Brick by Brick
an historical panorama
of the Iron Curtain
in four scenes


Characters

Narrators

President
Chief of Police

Spak - Minister in the President's palace
Wan - friend of Spak
Boll - a border guard

Ambassadors - from the other side
Reporters
People
Police/guards


Scene One
in the Presidential Palace

Narrators
The President is ruthless! He's all powerful!

President
When threatened, I use my police!

Narrators
He's eyes everywhere,
he's ears everywhere!

President
...they protect me whatever, whatever I do!
But what if they fail me?

Narrators
The higher you climb up the ladder,
the harder it is to fall!

President
They won't fail me! They can't fail me!

Narrators
They're scared like everyone else!

People singing an anthem
We love our President
he leads our wonderful party
surrounded by clever committees
he ensures his people are well catered for.
We love the President!
We love the President!
We love the President of our great country!

President
See how my people are loyal to me!
Some traitors think over there is better
but I won't allow them to leave me!
Inside the Wall, our people are safe!
If people try to escape - shoot them!

Narrators
The people are not fooled;
there's many who risk their lives...

Chief of Police (entering, with several colleagues)
We think there are enemies here in the Palace.

President
Even here! Whom can I trust?

Several Police
-we'll catch them red-handed, shoot them on sight!
-purge the press, censor the news!
-make the Wall stronger, guard it well!

[everyone leaves except for Spak]

Narrators
Now Doctor Spak has something to hide..

Spak
They've found out something.

How much do they know?
I'm nervous, frightened - I've stolen secrets.
They'll shoot me if I'm caught.
I hate this regime. Freedom is what we need!

There are spies everywhere -
there's only one person I can trust now.

[Wan enters]

Narrators
Wan is his [her] friend, a professional contact..

Spak
I can't bear life here anymore -

Wan
Neither can many, but things will change soon!

Spak
The President rules by terror alone;
we live in constant fear.

Narrators
The people are robbed of vital necessities
while he lives in splendour and luxury.
You can't tell the truth,
the news is censored - it's all propoganda and lies.

Spak and Wan
Life over there is so much better,
people are free to think and to talk;

Spak
I need to escape - will you help me?

Wan
No, you must stay. We need you here.
Spak
I've had enough.

Wan
You'd end up dead.
Wait - someone's coming!
I'll hide in here.

[hides]

Narrators
Now enters the Chief of Police!
A cruel man, but corrupt as well...

Chief of Police [entering]
It's you, Doctor Spak!

Spak
What do you want?

Chief of Police
Funny how I always find you in the wrong place!
I'm looking for a spy.
I know this person works in your office -
important secrets are leaking out.
It wouldn't be you by any strange chance?
Now I'll be nice - I'll do a deal.
You're in charge of food supplies.
Double my rations - I'll cover your tracks!

Spak
How can I trust you?

Narrators
You can trust no-one!

Chief of Police
Take a chance!

Spak
You sinister bully!

Chief of Police
Remember the rations! I want that food!

[exit Chief of Police. Wan comes out of hiding.]

Narrators
Now Wan has heard this,
he'll help Spak escape.

Wan
You're right! You'd better leave.

Spak and Wan
Are we doing the right thing?
Over the wall - could be death, could be freedom.
Should we go or should we stay?

Wan
I must be loyal to my divided country
I will have to stay

Spak
I must be loyal to my divided country
I will have to leave.


Scene Two
at the wall

Wan
Boll?

Boll
Who wants to know?

Wan
Wan, and I want your help.

Boll
You're looking for a way out?
[Wan nods]
They're fast disappearing.

Wall's heavily guarded now.
Two chaps killed last night - tried to drive under the barriers.
They've even bricked up the sewers.
Know what? The President is scared to death.
If people flee the country
he and the Wall will come tumbling down.
Old man by the wall - they put barbed wire up at his window.
just where his flowers grow on the window cill.
The other day they told me not to let a little boy across -
said his mum and dad were on the other side.
You wonder what's the point of it all.
I have to obey orders, I do what I'm told.

Wan
Can you help Spak to escape?
[S]he's in danger of being found out.

Boll
Best thing is forged documents,
pretend you come from the other side and want to get back. Dangerous though.

Wan
Can you get some for him [her]?

