 Words at War. The casting company in cooperation with the Council on Books in War Time presents another program in the series Words at War, dramatizing the most representative books to come out of this great world conflict. Tonight, Vanda Vasilevska's Stalin Prize Novel, The Rainbow. Listen, do you hear that? That sound is a body swinging from a gallows, the body of a sixteen-year-old boy. It has been there for a month. Frozen stiff in the bitterest winter the Ukraine has known. The Nazis hanged the boy as a warning to the villagers and to the guerrillas who are struck with silent fury from the bordering forests. I want you to meet one of these guerrillas. She is Oliana Kostyuk, a woman in her early 40s. Her hair is graying at the temples. Her face is plain, rough-hewn, a common peasant face. She is being questioned at the German headquarters by Captain Kurt Berner, a German by birth, a Nazi by breed. So you and the guerrilla was come back to the village. You, an old woman. Why did you come back? What were you sent for? Nobody sent me. I came on my own. Why? Answer me. Why? Everywhere I will tell you why. You saw that all this guerrilla business was nonsense. You didn't want to take part in it anymore. No. I couldn't anymore. Why? I came home to bear my child. You? Having a child at your time of life? Hmm. Where is your husband? He was killed in the war. I joined the guerrillas, but I didn't tell them about my baby. Nobody knew. Or how my husband and I dreamed this child that was denied us. And now it's come and he isn't here to see. I worked with the guerrillas until it was difficult for me to move a bar. I returned to the village to give birth to my child in peace. In peace, bar? Who blew up the bridge last week? I did it alone. You're lying. We know all about it. You'd better talk. I did it alone. Where are the guerrillas you worked with? Don't just stare. Answer me. Very well. I can see the sweat running across your temples. It's painful for you to stand. Well, you will stand till you are ready to talk. Who's that? Prusya. Why did you come here? What's the matter? I was bored. I had to come out. I want you to have lunch with me. I cannot. Don't you see I'm busy? With this old woman? This old woman is a guerrilla. She's about to have a baby any minute. Will you please let us alone, Prusya? Of course. Let me stay. I'll be quiet. Maybe this will be fun. Very well. Now, you Russian swine. We know you have come from the forest. We know that you have been sent. How long has it been now that I've been standing on my feet? Answer me. Where are they? Answer me. Where are they? I don't know. The child is getting depressed in my lungs. It's so difficult for me to breathe. So unbearable to step on my feet. The room has become darkest. The fog was settling in it. I can hardly see that form in front of me. Is it a man? And they are sitting comfortably in the chair that presses you with that stupid smile of hers. So warm in her fur coat. Sold herself to a Nazi for a fur coat and a pair of silk stockings. I must not faint. I'm not here. I'm not here. I don't think we will... Does he think we will tell him where our boys are? Well... I know nothing of the guerrillas. They went away. I don't know where. Sergeant, let her freeze. Tomorrow she will change her mind and talk. I want in the middle of the night. I've been questioned. Take your shoes off and get up. The captain says you'll need some exercise. See those gallows over there where your Russian brother hangs? You'll run there and back here till we tell you to stop. And when we think you're slow, this bayonet will speed you up. Now run! The old woman runs like a plough horse with her nose to the gut. I'm freezing. It's cold enough to drive a man out of his senses. We keep the old woman out here any longer. She'll be dead by morning and she won't be able to talk. The captain says she's got to talk. Maybe another quad with this bayonet. You've gotten enough blood out of her. The snow is red under her feet. Let's throw her back into the barn and get the headquarters where it is warm. Wait a minute. What's that? I don't hear anything? No, I'm sure. It's coming from the side of the barn. Come on, let's look. Did I tell you? One of them trying to help her. Probably arranging for an escape. It is a young boy. What difference does it make? They're all the same. Are you going to short him? Stand aside. Let's see what he's got there. He was bringing us something. It is a crust of bread. Captain Warners headquarters. Yeah, it's for you, Captain. They have my y'all. Good morning, I'm your... Oh yes, but I... I really... Yes, yes, but... Oh, the grain? What does he think I am? Does he try to question these Russian blocks? Let's see whether he'd get a word out of them. It cost