 Words at war. It's a mercurial Salvatore towncraft in the town of Adano province of Vincina Maria Italy. Listen to people of Adano. The Americans have come. And they're for freedom in the national bundle. Get the car on the road and the voice of the general. The National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with the Council on Books and Wartime, presents Words at War. Tonight, we bring you a novel by John Hersey, a bell for Adano. It is about Americans in Italy. Thoughtful Americans and Americans not so thoughtful. In particular, it is about one man, an Italian American named Major Victor Giappolo. This mercurial Salvatore towncraft in the town of Adano province of Vincina Maria I want you to know and understand the man Mr. Maggiore Victor Giappolo of the Allo that the Americans who have come to the town and wish you to be your friends. They will change things and help you. If you have complaints, if you got a problem, you do not have to be afraid to speak. You can go to the city hall and speak with the Maggiore Giappolo, the assistant sergeant of birth. That's all. I have a cry. Last a minute, you'll all get a chance. Now, you. Si, senor. Who are you? Zito Giuseppe. I've been a well-known as Andy Fascista. What kind of work did you do? I'm an ocean, a palazzo di citta. An usher? I'm a hated fascista. I'm a hated fascista for many years. Everybody knows I'm Andy Fascista. You hated them so much, why'd you work for them? One must eat, one must make a living. I have a six of them being. You're right, so you were a fascist. Now you'll have to learn to live in a democracy. You'll be my usher. Grazie, senor Maggiore. Grazie, danda. Yes, senor Maggiore. Danda, grazie. Has it been bad here? Such a bombardiment. Such a raid. Yes, very bad. And we are hungry. For three days, we have no bread. All the important ones ran away and left me here to guard the palazzo. Some people are sick because of the drivers of the watercots have not had the courage to get a water for several days because of the aeroplanes along the road. I see. And you? What's your name? Ribardo Giuseppe. I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. I've been here three years. Okay, I'll hire you. You'll be my interpreter. You don't speak Italian? Well, yes I do, but there'll be other Americans who don't and I may need you for other things, too. There's sure anything I fix it. Now tell me, what does this town need most? Food, the boss. Food is a bad now in Adano. Why is that? Shortage of flour? I know. Everyone's been scared. Bakers don't work and nobody sell a pasta. Water don't come in the carts. That's all, the boss. Oh, please, please. I tell you what Adano needs. I tell him already what she needs. Food. All you think of is the stomach. And what's the matter with the stomach? Supposed to be the sins of Manjaro. Supposed to be the sins of Manjaro. And what's the matter with the stomach? Supposed to be the sins of Manjaro. Supposed to be the sins of Manjaro. Supposed to be the sins of Manjaro. He always thinks of the stomach. But who are you? My name is Cacopardo, at your service, Major. Antifascista. I am 82. I own most of the Sulphurs in this place. Here Cacopardo is Sulphur and Sulphur is Cacopardo. I wish to give you the vices whenever you need it. Then tell me, what do you think this town needs the most right now? It needs a bell more than anything. A bell? Si, senor. A bell. Ifascista took her a bell. That guy's balmy job, I'm quiet, boy. What's this about a bell? In Adano, senor. We had a bell. A beautiful bell. It was 700 years old. And this is Villayango that's more than he took it to make a cannon. Or something. I tell you, the town was very angry about a bell. Yes, very angry. But even so, what we need the most is a food. To eat is more necessary than a bell. The town needs the bell. People who are hungry, they have a ringing in the ears. They don't need the bells. Zito, what do you say? You consider the food or the bell more important? My thing, the bell. You do? Why, Zito? Because the tone of the bell was so satisfactory. Please, major. This bell was the censor of the town. All the life revolved around it. The farmers in the country were awakened by it in the morning. The drivers of the carts knew when to start by it. The bakers are baked by it. Our bell was Adano. I see. Looks like we'll have to do something about getting another bell, sergeant boy. Are you kidding? The bell's important to them. Oh, not javalo. Forget about the bell. Get