 dedicated to the strength of the nation proudly we hail yes probably we hail starring dame Clark in a Christmas story is stranger the United States Army and United States Air Force presentation now here is our producer the well-known Hollywood showman CP McGregor thank you thank you and greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen welcome to your theater of stars where at this time we present dame Clark in a special Christmas play the stranger this is a heartwarming story of an American lieutenant who pauses in a small town for a Christmas dinner with an old couple he finds the memories of two wars are revived and helps to discover an ending to a story that has remained incomplete for three decades lieutenant George fondy receives and also gives his greatest Christmas present now we are ready for the curtain for act one of the stranger starring dame Clark as lieutenant fondy the way it happened was almost a miracle it was late afternoon the little park in the square seemed festive beneath its mantle of snow in the winter hush footsteps could be heard hurrying toward home as they do in any town on Christmas Eve the few people stirring at no time for a stranger only young lieutenant George fondy lingered feeling as isolated as the trees his heart almost as naked watching the softly falling snow he felt at peace and his mind was far away when very Christmas oh very Christmas sir I hope you don't mind our barging up to you I'm George Colby a mother here you wanted to say Merry Christmas Daisy this is lieutenant ten and George fondy sir but I know you ma'am and a Merry Christmas to you thank you George the lieutenant what is it mother I just thought and your name is George too yes ma'am your exchange here in town center have you folks here I'm a stranger sir just passing through he might say this is a nice little park you have here the snow makes it so pretty doesn't it father I wonder if the lieutenant would like to come home with us for Christmas Eve dinner I'm sure Martha could manage say that's a good idea but perhaps lieutenant fondy has other plans for this evening well oh now he can come all right I just know he could wait here I'll phone Martha and tell her to expect a guest and we'll have a few extra trimmings a son why you just have to spend Christmas Eve with us we have a lot of things in common a pair of George's I won't be I hope we didn't rush your lieutenant father so impetuous oh it's all right ma'am I I had nowhere to go you know mr. Colby certainly the handsome man he is a fine man no one ever guesses him to be 70 really every day of it now look so closely at me lieutenant I can almost see you counting up to 65 plus oh no ma'am I was just thinking of someone else who is dainty like you only she was younger and her hair was very dark it's all set Martha's all excited did a long time since we celebrated Martha's an excellent cook Mrs. Colby that was one of the best dinners I've ever eaten by it's a real pleasure to have you with us there you've made it a gala evening son are you both very kind and I've enjoyed being here now this there's something about a home that I'm afraid that we haven't enjoyed ours very much in the past 26 years now mother take it easy I know how you feel ma'am still home is a home is a wonderful place you know that's how I felt and I met the new mrs. Colby back in 1896 she was such a pretty little thing now the country was sweet with summertime and so I don't see why we can't get married right now just a little longer George until we have a thousand dollars in the bay easy why well I have a good job in the mill with last month's raise we could get along fine well maybe we could get married early this fall an Indian summer wedding and we'll invite all the boys at the mill huh you know George sometimes I feel like I'm marrying your beloved woman male oh sweetheart it isn't that bad is it hello Daisy how did everything go for my little wife today oh yes but I just know that I'm the world's worst cook look at that jelly does look a little thin doesn't it oh then it's watery oh what are we care come here let me tell you what happened at the mill today now George you mustn't the most sticky what happened madam you are now addressing the foreman of the mill foreman oh Joe yes sorry and they told me if I keep up the good work I'll be manager someday oh that's wonderful I'm so proud of you I knew you'd make it and George I have news for you too not more jelly or did you conquer that cake recipe now please dearie be serious all right I'm serious now tell me the news I'm bursting with curiosity well George we're we're going to have a baby Daisy honest are you sure well of course I'm sure silly I saw the doctor today he says everything is just fine oh George isn't wonderful yeah it's hard to believe imagine me a father are you glad the baby is a boy oh yes look how peacefully he sleeps isn't he beautiful uh-huh yeah well I guess he is little George junior that's who he is that's what I wanted you to say Daisy George junior hey look at the shape of his head what's the man anyone can tell that he'll be a great man might even be president someday oh you're so silly he probably will be just a normal little boy with a very proud father and mother Daisy or Daisy where are you here I am dear goodness what's all the excitement well I went and did it what I bought an interest in the mill today oh George I'm so glad you've wanted to for so long yep it's quite an accomplishment after all these tough years oh but we've been so very happy together we three and been pretty swell just think Daisy before we know it George will be in college just one more year a year sure old by hard to believe he's 17 already almost a man I've been thinking he's always said he'd like to go into the mill yes maybe we can give him an interest in the mill for a graduation present oh then he'll feel he is a part of it war has been declared on Germany oh George no I'm afraid what'll happen to our young George will he have to leave college I don't think so at least not for the present oh surely there must be something I must write to him right away now mother don't get excited but the lad is 19 we must let him make his own decisions oh I'll answer it mother hello yes George how are you son yes I think so mother it's George he wants us to meet him in New York for the weekend we're bound it doesn't seem possible isn't he handsome he's a good-looking lad everyone was so nice to us wherever we went it wasn't us they were nice to mother your son's uniform did the trick oh now really far anyway we had