 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. From Radio City, New York, here is your star and host on proudly we hail the distinguished Broadway stage, screen and radio star Lee Tracy. Thank you, Kenneth Banghart and hello everyone, welcome again to proudly we hail. What's our play about Lee? Well, we have a highly dramatic story, Ken entitled Straight and Level, a story about a man's conflict within himself, a story of his struggle to make a decision that affects his whole life. I believe it will make for excellent listening. We'll begin right after your important message. The United States Air Force needs veterans of any service with training in such fields as radio, radar, aircraft maintenance, weather, photography and many others. If you can qualify, you can now enlist in your old grade or better. For full details, visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Station. And now with your star Lee Tracy in the role of Ken, your Army and your Air Force presents the proudly we hail production of Straight and Level. To follow the sun and chase the stars, to source skyward and dwell in the lofty cloud worlds of upper space, to join the eagle and touch the hand of greatness with wings. Let's have it. There's no point in my trying to soften the blow. You'll have to give it up. I see. All of it? Most of it. The testing certainly. You can fly for your own pleasure if you like, but nothing fancy. Straight and level. That's right. Straight and level. What is it I got it or haven't got? In its simplest terms, your body is worn out, particularly your heart. It's taken too much punishment for too long. You've been in this game for a long time and from your record and from what I've read about you, a large part of your flying has been on the rugged side, testing. It's caught up to you. Just like that. No, not just like that. But my last physical, I was fine. What's happened has happened suddenly, but it was a gradual wearing down. Suppose I took it easy for a while. Suppose that I... No, the damage is done. But don't take my word for it alone. Go see another doctor. I'll give you the name of several. I guess I'll take your word for it. You see, you're the fifth I've been to in the past week. What's the matter, Sally's night out? No, I haven't been home yet. Anything wrong? With this baby? I should say not. I was just checking her over. There's going to be a big day. You ought to hit the sack. Yeah. The weather looks like it might get rough, front coming in from the east. You should have been a meteorologist to hear all this. She's a bird. She's what you dream about all your life. And you're the lucky stiff that gets to fly her. I slave over her like she was a hot stove and you, you lug, you take her up there and make her purr. Maybe I should have been the mechanic. I can't ever take what you've got away from you. I don't get you. Ah, ah, keep it. Do you ever notice the smell a plane has, any plane gets deep down in you, you can't get it out. Hey, what have you been doing? Guzzling beer? No, no, I'm just getting salt, I guess. I keep thinking about all the flights and all the planes behind us and this is what they've led to. Yeah, they shine that light down here. Yeah, we've seen a lot change, Ken, from jennies to this, but let's not cry in our soup about it. We'll see a lot more before we're put out to pasture. Okay, Mac, just got me all of a sudden. Doesn't it ever get you? Well, sure, but there isn't any point in making it sound like a sad story, uh, fasten that cowling there. Yeah. Huh? Guess I'll go home. Well, if I had a gal like Sally to go home to, don't think I'd be spending my nights with this hunk of bailing wire. Ah, the heck you wouldn't. You couldn't live in a house that didn't look like a hangar, and if you had a wife... Don't leave the woman I haven't got out of this and go home, will you? Tomorrow's the final flight test. If she comes through that like she has the others, we've sold ourselves a plane. You mean con aircraft has. They'll get a lovely contract out of this. And we'll get a lovely bonus, especially you. Yeah, yeah, especially me. Is that you, Ken? Hi, kid. Sorry I'm late. I had to see a guy. I've got to supper in the oven. I'm not very hungry. What's the matter? Don't you feel well? No, no, no, no. I feel fine. I just got to get a lot on my mind. Oh. Well, you just sit down and put your feet up and I'll get you a sandwich and a glass of milk. Mmm. That sounds good. How'd the test go today? Fine. Perfect. She's our honey. Is tomorrow the last one? What? Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, yeah. Tomorrow's the last one. Ken, what's wrong? Nothing's wrong. Nothing's wrong, I tell you. You can't fool me, even if you won't tell me. Look, Sally, can a guy be tired? Can a guy have a lot on his mind without having something wrong? Are you going to get me that sandwich? Yes, I'll get it. But there's no need to snap at me. Oh. I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you how much. Can't you sleep? Mmm. Want me to get you an aspirin? No, no thanks. I think I'll get up and smoke a cigarette when nerves are kind of wound up, I guess. You forget you're not a kid any longer. I don't forget that. Well, Chuck Henderson had better give you a good long vacation when this job is done. Yeah, we'll go lie in the sun. Ken, Ken, don't you think it's time we started thinking about the future? You're still a young man as far as average standards go. But I'm in a business