 This is Conrad Nagel inviting you to stay tuned for the next half hour for one of radio's outstanding dramatic productions on Proudly We Hail Proudly We Hail Proudly We Hail One of radio's outstanding dramatic half hours transcribed coast to coast in cooperation with this station and presented by your army and your Air Force From Radio City, New York. Here is your host and star on Proudly We Hail The distinguished star of the theater screen radio and television Conrad Nagel Hello everyone welcome again to Proudly We Hail We're especially pleased to present our Christmas program an original play entitled Christmas story Our first act curtain will rise in just a moment after this brief but important message The United States Army and United States Air Force are expanding young men and young women with the will to learn can get ahead fast So take advantage of the opportunities for advancement that can be yours by enlisting now And I'd like to point out that every man and every woman in the United States has a definite part in the stepped-up program of national defense And there's a special need for young women between 18 and 34 for service in the women's Army Corps You'll enjoy the gratifying feeling of satisfaction that comes in doing your part for your country during these critical times Visit your local United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station talk to the local recruiter and learn all the facts Volunteer today and now with your star Conrad Nagel in the role of Gaius your army and your Air Force present the Proudly We Hail production Christmas story Twisted and turned for the wild country leading ever south it was an old row that had known the passing of countless generations It was a narrow road where a man's safety often depended on the numbers who traveled with him After dark it was an empty road where only madmen beggars in the unwary set foot For it ran through a land in which the people were oppressed poverty stricken and desperate It ran through the land called Judah Yes, why do we tarry the light will be gone in another hour? Youth is always in a hurry. I'm not that young my friend We may ride this road as Romans during the light hours, but after darkness I know I know We're not like are we Marius liked? Like by whom the people here you joke We call the wretches who infest this broken land people and what would you call them? I have some choice names You like to hear them the yoke of the conqueror lies heavily on their shoulders. They not only hate us They hate each other and yet even with Herod to rule them Their spirit is strong Herod that fat-bellied pirate. I Don't know why Augustus doesn't have him fed to the lion Augustus sent me to this land to observe the people and their conditions You know that I gathered it from what you said. I've been here a little more than a month But it took me only a day to see that this was not a happy land And yet there's a feeling here a Feeling I can't quite place Almost as though it's a feeling of not knowing when somebody's gonna try and cut your throat How long have you been stationed here Marius for five years five and by Jupiter? I wouldn't be sorry to leave have you learned anything about these people in that time Yes, yes, I have and the fact that I'm still alive proves it now You may be my superior in years in position, but I insist that we put speed to our mounts Where do we stop this night? I know of an inn. That's not too bad Lies in the city ahead the city of David a place called Bethlehem Innkeeper Bring more wine here lost in thought gay is observing Marius observing He does a thriving business this one must be one of their pilgrimages They're always having them for one thing or another they have but one God and it is not of stone as ours Not alone should give you an idea of the madness that runs in their veins in keeper Why so crowded this night gracious sir Caesar has decreed that all must sign the royal register man woman and child They come ah, that's it now. I recall All right put the wine down and go. Yes. There was talk of this at Herod's court that slipped my mind Well mine as well Well, you'll have plenty of chance to observe the people now gaze a stroke of luck Well, I know no I've had enough poison But one must like his thirst. Yes. Yes, of course Gaius, what is it? What's come over you? Are you ill you're not yourself? Sorry Marius. I'm not very good company. Am I? my My thoughts will not let me rest Thoughts of what they're not easily explained. Oh Perhaps I'm weary of life Rome is great Rome is powerful Augustus is just and I am a successful and honored man Still is there anything else a man could wish for gaze? I don't know Probably not and that may be one reason for my mood. I'm I'm like a man searching for something and not knowing what it is But I've never felt it so strongly as here Perhaps your home sick for Rome sick of Rome Marius. Oh, I shock you But in my heart, I'm sick of it sick of its riches its power its decadence Sick of its guards speak blasphemy. I speak what is in my mind Then I would speak it softly lest we are overheard. Oh, yes. Yes One must be cautious at all times this land has affected you evenly Gaius. It does that to some It's affected me. I'll grant you that I Wish I knew why I Think I'll go for a walk Care to join me. Do you want to be found in the gutter in the morning? Conquerors who are afraid to step out of doors after dark a I'll take my chances by Zeus your heart on a man's patience day here then and drink your wine I'll be all right. If anything happened to you Augustus would have my hide You me you I must come we'll go stumble around in the dark and dare