 Hello everyone, this is Paul Lucas inviting you to stay tuned for the next half hour for one of radio's outstanding dramatic productions Radio's outstanding dramatic half-hour starring Paul Lucas and presented transcribe coast-to-coast in cooperation with this station by your army and your Air Force Radio City, New York. Here is your star on proudly. We hail the distinguished Broadway stage screen and radio star Paul Lucas Thank you Kenneth Benka Ladies and gentlemen, our play is entitled Prelude for Eva The scene Europe the time today the story a tale of international intrigue and danger Our first act curtain will rise in just a moment after the short but very important message You young men who graduated from high school this year There's a chance for you to get ahead fast in the expanding United States Army Visit your United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station today and learn all the details Do it now and now with your star Paul Lucas in the role of Stefan Donner To all outward appearances one of the world's most successful concert pianists known only to a few as one of the free world's most successful counter espionage agents your army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production of Prelude for Eva They said of him that his only love was music He cared not one whit for country for political ideals for mankind He was quoted as remarking. It made no difference who heard him player who published his music In fact, he'd play for the devil himself if the devil paid the price of admission a Cold haughty arrogant figure of a man who carried himself like a king and looked up to no one Whenever people heard Stefan Donner play they forgot what they knew and disliked about him They became lost in the beauty of his music and so almost forgave his attitude in a world where attitude had become the key note And always those who heard him play asked themselves How could such an unfeeling man as Stefan Donner touch the heart of mankind with his music when his fellow man Seemed to mean nothing to him that devil is this will you please stop that gargling ring? I told you I didn't want to be disturbed. Well, I beg pardon sir, but the police are here. They'd like to have a word with you the police idiots What do they want with me? Tell them to go away. Well, I think it might be best to have a word with them, sir. Only take a moment All right. All right show the gentleman in are our papers all in order everything's in order, sir Well, then let's get it over with Please step in here Well gentlemen, I must say you are prompt I was in Prague over two hours before your compatriots They have paid me a call here. It's just one hour You flatter us here don't we pride ourselves on efficiency allow me to introduce myself I'm inspector Timco. This is major clubs. We are sorry to intrude and we won't take much of your time Charmed won't you sit down? Bring get the paper. No, no, that wouldn't be necessary. That's all been checked. I see well Then what is it? Tickets No, I'm able to procure those also even though. I think your music sometimes tends to the The decadent. Oh So you are a music critic as well as a policeman Well, I can hardly spare you the time to discuss music right now You're in a very bad humor there don't that is correct. I have a concert to give tonight I have much practicing to do and my time is being wasted Would you tell me please why it is never a good idea to be in bad humor here? This is a happy place. We want people to laugh and be gay when they're not they make us unhappy and when we're unhappy That will do major The major doesn't understand artistic temperament as I do her daughter. So you must forgive it Would you mind getting to the point, please? You are any cancer too. Is that correct? I am certainly not out hunting unicorns inspector I notice you are a comedian as well as a musician According to your itinerary you were not due to play here until next week Originally you plan to be in Dresden at this date We are of course honored that you will play here sooner than expected But we are all so curious as to the reason for your sudden change in plans well, I Will tell you inspector. I am not really a musician at all I am a secret agent who was sent here to steal your brain Because the people I work for are curious to know how anything so small could fit into anything so large They think they may be able to make a bomb out of it. Is there any need to be insulting her donor? I've asked you a civil question All I wish in return is a civil answer and if you can't give us one perhaps we can teach you a new tune to play All right, let us be civil but let us be quick You want to know why I came here instead of Dresden as previously arranged if you will take the time to study a map You will see that Dresden is much closer to the Swiss border than your fair metropolis And as I plan to do some skiing in Switzerland as soon as this tour is finished I had my itinerary changed so that Dresden would be my last stop before I take a much needed Vacation where I won't have to perform before clowns and answer the stupid questions of jackasses Now does that answer your question for the time being good? Then my men will show you to the door. It's been a pleasure I See here don't