 The National Broadcasting Company presents another in the new series of famous stories for young people. Adventure Ahead. This week, a play based on that classic of American childhood, The Story of a Bad Boy by Thomas Bailey Aldrich. An amusing, exciting story of the adventures of a typical American boy. And now... Adventure Ahead. Tom Bailey. He's upstairs, Judge Nutter. Huh? In his room. Oh, thank you, Kitty. Tom! Oh, Tom! Tom Bailey! Come down here, Tom. I want to talk to you. Something wrong with you? Wrong? I should say something's wrong. What about this book? A book, sir? What book? You know very well what book, Tom Bailey. This one. My notebook. When I met my speech in. Oh. Recognize it, eh? Well... Yes, Uncle. Drawing pictures in my notebook. Funny faces. The same Tom Bailey. All these faces mixed up with my campaign speech. Not very good likenesses, either. You're not, sir? This one here. That's supposed to be Kitty Callum, our man. Hmm. Don't look like her. Who's this stupid looking one? Uh... Well... That's supposed to be you, Uncle. Huh? Huh? Oh, it is, eh? It's the best I could do, sir. My pencil was worn out. Oh, Tom, I declare. You'll be the death of me yet. Oh, is that for some devilman? You're a bad boy, Tom Bailey. Worst boy, Massachusetts. But, sir, I only... Sometimes I wonder why I ever let your folks send you up here to live with me. Well, I lost him with you on the coast, Uncle. Well, I think you would. Your folks should never put up with the things I do. Well, I'm sorry if I caused you so much trouble, Uncle. I didn't know your old notebook was so important. Well, it is. I've got my campaign speech in it for the big political rally. Are you going to make a speech? Well, of course. Tonight from the square. Long after you're in bed. I'm going to be the chief speaker. A few words from me. You ought to do a lot for our candidate. I didn't know you could make a speech. Well, you'd better run along now, Tom. I'm busy. Go find your friends Jack Harris and Kenny Wallace. Bother them. Yes, sir. I'll be back for supper. Oh, and Tom... Please. Please. Don't get into any more trouble. Was Judge not a mad Tom? Was he mad about the notebook? Like your Uncle said, Tom. Oh, he didn't say much. I bet he didn't like it. Well... No, Jack. Did he scold you, Tom? Like the schoolmaster did the time you drew the funny pictures on the blackboard? No. He just said I was a bad boy. He didn't even tell me not to do it again. Carly. Wish my father was like old Judge Nutter. He's going to make a speech tonight, Kenny. Who? My father? No, Judge Nutter. He's going to make an election speech up on the square. What's he running for, Tom? President? No, he's not running for anything. Well, what's he making a speech for? I don't know. But it must be important. He's been rehearsing it all day. Well, if it's anything like the speeches I've heard at political rallies, everybody will go to sleep. Poor old Judge Nutter will probably be just like the rest of them, too. Won't he, Jack? Sure. Everybody always goes to sleep. You think they will? Sure. Well, gosh, I can't let that happen. I can't let them go to sleep on my own uncle. Bet they will. I know what we can do. I know how we can keep people awake at the political rally. Well, how, Tom? So you know that sack of firecrackers will been saving you since the fight of July? Tom, I never expect so much noise to come from under the platform. You got the master! Uh-huh. Better get ready to run, then. Judge Nutter's going to speak next. Friends and voters, it is now my privilege to introduce that great citizen of Massachusetts, that leader among men, that champion of order and discipline. Judge Oswald Roosevelt Nutter. Ladies and gentlemen, voters in this great county, in speaking of our political candidates tonight, I would like to say a few words about the younger generation and the important part they are playing here in Rivermouth in the promotion and security of quiet and peaceful tranquility. But we are trying to... Excuse me, Judge. What could be? Oh, we do, Tom. Good morning, uncle. You're up late this morning, Dom. Late? Oh, uh... Yes, sir. I was