 We proudly present Hollywood. The radio theater brings you Margaret O'Brien and Lionel Barrymore in Captain January. Ladies and gentlemen, your producer, Mr. William Keely. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. Eight-year-old Margaret O'Brien. Margaret has hurried home to costar with one of the screen's most beloved actors, Lionel Barrymore. They appear in Captain January from 20th Century Fox. The story of a bluff, warm-hearted lighthouse keeper to whom the sea delivers a devoted partner for his lonely life. A little girl named Star. We're off to Cape Pimpers on the lonely coast of Maine and the first act of our play, featuring two Metro-Golden-Mare favorites, Margaret O'Brien as Star and Lionel Barrymore as Captain January. Music In from the northeast, roars a biting winter gale, lashing the rocky coast of Maine, ripping the dull green Atlantic into a white-frenzy or foam. Somewhere in a mad mountainous sea, a sailing vessel, roles and features, are decked to watch beneath the heavy waves. In a last desperate sea for mercy, she lifts her spars to the black sky, and then with a shudder, the gallant craft slips downward to her grave. Where's the military? Where's the military? Here, Bob. What is it? Mr. Winfork, Captain January, won't you? He found a small boat just off Great Rock. He dragged it up on the people from the hunters? Yes, sir. And there was someone in it. I'll take you there. Never mind, I'll find you myself. Captain January! Captain January! Over here! Take care of them rocks, sir. What happens? What happens if you wanted me? I did, sir. But it's too late. She's gone. She? Who? The passenger off the huntress. In the gift half a day in an open boat. Come over this way, sir. There she is, Mr. Winfork. This woman has been dead for hours. Yes, died saving the little one. Her arms around her are keeping the little one. Look here, sir. Under the dople. Why? It's a baby. Smiling like a little angel. That's the way she was when I took her from her mother's arms. Captain, we'll have to bring this child up to the village at once. Oh, please, no. If it's all the same you, I'll just bring her along to my place. Your place? The lighthouse? Oh, why not, sir? I'm cozy up there. And you see, who else heads heads like she was delivered into my hand. Like the Lord might have asked me to take care of her for a while. You're a good man, Captain. All right, take her along to the lighthouse. If anyone inquires after her, I'll let you know. Thank you, sir. Up you go, child. Wait. Did you find anything that might give us a clue as to who this child is? Both of them, no? Oh, it is Lockett. It was held tied in the woman's hand. She'll have to have a name, though. What kind of a name is there for a baby girl marched up on the beach? With the stars just coming out. Well, hi. That's it. Star. That's your name. Shall we go to call you star? I'll take care of that. But what would you like for breakfast? Well, half a breakfast? 6.30, almost time for lunch. Won't you sit down? No breakfast in half a day, darling. Oh, you're not really angry. When I was a child, you could fool me, but not anymore. I know when you're just pretending. Yes. Ain't you forgetting something? I don't think so. Let me see. I made my bed, and I brushed my teeth. Oh, it's my birthday. Yes, man. And I suppose you're just waiting for me to hand over a present. A cat present? Where is it? Oh, please let me see it. No breakfast yet, and she wants her presents. Besides, I didn't say I had one, you know. I only said that... Oh, you always have a present. You never once forgot. Oh, I always give you a spank, too. One for every year when we have that. Not now, after breakfast. I feel tougher after breakfast. And don't go slipping any shingles in the seating of britches like you did the last time. That spanking hurt me more than it did you. Honest, I didn't know that there was a nail in it. Been a long time having a cat. Long time? I mean, since you and me shipped together. Eight years today, soft. That's why you're having your birthday. But I must be more than eight years old. Well, you may be ten or so. I don't know exactly. For all we know, maybe I'm spitting, huh? You may be, but I think it's highly improbable. Cat, what did I look like when you fished me out of the water? I had to wring you out and hang you up to dry. Tell me all about the storm again. Yeah, you heard about that storm every birthday. But it gets to be a bigger storm every time you tell it. How many miles did you swim? Torn the lifeboat with me and your teeth. I had the toe open my teeth, not you. The last time you told me it was me. Well, you're a year older now. Star, you ever get lonely here? Well, there ain't much of a life living in a lighthouse. No company except me. Who else would I want? Well, I would think it may be. Maybe this ain't the right kind