At First Light

Summary

Circle Round: "At First Light" - Detailed Summary

Podcast Title: Circle Round
Host/Author: WBUR
Episode Title: At First Light
Release Date: April 22, 2025

Introduction

"At First Light" is a captivating episode of WBUR’s Circle Round podcast, adapted from an Aboriginal Australian folktale. This narrative-rich episode explores themes of cooperation, perseverance, and the transformative power of teamwork. Through engaging storytelling, vibrant soundscapes, and memorable characters, the episode brings to life a magical origin story about the first sunrise.

Setting the Scene

The story unfolds in a primordial world where animals reign, but life is shrouded in darkness and cold. Unlike modern clouds that float high in the sky, these ancient clouds hang low, thick, and solid, creating a gloomy, chilly environment that makes distinguishing day from night nearly impossible.

Narrator:
"A long time ago, back when animals ruled the Earth, the world was a dark place. A cold one, too. The reason was clouds. The entire planet was covered with clouds."
(00:47)

Introducing the Characters

The main characters are Kangaroo, Emu, Koala, and Magpie. Due to the oppressive darkness, Kangaroo is limited to crawling on all fours instead of hopping, Emu cannot extend her neck, and Koala is unable to climb eucalyptus trees.

Kangaroo:
"Is this a tree?"
(03:11)

Koala:
"Oh, such a crick in my neck and my back. If only I could stand up straight."
(03:00)

Emu:
"Oh, what I wouldn't give to jump and bound and leap."
(02:30)

The Rise of Conflict

The constant darkness and cold foster frustration among the animals, leading to frequent quarrels and exacerbating the bleakness of their existence.

Kangaroo:
"How can I watch anything when I can't see anything?"
(05:30)

Koala:
"I'm as tired as anyone."
(05:58)

Magpie’s Initiative

Amidst the discontent, Magpie stands out as a beacon of hope. She is determined to find a way to dispel the darkness and bring warmth to the world. Recognizing the dire situation, Magpie calls a meeting to rally the animals.

Magpie:
"We need light and heat. I believe it's high time we take action and chase the clouds away."
(05:07)

Despite her enthusiasm, Kangaroo, Emu, and Koala are initially skeptical and reluctant to collaborate.

Kangaroo:
"Magpie, do you have any brilliant ideas?"
(05:37)

Magpie:
"The truth is, I don't. But I'll bet we could come up with some ideas as a group."
(05:42)

Their response is dismissive, highlighting the depth of their frustration and distrust.

Kangaroo, Emu, Koala:
"No way, Magpie.""We're too busy banging our heads together to brainstorm ideas."_
(05:56 - 06:13)

Magpie’s Determination

Undeterred by the rejection, Magpie decides to take matters into her own wings. She perseveres through hunger and frustration, embodying the episode’s theme of persistence.

Magpie:
"I'll put on my thinking cap, I'll mull it over, and with any luck, it won't be long before I see the light."
(06:38)

The Eureka Moment

In her quest for a solution, Magpie discovers a stick, which sparks an innovative idea. This moment of inspiration leads her to devise a plan to lift the clouds and restore light to the world.

Magpie:
"I've got it. I know how to chase the clouds away."
(09:46)

Reuniting the Team

With renewed hope, Magpie calls the animals together once more. This time, she presents her plan, emphasizing the necessity of teamwork.

Magpie:
"We're going to have to work together."
(10:35)

Her persuasive approach pays off when she highlights a recent instance where the animals actually agreed, subtly encouraging collaboration.

Magpie:
"Do you realize what happened just now? The three of you didn't bicker, you didn't squabble, you didn't quibble or butt heads. You actually agreed on something."
(11:23)

Collaborative Effort

Motivated by Magpie’s leadership, Kangaroo, Emu, and Koala agree to unite. The animals gather wood—branches and sticks—and construct a large pile as the foundation for their plan to lift the clouds.

