 Hollywood. The Lux Radio Theatre brings you Loretta Young, Alan Ladd, and William Bendick in China. Ladies and gentlemen, your producer, Mr. Cecil B. DeMille. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. America has been at war for two years. But this war in England has been at war for four. But this war began on the other side of the world. It began with an incident at the Marco Polo Bridge in Piping, more than six years ago. At first, the Japanese octopus pushed its tentacles rapidly into China. Then the advance was slowed. Then it stopped. In these six years, the Chinese have fought with old guns, old airplanes, with knives, with clubs, and with their bare hands. But their day will come and soon, and we will have the privilege of assisting their valor. The Chinese story is too broad, too big for any one drama. But tonight's play gives you part of it. A part seen by three Americans who follow their trail of destiny across that brave land. The play is Paramount's great hit, China. And starring in it, you'll hear the same three players who gave such fine performances in the picture. Loretta Young, Alan Ladd, and William Bendick. Courage oftentimes inspires courage. And China is the drama of what one man was inspired to do by the things he saw in the great democracy of the East. When the picture was released, if you'd been reading a newspaper of the entertainment business, like Variety, you'd have seen headlines like China Top Shy or China Smash in Philly. Translated into English, they mean that the picture was a big success in Chicago and Philadelphia. Of course, it was everywhere else, too. That's the kind of drama that the makers of Luxe Toilet Soap want to give you in this theater every week. Hit plays. And that's only proper in the case of a product which might itself rate headlines like Luxe Waos LA, or Soap Stocko in Sinsey. Provided anybody covered complexion news the way Variety covers the show world. In any event, you say the same thing every time you buy Luxe Toilet Soap. And here's the curtain for Act One of China. Starring Aaron Ladd as Mr. Jones, Loretta Young as Carolyn, and William Bendix as Johnny, with Phillip Arne as Lin Shou. His name was Mr. Jones. He told me his first name once in a few days in China that we knew each other. But when I think of those days, I think of him as Mr. Jones. He doesn't sound very romantic, does he? Sometimes I hardly remember what he looked like. Because in China, in 1941, events moved almost too fast for memory. One thing I'll never forget. He had a strange, silent look about him. You knew that Mr. Jones would never be afraid of living, or of dying. Mr. Jones was in the Chinese town of Meiki when the Japanese bombers roared over and made a shambles of the small houses and arrow streets. The children and old men were streaming out of Meiki in panic. But Mr. Jones was very tired. He had driven his truck all the way from Shanghai in three days at the wheel. When the woman who owned the small hotel opened the door to his helper, Johnny Sparrow, Mr. Jones was asleep inside of the noise. Hello, Johnny. You come looking for him? Yeah. What is he, drunk? No, so tired he fell asleep. This is no place for us. I hate to do it, but I gotta get him up. What did you say to him in your arms? A baby. What did you think it was? Donald Duck? At first I think it is a bundle, but... I found it on the street. The mother was killed by one of them bombs. The kid's okay. Here, hold him. Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones. Now go on. Go on, I want to sleep. Come on, boys. Wake up. Hey, Johnny, what's the matter? The house pinched? Look, Mr. Jones, the Japs are bombing the town, killing people, blowing the big daylights out of all creation. If you want to make the coast, let's go. I got the truck outside. It's a good thing that Johnny is saying, go while there's still a road left to drive on. Yeah, I guess it's better. Hey, what's that? This? A baby. Well, since when did you have a baby? Since never. This is a friend of Johnny's. I, uh, I sort of found it. Oh, him, huh? Yeah. Uh, no. I mean, we're... Holy smokes, Mr. Jones. I don't know yet. All right, come on, Johnny. Let's chill out. Say you want to come? No, I stay here. Things getting pretty hot? I've been here a long time. I do not leave just because people say it is hot. I think I stay. Here, Johnny, the baby. Come here, kiddo. Which one of you is Mr. Jones? Him. Mr. David Jones? Yeah, who are you? I'm Captain Tao Yuan Kai. Intelligent Department of the Chinese Sixth Truth Army. Oh, sure. I was told you wanted to see me. Sorry I got tied up. Johnny. Yeah, Mr. Jones. Get the truck ready, will you, and Johnny? Yeah. Get rid of that kid, understand? Yeah, sure. Yeah, look here, look here. Well, I suppose you want my passport. Here it is. Thank you. Come on, get it over with. I'm in a hurry. Everything is in order. Well, you sound like it breaks your heart. Mr. Jones, I regret you're an American citizen. If you were one of my own people, I would have you shot for aiding the enemy. Are you aware of the Chinese people are at war with the Japanese? All right, so you're at war. That's your business. Mine is selling oil at the Jap's on oil. That's my business. The prices they pay, it's good business. Are you going to give me some more of that tripe or is that all? I've got places to go. That is all, Mr. Jones. All the trying to forget, I ever met you. I won't even have to try. Hey, Johnny, get that truck started. That was how Mr. Jones left Meiki in a two-ton truck. The rest of us weren't so lucky. We had left on foot when the Japanese bombers first came. Chinese students and I struggled along with the rest of the poor refugees in the mud and the rain. By ten o'clock that night when the truck caught up with us, we'd only gone a few miles. There's a car approaching. Well, whoever it is, he's a fool riding with lights. If we could only get around. What if it's not going up? You notice it now? Do you want to run or do you want to run down? Get off the road! Let him ride if those refugees took the truck away from him. It's wet. Why can't we ride in that truck? Can you? That's a very good idea. Lin