of life for a youngster. Maybe, maybe you ought to go away somewhere else. Would you like to, star? No, I wouldn't. But if you keep saying that, I will go away. And I'll never come back either. Oh, don't you know by now I'm never going to leave here? Well, I just like to make sure once in a while I'm doing right that you really want to stay, that's all. Wait, do I do? And that's the end of it. Right honey, all right, all right. Right here now, I'll let you have your birthday present. Oh, cap, what is it? Yeah. Do you like it? Why, it's a locket. Oh, it's beautiful. Where did you get it? It was in your mother's hand the night I found you. There's a picture inside of it. Cap, I'll open it. Is that my mother? Reckon it is. Your mother and you. It must have been taken soon after you was born. She was very beautiful, wasn't she? Uh-huh. And you were a lot like that. I've saved it all these years till I thought you was big enough to know what it was. I'm going to keep this forever and ever. Thanks, Cap. My mother was very beautiful. You catch, I look a lot like her. That's funny, isn't it, Emma Jean? I mean, you're being beautiful. But you never can tell, can you, Emma Jean? I may grow up to be beautiful. After all, I bet you didn't so much to look at when you were my age. But you're beautiful now, Emma Jean, and I love you very much. Well, what do you say? That's better. Stop! You face as much in years. In a minute, who's up, Emma Jean? If you hurry, I'll let you join the village. Let's go ahead. There's a few things we need to store. Would you like to go? Sure, I would. Emma Jean, would you please cooperate a little? I've got to put them in the village. Old star. Hello, Captain Gere. Ah, hello. Captain Nazo. Happy birthday. Thanks. Are you coming over to the lighthouse tonight, Captain Nazo? Well, January ain't invited me yet. Well, I'm inviting you right now. Cap and I are having a surprise party all by ourselves. Well, you better warn him. I'm coming. At times, I get the idea that January ain't exactly partial to me. Oh, don't worry. I'll tell him to behave. Goodbye, Captain Nazo. See you tonight. Good morning, Mr. Cobb. Morning, star. What can I do for you? We need another case of brass polish. We'll just send it over right away. And don't forget what we get off of being government. It'll be there tomorrow, star. Tomorrow? We need it today. Well, I'll try. But there's a lot of summer folks up here already keeping me hopping. I'll do the best I can. All right. Oh, one, how much do these lollipops? Three cents a piece. Three cents? What about the government discount? Oh, sorry. Two cents for you, star. Thanks. So long, Mr. Cobb. So long. Oh, uh, Mr. Cobb. Oh, yes, Mrs. Morgan. Who was the little girl? A star? Why, she's Captain January's girl. He's the lighthouse keeper. I wonder why I haven't seen her in school. Well, I guess the teacher was here before. Wasn't very strict about things like that. That's why she isn't here now. I think I'll have a talk with that child. She tried to make me go to school, and I said I wouldn't. I was very polite, half honest. But I said I had to go home. Good for you. And go on, what happened there? Well, the next thing you know, she had me by the ear dragging me along the street. Oh, she did, eh? What'd you do? Well, one thing led to another thing. And before you know it, she sat down. On a chair? No, on the street. Well, how'd that happen? I don't know. I can't figure it out. She tripped, eh? Well, what'd she say then? I didn't wait to hear. I just ran. It's a good idea. Well, forget about it. She can't do anything mean to us. Can't she care? Ah, of course not. Remember, I worked with the government. I am the government here. Yes, but I think she's government, too. Don't worry about it. This is your birthday. Who's there? Open up. Find out. Oh, it's Captain Nazo. Captain Nazo. Come in, Captain. He's never blinded my eyes. Can't he even give a birthday party without you barging in? I'll pipe down your cat-of-office. Here, honey. Here's your present. Thank you. Good Captain, there's a present. Yes, present. It ain't much, honey. The better thing. It's a doll. A doll, huh? Well... Well, what of it? Oh, it's beautiful, Captain Nazo. Thank you very much. Cap, aren't you going to invite Captain Nazo to our surprise party? Well, there wasn't something on it. I sent you here. Sit down there, girl. Good. I'll pick the place for it. Whether you was counting on it or not, I'm going to stay for a while. Oh, you are, are you? Yes, I am. It's time I was doing a little inspecting around this here lighthouse. Must be gas and washing the point, and you were the inspector. You don't know the difference between a telescope and a car barrel. The way you handle them, I guess there ain't any. Look at that brass work. That brass was cleaned till you rubbed your dirty glove on