 The Mutual Broadcasting System in cooperation with Family Theatre Incorporated presents World Without End starring Joan Leslie with Barry Kroger and Drew Boardman. Robert Young is your host. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Here is Robert Young. Some people say that what you don't know won't hurt you. Personally, I don't believe it. I can name a hundred things that we must know if we are to live happy, worthwhile lives. Take marriage, for instance, and family life in general. There are certain things we simply must know. As husbands and wives, we must know that marriage brings difficulties and duties that will test our strength to the fullest. As fathers and mothers, we must realize that raising our children and building a happy home require constant personal sacrifice. And it requires prayer too. Marriage is too big a job to be carried on successfully by just two people. We need God's help. And to get it, we must pray for it. That is why we urge you to make family prayer a daily practice in your home. That is why week after week, we of Family Theatre remind you that the family that prays together stays together. We'll hear from Robert Young again following this week's Family Theatre play, World Without End, starring Miss Joan Leslie in four distinct roles. And now our curtain rises, the time late autumn of 1939. The place, the small mountain lodge in the backwoods of Canada's Quebec province. Starting to snow. Amazing. But it's snowing hard. Suppose we're snowed in here. Perfect. If there's anything better than a one-month honeymoon, it's a three-month honeymoon. And what about your job? Who cares about a job? Come here, you. I'm here. No, down here by the fire. That's better. Hello, Mr. Jordan. Hi, Mrs. Jordan. Sweet. We should think about the storm. You think about it. But we must get out by Wednesday. How else can you be back at work on time? We'll get out. How? On skis or snowshoes. Snowshoes? Me? I don't know how. You'd better learn. You're a Canadian now, remember? I remember. Hey, are you glad? Glad? I made that trip down to New York, but Ellen Jensen invited us to the same party. Oh, dear blessed, Ellen. Chris, was that two weeks real? Me? I wouldn't know. You aren't terrible. Is everyone like this? Some people are worse. Chris, have you ever been in love before? Hundreds of times. Oh, don't joke. I want to know. Darling, it's a big word, love. It depends on what you mean. Oh, you know. I mean, the forgetting. Forgetting that you're you. When all the things that have always seemed unreal and wonderful in your life, sunsets, moonlight across still water, waves pounding on a beach, things you've seen and heard and loved, but they're always apart from you, suddenly aren't apart any longer. The sunsets are singing inside of you. Well, that's crazy, of course. Sunsets can't sing. I'm not so sure. Maybe ecstasy is what I mean. Not the ecstasy that's gone in a moment, but the kind that's only born when the miracle happens. When the man and woman meet who, through all of time, were destined only for each other. And you can even ask if I've ever felt that for anyone else. Oh, Chris. You're the only one, Mary. The only one there could be for me, now and forever. Forever, Chris. It is forever. Oh, Chris. What? I thought I heard someone calling. Hey, you're right. But that's Renee. Who's he? He's a trapper who lives up riverways. Hello, Renee. It's good to see you. Well, it's good to see you, Renee. Oh, this is my wife, darling, Renee Chevini. Congratulations, madam. Thank you, Renee. Come in, won't you? Oh, no, no, no. I'm only because this telegram for you from village asked me to bring on my way. Telegram. Oh, well, thanks, Renee. Put the craft. Voie. Voie, madam. Goodbye, Renee. Au revoir, Renee. Chris, a telegram. Well, what are you supposed to... Well, maybe my opening. It'll be a good way to find out, eh? Well? Darling, you'd better read it. Chris. I should have expected it, I guess. With what's happened in Poland since the war started. Remember, I told you I was an officer in the Naval Reserve. Yes, of course you did. Probably doesn't mean anything. It just says to report. Sure. Maybe they just need you to train recruits. That's right. It could mean a lot of things. Besides, you're married now. That should make a difference. Darling. Yes? I wasn't married when all this began. I mean to say, well, if they do need me. Of course. I'll start packing. This means we'll have to take the morning train. Mary, you're wonderful. Will you go home to your folks and wait there? Of course not. I'm a Canadian now, remember? Besides, your mother will be lonesome. We can console each other. You know, my mother's crazy about you. I am about her. Maybe I like the kind of son she turned out. Chris. Hmm? I'm not going to be silly about all this. I know lots of men are having to go. But I... Sweet. Please try especially hard to take care of yourself. Don't you know I've got a charmed life. If I didn't have, I'd never have found you. Oh, Chris. Chris, please be careful. And come back to me. I will, Mary. And it'll be soon, darling. Believe me. It will be soon. Chris, darling, is it only yesterday you went away? It seems