 Remember a hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best Tonight from Hollywood the makers of hallmark greeting cards bring you David Niven in John Balderson's Barkley Square on the hallmark playhouse Each week hallmark will bring you Hollywood's greatest stars in outstanding stories chosen by one of the world's best known authors They distinguish novelist Mr. James Hilton Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, this is James Hilton tonight on our hallmark playhouse We present the kind of story which I must confess I'm rather fond of one that not only enchants you during its telling but leaves you something to think about and even to wonder about This story is Barkley Square John Balderson's charming play which has fascinated millions of theater goers all over the world. I Suppose at one time or another every one of us has teased himself with the problem of time What time is and the strange things that could happen if past present and future somehow got mixed up I know of no story in which this idea has been better handled than Barkley Square And we're very happy to have us our star in it tonight that very fine actor David Niven But before we begin here's Frank gas was a word about hallmark There are hallmark cards for every memorable occasion on your calendar for birthdays anniversaries holidays Yes for every occasion that calls for remembrance for a friendly greeting a word of good cheer an expression of sympathy There is a hallmark card that says just what you want to say the way you want to say it and that identifying Hallmark on the back that says you cared enough to send the very best Now hallmark playhouse presenting John Balderson's Barkley Square and starring David Niven My name is Peter Standish. I Am an American but for many years my home has been Barkley Square London. I Want to sit down in this journal the whole incredible adventure just as it happened to me Some time ago I Stood in this very room talking to the American ambassador The date I shall never forget. It was October 23rd Well Peter you you really liked London. I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world, sir You were certainly fortunate to inherit a house like this. Yes, I am I've hardly been out of the house for weeks I've been going over old papers and documents an ancestor of mine built this house in 1730 See that picture there above the fireplace. It's father. Look at it. I Say it is an amazing likeness, isn't it? You might have sat for that portrait yourself. I know curious, isn't it? His name was Peter Standish to what is this thing? It's the crooks and sata That's the Egyptian symbol of life. What's it doing here? I don't know it came with a house. Well, it's a Charming house. Yes, isn't it? I've been going through a lot of old letters and papers I found upstairs even the first Peter Standish's diary Can you imagine how exciting it would be to change places of him walk the quiet streets of London in the 18th century? I'm afraid I'm a bit of a realist standish, but sir perhaps it's not impossible Suppose you're in a boat sailing down a winding stream a Mile back you went by a grove of maple trees, but you can't see them now So you saw them in the past didn't you? Well, you're watching a field of clover now, so of course That's the present now just ahead of you. There's a bend in the stream There may be wonderful things out there, but you can't see them until you get around the bend around the bend and Into the future now remember you're in the boat But suppose I'm up above you in a plane looking down on it all I can see all at once the past the present and the future Doesn't that show that all time must really be one? Real time is Nothing but an idea in the mind of God You know standish you seem to be obsessed with this idea about time Perhaps you want to get away from this house for a few weeks and take it holiday someplace according to Peter Standish's diary He was in love with the future just as I am with the past He wanted to see ahead now if we could change places for a time Of course, I couldn't change anything that actually happened to Peter Standish I'd have to do exactly what he did. Oh, but it's a fantastic notion. He has his diary. I know every word of it Almost 200 years ago Peter Standish took a trip from New York to England The trip took 27 days and the ship called the general wolf He then married the oldest pettigrew girl Kate in this very house The betrothal was arranged before they met They had children who died here and there was a younger sister Helen and look here There's even something about a cashmere shawl that Helen's aren't in the country center just before Peter came over I have minute details about everything even the letter Pete Peter wrote to Lady Anne the girl's mother Telling them that he would arrive at Barkley Square on October the 23rd 1784 October the 23rd were that's today. Yes, the papers yellow the ink faded But back in that other time Lady Anne is just reading that letter now It was raining then too Standish I am I'm rather late for an appointment sir. Why don't we have dinner some night soon? If I can good afternoon said it was nice of you to drop by and remember standish what I said about a holiday At last I was alone in the room The far light flickered on the ceiling and touched the face in the portrait to a warm living glow The past was alive in that room and I knew it It was a sudden crack of thunder and the lights went out and for a moment I Thought I heard a coach on cobblestones