 dedicated to the strength of the nation from Hollywood, your theater of stars. proudly we hail the theater of stars. Now here is your host, the well-known Hollywood showman, B.P. McGregor. Thank you, thank you, and greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our theater of stars. For each week, the Cinema World's finest motion picture talent gathers for your weekly entertainment. Ruth Hussey is our proudly we hail star and a great dramatic story titled All the King's Horses. Ruth portrays Mary Barnes, the wife of a hard-working but unlucky young man. They become the parents of a lovable adopted child, then adversity strikes. Cliff, Mary's husband, loses his job. And because of this, they must give up their little son, Biff. Here is tragedy, stark realism, and deep mother love. One completely lives to conflicting mental processes portrayed by Ruth Hussey. I'm now act one of All the King's Horses starring Ruth Hussey. Her husband Cliff and her young son enjoyed living in the little white cottage on the outskirts of town. There were the tall elm trees knotting at the slightest whisper of a breeze, faithful centuries against the days. There were hollyhocks and daffodils and a climbing rose bush, which, when in bloom, delivered its unforgettable fragrance. In front, the cool green lawn spread down from the house, giving away only to the pond where the splendid oak tree at the border. Under the oak tree, late in the afternoon when her work was reached, Mary would sometimes sit beside Youngster, a book of nursery rhymes between them. And so we find them the day our story begins. Mother, yes, Biff? Open the book and tell me my favorite stories. Which one do you mean, dear? The one where you make up the stories with the rhymes out of the book. Oh, but you've heard the story so often, sweetheart. Don't ever get tired of hearing it. Nope. Please tell it again, Mother. All right, darling, if you like. Once upon a time, they dwelled in a beautiful forest of prince and a princess. They lived in a great white castle with a lake that spread out before it. Was the lake Jeffery-tie? Oh, my lord, a king-tie. Well, they were simply happy these two, where the princess is handsome as handsome could be, and the princess is sure to be so bad herself. And the prince and the princess had a beautiful little son, and his name was Biff. I always liked it when his name was Biff. You do, huh? Uh-huh, but that's my name. But what a very good name for a little prince. Prince Biff? What's wrong with him? Well, I thought it was all right. We're going with the story, Mother. Well, now, they weren't always this happy, the prince said. But when they had first arrived at their kingdom, and long before the angels had sent them Prince Biff, the word began to spread of a huge dragon, wrestling everything. Oh, yes, he was a terrible dragon, and he proclaimed trouble for everyone. Well, at that time, the prince and the princess were living in a less conspicuous castle. And one night, the princess was cooking his dinner when the prince returned home. Proceeded as always by quite a considerable fanfare of comfort. Oh, quite a considerable fanfare indeed. Hello, darling. How about turning around in this film and giving your very weary husband a kiss? I'd be happy to. Gee, I love it. Hey, does that Kennedy next door have to play that radio so loud? Kennedy! Kennedy, your blasting is out of the building! A little better. Our neighbors wear their music so loud, don't they? Don't they? Ah, but come in, I need you, my lovely prince. Oh, darling. I'm sorry you're tired. Oh, it was a rugged day and more respect than one. Just before closing time, a customer came in. She made me drag out every shoe in the store. Had him stacked around me knee-deep. Do you know what she says to me? I do tell me what she says to you. She says, oh, I was just looking. Could you direct me to household appliances? I could have crowned her with a size seven. She worn a nine-foot. You poor dear. And that's, uh, that's just part of it. Business is slow. I feel as if business doesn't improve, they're going to have to cut down. Oh. Yeah. You know what that puts me? The newest man in the department. Well, anyway, you wash up now and I'll dish up dinner. Okay. Where are my slippers? They're in the whole closet where they belong. Oh, and bring my shoe. I'll need it if we sit out after dinner. Sing the song of six pence. The pocket full of rye. Four and twenty black. The gates in the pie. The door was opened. The birds began to sing. What had a dainty dish to serve before a king? Is that what the prince had for dinner? It could be. Oh, I could take a popsicle. Wouldn't the prince be excited about the dragon? Oh, yes. The dragon was beginning to crawl right out into the open, threatening