 Things for better living through chemistry presents the cavalcade of America starring Ray Milan Good evening Tonight I play the part of James McDaniel a light-hearted soldier of fortune who founded his lady love in saving him from the firing squad That made him a candidate for the hangman's noose And thereby hangs our tail the time 1744 it's late afternoon in the public square of Salem, New Jersey The place is deserted except for a man who stands with his neck wrists and ankles Securely clamped in the confining embrace of an apparatus known as the stocks He's quite alone Well, uh practically alone Get away from me go on get away James I came as soon as I could Dog away from you bring a pen and writing case as I asked you to yes James Darling those cruel stops your poor man now now Dorothy, please no tears. You'll smudge your writing My writing. Yes. What do you want me to write for you, Jane? I was a letter to an important person at the commandment chief of the armies of his Majesty Louis 15th of France Must it be in French? Well, let him puzzle out the English. It'll instruct. Oh, yes, Jane Bear with me until I set up this writing case There I'd roll an extra quill too. I'm ready, Jane. Good And my my dear Marshal Sacks my dear Marshal Sacks The following is it true and full of count through and full of count of my mission in America Upon receipt of my orders from you and Colonel McDonald aid to Prince Charles Stuart of the Chateau tonight I boarded the Lugger Victoire at La Havre and set sail for Philadelphia Where I arrived in due course after a long and wretched voyage I proceeded according to orders to the Admiral's Inn a public house near the waterfront Good morning friend. Do you have ale or spirit a spirit landlord the voyage all the way from Europe It takes it out of a man. You know all the way from you all the way from France The roses were in bloom when I say oh, huh? Oh Well, here you are. Thank you Your pardon sir. Yeah, my name is Proctor. Did I overhear you say that you had just arrived from France? Yes Yes, McDaniel is my name. Oh You spoke of roses blooming when you say it Oh, well, I remember the roses around the chateau Tourneur especially the white one Is blooming profusely this year? Where can we talk? I'll arrange it Landlord. Hi Colonel Proctor This gentleman is weary from all the questions all day How could you say I can't catch him? He's standing in the back of the room Let's go over to the front Okay, I'm ready to go I'm ready to go I'll arrange it. Landlord? Aye, Colonel Proctor. This gentleman is weary from a long voyage. The noise here disturbs him. Would you be so good as to serve us in the back room? I'll have each day, sir. Exactly. Give us half a crown that says we will not be disturbed. Oh, yes, sir. Yes, sir. Proceed, Envericon. Come along, McDaniel. Sit down, McDaniel. Well, they tell me you were paid a pretty penny for this mission and promised a large estate besides. Should you succeed? News travels fast, even in this remote corner of the world. Don't deceive yourself about this remote corner of the world, as you call it. You will find the Americans as alert and well-informed as any Europeans. Then weren't you a little rash to speak up so loud about white roses? They know well enough that the white rose is the symbol of a steward's cause. But they do not know, not yet, how far we intend to carry that cause. Nor do I, Mr. Proctor. You don't? I know that an army is being raised in France under the banner of Bonnie Prince Charlie to invade England. Throw out George II and restore the throne to the house of Stuart. Of my mission, I know nothing as yet, except that I was sent here, as a steward agent, to receive instructions from you. Yes, well, that's sufficient. You ought to proceed down the river to Salem, New Jersey. This packet contains your identification papers. You are supposed to be a Professor Lathrop, a music master. Music master, me? I know nothing about music. I was told that you knew how to play the clavichord. Yes, but not well enough to teach. Well, that depends upon how well you impress your pupil. Oh, I have a pupil? Yes, Miss Dorothy LeCroy, the niece of one of Salem's leading citizens, Mr. Wister. She's engaged to marry William Warrell, the king's advocate in Salem. And one of the leading enemies of our cause. Well, couldn't you have found a pupil a little less dangerous for me to teach? That's the whole reason for our choice. You ought to establish yourself in the Wister household, and through your position as Miss LeCroy's cuter, find out how much Warrell knows about the Stuart movement in America and what he intends to do about it. I see. Tell me, is there a real Professor Lathrop? There is. We're holding him prisoner here in Philadelphia. You seem to have made everything quite easy for me. Well, the least I could do, McDaniel, since if you're caught, you will either be shot for a spy or hang for a Twitter. Oh, what an exciting story for the men of my old regiment and tell, Proctor. James McDaniel? Oh, yes, yes, I knew him well. Spend his last days teaching the scales to Miss LeCroy. Dull young lady from