 Proudly we hail and now another proudly we hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half-hour starring Lee Tracy and Presented transcribed by your army and your Air Force From Radio City, New York here is your star and host on proudly we hail the distinguished Broadway stage screen and radio star The Tracy thank you. Thank you Ken Bang heart welcome again to proudly we hail our program is an adventure story with Intriguing twists and a surprise ending I'll be back after a few words from Kent a few words leave but very important and especially addressed to the young men and young women of America the army in the Air Force want to meet their manpower needs with the greatest possible number of volunteers You can be a volunteer get all the details from your army and your Air Force recruiting station remember you are needed now With our starly Tracy in the role of Kent your army and your Air Force presents a proudly we hail production of Desert flight When a pilot takes off on a flight there's a mark along his map course that stands as a warning to him Should have become necessary to turn back He must do so by the time he reaches this mark or should he go beyond it and then attempt to return His gas supply would be such he would fail This mark is called the point of no return I Dakar a tiny warp on the arid hot belly of French North Africa Dakar hot dirty full of all mixtures and blends of humanity the southwestern oasis of the vast and terrible Sahara desert come in I could be for you and close the door name Text on this hmm from Texas no doubt. That's right You ain't two guns on this the man that down Billy the kid looks Bob. Let's take it easy tax Pull up a glass. Pardon me if I don't get up. Oh mind if I do Say when Well here Are you the guy who is asking for me at the airport? Your flights to anywhere. Yeah, that's me Well, where do you want to go the moon? Yes, a blanket will do fine Take you there. How much I'll be my wife Frank for dollars Either way dollars good old green how much 200 a piece. That's robbery. Oh depends on how bad you want to get the cat Think it's robbery. Take the airline. All right. All right When can we leave? I don't know another party left word. They'd call have to see what they want Might won't take along as many as I can look I want to get the Casablanca and I want to get there fast But if you can't do the job right now, I'll go elsewhere. Why don't you do that? I don't like to be right bad for my nerves Short with this wind blowing up some pretty nasty sandstorms along the route You might find the airline wouldn't want to be right to independent cuts aren't you? Yeah, sort of Tell me as soon as you can go Be glad to what do I call we're in this so-called hotel to room 23? Okay, text when I know you'll know and listen fella word of brotherly advice Yeah, the only guy I ever knew who was always looking over his shoulder the way you do is a guy who didn't want to be caught Only one day. He did get caught. You know why You tell me cause one day the wrong person saw him looking over each other and got suspicious My good man, may I sit down? Huh? Yeah, oh sure squat. Yeah, here's my card Special a Parker the third. That's right My wife is seated over at the corner table We're on a tour of the African and Mediterranean countries right now. We'd like to leave here and go to Casablanca This is the Rocco bothers my wife. I understand you fly people anywhere I'd like to hire you and your plane for an indefinite period. I'll pay you well What's the matter with the regular airline? They say there's a bad sandstorm They won't fly until it passes besides we like privacy great place to find that What makes you think I'll fly if the airline won't oh, I've taken the liberty to find out all about you Mr. Kent they say you fly in anything sure you want to take that chance nonsense The airline has to protect its interest. They can't take any chances. Actually. I know there's very little chance involved That's all hmm. You got it all figured out, huh? Ever flown in a sandstorm. What difference does that make? Will you fly us to Casablanca? You're There's 300 apiece American. I'll pay you 200 for the both of us and that's all goodbye. Mr. Parker 300 your wife's calling. All right, you win you realize this is highway robbery cash Before takeoff as he here, Mr. Kent might be well to understand that I'm not a man without position It might pay you well to be a bit more respectful only pay I want from you with six hundred dollars old pal. Take it or leave it When can we leave? Best time it'd be about five tomorrow morning. I'm not in the habit of getting up that early We leave attend okay by me the busy airport at that time. Good idea if you want to go to Casa Certainly don't have any manners. Do you mr. Kent? Nope. I certainly don't You know what? I think Sam. I Think I could guess I think you're crazy with the Morocco I'll file to fly at ten thousand to clear my head makes no difference at what altitude you fly you fly by instruments Then stick like fog up to the very heavens. Thank you. Miss your calling you should have been Getting very hot sitting