 Lux presents Hollywood leave your brother's company the makers of Lux toilet soap bring you the Lux radio theater starring Rameland and Blythe and Nigel Bruce in stairway to heaven Ladies and gentlemen your producer mr. William Keely Greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen When I was in England not so long ago London was preparing to welcome many of the world's most famous screen stars to a precedent-shattering event The first command performance of a motion picture Selected for the entertainment of the king and queen and other members of the royal family was tonight's screenplay Jay Arthur ranks presentation stairway to heaven Start in our cast is Rameland whose brilliant achievements recently won him the screens coveted Academy Award co-starred with Ray our and Blythe and Nigel Bruce Now I'd like to speak of another command performance one that goes on day after day and the star is Lux soap its performance is acclaimed by American families from coast to coast especially by lovely women who must care for their beauty just as carefully as queens and their approval indicates that Lux soap is Well, let's say a stairway to a heavenly complexion Onto our play universal International's release stairway to heaven starring Rameland as Peter Carter and Blythe as June and Nigel Bruce as dr. Reeves with Joseph Kerns as conductor are 34 This is a story of two worlds the one you know called earth and another Existing only in the mind of a young pilot whose life and imagination have been violently shaped by war It's 1945 shortly before dawn Over the North Sea a Lancaster bomber riddled by shells and on fire Struggles through a dense fog toward the English coast The pilot has just made radio contact with an airsea rescue station Hello, hello down there Hello Can you hear me? Where are you? Position nil. What's your name? I cannot read my name at all of a sudden. I'm thinking of a poem Give me my scallop shell of quiet my staff of faith to walk upon My script of joy immortal diet my bottle of salvation My gown of glory hopes true gauge and thus I'll take my pilgrimage The water all he wrote that I'd rather have written that and flown through Hitler's legs I cannot understand you request your position I can't give you my position instrument shut away crew gone to all except club shore here my navigator He's dead the rest bailed out in my orders time 0445 My station Warrandon bomber group G for George send him a signal, please Try to land G George. My name is not G George. It's Carter Peter D Carter No, I can't land and the carriage is gone. I'm bailing out presently What's your name? Well, I'm bailing out June with his a catch. I don't have a parachute That's much rather jump than fry I I hope I'm not upsetting you June Are you pretty? Not bad. You've got a beautiful voice That's funny girl. I've never seen will hear my last word No, no, no, just keep talking, please I Want to be alone with you, June? Where were you born? That's a place to be born in history was made there Are you in love with someone? No, no, no, please don't answer that. I could love a man like you And I love you June because your life I'm leaving you Where do you live? Good. I'll be a ghost and come and see you What time will you be there? I'm on duty to such nonsense. Oh, it's the best sense I ever heard it can't be helped about the parachute. What do you think the next world is like Peter, please? Oh, well, I'll know soon enough Drops y'all probably be waiting for me Goodbye Goodbye, June. Hello, I have told you a dozen times. I am very busy. Do not bother me Am I dead or am I not dead? Yes, of course you are dead. All right, and this is heaven, isn't it? Then where is he? Where is Peter D. Carter? He's around here someplace look for him I have almost 1,000 airmen to account for and if you expect Peter D. Carter is not here But he's supposed to be here his name's on that list. He's either AWOL or there's been a mistake There has not been a mistake here for 1,000 years Then where's Carter? There was a mistake if Peter Carter was still alive on earth a bell would ring You hear a bell? No, therefore no mistake has been made and if you have any further complaints. Oh No, oh No Conductor R34 Conductor R34 Go to the recorder's office with left in a truck show report at once, please with left in a truck show Hmm. No mistake, huh? 34 what about this mess? Yeah, what can I say, monsieur the bell rang a mistake has been made Who is missing my flight commander sir Peter D. Carter. Well, I must have lost him in that a cursed fog down there on earth Oh, there was a fog. All right, real hope he's super. I've been waiting for him, sir. So have I Don't you know a thing like this must be reported to me immediately? I lost my head, monsieur recorder not long in the service Hey, oh since the so-called glorious French Revolution, monsieur. I see natural death. I also lost my head then Monsieur I will go up to Carter at once. That's not so simple. Hmm. Peter Carter has fallen in love that complicates matters He's he's fallen in love Peter Carter jumped from his plane fully expecting an immediate demise Due to some some butterfakering up here. He did not die He lost consciousness had woke up on a stretch of beach suddenly he became aware of the girl Hey Hello Why I don't know why I You're doing Your feet Peter yes, and I'm not dead. I'm alive. But how did you get here? Oh, I'm so glad you're safe. What happened? I don't know. I just don't know are you hurt? Well, my head does feel a bit queer Peter. What a cruel joke to play. I wasn't joking I've been crying so ever since you said goodbye to me from the plane, but don't cry Oh What's been going on down there? I will proceed to earth at once, monsieur explain your error to mr. Carter Get him up here where he belongs. Oh, and when you see him give him a message for me, huh? I've a pleasure. What message