it. Why, you found bound, old derelict, if he wasn't my host, I'd fire you right now. If he wasn't my guest, I'd quit. Come and get it, strangers. You know, it's nice to see you two getting on for a change. Yes, yes. So, Captain Nassau, you sit here. Thank you, sir. Hey, what's that thing there? What do you think it is? It's a cake. It's right for the... Cat made it all himself. No, he did. I guess I'll just eat the candles. Listen here, you're no good... Stop, stop it. Now, you sit right down and behave yourself. Come in, the door's open. What do you mean? My goodness, it's the school teacher. Oh, which one of you is Captain January, please? I'm Captain January? Well, I'm Mrs. Morgan, the new teacher. Oh, sir, don't man. Captain January, why isn't this child in school? Well, I was aiming to send her next year. We have a compulsory education law and this child is old enough. How does she know how old I am? We don't even know ourselves. Don't be impudent. I'm not being impudent. So what I'll observe, this child is being brought up entirely without control. She's rude, disrespectful. Now, now, hold on, hold on. What's more, this child is adopted. It's well within the power of the authorities to send her to an institution if you fail to raise her properly. Taken from me? Well, you... Just a minute, Mrs. Morgan. You're talking through your crow's nest and you say Stiles have been brought up ignorant. She reads writing and she writes down reading better than any eight-year-old on this coast. What do you mean, eight-year-old? Ain't a ten-eleven-year-old from here in Newfoundland that knows as much as Stiles? No, not any twelve-year-old, far as that goes. You're thirteen or fourteen. Say, maybe I am thirty. Well, I've been learning here from the best two books there is. The Bible and Bowditch. And just what is Bowditch, please? You've never heard of Bowditch, or that's one of the greatest books ever written. American Practical Navigation by Nathaniel Bowditch. Fine reading for a girl of her age. Any objections in the Bible? Let me tell you that... And let me tell you, ma'am, there ain't better reading in the world than the Bible and Bowditch. They both learn you to steer in straight chords. I didn't come here to discuss reading matters. Please have a report to the schoolhouse next Tuesday. And since you seem to think she has the intelligence of a child of ten, we'll call her ten and give her the test for that age. Wait, wait, maybe I'm only seven years old. Well, I'll stand by ten. Tuesday morning, please. Good night. Cap, what were you talking about? An institution? Don't you worry, Ed, about that. Nezro, I'd like to speak to you for a minute. What's the party? Something about the light. Come on up the light, Nezro. Well, you certainly are a lover, January. Probably the idea of insisting that style is as smart as a girl of ten. Well, she is, ain't she? Sure, but why make it tough for yourself? Woo-hoo. I reckon I did put my foot into it. After all, star doesn't even belong to you, you know. It doesn't belong to me. That's what I said. You've got no legal right to her. You've never even adopted her. She's more than adopted. She's part of me. That's all right, but that ain't the law. You fished it out of the water. You should have tried to find if she had any folks. I did try. Yes, you did. Well, I tried for a while. I couldn't keep trying forever, could I? In any way, she has no folks. You're all dead. Are they? How do you know? Well, they never come for her. No one's even asked for her. And you're just hoping they never will. What business is out of yours? It's mine. Nobody's ever going to take her from me. Lobsters, Lobster here. Lobsters, Lobsters, Lobsters. Right from the water, Lobsters. Fresh from the water, 15 cents. Hello. Well, Lobsters, baby Lobsters. Fresh from the water. What you got there? Lobsters? No, they're shrimp, but don't tell anybody. Lobsters. You can't fool me. They're Lobsters. All right, they're Lobsters. Now go away, will you? Get your Lobsters. You live in this place. Lobsters, fresh from the water. I said, you live in this place. Get your Lobsters. Just 15 cents. I come from New York. Oh, tourist. Lobsters, fresh from the water. All right, do these things bite? Certainly they bite. I don't believe it. Look, little boy, go away, will you? Well, I want to see if they bite. Well, if you have to, you have to. Go ahead. Ow! Ow! See, they bite. Lobsters, fresh from the water. How about a nice lobster, lady? 15 cents. No, thank you. Best to ever taste it. Just take one home and try. I'm sorry, but I'm living at the hotel. You see, I'm a tourist, too. Oh, I really didn't mean that. He was just getting fresh. I know. I was standing over there watching you. I wonder... I wonder if you'd tell me something. Sure what? Sure you got that lock if you're wearing. Oh, that? Cat gave it