 Presenting Ida Lupino in The Immortal Wife with Walter Houston as Cavalcade's commentator on the Cavalcade of America sponsored by the DuPont Company. Maker of better things for better living through chemistry. Good evening friends, this is Walter Houston. I expect nearly everybody likes a good love story. Tonight our DuPont Cavalcade offers a charming and heartening one. It's the story of Jesse Fremont and her famous explorer husband, General John Fremont, directed for radio from the best-selling book, Immortal Wife by Irving Stone. Our star is a lovely and talented young actress who is a favorite of yours and mine, Ida Lupino. I believe that Ida and many other neighbors here in Hollywood who know our play will agree with me when I tell you that it is a rich and satisfying romantic portrait of a great woman's devotion to a man. Now here is Ida Lupino as Jesse Fremont in The Immortal Wife on tonight's DuPont Cavalcade. With us I'll go and I will go. Those words from the Bible, the immortal pledge of root, I spoke aloud and in my heart. And if I'm still remembered, it is because I kept that pledge. For half a century I shared my husband's life, wealth and poverty, honor and disgrace. The life of a man who five times crossed our continent, blazing the great trails west. Who was a senator and very nearly a president. And yes, who died all but forgotten. Yes, his life was mine and I was happy in it. Happy to be the wife of General John Fremont. Well, it was spring and I was 17 and John was a very handsome young army lieutenant and one bright afternoon we climbed together to the top of a mulberry tree outside Miss English's Girls Academy in Washington D.C. Oh, why are you laughing, Miss Jessie? To see you climb this tree, Lieutenant, I scarcely believe you risked your fine boobishness. Well, I'm an impetuous man. That's plain to see, interfering like this with the routine of a girl's school. And how does it happen the army lets you wander loose on a Wednesday afternoon? Nicolette told me to clear out that I have spring fever. I was drawing a girl's face on his map instead of mountains and rivers. Mountains and rivers? It's Nicolette's map of the Western Territory for the expedition he plans to make next year. Oh, yes. Yes, I've heard my father talk about it. Planned it for 20 years. And if Congress gives him the money, I'll go with him. All the way to the Rockies. But how long does an expedition take? Well, it depends on how far you go, Miss Jessie. This one will take eight months, maybe ten. Well, it's a long time. That's all. Miss Jessie? Yes, Lieutenant Fremont. You, uh, didn't ask me what girl's face it was I drew on Nicolette's map. But I know. You do? And I was so afraid you wouldn't tell me, still after next year. Jessie, take this blue silk, it's so becoming on you. But, Mother, I still don't know why I have to go with you to Virginia and in the middle of my school term. Why will be gone with you? I've never known you to be concerned about school before, Jessie. But I hate weddings. And I don't even know cousins, Cecilia. Oh, please, Mother, let me stay here in Washington. It's too late to discuss it now, Jessie. The carriage will be here in a few minutes. And I'm sure you'll enjoy visiting Cherry Grove. It's a beautiful plantation. And you'll see your cousin, Preston. Mother, what is it, Jessie? You're taking me to Cherry Grove because you want me to marry Preston. You could love him, Jessie. Very easily. Well, but I don't love him. I have such a good life. Preston is wealthy. He'll inherit Cherry Grove. Then you wouldn't have to live in Washington. But I like Washington. I hate it. Oh, I hate it, definitely. Why, Mother? Jessie, I've loved your father, but not our life together. With father? But he's had a wonderful life. She's honored, he's a senator, and he fights for what he believes. That's what I mean. I had a peaceful childhood in Virginia, and I married a life of struggle, of arrogance, abuse, our lives in name, public property. I want to save you from that, Jessie. A life like that with her as a woman. She's shut out. She's alone. Mother, what are you trying to tell me? I'm trying to tell you. I'm begging you. Not to marry Lieutenant Fremont. But, Mother, I... Please understand. I have nothing against the young man. He's dynamic and vicious. He's like your father in many ways. Yes. Yes, he is a little. You'll be forever battling uphill. You'll have wrangling and distinction mixed with the very food you eat. Oh, Mother, I... and he's not settled. You'll be always wandering. I can see it in him. Jessie, it's best to marry a man from among the people you know well. Like Kristen. And a man who was rooted in the past. There's a saying, the gods are slow to bless than you have. Yes. But there's a better saying, Mother. Your people shall be my people. And don't you see, I'm like father. I need a conflict. I need a man who'll want me beside him to every possible hardship and danger. That's why I love