 Lux presents Hollywood. The Lux Radio Theatre brings you Don Amici, Francis D, and Walter Brennan in Happy Land. Ladies and gentlemen, your producer, Mr. Cecil B. DeMille. Greetings once again from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. Along the elm-shaded main street, under the smoking factory chimneys, and across the flat prairies of America, there's now a tie that binds us all closer together. There's hardly a family in the whole land who has not sent some loved one into the service of our country. To all such Americans has come at tribute in the form of a book and later a distinguished motion picture. The book was Happy Land by McKinley Cantor, and the screen version was made by 20th Century Fox Studio. Tonight in our radio production, we'll have the same two stars who brought Happy Land to life on the screen. Don Amici and Francis D. And with them, one of the finest character actors of our day, Walter Brennan. Happy Land is America at its best. The people are your neighbors and mine. And their courage is the courage that will see us through to the end. I've been doing a little traveling these past two weeks and everywhere that I met and talked to people, it was impressed on me again and again how much the Lux Radio Theatre means to this audience. I know now, though I never had any doubts, that you really appreciate what Lux Toiletsope is doing in presenting the finest artists of the theatre in fine drama each Monday night. I brought back a pocket full of penciled notes on plays you'd like to hear. Happy Land is one of them. So of course we set that several weeks ago. And I also brought back some mental notes on what you think of our product. Lux Toiletsope, it seems, is high on the hit parade everywhere from Washington City to Washington State. And in hundreds of cities and towns, the curtain rises now for the first act of Happy Land, starring Don Amici as Lou Marsh, Francis D. as Agnes, and Walter Brennan as Grandpa. All this happens in a town called Hartfield, Iowa. Don't feel uncomfortable if you've never heard of it. Few people have. If Hartfield were distinguished for anything, it readily could be for its complete lack of anything to be distinguished about. It's just a nice little town whose moderately happy citizens go about their business of being moderately prosperous, without the aid of cocktail bars or traffic jams or... Hey, say they're just a minute, son. Uh, who are you? Grim for Marsh. Well, I was going to mention you a little later on. You were, eh? I'm dead. Been dead now more than 20 years. Uh, yes, yes, I know. But it appears to me you still know a lot more about Hartfield than you, and we ain't such a little town. No? Chamber of Commerce claims 6,782. They're stretching it a bit, maybe. And a lot of Hartfield's young men are away in the Army and the Navy. Post Office now is pretty nearly the most popular spot in town. Not your old drugstore? Well, yes, maybe the store still is. My grandson Lou runs it. Lou's like me. Folks know they don't have to buy something every time they come into Marsh's drugstore. They can just talk or smoke and pass the time of day, getting that way for three generations. Lou's got two in help now, and the store carries everything, from vitamin pills to banana splits. My picture's still there. Lou still keeps my picture on the wall. Dusted himself every day. He's a good boy, Lou. Yes, he's a good boy. Boy? Grandpa, Lou's about 45. I'm going to come back and see Lou one of these days. Kind of think he's going to need me. Now, Grandpa. Sounds foolish, don't it? But we'll see. We'll see. Any objections if we take a look at the drugstore now? No, go ahead. Go right ahead, son. Lou's dead. Yes, he's talking to Bill Bowers. Mr. Bowers is publisher of Hartfield's weekly newspaper. They're talking about your great grandson, Lou's boy, Rusty. Rusty's away. He's in the Navy. Haven't had a letter bill for three weeks now. Not worried, are you, Lou? No, probably out of sea again somewhere. Pharmacy's made second class. That's not bad for a kid. Hey, Lou, we're all out of cornflasters. Oh, it's plenty on the second shelf. Middle section. Oh. You see any action yet? No, the only fighting Rusty mentioned was fighting mosquitoes. Seems to be doing plenty of that. Oh, Lou, here comes Mr. Snyder. Oh, I'll take care of it. Say, Grandpa Marshal, should you be proud of Rusty now, wouldn't he? Yeah, I guess he would. I'm kind of proud of myself. Well, drop in, Bill. I will. So long, Lou. Hello. Hello, Mr. Marshal. Dogen Valley Vine, Mr. Marshal. The best I have yet made. Maybe you'll use two bottles, yeah? Well, uh, yes, yes. That's fine, Mr. Snyder. And, uh, what are you gonna have? All the same as always, Mr. Marshal. Old Dr. Tom's trusty tonic. You still got ya. Yes, but, uh, why don't you try some vitamins, Mr. Snyder? They'll do you a lot more good. No, no. Old Dr. Tom's trusty tonic. That's good, Mr. Marshal. Well, I'll have Chef wrap up a couple of bottles. Thank you, Mr. Marshal. Chef? Yeah? Couple of bottles of Old Dr. Tom's from Mr. Snyder. It's paid for. Right away. Are you leaving, Mr. Marshal? Yes. It's time for dinner. I'll be back later, Emmie. Well, take your time, Mr. Marshal. Good night, Mrs. Snyder. Good night. I hope Mrs. Marshal will enjoy the lobing down. Is that you, Lou? Well, who were you expecting? Oh, somebody young and handsome. Well, that could only be one guy. Uh, any ma'am? Oh, no, nothing from Rusty. I guess he's pretty busy, Lou. Yeah, yeah, lots of things, too, besides writing letters. Oh, uh, I brought home some shaving cream. Put it in with the other things he's sending you. With his beard that she last him just about two years. What's the other package? Hmm? Oh, oh, this one. It's just a little, uh... Lou, that awful old Mrs. Snyder again. Yeah, two bottles. I suppose I'd better lock him up with the others. Huh. Guy can't even get a bun on his own house. Well, just for that. Do I have to go through that again? It's a horrible carnage. I thought I'd... Did take it. I'd send it to scrap drives. Oh, no, I'm not that bad. In fact, I'm pretty good. So good for meatballs and scalloped potatoes? Oh, why don't