 Remember a Hallmark card when you carry it out to send the very best. Passionata, starring Charles Boyer on the Hallmark Playhouse. Chosen by one of the world's best-known authors, they distinguish novelist Mr. James Hilton. Tonight on our Hallmark Playhouse, we present a story of my own called a Passionata. I remember how I enjoyed writing it because it's here always a great pianist. And I am proud tonight that the distinguished actor Charles Boyer is to portray him. And now a word about Hallmark cards from Frank Goss before we begin the first act of a Passionata. Hallmark cards are like stories from daily life. There are Hallmark cards that are chapters of laughter and tears with their expressions of gay, good cheer and warm understanding. They mark the gala events of birthdays, anniversaries, holidays. For every day is a special day to someone dear to you and every Hallmark card is very special because it speaks for you. And that Hallmark on the back speaks a special message too. It says you cared enough to send the very best. Now Hallmark Playhouse, presenting James Hilton's a Passionata, starring Charles Boyer. Some years ago against the background of a world in which half of humanity was pitted against the other, Andre played Beethoven's a Passionata to a half empty hall in an event. As I sat listening to the fiery master brooding over the keyboard like some alternately avenging and caressing fury, I sensed a strangeness about his performance and I wondered what could be in his mind. Enhance the touch and voice that graze. Thirty years of concerts. What has it all meant? That life of applause. Loneliness in trains that leave at midnight, travel without discovery, sightseeing without vision, crowded streets, faces in auditoriums, reception rooms, night stars in the dark sky, other voices and hands. One or the other of a century ago we spent our honeymoon at... Look about you, those meadows sloping gently down to the lake. Let's never leave this paradise. Mushrooms, Terry. Mushrooms going here in the glass. Tonight I'll fix you a dinner fit for a queen. But Andre, how do we know they aren't probes too? They're not toadstools. Oh, they're not. I'd stick everything on it. You are a gambler, aren't you? Lucky one, darling. I warn you. Besides, I know these are not toadstools. When I was young in Europe, I earned money by picking mushrooms. I wish I could be more like you. There are no dull colors in your life. Everything is brilliant. I'm your opposite. Cool and quiet. Your heart and quick temper. And all over in five minutes. All over in a lifetime. I love you, Terry. And I love you. You. Even if you are genius. How did you know? I read the papers. A critic said you played the appassionato the other day as if you had wings on your finger. Wings? But how? They would catch it away. Listen, I'll tell you about the appassionato. It as often as I like, but I cannot always count on hearing it. And sometimes I can hear it without playing it at all. Would you believe I heard it once on the subway? Partially not on the subway. I can't really believe that. But it's true. Well, you insist. Why do you suppose it happened? It was because I had just met you. I was thinking about you. And I had one of those perfect moments of happiness that fitted over my soul like a glove. Oh, my funny little cool way. I've never been so perfectly happy. Your funny little cool way. You're not cool at all. Have you really discovered that much? I've guessed it all the time. And shall I tell you what I guessed about you? What? That your bark is worse than your bite. Oh, my bark. But my bark is very good. My John Sebastian bark, I mean. He was a very accomplished artist. You know, altogether, if I remember, he created 48 preludes and fugues, dozens of concertos and masses and motifs and oratorios and cantatas and the children. Those children grew up to be a musician almost as great as his father. Are you conceited enough to hope for that in your lifetime? My dear, I'm humble enough to hope that my son will excel me in every possible way. Darling, suppose he's a girl. Nonsense. My son will be a boy. At a christening, Terry whispered to me, I'll never doubt you again, for you are the luckiest gambler alive. During the next ten years, I could not lose at anything. We were celebrating our tenth anniversary with Jerry Rock, be my manager and best friend. I can recollect he and I went into Joe's nursery and found him asleep. I was carrying some Beethoven records. Streets up again, Andre? I do wish you'd sell out some of your stuff. Frankly, I don't like the way things look. Jerry, I bought these new records for little Joe. I know, I know. You think it's funny, but it's an idea I have. I want them to soak into his mind until they're part of his life. You weren't listening to my financial advice, were you? I shall be the first millionaire pianist in the world someday. And when I am, you know what I'll do? I'll found and endow the best school of music in America. Every youngster of talent shall have his chance, as good a chance as Joe has. Have you asked yourself whether Joe has any talent? No, you sound exactly like Terry. For years, she had tried to keep him from growing up in a world of music. A world where music is as natural as breathing. I expect she has her reasons. She's with him much more than you are, remember? Well, that's another point. Because I'm away so much, everything depends on her. She can make or mar the boy's entire future. I don't think you quite realize what a treasure you have, and Terry. I'm not a marrying man myself, but if I were... You would steal her away from me, eh? Maybe. Ah, I do realize it, Terry. I'm very happy. Turn it off! I promise you... I won't! When I was your age, shall I turn it off? Mystic optimism in the air. As for my career, there were more bookings and more tools, but less time for Terry, and less time to make my son realize music was the most important function of his life. One evening, in Texas, after a concert, she introduced herself as the Baroness