I don't do major Good afternoon head on Until we meet again. I don't understand why you put up with it If I'd have been in charge would be in charge what he said might have been true What do you mean about jackasses? You'll never be a success in this business until you learn major that you don't land the fish with the club You play him gently and carefully you think he's the man I think it's possible because I think anything is possible, but it won't be long one way or the other before I'll know You took care of the other business. You'll be followed from the time he steps out of his hotel room till the time he comes back good What a fellow he is What a lovely fellow Find any ring the two in there sir one in the bedroom There may be others. I don't think so. I was very thorough Well, I'm sure you were but while we are here. You should want to tell me anything important With best do our talking in these sacred confines shall I run the tub just to make sure no it won't be necessary Did you leave the microphones just as they were exactly sir? Well, they aren't always sir Possibly they are suspicious But then they are always that It's up to get very touchy before we had done ring. Oh, it's been touchy before but then we've always managed That man Simcoe or Timcoe is nobody's fool but then neither a user Ring if your confidence could do this job. We have nothing to worry about at all Sphilly, let me in quick. Is there anyone here? No, they are all right. All right. Put out the lights quick There's much time. I'll get this one there Well, I've been the last two weeks. You just suddenly disappeared. What happened? No time for that now ever you've got to help me. I'm not who or of what I seem to be I've got some information that has to be passed on. That's very important information and the secret police are hot on my heels Really? What are you? Don't interrupt. I hate to bring you into this. It means you risk your life Now it's for something Something we both believe in What what must I do? You've got to go to Stefan Donner's concert tonight Stefan Donner, you mean the greek? Yes. Yes. You take this ticket. You go to the concert And it's over you take your program to be autographed. When he's autographing it you say to him I thought you played the Beethoven concerto magnificently. Oh, please. This is just a little confusing. I'm sorry ever There isn't time to go into detail. I'll have something that Donner has to cut to get. That's why he's here The concert is incidental. You mean Stefan Donner? Yes. Yes. One of the best Never have guessed it. Let's hope that nobody else does Now while I try and lead the hounds away from the sin, this is what you was A big house ring. It feels a capacity, sir Are our friends present? In a box with some others like them Let's hope they enjoy my playing. Even they should enjoy that, sir Oh, how many will be at the party afterwards? Oh about uh 250. Oh, that should be enough This dressing room reminds me of the one in Munich ring so cluttered up with microphones. It resembles a large ear I trust inspector Timco will be enlightened by our conversation. I trust so sir I suppose I've kept them waiting long enough The orchestra is beginning to look slightly itchy Stand here in the wings ring. Yes, sir. When it's over be ready for most anything I don't think will he would be full enough to come here, but then will he is mad as a header not that mad, sir Well ring We who are about to die Salute I I'll be watching I thought you played the Beethoven concerto magnificent thing and how else would you expect me to play it madam? I just wanted to Nobody is next Does it do to you to have my name on your program? I'm sorry. I have a consent to this foolishness I've had enough out of my way out of my way He didn't arrive sir, not willy. He's on the lady friend. I don't like it. It could be a trap Which one was she sir the pretty one in black? Her eyes looked innocent, but then so have others but If they caught willy sir, could they make him talk? They can make anyone talk ring Anyone but even if will he talk he tell them something that wasn't quite right. So you know Yes, he would and that's what I'll find out at the party But I still don't like a drink. It was planned too quickly To a man like tim crow. There must be something obvious about the whole thing It's almost obvious if you look at it in the right light this man willy. He steals the papers He leads us a marriage chase and finally we pin him down here It's too dangerous for him to try and run further. So he goes to earth Now it's up to someone to come to him and relieve him of his burden But that could be any one of a thousand people but it isn't it's only one But which one is too tricky for the usual agent because we're watching and willy might not trust him anyway Might think he was one of our men. So it's got to be someone who is above suspicion Above all suspicion Who but our friend Stay from donor, but he's not the only man in the city who is traveling through with the correct papers It might be that businessman from paris or the one from florans or that woman Any of those people are easily watched anyone approaching them is also, you know that as well as I All right and major use your brains Steven donor played before a