you say so in the first place? You all ready? Am I ever late? Well, let's eat that, Mrs. Marsh. Oh, no wonder who that can be. Just a second. It's like Hilda Manson. She's delivery boy for Western Union now. Oh, I'll get it. Hello, Hilda. Oh, say, that's a very good coming hat. Thank you. Telegram, Mr. Marsh. Thank you, Hilda. How's your mom feeling? Oh, she's fine, Mr. Marsh. Well, goodbye. Bye. Come on in, Lou. Yeah, I'll be right. Your son was... How good of you to come. I wondered if you and Lou were coming to church this morning. I'd like to, but... How are you feeling, my dear? Oh, I'm all right. But...but Lou... Do you think he might let me talk to him? Not the only word. I know it would help. He's here? He hasn't left the house for more than a week. Spends most of his time in the backyard. God, God... There now. I'll have a few minutes before church. I'll try again. Maybe I'll have better luck this time. Hello, Lou. Well, nice and comfortable out here. Mr. One. Mind if I sit down, Lou? What? Lou... Lou, you've got to get hold of yourself. You'll be late for services, Mr. One. Lou, I've been your minister and your friend for a good many years. I can't sit by and watch this happening to you. You don't have to watch. Lou, if there's one thing I've learned it's that suffering and pain are part of life. We've got to accept them. I don't know what you're talking about. But I do know this. No amount of beautiful words can ever bring Rusty back. He's never coming back. Rusty died for his country. That's a privilege not reserved for many of us. Rusty's country. What was Rusty's country? What did he know about it? A 21-year-old kid? What did he know about life? He never had a chance to live. Never went anyplace. Just a boy living at home, going to school, working for his father. He never owned his own home. Never had a boy of his own to worry about or... want to make a school report. Just didn't like it. I don't know if I can answer that, Lou. If I'd like to try, would you let me? If you don't mind, Mr. Woodard. I'd just like to be here alone. All right, Lou. I'd like to come back, though. Yes, yes, come back some other time. Try to get hold of yourself. Please, Rusty. Yeah, but you mean... Grandpa, what can't be you? You died just after Rusty was born. You people don't come back. You folks down here have a lot of peculiar ideas. Lou, you've been grieving so long and so hard, I just couldn't stand it. So I asked permission to do something about it. Oh, you're not here at all. This is all in my mind. What's left of it now? You couldn't be here. Lou, I'd like for us to take a little walk. I'm going to the house. Well, if you're thinking of getting rid of me, Lou, that just won't work. Oh, there's Agnes. Yep, still mighty good-looking. Always liked, Agnes. Grandpa, please, why don't you call your frighteners? No, look. I'll see you after, Lou. From that Sally Ross. She raised them from the box we gave her. Don't worry, Lou. Agnes can't hear me or you either when you talk to me. Are you coming with me, Lou? I told you I don't want to. There's no hurry. I've got all the time in the world. Well, can I get you something? No, no thanks. Well, why don't you lie down here and get a little rest? Uh, Agnes, I'd like to take a walk. Well, I'll get my hat. No, I mean by myself. That is, you're talking. If you'd rather, Lou, will you be stopping at the store? I don't know. I just feel like walking. Well, be careful, Lou. Don't be gone too long. No, I won't. Say, ain't that Ed and Sissy, do a dire across the street there? Yes, yes. Morning, Lou. Morning. Nice day for walking, Lou. It is nice, fella. Say, did old lady dire ever pay you for that bottle of perfume she busted? Ed paid for it after she died. Oh, what's that new building there? Over there on Sycamore. That's the new engine now, WPH. Awful plane looking from here. Lou? You know, I feel just like walking all over town. How about it? It doesn't matter. Come on. What's the matter, Lou? Tired? No. No, I hear something. It sounds like music. A parade, but there's no parade in town today. Of course there's no parade, but there was one about 25 years ago. Remember? Right here on Main Street. Look! No, look! Down there toward the railroad station. You see what I mean? Well, that's us. It's the boys from Hartfield. Yup, the local militia coming home from Nick and the Kaiser. They're Bill Bowers. And Sam Kendall. And if it isn't Corporal Lou Marsh himself. You look pretty snappy, didn't you? Yeah, I guess I did. May 1919. And look there. No, in front of the town hall. There's a GAR. Foreman had got a welcome. I look at you, Grandpa. The only one without your GAR, Coach. Why I didn't have time to put it on. The old lady guy that kept me in the drugstore trying to make up her mind about his fun. I ought to be ashamed of you, sir. Why? What's wrong now? Look. Look, you ran up to me. Sure. And you kissed me. I guess... I guess it was awful, but he gave me... Yeah, me too, Grandpa. I don't know. You were always more like a son to me than a grandson. Seeing his power, I was both mother and pop to you. Look, look, the parade's breaking up. Well, where are they all going? You didn't wait to find out. Yeah, I remember. You were looking for someone you'd been dreaming about ever since you went to war. Yeah, and you could have warned me, too. Warn you? Boy, you lit out the West Walden Street like you'd just fed on a hornet snitch. Where's Delma? Who wants to know, soldier? I want to know. Tell her Lou March is back. He's tied up. Well, that's all right. It's me, Lou March. What's wrong with your eyes? My eyes. Can't you see? The Marines have landed and have the situation well in hand. But I... You're a good-ed soldier. Me and Delma got married last month. Married? Hope you don't mind. Well, no, no, not at all. Who is it, honey? Why, Lou. Lou March. Hello, Delma. I'm, uh, glad you're happy. Goodbye, Delma. All again? Thanks a lot. See you tomorrow. Yeah, come on. Hi, Charlie. You want to help him? Yeah. Well, thanks again. Bye. Bye, bye, bye. Oh, Grandpa, I see you still got my apron. I'm the same old hook. Can't work in your first day home. Yeah, you seem