Speaker 1: A story about Christmas.
Speaker 2: It is titled Three Men by the outstanding American writer
Speaker 2: Willis Cooper.
Speaker 3: This is the tale of another Christmas, a Christmas thirty
Speaker 3: years ago. It is nineteen eighteen, and the Great War
Speaker 3: is over.
Speaker 1: War weary men are at last getting leave.
Speaker 3: Lee areas have been established in various parts of France,
Speaker 3: and men are from their stations.
Speaker 4: To these areas, there to rest and refresh themselves.
Speaker 1: For a brief period.
Speaker 5: It is Christmas Eve in the railway station of Deal Branch.
Speaker 4: The crowd is dense and compartments.
Speaker 1: On the train are scarce.
Speaker 4: A young British officers very songs.
Speaker 5: I'm looking desperately for a mental set on pro said,
Speaker 5: comes out my lambish year.
Speaker 2: I take it. Pardon you mean I can get into
Speaker 2: that one. I can get into that companion?
Speaker 1: Wait, will will miss you?
Speaker 2: Oh put, there's somebody in it now the trains will pull. Oh,
Speaker 2: thanks very much.
Speaker 4: I will another.
Speaker 2: Yes, the very Christmas to you too.
Speaker 5: Excuse him?
Speaker 2: Why, I mean, I've got to Venice's in the air
Speaker 2: of it. It's all right, would have venny. I can't
Speaker 2: talk to ruddy language, but it is not necessary to
Speaker 2: speak the reddy language.
Speaker 1: Misuse.
Speaker 2: Since I speak you girls after a fashion of the
Speaker 2: station mouth, I said you wouldn't mind have I stole
Speaker 2: myself in here?
Speaker 4: I should be delighted.
Speaker 2: Let me help you with your back out. That's all right,
Speaker 2: I'll I'll just sing it up on the wreck. There,
Speaker 2: I go and shop for the ah other. This is
Speaker 2: a bit of a wife.
Speaker 1: So clean too.
Speaker 2: I've never seen such a clean trail in France, and
Speaker 2: they probably scored.
Speaker 4: It out for Christmas.
Speaker 2: I am captains may rushboard to get squad numb the
Speaker 2: two hundred and twelfth Regiment until the shape there. Oh,
Speaker 2: I'm a lieutenant Hollis van Atano, the Australian night Horser.
Speaker 2: Are you going on leave, captain? Yes, I am not
Speaker 2: sure where yet. May stay like yeah, I never knows
Speaker 2: where he goes in this world. That's too arrive, and
Speaker 2: it's very good of you to show your compartment.
Speaker 1: I'm not emily too glad.
Speaker 2: It's being that of a lonely journey so far. I'm
Speaker 2: delighted at someone.
Speaker 5: To talk to. Uh.
Speaker 2: First class compartments aren't too easy to get hold of either.
Speaker 2: It has a bit cushier.
Speaker 1: This isn't it? Not too bad? Indeed you powdered me.
Speaker 2: I know, but uh, I am a bit killers to
Speaker 2: know how in Australia enough for else should find his
Speaker 2: way to be all farms. And then the fact I
Speaker 2: don't cart her myself kept in the uh guess confidence
Speaker 2: it yeah, yes, and young Ning is a balong team
Speaker 2: I I must sling member. Uh, but I was at Gallipoli,
Speaker 2: was a third art division and UH got a bit
Speaker 2: of a crack on the head.
Speaker 1: You know. First thing I knew.
Speaker 2: I found myself transferred to a village a few miles
Speaker 2: east of here, nothing but Americans in the time, the
Speaker 2: American that good soldiers say, oh that's lining.
Speaker 1: And now you.
Speaker 2: Find yourself bound for leave. On Christmas eve, cart her
Speaker 2: and jolly Glad offered to where.
Speaker 1: You going to? You know, a report of the art
Speaker 1: or a let barn. That's all I know.
Speaker 2: You have the same difficulties in your on me. I
Speaker 2: see one never knows where one goes. You are a
Speaker 2: long way from home, my friend. Yes, that's wrong, raally
Speaker 2: long way. How far the world you know? And you
Speaker 2: have come to fight for France. It's a good U mispeaking,
Speaker 2: Oh ben fum o he now he's over and nour
Speaker 2: young men my dead under the stars up there. Wait
Speaker 2: a minute, we lost a few too, are young men
Speaker 2: monsieur French and British and Australia and America.
