The Woman in White by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel - Dialogue and Script

HARTRIGHT You must be Miss Halcombe-I'm so sorry- MARIAN (interrupting him) Thank God you have arrived you're fated to become  my drawing teacher you poor creature Our village is as dull as it may first appear a city mouse in Limm'ridge house I hope you'll like it here You're less than half the age that we thought you might be you'll feed our hunger for someone younger so please unpack your bags and please be of good cheer I'm sure you'll like where you reside but with respect I must confide I can't abide the countryside I hope you'll like it here You shall be the drawing master to my sister and me though she learns a little faster a disaster I will be We're the product of one mother but we come from diff'rent fathers I think mine, for design was completely talent free Very soon you'll meet my sister well, she's tech'nic'ly my half but she's my whole world-my sister is the wheat and I'm the chaff She's kind and generous and fun much younger, and the pretty one! My father was quite poor her father's wealth was vast so she'll inherit and gladly share it We're close as two can get Between us not one tear perpetually in harmony I hope you'll like it here Pretty soon you'll meet my uncle whose prognosis is quite grim he will tell you that his chances of recovery are slim With his bed pan and his hanky he is terminally cranky  though no doctor around found a thing that's wrong with him But how do I go on I try to keep it short then lose the battle and simply prattle  but getting to my point my welcome is sincere We're thrilled that's indisputable I hope your rooms are suitable your sentence is commutable I hope you like it here SERVANT: Mr Walter Hartright HARTRIGHT: Mr Fairlie! MR. FAIRLIE: You're younger than I thought The young are mostly fools The good time ceases with my nieces Just go about your task And Try to dissapear (to the servant) Don't lurk about you oafish lout (to Hartright) I trust you'll like it here That's a portrait of my brother.... Was the picture of good heath... Now he's dead and I am dying... While I'm living...on his wealth Up until he left for Hades He was a catnip to the ladies... But at least the deceased had a modicum of stealth Well enough about my fam'ly (to servant) Would you please adjust my chair? (to Hartright) I should send you back to ripen Like a proper camambert Though I should find some other chap I'd much prefer to take a nap (to servant who reappears) I told you to get out! I simply can't go on My nerves are fraying... What was I saying? Oh, mostly I desire A quiet atmosphere As silent as a sepulchre No utterance above a purr Just nod you head If you concur I trust you'll like it here. Perspective HARTRIGHT: (softly) My God! You must be Miss Fairlie? I am Walter Hartright. Forgive me if I scared you. LAURA: Not at all! Welcome! Your're a very nice surprise. MARIAN: Is she not the way that I described her? We're as unalike as black and white LAURA: Still we are insep'rable MARIAN: Joined as day to night, Very clearly of a diff'rent feather - We're an odd but merry pair of birds! She'd say I'm verbose and garrulous- LAURA: But in fewer words! MARIAN: Laura! LAURA: I fear your journey here was tedious? HARTRIGHT My journey was filled with drama! First I met the local Signal Man a strange and unearthly man.  He told me he'd had a vision that I would come and that I would bring tragedy in my wake. LAURA: Heavens! HARTRIGHT: Indeed! 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!" MARIAN: How strange! HARTRIGHT: What happened next was stranger still A woman breathless and afraid Appeared out of the night! Completely dressed in white She had a secret she would tell Of one who had mistreated her Her face and frightened gaze My mind cannot erase But then she ran from view (to Laura) She looked so much like you. LAURA: Perhaps you saw a ghost? HARTRIGHT: Ghost or not, she haunts me still. She looked so much like you! MARIAN: We must clear up this mystery! HARTRIGHT: But first, ladies, we must take advantage of this wonderful light! MARIAN: Nothing's duller than my watercolouring I've next to no technique at all LAURA: My pen and ink are passable MARIAN: My pen and ink appall. All my sketching soon with have you wretching. I'm a notch below a chimpanzee LAURA: But we're highly trainable MARIAN: We shall wait and see. HARTRIGHT: You can capture shade and light best of all perspective MARIAN: All I ever do is trite HARTRIGHT: Beauty is subjective you'll develop your own style MARIAN: He has such a winning