Salem. As I was saying, Mr. Warrell, it would be such a comfort having dear Professor Lathrop here. It will keep Doris the occupied. Yes, indeed, madam. But can you not prevail upon your niece not to practice her scales with him when I come to call? That's for you to do, Mr. Warrell. You're her fiance. By gad, madam, I will. Excuse me. Professor, oh, yes, Mr. Warrell. Miss LeCroy must be fatigued with so much practice. While she is resting, perhaps you would favor us with a selection upon the traffic Oh, pray do, Professor. Well, you see, I've been so long at sea, I'm afraid my fingers have become stiff. I'm rather out of practice. Surely you could favor us with some simple melody, Professor. Oh, something spirited. Spirited, Mr. Croy? Oh, yes. Very well. Oh, I fear the instrument wants tuning. Then we are well matched, Mr. Croy. Oh, what a pretty tune. Has it any words? Oh, it has indeed. Shall I sing them for you? Oh, do please do. I'm not a singer, you know. I sense that somehow. And your playing seems a bit stiff, too, Professor. Or is that the salt water in your joints? I'm a teacher, not a virtuoso, Mr. Warrell. Hey, no more, Professor. Go ahead and sing your ballad for me. Then with your indulgence, sir. Charlie is my darling, my darling, my darling. Charlie is my darling, my darling. That's enough, I say. But, Mr. Warrell, you're insufferably rude. Go on, Professor. I want to hear it. I will not permit you to listen to this reasonable music. Nonsense. How can music be reasonable? That music, as you call it, is a ballad written in honor of the traitor and pretender, Charles Stewart. And it's sung by those who would overthrow His gracious Majesty King George II and restore the stewards to the throne. Is that true, Professor? Yes, it is. Oh, then I think it very tactless of you to sing it in Mr. Warrell's presence. Oh, well, in that case, I humbly beg Mr. Warrell's pardon. I only meant it as a joke. A joke, sir? The Stuart cause is regarded as very much a joke in England, Mr. Warrell. In musical circles, at least. I know nothing of musical circles. I'm sworn to the service of His Majesty King George II and to the destruction of his enemies in his colony. Then you're sworn to destroy me, too? I forbid you to talk such nonsense, Dorothy. Bye, Mr. Warrell. You've called me by my given name, and we've been engaged only six months. How very dashing. I think it's time we set the date for our wedding, Dorothy. I'll write to your uncle tomorrow. As you wish, William. And I will also inform him that his music master is a frivolous prankster, not to be trusted with the education of his niece. I bid you good night, and if it's with star, I take my leave. Yes, Mr. Warrell, I'll see you to the door. Now see what you've done, Professor. I'm sorry. I'm not. He's become entirely too serious of life, especially about the Stuart nonsense. What did you mean when you said he was sworn to destroy you, too? Oh, I'm not a Stuart partisan, not for George II either. I'm for independence. Independence? What's that? An independent America, no kings, no foreign rule, to very strong movement here. What are your colors, Professor? My banner is gold, Mr. Croy, the color of money. Oh, I don't believe it. It's true. If I were not a music master, I'd, uh, I'd imagine I'd be a soldier of fortune. You've come to the right place for that. Merricka has needs for adventurous men. But, um, perhaps you're disappointed in America? Miss LeCroy, I, I... Oh, please. It has taken William Warrell six months to call me by my given name. Surely a soldier of fortune like yourself requires no more than six hours? Warrell is right, Dorothy. I, I am frivolous. I'm not much of a musician either. I doubt if I can teach you anything. Then I will teach you. But must I go on calling you Professor? Well, my name is James. James? James, I like it. Yes, James, I will teach you. And what will you teach me, Dorothy? About an America you never heard of. A really new world, a free world, a joyous world. Have you thought of such a world? Never. But if that's what you've been trying to tell me this evening with your wide, wonderful eyes and your warm voice... No, please. Then I want to learn more of it from your lips. You misunderstand me. From your own lips, Dorothy. Yes, James, you shall. You are listening to the Cavalcade of America starring Ray Maland as James McDaniel. And now, back to our story, starring Ray Maland as James McDaniel. I had successfully carried out the first part of my assignment as per Colonel Proctor's orders. I was securely established in the Whistar household in Salem as Mr. Lacroix's music master. Then I received a message from Colonel Proctor saying that he'd arrived in Salem and urgently wished an interview with me. Our meeting place was, appropriately enough, for cemetery. Well, I went in the dead of night and took up my vigil upon the tombstone of the convicted traitor and awaited the Colonel's arrival. Who's that? That you, Colonel? If you were expecting War-El with the King's soldiers to arrest you, it's no thanks to you, it wasn't. How are you, Colonel? I've been in Salem all