Speaker 1: Hello.
Speaker 2: One cannot make the omlet without breaking the eggs. That's art,
Speaker 2: and the running a lot of good eggs too.
Speaker 1: For against con me.
Speaker 2: Ah, I wish the lasted time would start. There's always
Speaker 2: a mystery. Uh, they control these trains, particularly when one
Speaker 2: wishes to get somewhere in the holley. There's a chap
Speaker 2: in American uniform out there looking for the place. I say, sir,
Speaker 2: perhaps we could invite him in here.
Speaker 1: If you do not mind, well, I.
Speaker 2: Don't if it's so hard with you.
Speaker 5: He's a comrade.
Speaker 1: There was little room on the train.
Speaker 2: Now you are, oh Yang yang yang, Well that's why
Speaker 2: yang he comes. He head fuck start me picked now
Speaker 2: the briders back. And an officer too.
Speaker 1: I'm so.
Speaker 2: Well that the Americans have two divisions of negroes. They
Speaker 2: have many officers who are, as the Americans say, colored.
Speaker 4: Also, I've never.
Speaker 5: Seen one, all right, that's why yank.
Speaker 2: You know? Find if I ask him? And do you,
Speaker 2: my dear Valantine, why should one mind is he not
Speaker 2: a man and an ally and an officer? Do we
Speaker 2: dislike one another because I am French and Ustaunian. God damn,
Speaker 2: I'll know what the def differences that make ro cover
Speaker 2: of chet skinner.
Speaker 3: They oh, yeah, this roverywhere else?
Speaker 1: May come on in? Leave that rope for thank you.
Speaker 1: I'm afraid I was going to be left behind.
Speaker 2: Lands Valentine left an understray and not all.
Speaker 1: I'm a captain. No, you know the three other seventies
Speaker 1: the American.
Speaker 2: Infantry about it, captain and this is captain.
Speaker 6: Uh oh there.
Speaker 1: You'll have to help.
Speaker 2: I am captains may Rushbroude, Guest, Quaid and the French.
Speaker 4: I told they captain, welcome, gentlemen.
Speaker 1: I thank you.
Speaker 2: Yeah, give me your muse that I'll shove it up
Speaker 2: on the right.
Speaker 1: I thank you with BENNI uh, it's good to get
Speaker 1: that thing off my shoes.
Speaker 2: See down, Captain Meldon, thank you.
Speaker 3: I've been standing around there all day long, on one
Speaker 3: foot and then on.
Speaker 1: Another, waiting. Finally when the train did pull and I
Speaker 1: thought I was still go understand that good of you
Speaker 1: to take me in.
Speaker 2: We are delighted right uh you know austral Lieutenant that's
Speaker 2: right from Adelaide. But I've lived in England for here.
Speaker 2: Where are you from, Captain Evan.
Speaker 1: I'm from Chicago.
Speaker 5: Oh and you, Captain get.
Speaker 2: Come Miaomi is in by Young. That's one night him.
Speaker 1: Sell for my name? Your name?
Speaker 2: Captains one G A S C O I G N
Speaker 2: E from Gascony.
Speaker 1: U see oh, I say you know, gentlemen, God isn't
Speaker 1: it here?
Speaker 3: We are three of us, one railroad coach bound for somewhere,
Speaker 3: and we've come from all.
Speaker 1: Over the world to meet on Christmas. Even tell you
Speaker 1: the truth, we don't even know where we are going,
Speaker 1: do you. I have the slightest idea leave area. That's
Speaker 1: all I know. Why are we?
Speaker 2: Might as well have a spot of Christmas chair, eh.
Speaker 2: I have a bottle of rather good wine and music
Speaker 2: so far not to be undone in this mate. And
Speaker 2: I also have a bottle of black We made Christie
Speaker 2: deals of Christ, the very precious one in these days, gentlemen.
Speaker 2: I do not bring them by how I came by it,
Speaker 2: but suffice.
Speaker 3: It to say I have it.
Speaker 4: We're about to stop.
Speaker 1: We are starting.
