 RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television, proudly presents... Screen Directors Playhouse, star Ray Milland, production It Happens Every Spring, director Lloyd Bacon The Hollywood Screen Directors present a tale for April evenings. The motion picture baseball story, It Happens Every Spring, starring Ray Milland in his original role of Vernon K. Simpson. In the spring of the hallowed year of 39, certain financial interests met in a smoke-filled New York hotel room. Present were the czars and barons of the Great American Popcorn Trust, the insidious hot dog monopoly, and the infamous soda pop cartel. Business was off. Sales were dropping. More popcorn, hot dogs and soda pop had to be sold. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how baseball was invented. And ever since then, it's happened every spring. Baseball. Let Monk Lannigan tell you about baseball. It don't make no sense. For instance, take the year of St. Louis Winner Series. It's the face of the season and I'm supposed to be a catcher. Only with the St. Louis there ain't nothing to catch. Our pitchers is either getting hit halfway to Kansas City or else tossing them so wild I need a ladder to snag them. So, one morning I'm out in the park talking it over with Jimmy Dolan, the manager, when this guy shows up. Hey, Mr. Dolan. He's a real serious-looking yokel with horn-rimmed glasses and he looks as much like a pitcher as Margaret O'Brien. But he walks up to Dolan and says, Mr. Dolan, I am a pitcher. And Dolan smiles the sweet Dolan smile and says, Scram. Mr. Dolan, you need a pitcher. I can win the pen and for you. Monk. Kindly make this crackpot disappear. Okay, son. We're busy. But I am not a crackpot. Dolan, he says he ain't a crackpot. He ain't a pitcher either. Dolan, it's a simple mathematical fact. I can win at least 30 games for you. My boy. What's your name? Simpson. No, no, no. I mean your first name. Vernon. Vernon K. Simpson. Well, Vernon... Beat it! Ah, Dolan, why don't you give him a chance? Maybe he's got something. I have indeed 30 games. If you can pitch one game, I'm the Queen of Sheba. Well, that was the year Dolan started being called Queenie. Because this guy, Vernon K. Simpson, yet, he don't look like a pitcher, he don't throw like a pitcher, but he's a pitcher. Baseball. It don't make sense. My name is Deborah Greenlee. Debbie. And I think I know Mr. Mark Lannigan-Fields. I mean, it's all so crazy. You see, I was engaged to Vernon K. Simpson that year. The year that St. Louis won the series. We all knew that Vernon was a fanatic about baseball, and especially about the St. Louis team, but we never dreamed that... Well, after all, he was a very steady young chemistry instructor at the university, and father would never have given him his permission if he'd known that... Well, you can see how crazy it all is. Father is president of the university. And one morning, about 7.30, Vernon rushed into the dining room while we were eating breakfast and said... Good morning, Debbie, darling. Dr. Greenleaf, I know this is a very odd hour to call. Oh, Vernon, what are you so excited about? Look at him, father. Yes, it reminds me, is there any more mush? Debbie, darling, I have to talk to your father. Dr. Greenleaf, I have to go away. Well, before you go, please pass the mush. Debbie, I'm sorry about leaving you, but you'll see I'm going to make enough money for us to be married. Money? Aren't you satisfied to starve to death like any decent young university instructor? Dr. Greenleaf, it's in connection with my university work that I'm going. That is, if you'll give me leave of absence. Oh, father, I'll bet Vernon has invented something. Yes, yes, I have, Debbie. Well, what is it? It's just the greatest... Well, it's a secret. Vernon, I've watched you closely ever since you came to the university. Every spring, Vernon, you've acted a little, uh, odd if you don't mind my saying so. Oh, I don't mind, sir. That's fine. Because this year, brother, you're crazy. Dr. Greenleaf, I'm sure I can justify myself if only you'd give me a chance. I implore you. Well, if it's for science. Oh, thank you, sir. You'll never regret it. And Debbie, darling. Oh, Vernon. I love you. I love you, too. And I'm going to be so long, son. Goodbye, dearest. Goodbye, my darling. Goodbye. Hold somebody, please. Pass the mush. And so Vernon walked out the door. And I'm not sure of anything that happened after that because... because, well, all I know is that was the year St. Louis won the series. If everyone seems to be confused, it's only natural. Because I'm Vernon K. Simpson, and, of course, I'm the only one who knows what really happened the year St. Louis won the series. We'll take up the story on the afternoon preceding my visit to the Greenleaf household. I was in my laboratory performing a very