sleepy. Oh, sleepy, huh? Yes, sir. Hey, clear the time up on the square last night. Too bad you weren't there, Dom. A lot of fireworks. Fireworks? Broke up the rally. They gave me. Yeah, came right after I started my speech. Thought it might be the opposition party that set them off, maybe sailors from that ship down to Harbor. Hmm. Quite a long ride up here in the morning paper. Hmm? It says, uh... The three miscarriages who cause the disturbance are unknown, as they escape in the confusion. Hmm. My goodness. Now, listen to this. Judge Nutter's speech was the first election oration of the year. And it can't truthfully be said that the judge went over with a bank. Uh... What are you giggling about, Tom Bailey? What do you mean? It's no laughing matter. Okay. My social prestige injured my political reputation. First of all, I just scared me to death. Yes, sir. I'm glad you were home in bed last night. Yes, sir. I thought about you when those firecrackers started banging away, but I knew you were home in bed, so I didn't give it another thought. Too bad you missed all the excitement, Tom. Yes, sir. Oh, I mean, no, sir. Will you excuse me, Uncle? Hmm. Finish your breakfast already? I'm not very hungry. No. Can you want us to meet going down to the harbor to see the cruiser and all the sailors? I'm anxious to get started. Oh. Well, if you're done, you can leave. Thank you, sir. Now, but, Tom... Just a minute. Get back here, will you? There seems to be something sticking out of your pocket. Uh, the back pocket. A firecracker. Uh, yes, sir. Wait, so what is it? A firecracker. Hmm. You better let me have that time. If you set up any more of those things, then I'll go start craving mad. And you let him go, Jack Nutters, without so much as boxing his ears? Oh, well, yes, Kitty. I can't be too harsh with Tom. Oh. Eh, seems like most of these things he does. I remember doing it when I was a boy. He'll never amount to nothing, Judge Nutters, because you're spoiling him. Oh. He's a bad boy, and you're making him worse. Oh, I don't know about that, Kitty. You may not be what you call a real good boy, but Tom's not such a very bad boy. Boys will be boys, Kitty. Hmm. I wonder who's got all those firecrackers. There she is, a real cruiser. She really looks big out there, Tom. Well, I bet you take a couple of millions million sailors to run a ship like that, Kitty. Golly. Wish I was old enough to be a sailor. Me too. I like to go on board a big ship like that, cruiser, and see all the guns and engines, and how they make it go. Sure would be fun, Tom. You know, when I grow up, I'm going to be a sailor, or maybe even a general. They don't have generals on ships. Well, whatever they have, that's what I want to be. You can't even swim, Kitty. Wow. You get washed up in a storm, or what are you going to do? Golly, I never thought of that, Tom. There's everybody on a big ship like that cruiser, and they're going to swim. Of course, there's going to be sailors. This one? Golly, he's big, and he's got his sack in every sink. That's what they call that, a sink bag. Well, he sure is. He's a hero, Tom. Let's live here in River Mouth. Uh-huh. Couldn't tell an old sailor where he might find a room. You know, a large in-house with good chow? Well, I don't know, sir. Got a few days on the shore. I want a hole up. I had my feet on dry land for over two years. Two years? That's right. Been around the world 30 times. First time on shore in two years. Golly. You must be a regular hero. Oh, I wouldn't say that. But I've been in and out of plenty of trouble, oh. You have? I've been around the world 30 times. I want to settle down a few weeks while my ship's in port. Be a landlubber. I've got an idea where a sailor's going to room. Oh, no, sir. How about you, lad? Well, well, yes, sir. I'd like for you to come home with me. Huh? Oh, no. I don't know about that, lad. Your folks maybe wouldn't care about taking in a boarder. Well, but we've got lots of room. It's only me and my uncle Judge Nutter. No, I... Where can I tell him? Hey. Hey, tell him. Oh, man, she comes from a great time. Well... My uncle would be most glad to have a hero staying at his house, and I