The Phantom of the Opera (1990– )

Charles Dance: The Phantom (Erik)

Photos 

Quotes 

• Erik The Phantom of the Opera : [reaches for his ears]  My God! The place really is haunted; what is that?

  Gerard Carriere : Well, without looking, I would say with confidence it must be Carlotta.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Who?

  Gerard Carriere : The new star.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : She can't sing!

  Gerard Carriere : [chuckles]  Well, obviously she doesn't know that.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Well, someone should tell her.

  Gerard Carriere : She's married to the new manager.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Good God. This means she's probably going to sing all the time. What kind of horror are you leaving me in?

  Gerard Carriere : Erik, what are we going to do about all of this?

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : I know what to do about it. I'll kill them both.

  Gerard Carriere : Oh, come on, now!

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : I'm teasing; probably the only one I need to kill is her.

  Gerard Carriere : Erik!

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : What has happened to your sense of humour?

  Gerard Carriere : My humour?

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : You're right. I'm sorry. I'm just not used to killing people; it threw me off a bit.

• Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Did you know my mother well?

  Gerard Carriere : [pause, then]  Yes.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Did you love her?

  Gerard Carriere : [long pause, then]  Yes, I loved her.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : And she let you see my face.

  Gerard Carriere : She thought your face was absolutely and flawlessly beautiful.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : What did you think of it?

  Gerard Carriere : Well I - I thought it could have been better.

  [pauses, then] 

  Gerard Carriere : I'm your father.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : [nods knowingly]  I wondered when you'd say.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : [Gerard looks stunned; Erik continues]  You see, my eyes are the only part of my face I can look at in a mirror without wishing to break the glass. But they're not her eyes. They're yours.

• Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Father?

  Gerard Carriere : Yes?

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : I'm sorry for what I've put you through.

  Gerard Carriere : Well, actually, there never was a day I'd have given any of it up for anything.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Oh, I like that story. Tell me another fairy tale.

  Gerard Carriere : It's true.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Why?

  Gerard Carriere : Because you have your mother's soul.

• Erik The Phantom of the Opera : [about Christine]  Now, listen to me. For as long as I can remember, ever since I was a child, I have dreamed of her. Now, people are born for many things, Gerard. I was born to live, if one can call this living, down here. But until now, I have never known quite why. I was born so that she could save me, for that's what she's done. She is the reason I was born! I love her, Gerard! And I believe in time, with any luck, she will learn to love me. It would be a cruel God indeed to have sent her otherwise.

• Erik The Phantom of the Opera : I'd thought about being buried in my lagoon. Then I thought, no, float up and scare some poor child downstream.

• Erik The Phantom of the Opera : All in all, not all that bad - being born I mean. Because I could hear music, and I heard Christine.

  Gerard Carriere : She didn't mean to hurt you.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : I know that. She just asked for too much of me, that's all. Not her fault - thought she loved me.

  Gerard Carriere : She does.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : She did. But only for a moment. Still, a moment such as that is worth living for, wouldn't you say? I do regret one thing, though.

  Gerard Carriere : What's that?

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Not having killed the Comte de Chagny.

  Gerard Carriere : But why?

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : Because he doesn't love music, so how can he possibly love her?

  Gerard Carriere : He loves her.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : If you say so.

  Gerard Carriere : She was just unprepared for you.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : She was unprepared for ugliness. And for that brief, sweet moment, so was I.

• Christine Daee : Let me see your face.

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : You have asked, I'm afraid, the only thing in my power that I cannot grant. Please don't ask it again.

• Count Philippe de Chagny : Let her go! I beg you, please, let her go!

  Erik The Phantom of the Opera : She sang for me tonight; she's mine!