 Hello, everyone. This is Paul Lucas inviting you to stay tuned for the next half hour for one of radio's outstanding dramatic productions Another proudly we hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half-hour starring Paul Lucas and presented transcribe coast-to-coast in cooperation with this station by your army and your Air Force Radio City, New York Here is your star on proudly we hail the distinguished Broadway stage screen and radio star Paul Lucas Thank You Kenneth Bank Ladies and gentlemen our plays entitled edge of the curtain the scene New York the time today our story tale of treachery here at home Our first act curtain will rise in just a moment after this short but very important message The woman in the Air Force is a woman who has found that it's smart to serve her country If you are between 18 and 34 go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and ask for details Be smart do it now and now with your star Paul Lucas in the role of Stefan Donner Your army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production edge of the curtain The sea queen bound from La Havre to New York had its fair share of noted celebrities Among whom was the renowned composer and pianist Stefan Donner Stefan Donner on his way to the United States for a concert tour when only last month he had been royally welcomed in Moscow It was said aboard ship that when he got to the United States This cold arrogant man would pay for his attitude his concerts would be picketed and no one would come to hear him play The consensus was it was about time to Had they but known the true reason for his voyage their opinions would have been in a somewhat different vein The reason had been voiced a week before by a man named Richard So had unobtrusively seated himself next to the brooding donor on a park bench in a European city Stefan it's perfect. Well, it's the best break. We've had in months You are sure it isn't some kind of trick we've checked double check cross check reject He just confessed everything without any trouble. I told you he was on the verge of a breakdown When we picked him up or picking him up did it he thought we were going to give him the same kind of medicine They would give one of our men if I do this. I'll eventually being covered. I won't be any more used to you Well, Stefan I I admit it's a risk, but in this case, it's worth it But won't they be expecting this other fellow you picked up. They don't know who's coming just that someone is Now our people will be watching you all the time just in case there's a slip up Well, I'd better go and tell the ring to start packing come around to the office at 8 and I'll give you everything you need The only thing I need riches is a brand new head And I wouldn't let you talk me into such madness That's their Statue of Liberty, sir Save it for the immigrants Statue of Liberty Indeed sir, I wouldn't carry it too far. We might find ourselves swimming the rest of the way Like Buckingham Palace a ring very palatial, sir a sweet fit for a king Or the great Stefan Donna How was I? I think you're overdoing it, sir It seems that people here are more abrupt and well Direct in their actions. You mean I might get a punch in the nose You might serve Well ring if that's all I get I'd be getting up lightly I don't imagine the press will be very kind to us Well, they'll have cooled off by the time I give my first performance. There's a different feeling here, sir Not like in Europe People here are not so passive Amen to that Well, it's time. We got started Simple telephone call and Mr. Madden. Yes, this is Madden. My name is Donna Stefan Donna It's possible. You've heard of me the musician. Yes, that is correct a Mutual friend of ours in Paris asked me to call you and give you his regards Paul La Rouge You You know Paula Rouge My dear sir, I wouldn't be taking the trouble to call you if I didn't He asked me to tell you that he was well and that he'd like you to write It's suggested. We might possibly get together However, I'm very busy as you can understand. Yes, of course Still if you're a friend of Paul's you must find the time to pay me a call Were you staying at the Waldorf about dinner tonight? No, I'm afraid not I'm tired of my trip and I would like to get some rest I try to make it Thursday night. Why don't you call me here Thursday morning? All right Thursday then that Paul happened to mention The money he owed me. Oh, yes. I knew there was something else. I'm so forgetful about money He gave me something to give you. I was going to mail it to you But I'll wait and if Thursday is all right, I'll give it to you then That'll be perfectly. All right. I look forward to meeting you, Mr. Donna Although I must say that I'm somewhat surprised That you know Paul I am sure that if you think it over You'll realize it's not really so surprising until Thursday then Goodbye, Mr. Madden And so begins the game like Beatles Beatles what Beatles? All these people these cars. Oh, what a horrible place just New York, Donna. I Read that they picketed your concert that it was called off. Yes, the idiots You think it was wise to make them dislike you? I'm very bad press here. Do you think I wanted it? I was advised by Paul. I don't understand it I say nothing so difficult to understand who would suspect a man who saw openly flound his disrespect for everything and everyone especially a man like myself Where are you taking me my place on Long Island? It's quieter there And we can talk about