Andrew Lloyd Webber — Prologue

ACT ONE Scene: "Walter Meets the Signal Man" (A railway cutting. A wild stormy summer night. The Signal Man is in his signal box. He receives a message from down the line. He wires back a message. We hear the strange, eerie singing of the wires. From the gloom we see the figure of a man—Walter Hartright. He is about 30 years of age, attractive, dark, open. He carries a bag and an easel. He sees the Signal Man checking the tracks with his lantern below him) [HARTRIGHT] Hallo! Below there! Hallo! (A lightening flash) [HARTRIGHT] Signal Man? Down there... Hallo! (pause) [SIGNAL MAN] Who calls to me in the dead of the night? (Walter steps out of the shadows into the light of the SIGNAL MAN's lantern) [HARTRIGHT] Hartright My name is Walter Hartright (He climbs down to the SIGNAL MAN's level) [SIGNAL MAN] What are you doing here, on a night like this? [HARTRIGHT] I'm lost, sir. I'm trying to find my way to Limmeridge House; the train broke down and I'm forced to walk [SIGNAL MAN] Branch train Broke down What you Say is true [HARTRIGHT] Yes. I heard the wires singing in the wind; the noise of them led me to you [SIGNAL MAN] Why are you going to Limmeridge House? [HARTRIGHT] I have the post of drawing master: I must arrive tonight, for I start tomorrow Sir, you look Upon me with such dread! (pause) [SIGNAL MAN] Last night, I had a vision That a stranger would appear He stood right where you are! A man such as yourself! "Alarm on the line!" he said "Alarm on the line!" So I tapped out the message And the answer came back: "All well both ways" But he said, "You'll mark my words... When a year to this day The dead lie on the tracks! The dead lie on the tracks! [HARTRIGHT] I can assure you, sir, I know of no imminent danger [SIGNAL MAN] A man such as yourself... (Suddenly there is a strange sound in the air. The telegraph wires sound again in the signal box) [SIGNAL MAN] They are calling me from down the line. There's danger somewhere along the line! [HARTRIGHT] Wait! (The sound of the wires grows to a terrible pitch. From behind Hartright, from the depths of the tunnel a hand reaches out and touches him on the shoulder. It is a woman dressed in white. She is in her early 20’s, fair, attractive, but her face is drawn and sorrowful. Her manner is wild and insistent) [HARTRIGHT] (startled) Oh my God! [WOMAN] You've got to help me! There's someone after me! [HARTRIGHT] How can I help you? [WOMAN] I'm being followed And I've done nothing wrong! [HARTRIGHT] It's very late For you to be out here alone- [WOMAN] You must believe me That I am free from blame [HARTRIGHT] Who do you run from? [WOMAN] I dare not say his name [HARTRIGHT] Where do you live? I try to help you if I can [WOMAN] I have a secret My precious secret But can I trust you? But can I trust you? (Her tone changes. She reaches out to him.) They cannot take away my secret Though it's something I can't share with you It's locked inside my heart, my secret But there's someone I must tell it to Secrets kept inside can hurt you Mine is sharper than a knife If I tell the one I seek I may save a life! (She is in distress) [HARTRIGHT] Please, you needn't fear me Truly you can trust me I would never harm you I'm no threat—I'm Walter Walter Hartright I'll help you to get home [WOMAN] I've no home at all Nothing but my secret I have just my secret... (HARTRIGHT reaches out and gently takes her hand.) (The noise of a pony and chaise approaching. She breaks away) [WOMAN] There's something coming And I must get away! I have to get away! But can I trust you? (She moves off towards the tunnel) [HARTRIGHT] Don't go in there! He said there's danger on the line! [WOMAN] (echoing) I'll tell my secret For secrets must be told... (She disappears back into the tunnel.) (A servant enters) [SERVANT] You must be Mister Hartright? [HARTRIGHT] Yes [SERVANT] I'm sent to bring you straight to Limmeridge House [HARTRIGHT] Did you see her? A woman dressed in white? [SERVANT] I saw no one [HARTRIGHT] A woman all in white? [SERVANT] Sir, I saw no one I saw no one... (The servant picks up Hartright’s bags and exits with them. Hartright looks around and then exits after him. The light is beginning to dawn on a new day)