Royal54-08-0444The Overcoat

Transcribe. The National Broadcasting Company presents Sir Lawrence Olivier, your host in Thea De Royal. This is Lawrence Olivier. Once again I have pleasure in welcoming you to our program and to tell you something about this week's play.

This week, my invitation has, I'm glad to say, been accepted by one of our finest actors, Michael Raydgrave. In today's program, I've asked him to choose for himself a subject to which he'd like to appear. He is selected a tale by Nikolai Gogol. It is called The Overcoat.

Here then is Michael Redgrave in the role of Akakki Akakkievich Pashmachin. Yes, that's right. Akakki Akakkievich Pashmachin. Yes, that's my name. Akakki Akakkievich Pashmachin. Born in St Peter's Burg marks the 29th, 1780, died in St. Petersburg February the 1st, 1830. Oh, yes, I'm afraid I'm dead. This story of the overcoat is the little story of my death. For an actual

fact, it was an overcoat that proved the death of me. No, I find heaven a little milder than in St. Petersburg, at least in the winter. Even so, it was an overcoat. Ah, cocky, I cocky, me!

Yes, yes, your honor, immediately, your honor. At once. You see, my profession is all, rather. It was that of a government clock. Whatever else happened in my department, I was always to be found at the same desk, engaged in the same work.

You see, I was a copying clock, and more than that, I never aspired to be. Ah, cocky, I cocky, me! Coming, sir. Yes, sir. Copy this. I said this, sir, at once. Oh, and this other one. Here, now.

This to be copied, sir? Well, no. I want you to alter the headings for me. Oh, and turn it from the first person singular into the third. The first person into the third? Turn all the eyes into his man that's simple enough, isn't it?