and then I felt a little foolish cobblestones Why they'd had wood blocks for ages in Barkley Square But the sound came louder it came closer through the storm a Coach had stopped in front of the house In a second I heard the knocker. I went slowly to the front door. I turned from the door Closing it behind me and as I turn and touch my sleeve and touched satin And then coming down the staircase. I saw a woman in hooped skirts carrying a lighted candelabra Goodie cousin Peter. I thought I heard someone at the door Oh, forgive me. You are my cousin Peter standish newly arrived from America. Are you not I? Looked down. I was dressed in the clothes of the 18th century. I Stare at the woman my heart pounding the change had been made Peter standish and I had changed centuries I had your note that you'd arrived in London cousin I'm Kate sir Pray current of the library my mother my sister my brother are all anxious to bid you welcome Yes, mother well well cousin Peter what it is like to see you at last Kate has been all over flutter about it for weeks This is my other daughter Helen. How do you do cousin Peter as an Helen and this is your cousin Tom I'm glad to see you sir. Yeah, we're so happy cousin that you arrived in time for Helen's birthday ball Of course Helen's birthday Helen did you like the cashmere shawl your aunt sent you cashmere shawl Is there a shawl in that powerful? I haven't opened it yet. Well aren't you clever? It is a shawl My sister roped me about it. How could you possibly know that come well? I I didn't really it was Only a guesser. I I have rather tiresome headache. I suppose it was the trip. Well come then we'll show you to your room Didn't it would be ready very soon Mother thought I should ask you if you would like a compress for your hair. No, it's better Thank you. We hope you'll be happy and London. Oh, I'm very excited about it I was just standing at the window looking out and thinking about it somewhere across town Boswell is listening at dr. Johnson's elbow Sheridan is writing the school for scandal The what? It's a play. Haven't you read about it? No, I haven't Cousin Peter, how did you know about my shawl? Please don't ask me anymore about the confounded thing if you wish You'll help me out here. Won't you Helen? How can I help you cut? It's also strange England London I feel like a fish out of water. Is there anything strange or wrong about me strange or wrong? I am an American you know, and this is a new world to me. No, of course not You soon get used to our ways cousin and Kate will soon put you at your ease. I Do hope you and my sister will be very happy. I See you at dinner cousin Helen yes, you're okay Okay That's just a New York expression Good evening, Helen. Good evening cousin. And so I Peter Standish of the 20th century Entered the parlors the taverns the museums the studios of the 18th century Helen was at my side constantly, but after the first few days Kate seemed to avoid me whenever possible Even at Helen's birthday ball Wasn't this to be my dance? Yes, but I have a headache. I Don't feel quite up to dancing just now. Well, then let's go outside on the balcony for a breather there Well, I I really shouldn't die. I wanted to see mother a moment. I just for a moment Kate Let's go out here. You've been avoiding me all evening. Have I? Well, you certainly have not been avoiding my sister. Don't tell me you're jealous. You don't need to be you know No I'm far from jealous of you Peter Standish. You're not letting gossip upset you I know what people are saying about me and it's ridiculous. Yes You know what people are saying and you know what I'm thinking now. You always know You know what is going to happen next. No Kate. No not in the way you think and I thought I loved you You mustn't talk like that. Why my dear we're going to be married married Do you think I'd marry you and I must force myself to remain alone with you? Everyone sees it, but Helen There's something that That's not human about you Kate. You can't break the break our engagement You didn't do that. You can't do that. Oh, I can't do that So you think there are no limits to what a wizard can do with a woman. I Was never so afraid of anything in my life as I am of you and you think you can make me marry you When I fear you as I fear the devil I Leave London in the morning and I'll not return while you're in this house In heaven's name go back to America if that's where you come from He's a common dance with me You're not afraid of me Helen You're not afraid to dance with me. How can you be afraid of someone you feel about the way I feel about you? Of course, I want to dance with you Oh In a moment James Hilton will return to present the second act of Barkley Square starring David Niven but first Put your head back and try to picture this scene in a great house in 18th century London a man is sitting in his library Writing a letter under the light of a silver candelabra He is writing to his son one of the letters for which he will be remembered centuries later Lord Chesterfield has just finished this lasting piece of advice Words are the dress of thoughts. They should no more be presented in rags and tatters than your person should Just think about that for a moment The words and thoughts you send to a friend should reflect your own good taste and personality as surely as the clothes you wear That's why so many people choose the cards They send so very carefully why they choose hallmark cards for no matter whether you're sending a gay message