 Presenting Ida Lepino in Star in the West on the Cavalcade of America sponsored by the Dupont Company. Maker of better things for better living through chemistry. At first, it was game with me. Decorators and homemakers tell us that soft-toned pastel walls of the boat these days because they're practical as well as beautiful. Walls that are dark and dingy detract from the appearance of a room, and they absorb the light as well. You can have a smart modern home by using Dupont's Speedyzy wall finish. Speedyzy is a resin oil emulsion paint to thin with water. It is easy to apply to almost any interior wall surface, and it dries in less than one hour to a beautiful rich oil-type finish. Furthermore, it costs less than $3 to redecorate the average room in one color. Speedyzy is one of Dupont's better things for better living through chemistry. Just 100 years ago this past week, Texas joined the Union. Tonight for this centennial anniversary, we present a story not so much historical as human. A story of the kind of devotion and labor and love that's rough the miracles of the American frontier. The Dupont Company presents Star and the West with Ida Lapino as Nancy Dale on the Cavalcade of America. Mr. Dale, this is our dance, I believe. Nancy, I was wondering if you'd forgotten your father. Not at all, and he's part of the handsome gentleman here. Oh, thank you, my dear. I appreciate the compliment, but I'm afraid my years aren't adequate to a dance. That's nonsense. Come along, Papa. No, my dear, I'm sure there are younger men who are both lighter with their stepmen compliments. Are you refusing me? No, not exactly, Nancy. But there's Jeff Rawling. Who has had three waltzes already. Well, can't win, sir. Who keeps time by counting alone. We live in... Who confuses the ballroom with the fox hunt. It shows up misdancing he can't. Then who shall it be? That man with red hair talking with Mr. Cromwell. Him? Visitor here, Nancy, from Pennsylvania. I want a meeting. Nancy, is that Lady Lyche? No, this woman Lyche. What? Did I send you to school abroad for six years to have you come home on minks? Besides, there's only a visitor here. That's all the moral reason we should make him feel welcome. Mrs. Cromwell, we'll talk into depth and follow you now. All right, all right, come along, Nancy. I'll make your pardon, Mrs. Cromwell, and you, sir. Certainly, sir. Oh, Mr. Dale, you promised me a date, you know. Did I? Of course you did, Father. Now you two run along. I'm sure the next dance will be a waltz. And you'll love to waltz, Father, remember? But I... Mrs. Cromwell. Oh, thank you. Now, Nancy, you take good care of Mr. Harman. He's very charming. Even if he does come from... From... Pennsylvania. Of course. I know it was some foreign place. And now, Mr. Dale, shall we show these young people what grace is? An honor, Mrs. Cromwell. Do you dance, Mr. Harman? Well, after a fashion, Miss Nancy. May I? Why, Mr. Harman, of course. But it can be realized someday. And you're going to try to make it come true. Yes, I am. You see, Miss Nancy, Texas is going to be... Well, is a wonderful country. There are rolling hills and immense unbroken plains that stretch from one horizon to the other. Sounds lonely. It is lonely now. But someday, there'll be cities. Big cities humming with trade. Those plains and hills will be filled with farms and ranches and cattle. And how do you fit into that picture? I told you, I'm a schoolteacher. There'll be needing schools in Texas. You see, civilization stops where education does. You know, Mr. Harman, I... I think you're quite wonderful. I'm Miss Nancy. And there is cheer, didn't I? Well, it was sudden. I'm sorry. What I meant was, all my life, I've had this. Big house, servants, anything I wanted. And the people I've met have been just like me. Comfortable, so satisfied. Living in a rich, developed land. I went to school abroad for six years, and there I learned to be a lady. And the result is quite wonderful. Is it? I'm not sure about that, Mr. Harman. Sometimes I think my forefathers rather disapprove of gay dancers and hunts. And you? And I. That's why I said you're quite wonderful, Mr. Harman. You're willing to give up a life in a land that's already developed, a one in a wild, new Texas. Miss Nancy, it's not being wonderful. It's just...just having faith. And I like that even better. Really, Mr. Harman, your flattery sounds like a virginian's. It's men to such, Miss Nancy. Look at all this, Nancy. These hills that scream houses, beautiful and white against the green. Someday Texas will be like this. You're...you're anxious to go, aren't you? Right. I will be leaving in a few days. Oh? Oh, I'll be sorry, Paul. What are you thinking about, Paul? Nancy, you said the other day that... you'll be sorry to see me leave. Yes, I will. Why? Oh, Paul, don't you know? Yeah, I think I do. But I can't ask you to go out there with me. Then I'll ask you to take me. Are you enjoying the nap somewhere? Then you can go right back to sleep after Paul talks. No, Mr. Dent. Nancy, what have you got to talk about? Paul wants to talk with