CHORUS
Now we know (And now we know)
‘We're not alone (We're not alone)

NARRATOR
Planet Earth, eighteen thirty five
On a Tuesday, August twenty-fifth
The penny paper New York Sun
Ran a story claiming there was life
On the lunar surface, who would believe this?
...Everyone believed this

SUN EMPLOYEES
(excited crowd noises)

NARRATOR
Thomas sent for Samuel
Called back to work, and when he arrived
People applauded
A room left for dead, now looked alive

SUN EMPLOYEES
(excited counterpoint)

SUN EMPLOYEE 1
Samuel, Samuel
Is it true?
SAMUEL
Yes, I'm telling you
Yes, I'm telling you
John sent me a copy of his notes
It’s all here

SUN EMPLOYEE 2
Samuel, Samuel
Is there more?

SAMUEL
Yes, there's plenty more
Yes, there's plenty more
Weekly columns full of breaking news
Have no fear

SUN EMPLOYEE 3
How'd you get the exclusive?
Do you know the man?

SAMUEL
He's a family friend
We've been in touch since he began
It traveled by post from the African coast
Since he’s still on his quest
I wish that he were around
He'd put all of your doubts to rest
CHORUS
A young man with a pencil
Thought he was lost, but he turned the tide
Young man with potential
Saving our paper and saving our hide

SAMUEL
Benjamin

BENJAMIN
Samuel, I have never
Seen the Sun this way

SAMUEL
Early returns are good?

BENJAMIN
We'll be rich by the end of the day!

NARRATOR
Chester Thomas
Owner of the New York Sun
Opens his door
And glares at everyone

THOMAS
Samuel, my office
NARRATOR
Though his paper's in demand
Selling fiction’s not his brand
Samuel Stratford forced his hand
Now he’s in a fragile state
Money tends to complicate
Things that once had no debate

THOMAS
It’s all a lie
One big lie
I saw it on your notebook yesterday
It’s a hoax
One big hoax
Your arrogance is fully on display
To think that you could pull the wool
Over this city’s eyes
What you did is staggering
But it is no surprise
‘Cause you're a lie
One big lie
So naive and blinded by your youth
I'm not mad... uh, wait...
Why aren't I mad?
‘Cause what if this big lie became the truth?
I could huff and puff until
Your story disappears
​​But we just sold more papers
Than we did all of last year
It’s a lie
One big lie
A lie that I can live with if I try
I’ll be rich
I’ll be so rich
I hate and love you so much I could cry
Oh, I'm sorry you were fired
Welcome back, you're hired
The work you're doing with your sister's
Wonderfully inspired
I have faith in you, sonny
Don't try anything funny
Good talk, now make me money

BENJAMIN
What happened in there?

SAMUEL
…I don’t know. I think I was...
Complimented?

BENJAMIN
(laughs) Welcome back, Samuel

CHORUS
When the working day is through
Samuel walks the avenue
The same one he and Rose had walked for ages
Manhattan was a gorgeous sight
But he would get no sleep tonight

ROSE
Samuel, there you are!
Let’s go, we have work to do

SAMUEL
New adventures to accrue

ROSE, SAMUEL
An empty book's in front of you
It’s time to fill the pages

MARGARET
Don't be scared of the dark
Cause that is where the dreaming starts...