 The lead upon company of Wilmington Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry, presents the Cavalcade of America. Tonight's play, Star and Shield, starring Broderick Crawford and featuring the very young Miss Eileen Merrie. Star and Shield is a true story out of the American canvas. It might happen anywhere in your town or mine. It actually happened in Union City in the fall of 1952. Union City, New Jersey. Here's across the Hudson River at the sprawling giant of Gotham. Close enough to see the towers and yet far enough away to be a big little city all on its own. Just a block or two off the main stem is the corner of Central Avenue and 32nd Street. To the Hudson County Motorcycle Police, this is Post 35. For the past 28 years, the regular noontime beat of Officer Bill Camp. All right, come on now, you kids. The whole lot of you are on the double. Let's go. Let's go. All right, take it snappy. Last one across is a ring-tailed monkey. Hey, you there. Little half-bite. Are you crossing or not? Come on now. You're holding up traffic. Your last warning. Are you coming? All right. Stay right where you are then. Now see here, Miss. Isn't there enough piggledy-piggledy in life without you having to park yourself on a street corner, not common, not gone. Just stay and put. Hello. You've been standing there ever since I came on duty now. You want to get across? No. You don't want to get across? No. You're just satisfied to stay where you are. Don't you go home for lunch? No. Why do you can't go back to school without lunch? I've got to go. Uh-huh. Atroant, eh? What's that? Atroant? Well, atroant... Atroant is someone that should be in school, but isn't. It's a pretty terrible crime. But I don't know. Let's go. Oh? Aren't you going to do that traffic no more? No, I'm not. Now, surely you're not atroant. Because if you're not, the way you say it, it's a technicality. What's that? Now, never mind. Never mind that now. How old are you? I'm almost nice. How old are you? Lee, I'm 53. I... What business is this of yours? How old I am? These are very personal questions. This is disgraceful. It's very private. Look, I have two girls of my own. They're all grown up now. When they were small, they looked very much like you. But that's my private business, and I'm not telling anyone. What's your name? That's private business, and I'm not telling anyone. But I'm a policeman. That's not anyone. That's someone. Oh, it's Margaret. Where do you live, Margaret? Down there. Won't your mommy be looking for you for lunch? I live with them all. Oh? Aren't you going to do that traffic no more? Well, you see, right now I happen to be on my lunch hour, and I... Perhaps you'd like to join me, huh? You going to a restaurant? Yeah, I am. Can I have some hamburger? Yeah. And peach pie? Yeah. So maybe I think I'll join you on our half-moon burger and peach pie. Another swallow of milk there. You want to stop sneezing and finish it up? Ah, you want some more? Oh, no. Yeah, come here, come here. Let me clean your face up with this napkin. You've got a milk and a hamburger much better than it is. You know something? I bet if you had a bath, you'd turn out to be real pretty. You tell your grandma I said so, will you? But you don't have a bath. Oh? You've got a sink. Them are going to look me up and down anymore. I'm too big. So you don't get bathed? Not all over, not ever. Let me ask you something, Miss Margaret. Have you got a last name? No, I'm sorry. Everybody has a last name. Oh, kittens don't? Don't they? They just don't. If I had a kitten, I would give a last name. Would you? The same as yours? Same as mine. I would call a kitten. The only. The only, huh? That's your grandma's name too? No, her name is Grandma. Well, I'll tell you what we're going to do. Right now we're going to pay a visit to Grandma. Can we come for lunch again tomorrow? Sure. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. You and me. You know what? We're going steady. The answer is it, Margaret. My friend called at the window house. He said it was good. It wouldn't surprise me a bit. So come on, let's go in and see Grandma. Don't they ever have a light in this hallway? Don't need a light. Nothing seems to see anywhere. Just go bow, that thing. I think somebody out there has one. I think of Grandma, but I do. I smell things and do you know what? What? Right in the hall. Well, not only how to write, but you know what else? No, what else? A chair. I mean, a real one. That's it. You don't say. I guess that's real. No, I can't see a thing here. Is this the door? Uh-huh. Well, what's the matter, Officer? Is something wrong? I mean, trouble, Officer, what is it? No, no, it's no trouble at all, Mother. We just had lunch together, and I had a few minutes before going back on duty, and I thought I'd drop in and meet Grandma. Margaret told me a lot about you. May I come in? Well, yeah. Come in, please. Sit down. Sit down, Officer, please. Oh, thanks. Oh, I can offer you a cup of tea. No, no, no, no, no. Don't get any trouble, Mother. Margaret and I had a fine time together. Matter of fact, she had the whole rest I'm talking. Not many youngsters earlier had to find manners with the table. Oh, well, manners is something for even poor folks to afford. I do my best to teach her right. Look, I don't sound inquisitive, Mother, but what about Margaret's folks, her parents? Well, her father's dead. Her mother lives and works in New York. She comes and lives sometimes when she can. And you're her grandmother? I'm a great grandmother. Oh. You're not going to start singing to take Margaret away from me, are you? Take her to an institution, are you? Oh, no, I wouldn't do that, Mother. Well, we get by, but we get by pretty well. And on what? Well, I've got a little pension, but we get by. Let's be a little tough, huh? No, we manage. Tell me, where is Margaret's sweep? It's here. I'll show you. There isn't even a window in this room. Yeah, it ain't that scary. How's it a window where you sweep? It's still, Mother. Oh, wait. It leaks like a smell of oil all over the place, and that's dangerous. I didn't mean to buy a new one, but, well, it's often a little difficult for me. Yeah, I suppose it is. Well, Mother, tomorrow, the first thing, you go to Cramer's department store and get yourself a new stove. Oh, you mean a stove? Cramer! Here's $10. You tell Mr. Threadway that this is a down payment for me to send me the payment book for the rest. Oh, it's not right for me to let you do this, while we're just strangers. I want to do it. I really do. I want to. And I don't think you have the right to refuse me, Mother. And I hope you won't. Oh, well, all right, Officer. But it's not for me. It's for Margaret. All right, let's look at it that way, then. Now, one other thing. I'd like to have Margaret come and spend the weekend with me. Yeah, I'll try it. I've got two grown daughters. I know they love to meet Margaret. May she come? Well, yes. I suppose it would be all right. I'm coming to your house, Mrs. Vander. Uh-huh. And then I can rest. Come with me. Yeah. I'm coming to see Aunt Threadway. Well, that's part of it, Margaret. But the main reason you're coming is to have a bath. Oh, Margaret. It's not all over the place now. You know, I think you'd better get a mop. And you'd better get that little water rat out of the bathtub before he dissolves. I'll get the mop. How's she coming in there, Debbie? You were right, Pa. Right about what? He's cute as a button. Well, I've always had good taste, you know that. Is it all right for a daughter to tell her old man that he's a pretty sweet guy? No, wait a minute. I'm a cop. They don't make cops sweet. It's bad for business. Oh, sure. A real tough cop. Now, don't start getting mushy with me. She's just a kid that needed a bath. Lots of kids need baths. Yeah, and lots of grown-ups see that they get them. The whole world isn't made up of selfish souls, Dorothy. It's made up mostly of just plain people, mostly good ones. Margaret! Look at this here. I'm not finished. Oh, my gosh, the mop. Oh, forget the mop. Just get a can and we can bail. The bathroom's under water. Hey, you are a pretty little girl, aren't you? Now, come on. Off to bed. Valerie and Dorothy will take you up. Oh, do I have to? Yes, you have to. I'm saying so, and I'm a cop. Yes, sir. Don't forget to say your prayers. Oh, I don't have to say prayers. They only say prayers when they haven't got anything. And tonight, I've got just anything in the world. All right, guys, on a parole call. Now, Alton, patrol the Paterson Plank Road. Vibrant? Yes. North Pike. Lynch? Yes. North of the Circle. Campbell? Yes. 35 Post Central Avenue in 30 seconds. Oh, Campbell, I want to see you for a minute. Rest is