wouldn't talk to you anything. Well, lad, I think I'll take you up on your offer. Oh, thank you, sir. You just come along with me, Mr.... Hey, Ben... Ben's my name, lad. Just call me Sailor Ben. I'm off that cruiser off. Yes, sir, I know. It's a beautiful cruiser. So big and chubby. You like ships, lad? Oh, yes, sir. I want to be a sailor someday. I do. Well, tell you what I'll do while I'm visiting with you. I'll take your board someday. I'll show you all over the ship from stem to stern. The cruiser? You will? I will. He's a fine ship she is, and I don't know. I've been around the world 30 times. A sailor Ben. How'd he do it? I was telling me about you, ma'am. Oh, what is it? Just the way I imagined it. A pretty Colleen, if I ever saw one. Oh. And I've seen a lot, too. I've been around the world 30 times, and I do say so. You're a pretty Colleen. Well, thank you, Sailor Ben. Come on, my uncle's in here. Hi, lad. I've seen you later. All right, Ben. Come here, sailor Ben. Hi, lad. Thank you. Uncle, this is Sailor Ben. He's a hero. How'd he do, Judge Nutter? Good afternoon, Ben. Any friend of time? He's certainly a friend of mine. Thank you, Judge. Well, if you won't mind me moving in on you for a week or so. Why, I beat it. Moving in. Well, why, I have time. Well, I should have invited Sailor Ben to see with us, Uncle, while he's on leave. Oh, he did, eh? I knew it would be all right, sir. I needed a place to bunk, Judge, but I don't want to crowd you if you ain't got room for me. I'd go downtown. Oh, no, that is, uh... Please, let him say, Uncle, sailor Ben is a hero. Been around the world 30 times. Oh, that's all. I'm going to say, Uncle, he's going to take you down to the cruise and show me all over his ship. Uh-huh. And he's going to tell me stories about the sea and his travel. Yeah. Yes, that might be a good thing, time. Do it with him. You take an interest in Sailor Ben and the cruiser and might keep you out of trouble. Yes, sir. Well, Ben... Isaac, I don't see why you can't stay with us. You can have a guest room upstairs. Kitty will show you the way. Thank you, Judge, much obliged. When are you going to tell me about your travel, Sailor Ben? When are you going to take me down to your ship? Oh, be kind enough with that, lad. I've got to get my gear unpacked. Put on my Sunday vest. I expect me and Miss Kitty to step out tonight. Howdy, Ben. Always ready to go with you, Kitty. Oh, what let's be tonight? A roll on the river? May we depart? Well, Ben, when are you going to take me down to your cruiser? Oh, come on, Ben. When are you going to take me down to your ship, Sailor Ben? No, Tom, may not have time. I've only got a few days left. Me and Kitty's got one more thing to do. I'm going to take you down to your ship, Sailor Ben. I'm going to take you down to your ship, Sailor Ben. I've only got a few days left. Me and Kitty's got one more thing to do. You still living at your house, Tom? I sail a Ben to a shore all the time, but not for me. What do you mean, Tom? Only guys that follow Kitty come around and talk to her. Golly! He never has any time for me. He didn't even take me aboard his cruiser, like he said. But I don't think so much of Sailor Ben as I did. Well, what does Judge Nansen think about him? I don't know. My uncle hardly ever talks to me. He doesn't know. He's still busy with his old politics. He's still making speeches. Not much lately. The election's almost here. He has to listen to other people's speeches now. You mean the big political rally in picnic at River Grove this afternoon? Uh-huh. My father will be there. He's going to make us speak. Your uncle going to make us a speech at River Grove, Tom? Of course not. That's the opposition party having that rally. Oh. But my uncle will go anyway, just to hear the speeches and get three lemonade sandwiches. Oh, Sailor Ben will probably be there, too, with Kitty. Does Sailor Ben take her every place? Yeah, just about yet. When I'm a sailor, I won't be like that. You're going to be a sailor when you grow up? You grow up, Kenny? Sure. Me and Tom, too. Both of us. Are you, Tom? What for? Why, so I can sail off in different places and