 of motherhood. Can it maim, destroy, withhold the right of its progeny to the same love that gave it birth? Can a bear deny its cubs, or the eagle its fledglings, or the beaver its kits? The answer then, in just a moment, is in this story starring Hillary Brooks. The scene is a rugged New England coast, where a small farmhouse stands for lawn and alone near the edge of a jagged cliff. Against this cliff, the sea strikes in monotonous rhythm. Inside the house, a shriveled old woman sits at the supper table, holding taut the silver cord that binds her to a pretty young girl who worked at the menial task of clearing away the refuse. The silver cord that is at once the strength and the weakness of a selfish obsession. You're Russian so, tend to develop those any reason for it. You know there's a reason. What reason? How would I know? Granny, there's no use pretending. Pretending? You know I've been counting on going to the harvest festival. You ain't said nothing lately. Thought you'd given it up. Jason being gone? Well, I haven't. You're driving three miles into town and back alone. Yes, sir. I've hardly been out of this house for weeks. I want to be where there are people to talk to and fun and laugh at. Those who set the door by such things, manages to forget their duty. Maybe. But you've got to laugh sometimes, anywhere when you're young you've got to. What you're so hurried to get away for is to get dancing with them stressors boys and Tom Doyle and the like. There isn't anything wrong with dancing. They want them to get their arms around you. That's what you're in such a hurry for. Duty or no duty. Not forgetting my duty does one in one night of dancing. Don't I wait on you day in and day out? Isn't that about all the reason my life strikes me? You ain't very grateful for my taking you in when you was left alone. I didn't have to. Me being your grandfather's second wife. You wasn't my flesh and blood. Oh, Granny, I'm grateful, but... Don't know what you'd do if it wasn't for me. No place to go, no kiss or kin. I'll do what I can to make up for it. Funny way to make up for it. Go and gallivant and leave me here all alone. Just so you can set your cap for some young fella. I'm not setting my cap for anyone. And I ain't forgot how you was acting about Jason. Meeting him yawning around the cliff. Running out to him whenever he wishes. Jason's gone, Granny. Trying to come between us, he was. Wasn't anything of the kind. He never even spoke of marrying. I'll change my dress now. Oh, you said I'm gone. Seems like you could look to my comfort a little. What is it now? You could move. You know well enough I can change. No. Fred, you might have gone to the fest. I was going, but Granny had one of her spares. She hasn't changed any since I've been away. No, she hasn't changed. Nothing changes here. People get worn down too, Jason. And for most of them, there's no way to escape. If there was a way, Sarah, would you take it? Oh, yes, Jason. But would you, Sarah? Would you? Why did you go away? You'll know in a minute, Sarah, but first I have to say something to you. Something I've never said because somehow I figured there wasn't any need. I figured you just knew. You what, Jason? That I love you, Sarah. You didn't know you must have. Oh, I wasn't sure you never said it. I was hoping that's how it was. Jason being with you is all I've had from life. You do love me, Sarah. I wasn't a fool believing it. No, Jason. It's strange. All these hours we've been together and you never kissed me. Never held me and kissed me, Google. I wasn't sure you loved me. Oh, I do love you, Jason. So much for this all that's kept me going. Even when it seemed as if there wasn't anything left to live to. Sarah was wrong of me not saying right away how I felt, what I was hoping to do, but I wanted to surprise you. About what, Jason? I have a job, Sarah. A good job down at the county seat. That's what I went away for. I'm going back tomorrow. Leaving so soon? In the morning. Start work. And I'll be alone again. Not seeing anyone but her. What are you talking about, Sarah? We're getting married. Jason married? Sure. And living together in our own place? With his life going on and people to talk to. And you coming home every evening. A home of our own. Maybe there are better things than that in life, but I'll never ask for more. There is nothing better, Sarah. And as soon as you can arrange things, I'm coming back for you and we'll be married right away. Oh, be wonderful, Jason. We're forgetting her in there. I'm not forgetting her. I'm finally setting you free of her. But I have a duty to her. You can't forget duty just to get something you want. Sarah, you've got to see this thing straight. You've paid her a thousand times over for whatever she's done for you. She's a selfish old woman who doesn't care about anything but