afternoon, collecting gossip. They say that you've been making love to War-El's fiancee and he's looking for any excuse to arrest you. Yes, so I have. What are they? What of it indeed? If Mr. Lacroix breaks off her engagement with War-El, she's of no further use to us. I'm supposed to be a music master, not a new ranger of marriage. You are supposed to be a steward agent. Not a lady killer. Our whole cause in America may collapse while you are flibbering the time away with a pretty thing of skirts. You ordered me to find out how much War-El knows of your plans. I've found out. He knows nothing. Are you certain? Absolutely. Then we will proceed within the week. Proceed? To what? To action, man. Did you think you were so handsomely paid merely to dally over a clavichord with a pretty girl? Well, I should have known there was a catch somewhere. You are to lead a force of 300 men in an armed uprising against the courthouse in Salem and seize it. If War-El suspects nothing, it'll be the poorly defended. Well, that much is simple. But what does one do with a courthouse once one has it? You have to hold on to it until shot by the king's soldiers, hanged by the king's advocate, or relieved by a band of our partisans from Philadelphia. But whatever for? For the house of Stuart, for Bonnie Prince Charlie. What on earth does Charlie want with the Salem courthouse? This is only one of hundreds of uprisings being planned to divert troops from England. Use your head, man. The stewards do not have sufficient forces in France to invade England with things as they are. Supposing King George sends troops here to restore order. Won't that be rather hard on, well, these colonists? You're working for the Stuart course, Daniel. Not for the colonists. I thought I was working for money. It seems to me you take a very light view of all this. Well, why shouldn't I if I'm shot if I do and hanged if I don't? Well, hey, well, what do I do next? I'll get a message to you when it's time. In the meantime, you'll go back to instructing Mr. Lacroix upon the clavichord. And keep your mind on your music. Two, and three, and four. Don't slump over the keyboard, Mr. Lacroix. When you go up to where it stays, you'll probably impale yourself on a whale bone. Indeed, Professor. And one, and two, and three, and four. Pray moderate your pressure upon the keys. Oh, bother the lesson, James. Let's go for a walk. But Dorothy, we've been on this one piece for over a week. Your aunt is beginning to get suspicious. Well, I'll suspect it tomorrow, I promise. After all, I mustn't learn too fast. There will be no reason for you to remain here. Dorothy. Yes, Jane? There's something I must tell you. I should be leaving anyway before long. Oh, but you can. I must. Oh, easy because I haven't yet told William Morrell that it's you I care for and not him. Oh, no, no, Dorothy. I, well, I wouldn't want you to do anything in haste. Well, answer for it, as I positively must wait until my uncle returns from England. But I will disobey her if you say so. No, you mustn't do that. I mean, well, Morrell is a solid responsible man, and I'm sure he'd make a better husband for you than I would. Oh, you don't really believe that, Jane? Well, I, no, Dorothy. I don't. Ah. If all goes as I hope it will, I'll return to you a rich man. At least I'll have a grant of land and a little money. But I have no right to ask you to gamble on that. It's a long, long gamble. But I'll have enough for both of us. My uncle is very well off, and I and his soul are. You are? Of course. Well, tell me about your uncle. Oh, you'll adore him. And how is his health? Well, Jane, what are you driving at? Well, I have to know what our prospects are. I can't marry you with none at all. But what is this long, long gamble you speak of that'll send you back to me rich? I can't tell you that. Why not? Well, let's just say I'm superstitious. Oh, do you love me, Jane? You know I do. Then I'll trust you and wait for you. You will trust me. Is there any reason why I shouldn't? Dorothy, I'm not the person you think I am. I must tell you that. Yes, Jane, I've been waiting for you to tell me. Dorothy! Dorothy, where are you? In here, Aunt Sophia, in the music room. Oh, here you are, my dear. Dorothy, there's a gentleman at the door. He says his name is Professor Lathrop. Jane. Oh, that's what I wanted to tell you, Dorothy. But he can't be Professor Lathrop. You're Professor Lathrop, aren't you? Isn't he, Dorothy? Why, uh, what? Oh, that must be your cousin that you told me so much about, Jane. Which cousin? The professor of violin music. Violin music. Send him in, Aunt Sophia. I'm anxious to meet him. Very well. I'll order tea first. He seems very upset. Dorothy, I thank you. I, I, you know I'm... All I want to know is, were you telling the truth just now when you said you loved me? As God is my witness, it was the truth. Then go quickly after the other door, and God bless you. I'll do what I can for you. I'm sorry, Dorothy. There's no time for that. Kiss me quickly and go. Goodbye, darling. Goodbye. Yes? Miss Lacroix? I am Miss Lacroix. Come in, Professor Laitrop. I'm sorry to