 Vicks presents the matinee theater starring Victor Jory Vicks the makers of Vicks vapor rub Vicks patron all Vicks cough drops and Vicks inhaler Brings you the matinee theater starring Victor Jory in a most unusual Christmas play a stable in Bethlehem Pennsylvania First here's a good thing to remember when you catch a cold The best-known remedy for relieving miseries of colds is Vicks vapor rub Ladies and gentlemen Today from the stage of the matinee theater Vicks invites you to enjoy a modern miracle play a Different kind of Christmas story with a special meaning for all of us a stable in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, it's Christmas Eve behind the window of an exclusive Fifth Avenue Club Two elderly men look out on the world with John de Steyes in the sumptuous lounge of the club There are only these two tonight trying to conceal their loneliness at this festive time with bickering and cynicism Oh these chimes. I suppose we'll have to listen to those chimes all evening, Gordon Yes Christmas the commercialism and the papacy of the whole thing turns my stomach cancer. That's something we agree on It's all so obvious think of all those millions of people out there wrapping presents. Why only because they feel obligated Well, they're trying to bribe somebody I'll take you all these years to learn that these Christmas cards Nothing but assembly line sentiment people buy a card put it in an envelope stick a stamp on it and send it off seeing there Thank the Lord. He's taken care of Christmas cards are a system whereby people remember to forget you greetings of the season When they get through sweeping out the tinsel and adding up their bills, they'll be back at each other's throats again Look at these hollywoods in the window that Christmas tree with all its baubles My George, I'm going to complain to the board of directors about this just needless expense But I suppose I won't get anywhere. There's a prize collection of nitwits our board of directors No, no, no, wait a minute Gordon. Wait a minute. I resent that I happen to be a member of that board I apologize. I should have said they're all nitwits, but one. Oh, thank you. And that one's a fool. Oh, I'll look here All right You know Townsend. I'll make you a wager. Yeah, what's that? I'll bet not one in 50 people down there in the street knows the story of Christmas of Bethlehem the shepherd Oh, they know the story. All right. The strange thing about it is that they believe it You're right the miracle of Bethlehem is a myth. Are you sure of that, sir? Let's say who you you're new here, aren't you? Yes, I am. Oh, oh, I see a substitute there I suppose because some of the stuff are home trimming their Christmas trees Celebrating we don't matter. Of course. We just pay our dues. I'm here to serve you gentlemen And probably getting time and a half because it's Christmas Eve Well, we want to hot toddies. That's the only real thing about Christmas the clubs toddies. Yes, sir And hot means hot not lukewarm. Wait, wait. Tell me something. Yes, sir What did you mean just a moment ago and you said to me are you sure of that? Well, sir, you said the story of Christmas of Bethlehem and the shepherds was a myth. Yes. Yes. I said that. What about I'm sorry, sir I must disagree with you. What do you mean by that? Well, sir, you see the story of Christmas is true I know that for a fact it happened again only a year ago Stop talking in circles man. Explain yourself. Yes. What are you diving at the eternal story of Christmas, sir? It happened to real people. I heard about it from someone. I know heard about it from home Well, let's say he was a friend. He drove a truck carrying freight from here to Pittsburgh Two or three of them travel together as you might say in caravans and in genius beginning Caravans of trucks is it like camels in biblical days, eh? You might say so. All right. All right Go on with your story It was last Christmas Eve just a year ago tonight gentlemen This friend of mine His name is Michael was driving through Jersey on the way to Pittsburgh and this night He was alone on the road. The other drivers were home with their families As he passed through towns along the way he saw the houses and churches lighted up and his heart was heavy with loneliness Suddenly snow began to fall fall so thickly that he could hardly see anything ahead of him Mike drove along slowly feeling his way And all at once a figure of a man loomed up in the flood of his headlights stood there motionless in the middle of the road Mike had the slam on his brakes so that he wouldn't run over Hey now for the love of mic man, what do you mean standing the road like that? You could have got yourself rolled flooded in the pancake. Are you crazy? I'm sorry, mister, but I had to stop Yeah, a soldier, huh? Well, what's the idea? What do you want? Are you heading west? Sure, that's my general direction. Why well, could you give us a lift just a little way even into into some town? Maybe us Yeah, me and