them some food and clean up the streets for this bell business. It's not practical. It's too sentimental. Maybe so, but the bell is important. The bell, I must have a good tone. The bell must have a mean nature to be allowed the bell, to tell us when to eat. Okay, okay. All right. Thank you for telling me about the bell. I promise you that I'll do all I can to get another bell. One which will have some meaning, a good tone, and its history will be that it was given to you by the Americans to take the place of the one which was taken away by the fascists to make cannon. So they took the bell away on the 14th, Sito. Yes, they made you. Well, considering how things are done in the Italian army, perhaps not much has been done with the bell. What was it, San Sito? The provincial government at the town of Viginamar. Perhaps it got no further. Perhaps the bell's still sitting in its crate in Viginamar. I don't think it's possible. It's possible, but we'll make sure we'll find out. General Marlon, you got bats in your belt. And take a memo to Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Sartorius, CAO Viginamarri, province of Viginamarri. Subject Bell belonging to town of Adano would very much appreciate your initiating investigation of provincial government of Viginamarri to see if you can trace the bell. Now, this is silly, I tell you, General Marlon, you're too sentimental for your own good. Don't you lay off. Now, send that memo. That's an order, Sergeant Ford. Yes, sir. He wants to see you. General Marvin? Yeah, and he's hopping mad, so you'd better hurry. What's he sure about this time? I don't know, but you'd better... Hey, look at you and them pants and cocky shirt. If he sees you in those ones... Hey, what do you mean by keeping the general waiting? Yes, sir, be right out. I hope he doesn't notice them fancy pants. Well, it's about time, Major. Come on, the general's waiting in his car for you. Yes, sir. Oh, there you are. One minute and 20 seconds. You've been keeping me waiting one minute and 20 seconds. You think I have all day to wait for you? Who are you, anyway? Major Jopalo, sir, I'm the Civilian Affairs Officer, town of Adano, sir. Well, Major, these Italian carts are holding up our whole invasion. I had to throw one of them off the road. I had to shoot the mule. Now, listen, you keep them out of this blasted town. You hear? Don't you let another blasted cart come across that blasted bridge back there into this town. What the devil is this town, anyway? Adano, sir, town of Adano. Adano, well, keep those blasted broken down carts out of this town. You hear me? Yes, sir, I'll take care of that right away. Right away? That's not soon enough for me. I'm going to call the MPs and tell them about it. That's not soon enough. By the Etern Latin. Listen, I want action. No more blasted carts. Middleton. Yes, sir. Adano's the name of this town. Remember that Middleton? Adano. Yes, sir. Driver, do you think I got all day? Let's get out of here. Fourth, get Captain Purvis on the phone. Sure, Sourpus. What hit you? General Marvin. Give me Captain Purvis. What did he want? He just knew what it meant. Here's Purvis. Yeah. Captain Purvis, this is Major Jopalo. Here's an order from General Marvin. Keep all carts out of Adano, stop them at the bridge on the east and at the sulphur refinery on the west. Yeah, you got it right the first time. What? He's a what? Yeah, I know. Mr. Major, everyone knows me, Fronti Pietro. Everyone knows how our Fronti has talked about the day. Yes. The American would come. Please, come to the point. I wish to tell you about my cart. The wheels used to sing a song when I drove on my cart. Do you wish to hear this song, Mr. Major? No, no, please. Listen. The Americans are coming here, Senora Fronti. The Americans are very just men. Please. But do not joke with me. The music. The music has stopped. There is no more music. Please do not shout here. You seem to think that Americans are deaf men. We're not deaf, so don't shout. But the music has stopped. There is no more music. Mr. Major, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Major. You. What is your name? Me, Erba Carlo. What can I do for you? For me? Excuse me. Excuse him, Mr. Major. He is a head. He's a tongue. He's a slow to speak. Erba, tell him about the water carts. Excuse me. It's about the water carts, Mr. Major. Mr. Major. Yes. I. I. There. There. The cart. Tell him about your cart, Erba. My cart. My cart is big. Outside it's dirty, but inside