 Lux presents Hollywood the Lux Radio Theatre brings you Edward Arnold and Faye Bainter in the war against Mrs. Hadley with Gene Rogers and Van Johnson ladies and gentlemen your producer mr. Cecil B. DeMille greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen history begins at home it begins in the homes of Kansas and the Great Western Plain in the homes of Pittsburgh and the Valley of Steel in the homes of San Francisco and a dozen other cities that turn out the men who build the ships and it begins in a home in Washington called the White House the sum of all these homes is America and over every one of them is the shadow of great events in this year gone by we do not celebrate this day which marks the first anniversary of our active entrance into the war we merely note its passing and turn to the challenge of the future tonight we tell you of the way one American home has met this challenge in the Metro-Golden mayor drama the war against Mrs. Hadley and you'll hear four of the players who were in the picture Edward Arnold and Faye Bainter beloved for many fine performances here and two promising newcomers to this stage Gene Rogers and Van Johnson all American homes have faced problems brought on by the war this is what happened in the home of Stella Hadley and behind the dramatic story of this one home is inspiration for every home we're all working hard these days doing what we can to help and it's important that none of that effort be wasted waste is an enemy that must be fought on every front but especially on the home front and a strong ally in that fight is Lux Flakes in Hollywood for instance our product saves motion picture studios thousands of dollars a year in various kinds of wardrobe care that's a very interesting amount of money to the studio treasure and what's true in Hollywood is true in your own home too you may not be making motion pictures but like us you have a budget to meet in these times you need to make clothes last longer and your friend in that need is a friend indeed in two well-known words Lux Flakes now the signal for the curtain and the first act of the war against Mrs. Hadley starring Edward Arnold as Elliot Fulton Faye Bainter as Stella Hadley with Gene Rogers as Patricia and Van Johnson as Michael in November 1941 Mrs. Stella Hadley of Washington DC wrote a letter to an old friend while a worried world outside her window strove desperately to prepare against the mass murderers of Europe Mrs. Hadley sat in the rich security of her drawing room blind and deaf to everything except her own personal comfort Washington my dear is a complete madhouse the way people are rushing about and getting in each other's way you think it was November 1917 instead of 1941 all very silly of course I suppose you know my son Ted is in the war department with Elliot Fulton and Patricia has been pestering me for some vague idea she has of entertaining draftees at a canteen I don't know what's getting into people really all this talk of war and defense and lend leases beginning to bore me in spite of the war mongers here I have it on excellent authority that the chances of peace were never better goodbye for the present dear and if you're in Washington next month please come to my birthday luncheon remember the date Sunday December the 7th good morning mr. Fulton good morning Bennett am I the first yes the Mrs. Hadley hasn't come down yet but you'll find Miss Patricia in the drawing room sir is that you really come in here dog good morning Pat how's your mother for a birthday chair you look tired darling well I am a little but don't tell your mother she'll scold me for working nights what's new in the war department how the peace negotiations coming along with your parents Pat you know my rule no shop talk here this is the only house in Washington I can forget all that Mrs. Hadley's ivory tower Elliot will mother ever ruffle up her tail feathers and pull that pretty head of hers out of the ground maybe she's lucky she's missing a lot of unpleasant happenings above the ground but other people have to face them why shouldn't she just because we live like kings and oh now don't be intolerant Pat it's just that she's living in the past that's all I can't say I blame her much you know she was the most popular girl in Washington your father came along and then she was the happiest wife Elliot were you in love with her then yes but I made one fatal mistake I introduced her to your father you know you and mother are my two favorite people why don't you get married I've always wanted to be a flower girl oh I'm afraid you're out of luck why knows you little baggage aren't you all right if you really want to know I'll tell you I proposed a stellar on her last birthday what did she say she said I was the best friend your father ever had the best friend she ever had the best executive the estate ever had and being a staunch Republican I had no right to associate myself with those new dealers hardly a direct answer hardly but terribly final early on hello Ted oh my head's killing me good morning brother dear oh do you have to be so loud about it I need a drink have one with me Elliot no thanks big night brother well not big enough to deserve this head oh Elliot I'm sorry I had to leave the department so early yesterday I had to go the dentist that's the fourth time this month Ted yes I know Ted have you seen mother yet well only one out of out of one eye she came into my room in the cracker dawn to see if I was resting peacefully won't one of you please tell her I'm old enough to be weaned keep pulling on that bottle and you'll find out soon enough good morning good morning hello I meet you splendid thank you hi doctor Ted let me see you oh you look bilious Ted I don't try to drum up any trade with me stick to mother have a drink doctor I don't drink in the morning how's your mother feeling Patricia she's thriving frankly I've been a bit worried about her lately she's not really been strong since your poor