John Fremont. So I was right. You've decided? Yesterday, Mother. You know your father will oppose it? You're only 17. Well, Grandmother was married when she was only 16. And besides, we'll tell Father... You, Jessie and Benton, take John Charles Fremont to be your lawful wedded husband. To love, to honor, and obey. For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer. Yes. In sickness and in health. For you, John Fremont, I give up all. I give up cherry grove, the satin gown. I give up lace and bright pink, flowers, crystal, the rich tradition. All familiar things. The name is carved on the door. The monogram. The friends I knew. To place my seat beside yours. On any path you choose, John Fremont. Until death do you part. Do you so promise? I do. But, Senator Benton, I beg you. Get out of this house. Please, Father. Get out of my house, Lieutenant Fremont. I never come here again. Very well. Come, Jessie. What? Jessie, you stay here. I don't think you realize what you're saying, Father. I certainly do. This upstart made you fall in love with him. And he'll get out of my house. Not just fall in love. I've married him. And that means something else. I'll tell you what it means. It means that wherever John goes, I'll go. Jessie, I thought I'd raise you not to be a fool. Believe me, Father. I know what I'm doing. Well, Lieutenant. Yes, sir. I think you'd better go for your belongings and bring them here. At once. 1941. A nation pressing back the frontiers, hungering for the West. In our first months of marriage, I caught that hunger through John and his plans. Then Congress passed a bill for the expedition to the Rockies to map the Great South Side. It meant our first separation. So much time and distance between us. Yet how could I ask you to stay or even wish it? For it meant so much to him. Then, during the party celebrating our victory in Congress, Nicholas Nicollet, who would command the expedition, took me aside. Well, Miss Jackie, it is good to see you with Lieutenant Fremont. I just said to your father, how beautiful is young love. I suppose it is my gallic romanticism. Well, I'm not from France, Mr. Nicollet, but I like young love too. Yes, yes. Miss Jackie, there is something I wish to tell you. Miss Nicollet, it isn't... Yes? Well, surely John is going on the expedition as your second in the band. He's going as first in command, because I am not going. I am too ill to do all. But this is the most important expedition since Louis and Clark, and you've worked for it for 20 years. No, no, I have done my job, and I am an old man. Yes, I have nominated Lieutenant Fremont as my successor. Well, are you happy, Miss Jessie? Oh, yes. Yes, of course, of course. Then let John see that you are so happy. Always let him see. Why, I couldn't be anything else, Miss Nicollet. Perhaps. But sometimes you may not be so happy. I know these partings, and I understand how it is for a woman to always wait. Miss Jessie, you and John believe you must share each other's lives completely. I know. But do not, I beg you, try to share all the pain. The expedition to the Great South Park. The expedition that would plant the American flag on the highest peak of the rocket. Well, I tried to follow John even there. I set up a map, a large one, and on it I drew to scale all the country we knew as far as the Rocky Mountains. Trace the trail I thought John was taking, and drew campfires by lake, so running stream, what I hoped he was each night. Then I showed the map to Father and his friends. Ah, who sketched in the terrain for Colorado, Miss Jessie? Mr. Hathaway, he got all his material from Trapper's report, Miss Nicollet. And did you notice Professor Darnell's contribution to Jessie's map, the flowers and wild life? Oh, I think it's lovely, Jessie. General, did you look at Miss Jessie's map of the expedition? I certainly did, and I admired it, but I was going to remark those are rather large campfires, my dear. You think too large, General Scott? Well, they seem to be a bit out of scale. Well, I don't know. Not when you think that someday every one of them will be a city. I tried to follow John with that map, but I wasn't with him. I knew that up till the morning when he came back. When I saw his haggard face and learned from him some of the dangers, the disasters just averted. It had not been my life. For he was a man fresh from struggle and conquest, and I was still only a fine Washington lady. Yet sometimes in my way, I faced his dangers too. There was the second expedition to California. He had been gone about 10 months. When suddenly, I noticed something in the attitude of my family. And then I knew they'd had bad news. I knew they believed John was dead. So one day, I asked my father and my sister-in-law. Jessie, if we'd heard anything, dear, but what makes you think... You're all so kind to me, as if I were sick. And John isn't overdue, so it must be news of him. Oh, please, Father. Really, no, Father? No, we don't know. But