 Ladies and gentlemen, the railroad out. And here comes our star-studded show train. Tonight, the Association of American Railroads presents the famous Victor Herbert operetta, Mademoiselle Modisse, starring Gordon MacGray and his charming guest, Dorothy Kirsten. Our choir is under the direction of Norman Luboff, and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. Yes, tonight another great musical success is brought to you, transcribed by the American Railroads, the same railroads that bring you most of the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the fuel you burn, and all the other things you use in your daily life. And now, here is our star, Gordon MacGray. Thank you, Marvin Miller, and good evening, ladies and gentlemen. In this delightful Victor Herbert operetta, I play the no-account nephew of a count of France. And lovely Dorothy Kirsten is Spiffy, who is so expert at selling women's hats that we call her Mademoiselle Modisse. Open the door of your shop, Mademoiselle Modisse, and show us a few. Would you all come in? What kind of hat would you care to see? We have them all. Oh, Spiffy, there is not a hat in the store that wouldn't be more beautiful with you peeking out from under it. Such compliments, Etienne, you must keep under your hat. Why, Spiffy? Because they're owner of this hat. It's not a hat. It's not a hat. It's not a hat. It's not a hat. It's not a hat. It's not a hat. It's not a hat. It's not a hat. It's not a hat. The shop has forbidden it. Madame Cecile, the hat she faces is the hat business. She will heal you. And after all, dear Etienne, you are a captain of the French army. I am merely a girl who works in a shop. But it makes no difference, Spiffy. Perhaps someday I shall be something more. Ask me again on that someday, dear Etienne. But I am not the kind of a man who can wait for a someday, Spiffy. I want something. I want it. And what I want, when I want, for the wine that tonight fills my soul with delight, on the morrow may seem to me vile. There's no worldly pleasure myself I deny. There's no one to ask me the way. I want you more than anything in the world, Spiffy. It is impossible. Go quickly, Etienne. Here comes Madame Cecile. Au revoir, for the moment, Spiffy. Spiffy, come quickly. We have an American businessman shopping for hats. And you know these Americans. They always buy things by the dozen. Madame Cecile, I am weary of working in a hat shop. I am stuck here like a hat pin. I have spent all my life in a hat shop. Someday you will be just like me. Oh, dear. What? Go quickly. Yes, Madame. At once, Madame. Hmm. We must do something immediately. Or I shall lose the best saleswoman in all Paris. I know a letter to his uncle. The count. Here. A special messenger to his excellency, Le Conte Saint-Marie. I wish to inform you that your nephew and heir is spending all of his time flirting with a silly little girl in a hat shop. But thank you. How is this hat, Monsieur American? Oh, bring out any old stuff you got in the shop that you want to get rid of. Matter of fact, I'm only buying these hats because I wanted to meet the most beautiful girl in France. Madame Iselle Modiste. You are very kind, Monsieur. But it does no good, this beauty you say I have. Why are you unhappy, Madame Iselle? Oh, in America you have no noblemen. And it does not matter if a world separates you from the man you love. But here. Well, if you could be anything you wished, what would you be? I would be on the stage, Monsieur. A star of the opera becomes almost a noblewoman, and I would be part of his world. What kind of part would you like to play? Oh, all kinds. Wonderful, wonderful. I'll buy every hat you've shown me, all 13. You know, if I was you, I'd quit this hat business and take up singing. Oh, but it is not possible. I need money to train my voice than to live while I study. Well, maybe somebody will come along who will believe in you and help you. I do not believe in such miracles. Perhaps come to 520 francs, Monsieur. Oh, yes, here you are. Now, go wrap the hats and I'll write out where they are to be delivered. Yes, Monsieur. The pen is there on the table. Oh, yes. Quick note on this envelope. Dear Madame Azelman East, the hats are to be delivered to you. And this money I'm closed as merely a loan, because I believe in you and I believe in miracles. With sincere hope for your great success, your American friend, Hiram Brent. P.S., pay me back whenever you like. The hats are being wrapped, Monsieur. The address, please. Oh, yes, it's inside this envelope. Good