Wei, bring the girls along. Oh, the idea of swinging the wheel that way. Johnny, I ought to beat your brains then. They couldn't get out of the way. Mr. Jones, you might have killed somebody. Yeah, now the whole mob is piling down on us. What floor? What floor if I ride yet? Tell me what you want to get. Come on, we'll beat these donkeys off. All right, what do you want? Hey, get back there. Get off that truck. Quick line up there. All right, Johnny, they won't listen. Swagger. Hey, they quit. Sure, with your speed and my weight, they'd never chance. Now, you're wrong. We didn't have a chance, Johnny. Hi. Hey, who's that? Over there. Jones standing in the light. Boy, what a target for the night. Didn't you hear me? Yeah. Well, turn them off. Why? Because lights can be seen. And with Japanese planes around to be seen, might prove very dangerous. All right, Johnny, turn them off. That's better. Not so much. I can't see you so well. You couldn't see very well before. You hadn't stopped your truck. Would have killed some of those people. Well, I should have gotten off the road. Hey. Yes, Miss Grant? Now what? You stay here and wait till I get back. You wait too, Linway. Hey, uh, who's the boss lady? She is very nice lady. Yeah. I got an idea. We're going to wait. Yeah, sure we are. Come on, get back in the truck. Might as well stay out of the way. No sense wasting gas. Hey, what's that? That's a baby, Mr. Jones. I had it right on the seat. It must have waked up. Come on, fellow. What a boy. I, uh, thought I told you to get rid of that. Have you ever tried to get rid of a baby? A Chinese baby. I tried too, but, well, everybody seems to have plenty of them. You hungry, fellow? See ya. Hey, um, what are you feeding it? Sugar. I had some in my pocket. Won't hurt him now, will it? Well, if you don't give him too much. Now, what are you asking me for? Tough guy. All right. We can go now. Linway. Yes? Linway, you, you ride the Sun's bumper. If you see any bound craters or any other trouble, signal me with your flashlight. Yes, Miss. Now, wait a minute. I'm not driving this road in the dark. Now, nobody asked you to. The Chinese have an old proverb, rather than curse the darkness, use your eyes. All right, Linway? All right. Move over, please. I'll drive. Okay. I'll take a chance. You're not taking any chance. I know this road like the back of my hand. I was born in that town back there. Well, baby. Say hello to the lady, Donald. That is me. Yeah, that's what I call him, Donald Duck. Well, hold on, Donald. We're going for a ride. You drive pretty well. For a woman. Thank you. Say, if you got your datebook handy, you can put me down with the Joneses. David, Llewellyn, Jones. Now, wait a minute. On second thought, you better put me down with the A's on the front page. Me too. I'm Johnny Sparrow. I'm glad to know you, Johnny. I'm Carolyn Grant. Yeah, it's a pleasure for me, too. You know, the first thing we're going to do is buy you a drink. Oh. And then, for you, we'd have lost our truck to those thugs. They weren't thugs. They were just poor, frightened people who were bombed out of their homes. Oh, yeah, and poor? Chengdu. Chengdu? That's a long stretch. I'm afraid it is. Got relatives in Chengdu? No, no, but there's a university there. That's where most of the students are going from the bombed out areas. I... Well, I think I could be of some help if you see I'm a teacher. Want me to drive? No, no, not now. A little later, perhaps. You sure make a pretty picture, don't they? Who? Them two asleep. Miss Grant, Donald Duck. Yeah. Want me to drive? No, I'm okay. And the way that truck is driving, you think we had a load? Oh, we had. There jammed in there. There was a hayride. Jammed in where? I don't think so. We skidded off the road. What? Stay there. I'll take care of them. Okay. I'll take them on pile out of there. Stop. Sorry I woke you up. Go on back in front. Why? Because I'm going to throw out some passengers and things might get rough. I mean, you intend putting them out here? At night? Night at day, right now. There are mounds between here and Shanghai, and I've got just enough gas. For a load like this, I'll never make it. You can't be serious. Now, look, will you take my advice and get back in with that baby? I'll take care of my business. It's my business, too, Mr. Jones. Oh, what are you talking about? Is this a riffraff? They're not riffraff. They're fine people. I told you I was going that town back there, and these are all my friends. Now, look, lady, all I got is a two ton truck, and you can't run that on the milk of human kindness. If I'm going to get to Shanghai, they got to get off. Now, you can go on and get back in the truck. I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, but if you put them off here, I'm staying with them. That's the way you want it, okay? They still go. All right, come on. Come on, get out of there. All right. Don't move. I'll drag you out one by one. Girls, I didn't know. Can you? Here, here, let me help you. Are you all right? Yes. You, uh... You know her? She's one of my students. The rest of them in there? Yes, they're all my students. Who put them in there? I did. Hey, what's going on back here? Huh, take a look. There's a dozen more in the truck. Not bad. You know, I don't know how you do it, boys. Miss Grant, why didn't you tell me this before? Because I was pretty sure you wouldn't let them ride. Oh, tagged me for a heel right away, didn't you? Well, I wouldn't put it quite as strongly as that. You know, I'd forgotten about how much trouble a woman American woman can be. Mr. Jones, sir. Now what do you want? We must proceed with our journey. Please get back in the truck. Now, look here, short pants. If you please, at once. Well, can you imagine that? Him so young and carrying a gun. Thank you, Lin Wei. Shall we drive on, Mr. Jones? Mr. Jones drove all night. The rain stopped and the road began to wind through a hilly country. At dawn, we stopped again. We were in a ravine, and a Chinese cart was drawn up broadside, blocking the road completely. Two tall Chinese stood beside the cart, looking at a broken vehicle. Hey, you! Get that junkie out of the road. Hey, Lin