me three times a day. What information do I have from the guerrilla? What about the grain? Sergeant, did the men carry out my orders last night? Yes, Captain. Did that cost your woman's peak? No, Captain. Then all you can say? There was an incident last night, Captain. What? One of the children tried to bring some bread to the woman. He was shot. What did you do with the body? I came here to report. Left the body in a ditch outside. When they went back for the boy, it was going, Captain. Sit in the body! Wait! They are my yours as I must get grain. They are my must be fed. Send that music, Peter Gablick, in here. Yes, Captain. They put me in command of this village because I could speak Russian. They thought it would be easier for me to get things out of these people. There was unyielding as granite. Threatened them, tortured them, they say nothing. They look at you and their eyes say, the day will come. You wanted me, Captain Werner? Where is the grain delivery I was promised, Gablick? Well, I'm doing the best I can, but there isn't any grain. Don't act stupid. There was a record harvest. They've hidden the grain. I thought you knew these people. You ought to know the hiding places. But the storm, the frost, you can't find anything in this weather. Gablick, I saved you from the Red Army. Oh, yes, Captain Werner. You saved your life to me. Yes, Captain Werner, yes. But I have helped you, haven't I? Didn't I inform you about the name of your costume? I have nothing from her yet. She's not told you about the grilles. Oh, I will make a talk. What about the grain? Well, I have a plan, but I must have military support. Where's my support? Well, then, there must be an order issued that people must meet in the school out. I have not yet delivered the tax demanded. That is to say, the grain. The German army within three days will be subject to... To... Go on, traitor. To the death penalty. The body of a young criminal who tried to feed or lay in your costume last night is missing. Whoever knows anything about the criminals should report to the German commander. If the guilty are not found within three days, and if the delivery of the grain does not begin within three days, hostages will be hanged. After night now, why don't you go home? And your work finished? Well, there's a storm, you know. It's much warmer here than it is in my house. Yes, shivering with more than the cold. Are you afraid to go home? No, no, no, no, it's a... Captain, it might be wiser, though, to... Let me have an escort. Even one soldier? Can't spare any men. Besides, it's past the curfew time. None of these villagers will dare stick their heads out. They know you're under my protection. Go home, gubbling. I'm going. I risk my neck for those rats, and they treat me like a dog. Not even a god to protect me. Not captain. Thanks, everyone's afraid of me. I'm under his protection. What's that? Only a bush. The second I thought it moved. Stand up, Gaffney. Stand up like a man. We've just brought you here to give you some information. All right, what do you want? Who hid the body of the boy? Criminal, he called my boy. What was his crime? To bring a crust of bread to a tortured woman. That's the boy's mother, Gaffney. She'll tell you where his body lies. Go ahead, tell him. Yes, I'll tell you, Gaffney. I followed those Nazi murderers. When they went in to report, I snatched up my boy from where they left him, lying in the road. I carried him home. He lies buried under the threshold where your Nazi friends will never find his body. It's time with a trial. No, no, no, please. Peter Gauplik, you're on trial for collaboration with the Germans. What have you to say? What's the matter? Lost your tongue? You spoke well enough at the schoolhouse. Peter Gauplik, you were a kulak and a bandit. Oh, yes, yes, I was. You were against the Soviets from the very start, weren't you? Yes, I know I was, but I didn't mean it. And as soon as the Germans came, you said, He said them well, the carrion. Peter Gauplik, you deny your guilt? That must be, that must be, please. What is our verdict? This verdict, no. Die like a man. Well, can't you even say one word to me? To me, I'll tell. My secret? I thought that would open your mouth. Well, sir Dorsey, I know all about your visits to the gully where your dead son lies. You know it's against the law to bury a soldier of the Red Army. Against what law? Is it just another horror thought up by the fiends you can sort with? If you will be nice to me, I may keep your secret. And you any harm? Have I harmed anybody in this village? No. But none of you will speak to me. The children run for me as though I had the plague. What you've got is worse than the plague. What did you want me to do, Star? I never had anything and now I've