 In a moment you'll hear James Stewart as the Sixuher, just one of the many fine programs brought to you Sundays on NBC. Later this evening listen to the NBC Star Playhouse with two of your favorite stars. Here's a stroke of fate in the story of what might have happened if fate had reversed historical facts. And be sure to keep tuned for the dramatic story of Last Man Out. It's a wonderful lineup of great programs, all of them heard only on NBC. James Stewart as the Sixuher. The man in the saddle is angular and long-legged. His skin is sun-died brown. The gun in his holster is gray steel and rainbow mother of pearl. Its handle unmarked. People call them both, the Sixuher. The NBC radio network presents James Stewart as the Sixuher, a transcribed series of radio dramas based on the life of Britt Ponsett. The Texas Plainsmen who wandered through the western territories, leaving behind a trail of still-remembered legends. Contest the of thy sin, Desdemona, for indeed thou art to die. Have mercy on me. I say, amen. I will be the friend you in my life. Oh, pardon, woman. Oh. It appears that our festy in efforts do not meet with your approval. A serious... My company and I have played before all the crowned heads of Europe. We thought the enlightened community of Virtue City would welcome an opportunity to witness the works of the immortal barb, as performed by Madame de la Seine, the distinguished French actress, and by your humble servant. We were mistaken. To where is human to forgive divine? I forgive you. The performance is concluded. Good night. Hey, not just a minute. You mean you ain't going on to the end of this thing? You have understood me correctly, sir. What Shakespeare gonna think? Yeah, what about the money we paid? Do we get it back? What about it? Hey, Anthony has more than earned a meager piton. You ain't doing nothing until the show's over. That's right. Either you finish up your acting up there, you give us our dough. This ultimatum is outrageous. I rejected that then. Just you stay up there on that stage, mister. I... I said... Please, sir, sir, please, there are ladies present. Someone might be injured. You going on with the show, ain't you? Well? Uh, uh, uh, uh, the, uh, the performance will continue. But I'm not broke, sir. I'm not severe. I've been back to Virtue City since the Second Silver Strike. The first minds played out all ten, fifteen years ago, and the town had been crumbled away like a stale loaf of bread. But the new, new strike last spring, all that... Well, the looks of things is even bigger than the first one. The old stores all opened up again, and half a dozen new ones been built. The new railroad accounted for some of the prosperity. Anyway, that's the way, that's why I come to town. I was supposed to meet the train from Chicago and pick up some spare parts for the pump at the Round Y Ranch where I was working. The train wasn't doing until the next day, so I headed over to the hotel to see about getting a room. The clerk was sitting behind the registration counter looking through some kind of a contraption. I didn't know where it was. Sure had never seen a gadget like that before. Uh, excuse me, uh... Oh, sorry, mister. Didn't know you was there. I just got me a new set of pictures. I sort of anxious to try them out, you know? Pictures? My stereoscope. Oh, well... You've seen a stereoscope before, ain't you, mister? No, no. Can't say that. Why is the newest thing? All the folks back east have got them. Here, just let me show you, huh? Nah, you wait a minute. Just wait till I find Ag or four. Yeah. Yeah, here it is. Now, you just look through the front end there, huh? That's right. That's right. Well... Well... I'll be dug on. Why, uh... Why, uh, it just looks like that water come right after, doesn't it? Why, you just, you'd think it was real. You'd think you were right there. Here, here, just... Let me show you another one, huh? Now, let me see. Yeah, yeah. Pyramids. I've only fell in town. Got the pyramids, you know? The pyramids, yeah. They're in Egypt, you know? Yeah. There. Now, how's that? Well, I just look at... Oh, I can't believe it. Well, that's... Well, that fella's standing out in front of the pyramid. It's just like you could touch him. You could just reach out and touch him. I've never seen anything like that before. Yeah. You just wait till I find that red skin to shoot in there. Got a way he's aimed at, huh? You didn't know