 proudly we hail now another proudly we hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half-hours starring Lee Tracy and presented transcribed by your army and your Air Force Radio City New York here is your star and host on proudly we hail the distinguished Broadway stage screen and radio star Lee Tracy bang heart and hello everyone welcome again to proudly we hail our play it takes us to France in 1793 for a tale of suspense and terror during the French revolution at the Ken short message we'll be ready to begin the first act the United States Air Force needs trained veterans now yes the Air Force needs radio and radar technicians engine mechanics communications technicians weather technicians and many others specialists if you have such a critical skill you can reinlist if qualified in the grades you held when you were honorably discharged or even in a higher grade for complete details go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station today and now with your star Lee Tracy in the role of John your army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production of ride by night 1793 and the reign of terror holds all France in its terrible grip madam guillotine is queen and the world has gone mad within her kingdom the revolution has reached its bloody climax and no one within the borders of France is safe from its terrible rat a new calendar has been adopted the days of the month changed old religion has been swept away and in its place has been instituted the worship of reason reason where there is no reason only chaos and a madman named Robespierre rules the citizen is in a hurry wrong the citizen is not in a hurry he didn't see you squatting there like a beetle your papers and be quick the citizen is in a hurry hold your tongue from America John Nathan Holt s square and what brings you to France I wanted to find out if it was true that everybody was interested in everybody else's business it is true citizen Holt we are all equal here where are you bound for the moon now thank you for my paper not so fast how do I know these are not forged how do I know you are not in a restore how does an American speak French so well my mother poor woman happened to be born in your fair land thus my knowledge of the language as for the other you'll have to take my word why should I take your word for anything I can see from your ugly face that such a suggestion is pointless so hand over those papers before I put a bullet in your head all right now throw your rifle over there in the bushes come on come on I don't have all day the citizen will regret this hand me those papers and no tricks I mean business now friend guard listen well in my country we treat our visitors with kindness we make them welcome you should learn a little of it you want to know where I'm bound for ask with courtesy and I don't mind telling you this road leads to Paris that's where I'm bound good day a friend from across the sea you you are Jonathan Holt at your service ma'am well come in quickly you must not be seen here but the square no one saw me I'm sorry I can make no light come into the back we have a candle there give me your hand I'll lead you they don't know we're here sorry I wasn't able to get here sooner we had a rough passage that you have come at all as a noble thing what about Phillip here we are you were you're our Haleen yes who's that my father he's asleep he's not well he's very weary you live here in this shell of a house yes there's nowhere else to go they do not come here is Phillip still in prison have you seen him only from a distance poor Phillip he's been there for over six months they'll kill him soon and maybe that will be better than we can stop this foolish hoping and go away is it possible to bribe the guard must your Holt in France today it is possible to bribe anyone this is the age of reason I must go now we can never thank you or we pay you for coming here like this somehow now that you're here I do not feel it is so so hopeless my father will be most happy when I tell him I can't promise a thing but regardless of what happens I'll see to it that no harm comes to you or your father you're a very gallant man and probably not a little foolish you must watch your tongue and go very carefully that's good advice for anyone I'll be back tomorrow night now remember madam of all the Bastille could be broken into then this prison can be broken out of good morning citizen is it citizen well better than some not as good as others you're in charge here the the commandant so my papers an American one would ever know from the way you speak the inheritance of a French mother you do not come to France in a very happy time so I've been able to see where will it end I don't know a citizen Holt perhaps Robespierre can tell you what do you wish in this place may I shut the door it is better not to people get suspicious and before you know it citizen Ducro is riding in a car to the guillotine I'd like to see one of your prisoners I thought as much it's against the rules would this change the rule get another sight monsieur who is this prisoner you wish to see his name is and Ray Dave Bill Moran ah yes the Duke the Vilmor has little time left I was it that you know him I might have an America I heard he was here and I thought the least I could do was to try and make what few hours he has left a little more comfortable such a gracious gesture you Americans are touching well quiet citizen Ducro is thinking if you want to put what I saw you take out of your pocket between the open pages of this ledger I think it might be arranged in a few minutes the prisoners will be allowed to air themselves in the courtyard I shall give you the pass of a prison inspector go through that door and down the steps the guard at the gate will let you in when you're through and they would not stay too long return here agree agree how am I ever gonna find him in this crowd Philip don't turn around don't turn around it's me Jonathan Jonathan how did you know never mind that I'm supposed to be seeing a Duke the Vilmor wrong I didn't want him to know I've seen you just answer my questions you know how much time you've got no you never know been here a long time I shouldn't think I had much all right I brought a black wig and a pair of spectacles can you keep them hidden yes but that won't work don't argue don't argue put your back to me and I'll hand them to you stuff them up your