[Intro][Muted guitar and brushed drums establish a rocking 6/8 sway. Two spotlights find opposite sides of one compartment door.]

[Male Vocal: Nico][Spoken Word]
Wagen 214. Lower berth, by the wall.

[Female Vocal: Elena][Spoken Word]
Then why does my ticket say the same thing?

[Verse 1][Duet: Nico and Elena]
[Male Vocal: Nico]
I held up my ticket, rain-soft at the fold.
[Female Vocal: Elena]
I kept mine in plastic, the print sharp and bold.
[Male Vocal: Nico]
"There's nothing but strings in the case at my feet."
[Female Vocal: Elena]
"There's twenty years packed underneath this seat."
[Male Vocal: Night Porter][Spoken Cameo]
"Share until Vienna. Both tickets say the same."
[Duet: Nico and Elena]
The porter stepped back. We looked at the rain.

[Chorus][Duet: Nico and Elena]
Berth 214, two strangers, one door,
One pillow too few, one bag on the floor.
Berth 214, neither settled nor sure,
Keep your bag close; I'll watch the corridor.
The wheels keep the time when our answers fall short,
Two lives sharing air while the border guards board.

[Verse 2][Duet: Nico and Elena]
[Male Vocal: Nico]
I took the top rack though my berth was below.
[Female Vocal: Elena]
I cracked the window one finger for air.
[Male Vocal: Nico]
Rain crossed the glass; my third string rang low.
[Female Vocal: Elena]
"Do you play for your supper, or sleep anywhere?"
[Male Vocal: Nico]
"A meal and a mattress. The rest can wait."
[Female Vocal: Elena]
I turned when he asked why I travelled so late.

[Pre-Chorus][Duet: Nico and Elena]
[Female Vocal: Elena]
The message came first in Czech, clipped and plain.
[Male Vocal: Nico]
Then German, then English ran under the door.
[Female Vocal: Elena]
Prague drew red signals across the wet pane.
[Duet: Nico and Elena]
We studied our hands and said nothing more.

[Chorus][Duet: Nico and Elena]
Berth 214, two strangers, one door,
One pillow too few, one bag on the floor.
Berth 214, neither settled nor sure,
Keep your bag close; I'll watch the corridor.
The wheels keep the time when our answers fall short,
Two lives sharing air while the border guards board.

[Instrumental Break][Harmonica repeats the whistle motif. Nico answers on guitar while Elena taps the rhythm against the window frame.]

[Verse 3][Duet: Nico and Elena]
[Female Vocal: Elena]
I showed him a picture of one coastal street,
White harbour walls, red roofs, a square in the heat.
[Male Vocal: Nico]
I opened my old case, its black lining torn,
Small clubs, borrowed floors, names faded and worn.
[Female Vocal: Elena]
I laughed at one sticker half loose from the side.
[Male Vocal: Nico]
She pressed it down gently. I let the rest slide.
[Spoken Word: Conductor]
"Tickets and passports. Hold both where I can see."
[Male Vocal: Nico]
We reached without flinching; her hand brushed my sleeve.

[Bridge][Duet: Nico and Elena]
[Female Vocal: Elena]
I moved my old suitcase and cleared him some space.
[Male Vocal: Nico]
I played one low chord in the blue reading light.
[Duet: Nico and Elena]
The boots in the passage drew close to our place;
We sat shoulder-close till they passed out of sight.

[Final Chorus][Duet: Nico and Elena]
Berth 214, two strangers, one door,
One pillow too few, one bag on the floor.
Berth 214, neither settled nor sure,
Keep your bag close; I'll watch the corridor.
The wheels keep the time when our answers fall short,
Two lives sharing air while the border guards board.

[Post-Chorus][Duet: Nico and Elena]
One key on the hook, two names on the sheet;
Vienna might part us where rail and platform meet.

[Outro][The duet hums the three-note motif. A soft knock lands on the compartment door; the audience answers with three quiet taps.]

[Duet: Nico and Elena]
One carriage rolling.
Two strangers awake.
Vienna ahead of us.
The dark at our backs.