father passed away all nonsense she's as strong as an ox my dear Fulton I think I'm a better judge of Stella's condition than you are how are you doctor meet you oh what a time I had getting here where Stella hasn't she come down yet now Cecilia you know well enough that Stella always waits for the last guest before she makes her grand entrance oh well I hope I haven't kept it waiting darling you look peeked well that makes a practically unanimous oh oh well is it true what they're saying about these little Japanese ambassadors of peace well not knowing what they're saying I can't tell you oh no of course not but my elevator boy overheard someone tell someone else that they thank you all of you oh what lovely flowers it's like spring happy birthday mother Teddy darling my pin is beautiful you and Pat had no right to spend so much money don't give it a second thought princess we charge it to you I wish you had Teddy you look pale Leonard I do we should have a look at him later on certainly I'm all right won't do any harm for Leonard to have a look Patricia dear put some powder on your nose it's all shiny how can I ever thank you all for my lovely gifts Elliot these earrings you sent me well I'm glad you like them Stella I love them and Leonard your fitted bag it's just what I've always needed I'm so glad did you like my glove of course I did Cecilia dear I helped you pick them out it always amazes me that anyone remembers my birthday and may I take this opportunity of wishing you happiness Mrs. Hadley Bennett how nice of you to remember come along everyone thank you that was a mighty fine line Stella I always say you set the best table in Washington thank you Leonard oh still a dear Boston Symphony what Cecilia it's time for the Boston Symphony they're playing Beethoven's a very well Patricia dear turn on the radio please yes mother well Stella I have to be running a lot earlier sit down you're not going to do any more work this afternoon oh what a perfect day all my loved ones here to help me celebrate Mrs. Hadley yes Millie serve the coffee and here please yes Mrs. Hadley and be careful of those cups Millie they were a gift from President Coolidge yes Mrs. Hadley I was alive with planes spitting death and destruction on the harbor which lay below the exact turn off that dreadful gibberish we want to hear the symphony I'm trying to find it mother I don't know why they permit such programs on the Sabbath at 1 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time the first planes appeared over the horizon winging their way across the Pacific like Ted find out by wave after wave of bombers and so war has come to our country with a Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor they've attacked Pearl Harbor why it's impossible so it's come could they do such a thing Pearl Harbor oh no I told you to be careful of those cups Mrs. Hadley my best service Millie you're impossible I'm sorry Mrs. Hadley I couldn't help it my brother's a pearl hard my brother go after her Bennett tell her that I said she should go home and spend the night with her mother yes madam I'll never be able to replace this cup this is the most outrageous breach of human decency ever perpetrated right in the middle of peace negotiations oh my head is splitting if you just turn it off for a moment turn it off tell her you really mustn't excite yourself horrible I can't believe it come on Ted we better get down to the department right I'll get a cab you're not going to leave me not on my birthday in case you haven't heard mother we've just gotten into a war yes I know dear it's dreadful that poor girl's brother maybe there's some more news don't turn that thing on again please all right mother but I've got to know what's happening where are you going upstairs to listen to my radio I've got to go to mother well if you must you must but do be careful dear don't worry the Japs haven't gotten here yet Teddy you mustn't say such silly things even in jest come along Ted goodbye Stella I'll phone you later yes do I hope everything will be all right good bye mother goodbye darling oh oh dear dear Stella I think you ought to lie down for a while yes Stella you really should perhaps all right birthdays are such a strain on one's nerves the excitement and everything goodbye my dear and thank you for coming to my party you read back the last sentence I dictated yes sir the bombing of Pearl Harbor has shown us the path we must follow and we must wipe out completely for the duration of the war the idea of business as usual the mr. Fulton's office one moment please it's mrs. Hadley I'll take it hello Stella what message was that Stella you know how hard Teddy's been working you aren't really going to keep him at the department again tonight are you why did he tell you I was thank you Stella but I'm afraid I can't make it I'll see what I can do about Ted send him as soon as you can yes very well bye Stella here's the latest communique mr. Fulton thank you that'll be all phenomena's hot yes sir oh Bob would you ask Ted Hadley to come here a minute why he's gone sir he's what he's already left some of his friends called to take him out to the country for dinner oh I see well in about 10 or 15 minutes called mrs. Hadley and tell her I'm awfully sorry but it's absolutely essential that Ted worked tonight yes sir look mr. Fulton Ted's a friend of mine and I don't want to see my heel but something ought to be done something is going to be done I'm having him transferred transferred yes into active service I can't keep him around here anymore even for his mother's sake it's not fair to the department I wish I could be transferred to active service sir man are you feel Bob but I can't spare you Ted needs it much more than you do this may be his one chance of making something of himself why aren't you down at the department to pick up mr. well I'm going right away mrs. Hadley but could I speak to you first ma'am yes of course Peters I had word from my draft board