pretty busy. Let him wait. Hey, I got a surprise for you. Yeah, sort of, Delma. Yeah, but this isn't a husband. Look. Oh, gee, Grandpa, a clarinet. I'll just cast your eyes on that silver-named plate. Lou March. Oh, gee, this is a pit. Thanks, Grandpa. Mr. March, if you please. I'll take care of her, Grandpa. No, I want to insult her. You get over there to the ice cream counter. A girl's been waiting there. Yes, Miss? May I have a peanut-dope sundae, please? Peanut-dope? You mean a peanut sundae? No, peanut-dope sundae. Well, I'm afraid of it. Hey, uh, Grant, what's this dope sundae? Oh, just something Agnes Nye concocted. This is my grandson, Lou. Well, how do you do? How do you do? Mr. March has mentioned it to me once or twice. This is Agnes Dickens, Lou. We'll be here about a year ago. Agnes Nye are pretty thick. Tell him how we put a masterpiece together, Agnes. Mr. March. Keep your shirt on, Matty. I'm coming. Well, it starts out just like an ordinary sundae. Vanilla ice cream. Mm-hmm. And then you put some of that peanut butter sauce on the top. Sister? Mm-hmm. And then some marshmallow. Yeah. And then you sprinkle some of those chopped peanuts over the top of it. All right. And then a little dab of whipped cream. And then you eat it? Oh, yes, it's wonderful. I dare you to try one. I managed to live through the argon forest with a peanut dope sun. Hey, it does look good, doesn't it? Yeah, I think I'll have one. Yep. That's how you met Agnes, Lou. That sundae was full of peanuts and dynamite. You and Agnes get married about a year later. Yes, and then the year after that. I left you in the hospital, walking the floor. Agnes was having a pretty hard time. So was I. And I was only an expectant, great grandfather. I remember I went home about two o'clock. It rained an awful hard. At three o'clock the cold woke me up. Hello. Hello, Lou. That you, Lou? Oh, Mrs. Mitchell. Huh? Well, sure. Oh. I'm sorry to hear she's so sick. I'll hustle right down this door and put it up for you. Yes, ma'am. Right away. You got up and went out in the rain again. You were 74 years old, then? Yep. Caught pneumonia. I knew I didn't have a chance. Doc Purdy sent me to the hospital. Had a room right over Agnes. Old Purdy gave me four hours, but I told him he's talking through his stethoscope. I made up my mind I was going to see my great-grandson first. And I did. Here you go, grandpa. Our babies. Light. Where'd your face, isn't he? Where'd he share it, too? Hello. Hello there. Rusty? That was the last word you said, Rusty. I didn't know if there was any better word to say at the time, or now, either, Lou. Say, look where we've walked. We've walked clear out of town. Yep. To the cemetery. There's, uh, there's my grave. Yeah, I remember where you wanted it, grandpa. It's fine, Lou. The headstones are a wonderful piece of granite. Must have set your back considerable. You've come here often, Lou. And for that, I thank you. Agnes, too. And Rusty. Rusty, he was such a little boy when he brought him here first. Yeah, he wanted to come. He wanted to carry the flowers. Rusty, bring mom another bunch of flowers from the basket. These ones, mama? Yes, those are fun. Well, sure, Rusty. Once grandpa fought for that flag, that's why it's here. Oh. Papa? Yes? Why is the flag growing where grandpa is? Well, not pay attention, Rusty. I just told you quite. Oh. Will you have a flag like grandpa when you live here? Oh, you bet I will. I'll have a dandy one. I want one. Well, by that time, maybe you will. Lou, don't say such things. No, honey, you're not going to have a flag. There aren't going to be any more wars. Yeah, I guess you're right. Not while any of us are living anyway. No. What if there were? What if Rusty had to go? I'll die. I'll just die. Oh, but that's so silly, Agnes. If there were a war and they needed Rusty, well, he'd go. Maybe he'd want to, maybe he wouldn't, but he'd go. And I guess I'd want him to. Oh, that's a terrible thing to say. Yes, yes, it is a terrible thing to say. What if he never came back? Oh, he'd come back. What if he never did? Did you think of that just now when you said you'd want him to go? No, no, I didn't. No one thinks of that. And you still say you'd want him to go? Oh, I can't answer that, Agnes. I have no right to, I guess. It'll be up to Rusty and how he thinks and feels about such things. We can teach him how to think and feel. Oh, sure. And to hate war and to hate fighting. That's right. And what will we teach him to love? Why? Why to love people and what we know is right and just and his country. Oh, what a wonderful life you'll have, Agnes. You live in a free and kind and understanding world. Rusty? Huh? You know you're a lucky man, Rusty, a very lucky man. Papa, what's a lucky man? Well, a lucky man is a kid six years old in 1929 with red hair and the very pretty mama named Agnes. And the papa plays the clarinet. More darned questions. Go on, go on, now blow your nose. During this brief intermission before Mr. DeMille presents Donna Meachie, Francis D. and Walter Brennan in act two of Happy Land. Here's Livy Collins, our Hollywood reporter. Any special news items for us tonight, Livy? Well, Mr. Kennedy, I've got a little news about one of Hollywood's most popular stars, Virginia Bruce. Did you know she's running a small ranch these days? That lovely, fragile-looking girl, Livy? It's hard to get farm help, you know. So Virginia has pitched in herself. She feeds the livestock, milks the cows, and even churns butter. Churns butter? Say, hey, Livy, that sounds like a useful accomplishment for anyone to have right now. Oh, if you can get the cream, Mr. Kennedy. But seriously, Virginia's working hard and looking very beautiful, too. She tells us she's as faithful as ever about her daily luxe-oak facials and very grateful for such a quick, easy beauty care. Well, I couldn't imagine a lovelier example of a real luxe complexion in Virginia's. No, she's famous for her exquisite skin. And here's the way she cares for it. Every day she takes an active-latter beauty facial. Virginia says, a luxe girl? You bet I am. It's a real beauty care. I just cover my face with plenty of the