things. Why, I might go round the world. Thirty times. It would be fun, all right, being a sailor. Golly, yes. I just wish I had a ship on my own right now. Or a boat, or anything. I'd say I can sail right up the river. As far as I could go. You would? I'd show that old sailor, Ben. I'd go all the way up the river. Golly, Tom, I'd like to go with you. Me, too. A ship like that would be wonderful. Why couldn't we get a boat? Just sit with me ever since. Sail around like sailors. Why couldn't we, Tom? Yes, we could, if we had a boat. Can't sail without a boat. My father's got a boat. A boat? Yes, but my father wouldn't let us use it. Why not? He says it leaves. Ah, that's a little leaf. Anyway, he wouldn't let us use it. No? No. But isn't Mr. Wallace, isn't your father going to the political rally? Well, yes. But why couldn't we just borrow the boat this afternoon for a little while? We should row up and down the river and bring it right back. Well, I don't know, Tom. My father wouldn't like it. Well, I wouldn't even know if he didn't tell him. Oh, I wouldn't tell him. So what are we waiting for? Let's get that old robot and sail right up the river. Way up past River Grove as far as we can go. We'll show that old sailor, Ben, that we're just as good sailors as he is. Well, get in, Ben. Enjoy yourself? Oh, yes, sir. Nice, Eric. Quite a picnic. The sail which is eliminated is really good. Are your family's speeches so easy to digest? He's always a catch of these political rallies. Well, maybe so, Judge, but I'm going back for a piece of that apple pie. Come on. All right, Ben, wait for me. Apple pie, huh? Well, well, well, well. Judge Nutter. It's you, Wallace. Aren't you at the wrong political meeting, Judge? Maybe. Don't tell me that you decided to change political parties. No, I just came along because I felt hungry, Wallace. And there might be some fireworks, lady. Fireworks, Ben? I have you know, Judge Nutter, that when my party has a political rally, we never, for any reason, allow it to be disturbed or broken up by rowdy boys. Oh, that's too bad, Wallace. Too bad. And speaking of rowdy elements, I would prefer that your nephew did not associate with my son, Kenny. Oh, you would, eh? Yes, I would. That upstart Tom Bailey is a born trouble maker. He never did a good thing in his life. He's a bad boy. He's no worse than I was than I was, boy. Well, that's a fine comparison. Mr. Wallace, I don't like your political affiliations and I don't like your attitude. Well, one of these days I'm going to forget I'm a judge and I'm going to snap off your icy disposition and break it right over the top of your head. Well, I've never been so insulted in my life. Never in my life. That's it, Judge Nutter, I'm out. Oh, Ben, get your apple pie. Aye, aye. Enjoying yourself, sir? I was up until a few minutes ago. Looks like you're about ready to start the speechmaking. And if they're talking as good as their child, will they ought to round up some books this afternoon? Eh, maybe. But not if I could help it. What do you mean, Judge? If I was just 40 years younger, Ben, I might think of some way to break up this meeting. I guess this person's got a good captain I am. Go on his own boat. They keep rolling, Jack. Ah, what's the use? This old tub's going to sink anyway. Huh? What did you say, Nutter? Well, well, oh... You must know the sinkers. Nobody's going to pay any attention to what. Well, it looks like the meeting's busted up, Mr. Wallace. That's right. A couple of boys in the river drowning. Huh? What? Whose boys? You can't tell. Sure. One of them looks like Tom Bailey. Tom Bailey? Tom Bailey. That's it. What's the matter, Mr. Wallace? Why, it's a plot. That's what it is. It's all Judge Nutter's fault. It's a plot. What? Boys in drowning. No, that Judge Nutter will stoop. Hello, Tom. Uncle. He doesn't know, Tom. Let me help you with the young lad here. Eh, come on, Kenny. Um, uh, did we make it? No, we made it, Kenny. But Jack, huh? Well, he's coming. Ben. Hi, Judge. Is Kenny Wallace all right, Ben? Aye, he's out, but he'll come around, all right? Oh, that's good. And you, Tom, what about you, boy? What? Put my coat around you, lad. Keep it warm. Oh, I bet. Where is my son? Where is my son? Kenny. Kenny, speak to me. Speak to you, mister. We're getting this wind back. He'll be all right, Wallace. Oh, it's you, Judge Nutter. I expect that your boy has something to do with breaking up my meeting. Nearly drowning my Kenny. Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if Tom had a hand in it. Well, I see. Where is that, that ruffian? Right behind you, Wallace. Well, what have you got to say for yourself, Tom Bailey? Well, I'm sorry I took your boat. You're awesome. My boat? You mean that my boat? You mean that you've been rowing out there in the river in that old broken-down rowboat of mine? Mm-hmm. Oh, my goodness. This is too much. I guess I won't be able to bring the boat back, Mr. Wallace. You had a slight accident. Well, I could think you would, Tom Bailey, taking an old, whistless boat out in that deep water like that. Why, why, you tried to kill my son. That's what you tried to do. I wouldn't say that, Wallace. Oh, no. Well, maybe you wouldn't touch that, but I will. That nephew of yours is nothing but the common origin. Go on again there, Mr. Bailey. I reckon I know how to take care of man-rubbers like you. Why, what are you being? Who are you, anyway? I'm Sailor-Band, Mr., and I've been around the world for a time. In all my travels, I never seen a sea swab the likes of you. Tom Bailey, here saved your son's life just now. Swim all the way in with your boy, hanging around his neck, and that's no easy trick in that river current, Mr. White. You mean, you mean... I, that's what I mean. Joe, Tom Bailey, you're thanks for saving your son's life. Well, I... Now, look here. I don't know who you are, but I don't like your efforts. No, you don't! You don't seem to know who I am. Here I do. You're the biggest crab I ever seen on dry land, and I'm going to toss you back to me. I'm going to toss you back in where you belong! That takes care of him and his feet, too, huh, Judge? I'm afraid so, Ben. I figured if anybody's got a right to make his feet this time here, what do you got to say, Tom? Doctor tells me he'll be up and around in no time, Tom. That's good news, eh, Ben? Hi, sir. How's Kenny Wallace and Jack? Hey, both fine, Tom. Just fine. And Mr. Wallace? Mr.... He's dried out a bit. In more ways than one. All right. You shouldn't have pushed him to hide, Ben. I just want to make sure he didn't start another rally. Oh, Ben, you were wonderful. Good, Tom. That was a foolish and dangerous thing you did, Tom. Taking a boat out on the river. And I don't want to hear any more tricks like that. No, sir. I've done my lesson, Uncle. You know, Judge, I sort of feel maybe I'm the blame for Tom getting in trouble. Oh, what do you mean, Ben? Well, I promised to take Tom aboard my cruiser while I was here, show him around the ship. How it is to be a sailor. Uh-huh. I was so busy, caught in this kitty here. I reckon I never did have no time for Tom. Hmm. Yeah, I think I understand, Ben. Well, it won't happen again, Judge. Huh? Also, got permission from the old man. Uh, as a captain, take young Tom all along my ship as soon as he gets well. Oh, will you sailor, Ben? That'll be fine. It's what I wanted more than anything. Yeah, I'll find some time to tell you about my travels, too. I've been around the world for anytime. All right, sailor, Ben. You keep Tom happy. Please, up on his mischievous feet again. Aye, sir. That's an order. Um, Uncle. Yes, Tom? I'm sorry. I'm so bad, Uncle. Bad? Huh. Well, people call you a bad boy, Tom. But it's like I always say, you're not such a very bad boy. There it is, the story of a bad boy in a dramatization by Tom Gutey from the childhood classic of Thomas Bailey Aldrich. Young Tom was played by Alastair Kyle, Judge Nutter by Craig McDonald. Music by Doc Whipple, and the entire production was under the direction of Joseph Mansfield. Each Saturday, adventure ahead presents heroes and heroines whose exciting exploits will appeal to youthful-minded listeners of every age. NBC and its affiliated independent stations present Adventure Ahead as a public service. This is the National Broadcasting Company.