Down Once More

"Down Once More" (also known as "Track Down This Murderer") is a group song featured in The Phantom of the Opera stage and film adaptation sung by Christine Daaé, Raoul and The Phantom. 
==Summary==
Shortly after kidnapping Christine, Erik shouts in anger at the stunt she had pulled as he drags her back to his lair. Meanwhile, Madame Giry leads Raoul to where the Phantom has taken Christine and tells him to keep his eye out, for the Phantom has booby-trapped some of the rooms.  In the song, Christine reveals she is not repulsed by Erik's appearance but rather his anger and his murderous tendacies. They soon discover Raoul, who had initially fallen in a trap filled with water and begs for her release. The Phantom allows Raoul in but immediately uses rope to restrain the younger man, and gives Christine a choice to marry him or her lover dies. 
As they shout to each other, Christine reveals her sympathy for Erik and kisses him to show he is not alone in the world. Moved by her kindness and hearing the oncoming mob, Erik releases both Christine and Raoul to let them escape, retreating to where his monkey music box, singing to "Masquarade" where Christine approaches the Phantom, who declares his love for her. She gives him her ring and as Christine and Raoul float away on the boat, Christine and Erik look at each other one last time before  Erik declares that the Music of the Night is over. Smashing all of his mirrors, the Phantom escapes through the last one. Meg and the rest of the mob enter Erik's lair, where Meg finds that the Phantom left his mask behind. 
==Lyrics==
The Phantom/Erik:
Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair!
Down we plunge to the prison of my mind!
Down that path into darkness, deep as hell!
[He rounds on her, bitterly]
Why, you ask, was I bound and chained
In this cold and dismal place?
Not for any mortal sin
But the wickedness of my abhorrent face!
[MOB (offstage)]
Track down this murderer!
He must be found!
[PHANTOM]
Hounded out by everyone!
Met with hatred everywhere!
No kind word from anyone!
No compassion anywhere!
Christine, Christine ...
Why, why...?
[RAOUL and GIRY appear above. They make their way down, meeting a pack of rats. MADAME GIRY screams and lowers her guard. The rats and the RATCATCHER pass them. MADAME GIRY raises her hand again]
[MADAME GIRY]
Your hand at the level of your eyes!
[RAOUL]
... at the level of your eyes...
[MOB]
Your hand at the level of your eyes!
Your hand at the level of your eyes!
[GIRY turns to go back up the slope. RAOUL looks at the water. He removes his coat and plunges in. The MOB appears at the top of the slope. They come down to the lake edge, their torches flickering]
[MOB]
Track down this murderer, he must be found!
Track down this murderer, he must be found!
Hunt out this animal, who runs to ground!
Too long he's preyed on us, but now we know
The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera is here
Deep down inside!
He's here, the Phantom of the Opera...
He's here, the Phantom of the Opera...
[They turn back up the slope. Perhaps there is another way in. The gate to the lair descends, as the rest of the lair appears]
[The dummy of CHRISTINE sits crumpled on a large throne. The PHANTOM brings CHRISTINE roughly out of the boat. She frees herself and backs away as he stares blackly out front. Braving her terror, she addresses him fiercely]
[CHRISTINE]
Have you gorged yourself, at last, in your lust for blood?
Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?
[PHANTOM (coldly)]
That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood
Has also denied me the joys of the flesh
This face—the infection which poisons our love
[He takes the bridal veil from the dummy, and moves slowly towards her]
This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing
A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing
[He places the veil on her head]
Pity comes too late—
Turn around and face your fate:
An eternity of this before your eyes!
[They are almost touching. She looks coldly into his face. He puts the ring in her hand]
[CHRISTINE]
This haunted face holds no horror for me now
It's in your soul that the true distortion lies
[The PHANTOM suddenly senses RAOUL's presence. Behind the portcullis, RAOUL comes out of the water]
[PHANTOM]
Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest!
Sir, this is indeed an unparalleled delight!
I had rather hoped that you would come
And now my wish comes true—
You have truly made my night!
[RAOUL (pleading, grasping the bars of the gate)]
Free her!
Do what you like, only free her!
Have you no pity?
[PHANTOM]
Your lover makes a passionate plea!
