 Your coca-cola bottler presents Claudia based on the play and novels by Rose Franken Brought to you transcribed Monday through Friday by your friendly neighbor who bottles coca-cola Relax and while you're listening refresh yourself. Have a coke And now Claudia Well David, I'm glad there's one cheerful man in this office at any rate. What's wrong Roger? I thought you like the idea of going Chicago I like the idea of going Chicago and meeting Carrington of getting our freight terminal underway But I do not like the idea of leaving New York. Well, I guess we can't have everything I know one of the most dismal facts of human existence is the difficulty of being in two places at the same time Well, you won't have to be in Chicago very long I hope makes no difference. The trouble is that I must be there at all David, I'm going to ask you and Claudia to do me a favor. Oh, we feel honored Roger Do you want us to entertain a maiden aunt or get your laundry back? Perhaps it's a combination of both. I'd like you to keep an eye on my son Jeffrey while I'm away I'm glad to oh don't be hasty David. He may be more of a handful and you imagine. Oh, I doubt it I really don't know he's way at boarding school, you know, and he's at that age of rapid changes I see him perhaps once in three months and his behavior on one occasion He's no clue to what he'll be like three months later seems to me I remember what that's like a year ago He seemed to be planning a career in professional football. He was 15 then last fall He was determined to become an art critic around Christmas. I had an actor for a son and now David Well in a few hours, you will know more about Jeffrey than I do when's he coming to New York? Well, he'd be leaving Boston around noon He spent most of his vacation up there with his grandmother and he should be here about five Exactly can't stay a hotel his mother of course is away campaigning for something or other very worthy Now that I have to go to Chicago. You are really the only people I can turn to know we'd be delighted Roger We have an extra room and we'd love to have him stay. It's very good of you, David Jeffrey's 16 now isn't it? He was 16 about two months ago. That's wonderful Claudia's only 19 so they'll get along famously Now after all these only three years younger than she is You'd be surprised how long three years can be I'm looking forward to learning We'll expect Jeffery for dinner tonight then Roger. That's very good of you. Let me see now. It's a Quarter ten. I have half an hour to get the station for my train. I'll send Jeffrey telegram He'll get it before he leaves for his station and he should be at your apartment that David at six o'clock Jeffery should be here any minute. He should be if he can find the place I shouldn't be find it. No, maybe doesn't want to spend the night with a couple of old David you are not an old fogey that you're not even a young fogey. Thank you very much You're welcome. You overwhelm me with your flattery Never heard of a young fogey. Have you how could there be young fogeys? There wouldn't be anything left for them to become when they get old. Do you think we're ever going to become old? I can't imagine. I am old already old and foolish. I can't even learn any new tricks I mean really old with gray hair and rheumatism Got rheumatism already And remember Bible lady just a minute steered my rock and chair puffing away into watching the world go by and I think Into myself about the D's when I was young. Here's your pipe granddad Do you think you can manage to light the match yourself? We're better. I could have one last while fling and try to light my own pipe myself David listen, what do you think Jeff? He's gonna want to do for entertainment. Maybe play with the dog. He's 16 You said not six. What can you do to entertain a boy 16? Roger didn't seem to know the first thing you got to do is to stop thinking of him as a boy You aren't much more than 16 yourself madam. I'll never see 25 and and I was 16 only three years ago That's what I said to Roger, but he said those were a very big three years. Oh man really no wonder There's so much juvenile delinquency and Now listen David We've got to think of what Jeffrey would do if he were trying to do what he wanted to do see Sure, I see I see you don't know anymore about 16 year old boys than I do David I was just 16 a little while ago Wouldn't you have married me if I was still 16 stop this right now? You're only going to make me regret the years. I wasted I'm sorry. I didn't marry you when you were two You haven't really changed much since then darling. We haven't got time for this I'm sure we've just got to treat him like everybody else. Maybe you're right We'll just take him to dinner and then we'll go to that movie around the corner that we've been waiting for for weeks And and we'll have a nice long talk about world affairs fine You better make up your mind what you think about world affairs because there is Jeffrey. I'll go Remember we're going to treat him like an equal. I just hope he treats us like one Hello, you must be Jeffrey Killian. I'm Claudia Norton David's wife. How do you do please come in? Did you have a nice clip down from Boston? It was very pleasant. Thank you David. I'd like you to meet Jeffrey Killian Hello, Jeffrey. Welcome to New York. Glad you got here. How do you do mr. Norton? Let's have your back I'll show you to your room. Oh, no, sir. Please let me carry it. It's rather heavy. Yeah. Well, I think I can manage Don't you think so Claudia? Of course, excuse me, sir, but I think I'd better If you insist Jeffrey. Yes, sir. You see it's rather heavy Sir, I see by now. Well, you don't want to go to your room right away. Do you Jeffrey? Let's sit around and talk a while You look very much like your father and he's one of the nicest people in the world. Yes, Mrs. Norton Thank you. Would you like to sit down Jeffrey? I don't suppose you smoke yet. Oh, no, sir We're not allowed to smoke until we're 18 sir. I see Look Jeffrey. I don't see why we can't all call each other by our first names minds David. Yes, sir You must go to a very good school. Don't you? Yes, Mrs. Norton It's the best school in the country. That's fine But it must be nice to get away on a vacation now and then I know Roger I mean your father was very sorry. He had to go to Chicago today and couldn't be here But we were very glad for the chance to meet you. I'm very glad to meet you too, Mrs. Norton I like to be with older people once in a while older people You mustn't think of us as older people Jeffrey. You must just think of us as friends of yours Oh, I I see