missed. You want to see me, Lieutenant? Lieutenant first, won't you? Come on, I'll go with you. Some room? You'll find out soon enough. Is Campbell, Lieutenant? Oh, hey, Campbell. How long have you been with the Hudson County police? Let's see. I got in 1925, which means that by now, we're going to know how this outfit operates. Well, yes. We operate as a team together. We don't like it when one of our men decides to make it like a lone wolf. I don't know what you're talking about, Lieutenant. Oh. Innocent, huh? I don't know what you're talking about. We're like dogs. We got undercover operators. We know what's going on. We got you nailed to the mass. Are you guys nuts? You might as well confess. Confess, though. There's a dame involved. A dame? Don't deny it. Fine or closed. Fixing up her apartment. That's a pretty big order for a cop making 6750 a week. What, Campbell? We know the whole story. Yeah, she's a blonde, too. And her name is Margaret Leone. Oh, little Margaret. So we're telling you now, Campbell, we're not letting you do this anymore. That's right. Not alone, anyway. What? We're in it with you. The whole department. We got a fun start of all the boys that chippin' in. And what have you got to say about that? What have I got to say? Nothing. I'd better say nothing. Your guys are a lot too tough for me. The story's starring Shield, starring Robert Crawford as Bill Campbell, and featuring Miss Eileen Mary as Margaret. The following, little Margaret Leone literally became a member of the Hudson County Motorcycle Police Corps, standing straight and proud next to Bill Campbell. She'd appear at every roll call. Call. Call it, John. Post-2014, Campbell. Here, sir. Post-35. Leone. Post-35. And a half. And the whole community took Margaret to its highest. Merchants dressed her like a princess. The whole family school enrolled her into kindergarten, and everybody repeated her bright little saying. Oh, so there you are. How old have you been all afternoon? Been in the library. In the library? Did I play it? She couldn't do it. Well, what did you do? I took out five books, and I... And then it was Thanksgiving, the day before Thanksgiving, and Officer Bill Campbell went up to the shabby little house on Central Street. Hello, Mother. Oh, hello, Officer Campbell. Come in, please. How have you been feeling, Mother? Have you been taking your medicine? Oh, yes, yes. Look, I just dropped by to ask if you and Margaret can come to the house tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner. Oh. I'll pick you up in my car. Well, I don't know. I... There's nothing wrong. Well, I don't understand it. I don't know what to do. Come on, Mother, what is it? Well, we... Margaret and me, we've got to get out. Get out? Yes, it's what they call an eviction. What? Yeah, they gave me the papers. Eviction? What's it all about? Well, I'm going to tear this place down. That's what they say. I spoke to the social worker, and she says that it's the law that we have to get out. She says that it would be best for me to go to the county home. And Margaret... Margaret, she'll have to go to... Oh, we can't take her like that. Is this right? Well, now wait a minute. Take it easy, Mother. Oh, well... I told you once. I'd see that they wouldn't take Margaret away from you. And they won't. Oh, this is how... How did you stop her? This is the law. I'll tell you what. You worry about how much turkey you can eat tomorrow. Let me worry about the law. There's turkey. I think maybe we ought to take a couple of seconds to think of all we have to be thankful for. It's a lot to crowd into a few seconds, I know, but let's give it a try, huh? All right, now we can dig in. What could you thank for, Bill? Please? Well, for being alive, for being here, for having all of you with me. Hey, what about you, Margaret? For my new dress, for grandma's getting better, for most of all, for best of all, for you. Checked into the whole matter, Bill. There isn't much to do. You're tearing the old buildings down. That's a good thing. Yeah, sure it is, Lieutenant. But what's going to happen to Margaret and Grandma? They've got to be kept together. I even offered to have them come and live with me, but the old lady said, no, she just won't do it. You can't blame her. It's a matter of pride, or I know that too. But if they put her in the county home, Margaret will