your father, so I'll be out in the dark. Mr. Harman, what is it? I, uh...it's no good beating around the bush, sir. I want to marry Nancy. So I guessed. You've been visiting here quite a bit, haven't you? That's Nancy's invitation, sir. Yes, sir. I'm a Nancy's only 19. I doubt if she really knows her own mind. I think she does, sir. You've known her three months, while I've known her only 19 years. Of course, you know her far better than I do. Mr. Dale, I don't think there's any need for sarcasm. We can discuss this like two gentlemen. Very well, sir. You asked me for Nancy's hand. Well, what are your prospects? I think you know, sir. I intend to go to Texas. Then subject my daughter to a wild, roughenly country. You forget, Mr. Dale, that this was a wild, roughenly country when your forefathers brought their wives. That's beside the point. It is the point. What are we to do? Let a great new country lie in waste because people are afraid of it? Where would any of this have been, sir, the first day or the first rawly or wintryp? I won't hear any more, sir. My answer is no. I can't take that answer without argument, Mr. Dale. I have a right to present my case. You have no right in this house. Mr. Dale, I refuse to be talked to like... Paul! Paul, father. You two quarreling, not drunk and stable boys. Nancy, I'm your father. I haven't forgotten that. Nor have I forgotten that I love Paul. Yeah, it's a silly delusion. You don't know your own mind. I'm not a child. Since neither of you seem able to agree. Since you're unable to talk it over like gentlemen, I'll decide both of you. Paul, I'll go with you as your wife. Very well, Nancy. Mr. Farmer, you heard her? There's no more to be said. Oh, father, forget that silly pride for a moment. One of us must remember it. I'm sorry I lost my temper, Mr. Dale. It's quite all right, sir. Nancy, you may take Mirabelle and Jep. You may have the new carriage and bore of the horses. Also, what household good you prefer. I don't want any of those things, father. Please, all I want is for you to understand that I love Paul. I can't be changed. Shall we say that I do understand? Oh, please, father. And that I want you to have those things. There's nothing more to be said. But there is. Not on my part. Good day, Mr. Farmer. Nancy, maybe you should think it over for a while. But I have thought about it, Paul. Ever since we met. I love Virginia, my home, my father. But I've always felt that there's more to this country than just these small things one can reach out and touch. I didn't know what it was until you told me, Paul. Until you told me about Texas and your faith, your belief. Then I knew. In what way, Nancy? Well, I knew there was something bigger, Paul, much bigger. And it's rising out of the West. A new country into which we can put ourselves, our children, into which we can put the same energy in place that went into the making of these. There's a new star rising, Paul. A star in the West. Here comes Mr. Paul and Jeb. Now remember, Maribel, let me do the talking. Yes, but Mr. Paul's sure going to be upset when he sees what you done done. Telling what is all this? Lord, it sure looked like something happened this bad. Nonsense, Jeb. We're going to Texas in the right way. Well, Nancy, what have you done? Where's the carriage, the horses? Paul, please, Donny. Miss Nancy, what is that thing there? Jeb, that's a covered wagon. Lord, are we going riding that? Now, Nancy, what did you do? Well, look, Paul, when we leave New Orleans, we'll be getting into country where there are no roads. I know that. And the carriage would have been useless. So I traded it for the wagon. You traded? And the other things? The curtains, the silverware you took along with? Everything's traded. Traded for things we'll really need. Claws, seed, corn, wheat, and oxen. Well, I wanted to keep those things for you, Nancy. I wanted to make some kind of a home a little like the one you had. I know you did, Paul, but it would have looked a little silly. Fine silver and silk draperies and a log cabin. No, Paul, we can do without them. Now we have the things we really need and can use. But Nancy... Now help me, Pat. You see, we've got to leave soon because our first boy has to be born in Texas. We should be almost there, Jim. Yes, Mr. Paul, we should almost be there. It seemed like we didn't come across the whole country. And there, Belle. Yes, Miss Paul. How's Miss Nancy? Oh, she's fine, Mr. Paul, but you know we've got to stop soon. Yeah, I know, but we're not quite there. And Miss Nancy has told me to tell you that you ain't supposed to stop till we're there. I think we're going to make it, Miss Paul. Oh, I don't know, Jim. I don't know. Go as far as we can and stop when Miss Nancy... Yes, Mr. Paul, yes. What did you go calling? I don't know, Jim. What name sounds good? Well, let's see now. Oh, Lordy, Mr. Paul, you two ain't got nothing to say about it. Miss Nancy done got a name for it. Oh, what is it, Mary Belle? She's going to call in Texas, Mr. Paul. But what are we going to do with this girl? That we'll leave up to Miss