smile HARTRIGHT: You will know when it feels right. LAURA: I could trust him at first sight. HARTRIGHT: Be observant, be a humble servent, Stay dedicated to your art LAURA: I can hardly concentrate MARIAN: What a shaky start HARTRIGHT: Don't conceal the things you think and feel Get you emotion flowing through your brush MARIAN: If I follow your advice You would surely blush LAURA: If I'd practice what you preach I'd be more effective HARTRIGHT: She's so clearly out of reach Seen from my perspective MARIAN: He's a beath of summer air HARTRIGHT: See the sunlight in her hair LAURA: I must disregard his charms LAURA/MARIAN:  And his manly rugged arms MARIAN: Give me people not a tree or steeple Not a slice of apple on a knife Still life's not as int'resting A a slice of life HARTRIGHT: Your're improving, this is very moving, That's a cocker spaniel clear and true. MARIAN: Thank you for the compliment I was sketching you! ALL THREE: Whats the reason that I am here? What is my objective? What a strirring atmosphere! But where is my perspective? Can you get a dizzy thrill? While the world is standing still? Yet the summer's drifting by While these golden moments fly. Trying Not to Notice MARIAN: Sweet tension fills the air which I know I ought not dwell upon I look away and still see him there I'm trying not to notice him yet I can't help but stare HARTRIGHT: No gazing! Know your place words that I'd be wise to tell myself! I close my eyes and I still see her face I'm trying not to notice her but I don't stand a chance LAURA: I'm trying not to notice him yet I return each glance A thousand contradictions are stirring in my soul they seem to grow in me overflow in me HARTRIGHT: In spite of my convictions I'm losing my control MARIAN: I'm slightly shocked inside keep it locked inside ALL THREE: Unspoken Unexpressed Still it's louder than a symphony Can no one hear what my heart seems to shout? Perhaps they do not notice it Though it's as plain as day I'm trying not to notice it But it won't go away I Believe My Heart HARTRIGHT: Whenever I look at you the world disappears all in a single glance so revealing you smile and I feel as though I've known you for years how do I know to trust what I'm feeling? I believe my heart what else can I do when ev'ry part of ev'ry thought  leads me straight to you I believe my heart there's no other choice for now whenever my heart speaks I can only hear your voice LAURA: The lifetime before we met has faded away how did I live a moment without you?  You don't have to speak at all I know what you'd say and I know every secret about you I believe my heart it believes in you it's telling me that what I see is completely true I believe my heart how can it be wrong it says that what I feel for you I will feel my whole life long BOTH: I believe my heart and it believes in you it's telling me that what I see is completely true And with all my soul I belive my heart the portrait that it paints of you is a perfect work of art (He takes the sketch that he has made of her and gives it to her) HARTRIGHT: I'm afraid it doesn't do you justice Lammastide ALL: Ripe golden fields and the  bounty the bring Reason enough for to dance and to sing Dance for who knows if we'll live till its spring Sing For it's Lammastide (A young girl goes up to Laura and gives her a corn dolly) ALL: Winds of the winter As sharp as a thorn Soon will assault us As sure as we're born GIRL: Who will protect us? A doll made of corn ALL: Dance! For it's Lammastide MEN: Please spend the season Pressed in my arms Rest in my arms WOMEN: Merrily, merrily We'll end the season Wrapped in your arms MEN: Trapped in your arms WOMEN: Verily, verily ALL: Ripe golden fields and the v bounty they bring Reason enough for to dance and to sing Dance for who knows if we'll live till it's spring Sing For it's Lammastide MEN: Please end the season Pressed in my arms Blessed in my arms WOMEN: Verily, verily Although we may protest in your arms We'll nest in your arms ALL: Merrily, merrily After we harvest the fruits of the earth Time for the home and a moment of mirth MEN: Time for a dance WOMEN: And the chance of rebirth ALL: Sing For it's Lammastide Ripe golden fields and the bounty they bring Reason enough for to dance and to sing Dance for who knows if we'll live till it's spring Sing  For it's Lammastide! Dance  For it's Lammastide! Sing For it's Lammastide! (At the end of the song, we see the same young girl being excluded from the festivities. her mother scolds her and she does not enter the church with the others) MOTHER (to little girl): You'll wait outside