 Ladies and gentlemen the railroad out and here comes our star-studded show train Tonight the association of American railroads presents the delightful light opera Ermini starring Gordon McRae and his guest Nell Tangemann The railroad industry is particularly proud and happy to welcome this well-known concert and opera star Who incidentally is the daughter of a railroad locomotive engineer? Ms. Tangemann is one charming reason why thousands of railroad folks and their families Gathered at railroad safety rallies in many parts of the country will be listening with special interest to our program tonight Our choir is under the direction of Norman Lube off and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen dragon Yes tonight another musical success is brought to you by the American railroads the same railroads that bring you most of the food You eat the clothes you wear the fuel you burn and all the other things you use in your daily life And now here is our star Gordon McRae Ladies and gentlemen, thank you Marvin Miller and a good good evening ladies and gentlemen Tonight is a fair going on in the little French village of Poemvere and you're all invited You see that beautiful girl there the one with the dancing eyes and the peaches and cream complexion Well, that's now Tangemann in the role of the irresistible Ermini And you see that fella there named Eugene who works for Ermini's father not a bad-looking guy, is he? Well, that's me Now what would you do if you were Eugene and the night tasted like spring and the music was doing things to your feet and your Throat would you grab Ermini and dance with her? well so alive Oh, that's wonderful Eugene, but it's wrong for us to dance this way Why is it wrong Ermini because I am just your father's employee his secretary Oh, it's just that I'm afraid afraid of what Falling in love with you the only time to fall in love Ermini is when you're young you hide it and save it and Postpone it until you're old it runs away from you. Oh, I think you're right We tell my father how we feel right away yes, I shall say my dear Marquis I am in love with your daughter no matter what anybody says I intend to marry her Oh Eugene Ermini, it's my father tell him now. Oh, well, maybe I'd better rehearse a little longer Oh, there you are child. Oh you hear Eugene. Yes, sir. What a surprise I have for you my child surprise father I have picked the day of the fair to introduce you to your future husband husband Husband I knew you would be pleased Ermini. He is the son of my oldest friend His name is the vikong debris sack and he should be arriving any moment But but father you see how I am always thinking of your happiness my child for years the count and I have planned to unite our families But father did it ever occur to you that I might have an objection to such an engagement never You're a soldier's daughter and it's the duty of a soldier's daughter to obey. Am I not right Eugene? Oh, well, sir never having been the daughter of a soldier. I Well, I shall go prepare for his arrival. What a happy day. What a happy day. Oh Eugene Why didn't you speak up? Why didn't you say something to father? I didn't have the presumption to tell him that I loved you You had the presumption to tell me Ermini, I'm no good. I'm a coward weakling. I don't like to hear you talk like that It doesn't complement my taste in loving you You do love me And Ermini those things don't look very bright for us Just remember the old saying will you V count debris suck what if he's an old man? What if he's fat and ugly and there won't be any chance of you're falling in love with I'll see here. I'm the V count debris sack and I won't be spoken to in that tour no boys, but oh That pistol seems rather unnecessary What was it you wanted me to do get off your horse and exchange clothes with me? Oh, yes, right away Give me your clothes your papers your ratification and while you're at it your money, you're the escape convict the rotaries revend Maybe I am maybe I'm not at any rate. I'm going to tie you to this tree So you won't spread a rumor like that see here I'm expected to poem there if I don't arrive they'll come searching for me. I'm about to meet my Well my future wife the daughter of the marquee you don't seem particularly anxious Well, I've never seen the wench for that matter. None of them have ever seen me I'm just afraid she'll be all and fat and ugly. Uh-huh. This is working out better than I thought My dear V count I shall appear in your place For who would think of looking for an escape convict at the chateau of a marquee? What are all the soldiers doing here at the fair they're searching for that escape convict that revend oh dear But my how handsome the soldiers love well if that's the way you feel I believe I shall join the army if you marry that You know when your voice floats into my room Ernie with the night wind then I I know how much I love you And who has just arrived in Pongve the future husband of our beloved Ernie the Vicon de Brisek Gentlemen, oh you cheat Ernie I don't like that to be second. I don't know why but I don't trust the way he looks come my friends This calls for a celebration to the chateau. You are all invited Just a moment Can you imagine using a refrigerator big enough to hold? 40,000 pounds of food Well, you do use such a refrigerator in fact you use more than 130,000 of them they are railroad refrigerator cars and they are mighty important to you For thanks to these railroad refrigerator cars traveling around the country all the time You can enjoy fresh or frozen meats vegetables fruits and dairy products every day of the year no matter where you live And that's just one example of the fact that almost everything you eat where buy or use moves by railroad You have a very definite interest then in the efficiency with which the railroad serve you That's why we think you'll be interested to know that in 1951 the railroads operated with the greatest overall efficiency on record Last year the average train carried more freight and carried it faster than ever before