 Remember a Hallmark card when you will carry enough to send the very best. But the makers of Hallmark reading cards bring you Loretta Young in The Night of the Hayrise on the Hallmark Playhouse. She was one of the greatest stars in outstanding stories chosen by one of the world's best known authors. They distinguished novelist, Mr. James Hilton. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is James Hilton. Tonight on our Hallmark Playhouse, we dramatize a story by Marcella Talent, called The Night of the Hayrise. Occasionally, it happens that a single chance event can pull the switches it were that sends the rest of a person's life in an entirely new direction. In Ms. Talent's story, this happened to her heroine, and the cause of it all was just a matter of inches and seconds on a country road at night. The difference between safety and disaster as it first appeared, but later the difference between a lonely, idle, selfish life and its exact opposites. To play our heroine's part tonight, we are fortunate indeed to have with us one of Hollywood's most famous actresses, Loretta Young. And now here is Frank Goss from the makers of Hallmark cards. While the pleasure Christmas cards bring can never been measured, isn't it good to know that Hallmark cards are priced the same this year as they were last year, and the year before, and the year before that, and that the quality of Hallmark cards has constantly improved throughout the years. Yes, today, just as for many Christmas seasons, that Hallmark on the back of your card is looked for and welcomed. It tells your friends you cared enough to send the very best. And now Hallmark Playhouse presenting Marcella Talent's The Night of the Hayride starring Loretta Young. It was big enough to be called a mansion, and indeed it was so named by the people of Holbrook. Gray and silent it stood in stately solitude, almost eight miles beyond the town limits. Passes by along the river road, peered frequently through the high iron fence of the formal gardens within. But seldom did they glimpse the mistress of the estate, Miss Cora Holbrook, age 37, lovely face and lonely of spirit. Arthur. Yes, Miss Holbrook? Will you tell the cook, please, that dinner was very good. And to send some warm milk up to my bedroom. You're going to bed now, ma'am? Yes, I'm rather tired. I'll read a while in bed. Yes, ma'am. Oh, excuse me, ma'am. Yes? Would it be all right if I took the evening off? I halfway promised, Mr. Anderson. You've been saying quite a bit of him, haven't you? Yes, ma'am. We thought tonight we'd drive down by the river. It's so warm and there's a full harvest moon. Martha. What do you and Mr. Anderson talk about? Well... Me? Perhaps. Oh, no, Miss Holbrook. I never discuss you with anybody. Because they're not interested, I suppose. That's the way I want it to be forgotten and to forget. Excuse me, ma'am, but is there something wrong? No. No, I'm just tired. Oh, you need to get out more, ma'am. Staying indoors and just walking around the garden isn't enough, Martha. I shouldn't speak out, ma'am, but I've known you longer than anyone. Ever since you were little. I say it's wrong to cut yourself off this way. You used to be so gay and... Martha. I beg your pardon, ma'am. You may have the evening off, Martha. Thank you, ma'am. See to it that you meet Mr. Anderson outside the gate. Yes, ma'am. Good night, ma'am. Good night, Martha. Just coming up over the river. Full yellow hayride. Children on a hayride. Have you seen that book on Lord Byron that I was reading? No, ma'am, but the front door. I know, Martha. Will you please tell Mr. Anderson he is not to come to my front door? He wouldn't do that, ma'am. Besides, it's too early for him. I can't imagine who... It really doesn't matter, Martha, who it is. Send him away. Yes, ma'am. Because I'm coming in. Dr. Armsby. Yes? Didn't you hear my name? I'm afraid you don't understand. There's been an accident almost at your front gate. A wagon load of children on a hayride. I was driving along behind them and saw it. A truck tried to pass and the site swiped the wagon. There were about 20 injured. Oh. Then the telephone is in the hallway. That can wait. First I want hot water, soap, disinfectants, blankets and sheets. We're bringing the injured in here. Dr. Armsby, I'm truly sorry about the accident, but this is not a hospital. Well, I realize that. And also that the nearest hospital