till you see sense, my girl Gift for Living Well FOSCO: No, no, no! I am a man  of medicine no opera star,  my voice is thin Though I play cards  and violin at none of these do I excel The talent that I have in spades Is one for fun and escapades A gift for living well Atracted to the lively arts Breaking bread, breaking hearts Making love, when love has me spellbound Italian food the wines of France I never walk when I can dance A gift for living well A one man band I sing the lead Always self-accompanied I concede I'm probably hellbound A bon vivant As you can see A *** for life as big as... me! A gift for living well But enough about me! Raise your glasses (Fosco raises his glass to the bride and groom) Sir Percival Glyde! ALL: (Raising their glasses) Oh what a joyous occasion this is Sir Percival Glyde! FOSCO: Dolce vita to you and your Mrs! GLYDE:  This is the moment I've longed for MARIAN:  Everything's for the best now MR FAIRLIE:  I'll have an empty nest now ALL:  And here's to the bride! Cheers for the life they will lead now... (Hartright suddenly interrupts the toast-addresses Sir Percival Glyde) HARTRIGHT:  Please let me speak and forgive my interruption Please hear me out On a very pressing matter One that concerns a girl Her name is Anne, Anne Cath'rick She says you've done her wrong Have you an explanation? All for Laura MARIAN: Inner voices Keeping me awake Will I ever sleep again? Reassessing- Everything I've done Choices that I can't explain All for Laura This is what I prayed All for Laura Have I betrayed you? With our old life Ever out of reach Look at what I've led you to God forgive me Look at what I've done Look how I protected you. All for Laura Shouldn't I have known? I know one thing We are alone now I sent away the man The man that we could trust The only man that we both love All for Laura Was it really you, Who I was thinking of? All for Laura But at the start Were you foremost in my heart? All for Laura That's how I'll live Till I save you Till you forgive me I'll dedicate my life I swear upon my soul I'll find a way to set you free All for Laura Till my dying breath Long as you're in need of me I will somehow learn to be strong I will live to right this wrong If I Could Only Dream This World Away LAURA: If I could only dream this world away I'd awake In your arms If I could keep this bitter life at bay Wide awake In your arms The vow that keeps me from you I cannot undo I'm lost Lost in a fantasy that can't come true If I could only dream this world away I'd awake  In your arms I long to sleep forever Dreaming only of you I'm lost How many nights like this can I go through? MARIAN: I am sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Oh, Laura, you look so pale! LAURA: What are they doing? MARIAN: They have retired to the library LAURA: Stay here with me! MARIAN: We can't just wait like victims I'll find out what they're up to LAURA: I'm so frightened Please don't leave me MARIAN: We must know what their next move is. LAURA: No! MARIAN: Laura, they don't scare me Hush, now, go to sleep. Evermore Without You HARTRIGHT: Ever on my mind Evermore without you I'll never know a thought or feeling That isn't about you Never more alone Never to forget you Not when my life was changed forever the first time I met you You're all I know And though I've lost you, you're someone I can't let go of Every living day Ever filled with sorrow How can I face a life without you Or even tomorrow? Evermore without you Were we never meant to be? Nevermore alone Never to forget you Not when my life was changed forever the first time I met you You're all I know And though I've lost you you're someone I can't let go of Every living day Ever filled with sorrow How can I face a life without you Or even tomorrow? Evermore without you Were we never meant to be? Every living day Ever filled with sorrow How can I face a life without you? Evermore without you We were never meant to be. You Can Get Away With Anything FOSCO: Time to fly the coop, my doves! Arriverderci, Londra! No tears, bambini. You must learn to far la bella figura!  Put on a good show!  