it was a picture. You'd swear he was looking at... I ask key, if you please. Oh, sure, Mr. Plunkette, sure. Andrew may as well have my bill ready. We'll be checking out this afternoon. Oh. Thought you were supposed to give another show tonight. Yeah. Performance has been canceled. Hey. Hey, Arch. Hey. Make a pardon, sir. Arch, well, you... Don't you remember me? You seem to have the advantage, sir. I don't believe that... Britt! Britt, puns it! Well, what the thunder you dawn on virtue said, Arch. Boy, I haven't seen you since the last... Since our triumphal tour of Texas, wasn't it, Britt? Why? When we were the honored guests of the governor, my company and I, you remember he insisted that we stay at the executive mansion? Uh, no, Arch. I shall never forget the warmth of our reception there. The people of Texas have a true appreciation of the art of the drama, unlike some of our more recent audiences. Audiences? Well, come along, old boy. Come along. You must join us for a spot of tea. Marguerite would be so delighted to see you again. Marguerite, who's she? My lovely wife. Oh. Don't tell me you've forgotten her. Well, I... No, I thought her name was... We've taken the presidential suite, of course. If you'll just follow me. Well, now, hold on, Arch. I've got to see about a room for myself. Nonsense! Nonsense! The clock will take care of these trivial details. This way, dear boy. This way. My dear Britt. Enter. Hey, what the Sam Hills happened to you, Arch? What happened to your voice? You... It's all in good time, my good man. All in good time. Marguerite? That's you, Arch. Yes, my dear. I've brought someone with me. I'm taking a little nap to snooze dinners. Why, you son of a gun, where... Well, where did you come from? Oh, Maggie. He was downstairs in the lobby, Mag. I had to get him up here fast before he spilled the beans. Oh, that's right. You don't know where in the... Profession, do you, Britt? Oh, no, why? Show business, Britt. Show business. Maggie and I are actors now. We got our own company. No. Ha-ha. Permit me to introduce myself. Archibald Plunkett, late of London, Paris, New York, and for an unpleasant moment, Virtue City. Plunkett? Ha-ha. Couldn't keep on calling myself Archie Plunkett. Once I gave up the Dry Goods Emporium, started acting. Oh, I see. And this charming lady is my wife, the host of the continent, Marguerite de la Seine. What do you mean you changed your name, too, Maggie? Oh, just fancied it up a speck. I used to be Maggie Rivers before I married Archie. Well, we looked on a map. There's a French river called the Seine, so... Uh-huh. I just don't seem fair somehow. What do you mean, Britt? While your folks give you a hand, it all seems like you ought to stick with us. I'm out of when you're in the profession. Is that so? Sure. Most actors have to change their names. They do. Well, I guess if it's customary, gee, where's your actors now, huh? Well, Arch wasn't much good at business, Britt. You know that. He always hated to stay in one place. And then when the drought hit, what were we cleaned out? Yeah, it was right about then Doc Ryder comes in with his medicine show. Remember the Doc Britt? Oh, yeah. Yeah, sure. His guitar player left him flat. One offer that girl used to do the singing. The one with the yellow tights. Yellow tights? I don't think... Oh. Oh, oh, oh, yeah. Yeah. So the Doc needed somebody to take their place, and, well, Maggie Oles had a real sweet singing voice and seen as how we were broke anyhow. Dog on tights never did fit me. Well, you're not still worth the medicine show, are you? Oh, we sure ain't. Anyhow, we struck out in our own, started in doing serious acting. You know, Shakespeare. Shakespeare? Oh. To be or not to be, that is the question. Oh, I see. Whether his nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and daddles about rage as fortune or to take up arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing them. That's pretty good. That's Hamlet. Oh, yeah. Oh, that's... To tell you the truth, brother, was gone appears the melancholy dame this very evening. And circumstances have compelled us to abandon the production. Is that so? Yeah, it was... little trouble during our performance of Othello last night. You mean the post didn't like the show? Well, when they started shooting up at the ceiling, that was the impression that we got. Well, now they shouldn't have done that. I couldn't agree with you