important experiment. As was my custom, I turned on the radio and was listening to the baseball report. It's not too early in the season to pick a pen and winner, but it doesn't take an expert to pick the St. Louis squad as the loser. The major weakness is the pitching department. Manager Jimmy Dolan would give his I.T. for one first-class early. I recall a distinct twinge of anxiety for the St. Louis baseball team, and I admit my thoughts were on the diamond as I bent over a white precipitate forming in a flask. Then... Baseball crashed through the window of my laboratory. I looked up just in time to see a group of children disappearing around a corner, and so I turned once again to my experiment. A shambles, a complete shambles. The ball had smashed through test tubes, beakers, flasks and retorts, and the remains of my experiment lay in the sink, a complex mixture of Lord knows what. I pushed aside these shards of glass and picked up the baseball, which was immersed in the chemical-filled sink. Looking at it, I lost my temper and threw it at the wooden floor, and immediately found myself grasping the baseball again. A surprising fact, for although I'd thrown the ball with all my might, it had not touched the floor. I wished to add that I pride myself on my pitching ability. The faculty developed since childhood in all moments when I was not studying. So, winding up, I let fly once again at the floor. After performing several similar experiments, I came to the scientific conclusion that the unknown fluid in the sink had imbued the baseball with an amazing property. The baseball was repelled by wood. I wish I could adequately describe my feelings at that time. I poured the fluid from my sink into a bottle, a bottle that could create the greatest pitcher in baseball history. Of course, when the fluid ran out, well, I didn't dare think of that. I thought only this. If I should cut a small hole in my pitcher's mitt, if I should pour some of the fluid onto a sponge, and if I should hold that sponge so the fluid would seep through the hole and cover the surface of a baseball, no batter on earth could hit that ball because it would, of its own accord, dodge the bat. So, being possessed of an opportunity to play baseball, make a great deal of money and marry Deborah Greenleaf, I asked for and received my leave of absence and traveled 78 miles to St. Louis, where manager Jimmy Dolan agreed to give me a practice tryout. He was doubtful, and so I am afraid was the kindly gentleman who was catching for me and Mr. Monk Lannigan. The batter stepped up to the plate and Monk called to me. Okay, young fellow, let's see what you got. Hey, who is this guy, Monk? Dolan told me to bat one over the fence. He wants to be a pitcher. Break his heart easy and get it over with him. Watch me. Come on, Beynon, steam one over. Very well. Sure it comes. Yikes! What kind of ball was that? Must have been an optical delusion. It ducked right under the bat. Hey, Beynon, let's have that one again. Certainly, Mr. Lannigan. I said, I've got to get glasses. Yeah, you'd better get some for me while you're at it. I saw the same thing. Hey, Beynon, come here. Monk. Monk was that guy, kiddin'? Jimmy, sure as I'm standing here, I saw it, he throws the screwiest ball I ever seen. Do you smell alcohol on my breath? No. I ain't drunk. No. But you saw that ball do what it did. Yeah. Then you're drunk. He isn't, Mr. Dolan. I can throw a ball like that every time. Young fella? Either everybody here, but you is crazy, or you're crazier than all the rest of us put together. I don't know. But anyhow, you got a job. And so it was that I, Vernon K. Simpson, by virtue of chemistry, became King Simpson, pitching giant of the St. Louis. And so it was that I turned my back upon the halls of learning simply because I discovered the secret of making a baseball goal. You are listening to the screen director's playhouse production of It Happens Every Spring, starring Ray Milland and presented by RCA Victor. In just four more days, the first baseball of the major league season gets tossed out and the fight to a series finishes on. What thrills for the fans of the game? And what thrills right in their own home for television owners who can't make the game? RCA Victor Eyewitness Television is the next best thing to being there in person. Yes, it's America's favorite because more people choose RCA Victor Eyewitness Television than any other kind. Choose it for clear, bright, steady pictures. It's America's first because RCA Victor has set quality standards for the entire industry, quality standards in all details that add up to finer television performance. And only with RCA Victor can you get, at moderate additional cost, all the benefits of the RCA Victor Factory Service Contract. Your RCA Victor television set is installed in service