The Fall of the City an episode of Columbia Workshop -

Please enjoy The Fall of the City a great episode of the legendaryColumbia Workshop - - A Classic Old Time radio Show

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The Columbia Workshop presents the Fall ofthe City by Archibald MacLeish. Ladies and
gentlemen. This broadcast comes to youfrom the city the world has watched with
wonder for three days. Not forthe common occasions of brutal crime. Are
the usual violence of one sort oranother. Are coronations of kings or popular

(00:23):
festivals. No, but for strangerand disturbing reasons. A resurrection from death
in the tomb of a dead woman. Each day, for three days there
has come to the door of hertomb at noon, a woman buried.
The terror that stands at the shoulderof our time touches the cheek. With
this the flesh winces. There havebeen other omens and other cities, but

(00:47):
never of this sort, and neverso credible. In a time like hours,
seemings importance signify Ours is a generationwhen dogs howl in the skin,
crawls on the skull with its beastsfrom boarding. All men now alive with
us have feared. We have smelledthe wind in the street, the changes

(01:07):
weather. We have seen, thefamiliar room grow unfamiliar. The order of
numbers alter, the expectation cheat theexpectant eye, the appearance defaults with us
here in this city. The wallof the time cracks. We take you
now to the great square of thiscity. We are here on the central

(01:34):
sidor. We are well off tothe eastwood edge. There's a kind of
turret over the crowd here, whichis precisely four minutes to twelve. The
card is enormous. There might beten thousand, there might be more.
The whole square is faced bops itover the roast of the mountains. Despite
clear There are birds circling. Wethink they are kites by the look.
They're very high. The two roomis off to the right somewhere we can't

(01:57):
see for the great crowd close toit. There of haabinet minutes. They
stand on a raised platform with awnings. The farmers rives are squatting on the
stones. Their children are falling asleepon their shoulders. The heat is harsh.
The light dazzles like metal. Itdazes the air as the clang of
a throng does. There's one minuteto twelve. Now there is still no
sign. They are still waiting.No one doubts that she will come.

(02:21):
No one doubts that she will speaktoo. Three times she has not spoken.
Now it's well. Now they arerising. Now the whole plaza is
rising. Fathers are lifting their smallchildren, their bloom Fans on the platform
are motionless. There's no sound butthe shuffle of shoe leather. Now even
the shoes are still. We canhear the hawks. It is as quiet

(02:46):
as right now. It is strangeto see such throngs so silent. Nothing
yet, nothing has happened. Wait, there's a stir here to the right
of it. They're turning in myhead. The crowd turns, the cabinet
ministers leaned from their balcony. There'sno sound, only the turning. First

(03:07):
the waters rose with no wind.Listen, that is she, she's speaking.
Then the stones of the temple,kindled without flame or tinder of maize,
leads her beyond us the crowd Caesar. Then there were cries in the
night haze, words in a onceheard tongue, the air rustling above us,

(03:29):
as at dawn with Helen. Nowit is I who must bring fear,
I who am four days dead.The tears still unshd for me,
all of them, I for whoma child still calls at nightfall. Death
is young in me to fear mydress is kept stealing the press in my

(03:53):
bedchamber. No one has broken thedish of a dead woman. Nevertheless,
I must speak painfully. I amto stand here in the sun and speak.
The city of masterless men will takea master. There will be shouting

(04:13):
men blood after Do not ask whatit means. I do not know,
only sorrow and no hope for it. Share God, Oh, they are
still looking. It is hard toreturn from the time past. I have

(04:35):
come in the dream. We mustlearn to dream where the crumbling of time,
like the ash from a burnt string, has stopped. For me,
For you, the threads till burns. You take the feathery ash upon your
fingers. You bring yourselves from atime past, and it pleases you.

(04:56):
It is hard to return to theold nearness, harder to go again.
She is gone, we know becausethe crowd is closing. All we can
see is the crowd closing. Wehear the releasing of hilled breath, the
weight shifting, the lifting of shoeleather. The stillness is broken, as

(05:17):
surface of water is broken, thesound circling from in outward, A small
wonder. They feel fear before themurders of the famous kings, before imperial
cities burned and fell. The deadwere said to show themselves and speak.
When dead men came, disaster cameresentiments that let the living on their beds

(05:43):
sleep on, woke dead men outof death, and gave them voices asterless
men, When shall it be aspeousmen will take a master? What has
she said to us? When shallit be? Masterless men will take a
master? Love after thanks to us? Where I'm living around this like capital