Reifenwald. She was a patron of the arts and, uh, very beautiful. Andre, now I've got you alone at last. I can be very personal and ask how you like America. Why, very much. You don't have to say that you know. Well, of course I don't, but I... I'm sure Europe would give you art or reach your soil. Well, of course I understand. It is the money that counts, just as it has to, I suppose, with so many first-class artists nowadays. That's not the reason. I happen to have made my home here, and my wife is in America. Oh, my see. Well, I'll be returning to Europe in a month or so. Andre, my husband and I still keep the Reifenwald place in Innsbruck. I hope you'll pay us a visit sometime. Perhaps on one of your European tours. I never make any European tours. Hmm? Well, someday you may. When you have a master fortune or a lost one. Because in Europe, you see, it won't matter either way. You'll just be valued as a great artist. So am I here? No. Here you are just priced as a great artist. I don't agree. I see it will take a great deal of time for me to convince you. Where is your next concert? New Orleans. Saturday night. I shall see you, sir. Would you like to have dinner with me in New Orleans? After the concert? Of course. But then you must promise the Paris-Français all the evening. People profiting what it's about Joseph Brayden. Pipps that would not have mattered if only Terry and I had not came in offer of an Australian tour on very good terms. And tell yourself surprisingly, helps me to take it. Oh, I love you, don't you, Andre? Yes, I do. But that's another reason for you to want to see me leave. We're quarreling too much, aren't we? No. Oh, I'm not saying it's all your fault. Very generous of you. I'm not saying it's all yours, either. No, please. Don't be sarcastic. I'm not. I'm deadly serious. I love you and I love our lives together. But there's something lost. And one of us has to find it again. Do you remember you once said you heard the poshionata on the subway? After first meeting me? Yes, I remember. I want you to hear it like that again. Maybe you will someday, somewhere. Good boy for telling me. Of course, I knew all the time. Are you so ridiculously modest as to think you can be seen with a pretty woman without news of it reaching your wife? She knew? Of course I knew. Oh, please, understand. She was not important to me. I hoped she wouldn't be. But why didn't you say anything? Was there to say? Everything you said, she didn't mean anything to you. I believe that. Doesn't it mean anything to you? Yes. There's your word, Mushrop, so soon. Me of the stuck market crash. Old Chinese proverb which says, words are the voice of the heart. And the makers of hallmark cards understand this proverb well. For their experts at making words truly the voice of the heart. You see, they realize it's the messages on hallmark cards which give them meaning. For greeting cards are not just material possessions that you purchase for yourself. You buy greeting cards only to send to others. And you want cards that will carry something of you across the miles. Your friendliness, your gaiety, your sympathy, your warm affection. And so hallmark cards are created to carry thoughts and feelings. For each person, each occasion, there is a hallmark card to say just what you want to say, the way you want to say it. And hallmark cards carry added meaning as you will find if you ask your friends any group what name they think of in greeting cards when they want to send the very best. Notice how immediately they answer hallmark cards. Indeed, it's easy to remember it would be difficult to forget that hallmark always means someone cared enough to send the very best. And now here is the second act of a fashion author, Stalin Charles Boye. I stayed at a ripe and wild place in Innsbruck. Those were the years when chains were taking place in central Europe. Chains that could most easily be ignored by those who believed art was all important. Over Austria, Innsbruck was our fate for the occasion. America, are you perhaps again thinking of Terry and yourself? I've never really stopped thinking of them. What a tremendous ego you have, my darling. You live your wife and son alone for years. What did you expect that she would wait for you eternally? Can you really blame her? She's only given you the freedom you seem to have wanted. I know, I know. I do not wish to discuss it. But my dear friend, you simply must reconcile yourself to the fact that she has since married Jerry Rook. Will you be quiet? Must you constantly remind me I'm leaving for America, Baroness. I'm sorry, I cannot laugh here. I get angry. I must go where I can breathe. Wait and sound. Please, don't shout now. Your husband has been very kind to me these past few years. You said why you are leaving? You are an artist, not a politician. You have here in this house all an artist needs beauty, peace, freedom. Take things calmly. You can afford to wait. For how long? How much time do you think God will give me? I've seen these past few months the savagery, men of culture dispossessed, starved, terrorized. So culture does matter to you. I said men of culture. Yes, men matter to me. Really? I'm surprised. I had never quite seen a new sort of lover of humanity. I should have thought being an artist was enough for one man's life. It's because I am an artist that I feel like that. Fool. Crawling back to a woman who has already forgotten. I pity you. You are getting on in years. As a lover of humanity you may survive for the day you die. But as an artist you are bound to decline. And when your genius has left you people will find you just that burdensome and cantankerous old boy. I came that burdensome and cantankerous boy. For the Baroness was right. My powers were on the decline. I wasn't playing as well as I used to. Fortunately there were a few in any audience who could make the damaging comparison. On a stifling June day I arrived in New York for the second time in my life. Very tired and suffering from heart strain. The years that