 Starring Dean Jagger as the Wild Young Man, a new radio play based on the story of Stephen Decatur on the Cavalcade of America sponsored by Dupont. Out from a landlocked Australian harbor tonight, darts a speedy little PT boat. Across the Atlantic rolls a mighty battle wagon of the lion. Everywhere, above and below the seven seas, the might of the United States Navy is beginning to make itself felt in the fight of the peoples of the world against tyranny. And the men that sail the ships of our Navy have a tradition on which they draw. A tradition that means John Paul Jones and Commodore Perry and Admiral Farragut and Admiral Dewey. And it means as well, Captain Stephen Decatur, the man that fought the Barbary Pirates to a standstill and showed that free men would never be slaves. Dupont, maker of better things for better living through chemistry, again presents the distinguished character actor of stage and screen, Dean Jagger as the Wild Young Man, a story of Stephen Decatur written for Cavalcade by Peter Lion. From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli. The shores of Tripoli were not mentioned in that song of America's fighting men because they happened to fill out a line of poetry. They have a very real meaning. Tonight's story begins back on a May afternoon of 1801, 141 years ago, on the southern Mediterranean shore where the Bashar of Tripoli was absolute ruler and clapped his prisoners in a honeycomb of dank, fearsome dungeons cut deep in the rock, far below the light of day. Do you remember which cell we put him in? Of course I don't. Why should I trouble to remember? This is what comes of the Bashar asking to see his prisoners. Once they are snogging their dungeons, why don't you forget them? So much trouble. Dainbridge, Dainbridge. A peculiar name. But then an American. I have an idea what this cell is. Try it. Hey, in there. Speak up. Speak respectfully, Moore. Oh, dear London of the rise. That's the American captain all right. How do you like that? A good guess I make, no? Come on, dog of an American, to your feet and with speed. The bay himself has sent orders to bring you to his presence. Take your hands off me. I walk by myself. Captain Dainbridge, I bid you welcome. I am honored by your attention. You blink so in the sunlight, Captain. I torched your apartments below. I'm not so uncomfortable that you will lose your health during your long visit with us. I'm afraid my visit will not last that long. Oh, you think so. American, I have had you brought from your dungeon because I wish to watch your reactions to a little ceremony. You see, Yander, your flag waving from that flagpole? Very pretty salute, Captain. I am grieved that the chain should hamper your movements. A technical necessity. The ceremony may begin. What is it all about? Oh, the workmen chopped that Yankee flagpole, Captain. And when it falls, we are at war with your America. Presently, your flag will be in the docks. Your grade for tribute is finally caught up with you, Harriet. Move my throne about just a trifle so that my view may be better. You are magnificent. So, yes, Captain. The weaker the state, the higher the tribute demanded. The flagpole, you see, is nearly chopped through. Bring him as a peculiar toughness, Barsha. Lends the state a great state. So, you see, the flagpole is chopped down. The Yankee flag is in the dirt. Look where that is, America. Now, Tripoli is at war with the United States of America. Don't you confess to a small fear, Barsha? Yankee frigates are not far from your harbor. Oh, and in the harbor? Our forts. Our gun boats. Including your flagship, the Philadelphia. We can sneer at your tiny American native. I would sneer now if I were you while I still had time. And now, American, you begin to bore me. I have had enough of your presence. My game is with you over. Take him away. Back to the dungeon. And forget we tell you what you mean. President Jefferson, now just the news brought me from abroad, sir. On the situation with the Barbary Coast pirates and Mediterranean. Barbary pirates again? What now? Mr. President, may we're successful in capturing our frigate Philadelphia. Bainbridge's ship. Our information is that Bainbridge is himself being held prisoner by the Bay of Tripoli. Well, this is outrageous. It is worth to come, sir. Our courier likewise informs me that the Tripolans have declared war on us and can be expected to prey on every American ship that sails into the Mediterranean or along the coast of West Africa. Is there no end to their audacity? We stand alone, Mr. Jefferson. Danish, the English, the Spanish, there for a policy of living and let live. Unfortunately... Unfortunately or not, we cannot turn the other cheek. What steps have you taken? There is very little we can do, sir. On our fastest frigate, I am sending over instructions that we shall fight with all the power we have. Yes, I know, I know. It'll be three months before we'll know what effects our instructions have had. And in the meantime... In the meantime, sir, Commodore Preble is in command of our fleet in the Mediterranean. He's a good man, strong in action, committed to the attack. Let us hope he stands by his commitments. Let us hope