sleeve how'd you get in here commandant and I are old friend can you tell if anyone is watching us without it it's too crowded all right now walk around in front of me I'm going to give you some money and a prison inspector's past how can you get out without the pass well let me worry about that the man who let me in here I'm gonna find it prudent not to say anything about a missing slip of paper which might cost him his head is there any way of finding out if your name is on the death list before it's read off no not that I know of and we got a trust to your luck for another day tomorrow as soon as they let you out here put on the wig and the spectacles you can't help someone seeing you do it but try and arrange so they're your friends I can do that without any trouble then what after you've been here about half an hour go to that gate there give the guard your pass and when he asks to see your papers hand him the money but my clothes look at them they're in rags he wouldn't dare let me out money or not I'm gonna leave my cloak and my hat on this bench carry them on your arm Jonathan it's wonderful of you to try and help me like this but it can't work or if it does fail you can be no worse often you are right now it's worth the chance Philip only chance that I can think of now when when the guard lets you out of the courtyard go along the corridor as boldly as you can as though you own the stinking pest hole the way this place is laid out I'm sure it'll bring you to the east gate I'll be there to help you out now how are you going to get out of here without a pet my papers are all in order and I found that money is the key to many doors I gotta go Philip there's still much to be done have you seen Aline and my father yes yes last night it was her letter that brought me good old Jonathan more tricks than a monkey I'll see you tomorrow Philip at the east gate if you're not there I'll know something went wrong we'll have to think of another scheme if I'm not there I won't be any more schemes I can't let you out without a pass I will listen to you for a path would have my head for this but the man must be reasonable tomorrow after noon I can't believe it here is what you must do hold on citizen you seem to be over anxious to leave our little palace this truth enough in that the stench would drop an elephant unbother gate unbother gate citizen it is easy enough to unbar for those who enter but for those who wish to leave it is another matter your papers are weak stomach perhaps this pass will satisfy you citizen inspector I'm beginning to think all of France has made up of citizen inspectors perhaps you can tell me how this happens to bear yesterday's date since we have seen fit to change the calendar around I don't wonder the days get mixed up don't blame me for your incompetence open the gate I haven't all day not so fast let's have a look at your papers mr. no at all you think I'll get away from here you're done you bet I'm drunk what else can a decent Frenchman do dogs like you're giving authority if you don't hold your tongue I'll report you to the prefect out here hold it for me I'll mop up the gutter with you we'll see about that ah Lee Tracy starring in the role of John in the proudly we hail production of ride by night will return for the second act in just a moment here's a word about the vital job young women are doing in the United States Air Force women in the Air Force work on equal terms with the men are doing interesting jobs jobs of vital importance in support of the United States Air Force how about you young women between the ages of 18 and 34 can you qualify in the WAF stop in at your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station for full details you are listening to proudly we hail now your army and your Air Force present the second act of ride by night did Philip get here yes yes he got here oh where is he huh what what's the matter he's in there with father father won't be going oh I see I'm I'm terribly sorry thank you he was very tired Eileen's told you yes Philip I I don't like to rush here but time is precious every second of it we've got to leave right away I know perhaps it's for the best father would have been only a burden never would have wanted to be that you mean we we can't even he's with God that's all that matters Eileen the rest well it's ceremony we have no time for it John you were superb I thought my goose was cooked I didn't even recognize until you started to howl at the guard we can talk about that later Eileen you look fine in those peasant clothes but you look too clean get your hands good and dirty and smear dirt on your face pull your hair down make it look straggly you look yeah just right Phil I should after six months in that stinking hole I'll change my clothes and we'll get started I gotta get out of Paris before they close the gates the sundown with luck they won't know you've escaped until tomorrow we've got to put as much distance between us in this place as we can are you going to say goodbye to my father how'd you ever get this rig I bought it from a hungry farmer as well as the clothes how how can we get through the gate without papers I have papers now here's what we'll do here are my papers out of those two sleeping beauties back there they they have no papers they're escaping a ristole I can believe that you should I can tell you another I'm I'm not really Pierre Blanchard I'm the ghost of uh of Louis on its way to England listen to this one shock he's got a belly full of wine or he's gone mad ah no they're they're the ones that are full of wine I'm just in a hurry to get out of here before someone accuses me of plotting against the Republic and goes yes I know France is mad we're all mad here pass on the air Blanchard you just made it from time the sun is nearly down we'll close the gates now can't go any faster we'll attract attention somehow we got to ditch this thing and get hold of some horses we should be almost a Sancho man why don't we leave the cart on the outskirts and walk into town we might be able to buy some horses no we're apt to be noticed and these clothes people can't afford to buy horses after dark no one buys a horse unless he wants to arouse suspicion what do you suggest then I suggest that we skirt send your main all together and head north that'll leave us two escape routes either Calais and a ship to England or crossing over into Belgium well that still doesn't