 The DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry, presents the Cavalcade of America. Tonight's star, Joan Caulfield. Tonight's play, Patriot with the Chestnut Curl. The night 1776. I shall never forget this day as long as I live. In the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another The Declaration of Independence was being read for the first time in New York State. I wondered how I, Sally Townsend, was ever so privileged to hear those wonderful words. Afterwards, when the moving at White Plains had ended, Father and I rode through the green countryside toward Long Island and home. Well, Sally, how did you feel to witness the birth of a brand new nation, huh? How did you feel, Sally? Well, I still have to change all the maps, Father, won't I? I wonder what color New York will be. Oh, certainly not lobster-backed pink anymore. Sally, have you any idea why I brought you with me instead of one of your brothers or sisters? Well, Audrey's interested in only two things, clothes and perspective hyphens, and she'd be too young. Robert. He's a Tory. Oh, Sally. Well, he is. He'd much rather be in New York City in that coffee shop of his than you know it. Him and his Tory friend. Oh, no. All right, Father, why did you pick him? Well, maybe I needed someone to look after the horses. Oh, Father. I brought you because you're an impatient, headstrong, hot-headed American rebel, like your father. I soon learned that declaring you're independent and actually winning it were two different things. I shall never forget the night the red coat rode into Oyster Bay. From down the street, we could hear the angry pounding on the doors of our neighbors. My father was in the room in New York's friend's office. I was with my mother and my sisters in the parlor. There goes the horses. Oh, the sergeant didn't knock at the door, Mother. He did come away from that window. What's going to happen to him? Oh, stop. He's playing off horses. Oh, dear. Take care of your school. Be quick. Open up in the name of Your Majesty the Queen. I'll go, Mother. What do you want? Is this the residence of Samuel Townsend of the New York State Provisional Congress? Yes, it is. I have a warrant for his arrest. Hours of the night in here followed. Hours of fear for my father's life. Then, when we'd almost given up hope. Mother! Tell me, come to the window. Hurry! What in the world is this? Help me. Is somebody else getting a leave? Father, get me out of the car. Father, we were so worried. Oh, there now. I'm back and everything is going to be all right. Father, I was so afraid. No tears now, Sally. Don't look well. Don't I? Ready to welcome? Robert. Robert, when did you get here? Just now. I came with Father. You're all so busy looking at him. You wouldn't even have noticed General Washington that he'd come in. What are you doing here? Sally, without Robert's help, I might not be here. We hate such frightful stories, Samuel. Are you all right? Oh, yes, yes. I don't think we'll have to worry from now on. We won't be under suspicion. No. No, I took an oath of allegiance to the king. You took an oath of allegiance? After all the things you said, Sally, please. What is it? I've offered our guest room to the commanding officer of the new regiment coming into oyster base. Father, you couldn't have a British officer living here. Who is the officer, Father? Colonel Sempo of the Queen's Rangers. The Queen's Rangers? Yes. A fighting troop like that on Garrison duty? That is what I have been told. Would you prepare the room, please, Mother? As you wish, Samuel. Sally, what's the matter? Sally, Sally! Oh, she's run to the cellar. Samuel, please take a light and touch her. Hey, well, Father, wait. Let me... I'll speak to her. Sally. Who let me be? Don't you think we'd better have a little talk? I don't want to talk to a Tory. You're going to be awfully lonesome. This is a Tory house now. Well, I'm not. And I can't believe it. You must believe it. Oh, I believe it about you all right. Good. Oh, I don't know what's happened to people. A little while ago, so many believed in our cause. How can people change? Oh, just because we're living, it's disgusting. Is it all out of your system now? No. It never will be. From this day on, Sally, you must keep your feelings to yourself. But I won't. Could you, Sally? Did it were to help the American cause? Oh, oh, oh, oh! Who are you? Somebody's coming. Sally, listen to me carefully. Living in a Tory household, you will be in a position to hear things. Never read a word. But if you should ever hear anything that might be