Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Prologue lyrics

( 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 a**ure 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.)