creamy latter, rinse with lukewarm water, splash on cold, and then tap my skin dry with a soft towel. Active-latter makes me sure of thorough cleansing, she says. That's certainly simple enough, Libby. Yes, just right for busy women. And though it's so easy, they find it really works. When recent tests were made, Libby, actually three out of four complexions improved with this daily luxe-toilet-soaked care. Yes, these luxe-oak beauty facials do make skin lovelier. Screen stars say they depend on them to give skin gentle protecting care at need. There's a tip straight from Hollywood for women everywhere who want their complexions to be softer and smoother. Ask your dealer for luxe-toilet soap tomorrow. And if he's temporarily out of stock, due to wartime conditions, he's sure to have more soon. Remember, the beauty soap nine out of ten screen stars use is worth waiting for. And now, Mr. DeMille returns to the microphone. Act two of Happy Land. Starring Don Amici as Lou Mars, Francis D. as Agnes, and Walter Brennan as Grandpa. The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you. Telegram, Mr. Mars. Killed in action. Your son killed in action. Telegram, Mr. Mars. 21 years old. It's you. You never had a chance to live. You've been grieving so long, Lou. I guess you couldn't stand it, Crank. No, you're not here at all. It's all in my mind. A little war, Lou. I'd like for us to take a little walk. Lou and Grandpa Mars walk slowly through the little town of Hartfield. And in the stillness of the shady streets, they relive a thousand yesterdays. Rusty is gone. But in Lou's memory, Rusty is a little boy again. A little boy going to school for the first time in his life. You must be a king. Let go of that dog. No! Nobody is allowed to take a dog to school, young man. Now you're either going without Peter, you're going to get a good spanking. Now what'll it be? I'm just with me. Okay. Get into that room, fucking grandpa. I walloped him good, poor little kid. There's nothing for him at the time. That afternoon he came to the drug store. Business was slack and I was trying to lick that over here from William Tell. Now you wait just a minute. What is it, bad boy? Papa, I wanted to tell you that I'm not mad at you anymore. Well, I'm glad to know that, Rusty. Come on up here. How was school? Oh, school was nice, Papa. But I don't think people would have liked it. Say, who are those two boys? Friends of yours? Yeah. Come here, Jackie. Come here, Todd. Well, boys, I'm very glad to know you. I'm Rusty's father. Have you got a million thousand tons of ice cream? Yes, he said you had. Huh? They just moved here, Papa. They live in that old house near the railroad. They didn't got any windows. They're busted. But Jackie's only had ice cream twice, Papa. What if I had a chocolate bar? Well, well, what do you know about that? Well, look, boys, why don't we walk over to the fountain there? We'll see what we've got, hm? We like strawberries. They'll take strawberries first, Papa. Ah, you should have seen the way those kids shovel in that ice cream. They were half-starved, Grandfather. Seems the father didn't have a job and another baby brother just arrived. So I called up Agnes and she sent some things over, you know, eggs, groceries and things like that. Then somehow Rusty found out about it and started asking questions. He taught those things to eat? Don't they have things to eat in their ice box? Well, Rusty, when you run across a fellow that hasn't got anything and you've got things, why don't you just give him some of your things? Some people call that charity. What's that? Oh, it doesn't matter. I don't like the word anyhow. All it really is is just being friendly. Can I be friendly to you? I wish you would. I want to help you. Oh? Doin' what? Oh, just help you, Papa. Well, let's see. Oh, I know. You can grab that broom and we'll sweep out the stock room. Huh? $0.25 a week. That was his pay. Well, it learned to the union scale, wasn't it? Oh, there were raises as he grew older. He really worked hard. He joined the Boy Scouts when he was 12 and they brought up new problems. The biggest was the matter of a regulation Boy Scout Act. $0.46, $0.47. $2.47. Only 38 cents to go, Dad, and I'll have the act. Oh, I sure needed to cut firewood in our hikes. Oh, I should say you will. Well, it's time to lock up and go home, isn't it, Dad? Yes, but I've got a register letter at the post office. Now look, Rusty, a man's coming in for this prescription, Mr. Watson. If I'm not back, be sure to collect $2. Just bring it up in the cash register. Sure, okay, Dad. He said he'd have it ready, son. The name is Watson. Yes, sir. It'll be $2, Mr. Watson. Sonny, I got 35 cents. That's all I got. But the man just said I was to get cash. Maybe you better let me have that back. My wife's needing that medicine pretty bad. I was thinking maybe the manager wouldn't mind if you trusted me for the other $1.65. Well, I don't know. I'll get some work maybe tomorrow, and I'll bring it in, honest. Oh, well, I guess it'll be all right with the manager. Here. God bless you, son. Gosh. Oh, gosh. I'm done with it anyway. Rusty never said a word about using his axe money to pay for Watson's prescription. Two days later, Watson came in. I found out Rusty wasn't there at the time. I'm glad he wasn't. A ball, a ball like a kid. Man rushed out and bought him his axe. Oh, sure. Oh, he grew up so fast, Grandpa, so fast. He came something of a football player, didn't he? Well, he seemed to be better in track. He came in second to stake me. I hired him all the time, though. He kept working with the store. You get going to church, too, pretty regularly. Never showed signs of becoming a missionary, but he liked the young people's meetings Sunday night. For more reasons than one. Where are you going, Rusty? Oh, nowhere. I was thinking we'd better get together on the rebuttal for our debate. Yeah. Why don't you come home with me and then we... Excuse me a minute, Lenore. I'll be right back. Oh. Uh, say question. I was just wondering... Did someone call me? Yeah, I, uh... Well, uh, I... Uh, say it. It's sure nice out, huh? Very nice. It, uh, it