Always Count Fosco-he puts on a good show! My little friends, you are all in this world that I trust Now we must find a new home and I see you're non plussed Now that we've won and we have all the spoils We must see that we don't miss the boat But you'll forgive me if I take a moment to gloat You can get away with anything It all comes down to style You'll have a captive audience As long as you beguile Yes, you can have your cake and eat it The love of those whom you betray But you can't get away with anything If you don't get away I admit that I'm a criminal obsessed with perfect crimes But even one as good as I can bungle it sometimes Yes even one who is a genius can now and then get in a scrape But no endeavor's a catastrophe as long as you escape And we are off! Out that door! We'll pack our bags my little friends and leave the scene while we are winners And long before the story ends as wealthy unrepentant sinners We all have got a spot of farce in us but only some of us are larcenous And few still the divine thrill in us that comes from being truly villainous You can get away with anything to prove it is my sport I live to push the boundaries to break the rules, in short One must be something of a bounder if one intends to play this game There's only one thing that one has to have one has to have no shame Yes I can get away with everything because I have no shame Seduction SERVANT: Miss Marian Halcombe FOSCO: To what, Miss Halcombe, do we owe this honour? Each successive day was getting duller MARIAN: Well I somehow thought you might be missing me FOSCO: I must tell you scarlet is your color MARIAN: I cannot spend all my life in mourning Though in ev'ry way I miss my sister FOSCO: Truly you display a healthy attitude MARIAN: I'm for the first time on my own FOSCO: Really you need not be alone One should explore on'es playful side MARIAN: You are a guide most qualified FOSCO: I leave in the morning for the continent MARIAN: In my provincial world I cannot be content FOSCO: We could lead a life that would be well mis-spent MARIAN: And I have no doubt that would be thrilling But alas it seems my glass requires refilling Delicious! Sir if I remove my shoes would that be shocking? FOSCO: I'd be breathless as your buckles are undone I would walk to Warsaw just to see your stocking  And to see your shapely ankle I would run MARIAN: You should know it took great courage for this visit But I must admit that I am glad that I am here FOSCO: And that dress you're falling out of is exquisite MARIAN: Though I'm trembling it is clearly not from fear FOSCO: It's apparent we were made for one another We're each other's moon and sun, we're so well matched Though my feelings aren't remotely like a brother We are over twenty-one and unattached MARIAN: I've been waiting all my life for an adventure FOSCO: What in truth you have been waiting for is me Let us begin our minuette MARIAN: No looking back and no regret Don't I deserve a life of bliss? FOSCO: (intimate) Think of this as the precipice (They kiss) I can open up a world you've only heard of MARIAN : Introduce me to a life beyond your dreams FOSCO: We'll share secrets that we'll never breath a word of And we'll take pursuit of pleasure to extremes BOTH: You and I are willing to defy convention You're my equal both in joie de vivre and wit We find another worthy of attention we don't care what others think of us one bit FOSCO: As a paramour I'm rather out of practicev But I'll rise to this occasion I embrace MARIAN: But that beard of yours is rather like a cactus May I save, if not my virtue then my face? Would you kindly shave it off Do be a darling? FOSCO: Then I will fly back to your side just like a startling MARIAN (sotto voce) Think, think Marian. Where is it? Where is it? Please! Yes! FOSCO: Now my chin is even softer than a baby Let's resume this tete a tete from where we were MARIAN: Though my heart says yes, my head's now saying maybe And my feet are growing colder and concur FOSCO: When I left this room were we both not on fire? Weren't we both about to give romance a whirl? MARIAN: On reflection I found out I'm somewhat shy-er And perhaps I'm not really that kind of girl FOSCO: It appears that you have lost your taste for kissing So I'd appreciate if you'd return what's missing MARIAN: Please. Please let me go. Please. FOSCO: This game is through  You think you win But think about What might have been If you had let romance begin Instead of hiding In your shell One day you'll see What you have spurned My precious gift  That you returned A gift for living well Your every day A great event Living on the continent Yes, it's true I would have you spellbound This game of hearts You gladly trade  For solitaire (with venom) and old maid And so I say fare well MARIAN: Someday your past will catch you up FOSCO: Please don't let me keep you I can get away with ev'rything Except the girl, perhaps My epic charms have undergone  a temporary lapse But when it's time to make an exit and I am halfway out the door As long as one is leaving anyway then leave them wanting more