Magpie:
"First, we make a big pile of wood. Branches, sticks, fallen tree limbs. The longer and stronger the better."
(12:38)

They each hold pieces of wood, pushing upwards with all their might. Their combined efforts successfully elevate the dense clouds away from the earth.

Narrator:
"The solid clouds began to lift up. They rose higher and higher until they were towering far above the earth."
(13:21)

The Dawn of a New Day

With the clouds dispersed, the sun makes its first appearance, bathing the world in golden light and warmth. The animals experience newfound freedom and joy—Kangaroo bounds, Emu extends her neck, and Koala climbs trees. Magpie’s joyful song awakens the sun, symbolizing the triumph of cooperation and ingenuity.

Magpie:
"Her joyful warbling rang out loud and clear. So loud and clear, in fact, that it woke up the sun."
(13:21)

Conclusion and Activity

The episode concludes by celebrating the harmony achieved through teamwork. It invites listeners to engage in a creative activity, encouraging them to participate in a scribble swap to foster collaboration and imagination.

Activity Prompt:
"Find a partner and make sure you each have a piece of paper and something to draw with. Now close your eyes and draw a scribble. Once you're done, trade papers, look at your partner's scribble and use it to create a full picture."
(17:00)

Key Takeaways

• Cooperation Over Conflict: The episode underscores the importance of working together to overcome challenges. Magpie’s leadership contrasts with the initial reluctance of Kangaroo, Emu, and Koala, ultimately demonstrating that unity can achieve remarkable outcomes.

• Persistence Pays Off: Magpie’s unwavering determination illustrates how perseverance can lead to innovative solutions, even in the face of adversity.

• Transformative Power of Teamwork: The collective effort to lift the clouds signifies the profound impact that collaboration can have on transforming circumstances and improving lives.

Notable Quotes

• Magpie on Necessity of Action:
  "We need light and heat. I believe it's high time we take action and chase the clouds away."
  (05:07)

• Magpie Highlighting Collaboration:
  "Do you realize what happened just now? The three of you didn't bicker, you didn't squabble, you didn't quibble or butt heads. You actually agreed on something."
  (11:23)

• Magpie on Teamwork:
  "We're going to have to work together."
  (10:35)

Production Credits

• Adapted by: Rebecca Shearer
• Edited by: Dean Russell
• Music and Sound Design: Eric Shimalonis (Featuring the Didgeridoo)
• Artist: Sabina Hahn
• Voice Actors: Amy Brentano, Terrence Lamont Jr., Erica Rose, Natalie Dormer

Final Thoughts

"At First Light" is a beautifully crafted story that not only entertains but also imparts valuable lessons about collaboration and resilience. Through its engaging narrative and relatable characters, the episode inspires listeners of all ages to appreciate the beauty of teamwork and the rewards it brings.

For more enriching stories and activities, visit WBUR's Circle Round.

Transcript

[Rebecca Scheer]

WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

[Narrator]

Have you ever woken up early enough to watch the sunrise? It's pretty magical, right? Watching those first glimmers of daylight as they start to peek out from the horizon. Today's tale is all about how the first sunrise came to be way, way back in the earliest and darkest and coldest of times. I'm Rebecca Scheer, and welcome to Circle Round where storytime happens all the time today. Our story is called At First Light. It comes from the aboriginal peoples of Australia who have lived on this continent between the Pacific and Indian Oceans for over 50,000 years. Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this tale, including Natalie Dormer, whom you grown ups may know from such TV shows as Game of Thrones, the Tudors, and Elementary, as well as the Hunger Games movies. Her new film, Audrey's Children, is in theaters now. So circle around, everyone, for At First Light. A long time ago, back when animals ruled the Earth, the world was a dark place. A cold one, too. The reason was clouds. The entire planet was covered with clouds. And unlike the clouds we know which float in the air high above us, these clouds hung right above the ground. What's more, they were dense and thick and solid, like a low, hard ceiling. So the animals had to spend their days or nights, it was hard to tell the difference, trapped in this thin layer of chilly darkness, shivering and figuring out ways to get around. Nowadays, kangaroo hops and springs from place to place, right? Well, back in those early times, the poor pouched marsupial had to crawl on all fours.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Oh, what I wouldn't give to jump and bound and leap.