have to go to an institution. Well, there's no other way. I don't suppose she could go to New York and live with her mother. Look, her mother has one little room in a cheap boarding house. She really makes enough to support herself. I don't think that Margaret will have to leave school. It's just... Hello, Bill. Hello, John. The white people knock on doors. But I remember of the forest. Oh, I forgot. Hey, hey, hey. Look at those no-shoes. How'd you get so much mud on them? My friend Rowe, Joey, and me, we've done walking them new houses on Hudson Boulevard. You better be careful down around there. Oh, they're going to be the last wonderful houses, like, like palaces almost. Well, kind of old rent palaces. They have ice boxes with our ice and... Lieutenant. ...and bathtub. Look at them in there. Aren't you listening, Bill? Yes, sure, sure. It can't be done, Bill. And shall we be real sharp? Why can't it be done? Isn't anybody listening to me? They got regulations that say only married couples with children can get in. I'm going to see Mayor Thoreau. It's not the mayor who makes the regulations. It's the housing authority. I'm still going to go see the mayor. Yes. Well, what? Well, I think both of you are a guest family. Mayor Thoreau, it's the only way to keep Margaret and the old lady together. Can't something be done? You know what you're asking, Bill. There are regulations put down by the housing authority that are set. Definite. To change them means public hearings, debates, all kinds of rigs. Excuse me, Mayor. There's a little story I remember. It's about Lincoln, I think. There was a woman who had four sons. They were all in the Army. Her husband had died and unless she had one of her sons to help bring in the crops, she'd be destitute. She'd go into the War Department. The commanding officer, she'd go in everywhere. Always she got the same answer. It's impossible. It's regulations. Finally, in desperation, she got in to see Lincoln. He listened to her story, reached for a little pad of paper and a pencil, and he wrote two words. Do it. One of the boys got home. I'm not Lincoln, Bill. You've got a pad and a pencil. Why don't you use it? Here's Lottellet. Where's your partner? Well, Margaret. She's chocolate wheeled on the other side of the street. Bill, you know John Tobler. Oh, sure. How are you, Mr. Tobler? That's fine, Bill. How'd you make out with Mayor Thoreau? I don't know, Lottellet. I just don't know. Well, while you were up there with him, I thought I'd drop in on John here. You know, he owns the property Margaret's houses are. Oh, no, I didn't know. Yes, and I'm awfully sorry about this eviction business. Those old houses are eye sores, and well, I thought I was doing a public service for halting them down. I didn't know about this, Margaret, and her grandmother until Lieutenant Cruz told me. Mr. Tobler's willing to hold up the eviction proceeding. Oh, that's all. Well, how long? Well, we had everything set to start pulling down the buildings next week, but if I can find a spot for the kid and her grandmother in the housing project, I'll hold off, turn the buildings down until they can move into the new place. Of course, though, if you can do that. Yeah, sure, sure. Well, you understand. Yeah, sure. Hey, here comes a little lady now. Hi, Margaret. Hello, Lieutenant Trush. Meet Mr. Tobler. How do you do? I'm fine, thanks. Well, tell me, any business, Margaret? Just one car with a 24 ticket. That's the green one down at the end of the block. It's got two truck marks on it now. Sure looks like a ticket on it. Holy smoke! What's the matter, John? That's my car. Isn't it a wonderful Christmas party? Just look at it, Margaret. It's wonderful, Dorothy. Oh, I just wish that... Now, everything's going to be all right. Dad says that it's going to be all right. He's done so much for us. Your father and Lieutenant Trush and Lieutenant Cropp, you know, all the other officers. So much. It's the only reason to expect them to do more. Okay, it's still a little time. Oh, you have to be my age to know how little time can be. Oh, hello, Mother. Are you enjoying the party? Yes, yes indeed. A deal. Yeah, what? I haven't told her yet. Oh, about the eviction, huh? Yeah, I haven't told her, but she'll know tomorrow. It's the last day. Why don't you come and stay with us? Oh, please? No, no. That would be taking advantage