a perfectly wonderful time didn't we yeah you know I've never been in so many nightclubs and and churches I know sweetheart funny how you seem to need both at a time like this isn't it yes I guess I guess I'm getting awfully wicked but I really like champagne why mother you amazed me it was fun though wasn't it yes it was somehow I feel as though I'd tried to squeeze a whole lifetime into those three little days I know mother now stop worrying everyone says it's going to be a short war oh I hope so I hope so the boy will be back safe and sound before you know it I'm gonna hold that thought maybe then it it won't seem so lonely without him good idea you know what we'll do when he gets back we'll go on a trip around the world just the three of us the three of us like like last summer in Maine we had such a wonderful time I'm glad we had that summer so am I come on mother get your things together we're getting pretty close to home oh George what a beautiful little tree that's what I thought I couldn't resist buying it let's trim it tonight even if it is two days before Christmas yes let's here stand it here in the bay window George look out there by the curb looks like that messenger boy is coming here stay here mother I'll get it telegram for George Colby senior I'll take it okay sign here okay thank you who is it from father I don't know it's from the mother you you better sit down it it couldn't be about George tell me read it to me it says George Colby junior missing in action somewhere in France because briefly from our story the stranger starring Dane Clark to bring you a brief message from our government once a year the white of snow in the red of Santa Claus's old suit arouse memories that will not be denied to us at home it's easy to recapture those memories even to relive them of the days when we too were children and our stockings hung by the fireplace but for the men of our armed forces stationed far from home in places where the closest thing to snow is the white sand of the beaches or the closest thing to the red of Santa's suit is the blossom of the hibiscus flower it isn't easy but Christmas with all its memories is in their hearts and they are thinking of you remember this remember them and know that they send you a heartfelt Christmas greeting the curtain rises on act two of the stranger starring Dane Clark as Lieutenant George fondy it is Christmas Eve in the big white house where Daisy and George Colby had known so much joy and so much sorrow they are celebrating Christmas for the first time in 26 years their only guest is a stranger Lieutenant George fondy a world war flier with the Colby's met in the park that afternoon dinner is over and mr. Colby has just finished telling the young lieutenant about his son George junior a flier in the first world war and of that day many years before when he read the words George Colby junior missing in action you know son I've told you more about our boy than anyone I ever met I don't know what got into me we never talk about our George to anyone I think I don't know why I've talked so much or even why we asked you here maybe it's because of this second war or because your name happens to be George or maybe it's because this is our first Christmas home after so long that's your right mother I don't know I you know I guess I've got to be going it's almost 11 o'clock so it is but before you go son how about some final brandy and Randy let me that be swell sir thanks we opened this bottle the last Christmas our boy was with us he came up from school for the holidays here your mother thank you time now a toast a toast to yeah yeah let's let's make it toast say maybe I ought to tell you about my family oh please do lieutenant you know I'm sort of a mixture my dad was American and mother God bless it was French but your name is French well it is you see Fondie was my mother's name you see dad had a week's leave soon after he got overseas in 1917 he met mother in Paris the first night Adrian Fondie was a name why it's a beautiful name she was a beautiful girl very young and lonely see she was an orphan however in the world did she manage well she worked in a dress making shop oh mother was wonderful with a needle anyway it was love at first sight they were married the day after they met in a church sure sure mother said it was a clean little place on the outskirts of Paris oh that's nice it's always best to be married in a church I guess it is well anyway they spent the rest of the week honeymoon enjoying the sidewalk cafes picnicking in the parks walking beneath the stars or in the rain go on son well they made a lot of plans naturally they thought it was going to be a short war and he would take his Adrian back to America when it was over oh and so they came to America no no dad never came back he was one of the missing who never turned up and then mother found out that I was coming and she became panicky dad was gone and she must not lose me she was afraid of being an orphan again poor kid you see she had a sort of a phobia she was afraid that dad's parents would take her child away from her that she would be alone again oh but they they wouldn't have done that no I guess not but you couldn't convince mother so she decided to have a go at it alone that's why it was christened her name and then when the war was over she brought me to America just as dad had planned she must have been a plucky girl she was there the best scared of death of losing me you know it was pathetic she couldn't help it anyway she wanted to fight her battles alone that's the spunky type who make good Americans I should have seen her sir you should have seen her the day she became a citizen now I was still in grade school but she took the day off and then we went to all the places in New York that we both left so and afterwards we celebrated in a little French restaurant and mother had a chair placed the head of the table for dad well of course she would but she must have been lonely with only a little boy no that's where you're wrong she was completely happy a few close friends and me and the memory of dad she needed nothing more except for me to be exactly like my father he was so fine you must be like him he must have been swell the very best now you'll be good study out in the school where my mother's it works sure sure and someday when I get a job I'll get you everything you want sure you're not gonna have to work I'll get you made in this little flat course not we'll have a house mom a big one and an automobile a fur coat and diamonds diamonds yes sir I'll get you