it's clean. It holds water. My friend drank the water. Yes. Yes, my friend. Tell me some more about the water cart. The thirst. The great thirst. You will now let my cart across the bridge. There is no water in Adano without my cart and the other water carts. There is a thirsty in Adano since yesterday morning at 11 o'clock. There is a great thirst. It is all because of the bridge and the cart. Erba, the proclamation. The matter of a bing at clean. Yes. Yes. The proclamation. In one proclamation, Mr. Major, I forgot the number of the proclamation. There are so many. Does the number matter, Mr. Major? No, the number does not matter. Thank you. The proclamation says it's necessary to be clean. It says that people must be clean with water. And even the street must be clean. To be clean takes much water. My cart is on the other side of the bridge, Mr. Major. The cleanliness is very important, Erba. We must make Adano the cleanest town in the whole province of Itinamar. We will do this thing even if the door has piled up since a long time ago. But my cart is on the other side of the bridge. You ever say it may not pass? You'd better think twice, my dear. You want General Marvin to break you, you dope? I made up my mind. Don't do it. Listen, Jopalo, listen to your head. Shut up. Okay, it's on your head, brother. Erba, Masiri, Franti, I'll have the order changed. You may bring your carts into the town. Oh, brother, Adano finds out about the matter. There's never has to be a thing like this. Get out! When the people come and take water from my cart to drink for their taste, I shall say to them, thank you, Mr. Major, my friend. Look, get out of here. You're wasting my time and the time with the people who are waiting outside the door. Fourth, get me Captain Purvis over at the MP building. Boy, are you sticking your neck out. Let me Captain Purvis. I know what I'm doing. Famous last words. Hello, Purvis. There you are, Jopalo. Purvis, Jopalo, listen. By one sentence, General Marvin destroyed the work of nine days in this town. I know it may mean a court-martial, but I've decided to counterman his order. I know I'm taking a chance, but I've got to do it. This town's dying. No food can get in if the carts don't come in. If the town depends on the carts for water, there isn't any running water here, you know? People will die. I'm not here to kill people. What? What? Now, wait a minute. What? You'll do what? Listen, Purvis, I order you on my authority to start letting the carts back into the town beginning now. I take absolute and complete responsibility for countermanding General Marvin's order. What's that? If we never took chances around here, this place would go right on being a fascism. All right, you know what you can do. It's on my responsibility. Hey, Trapani, Schultz. Yes, sir? What's wrong now, Captain? Jopalo wants to let the carts back into town. General Marvin should drive back through here. We'd all get hung for it. Just to cover ourselves, we'll make out a report saying just what happened. General Marvin ordered us to keep the carts out, but Major Jopalo countermanded the order. You make it out, Trapani, and send it to G1 of the division. I'm going out to take the guards off the road by the bridge. How do you like that guy, Jopalo? I'm not going to burn for him. Well, how do you like that, Schultz? Ah, General Marvin's life will never come back here. And if he did, he'd probably never notice the carts. Yeah, but once you get the thing on paper, it's just a sure way to ruin the Major. And he's so right about those carts, anyway. So go hire a haul. I got headaches on my own. It's just... It's just, it's just... What's it to you, anyway? It's no skin off of your height. I just hate to see a guy getting trouble when he's trying to do right. All right. Well, then why don't you write the memo and then put the wrong address on it and sort of let it get lost accidentally on papers? Accidentally on papers. You mean it? Sure. Your Italian... Italian, ain't you? And this Jopalo is trying to help these Italians, ain't he? Yeah. Well, you can make a mistake, can't you? General, for a long time, maybe it'll never get to him. Yeah. You know, Schultz, sometimes I think you're a bright boy. A very bright boy. It's the Maguria Salvatoreo Town Crier. The Mr. Maggiore Jopalo is rebuilding our town so we can all eat and drink and sing and be happy. But you left when I say this before because of the carts. Now I laugh at you. The majority of Jopalo says