where there aren't average standards. Is that what you mean? Well, yes, you know it is. I'm an old man in the air. In the air is for the young. Don't be silly. You're not old. But you can't go on testing all the rest of your life. You've got to give it up sometime. That's right. Give it up while I'm still healthy. Give it up before I go into a dive I can't pull out of. A man with your experience could get a good job on the ground. Chuck would find a place for you. A man with my experience can't work on the ground. You can grow away from the earth. I live up there. I live here with you. And I'm second best. No, no, that's not so. You're part of it. I'm not very good at explaining. If you go to sleep, I'll go smoke my cigarette. If I told it, after tomorrow I'll have to tell her. I'll have to tell her all. I'll tell Henderson and tell Mack. But not before it's done. She's my baby and I'll see her true to the finish. What a way to finish it. What a way to level. Now one of the first things to get into your head, Murdoch, is that if you want to learn to fly, you've got to learn to keep her straight and level. Notice your wing there in relation to the horizon. Notice the angle. All right, correct it. Ah, that's too much. Okay, now check you know. Get the idea, Murdoch. That's it. Keep her straight and level. You're the guy who's going to test this bird? That's right. Done much testing? Some. He's plenty hot, tricky. The other boys don't like her. I like her. She looks sweet. Looks like she wants to get off the ground. My name is Jack McDonald. Everybody calls me Mack. I'm Ken Murdoch. Everybody calls me Ken. Been flying long? No, not as long as I'd like. Not as long as I'm going to. You're kind of young, aren't you, Ken? I don't see any gray beard on you. Well, I don't have to take them up there. I just have to see if they get there. Well, I'll trust you if you trust me. Okay. Yes, he should fly straight and level, anyway. Oh, you're a test pilot, huh? That's right. I take Sam up and see what they'll do. Sounds romantic. It is. Have you been doing it for long? No, no, no. About five years now. Flew the mail for a while, did a little instructing and stunt flying with the circus. Was that big man you were with the pilot to? No, no. That was Mack. He's a mechanic. Isn't another one like him. I seem to be asking a lot of questions. Ah, so you're interested. Curious. I've never met a pilot before. I've never met a pretty girl like you before. What do you say we get acquainted? Oh, you're awfully fresh. Hey, how would you like to go up there? See those clouds? That never, never lands. You can go and look. You can't stay. Not like this world. Nobody's there but the wind. You lose the earth. Would you really take me up? No, you bet I would. I think I'd be frightened. No, you wouldn't be frightened. I can see it in your eyes. Would you want to do any stunting, would you? Ah, don't worry. I'll keep her straight and level. You wanted to see me, Chuck? Yes, Ken. Sit down, will you? I had a talk with Marvin. She thinks she's about ready. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Looked her over? But all yesterday and most of this morning with Mac should be able to start a vaccine test for the end of this week. She's the hardest thing we've ever developed. She's all aeroplane. Oh, Jett. Can you've been chief test pilot for me with time out for the war for 12 years? That's right. Any complaints? No, no, no. One. The best in the business for my money. Ken, let's not kid ourselves. You're no spring chicken anymore. So, what about letting one of the younger boys do the tests? Are you kidding? I'm just as fit as any one of those kids and I've forgotten more about this game and they'll ever know. I've followed this baby right from the drawing, boys. She's mine, Chuck, and I'm going to test it. Now, call off, Ken. In the first place, she's not just yours. She's everybody's in this shop. A lot of sweat and money and brains has gone into making her. You know, there are plenty of interest in her and if she makes the grade, we'll all profit by it. I don't want to take any chances with her that I don't have to. I've seen the report on your last physical. What about it? Nothing wrong with it. No, but if you compare it with the one you had a year ago, there's a difference. Your reactions aren't as sharp as they used to be. And for this kind of job, you know what that can mean. I know you're acting like an old woman. My reactions are good enough to handle anything that flies. You've never seen me do a thing to prove otherwise. Well, that's true. I haven't. But I've never seen you fly the new ship. Well, just stick around. You'll see me fly it. If you don't like the job, I do tell me then and I'll listen to you. She's my baby, Chuck. I test her. You get yourself a new chief pilot. Now, look, will you take it easy, a hot-headed Scotsman? Just pull out of that dive and fly straight and level for a minute. You'll have to give it up. You forget you're not a kid any longer. It's caught up to you. I'm an old man in the air and the air is for the young. I'm over the field at 30,000. Here we come. You're a lucky stiff who gets to fly. Give it up. Give it up. The action's on its job. Give it up. Give it up. I can't. We won't come out. Lee Tracy starring in the role of Ken Murdoch in the cloudy, we hail production straight and level will return in just a moment for the second act. Registered nurses. The United States Air Force Medical Service offers