to me. He's my father. Cat's in January. Your father? I see. So, Laura, where have you been? Oh, come here, Bruce. Have you some change? I want to buy some lobster. A lobster? What for? Oh, it's all right, lady. I don't want you to buy them if you can't use them. Oh, real little lady, don't you? No, sir. I wasn't born here if that's what you mean. You weren't? Where were you born? I don't know. That sounds funny, doesn't it? But you said your father... Oh, Cat. Oh, he's not really my father. You see, he found me and... What are you looking at me that way for? Go on, dear. What were you saying? I wasn't saying anything. I have to go home now. I'm late. Excuse me. Well, wait. Your lobster. Oh, they'll be all right. Goodbye. Bruce. Laura, what is it? You look as if... Are you ill, Laura? Bruce, listen to me. That child. I must know who she is. Find out for me. I must know her name. Well, Captain January, starring Margaret O'Brien and Lionel Barrymore, will come to you in a moment. Yet Victor Herbert was easily the crown prince of American operetta. Much of his work, in fact, is set in the Bavaria he had known as a boy. And the spirit of Irish and Bavarian folk songs is obvious in his music. But Herbert took this foreign flavor and distilled it into something typically American. The operetta, the musical extravaganza, Naughty Marietta, and the standard ah, sweet mystery of life. Babes in Thailand, the continual delight to the young of all ages. These and many other musical contributions of the minstrel for the million will never die or grow old. And neither will another of Victor Herbert's contributions to the world and the world of music. His formation with eight others of ASCAP, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, an association that all but ended musical piracy in the United States. There are thousands of people who owe a debt of gratitude to Victor Herbert for that single act. There are millions who are ever grateful for his music. The curtain rises on our second act, presenting Margaret O'Brien as star and Lionel Barrymore as Captain January. A few days have passed and Tuesday has rolled around. Faithful Tuesday, when the star is to appear before the school board for her examination. She has told Captain January nothing of her meeting with the lady on the mainland. So the captain's only worry is how to help star pass. Alone in the lighthouse, he studies a book of grammar. His brow is followed with deep lines as he struggles with the conjugation of the verb to be. Where were you, where were you, where were you, where were you? Ah, that can't be right. Something's all mixed up here. Oh, why didn't I go to school? Still running off to see. Morning, Cap. Oh, hello. Whatcha doing? Nothing. I thought you were going to help me with my examination. I am, I am. How about starting off with a little grammar? Grammar? Oh no. They won't ask you anything about grammar. We'll begin with arithmetic. Uh, recite the multiplication by five table. Cap, that's kid stuff. Huh? It's got to make it tougher than that. Well, what? We'll do the six table. Go ahead. Oh, but that's the baby seven years old. Seven years old and they know the multiplication by six table? Sure they do. Maybe even later, but till I was twenty-three. All right, all right, let's get on to geography. Geography, I like that. Oh, you do. Well, here we go now. Uh, if you were sitting from Boston Harbor to China, to what point of the compass would you turn your nose on the second day out? Cap, I don't think that's the way to ask it. No? Why not? Well, Captain Nazo says that's the... Always Nazo. Did I hear my name mentioned? What do you want? Nothing with you, you desiccated old crawfish. But I thought I'd come and help start. I was ready for the examination. You being so illiterate. Me illiterate? Well, I can spell you down, read you down and figure you down. And I can do it with my hands tied behind my back. I know you couldn't. You need your fingers to count on. You can't count over ten without taking your shoes off. Look, gentlemen, this isn't going to help me pass that examination. She's right, but this might help. What do you say? Well, you see, star, I figured it might help things along if we knew the questions they were going to ask. Uh, this here is the examination paper. I, uh, I borrowed it from the school room. Captain Nazo, that's cheating. It is. Of course it is, isn't it, Pat? Well, uh, that's a very delicate point. Maybe you'll talk about that some other time. Let me see that paper, Nazo. Hey, uh, hmm. Now, star, the first question. If a field is eighty-seven and a half rods long and forty-three and a quarter rods wide, what is the length of the diagonal drawn from the northeast corner to the southwest corner? Prove it. Well, what's the answer? What's the answer, Nazo? Well, uh, uh, how much is a rod? How many