more completely. Anyway, we're going on to Rocky Falls. Maybe folks there will have a little more... Oh, who are there? Right. Now, you won't say anything. You won't give us away. Oh, no. No, of course not. Your servant, sir. Forgive me for intruding. Are you Archibald Blanquette, the actor? I am he. Delighted to meet you, Mr. Blanquette. And what may I do for you, sir? I happen to be spending the day in Virtue City, and I saw a theatrical poster advertising a performance of Hamlet, one of my favorite plays. Unfortunately, when I tried to buy tickets, I was informed that your company isn't appearing this evening. That is correct, sir. A sudden change in our schedule. We have so many engagements, we're unable to fill them all. I understand, Mr. Blanquette. I understand. The bigaries of show business. See, I happen to be in the theater myself. Indeed? Yes. Oh, thank you. I'm sorry I won't have the opportunity of witnessing your performance. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, sir. Old faker. Why, I bet he's no more in show business than you are, Britt. Probably thought we'd give him a couple of free passes. Oh. Oh. No. Well, Arch, what's the matter? Oh, no, no, no. It couldn't. I've seen things. Britt. Here. Britt, what's it look like to you? The name of this card. What's it say? Oh, I, uh, let's see. It says Barnum. P.T. Barnum. Yeah, that's the name all right. Brenton's real clear. We'll return to James Stewart as the six-shooter in just a moment. Now, during the holiday season with more cars than usual on the road and adverse weather conditions, think a minute. If a child should dash across an intersection, if a tire should blow out, could you stop in time to save a life? As always, during a holiday season, you must be more alert than ever in following simple safety rules. Keep your windshield clear of fog and snow. Be certain your headlights and wipers are working properly. In wet weather, never slam on your brakes. It's a sure way to put your car into a skid and always follow other cars at a safe distance. Don't be one of those unfortunates who will lose his life in a traffic accident this yuletide. Be careful, friends. Live to have a safe and happy Christmas. Act two of the six-shooter, starring James Stewart as Britt Ponsett. The next couple of minutes or two, Arch and Maggie just stood there looking at each other and the way they were looking at each other. I tell you, it was the same kind of an expression a calf gets just before you hit him with a brandon iron. Then Arch walked over to the window and raised it up just like he was getting ready to jump out. I thought, sure, Maggie had starved him. She didn't. All she did was just grab the calling card out of my hand, started rubbing her finger over the print. Arch, it's real engraving. Yeah. Why can't I do it, Maggie? Why can't I end it all right here and now? Oh, now, what are you talking about, Arch? What's got into you folks, anyhow? P.T. Barnum, Britt. You know who P.T. Barnum is, don't you? Well, he said he was in show business. In show business? He is show business. Jenny Lin, General Tom Thumb, half the stars in America, all their careers to him. Don't you say, Britt, he was going to come to the theater tonight. He was going to watch us act without us even asking him. Well... And if he liked us, well, there's no telling what would have happened. He might have hired us himself. I'd like to get a chance like this only once. To appear before P.T. Barnum. Arch? Arch, maybe it's not too late. It is too late. No, listen, now, the company is still in town. All we have to do is unpack the costume. The performance has been canceled, Maggie. Then we'll uncancel it. I'll round up the rest of the cast, change your train ticket. Sure, that's it. And you, you get over to the opera house, and make sure they haven't let it out to somebody else. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, hold on. No, no, what about an audience? Oh, yes. Well, I tell you, give some of the kids around town passes. They'll spread the word quick enough. Well, now just don't stand there, Arch. Get moving. All right, Maggie. All right. All right. Well, uh, Maggie, I... Britt. Britt, now you go and find Mr. Barnum. What? He must be staying in the hotel. The clerk will give you the room number. Well, I... And tell him we rearranged our schedule again. We're playing Hamlet tonight. But for heaven's sakes, don't let him know it's because of him. Oh. And, and tell him, tell him he won't need tickets. We're saving him the front box. Well, hurry up, Britt, hurry up. Before I make some other plans. All right, sure, sure. All right, Maggie. Mr. Barnum. Yes? Oh, hello there. Howdy. My name's Britt Ponsett. I'm glad to meet you, Mr. Ponsett. Ponsett, what can I do for you? Well, my friends, the Plunkettes, the, uh, the Plunkettes, they, uh, asked me to find you. Oh. And, uh, they've sort of changed their plans. It seems they're, they're going to stay over in Virtue City tonight and, uh, give the show. Oh, I see. And they asked me to tell you that they're saving a box for you if you'd care to use it tonight. That's very considerate, Mr. Ponsett. I'd be delighted. Are you with the company? How's that? Are you one of the performers? I'm to have the pleasure of watching tonight. Oh, no. No, no. I'm, I'm, I'm just a friend. Oh. Well, thank you for delivering the message. Don't mention it, Mr. Barnum. Well, don't mention it. Well, I didn't see any more of Arch and Maggie that afternoon. I figured they'd have plenty to keep them busy. This act and job is about like anything else, I guess. It must be a certain amount of work to it. Anyway, about seven o'clock I was up in my room putting on a clean shirt, getting fixed up to go to the theater and watch their play. Hey, man. Oh, Britt. Oh, hello, Arch. Maggie. Well, what's the matter? I'm just born under an unlucky star, I guess. Oh. My fault. I never should have suggested giving the performance tonight in the first place. Oh, Arch, couldn't you get the opera house? No. Oh, it's available. Well, Mr. Barnum's coming. He told me so himself. Oh, heaven forbid. Well, I thought you were so anxious for him to see you. Not just to see us, but to like us to appreciate our talent. Oh, I'd only stuff to thank Arch. Oh, don't blame you, my dear. Blame yourself. I should have realized the whole idea of our playing tonight was out of the question. Now I've sent those kids all over town. Well, maybe we can catch an early train and sneak away before anyone knows. Now, now, hold on there. Now, what are you both so down on the mouth about? Now, you've got the theater and you're going to have an audience, Mr. Barnum included. Well, that's just it for the audience. Huh? It'll be the same folks who came last night. Oh, I see. Of course, make fun of us. Probably start shooting again. And what'll Mr. Barnum say? We're the worst actors he's ever seen. That's what he'll think. Yeah, but there ought to be somewhere maintained in order. What about the sheriff? I tell you, he's a man to do it. Already seen him. Oh, what'd he say? Said we ain't any better than we was last night. He's advising the boys in the audience not to aim at the ceiling. Is that so? One big opportunity, Griff. In its room before we ever got started. Well, maybe there won't be any trouble. Maybe the audience will like this. Well, just hammered. Maybe they'll like that better than the one you gave them before. They won't. It isn't one of our most successful presentations. You couldn't try something else, could you? We only do two plays with it. Fellow and hammered. I see. I guess it wouldn't be much point repeating that of a fellow. No, it wouldn't. Well, I'm awful sorry, Arch. I wish there was something I could do. Do you, Brett? Do you really wish there was something you could do? Well, sure, Maggie. Sure. Well, as a matter of fact, we did have one possible solution. So? It sort of involves you, in a way. Well, me? You see, you're practically saving our lives, Brett, if you do it. Explain it to him, Arch. Well, maybe you'd better do the explanation. Oh, no, no. It really was your idea, Arch. Go on, Arch. Well, you see, but now don't say no until you hear me out. Well, I'm not saying anything. You see, we were thinking most of the folks here in town must know you by sight and they know you're the sick shooter. So, if... Well, I said no. You can be darn sure of that. And I kept saying it over and over and over again for the next hour and a half. What they were suggesting was just talk foolishness. That's all I just had to turn them down. That's all I just had to do it. And they must have known I wouldn't agree to a thing like that. But no matter how hard I talk, they just talk harder. And being actors, they had strong voices, too, you know? Well, the next thing I knew, somehow, they'd managed to drag me along with them