you a great opportunity to serve your country and further your own career. Yes, you can become a commissioned officer with good pay and allowances while you receive postgraduate training and anesthesia, operating room management and techniques, nursing administration, and other fields. Nurses with special qualifications may train as flight nurses at the Air Force School of Aviation Medicine. For complete information, right to the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Washington 25 D.C. You are listening to Proudly We Hail. And now with your star Lee Tracy in the role of Ken Murdoch, we present the second act of straight and level. Right. You've been dreaming. Where? Oh, yeah. Wow. That was one for the birds. I don't wonder. You fell asleep in the chair here. You were all crammed. Yeah, you can say that again. What time is it? It's about six o'clock. I fell asleep right after you got up and your shouting woke me. Well, I'll try to be more quiet this time. I got about time for 40 winks. You'll be in great shape to test that plane. I'll test it no matter what shape I'm in. And nothing in this world could stop you. That's right. Nothing. Well, honey, I'm off. Well, you ate a good breakfast anyway. Do you feel all right, Ken? Never better. Come on. Give me a smile now. Just think tonight we can go out and have ourselves a good time and tomorrow we'll make some plans for the future. Future? Ken, what do you mean? I mean, I mean, we'll go on that vacation. We'll go with bells on. Oh, well, be careful, darling. Remember, I have a world, too. And if anything ever happened to you, I'd lose it. I don't live up there, Ken. I only live here. You're a kid, I know. Don't worry now. It's just another job. Here. Look at me. You're the best wife a guy ever had. I don't deserve you. If I've been, you know, jumpy with you lately. Well, it's been because of... I understand, darling. Now, you better get going or you'll be late. Well, honey, I thought it might rain today. Well, give me a kiss. Wish me luck. My love goes with you. No man ever had a better good luck charm than that. Keep her straight and level, Ken. You bet. I'll just put the horizon in a different place. Morning, Ken. Morning, Chuck. Looks like a good day for it. C-A-V-U. How are you feeling? Peachy. Why? You don't look so hot. Listen, we had this out before I started the test. Up till now, my reactions have been all right, haven't they? Yeah, I know. She's still in one piece and so are you. Not just the way we're going to stay. I told you if you found anything wrong without my flying this baby, you could talk to me and I'd listen. Otherwise, leave me alone. Let me do my job. I merely remarked that you weren't looking too well and you try and take my head off so you're jumpy as a cat. Now, just simmer down a minute and listen to what I was going to say. Okay. I'm sorry. What were you going to say? And if you felt like putting it off for a day, it would be all right. Put it off? Isn't that all your brass over there? They didn't come out here to have you delay things. Well, it's up to you. Well, there's no time like the present. You know, if I didn't have sympathy for your wife, I think I'd fire you. If I didn't know this place would go to pieces without me here to help you, I'd quit. Oh, well, do you feel like a cup of coffee? No, thanks, Chuck. I've had my breakfast. I want to talk to Max. He said he wanted to see you, too. I'll walk down to the hangar with you. You know, Ken, I've sunk everything into this. If she makes it today, things are going to be humming around here. And if, for some reason, she doesn't? That hasn't happened since when was it, 37? Yeah. That one was a bird, all right. All she could do was flutter. I suppose we'd just start again, you and Max and Marvin and I. Those were pretty good days, weren't they? Yep. We didn't have a beam. Just a lot of hope, dreams. We had the stuff to make them work. We've been making them work ever since. War isn't much good for anything, but we learned a lot from it. No, just grow, too. You're worried, aren't you, Chuck? Well, I guess so, little. Back in 37, there were only the four of us. If she doesn't live up to... She'll live up to anything. There isn't anything as sweet as that child anywhere. Well, you should know, I guess. I must be getting old or losing my grip or something. But it's all or nothing. And if we don't make the grade, a lot of people are going to be out of jobs next week. You really shot the works, didn't you? You're a big bone stealer. You make me feel like a heel. All I've been able to think about is the bonus I planned again. That or we'll be without that beam again. I'll be willing to bet you that bonus if she comes through with flying colors. Well, if she does, I think you and I should have a talk. What do you mean? Well, I need help, Ken. Someone who knows things inside and out like you. You mean give up flying for an office job? Now, don't take off. It would be a good job, a well-paying one. You wouldn't have to give up your flying, but you could step down and let some of the younger boys handle the rugged tests. You could be put out to pasture to graze with the sheep. But why have you got to look at it like that? Because that's what it amounts. Now, look here, Ken. I'm not going to argue with you now. When you finish today's test, we're going to have a talk whether you like it or not. You go blinded by your own stubbornness and pride that you can't see the runway for the trees. I'll