 Remember a Hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. Neil Van Heflin in Forward the Nation on the Hallmark Playhouse in Outstanding Stories chosen by one of the world's best known authors. The distinguished novelist, Mr. James Hilton. Ladies and gentlemen, this is James Hilton. Tonight on our Hallmark Playhouse we tell you one of the great stories of this country. We tell you of a time not so many years ago when there were still frontiers to be reached and conquered. And when those frontiers were of rock and ice and sand. We tell you of a time when the adventurers were hearing the challenge of a dream. The dream of a united America stretching from ocean to ocean. Two young men whose names were Lewis and Clark accepted this challenge. And it is of them that we tell tonight, basing our story on the novel by Donald Kauros Petey called Forward the Nation. A title that fitly symbolizes the American dream of those days. And the dream which should still be ours for tomorrow. To star in Forward the Nation tonight we are happy to have with us again that fine actor and always a good friend of Hallmark Playhouse, Van Heflin. And now here is Frank Goss from the Makers of Hallmark Cards. When you're looking for a way to say something to someone you care for, look for a Hallmark card and you'll find the card you want to send. Because Hallmark cards are designed to say what you want to say. Just the way you want to say it. With the good taste you demand of anything that bears your personal signature. That's why Hallmark on the back of a greeting card has come to mean you'll care enough to send the very best. And now here's the first act of Donald Kauros Petey's Forward the Nation starring Van Heflin. President of the United States, President Thomas Jefferson is pointing to it. Tracing the course of the Mississippi North from New Orleans, unfolding a dream to the young man beside him, a young man with firm chin and resolute eye, a young man named Lewis, Captain Meriwether Lewis. From New Orleans to Lake Superior, from the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains, an area of one million square miles enough to double the size of the United States. That's what we want. That's what we must have kept. The entire Louisiana territory. If the French will sell it, sir. The reports from France though, I'm very encouraged. They will sell. Napoleon needs the money for his wars. Meanwhile, Captain, you and I must be ready to act. Now, let's get on with your report. Oh, yes, sir. Well, I've prepared this list of the equipment that we'll need in an estimate of the cost, and this is a sketch of the probable route of the expedition. North along the Mississippi to the Missouri, hence to the headwaters of that river, wherever they may be found, hence westward to the Rocky Mountains, wherever they may be located, and finally by means of some mountain passage onto the Pacific Ocean. Will it be possible, Captain? For 20 years I've dreamed and argued for such an exploration, and now I wonder, is it really possible? It will be done, sir. I promise that. I have confidence in the men who'll accompany me. Then you've already selected them? Well, the majority, sir, and now on that point I would like your permission to share the command of the expedition with men that I've known for a long time, sir. He's a great soldier and he's my best friend. And his name? Captain William Clark, sir. And so my quiet, comfortable life as part of the White House family came to an end. President Jefferson's prediction proved true. On April 30th, 1803, France deeded the Louisiana Territory to the United States, and shortly after, Will Clark and I set out for Louisiana and for Louisville, Kentucky, the mustering point of the expedition. There on the banks of the Ohio, we oversaw the building of the Great Iron Flat Boat, which was to transport the men and the equipment. Yes, and such strange equipment it was. Barrels of gunpowder, cases of barter goods for the Redskins, astronomical instruments. They all make sense, Mary Wetter, but what in blazes this box full of lead medals for every one of them with Jefferson's face on it? Yes, well, I had a make-up gift to the Redskins. Yeah, you figure to decorate them for lifting our scalp? No, well, we're going to tell the Indians that they're no longer subjects of the French, that they have a great white father in Washington. The medals will show them what he looks like. Captain Lewis, Captain Clark. Good boy. My name's George Shannon, but please, I've come to enlist in the expedition. Well, son, I'm afraid that you're a little too young. I'm 19, sir. Well, we're taking mostly army men with us, Indian fighters, woodsmen, army scouts. We've got hundreds of men of experience to choose from. Yes, I see. Well, George, is that your dog? Well, I reckon he followed me under the boat. Well, I admit, son, what is his name? E. Purbus Unum, sir. That means one out of many. How'd you come to pick that name, son? He was a scrawny pup and a big litter, sir. I chose him out of many. Just like I was hoping you'd