Boll
Expect so - all in the cause of a free country.
Give me your photos. You'll be from the other side, remember.
Good luck!

Police raid
[Chief of Police.
Boll escapes, Wan is shot dead]


Scene Three
in the Palace

Narrators
Time has passed while tragedies happened.
But the people have not lost all hope.
They've found an escape route -
not over the wall, instead they go round it!

Spak
If more people leave, there'll be no-one left!

Boll
The demand for permits to cross the Wall
grows by the day. What are we to do?

Narrators
The ambassadors from the other side
have come to visit the Palace officials.
They want the Wall down... they have an idea.

Ambassador
The President is old and ill -
while he's away throw a party at the border.
Say it's to celebrate the wonderful Wall!
Meanwhile spread the word that people can cross.
We'll organise help on the other side.
And to lead the celebrations.
we'll invite the old king back from abroad.

Spak
A popular figure from the good old times!

Narrators
Now here comes the President, older and scared...

President [entering]
I'm so angry and tired
of problems of state.
The work never ends
and no-one thanks me for all I've done.

Ambassadors
We wish to make you an offer of money.
You know the Wall costs much to maintain.
You need to repair it, pay the guards.
Why bother now to fight the inevitable?
We'll give you a great deal of money,
rebuild the country, make it great,
if only you'd bring down the Wall,
if only you'd bring down the Wall.


President
Never!

Spak
...if only you'd bring down the Wall!

President
Never! Never!

Committees
...if only you'd bring down the Wall!

President
Never! Never! Never!

Committees
We wish to take up their offer of money.
We know the Wall costs much to maintain.
We need to repair it, pay the guards.
Why bother now to fight the inevitable?
We'd save you a great deal of money,
rebuild the country, make it great,
if only you'd bring down the Wall,
if only you'd bring down the Wall.

President
Never!

Spak
...if only you'd bring down the Wall!

President
Never! Never!

Committees
...if only you'd bring down the Wall!

President
Never! Never! Never!

Reporters
When can people be permitted to travel?

President
Never! Never! Never! Never!

Reporters
And the deaths of those who've tried to escape?

President
They betrayed their country, they deserved to die.

Spak
No, sir, it is you who deserves to die.

[a sudden silence]

President
Arrest him [her]!

(Spak is arrested and thrown into jail)

People singing an anthem
We love our President
he leads our wonderful party
surrounded by clever committees
he ensures his people are well catered for.
We love the President!
We love the President!
We love the President of our great country!

President
See how my people are loyal to me!

People
Hail to the President!
Hail to the President!
Hail to the President! All hail!




Scene Four
The party at the Wall.

Groups of people
rumours
rumours
rumours....rumours
rumours....rumours
rumours, rumours
rumours, rumours
rumours, rumours
rumours, rumours
rumours going around! what rumours?
rumours going around! what rumours?
have you heard the news? what news?
have you heard the news? what news?
rumours going around! what news is there?
rumours going around! what news is there?
rumours going around! what news is there?
rumours going around! what news is there?

the President's resigned!
the President's r-signed?
the President's resigned!
Never!

Chief of Police
That's treason! You're a traitor!

Policemen
There are spies here, everywhere.

People
There's rumours going around!
the President's resigned!
been pushed more likely!
who would dare?
the people rose against her -
when she arrested Doctor Spak.

Have you heard the news?
the President's been arrested -
the Committee voted her out.

Have you heard the news?
Doctor Spak has been released -
the Committee wanted her back!

Spak is the new leader - she's going to be the President.
Spak is the new leader - she's going to be the President.

She promises elections soon.
We'll be free to think again!
We'll be free to talk again!
We'll be free to talk, free to think,
free to talk, free to think again!

Reporters
Can they go now to the o-ther side?
The guards don't know what to do.
The situation's quite con-fused.
What are they waiting for - through the Wall!
The guards have no orders to let them through. But wait!
It's true... the news is on TV!
Through the Wall - meet friends on the other side.
A new order, a new dream!

All
Knock the Wall down brick by brick,
the Wall is coming down at last!
Brick by brick, and stone by stone
the Wall is coming down at last!

Spak
What's left is just a memory!

All
We are free to cross the Wall!
We are free to cross the Wall!
We are free to come, free to go,
come and go, free to cross the Wall!