is in the county seat 45 miles from here. In that case, doctor, the children have their homes. If they'll me eight miles back to town. Ms. Holbrooke, you will have to accept my word that the injured are in no condition to be moved. Now I'll call the hospital and have them send nurses and anesthetics. Meanwhile, please tell your servants to clear your first floor rooms, put sheets and blankets under the vans and lay out mattresses on the floors. Eat all the hot water you can and keep eating. I'm sorry to be so abrupt. I don't wish to order you about. And I don't intend to be ordered about, but there are the children. You may bring them in, doctor. Put a new needle in this, sir, in, please. I am. Doctor, I put some coffee for you on the table. Oh, thanks, sir. By the way, what is your name? Martha, sir. All right, Martha. Will you start tearing up some rolls of dough? We'll need miles of it to tie on this book. Yes, sir. Dr. Armsby. Yes. The guest room's open for you whenever you wish to rest. Oh, thanks, but there'll be no time for that. Well, in any case, good night. I'm very tired. Well, just a minute in this whole book. Get some hot water and gauze and wash up some of these children with you. Try to be as gentle as possible. Oh, but, doctor, she's Miss Holbrooke. She has hands, hasn't she? I'm sure you understand. We need every pair of ministering hands we can get tonight. Yes, doctor. Yes, of course. You can clean face that's how secure, you see. There you are, Tommy. I knew there was a handsome boy underneath all that dirt. I had one every single winter when I used to ice skate. All right, who's next? Now you, Helen. Bobby and Carol. Miss Holbrooke, have you a minute? Yes. We haven't formed the parents yet. It's getting late and they'll be wondering what's keeping the children. Now, I've made a list of all the families. Will you phone them and explain, give us little detail as possible, but reassure them in case they've heard rumors. I'm sorry, doctor, but I couldn't. Why not? I'm not of touch with Holbrooke people. I haven't set foot in Holbrooke in 16 years. I understand that, but I'm too busy to call everybody myself. Above all, I don't want hysterical parents rushing out here. I need every minute to try and save their children. Now, he's just... Dr. Ansby, I cannot talk to them. I know what the town says about me, what they have been saying for 16 years. Doctor, I have taken too much. I owe the town nothing. An impenetrable fence, isn't it? I beg your pardon? The fence you've built around your estate and your heart. Feel better if I cross one name off that list. All of us have a long list of children we want to remember at Christmas. I know our list does seem to grow and grow. Quite a problem to see that each one receives an equal gift. That is, it was until we found the perfect answer in the Hallmark card collection at our store. Send the Hallmark Christmas stocking card to some, and the Hallmark Magic Money Tree card to the others, and everyone's happy. Because what youngster doesn't love a present of ten shiny silver dimes. You see, these Hallmark cards are designed to be a present and a Christmas greeting rolled into one. The Magic Money Tree, for instance, has a dazzling Christmas tree on the outside. Its bright green branches are hung with tinsel, and then for extra magic, you decorate the tree with ten silver dimes. Just put the dimes in the gum circles on the branches, and they look like silver bells. The verse inside the card says, Money doesn't grow on trees. That's almost always true. But here's a Magic Christmas tree that's growing dimes for you. Merry Christmas. Can you think of a nicer Christmas present for the little folks on your list? You'll find the Hallmark Magic Money Tree card, along with the new Hallmark Christmas stocking card, on the display counters of fine stores across the country. And, of course, they too have that distinguished Hallmark, which says, you cared enough to send the very best. Now back to James Hilton and the second act of the Night of the Hayride, starring Loretta Young. Moon was setting in the west before Dr. Armley fathomed the last blint and checked the final vantage. The injured children slept, all saved one. Cora Holbrook bent over her and placed a cool hand on the flushed cheek. Didn't Dr. Armley give you a sedative? Oh, what? It's something to make you sleep. Yes, but I can't. Why? Now you must... It