just say What how? Oh, uh, mr. Recorder, you have a small idea where I might locate mr. Carter. No, wait a minute Operations, please Whereabouts Peter D Carter delinquent? Oh, yes, Lee Woodhouse Accompany with a miss June Adams an American whack. It seems she is off duty. That's enough. Thank you. Thank you Ah, yes quite enough a main night an English guard and they've been moonlight moonlight But it's not night already you will soon learn mr. Trubshaw That here there is no such thing as time and what seems to you a wink of the eye Down there may be a century. Are you still here? On my way, monsieur. I will be serene June Are you cold darling cold? No, Peter. No, you smell anything What a beautiful night Tell me what did you do before the war? Good evening? Good evening, and who are you? What the costume? What is wrong with these clothes? They are my very best. I was buried in them some hundred and fifty years ago Hmm June June might see things. She is lovely. She not but save your breath, monsieur The lady sees nothing. He has nothing June. We are talking in space. You and I not in time Are you crazy? Who are you? We should have met at dawn more than me. Unfortunately. I missed you Oh, I bring you a message from Monsieur Trubshaw. Trubshaw is dead. Trubshaw is quite dead. He says what? Oh He always says what? Oh, but he's dead again. I say yes And what should be the status of a man who jumps from his aircraft without a parachute? How do you know he also should be dead, but I missed you because of your ridiculous English climate fog Well, what do you want now there you my friend what for to conduct you where to heaven of course Oh, this is fantastic. If I refuse to go with you, but you cannot refuse You have overstayed already by nearly 16 hours earth time that is but but but what about her June? I'm in love with her. What is love the feeling of a moment. I represent eternity Look 16 hours ago. I was not in love, but now I am millions of people are in love Do they protest when their time is up? No, they do not they have no right to exactly, but I have why Now look, it was no fault of mine. I didn't die. I fall in love because of your mistake I demand an appeal. Will you please be reasonable appeal to whom? That's your problem find out. It's never been done never and go away. Oh, you are determined to get me into these salad Aren't you what about the salad you've got me into? Oh, I Think I will leave you for a little while. Well, that's better a little while I said I shall have to report above for instruction good go on report and Do not fall any deeper in love. Do you hear me? I am warning you Ah She is charming isn't she? Oh I Worked for a magazine June What did you say? I said I worked for a magazine. But why do you say that? Because you just asked me what I did before the war. Oh, yes Yes, I did June what the matter with me Such an odd thing happened while you were asleep. Oh Did it I haven't been asleep then you heard us talking. Why no who was here to talk to they sent somebody they June do I look cracked? Not to me darling. Are you look there was a dense fog of dawn this morning. That's right, isn't it? You know there was and I did bail out without a parachute. So how can I be alive darling? We talked about it all day. We don't know what happened Doesn't make sense And I'm in love with you that doesn't make much sense either, but I am but that character he insists I should be dead What character will he stretch with short pants and lace they sent him out after me He said he'd missed me before because of the fog bad luck for them Good luck for me. I told him I was going to appeal. Now. He's gone off to get instructions. It's not my fault I'm not dead. It's not my fault that I found you and fell in love with you it Peter oh my head again this awful headache June, June you are there aren't you? Peter of course I'm here just now for a second. I thought I'd lost you What is it darling? What is it? This is Dr. Reeves. Cool. Good morning. What? Oh, yes, of course. Come right over now if you like. I've been delighted to see you. The whole story Dr. Reeves. I know it sounds ridiculous, but just- No, where's this Peter Chap now? In the village at the Inn. Why hasn't he rejoined this station? Because I was hoping so that you might help him or at least see him. You've told me about cases like this No, no not like this because nothing ever happened like this. I mean- Well, I've done a lot of work in neurology. Yes, but that doesn't alter the fact that Peter Carter is the property of the Air Force. He's not property. He's a person. A very fine person. I don't want just anyone mauling him about and asking him questions I want you. I'm sure the RAF would say that. Exactly what they'd say. I had a talk with Carter's commanding officer just after you phoned me. The medical officer too. Luckily, he'd heard of me. Oh, he said he had, isn't he? You mean then they won't make Peter? I mean that I've arranged a week's furlough. Oh, Dr. Reeves. So he believes that he bailed out without a parachute, eh? Yes. And he has a hallucination. This 18th century Frenchman, you told him that he was talking rubbish? No. Good girl. Look here. You still have that recreation hall at Lee Woodhouse? Yes. Well, supposing I meet you and Carter there, say, about tea time. I'll be off duty too soon. Well, I'd better see your CEO as well. I want you around for a while, June. Oh, don't mind me. Just go on with your game. Dr. Reeves. So he's a chess player, is he? Any good? He'll do. Squadron eager Carter, Dr. Reeves. How do you do? How do you do? Well, I've told him, Doctor, about you. Oh, good. Do you mind if I ask a lot of stupid questions, Carter? I wish you would. These visions that you've had, hallucinations, ever had them before? No, never. What were you in civilian life? Well, I'd taught at Oxford, European history. Parents alive? My mother. What was the cause of your father's death? Same as mine. Brain? No, war, 1917. How long have you been in? Since 41. You must have had a good many missions? 