 Making the better things for better living through chemistry presents the cavalcade of America. Tonight's star, Susan Hayward. Tonight's story, Breakfast at Nancy's. The heart was a sharp shooting woman, primed her cousin to hold an open. At 200 paces with a Kentucky rifle, she could plug out the eye of a possum or coon. All breakfast at Nancy's, breakfast at Nancy's. Watch out for that there, whole cake, it's plumb full of lead. Look out, Mr. Torrey, or you'll wind up dead. Up in the northeast corner of Georgia, close to the Savannah River and the Carolina Lion, you'll find Hart County, named for Nancy Hart, cousin to Daniel Boone and Kim to General Daniel Morgan Revolutionary Hero. Before Hart County on the courthouse, the Indians had named a little river for Nancy, War Woman Creek. Nancy's story is a legend in Georgia, and like most legends everywhere, her saga has been told in many, many versions. But all the tales of Nancy Hart begin at least, like this. It's the summer evening about the year 1778, the third year of the revolution. Nancy Hart, Mrs. Benjamin Hart, that is, Nancy is alone in her husband's farm cabin on the Broad River. Supper's almost ready. You're right, Mrs. Hart. Hey, Mrs. Hart. Who's there? Don't come any close out there. I've got a gun. It's me, Mrs. Hart. I've been told of her. I told the old man told of her. Oh, come on. Come on. Oh, you care, ma'am? You don't have to bar your door shut in an old friend's face. Still not, though. Well, yes, I reckon you do it that. Can't be too careful. I'm sorry, Royston. I couldn't see you down the hill. There were things the way they are. There are some things the way they are. That's what I come to see about. I've been sent to see you, sort of a committee you want from your old neighbors. I'm not going to leave this farm, Roy. I'm not going to leave my home. But why? My body's safe up country, but you, all your neighbors, all their ain't Tory scoundrels, that is. And how about you? Oh, sure. I'm too old for them scary wags to bother with. I don't know nothing they can steal. Now, look here, Nancy, girl. Your friends have sent me to plead with you. No, I'm staying here. Right here. Put your husband in Benjamin with Colonel Clark's militia where it belongs. And this is where I belong. But, Roy, it ain't fair to suit you and Morgan. I need them with him. Mr. Tulliver. Yes, ma'am. Can I trust you, Roy? Well, folks around here have been doing just that for now under 70 years. I'm no barn-burning Tory traitor. That's what you mean? I guess I'll be getting off. Wait a minute. Mr. Tulliver, I'm staying on here for a purpose. I'm not just stubborn. So? Colonel Clark up north has to keep in touch somehow with the other troops down to the south of here. Yes, it's encouraged me to have to rest somewhere. But this is old Tory country now. There's nobody but Tory's left. Oh, I see. I see. You hide them out, Clark's messenger. Uh-huh. You're a brave woman, Nancy. No. I just plum-hate old Tory. Like Wilkie Bowman? Like Wilkie Bowman, especially. Most especially. He's the head man around here now. Now that all the decent folks are gone and he swears he'll make you his wife yet. He ain't never give up. Well, it's a good many years and two children too late. Taste those children. Did you see him? They were playing down by the old well with that conch shell. I gave you the fly to sell it. They weren't blowing on him. I told Morgan never to... Oh, you suck. They was just pretending. Morgan! Morgan! Oh, here they come now. You see, Morgan, didn't you hear me calling you? Oh, we came running, Mark. Oh, you'll believe your mother. He wouldn't put the conch shell back. He made me take him all over the wood lot. Morgan Boone, I don't want you to touch that shell again. You hear? But you taught me to blow it. Morgan. Yes, Mark. Now say howdy to Mr. Toliver here. Howdy, Mr. Toliver. Evening, children. Well, ma'am, mums are worried with Royston Toliver. And do be careful. Well, I'll be moving along. Nonsense. You're gonna say to supper. Can I persuade you? Persuade me? By ma'am, anybody in North Georgia would refuse an invite to eat Nancy Hart's cookin' rice. It'd be as crazy as King George III. Crazy. Well, set then. And you, Morgan Boone, huh? Yes, Mark. You go wash your hands. They're filthy black. Get now! Rockin' in a rocker on the pinewood floor. Oh, nightfall at Nancy's. Nightfall at Nancy's. All alone by the broad river shore. By the broad shore. This is for the hangman's dream, Mark. Please, Mark. Him and his old hangman. Mother, sing, Lord Randall. No, no more now. It's bedtime. It seems to me you two are getting mighty old to be sung, too. But you sing so