Speaker 4: Play.
Speaker 2: And that was a jolly happy crown there at the.
Speaker 1: Station water.
Speaker 4: Christmas.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Christmas, despite the fact that most of them are
Speaker 2: wanted to get out of the town goes somewhere.
Speaker 1: M hm, that's Christmas. I was down in Texas and
Speaker 1: Camp Logan. I was in the hospital, I's say, and
Speaker 1: I ain't.
Speaker 3: I had dinner with the German gene General capture on
Speaker 3: Christmas Eve.
Speaker 2: Hi, gentlemen, will you drink with me?
Speaker 1: The pleasure sir?
Speaker 5: If you will link with me and with me?
Speaker 4: All right? That nights to uh to Christmas?
Speaker 3: Says uh.
Speaker 2: A mim is that somebody full of junk of allsorts.
Speaker 2: I was afraid I might have lost that bottle.
Speaker 7: Uh.
Speaker 2: The souvenirs, yeah, and silly toys and things that I
Speaker 2: pick up enough give them to some kids somewhere.
Speaker 1: Yeah, God knows they are few enough.
Speaker 2: And it gets to and manuset there there's no enough
Speaker 2: to my people to give them too. But it is
Speaker 2: a sentiment, a sentiment for Christmas.
Speaker 1: Yes, I suppose we all do that. My impact would
Speaker 1: I've learned this too.
Speaker 3: I didn't know if I'd ever get back to the
Speaker 3: outfit after this leave.
Speaker 1: So I got some souvenirs together.
Speaker 3: Another dak means I mean not now, Thanks God, I'll
Speaker 3: wait awhile I.
Speaker 6: Think I will too. Wait, it's a beautiful night clear,
Speaker 6: here's the wall was still on.
Speaker 2: I'd expect to hear someone shout lights out, Jerry up
Speaker 2: and have a lot of bombs landing on there. Hope
Speaker 2: we are done with that, mischiear, Amen, there's no moon. No,
Speaker 2: but look at the stars. I said, you see that
Speaker 2: one over there? Not even imagine it to the Star
Speaker 2: of Bethor very bright, isn't it he.
Speaker 1: Heed two thousand years ago?
Speaker 2: Well they are that same star still shines upon the ear.
Speaker 3: Well, if it does, we wouldn't know it, not we
Speaker 3: who quite wars and deny the name of the man
Speaker 3: that was born under it.
Speaker 1: There you were you were religious here? No, not at all?
Speaker 1: Loot in it A long way from it. I'm not
Speaker 1: religiously though.
Speaker 2: Oh used to have some jolly times as a kid
Speaker 2: at Christmas An church things and all that. You know,
Speaker 2: candulespay nay when it's not a religious saved. When one
Speaker 2: sees the star shining.
Speaker 1: Down on you, I wonder if that could be the star.
Speaker 1: And why not, my friend?
Speaker 2: Our earth changes, but the everlasting stars change. Not be
Speaker 2: funny if it is, wouldn't it?
Speaker 3: We?
Speaker 1: Oh?
Speaker 4: But our journey is long.
Speaker 2: Gentlemen, if you wish to sleep, you sleep your gift them.
Speaker 2: There's so little drink of wine has affected me.
Speaker 1: I fear and I keep my eyes open. I'm a
Speaker 1: little tired of myself standing around all day in that
Speaker 1: station and no place to sit down. Uh, I could
Speaker 1: always sleep unself. I opos then that we do.
Speaker 2: Sleep for a little while my friends.
Speaker 3: Uh, talking of sleeping, you've made me sleeping.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm all for it.
Speaker 6: So I turn out the lives if you will miss you, uh,
Speaker 6: pleasantly miss and.
Speaker 1: Why you know, ell.
Speaker 6: Y Christmas to you both, and in to you a
Speaker 6: little kind of Valentine that when that's going and the
Speaker 6: stars show a watch others this one the star that
Speaker 6: shone on back with him.
Speaker 2: You know, it seems that I have let you both
Speaker 2: be fucked somewhere.
Speaker 1: That's better job, my friend. I've how I was thinking this.
Speaker 3: Think Yeah I was too, but it wouldn't be one
Speaker 3: from friends, one from Australia, one from America.