fatherly? Would it do you any good to know? No. Well, then keep quiet. Uh, hmm. Prove that he day stands. Wait a minute, what stands? That's the second question. Thought we didn't get the answer to the first one. Well, we're skipping the first one. Prove that he day stands. Prove that he day stands. Hmm. What does it mean? I mean, prove that he makes things better. Hmm. Well, let's see. See it, guys, look. It's hot in summertime, isn't it? So the days are longer than summer than they are in Russia. Well? Well, that sounds logical to me. Yes, sir. One hundred percent. See, this isn't so hard. This is for number three. Uh, number three. Write down from memory the quality of mercy speech from the merchant of Venice. The origin of mercy is not strained. Hmm. Is that all? I think it goes on from there. But that's all I know. Ah, this is a put-up job. That hacky-faced school teacher gets kind of famous. Let me see that paper. There's no child at ten good answers in this stuff? Well, I can't even answer it myself. No, wait, wait. I think I made a mistake. What? Well, this here is a high school examination. High school? So you can't even steal proper. Well, it's said examination, didn't it? How was I to know there's different tests for different ages? Well, that's right. How was you to know? You never passed a ten-year-old test, did you? Well, I could have passed one. Maybe when you were full grown. Excuse me for interrupting, but I have to leave the school soon. Yeah, go ahead. See, now with me telling that morgan woman where I was teaching stuff in the Bible, it's pretty apt to be some questions about the Bible. Well, there ain't many children as up in the book as she is. Ah, I know, I know. So, what are the four Gospels? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Ah, fine. You remember that story I read you last week about the prodigal son? Uh-huh. The father said, bring out the fattest captain to let medicine be married. Ha, ha, ha, correct. But everybody was a married star. There was a brother and there was neighbors. Now, who was sorry that the prodigal son come back? The fattest cast. Ah, no. Ladies and gentlemen of the school board, I think you know why we are here today. This trial starts January. It is to take the 10-year-old test. Sit over there, please. Thank you. We also have another student here, a little gentleman from New York. The girl is going to summer school this year. Class is set next to her. Please, dear. Oh. Judge Hardrow. Ah, yes? Judge, I've invited you here for a very special reason. I definitely need this little girl being booked up properly. But I'll let you determine that for yourself. Begin the examination, Mrs. Morgan. Now, children. On the blackboard is a drawing of eight fishing schooners. Excuse me, but we aren't schoonish, Mrs. Morgan. They're catches. What's that? We said schoonish, but they're really catches. I don't believe that makes any difference. Oh, but it does. You see, a schooner carries its mismatch, a midship, and a catch is more like a yaw. What would be enough, please? Yes, ma'am. On the blackboard, we have eight catches. It's four to carry a load of 100 tons of fish, and four to carry twice as much. How many tons, because they all carry half-fields? Well, star? Well, in the first place, I don't think you can get 100 tons of fish on a catch. That's not the question. It's a boat with suit. Be quiet. Yes, ma'am. Darrell? Do you know the answer? Half-will be able to carry 600 tons of fish. Not on top of the water? No, ma'am, please. Thank you, Gerald. Now, star, will you please define a relative pronoun? A relative pronoun? A relative pronoun. Surely you'll know that. A relative pronoun is a pronoun that connects two clauses and has its antecedents in the other clause. Very good, Gerald. Wow. And now we'll discuss literature. Gerald, will you please tell us in your own words the story of one of William Shakespeare's plays? Well, once there was a man named Romeo, there was a girl, a Juliet, a girl on dear. Well, her family was called... Decapulets. Decapulets. And his family were named... Monogies. Star, will you please stop annoying Gerald. But I'm not annoying him, Mrs. Morgan. I'm just trying to help him. Who are you? And just what do you know the story of Romeo and Juliet? Oh, we have it over at the lighthouse. I've read it quite. And you understood it, Mrs. Cole. Oh, yes. You see, these Monogies using decapulets they hated each other like poison. Never mind. So Romeo and Juliet, they couldn't eat. So they met in the garden, and sat on the slide. I'll take your part. They couldn't get married on kind of old folks who weren't on speaking terms. So this Juliet, she takes a drug and knocks us out cold. They sit in the box and sit there up to a vault. It's as cold as a harrowing in there, and Romeo thinks she's a grandma. Just then a fellow