[Narrator]

The tall bird known as Emu couldn't possibly extend her long, narrow neck. Instead, she had to walk around all hunched over.

[Koala]

Oh, such a crick in my neck and my back. If only I could stand up straight.

[Narrator]

And koala. There was no way he could climb up and down eucalyptus trees because in the darkness, he couldn't see the trees.

[Kangaroo]

Is this a tree?

[Narrator]

Ow.

[Rebecca Scheer]

No, koala, it's kangaroo.

[Kangaroo]

Oh, is this a tree?

[Koala]

No, it's emu. Watch yourself, koala.

[Kangaroo]

Oh, I'm sorry, but how can I watch anything when I can't see anything?

[Narrator]

I can't see anything. The animals were miserable. And the more miserable they became, the more they quarreled, their moods turning as dark and and frosty as the earth itself. The one creature who tried seeing the bright side, so to speak, was the black and white bird known as Magpie.

[Magpie]

Oh, how I dream of lifting off the ground and flying. But one flap of my pointy wings and I'll bump against a cloud. There must be some way to bring light to the world. Warmth too. There must.

[Narrator]

So Magpie called all the animals together to see what they could do.

[Magpie]

Thanks for accepting my invitation. Friends. I would say I'm happy to see you, but given how dark it is, that's pretty much impossible. Anyway, I'm glad you're here.

[Rebecca Scheer]

This better be worth it, Magpie. Emu stomped on my tail on the way over and it won't stop throbbing.

[Koala]

That's because koalas smashed into me and I lost my balance.

[Kangaroo]

I only smashed into you because A I couldn't see you, and B I was shivering so hard. Haven't you noticed how dark and cold it is around here?

[Rebecca Scheer]

I say no, Dr. Cock.

[Kangaroo]

I'm as tired as anyone.

[Magpie]

Friends, friends, please listen. I called us together because we can't go on living like this. We need light and heat. I believe it's high time we take action and chase the clouds away.

[Narrator]

Kangaroo, Emu and Koala exchanged a skeptical look. At least they would have exchanged a skeptical look were they able to see each other's faces.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Chase the clouds away?

[Koala]

And just how are we supposed to do that?

[Kangaroo]

Magpie, do you have any brilliant ideas?

[Magpie]

The truth is, I don't. But I'll bet we could come up with some ideas as a group. All we have to do is put our heads together.

[Narrator]

There was a long, pointed pause, and then.

[Rebecca Scheer]

No way, Magpie.

[Koala]

We're too busy banging our heads together to brainstorm ideas.

[Kangaroo]

So you're on your own.

[Rebecca Scheer]

When it comes to finding a way to chase off those clouds, all of.

[Koala]

Us are in the dark.

[Kangaroo]

And we always will be.

[Narrator]

To Magpie's dismay, Kangaroo, Emu and Koala turned around and stomped away in the murky gloom, stumbling and bumbling all the while.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Ouch. Watch it.

[Koala]

No, you watch it.

[Kangaroo]

I told you none of us can watch anything.

[Magpie]

Right? Fine. If the other animals won't help me, I'll find an answer on my own. I'll put on my thinking cap, I'll mull it over, and with any luck, it won't be long before I see the light.

[Narrator]

What ideas will Magpie come up with? Do you have any suggestions for the black and white bird? We'll find out what happens after a quick break.

[Koala]

A whole new season of terrestrials is coming. Radiolab's family friendly show all about nature. This season we are back with a new batch of episodes where we come face to snout with some of the wildest, gnarliest Creatures on this planet, we discover music, magic, medicine, and a whole lot of fun. Starting April 17, all on the Radiolab for Kids feed wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Narrator]

Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Today our story is called At First Light. Before the break, Magpie was determined to bring light and warmth to the earth by banishing the dark, solid clouds that hovered uncomfortably close above. But when kangaroo, emu and koala refused to help her formulate a plan, Magpie knew she was on her own.