Mrs. Norton. Don't you think you could manage to call us, sir. Oh Well, never mind Yes, sir. What do you usually do when you're on a vacation Jeffrey the usual thing, Mrs. Norton Mm-hmm. What's the usual thing? Dancers sir parties a theater or two. Oh, that must be lots of fun I'm afraid you'd find a bit juvenile Mrs. Norton. I do myself then you mean you don't go Oh, yes, sir. I go it. Well, I just mean sometimes it's a waste of time I like to explain that when I talk to older people Sometimes they seem to get the wrong impression of us, sir Jeffrey. You must really go to a very good school Oh, yes, it's only during vacations that we have all these parties, Mrs. Norton I'm glad you reminded me of that Jeffrey It's so long ago for me that I'd forgotten what it's like. I Think maybe Claudia I Mean Mrs. Norton remembers. Do you darling? I do remember going to dances Sort of one of the things you learn Jeffrey as you grow older is that ladies have the longest memories I've noticed that already sir. Why have all the Claudia Do you remember vacations from school? Do you remember your 40th birthday? You wouldn't think to look at me that I was over 40. Would you Jeffrey? Oh, no, sir You look very young for 40 Well, thank you Jeffrey Now, um, what would you like to do this evening? We were thinking of going to a movie. Don't you might like to come along? Oh, I'm afraid I can't mr. Norton didn't dad tell you sir. Well, your father didn't tell me anything I mean anything that was much help. Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm I'm going to a party tonight party How exciting it isn't really a mrs. Norton perhaps you remember what they're like Always the same people are very young usually jitterbugging Although I'm happy to say that's on the way out. It is. Oh, yes During the war that was very popular mrs. Norton, but since then things have changed a great deal We've all grown a lot older. We've all grown a lot older since this morning Jeffrey a great deal older Don't you think so mrs. Norton much older? David I think I'm going to need help getting out of this chair. Oh, I'm so sorry something the matter my wife Jeffrey suffers from Rheumatism, I'm indeed upset to hear that sir. Well, my father has stomach trouble I guess when people get you don't need to finish that sentence Jeffrey you're perfectly right Terrible things happen to people when they grow older the worst part of it is that they happen when you least expect it Did you expect all this to happen to you today, Claudia? I know just how it is mrs. Norton When I was younger I used to be able to do all sorts of things. I can't do any more What sort of things Jeffrey well up at school? There's a very famous little store called the jigger shop What's a jigger? Well, nobody really knows the shop is so old they've forgotten But the younger boys like to go in and eat the fanciest things you ever saw mrs. Norton You mean banana spits and things like that. Oh, yes I myself used to be able to eat two at a time Sometimes even three now. I suppose you can't even force more than one Well, Jeffrey, that's the way life is you might as well view it philosophically. That's true I can't eat more than one now and as a matter of factor. I've I've really lost my taste for Except on special occasions like when we beat st. Mark's at football. It's funny. I love banana split You are an anachronism darling. I am I've heard that when people get much older They begin to like the things they liked in the first place all over again Jeffrey I think you have put your finger on a very important consideration. Thank you, mr. Norton I really enjoyed this conversation very much, but I'm afraid I have to start getting dressed for the party Oh, it's for dinner Jeffrey. Yes, and please don't wait up for me. I'll be very very late perfectly All right. We'll leave the door on the latch. It's certainly been nice talking to you like this It's it's really a relief from talking to people of one's own age all the time Jeffrey before you go Maybe you'd like to guess just how old Mrs. Norton is well, sir She looks very much like my uncle's wife And how old is she? She's quite old sir She's at least 20 thank you very much Jeffrey you've relieved me considerably. Well, thank you sir, but I've got to get dressed sir It's the door down the hall to the right Thank you Well, I did my best to treat him as an equal, but I really think he's too old and wise for me How do you feel David? I feel just like an old foggy. Well, don't worry darling I think it'll turn out just as Jeffrey predicts and your second childhood will set in again as soon as the young man goes back to Boston The lady of the house sometimes shows less enthusiasm for unexpected guests that her husband does That's because it's her job to serve the refreshments and occasionally. It's a job that stumps her But if she checks regularly to be sure there's plenty of cocoa nice She can stay bright and carefree no matter how much company knocks at her door Keeping a good supply of Coca-Cola on hand is really a kind of hospitality insurance. It seems excuse me, Mr. King sir. Oh, yes. Yes, certainly Jeffrey glad to see you. You enjoying your vacation? I certainly am sir, and I hope I won't awaken mr Mrs. Norton when I get home from the party this evening. Do they retire very early, sir? Not always Jeffrey. In fact, I hear tomorrow night after you've gone Claudia and David are going out to paint the town red Maybe you've given them an idea or two of mr. And mrs. Norton are going to a nightclub. Did you say sir? Well, that's what I understand Jeffrey. I hope you want this approve of what happened I'll try not mr. King, but I think sir. I'd better hear what happened I should hate to have been a bad influence. Well, Jeffrey. I don't think you have but we'll see And as I was about to say every day Monday through Friday Claudia comes to you transcribed with the best wishes of your friendly neighbor who bottles Coca-Cola So listen again tomorrow at the same time And now this is Joe King saying or if war and remember Whoever you are whatever you do wherever you may be When you think of refreshment think of Coca-Cola or ice-cold Coca-Cola makes any pause the pause that refreshes Claudia has come to you most of you at any rate for the past six months now We'd welcome any suggestions or anything you may wish to say about the show Just write to Claudia post office box number 173 Church Street station New York 8 New York and I'll repeat that address to Claudia post office box number 173 Church Street station New York 8 New York and now here's a word from your friendly neighbor who bottles Coca-Cola