diamonds just like your father mother you see today's paper yes George you mean this trouble in Europe it looks bad yeah looks like it's getting worse too America will be in it before it's over just like the last time you'll see a sherry answer the fellow say it's just a matter of time too bad but it's true well it's about time for news this surprise attack on Pearl Harbor will go down in history as one of them are you listening to me my sherry I've known all along how you would feel you do not want to leave me yet you want to help just as your papa did in 1970 no mother I I was it will be hard to part from you but I cannot stand in your way you have two countries my sherry go and fight for both thank you mother I wanted I know you want to fly like he did yes I got a short leave I just flew with minglin my sherry you look so beautiful in that uniform oh I'm so proud of you look darling I brought you something there's only a small box of gas shame on your mother it's a soil of your beloved Paris I'm not going to be here long how about us having some fun before I go back anything you say sherry all right I'll show you how romantic New York can be almost as wonderful as parents never what will we do first Central Park and a handsome then dinner than a theater than a best nightclub in town that's the last time I saw my mother my first mission out after that leave I got it very bad son no just scratched up a little nothing serious and then what prison camps for a year oh how dreadful could have been worse well were you able to write to your mother sure I wrote as often as I could oh well that's good she didn't get my letters not one after I escaped to England was returned home I found out worried a lot well she was spared that when I got home she was she was gone heart attack guess she thought I'd never come back to her like like that that was pretty tough going son yep now I'm just a guy with no roots no family hey what's the matter I shouldn't have told you about my mother and dad you you both look kind of upset oh it's not that son it's the bells it must be midnight it's it's Christmas lieutenant another Christmas without him Mrs. Corby come on now you're going to make the old gentleman feel bad too if you don't perk up forgive me lieutenant sure sure but here let me show you a real spunky gal yes of course one I used to spend Christmas I've got these snaps wedged in my wallet so tight I can't get them out oh here you are oh father hand me my glasses please they're on the end table I thank you well who is it lieutenant mother age 10 oh she's so sweet it's done pretty too and this one is mother and me it just that's why I got my wing even prettier in this one son I think so and this one here is is one of mother and dad the last day they were together it's a little faded wait I I just take it over here under the lamp I want father what is it mother what is it I've got her sir she fainted here we take this picture I'll carry Mrs. Kobe over to the divan now if we had a glass of water my help here here son here try this bandy all right there she's there she's coming around yeah thanks thanks that's okay nothing to thank me for I just happened to be here when she caved in son wait mr. Kobe we you look pretty white yourself you're trembling here give me that snapshot of mother and dad take this brandy now I'm worried about both of you no need to worry now everything's all right but mother and me we we want to say Merry Christmas grandson throughout the ages Christmas has served to center our thoughts on home today the men of your army and your Air Force in Europe in the Arctic in the far flung outposts of the Pacific want you to know they are thinking of you to you fellow Americans gathered around your paternal you log they send their heartfelt Christmas greetings who among men can utter with more sincerity the age all prayer for peace on earth goodwill toward men back at the microphone our star Dane Clark and our producer Dane thanks for a fine performance I understand you just returned from the veterans hospital tour over the nation CP when the Hollywood Coordinating Committee asked the screen actors guilt to make the tour into the 107 veterans hospitals around the country everyone who could jump to the chance now that you're back what do you think well I think it was the most exhilarating and the most heartwarming experience of my life that's what I hear from the other stars who've been out I'll tell you another thing CP yes when the next hospital tour start I'll be there with bells on and I'll make it my personal business to enlist everyone I know to go that's a fine and cheerful message to all the hospitalized veterans and a fine Christmas thought to Dane and you know this program is re-broadcast to our servicemen overseas that's exactly how I feel CP but the one thing I'm not there is one thing I'm not happy about yes I couldn't be everywhere on this trip so there's something left undone what's that Dane Merry Christmas everyone that makes everything complete Dane except for giving a preview of our story next week well Dane and ladies and gentlemen we'll start off the new year by starring one of the nation's most popular motion picture actors Van Johnson the title of our theater of stars play to keep this old here is a drama of the baller of the United States Army Medical Department the untold and true story of a medical whose courage bravery and self-sacrifice is etched among those heroic pages of army medical history I know you'll enjoy this story and Ben Johnson is the famed Dr. Northington and now to our star best wishes for a new year Dane Clark those are my sentiment and a happy new year to UCP so goodbye Dane and now ladies and gentlemen proudly the hail joins me in wishing every one of you a happy and very merry Christmas and a new year packed with good health and prosperity and these wishes come from all of us our fine-sponsored the United States Army in the United States Air Force the Gardner Advertising Agency our proudly stars from Hollywood our staff of engineers writers arrangers musicians and our announcer Wendell Niles so until next week then when we again meet at the loudspeaker this is CP McGregor saying thanks for listening and merry Christmas and happy new year from Hollywood Dane Park appeared through the courtesy of the Hollywood Coordinating Committee which arranges for the appearance of all stars on this program script was by Tony and Bob McInnis music under the direction of Eddie Stravani this program is transcribed in Hollywood for release of his time Wendell Niles speaking