today they've reclassified me in 1a and to report for service next week oh that means you'll be leaving me I'm afraid so mrs. Hadley it won't be necessary I'll speak to mr. Fulton about it oh I'd sooner you wouldn't do that ma'am if they need me I feel I ought to go I'm sure that's very patriotic of you Peters but it isn't as if you aren't doing something why you drive mr. Theodore to the department every morning well I know ma'am but it isn't quite the same thing of course if you want to leave if you think you'll be happier elsewhere I certainly won't stand in your way but I do think you could have given me a little more notice but I only got my notice today we won't discuss it Peters you may tell Bennett to give you two weeks salary when you leave thank you mrs. Hadley I'm sorry hello yes this is mrs. Hadley oh but that's impossible mr. Fulton promised me faithfully he'd send Ted home well I never heard of anything like that in my life keeping my own son away from the generation for me even if the government hasn't all right to win I'm sorry I can't be here to help with the Christmas presents but I've got to get an extra girl for canteen duty tonight Patricia is that the canteen that Laura Winters is running oh mother she's just helping out I shouldn't think you want to associate with the wife of the man who contaminated your father's news paper contaminated mother just because father was a Republican and mr. Wenters is a Democrat they turn the chronicle into a democratic scandal sheet I should think you'd have more respect for your father's memory well Laura Wenters only comes down once in a while anyway I hardly even know what she looks like good night mother I've got to run can't you even be with us on Christmas Eve I'm sorry I wish I could mother but it's Christmas Eve for the soldiers too good night dear good night please got any more coffee miss now listen soldier how many cups does that make for you well just five or is it six how did you swallow that last one so fast well confidentially before the army got me I used to be a fire eater what's your name lady my name is Pat Pat mine's Mike we ought to get together say couldn't you come over on my side of the counter for a while not while the rushes on doesn't seem right having a counter between us well why don't you come over on my side do you mean it sure gangway nice little place you've got back here I'm glad you like it now you can put this apron on apron what for so you won't saw your uniform I don't get it once you cross the counter you're a worker you're going to help me wash the dishes you're a hard woman Pat give me the apron right back here in the kitchen soldier hey Mike's on K.P. again look at him look at him look at him do you realize if you'd taken me home before the other girls you could have saved yourself a lot of driving well I don't know Washington very well then why did they pick you to drive us the luck of the Irish and a dollar bill that's bribery soldier now you don't think I was gonna let you out of my sight do you're not after that mountain of dishes I wash for you the next house on the right please the next house what for that's where I live in there yes what's the matter it's awfully big oh it isn't really looks awfully big to me well I guess you must be kind of tired not especially it's been swell knowing you I suppose I'll be seeing you at the canteen sometime stop acting that way all right so I live in a big house I live in a small house so you live in a small house and I live in a big house is that any reason to treat me as though I suddenly have a measles what difference does it make I'm sorry it wouldn't make any difference not with someone like you am I forgiven you promise never to let it happen again it's a promise and to seal it I I'll take you to see my house where do you live Clary Street at least mother lives there that's where I was born I thought you said you didn't know Washington I never really did until now Pat yes I I never met a girl like you I mean well for the lover did you see that right up behind us I'll murder that guy why you kill him so help me get out of that car mr. get out take your hands come on come on get out your drunk Mike Mike don't please let him alone well hello Pat hi sweetie what did you call her Mike don't he's my brother oh glad to know you Patricia who is this month look here you if you want her brother I'd not let's pretend I'm not shut up Ted I'm sorry Mike I'll call a camp in the morning and tell them what happened to the car oh don't worry about that you want me to help you get him inside I don't need any help go on soldier back to the war good night Mike I'm sorry it had to end like this what do you mean and it's only just beginning Merry Christmas Pat Merry Christmas Mike put you in the army Ted you're in the war department no more I'm not sit down darling you mustn't upset yourself I'll phone Elliot right away all he has to do was to tell the draft board that you're essential to him but don't you understand mother I'm not don't be so modest darling of course you are any office boy even a backward one could do what I'm doing well then Elliot will have to give you more responsibility hello this is Mrs. Hadley I'd like to speak to Mr. Fulton oh well would you ask him to be good enough to call me when the conference is over thank you I don't know how they accomplish anything in that department they're always in conferences sit down darling everything's going to be all right I'm just going to get a drink darling you know what alcohol does to your nervous system I have a vague notion don't worry please even if we didn't have Elliot I could always get a certificate or something from Dr. Meacham saying that you weren't physically up to it the army doctors decide that I'm sure they're not nearly as thorough as Leonard oh Mrs. Hadley yes Bennett I'm sorry to disturb you Mrs. Hadley but word has just come over the radio there's to be a practice blackout tonight whatever in the world for