(06:08):
which smells death. The whole squareis boiling and turning and shouting. One
of the ministers raises his arms onthe platform. No one is listening.
Now. They are sounding drums,trying to quiet from my place. No,
No, something is happening there inthe far corner, a runner,
a messenger staggering. People are seeing, and people are calling. He comes
to the crowd. They acquiet her. Only those on the far edge are

(06:29):
still shouting. Listen. He's hereby the ministers. Now he is speaking.
There is come the conqueror. Iam to tell you I've raced over
sea land, I run over Canland. I've climbed over corn Land. It
was laid on my shoulders by showering, by shad. That's standing by day
and staying by night. We're notfrom my lot till I came to the

(06:53):
sight of yours. Now I havecome. Be warned of this conqueror.
This one is dangerous, is outawed him east of the sea cross has
all taken every country. No menof fee there ears overhear them. Their
words are their murderers, just beforejudgment, tried after trial, they die
as to animals. All of theirthroats is to go to a spotterer.

(07:15):
Terror has taught themness. Now heis here. I tell you, beware
of him. All thors are dangerous. The warders of wealth will admit him
by stealth. The lovers of menwill invite him his friend. The drinkers
of blood will drumm in him suddenlyhopeful, and latch to him hopelessness open,
I say, and say truly toall in in honesty, such is

(07:38):
this conqueror. Shame is his people. Liquors are spittles, if their lives
are unspeakable. They're dying indecent.Wait, I have said to you.
They are leading him out his legs. Give Now he has gone. In
the crowd, they are silent.No one has spoken since he is speaking.

(08:01):
They stand so circling the governors.No one has spoken or call them
out. There's no stir at all, nor movement. Even the farthest have
stood patiently. They wait, trustingthe old men. They wait faithfully,
trusting the answer. Now the huddleon the platform opens, A minister turns
to them, raising his two arms. Hmen of this nation, The persuasion

(08:26):
of your wills against your wisdom isnot dreamed of. We arefer themes for
your consideration. What is the surestdefender of liberty? Is it not?
Liberty for free people resists by Freedom'snot locks, not blockhouses. The future

(08:52):
is a mirror where the past marchesto meet itself. Go on towards arms,
peace full, towards peace, free, and with music, towards freedom.
But face tomorrow with knives, andtomorrow's a knife blake. Murder your

(09:15):
fault, and your fall will bemurder. Even your friends suspected the false
speaking hands on the door of night, and the floorboards speaking. Those who
win by the spear are the speartotals. And what do they win?

(09:39):
Spears? What else is there?If the hands let go, they have
nothing to hold by. They areno more breathe than a paralytic propt against
the trees with the armored man.The arm is upheld by the the man

(10:01):
is worn by the knife. Iwish you could all see this as we
do. The whole plaza full ofthese people are colorful garments, the harsh
sunlight, the water sellers swinging enormousgods. The orator there on the stone
platforms, the temple behind him,the high pyramid, the hawks overhead in
the sky, teetering slow to thewindward, swift to the down wind.

(10:24):
The house is blind with the blanksun on them. Once depend on iron
for your freedom and your freedomsn Onceovercome your resistors with force, and your
force will resist you. She willnever be free of force, never have
arms alarmed. Will the father returnhome the lover to her loved. The

(10:52):
mature man's with fruit orchards, walkingin peace in that beauty, the years
of his trees to a s forhim. Force is a greater enemy than
this conqueror such treacherous weapons. Butnevertheless, my friends, there is the

(11:13):
weapon Weakness conquers against chainlessness, Whobreaks against walllessness, who will against forcelessness,
who forces against the feather of thethistle, is blunted, sharpest metal,

(11:41):
no edge cut, seed flush,And this conquer unresisted, will conquer
no longer a postorer, beating hisblows upon verdicts, shifting his guard against
shadows. Snickers will sound among theroad menders. Tickers be stifled by lawn

(12:01):
dresses, Cosca falls among chambermaids,and reddoned with rage. He will raw,
he will sweat in his uniform foolishly, he will disappear. No one
hear of him. For there isa weapon, my friends, reason and

(12:26):
truth, ah that weapon. Letthis conqueror come show him, no hinder
suffer. His fagon is from words. When where's the shout of? He's

(12:50):
done to climb out a brita?Where a fire dresser robin the winder?
Sorry BERSI. They're opening packages red, we'd say from the look, yes,
bread, bread wrapped between Partly they'resquatting deep. There's might contented and
happy women are calling their men fromthe sunny stones. There are flutes founding

(13:13):
their way off. We can't seeif they're shifting and moving. Yes,
there are flutes in the cool shadow. Children are dancing, and intricate figures.
Even a few old men are dancingyou'd say they'd never feared to see
them dancing. That's all. Themusic has stopped. There's something. It's
a man there on the far side. He's pointing. He seems to be