in that aeroplane of yours. May we please leave waiting for two more passengers? What do you mean? I I charted your plane to fly to Casa Blanca There are to be no other passengers. Matt. You didn't charter anything You just booked passage on my plane if you don't like it get off and take the regular airlock I'm certainly not going to put up with this kind of treatment you When is the next regular flight to Casa Blanca? I don't know sir. All the flights have been grounded There's been a very bad sandstorm along I've heard all that before what's the matter with you people No wonder you still live like savages Letting a little hand in the air ground you. You're just lazy. That's all well It's not a little fan sir. It's a great deal gets in the engines and What aren't your planes equipped with some kind of filters for that sort of thing? I know I've read about them somewhere. Yeah, sometimes such things just don't work Playing that goes down in the desert. It's kaput. My employers are not wish to take such a chance with the lives of their passengers Life is a very precious thing. Mr. Parker even here What about your plane Ted? It's magical. It never goes kaput. You said it This plane is our monophic assemblage of both I said ten o'clock ten thirty couldn't get a cab My wife John hi hello Well Parker you're coming or aren't you? I have no choice But I want you to know I don't like it Here's your money. Thanks. I'll count it later. Let's go See you Hank. I hope so Sam. I asked lady luck to watch over him Do that that the plane that's it What kind is it? Good question for the lack of a better name. We'll call it a tent a bit of this and a bit of that flies like a bird when your provisions aboard Nuff waters, but all you'll want Who's the other guy? Oh, excuse me. Mr. Mr. Saunders meet Mr. Parker Time aboard folks. They can you see if you want mine And I beg your pardon, huh? I wonder do you have room for one more? Yeah, I guess so Where did you pop from all of a sudden? I'd appreciate it greatly if you take me with you But I'm afraid I can't pay very much No, you don't have that prosperous look How much can you pay? This is all I have According to the rates I charge you got about enough there to hit your ride out to the runway Hey Haven't I seen you someplace before it's possible. I've been many places. What's your name? Does it matter? No, I guess not You know, I don't know why I'm doing this never done it before Keep your money and climb aboard. You can sit up in the cockpit with me. Thank you, Mr. Don't thank me. I'll probably hate myself when I stop to think about I could have a drink of water. Don't tell me you have another one of your infernal headache I don't know why I agreed to come on this trip anyway Dirty filthy countries and look out there might as well be flying in another world. You can't see a thing Oh, I think it's rather exciting darling that Mr. Kent looks just like a pirate. Don't worry. He is Emily, I have half a mind to book passage on the first boat out of Kurtzablanca Would you mind getting me that drink, Central? Ah, if I weren't a gentleman, I'd let you get it yourself Wait a couple minutes, will you? Well, before You think we really gave him a slip? Stop worrying He's that guy up there with the driver I don't know. He looks like a bum and yet, he doesn't I have a feeling I've seen him some place before You don't think he's a copper? We'll know the answer to that when we land at Casar If he is, that's just too bad for him It's not just a piece of machinery to you, is it? Huh? Huh? Oh, haha Baby here, you mean? No Nah, she's no piece of machinery She's got a heart, big heart Your heart, Mr. Kent What do you mean, mine? It's all her own Where is it located? Somewhere between the ends of her wings, tip of her tail and the point of her nose Sand is very thick Like a great curtain of red fog Yeah, kind of messy What are you, on the bum? Not exactly Okay, it's none of my business I suppose I'd refuse to take you to Casar for free I would have thanked you and found another way What other way? There's another way to everything, Mr. Kent I wonder if... If I can't get the plug out of the water bag, my wife would like a drink Well, ask Thunders to do it I certainly will not Do you want to fly this while I do it? I'll take care of it Fine Uh-oh, uh-oh Here comes trouble What is it? What's going on? Get back in your seat We're going down, aren't we? Get out of here Come along, Mr. Parker Mr. Kent fans are going to be disturbed now Everything is going to be all right Get everyone in their seats with their safety belts on 20 Got one engine nearly out The other one not far behind Anything I can do? Yeah Sit down, help keep the others quiet Right The car The car This is 6184 6184 Come in, please I'm not receiving you I'll take that, Mr. Kent Can you fly the plane? You know how to work it? I think so That car That car This is 6184 6184 They may be getting it Tell them I'm heading back Estimate my position 100 miles north of King Reddy Tell them Tell them we're going down Both engines dead That car That car This is 6184 6184 Going down Estimate our position P. Tracy