 Your coca-cola bottler presents Claudia based on the famous 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 Claudia you're getting the window all cloudy with your nose. Mmm Still light out. I can see Throw me that ball of wool. I'll keep you from rubbing up the window You don't need excuses for me to throw you a ball of wool and it's right here catch Claudia hit me on the nose perfect game. Sorry mama fine manners your poor old mother Go on stare out of that window if you like it won't bring David home any sooner. Oh, he'll be home sooner today Anyway, he said he'd be early. He has a meeting or something Your mama look look at what look at the window does trees Come here. Come here quick. Don't tell me the trees are marching off. What's the hurry mama? Come on I want you to look at something. I think I see something on one of our trees branches. No doubt. Honestly, I'm serious Look now mommy see straight Straight ahead of you see that stuff high up on the oaks way down by the brook. Hmm. See Well, it's hanging like like garlands or something. We'll have eyes like a hawk. Do you see it? Of course, I see it. Then you have eyes like a hawk, too Mama, it's parasites nonsense those garland like things fungus or for parasites or something You don't even know what a parasite is certainly. I do. I'm a parasite you Parasite is something that lives off of a something else without doing anything to help our trees out there have parasites Like David has me. Oh Gosh, David's gonna be terribly upset. He knows about you. Well, you're nothing new No, but the trees are in the first place We're not for sure whether they're diseased or not. Maybe you're just seeing things. I'm seeing things all right And I don't like what I'm seeing. That's disease out there mom any fool could recognize that I don't need for you to be so modest Oh poor David first time we had the tree surgeon come over David went around looking as if he's been to a few And don't say you'll be hardened this time Losing a tree is not sort of thing an honest to goodness man gets hardened to there's something very human about a tree you all I Hate to part with a single one of them. You hate to part with anything. Why should I life's bad enough? people say They'll be funny I didn't notice that business before Honestly money you can't even trust a tree Can't rest easily with nature any more than with people. Can you I think you've been very lucky so far with still Not one thing. It's another always something Last spring after the tree surgeon came I thought we wouldn't have any more trouble, but I Guess trees have to go through measles and chicken pox and mumps and rheumatism like everybody else You'll make it sound so attractive. Well, it isn't let's face it. It isn't Say mama, maybe maybe I should call the tree surgeon before David comes back. What would be the point of that? Well, I'd love David not to have to know Just before Christmas No time of year to lose a tree mama no time even especially these old oaks worth thousands So you better let David decide. Yep. Yes, so and don't put it off Sooner you have the condition attended to the better off. It'll be throw me that crochet needle. I knew it What throw me that crochet needle had that look in your eye? Here we stay, but he come home. Can't you wait to tell him the bad news other things? I can't wait to tell him Except for trees. Everything's pretty perfect. So I guess I better not complain. I should say you better not If he's supposed to discuss the schoolhouse with George Reynolds at five Mama Think I hear a car you do David, I bet you you act as if you haven't seen him for a month every time he comes home. It feels like a month Mom, is it going to be like this always David can stand here? It should be if it isn't I'll ring your neck. That's my mama Well, I think I'll go out and meet him. Claudia put on your coat warm today I'm not warm enough to go out in a sweater and a skirt Get home early Millions of them, but none of them important. Why don't you have your coat on? Oh, because I didn't want you to have to wait one second longer than necessary before I allow you to kiss me You get back at the house you little fool. Is that all you have to say to me? You heard me. Get on back in the house. Here it you. I'm getting don't rush me Now we're in say hello. Hello Hello, good to be home. Not bad I haven't been home on the range in daylight for days That's true leave in the morning before sunrise come home at night after sunset. I think it's awful Well awful or not. That's the way it is. Oh Hello, David. What do you mean by letting your daughter go outside without her coat, Mrs. Brown? What can poor old mother do? Awful isn't it mom as the way David lives. What's so awful about leaving in the morning when it's dark and coming home at Night when it's dark. It is the nuts. Please tell your daughter, Mrs. Brown I'm not to be pitted at least not for what she's pitying me. That was a nasty crack mama Don't answer and I refuse to meddle David sit down. I'll make you a cup of tea. I don't get up I think I'll go outside and have a look around the place I can always have the tea at the dark. First went down to the village. So? So? Can't look around without him. So? So? You don't want to be alone? I don't mind coming along. You don't. No, not a bit to you. No, not a bit. Let's go. I don't have much time Don't you want to come along with us to mama? I should say not walk around your precious farm I'd rather sit here by the fire and knit. Thank you Mama all you'll have for company beside the fire Shakespeare and he's asleep that cat sleeping is all the company I want she doesn't love us David. Well in that case we don't love her We'll leave your aging mother to warm her toes and quiet comfort. I think for Christmas We'll get her lavender shawl to put around your shoulders. I prefer gray. You put on your coat, Mrs. Norton. No more nonsense out of you. Hey, where are the dogs? Oh up around the barn I suppose that's where they were a little while ago It's so nice having two Danes. They stopped picking on mama. I want to get some more tobacco I'll be down in a second. Change your shoes while you're upstairs. What for? Put on heavier ones. Find your own business He's so blissful. I hate telling him about