Movie-Sounds.org > Old-Time Radio Quotes > A Tale of Two Cities (1938)

He has lived so long locked up that he'd be frightened, rave, tear himself to pieces, die, if his door was left open.

8 seconds sound clip from the A Tale of Two Cities (1938) classic radio drama series episode.

You can hear this line at 00:13:36.893 in the radio play.

Quote context

[...]

- My name is Jarvis Lorry of London. This is Miss Manette.

- Come with me, then. I'll take you to him. He's very high. A little difficult. Better to begin slowly.

- Is he always alone, then?

- Yes.

- His own desire?

- Of necessity.

- He has greatly changed?

- Changed?

- The door's locked?

- Yes.

- You think it necessary to keep him locked up?

- I think it necessary to turn the key.

- Why?

- He has lived so long locked up that he'd be frightened, rave, tear himself to pieces, die, if his door was left open.

- Is it possible? Yes, it is possible in this fine world we live in. Not only possible, but done. Done, see? Under that sky there, every day. It'll continue being done until the last of that accursed race has perished in the face of the earth.

- Quiet. Let us go in.

- I'm afraid of it.

- Of it? What?

- I mean of him. My father.

- Listen. What is that sound?

- Faintly, through the dark, with his back toward the door, we saw a white-haired man sitting on a low bench, stooping forward... very busy, making shoes.

[...]

A Tale of Two Cities (1938) Sound Clip

A Tale of Two Cities book coverListen to memorable quotes of Charles Dickens's "A Tale of Two Cities", as brought to life by Orson Welles in this rare 1938 Mercury Theatre radio play, featuring sound clips.

Actors: Orson Welles (Sydney Carton, Doctor Manette), Edgar Barrier (Charles Darnay), Betty Garde (Madame Defarge), Mary Taylor (Lucie Manette), Martin Gabel (Jarvis Lorry)

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