of congratulations a Quiet word of sympathy or for any other occasion You'll find a hallmark card that says just what you want to say the way you want to say it and What is true of the sentiment expressed in a hallmark card is just as true of everything else about it the way It's designed the materials. It's made of the way. It's put together So when you choose a card to express just you to a friend Remember to look for the hallmark on the back that tells your friends You cared enough to send the very best Now we present act two of John Balderson's Barclay Square starring David Niven I paced back and forth in the library trying to think what to do about kids She had to marry Peter Standish. It had happened. Nothing could be changed that had happened in the past Peter it's very late. Oh Helen. I heard you walking up and down sound carry so in this house You must get some sleep. I can't sleep. You're worried about Kate, aren't you? Well, don't see I'm sure she'll feel differently when she returns Peter Tell me how you can know things you couldn't know Helen. I don't know if I can make you understand Can you see ahead just a day or two or all months and years many months and many years? I Love life I want to see ahead. I'm gonna know about the future. So you're in love with the future just as I was in love with the No, it's better just to dream about what's ahead than really to know. No, no, tell me. Please tell me about the future I couldn't there aren't any words to make you understand You say there aren't any words because these things must must come to your mind in fission But I think I could see them too through your eyes. Oh look at me Look at me All right, Helen if you want to see the future If you want to see and it's terrifying. Yes, it's exciting and it's terrifying But it's a challenge. It's adventure. It's progress. Oh, if I could only make you see some of the things I've seen I'll talk to Kate I'll tell her I've shared your vision And that she has nothing to fear from you Helen. I'm not in love with Kate Oh Peter, I've loved you before I ever saw you in my first dream of you and Coming from somewhere far away to meet me. Oh Helen Helen. I can't play a part anymore I'm myself. You see I'm myself and I'm muddling everything up. This isn't possible I come to you from somewhere else. Oh Peter take me away with you Take me back wherever you came from Helen. I can't I can't you see I come from that world you saw in my eyes Yes, I Believe you it's incredible, but I believe you Peter oh Peter you won't go back You won't leave me. No never. I'll never leave So you've come back from Budley. Well, let me tell you something You're Mr. Stendish has asked for Helen's hand in marriage. What do you think of that mother? I'd rather see Helen dead than the wife of Peter Stendish another word like that. Miss still Kate You can be heard all over the house Tom. Do you want to see your sister eternally damned now? Now there's no need for hysteria Kate. Okay, I'm glad to see you home again Kate dear mr. Stendish When you came into this house Did you come from America Kate? You're being very rude go to your room at once. I'll not go until I've had my answer Your answer is Yes, I do come from America mr. Stendish. I Made a list of ten of the phrases you said were common in New York on my way home I stopped to see the American minister. He had never heard of one of the ten So you see those words are not used in America. They are not used in England The devils use them in hell Kate Peter Stendish came from New York in the general wolf His body stands there, but what have you done with him Kate? Have you taken complete leave your senses pray for give her cousin Peter in the old days? He'd be our cousin at the stake. We'll manage her somehow cousin Peter. I'll drag her upstairs, ma'am No, you Kate you may be a fool, but you're trying your own silly way to help Helen now, and I love you for you lady I'm I've seen you in Sheridan's plays. I read you in Jane Austen's novels You know what you want and you plow straight ahead over everything and through everything like a tank lumbering through the mud Do you hear that Kate like a tank go to the American Legation and ask Charles Francis Adams What tank means? No, it's not Charles Francis Adams. It's John Adams Second president for the United States Charles Adams won't be born until the Civil War in 1861 oh, what's one more blunder among so many your Peter Stendish came from New York to Plymouth in the general wolf This Peter Stendish flew from New York to Plymouth. You've been from hell. What do I care about you? You're all over and done with you're all dead. You've all rotted in your graves. You're all ghosts That's what you are. You're all ghosts come Kate come Tom Helen come quickly. We'll call a physician. He's out I get the doctor I thought I was in love with the past my dear My dear, I knew eventually it must happen Each night I've said him must go back Each morning we'd make some new plan together and I think We'll let me have just one more day. No No, I'm gonna stay here with you. Oh Peter my life my London a nightmare to you Don't be sad think We two alone have been chosen for this miracle out of all the millions of lovers Think of what has been given Not of what is taken away. Nothing can be taken away But we came together as we did prove that we were not meant to lose each other And we shall be together always Nothing my time knowing yours If I go then he will be here in my place in my body. How can you