Paul You live in style man. I tried to you like it Hardly like a member of the proletariat members must have their leaders and leaders in my end of the business I've got to keep up appearances just like you Sit there. It's a very comfortable chair Most relaxing cigar. No nothing you brought the money Paul owes me of course and You the letters there in the safe Suppose we have a look at them. I'd like to count the money first You people expect us to work miracles on nothing we take considerable risk And we produce considerable results and for a pittance that is grudgingly paid out Don't tell me your troubles friend. I have my own and my orders Here is the money One two three four Hank Hank. What the devil you mean barging in here without knocking. I'm sorry Hank I didn't know I get out of here Get out. I'm sorry. Will you please get out of here and just who was that? Stupid female blame yourself for not locking the door Who was she Miriam Colby? But don't worry. She's all right. She won't say anything. What do you mean? She's all right. Yeah, she works for me on the little thing. She doesn't know much lives down the road Father's a big shot industrialist. She hates his guts everything he stands for devoted to the party and you I can't help that she does what I tell her she keeps a mouth shut I Don't like being seen here with you by anyone It was arranged. I thought that we would meet to change gifts and go our separate way. I tell you it's all right Let's have a look at the papers How many people in your organization? 22 counting Miriam. Why? How many of them have met and know each other none they don't even know who I am I keep in touch by phone and through ads Then how is it this call be woman knows what the others don't I tell you she doesn't know not really She knows where my sympathies lie, but she thinks I'm in the propaganda end of it. Give me the papers Now go count your money while I look these over see here Donna. You have no authority over me Whatever I have to say about you to Paul will be of great importance Count your money Well Tidy little bundle man My opinion for you has gone up Some of these are excellent Plans for the new anti-tank gun this radar blueprint all excellent But there is still one thing worrying me and what would that be? How long did it take your people to procure this information has almost a year's work there hmm, and But little more than my asking for it you hand it over to me. What do you mean? How do you know I am not an imposter? How do you know I am really a friend of Paul's I could be an enemy, you know and Here you are exposing yourself and handing over a year's dangers and Profitable words. Oh, I think not and Why do you think not? Because I've said everything as I should because I seem to know what I'm talking about You do take me for a complete fool, don't you now that you've had a look at the bundle Suppose you give it back to me and we'll put it and the money in the safe And if I rather not why then I'll just persuade you With this Well, that's better But suppose I overpowered you in some way Why are you here in this big house alone the servants were given the night off their return later? You have a great amount of confidence in you sir. I do and now since Miriam has already seen you I think it'd be better to go out and meet her we'll explain that the money is to buy your support in a new Propaganda campaign you still haven't answered my question. How do you know? I'm a friend of Paul's until you don't I don't not yet But by tomorrow night this time I will It just happens that another friend will be arriving then a friend far more important than either you or I and he'll know just as soon as he sees you and Until then until then you'll be my guest in fact you already are my guest your valley will be arriving shortly The press knows that you're spending the night with the illustrious Henry Madden and despite what you might think All is right with the world you presume a great deal Did it ever enter your head that yet? I might have other business to attend to even more imperative than this and That by allowing the newspapers to know I'm here you are ruining some very carefully laid plans This transaction has tough priority over everything this transaction has tough priority over everything Who that devil do you think you are? My coming to get what you have is vital enough, but my method for getting the information out of the country is even more so I Hope you can see that and if you insist upon keeping me here until tomorrow night to check my authenticity You are going to delay perhaps for quite some time the sending of your years work. I wasn't told anything about that Well, isn't that a shame? Why don't you put in a call to Joe and tell him your troubles better a delay done other than a complete waste of time and energy You can think of a faster way in which I can check on you. All right One of the big troubles with our organization is that you never know who you're dealing with until you take the trouble to check on Everything they say and do and sometimes it's difficult. We've gotten so efficient. We don't even know who we are Come down here up. It's pleasant here. Frankly. I don't think you're an imposter But if you were in my place You'd do just what I'm doing. Yes, I would indeed But this delay is bad really bad man. I have said all the pre-arranged things given the money and say Don't you keep a file or anything like that? My files only cover people working for us in