 Family Theatre presents Celeste Holm, Dane Clark, and Henry Hull. Theatre Incorporated brings you Henry Hull as Captain Ahab, and Dane Clark as Ishmael in Herman Melville's familiar classic, Moby Dick. To introduce the drama, your hostess, Celeste Holm. Thank you, Jean. When the Good Ship Highlander weighed anchor in New York for Liverpool in 1837, it was indeed a momentous and fortunate event in the history of American literature. For it was then that a lad of 17 set out upon the eight years of seafaring that were to take him to the faraway reaches of the seven seas. This young man was Herman Melville, who began and ended his 72 years in New York, and with his writing built a lasting monument to America's literary genius. Of his eight successful works, the seventh, alive with Melville's sense of beauty and of terror, was titled Moby Dick. In recounting the story of Moby Dick, The White Whale, Melville inspires the longing for and respectful awe of the sea in each generation. And now, with sincere pleasure, I invite you to listen to Dane Clark as Ishmael recounting the fanatic and tragic hunt of Henry Hull's Captain Ahab for Moby Dick, The White Whale. It is now weeks since the Nantucket Whaleship Pequod turned southward from her Massachusetts anchorage and aboard her the ship and crew has settled down to the monumental monotony of a ship's routine, a monotony that wells the crew into one mind, one force to be driven by the words of its captain, a monotony that finds relief in endless speculation about the days to come and often as the sinking sun changes the deep blue water to evening's gray their talk becomes graver, one of whispers among small clusters of men, forward to the crew of the Pequod who have yet to see their captain even now the ship seems to have set sail upon a journey of darkening destiny. Call me Ishmael, for though a seaman has no need for a name in the records of time, I am also of the land and to it I have returned since the fateful days of the old Pequod and her captain and crew. I was of that crew. I and there were the mate, Starburt, the dollar, Nantucket man and Stubb, neither a craven or a bold man with all lazy and easy of smile. There were the Harpooners, for the Pequod was a Whaleship and we were Whales all and then there was Quiqueweg, the South Sea Islander who brought me to the Pequod. For the stories he spun of the mammoth whales in distant waters persuaded me to sign aboard the Pequod with him and with him I now shared my watches upon the afterdeck. Still awaiting my first glimpse of the man who captained the stout whaling ship. It worries me, soar Quiqueweg, here it is a week we'd meant to see and narrate a sight nor a sound of the captain. I'd grunt of you will for you've no interest to save for your harpoons and that monstrous tomahawk pipe at your belt but I tell you it's unnatural that's what it is. Maybe he no like woke dick now. He might find it a bit difficult to get about the deck what with one leg and all but but even then he should have shown himself to the crew. It's no secret among the crew he must know that Quiqueweg. Still in all I wonder how a man feels when he's lost a leg to a whale. Him think only about day he catch up with white whale mobid dick. Me think we no like it on Pequod until he does. Maybe no like it even then. Now indeed I should like to see this man whose thirst for vengeance is so great to do you suppose that's why we're carrying a secret crew aboard. Oh I know I know and none has seen it but every night you hear whispers of them in the folksal. I know sea strange men I know listen folksal. Well the steward said there were others aboard but no one's seen them now Quiqueweg do you suppose you did you hear that? Did you hear that Quiqueweg and must be the captain. He walked like that two three minutes you're not here. Oh I have not your heathen ears my friend. Faith it's an eerie sound in the night. He's coming towards us. I'm a poor pipe even you have failed me now. Then you were meant for sereneness not to send up your mild white vapors among troubled torn gray locks like mine. If I could but forget forget I must alas my pipe there is no longer pleasure in even you. Here here go and join the devils of the sea. I may have they'll yet be company for you there sent from the Pequod with the compliments of her master Captain Ahab. What's the story Mrs. Dobb trouble? It's the captain man. Captain Ahab wishes to meet his crew. Here now men you think I said oh Nick himself were here to greet you. There's no need to be afraid. Attention! May you see this it's gold. Whoever of you raises me a white-headed whale with a wrinkled brow and a crooked jaw. A white monster with three holes in his starboard fluke. He shall have this ounce of Spanish gold I've nailed to the mast. That one year shall win it for we'll not see port again until I have killed the monster that tripled me. Then did we shift to hunt Moby Dick the white whale? Aye starbook. It was at a cursed white whale that dismasted me and I'll chase him through the southern ice flow there I'll give him up. I cannot speak for the crew Captain Ahab but I came here to hunt whales not my commander's ventures. And I Mr. came to hunt Moby Dick and I shall wreak my hate upon him nor shall any of you stand between me and that goal that Mr. Starbuck I promise you. And so we sailed on but now we were a cold ship a ship ridden with hate prayed to the daily increasing uneasiness as more and more one heard talk of a secret crew aboard yet none saw them. Aye we were a ridden ship fearfully awaiting the day when the look out would first cry. Those men there has been a secret tour board look at that leader the one with the turban. I'd hop to it there quick quick check your gear there's whale to be gotten. Mr. Starbuck Starbuck who's the leader there the Chinese fellow. But one thing he's the best harpooner whoever sailed blue water