 Great Scenes from Great Plays with your host Walter Hamden and starring tonight Mr. Raymond Massey in The Devil and Daniel Webster. On behalf of the families of the Protestant Episcopal Church in your own community and the Episcopal Actors Guild, we welcome you to another half hour of Great Scenes from Great Plays transcribed by famous artists of stage, screen and radio. And now I present your host, the distinguished actor-manager, Mr. Walter Hamden. Thank you and good evening. Tonight we offer you a dramatization of Stephen Vincent Bene's famous story, The Devil and Daniel Webster. Webster was an orator of gigantic reputation, his senatorial debates with Henry Clay or a thundering chapter in our history, but in this evening's play we find the great man involved in an uncanny debate of a far different order. And I'm privileged to present as our guest tonight the distinguished star of stage and screen, Mr. Raymond Massey. Thank you very much, Walter. As a member of the Episcopal Actors Guild, I'm happy to be here. This is an appealing story, a poignant study in the American art of neighborliness. Yes, Ray, and that neighborliness you speak of, it's not a lost art, as some insist, is it? Not even in our complicated world today. Well, perhaps tonight's play will help us to remember that. So let us raise the curtain now on The Devil and Daniel Webster, adapted for radio by Philo Higley and starring Raymond Massey as Daniel Webster. Jabez Stone was a prosperous young farmer in New Hampshire. A hundred years ago tonight there was festivity and dancing in the great main room of his fine new farmhouse, for Jabez had just married pretty Mary Squires. Right fine wedding! Hands on couple, I'll take it. Here they are now, Jabez and Mary coming in to dance. And some steppers too. It's not time yet, oh you know Mary's a lucky girl. Jabez brings her plenty of this world's goods too. When to where he got it all, stones was always pulling. And for now, it does make you wonder just a mite. Where's the potman fancy, villa? No wait a minute, wait a minute neighbor, let's hear from the happy pair. Jabez, Jabez Stone, speak up. Let's hear from the brand new state senator. Last time he'll get the last word. Neighbors, friends, I'm not much of a speaker. I just want to say we're mighty glad to have you here tonight, Mary and me. We want to thank you for coming. I foster said that, but that's how I feel too. We're lucky folks to have a neighbor who's a great man in America. Daniel Webster promised he was going to honor us tonight. He ought to be here any minute. Pray for Daniel, the biggest man in the whole USA today. And when he comes, I know we'll all give him a real New Hampshire welcome. Now come and get the cider, friends. Mary? Yes, Jabez. I lost cider there for a minute. My husband? That's a big word, husband. It's a good word. Happy Mary? Oh, yes. So happy. I'm afraid. Afraid? I suppose it happens to every girl just for a minute. It's like spring getting to be summer. Oh, you wanted to be summer, but the spring was sweet. Oh, Jabez, I'm so proud of you. A man can't always be proud of everything, Mary, when he has his way to make. You've got to remember, Mary, whatever happens, it was all for you. Oh. I don't think anything is going to happen. If it was, it'd have come first thing this morning. And he hasn't come, but... But, Jabez, Jabez, dear, I think it's wonderful that Mr. Webster's coming. I wasn't thinking about Mr. Webster. Mary, there's something I just have to tell you. I should have before, but I... Somehow I... You're not so pale, Jabez. What is it? Everything's all right now, Mary. I'm sure it is, so I can tell you. You see, five years ago... I'll tell you later, Mary. Donald, Donald Webster! Yeah, Donald! Here he is, Jabez! Oh, friends, it does be good to hear you. But don't cheer me. I'm not running for president this summer. And don't cheer Jabez Stone, not me. Jabez Stone and his lovely bride. We're proud of... What's that? A tarnation. A bust of the feeder's frame. Excuse me. Go ahead, Mr. Webster. Don't make no lies. We're proud of Jabez Stone in these pots. We know what he's done. Started out with a patch of land that was mostly rocks and mortgages. And now look at him. His land's rich, his house rebuilt. A legislator of this great state. Don't mind, Isaac, Donald. Well, I didn't come here to make speeches anyhow. I came to kiss the bride. May I, Jabez? I'm proud to welcome you to my new