the general area. All right All right, so you have to check and suppose I'm an imposter You've told the press I'm visiting you you'd have to let me go Don't be naive Donna Of course, I'd let you go Just how far do you think you'd go before you had a tragic and Irreparable accident I'll come along and meet Miriam She's really a charming girl The probably we hail production edge of the curtain will return in just a moment for the second act Who is the smartest woman of the year why the woman who puts on that new blue uniform of the United States Air Force? She's being seen more and more around the nation these days. She's smart in another way, too She started a great career as a WAF one of the women in the Air Force working side-by-side with the men of the Air Force She wears her Air Force blue proudly with a sense of personal accomplishment because she's doing a needed job More and more young women 18 to 34 are finding out that the smart thing to do is to get the complete details at the nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station to put on the smart blue uniform Worn by the women in the Air Force How about you can you qualify? You are listening to proudly we hail and now with your star Paul Lucas in the role of Stefan Donner We present the second act of edge of the curtain Do you like it lovely decadent Donna decadent? Decadent Would you rather hear something like this? You know what that was that was life on a communal farm in the Ukraine That's what they want to hear. That's what I play for them What I wear plugs in my ears when I do you're priceless. You should talk to my father. He'd love you. Oh And why he says there are a bunch of barbarians trying to act like human beings one day he may wake up surprised Tell me I'm I'm curious I've been everywhere in Europe East and West and Nowhere in the world is there a country like yours where people have so much of everything Nowhere is then atmosphere such and as you find here and yet Why are the people like yourselves? Openly opposed to a way of living and thinking that has given you all this look my father is a dictatorial Napoleonic narrow reactionary Certainly, he's rich and how did he get rich from the sweat off other people's backs. Is that what you know or is that what you read in some book? You don't look like you ever worked a day in your life How do you know the workers paradise you advocate is something that the workers themselves want it takes education Yes, education I've seen the kind of education it takes Both by the Nazis and now your camera. You don't sound very sympathetic to what we were talking about earlier I can work for a living without being sympathetic. I'm a musician a neutral. I take no sides. I observe I Asked question. You're a complete cynic as well And your friends would even kill the beauty in it. You sound like a chauvinistic romantic donor This thing is coming. It's been coming for a long time It's a new dynamic force in the world and I much prefer to be a part of it than to oppose it with worn out All ideas and capitalistic slogan madam. There is nothing new about this first. It began with Cain and Abel It's bigger now. That's all Where's more window dressing and this far more terrible? It seeks nothing more dynamic than world slavery clap track. What about the little people? little people What does that mean? Who is little and who is big on this earth? Every man is answerable to God no matter how much power he holds and no matter how much he abuses it little people indeed The only people who are little are the ones who have too little up here to figure it out Hank I thought you said he was working with us Perhaps we have to convince them. We're right one way or the other so far you have convinced me of nothing You'll pay me money to say the things you're right other than that nothing and You madam are a spoiled child with a father come. Hi you who needs a good spanking and you sir are an opportunist and I am Donna a musician who takes no sides You certainly did a fine job of convincing her that was the general idea It's better than she thinks I'm not in symptom When are you going to send her home? Oh, she's staying overnight at a rower the father. Does he know she comes here? Of course not. He'd probably shoot me if he did That wouldn't be a bad idea madam She's about a steady and trustworthy as the wind I Recommend you get rid of and I recommend you mind your own business It might be well to remember in this business the business of one is the business of all Good night, sir That in the fire, sir Well in rink We don't have much time Tomorrow evening someone will be arriving who can identify me and we better act now And I no doubt our American friends are watching this place They know we are here, but they won't make a move until I give them the signal and then what they move in They got madden his files the information But madam was smart enough to let the newspapers know I was staying here My name couldn't be kept out of it. Our friends on the other side would know or at least suspect and When we would be of no more use didn't you say Richards felt it was worth it only as a last resort We haven't reached that yet There's another reason to the girl Little idiot doesn't know what she's mixed up in It would ruin her and her father as well. Well, what are you suggests? It's too risky sending a blink a message with a flashlight If one of us could get out and Yes, who is it madden? Can I have a word with you? What is That gun