67. About these headaches? Headaches? Oh, I know you get them. I know you've had them for some time, and I know that you've told nobody about them, especially your medical officer. Right? What else do you know? I know about your eyes. You know a great deal. I'd like to know more. Well, the headache started about six months ago. Here, mostly. Frontal and temporal. Do you ever get a bang on the head? Well, it dropped as a baby, no doubt. I don't remember. Mind if I try something? Look straight ahead. Like this? Yes. What are you looking at? That girl down there, the piano. Look at nice legs. Yes, very. Now, don't you take your eyes off her. This is going to be easy. Now, without moving your eyes, what can you see on the extreme right? Fireplace. In the center? Girl with legs. Extreme left? Window. Curtains? Yes. What color? Dark red. Good. Well, that's all of that. Now then, you've seen something. Someone. Clearly? As clearly as I see you. Now, don't you be annoyed with this question. It may sound rather silly, but have you imagined recently that you've smelt something that couldn't possibly be there? How did you know? I didn't just shot in the dark. You noticed that, Oda, at the same time, you saw this heavenly messenger, this conductor full of this Frenchman. Yes. Onions. Fried onions. Well, you asked me. This messenger hasn't turned up again, has he? No, but he will. Oh, when? I don't know. Peter's launched an appeal, doctor. Against what? Against dying. That's the spirit now. Don't you give in? I won't. Well, that's about all for now, except that you're to stay at my house for a few days. Do you mind? Not at all, but what about my CO? His orders, too. And mine as well. I want you to... Well, I want to be around when this Frenchman calls on you again. You're on your own till seven tonight. Oh, you... You're to come too, June. Dinner at seven. Still asleep, doctor. What time is it? Ten o'clock. Well, he's asleep for at least another hour. How do you know? I gave him a pill. But what if the... If the Frenchman comes again, I left a bell at the side of Peter's chair. A bell? If he has a visitor, Peter's going to ring the bell if he can. Now, how about another game of pinnacle? Sure, if you'd like. Don't you worry about him, June. He'll heal. June! June, Dr. Rees, quickly! In a moment, we'll return with stairway to heaven. Meanwhile, here's our Hollywood reporter, Libby Collins. I've got two pieces of news tonight, Mr. Keely. One's about James Mason's latest picture of the upturned glass, a J. Arthur Rank presentation, and the other's the new bath-sized locked toilet. Uh, tell us about the picture first, Libby. I understand Universal International has the most unusual story of love and violence in the upturned glass. Oh, it's a thriller, all right. James Mason plays a famous surgeon, and Pamela Calino and Rosamund John are rivals for his affections in the picture, which he produced with Sidney Bach. Two exceptionally fine actresses. Yes, and two very glamorous leading ladies for James Mason. Pamela Calino is a famous brunette beauty, and Rosamund John a lovely ash blonde. And what a complexion, Mr. Kennedy. The real peaches and cream kind. A real luxe complexion, Libby? Yes, Rosamund depends on luxe toilet soap care. When she was over from England recently, she said it was a joy to be able to get all she wanted of her favorite beauty soap. Also to find an unlimited supply of hot water. After fuel rationing abroad, that seemed almost too good to be true. I should think so. Well, now she can enjoy a beauty bath that's just about tops in luxury, because she'll be using the brand new bath-sized luxe toilet soap. Yes, Mr. Kennedy. And here's our big news of the evening. Now, this handsome new bath-sized luxe toilet soap is available to women everywhere. And what a really super bath soap it is, Libby. Well, screen stars certainly think so. They tell me the new bath-sized luxe toilet soap is wonderful. And I'm sure everyone who uses it will agree. Only the size is different. The same familiar luxe toilet soap wrapper, the same fine white cake. And the same delightful fragrance. The new bath-sized cake is the same high-quality luxe toilet soap, except that the size is just right for truly luxurious bathing. So here's a tip for clever shoppers tomorrow. Look for the new bath-sized luxe toilet soap. Let the whole family enjoy this convenient big new cake. It makes your daily luxe toilet soap bath more refreshing, more luxurious than ever. Here's Mr. Keely at the microphone. Presenting Act Two of Stairway to Heaven, starring Ray Maland as Peter Carter, Anne Blythe as June, and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Reeve. A few moments ago, an earth time, that is, June and Dr. Reeve sat talking in the doctor's living room. Nearby in the library, Peter Carter was asleep on a couch, and his side was a small bell. Then, suddenly, Peter was not alone in the library. Monsieur, Monsieur Carter. Monsieur, if you please. What? Who? Oh. Oh, you're back. Oh, very well. Ring the bell. You see? Nothing happens. The bell does not ring. Ah, a book. Oh, a book of chairs. I was reading it just before I fell asleep. Alikines, hundred best games. I must look this over. Stop stalling. What about my appeal? Oh, yes. Well, it's been granted. Thank you. The trial will be a full dress affair. Oh, tri-chic. Everyone will be there. You have two days in which to prepare your case. Wonderful. Oh, don't be so happy. The prosecuting counsel, the one who will insist that you leave this little world of yours. Well? Abraham Fallon. Come again? Abraham Fallon. Never heard of him. A man from Boston. I've never been in Boston. Abraham Fallon died in Boston in 1775. Oh? Exactly, the