oh well there's nothing we can do about it thank you Bennett madam would it a would it inconvenient you very much if I went out for a little while this evening no I suppose not but isn't it rather an odd time to go out during a blackout in a way madam yes but it's most important I well I'm an air raid warden madam Bennett I don't remember giving any permission for that no madam but I thought seeing that everyone that will do better I'll speak to you later thank you madam an air raid warden of all the ridiculous ideas I don't know what's come over everyone people acting so strangely good evening sir that must be Leonard now what's he want he's giving me vitamin shots in these times it's so important to keep up one's energy one never knows when it may be taxed come in Leonard Mrs. Hadley is here sir no send her in please yes sir Mrs. Hadley well this is a pleasant surprise Stella more Hammett wouldn't come to the mountain so the mountain came to him I've been trying to reach you since last night I'm awfully sorry Stella but I've I've really been swamped won't you sit down Elliott I want to speak to you about Teddy yes excuse me sir these communicates just came in oh yes let me see them my they're bombing men are looking for the second time and after we declared it in open city if you remember I told you six months ago not to trust those Japanese now about Teddy Bob tell Ms. Hart to call everyone for a conference in about ten minutes yes sir now what were you saying Stella I haven't said anything yet Elliot I want you to have a talk with Teddy I did have a talk with him last night he came over very late really strange he didn't mention it to me then you know all about this ridiculous notion of his well I don't think there's anything ridiculous about a man wanting to serve his country but it's different with Teddy he's already working for his country much too hard if you ask me it's a pretty tough job winning a war all the more reason for not moving people from one thing to another I'm sure even this administration wouldn't approve of that well if Ted feels that he wants to join the child he doesn't know what he wants he's just being headstrong and irrational did you tell him that I refuse to discuss it with him after all you and I are a lot older and more capable of deciding what's best for I think Ted has decided that for himself Elliot you act as if you were pleased at the prospect of his being sent to the Far East or one of those dreadful places I'm pleased to know that he has the character and the courage to want to go I wasn't quite sure how he would feel you mean you knew about this yes I did but if you knew why didn't you stop it Elliot you've got to stop it there's nothing I could do Stella well you can keep him here with you I know you can you've always said you do anything for me I only wish I could if you care for me at all if you care for Ted if Ted were my own son I do exactly as I thought he's my son you had him drafted not satisfied with that you talked him into wanting to go to leave that isn't true Stella whatever you may think of me at least give Ted credit for making the decision himself if anything should happen to him it wouldn't matter to you Stella wait I never want to see you again of the war against Mrs. Hadley starring Edward Arnold and Faye Bainter with Gene Rogers and Van Johnson will follow in just a moment now between the acts we've a letter from overseas to read you and we'd like to thank Mrs. Betty commande of Yonkers New York for sharing it with us it's from an American lieutenant somewhere in England here's what he says I receive the following packages in the last two days soluble coffee thanks dad buttons for my uniform thanks dad shoebox containing what an assortment luxe candy gum raisins and so forth many thanks mom and many many thanks for the luxe now I can wash my wool scarf I wouldn't trust that scarf to the laundry to be awakened out of a sound sleep and told you're a first lieutenant and to receive a box of luxe all on the same day is something to write home about then Mrs. Commande adds I wonder how many mothers think of enclosing luxe in that wonder box it is a thoughtful thing to do for luxe takes just as good care of wool scarves and socks as it does of your precious sweaters and other washable woolens you know how soft and attractive your sweaters stay when you luxe them and you probably know how harsh and scratchy and shrunken woolens can get if they're not washed right if they're rubbed with cake soap or washed with strong alkaline soap and to hot water they're not very comfortable to wear when that happens and they're actually not as warm to wear either but with gentle luxe care you can avoid shrinking and matting there's no harmful alkali in luxe flakes and there's no danger of that cake soap rubbing that's so apt to make wool shrink so guard your precious woolens the gentle luxe way and you'll get many thanks from your man in uniform if you enclose a box of luxe flakes in the next package you send off to him we pause now for station identification this is the Columbia broadcasting system act two of the war against mrs. Hadley starring Edward Arnold as Elliot Fulton Faye Bainter as Stella Hadley with Jean Rogers as Patricia and Van Johnson as Michael Ted Hadley is in the army now more than ever mrs. Hadley is bitterly resentful of a war which has been thrust upon her indignant at the changes it has made in our life with pattern Cecilia she's driving down to visit her son at a camp near Washington are we almost there it's just a little way mother I don't see why they don't ever let Teddy come home they're always keeping him in that camp I'm not surprised he's such a lovely boy they do the same to all the boys and they are letting them have dinner out with us who's the man he's bringing with him Sergeant Fitzpatrick we isn't any young man you brought home one night yes mother so that's why you roll dressed up don't talk nonsense Cecilia I didn't know he was a friend