to the opera house. Anyhow, after the piano solo by Thelma Featherhill, Kurt went up and the show got underway. Start out all right, too. Audience seemed to be paying attention. Nobody is creating any ruckus or anything, at least not at first. Oh, that this too, too solid flesh would melt. That it should come to this. But two months dead. Oh, frailty, thy name is woman. Oh, my unrighteous tears had left the flushing in her golly-dyes. She's married. Sounds like old lady Crannell. She only waited two weeks after Jed Crannell kicked the pocket. No, it cannot come too good. But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue. Better get a good grip on it, Mr. You see, Brett, you just gotta do it. I can't do it. I can't do it. Oh, look at poor Archie. Well, isn't it just enough to break your heart? The weary tale, flat and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world. You're acting a little flat, too, Mr. Go on, Brett. That's your cue. What cue? Go on, like that. Oh, good Horatio, I'm glad to see you well. Hail to your lordship, Brett. Huh? Hail to your lordship. What make you from Wittenberg Horatio? How then? Mission. A truant dispossession. Can't get to school, kids. Here comes the tuition officer. I'll kill your enemies, say so. Not shall you do my near that violence to make it cut out of your own report against you. Oh, he's bringing out the report card. I said, you better take it easy. Huh? Don't you see who that is, that other actor fella? What are you talking about? It's Brett Ponsett. Ponsett is six years old? You must be crazy. He's staying at the hotel. I've seen him this afternoon. Well, what's he doing up there on that stage? He's a friend of them actors. If I was you, I'd keep my big mouth shut from here on in. There ain't no salt he's wearing under that rig. That's a six-gun, plain as day. It followed hard upon. Drift, thrift, teratio. The funeral baked meats did coldly furnish for the marriage table. Would I have met my dear in all in heaven? There I am. Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince. Sweet, uh... Uh... And flocks of angels singing you to your rest. I never thanked you enough. I just don't know what would have ever happened. Oh, darling. And did you see? He stayed through to the end. Mr. Barnum did. Right through to the end. Brett, you were great. All right, I never felt so foolish in my whole life. Do you think he'll come back? Stay, George. Uh, Mr. Barnum. Somebody help me get out of this thing, will you? Come in. Hi, Mr. Barnum. Good evening. I just wanted to drop by and tell you how much I enjoyed your performance tonight. We are most honored, uh... Honored! Your future in the theater is assured. And it you there, Ponsett. Oh, me? You told me you weren't an actor. Oh, he was just sort of filling in, Mr. Barnum. Oh, I realize you weren't up in the part, Mr. Ponsett. But such stage presence. By the way, that audience quieted down when you walked on. I've never seen anything like it before in my life. Never. Now, if you're seriously interested in the theater as a career, I would be very happy for you. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. No, thanks very much, Mr. Barnum. I'm, uh, not interested. No, that's real kind of you. But, uh, no, oh, oh, no. Well, sir, I got out of that theater just as fast as my legs would carry me. I just don't see how anybody can set out to be an actor. All those people staring at you and that, that sweat running down the back of your neck. Holy smoke. There wasn't any gunfire there, actually. Of course, that applause. That's after it was over. That applause, that did sound kind of good. And Mr. Barnum, he's very nice about saying that I had stage presence, whatever that means. I suppose a man could get used to play acting if he had to. Sure is a scary business. NBC Radio Network Production in association with Review Productions. It is based on a character created by Frank Burt and the transcribed story is written by him. Mr. Stewart may currently be seen in the Universal International Picture, the Glenn Miller story. Others in the cast were Michael Ann Barrett, Tony Barrett, Ted Bliss, Marvin Miller, and Dan O'Hurley. Special music for this program was by Basil Adlam, and the entire production is under the direction of Jack Johnstone. All characters and incidents were fictitious, and any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. This is How Give Me Speaking.