doom in more ways than one. The king's company got it. Couldn't he buck him over the beach with a baseball bat like mine? I don't think he had a baseball bat. Anyway, after they had dinner that night, they went out to sit on their balcony, watching the lights of the country. You know, I like this fire estate. I'm glad. And you know, I can always tell when it's Monday. How? I can see the Empire State Building right over the top of Officer Murphy's night shift. Oh, you. Hey. What? You. Yes, you did. You see, the doctor today, like you said you were going to. What'd he say now? Well, he said he's afraid now. No? You mean that we can't? No. Yes, I guess not. Not ever. But, Claire, when I was coming home on the subway, I got to thinking about something. What? We can still have our babies. They're adopting them every day. I thought we could find just the one we want. Well, I don't know. We'll have to think about it. Oh, but, Claire, if we're ever going to have our babies, I mean, well, we could take our time. Look carefully. It might even be better than having one of our own. We wouldn't know what our own would be like unless until it got here in this way. Well, we could tell beforehand. Well, do you know any place to go, Mary? I call the orphanage out of Englewood. They have a lot of babies. Couldn't you just take a little time off tomorrow and go with me? Oh, no, no, I couldn't do that. And I would think the way they had to store it, I wouldn't dare. Oh, of course. Well, we'll see. Today after tomorrow's Sunday. That's right. Maybe they stay open for people like us. Well, they must. Oh, darling. Oh, my God. I just can't wait for Sunday. Oh, my God. Buckle my shoes. Two, four, shut the door. Five, six, pick up six, seven, eight, lay them straight. Nine, ten, a big fat pin. That's what that old dragon was by now, wasn't he? A big fat pin. Well, almost. They had him on the run. The prince buckled on his armor, grabbed his longest spear, saddled up his white charges, and with the princess riding beside him, set off to do away with the dragon once and for all. Yes, indeed, once and for all. Is there supposed to be the plate, Mary? I guess so. That's what it says on the door. Well, then, where is somebody? And where do they keep the babies? There's a sign on the desk there. Oh, yeah. A ring bell for a tendon. Guess I better ring with him. I wonder if they've got any with red hair and blue eyes. You suppose so, Mary? Oh, that's silly, Cliff. Neither you nor I have red hair and blue eyes. You know, it wouldn't just match. Well, does it have to match? I mean, you can't baby the colors. Seem like, well, you know. And besides, if he has red hair, he'll have spunk. Maybe he'll be able to lick some of the kids when he goes up and go to school. Clifford Bond, if you think we're going to raise our baby to be apprised by it, you can just think again. I won't have him coming home from school. His clothes are all torn and black eyes. Well, he's got to defend himself as me. He can't let himself be walked over. Is there something I can do for you, please? What? I said, is there something I can do for you? Oh, is there? Yes. Are you the manager? Well, I'm the supervisor of the institution. My name is Mr. Peeberton. Well, we'd like to look at some babies, some with red hair and blue eyes. We don't either. We prepare something in brownish hair more like ours. Well, I'm afraid I don't quite understand. We want to adopt a baby, a boy baby. Oh, I see. When it's intelligent, it has a good disposition. And house books. Well, I don't seem to recall having received an application from you. Now, what is your name, please? Bond. Mr. Mrs. Clifford Bond. What do you mean, application? We just want to adopt a baby. Well, I'm afraid you have the wrong impression about adoption, Mr. Bond. You see, it's quite necessary to make a formal application and have our investigators check your qualifications, your ability to raise a baby, and to take care of it to a financial responsibility. Well, that sounds like a lot of stuff to go through. Well, when all it means is an extra quarter milk a day, and there may be a couple of dozen of those three-corner doodans. Now, a few people would care to come into my office. I'll be glad to explain the whole thing to you and give you an application form. Oh, yes, thank you. We'd like to do that. Well, yes, yes, I guess we would. But I didn't realize there was such a routine to go through. Quiet, darling. These babies are very particular, but who may associate? And so, that's where they found young Prince Smith, out in the forest under a cabbage leaf. What about the dragon? Is he a good prince? Can't he be yet? Not yet. He seemed to have disappeared. Both the prince and the princess had every reason to believe that the