for another he's a quick one with that knife of his keep clear of it. Aye what a big brute harpooning is not for children. On the double now into the whale boat. All right you two stop the chatter keep a sharp eye out he turns towards we'll have a little enough time to escape without waiting for you to finish the conversation. We knew not where but by midday next the Pequod sighted us and in the afternoon threw a line down to us where we laid barely afloat. In the days that followed I was to learn that lost boats are a common occurrence on a whaler and soon immersed in the daily shipboard routine had all but forgotten the ordeal. Then the day came the day came of our northward run and that day also we made our first kill. Now instead of dried fish and ships biscuits we dined in the thick steaks we cut from our kill. Ishmael secure the harpoons for tomorrow's hunt. Aye sir. Oh Perth the harpoon's ready for number two boat. Come on step on as your lazy rat. Good evening captain I didn't see you. Hey Perth. Aye sir. Look here here man. I warned a harpoon maid. One that a thousand yoke of fiends couldn't tear apart. Something that will stick to a whale like his own fin bone. In this bag here's the stuff. Here are gathered nails stubbed from the steel shoes of racing horses. Horse shoe stub sir. Then you have the finest and stubbornest stuff we blacksmiths ever worked. Serpent. It'll melt together as butter and a hot biscuit do come. I'll blow up the fire for you myself. You two can stay to spell me. Perth send your boy for fedala and the other harpooners. Aye sir. You heard the captain lard on the double now. Now Perth let us to work. They're not yet ready for the water. Bedala tell this shaft where he may find our mobidic. And now Perth the water. Well done blacksmith well done. And now for the barbs you must make them yourself here. Here are my razors. They are the best steel. But your razors sir they are so fine. Take them I say. For now I neither shave sup nor breathe until they are to work to work. Mobidic shall indeed meet his end at my hands. And now nightly captain Ahab sat in his cabin. The harpoon he had fashioned held across his lap and the light of madness in his eyes. I heard him talk to fedala his faithful person. Fedala I dreamed it again. Do you hear fedala? I saw them again. Did stream again of the herces captain. Have I not said old man again and again that neither herce nor coffin shall be done. Aye but who are you the herce or coffin that die upon the sea fedala. But I also said old man that thou couldst die upon this voyage. Two herces must truly be seen by the upon the waters. Come come come come my daddy you you speak foolishly how can one come upon a herce upon the water. Who can say old man yet one that you see must not be made by mortal hand and the visible wood of the other must be grown in American forest. Aye and a strange unlikely sight that would be such a sight we would not believe. Believe it or not old man such a sight must be seen by you ere you die and as for me though we to be the last on earth I shall still go before you as your pilot. Indeed indeed what nonsense for when you are gone then must you return again to appear before me to guide me to my end. Then then I now have two pledges that I shall yet slay Moby Dick and survive. Then take yet another pledge old man. Hemp alone can kill him. The gallows you mean. Then indeed I am a mortal on land and on sea. I am immortal on the sea. In the days that followed we saw no whales but soon we did meet the Nantucket ship Rachel and from her skipper learned that the white whale had but the day before towed off one of her boats in its crew and in that direction we sat sail leaving the Rachel to continue the search for her orphans of the sea. Keep a sharp eye and I should win my own great to kill the white monster. Tearsman. Soon the boats were strung out from the ship's side and suddenly we watching from the peak quad could see the boats put about frantically roaring for their very lives or out of the sea came Moby Dick and dead ahead lay the boat of Captain Ahab. Look Mrs. Carbock he's got the boat. Moby Dick's got the boat. The man who survives. The crew has disappeared only for down on the captain remain. Look look his jaws crush the boat. Tearsman such a home for Moby Dick we must drag him off and say what we can. Sir the captain's escaped. You see you see how he swims in the water the whale has thrown him clear. I think we have enough speedish now. See even now the whale turns upon Captain Ahab. I have bought the peak watches watching Moby Dick crash about mad circles crazily trying to shake off the tiny human form that gripped its tail flute with the determination of the drowning. Then he gave a great shake of his tail and tossed the captain like a dart off to the sea. The great white monster leisurely turned tail upon us and swam majestically to lure. Five oarsmen of Captain Ahab's boat were missing and we saved only the captain in Fidella still grimly holding Captain Ahab's harpoon. The next morning found them once again setting out in the small boats with Captain Ahab sitting tensely in the spare boat hurriedly rigged out the evening before. Has never bore four men. Today Moby Dick's hour and harpoon are near at hand full closer. Any closer old man and his breathing will fan our cheeks. Look even now he gathers to rush us. So much the better soon he'll be so close he can't see us before him then the harpoon will find his mark quickly. Old man he's going to turn. You will have us all in the water again. Here here change places of infinite. I'll get him with an iron. There! Ahab's iron went true as did those from the other boats and then Moby Dick went a muck as a crazed monster turned in the sea powered up the lines about him. He caught both Stubbs' boat and the other and crashed them into the sea where they became a sea of chips. As for