Speaker 1: Wait, it is so.
Speaker 5: Good night, my friends, good night.
Speaker 2: Oh. When we have journeyed far were known man across valleys,
Speaker 2: mountains and devils get them my friends, did stime I
Speaker 2: promise us a sign. Are we to travel on like this?
Speaker 5: Whatever be not of faint heart?
Speaker 2: Out paser the end of our journeys at hand, the
Speaker 2: wind is bitter in a strange country, Oh Gospel, where
Speaker 2: I go a throe. For how many days now we traveled?
Speaker 2: I can no longer count, And that is dark.
Speaker 1: Gather.
Speaker 2: I'm tired, weary, and.
Speaker 1: Thy friend, laser, I would pain.
Speaker 5: Have faith my friends, out daser, milk your.
Speaker 4: Health haith.
Speaker 3: We hey, Oh a lead on gap where it all go?
Speaker 3: Where will we follow thee? Well, we'll be but three
Speaker 3: old men traveling in a strange country in the dead
Speaker 3: of light. Yet we know that thou art inspired of God,
Speaker 3: and that is hand that leave thee.
Speaker 2: Yet not even I know what miracle he will do
Speaker 2: before our eyes.
Speaker 3: No matter, we will follow on the road to death.
Speaker 3: Now which road takes the back to the right hand
Speaker 3: or to the left.
Speaker 5: I know not?
Speaker 1: With thou not call upon God gasper, I.
Speaker 2: Kneel down, breathin, Oh, Lord, Father God, he does thyself
Speaker 2: in the way that thou didst.
Speaker 5: Set out for us.
Speaker 2: For no, Oh, Lord Father God, that we are poor
Speaker 2: and our eyes no not the right and we would
Speaker 2: follow the way that thou.
Speaker 4: Wilt have us follow.
Speaker 1: Therefore we play thee humbly a.
Speaker 5: Miracle, American miracle. What sayest thou about face.
Speaker 3: And behold for a fallen from the Lord Father God.
Speaker 4: There is no sign of hold in the sky a
Speaker 4: fallen a star.
Speaker 2: But turn it brighter than all the stars of the heavens, Oh,
Speaker 2: Lord God, We thank thee.
Speaker 5: The way is before us.
Speaker 2: We follow thy will. But all guess the star shineth
Speaker 2: upon the back right than there forward forward brethern, for
Speaker 2: the end of our journeying is at time.
Speaker 5: This is a sign from God.
Speaker 3: Behold, for beyond the hill the life of a village.
Speaker 5: It is so.
Speaker 2: Now are we come to our destinas song. Indeed, haste, hey,
Speaker 2: oh travelers, O have you seen the star?
Speaker 4: Hoo, course, horror is the shepherd?
Speaker 1: See the flocks of sleepy on the.
Speaker 2: Road, thou, thy, travelers, No star, it's meaner. We have
Speaker 2: seen it, oh shepherd.
Speaker 5: Yet we know not its meanings.
Speaker 2: Say that the miracle of the Lord Father Gods lie
Speaker 2: on tors from the practice of the sky it sprang
Speaker 2: into blaze. Travelers, dost thou think it portends the end
Speaker 2: of earth?
Speaker 1: Nay, friend, not the end of her.
Speaker 5: Say, or rather it's beginning.
Speaker 3: What sayest behold a shepherd, the mandal of the Lord
Speaker 3: is upon him.
Speaker 2: Red he he speaks men that understand the workings of
Speaker 2: the will of God.
Speaker 4: Say, now, shepherd, how is yonder Fellows named?
Speaker 2: Surely you know what you've come to pass because of
Speaker 2: this star? How is it you know not the name
Speaker 2: of the town we have come from far lamsos?
Speaker 3: Ay, what does it matter if we know not such
Speaker 3: titles as the name of the village, when we do
Speaker 3: know of a miracle to be wrought, and the name
Speaker 3: of all Mighty God.
Speaker 5: I it is so what makers shall come to pass?
Speaker 1: It is hidden from our kennel, Shepherd.
Speaker 4: Yet it shall come to pass, fear not, aye, and.
Speaker 2: Such a miracle as shall set all the world to
Speaker 2: singing praises.
Speaker 6: He be not of Israel, Nay.