in history The result an all-time record in overall efficiency shows again the inherent strength of the railroads The only form of transportation big enough and strong enough to do the big job of transportation Demanded by our civilian economy and national defense needs But the railroads are not content to rest on this record So they are keeping right on working right up to the limit of available money and materials To still further expand and improve their service a service that is essential to the strength and health of our nation Now here is act 2 of the light opera Ermini starring Gordon Macrae as Eugene and Nell Tangerman as Ermini Everybody is celebrating my engagement to the V count, but I only feel like crying What are we going to do Ermini? Well, maybe if I go to the V count Eugene and appeal to him. He'll release me It won't do any good. Your father would never approve of our being in love My mother were alive. She would help us. She would understand You know, I remember your mother Ermini and I remember the way She used to sing I dream about her so often and I seem to hear her saying everything will be all right Was it when you were just a little child and afraid of the dark? Yes I even hear the lullaby. She used to sing to me. You know, my father's secretary and a Eugene myself John John Tell me V count how is your mother? Oh wonderful fine in the pink According to the records my dear V count your mother has been dead for six years No, well, what I mean is she's very well considering the fact and your father very well the last time I saw him You don't have any reports of his death to you No. Oh, well then the old man is blooming. Excuse me. I have to talk to the marquee dealer marquee I hope you'll forgive me for questioning the integrity of one of your guests forgive you I thank you my boy. I too have been suspicious of the V count He's not at all the kind of person. I wanted for Ermini's husband Now if you and Ermini had ever felt an attraction for each other What did you say? Well, you're the kind of young man. I'd like to see Ermini marry Eugene Miss Sheila marquee, but after all you can't force these things people aren't attracted to each other They just are Sheila marquee. I have a piece of news for you that will make us both very happy He sips it sweet as he goes your father appraise of us. He doesn't even like the V count I shouldn't wonder considering the fact that I've just arrived Who are you the real V call your guest has been revenge the notorious criminal. Why almost married him Soldiers have you captured your prisoner? Let me go. Let me go. I haven't done anything But impersonate a blasted nobleman and escaped from prison and roughly in my clothes. How did you get loose? I tied you to a tree this young man had the good sense to call out the soldiers I congratulate you sir. I did it for Ermini an honest crook can't even find protection in the chateau Not very noble of the nobility My dear V count only one thing You won't hold Ermini to this sight unseen engagement. No my friend Well, then I should be a thief like revenge a Love thief But I see great love in your eyes for this young man. That was a lot of money, and it will be there always always always Thanks to the other members of our cast her Butterfield Bill Conrad Carlton young and to our entire company Ermini with libretto by Harry Poulton and music by E. Yacobowski was dramatized for the railroad hour by Lawrence and Lee Marvin the railroad hour is brought to you each week at this same time by the American railroads Today America's productive might is busy serving the needs of both commerce and national defense Absolutely essential to such productive activity is a strong and efficient railroad system Realizing that America's railroad study and work continually to improve their efficiency And now their efforts have paid off in a new all-time record for overall operating efficiency That's good news for all of us for it shows that the railroads are on the job and Working steadily to do an even better job of filling the nation's transportation needs both for commerce and national defense Friends the Red Cross has moved quickly to bring badly needed help to the thousands of victims of the Missouri and Mississippi River floods And that's why the Red Cross now needs to raise a minimum of ten million dollars Over and above what has been collected in their regular campaign This money will be used for direct assistance in the form of food clothing shelter and medical care for the victims of this terrible disaster Each one of us is being asked to lend our financial support to the Red Cross in this hour of need By contributing to our local chapter And now here again is our delightful guest star Miss Nell Tangermann It was the delight to sing this charming light opera with you Well, the best part of this program now is that despite crooks nobility or plot complications. I usually manage to get the girl Speaking for the girls who are your guests Gordon. We don't mind it a bit What girl do you end up with next week? Well lovely Nadine Connell and we'll be seeing the sprightly operator Pink Lady and in weeks to come such delightful musicals As Jerome Kern's sunny Rodgers and Hart's spring is here Three-quarter time by Johann Strauss in the Great Waltz and Sigmund Romberg's unforgettable my Maryland Oh, that sounds like a wonderful spring season. We'll all be listening. Good and good night. Now. You were wonderful All aboard well dear friends It looks as though we're ready to pull out and so until next Monday night and pink lady This is Gordon Macrae saying goodbye I Harmony was presented by special arrangement with the Tams Whitmark music library Gordon Macrae can soon be seen starring in Warner Brothers about face Our choir is out of the direction of Norman Lube off and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen dragon This is Marvin Miller saying goodbye until next week for the American Railroads now keep tuned to your Monday night of music on NBC Now the voice of Firestone brings you Eugene Connelly on NBC You