[Intro][Palm-muted guitar pulses against stop-start drums. Harmonica states the whistle motif; Josef names signals as they pass across the back wall.]

[Male Vocal: Josef][Spoken Word]
Green past the bridge. Amber at the yard. Red at—

[Female Vocal: Mara][Spoken Word]
Josef, sit down.

[Verse 1][Duet: Mara and Josef]
[Female Vocal: Mara]
He gripped at the wall when the carriage swung left.
The colour left his face; cold sweat crossed his neck.
[Male Vocal: Josef]
"Only tired. Keep moving. The coast isn't far."
[Female Vocal: Mara]
His pulse stumbled fast underneath my two fingers.
I lowered him slowly onto the seat,
Loosened his collar and cleared space at his feet.
[Male Vocal: Josef]
"I've worked longer nights in the old dining car."
[Female Vocal: Mara]
"Not this one. Stay here. Let the conductor call."

[Pre-Chorus][Duet: Mara and Josef]
[Female Vocal: Mara]
Sit down.
[Male Vocal: Josef]
I am fine.
[Female Vocal: Mara]
Look at me.
Not this time.

[Chorus][Duet: Mara and Josef][Female Lead: Mara; Josef on Low Wordless Harmony]
Every signal has a name; each colour calls.
Green sends you onward. Red can stop us all.
Tonight I am reading the one meant for you:
Sit till your breathing comes steady and true.
You have watched half of Europe through darkness and rain;
Let another pair of hands watch over you again.

[Verse 2][Duet: Mara and Josef]
[Female Vocal: Mara]
The conductor called medics ahead at Graz.
I kept Josef talking; each breath came fast.
[Male Vocal: Josef]
"The coast is not far. I can sleep when we get there."
[Female Vocal: Mara]
"You taught us what timetables fail to record:
The heat in a bearing, a name left unchecked.
Your body is warning you. Let me read that."
[Male Vocal: Josef]
I named two more junctions, then searched for the third.
[Female Vocal: Mara]
I held out the spoon. "Stay awake. Take my hand."

[Pre-Chorus][Duet: Mara and Josef]
[Female Vocal: Mara]
Slow down.
Stay awake.
[Male Vocal: Josef]
Graz after Semmering.
Then I take a break.

[Instrumental Break][Bass and rim click continue alone as the train slows. Guitar chords return with the platform lights of Graz.]

[Verse 3][Duet: Mara and Josef]
[Female Vocal: Mara]
At Graz, two medics were waiting by the gate.
The board showed departure eleven minutes late.
[Male Vocal: Josef]
I closed the ledger and handed it to Mara.
"Finish the entries. You'll reach morning soon."
[Female Vocal: Mara]
Nico raised his case and offered to stay.
[Male Vocal: Josef]
"Play when you get there. I'll hear it someday."
[Female Vocal: Mara]
Elena kissed both of his weathered cheeks.
The father found one sentence when no one could speak.

[Bridge][Spoken Cameo: Father]
You saved Nico's ticket. You counted each head.
You heard the hot bearing before it gave way.
We will mark this hour where the southbound lines meet.
You leave at this station. Your watch stays with us.

[Final Chorus][Duet: Mara and Josef, Josef from the Platform][Female Lead: Mara with Full Ensemble; Josef on Low Wordless Harmony]
Every signal has a name; each colour calls.
Green sends you onward. Red can stop us all.
Tonight I am reading the one meant for you:
Sit till your breathing comes steady and true.
You have watched half of Europe through darkness and rain;
Let another pair of hands watch over you again.

[Post-Chorus][Full Ensemble]
Josef's name went down beside the platform and the time.
One guard left the train; his watch travelled the line.

[Outro][Harmonica plays the motif from the platform while the band answers from the moving train.]

[Female Vocal: Mara]
Josef grew smaller.
Graz passed from view.
The ledger lay open
At a page marked blue.