is starring as Kent In the proudly we hail production of Desert Flight We'll return for the second act in just a moment But first an important message to the young men of America Estimate our position Vital word for the safety of Kent and his passengers And so vital for the safety of our country The United States Air Force is building up for that purpose And you can help right now If you have the necessary physical and educational qualifications You can join the aviation cadets For pilot or navigator training Winning your silver wings Will mean that you will fly in the United States Air Force And serve your country in these critical times So estimate your position For you are needed now Your nearest Army and Air Force recruiting station Will give you all the details You are listening to proudly we hail Now with your star Lee Tracy in the role of Kent We present the second act of Desert Flight The desert is an all engulfing sea of treachery Its shifting sand, its bone hard waste Its ugly mountains, bare and fevered Are stamped with a hideous sameness Glows lost within its seemingly endless boundary By day of burning shimmering void It sucks light dry By night of frigid hell As a windstorm the sterile air grows muddy Filled with a thick haze of vicious biting sand particles The choke and sear How are you feeling, Tach? Not bad I lie still That friend of yours Makes me a fine user drink Gotta go careful with the water, my boy Guess our chances aren't so hot, aren't they? Don't talk like that We'll know better in the morning Probably they aren't any more blankets to go around How are you doing, Miss Thunder? Oh, I'm okay, but couldn't you give him a drink? I'm freezing and choking to death at the same time Relax, we all are If you hadn't been in such a hurry... Parker, I've had a busy day Better go take care of your wife Thank you, Lucky Stars, you're still in one piece Not many pilots could have set this thing down the way He did such a fine job My wife has a broken arm and look at you With your ribs all caved in Come on, why are you nagging a little? Don't move with the fly-head! So now you're against me too, eh? No one is against me Can't you see complaining? Nothing is going to help now Could be worse, you know We're out of the storm here in the plane What good is that? We can't move, we're trapped Any luck with the radio? I'm afraid not Well, there's not much we can do now Try and get some sleep Most important thing to remember Is that we gotta go easy on the water Don't know how long we'll be here We gotta make it last There's plenty if we ration it carefully As far as the food goes, I want you to... I'm going to get us a drink I don't want one Mr. Kent said the water had to be rationed I don't care what he said You touch that water and I'll call Mr. Kent You will what? Yes, I will My wife Good night, Cecil Looks like today isn't our day to move Isn't there anything we can do? He's getting worse He'll hold days like this I've got to have more water I can't stand this heat I'm burning up You're a good kid, Johnny Sorry it had to be like this I've been praying for four days that the storm would met up Maybe the wind will blow forever The way I figure it We've got water for about three more days The wind has stopped What? Who allowed? Come on, wake up everybody The wind has stopped Come on, let's get a fire built while it's still dark He'll be out looking for us We made a tent out of a parachute It's cooler than it is in here I thought you needed a rest I'm sorry we can't move you out there too It must be delirious Getting you mixed up with somebody else I don't know who I keep figuring you know all about it Why don't we just pretend that I do He was a rat, deserved to die Wasn't Johnny's fault? Oh, mine I did it Don't want any harm Come to her Gop's looking for a smoke Take care of Johnny Not really my wife, you know Too late now No harm will come to her You've got to see him for a minute No need But Johnny didn't know I'm cashing in my chips After Kent, you come back I want to talk, I want to talk to you I'll be here, thanks Why didn't you call me? Why didn't you call me? Why? You thought it would be better, Joan, if you weren't there I loved him I loved him That I ever loved The only one who ever treated me decent No, he's this Would you like to say a prayer for him? A prayer? Yes, we'll say one for him together Yes Yes, I do want to say a prayer for him I want God to give him a break That nobody else ever did Do you think he will? We'll ask him You and I Another day just about shot No planes looking for us No nothing This is only one thing left to do What's that? When it gets dark, I'll hit the road Can't be much more than 50 miles If I miss that, maybe I'll hit a pale Travel only at night Pull up during the day 50 miles or 10 is too much for you now You've got to take the chance Women can't last much longer Especially Mrs. Parker Have you noticed her arm? There's a woman Hadn't let out a peep since it happened She got more courage and all of us put together When I go You take charge Watch Parker I think he's cracking fast Another day and he'll be off his