 Ladies and gentlemen, the railroad hour. Here comes our star-studded show train. Tonight, the Association of American Railroads presents a memorable musical hit, Victor Herbert's Sweetheart, starring Gordon MacRae and his lovely guest from the New York City Opera Company, Elaine Malbin. Our choir is under the direction of Norman Luboff, and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. Yes, tonight, another great musical success is brought to you by the American Railroads, the same railroads that bring you the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the fuel you burn, and the multitude of other things you use in your daily life. Now, here is our star, Gordon MacRae. Thank you, Marvin. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Well, sir, if you're in love, or if you've ever been in love, or if you're thinking of falling in love, we think you'll enjoy Victor Herbert's Sweetheart. Sweetheart's made love their very own land. The charming Elaine Malbin is here to play Sylvia. My name is Franz. And the story begins with a bevy of beautiful girls in the fabulous laundry of the White East. Oh, we do the holy duty. I am iron, iron, iron. There are things we rather do, but we must iron, iron, iron. When we finish work, we've got to iron, iron, iron. Iron, iron, iron. Some more drinks and other looks, and then we iron, iron, iron. Girls, girls, get to work. This is the laundry, not a singing society, iron. Yes, Mama. Oh, how I hate iron shirts. Oh, I don't mind if it's a military shirt like this one. Oh, don't iron that shirt. It belongs to Franz. And if we finish his laundry, he won't keep coming in to ask for it. Oh, shh, here he comes. Hello, you little White Geese. Is my laundry ready? Name, please. Oh, come on now, Sylvia. You know my name by this time. Rule number two. Don't flirt with the customer. What's rule number one? Don't let the customer flirt with you. I'm sorry, Franz, but your laundry isn't ready yet. Good. I'll wait. I'm used to waiting for things. Say, how long do you think I'll have to wait for you to fall in love with me? See, Sylvia, here's the way I feel. When love would have stood as my master in any past. I like you very much, but much. No buts. I might settle for a maybe. All right. Maybe. My dear madam, what do you have against the uniform? I married one, but he ran off and let me with seven daughters of bum. Now go away. Go away. I've got work to do. Okay. That's the way you feel. I beg your pardon, sir. Can you direct me to the laundry of the... Your Highness. Nobody around here knows I'm the crown prince of Zelenia. Miquel. Nobody around here knows I'm the prime minister of Zelenia. Miquel, what are you doing here? I lost control of the government. Oh, my poor country. You have no idea how poor it is. Don't forget I was also secretary of the treasury. How I miss my native land. The rolling hills, the rippling streams, the magnificent landscapes. Oh, the glorious... Boy, a boy. Look, tourists, we can kid. But you and I have been to Zelenia. Let's face it, it's a gopher hole. But your Highness, if you say the word, I can put you back in the throne of Zelenia. Just like that. Are you sure my people want me? We'll have an election and I'll count the votes myself. Now, Miquel, I won't have anything to do with your crooked plans. Now, look, Sam, you aren't the only heir to the throne of Zelenia. But the other royal house died out. I wouldn't be too sure. You know, 20 years ago, I slept out of the country with a female heir. And I left the baby beside this laundry. Now, if there's a pretty girl in there in her early 20s... You know, what do you have in there? Go on in. Have you a surprise coming? I will. Is there a pretty girl in here in her early 20s? Oh, yes. Here I am. I never had a stigmatism this good. Tell me, do you all belong to one family? Yes. They call us the little white geese. Well, quack quack. Look, is one of you an adopted daughter? Yes. But Mother never told us which one was adopted. Well, I guess I'll have to hang around here until I find out. Now, none of you girls are married, I hope. Oh, no. We can't get married because they wear wooden shoes. Well, naturally, you wear w... Wooden shoes? She can't get married. There must be something my father didn't tell me. I guess you don't know the legends of Jeanette and her wooden shoes. Enlighten me, child. I'm listening all over. Lively, Jeanette. Far-fetched for frivolity. What brightly cooked tech. Who lived just for jollity. Had plenty of suitors, had only to chew and be. When they heard the pit-patter of her wood. Lippity-cock-cock, lippity-cock-cock. What you heard are formal. With a pit-a-pit-a-patty-clip. See, for every trade. That's enough to make a girl spend the rest of her life barefooted. Look, hide me someplace, please. Wait, jump in this hamper of dirty clothes. But don't forget I'm in here when you're sorting this. Remember that I'm the one without the laundry mark. Shh, get in. Here she comes. That's good. Get to work, girls, now. Back again, France. Your laundry isn't ready yet. Oh, I'm looking for something you can't wrap up in a package in time with a string. What's that? As if I didn't know. Well, it's something you can never find by looking for it. All of a sudden, you glance around, and there it is. Right out of your own back window. You're right, Brian. If you want. But you really must not mind it. If it comes not to your sighing, there is always one place you can find. Have you ever been in a laboratory test or followed by field tests? Tests on products as varied as fresh beef, automobile windshields, furniture, grain, and radio sets. And all this study of packing and shipping methods is just part of the research activity being carried on to help your railroads do a still better job of bringing things to you. For research goes on constantly, in rails, ties, roadbed, engines, cars, machinery, signals, yards, terminals, in just about every part of railroad equipment, facilities, and operation. Yes, the partnership between railroads and research is close and continuing. Designed to keep America's number one form of transportation constantly in tune with the transportation needs of the nation's commerce and defense. We're ready for act two of the Lawrence and Lee version of Victor Herbert's Sweethearts starring Gordon Macrae as France and his lovely guest Elaine Melbin as Sylvia with Benny Rubin as Miquel. Sweethearts make