 Remember, a hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. Hallmark greeting card bring you Edmund Gwent in Helen Ashton's Dr. Sarah Cole on the Hallmark Playhouse. Mark 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 a story which has always had a place on the rather small shelf of books which I reread every now and then and never tire of. It is Dr. Sarah Cole by a very fine English writer Helen Ashton. Doctors often make good heroes in novels. They are dedicated men, and their work takes them close to the bare bones of human experience. Dr. Sarah Cole is, I should say, one of the most memorable doctors in fiction, and this story of one day in his life has a warmth and a humanity which demands, which demands much from the actor portraying it. We are lucky, therefore, to have in the part of Dr. Sarah Cole tonight an actor whose success on both stage and screen has endeared him to millions, Mr. Edmund Gwent. And now a word from Frank Goss before we begin the first act of Dr. Sarah Cole. At Christmas, as on every memorable occasion, you'll take special pride in sending hallmark cards because just as for hundreds of years the word hallmark has been the distinguishing symbol of quality throughout the English-speaking world, the hallmark on the back of your greeting cards is your assurance of finest quality and perfect taste. It's a symbol of quality all will quickly recognize and realize you cared enough to send the very best. Now hallmark playhouse presenting Helen Ashton's Dr. Sarah Cole starring Edmund Gwent. A long past midnight, but Dr. Sarah Cole still sat over his day book making the entrance. Let me see now. The day began at 2.30 a.m. Yes, began at 2.30 a.m. and ended at 11.45 p.m. A lot of things happened in between. A lot of things do happen in a doctor's day. Mrs. Purvis pounded on the door 2.30 this morning when the call came. Dr. Sarah Cole, you're running over at Dr. Gwent's house at once. A chill of October was in the air as I hurried down the street and the chill of my October years quickened my breath and slowed my footsteps. 2.30 in the morning was early and my years were late. I sat by Dr. Gwent's bedside. We had worked side by side in the village for over 40 years. Luke, Luke, take good care of everyone. When I left his house, a light fog from the river missed the village. The moisture dripped from the trees and from the eaves of the houses as though already they wept for him. Behind the darkened windows, the people he had left in my trust slipped. And I found myself thinking, he's left you to me. And I don't know how long I have to live. I wouldn't know until the letter arrived from that London specialist telling me whether or not I had the fatal disease doctor and patient alike feared above all others. It had been a week since I'd gone to London for the examination. The letter should come today. Well, the postman was starting his rounds as I came up the walk. It was 7 o'clock. No letter. No? Well, it was still the evening mail. By 8 o'clock, I was away on my... To the office. I was a few minutes late getting in and my nurse was already at her desk. Good morning, Dr. Seracold. She followed me into my office and sat down before my desk. I told her about Dr. Gaunt as briefly as possible. Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Dr. Seracold. Now, I know how you must feel after working together all these years. Yes, yes. You have a surgery at 9 then, Dr. Seracold. The patient of Dr. Gaunt. Huh? Oh, very well. Surgery at 9. Surgery at 9. It was a mess, though. The girl had to be operated on at once if her brain abscess was to be avoided. And it was a couple of years since I'd had such a case to deal with. A bit frightening to face. Yes. I went in to see her and, uh... Good morning, Dr. Seracold. I looked at her. She was flushed. Her pulse was rapid. She was in a panic. Dr, I don't want an operation. I can't help it. I don't want an operation. Well, that's understandable. No one ever wants an operation. But sometimes, well, we just have to have them. And you've got nothing to worry about. Do you think I'd be sitting here checking with you if you had anything to worry about? Uh-oh. No, I'd be out there walking up and down worrying. I... I guess it is chilly. Yes, of course it is. Now, now. You just keep in mind that in an hour, maybe even less, this whole thing is going to be over. And you will be back in here getting well. Yes, yes. You've got to have faith in me, baby. Oh, I... I have faith in you, Dr. Seracold. Not faith in me. Faith in God. Surgery. The noise of bubbling water and roaring gas on the sharp, amusing smell of ether. The round circle of light from the head mirror. The scalpel. The curved incision. Your hand clenched on the instrument. Your mind clenched on your knowledge of anatomy. Here's the iodiform gauze, Dr. I pecked the wound with a gauze. Slowly, carefully. And inside, I was thanking God for his mercy and kindness to the girl on the table. And to me. Time consumed by the operation? Forty-five minutes. Time saved by the operation? Forty-five years. Perhaps more. A lot of things happen in a doctor's day. 9 a.m. surgery. 