doesn't look like rain, either. No. Oh, it doesn't. We always have quite a lot of nice weather here. That's nice. Uh, did you like the meeting? Oh, pardon me. My name's Rusty Marsh. Yes, I know. You do? Uh, look, would you... Can I... I mean, may I walk home with you, Gretchen? Well, that'll be awfully nice. Rusty. Oh, gee. Thanks. Oh, well, good night, Lenore. I'll probably see you in school tomorrow. Probably. You'd hit him like a 10-ton truck. Yes, Rusty had it bad. I always thought he'd fall for Lenore, but Gretchenberry turned out to be quite a group. A few nights later, Agnes and I were playing cards, and Rusty came home by 1130. His face smeared with the redest lipstick you ever saw. Aren't you coming in, Rusty? Just hanging out my coat. Oh. Do you see his face? Stick. I think we'd better find out about this. Shh, don't tease him now. Hello, Mom. Pop. Nice time, Rusty. Oh, it's so well. It was, huh? Wonderful. Oh, aren't you going to kiss me goodnight? Oh, oh, sure. That's better. Wake you at the usual time. Yeah, please. Oh, Agnes, now look what you did. What? Lipstick all over the boy's face. Oh, oh, Rusty, I'm so sorry. Dad brought home some new lipstick samples. Oh, that's OK. I'll wash it off. Good night. Good night, Rusty. Now aren't you the smart one? He comes home again like that. He won't get off so easy. Gretchen Berry. She seems sort of sophisticated for Rusty. I suppose we don't dare say anything. No, not if we want to stay on speaking terms with him. He sure looked goofy, didn't he? Did you ever get a look at yourself when you were courting me? I, courting you. I didn't have a chance. I was hooked. Rusty graduated from high school that year, didn't he? Yeah. I went back to the drugstore after the exercises. By close and time, Rusty came in. Face kind of long. He went back and put on some overalls, picked up that old Boy Scout axe and started unpacking some crates. Hey, what's the idea? Oh, I just thought I'd unpack these fat salts while you were closing up. Oh. Uh, anything go wrong tonight? Oh, just Gretchen. Oh. Yeah, I had a date with her for Sunday. But there's a guy who works for her father. He's about 25, and he's got a Buick convertible. Oh, he has, huh? He asked you to go to Des Moines with him. Have dinner there and show. Well, you can take the Ford. Mom and I won't be using it. No, Dad. If she wants to go with that guy, she can darn well go. Oh, hey, look. Look what I just did. Well, I guess that axe is going to have to have a new handle. Say, Rusty, Mrs. Snyder was in before and left this bottle of Loganberry wine. What do you say we get good and drunk, huh? Dad. Would you like one glass, Rusty? Oh, would you? You know, somehow, I think this is just the right moment for you and me to have a glass of Loganberry wine. Me, too. You were pretty proud to rush to you right then, weren't you? Yeah, I think he knew it, too, Grandpa. And he was just as proud. Oh, here's your glass, Dad. Thanks. Well, here's to you, Rusty. Oh, here's to us, Dad. So, Gretchen rolled out of his life in a Buick convertible. Yes, but he never had much trouble finding other pretty girls. Yeah, for a long time, though, he didn't have much to do with any of them. No. Till that day when he and I took Agnes to the railroad station, Agnes was taking a train to Omaha visiting the folks. Now, don't forget to keep the icebox door shut tight and be sure and turn the gas off in the oven. And... Oh, what's the use? I suppose I'll find everything in a mess when I get back. Oh, we won't be home much. Rusty and I are going on a bet. Yeah, we might use the old shack to throw a couple of wild parties again, but we'll try not to bust up all your best tricks. Just you dare. Hello, Mrs. Meiss. Well, Anor. Where did you come from? Just came back from Chicago. Hello, Mr. Meiss. Hello, Anor. Rusty. Hi, Anor. Anor. How nice you look. Why, thank you, Mrs. Meiss. What? Oh, goodbye, my boys. Now, don't stay up too late and don't drive too fast. We won't. Have a good time, dear. Hurry back, because I might miss you. Goodbye, Mom. Goodbye, darling. Don't go talking to any strange men now. Goodbye. Goodbye. And you're right to, is he? Every day. I will. Bye. Gosh. Yeah, gosh. Well, let's get on back. Goodbye, Mom. Oh, Anor, can we give you a lift home? Thanks. The father's coming to pick me up. What have you been doing all summer? Well, just visiting my Aunt Peggy. Can I, uh, can I give you a ring sometime? Of course, Rusty, if you'd like. Oh, there's Father. Well, goodbye. Here I am, Father. Can you imagine that? Imagine what? Lenore. How can anybody change so fast? Oh, I don't know. Pretty dressed, cute hat, but I think she's the same old Lenore, Rusty. Same old paint on the neck. Oh. Oh, yeah. Yeah, sure. And that was Lenore's entrance into his life. Oh, Rusty's known her for years, but that was really her entrance. He saw her pretty nearly every day after that. Sometimes they go out alone or with the rest of their gang, and quite often the whole lot of them would come to the house. They'd play badminton, and then we'd bring out the radio and they'd dance in the court. And Agnes would always have quite a spread ready for them out there in the backyard. Come on, Rusty. Come on. Food's ready. Food! Sandwiches over here, boys. Chicken, ham, cheese. Chicken sandwich, Tom. You say chicken, Mrs. Marsh? Here you are. You know, Mrs. Marsh, you're my dream girl. What? Any time those Marsh guys don't treat you right, you say... I'll come right over. Hey, where are you going? To make the concert. You sit down right here. I'll make it. I'll do it in my new person later on. Very nice. We interrupt this program of dance music to bring you a late news bullet. A communique just received states that the German Air Force now has complete control of the air. Turn it off. Oh, it's just awful. Why can't they pick on somebody their own side? Don't worry, Lenore. Just wait until France and England start cracking down. Well, who watched a fight anyway? They left Poland watched up in a couple of weeks. What's going to keep them from doing the same thing to Paris and London? The Canadian flying corps is asking for volunteers. I wrote