home, sir. Congratulations, Jabez. You're a man favored by fortune. And now, if our friend in the corner will give us a tune on his fiddle... Dog-titted. Excuse me, Mr. Webster, but the very devil's got into this fiddle. I'm trying to blag you. Eat some raisin on your bow, fiddler. Who's that? He came in through the crowd. Maybe I do, and maybe I don't. But, hey, who are you? I don't recollect seeing you around here before. Oh, I'm just a friend. A humble friend of pride grooms. Jabez, what's wrong? It's Mr. Scratch. He did come. I'm afraid I came in the wrong way, Mr. Stone. You've improved the place so much since I last saw you, I hardly recognized the new front door. I came as fast as I could to offer my congratulations. Mary, Mr. Webster, this is a friend from Boston. A legal friend. Boston lawyer? You might say so. I've been playing that fiddle for 30 years at Wendens. Now comes a Boston string. You tell me how to do it. Don't good friend me. Need rosin indeed. Play it yourself, why don't you? Thank you, sir. That might be interesting. Shall I, Mr. Stone? Why, I... Jabez, are you ill? No, no, but I... It's so hot. I've got the medicine for Jabez, Mrs. Stone, 10-year-old Medford rum, my boy. I brought you this jug from home. No, no. Mary, Mr. Webster, I must tell you, I must... I'll let him play. He's bound to it, don't you see? There's nothing we can do. Capital, Mr. Stone, capital. I'm afraid this instrument needs spatial tuning. I told you so, didn't I? Tonight the devil's got that figure. Ah, indeed. Much better. Much better. And now in tribute to the bride and groom, I'll play a song of sentiment of young hopes and of young defeat. Jabez, Mr. Webster, stop him. Did I hear someone ask if the tune had a name? Well, let's call it, are you ready, Jabez Stone? Stop it, you wretch! Can't you see you're frightening Mrs. Stone? What? There's no one like my music? What do you want here, anyhow? Is this creature really a friend of yours, Jabez? If not, he should be shown the door. Mr. Webster, I... You're very impolite, Mr. Webster. Perhaps you should ask Mr. Stone if I don't have a right to be here. But I insist on knowing why you're here. Mr. Webster, I... You're very impolite, Mr. Webster. Perhaps you should ask Mr. Stone if I insist on knowing why you came, sir. Why, I came for my friend, Jabez Stone, that's all. Eh? What's that? The church bell. The church bell. The passing bell. The funeral bell. Who's your friend in black, Jabez? Well, are you ready, Jabez Stone? Where did you get your money, Jabez Stone? What was the price you paid for it, Jabez Stone? Help me, neighbors! Help me! He sold his soul to the devil. That's what he's done. That was the devil playing the fiddle. But neighbors, I didn't know. I didn't mean... Sold his soul to the devil. Go. Go get out of here. I did. I sold my soul. I signed a bond. Go quickly. Save yourselves. There's no help for me now. He's after us. Run! Hide! Jabez, is this true? Yes, Mr. Webster. It's true. My poor lad. Oh, my dear. You must hurry, Mary, with the others. But he's gone. That dreadful man's gone, dear. But he'll be back. Hurry, Mary. Go home. Back to your folks. And leave you, Jabez. You don't understand. He just made promises to each other. Mary, you've got to go. I demand it. But I... Oh, Jabez, why? How... It started years ago. I had such ambitions and no luck at all. I wanted to marry you and bring you to a decent place. But the farm was only stones and blight. I'd lie awake at night and try to figure out a way to get somewhere. But, Jabez, I'd have loved you just the same. I've got to try and make you understand. I was plowing one morning and the plowshare broke clean off on a rock. I didn't even have the money to get it mended. It was the last straw, Mary. Oh, poor Jabez. Well, right then and there, I said right out loud, I'll sell my soul for two cents. And, Mary, you know, he came along that very afternoon. The same man, scratch. Dark dressed. Soft spoken with those funny pointed shoes he wears tonight. Drove up in a buggy. I said we had some legal business to transact. But, Jabez, dear... The dog took one look at him and ran away. But I was so down and discouraged I signed his paper. Of course, I had to ask for more than two cents, Mary. But, Jabez, if you'd only told me... Well, almost right away, things picked up on the farm. My cows got fat, crops turned out fine. Lightning never struck the barn. He's kept his bargain. But what