by RCA experts and top performance guaranteed for a year. It's the only factory to use service in television. So ask your dealer about complete details when you see RCA Victor Eyewitness Television. Back to the Screen Directors Playhouse production of It Happens Every Spring, starring Ray Milland in his original role of Vernon K. Simpson with Ted DeCorsia as Monk Lannigan. Those of you who care to do so may check my record with the St. Louis Baseball Club during the year which I speak. I'm known in the guidebooks, of course, as King Simpson. Suffice it to say that the St. Louis won the pen and went into the series. Mysterious liquid accidentally concocted in my laboratory had done its work well. But if the truth be known, I wasn't happy. My mind lingered long and lovingly over the blond and buttress Debbie Greenleaf. And it was while I pursued these thoughts in my hotel room one day that Monk Lannigan entered. Hiya, Vena Naziola. Hello, Monk. Hey, what's the matter with you? Me? Oh, nothing. Lonesome, I guess. Ha! I can fix that. Vena, no pal, I'll move in with you. No, Monk, you don't have to do that. Well, nice room we got here. What's this bottle on the dresser? Monk, don't touch that. That's what I use on the book. I mean, that's what I use on my head. Hair tonic. Oh, hair tonic. Say, who's the doll in this picture? She's the young lady to whom I'm engaged. It's funny you never brought her around. Oh, I couldn't do that. She doesn't know when her father doesn't know. What don't they know? About King Simpson. They don't know he's me or I'm him, you see? No. Well, her father, Dr. Greenleaf, wouldn't have let me go if he knew what I was doing. Let's you go. Where'd they have you? Well, Monk, I'm sorry I can't explain. But, look, you're my friend. I've got to see Debbie again. Now, she doesn't live far from St. Louis, and, well, I'm not pitching tomorrow. And Monk, I want you to cover up for me if I run up to see her. But tomorrow's the first game of the series. What's the difference? Jimmy Dolan says I'm supposed to rest my arm, so I'll be able to pitch the final game. And besides, I'll pitch better if I talk to Debbie. I don't know. Please, Monk. Okay. I'll tell you what you do. You go up there, but leave me the phone number so I can get in the hallway in case Dolan wants you, okay? Okay. My train arrived shortly after midnight, and since my time was limited, I resolved to go directly to the Greenleaf home. Stealing across the backyard, I stood directly beneath what I thought to be Debbie's window, and threw a few pebbles to attract her attention. Debbie! Darling! Darling, come to the window! Darling, it's Vernon. I love you. But I don't love you! Dr. Greenleaf! Well, I thought it was Debbie's window, you see? Oh, why don't you use the door? I don't want to wake anybody up! You're a man, you're a lunatic, and where the douches you've been all these months? Well, I can't tell you, I... Never mind. Haven't I heard from you? Debbie, you've got to trust me. My experiment has been a success, and so have I. We'll be able to be married, darling. When? After the end of the season. What season? The, uh, duck season. Well, soon explain yourself. Vernon's a success, father. We can afford to get married now. A success at what? Ducks. Simpson, after the way you've deluded us, it's a good thing you don't expect your old job back. Oh, for Dr. Greenleaf, I do. I'll have to have it back when the bottle's empty. Bottle? I knew it. He's taken to drink. Dr. Greenleaf, I've done nothing of the sort. Helen, it's worse. If a dimwit like you is making money, it can't be legal. Father! Well, look at the facts. He runs off mysteriously and comes crawling back mysteriously, talking about his money. A man's a criminal. You can see it in his face. Father! Answer the phone. Yeah, criminal, that's what he is. Oh, Vernon, I don't know what you're doing, but I'm sure it's nothing wrong. I'm afraid your father wouldn't approve, Debbie, but believe me, it's perfectly legal. Hey, Dylan, sir, it's for you. Oh? Oh, thank you. Must be money. Debbie, you should have heard the voice on that thug who's calling him. I'll bet they're planning another crime right now. Oh, that's the craziest thing I ever heard. Well, I'm going to find out for myself. Father, that's Eve's dropping. Sure, come on. What about it, Monk? How'd things go today? Killed him, huh? That's fine. Now it's murdered. That boy will stop at nothing. Well, it's too bad I had to nail him at second, but I guess he's getting too old to steal anyway. Deeper and deeper. All right, Monk, I'll catch the next train back. I know Donald won't expect me to start mowing him down for a few days, but if he's worried... Yes, everything's fine here. Now, nobody suspects me yet. Right. Goodbye, Monk. We know you now for what you are. Murdering! Oh, mistake! Young