named Thomas walks in. They get into a scrap. Just a moment. One bottle. Romeo stabs Thomas. Thomas stabs Romeo. Oh, you please. Romeo stabs Thomas. It's a fight to the finish. And the next thing you know, Thomas is on the ground, stabbed through the kiddos. What was that? You know. And then Romeo. Oh, he... God, it's hot. It's hot, though. You see what's hot. Yes, yes, I see, I see. You see the kind of ring that she's had. What are we going to do with her? She's pulling the eighth grade. She's wonderful. Great, he says. Put her in the eighth grade. Here, Nezzo. Have some more cider. Thanks. Pretty good for a fellow that's never had much book learning. What book learning? Got to do with cider. I'm talking about educating Starr. So good that she jumps right into the eighth grade. You educate her. It's the things I learned that put her through. Ah, you. Who is it? It's Wentworth, Captain. It's the minister. Well, come in, sir. Come in. Come in. Morning, Captain. Good morning. Good morning, sir. Good morning, Mr. Wentworth. Hey, if it's Starr, you come to see she's in school. Eighth grade. I came to see you, January. Hmm? About there. Well, what is it? Bad news? It depends on the way you look at it. Captain, a lady came to my house yesterday. A lady and a gentleman. Their name is Easton. They're visitors here. Well, they asked me a lot about Starr. About where she came from and how long ago. I told them about the night she found her on the beach. Oh, you told them. We talked for a long time, Captain. I told them I would bring them out here tonight. You see, they want to take Starr. They want to bring her to Boston to give her a home there. Why? Why? Because, because from what they told me, I have no doubt that Starr is missing Easton. We're traveling most of the time, Captain, January. And all we heard was that my sister had been lost in the shipwreck. When we came back to America, we tried to learn more about it. But they told us that everyone had been lost. When we came up here, when I saw the child, I almost knew then she looked so much like my sister. And in the locker, I know she's my niece, Captain January. She's my sister's child. What if she is, Captain? What if she is, I say? What have you done for her? If you ever take her out of the sea, if you swear to the Lord that the help-saver you'd do as should be done by her, have you worked and sweated for her and lived in fear that some day she might be taken away from you? I will, Captain January. Well, I'm sorry, babe. Please believe me. I know what this means to you. And if it weren't for the child's own good, I wouldn't ask you to let me take her. We can give her everything she wants, Captain, her home, schooling, and more important, I think we can make her happy. The child's own good, huh? Well, there's a thought there, isn't there? There's something to hold there. You say you can prove that she's your niece? We have the passenger list from the Hunter. The mother and child are both registered. And then there's the locket. There was a picture in it. My sister and her baby taken when she was a year old. My sister was wearing a white dress, smiling and looking down at the child. Is...is that picture still there? Yes, it's there. I don't think there's any question that Mrs. Easton is far as amped, Captain. No, there's no question. Then you'll let us take her. The Lord give us? The Lord tells you the word. Well, I'll ask you to do it easy. It'll be sudden like for the girls, you know, and then she ain't used to being took sudden by ways of being slow. We'll be very careful. Captain, where are you? Over. Come in, star. Come in. This lady is Mrs. Easton, and this is Mrs. Easton. Hello, star. Hello. You remember me, don't you? Yes, I meet you on the docks one day. We're going to buy some lobster. That's right. Well, I guess you want to talk. I better go upstairs. Oh, please don't go. You see, we want to talk to you. Star, do you remember my asking about that locket you were wearing? May I see it now? I haven't got it. What is it, star? I haven't got it. I see. Star, you keep that locket in the box over there, don't you? I think you better get it for us, darling. Why does she look at me that way? Because this lady is your aunt, star. My aunt. Yeah, your own kin, darling. I haven't any kin, you know that. I haven't anybody but she. Tell her to go away. I don't like anybody looking at me the way she does. Star, I don't belong to her. I belong to you. Easy, darling. Easy. I'll tell you now, star. Your aunt wants to take you to live with her. Through the providence of God, she's been led here to you, and she feels it's her duty to claim you the name of your parents. I won't go with her. I think forever since I can remember. I won't go. Cap, I need to say something. Don't you hear they're trying to take me away? They were right to you, child. Right