am I going to do? Jabez, there must be someone who can help us. A mortgage like that wouldn't hold in court. Talk to Judge Burke. Who'd take a case against old Scratch? There's not a lawyer in the world who'd do it. Jabez! Did you say something about lawyers? Mr. Webster. You've excused my leaving for a moment just having a cigar out on your porch. Jabez, I just happened to hear a little of your conversation through the open window. Sort of a law case, eh, neighbor? Well, a mortgage case, Mr. Webster. Mortgage, eh? Well, I haven't pleaded a mortgage case in years. Don't generally plead it all now, except before the Supreme Court. But you're my neighbor. If I can be of any service... Oh, Mr. Webster, will you help him? It's a terrible lot to ask, but you see, sir, there's Mary. If you could see your way to it... I will. I've still got the Missouri Compromise to straighten out, but I'll take the case. Oh, Mr. Webster. After all, Mrs. Stone, if two New Hampshire men aren't a match for the devil, we might as well give the state back to the Indians. The mortgage was for a definite term of years. Five years. And it failed you today, I take it. Yes, but when he didn't show up first thing this morning, I thought he'd forgotten. That's why I wouldn't have the wedding till this afternoon. Thought by then I'd be safe. I didn't want to drag Mary into this. Of course, of course. Well, we've got to get you out of it, that's all. Now, tell me, Jabez, did you sign this document of your own free will? Yes, I can't deny it. Everything had gone so wrong I was desperate. I see. Well, I fought John C. Calhoun and I fought Henry Clay. I'd fight 10,000 devils to save a New Hampshire man. How can I help, Mr. Webster? There's one way, madam, one way only, and it's hard. As Jabez counsel, I must ask you to withdraw. Oh, I can't do that. You must, my dear. Frankly, in a few minutes this room is going to be no fit place for a lady. But I can't leave him. Not now. You must go, Mary. Madam, you can best help us with your prayers. I'll pray, I'll pray. Trust me, Mrs. Stone. All right, Mr. Webster. I'll go now, Jabez. Thank you, Mr. Webster. I couldn't have made her go. Well, now while we're waiting, how about a nip of that old Medford rum? There'd be no joy in it for me tonight. Come, man, come. There's nothing like it. So an inch worm triad once and he stood right up on his hind legs and bit a bee. Now if... Mr. Webster, I've just thought... What's the matter? Mr. Webster, harness your horses and get away as fast as you can. You brought me a long way, neighbor, to say you shun my company. But I see it all now. He'll want both of us. Let him take me, Mr. Webster. Whatever it is, I have to go. He mustn't get you, too. He mustn't. It's kindly thought of, neighbor. But after all, there's a jug on the table and a case in hand. And I never left a jug or a case half finished in my life. No! Easy does it, Jabez. Come in, Mr. Scratch. Attorney of record for Jabez Stone, sir. Well, well, quite a jolly run. Had to chase those good folk all the way to town just for the fun of it, you know, to live up to my reputation. Taxing sometimes. Yes, you do seem a trifle out of breath. Not a bit of it. Well, none of us here are as young as we might be, are we? Except Jabez here, of course. He still has a long and useful life ahead of him. Oh, I have a good many years yet, Mr. Webster. And now I shall call upon you, Mr. Webster, as a law-abiding citizen to assist me in claiming my property. Not so fast, Mr. Scratch. Produce your evidence if you have any. The deed itself. Is that your signature, Mr. Stone? Yes. Keep quiet, Jabez. Well, come now, Mr. Scratch. We're both sensible men. Surely we can settle this little difficulty out of court. I want just one thing, the execution of my contract. Then why did you wait until the night, until I'd been married? As my client says, if this is the day on which the bond is due, why didn't you appear this morning like a decent businessman? There's nothing said in there about the hour of collection, is there? And now, if you've no further arguments to adduce, I'm really rather pressed for time. You shall not have this man, Mr. Stone is an American citizen, and no American may be forced to serve a foreign prince. We fought England for that in 1812. Foreign? And who says I'm a foreigner? I never yet heard of the devil claiming American citizenship. Who has better right when the first wrong was done to the