my wife. You're right But what are you talking about soldier? I left her back at a big sign over there. Well, I try to stop back of the Watchen. Look, he kind of protects him in the wind We've got to get into some town quick. Mr. Yeah, she said that before What are you two doing out in the night like this? Well, you see we're in a little tourist camp down the road And there was no chance of getting a doctor there. So we thought we could pick up a ride Look, mister, my wife's gonna have a baby. Well for the love of why didn't you say so in the first place? What do you use your brains for anyway, fella? Well, I yes. Well, don't you know, they've got to be kept warm now Now go and get her. Oh, thanks. Thanks. I'll only be a minute Run up against in the road to find thing me a delivery boy for the store I must have seen that sign a hundred times Golden rule department store our slogan is Do unto others as you'd have others do unto you Well, they couldn't have picked a better sign Look bud, hurry up. Oh, we're ready, mister Okay Get in gosh lady or you look half frozen I am kind of cold. Well, when I shut the door the angel will warm me up now Don't be afraid of crowding me the seats plenty wide for the All set. Yes, sir. Okay He'll find some place in the road and stop for some hot coffee That'll pull you out ma'am. I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't stopped for joe It's gonna be all right now. Mary honey. He understands. Well, I wouldn't say that joe You may be in a bachelor But like my mother used to put it bless her soul Babies manage somehow to make their way into the world. Yeah Uh, how far is it to the next town? Can we go a little faster? No, bud. You can't make time in the snow. Oh, don't worry joe I'm all right. Honest I am Very bound for son. Oh, st. Louis. St. Louis boy. You've got a long way to go. Yeah, but you see that's where mary was born Her folks still live there She wanted to be there and we had our baby. Oh, there isn't much time left on my furlough But I thought maybe we could make it at least I'd know I was leaving her in good hands. Oh, everything will be fine joe You'll see Just Just keep your arm around me Hold me closer. So there's a blanket in back there. I'll put it around her joe. Oh, thanks Boy, oh boy, this is a funny Christmas Eve for me to be spending Mike Riley with the family on his hands But don't think you're gonna get away without paying me for the trip folks. Paying you? Sure If the little one happens to be a boy, ma'am You can pay me by making one of his names Michael. Oh I think that could be arranged. Well, we're all of one mind. Then are we fine And back home. I've got the christen present already for the child the self same crib in which I was nursed in my father before me Come all the way from Ireland it is. Oh, that'd be wonderful Joe was going to make a crib all by himself. Oh, you see, he was a carpenter before he went in the army The best carpenter you ever saw. No, no, honey. I wasn't that good never try to argue with a woman joe What about that crib? I'm going to give you now Now that's something for a baby to stretch himself in with plenty of rooms to kick his legs in the air Hand carve it is all of it and and right at the head are two angels The little fella can't open his eyes without seeing them and this fine crib with all the trimmings Is yours, ma'am We feel very proud to have you as a godfather Mike Thank you. You don't mind if I call you Mike. It is ma'am The only time I get Michael is when I see it on the pay on board. Yeah. Yeah, I'm always joe Last man that called me joseph was the minister who married us remember honey. Yes. He was so nice. He said Joseph, do you take this woman? Mary you take this man Gee my knees were so wildly. I can hardly stand. Yeah, I remember how funny you look Oh nothing, I just feel a little sick. Mike, we gotta get it to a doctor. Oh, what can we do? We're going as fast as we can. If you're going any faster, we'll end up in the ditch We're going to do our best soldier and that's about all we can do Well, what's the rest of your story? Why did you stop? I just thought you might want your hot toddy, sir I'll never mind the toddies. You go on. Yes, go on Joseph Joseph the carpenter and his wife Mary I must admit the first part of your story has a very ingenious parallel But where do we go from here? Well the storm got worse and worse And the trucks tagged on through the blizzard it uh The night that never seemed to end Joe and Mary held on to each other desperately like two frightened children Mike was groping for words to help them if it wasn't easy Come out of it you two now. Will you come out now? No matter what happens you have each other Think of me riding up and down this road day in day out You don't know what it means not to have someone you can put your arms around and love I know Mike, but Mary's hardly more than a kid It's a little time together Why we haven't even done it. You don't know what you've got son You don't know