Wei. Time to get it off the road or I'll knock it off of the truck. Who is this gentleman, Wei? An American who sells oil. Some of our women are riding in the back. This is not a good road for you to travel. Why not? Ten miles up the road, Japanese troops are dancing from Shanghai. Yeah, how do you know? It is my business to know. There are also enemy patrols behind you. It's all right, the Japs haven't got anything on me. I'm an American citizen and I got a pass. Come on, you get that bunch of junk off the road and I'll go through. What about these girls? Will they get through on your pass too? That's my headache, I'll think of something. Too bad for our women that you are not a man king to think of something. Wait a minute. If the Japanese are so close, what do you think we better do? 200 feet back. At the entrance of the ravine, there is another road. Yeah, what about it? It goes to the top of the hill. Drive up there and wait. Wait for what? That is our signal. The enemy has just been sighted. I suggest you hurry up. We have a little business with the enemy. We saw it all happen a few minutes later from the hill. A Japanese truck loaded with soldiers came up the road and stopped before the cart just as we had done. Quite calmly, one of the Chinese leaned back, put his hand in the cart. Swung his arm forward and something flashed through the air and landed in among the Japanese soldiers. Hey, you cleaned those Japs right out. Look at those two guys running the show, you know? Very well indeed. They are my first and second brother. Yeah. A medical student at the university. We're with Miss Grant. I also studied English. For an American, Miss Grant has many unusual qualities. Oh, meaning I don't have, huh? I guess you figured out by now I don't like you very much. Oh, that's perfectly okay, Mr. Jones. I don't like you either. Say, uh, Jones. Come on, get back in the back of the truck. Yeah, sure, but, uh, well, if I ask you something, you won't get mad, will you? No, but if you start asking me, what's wrong? I'll see you there. You go get mad again. All right, what is it? That's about Donald Duck. Who? The baby. His grand says that Donald has absolutely got to have milk. Do I look like a guy that's got milk? No, but Tan Ying says that... And who? Tan Ying, the girl you dragged out of the truck. Her folks got a farm up the road apiece, and they also got a cow. You know, in China, Mr. Jones, cows don't grow on trees. It's on the road. We pass right by it. Okay, we could do with a little stretch. We'll go to the farm. It was pleasant on the farm, so peaceful. We were there only a few hours, but they were quiet, gentle hours. There was a pond and the girls took a bath. What do you think of that, Mr. Jones, calling us Swiss brats? He is worse than a Japanese soldier. He's nothing but a kuchen chung. We gave Donald a bath, too, in a wooden watch tub set on a hard-packed dirt floor at the farmhouse. Tan Ying, her mother and I. Such a pretty child. No, no. Donald, you mustn't put yourself in your mouth. Can you do something that will make him smile? Oh, a baby duck. Look, Donald. We'll swim in the tub with you. Oh, Mother. It is so wonderful to be back on the farm with you. Back home. It is a nice visit, Tan Ying. I wish I could stay always. Tan Ying, you can't. Yes. Yes, I know. We are going to Chengdu. Hi, Donald. You mustn't splash too much. Such a strong man, child. With a harvest of such sturdy youngsters, China need never be afraid. But a great help he will be on a farm in a few years. Miss Grant, must you take him with you? What do you mean? Why not leave him here with me on the farm? Do you think it will be safe for him here with the Japanese moving north? No one but wild animals would hunt such a small one as this. Well, it would be better for him here than where we are going. A small child should not go on such a trip. Perhaps you'll rise. What about it, Donald? He says yes. We will leave him. And later, out in the small, fatched barn, Johnny Sparrow was milking the cow. Ah, it's all in a touch. Some folks got it, some folks ain't. Yes, I got it. Oh. The cows I've milked are stretched from here to Klamath Falls, Oregon. That's where I live. He never had a complaint yet. I bet they miss me. Well, I don't know about them. Right now, I'm so darn homesick I can bust out crying. Well, Johnny... It's just being on this farm, I guess. It got me all of a sudden. What's it like? Your farm, I mean. Well, take this old cow here. A smell of grass early in the morning, fresh cut hay. Pine needles on a hot day. A cool breeze coming up off the lake. Mix them all up with the smell of hot cornbread and bacon, frying and coffee. Well, that's my home. Oh, it sounds wonderful. You bet it is. Oh, bossy, I guess we got enough milk for Donald for now. Johnny. Johnny, will you do something for me? For sure. I want you to help me persuade Mr. Jones to take us to Chengdu. Well, that's kind of a large order, Miss Grant. Is it? Yeah, besides, I was kind of counting on getting to Shanghai myself. I want to catch a boat home for Christmas. Oh. I even wrote my mom a... Oh, never mind. Well, Miss Grant, just a second. Yes, Johnny? I bought my going home. You don't need to let that bother you. The thing is, Mr. Jones... You don't think you could be talking to it, eh? Well, that guy makes up his mind nothing short of beating his brains out. I'll change it. Right now, he's sat on Shanghai and... Well, nobody ever beat his brains out yet. There's always the first time, though, Johnny. Yeah, I'm ready to leave. What's on your mind? Mr. Jones, from here the road runs straight north. Some distance ahead is an old temple if it hasn't been bombed out. And just beyond the temple, the road divides. Now, one way heads east. That's a two-day trip to Shanghai, which is full of Japanese as you know. The other way is a seven-day trip to Chengdu. For all the girls can carry on their work without any danger from the Japanese or their bombs. Mr. Jones, you're not listening. Oh, yeah, sure I am. What's a ku-chang-chung? Where did you hear that? I was down in the pool shaving. I heard one of the girls mention it. Yeah, what's so funny? A ku-chang-chung