see you later. I'm going to act when you check the shoot. Anderson, tell you I was looking for you. Yeah. I guess I forgot about it. You know, someday I'm going to knock his block off. Sure. You and ten other guys. What's on your mind? You all set to go? She's all set to go, but you're not. What are you talking about? I happened to run into an old friend of mine last night, Doc Royal. We got to talking about this and that. I told him about the new plane, the test we've been running. I told him about what she's got to do today. He asked me who the pilot was. I told him. Then he told me. I see. He wanted to call Henderson right away to stop you. He said a terminal velocity dive would finish you. I asked him not to call shots. I said I knew you'd figure it out for yourself before you went up and you wouldn't go up. I said anybody trying to stop you would run into trouble and you'd never forgive them if they tried because you're thick-headed and stubborn and you've got too much pride. That's what I told Doc. He said he'd leave it up to you or me. If you didn't come out of that cloud bank you'd been flying around in. You got it all figured out, haven't you? I have. I still hope you have. I don't want to go out there and tell Henderson, but I will if you don't. Max, listen. I've got to fly this test. I just can't quit now. I know I've reached the end of the line, but I want this last flight. I've got to finish it right. Royal said there was only one way you could finish this flight. How does he know? Because he stuck some gizmo on my chest. He said, breathe deep. I always had my luck. It won't run out on me. It won't because you're not going to give it a chance. Mac, you and I have been friends for a long time. We've seen a lot of rough weather go by. We've always understood each other. Can't you understand this? Of course I can, you dope. But can't you get it through that thick head of yours that had to end sometime? But not like this. Not like this? Well, how then? A headline in a newspaper, a lost contract, and Sally all alone. Up there you don't have to think about anyone but yourself. Well, you've done it so long now you can't think any other way. Oh, can look. I know you must be in a flat spin, but do your head, man. It's too late, Mac. It's too late. It's not too late till you climb into that cockpit and you're not going to do it. Now make up your mind, either you go out there and tell them or I do. You wouldn't forget about this for friendship's sake. That's one of the reasons I won't forget about it. You win. I'll go tell Chuck. You go out and really do the town. Yeah, yeah, sure. Hold this thing, will ya? It sure takes... Sorry, buddy. Blame it on the heat of the moment. Go sit, Ken. Right. You know what to do? Yeah. Where's Mac? Oh, he got a telephone call. Oh, all right. We can't wait any longer. Good luck. Thanks, Chuck. Now I don't take any wooden props. Up we go, baby. Up to the sun. Climb, you sweetheart. Climb! The only thing up here is freedom. And they want to take it away from me. This blue space is my world. These clouds my kingdom and this my clean and light. There's no time. Only to silence the universe. 1248 Murdoch, do you read me? Over. I read you, brother. Like a book. Murdoch in XK1248. XK1248 Murdoch, come in, come in. Cast altitude reached at 1048. Might as well make it as neat and hardly as we can. And now, the time has come, the walrus said. Here we go, baby. Hold on to your wings. Down and down we go. We don't make the grade. A lot of people are going to be at a job this week. He's all technical, but you're not. But if anything ever happens, he's all or nothing. XK1248 over. And what the devil are you doing? Why didn't you continue the dive? Shut up. Get Richard's. Tell him he'll have to finish the test today. I'm coming in for a landing straight and level. To follow the sun and chase the stars. To soar skyward and dwell in the lofty cloud worlds of upper space. To join the ego and touch the hand of greatness with wings. Tracy will return in a moment with a word about next week's show. You veterans who want to get ahead listen to this. The United States Air Force needs thousands of trained men today. Veterans of any service, as well as non-veterans trained in such fields as radio, radar, engine maintenance, weather, armament, camera work and many others. And here's where your training and experience counts. Veterans, if qualified, can now re-enlist with their old grade or better, skip basic training and be assigned initially to a nearby Air Force base. You non-veterans, if you have technical training the Air Force needs, can get a grade that matches the skills you have when you enlist for basic training. Get all the facts at your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force Recruiting Station. Volunteered today with the United States Air Force. This has been another program on Proudly We Hail, represented in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force Recruiting Service. Proudly We Hail stars Lee Tracy. Straight and level was written by DeWitt Cobb. 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 Wilk. This is Kenneth Banghart speaking, and here again is your host and star, Lee Tracy. Join us next week over the same station for Proudly We Hail, won't you? Melee Peninsula for a fast moving adventure story in the wilds of the Melee jungle on a besieged rubber plantation. Our play is titled Story at Ten Direct. Hope you'll be with us. Until then, goodbye.