The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Ciarán Hinds: Firmin

Photos 

Quotes 

• Andre : [singing the Phantom's note to him]  Dear Andre, what a charming gala, Christine was in a word sublime. We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left; on that note, the diva's a disaster, must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime?

  Firmin : [singing the Phantom's note to him]  Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder, my salary has not been paid. Send it care of the Ghost by return of post, P.T.O! No one likes a debtor so it's better if my orders are obeyed.

• Madame Giry : We take particular pride in the excellence of our ballet, monsieur.

  Andre : I see why.

  [looking at Meg Giry] 

  Andre : Especially that little blonde angel!

  Madame Giry : My daughter, Meg Giry.

  Firmin : [looking at Christine]  And THAT exceptional beauty? No relation, I trust?

  Madame Giry : Christine Daaé. Promising talent, Monsieur Firmin, very promising.

  Andre : Daaé, did you say? N-n-no relation to the famous Swedish violinist?

  Madame Giry : His only child. Orphaned at seven, when she came to live and trained in the ballet dormitories.

  Firmin : An orphan, you say?

  Madame Giry : I think of her as a daughter also.

• Raoul : [sung]  Is this not the letter you wrote?

  Firmin : [sung]  And what is it we are meant to have wrote?

  [spoken, correcting himself] 

  Firmin : Written.

• Madame Giry : He welcomes you to his opera house...

  Firmin : His opera house?

  Madame Giry : ...and commands that you continue to leave box 5 empty for his use. And reminds you that his salary is due.

  Firmin : His salary?

  Madame Giry : Well, Monsieur Lefevre used to give him 20,000 francs a month.

  Firmin : [grabs note from Andre]  20,000 francs?

  Madame Giry : Perhaps you can afford more? With the Vicomte as your patron?

  Firmin : Madame, I had hoped to make that announcement public tonight when the Vicomte was to join us for the gala. But obviously we shall now have to cancel, as it appears we have lost our star. A full house, Andre. We shall have to refund a full house!

  Madame Giry : Christine Daae could sing it, sir.

  Andre : A chorus girl? Don't be silly.

• Firmin , Andre : Who'd believe a diva, happy to relieve a chorus girl who's gone and slept with the patron? Raoul and the soubrette entwined in love's duet, although he may demur, he must have been with her! You'd never get away with all this in a play, but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue, it's just the sort of story audiences adore, in fact a perfect opera!

• Firmin : What a way to run a business. Spare me these unending trials. Half your cast disappears but the crowd still cheers. Opera, to hell with Gluck and Handel; have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit.

• Andre : Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable!

  Firmin : Andre, please don't shout... It's publicity! And the take is vast! Free publicity!

  Andre : But we have no cast!

• Andre , Firmin : We get our opera, she gets her limelight.

• Firmin : Gossip's worth its weight in gold.

• Madame Giry : [about Christine]  Let her sing for you, monsieur; she has been well taught.

  Andre : All right. Come on.

  [Christine is reluctant] 

  Andre : Don't be shy. Come on. Come along... just... just...

  Reyer : [interrupts]  From the beginning of the aria, then. Please, mademoiselle!

  Firmin : Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves.

  Andre : Oh, but she's very pretty.

• Andre : [trying to convince Carlotta to come back and sing]  Your public needs you!

  Firmin : We need you, too!

  Carlotta : Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?

  Andre , Firmin : Signora, no! The world wants you! Prima donna, first lady of the stage! Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!

  Andre : Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?

  Firmin : Think of how they all adore you!

  Andre , Firmin : Prima donna, enchant us once again!

  Andre : Think of your muse...

  Firmin : And of the queues round the theatre!

  Andre , Firmin : Can you deny us the triumph in store? Sing, prima donna, once more!

• Madame Giry : I have a message from the Opera Ghost.

  Firmin : Oh, God in Heaven, you're all obsessed!

• Andre , Firmin : Far too many notes for my taste, and all of them about Christine. All we've heard since we came is Ms. Daaé's name.

  Madame Giry : Ms. Daaé has returned.

  Firmin : I hope no worse for wear, as far as we're concerned.

  Andre : Where precisely is she now?

  Madame Giry : I thought it best she was alone.

  Meg Giry : She needed rest.

  Raoul : May I see her?

  Madame Giry : No, monsieur, she will see no one.

  Carlotta , Piangi : Will she sing? Will she sing?

  Madame Giry : Here, I have a note.

  Andre , Firmin , Raoul , Carlotta , Piangi : Let me see it!