first Indian? I was there. Alas, I am merely an honest American like yourself. Then I have you. Then I stand on the Constitution. I demand a trial by jury for my client. Case is hardly a jury case, Mr. Webster. Let it be any court you choose, so long as it's an American judge and American jury. But quick or the dead, I'll abide by the issue. Quick or the dead? Very well then, you ask for it. I am in, Mr. Webster. That American jury of yours? Can you see their faces yet? Do you recognize a few, at least, I'm sure? Mr. Webster, Mr. Webster, I'm scared. See, there's Benedict Arnold, and Governor Dale, who broke men on the wheel, and Morton, Marymount, and Blackbeard Teach, the gory pirate, traitors and renegades, everyone but 12 Americans, Mr. Webster. Scratch! You must hide in the rough appearance of one or two. They've come a long, long way. A jury of the dead. All of the dead. And the dead. But they've all played a part in America, remember? Are you satisfied with the jury, Mr. Webster? Aye. Very well, Mr. Scratch. You ask for a judge, I believe. Justice Haythorn, a jurist of experience, resided at certain witch trials held in Salem, hung every last defendant of the ball. Call the first case. Call the first case. Who appears for the plaintiff? Aye. Your Honor. And for the defendant? I do. He'll have little luck with this case. Your Honor, I move to dismiss this case on the grounds of improper jurisdiction. Motion denied. On the grounds of insufficient evidence. Motion denied. Motion denied. Motion denied. Motion denied. Motion denied. The prosecution will proceed. Your Honor, gentlemen of the jury, this is a plain straightforward case. It need not to take this long. Partner or sale is attested by a deed. I offer that deed in evidence and market exhibit aid. I object. Objection denied. I shall now call JB Stone to the witness stand. Yes! Call JB Stone. Your Honor, I move this jury be discharged for flagrant and open fires. Motion denied. Exception. Exception denied. This motion is always denied. Your Honor, I give is Stone to the witness stand. JB Stone. JB Stone. JB Stone. Answer me. You'd better, you know, you haven't got a chance of winning your case. I protest this is intimidation. This mocks all justice. The protest is irrelevant, incompetent, and immaterial. We have our own justice. The protest is denied. Did you or did you not sign this document? I signed it. You know I signed it. I have to go to perdition for it. I'll go. The prosecution rests. Remove the prisoner. But I wish to cross-examine. No cross-examination. But you may speak if you like. Be brief. Be brief. We have our own justice here. Gentlemen of the jury, I was going to defy you. I was going to thunder and roar. But suddenly I realized something. In your eyes I saw my own hate and fury, my hate of you. But hate is a weak weapon. Mercy is a stronger one, I think. The enduring weapon of forbearance. Once you were men, however long ago, and I shall speak to all of you as men. Once we were men. Not now. I'll speak of common things, small things, the freshness of the morning when you're young, the days toil, the rest by the fire, the quiet sleep. These are good things. But they sicken without freedom. It was for freedom we came here in the boats and the ships. It has been always a long journey, hard and bitter. But out of the wrong and the right, the sufferings, the strivings, there is that new thing, America. The traitors in their treachery, the wise in their wisdom, all have played a part. Even in hell you must know this. You were men once, Americans. Have you forgotten the forest? The forest. The Russia of the forest. The free forest. We were men once. Have you forgotten the sea and the ships? The sea, the blue sea, and the ships? Your Honor, I object. Mr. Attorney is unduly influencing the jury. Objection denied, Mr. Scratch. We will hear him out. We will hear him out. This man, Jabez Stone, with good and evil in his heart, like any other, will you take the law of the oppressor and bind him down? There is sadness in being a man, but it is a proud thing, too. There is failure and despair. We are all tricked and trapped, but somehow we rise again. No demon that was ever fooled can know the inwardness of that. Only men bewildered men. They have broken freedom with their hands and cast her out. Yet shall she live while man lives. She shall live in the blood and the heart in the earth of this country. To you she may be long forgotten, yet each one of us has aided her somehow, even the traitors. God saved the United States and her men everywhere. The defense rests. Men. Men. We were free. We were free. As the jury considered its verdict, we have not guilty your honor. But your honor, your honor, I demand the payment of my teeth. Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty. So, Webster, they're gone. Yes, my boy. And it's morning. Well, even scratch is gone. Still protesting. Mary! Yes. You know, Jabez, I think once you've bested somebody like Mr. Scratch in a fair fight, his power on you has gone forever. Mary! Mary! Mary, we owe everything to Mr. Webster. It was a miracle. Even the dam had to salute his eloquence. Stop it, nonsense son. I was only being neighborly. You know, I'm kind of sorry Scratch disappeared so fast. I've got a ram named Goliath but through an iron door. I'd like to have turned him loose on our friend just to see what he could do. How can we ever thank you, Mr. Webster? Oh, you must be exhausted. It's been hours since you arrived. Well, now, if your sweet wife has no objections, Jabez, let's just see what's left in the jug. It's dry work talking all night long. And by the way, I hope there's pie for breakfast. All at once, ladies and gentlemen. I'll be back in a moment to tell you about next week's play. But first, a message of importance I know you will want to hear. Sincere good-neighborliness is the very essence of peace among individuals, communities, and nations. But what is being a good neighbor? It's certainly a great deal more than just surface friendliness or a detached kind of tolerance. Good-neighborliness is active, helpful, based on a sincere desire to understand your neighbor and a willingness to sacrifice for him when he needs assistance. In tonight's play, Daniel Webster was willing to risk his worldly wealth and even his very soul for Jabez Stone, a man he hardly knew. Why? Because Daniel Webster considered him a neighbor and put the desperate need of Jabez before his own interests. The Christian Church, more than any other one institution, has created the willingness to be neighborly among many of the peoples of the world. Today, through such movements as the World Council of Churches and such meetings of Christians from all over the world, as was held this past summer in Amsterdam, the Church lays the groundwork for truly Christian neighborliness. But the Church makes neighborliness real right in your own community. Millions of Americans have found and made their best friends in the worship and activities of the Church. Millions know from their own experience how the Church has given them the warm and comforting companionship of good neighbors, as well as the inner strength and security that comes with true faith and love of God. If you are not a member of any Church, we urge you to think carefully now about discovering just how much more complete your life can be and how you too can find the good neighbors you need through the Church. Of course, you're always welcome as a visitor at your nearest Episcopal Church and its clergyman is eager to meet and talk with you. But perhaps before such a visit you'd like to know something about the Episcopal Church, what it is, what it stands for and how it offers you a faith to live by in these difficult times. Now this information is contained in an interesting little booklet called Finding Your Way. It'll be sent to you promptly if you simply write your name and address together with the words finding your way on a postcard and mail it to the station to which you are listening. Last and especially you Raymond Massey for a splendid performance our music was composed and conducted by Nathan Crowell. Next week, friends, the families of the Protestant Episcopal Church in your own community and the Episcopal Actors Guild will present another transcribed play I know you're going to enjoy a delightful old favorite, J.M. Barris, The Old Lady Shows Her Medals. Our guest will be the charming Screenstar, Miss Faye Bainter. I hope you will join us. Let's start with the interpretation from the church. The Episcopal Church welcomes men and women alike to share in the opportunities for service represented by the church's wide variety of activities. There is important work to do for those less fortunate than ourselves. Work that in the true spirit of the church makes better citizens of us all. So after services this Sunday why not have a talk