the knives of beggars And they watch us like jackals waiting to strike and were you one of them How would you watch us? Those darker and more chill at every breath. I have never seen a night so dark So quiet all the more reasons for us to get back inside. Do you? Do you have the feeling as though everything was holding its breath? I do not I Have the feeling that you've lost your mind and need a physician What do you plan to do stand out on this hill all night? The only light seems to be coming from the end now Augustus can hang me up by my heels But that's just where I'm heading we'll all without you enough Marius come we'll go back I've been a poor friend. I'm afraid an uncommon strange one this night Yes, it's true. I am not myself by morning You're not recovered or summon a physician to conjure the evil spirits from me. What's your step? Concer I know not what from you Really again God's a favor to us Although I know that why a welcome light and all the darkness. I wonder Marius Someone comes And from behind I like it not calm yourself We're but a stone's throw from the end no one would dare attack us here. So you think Stand in this alley until whoever it is passes. Do you think if they met his harm? They would announce they're coming. I tell you you don't know these people. Please do as I say gays Oh as you wish, but I quiet They come thieves in the night well a man and his woman riding a donkey a Fine thing for two proud Romans to be afraid of scoff if you like us, but if you know these Look, they go to the same end as we Come along. We'll have a better look at these dangerous people Well, because I take precautions for your safety is no reason to mock I do not mean to mock you Marius. I Think you over cautious. That's all they could come from the moon for all of me Who knocks at this hour? We seek lodging for the night. I'll seek elsewhere. There's no room here. I'm filled up My wife her time is near. Tell me not your troubles. I have more than enough of my own There is no place you could put us Begone night here's chill. Could you tell it I can tell you nothing but to go away and seek elsewhere Hold there who speaks? Oh Sir, I did not see you. I you have no room for these people None I swear it even the floor space is taken. I saw clean hay in your stable. What about that? Why can't they stay there stable? I have not thought that If you would care to stay there why we shall stay and gladly I thank you, sir. No need It's a dark night and cold Let us go in Marius According to the special proudly we hail Christmas program presented by your army and your Air Force an original play entitled Christmas story Now with your star Conrad Nagel in the role of Gaius. Here is the second act. Yes. What is it? Can't you sleep? Oh, I I'm sorry if I woke you Marius. I was asleep. I Had a strange dream. I Can't remember it very well, but it woke me and now sleep will not come should have drunk more wine Gaius What am I going to do with you? The best thing is to stop worrying The innkeeper nearly fell over in a fit when you spoke up Since when has a Roman gone out of his way to assist the rabble? Oh, how blind you are. Huh? They were not rabble the man had a fine face and the woman was beautiful to look upon not like other women Because their clothes were poor does that make them rabble Get some sleep Gaius. We have a long way to travel tomorrow If I keep my eyes shut tight perhaps sleep will come I should be tired And yet I'm not For there's no shutting out my thoughts Why Why do I feel this way? My life passing before me like an empty vessel on a dark sea Could marius be right? Is this land full of demons that drive a man to madness? What manner of people are these that go around in ranks? broken And yet looks skyward to a god of strength and mercy Strength and mercy How does one beget the other? The merciful are weak and depressed And the strong are without mercy hated that man and his wife He had no fear of me Yet neither was there heat in his eye I believe he was grateful And the woman it seems she smiled on me There was warmth in it and were I not a roman or conqueror? I might know them and be their friend. It must be cold and that stable it What magic is this marius marius wake up wake up man marius Oh, what is it? Oh, what's the matter gaius? Stop shaking me like I was a rag doll Look at the light out there Here come yourself gaius You've been dreaming again. I have not been dreaming What is that light? Where did it come from? It's only the moon You've never seen the moon gaius Now sit down here Look at you. You're shaking. I I was lying there thinking I opened my eyes and suddenly the room was filled with a strange light Have you ever known the moon to shine so brightly? It's a dark night. It always seems to shine brightly. There is no moon tonight There was no moon last night You'll recall we mentioned it Well Well, well, we must have been wrong Well, what else could it be? I don't know This window is too small to see. What are you doing? I'm going outside to have a look. Are you mad? I told you I was lying there and it filled the room. I know. I know it Came out of the clouds. You know how dark it's been. I tell you the moon never made a light like this If you don't lower your voice You'll wake everyone in the inn They'll think you've gone mad too. Think as you like. I'm going out. All right. All right. We'll go outside We'll look at the moon And then we'll come back here And if you disturb me once more this night gaius, I swear by jupiter. I'll Well, I'll tie you to your bed When When it happened It was as though I heard voices A great many voices singing Now tell me it's the moon Black