Jessie, there was a report from Oregon. John and his body reached the Columbia River. They were all right that far. But he was determined to cross the Sierras there, to the Truckee River. Yes. And the Indians told him the mountains were impassable in winter, but he went on. There were heavy snows. And you think he didn't get through? Well, there's been no word of him. Well, you can both stop your worrying. John is quite safe. Jessie, did you get a ledger? You didn't tell her? No. No, I've had no ledger. But he is safe. How can you know that, Jessie? Well, because I'm with John every minute. I feel I'm with him. So don't you see? I have to know. We're listening to Ida Latino as Jessie Fremont in Immortal Wife from the Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the Dupont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, for better living through chemistry. Tonight's Cavalcade play is the love story of Jessie and John Fremont, and of the unswerving devotion of a woman of her man. See, I had to know that John was safe. How else could I live through those endless months and years of loneliness? For even after our children were born, my only real joy was the joy I knew when John was back beside me. Oh, it seemed much. Yes, John. And you have no luck, my poor darling. You come home to find me skinny as a starved cat. You never looked more beautiful than me, Jessie. Oh. I thought you were never coming back. You knew I wouldn't. Well, yes, I knew. And wait until Congress sees my maps and reports, Jessie. They'll want another expedition, I'm sure. They will. Do you realize I found a straight route and a new path into California, into Sacramento Valley, and as good as the Oregon Trail? Better, maybe. There's talk of war with Mexico. If that happens, the Army can go in over my trail. Yes, John. John, what happened in the theater? That's what I've been telling you. We crossed from the Columbia River. But we had a report. You were in danger. Only the weak die on the trail, Jessie. Why was the greatest experience of my life crossing that 14,000-foot wall of ice? And after the Indians had told us it was impassable? We made it. Even though we were half dead. You should have seen us. Yes, sir. I wish I had. You can't imagine, won't you say, Jessie? I said I wish I'd been with you when you crossed. Oh, you're lucky enough to mean it. But you will travel that pass someday. Just wait until they put the railroad through. Until they put the railroad through. Wait while John went again. Wait until they put the railroad through. Wait while John went again. On the expedition that brought California into the Union. This time, I stayed with Father in St. Louis. And I often walked down to the Mississippi, to a meadow where the immigrant caravans made ready for the journey on west. One evening, I stopped beside a prairie schooner and spoke with a young woman sitting near it with her baby. Good evening, ma'am. It's a fine, healthy baby. Yes, ma'am, he is. I have a little girl about his age. What is his name? John. Oh, that's my husband's name. Oh, are you going to argue, too, ma'am? No. That is not yet. Oh, I was going to show you that new nap drawn by the military officer. Oh, I'd like to see it. Well, it's right here. See? Where there's grazing for the horses and where you've got to take on more water and... Yes, it's a fine map. Now, here, the Indians ain't so bad. If enough families stay together and fight, well, I don't think I'd be afraid of them. Oh, it's worth it. You know, you can get a whole section of good land to yourself. Homesteading. Yes, I've heard about it. It sounds wonderful. If you and your folks were thinking of going, there are three wagons of it, but it's good to have more. Well, I only wish I could go. But I can't. Not yet. Then, I'll tell you what, ma'am. If you'd give me your name and address when I get to Oregon, I'll write you and tell you how it is. How you can get there best. That is, if you'd like. Would you write? I surely would. My name's Mary Algret. Now, what's your... It's Jesse Fremont. Jesse Fremont. How do you spell... Say, that military officer, his name is Fremont. He's on the map. Colonel John Fremont. Yes. He's my husband. Well, why, then, you know all about the trail. I hear he's gone out on a have any time. Three times. And you were with him, ma'am? Oh, tell me about it. No, I wasn't with him. I couldn't go. Well, that's the nice thing our husband has to take us with him. If they want a home. You're right, Mary. Yes, if they want a home, they have to. Father, a wonderful afternoon. What? What's the matter? Is there something wrong? I have a letter here, Jesse. Close the door. The letter's from Washington. Bad news of California. John? He's all right, physically, but... He's quarreled with General Carney. He refused to recognize General Carney's command because he'd been serving under the naval commander who's been stationed there longer. But that seems right to me. Well, John's been