yesterday for all the dope. You did? Well, why not? How about you, Rusty? Oh, well, oh gosh. I hadn't thought about it like that. Gee. God, Graham was joined up. Went to Canada. The kid who had a chocolate bar once and lived in the house without any windows. Killed in the Battle of Britain. Well, how'd you know? Aren't you forgetting something, Lou? I get around. I thought Rusty had wanted to join up with Todd, but he didn't, did he? You see, I don't think that makes us a good pilot, Dad. Well, then, what about college? Well, I've been thinking, Pop. Maybe I won't want to go to college either. Look, I've been of some help here in the store, haven't I? Oh, maybe a little. Say, I'd have had to hire two extra clerks to do all that you've done. Well, then look, Pop. Why don't I go down to Des Moines to the School of Pharmacy and qualify for my license? If the war stops, then I'll be all set to do some real good for the store and myself, too. And if the war isn't over, we get in at then when? Well, I guess I'd be a lot more useful as a technician, even in pharmacy. So my beer's just another recruit without any trade. Well, what do you say, Dad? Well, I say we better go and talk to Mom, and we better sit down and write a letter to that School of Pharmacy. We missed him awful. But he'd get back for weekends now, then, and he was doing so well in school. Better grades than you got, Lou. Yes, I know. And then one Sunday morning, I was watering the front lawn. He and Lenore were in back, but I could hear them. Why weren't you at the station to meet me yesterday? I just forgot all about it. Oh, I bet you did. You didn't sleep a wink all night, just waiting for me. Oh, your ego is still holding up nicely, I think. Rusty, I'm so glad you're back. No. Kiss? Oh, well. Oh, my forehead. She kisses me on my forehead. That's the kind of a welcome home I get. Look, honey, I got to talk to Pop for a minute. Do you mind? Terrible. You're right, Dad. Lon's kind of droopy, Rusty. Looks like a gopher's been at work. Yeah, it does. Look, Pop, I might as well get right to the point. Oh, sure. Let me turn this water off. Pop, I know we're not in the war yet, but, well, they've started drafting guys, and I figure what's the use waiting? OK, Rusty. What's it going to be? Army, Navy, or Marines? You sound kind of resentful about the Marines. How come? Never mind. Well, which is it? Well, I guess I always did want to ride around on the ocean. Well, and join the Navy and ride around on a lot of oceans. Yeah. I wonder if I'll get seasick. Well, in the last four hours, we got seasick twice. Once going over, once coming back. Go on in, tell your mother. Go on. Tell her you're joined in the Navy. He looked real good in his uniform, Lou. You know, sailor uniforms haven't changed much since the Civil War. Yeah, he looked fine. He had to leave a few days before Thanksgiving. We met him at the station. Agnes, me and the Lord. Look at him now. Just look at him. Yeah, fine, sailor. Never even saw the ocean. Don't you worry. After these days, I'll have stripes on my lips to leave. You'll see. Farmers is made. You'll find just the way you are. Well, what's the matter with you, Lenore? Say something. Rusty. Don't I look real cute? Doesn't this kind of get you? So much so that I can't talk. Well, now, why don't we stand around here for? Come on, come on. Let's get on home. Here, I'll take you back, Rusty. He was so happy, Lou. Rusty couldn't have been any happier if he'd lived to be a hundred. In nearly two days, I took him back to the station late the next night. We shook hands and said goodbye. That was the last time I... I saw my boy. We pause now for station identification. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. In just a moment, Mr. DeMille presents Don Amici, Francis D. and Walter Brennan in Act 3 of Happy Land. Now, a canteen, a soldier far from home, a young hostess, and music. What a dancer you turned out to be. You're smooth. Well, thank you, soldier. You're not the bad yourself. A guy couldn't be bad, not with music like that, and a girl like you. Now, there's a girl who has what every woman wants to have and ought to have. The kind of charm that makes men say, a girl like you. Girls who have this kind of charm are often not exactly pretty, but, well, let our heroine speak for herself. Well, I decided long ago to take the screen stars tip and use my complexion soap, luxe toilet soap, for my daily bath soap, too. It's a wonderful way to protect daintyness and make sure of skin that's always fresh and sweet. I'm on a defense job now, and there's many an evening I have that all-in feeling. But after I've relaxed a few moments in my luxurious luxe soap bath, I step out feeling fresh as a daisy. My skin all delicately perfumed, and after I've rubbed down with a nice thick towel, I feel like a million. So I'm sure of myself, you know? And then, well, I guess I look at that, though. Yes, luxe toilet soap, the complexion soap nine out of ten screen stars use, makes a truly wonderful bath soap, too. You'll find the whole family agrees on that. They'll love the rich, instant lather luxe soap gifts, even in hard water. So put luxe toilet soap on your shopping list tomorrow. You'll find it thrifty, because it's hard milled to last. These days, it's patriotic not to waste soap. Luxe toilet soap lasts even longer, too, if you'll always put it in a soap dish that's dry. Now, our producer, Mr. DeMille. We'll have a chat with three delightful people, our stars, after the play. But now the curtain rises on the third act of Happy Land, starring Danamichi Francis D. and Walter Brennan. It's dusk now. The sun's in the west far beyond the Missouri River, a great red ball of fire. And the father and the great-grandfather of a boy named Rusty Marsh have circled the little town, but only loose footsteps are heard as they walk slowly back in a fading light. At a little field near the marsh home, Grandpa pauses a moment and stoopes down in the grass. What's the matter, Grandpa? Did you lose something? I used to stop here whenever I passed. A little weakness of mine, I guess. I wonder if they still grow here. Yep, yep, I got