MICHAEL
Hear that! The enemy!
Making a night attack!
[_There is a loud bugle call without._]

ARRAM
There goes the bugle!
[_They all rush out, except_ NANKO, _who looks out into the night after
them, then closes the outer door, takes a crystallized plum from the
table, crosses the room and stares at the floor, near the door on the
right._]

NANKO
[_Calls aloud.]_
Rada, these plums are excellent. Don't you see
Life is a battle! Survival of the fittest!
Something red again. Trickling under the door?
Blood, I suppose. Well, I don't think it's right
To spoil a person's pleasure on Christmas Eve.
I wonder how the gramophone does work?
He said the tune that he was putting in
Was just the thing for Christmas Eve. I wonder,
I wonder what it was.

[_He picks up the box from which the record was taken and reads the
title._]

"_A Christmas Carol
Sung by the monks of St. Peter's monastery