to me. Do you want me to go away? Do you? Are you tired of me? Well, honey, I... I'm an old man, no? And an old man likes quiet, you see? And, well, I'd be quiet there by myself. So, maybe it's all for the best. No, Cap, no. You've never ever said anything like that to me before. All you've thought about was me. I told you I'd never go away. And then you'd be happy. And now... Yeah? And I tell you that I'm needing rest and quiet as a student to an old man. I kept you here for eight whole years. What thanks do I get? Hanging on to me and hanging on to me. If you want me to say it right out, child, I will. I want you to go off with these folks and leave me alone. What? Is that the way you feel about it? Yeah, yes. All right, I'll go. I'll go and never come back. I'll go, do you hear? Never, never. Hey, God forgive me for the things I said to the child. Hey, God forgive me. I'm not leaving, Lord. He's only making me leave. Oh, please let me stay, dear Lord. Please let me stay with Cap. He can't take me away if he won't let them. And hiding that locket really wasn't dishonest, was it? My little boys, please make him leave. Because if they have that locket, then they know I belong to them. And I don't. I belong to Cap. I belong here. Oh, please, Lord, please let me stay. After a brief intermission, Lionel Barrymore and Margaret O'Brien will return in act three of Captain January. You can... We'll turn you now to Mr. Keely. After the play, we'll bring Margaret O'Brien and Lionel Barrymore back to the footlights for a brief chat. Here they are in the final act of Captain January. It's dawn of the next day. On the rocky beach near the lighthouse, Captain January stands looking out at the angry sea. All night long, he's walked the path between the rocks and the lighthouse gates. His hair is rumpled by the wind, with eyes bright and seething. From the road comes Captain Maslow, who stands quietly beside him. It takes not a storm. Right. He's blowing a gale by evening. Evening. They'll be coming for her then. They'll be coming for Star to take her away. January. I was wondering if, well, it'll be mighty lonesome here for her for a while. Why don't you come into the village and live with me? Live with you? It's comfortable. Food is good. We'll be taking care of the light. Well, the light will take care of itself. They're going to install automatic equipment. What's that? Look here. This is the telegram team last night. Read it, January. Thirty-six month automatic equipment will be installed in the lighthouse. It's eight, nine, and ten. Inform all keepers their services will be no longer required. I'm sorry, Captain. Of course, there'll be a pension for you. A pension. There's a fine life for an active man like myself. Easy, Captain. Sitting in a soft chair waiting for a check each month. Nothing to do but wait. And think. Easy, man. You're sick, January. You better come inside. I'm not sick. You're feverish. Now, come along. No. I can look after myself. All right. I'll be in the village. Captain, I've been waiting all day for you to come back. What's the matter? Aren't you going to talk to me? There's nothing left to say. I only want to hear one thing. You weren't telling the troops last night, were you? You don't want me to go away, do you? Please, Captain, tell me. I'm trying to do what's best. I know you didn't mean it. You couldn't. I don't believe you. Then any of you believe me. Right that I wanted to go. Not a question of wanting. Why isn't it? They can't take me away if I won't go. And the locket thing is the only thing that'll prove anything. And they can't find it. No one will ever find it. There's more than the locket stuff for you. The way you come here. Well, I guess I can't explain it to you. I can't think somehow. It's all dark and misty. You mean I've got to go with them? Is that what you mean? Yes, Star. But not because you want me to go. But don't do you? Who wants you to go? Well, Star, how can you say that? Oh, Cap, Cap. There, there, now, now, now. It's a fine life you'll have, darling. I'll be coming to see you as often as they'll let me. Off in a minute. Yeah, they're good people. Cap, but if they haven't come, we don't want them just to say, wouldn't we? We wouldn't be talking of a fine life, dammit. We'd live just like we were, wouldn't we? Aye, but they did come. Then why don't we turn away? What's that? We were always talking about going someplace else. We thought we could take the sea boat and go down the coast, but no one would know us. Oh, Star, don't be saying such things. I can't, I can't think of telling. I'll put the food in the boat. We could sail for days and days. We could. They'd find us. They'd bring us back. No, they wouldn't. Please, Cap, I'll get the boat ready. We'll be gone before dark. It's the wrong thing, Star. It's wrong. It's wrong. It isn't wrong. And