herself. Don't love me or... Don't say that, Jason. I love you so much that just now when I heard your whistle, my heart was pounding till I thought I'd die. Pounding louder than the sea down there. I must see it isn't right for you to give up all your life for what's left of hers. Look at what she did tonight, fixing it so you couldn't even go to the festival. She said she was ill, Jason. Well, it's mighty queer she's always ill when you try to get away for a while. Sarah, there's something unnatural about her power over you. Remember, you have a duty to yourself. I guess I've been blind. But I'm not blind any longer. I will marry you, Jason. I'll marry you as soon as you can manage it. Sarah, this is something we have to celebrate. You're beautiful tonight. Oh, Jason. I'll get my coat, Jason, and meet you here. Oh, I'm so happy. I'm almost scared. Remember now, it's right what you're doing. You mustn't let her talk you out of it. Oh, not now, Jason, never. Oh, my darling, I'm free. At last, I'm free. And weave in the face of a love that knows not the word of defeat. The blood of heritage runs thick, but the wine of life brews high with a yeast of love. Each life to live, each life to die as it chooses. Save that life in the grip of a greedy and selfish obsession. As at last, made the resolute determination to within the orbit of her love for Jason. Sarah has returned from her meditation on the cliff with a lonely old house, an old woman who lives deep in it. You know about your great-uncle, Robert? No, you told me over and over again. Jason's way, he didn't slip. He knows this, not about your blood donation to a wedding. I found you out, learned that you weren't helpless and been deceiving me all these years. Well, what has it meant? You told me that night. My duty to send Jason away, but it hasn't made living any easier knowing what I know. Four walls, hating each other, waiting for it. You're watching me day in and day out, dreading it, all day long. I think Granny told me, Doctor, why I couldn't marry him. Granny told you? Told you what? Why I couldn't marry anyone. She did. Then why was it a child? She told me about Uncle Robert, the real truth about it. Just what did she tell you, Sarah? You know you must. She said his head was always full of strange notions. She told all he was a queer one at times. She said it wasn't an accident the way he died. She was there and saw him. She said he jumped off the cliff. She had no right to tell you such a thing. She told me it was because he was mad. Your Uncle Robert man? That's why I couldn't marry Jason. Nor anyone ever. Sarah, you poor child. Please, Doctor, it isn't sympathy I want. I can't stand that. But I've got to know the truth, all the truth. And Uncle Robert has suffered too. No, no, no, Sarah. I told you about your Uncle all alive. Doctor, you're not just trying to make it easy for me. You wouldn't say that just too... No, no, I tell you it's a cruel lie, Sarah. I was the first one to reach your Uncle after he fell. He was dead. Hit the rocks below the cliff, but clutched tight in his hand was a bush. He grabbed to save himself when he slipped. The rain had washed the roots and it gave way. It was an accident. He was no more mad than I am. You're sure there was never anyone in my family who... No, no, no, no, of course not. I've known them all from a way back. Uh... Come, Sarah, let's... Let's go on down to the house. Oh, Doctor Wilson. I can't believe anyone could be so cruel. Yeah, it was a terrible thing to do, Sarah. Terrible. All folks are selfish sometimes. They try to hold on to the young ones and keep them from living their own lives. It's as though coming to the end of the road, they hate to be shoved aside and clutch at anything to stay in the thick of things. They don't always fight fair. But a whole year, Doctor, I believe. And maybe there's another thing he had something to do with it. You see, Sarah, she was in love with your great Uncle Robert. Although she was married to his brother. Maybe being thwarted in her own love, she was jealous of you and Jason. That happens sometimes. But that isn't any reason to... No reason for a normal, healthy mind. But you see, Sarah, she's been acting strange like at times. That's why I've been watching her coming in every few days. Oh, she's harmless enough, but... Well, we'll see, Sarah. We'll see what's to be done. You can marry Jason now if you want to. Of course he wants you. Go to him, child. I'll look in on Granny. Maybe I'll see you and Jason at the festival later. Here, brother. Hi, Jason. Did you... Yes, yes. It was your grandmother. You saw her, Jason? Did she fall? She went over all right, but I don't know whether she fell. I'm afraid we'll never know. Poor Cranon. She was very old, child. Very old. No matter how it happened, set you free. He's right, Jason. Granny set me free.