beautiful, Mother. You said I ought to learn how to. Ah, Sukey can't sing. No more in an old fog. She sounds like the car corn. Morgan, like I told you, I want you to leave that cum cell be. Leave it stay right where it is on the shelf of the well, you hear? Gosh, what's so special about that old horn? I can blow it, but it don't go good. Maybe I'll tell you someday soon. But there's one thing I want to tell you now. And over and over, I hope you knew it already in your blood and in your bones. You, Morgan. Oh, Jesus, what? You've got good blood in you, son. Your kin to Colonel Daniel Morgan, him that fought at Quebec in a Saratoga. And to Daniel Boone who's gone on west. Never be afraid, son. I ain't never been, Mark. Don't you be. And Sukey? I'm not afraid, Mother. Don't you be. There's nothing to be afraid of, ever, if you're good and sensible and not afraid. There are things I might have to ask you to do, Sukey. Hard things. And maybe soon. And the first thing is, if you're upstairs in bed and you hear noises down here, you stay up there. Listen, I call you. Listen. What's that? Just a hood, I'll hold you. I must be sure. Up to bed with you, children. Run now. I said run. And stay there. Good night, Mark. What are you putting all about for? You get to bed. And remember what I said. Oh, dear God, let it be been this time. Let it be been. Quick, ma'am. Let me inside. Who are you? Cliffelder. Sergeant Cliffelder. Georgia Militia. Courier for criminal plot with dispatches. Stayer after me, ma'am. Have you seen my husband? Is he still alive? Alive and kicking not three hours ago. But ma'am, there's no time for questions. Ben said you had a place to hide me here. Yes, I do. Ben fixed it up to soaring left as a full spot into the wood bin by the fireplace there. And a little room below hollowed out in the dirt. Ben dug it about four feet down. Look, now look. I'll have to talk fast. Colonel Clark has sent a scotting party south. Sort of a feeler. Your husband's in command. I rode ahead of him to look for any Tory band. Well, I found one. Three armed riders up by the fork near Dury Rose. Uh-huh. I outrode him. I doubled back here. I tell them I'm marrying a barn up the road, and I hope she's well hid. Then I started hooting like an owl, as Ben said to do. Great jumping to your horse, but I thought I'd have to hoot all night before the lamp went out. You say there's a scouting party here? Yes, ma'am. And Ben? Your husband planned to camp real close just above the fork. He wanted to see you, and I can't blame him, but for heaven's sake, ma'am, hide me. Over here. In with you. Under the floor. You'll have to set up. It's not big enough to lay down in, but is there enough? I see a double bottom to it. Thank you, ma'am. Sergeant Helper, can you hear me down there? Yes, ma'am. There's horsemen coming up the hill. Stay quiet. Don't move at all. I'll do that, ma'am. Can't move anyway. Never mind who's here. Open up. Open up and we'll blow the hinges off this door. We'll keep going. And if it isn't mild, we toss Miss Nancy Morgan. My name is Nancy Hart. Has been for 12 years. What do you want here? Why, just a little talk, Nancy, darling. For old times' sake. About two things. Number one, your late husband, Benjamin Hart, right at the crowd. Late husband, yes. I had the pleasure of shooting him through the head just an hour ago. I don't believe you. Get out. Get out of here. We haven't begun our little talk, Nancy. Subject number two, a rebel trooper you're concealing in this house. Where is he? We want him. I said we want him. Come in, man. How many slink and snakes does it take to handle one lone woman? Why, not only three of us. Ruth Benton. Cut you to the lady, Ruth. Ruth Benton. Convicted horse, deep in jailbird. Wanted in Carolina across the river. Our pleasure, ma'am. My, my, Wilkes. She's got a tongue, isn't she? I found that out long years ago. Always liked it, innit? Who's your other bootlicker, Bowman? Oh, here's me stranger in these parts, my dear. Name a Sam Savile. Sad Sam, we're called him. Make a leg, Sammel. Yes. Well-trained, innit? Like an ape. Sheriff, after you too, Sam? How did she know that? Her eyes are sharp as a tongue. Now, man, darling, the trooper. We know he's here. Where is he? All right. We have plenty of time. I'll just buy a little drink for visiting gentlemen. Jugs on the table, you saw it, I reckon. I did. Step right up, friend. Will you, Ruth? Oh. Fam, you old dog? Yeah. And now you, Nancy, love. Surely you'll drink with it for old times' sake? I will. I'll take a swig or two. Well, you will. Good. Here, then. I'll take the first swig to General George Washington and the Continental