of concern to our cause... Your cause, too. Yes, Sally, my cause, too. Don't you understand? Now, if you should hear anything, let me know about it. All right, Robert. Oh, but what if you're in New York? How will I meet you? I'll give you one name. You know how to reach me if I'm not here. The name is Daniel Young. But he's a traitor. No, he's rough. But remember, not a word. Robert? Sally? Come up at once. Colonel Simcoe is here. Oh, we're coming. Come on, Sally. Come on, hurry. I don't want to lose a lot to Bach. There you are. Colonel Simcoe, my daughter, Sally, and my son, Robert. We're honored, Colonel. Good evening, sir. Well, I am the one who's honored. Your name is Sally? Yes, Colonel. Yes. I am indeed honored. Colonel, are you ready to see your room? Hmm? Yes, yes. Excuse me. I must not keep my host waiting. I hope he didn't hear you say lots to Bach. Sally, you must learn to control your speech. I'll never do it again, honestly. Hmm, Colonel Simcoe, the Queen's ranger. Well... He's terribly handsome, isn't he? And important. The Colonel and his rangers are not here for permanent galloping duty. I can tell you that. I'm certain they're being held in reserve for something big. But what could it be? That's what you've got to find out. One month of dreadful thing happened. I found I was falling in love with Colonel Simcoe. I wasn't sure how he felt. Until one night, at the St. Valentine's, I asked him to walk in the garden with him. Do you know how I asked you to come to the garden with me? Well, you... You said you wanted to tell me something. Yes, I did want to tell you something. But I also wanted to give you... Just me, where all of us are. You, he's pride and anxious care. To you in my heart, I must resign. Will you please me for your Valentine's? I would have preferred just to write. He is very nice. I do love you. I'm most honored. Is there anything you can say to me now? I think perhaps a word that might let me know your feelings. What? I... I... I can't. Why so? Because I... Well, not now. Please wait. Wait? That word symbolizes my whole life these days. I must wait, always wait. Sorry, I didn't mean... That wasn't directed towards you, my dear. But I must hold her. I am fighting troops under my command. And here we sit. And we must continue sitting until one man, one man gives the signal. The... the signal? The King's Rangers are not guerrilla troops selling. And I was promised the attack that may end this war. But when? When? Robert, what are you doing home? We've got to speak quickly. I must be back in New York tonight. Have you found out anything? No. But surely something must have been said. Robert, listen to me. You've got to understand. I shouldn't be doing this. I mean, what I'm doing here is... Just tasteful. I don't like it either, sir. I want to help. Really, I do. If I... if I thought I was doing something important, it would be easier. But this... this paddle-telling... Someday you may have information we need. Information that could win or lose a battle for us. Do you understand that? Yes. Good. Right now, the situation is very bad for our side. But the British haven't followed up their most recent attacks. They seem to be waiting for something. Colonel Sinko is waiting for something. We believe he is the King. I think you'll know, Sally, when what he's waiting for arrives. Stand, Sally. Will you? Robert. Sally, would you please get the door? Yes, Mother. Good afternoon. Is this the Townsend residence? Yes, it is, sir. And Colonel Sinko's lodging? Is that Major Andre? Major Andre? Come, you've come. You've finally come. Oh, Sally, may I present Major John Andre? Miss Sally Townsend. How do you do? Miss Sally, please forgive me. I must talk to the Major. It's most important. Yes, yes, of course. Come along, John. What's the news? The word, man. When do we move? Sally, who brought this? What? Mother. Sally, what's the matter? Was it a visit for the Colonel? You sounded very excited. Yes, sir. We've been waiting a long time for the message this visitor brings. And it's come. At last. In the capital of America, Joan Caulfield is starring as Sally Townsend in Patriot with the Chestnut Curl. The soul of the rebel cause sets herself in task of spying on the two British officers, villagers in the Townsend home. And thanks to her dismay that she's falling in love with one of them, Colonel John Sinko. Right now, the Townsend family is alone at breakfast. We thank thee, Lauren, for what we are about to receive. Now, pass the party to your father, please. Yes, Mother. Father? Thank you. Sally, guess