that Commodore Preble stands ready to show the world our country and our navy will not tolerate any interference with the orderly pursuance of our American commerce. You are challenged, then. I'm Lieutenant Stephen Decatur of the Schumer Enterprise to see Commodore Preble by appointment. Very good, sir. Decatur? Yes, sir? I sent for you. The Polytons have captured the frigate Philadelphia. The Philadelphia, sir? Beambridge ran her aground on an uncharted reef. That's 36 additional cannons to fight us off. And Beambridge, sir, was he captured? The Fashar holds him in prison right now. This letter here was smuggled out with the help of the Danish consulate. Watch. Invisible ink. He wrote in lemon juice. The heat of this lamp brought out his writing. In ploy you send in party to burn my ship. That's impossible. What's wrong with Beambridge? As a matter of fact, sir, I don't think it is impossible. What do you mean? You've heard that I captured the tropolitan catch de Mastico. Yes? There was a band of picked marines, sirs. I could slip into the harbor of Tripoli, tie on to the Philadelphia. I could set her afire before the guards knew what was about. Nonsense. You've never been inside that harbor. I have the pilot to conduct me, sir. A Sicilian, Salvatore, Catalano. Mastico cannot carry more than a hundred men. Can you find the volunteers to risk such a venture against twice their number? My men are itching to go, sir. Very well, Lieutenant. You have my permission to call for volunteers. I've called all watchers on deck to ask for volunteers for a desperate venture. We're going to scuttle the captured Philadelphia. It's manned by twice as many tropolitans as we know them. Volunteers. Rain sailors and boys. One step forward. All hands volunteering, sir, to the last man. Thank you. Now I'm forced to select from among you. Select from among you. As I call your names, please to drop out for the audience. Lieutenant Rubin James? Yes, sir. You're with Midshipman, McDonough, and Laws, and 10 men to fire the berth deck in a forward storeroom. Lieutenant Bainbridge? Yes, sir. You're to avenge your brother by firing the wardroom in the steerage. Midshipman Morris? Yes, sir. To fire the cockpit in the after-store room. Lieutenant Thorne? Yes, sir. Do our mener to guard the catch and cut off all possible escape from the Philadelphia? Right, sir. Now's the plan understood. Yes, sir. All right, sir. Where's my pilot? The moon is quartering, Lieutenant. But we should move soon. Where's Salvatore? The other tone for Spanish. Enough of these moorish men, Lieutenant. I can stand forward if need be to wait for a challenge. All hands to the stations. Take cover. I'll wait to signal from the other pilot. Ships to the northeast, Lieutenant. They shall rise off our starved bow. She's dark, aren't they? I don't like the wind, Decatur. We'll drift just beneath our guns and lie back calm. That's the chance we take. We'll hear a man sing. He who keeps watch, my lieutenant. He sailed from the bow of the Philadelphia. Now the wind dies. We'll ask him to fill us a rope. Answer! Hear me, right? Hey! Don't say a thing! What does he say, Salvatore? He does a challenge. But tell him we lost our anchors in the storm. Ask his permission to move alongside the frigate. Yes, sir. And then we'll find clear of the other two frigates. Ah. This way, please. He tells us we'll wait for a rope across their fortress, my lieutenant. We'll then see that the man is standing by the board. We're just covering the fort in our hands. All hands on the sheets and heave to the frigates. Stand by the boys, the pirates. Hold your fire where else they're standing. You steal that powder. Come on, lads! Up and at them! Lieutenant Taun? Yes, sir. Bainbridge? Yes, sir. Where's Morris? There he comes. There with all these men. There's more batteries. There's more batteries. We'll riddle us. We'll have to row. Detail your men to Orr's. Stop with Orr's. Stand by to guide us. Lieutenant Decatur reporting, colonel. Atelidapia? It's destroyed, sir, completely. How many losses from your company? One man's slightly wounded, sir. One man? Believe me, I shall see that you get your captaincy for this night, Decatur. They put a cannonball to the mainsail of the catch, sir. Otherwise, we're watered. You run to rest, Mr. Decatur. My compliments to your men. You may inform them. They'll be given double rations of guard. If you'll permit me, sir. Yeah? What is it? Well, I don't think we have time yet for that rest, Commodore. What do you mean? Well, I never believe in Tripoli. We gutted the Philadelphia with only one catch. Now, I believe they know our ships are standing off just outside the harbor. They'll be sailing out to meet us. They're surely outnumbered. And I'd rather give fight than turn tail. Now, I have a simple little strategy, sir, if I may. I think you were in the right to speak out, Mr. Decatur. Well, it would cost us only one frigate. What would mean the whole pirate fleet? Talk sense to me, sir. Because you affect one miracle at once, you must start thinking in terms of others. Well, it's no miracle, sir. Step a frigate over armament. Load every grain of gunpowder we have aboard her. Take a skeleton crew to