Congress. So, and the rest of the mugs, all of it, Wilkie Bowman, goes right in your face. When the heart was a true-hearted woman, General Dan Morgan was a kissin'-kin. She hated Tories. She hated Redcoats. She hated Wilkie Bowman like she hated Finn. Old night time at Nancy's, moon up at Nancy's, the trooper he's hidein' is the old Woodfin. The trooper he's hidden, but the Tory band is Biden. Watch out there, Nancy. They won't give in. According to the Cavalcade of America, starring Susan Hayward, sponsored by the Dupont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry. We continue the Dupont Cavalcade of America, starring Susan Hayward as Nancy Hart in Breakfast at Nancy's. Nancy Hart was a home-lovin' woman. She stayed in her cabin by the Broad River Shore. When other folks ran from the barn burnin' Tory, she stuck by her gun the switch she had for. Old midnight at Nancy's, moon up at Nancy's, and Wilkie Bowman's prowlin' through the cabins every door. Lookin' for the soldier through the cabins every door. Well, you three loves the lovers. Well, you've looked everywhere. You've routed my children out of their beds, and you've set them to cryin'. You've turned my house upside down, and there's no trooper here. What now? We saw him riotin' here, almost to your door. He's here. Sooner or later, he'll pop out of somewhere. We'll stay the night, dear Nancy, for old times' sake. Once you came accortin', I'm a killer. I don't want you either way. You haven't lost your looks, man. Now, you're vile temper. Nevertheless, we'll accept the hospitality of the widow-heart for the night. Look ahead, Mr. Bowman, I've got an idea. You, Sam, what is it? The wood bin there. We ain't never looked in the wood box. Too obvious. Obvious? Better try, Bowman. Oh, look. I thought so nothin'. Not even any wood. I'm sorry, Mr. Bowman. Nancy here's smarter than a whip. I found that out a long ago. You'll find it out again. And now I'm goin' up to my children, and I'm gonna stay with them. I got a good stone billet of wood up there, will keep, Bowman, and the stairway's narrow. And if I hear one footstep, creak on that stair, that foot belongs to he's gonna get himself a busted head. My dear Nats, you may be sure I shall respect your matronly sensibility, and so shall these gentlemen. You and your gentlemen can sleep on the floor like the pigs you are. I like to clean up tomorrow anyway. Good night. Oh, there's another jug in the cupboard. Drink up! Okay. Suki. Are you awake? Yes, Mother. Sure, Ma. Have they gone? No, they won't go until after dawn. Children, you remember what I said about not being afraid? Well, who's scared? Now listen to me very carefully. These bad men will wake up drunk and hungry. They want me to get breakfast for him. I'll say I will, but I'll say I need water. I'll send you more than to get the water. I don't think they'll watch you. Should I get the water? No. You go down to the well, and then you take that conch horn and blow on it. Keep blowing on it. You can blow on it hard, son. Oh, sure, again. I can make a big noise. You make it, and keep on making it. It's a signal to your father if... Well, it's a signal to your father, I hope. We fixed it that way. Now you, Suki. Yes? I'll send you out with Morgan, but don't you go down to the well. No, mother. What'll I do? You must be brave, too, Suki. The admin have left their rifles against the window on the stable side downstairs. The window's open. Now when you go out with Morgan, you sneak around by that window, and when you get a chance, you reach in and get one of them guns. Can you do it, Suki? Yes, mother. I'll be very quiet. Good. Bring the gun around to the kitchen and hide behind the door outside there. And if I yell, Suki... Quiet, mother. Yes, child. If I yell, Suki, you push open that kitchen door and hand me the gun. Can you do it, Suki? Yes, mother. I think you can. And now let's say our prayers. We need help, and we need it bad. We are quiet like. Our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. Amen. Breakfast! You expect me to get you food to eat? Why, yes, my love of old. Just for the three of us, Ruth here, and me and you, the rats, if they're about, of course. My children are in the kitchen. What happened to that ugly monster? Well, Sam saddled? Well, yes. Sam has been much taken in liquor. I'm afraid he went to sleep at last in the wood bin. Wood bin? He had it on his mind. Let him rest in peace, but let us eat. I've told you I'll find cook these days. I am. Well, good. I'm hungry. Breakfast with a heart, breakfast. I'll need water. I'll send the children for it. Oh, no, no, Ruth here. Be glad to bribe. Ruth, get up. I'll get some