what? What, Audrey? I'm going to have a surprise tea party from Major Andre tomorrow. Mother said it was all right. Can I come? Will you make tea cakes, Sally? Oh, I'm so tired of your tea parties, Audrey. Is that all you can ever think about party for British officers? Well, since when did you start connecting to the company of a British officer? Oh, you don't know... Oh, all right, Audrey. I'll make the cakes for your tea parties. Oh, please don't go out of your way. Go, go. But, Father, I don't see what's so different about my enjoying the company of Major Andre than Sally's enjoying this. I said I'd make them. Sally, sweet, I'm Sinko. Sally, sweet, I'm Sinko. Mother, make her stop. Please, please. What's this? That old Valentine he gave us worn out the way she carries it around in her pocket. Stop it. Phoebe, you're not to tease your sister. Oh, it's perfectly all right, Father. She can mention... Colonel Sinko. Oh, he won't... Oh, God. He did look for Sally. Sally did look for Sinko. You come with me, dear. Something I want to say to you. Go with your father, please. Now Phoebe, answer a thing yourself. Oh, I'm sorry. Come in here. Yes, Father. I must ask you a question. Where's Colonel Sinko? I don't know. I have been told that the British has many ways of winning American Patriots. Have they won you, Father? You weren't speaking to myself. Ever since the night you came back after the arrest, I felt so alone in this house. I can't say any more. But... But everything is just red for now. Sally, I think it's very important at this time that you know you are not alone in this. What? You never have been. Robert thought it best. I... Play Tory. Play Tory? Even with you. But the others must never know. You know that Robert is a spy? Sally, never use that word. What do you say? I said the British have been exceedingly successful at winning the support of some Patriots, and that's all I say. Oh, yes, Father. I have even been told that someone at West Point, under the command of General Benedict Arnold, is negotiating with the British. At West Point? That is my understanding. Oh, no! Now, if West Point fell into British hands, it would separate the American forces. That would be a fatal blow for our troops. I remember now. Robert... What makes it even worse is that the unknown West Point officer is negotiating with a British officer stationed here in Oyster Bay. Right here at the Queen's Range? Yes. We've got to find out two things. Who is the British officer and what man he is contacting at West Point? Yes, Father. I've stopped crying. How could I stop him? I couldn't get Father's words out of my mind. But what could I do about it? Later that day, I was still trying to figure things out. And as I saw it, I worked. I'd make two takes for the party. I finished one bag, and was just about to take the takes into the dining room when I heard it. There was a door, leading from the hole into the dining room. The smoke opened slowly, dressed in lies, with a stooping in front of the corner cupboard. Suddenly it turned, and as I dodged back out of sight, I must have recrossed the room because then I heard the door again. I hurried to the cupboard, for the letter was stipped. And it was addressed to Mr. John Anderson. I don't know any Mr. John Anderson. I replaced the letter, closed the cupboard, and started for the kitchen. Where are you going, Sally? Mr. Andre, he started me. Yes, I did. I thought perhaps you would join us on the lawn. Unless, of course, you have something better to do. Oh, no. I mean, I'd love to join you, but there's something I must do. I... Oh, my tapes! Back into the kitchen, afraid I'd say more. Perhaps I'd sit down as much as it was. And suddenly I knew that letter was meant for a spy, and that spy was someone as it was. And suddenly I knew that letter was meant for a spy, and that spy was someone in this house. I had to get it somehow into the bathroom. Once again, I went into the dining room and prepared the cupboard for some person who could have taken it. Major Andre. I left the stairs to my father's office. And that's when I heard the voices. And the cupboard during Tinko's room hesitated been crept closer. I had to move. It could be a simple operation, actually. The letter was connected with West Point. I didn't know which way to turn. My father was nowhere around. And then suddenly I remembered. I wrote a note for Robert, telling him all about the letter to Anderson, and repeating everything I had overheard about West Point. Now I had to get it to Daniel Young. I had to get it to Daniel Young. I had