man, for my daughter's sake, I won't ask the police to come to this house. Kindly leave immediately. Sink back into the swamp of your criminal life. Oh, my. Oh, my goodness. Oh, Vernon, I still love you. Take me with you. Goodbye, Debbie Darling. Goodbye. Vernon, snap out of a window with the ballpark. I can't, Monk. All the music has gone out of my life. Music? Look, you ain't no piccolo player. You're a pitcher. And you've been sucking in this hotel room all through the series. No job to go back to branded a common criminal. Well, the lover, Pete, will you get a move on? Poland's got to use you today. What with the series tied up free and all? We got to win this one, Vernon. Oh, very well. Monk. Yeah? Where's the bottle that was on my dresser? You mean your hair tonic? No, I mean the fluid that... Oh, yes. Yes, the hair tonic. I let it to a ball-headed bellboy. You... No. No, you couldn't. It's different. You ain't playing for the house of David. Monk, you don't understand. That bottle I... I won't be able to throw a single strike. Oh, this beats me. What do you need it for? Because it's... Well, it's a lucky charm. I'm superstitious. Well, I heard a rabbit's feet and elk's toes, but... Hair tonic, that's a no. I'm ruined. Now, look, Dwayne, and I'll tell you what to do. Leave everything to Monk. You get down to the ballpark and I'll scare up that bellboy. He'll give me the bottle back. I'll bring the bottle that you and Will will win the series, okay? You got to get it back, Monk. You've got to get that bottle. The series has tied up three and three, ladies and gentlemen, and here we go on to the top half of the fourth inning. St. Louis leads four to three. But the way King Simpson is pitching today, it doesn't look as if that lead is going to last very long. Now, look here, Simpson. Yes, Mr. Dolan. I don't know what's got into you today, but if it weren't for some pretty wonderful feeling, we'd be behind in this ball game instead of a run ahead. Well, maybe you ought to take me out, Mr. Dolan. No, sir, I'm going to take a chance on you. It's your ball game, Simpson, to win or lose. A lot of guys are counting on you. That's all. Now get out there and hold. Hey, hey, hey. Well, Mr. Lannick, and it's very nice of you to show up. Have you got it, Monk? Sure. Here it is, kid. Here's your bottle ahead, Tonic. Oh, thanks, Monk. And don't worry, Mr. Dolan, we're going to win this ball game. Never seen anything like it. Here we are in the top half of the night, and King Simpson has held Chicago Hitler's since the first to the fourth. As if by a miracle, he suddenly got his own fire by... And right now, there are two out. The count is three and two. There's a stretch and a pitch. Ladies and gentlemen, King Simpson, the winning pitcher has just keeled over in what seems to be a dead faint. What happened to me, Monk? That's okay, kid. You just fainted. Boy, you won a beautiful series. I did. Now, take it easy. The doc's looking after you. Oh, my wrists here. You must have fallen on it. It's pretty swollen. The doc thinks it's broken. He took X-ray. Oh? He'll be bringing a mind out. You know, when you fell, you broke your luck, too. How? You broke your bottle ahead, Tonic. Oh, my gentleman. You got the pitcher, doc. I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you, Mr. Simpson. You've suffered a linear fracture extending into the joint. I'm very much afraid you'll never be able to pitch professional ball again. Fine. It's all right, Monk. Well, that bottle broke. My pitching career was ended anyway. Oh, that screwy superstition. That don't mean nothing. There wasn't no head, Tonic, in that bottle. Well, you see, Monk, what did you say? Well, when I finally found the bell, I thought you'd already used the stuff up, so I filled the bottle with water. You mean...you mean no chemical? I'm really a pitcher, after all? Certainly. You really struck those bellas out? I did? Oh, no! You burned in my boy! Stuck a green leaf. Debbie? Oh, darling, you were magnificent. But what? Look, you were so upset about your girl, and our old man, I figured that could help. So, last night I found the same lumber you gave me when you went best in that time. Then they know everything? Why didn't you tell us you were King Simpson? Always knew you were a fine young man, literally sent me. Then you don't mind? You mind? Why should I mind? Just because you're a little crazy? When are you coming back to the university? Well, as soon as...right away, if you'll have me. Good! You've got a famous ball player on the staff now. He's a little screwy, maybe. Vynan. Vynan, aren't you gonna kiss your girl? Vynan, you're wonderful. Oh, Vynan. May all our children be catches. And him, a pitcher. You see what I mean? Baseball. It don't make sense. Jimmy Wallington speaking. You have just heard the last act of It