choose me, one out of many. Oh, I see. Come on, Purbus, let's go home. And on your way, George, you tell Sergeant Willis to give you the oath and sign you on. Yes, sir, Captain. Well, the young rascal turned out to be a runaway schoolboy of 16, and his dog's name was really Rex. But with it all, George Shannon was the type that we needed. He was clever, resourceful, and eager. Following spring, our riverboat reached the new American town of St. Louis. And there, one fine day in May, 30 officers and men waved farewell to civilization. They pushed out into the Mississippi and then swung westward up the mysterious Missouri. And pushed upstream past the Osage River, the Plot, the Neobrara, the Cheyenne. For five and a half months, it was north-northwest. By late October, we were nearly to the great bend of the Missouri, not far from the Canadian border. And then, one afternoon, while I was writing in my log, Captain Kamloos would just sight an Indian village up ahead. When Captain Clark and I went ashore, we were met by a white man, a French Canadian, who called himself Rene. And when we told him the purpose of our mission, he shook his head sadly. Oh, c'est impossible, monsieur. Even the Indians know not the source of the river Missouri. And when you speak of the Rocky Mountains, you talk of a legend. No, it don't exist. Perhaps not, but we've got to find that out for ourselves. Ah, but that is madness. Above these points, the river is like a terrible demand. The rapids will dash your boat to pieces. We'll have to take our chances on that if necessary, we'll march overland. Oh-ho, will you, monsieur? With our guides, you will soon be lost. All right, then we'll hire guides. Ah, pardon, monsieur, but no. Far to the west is the land of the Chauchonis. And from the land of the Chauchonis, no one returns. You will find no one pulling up to guide you. And we'll do as best we can. What's that noise about? Oh, the Indians, they mourn because a young squaw is sick. Ah, these savages, how they fear death. What's the matter with the squaw? Who knows? It doesn't matter. Will, you go back to the boat and bring my medicine, kid. Right away. But, capitaine, she's only an Indian. Also, my friend, she's a human being. Will and I had very little trouble locating the sick woman outside of one of the tents a dozen Indians squatted in a semi-circle morning and wailing to the beat of the medicine man's tom-tom. We ducked between the tent flaps and almost tripped over a sleeping baby. Then in the semi-darkness, we made out a huddled figure. Feathered man, she's burning up with fever hands. Let's see if she can swallow this. Well, hold her head up, will you? No, no more medicine. Isn't she speaks English? Yes, that's good. Now listen, you. White man's medicine will make you well. You drink. I go home. I go to my people. No, no, no. You can't get up. You're too sick. I go back to my people. I don't want to stay here. Looks like we're going to need help with her. Maybe we can find her husband. Husband gone. Husband not care about Saka Jauya. What did I do? All of a sudden, she's scared of me. She's pointing at your hair. That's it. The Indians haven't seen red hair before. She probably thinks that you're a god. All right. Give me that cup, huh? Saka Jauya. Drink. That's good. I go home with Papus to my people. Where are your people? In the hills of the setting sun. Mountains of the Shoshani. She could take us to her people and they'd meet us in peace. She could lead the expedition to the mountains that we'd come so far to find. And beyond them, perhaps to the Columbia. And the Pacific Ocean. But now she was unconscious. Breathing was slower and more labored. Now we've done all we can. She's got to live. She's got to. Yes, she's going to be all right. Somehow I believe that we were sent to this Indian girl for a special purpose. And now I'm sure, as sure as I've never been before, that nothing can stop us. Clark, we're going forward. All the way to the Pacific. Forward the nation, starring Van Heflin. There's a day coming soon that no one will want to forget. Not mother, nor sister, nor brother. And of course, dad won't forget it because we won't let him forget. It's his very own day. Father's Day. And June 15th is the date. Of course, most fathers like to pretend that they are not worth a special day, but we know better. And all you need is to catch father when he's looking over his gifts and cards. And you know he appreciates being shown how much he means to each one of us. Do you find it hard to discover the right words to tell dad what is in your heart? Then let Hallmark Father's Day cards help you. In the fine stores where you regularly buy Hallmark cards, you'll find a Hallmark Father's Day card that says what you want to say, just the way you want to say it. There are cards for each one of us to send. Wife, daughter, son. There are even cards to send to a father who happens to be your favorite uncle. And of course, cards for a father who is a granddaddy too. Any Hallmark card you choose will be one you will be proud to sign