to get it to Daniel Young. I had to get it to Daniel Young. I had to get it to Daniel Young. Now I had to get it to Daniel Young. I slipped out of the house to the barn and saddled my horse. You know these gentlemen, don't you? Major Joseph Green and Captain James Fisher of the British army. Oh, oh, yes, of course I do. Oh, you do. Now, what can I do for you, Sally? You mentioned Robert. Oh, oh, yes, folks. You see, I know it sounds silly, but we were having a surprise tea party John's day tomorrow night, I haven't any tea. So I thought it would be good enough to deliver this note to Robert in New York City. Thank you so much. But surely you could borrow tea here in Oyster Bay. Oh, I could, Major Green, but when you see, I want Robert to send a special kind of boheat. It's John Cincoe's favorite. Oh, well, I should say it's Colonel Cincoe's lady lucky man. What? When I finally got out of that house and was so relieved, suddenly I stopped. In my concentration on sending the note to Robert, I had just naturally assumed that John Anderson was Major Andre. But what if it was John Cincoe? Remember the rest of my ride home. And it wasn't until I walked into the room I shared with Ordby that I learned the news. Sally, where have you been? Did you hear? There's no surprise party tomorrow, isn't it? It is soon. He's been called away on an urgent mission. Home. Major Andre. Oh. And he went too. I learned what had happened. My brother Robert came home. It was your note to me that did it, Sally. Benedict Gondel had given out words that if any man by the name of John Anderson approached West Point, he was to be sent to Arnold immediately. Only because of your message did we know that John Anderson was a British agent in disguise. Benedict Gondel escaped, but they captured Anderson. Oh, Robert. Was it? No, Sally. It wasn't Colonel Cincoe. It was Major Andre. Robert. Colonel Cincoe is not directly involved, but Major Andre. Yes. That's why. Had I been a soldier in the field and killed him with my musket, I might have been able to justify myself. I prayed to God that I would never have to face Major Andre's best friend again. Then one day, three weeks later, John Cincoe returned home to be. My regiment been ordered into the field. May not be back for months. But, Sally, you're crying. Hanging my voice again. Makes me think back. Angry? Yes. I don't know if you can understand, Sally. When two soldiers are good friends, we're always aware that death may take one or both in the course of war. But the way that... He was a soldier fighting a war. Whoever was responsible for his death was fighting a war too. Don't say anything now, Sally. When the end is won the war, I'll come back. Wait for me, Sally. This is won the war. You load away my heart with pain. For I knew I would never see him ever again. It is indeed a great pleasure to be here tonight and present in behalf of the American Legion Auxiliary an award to Tabletaid of America. The award based upon the results of an all-member pole of the auxiliary and representing the listed preferences of more than a million women and their families is in cognizance of the presence of the program's high, inspirational, educational, and entertainment qualities. In winning this award for the third successive year, Tabletaid has achieved an honor according to no other program. I therefore take great pleasure in presenting this award. Thank you, Mrs. Campbell. I deeply appreciate your selecting Tabletaid of America to receive this award. We're most grateful for your recognition of our program and we'll continue as always to dramatize the freedoms and the ideals of our American wing of life. The rights to farm tabletaid was written by Robert Soderbergh and Edith Summers and based on material from Sally Townsend Patriot by Adolfi H. McGee published by Dodd Lead and Company Incorporated. A list of the music was composed by Arden Cornwell conducted by Donald Roy. The program was directed by John Soller. With our star, Joan Caulfield, our Cavalcade players were Neva Patterson, Vera Allen, Sandra Spicer, George Peetley, Tom Collins, Cameron Pudum, Richard Newton, Carl Weber, Mercer McLeod, and Lester Fletcher. And this is star Harris, reminding you to be with us next week when the DePomp Cavalcade will present The Melody Man, the story of a 20th century pipe-piper starring Robert Cummings. The DePomp Cavalcade of America came to use tonight from the Velasco Theater in New York City and is sponsored by the DePomp Company of Wilmington, Delaware. Make this a better thing for better living through chemistry.