Nancy, too. Oh, no, who's that, Mr. Paul? I don't know, Jim. Oh, who are they? Hey, Jim, take one of these guys. Yes, sir. My name's Paul Harmer. Mine's Jones. Jack Jones. How do you do? Well, now don't you know no better than to be going along with nice? Oh, this here's big Jim Brock. Howdy. How are you? Looky here. Where are you heading? Texas. Texas? Yes. Mr. Harmer, did you cross the creek a while back? About ten miles, yes. Then, Mr., you crossed over into God's own country. Harmer, welcome to Texas. We're here. You sure? Holy brown force, what's that? Miss Paul, Miss Paul, come look at Texas. Texas? What? Gentlemen, I haven't got any stogies to pass out, but I just became a father. You are listening to Idolapino as Nancy Dale with Bill Johnstone as Paul in Star and the West, on the cavalcade of America, sponsored by the DuPont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. Part of our story opens seven years after Nancy and her husband Paul first came to Texas. The party is in progress at the former bar. I guess I'm glad you could... Oh, I wouldn't have missed it for anything. Mind when I look around this bar and see what you and Paul did. Oh, no, what everyone did. You and Jack, Jim, Brock, the rest of the neighbors. We all built a house, just as we're all built in Texas. Well, it's been hard sometimes. But worth it. Worth all the trouble and work. It's hard for eight to seven years. Nancy, isn't that... Well, I guess it is. She couldn't be home this early if there wasn't something wrong. Paul! Paul! And Nancy, where is it? We've got to stop this party right now. Paul, what's the matter? You'll hear. Uh, folks, just a minute. I'll hold the music for you. Folks, I hate to be busting up a party in my own place. I've got some news that can't wait. I've been south all day on a surveying trip, and I got news that a Mexican army on the Santa Ana wiped out the Texas garrisons at Goliad and the Alamo. Wait, wait! That Mexican army is coming on. Sam Houston. Sam Houston's given orders. Women and children have to move north and east. All able-bodied men must make their way to Sam Houston to join Sam Houston's Texas army. That's all. Oh, no, Paul. No, it can't be true. It is, darling. You've got to go. And do. Sam Houston. And you want me to leave all this? All it's thought for? All these years of fighting the earth to grow out crops, building a home, losing it, building again to raise our children. Nancy, we're still going to fight for it, but you can't stay here. And I'll go with you. No, that's impossible. We must go with the others, with best and the other ones. But Paul... They've settled Nancy. Oh, Jim. Jim. Yes, Mr. Paul? You go with Miss Nancy in Texas. There about two. Aren't we fighting, Mr. Paul? I know Jim. The Nancy in the boy will need you. That's all. Yes. You'll leave right away? Ain't a soul around, Miss Nancy. All the men going off to fight Santa Ana and everybody else and clear it out. Listen, Nancy, maybe we should have gone with the others. In three days, huh? What are we going to do with Santa Ana coming here? I don't know, Jack. What do you fight? Oh, Nancy. It's going to be a bad thing. Oh, what was that? Shooting, Jack. Yes? I'll put that window outside. Move right outside, making it a bright light day. Don't shoot until you have to, Jack. Nancy, you can't shoot no gun. You just can't be quiet, Nancy. I'm not a horse. Lord, he's a right good target here to move. He fired that shot because he saw the light. We licked him at San Jacinto. Capture Santa Ana. Oh, Paul, please hold me tight. This country and make something of it. As soon as it's fit for living, some crackpot is all for getting into the union. Look at it this way, Jim. If we go into the union, we'll be better able to build schools. We'll have a whole government behind us. We've got a government now. Oh, but this is 1845, Jim. Nancy and I have been in Texas 16 years. Surely we have as much right to be called Texans as anyone. And we don't think... Nancy, I can't argue with fancy talk like his. You tell him that it ain't right. Well, Jim, I'm just as proud of Texas as you are. I felt the same thing you did when the Lone Star flag went up. Hey, is he Paul? No, Jim. That's not an argument against joining the union. It's an argument for it. Well, I don't know if I see that. Well, to the East, Jim, it's safe. But we're built by men like you and Paul and Jack Jones. Or the same kind of men who died in the Alamoque, or what they thought was right. They thought something else, Jim. They thought and they knew that there was strength in union. Men who love liberty and freedom and democracy would and should always stand together to protect themselves. See, Jim? Sure, I see that. And we have the same decision to make, Jim. Decision to stand weakly as a separate smaller democracy or join the greater and help build a new nation. We're Texans, Jim, but we're Americans, too. Mirabelle? Yes, it's Nancy. Mr. Paul will be home late. The food warms up. Yes, Nancy. Oh, isn't that him coming that up? Why, no. No, it's not. It's Mr. Jones. Hello there, Jack. Jack, what's the matter