five centuries ago. Your mother says I must resign myself to waiting and not fret. And she's right, of course. It's just the first shock of having you gone. And I know it's silly of me to worry, but I had a rather terrifying dream last night. So, darling, the first chance you have to send word of any kind preferably a telegram. Please indulge a very foolish wife and tell me you're all right. Even though you've been gone nearly a month now, I still haven't resigned myself. Yes, Mother Jordan, I'm awake. Mary, a telegram for you just came. No. Oh, Mother Jordan, it may be leave. Chris may have leave. Well, perhaps if you'd open it, instead of just staring at the envelope, you'd know. Look at me. Look at me. I'm all thumbs. I never could open one of these things without tearing the message. There. Well, what does it say, Mary? Mary. It's not from him. Then who? We regret to inform you that your husband, Ensign Christopher James Jordan, was killed. Yes. Mary. You've told her I'm here, Mrs. Jordan? Yes, Doctor. Mary will be right out. Doctor, are you sure this is wise to tell her now? Sure. In a case like this, no doctor can be sure of anything. But it has been 10 days, and after all, perhaps the shock of it will well bring her out of herself. Give her a new reason for existence. I hope you're right. Oh, Doctor, if only the child could cry. Let go. I know. Mrs. Jordan. Oh, here she is now. Come in, Mary, dear. You wanted to see me, Doctor Mason? Yes. Good morning, Mary, my dear. You're looking fine today. Now, Mary, I... I know what you're going to say, Doctor. You know. That I must get myself in hand. Well, I'm trying to. But I'd rather not talk about it. Do you mind? My child, when you collapsed 10 days ago, and I was called in, there were certain symptoms that indicated more than just the usual conditions resulting from simple emotional shock. More than... Yes, and I came to a most important realization. What are you trying to say? You're going to have a child, Mary. Oh, no. It's not true. Yes, Mary, it is. A child. And that's going to make it easier. Mary. His child. To be born long months after Chris is dead. His child. To come into life. To one day be taken as Chris himself was taken. His child. To be brought into this meaningless chaos of terror and destruction. Listen, my dear. I wish to God it were true. Mary. Well, you can't say such a thing. Chris was all I wanted. And he was taken from me. Well, let me be taken too, but not this. Not his child into this world. Not into this world. But as a messenger, you must come with me to understand. It may not be told in words. You must come, Mary. Where? Across the unfathomed voids that are space and time. It is your one hope to understand. You shall come with me, Mary. The first is here. Tell me, Mary. Tell me now what you see. A farm. A small cottage with a thatched roof. This is another country. It is Belgium. And now, within the cottage, what do you see there? A young man in a strange uniform. He's crying. A girl stands by his side and an old man. What are they saying to each other? Listen, Mary Jordan. Listen and you shall know. And I did run away, Anna. I had to. I was not alone. There were others, hundreds of them. I cannot believe it, not you, Pa. You are not a deserter, my son. But you do not understand. The leader of the enemy is unbeatable. There's to be a battle tomorrow at the village beyond the hill. The enemy will win. And that will mean the end of Belgium. The end of Europe. We've got to get away, Anna. We've got to. Perhaps somewhere we can find refuge from the conqueror. No, Pa. But, Anna... We do not run away. And you will go back to your regiment. Now, before the discovery, I've gone. She is right, Pa. I cannot go back. Pa, have we not always prayed that your child would be born here? On the land of his fathers? Of course you will go back. And you will help our army to beat this unbeatable conqueror. And you will return here to be with me in my time. You will go back, Pa. Now. You are not afraid, Anna. You are not afraid even of the conqueror. I am not afraid. Go, Pa. Now. Go. Yes, Anna. I will go. Goodbye. Goodbye, Uncle. Goodbye, Pa. Uncle. Where did he say the battle would be tomorrow? At the village. Beyond the hill. At Waterloo. Yes. Yes, but I still don't understand. There are others. Come. This country is... It is Ireland. A stone house beside a lake. A crowd of people storming at the door. They're angry, threatening. Within Mary. It is within this place that you must see. So it's farce they want, is it? When it's farce they'll help. Michael, no, not with a gun. They don't realise what they're doing. They're half mad with hunger. I know them better than you do. It's not words they'll understand. And I say it is. And I'll prove it to you. Kathleen! No, you can't go out here. Wake, Kathleen, wake! I wasn't in the house of any one of you. And it's that shame you should be for believing otherwise. Because my Michael is a lord. He's not Irish in his heart. I say there's food inside. And I say there is not. What we had we shared like all the rest. Now get on with you. I don't want you to go out to say that. You men, brandishing your staves and hoes. You'd