(13:35):
pointing back to the farthest street.The people are twisting and rising bread in
their fists. You can't see whatit is. Wait, it's a messenger.
It must be a messenger. Yes, it's a message. Another hearing
is that the turn of the street. Trotting his next back of the nape.
He looks tired. He winds throughthe crowd with his mouth open,
laboring. The people are offering water. He pushes away from them. Now
he's come to the stone. Shipswalk to the ministers stand by. We're

(13:58):
dy every day on the stone everywhereis loss. Come to conquer Tron to
tell him I have run over Krnan, had climbs over Kronland, have costs
over mountains, which was laid onmy shoulders by Sharon. By shan't have
standing by day and staying by nightor not for my luck till I came

(14:20):
to the sight of you. NowI have come. I there weren't beware
of this conqueror. The fame ofhis story like flame. In the winter,
grass widens before him. Beached onour shore, with the dawn over
shoulder, the lawns were still cold. When he came to the sheep metals.
Sun could not keep with him,so was he forward. Fame is

(14:41):
his sword. No man opposing himstill grows his glory. He needs neither
poeman nor picktent of bows to gatherhis victories, nor oppose match to earn
him his battles. He brings hisown enemy. His baggage is with him,
his closet and tigeress his private opposer. He's setting him up at every
road corner, a figure of horror, with blood for his color, fist
for his hand, reap where hestands, hate for his heat, sneers

(15:05):
for his mouth, cloths or hisclothes. Ohs if he speak, And
he's knocking him down in every townsquare till hairs on his blade, and
blood's all about like dust in adrought. And the people are shouting flowers
him, flinging music, him,singing and bringing him gold and holding his
heels and feeling his thighs till hereyes start and their heart swelled, And

(15:26):
they're telling his praises like lays ofthe heroes and chiefs of antiquity, such
on his victories. So does hecome. So he approaches no man to
conquer, yet doesn't conquerer much ashe poward stands on your mouth hands,
so to destend on your that husbandthat's whitened them. One of them pig,

(15:52):
He heals one of them. Markof the minutes. Freedom, Freedom
for what the guy in the ratcrapto get anger and plains here they're thrown
out. They say, you canhear them down with the government, down
with the orators, down with theliberal learned minds, down to the mouth
and the loose, counting them downwith the lady lot. They've fold us.
They're sold out, talking is dunkers. They're broiling around us like mother

(16:14):
with smell sharp. They can't loadto the mouse. They're pray with the
terrors Mother bow the mouth. Theyput the fast men remember with a voice
over the cloud from her. Theyhear it. They're riding down. It's
the priests, we see them now. It's the priest on the pyramid.

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There might be ten of them,black with their hair tangled, the smoke
of their fires flat in the quickwind. They stand in the thick of
the smoke, by the stone ofthe victims. Their knives catch in the
steep sun. They're shouting, listen, Let the world be saved by surrendering
the world. Not otherwise can itbe saved. They are gone, the

(17:00):
evil be overcome by the coming overof evil. Your heart shall be elsewhere,
and your God. They return toyour God. The conqueror cannot take
you and your God. The narrowdark will keep you and your in God's
house is no breaking, and Godin God's silence is sleep. Is God's

(17:26):
son. Cannot deal your God blade, cannot blind you with danger of hearts
from you. It's a wonderful thingto see this crowd responding. Even the
simpler citizens feel the emotion. There'sonly a sound now in the square.
It's wonderful, very impressive. Thepriests there in the pyramid, the smoke

(17:48):
blowing, the bright sun, thefaces dear, confusion of reason, when
all is illusion, in the dayof tyrants of times, when the truth
is for higher, in the dayof the sea winds meet and God,
in the day of divisions of nation, when a folk is duration, in
the day of the sping of hate, when the soul is corrupted in the

(18:11):
Day of Despair and the Heart Fair. A kind of dance is beginning.
A certain of people are current ofpeople coiling and swelling through people are surfing
of people through people like water throughwater. How do the sir soud?
How of the showers? And theout side of the bed. A very

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young girl. It's on the shorefrom her bare bread. They are giving
a flowers. Her mouth laugh,her eyes are not laughing. Yeah,
a f there me the bath lay, thank you, umming the drown of

(19:04):
crowns, the broad streaks. He'sbreaking a temple. He's climbing him.
Others are following, five and onehundreds of following rounding the sailway. She's
almost there. A cloud car.She looks back. The grease is surrounding
us. Wait, wait, somethinghas happened. One of them minute,

(19:27):
this one of the oldest, thegeneral one in the seventh clade. He's
grinding them down at the staff ofof Banna. He's climbed out of them,
driving them down. They're shouting andyelling enough that they're going they're selling
them off too. You can hearhim. Then, oh man, let
him. They're come next on yourneck boat. Then I will wait him

(19:51):
a pif. Are you there istime for everything? I'm to be thinking
of heaven, Hi of your ownskins, half cries following words, Do
you see smoke on those mountains?The smoke is the smoke of town?