dragon was all washed up. Yes, all washed up. If he hadn't ruggeded me, could he? I should see him with that rattle around. He's going to be a bald man. But don't bring home any baseballs. Not yet. What's the name of this? If I like it. Come out and close the door, Cliff. I'm so happy with our baby. I know you are. Our baby, Cliff. I still can't believe it. I can't even. It's almost like everything's a beginning again. But it's starting anew. In one respect, it certainly has worked out that way. Well, what is it, Cliff? I don't mean to concern you. You know, I didn't like my job. Oh, Cliff. Mr. Ringfield gave me my walking papers today. Oh, Cliff, no. No, no, no. Don't be alarmed. I'll find something else. Something I'll like much better. I know I will. Well, you've got to, Cliff. They won't let us keep this if you don't. You've just got to. The second part of Part One of All the King's Horses, starring Ruth Huzzie. Our starring Ruth Huzzie is Mary Boss. We're back sitting by the pond. Our three rhymes open on her lap. Yes, indeed. He was getting puzzled to be done away with. Oh, he had to be done away with. Oh, he's fine, dear. Nope. I've been cramping until I'm blue in the face. There's no job to be had in this town. Oh, darling, what are we going to do? They'll take him away from us. They can't take him away from us, Mary. But, Cliff, our year's probation's up tomorrow, and we have to go and see the judge. If we haven't any income, you know what Miss Peterson said. That woman. I know what she said, but they're not going to take him away from us. They can't. Cliff, I'm afraid. I'd just die if they did. Don't worry, darling. Is there something we could have for lunch? We've got to get out again and see what I can find. I spent a dollar this morning for food for the baby. We've only two dollars left. Well, not awfully hungry anyway. I'm going out again, darling. We'll see you tonight. Old Mother Hubbard hasn't anything on us, has she? Old Mother Hubbard, she went to the cupboard to fetch her poor dog a bone. And when she got there, that cupboard was there. And so her poor dog had none. Nothing? Well, almost nothing. But they didn't lose heart. They kept trying to find a way to craft the dragon and destroy him. For now it meant so much to them because the little boy prince they found under the cabbage leaf was growing up. Oh, they didn't lose heart. Won't you sit down, Mrs. Barnes? Thank you. Here are the papers, Judge Evans. Oh, yes, yes. Well, your husband didn't come down with you. No, he was unable to get down. Well, now let's see. You're still at the same address? Yes, we are. Age and husband's age. Oh, you evidently forgot to fill in this income bracket. I'll fill it in for you. What is your income, Mrs. Barnes? Our income? Yes. Oh, well, uh, that's what I wanted to tell you about. You see, Judge, at the moment, well, we haven't any income. My husband lost his job about a month ago, but he expects to have another one right away. That's why he didn't come down today. By right away, how soon do you mean, Mrs. Barnes? Well, I... Does your husband have a job in mind, one with the promise? Well, no, sir, he hasn't. But, well, I'm sure you'll be able to find something right away. I... Mrs. Barnes. Yes, sir? Miss Peterson must have told you. A prime requisite of adoption is that you must have an income sufficient to support the adopted baby. You state you have no income, nor have you any definite ideas to when you will have an income. Well, I know, Your Honor, but... The Lord dictates my course of action, Mrs. Barnes. I have no alternative but to refuse the adoption. You wouldn't take the baby away from us? That's what I mean. But you can't do that. My husband will find a job. These sort of people don't stay out of jobs very long. That isn't a question, Mrs. Barnes. Well, the question is that you want to take our baby merely because it's a moment my husband's out of a job. Like it was a repossession of some sort. Like we couldn't pay for the radio or a refrigerator or automobile. But you can't repossess a baby for a failure to make payment. He isn't just a piece of furniture. I'm sorry, Mrs. Barnes. If you're sorry, do you think being sorry means anything to us? You think you're being sorry would take the place of a baby of flesh and blood that we've had with us for a year that we've grazed just like he was our own? And what if he was our own? You couldn't take him away from us just because my husband was out of a job, could you? Well, he is our own, just as much as if he's been born to us. Well, we couldn't love him any more than we do. May I remind you that you're talking to a judge and that what I'm doing happens to be the law? May I remind you that you're talking to a mother? And the more I'm talking about your