bear that love will give me strength? You have your life to live off in the future Peter and In my life as I grow old Your youth will seem to me eternal youth For you will come won't you young as I see you now to my grave and think Mark's church To you that will be tomorrow And yet it will be generations after I'm dead I'll ask for a stone with a lettuce cut deep So they won't wear away before you come to me darling darling. I love you now. I Shall love you in my time and in whatever times may come if you could only take back with you just one thing Wait, here's something father got for me before he died when he was with the fleet in Egypt The crooks and sata the symbol of life of eternity and that's why I've loved it Helen this was mine long ago Yours long ago. It was standing over there when I first entered this room in in the future Little thing has crossed the great darkness between us mine Yours in that world. I shall never see this is our parting Helen oh my darling. Goodbye Pete She picked up The candelabra and walked out of the library with it. The room was in darkness My hand brushed my sleeve and touched something rough It's blazed on I looked down I was dressed in tweeds again was at an end and I Peter Standish was back in the 20th century I left the house then and walked to st. Mark's churchyard Inside the stone with the letters cut deep as she had promised I Nelt and read Here lies in the competent hope of the blessed resurrection and life eternal Helen pedigree beloved younger daughter of Sir William pedigree and the lady and pedigree who departed this life June the 15th 1780s aged 23 years to Barclay Square To write the whole incredible adventure down on the pages of this journal There only remains to write These lines I've seen your shadow on the stairs I've seen your hand rest on this desk I've seen you sitting by that window and You'll always be close to me in this house. You'll always be the living beautiful soul of this house and I know That we shall be together Not in your time not in mine But in God James Hilton and David Niven will return Meantime I'm afraid that while I've been telling you about all the many hallmark cards for special occasions I may have neglected to remind you about the wonderful hallmark dolls Hallmark dolls don't require any special occasion to make a child's eyes light up with joy For these happy little dolls can be a coming home gift from a daddy who's been away Their grandfavors for a party or just something extra for being real good and there are so many to choose from Right now there are 24 of these feather-toped hallmark dolls Eight dolls of the nations and 16 dolls from the land of make-believe There's little miss muffett and there's Rita from Brazil. There's little boy blue and cowboy Joe 24 of these lovable little personalities each stands up by itself Each has a clever rhyme story telling about it and to make taking good care of them very easy There are the doll collectors albums with a place for each doll The hallmark dolls that can be mailed just like a greeting card Costs only 25 cents each and the albums are only 50 cents each So for the favorite little person on your list visit the friendly store where you buy your hallmark cards and Ask to see the whole collection of hallmark dolls Here again is James Hilton tonight We've heard a story that's a fine example of imaginative writing the kind of story that requires Superlative skill on the part of the actors and that's exactly what we've had mr. Niven We'd thoroughly enjoyed your performance. Thank you, Mr Hilton and thanks also to the reentuttle and Francis Robinson for their beautiful portrayals of Helen and Kate It is quite a long bridge between 1784 on the present day But even if the customs the clothes and the speech have changed people are pretty much the same They cry and laugh pretty much at the same kinds of things They have the same emotions react to humor love sympathy As a matter of fact, mr. Hilton all the things which those fine hallmark greeting cards of yours express Mr. Hilton, I'm so glad to have been invited to the playhouse this evening and it was our pleasure to have you here And now I'd like to tell you what we plan for next Thursday We shall present then a dramatized version of Meredith Wilson's book Which tells the story of his early life a story with the fascinating title and there I stood with my piccolo and Starring Meredith Wilson himself and the following week on St. Patrick's Day We shall appropriately present Edward McSawley's Irish American story our own kind starring Barifit's Gerald and the week after that Arthur Pinero's great love story Enchanted Cottage starring Richard Conte our hallmark playhouses every Thursday our director Producers d. Angleback our music is composed and conducted by Lynn Murray and our script tonight was adapted by Jean Holloway Until next Thursday then this is James Hilton saying good night Look for hallmark cards that are so lonely in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service Remember hallmark cards when you carry enough to send the very best David Niven appeared to the courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn and they currently be seen in the motion picture enchantment This is Frank Goss saying good night to you all and inviting you next Thursday and every Thursday To tune in a half hour earlier and listen to the adventures of KC crime photographer followed by the hallmark playhouse This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system