attention returns to Auctioneer Tien, as he resumes.}

_{Lot 666, then: a chandelier in pieces.   Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom Vegeta of the Opera: a mystery never fully explained.  We are told, ladies and gentlemen, that this is the 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.  Perhaps we may frighten away the ghost of so many years ago with a little illumination, gentlemen?…}

Tien switches on the chandelier.   There is an enormous flash, and the OVERTURE begins.  During the overture the opera house is restored to its earlier grandeur.  The chandelier, immense and glittering, rises magically from the stage, finally hovering high above the stalls.

Scene 1