American War of Independence. Was Fallon killed? Yes, by a British bullet. Ah, and he may be prejudiced, huh? What did they say? Oh, yes. He hates your guts. He hates the guts of every Englishman. And particularly, he hates you for being involved with such a nice girl from Boston, Massachusetts. All right. I'll appeal against him. Impossible. After all, we had to pick the best man. The honor of my whole department is at stake. What you have to do is choose a good man for yourself. As my lawyer. Precisely. Who? Anybody who has ever lived upon earth. All at your disposal. Well, you could even choose me. That would suit you just fine, wouldn't it? Oh, no. I didn't think so. Well, you can choose Socrates, William Pitt, Henry VIII. What about Madame Jubilee? She knows all about love. Rather one-track mind. No, I have to think it over. By the way, this book on chess, I would like to borrow it. It's not mine. It belongs to the doctor. Doctors? They give me a great deal of trouble in my job. Oh, well. You think it over. I will be back, Monsieur. June, Dr Reeves, quickly. What is it? Oh, he's gone. But he was here. The bell. I couldn't ring it until... Oh, Peter, you're all right. Yes. Yes, I think so. Oh, still hold still, Peter. Now, let me look at your eyes. Look up towards the ceiling. You can talk if you want to. So he just left, eh? Yes. I hope you didn't give in to anything. No. Stay put, Albert. I'll be right back. June, I've good news. What, darling? What? I've won the appeal. The trial is in two days. Oh, darling. Peter, tell me, did you smell anything? Yes. Same as before? Fried onions. Now, I... I want you to drink this. Any headache? Oh, beauty. You can tell me what the Frenchman said tomorrow. But I want to talk. He said that... Go to heaven. It's gone. What's gone? What book was I reading? Before I went to sleep. That book of mine on chess? Alakine's Hundred Best Games. Yes. I put it right here. You sure? Absolutely certain. What a nerve. Huh. A bit cool. Now, how about getting back to sleep? But about my counselor at the trial... Oh, I don't think you believe a word I say. Peter! My dear friend, here on earth, I'm your defending counsel. And as your counsel, I believe everything you tell me. June. June, I don't want to leave you. Why should you leave me, darling? Everything will be all right. If I can only get a good counselor... Of course you will. It's so important. I... I don't want to lose you, June. I won't let you go, Peter. No one can take you from me. I won't let you go. I won't let you go. Well, he's... He's sleeping again, June. Will he have more hallucinations? Yes, but I think he'll be all right. He's not going mad, then. His brain's not affected. Of course it's affected. He's having a series of highly organized hallucinations, compared to an experience of actual life. A combination of vision, of hearing, and of an idea. To a neurologist, that points to a pressure on the brain. That's why Peter's sense of smell has been affected. How did he survive the jump from his plan? I don't know. But right now the main thing is for him to win his case at the trial. You're serious. Perfect, you're serious. But suppose he loses. Oh, that's fair. Well, if we see that he's losing, or we think that he's going to lose, we'll find out the reason why he survived his jump. Or we'll invent one. We'll have a couple of drinks, you and I, and invent the greatest lie in medical history. Meanwhile... Yes? Peter will have to be operated on. When? Right away. I'll see his RAF medical officer in the morning. We can't wait for the trial, June. As you said, he may lose. We don't dare wait any longer, Dr. McCure. Deterioration all around. We ought to operate tonight. But we're swamped here. Are you sure of your diagnosis? Absolutely certain. I showed you the x-rays yesterday. The ocular reports. Those highly organized hallucinations coupled with a sense of smell. Everything points to arachnoid adhesions involving the olfactory nerve. But I'm no surgeon. Who do you have here? Edwin Liza. Liza, fine. That's good, good, good. But I don't see how we can manage tonight. There's no crisis in a thing like this any day we do. There is a crisis. And I'm afraid... Insanity? Yes. Why? Well, I told you that trial that Carter keeps talking about. As far as he's concerned, that trial is fixed for tonight. And he hasn't found anyone to defend him yet. He really believes all this. Intensively, the boy's got a fine mind, McCure, a fine mind that's part of our trouble. Too good a mind. A weak mind isn't strong enough to hurt itself. Yes, stupidity has saved many a man from going mad. Carter's had several talks with this heavenly messenger, that Frenchman. Hallucinations, of course. But you never saw such an imagination. I don't quite follow. Well, nothing that Carter invents is entirely fantastic. It's invention, but it's logical invention. He's convinced that he'll die if he loses his case tonight. And that's why I say that we've got to operate tonight. All right, so shaking your head like... I'm sorry, but I... Yes? Who? One moment, please. It's you, Dr. Reeves. The girl. Hello? It's Peter, Doctor. He's worse. I don't know what's happened, an attack or something. He just kept staring out at the rain, staring into spaces if he... Oh, please, come. I'll be right there, June. Peter... Peter, darling, you're far off somewhere. Come back. Come back, Peter. I understand you at all, Monsieur. I give you the right to choose as your counsel, anyone who ever lived on earth, and yet you tell me you cannot make up your mind. I can't. May I remind you, the trial is but a few of your hours off. Now, look there. Shelf after shelf of books about famous men. There is Lincoln. What about Abraham Lincoln? No, it's hardly fair to drag him in, though I don't think he'd be prejudiced. Plato. Nobody knew more about reasoning than Plato. He was 81 when he