tell us how we're going to get horses I know well we'll just have to go on like this for a while trust the luck that must be the stable there I'd say the town was tucked in for the night Eileen you stay right here we won't be long but suppose something happens to you nothing is going to happen to us if it does try to get to the border oh the man jokes come on Phil we'll be back soon Eileen and with horses who goes there here here here's some rope time up gag him I'll get the horses it's almost daylight had a long ride that pine woods there looks like a good spot to hide for the day what about food that's what's in the sack not much we'll have to make it last is there anything that you don't think of I can answer that no we ride along the bank of the river and cross by 40 since flood we could never do it this is the only way but there are guards at either end of the bridge and if that patroller went by during the day was looking for us they'll be on the lookout down there yeah yeah true enough still we've got to cross or make a wide detour men forget about Calais in the bargain well if we rush them no no good the bridge is too long waiting for us at the other end it seems hopeless well bluff has worked before gotta make it work again Eileen tie up your hair in this neck plop Philip give her your jacket you can wear my pants don't worry I wore these things over the clothes I had on now this is our this is our plan stop gaping like the hollow-headed ape you are has anyone anyone passed over this bridge in the last two hours why I know sir not that I've seen are you sure fool think hard your dirty neck there was only the coach sir but that was just after sundown cope the coach you imbecile and you let them cross there their their papers were all in order they were stamped by the stamp by the devil they were forged didn't the patrol give you a warning to be on the lookout for an escaped enemy of the republic well did they yeah yes sir but they said there were probably three of them and there were four in the carry ah you idiot one of them was a prisoner of the other three lift the gate and thank your patron saint that I'm in such a hurry open it up I say forward what are we doing to get ahead jump and ride for your life I say we make for the border they can't watch every foot of it whereas they can watch they dock to Calais I agree that seems our best hope our horses are only done in we've come a long way in four days do you know of any particular place it would be best to cross over well this is the road to Cambrai I say we pass to the south of it and head for the Cato then make for Moberg and cross on the north side of the sombra you know the country somewhat good now we'd better find a place to rest for the day they seem to be as impatient as we to be gone we owe them a lot are you ready Philip ready all right who knows perhaps by tomorrow we'll be in Belgium we've made good time let's look at tow back there yeah I know but where's the river the sombras over there to the right we'll uh we'll parallel it are we gonna stop soon it's getting late I say let's keep going we're nearly there we have no more food the horses if we let them stop probably won't be able to start again another two hours should put us across it's not safe Phil nothing is safe Jonathan we've had good luck so far see nothing of any patrol since we crossed the bridge why dolly our luck won't last forever well something in what you say but I've always found it's better not to take a chance unless you have to what do you say oh it would be wonderful to cross the border today I guess I'm overruled well we better get as close as we can before sunup nobody's paid much attention to us no now how much farther huh oh no right into the arms of a patrol the patrol they couldn't be behind us they would have to be in front of us we'd better start moving north is best they trap us at the river come on they're gaining on us do you see do you see where the road makes a sharp turn around these woods yes as soon as we reach it pull into the woods and stop the brow of this hill will hide us when they come over it they'll think we've gone on around the curve they'll stop shooting they can't do much shooting over the top of a hill all right now rain up follow me here they come oh start crying easy there old boy following the road we do have a moment to lose forget the road we'll take to the fields and head straight for the border come on I think we gave them a slip where's the border seems we've been riding for hours I don't know seem we should have been there long ago I Jonathan put down your pistol it's no good they've got us good morning gentlemen you look like you've ridden foreign hard I come upon many like you these days welcome to Belgium Belgium I beg your pardon mademoiselle I mistook you for a man in those clothes captain do you mean we're really in Belgium but of course you'll follow me I'll take you where you can eat and rest then you can tell us about yourselves you know it's a pleasure to meet you a real pleasure lead on captain we're at your service our star Lee Tracy will return with a word about next week's program in just a moment here's a word to Air Force veterans if you've had the necessary training and experience you can enlist in your old grade or better skip basic training and be assigned initially to a nearby Air Force base this holds good for veterans of other services too we've had the kind of special training the Air Force needs if you are qualified in radio radar maintenance weather armament photography and many other fields there's a place for you stop at your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Station and find out where you are needed on one of the world's greatest teams enlist in the Air Force now this has been another program on proudly we hail presented in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force Recruiting Service proudly we hail stars Lee Tracy ride by night was written by DeWitt Cough the music was composed and conducted by John Guarnieri this program was produced under the supervision of Charles and Rogers Productions and directed by Charles Wilkes this is Kenneth Banghart speaking and here again as your host and star Lee Tracy join us again next week for proudly we hail over the same station won't you our play is a moving drama entitled final choice a story of a man's decision a decision which might mean life or death until then goodbye