(20:14):
And who makes it? The owlcolor? And where will he march snow
onward? The heel of the futureis sends on you. He has enough.
Even the priests have seen it.They're all looking away here to the
east. They're smoke tool filling thevalleys like thunderheads. You are fully old

(20:40):
man. You ought to be flatfor your foolishness. Your grandfathers die to
be free, and you you chuzzlewith freedom. Do you think you're free?
By allah? Like the falling ofapples in Lottom? You thought you're

(21:02):
safe in your liberties. You thoughtyou could always squibble. You can't.
You take my word for it.Freedom's the rarest bird, your risk,
your neck or smeririff. It's goneby your eyeball. Stare those food lads

(21:23):
with a tyrant thinking to fee thatis fire and leave him again when they're
fat? A plain fools? Oh, are bread to it? Road of
the several races born with a hangdog face They're all pointing and pushing together.

(21:48):
The shoulder packets spread, children,people, They smell smoking the earth,
they smell terras children. I'm doinga strong man's wills. The three
will type for freedom, the freename first, they seas negras back and
the three names. Everything else come. Doctor who ruth a rap? He

(22:15):
will not? I am the lifeof it. The sun is yellow with
smoke. The town's burning, thewars at the broken bridge. You are
your free when you fight. They'restill Is this for fighting? There is
still on this pillous feet you canham on the stair, the medium you

(22:38):
can hold in the dark of ahole. You can die. Are your
kilm can fall for They won't listen. They're shouting and screening and running.
The square is full of deserted,with more coming. Every street from the
bridge is full of deserted. They'rerolling into the stoke flowing behind them.

(23:02):
The plazats choke with the smoke andthe stoking of stragglers. They're climbing the
platforms, driving the minister shouting onesteak from another. A petty is too,
there's no homey, that's the cargo. How it tells The age is
hill. It is tenpy. He'sone man. Be the thousand who can
defend us from one man? Tellyou harm, he sends great real home,

(23:26):
well hamster. They're throwing their armsaway, Their bos are in bonfires.
The pleasure is littered with corn tombs, spear hammers. Tell us,
then take a master or mass freedomfor fools, freedom that he cannot trak
one cup, sit our thanks.You men must be a whole horse,

(23:48):
must be masters. Cigar and sattoy course signs is Traine movies the other
day. The last defenders are coming. They whirl from the streets like wild
He's gonna wind. The square scatters. Now they are fewer ten together a
five. They come with their heads, turn their eyes back. Now there
are none. The street's empty,in shadow. The crowd is retreating,
watching the empty street. The shopsdie, The voices are silent. They're

(24:12):
watching. They stand in the slandof the sunlight, silence, and watching
the silence after the drums echoes,the drum beat. Now there's the sound.
They see him, They mus seehim. They're shading their eyes from
the sun and the rustle of whispering. We can't seem to the glare of
it. Yes, yes, he'sthere in the end of the street.
In the shadow, we see him. He looks huge, a head taller

(24:36):
than anyone, broad as a brassdoor, a hard hero, heavy,
a heel on the brick, clankingwith metal. The helm closed on his
head, the eye holes hollow.He's coming, He's clear of the shadow.
The sun takes him. They covertheir faces with fingers. They color
before, and they fall. Theyfall on the stone. He's alone where
he's walking. He marches with rattleof metal. He tramples the shadow.

(24:59):
He mounts by the Pyrami stamps onthe stairway, turns, his arm rises,
His visor is opening. There's noone. There's no one at all,
no one. The helmet is hollow. The metal is empty, the
armor is empty. I tell you, there's no one at all there.

(25:22):
There's only the metal, the barrelof metal, the bundle of armor.
It's empty. They don't see.They lie on the pavement. They lie
in the burnt spears, the ashesof arrows. They lie there. They
don't see, or they won't see. They are silent. The people invent
their oppressors. They wish to believein them. They wish to be free

(25:47):
of their freedom, released from theirliberty, the long labor of liberty ended.
They lie there. Look, it'sis arms. He's rising, his
arms rising. They're watching his armas it rises. They serve, they
cry out, they tie out.They are shouting. They're shouting with stepping

(26:08):
it. Listen, they're shouting likepoop in a sick Listen, they're sticking
up micle men. I've found amassa. You'll say it to say what
a concel is say that a councel. Yesterday there's Collen