[Magpie]

Okay, think, Magpie, think.

[Narrator]

The black and white bird racked her brain for an idea.

[Magpie]

Hmm. Mm hmm.

[Narrator]

But her mind felt empty.

[Magpie]

Come to think of it, my stomach feels empty, too. It's time for a snack.

[Narrator]

She stuck out her beak and began pecking around in the darkness, hoping to find a spider, worm, or cockroach to gobble down.

[Magpie]

Come on, little critters. I know you're here somewhere. At least I hope you are.

[Narrator]

The hungry bird pecked and pecked until she struck something.

[Magpie]

Oh.

[Narrator]

Only it wasn't a spindly spider or squishy worm or crunchy cockroach. Instead, it was something long and rough and spiky. She couldn't see it, of course, but when she ran her wings over it, she immediately knew what it was.

[Magpie]

It's a stick. A nice, hefty stick. Must have snapped off a tree branch.

[Narrator]

Obviously, the stick was no substitute for food. But all at once, it gave magpies some precious food for thought.

[Magpie]

I've got it. I know how to chase the clouds away.

[Narrator]

Once again, she called the animals together. Once again, they came fumbling and bumbling over.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Careful with that beak, Emu.

[Koala]

Koala knocked into me again.

[Kangaroo]

Nuh uh. You nearly ran me over.

[Narrator]

Once Magpie sensed the other animals were close by, she began the speech she had so carefully prepared.

[Magpie]

Thanks for joining me again, friends. I called us back together because I've been thinking, and at long last, I know how to chase the clouds away. But it's going to take all of us to do it. We're going to have to work together.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Work together?

[Koala]

Not a chance, Magpie.

[Kangaroo]

We could never work together.

[Magpie]

Well, I beg to differ. And I can prove it.

[Rebecca Scheer]

There's no point in even trying, Magpie.

[Koala]

Kangaroo's right.

[Kangaroo]

All we do is bicker and squabble and quibble. We're constantly butting heads, sometimes literally, because of how we stumbled through the darkness.

[Rebecca Scheer]

That's a good one, Koala. And so true.

[Koala]

Totally true.

[Kangaroo]

Right? It's absolutely ridiculous.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Yeah, exactly. Can you put me.

[Magpie]

Okay, I hear You.

[Narrator]

But friends.

[Magpie]

Friends. Do you realize what happened just now? The three of you didn't bicker, you didn't squabble, you didn't quibble or butt heads. You actually agreed on something.

[Koala]

Wait, we agreed on something?

[Kangaroo]

Really?

[Magpie]

Really? You agreed on the fact that you never agree.

[Narrator]

Kangaroo, Emu, and Koala paused.

[Rebecca Scheer]

So what you're saying is we can agree after all.

[Koala]

We don't always have to butt heads.

[Kangaroo]

We can actually get along.

[Magpie]

Absolutely. You just proved it to be true. So now what do you say? Are you ready to work together and bring light and warmth to the world?

[Narrator]

Kangaroo, emu and koala knew that clever magpie had them right where she wanted them. So what else could they do but once again, agree?

[Rebecca Scheer]

Count me in, Magpie.

[Koala]

Me too.

[Kangaroo]

Me three. What do we do first?

[Magpie]

First, we make a big pile of wood. Branches, sticks, fallen tree limbs. The longer and stronger the the better.

[Narrator]

Kangaroo, emu and koala did as they were told. They scurried through the darkness, feeling around for wood and tossing it into a pile.

[Magpie]

Great work, friends. Now that we have a nice big pile, each of us must hold as many pieces of wood as we can. Then we'll use the sharp pointy ends to push up.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Push up.

[Kangaroo]

If we push the they'll bump against the sky.

[Magpie]

Indeed they will. And that's exactly what we want. So go.