magic switchery Oh The gods are angry. No No Your marvel gods have not to do with this. It's the end of the world That star is falling right on us. It falls not but hangs over us There is peace in its light There is no evil here Only goodness I am not afraid what What can it mean? It must be a meaning No star shown so brightly Or so close. I know not the meaning But the trouble is gone from my heart Gaze look there Others come be on your guard down from the hills They must be shepherds and they seem in a hurry Perhaps they know the meaning how could such ignorant beggars know anything Stay clear of them. I say oh marias marias. When will you learn when will you? Will you come with me or will you stay here and tremble? I must brave as any man then take your hand from your sword and come Oh good friends wait Wait for us good friends indeed They'll run like rabbits when they see the color of our claws. Let's hope not Why they seem to be waiting for us And in this light they can see your helmet too frightened to run now Watch them grow will let your feet and say nothing We mean no harm But we'll have words with you Oh, please please do not be afraid We fear not when you address her over marias be still You You are shepherds. Yes We are shepherds Our flocks are in the fields above and you leave them without protection. They are safe The lord watches them No harm can come to them may May I ask what you do here? Well speak up when you're spoken to marias Good shepherds We we could not sleep the light woke us Know you it's meaning It's true meaning You're a roman you wouldn't believe our words forget my race if you can I'm a man like yourself and I would know It is news that all should know even a roman Tell him So be it You ask of the light We too saw it And did not completely understand At first we We were afraid Well Because of our faith we lost our fear It was written long ago by the prophet isaias That great things would come to pass in the city of david To those who watched In the fields The prophet wrote that the light Would bring glad tidings For all the world This night as on all others We were keeping watch This is like a great black cloak even the fire gives no light Never has it been so quiet even our charges are sad They'd bleed not Yet they sleep not To see just one star The jackals are hushed Who is known a night when the jackals did not cry the night will pass no matter how dark or how quiet Our brethren in the next field they too heard it and they're not blind or deaf Must not fear easily said hi But the heart beats another tune the lord watches over us If you like I shall say david sound Say it or it is my shepherd I shall not want He maketh me to lie down in green pastures He leadeth me besides still waters he was stormed Guideeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name sake Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil For thou art with words or music in the heart of a weary But the darkness is no lessen Silence grows and what is there in either to harm us? It's a great joy which I'll be to all the people For there is born to you this day in the city of david a savior who is christ the lord And this is the sign unto you He shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes And lying in a manger lying in a manger Know you where to find this manger The star shines over it I can take you to the exact place gaius. Don't tell me you believe the raving marius be silent Either be silent or go back to your bed now friends If you will follow me, I think I can lead you to the place you seek The babe was wrapped in swaddling clothes How How could they know they told you how they knew? Do you not know the truth when you hear it? But But it is beyond belief No marius No, it is not beyond my belief now They knelt and And worshiped the child Immanuel they call him God with us I I don't understand nor I completely marius But I have a feeling like none I've ever known That this night will be remembered remembered long after we are dust Something has happened here this night Not meant for any one race or people But for all mankind from this day forward The men and women of your army is our distinguished star Mr. Conrad Nego Well friends Frankly, I I can't tell you all what it means for me to be the spokesman for the men and women of our army and our air force And extend to you their best wishes for christmas 1951 You know many things have been said many ways about what we all believe in and are willing to fight to keep At this season it seems to me that Well at one of the important reasons for our feeling as we all do about our way of life Is that here in our country we can say Merry christmas and meaning Christmas is always wonderful, of course But it seems to me at this time in all our lives it means more than ever to all of us More even than the mystic magic that always comes with christmas Where I feel that christmas has come to symbolize what we and our fighting forces stand for throughout the entire world The men and women of our armed forces are serving and fighting to maintain the truths that were written long ago Glory to god in the highest And on earth peace Goodwill toward men And so friends speaking for all of us on proudly we hail and as spokesmen for our army and our air force The happiest of christmas is to you all This has been the special christmas program on proudly we hail Presented transcribed coast-to-coast by the united states army and the united states air force recruiting service Proudly we hail stars conrad megal This is kenneth fanghart joining conrad megal and speaking for all of us on proudly we hail Wishing you all a very merry christmas