with your name. And that Hallmark on the back will tell father that you cared enough to send the very best. Now back to James Hilton and the second act of Forward the Nation, starring Van Heflin. This is Clark Expedition set forth into the western wilderness to explore the newly acquired Louisiana territory and to discover a route to the far Pacific. In that region, which is now the state of North Dakota, the expedition passed its second winter. During those long dreary months of snow and ice, Maryweather Lewis and William Clark became fast friends of the young Indian mother and her baby. Sakajawia quickly recovered from her illness. She told us that we'd saved her life and that now her life was ours. She would be our guide into the west and she would teach us the language of her people. White man, tababoni. Tababoni. Tababoni. White man, good. She told us of her girlhood and of the raiding party of militaries who had stolen her way and sold her into a marriage which she hated. Now her one desire was to again see the land of her own shoshamis. Take a look at the river. The ice is breaking up. At last. Look, tell Captain Clark to come here at once. We're moving on, lad. On to the west. Now the Missouri forest every foot of the way. The great ungainly iron boat had to be pulled upstream and then finally dragged by a tow line passed to the men on the riverbank. After noon, Clark and I went out to scout ahead of the expedition. We scrambled up onto a bluff and gazed southwest. Captain. Look. Yes. So they're not a legend. The Rocky Mountains exist and they belong to the United States. The weeks dragged by I worried more and more about those mountains. And then there came a more pressing problem. The great falls of Missouri. Well, since there's three big falls and a lot of rapids, we'll never get beyond them. There's canoes in every pound of equipment and then that monster, the iron boat which we'd all grown to hate. For two heartbreaking weeks, we pushed and dragged it over the Stony Hills and in the end, it was for nothing. We had to abandon it and build more canoes and then a few days later even the canoes were useless. We'd followed the mighty Missouri and its tributaries to the very end to a gurgling brook in a Rocky Mountain pasture. That night, we sat around our campfires like a jar we had crooned a lullaby to her baby. Our thoughts turned to the challenge ahead of us. Lewis. Yes. Yes, Will. I don't mean to be discouraging but how high do you think these Rocky Mountains are? No, high enough. Maybe too high. That's what I'm thinking. Before we climb over them the snow will catch us and we're done for it. I know. You can't do it on foot. And we've got to find horses. Horses to carry our equipment. Horses to carry us before we all go lame. But how are the Shoshonis who got every horse in these mountains? That's a girl. She's pointing at something. The next morning, I detailed the man who were to accompany me on a scouting party. We had to find the Shoshonis. We had to get some of their horses. We found an Indian trail and followed it. On the third day out we came to a clearing in the woods and suddenly we heard it. Behind us. And don't move. What? Why? Take the blanket off of your pack and spread it out there on the ground. Captain. Quick. That's the Indian sign that we come in peace. Sir, they're behind every tree. They're coming for us. We walked slowly ahead of them until we came to their camp. Indian squaws ran out to meet us. We threw down our guns and gestured that we had presents to give them. And then the crowd parted in a tall, handsome Shoshoni walked toward us. Shoshonis. You come in peace? Yes, in peace. We bring presents. We bring you your... your woman home to her people. She will tell you, we are your friends. Shoshonis. Yes? I don't think he believes you, Captain. Shoshoni woman is with the rest of our party. Where? Three days to the east. We take you to her. No. They think it's a trap. We gotta get help, Captain. You want me to make a break for you? No, no. They'll tell everyone then. Wait, I have an idea. Come with us. You talk to other chief of party. He will give you money presents. His hair is red. It is the color of the setting sun. Hair like setting sun? It's one to see. The story of Clark's red hair spread through the camp the next morning. Chief Khmer Wyatt and his brave set out with us to find this unbelievable white man. Every move was important now. The slightest mistake would cost the lives of every man in the expedition. Finally we came in sight of Clark's camp. White men and Indians stared across the meadow at each other. And then a slender figure in deerskin ran toward us. He threw herself in his arms. Like a young sister. We stood there Indians and explorers together. Touched and awed by the reunion of brother and sister. Once we had saved the life of this weeping Indian girl. And now through her the lives of 30 men were spared. You bring me the sister I mourned is dead. Now we are brothers. I give back your guns. I give you all you ask. We're ours. All that we needed. But