 Your Coca-Cola bottler presents Claudia based on the famous play and novels by Rose Franken Brought to you transcribed Monday through Friday by your friendly neighbor who bottles Coca-Cola Relax and while you're listening refresh yourself. Have a coke and now Claudia Hey, mommy, you're basting or do you want me to come in the kitchen? Claudia you just go on setting the table all right. I just want to be sure oh listen. What time is it? Wonderful Dave will be home any minute now. What time do you want dinner? Well, we certainly won't be able to sit down before eight o'clock or half past maybe even There's some chores David has to do before dinner poor David Let me see has to bring in the wood and feed the car I don't know how fondly he's going to be of that news when you break it to him Well, I'm not fond of breaking it to him It couldn't be helped. I just had to let Fritz and Bertha go home for Thanksgiving cause oh Dinner table looks very nice. Listen that place there is for Roger. I put him on your lap The more I know Roger Killian the more I like him. Yeah, he wears well David's awfully lucky to be his partner Well, let's go on the living room. We're all through I think Roger's quite lucky David happened to be an architect So he could be his partner matter of fact. We're all lucky that we am who we am That's about it. Hand me my glasses Claudia. They're on the mantle. Hey, mommy. You're not gonna start knitting now. Why not? No reason Except you're gonna have to get up in a minute and baste again. Say, how do you like being a cook once more? I don't mind They're nice. It's just like old times before Fritz and Bertha came you did all the work I watched let me see Pearl to knit to you should have seen Fritz and Bertha's face when I took him to train this afternoon They were just radiant very nice thing to do to give them a few days off over Thanksgiving. Nice mama was the only thing to do Besides, it wasn't my idea. Who's what it pray? The look on Bertha's face when she's talking to her daughter. I didn't mean to eavesdrop mama Oh, no, but I I could just tell that Lisa was Begging Bertha to come home and sees the baby is sick or something I don't know in spite of Julie and Hartley and Roger coming for Thanksgiving. I just had to let him go Mom, I know it won't be easy on David to have to do all the chores, but I I couldn't help it. Well, we'll all manage of course we will Dear old Fritz and Bertha they wouldn't hear of leaving till I threatened to fire them a wonderful couple we are certainly blessed It's a funny thing mom as much as I love Fritz and Bertha Something nice about being just us again. I certainly don't mind and I hope David won't mind too much Well, he's always saying he likes working on the place. So this is his big chance, isn't it? Isn't it mama? Of course, it's one thing when that's all you have to do Quite another thing when you have to squeeze it in going to and coming from the other don't rub it in mama I was only trying to console myself for being so weak-minded Well with a sick baby Lisa really needs Bertha more than we did doesn't she? Stop consoling yourself David'll understand I hope and what's more mom if Julian Hartley don't like the service here They can just go home where they have a whole pile of servants and when I know it's not half as pleasant conceded. No, it's just that Fundamentally, I think most people have simple tastes and they certainly make a terrible mistake when they let life complicate them quite the little Philosopher tonight. I'm just building up my courage mama. Don't blame you. You're lucky you've married a sweet man He is sweet much as he won't admit it That's why I hate it when things take advantage of himself. Oh Well now mama concentrate. How are we going to organize tomorrow? They're going to be an awful lot of things to do getting dinner for six Well the Warriors have come home. Did you bring home the carabuo warriors? I brought home Roger instead Oh, that's even better. I don't know. He's not very tender. I'm very tough Nottingham good evening. Good evening, Mr. Killian. Welcome Roger Welcome to the beautiful land of Eastbrook where the natives go about their duties and chores with a smile on their face and a song in their Heart hmm my heart. We're in a fancy mood tonight. No darling. Mrs. Brown. Mr. Notting. Oh cheeks cold Hello white hello My it's good to be here. It is really chilly out surprisingly I'm not going to put my nose out that door again into well until judgment day. We light a fire David Excellent idea. Say mama. Oh now that I'm in this chair. I shall never get up again What a day we just one of those days where everything seemed to happen at once. Oh, it's good to be home But once I am not going to budge if we have to eat dinner It shall have to be brought into me David darling, but before you sit down too late. I'm sitting down My pipe a match please pass me the astray and we're settled Mama, where are you going the kitchen from mama? Don't leave me Fine mother you turned out to be what about our fire David? Oh, yes I am so comfortable in this deep chairs any wouldn't have been Claudia. No darling I looked in this afternoon and we're all out of wood. I guess I'd better go up to the bar David you said you weren't going to budge. Don't show me up. Please write you are pleased Was as my night for laziness to that's what you think we'll have Fritz go up to the barn and bring down the wood just this once You really feel like having a fire? Absolutely. I've come all the way up here to East Brook and I shall have a fire in the house. You shall have it all right call Fritz darling Would you well David? You see Fritz? I'm lazy. I admit it. Oh, it was really cold out. How's it nice and snug? When's dinner? Oh a little while there just a There are a few things you Roger aren't you glad you came up tonight? I most certainly am a whole evening with nothing to do but sit for the fire and green Doesn't man good once in a while Come over here darling. Well, I just have to go in the kitchen nonsense You're getting to birth this hair running in and out of the kitchen. Well birthday isn't it? Oh, she's very patient doesn't say much but most cooks like to be left alone. Oh, what a wonderfully ordered household David You don't hear me complaining. Yes, this is for me when I think