one, a great big one. Here, Lou. For you, what is, oh, a four-leaf clover. Thanks, I'll keep it my way. Lou, I've been thinking. Well, I used to be able to think. Seems years ago. As long as kids can play Indian and go to school, join the boys' scouts and do good deed every day, lead ice cream, or take a box full of pennies and nickels, honestly, save for naks and use them to buy medicine for strangers, as long as they can run the high hurdles and kiss girls. As long as they can do all those things, then what? It'll be worthwhile. What'll be worthwhile? It'll be the whole thing. A guy named Rusty and a lot of the guys like that with a lot of different names. Don't you think so, Lou? Oh, Rusty did lead a rich life here. You're right about that. You know, I'm glad you came, Grandpa, and I'm glad we've walked. And I know all the other things you're hoping I'm going to say, but I can't. He was my boy. And now, now he's dead. I miss him. I can't help it. I'll always miss him. I'll always wish he was back. As long as I live. Sure you will, Lou. Well, it looks like we're back home. Right back where we started from. Grandpa's kind of awkward with Agnes not being able to see you, but if you want to stay, sit down and suffer with us. You forget my peculiar situation, Lou. Anyway, I've got to be getting back. Well, there's Agnes. Oh, just taking a little walk around town. You've been gone nearly three hours. Is that all? No, no, I'm not tired. I think it did me some good. I'm sure it did. You look better. Did you stop in at the store? No, no, I didn't. You wanted me to, though, didn't you? Yes, Lou. You did do your good to get back to work. Well, maybe I'll go down tomorrow. Better if you go down tonight, Lou. After supper. Or I might go down tonight. That's it, Lou. Thank you, son. I've got to go now. Goodbye, Lou. Goodbye, Grandpa. What? What is it, dear? Did you say something? No. What are you looking at? Nothing, that, uh, that hedge. I was just noticing the hedge. It looks a little ragged. Say, I found something for you in my walk. Here, in my wallet. Oh, what is it? A foley. Oh. What's going on? That's a shame. Yes, uh, must have fallen out. But I'm not sure. Oh, I guess it doesn't matter. Supper ready? Mm-hmm. Just what you like, dear. Meatballs and scalloped potatoes. Well, if I'm going to get to the store tonight, I guess we'd better go right in. Mr. Marsh. Well, well, well. Oh, Mr. Marsh. It's so nice to see you back in the store again. Thanks. How things have been going. Yes, fine, Mr. Marsh. Been pretty busy. Excuse me a minute. Are you... Are you going to stay a while, Mr. Marsh? Yes, I'll stay a while. I mean... How's that line of writing paper been moving? Oh, just fine. Mm-hmm. I thought it'd be a sticker. Ah, see, we're running kind of low on best salts. Put them on the out list last night, Mr. Marsh. I'll order some. There is. There is exactly the same. I tell you, they ain't the right kind and I don't want them. Oh, what's that all about? Hello, Jake. What seems to be the trouble? Eh? What? Why, Lou? Well, hello, Lou. It's these bile pills, Mr. Marsh. Eh, for eight years I've been coming to you, Lou, for my bile pills. For eight years you sold me white ones. He's trying to make me take these here pink-colored ones. Well, Jake, we had to get those pills from a new firm and I guess they just don't like white. Color's only a trademark anyhow. The ingredients are just the same. Oh. Eh, you can say so, Lou. Okay, I'll take them. Eh, kind of missed you around here, Lou. Good night. Thanks, Jake. Good night. Chef. Yes, Mr. Marsh. Go to clean up and then go on home. Pretty early for us to be leaving. I'll do you good. Besides, I'd like to be here alone. Silly, but... Well, sure, Mr. Marsh. Being in the morning? Yes, yes, I'll be in. Well, I'll go tell Emme to hustle up. All right. Leaving? Home. Sailor, huh? Yeah. A, uh, a scarce in Hartfield or something? Oh, no, no, uh, I just... Uh, you're Mr. Marsh? Yes. I'm Anton Capric. Tony. Oh, I thought maybe Rusty had mentioned me in some of his letters. So you're Tony, huh? Yes, sir. Well, what do you know? Sure, Rusty mentioned you in almost every letter mentioned in Chicago. That's, uh, your home, isn't it? Yes, sir. Such a home as I got. Been on my own since I was 16. Well, well, if you'll excuse me, I locked the door. The store's closed. I thought I had locked it. Oh, if you're leaving, well, I can come back tomorrow. No, no, I just don't want anyone to interrupt us. Nasty people like customers. Ah, this is some drug store. List kind of familiar, too. Oh, maybe Rusty told you. I used to jerk through it once in Chicago. Oh, you got a swell font in there, Mr. Marsh? Oh, say, let me help you finish what you're doing. Oh, it's nothing. I'm just getting some more stock up on the shelves. What's this? Old Dr. Tom's Rusty Tony. Any good? No. Uh, look, this, this can wait, uh... How about a cigar? Oh, I wouldn't mind. You like this kind? Oh, say. I don't very often smoke cigars. Cigarettes usually. You know how it is. This is swell. Look, uh, you're bound for Chicago. When do you have to leave? Oh, no special time. You see, Mr. Marsh was like this. Rusty and I used to talk about... all about what might happen. See, I haven't got any folks or anything, but Rusty always said if anything happened, I, well, I mean to him. He said I ought to come and I got a chance and call on you and his mother. You came in on the 10-13 from the west? Yes, sir. When do you have to go back? Oh, I still got the better of two weeks. Oh, well, I guess I better call Rusty's mother and tell her we'll be right over. How's that? Oh, that's fine, Mr. Marsh. That's fine. This is Rusty's mother, Tony. Tony. How do you do? Well, the way we're going to let this big tramp will save us sleep tonight. I guess you know do. If he wants to. Oh, you mean Rusty's room? Oh, it's okay with me, Mrs. Marsh. That's fine. I, I was just fixing a little late lunch. Would you like some? Oh, that sounds good to me. Tony, it's well. Well, come on in the kitchen then. You're not being loved, don't you? Oh, you bet. I wonder, maybe I'll talk about it now. Tony, is there anything you feel you ought