day, Madame Azel. Good day to you, sir. I have sold a dozen and one hat, but what good is it? P.P., or P.P.? P.P.N. Oh, P.P., the streets of Paris were empty because you weren't walking beside me. And my arms were empty because you were not in there. Oh, please, P.P., go away. Oh, there are tears in those lovely eyes, my sweet. As anybody hurts you. No. Come here, come here, my sweet. Save in my... Formant, what's correct? What do you think, nephew? I find you an officer of France idling away your time in a bonnet shop. Uncle. And who is this designing woman who is trying to trap you? Uncle, all this woman designs are hats. Do you wish to be disinherited? Perhaps someday, dear Etienne, I shall be a great lady and your uncle will ask for my forgiveness. Until then, we had better say goodbye. No, Fifi. I am quitting the shop. I shall deliver these hats the American has bought, and then I shall never see you again. You are making a wise decision, mademoiselle. Tell me where you're going, Fifi. Perhaps to a faraway land, when I have seen only when I close my eyes and dream. As to part of great the sorrow, who leave the friends wrong found with years, who know her chance set on a moral, for love and... Now I shall deliver these hats. The address is in the envelope. The address? It is addressed to me. In just a moment, at a southern port recently, the long boom of a ship's crane reached toward a dock. Tackle was lowered, and a 90-millimeter gun was lifted from a flat car and swung into the ship's hold. This gun was the 2 millionth ton of military equipment sent overseas to 19 nations under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program, a program that is strengthening free nations to withstand worldwide aggression. In this program, and in the much larger one of building up and maintaining our own armed forces, both at home and abroad, the railroads are playing a vital role. For not only the delivery, but also the making of millions of tons of arms requires railroad transportation. The only transportation big enough and flexible enough to move the raw materials, the fuel, the parts in process of manufacture, as well as the finished goods. The rail movement today of military equipment and military personnel emphasizes how much we depend on railroads during times of national emergency. It's a matter of record that during World War II, railroads moved more than 90% of all military freight and handled 97% of all organized troop movements. In normal times too, the railroads carry the very lifeblood of commerce, handling more freight traffic between our cities than all other forms of transportation combined. It's no wonder then that strong railroads are so necessary to the rebuilding of the forces of freedom. Such strength can best be achieved by allowing these essential railroads to earn revenues sufficient to attain financial health and to continue their extensive program of improvement, all of which means better railroad service for the nation and for you. And now here is Act II of the Lawrence and Lee version of Victor Herbert's Mademoiselle Modisse, starring Gordon Macrae as Etienne and Dorothy Kirsten as Phi Phi. Uncle, for two years I've been looking for her everywhere. She's lost. I cannot find a trace of her. But then go with other girls, Etienne. There are no other girls. I insist you come to my masquerade bar tonight and dance with every young lady present. I will not be there, uncle. Oh, how mixed up everything is in this world. You can be somewhere at the right time and find the wrong girl. Or perhaps you've missed the right girl by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I wonder if Cupid is silly or stupid or if the little rascal cannot see or loving and wooing how all of his doing and yet he makes it painful as can be. He mixes the stations. He changes relations for all your little schemes. He sets a snare and though you have planned it both understand it. You'll fix it so your sweetheart is not there. The place may be distant for me and the maiden. But tonight you must be present at my masquerade, Etienne. It is for charity and we are going to auction off many items. I will need your help. Then I will come, uncle. But my heart will not be there. Delightful ball and bizarre, my dear count. We are honored to have a guest from America, Monsieur Bryan. Say, the young lady in the fortune teller's costume. She looks sort of familiar. Well, I happen to know that is our guest of honor, the opera star, Mademoiselle Bellini. But she has not yet removed her mask. I think I've met her