what you've got compared to lots of other people He's right Joe so right Please listen to him now You take a fella like me Mary I go along the road passing by houses with all the lights shining out at me and the kids laughing and dogs barking and the people safe inside their houses And it gives me an emptiness in my stomach Because you see me and my truck we could disappear into darkness of the night and no one would Care one way or the other you know what I mean We come into this world Lonesome and it's a wonderful thing when you can find someone to start with you and feel all that emptiness What are you slowing down for Mike? You're stopping yeah, and not because we want to what is it Mike? I'm afraid the radiator's frozen up Gosh it stopped you're telling me Mike we got to think of something Mary's feeling awful bad and I'll keep your shirt on son We can't stay here in the middle of the road no no we can't here Joe take this flashlight open the door What is that sign say on the other side of the road there there? Uh, can you see yeah there One mile to Bethlehem one mile to Bethlehem why I know where we are You're gonna be okay. Mary. Okay Mile Might as well be a thousand miles right now not as bad as that Joe There's an old guy lives down the road a little way Which is much of a place it used to be a livery stable and when horses went out of style The old bird stuck a couple of gas pumps out in front. Yeah, but do you think you'll help us out? Sure, it'll help us. I buy gas from him. I do all the while. He's one of those Pennsylvania dutchmen folks call him Papa bower Mary put your arms around the neck and I'll carry it. I'm sorry to be so much trouble My trouble think nothing of it kid. Take the flashlight Joe. Yeah. Yeah, all right Huh? You're just a little wee bit of a girl Mary. I can hardly feel you in my arms Feel all right, honey. Of course. I know we're safe now, dear Snow's getting deeper Better stay here in the middle of the road, Mike. We'll be there in a minute Let me hold your hand Joe. Sure honey, sure I'm scared I'm scared Joe hold on to her hand tight Joe. That's what she wants more than anything else I'm all right. I gotta hurry Mike Where is this place? I can't see anything but snow. We'll get there Joe. We've just got to keep going too Keep going it's not far now Look, look there. There it is. Where where there? I knew I was around here Take take Mary Joe. Let's see if I can wake up the old man I suppose he isn't home. He's got to be home Bar let's make it snappy Yeah, and I got trouble in my hands. I've got to use your telephone I need some hot water for my truck. It's throws up down the road We'll be inside in a minute Mary. How are you feeling? Fine Mike if you could only make Joe believe it Don't worry about him. He believes it. Don't you Joe? Oh, oh, yeah. Yeah, sure You've got to forgive him Mary. He can't help acting like a father. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's right That that's all Mary Mike is fainted Mary Mary Waited a few minutes Joe and Mike and Mary minutes that seemed like hours Papa Bauer finally came down and let them in there. They were Mary and Joseph and Mike Riley In a stable near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania That's pretty good Mary and Joseph and Mike Riley Yeah, but uh, what about the shepherds and the wise men? Oh, they came And there was a star too. Oh come now. Would you like me to finish Joe? That all means I wouldn't miss this for the world. No nirai, go on Well, Mike and Papa Bauer started calling up doctors for Mary, but it was Christmas Eve They didn't see many of them were at home. They must have tried about 20 doctors going right down the list But all they got were maids who said they'd try and find doctor so-and-so and tell them about it They were getting desperate Mary and Joe were upstairs in Papa Bauer's room and they all knew Mary's baby would be born Yeah, this one's out too My my what do you have to do to get a doctor around here anyway? Well, Mike is you know Christmas Eve Yeah, well look you keep on the phone Bauer. I'm going upstairs. Let me know if you have any luck. I keep my drowning How is she Joe? Oh, I don't know. Did you get a doctor? The old man's still in the phone You mean you can't find a doctor? Oh Mike, it's not fair. You you can't expect to have a baby in a stable with no one to help her Don't worry Joe. Please darling. Don't worry. It's all right to say, but we're only kidding ourselves Now wait a minute kid. Don't make it any worse for her May I have some water? Sure, Mary. All the water you want Hey, honey You just sit down Joe. No, no, no right here on the bed Listen Joe You said something about a woman having a baby all by herself in a stable Well, I'm not exactly a religious guy But I can remember my grandfather telling me a story. I never forgot. Oh Mike, this is no time for stories It's always time for this story Joe And I can still see the old boy's gentle smile as he told it to me Went something like