of Teddy's I asked Mike to look Ted up at camp they've become friends I see oh Stella I meant to tell you Tony Winters is at the same camp Laura Winters son did you know no I didn't oh yes they're taking all the boys why my elevator I do wish you'd stop quoting that elevator boy well he does run into a lot of important people Teddy dear have you everything you need at camp isn't there something I can send you not a thing mother sure you have enough blankets at night absolutely certain why don't you let me give you the big comforter from the spare room the pink one yes dear well I don't think it would fit in with the general color scheme of the barracks oh I always think that pink goes with any color he managed to keep us pretty warm down here Mrs. Hadley really sergeant well perhaps you know best Ted but you look tired dear I hope you're not trying to do too much not a bit more than is asked of me mother mother don't baby him I think he looks fine thanks bad hi a Ted hi a Sarge are you doing hi Louie how's it with you strangler strictly done that's be seeing you be seeing you strangler so long Louie who was that a friend of yours Ted that was Louie we call him the strangler he used to be a wrestling champion in Brooklyn indeed and what did you do before the war sergeant oh I was in the advertising department of the Washington Chronicle the Chronicle really oh dear just when everything was so peaceful why what's the matter have I said something wrong Mrs. Hadley Mike come on Mike let's dance shall we sure I'd like to well come on then excuse me mother look yes kid don't get Mike wrong just because he's worked for the Chronicle he's a real gent gentlemen darling you mustn't let the army vulgarize you mother I'd like to talk to you in the morning darling I'm completely worn out please it's important sit down mother that I do hope you're not going to tell me anything unpleasant I'm not mother I well what is it dear mother do you remember the first time you met father strange you should ask me that I was recalling it tonight when I saw Teddy he grows more like his father every day did you fall in love with father right away I suppose I must he was so handsome and dashing I really couldn't help myself you see at the time I was half engaged to Elliot and what is it you wanted to tell me dear I'm in love too mother with this soldier yes you mustn't romanticize things Patricia dear in times like these one has apt to be carried away with a glamour of the uniform oh I'd marry Mike if he were dressed in an old gunny sack has he asked you to marry him I asked him he's got us transferred to the air core and he's being sent out west I couldn't let him go without letting him know how I felt that was very forward and a discreet of you Patricia I'm glad the young man is leaving it'll give you time to think things over I'm going with him I'll be married first of course married oh mother you love him when you know him really you will I'm not thinking of myself I'm thinking of you I have no intention of entrusting your happiness to a man who none of us knows I know him Ted knows and Elliot knows Elliot knows him yes I introduced them you've been seeing Elliot Fulton after what he did to me mother what Elliot did was the best possible thing that could have happened why Ted's a new man you've been carrying on with this young man behind my back aided and abated by the man who sent your own brother to what may be his death you're being hysterical and unfair I suppose you think what Elliot did was fair yes I do you've always sided with him always you care more for him than you do for me that's not true if he means so much to you why don't you go to him he won't stand in the way of your marrying this nobody but as your mother I forbid it all right mother good night Patricia come back here this instant where are you going to Elliot Patricia yes I want to see Mrs. Hadley please may I have your card madam car I didn't think you needed one to get in who shall I say is calling please just say Mrs. Michael Fitzpatrick Mike's mother I'll see if she's home there's a Mrs. Michael Fitzpatrick to see you madam Mrs. Fitzpatrick showering yes madam Mrs. Hadley will see you I could have told you she would well how do you do Mrs. Fitzpatrick that's it no need to ask who you are you're the mother of your daughter and there's no denying it won't you sit down well that chairs a bit thin for the size of me if you don't mind I'll sit over here on the sofa what is it you want please Mrs. Hadley I'll not beat about the bush I've come as a dove of peace although you hardly think I was a dove to look at me if there's any peace to be made I should think my daughter would call on me she tried to call on you but you turned her away I sent word that I'd see her when she decided to move back home and give up the idea of this marriage and what have you against her marry and my Michael I have nothing against your son in fact I hardly know him oh that's easily cured on the other hand I see no reason why they shouldn't wait at least until he's out of the army young people aren't much at waiting Mrs. Hadley then it's up to us as older people to stop it I did my best but Patricia obviously decided to go elsewhere for her guidance and her love she'll search high and low but she'll not find the kind of love you can give her come now Mrs. Hadley there's enough fighting going on in the world without a mother and a daughter having to go at it say you'll come to the wedding the wedding on Wednesday at high noon in the church of the Immaculate Heart and it won't be complete without you since I wasn't consulted about the wedding I see no purpose in my being there and why should you be consulted when you were all against it and I see no purpose in continuing this discussion good afternoon Mrs. Fitzpatrick you're a proud woman Mrs. Hadley but I think you'll find that pride's not very good company when you're lonely good afternoon I'd like to propose a toast to the bride and groom