[Narrator]

The animals grabbed as much wood as they could. Then they began to push. They pushed and they pushed, and after a little bit of time and a whole lot of teamwork, do you know what happened? The solid clouds began to lift up. They rose higher and higher until they were towering far above the earth. For the first time ever, the animals were free to move and roam. Kangaroo began to bound around. Emu extended her long, narrow neck. And Koala scurried up into the branches of a eucalyptus tree. As for Magpie, she burst into song. Her joyful warbling rang out loud and clear. So loud and clear, in fact, that it woke up the sun. The golden orb began rising in the east, filling the sky with shimmering shades of yellow, orange and red. And finally, finally, beaming light and warmth to the earth below. Ever since then, in certain parts of the world, it's Magpie's voice that ushers in the dawn. If you wake up early enough and you step outside, you just might hear the clever birds sing out and awaken the sun so we all can delight in a brand new day. Now it's your turn. You can work as a team artistically by doing a scribble swap. Find a partner and make sure you each have a piece of paper and something to draw with. Now close your eyes and draw a scribble. Once you're done, trade papers, look at your partner's scribble and use it to create a full picture. Think about what the scribble reminds you of. How might you add to it? Let your imagination run wild. And when you're both finished, share your pictures with each other. And if you'd like, share them with us. Ask a grownup to snap a photo of you and your scribble swaps and email it to circleroundwbur.org with your permission, we may feature it in the Lion's Roar, the monthly newsletter of the Circle Round Club. More on this super fun superfan membership opportunity in a moment. But first, this week's episode at First Light was adapted by me, Rebecca Shearer. It was edited by Dean Russell. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis. Eric's featured instrument this week was the Didgeridoo. To learn more about this wind instrument created from a long piece of hollowed out wood and to see a photo of Eric playing one, visit our website WBUR.org CircleRound's artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina has created a black and white white coloring page for all of our Circle Round stories and you can print them out and color them in Grown Ups. You can find all of [e-mail] CircleRound Special thanks to this week's actors, Amy Brentano, Terrence Lamont Jr. Erica Rose and Natalie Dormer. Natalie's new film Audrey's Children tells the true story of Dr. Audrey Evans, the first woman to to head her department at the world renowned Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the co founder of Ronald McDonald House. Audrey's children is in theaters now. Want to circle round with us in even more ways while also supporting public media? Join the Circle Round Club. You'll help keep our WBUR podcast going strong while also getting ad free episodes, bonus bedtime stories, music, education videos, a newsletter from me and Eric, plus early access to tickets for our live events. Sign up [e-mail] CircleRound Grown Ups if you have a moment, please leave us a five star rating or review on whatever podcast app you're using right now. It helps other listeners find the show so we can make the Circle Round circle even bigger. Circle Round is a production of wbur, Boston's NPR News station. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Thanks for circling Round with us. Now that you've made it to the end of this circle round episode, we want to know what's your favorite circle round story? Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the circle round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Various Children]

Hi, I'm Hula. I come from Jerusalem and my favorite episode is Horse for Hire. I like it when Marie tricks Pierre. My name's Walker and I live. I live in Kentucky and my favorite story is the Princess and the Mirror. And why I like it is because it gives a gift that helps her get better. My name is Mabel. I live in Greenbelt, Maryland. My favorite circle round story is the Kernel of Truth. I like it because Mabel teaches the queen a lesson. My name is Will. I live in Wenham, Massachusetts and my favorite circle is Counting Crocodiles. I like the part where mouse deer tricks old crocodile. Hi, my name's Jeremiah, I'm from Pennsylvania and my favorite circle around story is Banana Split. Hi, my name is Hazel. I live in Illinois. My favorite circle round story is Granny Snowstorm. I like the polish when boys go cannonball. My name is Catherine, I live in Philly and my favorite story is Fighting cats and Dogs. My favorite part is when the cat went on the dog's back to swim across the river to retrieve the pearl that the owner got as a present. I love you, Rebecca Cheer.

[Narrator]

Did someone mention a sweet story you've missed? Not to worry, grownups. You can find all of our circle round stories, plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh so much more on our website, wbur. Org circleround.