Happens Every Spring. And our star, Ray Milland, with our guest screen director, Lloyd Bacon, will be with us in just a moment. Next Friday, one of Hollywood's most charming and talented actresses brings a favorite comedy performance to the screen director's playhouse. Our story is A Kiss in the Dark. And recreating her original role will be Jane Wyman with screen director Delmer Dave. And now, here again as tonight's star, Ray Milland. Ray, don't be surprised from now on if you get a few phone calls from the Dodgers every spring. Well, I wouldn't be much helped, Jimmy. It happened any of that magic head tonic. Besides in spring, my fancies turn to other things besides baseball. Oh, a likely turn to thoughts of love, for example? No, not likely, Jimmy. I'm a very happily married man. Well, a married man enjoys a little romance. With his wife, that is. Soft lights, sweet music and stuff. Sweet music, but definitely. Which more than ever can be enjoyed right at home these days thanks to the RCA Victor 45. I know what you mean, Jimmy. Like dancing to those 15 big name bands, RCA Victor's recorded on 45. Exactly. But of course, dance music is but part of all the music RCA Victor has released on 45. More than 2,100 tunes and more being recorded every day. Well, I can't say we bought that many 45 records, but we did buy both popular models of the 45 Changer. The automatic attachment model. Which we've plugged into our radio set. And which you can also plug into your Victrola phonograph or television set. Hmm, have to try that. Our other 45 is the little one with its own loud speaker, Mrs. Milan's very own. That is when our young son Daniel hasn't picked it up and carried it off to his room. Oh, there you have it, Ray. Even a mere youngster can play it. Jimmy, you can hardly miss getting those 7-inch records under the big center spindle correctly. And what's there to do after that? Nothing but press one button once and enjoy up to 50 minutes of music. And what music, Jimmy, is such rich tone. And there's the second great feature of the RCA Victor 45. Quality. The third is its low cost. 45 automatic players begin at $12.95. And 45 records as low as 46 cents. Those 15 dance albums you mentioned, Ray, cost $12.45 less when purchased on 45. And that's only 50 cents short of the price for the automatic 45 attachment. With record savings like this, it's no wonder all America is swinging to 45. Best swing I've ever seen, Jimmy. None better, Ray. Friends, join the swing to 45 when you buy your next record. Ladies and gentlemen, if ever a person really loved a motion picture, the director loved it happens every spring. Upon this film, he lavished the elaborate affection that springs only from the heart of a man who is absolutely dippy about baseball. Now I'd like you to meet him. The frustrated first baseman who's created such wonderful films as You Were Men For Me, Mother Is A Freshman and Miss Grant Takes Richmond. The director, Lloyd Bacon. Thank you, Ray, but I'm not really such a baseball fanatic. Well, Lloyd, you know how people talk. I wanted to direct it happens every spring because I just like baseball. Nothing wrong with that, is there? No, of course not. Doesn't make me a fanatic, does she? Certainly not. You've got to go over to my place some time. Oh, why? Baseballs, I've got thousands of baseballs. I understand, Lloyd. You're just a guy who puts his heart into the game. Unfortunately for us actors, you direct your pictures the same way. So, Lloyd, if you'll have me in another film, I'll do better than visit you and your baseballs. You will? I'll bring my bat with me. Good night, Lloyd. Good night, Ray. And good night to you, Ray Maland with Lloyd Bacon. Remember next Friday, Dane Wyman in A Kissin' the Dark was screened director Delma Dave, brought to you by RCA Victor, world leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television. It happens every spring, was presented through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox, producers of the Technicolor musical Warbash Avenue starring Betty Gravel and Victor Mature. Ray Maland will soon be seen in the Paramount Picture Copper Canyon. Lloyd Bacon recently directed the forthcoming Columbia Pictures production, Kill the Empire, starring William Bendix. Included in tonight's cast were Eddie Field, Parley Bear, Ted DeCorsia, Dan Riss, Frank Nelson, Anne Diamond, and Frank Barton. It happens every spring, was adapted for radio by Richard Allen Simmons, and original music was composed and conducted by Robert Armbruster. Screened director's Playhouse is produced by Howard Wiley, and directed by Bill Karn. Portions of the program were transcribed. You are invited to listen again next Friday when RCA Victor presents Screened director's Playhouse star Jane Wyman, production A Kiss in the Dark, director Delmer Dave's