got a chance. Captain Verna will take me with him to Dregden. Your husband is a lieutenant in the Red Army. I haven't hurt him, sir Dorsey, on months, he must have been killed. And what's the difference? I like Captain Verna. He's nice. He brings me things. Bers and stockings stolen from our people just like he's taken my house and made me scrub for you. But the day will come. Oh, you're such a fool. You still dream the Red Army will come back. Don't you know the Germans will conquer everything? They'll never conquer us. Our boys will come back. Then you'll see. You'll see. Captain Verna. All right, Fedors, you can go out to your kitchen. Cool, darling. Come in here. What took you so long? You're letting me help you off with your coat. That old fool Geblik. Took some hours to get a few figures down on paper. Then he had the nerve to ask for an armed escort. As if anyone in this village would dare lay a hand on him when they know he's under my protection. Stupid old Geblik. Are you? Oh, they are my your called again. All right, I must get that information from that cost-choker woman. The willow. Well, think about it tomorrow, cool. Aren't you going to keep me? I'm cold. You must blast a village nose nothing but blizzards. You, housekeeper. Yes, Captain. Are you sure you have enough wood for the fire? I'm going to wake in the morning. Yes, Captain. Get your little wood. Who's that? No, it can't be. You're from the Red Army. Don't you remember me? Russia, Lieutenant. Russia. Yes, quickly. Quickly move the wood. I'm going to blast a village nose nothing but blizzards. I know, I know. Never mind her. Please, there is much time. I've been hiding for hours. There's some information I must have. Yes, yes, yes. Everything I know. Where? Where do they keep their ammunition? You're going to attack. Yes, yes, no. I have this map of the village. I'll throw my flashlight at it. Yes. Call me. Where are the guns? Here. Right here on the square. By the church. How many? Let me see. Four guns. And here at the edge of the village, they're different guns. Smaller ones. Am I correct? I think so. They point upward. Little thin guns. Yes, any machine guns. Oh, yes. All along these houses. They've made holes in the walls of the machine guns. How many men? About 200, I think. Will you attack soon? You must. You must. They've taken five hostages. In three days they'll be hanged. Oh, you'll keep up her spirits. We know you'll come. But it must be soon. You understand it must be soon. Yes, for Russia. It will be soon. It hasn't been easy for us. But we'll wipe these pastes from all of them. Who stays in your house? The commander. Captain Werner. Anyone else? Your wife, Prustya. Your... Your information has been very valuable for Russia. I've been only written in time. Do you know they have arrested Olen Yokozchuk? Oh, yeah? Yes, they've thrown her into the old barn at the end of the road. She is with child. Her child may be born tonight and no one can go to her. No one can help her. We'll make her pay for Russia. I'll be back. Soon. Till then. Good morning, Captain Werner. Good morning. Is that Quarta's phone? Yes, sir. Why didn't you call me? I was ordered not to. Ordered? What did they call? Well, they wanted to know whether the arrested woman had made a statement. And what did you say? I told them you weren't able to get a statement out of her. We're not making any reports until I tell you to understand. Has there been any grain delivered? No, sir. There's got Blake. He said he knew these people. He's not yet reported, sir. What are you standing there for? Get him. What about the woman? Did you bring her here? Yes, sir. She has a child, sir. Oh. Send her in. Come in. Here. Let me help you to this chair. Sir. You're born a child. Boy, Olga. Sorry. Oh, you sound thirsty. Yeah. Have a drink of water. That's enough. A healthy, living son. Good. You would like to keep him alive, of course. What? Last night, somebody tried to bring you bread. Who was it? I don't know. Think. It was a boy about 10 or 11 years old. One of the villagers' children. Oh, they all had children. I don't know who it was. All right, all right. Where do you think the gorillas might be now? I don't know. Somewhere in the forest. There are many forests around here. Which forest? That's all I know. In the forest. When you came to the village, which road did you take? I don't remember. There was snow all around. Listen, woman. You're a mother now. You have a son. You want him to grow up. You're a mother. You want your son strong and healthy. What's the need for life in this? I have a son. I haven't been wrapped in my shawls. But your son's strong and healthy. I keep him warm. Take your life, Sam. It feels so hard to eat against my hand. I see his tiny, round red face. I