died. He might be too old to think love is important. Perhaps you are right. Now, if he'd been French, sure. Richelieu, for example, irresistibilitated. No, I never liked Richelieu in the Three Musketeers. Voltaire? No. What then, who do you want? Look, it sounds fine to have all these great men to choose from, but what do they know about our problems today? Oh, very little. Besides, it should be an Englishman. Nobody famous, but somebody with his head screwed on all right. Now, this Abram Fallon, was he a famous man? A schoolteacher. You see? Anyway, why are you so interested in getting me a counsel? I am interested only in getting you where you belong in heaven. Peter, now, come with me now. No. If you do, you will have nothing to worry about. No trial, no vexations, no pain. See over there, Peter, a great, magnificent stairway. Yes. It will take us there, Peter. It is the stairway to heaven. No. Come, Peter, come. No. No, I don't have to go yet. I have your word. I can appeal. I'm leaving you, Frenchman. I'm getting out of space and back to earth. Back before it's too late. Peter! No, come back! Come back here! Come back! Come back! Peter. Oh, Peter. June. June, you almost got me. June, I'm going to shoot. Doctor. Here, come around in a moment. June, Peter's got to go to the hospital tonight. Phone Dr. McEwen. Tell him that I say it's a matter of life and death. Yes, doctor. Oh, better send a telegram to his mother and sisters. You know where her? Yes. That's all. Hello, Peter. Where's June? She's phoning. She'll be back in a moment. He almost got me. I know. He's such a crafty beggar. I only got away by the skin of my teeth. Now, look here. Don't let anybody fool you into giving up this appeal. You've been promised a fair trial. Don't give in to anybody. I haven't the counsel. We'll find the right man. They might have coined some stew. Nonsense. Or let it go by default. I tell you, we'll find somebody. They can't start until we do. Nobody famous. Well, how about coming? I couldn't reach the hospital. The operator says it's the storm. I'll take your car. No, no, no. You're more valuable here. I'll go. Now go into him. Don't allow him to despair, June. His life is in your hands. Miss Adams? Yes. I'm Dr. McEwan from the hospital. There's been an accident. Accident? Dr. Reeves. He was on his way to see you. I did see him. Yes, they brought him in. His car skidded over off the road. Dr. Reeves is dead. Oh, no. He told me about Captain Carter. Now we're taking him to the hospital right away. He'll be in good hands. I'll tell Peter. Where's Dr. Reeves? He's gone ahead, Peter. He's had an accident, hasn't he? Yes, a bad accident. Is he dead? Yes, he's dead. Come, darling. Dr. McEwan's waiting. Dr. Reeves, I believe. Yes? Welcome. Thank you. Well, permit me to return your book on chess. Oh. Ah-ha-ha. So it's you. And how is dear Peter? He has a fighting chance. Oh. Are you taking me? Up this stairway. We will have to skip several of the preliminaries. I am taking you at once to the recorder. He is very anxious to see you, Dr. Come in, please. Mr. Recorder, Dr. Frank Reeves. Ah, Dr. You are familiar with the case of Peter Carter? I am. He has just chosen you to be his counsel. I was hoping he would. You have very little time in which to prepare your case. They tell me that seats in the courtroom are already at a premium. Peter's in the hospital now? Yes, they've already started the brain operation. I should like to see my client immediately. Conductor, take Dr. Reeves to the operating room. Hello, Peter. Hello, Dr. Where's June? She's waiting, Peter, in the corridor. You're operating on me, aren't you? How's it going? Dr. Lees is a great surgeon, Peter. Neat, very neat indeed. I like his work. Good. About me, Peter, I'm very flattered that you've made me your counsel. Are you sure that I'm the best man? Oh, quite sure. But I'm no lawyer, and if Abraham Farland gets into politics, I'm sunk. Well, who isn't? Come on, doctor, you must have something. A little common sense, perhaps. Well, if it is rare up there that it is down here, a little will do me fine. I need evidence, Peter. June's all the evidence I need. I've fallen in love with her. Her accent is foreign, but it sounds sweet to me. We were born thousands of miles apart, yet we were made for each other. Conductor, may I kiss her? You know, just in case. Yes, kiss her. Go on. But she will not know it. At least I want to see. Come, doctor, the corridor. I think they'd rather be alone. But we cannot let him out of our sight. Look, sir. He kisses her. Are you English? What is the good of kissing a girl if she cannot feel it? June, darling. Did you see, doctor? She just sits in her chair in the corridor. She's crying. Ah, yes, the lady weeps. You want evidence, doctor? There it is. Her tears. Don't cry, darling. If I could only take one of her tears. But you can. You can do as you wish. But how can you take a tear into heaven? Permit me. The rose in my buttonhole. I touch the rose to a cheek. So? And like a pearl of dew upon the petal, lies a single mortal tear. The only bit of real evidence that we have. Come, we get out of here now. Monsieur Ricotta, we are ready. The case of Peter Carter versus Evan will now be heard. We pause now for station identification. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. In a moment we'll return with Act 3 of Stairway to Heaven. It's always a pleasure to welcome to this program an ambitious young player making a success in Hollywood. Our guest tonight is blonde, green-eyed Neela Hart. Didn't I see you at Universal International the other day, Neela? Yes, Mr. Keely. It was on the set for the last moment. Remember? Of course. It must have been fascinating for you to watch Susan Hayward and Robert Cummings do justice to those highly dramatic scenes. Oh, it certainly was, Mr. Keely. Isn't this an unusual role for Robert Cummings? Yes, Bob has one of the most serious roles of his career in the last moment. The thrilling story, full of eerie atmosphere and suspense. And Susan Hayward looks more beautiful than ever. Don't you agree, Mr. Kennedy? Ah, she's lovely indeed. And that gorgeous red hair of hers just sets off a radiant luxe complexion. I know, Mr. Kennedy, that Susan Hayward is a luxe girl. She told me so herself. And speaking of Hollywood's beauty soaps, aren't you going to tell our audience the news about luxe soap you told me before the broadcast? It's good news for every woman who uses luxe toilet soap. Now, this fine white soap is available in a brand new bath size. A handsome larger cake, just the right size for a really luxurious beauty bath. Same wonderful perfume, I hope. Right. Just as fragrant, just as white. In the same familiar wrapper. Only the size is different. Women everywhere are going to love it. In fact, here's what they're saying about it. The screen star. I'm delighted to have my favorite luxe toilet soap in this new bath size. The same lovely fragrance, the same creamy lather that makes my daily bath such a joy. A housewife. My whole family tells me they're enjoying this new bath size cake. It's so luxurious. A business girl. I just love the new bath size luxe toilet soap. Lots of quick, rich lather that leaves my skin smoother, really fresh and sweet. A new luxury bath. Ask for the big new bath size luxe toilet soap tomorrow. It comes in the same sampler wrapper, but in a handsome larger cake that makes your daily luxe toilet soap beauty bath more delightful, more refreshing than ever. Your dealer has the new bath size luxe toilet soap now. Mr. Keely returns to the microphone. Act free of stairway to heaven installing Ray Maland as Peter and Blythe as June as Dr. Reed. In the operating room of an army hospital doctors and nurses labor over a mortal mechanism called Peter Carter. But success or failure seems to lie in hands other than theirs. Far off in space a celestial court has come to order. Ladies and gentlemen of the universe due to negligence by our department of admissions Peter Carter is in the embarrassing position of dangling between heaven and earth. Here and now we must decide either to pull him up or grant an extension of his term on earth. The jury will take their places please. Our council is ready. Abraham Farland. All ready Your Honor. Dr. Reed. Quite ready Your Honor. Prosecution has the floor Mr. Farland. Your Honor members of the jury and fellow spirits. Peter Carter should have died on the 2nd of May 1945 at 10 after 5 of the clock British double summertime. Moreover when someone to report some 16 hours later the defendant refused to accompany the authorized conductor. For what reasons please. He claims that in the time which he had borrowed from us he accumulated new responsibilities of an allegedly important and permanent nature that in those few hours a young lady of good American stock had fallen in love with him. Are we to believe this that in those 16 borrowed hours Your Honor I object to the word borrowed my client was given the 16 hours in question. Sustained. Nevertheless are we to believe that Peter Carter Englishman is in love with this young lady of good American stock and equally important that she is in love with him. Why stress their nationalities Mr. Farland. For a good reason we are talking of love sir. It can happen you know between an Englishman and an American girl. My point is that when in the course of human events our men and women came to your little island as allies it was not to become your prisoner. May I remind you sir that we are living in the 20th century and not the 18th. And may I remind you sir we are not living at all. You've got me there Mr. Farland I beg your pardon. Thank you. But I am up to date Dr. Reeves. Oh I've been watching you English from upstairs here. Your politics your business is Peter Carter what you would call a good Englishman. Yes sir. I thought so. A considerable handicap is it not. My lord may I ask where Mr. Farland's father was born. Entirely irrelevant. Could it possibly have been in England. My father left England sir because he didn't like it. Would he have liked it today. Well I have here a radio. Let me turn it on. Listen everyone listen to the England of today. Well here we are at the cricket match ladies and gentlemen. The voice of England in 1945. Whether now it stopped raining and play has been resumed. No there's a fine crowd and we're all singing. Do you admit sir that this is an English boy. Oh yes yes indeed. I think we've heard enough. May I turn on the radio now sir. Let's hear the voice of America in 1945. If you wish sir. That can't be American. What is that savagery sir. I don't understand it at all. Now that do I. I simply suggest that what may be typically British or typically American has nothing to do with Peter Carter or with June Adams. Ah yes June Adams a lovely vibrant American girl. Members of the jury I ask you. Should the swift tempo of her promising young life be slowed to the crawl of a match at cricket. Or her accustomed native comfort outraged by England's warm drinks cold rooms drafty windows and faulty plumbing at this moment Mr Farland two million houses in England have no windows at all. My lord I submit that this court is concerned with the life and death of Peter Carter and not with past history or present plumbing but Peter Carter's character sir like every other human being has been formed by circumstances by a chain of circumstances. As Benjamin Franklin once said a kingdom was lost all for the want of a horseshoe nail you've heard of Benjamin Franklin and I beg you in George Washington's words labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience. Are you insinuating that something is wrong with my conscience? Not at all I'm proclaiming it. You're trying to prejudice