darn sight deeper than that any bunch of stuffed shirts can get together and think up. It's a law that says my husband and I love our baby and he loves us. We're the only parents he's ever known. And you know nobody else has the right to take him away from us. But give us a chance to show you. Give us a chance. The best I can do is this. I'll give you an extension of one week. Mary, Mary. But I don't want to show you. I've got the greatest, the most glorious news in the world. That's clear. Do you remember me telling you about Uncle Burt that lives in Virginia? Well, I just got this telegram. He's sending us $30,000 because he says he doesn't believe in waiting until he's dead. That is willful, but he's doing it now. Imagine, Mary, $30,000. The court can never take this. Well, that's wonderful, darling. But not so loud, please. The baby's been sick all day running the temperature. I've been waiting for you to come home. Temperature? Well, that's the case. I better call a doctor. Temperatures can be dangerous. Good, mother. Yes, Mr. Barns, but before you go in, I'd better warn you. Well, he isn't worth it. No, Mrs. Barns, not worth it. Oh, thank heavens for that. Please. I hate to be the one who has to inform you. Your little boy is packed away. Oh, no. Doctor. Oh, no. Humpty dump can stand on a wall. Humpty dump, he had a great foe. And all the tinny torches and all the tinny things couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together. He must like Humpty Dumpty, mother. Why, dear? Well, when you get to this part of the story, you always cry. Maybe if this tell us how good it's turned to get. Maybe so. Don't tell it so good next time. Well, with Humpty Dumpty gone, what did the prince decide to do about the dragonman? Well, the prince almost gave up on that dragon he did. It was a very critical time in the kingdom. The prince was just about ready to turn everything over to the dragon. Just about ready. Cliff, Cliff, it's three o'clock. You've got to get some rest. I can't sleep. I just can't sleep. Oh, Cliff. The court wanted to take him away from us. And we licked that almost like a miracle. Holy to heaven. Oh, Mary. Yesterday, he asked me for a Shetland poem. I couldn't buy him a picture of one. Today I could buy him a dozen. Mary, we've got to get out of here. You're right, Cliff. And that's when they dared the dragon of the forest and moved into their new white castle with the pond in front. And that turned out to be the beginning of the end of Mr. Dragons. Good. This part I really am yours. The beginning of the end. Miss Peterson. Hello, Mrs. Barnard. Well, come in. Thank you. Where's it there? It's Miss Peterson from the nursery. It brings you down our way, Miss Peterson. Well, I've been so busy. I haven't even had a chance to call you folks. I was very sorry to learn of your trouble. That's very kind of you, Miss Peterson. I brought someone down with me. I thought you might like to see. Oh. He's, uh, well, he's out in the car. Well, bring him in. And I'll wait a minute. If it's a baby, no thanks. I don't want to go through that again. Well, Cliff, maybe we could just look at him. He has curly hair and two of the most beautiful dimples. Please, Cliff. And a lovely description. What do you think? Well... Oh, go get him, Miss Peterson. Oh, but he's adorable, Miss Peterson. Don't you think so, Cliff? Oh, he's a noisy little character. Wow, look at him swing that arm around. Just like... like this used to. Oh, here. You hold him, Mrs. Bond. Oh, may I? Of course. Oh, he seems to like you. Who wouldn't? Almost seems as if he belongs. Oh. Oh. Didn't you touch Cliff, Danny? Well, I guess he does, I guess. I guess I knew something. So that was the end of Mr. Dragons, the gorge of the forest demon of the woods. Nevermore did he see the light of day. And the prince and the princess and young prince this lived happily ever after. You didn't tell me how the prince killed the dragon. Oh, I can't tell you now. Here comes your father up to par. But you must. You'll always surprise me with an ending. Well, I'll tell you then. The prince got out a giant mirror and placed it before the dragon. And when the dragon looked into it, it stopped. Disappointment. Thank you, father. Hello, sweetheart. I have this. This is Paul's and the final act of all the team forces starring Ruth Hussey. Congratulations to you, Ruth, on a splendid and capable performance. I thank you too for your generous contribution of time and talent on this Armed Forces Radio Service program. Be sure to join us next week for your Theater of Stars. Then, this is C.P. McGregor saying thanks for listening and Cheerio from Hollywood. This is the presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service, the voice of information and education.