| Hallo!
|
| You there!
|
| Signal Man!
|
| Where in hell is the damn London train?
|
| I’ve heard reports there is trouble on the line!
|
| But is it expected? |
| My business here is over. |
| I must make my connection!
|
| (The Signal Man looks at him strangely)
|
| Man, why
|
| Do you
|
| Look at me
|
| In that way?
|
| I’ve done nothing wrong!
|
| (The wires begin to sound)
|
| What is this infernal noise?
|
| The wires singing in the wind
|
| (Glyde reacts strangely. The noise jangles his nerves)
|
| They’re calling me with news, sir
|
| There’s danger on the line!
|
| This terrible noise in my head!
|
| (The Signal Man runs off to his signal box)
|
| Scene: «Laura Makes Glyde Confess»
|
| (The noise of the wires reaches a terrible pitch.)
|
| (Laura, dressed as «The Woman in White», appears. She reaches her hand out to
|
| Glyde. |
| He swings round in surprise)
|
| Oh, God… Anne Catherick!
|
| (He tries to regain his composure)
|
| This isn’t real!
|
| This cannot be!
|
| You do not exist!
|
| Get away from me!
|
| You know why I’m here
|
| And what you must say
|
| Sir, you must confess
|
| Woman, stay away!
|
| Tell the truth
|
| Percival Glyde!
|
| You’ll hear my voice
|
| Inside your head
|
| For all your life
|
| And when you’re dead
|
| You won’t be free
|
| Till you express
|
| What you have done
|
| Till you confess
|
| (He backs away from her; she persists)
|
| You cannot hide
|
| You can’t go far
|
| Everywhere you go
|
| I’ll be where you are
|
| I know what you’ve done
|
| We both know what’s true
|
| Secrets must be told
|
| I’m not afraid of you!
|
| Everything you did
|
| Everyone will know
|
| That’s all in the past
|
| Buried long ago!
|
| Tell the truth
|
| Percival Glyde
|
| Didn’t you use me and hurt me?
|
| You were a beautiful girl
|
| Like none I’d ever seen
|
| You were just fifteen
|
| You and I both know the secret
|
| Something that no one could prove
|
| And who’d believe it’s true
|
| From the likes of you?
|
| You told me you were pregnant!
|
| You told me it was mine!
|
| It could have been a lie
|
| It deserved to die
|
| I had to drown your bastard!
|
| I had no other choice
|
| Before the child was due
|
| I’d had enough of you
|
| All that remains of your secret
|
| Is buried in Blackwater Lake!
|
| I watched while your disgrace
|
| Sank without a trace
|
| You beat me and you raped me!
|
| And then you drowned my child!
|
| When I was mad from grief
|
| You imprisoned me
|
| My precious little baby
|
| The heart within my heart
|
| The child I never knew
|
| All because of you
|
| And then you threw away
|
| My life!
|
| Your precious secret’s meaningless
|
| No one alive remembers you
|
| And you could save your prayers
|
| For no one truly cares
|
| It’s just like you were never born!
|
| And no one ever mourned for you!
|
| (Laura reveals herself)
|
| You’re wrong
|
| I mourn for Anne
|
| Anne Catherick!
|
| And the child of yours
|
| That you destroyed!
|
| Laura!
|
| Her secret seals your fate forever
|
| And the judgement that you can’t avoid
|
| You have kept us both a prisoner
|
| But the truth has set us free
|
| It will lock you up
|
| And damn your soul
|
| For all of eternity!
|
| You little witch!
|
| You think you can trick me!
|
| Come here!
|
| I killed her
|
| And I can kill you, too!
|
| And the beauty of it is
|
| No one will ever know
|
| Because you’re dead! |
| You’re already dead!
|
| (He lunges at Laura, grabs her by the throat. She falls to the tracks)
|
| No!
|
| (Hartright appears on the top of the cutting. He races down to help Laura)
|
| Let go of her!
|
| (He gets Laura free of Glyde. Glyde attacks Hartright. Marian enters)
|
| The drawing master, I might have known!
|
| Just give yourself up!
|
| (The men fight. Hartright is gaining the upper hand but then he is knocked to
|
| the ground.)
|
| (The villagers are assembling. Their voices overlap)
|
| He’s over there!
|
| Don’t let him get away!
|
| We know the truth!
|
| We know exactly what you’ve done!
|
| You see, Glyde?! |
| We all know what you’ve done! |
| You’ve signed your own
|
| confession! |
| The game is over!
|
| The game is never over!
|
| (Glyde runs towards the tunnel)
|
| Don’t go in there!
|
| He said there’s danger on the line!
|
| (Glyde runs into the tunnel. Hartright runs after Glyde. A huge vibration on
|
| the tracks. |
| The sound of a train approaching. |
| Marian and Laura scream.
|
| Steam everywhere. |
| Wires sounding, the train’s horn blowing. |
| A crash.)
|
| (The Signal Man comes forward with his lantern. Other men run into the tunnel.
|
| Marian is holding Laura back. |
| They are both crying. |
| There is a pause. |
| Then slowly Hartright appears from the tunnel, followed by men carrying the
|
| lifeless form of Sir Percival Glyde)
|
| And a year to the day…
|
| The dead lie on the tracks…
|
| The dead lie on the tracks…
|
| (Police come forward. The crowd starts to dissipate)
|
| Scene: «The Sisters Are Free»
|
| (Marian and Laura cling to each other. Laura is crying with relief)
|
| You were so brave
|
| And now we’re free
|
| It seemed like Anne was there with me
|
| Her spirit was my guide
|
| My sister by my side
|
| With Anne I know we’ll never part
|
| Her heart beats on within my heart
|
| (They embrace and then Laura looks to where Hartright is. Marian sees this.
|
| She goes to Hartright)
|
| Go to her
|
| Right away
|
| That is where you belong!
|
| How can I ask your blessing
|
| With all that we’ve been through?
|
| Our world has changed
|
| You must find it in your heart
|
| To overlook what we’ve done
|
| And make another start
|
| Once again
|
| As we were
|
| If not for me, for her
|
| (Walter goes to Laura)
|
| Every part of every thought
|
| Leads me straight to you
|
| And with all my soul
|
| I believe my heart
|
| The portrait that it paints of you
|
| Is a perfect work of art
|
| (Laura and Hartright embrace. They go to Marian. Laura takes off her shawl,
|
| the shawl she wore as Anne Catherick, and places it around Marian.
|
| Laura and Walter leave. |
| Marian is suddenly alone. |
| She is overcome with grief)
|
| I close my eyes
|
| And I still see his face!
|
| (The sun starts to rise. Marian walks to the graveyard. The stonemason is
|
| chipping out the name Anne Catherick and her dates 1839−1860 on Laura’s grave.
|
| Marian watches. |
| As the day dawns, she is alone. |
| The stonemason continues to
|
| tap. |
| Tap, tap, tap)
|
| THE END |