oh yes yes Mr. Poulton a toast all well here's to a happy life in Phoenix and a speedy return to those who love you and how about a toast to the mother of the groom if you don't stop drinking toasts you'll all be sudden to you darling well I'm afraid I've got to get back to the department that sounds familiar Elliot I'll go with you to the door and not a step further remember you're my wife oh I don't think she's apt to forget that Mike goodbye sir and thanks for everything goodbye Mike and lots of good luck and take good care of her it was a beautiful wedding Mrs. Fitzpatrick goodbye goodbye Ted goodbye Mr. Poulton goodbye sir well Pat are you happy terribly except for mother yes I know you know all during the ceremony I was looking toward the door hoping Elliot have I been selfish have I done everything I could well everything short of wrecking your life and Mike's I tried to phone her from the church Bennett said she was out when you tried to see her I'm afraid she'll be out to meet too don't worry Pat she's a lot stronger than we suspect goodbye Elliot goodbye my dear I'll miss you I'll try to believe that and lots of good luck to both of you thanks here I am Mike you've been going for ages do you know that don't ever ever leave me again do you here I always have crazy with loneliness oh Mike darling come on let's get out of here all right I'll run up and get my grips come on hey they're going to run out on us both can't do that wait a minute Pat come back well I guess that's hey Pat aren't you ever going to throw that bridal bouquet I need a husband too all right now get back everybody get back no no wait a minute what's the matter Pat look I if you don't mind I won't throw the bouquet I'm going to send it to someone Ted come here yes Pat Ted give this to mother from me and then she gave me the flowers who were for you she said here mother don't thanks Bennett hello yes this is Hadley speaking sir yes sir I understand sir right away I've got to go mother but I thought they gave you permission to spend the night all leaves have been canceled it looks as if as if we're being moved out Teddy now don't worry mother they may only be sending me to a camp in another part of the country no no I know what it is first it was Pat and now it's you Teddy my baby they're taking you away from me intermission we'll hear act three of the war against mrs. Hadley starring Edward Arnold and Faye Bainter with Jane Rogers and Van Johnson now here's our fashion scout Libby Collins with some news about figure problems for the women in our audience sounds a bit mathematical Libby well not exactly mr. Kennedy not the kind I'm thinking about though often when a woman subtracts from her figure she adds to her pores and appearance I want to pass along the good news that even with elastic fabrics rationed we women are going to be able to solve our figure problems with girdles and foundations that fit well new types of fabrics and ingenious new ways of cutting them have been worked out so the new things can do a fine figure slimming job with little or no elastic in them now of course that doesn't mean we're going to toss out the precious two-way stretch girdles and foundations we bought last year far from it we want to make them last just as long as we can and one of the best ways to do that is to luxe them often so they never get really soiled and so perspiration doesn't harm the fibers yes luxe flakes take away soil and perspiration quickly and thoroughly and with luxe there's no harmful alkali no cake soap rubbing to weaken elasticity girdles keep their fit better last longer with gentle luxe care and that point about fit is especially true of the new things with less elastic in them it's more important than ever to protect fit with luxe yes liby that's care experts advise makers of foundations and leading stores where they're sold advise luxe flakes now mr. de mill returns to the microphone one of our stars has a birthday today we'll tell you about it when we bring them back after the play now the curtain rises on the third act of the war against mrs. Hadley starring edward arnold and fey bainter with gene rogers and van johnson you'll find that prides not very good company when you're lonely those were mrs. Fitzpatrick's words words of prophecy mrs. Hadley alone in a busy world at war tries vainly to keep alive a peaceful era which is gone she has no friends now except the faithful Cecilia and those friends of another day to whom she occasionally writes pat is married in phoenix and ted is heaven knows where the house is still and quiet without them you'll find prides not very good company i had a letter from ted last week dear mother i've read it over 20 times i still can't realize he's gone away from me our ship reaches its destination shortly and maybe now we'll be seeing some action tony winters is in our company i know how you feel about his mother but tony's a real jant has been the swallowing that's happened to me in the army it's not very good company steady steady mrs. Hadley mrs. Hadley benid what is it it's mr. theodore what's happened to him nothing i mean everything he's a hero it says so in the paper look look mrs. Hadley i'm so nervous read it for me benid yes madam theodore hadley washington youth wins tsc for heroism that's the distinguished service cross mrs. Hadley yes i know but is he all right corporal theodore hadley was cited for conspicuous bravery under fire in an official communique just received hadley according to the dispatch had been instructed to seek out the location of an enemy machine gun emplacement after the other four men in his unit had been shot down by jab snipers corporal hadley continued on alone locating the machine gun nest and wiping it out with hand grenades killing 15 jab soldiers he returned unharmed to his company corporal hadley is the son of the late nathaniel hadley once owner of the washington chronicle and of mrs. Hadley benid i want you to get me all the papers right away yes