this The birth of young jesus he'd say was a miraculous thing It happened in those days that Joseph came to Bethlehem with his wife, Mary Who was great with child There was no room for them nor accommodations But there in a stable she brought forth her firstborn child A son And wrapped him in swaddle clothes And because she didn't have a crib she put him in a manger Now in that part of the country near Bethlehem in the holy land There were some shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night And what do you suppose happened? An angel of the lord came down to them The glory of the lord shone all around them They were pretty scared these shepherds But the angel said to them Ah, you don't have to be afraid I'm bringing your tidings a great joy Which shall belong to all people Right now In the city of Bethlehem A child is born He's the savior of all men And you'll find him lying in a manger And suddenly With the angel was a heavenly host praising god and saying Glory be to god in the highest and on earth peace Goodwill toward men It's beautiful, Mike Only which I could have told it to you like my grandfather did Mike, Mike, come with me down Well, I guess maybe Bauer caught up with the doctor Oh, I hope so Now I'll be right back What is it, Bauer? Did you find the doctor? No, but listen Do you hear? Do I? Wait a minute That's police siren I wonder what is the trouble yet I don't know Hey, they're coming here Is he coming? Maybe now we can get some help Don't you see, maybe they can round up a dock or take Mary to a hospital All right, you guys, come on, stick them up It's okay, chief, I got them covered And what goes on here? Are you coppers nuts or something? Yeah, what do you want? You'll find out Keep reaching for the ceiling Now wait a minute, you guys, and keep quiet Will you? There's somebody upstairs who needs a doctor and needs him back We know all about it We brought a doctor along Did you hear that, Mike? Yeah All right, Dr. Henshaw, I'll keep these two guys covered you upstairs You too, Wilson And be careful They may be desperate Okay, come on, doc Chief, what's the big idea? You phoned for a doctor, didn't you? Sure, but we... We didn't hope for this kind of service I am a fireclaw-fighting man Everybody knows Papa Vow Never mind Stand up against the wall, you two Ah, what's your name? Mike Reilly I suppose you don't know anything about the stick-up at the country club tonight Stick-up? Or listen, chief, I'm a truck driver on Mount Pittsburgh Ah, now I'll tell one Well, it's true My truck's parked just up the road with a frozen radiator Hey, Swenson, go see if there's a truck around here Yeah, chief What I can't understand is who sent you here Yeah, all we did was phone for a doctor And that's where you made your mistake Huh? One of the doctors you phoned was Dr. Henshaw, one upstairs He's a member of the Bethlehem Vigilance Committee The which? You heard me A group of professional businessmen Who'll make it a point to suppress crime, huh? And what's the criminal about what's happening here? Quiet! Three members of the committee were at the country club When you pulled up that stick-up Dr. Henshaw, lawyer marshy, Mr. Davis Who owns the Golden Rule Department Store And Dr. Henshaw has made phone and said There was a rush call out here They put two and two together and called me at headquarters Well, I'm afraid they're going to be surprised Ah, yeah We'll see who's surprised The job was pulled by a marble fork The fourth guy was a little slow on the getaway As he was leaving, he saw a pendant that Mrs. Henshaw was wearing And stopped to rip it off By the time he got to the door, the steward had a chance to get the gun out of his desk And he winked this fourth guy in the leg So naturally, he'd been eating a doctor And so these three wise guys think they can pin it on us Chief, you may not know it But you've seen a miracle happen tonight I don't know what you're talking about No, we'll find out It's okay now, Chief What's okay, Wilson? We got here just in time Where's the doc? Oh, he's upstairs And you ought to see the little rascal who caused all this commotion He's ought to be good bowers Yeah, yeah I don't see what's so funny You should have seen him, Chief Sweet as a lamb Huh? Didn't he make any fuss? Not a single yep out of him Did he pull any rough stuff? Only grabbed hold of my finger Wilson, you can drink him Now, put yourself together Listen carefully What did he say? Will he talk? Well, in a year, maybe You can't expect too much Wilson, what are you talking about? The baby, of course The whore Do you say a baby? That's what he said I heard him Well, for a flat foot No, no, no, Chief Watch your language There's a child in the house I was gonna kiss him But Dr. Henshaw said I might give him germs Did you hear that, Bauer? It's a hymn Yeah, is it not wonderful And in my stable already? Oh, listen Will you be listening to him now? With a pair of lungs like those There's no telling what he'll make of himself in the