10 a.m. Call to the vicarage to see the vicar's wife. Dr. Gaunt's patient. She's out on a call right now, but she'll be back any moment if you care to wait in the parlor, Dr. Sarko. I sat down in a stiff corner chair, and I looked as I always did, towards the door, to see if Catherine was standing there. And then, as always, I felt a little foolish. For Catherine had been dead for 38 years, and I was probably the only one in the beliefs that remembered that there had once been a reverend friar living in the vicarage whose daughter, Catherine, had married Luke Seracold when he was a young assistant, and had died the next year when her baby was born. Catherine, to remember Catherine, is to remember laughter. And it's to remember youth and dreams and words softly spoken in the star-steb darkness. To remember Catherine is to remember spring, and the springtime of my life, the memory of her voice, is the music I carry always in my heart. Yes, thank you. We'll have our own small house, and at night we'll sit in front of this fire with our dreams. Catherine's face, golden in the firelight turned towards mine. Luke, you have such strength. You can conquer anything in the world, even death. Think of it, darling. You can conquer anything. Catherine's words burning in my veins, giving me new strength, new confidence. Oh, Luke, I'm so happy it's almost frightening. I suppose when anything goes as deep as this, you can't help but think what it would be like to lose it. I couldn't live without you. Catherine in my arms, warm, glowing, alive, and behind her, the moments running out quickly in times hourglass. A baby. Oh, Luke, just think a baby of our own. Luke, I want six sons, and I want them all to look exactly like you. Oh, Luke, isn't it wonderful to be alive? Isn't it wonderful to be alive? Catherine's voice always linked in my consciousness to the voice of Dr. Gaunt. Don't, Luke, you'd better go in. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. To remember Catherine is to remember sorrow so deep. It was inexpressible. To remember Catherine is to remember youth flickering out in her eyes and knowledge sifting in. To remember Catherine is to remember spring. Spring's ending. And tears in the night. Good morning, Dr. Cerakold. Didn't you hear me? What? Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Carmichael. I was a thousand miles away. I was thinking about the days when I was young, and Dr. Gaunt asked me to look in on you. We shall all miss him. It gives us one a queer feeling, his passing. Yes. He always thinks so well and so alive somehow. It makes you wonder how long... I said, Kate, to leave the vicar alone just now. Mrs. Carmichael, you're not going to be leaving the vicar. I can see a big improvement since the time I stopped by with Dr. Gaunt. Three months ago. You can. Can you really, Dr. Cerakold? Yes, I can. Now, if you will promise me to do as I say, I can promise you a good many years with the vicar. Oh, thank you, Dr. Cerakold. You don't know what it means when people have been married as long as we have to face the thought of separation. That's right, Mrs. Carmichael. Only you two who have been so fortunate as to have had those years... Mrs. Carmichael. Thank God for that. Regents started for my next call, but I had a new feeling of hope. It was as though I... Well, I touched Catherine's hand, and the smoky flame of my life had begun to burn a little brighter. She had said... I could conquer death. Well, I wouldn't know by the end of the day. Surely the letter from the London Specialist would be there... when I got home. We'll return to the second act of Dr. Cerakold, starring Edmund Gwynne. If you are like most of us, you will want to have several boxes of assorted Christmas cards to have on hand for completing your list and to take care of last-minute editions. You'll find a complete array of hallmark box selections to choose from at the friendly store where you'll buy your hallmark cards. And just because they are hallmark cards doesn't mean they need to be expensive. For example, for only 50 cents, there's a box titled Hallmark Snow Scenes, with 12 colorful Christmas winter scenes that would delight anyone. Then there's the hallmark big-value box that contains 22 different Christmas cards for only $1. And there's a special box for the kiddies who are appealing they will want to keep a set themselves. Among the many other hallmark box selections are old-time prints by Currier and Ives, colorful Christmas scenes by Norman Rockwell, with the kindly understanding for which he is famous, verses by Edgar A. Guest, America's favorite poet, winter scenes that recapture childhood memories by Grandma Moses. In some hallmark boxes, you will even find a large reproduction of one of the subjects for you to frame and keep. Whatever your taste and whatever your budget, make sure to find hallmark cards that will please you. And remember, when your friends receive these fine cards and look on the back, as you did, they'll see the hallmark and know you cared enough to spend the very best. And now here is the second act of Dr. Thericold, darling Edmund Gwynne. In a doctor's day, 11 a.m., inoculated the five brown children for diphtheria. They were afraid of the needle. I want it! I want it! I want it! I looked down at the small, anguished face and