[CHRISTINE]
Please Raoul, it's useless!
[RAOUL]
I love her!
Does that mean nothing?
I love her!
Show some compassion...
[PHANTOM]
The world showed no compassion to me!
[RAOUL]
Christine, Christine
Let me see her...
[PHANTOM]
Be my guest, sir...
[He gestures, and the gate rises. RAOUL enters]
Monsieur, I bid you welcome!
Did you think that I would harm her?
Why should I make her pay, for the sins which are yours?
[So saying, he takes the Punjab lasso and, before RAOUL has a chance to move, catches him by the neck. The end of the rope, of which the PHANTOM has let go, remains magically suspended in mid-air]
Order your fine horses now!
Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now—except perhaps Christine...
[He turns to her]
Start a new life with me—
Buy his freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to his death!
This is the choice—
This is the point of no return!
[CHRISTINE]
The tears I might have shed for your dark fate
Grow cold, and turn to tears of hate!
[RAOUL]
Christine, forgive me, please forgive me
I did it all for you, and all for nothing
Say you love him
And my life is
​over
Either way you choose
He has to win
Why make her lie to you, to save me?
For pity's sake, Christine, say no!
Don't throw your life away for my sake!
I fought so hard to free you...	 
[CHRISTINE]
Farewell my fallen idol and false friend
One by one, all my delusions shattered!
Angel of
Music...
Who
​deserves this?
When
​will you see reason?
Angel of Music, you deceived me
I gave my mind blindly	 
[PHANTOM]
Too late for turning back, too late for prayers and useless pity!
All hope of cries for help
No point in fighting!
For either way you choose
You cannot win!
So, do you end your days with me
Or do you send him to his grave?
Past the point of
​no return
The final
​threshold
His life
​is now the prize which you must earn!
You've passed the point of no return...
[PHANTOM]
You try my patience—make your choice!
[She reflects for a moment, then with resolution moves slowly towards the PHANTOM]
[CHRISTINE]
Pitiful creature of darkness
What kind of life have you known?
God give me courage to show you
You are not alone
[Instrumental interlude: CHRISTINE kisses him long and full on the lips. The embrace lasts a long time. RAOUL watches in horror and wonder. The PHANTOM takes a lighted candle and holds it above RAOUL's head. A tense moment. But the suspended rope suddenly falls harmlessly—the PHANTOM has burnt the thread by which the noose was held. Resigned, he addresses RAOUL, as we hear the offstage voices of the approaching MOB]
[MOB (Some)]
Track down this murderer, he must be found!
Hunt out this
​animal
​who runs to ground!
Too long he's preyed on us
​but now we know
The Phantom of the Opera is there, deep down below!	 
[MOB (Others)]
Who is this monster, this murdering beast?
Revenge for Piangi!
Revenge for Buquet!
This creature
​must never go free...	 
[PHANTOM]
Take her, forget me, forget all of this...
Leave me alone,​
​forget all you've seen...
Go now, don't let them find
​you!
Take the boat, leave me here, go now, don't wait
Just take her and go, before it's too late
Go!
Go now!
Go now and leave me!
[RAOUL and CHRISTINE move off towards the boat. The PHANTOM looks mockingly at his mask. The musical box starts up magically, and he listens to it]
[PHANTOM]
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face, so the world will never find you
[CHRISTINE re-enters and walks slowly towards him. She takes off her ring and gives it to the PHANTOM]
Christine, I love you...
[She hurries off. The PHANTOM puts the ring on his finger]
[CHRISTINE (in the distance, to RAOUL as the boat pulls away in the distance)]
Say you'll share with me
One love, one lifetime
Say the word and I will follow you
[RAOUL]
Share each day with me
[CHRISTINE]
Each night
[RAOUL/CHRISTINE]
Each morning...
[PHANTOM]
You alone can make my song take flight—
It's over now, the music of the night!
==Trivia==
*"Down Once More" is the longest-running song on the entire soundtrack, being at fifteen minutes. 
*The "Track Down This Murderer" portion of the song has the notes of The Phantom of the Opera" and "Masquerade" as Erik sings it quietly to the song. 
== Navigation ==
Category:Songs
Category:The Phantom of the Opera songs
Category:Hero/heroine songs
Category:Villain songs