with you? Well, I just come from the election at Nancy's. Paul? The vote went the other way. We're not joining the union. It ain't that. We went in all right. That's wonderful. Mirabelle! Jeb! Texas is a safe in the union. Or Jack Paul will be so happy, or maybe he knows already. Yes. What are you trying to say? Nancy was riding along and whooping it up after the election. I was riding over the bridge at Taylor Street. It'd been all right if we'd have got frozen to water, but... No, thank you. Ride along for a little while, Virginia. No, Mirabelle. No, we'll stay here. Oh, but we'll stay here, Mirabelle. There's no escape when we thought the next tsunami would come. We stayed through droughts, through floods, through crops, through fields. We stayed and fought against the earth until we won. We'll build our Mirabelle. We'll build a school that's all dream gardens. And never stop. Never stop because first you have to turn your hand to a greater child. That is building a land to receive the truth. We won't be alone. But men and women will come to this land with vision before them and faith in their hearts. As we did. Yes, we'll stay. Then the star in the west is ridden high. We'll return to our cavalcade microphone in a moment. Now, here is Gaines Withers. When we hear the word company, the DuPont Company, for instance, we think of a certain number of men and women at a certain place, making products. In the case of the DuPont Company, chemical products. But it is also possible to think of the company in another way, as a library or a reservoir of knowledge and experience. During the war, this was made very clear. Again and again, when there was a need for a special gun or electronic tube, or a means of combating tropical disease, the job was given to a company whose experience was most likely to provide the answer. Take the struggle to conquer Malaria, which every year attacks up to 300 million people throughout the world. During the war, it was impossible to get fine line from the Dutch East Indies. The government sponsored the program to find something as good as fine line or better. As part of the program, the DuPont Company supplied Dr. E.K. Marshall of the Johns Hopkins Medical School with over 2,200 pound pounds. Many of them put together by our chemist just for the purpose. Other companies and government chemists provided samples for a total of 14,000. As a result, Johns Hopkins and other laboratories were unable to study hundreds of compounds that had never been tested before for their anti-malarial value. And shortly after New Year's Day, Washington announced the discovery of SN7618, superior to Plimine and Ataturant. The new compound relieves malaria with a shorted treatment and need not be given so often. Another case was Dr. Kurt T. Richter, who turned to DuPont when he was investigating the action of various chemicals on rat behavior. Our DuPont laboratories were able to supply him with a number of compounds for soil. One of these, Antu Alpha-Napal-Phylurea turned out to be an effective rat poison. Antu, to quote Dr. Richter, has been proved to extensive laboratory tests and also by controlled field trials in a large city to be an effective and specific poison for the Norway rat, a very common and destructive rat throughout the world. The Norway rat is the ordinary gray rat which spreads cypress fever. Compounds to fight malaria, compounds to kill disease-carrying rats are as important in time of peace as they are in time of war. And the knowledge and experience of companies in private industries are as valuable in peacetime as in war. For they are the real source of products. The products which, in our case, are DuPont, better things for better living, through chemistry. And our star, item, Pino. Well, Mr. Pino, I suppose you know the eyes of the Texas were upon you tonight. Jane, I enjoyed being a part of tonight's title chain. It's only a tribute to the men and women who made Texas not only the biggest state in the Union, but one of the finest. And I'm sure the Texas feels as we do, Mr. Pino. But you gave not only aesthetic performance as Ms. Nancy, but also a gracious tribute. And I'm certain that your acting in the forthcoming Warner Brothers picture of oceans will give more cars the cheers. Not only in Texas, but all over the country. Thanks for being with us. Thank you, Jane. Good night. Listen in next week when the Cavalcade of America will star Brian Dunlady in a thrilling story about an incident which gave American industry its lifeblood. It's called the Case of Tremendous Tribal. Tonight's DuPont's Cavalcade was composed and conducted by Robert Ambruster. The Cavalcade play was written by Bernard Graines. In tonight's cast with Mrs. Pino were William John Stone as Paul, Francis X Bushman as Dale, Lillian Randolph as Mirabelle, Merle Smith as Jeb, and Ed Mack, Margaret Brayton, Ruth Parrott, and Franklin Parker. Mrs. Tom Collins inviting you to listen next week to Brian Dunlady in the Case of the Tremendous Tribal and the Cavalcade of America. Drop to you by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.