was. It's my father's we could have a hayride. I asked him to get the wagon for us, and I invited everybody. It was all... Well, better yet, I can play the piano. It's right here behind the divan. This is my library, you see, and the rest of the children are in the other rooms. So if we're very quiet, they won't hear us. Been playing that years and nights. Isn't that reason enough to play it now? In the kitchen, I'm just fixing some fresh coffee. There's no need for you to get up, Martha. You've got to get your rest, too, ma'am. It's dawn. I know. And that's why I want you to go back to bed. Yes, ma'am. Martha. Martha. What happened to Dr. Thurston? Did he leave Holbrook? Oh, he died, ma'am. I didn't know. And then Dr. Armsby has replaced him? Yes, doctor. But there's so little he can do with the nearest hospital 45 miles away. I suppose. That's why he wants to build one here in Holbrook. Martha, do you, uh... Do you know what his wife is like? Oh, he's not married, ma'am. That's all, Martha. Yes, ma'am. I'm not used to people hovering in doorways. How long have you been there, doctor? Only a second. Well, yes, of course. I'm going to the transfusion. He'll be all right now. It's a mausoleum. There are 31. But I don't consider it a mausoleum. It's my home. I was born here, and my father and his father. No, no, this is my citadel. My fortress. Against the town your great-grandfather founded, the people of Holbrook. Then you know my story. Well, I don't believe everything I hear. I was in love once. Unbelievable, as it may seem now, doctor. And here's now your town banker. Jason Reeves. I was 21. The day before we were to be married, he eloped with my best friend. I went to Europe to forget. When I came home, I was greeted with pity, amusements, smug satisfaction. The town had seen a Holbrook humbled. Well, I wouldn't take it from them. Why should I? I owed the town nothing, and for 16 years, I have made myself forget its very existence. And then, last night, you snapped out of it. Last night, you took the children of the town into your home. You did a hundred unpleasant tasks for bloodstained, frightened boys and girls. You even played a lullaby for the daughter of the man you hate. Sally's a sweet child. Why should I take out my bitterness on her? More important, why should you take it out on yourself? You could put stuff in you. Don't hide it. You're 37, aren't you? No, no, don't look away. What does my age matter? I'm old. I let myself go. My face, my skin, my hair. Cora, look at me. You're not old, and you look wonderful. Cora, the best part of your life can still be ahead. It depends on you what you do with it. You can stay here, cut yourself off from the world, secure, forgotten, or you can return to life. You can be the best liked woman in this county. I'm sorry, Doctor. I'm tired. I have got to get some rest. Cora, don't run back into your citadel. Stop building fences around yourself. It's too late, Doctor. Well, I did, Doctor. I'm sure you could get dressed. Yes, he doesn't want me to have to go home now. Some of the others are going with me. Oh, I see. Well, I'm very happy to have met you, Sally. Thank you. Miss Holbrook. Yes? You've changed your hair, haven't you? You're much prettier than last night. Oh, I see. Miss Holbrook. Yes, dear. My father is here. He told me he'd like to see you. Sorry, Sally, but I'm very busy. He'll understand. You go and tell him that... I do. I don't blame you, Cora. I should see the inside of this house again. Time has dealt kindly with you, Cora. Uh, Sally, you'd better run along, dear. Yes, I'm... I have much to be ashamed of and more to be grateful for. The town? Yes. Oh. Everybody. Oh. If you hadn't heard the accident last night, if you hadn't gotten here so quickly and called Dr. Armistice when you did... Jason, who told you that? I see. If there's ever anything I can do for you, Cora, if any of us can ever help... Thank you, Jason. Thank you very much to be here somewhere. Yes, Doc. I just wanted to say good night, Miss Holbrook. Over the remaining patients, I think they'll be all right tonight, but if anything does come up, the nurse can call me at home. Yes, of course. Dr. Armistice, this afternoon, I saw Jason Reeves. Yes. Yes. He and the townspeople are under the impression that I saved the children. You gave them that impression. I did, and I hope you won't make a liar out of me. I'm not sure why you felt