world And now, Chief, if you put that gun down I'll be on my way upstairs Why? I think I'll go with you Sure, and why not not? And you know, once the little darling Sets his eyes on my beam and countenance He'll be nothing but smiles And while I'm at it, Chief I'm going to ask him what he was doing At the country club tonight You know, he's much too young To be doing gallivant So, you see, gentlemen There was Mary, Joseph, and the baby In that stable in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania There were the doctor, the lawyer, and the merchant Three very wise and good men And though they've made quite a mistake The police were there too Shepherds of the law, you might call them In many ways, it was like the story of that of the Bethlehem And as I said before There was even a star A star? Oh, yes Remember I said the policeman were trailing a stolen pendant? Yes Well, that pendant was a star sapphire And that's what the wise men and the shepherds were looking for When they arrived at Papa Bowers' stable Oh, star sapphire Think of that And did these wise men of yours bring gifts? Yes, sir The merchant, Mr. Davis, brought clothes for the baby from his store Dressed him f***ing warm And the doctor gave Mary and your big Christmas dinner Brought it all the way out to Papa Bowers Mike was there in half the police force What about the lawyer? Oh, he did his part He made all the arrangements for Mary and the baby to go to her folks in St. Louis In real style What do you think of that? What do I think of it? I think it's one of the most heartwarming stories I ever heard I think it calls for a drink Right, and you must join us, waiter Now what do you say to some hot Christmas parties? You're very kind, sir, but I must ask you to excuse me Nonsense, your story has turned what promise to be a long, dreary evening Into a most enjoyable one An evening I shall never forget Hey, Gordon I should say so This is the first Christmas even years that I haven't felt well Lonely is the word you're looking for, God Yes, that's it, lonely If I may say so, gentlemen There's never any need for loneliness And especially at Christmas time There's a cure for loneliness And it's very simple All you have to do is to find someone who is poor and unhappy And bring them the warmth of charity and understanding Now if you'll excuse me I have to attend my duty You know, Townsend, there's something strange about that fellow Yes, but I did enjoy his story Townsend, maybe there's more to Christmas than we thought Possibly we built a shell around us A shell through which the good things, the kind things, can't get through Yes, and I took a waiter to show it to us Well, Townsend, I wonder what that fellow's doing about those studies I'd better ring Well, why do you suppose he wouldn't have a Christmas study with us? Oh, I don't know, probably he's... This gentleman, could you ring? Oh, oh, it's you, Townsend Oh, yes, Mr. Gordon, naturally Oh, I thought you were off tonight, huh? Oh, no, sir, not on Christmas Eve Well, then why did you have that other man we done this? Other man? What other man? Why, the man who just left us The man we've been talking to I'm afraid I don't understand, sir My station is just outside the door Aside from you two gentlemen, I've seen no one enter or leave this room Oh, what? That's right, sir And I can assure you that we have no extra waiters on tonight No extra waiters? Uh, wait, wait, Gordon All right, Townsend Please bring us three hot patties Did you say three, sir? Yes, Townsend Three One for Mr. Gordon One for me And one for the, shall we say, the spirit of Christmas This is Victor Jory, friends I do hope you've enjoyed our Christmas play And you know this is, this Christmas is unusual because Americans will observe Christmas this year In many, many parts of the world In many different ways Yes, in many different ways As one small voice in the never-to-be-still Spirit of Christmas I want to express you the deep and sincere holiday wishes Of all of us who bring you Vicks Matinee Theatre Our producers, our cast, our director Our writers and our technical men Mr. Warno and his orchestra And our sponsor, Vicks To you, our audience We say thanks for your many expressions of appreciation for our efforts The knowledge that you're enjoying our productions And to your relatives in the service of our country You can't be with you tomorrow Well, God bless them And bring them back safely for another Christmas Thank you, and a very merry Christmas Today's play was by David Victor and Herbert Little Jr. It was based on an original story by Charles Tazwell It was directed by Richard Sanville Next Sunday, Vicks Matinee Theatre Will bring you the story of a woman who couldn't spare the time for love And a man who changed her mind The gay romantic paramount comedy In which Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray Made such a delightful couple Next week, No Time for Love Starring Victor Jory This is CBS, The Columbia Broadcasting System