presented their account I was waiting for the steward when the door to my cabin opened and to my utter astonishment Jerry Rockby entered. Andre? What? Why did you meet me after? Now let's not talk about it now. I want to know why you came. Send you? Yes in a way. I'll tell you yet but I see that I must. I can't have you building hopes. Oh, but I have no hopes Jerry. I wouldn't dream of interfering. Don't think of me as if I had come back. Please was. Never intended to see her or you either. And yet to know that she isn't here makes the world a dark place. Tell me, God, you don't like him much. I don't dislike him. But I can't help resenting him for the headaches he gave his mother. I see. Tell me Jerry, that letter I sent. You to say that you had put us forever out of your mind because she hoped you wouldn't. He wanted you to have freedom. That's why she gave it to you. Because she knew you needy ever ceased to love you. How wrong you. It happened once by a lake in Pennsylvania where the difference between mushrooms and toad stools. That's like the difference between a... Remember them too. It was one of the last things she sent. She had a room facing the sunset. And as she looked at it, she sent. It's very beautiful. But there are no mushrooms. It sometimes takes a lifetime to learn certain tools. The primer was the artist to be a... What did they matter? Say, people... people just let me play for you. I'm not good at anything but that. Yes, even the fidgety boy. The bad to see you, Joe. And no new reader except for the papers. Oh, you read about me, then? Sometimes. Now, if I go for the music section, you'll remember that. Leaving at 7.20. But of course, if you're busy, I mean, if you have any... Now, why look for trouble? I was thinking that at all. Tell me, what are you doing here now? Well, I fly a plane from mining company. Oh. How do you like the music? Oh, fine, fine. Now, that's the kind of tune I can stand. Heh, your mother before. No, no, no, I... I was in Brazil. I didn't hear about the laughter. That's the reason. What I mean is... what I mean is I... treated her pretty badly one way and another. So did I. One way and another. I can never forgive myself. The one thing she would have hated you to say is that. You mean she talked to you about me? Yeah, she said you were good and great and I should be proud of you. Well, maybe I should. Although I don't think you're quite the sort of person I figured out. But I don't think you are either. We're the pot and kettle, anyhow. Joe, how do you start the music going again? You mean you've never played a jukebox before? No, no. Well, you just put a nickel in that slide. Oh, thanks. Wait. How do you like to take a ride in my plane? Well, I've never flown at all. Believe it or not. How'd you like to begin now? Sure. Why not? Fine. Now, you know, sometimes when I take folks up, I give them the whole work just to scare them. Oh, I don't mind. You won't scare me. Amber, it's said in the paper you've been sick. Oh, forget that. Give me the works. Give me everything you've got. That's funny, isn't it? I never thought I'd like you. Well, you have every right not to. You're all right. I've been on my own for a long time now. Well, sometimes it gets, as you say, lonesome, too. Yeah, I guess every man needs something besides his work. What do you say if now and then we would need? Yes, indeed. And we are certainly proud of the pianist in our own hallmark orchestra, Mr. Victor Pier Monte. What? Mr. Hilton, you seem to have painted the human emotions as richly as an artist paints on canvas. And speaking of artists, Mr. Boyer, I think you'll be interested in seeing the exhibition of the International Hallmark Art Award, which opened today in Los Angeles. The prize-winning paintings by French and American artists now hang in the county museum. Interested? Oh, but Mr. Hilton, much more than that. You see, I have almost a family feeling about the exhibition. I attended a French exhibition of the awards that they are first showing in Paris at the Galerie des Bousins. And as I said at that time, I believe that the Hallmark Art Award is a great service to both France and America. Yes, I think we all feel that way, Mr. Boyer, and when do you plan to see the exhibition? Tomorrow, definitely, Mr. Hilton. Fine, let's go together. Well, I shall enjoy that very much indeed. Good night, Mr. Hilton. Good night. As friends of Hallmark Playhouse, I think you all will be particularly interested in this exhibition of the International Hallmark Art Award, because the paintings are winners of $28,000 in prizes given by the makers of Hallmark Cards. You'll see the 70 French and American prize-winning paintings chosen from nearly 10,000 submitted. You have probably seen stories of the exhibition in newspapers and magazines, like the one recently in Look Magazine, for it is one of the outstanding art events of modern times, with the high purpose of stimulating the fine art of two nations and broadening public appreciation of art. Now here again is James Hilton to tell you about next week's story. I'm happy to announce that next Thursday we shall present that charming actress Rosalyn Russell in a delightful presentation of My Sister Eileen. So please be listening. Our Hallmark Playhouse is every Thursday. Our director-producer is Bill Gay. Our music was conducted by Lynn Murray, and our script tonight was adapted by Jack Rubin. Until next Thursday then, this is James Hilton saying, Good night. Doors that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service. Remember Hallmark Cards, when you carry it out, you send the very best. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you all and see you next week at the same time when James Hilton returns to present My Sister Eileen, starring Rosalyn Russell. And the week following, Jean Grain and Alice McKay as they came to a river. And in the weeks to come, Sanford Salyer's mommy, the mother of little women, on the Hallmark Playhouse. This is CBS The Columbia, Lord Kansas. DC, Kansas City, Missouri.