tremendous audience tonight. He signed autographs Which is unusual for him and now he's agreed to attend this party, which is even more unusual But bruner was not there we know But do we know if one of willy's friends was nothing was exchanged during the autograph identification may have been What about donor's background? There's nothing there. That's true, but i'm not interested in background right now Ah, I can't understand this sort of work Good of you to admitted major Well before the night's over, perhaps i'll be able to prove my point to you Good, excuse me, sir. Well, what is it willy bruner tried to swim the umsir the guards think they got him think Oh, they know he disappeared under the ice. It's impossible to recover his body impossible nothing If his body's in that river, I want it And I don't care how long it takes Do you understand? Yes, sir. Well, that's half the battle if it is We still have another half to finish Book is starring in the role of stefan donner in the proudly we hail production of prelude for eva will return in just a moment for the second act You young men who just graduated from high school listen to this The united states army needs intelligent young men to handle the thousands of important jobs opening up in your growing Army if you can qualify and come within the quota You'll be sent to one of the army's many technical training schools to study such interesting subjects as radio Radar meteorology mechanics or electronics The army teaches you the know how it takes to get ahead faster And what's more when you're in the army you'll wear the uniform That's the mark of a man the world over So men don't worry about your future now that you finished high school You'll find the answer to that important question at the nearest united states army and united states air force recruiting station You are listening to proudly we hail And now with your star paul lucas in the role of stefan donner We present the second act of prelude for eva Are you apart? Have you stopped with me? Madam I saw you standing here alone and I thought to myself the party is no place for anyone to be alone Especially some of this pretty as yourself So I brought you this glass of champagne Thank you. It is paul roger 37 very good for you I I have a friend named willy who thinks paul roger 37 is the best of all He he would like you to ship some to his employer mr. West I don't blame him Where is where I don't know he came to my apartment. I haven't laid Smile and mix with the crowd try and act like you belong here. You stand out like a sore thumb Oh, it's been a pleasure madam. Please excuse me. I seem to see a friend across the room Ellen specter you said something about proving a point The party isn't over yet major. No, and if it goes on much longer He'll advance with every woman here and talk to every man some of them twice which is not in character I'm not in character. So what are you going to do about it? Arrest him because he's not in character There he's asked that young woman in the black gown to dance Shall I seize them inspector and 50 other women besides they're still major Go have another glass of champagne Try and look useful even if you are Two o'clock going to the room behind us. It's one of those glassed-in gardens I know I was there earlier no matter what happens after that stay there stand by the last window on the left It's something going to happen How charming Don't be frightened You have what will he gave you? Yes. Well be ready to give it to me. Thank you my dear Very great pleasure. Thank you Two o'clock another half hour and we can go home and forget this nonsense major. You can Happened call it a diversion give me the papers All right now get out of here go out into that crowd and have hysterics with the rest of them No, but You are a brave little girl and I'm sorry. There isn't time to thank you properly As soon as things start to quiet down leave When you get outside walk left to the end of the block get in the car that is standing there My men will take you home and see that you come to no harm God bless you. Goodbye and should you see willy again? Give him a regard. Goodbye Steven do you always Not be gone. No one is going to live here until we get to the bottom of this Hair done up Where have you been on the moon? You hair done up. Where have you been? Where were you when the lights went out? Well, if you must know inspector, I was in the parter room combing my head I beg your pardon sir. I didn't hear you come in Was the party a success sir with the help of poor roger 37. I managed And how was your evening ring? Oh, I enjoyed myself drove around a bit mit a young girl Got her home quite safely ring And at your age Yes, sir I took the liberty of drawing a tub, sir. Yeah, so I see I suppose you close the door. I just as soon keep as much heat in as we can We don't have much time ring The hounds will be sniffing around in short order. I misjudged tinko I've got to do some fast composing and in the tub bring me a pile of music and the pencil You stand outside if you hear anyone coming whistle a tune and whistle it loud Did I manage the lights successfully sir? Beautifully was it difficult piece of cake, sir and What about the Disturbance your noisy but harmless bomb did wonders