manor. Sail her right into their fleet where it rides at anchor in the harbor and blow up the whole collection at one fell swoop. Yeah. Yes. It might be done. I'm sure of it, sir. Make of the frigate one enormous bomb. But how to get the skeleton crew back out again? Well, we'd try to slip out of the harbor in a lifeboat, sir. During the confusion, of course, but there's a slim chance. But the man I've picked, they know that. They're anxious to try it anyway. And you want my permission for the venture? I do, sir. It's yours, Mr. Decatur. And good luck. You are listening to Dean Jagger in the role of Stephen Decatur on the Cavalcade of America, brought to you by Dupont, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. Under a broiling Mediterranean sun, a lean black American frigate, manned by a handful of picked veterans, her hold one vast powder barrel pushes steadily toward the pirate port of an enemy country. Can you make it, Monson? Yes, he's trying the pirate flag all right. It's probably one of the thieves who calls himself Port Inspector. Salvatore. Yes, Lieutenant. Point up in the wind a little closer. Stand by to hold your sheets in. Aye, sir. Your answer, Salvatore. Yes, sir. Royal arms! British merchant! Cargo of cotton! What shall that gentleman have done? Tell him nothing. At the Inspector Comma Board. What do you mean, sir? What do you mean? Look, we're always to James. Yes. Go below and watch the men with the powder. Salvatore. Aye, sir. Order your sail close hold. A thousand pardons for this intrusion, gentlemen. You're about to say that it's a notion that this was an American ship. A fully-sheller, was it not? Allow that you recognize your mistake. Perhaps you'll be good enough to... Cotton, you said. The cargo of cotton. Cotton, yes, from Liverpool. Do you wish to see our papers? This is like humiliation. I need hardly to remind you, which will not be like... Captain, rest assured. I do not plan to inspect the cargo. I will simply see you safely into harbor. It's your legacy. Uh, these men. They are all your crew. It seems a small number for the long voyage from Liverpool. Yes, this is just one watch. The others are below. Ah, just so, just so. I trust you in part, my inquisitiveness, Captain. The Americans, we understand. Well, what about the Americans? You're through all of them? Myself, I went to Cambridge, although I'm still more hemorrhagic. That was in the days when Americans were throwing tea into the harbor at Boston. As an Englishman, Captain, you will sympathize with my attitude towards Americans. They're quite mad, you understand? Quite mad. So crazy they won't even pay tribute to pirates, huh? Salvatore, throw it up into the wind. Aye, my Captain. Now, pirates, that's a harsh word, Captain. The felt-unwishes only to protect the shipping in these dangerous waters, yes? That's really how you must maintain a navy to do it, yes? And a navy, it is not a cheap toy. Americans must pay their share to maintain it, as the others do, or... For what? Oh, we take their ships away from them. You see, kind of tribute. You impressed the American seamen and the slavery, that is? Yes, it is, Captain. You have a talent for selecting the ugliest words. Slavery? You simply allow them to work out their own ransom. It's a favor to them. Sounds like a profitable enterprise, Inspector, so long as it works. We flatter ourselves, it will all work out quite well, Captain. The Americans being led are inclined to disturbance, but they will learn. They will become accustomed to our order. We are in the harbor lane for... Ah, well, I'm sorry that our pleasant little trip is so near an end. Yes, yes, yes, tell me, Inspector, that is the Sultan's fleet anchored over there, isn't it? Yes, that's the biggest part of it, yes. We like to keep the lower harbor clear for merchantmen like yourself. Ships up clear state to you. Oh, yes, yes, of course. Salatory. Aye, sir. Three points to Louis. Three points to Louis, that is, sir. Eh, Captain, I think you are confused. The merchantmen don't talk over there. I just told you... I haven't command on a ship, Inspector. But you're sailing right into the midst of the fleet. Your powers of observation improve, Inspector. It's changed. Yes, sir. All hands to man, the two life force, everything ready. Yes, sir. Lieutenant! Lieutenant, what sort of joke is this? Lieutenant Stephen Decatur of the United States Navy, Inspector, who proposes to blow your feet out of the water. Right on the wheel, Salvatore. Yes, sir. Very well, set the fuse. An order is to abandon ship. Mr. Captain, what about me? A seat in this life boat will cost you $50,000, Inspector. Mr. Captain, what kind of joke is this? Bring to the oars. No, wait! Wait, I say, I say! All right, hold on, all right, hold on. Come along, then, Inspector, climb aboard. I had just a few gold pieces in my purse, but I swear the rest of the take later. No, I'm not so much interested in your money, Inspector, as in giving you a taste of what it's like to pay tribute for your life. Now, all hands, bring to those oars and row for all your worth. Yep. Oh! He was not last more than a minute, sir. Any second now. Steady, steady, steady on everybody, watch out! It