see his little button of a nose. Who was it last night? I thought it was death tearing at me. But it was a lie. It was my son. It was for filmings. It was the same. My son. Listen to me. I have a son. Listen to me, Alina Kostchuk. What is the sense in suffering when you can live peacefully with your son? There's no point in struggling. The Red Armies has got a smash. The war's almost over. Your guerrillas and the hills have no chance of escape. I will forget that you ever worked with him. All I want you to do is to answer a few questions truthfully. I have told you all I know. You might at least consider your son. You have no right to take away his life. What do you mean? By your silence, you condemn yourself and your son. Look. I'm going to light this cigarette. When I have finished smoking it, I want your answer. Think it over. Captain Vanna? What is it now, Sergeant? Copnik is gone. He is nowhere to be found. Idiot! First, the boy's body disappears He must have left the village last night. What kind of centuries do I have? Is it as easy as that for a man to escape? Well, there was a blizzard last night. I knew that sniveling old fool was not to be trusted. Now I have the stone of a woman to deal with. Look at her. A day old child in arms. You'd think she would collapse by this time. You'd think she'd cry out for mercy, at least for a child. Well, woman, have you made up your mind? I don't know anything. Help me, scum! I treat you like a human being and this is your answer! I'll show you, Sergeant. Take the brat. Put it on the desk. Call the woman. There's just one bullet between life and death. This is your only son. I have many sons. What are you saying? They're in the forest. They're all my sons. My sons. This was my son. His body, his face is a gaping wound. His little hands are still clenched. His tiny feet are still pink and white. He died my son. But in the forest, they still live. Hundreds of them, women and boys. They live. And his sons will live in peace. Speaking. Yes, Amayor? I will get the information. Yes, I'm in the midst of questioning now. No, no, no, no. There's no need to send anyone. Yes, yes, I will immediately. No. That's nothing move you. I asked you for the last time. Where are the guerrillas? I do not know. Don't you even value your own life? It doesn't matter now. Sergeant! Take her out! Execute her! And the square, sir. No! There are enough rotting bodies around. Throw the woman and the child into the river! Helosia. Helosia, Kravchuk. Who's that? It's me. But that is Helosia. I've come back sooner than I dared hope. Yes. Is my wife in there? Yes. She's a local captain. Yes, I know. What about the sentry? There is no sentry. Helosia. Helosia. Wake up, Helosia. Helosia. What do you... I must get to German headquarters, Helosia. That was a signal for my men. Wait, let me come with you. No, no, you can't come out in the midst of the battle. You'll need me. I can help. Quickly, then. It's almost daylight. Stay back here, Helosia. Keep out of range. How's it going, men? We're surprised there are close batteries. Lieutenants are ocean. They're all surrounding up the Germans asleep in the cottages. There must be quite a few of them barricaded in the headquarters building. As you can see, Lieutenant, they're pouring out a hellish fire. We haven't been able to break through. You've got to break through. The sun will be up in a minute. When it takes bite to it, if a man could get close enough... It's impossible through that fire, Lieutenant. Now, now. Listen! Listen, men! I want you to keep on playing. Fire! I have a few presents for a Nazi captain and his fanatics. A bundle of hand grenade. Let them see their German troops roll back. Their mates die in the ditches with no one to give them so much as a drop of water. Let them see their towns and villages blasted to the ground. Dying is so easy. We will let them live a hundred years. Let them beg death to come. And even death will turn away from this... German carrion. Look, Vadocia! A rainbow. Rainbow over our village. A rainbow. That's a good omen. Tonight on Words at War, we've brought you The Rainbow by Avonda Vasilevska. The radio dramatization was by Stanley Field. The cast included Ida Rees-Meron, Frances Cheney, Jeanette Dowling, Peter Cappell, Earl Hammond, and Kermit Murdoch. The music was arranged and played by William Meader, and the production was under the direction of Anton M. Leeder. Next week, Words at War will present the radio dramatization of Kandu, the story of the Sea Bees. This series of programs is brought to you in cooperation with the Council on Books and Wartime, by the national broadcasting company and the independent radio stations associated with the NBC network. This is The National Broadcasting Company.