that the carts come into the town again. You hear? It is like I tell you, the Americans are here to help you. And the majority is trying to get us a bell, too. That's all. Hello, Jopalo, I'm gone. Oh, hello, Colonel. About that bell. Just chuck a cannon now. These people down here will be brokenhearted. Well, thanks anyway, Sartorius. Glad to do you. You tried General Wilson in Algiers. Who? Wilson, quartermaster depo, Algiers. He's pretty good at getting things. Got some odds and ends for me once or twice. Wait a minute, boy. Yes, sir? Write down this address. OK, Sartorius, let's have it. General W.B. Wilson. Quartermaster depo. Algiers. You got that, boy? Yeah. Thanks, Sartorius. Anytime. Oh, Borth, I want you to get a letter off to me. I know, I know. Got a letter here from General Wilson, Jopalo. Oh, good. What's the score? No hits, no runs, your error. He says he doesn't have a 700-year-old bell, and don't you realize there's a war going on? Oh, Jopalo, why don't you forget it? I keep thinking of it all the time. You know, Borth, I think I want to get this town the right bell more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. Boy, when you go out on a limb, listen, if headquarters ever finds out about the time you've been putting in on this bell business... Oh, forget about headquarters. I wish I could. But if General Marvin ever finds out about the carts... Look. ...and then this business... Let's try the Navy. What a mind, just one track. Didn't you even hear what I was saying? Sure, forget it. Listen, Lieutenant, what's his name? Livingston, down in the Port Captain's office. He's a pretty good guy. You're going to fall in love with the Navy now. What a guy. Listen, Livingston got his captain's permission for the fisherman to go out and fish again, didn't he? You know, he might be just a man. If the Army can't find your bell, how's the Navy going to do it? Well, most ships have got bells, and they have to be loud and clear so that the men can hear them all over the ship to tell them the hours of the watches. Now he's an expert on the Navy. Get Livingston on the phone. Okay. Memos, memos, over something wrong. Can't they write about things being right? What was that last one about, Middleton? Some telephone wire that has been lost on an LST. Oh, blazes with them. The answer is no. Yes, sir. Now go on finishing reading those blasted memos, and let's get this thing over with. Think I got all day? Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir. To General Marvin for information, et cetera, et cetera, routing address, and so forth. Subject, Mule Cards, Town of Adano. Blasted, broken down, Mule Cards. On July 19th, orders were received from General Marvin to keep all Mule Cards out of the Town of Adano. Guards were posted at the bridge over Russell River. And at Cacopado Sulphur Refinery. Order carried out. Oh, that's right. Stop the blasted carts. Pesci Italian is trying to hold up the whole blasted invasion. Well, they'd better carry out that order. Yes, sir. On July 20th, guards were removed on order of major... Uh, well now, sir... Finish it, finish it, you blasted... Finish it. Yes, sir. The guards were removed on order of major Victor Giappolo, civil affairs officer, Town of Adano, because the carts were essential to the Town, and Town... Giappolo, Giappolo! Listen, do you remember the name of Giappolo, Colonel Milton? Yes, sir, the cart. Yeah, yeah, huh. I just remembered something. That Giappolo was out of uniform that day, you remember? Had on pinks and a khaki shirt. You remember that, Milton? No, sir, I'd forgotten. Well, I haven't. All had enough of that radical Giappolo. Yes. Now, make out an order recalling that blasted Italian-American pipsqueak from that blasted town that... What's the name of it? Adano, sir. Well, order him to report back to Algiers for reassignment. Make out a separate report to Algiers explaining why. I'll fix that blasted little baby and get it off today, too, understand? Now, near blasted delays now. You hear me, middle-dan? Yes, sir. All right. This is my Curio Salvatore, your town, a crier. Listen, people of Adano, I am to tell you this. A committee has been formed which has, in turn, made up plans for a party. A party to honor the good Mr. Majore Victor Giappolo for the wonderful things he's done in rebuilding our town. Yes, this town Adano's a much better offer since the Americans have come, and there will be a bell, too. So come to the party tonight and celebrate the coming