as all children did, the little girl immediately became my own. No, no, no, Susie. Susie. Do you know what's in this needle? No. A lot of little, tiny people. So small, you can't even see them, except for the microscope. And these people are all carrying tiny swords. And as soon as they get inside you, they make war on all the bad old germs. Now, this needle is like a little, tiny bridge for the soldiers to walk across from their home, in this vial, to your arm. See? Now, there's nothing frightening about that, is there? No, I guess not. No, no. Now you, you hold real still, see? So that none of the little people will be hurt as they march into your arm. There. There, we are there. Now, that, that didn't hurt, did it, eh? No, no, no. Dr. Sericale. Well, Susie, you ask me again when you're 21 and I'll take the matter under my serious consideration town's house thinking over Susie's proposal. Susie would be 21 in 14 years. Where would I be in 14 years? I felt a sudden, gnawing pain in my inside and I realized if the report from London was what I feared it would be, in less than one year I'd be sleeping beside chattering and what will I leave behind me? What monuments had I built? What discoveries had I made? None. None. It was new, but I turned towards home and lunch, fighting a dark midnight of despair. Two o'clock, called on mis-pure fire at the Dile House High Street, town had improved. Four o'clock gave four more diphtheria injections. Four o'clock drove up to see Lady Catrick of Carfax Hall. Lady Catrick would be down immediately, Dr. Sericale. I walked into the regal sitting room of Carfax Hall and waited. I didn't like Lady Catrick. She was tactless, heavy-handed, over fond of authority, but I was fond of her son and I worried about him. Well, Dorothy, here you are at last. I want to talk to you about my son Harry. He's not at all well just now but he's being extremely annoying. He's taking it into his head that he wants to marry the Parsons daughter at Hoh Davis. Oh, yes, Angela Fletcher. I understand she's got quite a good job drawing fashions for some paper. She won't be able to keep Harry under self out of a page of drawings a week. Well, she won't have to. He's got some money of his own. If he hasn't enough, he could oversell this place. Right. Yeah, after all, his father left it to him. Very Carfax? Yeah. Why, this is the family place. The catrics of all would live here. That's what the girls after, though. I love with Harry, do you? How could she be the boy's blind? Now, now, you don't know what you're talking about. Mother, how can you say that? Oh, so you're back, Harry. I told Dr. Seracold I wanted him to tell you how impossible it is for you to think of getting married. I'll not tell him anything of the kind. Let him get married if he wants to get married. Dr. Seracold! How's the boy ever to find any peace of mind if he's battered and bullied and shouted at? If he takes my advice, he'll go up to London tomorrow with Angela and get a special license. Dr. Seracold, you'll never be called to this house again. Leave the room. No. I don't know what Dr. Seracold is thinking about to talk as he does. What right has anyone in your condition to marry? What thought of husband do you think to make? Harry, don't listen to another word. You come away with me. Come now. Just as you are. It's your only chance. If you stay now, you'll be finished. Argued with? Shout it out. You're having the strength to fight her now. The thing to do is to clear out. Yes. Yes, come on then. Don't you dare leave this house! Don't you dare! What is known as an open and shut case of kidnapping? Come on, Harry, my car's right here. Dr. Seracold, is she right? No. Of course she isn't right. My mind isn't going, is it? She seems to think that... No, indeed. Look here. After you were discharged, there was still a splinter of bone pressing on your brain. That's why you had those lapses of memory that you did. After you had that operation in London, you were perfectly all right. You'll be all right now. If you catch it because you kept undermining your own confidence, you're all right, Harry. Here we are. Let's get out now. I didn't want to hurt Angela. If I couldn't make her happy, I... If my blindness would... Harry, do you know what Angela said to me the other day? Well, no. Oh, I didn't know you'd talk to her. Well, I try to keep an eye on everything I can in this part of the country. Angela said... Harry has such a strength. He can conquer anything he wants to conquer. Angela said that. Angela said, when I'm with Harry, I'm so happy. It's almost frightening. I couldn't live without him. Angela said, I want six sons, and I want them all to look exactly like him. Angela said... Angela said... there's ever to be happiness for me. It can only be with Harry. Angela... Oh, Angela, darling. Dr. Seracol told me that you said... Yes. I heard the things that Dr. Seracol said I saw. Thank you for bringing Harry, Dr. Seracol. Yes. Thank you for bringing me home. Well, now I'm sure you two can get along without me. I'm anxious to get home as early as I can. I'm... I'm expecting quite an important letter. M. Lady Patrick of Carfex Hall. 6 p.m. Town Council meeting. I went to the meeting, and then, at