the jury against Englishman. I don't need to prejudice the jury so they're already prejudiced. You can't pick a jury that isn't look at these twelve good men first you see Jean-Marie Barrow a Frenchman has any century passed without war between France and England next is Gregorius Bonziere from the Transvaal the Boer war Doctor Reeves. Remember Changi Min is Chinese don't forget England's attack on China in 1857 occupying the King. And you sir? Ballotage by Dial from Burma Think of Burma Doctor Reeves And you? James Monaghan Ireland Choose a new jury anywhere Doctor Reeves it must always be prejudiced against England. My lord I challenge the jury and I request that a new one be chosen. From where Doctor Reeves? Anywhere except England. Why not from England? Where else of the rights of the individual been held so high? In America sir where these rights are held inalienable a man can see farther from the top of Boston State House and more worth seeing than from all the pyramids and turrets the world over. America sir is the only place where a man is full grown. Then I ask for a jury of Americans and if there is one who fought in the Revolution award then I want another who fought shoulder to shoulder against our common enemy in this century and if one has a mind that can only think back 170 years, I want another who thinks 170 years ahead. Do you agree Mr. Farland? I would welcome such a jury Your Honor. Courts adjourned while we find a new judge who will continue to introduce themselves to the court. Francois Dupont American citizen Peter Vandy Eich American citizen Jim Wong American citizen Jefferson Lincoln Brown American citizen Patrick Aloysius Mahoney American citizen. The jury will be seated Mr. Farland. Apparently Dr. Reeves has wasted the court's time search where you will humanity rises to indict England. You may proceed Dr. Reeves. Gentlemen of the jury here in my hand I hold a single rose and in this rose lies my entire case and what is my case? I agree with Mr. Farland has Peter Carter fall in love during the allotted extra in the disputed extra 16 hours or has he not? Now two young people who never would have met but for a mistake up here are being penalized for falling in love. On the petal of this rose is a tear and in that tear are love and truth and friendship. Those qualities alone can build a new world today and a better world tomorrow. That is my entire case and upon it I demand that Peter Carter shall live. Mr. Farland no questions. Your Honor you are the foreman of the jury. I am and we feel that the defendant and the girl should be given a chance to be heard is that permissible? It can be erased. Where are they conductive? Peter Carter is on an operating table in an army hospital near Newcastle. The young woman is also there waiting in the corridor. The jury feels that hearing them would help establish a better understanding of conditions. In that event the jury will go downstairs. Leave the way conductor. There is Peter Carter on the operating table. The jury will stand around please. My diagnosis is right. Fine, vascular, menendial adhesions finding the optic nerve to the brain. We are not here to discuss adhesions, Dr. Reeves, but to question Peter Carter. I'll kiss you in the... in the key of the... Let me tell you about my operation. Please come and forth, Peter D. Carter. Hello, Peter. Hello, Doctor. How's the operation going? Fine. You couldn't be in better hands. There's quite a draft in my head. Peter Carter, tell the jury here whether or not you attempted to influence the emotions of that young American girl out there in the corridor. June and I fell in love before we ever met. You claim you love her? I do love her. Can you prove it? If you give me time, sir, 50 years will do. But can you prove it? Well, can a starving man prove he's hungry except by eating? Would you die for her? I would, but I'd rather live. Ah, young devil. Pardon expression, my lord. Good work, Peter. Good work. You're witness, Dr. Reeves. No question. Conductor, is the young lady available? She sleeps, Mr. She sleeps. The jury will kindly note that. I put her to sleep. Indeed, why? To enable you to call her spirit, monsieur. The jury will please note that. I, too, call her your honor. Very well. Miss June Adams. Turn it around, Peter. Miss Adams, you've been called in the case of Peter Carter as a witness for the prosecution. Where were you born, my child? In Boston, sir. Do you know this man? I think so. You think so? I met him only a few days ago. Then how do you think you can love him? But I do love him. Nonsense, lads. Abject. Council, miss, withdraw the word nonsense. But, Mr. Farland's right, doctor. There's no sense in love. Wisdom still flowers in Boston, I see. Can you prove that you love him? How can I? Would you be willing to die for him? Yes. Would you take his place in the balance sheet? Yes. Don't believe her. Send her side, sir. It's all right to ask her that. How dare you tell me what I might ask? Peter, you, Mr. Bay, have all the dirty tricks. This is contempt of court. I'll have you committed. Commit away. June, don't answer any more questions. Do you realize that by this attitude you've forfeited any chance of winning your case? All right. Then I lose. But you're not going to get June as well. You're a witness, Dr. Reeves. June, you know me well. You trust me? Of course I do. Then listen. Because of what you've just said, it is absolutely necessary that you take Peter's place in the other world. Have you gone mad? If you really love him, June, come with me to that stairway over there. It leads to heaven. You are mad. It's the only way to prove your love, June. I do love him. You won't go. My lord, I must ask the court to restrain my client. Restrain him, Baylor. Come, my dear. June. No, no. Goodbye, Peter. Goodbye, darling. She is dying for him. For love. So typically French. Look. The