is a very tiny insect with a very big and nasty noise. They call you that. Now, look, third brother, someday I'm gonna run my truck right over you. Mr. Jones, what about Chengdu? I have enough gas for Chengdu. Besides, I got an important business in Shanghai. Well, we can get you all the gas you want, can't we, Lin Wei? Oh, yes. And as for your important business in Shanghai, Mr. Jones, well, the girls also have important business in Chengdu. There's involved the destiny of China. A bunch of girls like that. Please, Mr. Jones, now let me finish. They're students. They're just a few out of many thousands, but they're being trained for a very special job to educate millions of Chinese. To teach them how working together they can build a new China. Oh, Mr. Jones, you and I are Americans. We fought and died for a new America. And you really ought to stop calling yourself an American if you can't help these people now. They're fighting and dying and struggling for a new China, a free China. Who's that? He's the Chinese soldier. They are marching on the road. Hey, who's that in front? Don't I know those two? Yes, it is first brother and second brother. Oh, they brought a lot of help with them this time. Who are they, anyway? They're Chinese guerrilla fighters. Nice lyrics. Oh, yes, they're wonderful. Yeah, what do they mean? Just what we were talking about. That's the song of the new China. It means we'll big ditches, we'll build roads. Blood and sweat we'll freely give for a new China, free and strong. Time for us to get going, too. Which way, Mr. Jones? Shanghai or Chengdu? I'll take you as far as the temple, but I'm going to Shanghai. After a decent admission, Mr. DeMille presents Alan Lan, Loretta Young, and William Bendix in act two of China. And now, a little drama in the Brown family. You like it, Jim? First I'm going to know what it is. You know perfectly well what it is. It's a hat. And I got it to wear to the families on Thanksgiving. Honestly, dear, is that little scrap of fluff really meant to be a hat? You don't like it. Oh, I was only kidding, honey. It's the dizziest headpiece I ever saw, but I knew it's a winner. Say, anyone with peaches and cream skin like yours would just made to wear foolish hats. Well, that's the way it is. A smart new hat is nice, but a lovely smooth complexion is nicer. So clever women who want to be admired don't take chances. They never neglect the daily lux toilet soap facials that give skin real beauty care. Lux soap active ladder facials work for the screen stars, and I found they work for me, too. The ladder feels wonderful on my skin. It's so rich and creamy. Smooth lots of it on, rinse with warm water, splash with cold, and pat with a soft towel to dry. I never neglect this care. I take these lux soap beauty facial every day. In just a short time, they've helped my skin to look so much fresher and smoother. I know because people tell me so. Now, that's the very same lux toilet soap facial. Nine out of ten famous screen stars depend on. They've discovered that this gentle soap is right for their complexion. And screen stars are like women everywhere. Some of them are blondes, some redhead, some brunette with varying types of skin. So, try lux toilet soap beauty facials for your complexion. Ask your dealer for Hollywood fine white beauty soap tomorrow. And if he's temporarily out of stock, due to wartime conditions, why, he's sure to have more soon. Remember, lux toilet soap is worth waiting for. We pause now for station identification. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System. Two of China, starring Loretta Young as Carolyn, Alan Ladd as Mr. Jones, and William Bendix as Johnny. In the truck with the girls in the back and Johnny and I riding in the front seat with him, I disliked Mr. Jones almost as much as Lin Wei and the girls did. He was going to Shanghai. To Shanghai and nothing else mattered. When we got to the temple, we could get off and shift for ourselves. But something happened before we reached the temple. I remember Johnny had been talking about the baby. You figure he'll be all right back there, Miss Granite. Donald Duck, he sure was a cute kid. Well, what do you think? Do you think he'll be all right, Johnny? Yeah, I hope so. If we'd taken him, I guess we'd have had to take the cow. Yes, and it would have been pretty crowded back there with all the girls, wouldn't it? I'm sure I've got to miss the little geezer. Oh, come on, stop moaning. How much further to the temple? About an hour. You still insist upon me? Yep, my mind's made up, Shanghai. I was afraid of that. Why, jazz? That's a trouble of you, James. You're never satisfied. Hey. Hey, you're using lipstick. Well, what's wrong with that? I don't know. You just don't act like the lipstick sort. Do you know I knew a girl like you once? Worked in a circus. Used to crack a whip and make lines jump through paper hoops. And you prefer the lipstick sort, huh? Well, I don't like jumping through paper hoops. Well, I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. I didn't mean to. No, I didn't quit cracking that whip. This isn't my war, and as long as America's neutral, I'm neutral too. So if you're trying to recruit for China, you do it someplace else. Not in my truck. Mr. Jones, I'd like to show you something. Here, take a look at this picture. I'll watch the road. Isn't that, uh, thank gosh? Yeah, thank you. Who's the other guy? My father. They were great friends. They were two of the finest men that ever lived. You know, my father was a young man. He was very much like you. Same ideas. Oh, thanks. He was arrogant, opinionated, and completely racked up in himself. Oh. I'd like to say he was a great guy. Oh, he was. After it? After what? After he left the counselor service. Well, made me switch from that racket. He found out the people of China were being exploited. The foreign interests were stealing them blind. Yeah, he must have been in a swell spot if she was a shakedown. He quit, huh? Yes, he quit after he met Chiang Kai-shek. And then he spent the rest of his life working for him. In my way, I'm trying to do the same thing. You say I'm recruiting, but China... Well, I