we're going, do you hear? We're going. All set. Get in the boat. Wait, I forgot about energy. I'll turn the loose. I'll be right back. Hurry back, Star. Anyway, what are you doing down here? Out of my way. I'm busy. You're going to take this boat out on a sea like this? I can handle any boat in any kind of sea. Where are you going? I'm taking Star away. Oh, don't be a fool. You can't do that. You're sick. Sick of much. You're raising with fever right now. You'll never be thinking of such a thing. Get out of my way. I won't. You're not leaving with that child if I have to knock you down and sit on you. Get off. You know that, though. You and me have had a lot of fights. But I always thought to down deep you with my friends. I am your friend. You let them come here and take Star away from me and you call yourself my friend. Always for the best, January. Come on up to the lighthouse. Let me go. Let me alone. Are you crazy, ma'am? Stop it. Stop it. Let him go. Let him go. What are you doing to him? Let him go. You're not leaving here tonight. We are. We have to. No one's going to stop us. You or any others. Star, he's not his self. Can't you see? He's raven mad. He's a sick man, Star. Sick. Would he be taking a boat out tonight if he knew what he was doing? Let me go. Any boat in any sea. We're ready, Star. Come on. We're ready. We... we... Stop it. It's a matter. Stop. Go get the doctor. Quick! Is that all you can tell us, Doctor? That's all, Mrs. Easton. He's a very sick man. Tell us, what about the little girl? I mean to stay here. We don't want to take her away. She'll have bad effects. He's barely conscious now. It might be just as well if she weren't here. I've already told her that she's to go with you. No, keep us informed, Doctor. Of course, Laura. We're his stuff. I've allowed her to see him for a long time. You'll be right back. Don't try to help. I wouldn't believe you now. Only... only the doctor says I have to. But when you wake up, I... I'm going to try to be back. And don't forget, you're going to come and see me when everything lets you. Then maybe... maybe not for this. Soon when you're not there, I'll be thinking of you. I'll be thinking of you too. Oh, I've been looking all over for you. Uncle Bruce will be back from New York soon. He'll want to see you. Yes, ma'am. Now, what's the matter? Aren't you happy here, dear? You've been wonderful to me, Aunt Laura. I never... I never had such pretty clothes and face. But that's not enough, dear. Oh, I didn't mean it like that. I've had everything here. You and Uncle Bruce. Well, you've been wonderful. You've even got the speech house. Thinking it may make you feel better. Well, it does only... Oh, dear. You don't have to explain it to me. I know how you feel. Have you... have you heard from Pat lately? He adjusted me a lot better. You've been writing to him every day, haven't you? Yes, he answered, too. And he... he knows Pat. He's not so strong on spelling. Aunt Laura, never he's better. You think he can go insane sometimes? Well, we'll have to wait and see if... Hello, Aunt. Oh, there's Uncle Bruce. Come on, darling. He has a surprise for you. Hello, hello. Hello, dear. Hello, star. Hello, Uncle Bruce. Did you bring it, Bruce? I certainly did. Here, star. Look out the window. Down by the dock. Why, it's a boat. You like it? Oh, it's beautiful. It's not... it's not almost a yacht, isn't it? Pretty really. Come on down. Take a look at it. Did you see that little... some New Yorker could be? All the way. I started last night. Star for big business. No, darling. You and me all run away. I sell cups and everything you can ever charge. Oh, it's tap. Oh, it's tap. Tap. Oh, God, darling. Oh, tap. I thought you had forgotten me. Forgotten you? Would I forget the North and the South? Would I, now? How did you get here? What you doing? I'm captain of this craft. That's what I'm doing. And I'm the first mate. Captain, now, though. Yes, sir. He's the second mate. First mate. Second. Second. Second. Second. And she's wonderful to see you doing such good terms with her. For the majority. Here's your producer, Mr. Keely. Back to the microphone comes Margaret O'Brien with her seat-selling partner, Lionel Ballemont. Margaret, we're glad we got you back in time for tonight's play. I enjoyed so much playing opposite Mr. Ballemont again. He helped me so much on the picture with destiny's naked. Oh, well, thanks, Margaret. Thank you. You've always been my very favorite leading lady. And Lionel, I want you to know how much I personally enjoyed your being with us on this stage. You're the only one in the Barrymore family I haven't had the great good fortune to have played with. Well, you're feeling mutual, but good night. Good night. Good night, Margaret. Good night, Lionel. This is William Keely saying good night to you from Hollywood. Good night.