for a potted palm where I mislaid it Now listen when they call tell them I'm taking a bath They will insist upon seeing me Keep them away as long as you can every second counts now will the composition be difficult, sir What kind of composing do you think Beethoven or Brahms would have done At three o'clock in the morning while sitting in a cold tub waiting for the police to break down the door I'm sorry, sir, but the maestro does not wish to be disturbed He doesn't wish to be disturbed there out of my way. You men take the room and air go over everything quickly now Where is her dana? He's taking a bath, sir a bath Well, we'll go join the great maestro in his tub show us the way before I show you my boot You may take the bedroom. Oh, it's so much simpler in the infantry just a matter of pulling a trigger Sir, they're awesome Open this door. I'll shoot the lock off. Oh, who the devil is out there open up Well Inspector and in need of a bath. I've just finished mine As you're I want this room taken apart tile by tile Well, if you really wanted that much I'll ask the hotel to give it to you I advise you her dana to keep your tongue button. What is that in the pocket of your rope? Oh, uh, my hand. I believe inspector inspector. Look what we found If you are after music, I can give you a lot more of it And what may I ask what you're doing with all that in there? Oh now really inspector I was reading it the same way you read the book if you are able to read They happen to be the scores for my concert in dresden on wednesday Lorca you and your men go over this stuff. You know what to look for take your time Herr donner and I are going to have a long talk Absolutely nothing your experts have been over the place from top to bottom at the music Lorca said it's all an order. This is the only piece. He didn't recognize re lewd by stefan donner An original composition a now i'm getting weary of all this idiotic nonsense. You must forgive us our little whims When did you write this uh pray lewd? I wrote it last month and if you'd like a copy of it You may take it. I am playing for the first time wednesday now. I've had enough of this And if you and your buffoons don't get out of here and let me get some sleep I promise you you will read about this. Oh Yes, oh It might also also interest you to know that your own general holds is making it a point to be on hand to hear me Play in dresden when I tell him of this asinine treatment. I have received at your hands It's quite possible. You'll hear about it in a minute that general holds Inspector for perhaps it uh, it may be her donner that we have been a bit tasty It may well be but I will let the general be the judge of that I must say say you carried it off beautifully the last trump took the game ring Another minute and he would have kept the prelude. Are you certainly composed it quickly? I was inspired Inspired by a girl whose name I don't even know I uh Believe she said it was uh, Eva Eva Prelude for Eva will call it Written on a theme by willy brunner Very good, sir When we reach Dresden, you'll have some copies printed Sent one to our publisher mr. West just in case he doesn't pick it up on the short way I don't know how far the concert will be broadcast. It's a very ingenious idea, sir. I'll never cease to wonder at Transmitting the written word into a musical code and The music sounds so um so authentic Rink you are you are wonderful. There's just one item. I wanted about what what did you do with the original papers? The one she gave you oh come now ring The sound of your boys whistled. I did the only thing I could do they went, uh, down the drain Down the drain Very good, sir Very good This will return in a moment with a word about next week's show Next time you see a soldier of your united states army take a good look at the uniform he wears That army uniform is the mark of a man The unmistakable sign that its wearer has come up to the mark And it's always been so from the buff and blue of general washington's continental's To the uniform so proudly worn by the army combat soldiers of today The united states army insignia has been worn by many generations of men The men who faced with quiet courage the dark days of valley forge and treten Sheddotieri in the argon forest baton in the bulge The man who puts on the uniform of the united states army Joins the company of those stubborn americans who never admitted they were elect Go to your nearest united states army and united states air force recruiting station Have a talk with the recruiting sergeant and enlist in the united states army today This has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station By the united states army and the united states air force recruiting service Proudly we hail stars paul lucas Previewed for eva was written by the wit cop the music was composed and conducted by john guanieri This program was produced under the supervision of charles and rogers productions and was directed by charles wilks This is kenneth banghart speaking and here again is your host and star paul lucas We cordially invite you to be with us again over the same station next week for proudly we hail Our story is entitled from west to east and back again We hope you'll join us then Until next week. Goodbye