Speaker 1: I am from the lands of the Greeks.
Speaker 2: And these my companions be also from Phalans, nurture from.
Speaker 5: Ethio, and our pays of a wise man of Egypt.
Speaker 2: The sooth sail.
Speaker 5: Unto the king.
Speaker 1: He come fast, aye. So, since many.
Speaker 2: Days our feet have trod the pathways of hidden, unknown places.
Speaker 5: It always have we set our faces.
Speaker 2: Unto the east, obeying the bidding of a voice unheard,
Speaker 2: the guidance of a hand untold, we go now until
Speaker 2: the town.
Speaker 4: Thou hast not toldest of the name, saidas.
Speaker 2: Our men know that you, Anddertown is called the town
Speaker 2: of the House of Bread, even Bethlehem. Now this knight
Speaker 2: shall be born in Bethlehem, that Messiah, that very son
Speaker 2: of God, which the ancient prophets have foretold.
Speaker 5: And this is the miracle that shall come to pass.
Speaker 2: Or he shall be born of a virgin immaculate, and
Speaker 2: his name shall be Jesus called Christ.
Speaker 4: Oh, oh holy Man.
Speaker 7: May I not go with thee, seeing that I know
Speaker 7: is not the village, and I with my brethren were
Speaker 7: born there.
Speaker 2: Thou mayst come with us, But haste, hey.
Speaker 3: Behold the f hor it seemeth to meganis.
Speaker 2: Bring my burdens from my shoulders. Haste, hey, I marvel
Speaker 2: also that there should be lights for prod in the town.
Speaker 2: They are as passing late. Yet there is a light
Speaker 2: in every house.
Speaker 1: Pretense.
Speaker 3: The men are beth with him, rejoiced that the Messiah
Speaker 3: is all hey.
Speaker 2: Not so, for he is hidden from men, and they
Speaker 2: have bet for him know him not the way the
Speaker 2: feast of Knachy is but greatly over my masters, the
Speaker 2: feast of delights in memory of the Macubi. And this
Speaker 2: is the city, for even all the inns have that done?
Speaker 2: Know where we shall find him? Oh, gasper hath it
Speaker 2: been revealed unto they all.
Speaker 4: In good time?
Speaker 1: My friend, we follow the star.
Speaker 5: He behold, these be the worse of Bethlehem.
Speaker 2: O wise man, Hey, yonder liars.
Speaker 1: The gate pretense.
Speaker 3: The soldiers of the Techwok may refuse us admission into
Speaker 3: the city.
Speaker 5: Guests, Hey, they are gone.
Speaker 2: Away, mire cure, hey, they are lying the engine the
Speaker 2: public houses. And he corroused with the people of the towns,
Speaker 2: care for at all shore indeed, that we shall find
Speaker 2: him and death for him.
Speaker 5: Thus doubt the word of God, Baltaser.
Speaker 2: We must go on, but with a go with three
Speaker 2: Oh large gas, name me not, Lord shepherd, But we
Speaker 2: are all humble.
Speaker 5: Men in the sight of God.
Speaker 1: Praise God.
Speaker 5: Behold how the rays.
Speaker 2: Of the stars shine down upon this certain street. It
Speaker 2: is the way follow.
Speaker 1: One conquer by Hi.
Speaker 2: So hey, perchance, he bar man, whether go est thou
Speaker 2: thou send aside that I may pass right Thou Now
Speaker 2: the dying citizen. Even as thou I speak all of
Speaker 2: us for me, who in the great position, please said,
Speaker 2: thankst thou say that thou art here to no manifest
Speaker 2: the hell I am that I am all a threstler
Speaker 2: with the angel of death.
Speaker 1: Old I pray thee.
Speaker 5: As thou at ten woman this night that was brought
Speaker 5: to child.
Speaker 2: Who and how dost thou know that stranger will fast?
Speaker 2: Say I or nay?
Speaker 1: Ay I have done so?
Speaker 4: And look you now this.
Speaker 2: Night I have come upon a miracle, a very marble
Speaker 2: apology of nature. Speak of the marble that thou hast
Speaker 2: wisnessed man. And behold, not two hours have passed since
Speaker 2: one came post haste crying before my door about this
Speaker 2: almost noble surgeon, Oh savor of lives. Come down in
Speaker 2: haste a woman have need of thee in the stable,
Speaker 2: nigh am to the end of the two ocxen in
Speaker 2: the stable.