do better to be working with them. This morning there are new plants sprouting in the valley fields. Plants that would grow the faster with some digging. If there were men with the brains and the brawn to be doing it. New plants sprouting. That means the beginning of... It was hope they needed. That's all new hope. Kathleen, are there new plants in the valley field? A very few, but there'll be more. And soon there must be Michael. God will see to it. Because if there aren't, then it's the death of Ireland. And the death of Ireland is fair, the death of the world. And the world doesn't die, Michael. Well, it gets almighty sick sometimes and sets up a terrible wail of agony. But if you listen sharp, even through the morning and the cries of terror, you can hear another sound. It's laughter, Michael. The laughter of another day when all of this will be forgotten. Michael, remind me. Remind you? That was a pretty phrase I made just now. Remind me to tell young Michael shortly after he's born. He'll be proud to know he has a devilish, smart mother. Kathleen, you're actually not afraid of the famine. Afraid? Sure and how can I be when I've got your son beneath my heart? Would you have him born a coward? Of course I'm not afraid. I believe I'm beginning to. There is yet another. Come. What do you see here, Mary? This country is... America, a pass in the mountains of the west. And wagon train, one wagon apart from the other. A woman sitting alone as a man comes up to her. Listen, Mary, for the last time. Listen. Sarah? Sarah, it's decided. What is, Jim? The wagon train's going to make camp here. Word just came that the epidemic's worse beyond the mountains. So we're all going to stay here till the sick ones in the train get well or die. Then we'll take a vote whether to go on or turn back. Turn back? They're not really thinking of turning back. Well, of course they are. After all, if there's worse sickness beyond the mountains. Well, Jim, you made me a promise. I'm holding you to it. But Sarah... A farm in California, somewhere on the side of the ocean. That's what you said. And we'd be there in time for our child to be born on that farm. But that means we can't wait, Jim. Stopping now might mean we'd spend the winter here. Sarah, honey, be reasonable. We started out with the Donner party and... Well, we can't go on alone. Why not? We've got a good wagon, a strong team. Supplies enough to last. And our trust in God. All right. I'll go and tell the others. No, they'd try to stop you. Let's go now. Now, Jim. All right, Sarah. If that's the way you want it. Get up there, boy! Hey! Hey! Get up there! Don't look so worried, Jim. We'll make it. I know who will. Those three, Anna, Kathleen, Sarah, they were all... Your own grandmothers and mothers of grand... Three of the numberless women through whom you yourself came into being. Three of the lights of many colors cast into the prism which is Mary Jordan. To converge in her and cast the white light of hope into the future. They had no fear. War, famine and pestilence. And they had no fear. They were women, Mary. Fear is for men who can know the miracle of birth but from a distance. It is the women who are part of that miracle who must endure. Now and forever. Yes. It is clear now. I do see. I do understand. Yes. Yes. Yes, I do see. I do see now. Mary. Mary, my dear. Mother Jordan. Mary, you must try to do... I'm going to have his child. His child, Mother Jordan. And I'm glad. Mary, he'll live again in his child. He'll live to hear laughter. I'm going to have Chris's child. Mary, you're... You're not afraid. Afraid? Of what? This is Robert Young again. I suppose everyone feels that his own problems are unique. The blow of a great sorrow or even the countless pinpricks of daily living make us think that never before has anyone been so burdened. We forget, as did Mary in this week's family theater play, that others have borne even greater sorrows. We forget, too, that men and women in trouble have always found help when they turn to God in prayer. The families of yesteryear had troubles as great as ours, but they knew what to do about them. They prayed. As a family, they asked God's help every day in the year. You know, I think that's a tip for us. Our prayer helped build the strong, God-fearing homes which made our nation great. Family prayer today in our own homes can renew in our land the spirit and faith of those who have gone before us. Thank you for being with us, and God bless you. This production of Family Theater Incorporated was directed by David Young. Our cast included Virginia Gregg, Norman Field, Byron Kane, and Theodore Von Elts. Next week, our Family Theater stars will be Lionel Barrymore and Dean Stockwell in The Melancholy Clown. Your hostess will be Elizabeth Scott. This series of the Family Theater broadcasts is made possible by the thousands of you who felt the need for this kind of program and by the Mutual Broadcasting System, which has responded to this need. Be with us next week at the same time when Lionel Barrymore, Dean Stockwell, and Elizabeth Scott will star on Family Theater. Your announcer, Merle Ross. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.