water for the lady. Come on. The children will get the water. They'll redo our fetches. Morgan, soupy. Yo, Platton, get up. Hey, what you doing? Get up. We've got work to do. That messenger from the rebel general is somewhere in this house. I will eat first, and we'll set fire to the place. Fire? Fire? Quiet, Joe. The children have gone for the water. We'll have breakfast shortly. No, your Tory friends have left us little in the way of little. You want water? I see Mr. Benton's pulled himself together. Well, I'll go get water. Show me where's the water. I'll go get water. That would be necessary. Morgan and soupy are used to... to lend in a hand. They're very fine children. They think they should have lost their dear father. And they're so young, too. I don't believe you. I've never believed you. Finn's alive. I know it. Berman, do you hear a horn? Rolf, you're drunk. I haven't. I do hear a horn. There's a wood bin. Listen, there's somebody in the wood bin. Sam's battled in there. He sure isn't a fox. Lookie. Lookie, John, now's the time. Don't be afraid, Mother. Here it is. Stand back, will you, Berman? Get back there, Benton. Don't you go near that fireplace. Stay away from that wood box. He's got one of our rifles. The brats just to pour it through the window. Sergeant Elvis, if you can hear me, stay still. Stay right where you are. That's where he was. Under the wood box. Clever, clever Nancy. Nancy with my rifle. Nancy pointing my rifle at my heart. You can't pull the trigger, Nancy. Stand back, Willkie. I don't want to kill you. Of course you don't. You love me, Nancy Molton. Stand back. You've always loved me. When both of us were young, you loved me. Give me that gun. I drove you back then. I'd have none of you. None of you. I clawed your fingers. I bear a mark still. Look at it. On my face. In my heart. You'll not pull that trigger. I'll move so quietly. You can't pull the trigger, Nancy. Can't. No. He killed my husband. No, no, no, no, no, no. He was just both, and your husband's still alive. Don't let him be hard on me. Don't let him be... They're coming now. They're coming. They hate the signal. They hate the horn. Speak up for me, ma'am. Speak up for me. I've done you no harm. All right. Do this for me, then. Get Bowen's body out of my sight. Get him out of here. I'll do it, ma'am. I'll do it. Oh, baby, it's been so long. So long. I tried to get back here. I wanted the soul to get back. He said he'd killed you, baby. But I never believed it. Never. Me? Killed? Do I looky? The sergeant said you were all right. Where is he? In the wood box. I was under the wood box. Then I spent the night in drunken, disillutory company. The big, glum, snored all night. I had to fight my way out. Man, am I hungry. Cliff, I'm sure my wife here can provide us all with breakfast. How about it, Nancy? It's on the fryer again in the kitchen. Suki, Morgan, come help your mother. Help you again, children. With breakfast. Come on. Oh, man, the heart was a false quail woman. Down here in Georgia, we honor her name. In to Boone and King to Morgan, she honors Georgia with her everlasting fame. Oh, breakfast at Nancy's, fun up at Nancy's, more cake and honeycomb and fresh pumpkin pie. Heart is the sun beat. Cool as the moon beam. Light as the laughter that cleans in. Oh, here's to Nancy Hart. Here's to Susan Hayward and the Cavalcade players for tonight's story. Breakfast at Nancy's. The DuPont Cavalcade will present The Devil's Sturkey, the exciting story of the weird mystery buried deep within the Louisiana Swamplands. Our star, Ray Milland. Be sure to listen. Tonight's DuPont Cavalcade, Breakfast at Nancy's, was written by George H. Faulkner and based on material from the book The Savannah by Thomas L. Stokes, a volume in the Rivers of America series published by Reinhardt & Company. The music for Cavalcade was composed by Arden Cornwell, conducted by Donald Horry. The program was directed by John Zoller, featured in the cast with Susan Hayward as Nancy, you heard, Stott's Cutthorpe as Bowman and Gordon Dilworth as the folk singer. This Hayward is currently starring in the 20th Century Fox production, with a song in my heart. This is by Harris Scrooge. Ladies and gentlemen, at a time when disaster strikes the country, as it so recently did in the Southern states, the Red Cross works day and night to help those in need. Do your part by giving to the Red Cross from them. Don't forget next week, our star, Ray Malan. The Department of Cavalcade of America comes to you from the Balasco Theater in New York and is sponsored by the Department of Health, Jomick and Delaware, makers of better things for better living, through chemistry.