last, I was able to hurry home. And there, under the lamp in the hallway, was the letter. I held it in my hands a moment, turning it over and over, thinking I shall know what's the matter with me in a moment. All I have to do is... hear open the envelope to know whether there's death or life inside it. Oh, I don't know how long I stood there before I opened the letter. I only know that, finally, I was blinking at the type of the words. And the words kept... kept blurring in front of me only... only gradually could I make them out. Right. Glad to send you such satisfactory information. I took a more formidable... No, no, no, no. More favorable. Took a more favorable view from the first than you did yourself. Nervous dyspepsia, aggravated by... By what? What? Oh, overwork. Think you have no need for further anxiety. Three months' treatment along the lines of the enclosed instructions. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, I'm getting too old for this sort of thing I thought. Oh, I thought. Oh, dear, I thought I... Thank God. Little, this is Perkins Labour. It's just commencing if you'll come over. I'll be right there, ma'am. Tell her. I'll be right there. Forty-five p.m. delivered a baby to Mrs. Frank Perkins. I stood there, waiting to welcome the child into the world, and... and as I waited, I... I thought, I've seen the whole of my own life again today, and had a chance to think... to think about what it was worth. I'd done a lot of fencing with death in my time, and forced him back more times than one. Maybe I haven't built any monuments, but... but I've given people years to live, and every life is a monument in itself. Every life I've added to. Every life I've helped into the world. Here's young Perkins, isn't he? We're staying up after midnight for a bit. He's a beautiful baby, Dr. Therical. Isn't he beautiful? Well, I suppose to a woman, it's her... Mrs. Perkins will think she is. And what does the doctor think? The doctor always thinks like the mother and the matron of the hospital. But the never was a child quite like this one. At 5 a.m., deliver a baby to Mrs. Perkins. Dear God, thank You for showing me once again today the pattern of faith and the fulfillment of faith. Thank You for guiding my mind and hands this day. And thank You... I must thank You above all for hope. Hope after hopelessness. For life after death. For causing the day that began with an old man's death to end with a birth of a child. Thank You for the 65 years I've lived till ahead of me. A word of advice about how to choose your Christmas cards. Probably no purchase you make is more important. For each Christmas card you send represents your taste. It represents you to your friends and loved ones, your business associates, your new acquaintances. So for this important purchase, go to one of the leading stores in town. One you've learned to trust for what is correct and in good taste. The friendly store where you buy your hallmark cards. New hallmark creations for imprinting with your name and your approval and selection. America's foremost artist. Grandma Moses, Norman Rockwell, and many others have painted hallmark Christmas cards, especially for you. Just ask to see the cards for imprinting with your name. Cards your friends will be proud to receive and show. For when they see the hallmark on the back, they'll know. You cared enough to send the very best. I think our audience will agree with me that you gave a magnificent portrayal of Dr. Seracold and Gwen. He was the perfect reflection of what we all picture as the family doctor. Well, I like playing that character. Seems to be a habit of mine, doesn't it? I've even played old Santa himself. That's right. Well, as you learned then, as I'm sure you've always known, how important that spirit is all the year round. Oh, yes. I certainly do, and I think it's wonderful the way hallmark cards help maintain it with a fine selection of cards for every occasion. We're happy to know you feel that way about hallmark cards, Mr. Gwen, and may I remind you to select your hallmark Christmas cards as soon as you can. I most certainly shall, Frank. Please thank hallmark for me, will you, for my pleasant evening at the playhouse here. We shall, and you're invited to be with us next week when we have that grand actor Charles Coburn in Colonel Effingham's Raid by Barry Fleming. And the week following, we shall present Miss Irene Dunn in Bride of Fortune. Our hallmark playhouse is every Thursday. Our director producer is Bill Gay. Our music is conducted by Lynn Murray, and our script tonight was adapted by Jean Holloway. Until next Thursday then, this is James Hulton saying, Good night. There are sold only 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. Edmund Gwen appeared by arrangement with Metro Golden Mayor, producers of the Technicolor picture that foresight woman starring Errol Flynn, Greer Garson, Walter Pigeon, and Robert Young. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you all until next week at the same time when James Hulton returns to present Colonel Effingham's Raid starring Charles Coburn and the week following, Irene Dunn in Bride of Fortune on the hallmark playhouse. This is KMBC, Kansas City, Missouri.