madam even the washington chronicle i want every one of them i want to see you please who shall i say is calling it's mrs. Fitzpatrick girl now hurry up milley has been at return oh how are you mrs. Hadley how do you do he'll excuse me for puffin i i'm all out of breath won't you come in thank you kindly well i i suppose you've heard the good news yes i just saw it in the paper the paper is it is nothing sacred from those gossip mongols i'm afraid i don't understand i was speaking of my son young ted well what's happened to him he's just been awarded the dsc that's the distinguished service cross the saints for service who'd have thought it dead he's always been courageous even as a child of course he has and it's proud you should be to have a hero for a son think of all the stories we'll be able to tell our grandchild about his uncle grandchild is patricia having a baby heaven help us i thought you knew by now no not a word that's not like that whatever may have happened between you it's still your grandchild she's bearing when did you hear just a short while back and i dropped everything to run over and compare notes with you on how it felt to be a grandmother i'm afraid i can't say not having been informed officially mrs. Hadley i hope you'll excuse me but in the excitement over mr. theodore i forgot this telegram madame oh thank you very sorry madame there there you see i knew it i knew it wasn't like them what does it say you are going to be a grandmother in october we love you and miss you very much pat and mike not a word did they say in my telegram about miss and me i do hope patricia takes proper care of herself oh michael will see to that if he doesn't i'll beat the daylights out of them mrs. Hadley yes it's the reporters madame reporters yes madame five of them they insist upon seeing you about mr. theodore i have nothing to say to them why of course you have i beg your pardon you forget you're the mother of a hero i don't see why my private life is any concern at the press there's a war going on mrs. Hadley and there's hundreds of thousands of wives and mothers needing all the courage they can get their men can't all win the dsc but they're fighting just the same and it's up to you to give their women folk a message of hope and faith you've got no private life anymore you belong to those wives and mothers so you'll see the mrs. Hadley and right now come in boys mrs. Hadley i'm stevens of the chronicle the chronicle the name of hadley means a lot to us we'd like to play it up in a big way i'm afraid i have nothing to say we just want to ask you a few questions mrs. Hadley but i told you have you heard from your son lately i had a letter the other day where was it from what did he say the letter was personal i see no object and going on with this you already know the facts but we'd like your angle mrs. Hadley if mrs. Winters was willing to give us an interview you certainly ought to mrs. Winters yes we've just come from there some people like publicity i wouldn't call losing a son good publicity what guess we'd better call her today come on no no no wait please i i didn't know it was in the paper i didn't read it please believe me of course she didn't haven't you got two eyes among the lot of you i'm very sorry mrs. Hadley tony winters was with your son looking for the same machine gun nest he was shot by a sniper oh how dreadful why only the other day teddy wrote about him they were great friends yes so mrs. Winters told us she saw you at a time like this yes she did then it you'll find a letter from mr. Theodore on my night table i want you to bring it here yes madam i'd like to read you parts of it especially the part about tony winters mrs. Winters mrs. Winters ma'am oh uh yes ana mrs. Hadley is here ma'am mrs. Hadley i hope i'm not intruding please come in mrs. Hadley thank you i'm so glad you came won't you sit down i have a letter from my son i brought it along i thought you might like to hear what ted said about tony yes yes i should very much he says tony winters is in our company i know how you feel about his mother but tony is a real gent beg pardon gentleman that's just a little joke we have and we've become great friends in fact knowing him has been the swellest thing that's happened to me in the army i can't tell you how much that means to me i just wanted you to know how ted felt about him tony felt the same way about him i'm glad they were together when it could so easily have been my boy instead of yours we should both be very proud of our sons please don't cry i've just heard today they're giving tony the distinguished service cross too i'm glad and i'm so sorry for so many things none of that matters now fights political differences anything all that matters is that you and i all of us work together to make what tony died for something fine and lasting i've been waiting for you how are you all right you're looking very well stella thank you stella i'm here on official business the president sent me the president yes he asked me to deliver this letter to you personally eliot will you read it to me yes of course my dear mrs hadley i want to offer my congratulations on the valor shown by your son and on the award of the distinguished service cross which he so heroically earned i had the pleasure of knowing your husband and though he opposed many of my policies i always found him a fair opponent and a fearless fighter i'm glad he has handed down this heritage to his son i know that every american must share with you in your justifiable pride your sincerely franklin d roosevelt to think of his finding time to write to me when he has so many things to do he must be a very remarkable man i just wanted to tell you there'll be a new shipment of wool in tomorrow and more material for bandages now while i'm gone laura winters will be in charge and i'm sure you'll all work just as hard as if i were here are there any questions oh stella yes cecilia stella do i have to take the first aid course