to tell us about Rusty? What, Rusty? Well, it really isn't very much to tell, Mr. Marsh. Never is. It happened so quickly. We weren't surprised, but they had a lot more planes than us, and they kept coming over pretty fast. Rusty was down below in Sick Bay. That was his job, you know. Well, something, something must have hit us below the water line. Aerial torpedo, I guess. The last time I saw Rusty was coming up from below carrying a fellow that had been hurt before he could get up for it. Another torpedo hit us. I was blown into the water so I didn't see anything else that happened. Rusty hadn't been carrying somebody to make a day cake, at least. That's about all I can tell you. Except that I, uh, I hope you don't think I got a nerve, but I was wondering why I'm here. Could I maybe go down to the store with you and sort of help out a little? I don't want any money, it's just that well, I feel it. Oh, that would be fine, Tony. Wouldn't it, Lou? I was hoping you'd say that Tony, I was coping you with. Oh, well, oh, thanks. Thanks a lot. Tony, how would you like a little Logan Berry wine as a little old woman would make it? Oh, I guess I never had any Logan Berry wine, but I bet it's swell. Mother? Yeah. You know, I never had any either, Tony, but I'm going to try some. Oh, that's fine. Well, we'll drink to... we'll drink to what's in our hearts. I'm thankful. That this may always be a happy land is the earnest hope of every American. And to Danamichi, Francis D, and Walter Brennan, there are congratulations on some fine acting. Thank you, CB. It's great to be back, especially with two swell people like Francis D and Walter Brennan. Oh, it's mighty nice here to say that, son. Hey, hey, look, you're not playing my grandfather any longer, Walter. Well, Walter always loses himself in any party play. That's why it's so good. The best performance I ever gave was my first part in pictures. Another grandfather? No, Francis. Years ago, a director rented a donkey to bring in a picture, and the only trouble was he wouldn't bring it at the right time. And that's where you came in? Correct. I stood in for the jackass and braided. Never had a part that suited me quite so well since. You might get some argument on that, Walter. By the way, have you realized that we're all neighbors here, all San Fernando Valley ranchers? Well, that's right. Our place can be more than 10 miles from John's. No, and we're practically next door, Francis, 12 or 15 miles. Well, I wish you'd all saddle up and come over to my ranch some day. It wouldn't be more than 25 miles for any of you. Just think the road would be hot and dusty, and after a long ride to my ranch, I'd give you some real unrationed hospitality. I'd even give you... I'd even give you all a cake of luck soap to wash up with. Well, that's my favorite complexion, Karen, Mr. DeMille. I've used luck soap for years. No, I knew any one of your beauty and intelligence would be a luxe girl, Francis. What's on the fire for next week, CV? A gay and delightful musical done. It's the 20th Century Fox hit Coney Island. And our stars will be Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamore, and Chester Mullis. There was romance and adventure and lovely tunes at Coney Island around the turn of the century. And we'll have all those things here next Monday night with three great stars, Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamore, and Chester Mullis. Standing room only, CV. Good night. Good night. Good night. Happy land made a happy company this week. Our sponsors, the makers of Luxe Toilet Soap, join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night. From the Luxe Radio Theatre presents Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamore, and Chester Mullis in Coney Island. This is Cecil B. DeMille saying good night to you from Hollywood. Here's a way for housewives to get extra red rations points. For every pound of used kitchen fats you bring into your butcher, he'll give you four cents and two red ration points. Keep a tin can handy on the back of your stove and pour into it every drop of used fats. No matter how burnt or black they are, they're valuable. Used fats are urgently needed to supply ingredients for medicines for our soldiers, for munitions, and for other vital materials. Remember, every single spoonful you save is a wartime job well done. Donna Michi will soon be seen in the 20th Century Fox Technicolor production Greenwich Village, and is currently filming Wing and the Prayer at the same studio. Walter Brennan appeared through the courtesy of Samuel Goldman, producers of the picture Up in Arms. Francis D. will soon be seen in the Universal Picture, Patrick the Great. Paired in tonight's play were Bob Haines, Joan Loring, Bill Martel, Tommy Cook, Charles Seal, Leo Cleary, Charlotte Treadway, Dorothy Scott, Leon Ladoux, John McIntyre, Norman Field, Fred Barton, Bobby Larson, Norman Nilsen, Gloria Fisher, and Jack Morrison. This program is broadcast to our fighting forces overseas through cooperation with the armed forces radio service. Our music was directed by Louis Silvers. Tonight, when you tuned in to the Lux Radio Theater, you knew you would get good entertainment. Try tuning in to this same station tomorrow night and Wednesday at the same time. Tomorrow night, you will hear George Burns and Gracie Allen with their guest star, Herbert Marshall. Wednesday night, Frank Sinatra sings I Love You and other favorite tunes. Sophie Tucker will be Frank's guest. Make this station at Lux Time a habit, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, for the best in drama, comedy, and music. This is your announcer, John M. Kennedy, reminding you to tune in again next Monday night to hear Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, and Chester Morris in Coney Island. Here's the secret. You easy mix fry shortening, cuts cake mixing time two-thirds. No creaming, no long tiresome beating, and yet you get lighter, better tasting cakes that stay fresh longer. At your grocers in the same handy jar, you easy mix fry. Brand for all, baking and frying. Buy Sprite. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.