is my fault. Tell Inspector, if my cargo really had been caught in, would you ask for a bribe when we got ashore? It's fee for my services, perhaps, Captain, but not a bribe. Fee for your services, I see. Well, now I'm going to ask you a fee for my services, since the situation's been reversed. Anything within reason, Captain, if you'll get me safely ashore. I wish to be taken directly to the Sultan. Sultan himself? But I couldn't... That's the point of thought. You should care to know about the fees you charge for not inspecting cargoes, especially my cargo of cotton. You can depend on me, Captain. I will arrange that you have an interview with the Bashar. His Royal Majesty, the Bashar. Defender of Muhammad, Prince of Princes, protector of all who power thrice toward Mecca. Gentlemen, pray be seated. Bring chairs for the infidel. We prefer to stand. You are the Americans, no? I say it was not nice of you to blow up my ships. I have guessedly any lift. We shall have to take more of yours, I am afraid, to make up with the law. Sir, I, as we were informed that your navy was so expensive to keep up, you therefore were forced to levy tribute from merchant ships. We thought to relieve you of your burden. You are mad, young man. You are a likewise insult. Oh, and yes, another thing, that's the trifling matter of $200,000 worth of indendities. And the immediate release of the Americans, you whole prisoner. Be very careful what you say to me and how you say it. You seem to forget you are completely in my power at this moment. Do you realize I could have you clapped into one of my dungeons for the rest of your natural life? I rather think not, Your Highness. We have quite a few ships standing just outside the entrance to your harbour. What? Ships with gun, Your Highness. And unless we return to those ships within three hours, the American fleet will come into the harbour firing and it will not stop firing until there's no more tripling. Ah, treatment. It should be done in any case to pay for the piracy, the kidnapping, the slavery into which you forced American prisoners. Why do they send wild young men to treat for peace with old powers? $200,000, Your Highness. $200,000 worth of indendities. I have noticed before this peculiar moral attitude that Americans take in relation to tribute to the prisoners. The freedom is not to be bought and paid for with money, Your Highness. Money is for restitution. There are many things for which Americans will pay dearly, but not one cent will we pay for tribute. Right there lies the difference between freedom and slavery. I will take you into my confidence, Captain. Just, Your Highness, you heighten my embarrassment. I realize I am beaten, but my subjects, frankly, they will think it rather odd if I let you go without some little token exchange of gifts. Just as a token, Lieutenant, a promise shall we say, something concrete I can show them. I repeat, Your Highness, not one cent for tribute and $200,000 from you as an indemnity. Well, have the grand bizier send in to me $200,000. And then I will ask you to sign a treaty, Your Highness. The United States of America demands assurance that you will pay permanent respect to her integrity and her free commerce and her national honor. She will tolerate no further insult to her flag. Gentlemen, gentlemen, please, pray your attention. President of the United States. All right, gentlemen, we have drunk to our home come hero. I should like to propose another toast. Our Navy, with such an auspicious dawn, what may we not hope will be a meridian splendor. And now, a toast from Captain Decay himself. Gentlemen, I'm deeply honored by your, dare I say, your tribute. Mr. President, may I assure you that I am sensible of the great honor you do me at this banquet. With toast to the Navy, you've been good enough to toast me. I submit this one thing that's not been given her due. Our country, gentlemen. In an intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right, but our country right or wrong. And now the star of tonight's cavalcade, Dean Jacker. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to point out how you, the civilian, can help increase the tin stockpile. Save all the tin cans that you can lay your hands on. Preparing it for reclamation is simple. Just remove the top from the bottom of the can and step on the hollow cylinder and flatten it out and put it away in a dry place. Otherwise, it'll rust. Rusty tin can't be reclaimed. And hang on to that tin until the government asks you for it through your local salvage committees. The call might come in a month or it might be a little longer, but please keep that tin. The need is urgent. Thank you. Next week on Cavalcade, a new radio play about a man whose inventive genius helped save America when another European dictator threatened our liberty. That man was Eli Whitney. Our star will be Carl Swenson of the Cavalcade Players. Don't forget, next week, Carl Swenson as Eli Whitney in Man of Design. The orchestra and musical score tonight were under the direction of Don Worries. This is Clayton Collier sending best wishes from Dupont. Programmed, James Greer from New York. This is the National Broadcasting Government.