VESPER - SYNOPSIS
ACT 1
In mid-June 1952, in a London newsroom, there is a morning bustle just before the editorial meeting. The staff reporters discuss current world events, the royal family, geopolitics, sports, and the struggles Brits face with post-war life—all of which are covered in the daily newspaper - NEWS OF THE DAY.
Julia, a young cub reporter covering cultural events and a gossip column about the "upper echelons of society," receives a call from a detective friend that World War II heroine – Vesper, also known as Christine Granville, Pauline Armand and in real life the Polish countess Krystyna Skarbek, the longest-serving female spy in the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill's favorite secret agent who referred to her in letters to his daughter as "my number one spy," has been murdered.
During a turbulent editorial meeting, Julia, citing her acquaintance with the victim, asks to be assigned to cover the story of the crime. She persuades her boss, editor John, boldly declaring - GIVE ME THIS BREAK!
The young journalist attends Vesper's funeral, where she meets Detective Fred, a longtime friend of her late father. Fred explains that he specifically contacted her because he believes in her journalistic talent and hopes she will write an article reflecting the truth about Vesper, not gossip and sensational conspiracies - THE REASON I CALLED.
Thanks to Fred, Julia meets Vesper's close friends and wartime colleagues – Andrew, Francis, and Xan – who bid her farewell in their eulogy - LITTLE STAR. Julia asks them about their motivations for joining the famous Special Operations Executive (S. O. E). In a flashback to the early 1940s, they recall their top-secret training for spy missions and the times of training as British secret agents - ANSWER THE CALL.
Returning to 1951, Julia, in a chance encounter with Vesper, reminisces being orphaned by her mother's death during the War and how much Vesper resembles her - SPIRITS ALIGNED. She is so deeply impressed by the heroic actions of the three gentlemen that she asks for honest accounts of their comrade-in-arms, who, along with them, undertook many successful and dangerous secret missions, during which she used her language skills, wits, and powers of persuasion while showing remarkable courage.
In a flashback to 1941, the men take us to the battlefields of World War II. Andrew recounts a secret mission during which he accompanies Vesper, who succeeds in her undercover retrieval of enemy documents. Vesper simulated illness so convincingly - IT'S NOTHING, JUST A CONDITION - that she managed to escape certain death at the hands of a Wehrmacht officer, initiating her and Andrew's daring land escape from Budapest to Cairo - NO TIME FOR LOVE.
ACT 2
Francis and Xan continue to recount their life-threatening sabotage operations carried out in Southern France in the summer of 1944. They recall how Vesper outwitted an evil Gestapo officer, saving them from certain death. The popular World War I pub tune FRANKIE AND JOHNNY underscored their daring escape.
Andrew, Xan, and Francis ask Julia how she met Vesper. The journalist describes the maiden voyage of the Ruahine, an ocean liner sailing to New Zealand. The two women met at a special passenger teatime ceremony when the captain asked the crew to wear the War decorations they received as recognition for their service - WE REMEMBER.
Vesper, having spent six and a half years since the War, trying and failing to find meaningful purpose and employment, now employed on a British cruise ship as a cabin attendant, had so many decorations that she attracted all the attention and inspired admiration from the passengers, to the grievous envy of her crewmates. A non-ranking, lowly crewman, Dennis, aids her with the uncomfortable atmosphere.
Julia, fascinated by Vesper's wartime achievements and life experiences - A NEW OUTLOOK - asks how a heroine with the highest British and French war decorations could come to work as a stewardess on a ship. In response, Julia receives a heartfelt lament from Vesper - WHAT BECOMES OF ME NOW?
Andrew, Francis, Xan, and Fred discuss Vesper's troubled relationship with Dennis, who became obsessed with her, ultimately killing her. They feel guilt for not foreseeing the tragedy and doing nothing to prevent it asking each other WHAT COULD WE HAVE DONE? They attend Dennis' trial as observers, hoping a guilty verdict will bring justice.
Just before entering the courtroom, Julia discovers that John, instead of printing her truthful story, had gone ahead and printed a sensational article portraying Vesper as cloaked in mystery and deceit. John defends his decision, but Julia protests - I WAS SO CLOSE. He reminds Julia and Vesper's angered friends that the newspaper business is a ruthless competition. The public, gathered in the courtroom, confirms his words, announcing loud and clear that they prefer reading about scandals - PAPER'S STORIES.
Dennis stands before the court and admits to the crime. When the judge asks if he has anything further to say in his defense, he refuses to answer aloud but defends himself in his mind. He tells of his miserable life and Vesper's unrequited love, which he cites as justification for killing her - I RAISED MY HAND.
Verdict announced, the observers are overcome with deep sorrow and realize that although Dennis' harshest punishment was brought, it will not bring Vesper back to life - JUSTICE IS SERVED. A heartbroken Andrew mourns the loss of the love of his life - TIME STANDS ALONE. Julia makes it her mission to tell the world the heroic, true story of this honored Polish heroine. Ultimately, all state that they will remember Vesper and CARRY ON IN A DEDICATION.