first there must be a feast in our honor. Now after these speechmaking and the dancing and the singing Clark and I went to say goodbye to Sacajawea. No. Sacajawea go with you. Then she come back to her brother. She take you to river. River that is full of salmon. And goes to great water beside setting sun. With the Indian girl at the head of the caravan we rode through the mountain passes climbing ever higher and higher until finally we were in the region of eternal snow and fog. The icy winds numb us. The blizzards blinded us. Until at last Green Valley stretched below us. On the banks of the Snake River we built canoes and flashed downstream to the waters of the Columbia. Finally our frail craft met the first tide water of the Pacific Ocean. November the 15th 1805 President Thomas Jefferson's expedition stood on the shores of the rolling Pacific. Will Clark and I knelt and gave thanks to God for his goodness. Besides us like a jolly a croon to the baby in her arms. And George Shannon the runaway school boy padded the head of his dog and he tried to hold back his tears. Captain Lewis? Yes, Shannon. Don't seem real but it is the Pacific Ocean, isn't it? Yes, son. Yes it is. I never seen ocean before. It's the greatest moment of my life. I want to yell and dance and do something to show how I feel. Well, Shannon, you can. Do you see that tall pine up there on the bluff? Yes, sir. All right. President Jefferson entrusted me with this flag of the United States with the instructions that one day it should fly high above the waves of the Pacific. Let me do it, Captain. Let me tie it to the top limb of the tree. All right. There you are. Come on Rex. Come on boy. Yes, well it's been worth it, hasn't it? The miles of river and desert mountains 18 months of sweating and that much again still between us and home but today I wouldn't trade places with any man alive when we get home. Well, well in a way we are home. This sand, this soil those hills and the forest will be part of the United States. It'll be home for our children, our grandchildren. We've shown the way and now others will follow across the thousands of miles that we've come to be farms to be homes and cities. Nothing stopped us Will and nothing can stop America. That has been our past and that must be our future. Silton will return in a moment. As the curtain falls on our show tonight our house lights will be dimmed until next September when Hallmark Playhouse will return to the air on Sunday nights over these same stations. But in many television cities you will be able to see the Hallmark Hall of Fame every Sunday throughout the summer. Consult your paper for time and station. The makers of Hallmark cards and the fine stores that feature them hope you have enjoyed these radio adaptations of outstanding stories as much as all of us have enjoyed these weekly visits into your home. Thank you for tuning us in. We hope your summer is a happy and restful one and hope on those occasions when you want to send your thoughts across the miles across the years or even across the way. You will remember Hallmark cards. Here again is James Hilton. Then your stirring performance made a grand close to another Hallmark Playhouse season. Thank you. Well I'm glad I was invited Jimmy it's always a pleasure to be here. You and your Hallmark Playhouse always give everyone a friendly time. Well that's part of our tradition you know and the continuing tradition of Hallmark cards. Say by the way I heard Frank Goss say that next season the Hallmark Playhouse will be heard on Sundays. Yes like the Hallmark television program but that of course goes on old summer right Frank. That's right Mr. Hilton in most of the television cities you can see the Hallmark Hall of Fame with Sarah Churchill on Sunday evening. Well I've seen it and I enjoyed it. It's a good show too. Well I hope you folks all have a very nice vacation and thank you again for being with us tonight then and now since Hallmark Playhouse is going off the air till September I'd like to take this opportunity of thanking our audiences for their warm appreciation and the help they've given us by so many letters and good wishes. Speaking for all of us Hallmark Players I can truly say what a happy show it has been and how much we're indebted to our orchestra, our writers, our sound men and technicians all of them such fine and friendly workers. Thanks also to Bill Gay who produces and directs our show to David Rose who composes and conducts our music and to Leonard St. Clair who adapted the script tonight. So until we meet again this is James Hilton saying good night and may the summertime be happy for us all. Howard Shannon, Frank Martin played President Jefferson and Ben Wright was Rene. Every Sunday afternoon on television Hallmark cards present Sarah Churchill who brings you the story of interesting people on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you all for the summer holidays and inviting you to listen again next September on Sunday nights through the Hallmark Playhouse. This is KMBC Kansas City, Missouri.