about every night after I finish the office I wander home to a cold apartment. I feel terribly sorry for myself Especially when I get a taste of the nothing way of life Well, don't be jealous too soon Roger This is what a man should come home to David just this no more no less the city responsibilities everything far behind you nothing left but an easy chair by the fire Pipe the smoke and a wife to talk of love Oh Don't wait just You're not dreaming pinch yourself. This is true. No wonder tomorrow is thanksgiving come over here darling I offer you my lap. Well, that's very generous. Have you David, but Be right back. If the waters rose and threatened to flood if the wind howl Blow us away or rain of fire. I Would not bud. Oh fire say that's right. We haven't got our fire yet. Have we we have all evening No, hurry. You know actually I feel a little guilty. Why? Fritz has a lot of work to do around the place. Maybe I should know David You must do nothing except sit here and let the world fall on its ear if it will You lead me into paths of evil But I do not resist You know Roger is strange. What? Just today was one of those days when I couldn't wait to get home Say by the way, you haven't seen their majesty yet. Oh, but not tonight. Not tonight to roll out Tomorrow is time enough to see the cow You know Roger we're very lucky to have someone like Fritz don't even say it or the charm will break and he'll disappear I Didn't have somebody I could trust so I had to be doing a lot of the work on this place myself You'd never be able to think I could Of course that was in the summer the summer you come home still light out but No winner. No, no, I wouldn't be able to run this place myself No, it's dark and it's chilly and it's night out and I don't intend to move now You are talking to me where Claudia is Here Good come on now now now sit down here with us Yes mama right away say what's going on here tonight you and mama electric with the activity maybe it's only because That way because of our lethargy David David it's because well you see I hope my presence hasn't meant a lot more work for Fritz and Bertha They seem to have their hands full as it is of course not Roger Now then how about that fire as far off I'll call Fritz David sit down Why because there's something I have to tell you and I haven't had the chance What is it now David now please sit down and listen very calmly to what I have to tell you and Don't get angry. Why should I get angry because you just might and I don't think you're the type will get angry But you just might something is going on here David. I know it something has went on here It's not going on anymore. I tried to tell you I promise not to shout I promise not to get angry now, please tell me what's this all about in words of one syllable. They're gone Who's gone what I mean is darling that? Well you you can't spend the evening sitting here by the fire not budging and you you can't call Fritz to bring the Wood from the barn and nobody's gonna feed the cow except you and David this night I know it's cold and chilly out But well, I'm sorry, but I couldn't help myself. I know it's not fair to you Now look the wood the cow and it's cold out. I'm trying to piece everything together Claudia It cannot be as complicated as it sounds don't you understand Fritz and Bertha are gone gone Gone where back to Maryland Something the matter did somebody die. Oh, nobody died. It's Thanksgiving. That's all and and their grandchild was sick All beginning to make sense David darling I didn't mean to you drop but Well, I heard Bertha saying she couldn't leave here because of the dinner tomorrow And then I got weak-minded when I put two and two together about their grandchild and Thanksgiving so So you have to feed the cow and get the wood and I see David I don't blame you if you get angry and shout you're the lamb I sacrifice so oh David say something don't shout but say something anything I'm out of your mind you crazy. What are you laughing at? Roger make him stop And that's what you were afraid to tell me. I should never have let them go such an awful imposition on you I would have taken you over my knee and wail the living-day lights out of you if you'd have done anything else You would have I most certainly would have now. I know you're crazy. Well, maybe I am but then so are you Oh darling, I love you so Claudia I am crazy too because now I think there's nothing I'd rather do this very minute than chop wood and feed her majesty the cow Come along right come on put on your coat. We're off to the bar Here's a surefire recipe for a nice friendly party Take the cozy crackle of blazing logs and the sparkle of ice-cold coca-cola Mix them together with a room full of congenial guests and if you have coke and folks maybe you don't even need that log fire Better get coke and plenty of it next time you're at the grocers or a drugstore or gas station Then your chief hospitality ingredient will be on hand. How about coming up to the barn with us? Yes, in just a moment. I'd love to we'll need all the hands we can get I am not much of a professional with cows Well, David knows what he's doing. You'll manage it fine even without fritz There aren't many young women who would have done what Claudia did today I'll say there aren't or a young man who'd take it with a grace David did quite an education those two Thanksgiving is a good day to share with them and we'll all be here tomorrow just for that. How many around the table? Well, there'll be Julia and Harkley Claudia and David you and mrs. Brown Old Jared Tucker and young master Bobby knocking quite a party. Yes, and it's one time when many cooks don't spoil the turkey Now after these few words, we'll go up to the barn. Good Every day Monday through Friday Claudia comes to you transcribed with the best wishes of your friendly neighbor who bottles Coca-Cola So listen again tomorrow at the same time And now this is Joe King saying or a foyer and Remember whoever you are whatever you do wherever you may be when you think of refreshment Think of Coca-Cola Or Coca-Cola makes any pause the pause that refreshes and ice-cold Coca-Cola is everywhere This broadcast of Claudia was supervised and directed by William Brown Maloney And now here's a word from your friendly neighbor who bottles Coca-Cola