those trees. I know so proud of the place When he talks of going out and walking over his land Looks all different Who are the only thing in life that were at all important the way a man should feel about his land? Well, I imagine that was the way all men felt in the days when land was the most important thing still is to many men Shame there's always something that isn't all completely right. Well get pretty dull if everything were perfect all the time No, I don't think it would Besides, it's not just the tree. It's it's the money money. Yeah, you've turned into a walking budget since you've married Well, I just know the price of money now. That's all I have you know the sentiment came first and the money second You don't convince me Let's go. Oh You look so outdoors. He should not a wool shirt. You know, you're really very handsome David. Yes. I know. Goodbye grandma It feels good Place looks pretty nice even in the winter doesn't it? David, you know all the glitters is not gold. What was that? Oh nothing Let's walk down to the brook. How'd you like? I would like fine You know I was walking out here this morning with the dogs They're an awful lot of trees beyond the brook David. You know, they're Too too many perhaps some of our best and oldest oaks grew up this way. You like the old oak's best No, there's nothing that compares with them. I'd hate to lose even one, but if you have to you have to Life isn't it? Isn't it what? What are you trying to tell me darling? Please don't get wild at what I'm going to say Oh, why should I get wild? Because people have been known to get wild the things other people say that the people don't like of all the Criticizing but just don't get wild. Well, you tell me what you want to tell me and I like any way I want to Now what's with the oaks? What do you know so the oaks? I had to tell you any idiot would have known you're so subtle David We are going to lose some oak trees. We're going to what lose some oak trees You heard me there. They're sick Who said I said since when are they sick? I don't know. I only noticed before you came home What'd you see? Well, you'll see for yourself in a minute Parasites or fungus or something where on top hanging on the branches Darling I'm hated to tell you I know how you feel about trees and I Hated the tree surgeon when he came made us feel as if our farm or nothing, but a sick hospital mercy Now that may not be as bad as you think it's worse. Anyway, it looks worse Let's stop hanging like Garlands on the branches. I was just telling mommy. You can't even depend on an oak tree not to give them any trouble No, whatever it is Maybe you've noticed it in time and we'll be able to save the tree. Maybe. Oh I love it when you sound like a doctor You you'd have made a wonderful doctor David your lady patients would have been sick all the time No, I take it that is supposed to be a personal compliment and an enormously personal compliment now Where are those trees you were worried about? Well, we can just about see them from here Earths it could be You know, it's funny David I never thought I'd be sentimental about a piece of wood sticking out of the ground But it gets you sort of oh There they are David see over there Straight ahead a little to the right. Yeah, those are oaks aren't they? Yeah, those are oaks You see that stuff sort of hanging on the branches That chokes them to death want it? David darling, don't you see what I mean? Yes, I see what you mean Darling, please don't take it so to heart. Please don't don't laugh to cover up the way you feel I don't think it's silly of a man to feel about a tree. I Wouldn't have married you if you hadn't Claudia. Are you serious horse? I'm serious is a serious thing These are your parasites David you're making the funniest faces. I don't think you realize Realize I married a little plug of a city girl. I knew you'd start calling me names with that That's all right darling. Why is it all right? Because I love you. Well, then come over here David, what are you gonna do? I'm going to prove to you that in spite of your being an ignoramus. I I Love you too So nice being an ignoramus when you kiss me like that David what about the parasites on the oaks? Do you think that? Think I'd kiss you like that under parasites Mrs. Nothing. Well, I I you have just been kissed under mistletoe Do you mean to see do you mean to say grows on trees? I mean to say mistletoe and it sometimes grows on trees this far north That's not really all it is that all what more do you want? Oh? Nothing Except we're still standing under the mistletoe darling and you know mistletoe is Office store and factory workers have learned the importance of working refreshed Your hours and duties at home are often just as strenuous Why not follow their example? Relax occasionally and have a coke the pause that refreshes with ice-cold Coca-Cola is a little minute that provides a great big rest Mr. King have you seen Claudia and David they went out for a short walk Oh, you'll find them hand-in-hand walking under the mistletoe the mistletoe hanging from the oaks down by the brook Mistletoe hanging from the oak. So that's what it was. That's what that was How relieved Claudia must have been she was so worried David would be upset Why she cared more about that than for the trees or she's known David longer than the trees You know, I guess that's it. I guess there's no use worrying about Claudia anymore either Well, she can take care of herself and David too exactly what I think so on Monday I think I'll suggest to David that I go back to New York wish you wouldn't but I must this isn't my marriage It's Claudia and David's I'll see you Monday Joe. All right, Mrs. Brown 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 Monday at the same time And now this is Joe King saying or if we're and remember Whoever you are whatever you do wherever you may be When you think of refreshment think of Coca-Cola For Coca-Cola makes any pause the pause that refreshes and ice-cold Coca-Cola is everywhere The parts of Claudia and David on this program were played by Catherine Bard and Paul Crabtree and the entire production is supervised and directed by William Brown Maloney And now here's a word from your friendly neighbor who bottles Coca-Cola