impelled to make me seem better than I am. Cora. Nevertheless, it did open my eyes to a need. Holbrook should have a hospital. It should. Would you say that this house would do as a beginning, this 31-room mausoleum of mine? It would be ideal, but where would you live? Well, I thought that out. I can build a smaller place somewhere in a property. Now, if the plan is satisfactory with the town authorities, I'll instruct my attorneys to draw up the papers. And then? That's all. I, uh... I just thought I should discuss it with you. I see. Then thank you, Miss Holbrook. Good night. Good night. Martha. Yes, Miss Holbrook? Martha, I am still looking for that book. Can't you help me? You don't really want to read, do you? Oh, I thought you'd gone. Look, Doctor, I happen to enjoy reading in the evening. And an evening like this? Oh, come on. I want to show you something. No, I really don't... Now, no arguments. Just follow me. Just coming up over the river. Full and yellow. Did he last night watching it before you came? It's the same moon, but not the same one. Cora, you can't fight your way back. Your gift to the town is only half a gift because you still aren't giving yourself. Do you know what I'm trying to say? Yes. Yes, last night, you made me forget myself. You made me up others who needed kindness and care. You made me serve others. You made me forget my... my self-pity. Perhaps that's the cure I should have sought long ago. That's only part of what I meant. Cora, that little house you're going to build, it mustn't be another citadel. You can keep out the world, but you can keep out loneliness. Loneliness? Believe me, I know because I live in a little house. Cora, dear, let in that loneliness here now. For the first time in 16, I'm a woman, and I'm a woman-in-law. Take my arm, take me down that front path. I want to unlock that gate and never, never close it again. I want to walk down the river road under that harvest moon. Our hallmark cards designed to bring the happiest smiles to your family and friends because the words inside express your feelings. Help you say what you want to say, just the way you want to say it. You'll find hallmark cards to say Merry Christmas to the boss, to the minister, to teacher that you'd like to remember in a special way. And remember, besides the special message inside, that hallmark on the back of your card says something special too. To all those favorite people of yours, just as the people everywhere, that hallmark on the back will say you cared enough to send the very best. Here again is James Hilton. Thank you, Loretta. You gave us a most enjoyable performance. I'm glad you liked it, Mr. Hilton. I certainly enjoyed being here. I understand you and your family are going east for the holidays, Loretta. Yes, we are. We're all spending Christmas with my helpman's family this year. Well, then you should take along with our compliments one of the hallmark Christmas card trains. Oh, how nice of you, Mr. Hilton. Thank you. You know, when I saw the ads on the hallmark Christmas card train, I was wishing for one to take back with me. It's really a wonderful way to enjoy Christmas cards. Well, we hope you enjoyed and do think of us often during the holidays. Always certainly will. Now tell me, what are we going to have on the hallmark playhouse next week? Next week we shall tell a story about a man whose signature is perhaps the best known of any in this country's history. When we present our dramatization of Lorenzo Sears' book about John Hancock and as our star, we are happy to welcome back Dana Andrews. Oh, that's wonderful. Our hallmark playhouse is every Thursday. Our producer-director is Bill Gay. Our music is composed conducted by David Rose. And our story tonight was adapted by Leonard St. Clair. Until next week then, this is James Hilton saying, Good night. To send the very best. The very young will soon be seen starring in the Columbia picture of Paula. The role of John tonight was played by Ted DeCortia, Margaret Grayton was Martha, and with Bill Sallay and Frank Martin played Jason Reeves. This is Frank Goss saying, Good night to you all until next week at this same time. When hallmark playhouse returns to present Dana Andrews in Lorenzo Sears' John Hancock. And the week following, our traditional Christmas presentation paired to Paula is the story of Silent Night on the hallmark playhouse. This is KMBC Kansas City, Missouri.