stairs. The stairs have disappeared. The stairs have disappeared. Unprecedented. Never has this happened before. June, they're coming back. Do you know what this means? A greater hand than ours has sent her back. But the universe. The law. The law of the universe. It clearly stipulates that. I know, Mr. Fallon. In the universe, nothing is stronger than the law. But on earth, nothing is stronger than love. June, June. I would die for you, darling. I would. Peter, forgive me. It was a long shot to take, but I had to take it. It has been clearly established that June loves Peter and Peter loves June. As Sir Walter Scott is always saying, love rules the corp, the game, the grove. And men below and saints above. For love is heaven. And heaven is love. Has the jury considered a verdict? Pays for the defendant, Your Honor. Bravo! Appeal sustained, Mr. Carter. Thank you, sir. There now remains the new date on Peter Carter's file. I'll write it down. Will councils approve it, please? Satisfactory, Dr. Reeves? Very generous, my lord. Isn't that a little too much, Your Honor? I agree. Then let's go back to where we belong. Dear me. I hope this won't establish a precedent. All right, nurse. The patient may be removed to his room now. Congratulations, Dr. Leather. Wonderful piece of work. He'll be all right. Somehow I feel very sure of that. Peter. Oh, no. Not you again. But the book. The book on chess. I'm returning it now to Dr. Reeves' library. Oh, what a pity. I shall have to wait so long to play chess with you. Well, I can't say I'm sorry. In time, my friend. Well, Peter. Oh, uh, she's waiting for you in your room. Waiting for me. Waiting for me. Waiting for me. Waiting for me. Peter. Hello, June. Hello, darling. We won. I know, darling. I know. Leave June and Peter on the threshold of a well-won heaven on Earth and bring our stars back for a well-earned curtain call. Ray Malan, Dan Blythe, and Nigel Brooks, who made Stairway to Heaven a memorable landmark in this theater. Ray, we're happy we got you back from overseas in time for this performance. Well, I'd hated to miss it, Bill. By now you must be Hollywood's most traveled actor, Ray. How many times have you been overseas and back, Ray? Well, this last trip makes it about 31. Well, in other words, Paramount is more than justified in casting you as the gypsy type in your latest picture, Golden Earrings. Well, it takes more than a detrick to bring out the gypsy. Well, aren't you, uh... Aren't you married, Ray? Yes, I'm sure you are, Joe. Yes, but still we can bring out the gypsy. Your trip before this last one was to be at the command performance of tonight's screenplay, wasn't it, Ray? Yes, that's right. About seven hours went over from this country. Well, Anne here recently made a command appearance at the White House, where Washington society admired what I'm sure must be a Lux complexion. It is indeed, Bill. Like everyone I know in pictures, Lux soap is my favorite beauty age. And our audience will have another chance to applaud the results when they see you with Charles Boyer in Universal International's production, Mortal Coils. What are you doing on Lux next Monday night, Bill? A play that will keep our audience on the edges of their seats. It's Universal International's romantic drama of intrigue, Singapore. With two of Hollywood's outstanding stars. The same stars as the picture? Yes, Fred McMurray and Ava Gardner. In an action-packed story of suspense and mystery against the glamorous background of the audience. Singapore should make a thrilling evening for your listeners, Bill. Good night. Good night. Thanks all three of you for a wonderful performance. Before I say good night, I'd like to express our pleasure at having with us in the front rows of this theater a hundred representatives of the United States Navy from the aircraft carrier, Boxer. We take this opportunity on Navy Day to salute these welcome ambassadors of the greatest and most respected naval force on earth. Victors in war and guardians in peace. Lever Brothers Company, the makers of Lux toilet soap, join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday evening when the Lux Radio Theater presents Fred McMurray and Ava Gardner in Singapore. This is William Kealy saying good night to you from Hollywood. All over the world, the supply of fats and oils is critically low. One of the finest jobs ever done by American housewives has been in saving used fats. Since 1942, over 800 million pounds have been salvaged. But the need is still great. That's why your government asks you to continue to save in all used kitchen fats. They'll help industry in making the essential everyday product we all need and use. Your dealer will pay you for every pound you turn in, so keep on saving used kitchen fats. Nigel Bruce will soon be seen in the Exile Universal International Release starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Heard in our cast tonight where William Johnstone is Abraham Farland, Alan Reed is the recorder, and Ben Wright, Carl Harbord, Herbert Rawlinson, Charles Lung, George Surrell, June Whitley, Philips, Edward Marr, Paul Marion, and Alan Lockwood. Our music was directed by Louis Silver. And this is your announcer, John Milton Kennedy, reminding you to join us again next Monday night to hear Singapore with Fred McMurray and Ava Gardner. For cakes that are better four ways, try Sprye. Made the Sprye way cakes are lighter, finer textured, richer flavored. Stay fresh longer. Moist and velvety down to the last luscious piece. Sprye is the shortening with the special cake making secret. We I am Sprye, F-B-R-Y. The short of listen next Monday night to the Lux Radio Theatre presentation of Singapore with Fred McMurray and Ava Gardner. Stay tuned for my friend Irma, which follows immediately over most of these stations. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.