The Fall of the City
by Archibald MacLeish

THE STORY: An announcer is broadcasting from the square of a city.

A crowd has gathered to witness the repeated appearance at noon each day of a dead woman.

It is expected she will speak.

On this day she does, prophesying: “The city of masterless men / Will take a master./ There will be shouting then:/ Blood after!” After her disappearance a messenger announces the arrival on the coast of a Conqueror.

An orator makes a spirited address, urging the people not to oppose him.

A second messenger announces his advance.

Priests urge the people to take refuge with their gods.

Fires set by the Conquerer appear on the hills beyond the city.

The conqueror enters the square dressed in armor, his helmet closed.

The people fall on their faces.

The Conquerer mounts a platform, opens his helmet and the announcer sees that the helmet is empty, but the people do not.

As the Conquerer raises his arm, they cheer like troops at a victory.

The announcer's voice dryly closes the play: “The city has fallen.”