necessary under the circumstances. Yes back up over there both of you get your hands up What kind of a game is a game you lost? I won't have to wait until tomorrow night now since you've told me everything I want to know there are three microphones in this room all in excellent condition my fault sir. I didn't check I didn't think that here Everywhere ring everywhere. Well, all right. You've got us now what you can't get away It might be wise to make a deal What a nerve you're through making deals in a very short time the whole neighborhood is going to be aroused for Henry Madden's home is going up in flame and smoke a frightful accident since the great Stefan Donner in his valley will perish in the fire Oh, I assure you it will look authentic most of the servants are in bed. They'll have to flee for their lives Some of them may not get out this place is a tinderbox and with a little gasoline to help It'll all go up in a poof in the confusion I'll disappear with the papers and the money and later We thought that I too perish in the flames you will make a deal and what about you charming house guests You know, I've been thinking about that. You're right. She doesn't fit in. We'll let her sleep and if she gets out That's her good luck. What do you mean Hank? Huh? What's that gun for what you were asleep? You're talking woke me Hank. What's the matter? Get in there? Hey, you aren't a sound asleep. I don't understand. It's quite simple. He's planning to burn us all up Why Hank what we are not his friends as he thought and you are an unnecessary race So you must have read it somewhere the means justifies the end Hank have you gone mad? You thought it was an intellectual tea party, didn't you? It's too bad. You have to find out differently in such a manner, but That are late than never. Thank you You wouldn't hurt me believe me Mary. I'm sorry the entire picture's changed What I have to do is more important than you or even myself What he means is that you might get in his way and so he has to make sure that you don't This is no time for fine talk He's going to murder the three of us for the glorious cause and for the blindness of his warped ego shut up Turn around turn around don't or I'll shoot you where you stand. Don't hurt me, please Please you said you love me Back over here Donna your first. Don't worry. I'm not going to shoot you for they find your body I don't want any bullet holes in it. I'll knock you out. That's all there'll be to it All right, hold it right there. It's been interesting and now Yeah, he's gone Everything down here is something gasoline. See what I strike a match and Now get out if you can Donna I've got the papers and I've got the money too and by the time I become a needle in the haystack of America This year's work will be in Paul's hands and you whether you get out or not will be exposed for what you are I've been you Cross beam landed right on He was so right this place is a tender box. Come on. They've got to get the girl and find a way out It's almost out Yes, I'll have ring get a car and take you home You're not going to turn me over to the police You have done nothing more than be a fool. You nearly paid a terrible penalty for it. I Hope this has taught you a little This fight is not a fight of new ideas or of their wanting something better for anyone You saw an edge of the curtain pulled back. You saw a bit of what lies underneath There are many Madden and there are many like you go for one reason or other get bound up in this thing and go blind If this has opened your eyes Something good has been done here tonight. I'm so confused perhaps if you talk to your father You might straighten you out on a few points Where will you go now back to my piano and you will forget that you were ever here that this ever happened That I ever talk this way to you. Is that right? Yes Now we'll take you home. I Wondered how you managed to hit him just as he was going to strike you with a gun I was facing the mirror when I saw the gun raised above my head I grabbed it and well, he would have killed me and now and now he's dead by his own hand May God have pity on his soul Ring ring. Yeah. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. See if you can get a car. It's time miss Corby went home Yes, sir. Very good, sir in just a moment registered nurses the United States Air Force Medical Service Offers you a great opportunity to serve your country and further your own career Yes, you can become a commissioned officer with good pay and allowances while you receive post graduate training in anesthesia Operating room management and techniques nursing administration and other related fields Nurses with special qualifications may train as flight nurses at the famous Air Force School of Aviation Medicine For complete information right to the Surgeon General United States Air Force, Washington 25, D.C. Do it now This has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force recruiting service Proudly we hail stars Paul Lucas edge of the curtain was written by DeWitt cop The music was composed and conducted by John one year This program was produced under the supervision of Charles and Rogers productions and was directed by Charles Wilkes This is Kenneth Banghart speaking and here again as your host and star Paul Lucas We cordially invite you to be with us again over the same station next week for proudly we hail Our place entitled Weekend at Colin Cods. We hope you'll join us then until next week. Goodbye