Captain Ahab's boat Moby Dick saved it until the last and then a headlong charge made it also but a mass of splinters. We found Captain Ahab grimly clinging to the wreckage of his own boat as had Fidella the day before. Here sir lean on me. Hey this this splinter of whale bones is a poor excuse for which way which way did that white demon go? As before sir to Lewitt. Then why waste me time here to the ship we must chase him. I now want a boat crew for Fidella and myself who'll stand up for it? Sir I think I should tell you that Fidella did not return. We could not find him among the wreckage. Oh no no no that that that cannot be. No no send send another boat for him search the ship. He he must have swum back to it. He is not gone I tell you he's not gone. Sir we saw him go among the tangle of the lines on Moby Dick. The white whale pulled him down with him. Solemn heavens above. I promise you that we'll girdle the earth 12 times over. I'll dive right through it if need be but I'll slay him yet. Get me a harpoon. Here here. I'll slay him yet. And thus we tracked the white whale through the night but there were none who slept aboard the ship. And as the sun began a new day we put out a gain from the Pequod for the third time and this time I was among the crew. You see you see Starbuck now for the third time my soul starts its journey of vengeance. Aye sir you must have it so. Some ships sail from their ports and never afterwards are missing saddest truth sir. Some men die at high tide some at ebb as for me. Now you men put your backs into it. I don't like the looks of the sharks about his crew cake. They have a look of waiting. They wait for Moby Dick not thus. Still I shall be glad to be aboard the Pequod again tonight. See there see there the look I'll give the signal pull harder men squeals ahead drive men drive harder. Peter no coffin and no hearse can be mine nor can I dive but by him I'll see you through. Oh men. The broadside of sir is running by him. Why then should I fear death from away sir lines on Moby Dick's side. Fidella my faithful Posse Fidella I I am dragged to his grave but the white whale the prophecy the prophecy I Posse I see you again and I'll go as before me as you propicide and this then this white monster of the hearse you promised me but I'll still hold you to the last letter of your word. Well then there's a second hearse sir the other boats are leaking badly that request permission to return to the Pequod for repairs. Where's Moby Dick. He's a stern of us sir look he's making for the Pequod he's got a rammer no no he's turned back he's turned towards us. Look alive now men we're near claim at last soon now Moby Dick my devil and I'll have the Pequod sir it is no more the whale has smashed it it's sunk now shipmates with her all sunk. That towards the second hearse its wood could only be American. Sir the whale sounded again he's not to be. Look Chopin he rises before us and I robbed of ship and friends I shall still have my victory quick place the harpoon in him. He no killed whale he'm bad to kill. What what what's this would you mute me against your captain and never mind I'll settle with you later perhaps it is fitting that I should throw the steel then shall we all go to our doom told by the white whale. Now then thus I give up let's be about your leg captain the lion's a new man. Tis as Fidella has said only the hemp of a harpoon line could kill our captain Ahab. He am escaped alone to tell thee as it says in the book of Job but during the night the small boat swamped and buoyed by its fragments I alone floated through the sea of sharks to live to testify to captain Ahab's madness but for what purpose I have not yet learned. Perhaps perhaps it is that I shall bear witness against the follies of man search for his vengeance or perhaps it is that man's task here is for nobler purposes than the slaughter of those who would merely defend the life they have been given. No no I do not yet know the purpose nor did I on that second day when a sail drew nearer and nearer and picked me up at last it was a devious cruising Rachel that in her retracing search after her missing children found only in the sea another orphan. I think all of us find it fascinating to appear into the mind of a man like captain Ahab a man obsessed with a single idea a man unbalanced by his morbid unreasonable desire for revenge which ruined his every chance for happiness. Lack of balance does that to a man yes and it'll do it to a family too. We can become obsessed with the idea that some one thing spells the difference between happiness and unhappiness in our home. Money for instance or social standing or the education we're able to give our children. Well there's something else that's more important it's the love and loyalty and faith in god that exist in a truly happy home. Men and women who are really balanced and truly reasonable understand this. They understand that prayer daily family prayer is a necessity in every home. We of family theater invite you to discover for yourselves that praying together as a family is a way of ensuring your family happiness for the family that prays together stays together. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Herman Melville's Moby Dick with Celeste Holm as your hostess. The story was adapted for radio by Arthur Sawyer with music composed and conducted by Harry Zimmerman and was directed for family theater by Jaime Del Valle. Others in our cast were Nestor Piva, Jim Nussar, William Conrad, Joseph Kearns and Tudor Owen. This series of family theater broadcasts is made possible by the thousands of you who felt the need for this type of program and by the mutual network which has responded to this need. This is Gene Baker inviting you to be with us next week at this time when your family theater will bring you Alan Young and Patricia Neal in my terminal parade. Join us won't you?