before. Maybe the last time I was here in Paris. I am anxious for my nephew to meet her or she is a great lady. Perhaps she will help him forget a little shop girl he once knew. Little shop girl. Yeah. Excuse me, count. Tell my fortune, Mademoiselle? Yes, I will. But it was you who gave me my good fortune, Mr. Brandt. Pee-pee. Mademoiselle Moudiste. I have been waiting to see you, my dear friend. For here in this envelope is the money you lent to me, which started me on my way. Captain Etienne de Beauvais. He is here. I have not seen him for two years, Mr. Brandt. Ah, my boy. Come. I wish to present you to our guest of honor, Mademoiselle Bellini. Yes, your excellency. My nephew and heir, Captain Etienne de Beauvais. Enchanted. Be righted, ma'amzele. She's quite a fortune teller, my boy. I'll bet she can tell you a lot about your future. Would you honor me, ma'amzele? Come, Monsieur Brandt. Fortune telling is a private matter. Your hands, Captain. There. Your past is most interesting. I see a red head and two blue nets. I've loved only one woman, but she has forgotten me. Then I shall read your future. Ah, I see a great surprise. You are going to meet someone that you have not seen for two years. Yes? Someone who loves you very much. Go on, Mademoiselle. Go on. Oh, dear. I see in your palm that there is someone who hates her. My uncle. But no matter what he says, if I find my Fifi again, I shall marry her the moment she will have me. Our guest of honor has been declared official mascot of our troops. And so we request that she sing for us. Mademoiselle Bellini. To be appointed your mascot, though my heart belongs to only one of you. From the ad shop. Uncle, your party has turned into a surprise party. Ladies and gentlemen, this ball is for the benefit of charity. I would like to auction off a hat. It is a creation of Madame Cecile. And to the highest bidder goes this hat, as well as a kiss from me. I bid 1,000 francs. 2,000. Why? Count for this little hat. Hello, hat. How's everybody at home? 5,000. Sold you to come this summer. Here's your hat, Monsieur Lacan. Thank you, mademoiselle. How about the kiss, uncle? That I bequeath to my nephew. Mademoiselle, you said you would marry my nephew on the day. I apologize to you. Well, I do that now. And humbly. How can I not accept your kindness, my dear Count? Since you come to me with your hat in your hands. Now, my sweet, the kiss. There. What? On the forehead? We shall start the bidding again. And I shall call you down a little. Dorothy Kirsten will be back in just a moment. Meanwhile, our thanks to Verna Felton, Joseph Kearns, Will Wright, and our entire company for their fine performances tonight. The book and lyrics were by Henry Blossom with music by Victor Herbert. This broadcast of Mademoiselle Modiste was dramatized for The Railroad Hour by Lawrence and Lee. The Railroad Hour is brought to you each week at this time by the American Railroads. A better way of life on America's farms is the continuing goal of more than two million members of 4-H clubs, whose representatives are holding their annual meeting this week in Chicago. And in reaching this goal, these young people have the active aid of railroads. For railroads not only supply transportation for the farmers' products and bring him most of the things he needs to live and produce better, but they also furnish aid in improving agricultural methods. In doing this, through such groups of young people as the 4-H clubs, the railroads offer the encouragement that helps these club members of today become the farm leaders of tomorrow. And now here again is lovely Dorothy Kirsten. Thank you, Gordon. Who are you romancing next week? Well, Gladys Schwartthout is our show-trained guest, Dorothy, for the first time. We'll be singing the wonderful Viennese music of Merinka. Texas and I'll be listening, partner. Good night, Gordon. Good night, Dorothy, and come back soon. All aboard! Well, sir, it looks as though we're ready to pull out, and so until next Monday night at Merinka, this is Gordon Macrae saying good night. Good night. Mademoiselle Maudiste was transcribed in Hollywood and presented by special arrangement with the Tams Whitmark Music Library. Gordon Macrae can soon be seen in Warner Brothers' Starlet. A choir is under the direction of Norman Luboff, and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. This is Marvin Miller saying goodbye until next week for the American Railroads. Now keep tuned for your Monday night of music on NBC. It's the ever-popular telephone hour tonight on NBC.