Speaker 1: I the stable.
Speaker 2: Now I am a man of charity, and always ready
Speaker 2: to answer the call when sick the stock of a broad.
Speaker 2: So I flung my cloak about me and went in haste,
Speaker 2: as it will become of the man of my age
Speaker 2: from girth. Yes, I am charitable, I say, and behold
Speaker 2: in yonder stable was a woman couched in the star
Speaker 2: of a manger, got to bed of a child. That
Speaker 2: surely meant women have been brought to bed of the
Speaker 2: child in stables before today.
Speaker 3: Aye?
Speaker 2: So, but mark me well.
Speaker 1: Now this woman was a virgin.
Speaker 2: Yea, I swear it by the holy flectric, by my
Speaker 2: father's beard. I swear it verily. A child born unto her,
Speaker 2: and she a virgin. Bad thou judt too much? If
Speaker 2: thy said post it neighbor, for thou I fall verily,
Speaker 2: hast thou stood before a miracle this night, a miracle
Speaker 2: instant of very Where is the woman thou didst that
Speaker 2: hender in yonder stable? The man that say they had
Speaker 2: come from a Nazareth in galery, who give us testimony
Speaker 2: to the tax collectors.
Speaker 1: And though they beseeched the.
Speaker 2: Innkeepers, yet none would give them room, saving only this one, who,
Speaker 2: having pity upon a woman with child, as saying to
Speaker 2: them they might find that amongst the kind of the stable, and.
Speaker 1: Didn't charge them.
Speaker 5: Not.
Speaker 2: Now, may all the blessings of God be on this innkeeper,
Speaker 2: or that he hath offered a shelter this night unto
Speaker 2: the Son of God. And what sayest and on the physician,
Speaker 2: or that thou didst slend thy hand unto her who
Speaker 2: is the very mother of him who shall be the
Speaker 2: savior of the world. And very I know not who thou,
Speaker 2: artful man, Yet I perceive that thou hast the gift
Speaker 2: of prophecy. The babe did look upon me with a
Speaker 2: look that I shall never forget. If thou dost speak soon,
Speaker 2: I am most blessed amongst men.
Speaker 4: Thine was the hand that first touched him. Verily art
Speaker 4: thou blessed?
Speaker 2: I thank THEE for thy grace. Friend, Go now inside
Speaker 2: the stable, Come my two good friends, and fall down
Speaker 2: and worship the infant Jesus, Son of God, which shall
Speaker 2: be called the Christ, praised unto him. Praise is unto
Speaker 2: the Son of God.
Speaker 1: Kay, I will not go in. I am that worthy
Speaker 1: may shepherd.
Speaker 3: There be none of us worthy to touch his hands,
Speaker 3: Yet there'll be none too humble to do him reverence.
Speaker 5: Come, I come, shepherd, Start waiting up a little.
Speaker 1: Who saddled all upon us to stop heleth before his
Speaker 1: glory may get behold.
Speaker 7: Behold in the sky a fi sign, Oh, Father, Lord God,
Speaker 7: the sign, the shape of a man crucified the pilot hous.
Speaker 4: Uh, valizer, Valentine.
Speaker 1: Just go, just star, try out on. Yeah, that's the matter.
Speaker 1: I was dreaming. I guess that.
Speaker 4: Where are we.
Speaker 5: It?
Speaker 4: It was a dream.
Speaker 1: But I saw you too, You saw us. It's hard
Speaker 1: to remember. Did you did you dream of three men?
Speaker 2: Yes?
Speaker 1: I did.
Speaker 2: Two gas Anchure, Gascon and Melvin the Leventine. Look at
Speaker 2: our clothes, look at our shoes.
Speaker 5: Hart of us?
Speaker 2: What straw.
Speaker 5: Saw from a stable? That fag of us?
Speaker 3: What is it?
Speaker 5: Gentlemen? I I have been in the east.
Speaker 4: I know what that smell is.
Speaker 1: It's more.
Speaker 5: And frankincense.
Speaker 1: That was three men. Written by Willis Cooper