relieved of his command and is ordered back to Washington. Oh, thanks, Heaven. You don't mean that, Jesse. Didn't you say John's coming home? If you don't understand, my dear, John is coming back to Washington under arrest. Oh. And it's a frightful injustice. John undoubtedly had secret orders for what he did, but it's the end of his army career. Well, there are other careers. What will he do? What will John do? You should know, Father. He's a fighter like you. And I'm glad because John and I can fight this together. He won't be at the ends of the earth with me not knowing and not able to help him. I married John for a partnership, Father. I haven't had it. Jesse, you've been a good wife. But not a partner. Now I will be. Jesse, if John leaves the army, he'll still be an explorer. It's his profession. What can you do if he goes on another expedition? What I should have done from the start. I can go with him. And no matter how the trial ends, I will go with him. The trial lasted three months. The decision of the court was guilty. Guilty of mutiny. And even though the president pardoned him, John resigned from the army. He said, I know, but I had him with me and was content. For I knew that day would come when John would regain his old enthusiasm. Jesse, Jesse, darling, your father's arranged another expedition for me. Father did? Yes. Some of his friends in St. Louis want to build a railroad to the Pacific coast. They want a southern route that can keep open all winter. And they want you to find the path. Of course. Who else could find it for them? They'll pay me partly in railroad stock. Here, here's the letter. Let me see it, John. How soon do you go? Not so fast. It doesn't say when, but when you see it's all settled, I could leave by the end of September. Jesse, don't look so bleak. I won't be gone more than a year. Probably not that long. John, I'm going with you. With the children? All the way to California? Of course. Why not? I didn't marry you for separation. I'll stay with you, Jesse, if you ask. But I didn't, and I don't want it. I don't want a husband who's useless and hates himself because he's useless. I married you, John Freeman, for a life with you and a home with you. And I'm going to have a home, even if it's only a covered wagon. Jesse, you don't know how hard it is. I've talked with women going west with their families, women with babies, old women, young girls. They don't stay behind. They're going out to settle. And so am I. You found those trails for the settlers and thousands across the Great South Side. Thousands have followed your map to make their homes out there. And now we are going to. And we did go to San Francisco. That was our first home. We found gold there and a new love of land. And John was sent to some California. Then he ran for president that was defeated. And then there were the long years when his country forgot him. But always we were together. And I remember often the words my mother said. The gods are slow to bless a new heart. But they'd left ours. They'd left mine. Our thanks to you, Ida Lupino and to all of the members of tonight's DuPont Cavalgate. The curd of the Perkin Medal which is awarded annually by the American section of the Society of Chemical Industry. This medal is one of the highest awards in the field of chemistry. It was established in 1906 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the coal-tower color industry. It was first awarded to the eminent British scientist Sir William Henry Perkin, the inventor of anlin dyes. The 39th award of this medal was recently given to Dr. Elmer K. Bolton, chemical director of the DuPont Company for his outstanding accomplishments in the field of industrial research. Dr. Bolton's career has paralleled the rise of the modern chemical industry to its present vital position in the day-to-day life of our nation. Next week our DuPont Cavalgate tells a brilliant and intensely moving story of the pursuit of a killer. A killer that in the early days of this war threatened the people of Bristol, England with a fate as cruel and bitter as any that came from Hitler's murderous bombers. Our play is the story of six American nurses whose diligence and perseverance helped prevent a major catastrophe in Britain. The star next week is to be Faye Boehner and I feel certain that you will want to hear this fine act this ministering drama, Penny Fancy, our next Monday's Cavalgate of America. Thank you and good evening. Tonight's Cavalgate play was based on Stone's best-selling biography, Immortal Wife, and adapted for radio by Sylvia Richards and Halstead Wells. Ms. Ida Lopino, star of tonight's program, may now be seen in the Warner Brothers picture Hollywood canteens. The role of John Fremont was played by Frank Graham. Music on tonight's Cavalgate was composed and conducted by Ronald Ambruster. This is Jane Whitman sending you best wishes from Cavalgate sponsor E.I. DuPont in the Morrison Company of Wilmington, Delaware.