love and they're much than we. I didn't mind hiding in the clothes, Hampton, but you didn't have to leave the lid down all through the commercial. You are? Papa? Papa? I'm the father of seven girls? Yes. Canter will never speak to me. Girls, why don't you all line up and each one give Papa a big hug and squeeze to welcome him home. Kiss me, my little daffy dill. Oh, daddy. Net? Oh, bust me, my little buttercup. Hey, hey, this is a fine way to run a laundry. When you figure out a better way, let me know. What's going on here? Girls, go wash the clothes. Papa has to explain to them. Papa? Sure, Papa. I had to figure out a way to stick around here so I could find out which one is the heir to the throne of Zelenia. See? Which one do you think it is? The prettiest one, naturally. Now, Miquel, how are you going to tell which one's the prettiest? You know, powder and paint makes a girl what she ain't. Who's complaining? It matters not what is done by nature for a pretty one. She's never satisfied till she her hand has tried. A touch of ruse applied with skill will make her more like nature still. Her cheeks, her shell like pink, are all her own, we think. And as this goddess goes her way, she chuckles as she goes. And who's supposed to be my husband? Is this big laundry bag mama? What? I'm home, mama. Mama, kiss me. I'd rather have a nerve killed. Hello, Sylvia. Hello, Franz. Still waiting for your laundry? What else? Uh, go away, your highness. I mean, uh, no, no. Your highness? Franz, why did he call you your highness? Well, Sylvia, you may as well know the truth. I'm really the crown prince of Zelenia. Oh, oh, your highness. What difference does it make? Oh, a plain girl in a laundry can't marry a prince. Would you marry me? Would you really? I can't ever marry you now. Sylvia, Sylvia, come back. I can go in now, but what I should do? What does it matter for Sylvia? Listen to me. Petticoat dying, papa? Fine business. The leading politician of Zelenia pressing ruffles in the petticoat. Iron! Yes, mama, papa is ironing. Why? Why is papa ironing? I'm not even papa. I'm crazy. Iron! Oh, mangle your own petticoats. I'm getting sick and tired of this laundry. All right, all right, then get out. All right, I will. If you'll tell me which one of our daughters is adopted... You're their father, you ought to know. You know, she's got a point there? Okay, I confess. I am not your husband. Then who are you? I'm the guy who left that baby in your tulip garden 20 years ago. And now I want her back. She's the heir to the throne of Zelenia. Oh, my little Sylvia, a princess. Yep. Now our gal Sylvia won't have to ask the question, can a young girl from a laundry in Belgium find happiness married to Zelenia's mother? Find happiness married to Zelenia's most famous crowned friend. Sylvia, friends, come here. Yeah, come on in, kids. We've got some good news for you. What kind of good news, papa? Don't call this old windbag papa. You were adopted. Adopted? Well, then Sylvia must be the other heir to the throne of Zelenia. Yep. Ain't it convenient how these things work out? Why, then you won't have to worry about marrying a prince because you're a princess. I just can't believe it. Hey, kids, your highness says, look, when the two of you get restored to the throne of Zelenia, I happen to know of an unemployed prime minister who is between engagements. As Wardrobe will travel. Oh, no, not a chance. You'll never get a job in my government. Our government, darling. Yes, of course, my sweet. But I'll tell you, we'll make him third assistant secretary of agriculture in charge of corn. Now, there's gratitude for you. Ron, do we have to wait till we're king and queen to get married? No. Let's get married right now. Oh, my sweetheart. How do you like that for the ending of a fairy tale hands Christian Anderson to grim brothers or even when a girl marries? I'll give them cards and spades if they can top this one. Elaine Malvin will be back in just one moment. Meanwhile, our thanks to Benny Rubin, who was Miquel, to Verna Felton, Isabel Jewel, Julie Bennett, and to our entire company. Sweethearts with Book by Harry B. Smith and Fred de Greysock, lyrics by Robert B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert, was dramatized for The Railroad Hour by Lawrence and Lee. The Railroad Hour is brought to you each week at the same time by the American Railroads. Marvin? For many of you, a reunion at home means a long journey before you get to the heartwarming welcome of your family and friends. And such a journey frequently involves the many hazards of winter weather with its icy roads and stormy skies. So if you're going home this Christmas, take the train. For during the holiday season, as well as throughout the year, the nation's railroads take you where you want to go, dependably and safely. Thank you, Marvin. And now friends here again is our delightful guest, Elaine Malvin. Great fun being with you tonight, Gordon. I love the music and I was enchanted with the story. Well, it all goes to prove, Elaine, that you never know what comes out in the wash. What's on the show train next Monday night, Gordon? We'd be delighted to give you one small hint. Listen. She didn't say yes. She didn't say no. She didn't say stay. She didn't say go. She only knew that he's by her there. And then she knew he's happy by her there. That's the cat and the fiddle. Yes, sir. And Jerome Kern at his best. And the wonderful Dorothy Kirsten will be here to sing it with us. We'll all be listening. Good night, Gordon. Good night, Elaine, and come back real soon, huh? All aboard! Well, dear friends, it looks as though we're ready to pull out and so until next Monday night on behalf of the other members of the cast and of the American Railroads, this is your friend Gordon Macrae saying goodbye. Sweethearts was presented by Special Arrangement with the Tams Whitmark Music Library. Gordon Macrae will soon be seen in Three Sailors and a Girl in Technicolor. Our choir is under the direction of Norman Luboff and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. This is Marvin Miller saying goodbye until next week for the American Railroads and reminding you that Christmas seals are bullets in the war against tuberculosis. This year, when you mail your gifts and cards, you can help defeat this dread disease by using as many Christmas seals as possible. And now, stay tuned for your Monday Night of Music on NBC.