all over again we all have to take it until we pass our examination oh i'm tired of being bandaged being phoenix stella probably not more than a week i'll be right back after the baby's born it'll be born before we get there if you don't hurry it's all right meg you don't worry i never missed a train in my life there's always a first time for everything where is that husband of yours is he going to take us to the station he's probably held up in a conference of the department you know how important these conferences are well where's your car elliot and i decided to put it up for the duration stella hello darlin hello dear here i brought you some flowers elliot i thought you said we were going to economize well let's start tomorrow i hope you know how much i'm going to miss you while you're away that's what you get for marrying a grandmother come on come on this is no time for spoon all right all right baggie come on i hope it's a boy thank you goodbye everybody those jabs and nuts is better look out now that stella's in the war forget something where is it here here it is what is it i almost forgot my letter from the president you've heard the story of stella hadley of her doubts and her decision may we all profit by her example and realize as she did the moral and military necessity of sacrifice to speed the day of victory our stars return for a curtain call here's something that sounds like a contradiction but it's true part of the hard wear your stockings get comes when you're not wearing them for example if you let your stockings lie around without being luxe after you've worn them the perspiration left in the fabric can weaken the threads so the stockings wear out too quickly yes it's important for good wear to wash stockings promptly after every wearing and it's important to do it the gentle luxe flakes way for if you wash stockings the wrong way if you rub them with cake soap or use strong soap you're actually adding to the wear and tear those things weaken the elastic qualities of your stockings then the tiny threads break easily into runs but gentle luxe flakes take away soil and perspiration quickly and very gently without weakening elasticity you cut down runs your stockings will look better last longer when you lux them after every wearing get the thrifty big box of luxe flakes first thing tomorrow it will do stockings every night for months now here's mr. de mille with our stars it isn't news when fey bainter and edward honald give fine performances because we expected of them and we're never disappointed but i did discover some news about fey bainter today this is her birthday well many happy returns fey you certainly picked an exciting day i had nothing to do with it eddie aren't you going to ask me how old i am no not me my mom had done told me she said never escalate his age eddie i i think it would be all right to ask fey how old she was when she played her first part for mr. de mille then i retired until i was 14 and it's obvious your comeback was successful fey when did your career get underway eddie oh i was about 14 years old too a mere beardless boy oh no not exactly i played character parts of war of beard most of the time well this audience knows two good troopers when we find them i was thinking tonight that there's something in that word trooper that fits 130 million americans now we're better neighbors because we've made sacrifices together the missing faces around the family dinner table draw us all closer eddie arnell for instance has sent a son to the army and you have a boy in the same service cb fey bainter's husband a fine naval officer in the last war directs civilian defense in the city of san america and we stand side by side with millions of other mothers and fathers doing what we can and trying to be good troopers about it what play have you planned for next week mr. de mille a famous screenplay that's very timely at the moment fey it's called algears and our stars will be charles boy a and la rata young algears algears is a city that's made for drama and it's certainly lived up to its reputation in the past few weeks next monday night we'll bring you a thrilling love story of this fascinating town with charles boy a and his great role of pepe lamoco and la rata young has his leading lady now that's a great idea right now cb my congratulations and good night good night good night there's no rationing on talent like you our sponsors the makers of lux flakes join me in inviting you to be with us again next monday night when the lux radio theater presents la rata young and charles boy a in algears with j carol nash and gene larkard the success will be de mille saying good night to you from hollywood attention housewives is your kitchen part of american war production are you helping to make munitions do you save waste kitchen fats if you don't start tomorrow put all leftover fats in a clean wide top can and take them to your meat dealer regularly he'll pay you for them and they'll be used to make glycerin glycerin makes explosives so send your waste fats to war out of the frying plan into the firing line during the holiday season the volume of mail increases approximately 200 percent the public should not delay any longer to mail christmas gifts greetings and letters if they wish to make certain that they are received before december 24th heard in tonight's play were fred mackay as theodore verna felton as mrs fits patrick and oniel as cecilia our music was directed by louis silvers and this is your announcer john m kennedy reminding you to tune in next monday night to hear charles boyer and loretta young with j carol nash and gene larkard in algears shake off that fag doubt half alive vitamin deficient feeling try vim thousands depend on vims to help guard against colds help build extra energy vims have vitamins a c and d and three essential b complex vitamins also three minerals remember vi for vitamins double ms for minerals vims this is the columbia broadcasting system