of kindness. That would spoil it. Margaret! Well, what have you got there? Yes, no, Joey. Oh, look at this. Christmas comes to the Christmas party. Christmas, Mr. Mayor? Now, you fellas, you'll cause me a pile of worry. This little girl and my grandmother are great-grandmother and great-grandmother. Merry Christmas. Oh, merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. I've got a little present for you for you both. Oh, what is it, sir? An apartment of the new housing project. Three and a half rooms, rents $18 a month. You got it? Send. Just use the pencil and the bag. Hey, that's terrific. Well, I'm going to put in a call for John Tobler. This means he'll hold up wrecking until the apartment's ready. When will that be, Your Honor? I'm afraid. Your Honor, I don't know what to say. Well, it's about Christmas, Mayor. I must tell you, Margaret. What's this all about, Mayor? It's about how people, some good people, make Christmas come all year round. Open the door. Hey, be careful. Some of the pants still wet. All right. Go ahead. Go ahead. Oh, it is wonderful, Margaret. There's the kitchen right in there. This is the living room. Grandma's bedroom will be there. Oh, my. Hey, Margaret. Yes, sir. Finish, yes. Come on, take a look right through this door. Well, Margaret, we would also like to express our gratitude and admiration to the Hudson County Motorcycle Police Car for its cooperation in the preparation of our story tonight. And I'll go Hamilton, speaking for the DuPont Company. On an early cavalcade program, way back in 1936, it was reported with awe that 18,600 chemists belonged to the American Chemical Society. That seemed like a lot at the time. But America has grown, and so has her need of chemists. Today, the American Chemical Society has more than 66,000 members. What does it mean to have so many chemists in our country continually striving to create new and better things? Well, most important, it means that the growth of chemistry is a result of contributions to our better living. Entire new industries have been founded, and thousands of people have found new employment. New fibers, new medicines, more food and safer food, better transportation, greater comfort and better health have stemmed from new chemical knowledge. And it's been a major source of strength in our national defense. The future contributions may be limited by a severe shortage of chemists, engineers and other scientists. Too few high school students are preparing for technical careers. And yet, the opportunity has never been as great as it is today and appears to be in the future. To bring this opportunity to the attention of high school students and their parents, the American Chemical Society has prepared a booklet called Shall I Study Chemistry? It answers questions about what chemists do, what working conditions and job opportunities young chemists can expect, what personal characteristics favor success in chemistry. For a free copy, for yourself or for some young friend, write to DuPont Cavalcade, Wilmington, Delaware. Ask for the booklet Shall I Study Chemistry? You may also wish to bring this booklet to the attention of your local high school. The DuPont Company hopes that many young Americans will decide upon chemistry as a career. For DuPont detends upon today's students of science the health and supplying America with better things for better living through chemistry. Tonight's DuPont Cavalcade was written by Irv Tunick. Original music was composed by Arden Cornwell conducted by Donald Borey. The program was directed by John Zoller with our star, Roderick Crawford. You heard Eileen Mary as Margaret. Others were Ethel Browning, Sandra Spicer, Mary Fickett, Les Damon, Michael Kent, Stopped Cutsworth and Alan Hewitt. We're reminding you to be with us next week when the DuPont Cavalcade will present The Secret Road, our star, Lee Bowman. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Red Cross Month. Each year this organization answers an increasing number of calls for help. Calls that can be answered only with your participation. This month, do your part to help the Red Cross answer the call. The DuPont Cavalcade of America came to you from the Velasco Theater in New York City and is sponsored by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. Blue Chemistry. Tonight, just for last, listen to Red Skelton on NBC.