guess I am. Well, don't try to recruit me. The Japs have always been good business, and you can't expect me to hate them for that. You know, matter of fact, I got a couple of pretty good friends in Tokyo. Hey, boss! The plane up there diving down on us! Stop the truck! Yeah, tellin' me. Probably one of your little friends from Tokyo. He missed the truck, but he'll be back. Come on, stay down, will ya? He's circling, starting back his way. Hey, those aren't his machine guns. He's hit. He hit the plane! He did it! Come on, we'll go see. Yes, that is correct. We shot it down. Well, you guys really got here an hour earlier. You did all right, too. That is most usual. First brother Lin Chou and second brother Lin Yan have twice before done the same thing. Hey, where's the rest of your mom? You only got about 20 here. The grill of fighting is in small bands. We split up. Some go all the way. We came this way. Sure lucky for us. Mr. Jones, one of the girls is gone. Somebody shot? No, no, it's Tan Yen. She dropped off the truck a long ways back. I just found out about it. She went back to her farm. If it's all right with you, Mr. Jones, I'm going back to get her. You're what? She went home, didn't she? What are you worrying about? Well, the Japanese troops may go there. Now look, you left the baby there, didn't ya? They're different. Tan Yen is a girl and a very young girl. Oh, Tan, the one that Japs won't even go that way. Well, that's a risk I won't take, Mr. Jones. I've talked to girls who escaped from Manchow, and I've also seen some who didn't escape. We've got to go back and get her, that's all. She's right. We better go. Now wait a minute, you two. Your talk, except going back to that farm, was like driving down to the corner drugstore. And if you think I'm... I know you're flying off the handle, Mr. Jones. You say it's okay for me to go back okay. But okay or no okay, I'm going anyway. Come on, get away from that truck. I'll take it easy, boy. Somebody's going to get hurt. You asked for it. I told you somebody was going to get hurt. It had to be me. Come on, get up. Except on the chin was just opening your big mouth. I was going anyway, me and Miss Grant. We left Johnny's cell on the girls for the gorillas. They were going on to the temple. The gorilla leader had given Mr. Jones an automatic rifle. Just in case, he said. It took us quite a while to drive back to the farm. The radiator was dry and we had to stop once beside the roadside stream for water. The moon was very bright. Telling at me like that was my slip-shell. Ah. You know, I was just thinking. That outfit you're wearing is terrible. All except the hat. The hat does something for you. Thank you. And just where can I get a new outfit? You don't have it in New York, have you? No. No, but there's a little shop on Fifth Avenue. And they make hand knit wool dresses. They're expensive, but they're awfully good. Now how do you know? Oh, I read their ads in the magazines. And if I find anything I like, I cut it out and paste it in the book. Then I pretend it's the real thing hanging in my closet, see? Well, how about a coat? You know, a mink. You think it'll go with that hat? A mink clear down to your knees? Oh, no, no, not mink. There's something newer. It's called a mink's. A mink's jacket right down to here with great big broad shoulders and beautiful folds, so you'll be crazy about it. Yeah, it'll go with that hat. We'll get a new hat. Just like that one? All right. Just like this one. Hey, wait a minute. I forgot something. Two tickets for a football game. Army and Navy. Oh, yes. And a pint of whiskey for you. Right. Hey, what's the matter? Oh, nothing. For a minute it all sounded so real. It made me feel kind of funny. Come on, let's go. It was dawn when we reached the farm. Mr. Jones turned off the motor and we coasted from the road into the farm yard. It was quiet. Too quiet. Because on a farm by dawn, everyone should have been up and busy. Then we saw why it was too quiet. There were Japanese motorcycles parked outside the door. And when we got to the doorway, there were three crumpled bodies lying where they'd been shot down with their blood staining the ground. Two old people and... and poor little Donald Duck. All right, come on out of there. All right, the three of you. Help against that wall. Tanya. Is she all right? She's starving. You're all right now. You're all right, Tanya. Come on, get her out of the truck. Come on. Nobody's going to bother you now. Come along, dear. The freezer! Don't cry, Tanya. We're coming to the temple now. I'd hold on with Tanya. I'm glad you were with me, Mr. Jones. I'm glad you saw what happened. Because somehow just hearing about those things doesn't mean much, does it? Yeah, it's a different thing. And I wish everyone in America could have seen it. Everyone like you so wrapped up in themselves, so smug and secure and so satisfied. They think this isn't their war. Well, any time these things happen, it's everybody's war. And what's happening here can happen in America, too. Why can't they wake up and see that? I don't know. Here we are, Tanya. Mr. Jones, help me to carry on. How is she, Miss Grant? I don't know. I don't think she wants to move. Yes, dear, it's all right. It's the wind glass. See it? The evening breeze sets the glass strips tapping against each other. See it? Yes, Grant. Yes, Tanya. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pasture if he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Yes, Grant. Yes. Look, you're reading. Yes, that's what I say to a man when he said, if we believe in him, we shall never see death. Oh, you can believe that with all of your heart, Tanya. Finish it. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Tanya! Jones, what happened? I heard that Tanya... She's dead, Johnny. Chaps, at the farm? Yeah. He had to kill the old folks and... And Donald Duck, they... Yeah, Johnny. Yeah, him too. You know what I was gonna do with Donald Duck? I was gonna take him back to America with me. I was gonna adopt him. He was such a little guy, wasn't he? Yeah. Johnny, I shot three Japs who did it. Bloomed the bets against the wall, and I got no more feeling about it than if they were flies. In a few minutes, Mr. DeMille and our stars, Alan Ladd, Loretta Young, and William Bendix will bring us Act Three of China. Mothers are wonderful people, especially in a situation like this. No, she's a little late tonight, but I expect her any minute. Is this Bill? You're home on me? Oh, how wonderful! Of course you want to see you. Goodness, Martha will be fagged out when she gets home from the plant. Lucky there's plenty of hot water. I'll unwrap a nice new cake of left soap. She'll have time for a real beauty bath. A very fine planner, Martha's mother. She knows there's nothing like a luxurious luck-toilet soap bath for a quick pickup after a hard day's work. The generous creamy ladder carries away dust and dirt in a twinkling. When Martha steps from a beauty bath, she'll be refreshed. Her skin will feel exquisitely smooth and soft. And later in the evening, it's wonderful to answer with you again, Martha. You're just about the sweetest thing I've ever known. Next time you're all tired out and have a date to keep, relax for a few moments in a fragrant, delightful luck soap bath. It makes you sure of daintiness, sure of skin that's fresh, really sweet. Lovely screen stars say they love the delicate perfume luck-toilet soap has. A flower-like fragrance that cleans lightly to the skin. Why not let this satin smooth white soap make your daily bath a real luxury? An inexpensive one, too, for thrifty luck-toilet soap is hard milled. That means each cake can be used down to the last thin sliver. These days, when it's patriotic not to waste soap, that's important. And here's another little tip to save your luck-toilet soap. Moisten the leftover piece and press it onto your new cake. And always put your beauty soap in a soap dish that's dry. Now, Mr. DeMille returns to the microphone. Our stars will be your guests for an informal chat after the play. But now the third act of China, starring Loretta Young as Carolyn, Alan Ladd as Mr. Jones, and William Bendix as Johnny. We buried Tanyin near the temple with the voices of the Chinese gorillas covering the sound of the earth as it fell on the crude wooden coffin that we'd made for her. That night, Lin chose to stop Mr. Jones beside the truck. Mr. Jones, may I speak with you a moment? Look, I'm in a hurry. I got three jet machine guns off those rats at the farm. I got them in the truck, and I'm going to start using them. You've changed. The Japanese no longer are your friends, eh? Yeah, what about it? The guy can take so much... Easy, easy, Mr. Jones. In fighting with Japanese, most of all, I have learned patience. And maybe you have, but I haven't. If you want to fight, listen. I've learned there's a full Japanese division advancing along this road. Have orders that they must be stopped. Yeah, who's going to stop them? We must. Oh, that's fine. Thirty against a full Jap division. Well, that ought to be a cinch. They will pass along a deep, narrow ravine. If they get through that ravine, they will be able to attack the flank of the Fifth Chinese Road Army. Hey, a ravine, eh? Well, uh, can't you block the road, maybe? With dynamite? Yes. But we have no dynamite. Oh. But there is a repair party of 50 Japanese working at a bridge not far from here. They have plenty of dynamite. 50 to our 30, eh? Well, come on. What are we waiting for? Let's go take it away from them. Tisby, well armed Japanese against Mr. Jones and Johnny Sparrow and 30 Chinese. They are then shown. It's not going to be easy, you know. But our need for the explosive is greater than theirs. Ready? Ready. Ready. Ready. They came back with a dynamite, but out of the 30 which had gone out, only five returned. Mr. Jones, where are all the others? They're gone. They're dead. Oh. Let me carry them, Johnny. Your hands hurt. No. Please. Do not move me. It is no use. In my, oh, in my, you're wounded. Mr. Jones. Yeah? How am I healing you? All right. I want to thank you for bringing me back here. This is a better place to die. You covered the dynamite with his body. The jab machine guns didn't do him any good. We saved the dynamite, yes? You saved it. Mr. Jones, I am sorry I did not like you before, like you now very much. Goodbye, third brother. Well, there you are, Johnny. Your hand's bandaged, but you won't drive the truck for a while. Oh, I can drive that truck with my toes. Uh, Miss Grant. Yes? Miss Grant, I don't know about you, but whenever I get something on my mind, I'm always one for cracking right out with it. Oh, you're right, Johnny. If anybody has anything on his mind, there's nothing better than cracking right out with it. I've been that way ever since one night back home. I went on a hayride. There was quite a bunch of us on that hayride, including a blonde named Mary Lou. Oh. Kind on the heavy side, but good looking. I'm sure she was. Well, what with the hay and the moon, the guy named Clint Pickens playing the ukulele? I got the feeling pretty good about Mary Lou. I guess you know how it is. Well, I've never been on a hayride, Johnny, but, well, I can imagine that a ukulele, a blonde, a full moon, and some hay would be well sort of like playing with matches. Yes, sure is. Well, anyway, after a while, I got the notion that I was crazy enough about Mary Lou to ask her to marry me. I guess you can understand how I felt, huh? Well, if it had been me, I'd have started running down the road for a preacher right then. Yeah, that's what I should have done. I should never waited till after the Winnie-Pake. Because after the Winnie-Pake, when I got around to asking Mary Lou to marry me... She promised to marry somebody else. Yeah. And I'll bet you anything, it was that ukulele player. Well, how did you know? Oh, Johnny, women just know things like that. Well, it sure taught me a lesson, all right? It taught me that if ever I got crazy about a girl again, the thing to do is to come right out and tell her. That's why I'm telling you now, I'm crazy about you. Oh, Johnny. Johnny, you're awfully sweet. What, is it okay then? Oh, no, no, I'm sorry. I'm afraid it isn't. Oh. I was sort of afraid of that myself. But if you should ever change your mind, I'd let it to climb a full target and it'll always reach me. Well, if I ever do change my mind, Johnny, I certainly will let you know. Well, how's your hand, Johnny? Oh, okay. The only thing that worries me is how am I going to wash my watch? Well, I'll see you later. I drive. Are you busy? No, no, not very. I've got to go with the truck and get the dynamite ready. Well, Mr. Jones, what happened to the man who was in the oil business? Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Well, yeah. Will you come? We're shorthanded. I can use some help. Yes, of course I'll come. You tie several sticks of the dynamite in a bundle and then you attach a fuse, huh? Yeah, give me four more of those sticks. Say you ask. Say it's like this. Oh. Then we dig a hose in the side of the ravine and put these in them. Uh-huh. Then we hook them up on a wire to this box for the plunge on it. Are you impressed with the plunger? Yes, sir, that does it. I see. That kicks it off and more dirt rolls down on the hero heaters' men and they can dig out of it in a week. A regular avalanche. Hey, you know, I ought to wrap these things up as Christmas gifts. Christmas isn't very far off, is it? Less than, uh, three weeks. Who's going to set off the dynamite? Well, there's only five of us and Johnny Sparrow has a bad hand. Guess we'll all have to go. You'll need me. Now look, you stay here with the girl. But you'll need me. Johnny can't drive the truck with his wounded hand and the Chinese can't drive it. You're the only one and if you're busy with... We'll talk about it later. When do we leave? Is this the fourth summer? Oh, yeah. We haven't got much time, have we? No. When is that time, Mr. Sparrow? Our whole lives could be lived as beautifully in five minutes as though it had lasted a hundred years. And sometimes a whole lifetime goes by without... without a single moment of happiness. Yeah. I never thought of it that way. Sometimes time stretches like a rubber band. Earlier this evening, while we waited for you to come back with this dynamite, that's how it was. The waiting was endless. Want me to tell you something? What? Down there the night, all I could think of was you. When things got hot, I... Well, I made sort of a vow. Just like some men who swear they'll burn a candle before the strain of their patron saint. You, uh... want to know what that vow was? Yes, I do. Well, I saw that if I got out alive, I'd come back to you and tell you that I loved you. And I love you too. Oh, Mr. Jones, why don't you put down that dynamite and kiss me? Are you listening? Uh-huh. What do you feel like to feel a little drunk? Wonderful. Then I think I'm a little drunk. Hmm, good. Do you know that you have a little lump on your nose? I can feel it. Mm-hmm. It was broken. Oh, how did that happen? Oh, it's a sort of story. Tell me. Mm-hmm. You're too young. Oh, please, please tell me. Well... well, it involved another young lady. Oh, was she pretty? No, boy, she was sensational. She had a twin sister, too. Were you in love with her? Yeah, I was crazy about both of them. Oh, that must have been confusing, wasn't it? Yeah, it was. The only way I could tell them apart was one drank scotch and the other drank beer. Oh. One time, I took one of them out and we stopped for a drink, and, you know, that's how I got my wires crossed. Oh. Well, without thinking, I ordered beer, and when it came, she threw it in my face. Oh, but how could that break their nose? Well, she forgot to take it out of the bottle. Oh. I think you're just making this whole thing up anyway. Yeah, that's right. There's an operation for adenoids. Oh. What's the matter? Can't you hear it? Yeah, sure. What about it? Well, it started again. That means there's a breeze. The morning breeze, that one that comes just... just before dawn. In a few minutes later, we started out. The girls stayed in the temple. There, of course, was an argument about my going, but Lin Cho agreed that I could be of some help driving the truck. It was sunrise by the time we reached our destination, a high rocky plateau overlooking the main road on which the Japanese would soon be coming. As we walked along the edge carrying the dynamite and the crowbar to use to plant it down the rock, I could look down on the road below us. The ravine was a thousand feet deep, as if it had been slashed by a titanic knife. Shears, stone walls standing on end, enough to bury an enemy. We stop here. This part is good. Yeah, this is okay. We need to look out to watch for the enemy. I guess that's me. Can't do much digging with this hand, huh? Here's a pair of binoculars. Once the property of the Japanese office. Well, I don't know why I need those, but Japs, he can smell them coming. I'll send you out. All right, let's get busy. We can plant the first bundle of dynamite right here. Bad news. Take a look through these glasses. What is it, Lin Cho? It is the enemy. So soon? Yes. Sooner than we had planned. Here, let me see. Oh, mechanized. Tracks and tanks. They'll be in the ravine and through time to plant the rest of the charges. Yes. They will take us another 20 minutes and meet all the dynamite to send enough rock down. 20 minutes? How long before the Japanese? They'll be here in 10 minutes, perhaps 15. Let's get down to that road in five. What do you mean? Who's got a watch? I have. Good. So have I. I'm going down and stall those Japs. Joe, is it you crazy? Oh, you can't do that. Oh, stop it, will you? Somebody's got to try. They won't stop for our Chinese. Maybe they will for me. But there's one thing, Lin Cho. In 20 minutes, you've got to set off that blast and there can't be any ifs or buts. Well, what can one man do with all those? Don't worry, I'll think of something. Go on, get busy with those crowbars. Callan. Callan turned his way. I want to see your face in the sunroof. Oh, but look. The day ever comes when it should never rise for both of us again. I want you to know that I'll always love you. Yeah. That goes for me, too. Well, cross your fingers. I will. I will. Come on, Mr. Gillings. We saw him on the road five minutes later. I think he waved up to us, but he was so far away, it was hard to be sure. When the head of the Japanese