Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Prologue

(''A railway cutting. A wild, stormy Summer night. The Signal Man is in his signalbox. He recieves 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.'')

'''Walter Hartright:'''
Hallo! Below there! Hallo!

(''A lightning flash'')

'''Walter 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.'')

'''Walter 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?

'''Walter Hartright:'''
I'm lost sir. I'm trying to find my way to Limm'ridge House-
The train broke down and I'm forced to walk.

'''Signal Man:'''
Branch train broke down - what you say is true.

'''Walter 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 Limm'ridge House?

'''Walter 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 the day
The dead lie on the tracks!
The dead lie on the tracks!"

'''Walter Hartright:'''
I can assure you sir, I know of no imminent danger!

'''Signal Man:'''
A man such as yourself!

(''Suddenly there is a strange soung 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.

(''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 (Anne Catherick). She is in her early 20's, fair, attractive, but her face is drawn and sorrowful. Her manner is wild and insistent.'')

'''Walter Hartright:'''
(''startled'') Oh, my God!

'''Anne:'''
You've got to help me!
There's someone after me!

'''Walter Hartright:'''
How can I help you?

'''Anne:'''
I'm being followed
And I've done nothing wrong!

'''Walter Hartright:'''
It's very late for you to be out here alone -

'''Anne:'''
You must believe me
That I am free from blame.

'''Walter Hartright:'''
Who do you run from?

'''Anne:'''
I dare not say his name!

'''Walter Hartright:'''
Where do you live?
I'll try to help you if I can.

'''Anne:'''
I have my secret
My precious secret
But can I trust you?
But can I trust you?

(''Her tone changes. She reaches out to him.'')

'''Anne:'''
They cannot take way 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 her life.

(''She is in distress.'')

'''Walter 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.

'''Anne:'''
I have 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.'')

'''Anne:'''
There's someone coming!
And I must get away -
I have to get away!
But can I trust you?

(''She moves off towards the tunnel'')

'''Walter Hartright:'''
Don't go in there!
He said there's danger on the line.

'''Anne:'''
(''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?

'''Walter Hartright:'''
Yes

'''Servant:'''
I'm sent to bring you straight to Limm'ridge House.

'''Walter Hartright:'''
Did you see her?
A woman, dressed in white.

'''Servant:'''
I saw no one.

'''Walter Hartright:'''
A woman all in white?

'''Servant:'''
Sir, I saw no one
I saw no one

(''The servant picks up Hartight's bags and exits with them. Hartright looks around then exits after him. The light is beginning to dawn on a new day.'')