rocker For good Are you sure you're not going out into the desert? So what water has left will last longer? Ah, don't suspect me Of anything so noble You know, I haven't had a chance to tell you That although I'm sorry I got you into this mess I might be glad I brought you along You're a good man to have around In a pinch If we ever get out of this mess Maybe I can give you a hand If we don't Well, let's pour some more oil On the fire Mr. Kent, come quickly, hurry Come on Mr. Kent, before I knew what he was doing I grabbed the water bag and ran out there He's taken it all Parker, come back here Come back here, you fool Look at him, he's drinking it He's drinking the whole thing Oh God, Kent, oh God And I'm going to join you because of that guy Take care of my dear wife I'll go out after him No You'll never catch me I'm not sure if now we have no water Maybe I'll see text sooner than I thought No, no That's not going to help anyone I'd afraid something like this might happen I hid two canteens of water in a cockpit Your girls take it easy I'm sorry, Mr. Parker I'll go look for him if you say so No No, Mr. Kent, if you think I'm good Wake me in an hour No need to tell the women until tomorrow I'll try and head just a little west to south Then if I miss Gingetti, I'll hit a tail Maybe as long as it stays clear, I can follow the stars Good night Good night Sleep well Wake up What? What? What? Your friend, he's gone He's gone Yes, I heard him leave, but I thought he was just going out to build up the fire I got up, I found this note by the door Let me see it Have faith and fear not Now what the Oh, I should I know needed, honest Well, Joan, let's see how Mr. Parker is Strange kind of man Did you ever notice his eyes? He wasn't like other men I wish I knew where I'd seen him before Well girls, I hate to say it, but we've just about finished it Not enough water to wet the end of your tongue I'm sorry I think you're a fault You're a good man, Mr. Ken I only wish this I don't really care The first is driving me out of my mind I'm even a whole line of cabels coming down that hill Yes, I see myself Isn't that funny? Where? Oh, yeah But If we all see them They're this way They're real They're coming for us Mr. Parker, I'm going to kiss you and die happy How are you feeling, Sam? Like a new man How'd it go? Oh, they'll make it Mr. Parker has a bad arm, but he'll come through all right He might be close, won't he? Yeah How'd those birds ever find it? They see the fire? That's the screwy thing about it They told some wild tale about a man walking in and out of the night and telling them where you were Why, that was... Where is he? Well, that part is even screwy Well, there were a bunch of storytellers anyhow They said he didn't stay After he told them, he left again Went right back into the night and the desert A lot of poppy cops They must have seen your fire There was another man with us and he did go looking for help Just a coincidence, my boy You know how those babies like to spin a yarn They said he wasn't really a man Some kind of a spirit or something It must have been him Couldn't have been Sam Poor Baker must have died out there Who was he anyway? Before Saunders died he told me he thought he knew Because we both figured we'd seen him some place before Saunders wouldn't tell me And if I told you now who I thought he was You not only wouldn't let me out of this hospital You'd have me thrown in the night house Besides Well Let's just say he was a friend who for some reason came along for the ride Most intriguing story, Lee The combination of the strange cargo of passengers romance and mystery in Dakar and the man made quite a story Thank you, Ken I hope our audience enjoyed it as much as I did playing the role of Kent Lee Tracy will return with a word about next week's show, but first I'd like to tell the young men and women listening how they can help keep the peace of the world You're right, it's a big job but if everyone helps it can be done You can help by enlisting in the United States Air Force and you can help yourself too because in the Air Force you can really get ahead The Air Force will train you in specialties and make real progress Specialties like radar, radio, weather aircraft maintenance and many others So don't delay, serve your country and yourself in the United States Air Force Get full details at your nearest U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Recruiting Station Be a volunteer today This has been another program on Proudly We Hail presented in cooperation with this station by your Army and your Air Force Proudly We Hail stars Lee Tracy supporting Mr. Tracy in the cast were Bill Lipton George Clark Jack Jason Helen Christian Joe DeSantis and Miriam Wolfe Desert Fight was written by Dewitt Cough The music was composed and conducted by John Guarneri Proudly We Hail is directed by Charles Wilkes This is Kenneth Banghardt speaking and here again is your host and star, Lee Tracy Next week we board the world-famous Simplon Orient Express for a suspense-filled train ride across Europe Mystery and Trig and Death We hope you'll be listening Goodbye