of the Americans and honor the Mr. Majore Giappolo that come to the party. That's all. I told me you were in here and that you're acting like a crazy man. What's the matter with you? Uh, job below your fat. You've been relieved. There's nobody around here. Oh, you son of a metal ape. You're big. Well, come on, boy. You need to soak your head in some cold water. I can soak your own fat head. Now, boy, take your hands off me. Yeah, read that. You're authorized to proceed by first available transportation to the FHQ Algiers for your time at the station. The reason for this order is that reference to the Wolfling without consultation countermand orders issued by General Marvin, 49th Division, re-entry of mule carts into town of Adano, signed General Marvin. Where'd you get this? Your desk. I wanted to keep it from singing until after the party. Don't look like that job below. Let's go back to the party. And don't say a word, Boyth. It wouldn't be fair to spoil their fun. Ain't you ever going to grow up and think of yourself first, you big shug? Come on, Boyth. Smile. That was a great party, Boyth. I'll never forget it. Yes, sir. You ready, sir? Papers. You call for a Jeep? Yes, sir. It's better to go this way in the morning, Boyth. I don't want to say goodbye to anyone. I don't know whether I could. I'm sorry I got lit last night, Major. My intentions were good. I mean, I wanted you to have a good time at the party. Boyth, try to help whoever takes my place, do a good job in Adano. Adano needs you, Major. I still like to talk about that. I wonder how Marvin ever found out about the carts. Oh. One of his staff must have driven through or something. Yeah, I guess so. Listen, Boyth, keep after Livingston. About the bell, you mean? Yeah. It should be a loud bell with a tone to it, with a history to it. It should stand for the things I believe in. Boyth, you're building a new scaffolding for it, Major. Be ready for it when it comes. Tell the guy it takes my place. I wanted them to be happy here. I wanted all of them to have as much as they could of what they wanted. Without hurting anyone else. That's what I wanted in Adano. I'll tell him, Major. Well, let's go. The jeep's here. So long, Boyth. So long, Toppenall. Let's go, driver. Yes, sir. What's the matter, sir? Don't you feel well? No. I was thinking of all the things I ever wanted. Nothing. Yes, sir. Driver, stop a minute, will you please? Sir. You hear something? Just a bell. Must be 11 o'clock. Yes. Just a bell. Just a bell. The Mr. Majore Victor Jopperle, USA, was a good demand. That is the whole reason why I have told you everything that has happened. America is on its way to Europe. There will be a few Americans who do not understand us. But there will be others. Good ones. Good ones like the Majore Jopperle, who brought understanding and a help, and a freedom, and a bell. A bell for Adano. As the 42nd program of the Words at War series, we have presented A Bell for Adano by John Hersey. The book which has just been awarded by the Council on Books in Wartime, the Rare Designation of Imperative, which is to be made into a motion picture by 20th Century Fox. The radio adaptation was made by Lawrence Menken. Barry Kroger played Majore Jopperle, and Daniel Aco played Mercurio, the town crier. Others in the cast included Myron McCormick, Alan Drake, James Van Dyke, Ralph Sedan, Jackson Beck, John Alicino, Nino Ruggieri, and Tommy Nello. The music was arranged and played by William Meader, and the entire production was under the direction of Anton M. Lieder. We have an important announcement to make for next week. On the night of February 22nd, the National Broadcasting Company and its affiliated independent stations broadcast an outstanding program on this Words at War series, a program called Assignment USA. Of this program, Variety, that provocative and unusual weekly of the show world, said, The stuff with which this half hour squirts the air made your ears burn. It was hard to believe even after you heard it. That's the kind of program it was. The kind the country needs. The kind radio needs. In its columns, Variety twice pointed out to NBC that radio as an industry needs these sock shows. And somewhat acidly urged a repetition of Assignment USA. In response to these urgings, the National Broadcasting Company will repeat this program next Tuesday evening. The nation should hear this very excellent show. We hope you won't miss Assignment USA. This is the National Broadcasting Company.