be so long delayed, Mr. Lacroix, but I was abducted and held prisoner by a band of plotters in Philadelphia. They wanted my papers for a spy they were sending here to Salem, a man named James McDaniel. James, the spy. Then you've met the scoundrel? Yes. Yes, he's been here. Then there's no time to lose. I overheard the whole plot, and only just escaped with my life. Plot? What plot? They planned an armed uprising here in Salem. An armed uprising? Exactly. This McDaniel, he's a fanatic. He'll stop it, nothing. Don't worry, Professor Will. We'll have this James McDaniel safely in jail before nightfall, before he can do anything. Visitor for you, McDaniel. Visitor? Who is it? It is I, James. You've already put a rope around my neck? Have you come to tighten the news? James, you must believe me. I had William Morrell arrest you to save your life. I couldn't let you throw it away like that on a hopeless course. Shot for a rebel or hanged for a traitor. You draw a fine line. James, please, listen to me. There's still hope. Hope? What hope? I've brought these papers, James. I want you to sign them. What are these? The bands for our marriage. What? If they're published today, we can be married before you go to trial. Are you marrying me to save my neck or to ease your conscience? James, my darling, I implore you. There's wisdom in this plan of mine. William says they cannot convict you without my testimony. A wife cannot be made to bear witness against her husband. No. No, I couldn't. It would be dishonest. But you would rather be hanged than marry me? Under the circumstances, yes. Then you are a fool, James McDaniel, and I hope they do hand you. What has hurt the testimony and evidence in the case against the accused, James McDaniel, indicted and charged with the crimes of Estianarge, imposter, and high treason? Before the court proceeds with the charge of the jury, has the accused any testimony to offer on his own behalf? I have, Your Honor. Step forward, James McDaniel. My Lord, gentlemen of the jury, all the testimony you've heard against me is true. But I am not guilty of treason. I didn't care a hang which king sat upon the throne of England and I still don't. I had always looked upon America as a faraway howling wilderness of little importance in the destinies of nations or of the world. I learned too late how mistaken I was. I know now that the only rebellion worth any man's life in this land is rebellion against all tyranny and all foreign rule. Rebellion not to unseat one king for another, but for America, for the freedom of the people to build a great free nation on this continent. That rebellion will come one day and, God willing, I'll live to help fight it. But I say there is no treason possible in America except treason against America itself. And of that, I am not guilty. Gentlemen of the jury, the comments of the accused, not withstanding, the court holds that advocate for the crown fail to establish treasonable intent and orders you to find a verdict only on the charge of impersonation, punishable by exposure in the public stocks for a period not to exceed 48 hours. And so, Your Excellency, under the circumstances, I am sure you will agree that I am of no further use as an agent for your cause. And so herewith tender my resignation. However, for services rendered, I respectfully submit an account in the amount of 300 pounds, 10 shillings, and 6 pounds. I will appreciate prompt payment as I'm about to be married. And though my fiancee has great expectations, her uncle appears to be in excellent health. My James. Yes, dear. You've just proposed to me. Now, Lord, you proposed to me the night you had me arrested and I said yes, remember? But you refused me afterwards, besides your prospects then. We have this whole wonderful lend and a prospect of freedom. What more do you want? Oh, I wanted to be mourning so we can go home. Poor James. Are you wretched in these cruel stocks? Yes, I certainly am. But there's no reason for the two of us to be wretched. Let's finish this letter so that you can go home and get some sleep. Oh, no, no, no. I couldn't sleep. With you out here alone and so miserable, ah, I'll sit by you and keep you company. Won't you be cold? Not with this heavy cloak. I'll sit right here. You can rest your head on my shoulder. Hmm. Well, James, how will you finish your letter? Your obedient servant, James McDaniel. Night's play, The Greatest Risk, was written by Robert Talman from an original story by Joseph Sickler and was based on a document in a record office in Salem, New Jersey. Charlotte Manson was featured as Dorothy. Ray Malan appears as the courtesy of Paramount Pictures, whose latest production is The Heiress, starring Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clifft, and Ralph Richardson. The program was directed by John Zoller. Music was composed by Arden Cornwell, conducted by Donald Borey. This is Ted Pearson speaking. Cavalcade of America comes to you from the stage of the Balasco Theater in New York, and is presented by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry. Stay tuned for The Baby Snook Show on NBC.