column came around the bend, he was standing in the center of the road. Hey, General. Good morning, General. You speak English? Well, thanks, General. All Japanese officers speak English. I stopped because I am curious about you. Why have you presumed to hold up? Oh, I'm out of gas. I got a truck a couple of miles down the road. Oh, do you, by any fortunate chance, happen to have a medical cigarette? Huh? Oh, yes. Sure, sure. I'm an American. Yes, I thought you were. Yeah, yeah. Thank you. Yes, I thought you were American. I spent many years in your country, and I'm familiar with your accent. Excellent cigarette. Oh, here, here, here. Come on, take the whole pack. Oh, I would not dream of depriving you of a treasure so hard to come by. Now, look, you'll be doing me a favor. Is that crazy? Very well. A thousand is fine. How do you like America, General? Very much, sir. So much in fact that we have decided to take it away from you. Huh? I don't get it. Do you happen to know the date? Date? Yeah, the day is, uh... December the 10th, isn't it? Yes. Three days ago on December 7th, Japan made surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Attack? You mean war? Are you, uh, pardon our words? I don't believe it. It is the truth. At this moment, your battleships are at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Your planes were destroyed on the ground. The city of Honolulu is in ruins. Within another year, your entire country will be surrendered to the Imperial Japanese government. Yeah. Maybe I'm right about Pearl Harbor. Come to think of it, it's your kind of trick. It's your wrong about the rest of it. Oh, indeed? Yeah. General, in all the countries that you and your gang have put the finger on, there are millions and millions of little guys just like me. Little guys who've never heard them much, but all of us living our lives under, now, pretty much the same pattern. The pattern of our life is freedom. It's in our blood giving us the kind of courage that you and your gang have dreamed of. And in the end, it's that pattern of freedom that's going to make guys like you wish you'd never been born. Just a moment. Why do you keep brookin' at your watch? Party, I think, to see what time it is. But I don't have to look any more, General. The crime's up right now for both of us. When the dust settled, the road had disappeared under a mass of broken rock. The avalanche had buried them all. The last I saw through the binoculars of... of Mr. Jones, he had lifted his arm and flipped his cigarette into the general's face. I only knew him for those few days, and now he's gone. But I see him everywhere. I'll always see him. I'll see him marching along with the Chinese guerrillas as they sing their songs, marching with all the people who fight for freedom. Because he wasn't afraid to die. To me? To me, he'll never die. Hello, China, and the sincere performances of Loretta Young, Alan Ladd, and William Bendick. Thank you, Mr. DeMille. Like all Americans, I have a great admiration for who refused to give up. It was a privilege for me to have a part in China. Chinese? I think Loretta's okay, too. Yeah, so much so that Madam Chiang Kai checks under a decoration for her activities on behalf of the United China Relief. I heard about that. What is the decoration, Loretta? Well, it has a beautiful name. It's the odor of the plum blossom. Yeah, you must be very proud of that. Yes, Alan, I am. I talked to Madam Chiang Kai at a reception here in Hollywood, and I've wondered ever since and I believe it's complete sincerity. Meeting her was a very thrilling experience for all of us, I'm sure. Alan, I hear you and Loretta are going to make another picture together at Kermit. That's right, Billy. How does it feel to be back in civilian clothes? It kind of feels strange, Bill. But I miss the khaki and I miss a lot of wonderful guys. Your last performance before you went on the service was here, Alan. Naturally, we wanted to be at the first to present you again. What is the picture you and Loretta are making? It's Rachel Field's story and not tomorrow. We expect great things from the young lad combination. Now, who knows, Alan? We may be another Laurel and Hardy. I'll give you a tip when you're going to have to put on some weight. Well, Bill, I have a tip for the women in our audience. It's very simple. If they'd like to know a very good way to keep their complexion smooth and just write it across like soap, I've used it for a long time. Now, the Chinese say one picture is worth a thousand words. You're worth a good many thousand words. I have a tip for next week's play. It's one of the screen's current dramatic hits. The RKO picture, the Iron Major, and our stars will be Pantel Bryan and Ruth Warrick. The Iron Major is the story of Major Frank Kavanaugh, the hero of the First World War and famous football coach of Boston College and Fordham. Next Monday night, we'll bring you the original stars of the picture. Pantel Bryan as the Iron Major. Good night, ball season CB. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good play with him. Good hands. Our sponsors are the makers of Lux Toilets Hope. Join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night. And the Lux Radio Theatre presents Pantel Bryan and Ruth Warrick in the Iron Major. This is Cecil B. DeMille saying good night to you from Hollywood. The picture China was based on an original story by Archibald Forth's. William Bendix will soon be seen in the 20th Century Fox picture Lifeboat. Phillip Vaughan will soon be seen in Cecil B. DeMille's Technicolor production of the story of Dr. Wassell. It's been a real thrill hearing Loretta Young on our program tonight. So how about another visit with her tomorrow evening on the George Burns and Gracie Allen show? Yes, charming Loretta Young is going to have her hands full of critical situations when she enters a laughable lovable Burns household. Check her newspaper for the time and station tomorrow night. Heard in tonight's play where Barbara Jean Wong is Tan Ying Tom Lane Jr. is Lin Wei and Helga Murray, Fred Mackay, B. Benedett Charlie Lung, Trudy Marson Marjorie Davies, Leon Ladoe Charles Seal, Stanley Farrar