 Tonight the DuPont Company brings you parade starring Gene Herschelt on the Cavalcade of America. But first here is game Whitman. Here is the word about the prices of DuPont Xerone and Xerex antifreezes. With the lifting of OPA regulations the DuPont Company has not increased its prices for these products. They remain the same to all retailers as they were before the war and under OPA. Tonight we present Gene Herschelt in parade on the DuPont Cavalcade of America. You've probably never heard of Peter Ferrick. Historically speaking he's not a famous man, simply one of millions who have come here to America from many lands. All with dreams in their hearts, grandiose dreams and humble ones. And when they are translated into reality we find that each has added to the sum of American progress and achievement. Tonight we tell you the story of such a man. True you have never heard his name before nor will you hear it again, but you will recognize him or his counterpart in a friend or a relative or possibly in yourself. It's a brisk autumn day and down the main street of a representative of American town a military parade takes its brave and splendid way. Among the crowds lining the route stand Peter Berrick and his family. Fine parade, mother. Wonderful parade. You like parades, don't you? I wouldn't miss one for the world. I remember the first parade I saw in America. What? What did you say, dear? All I was just remembering the day I came to America. It was really a parade Clement the night so then. We thought it was though. Yes, how well I remember Clement Hopkins and me getting off the boat from Ellis Island. We certainly were a couple of greenhorns. Last Clement, we are on American soil. Oh, it feels good, yes. Anything feels good. Anything but that boat. You're still seasick, yes? How come we will take a little walk? Walk? But where to Peter? What does it matter? This is America, Clement. Come. Look, Clement. The buildings. Yeah. So big, Peter. Yes, I had no idea everything was so big here. Maybe we should better go back, yes? No, we are going to stay. But we have no money, no jobs, no place to sleep. No more. We will start looking. We will find something. Look, a parade. A parade? But they are not marching. They're standing still in the street. That is very odd. Peter? Yes. Are they soldiers? How should I know I came and you did? They are soldiers. We should go the other way. I do not like it. But look, they are women in the same uniforms. I do not understand this. I will ask one of them. No, no, no. Please, Peter. It is not good to ask soldiers. You know that in the old country they did not like us to speak to them. Oh, this is not the old country. I'm going to ask her. Peter, please. Peter, we will go to jail. You will please excuse me? Yes. What is this parade? Parade. Oh, it is not a parade. We are the Salvation Army. Army? Peter, I told you, please, my friend, you did not... Oh, no. You do not understand. We are holding services here in the street. Services? Yes, church services. You mean this is like church? Yes. Clemen, you see, in the old country it was soldiers, soldiers, soldiers. Yeah, it's worshiping God. That's right. Would you like to join us? I... Peter, you know we have to find a job, a place to sleep, no place. No, we have no time now. Somebody... Yes, I know. We thank you and... You have no money, no job, no place to stay. We, my friend and I, we just come from the boat at Ellis Island. I see. Well, why don't you come with us? We'll give you something to eat, put you up for the night, and in the morning see about getting jobs for you. That is, if you want to work. Yes, yes, we want to work. All right. We'll have prayers in a moment, and then we'll go for the mission. But we have no money, none at all. You don't need any. Now we'll have our prayers. Just wait. Hello, Mr. God. This is Peter Barrick. My friend, Clemen Hupta, and me, we have reached America's safety. We thank you for letting there be a place like America to come to. We are strange here. We have no money, but already we have found these friends. We have dreams, and they say that in America you do not have to be rich to make your dream be true. My dream, Mr. God, is that I should have a house, a small, wide house of my own. In your country, it is not possible for such a one as you to have his own house, but I dream it always. And here in America, I'm ready to work hard, very hard, to be a good American and to get my dream. Please, if it is not too much trouble, please show me how. Oh, why is the streetcar so late and coming? Peter, what difference does it make if we get home a few minutes later? Now that we have finished our day's work, why be in such a hurry? Because Michael Stastin, who lives next door, promised to take me to see another moving picture. Oh, you and your moving picture? This one is about a cowboy. Look across the street. There must be something wrong. Oh, come on, let me see what it is. Clemen, Jesus. Clemen, it is a woman. She's standing on a chair, making a skirt. Peter, here comes our streetcar now. Oh, wait, wait. I want to hear what she's saying. Woman's place is in a home. Why don't you go on? If you think we smart enough to vote. Come along, little lady. I'm gonna put you back in the kitchen where you belong. What goes my arm? Clemen, that drunken man is annoying her. Let her stop him. No, no, it is not our affair. Stop it. Let me go. Now you come along with me, my pretty little man. You will please let that young lady alone. Huh? Who says so? You let her go. Get out of my way, that drunken man. That will show you not to annoy your lady. Then when the suffrage of a lady is... Hey, ask for it. ...interpreting for it. Don't pay any attention to them. It was wonderful of you to help me. Please do not thank me. It was for me a privilege. Thank you. I should like to take you to your home to see that you get there safely. But that's very kind of you. Where is he? In a defenseless man, will it? Let me out of here. Oh, look out. Oh, get away from me, you drunken fool. Get away. Stop, stop, stop. My nose is bleeding. Oh, dear, oh, it certainly is. Here. Give my hand to you. And I think I'd better take you home. In the old country they say I am best in the whole village. Well, you're certainly the best in this whole park. So we set down this mansion last awhile. That would be nice. Enjoy being with me like this on Sunday afternoon. Of course. Because I certainly wouldn't have done it so often. Oh, goodness, my hands are frozen. Oh, here, let me. Are they better now? The minute you touch them. Alice, I wish to ask you a question. Yes, Peter? All the time we know each other. Six months now. You're making speeches for... for women to vote. Yes. Alice, is this enough for a woman to do with her life? You see to vote? Oh, Peter, of course not. Voting would only take a small portion of my time. Then you would have time for marrying and home and children? Yes. I'm sure I would. A woman should have those things. What about a man? Oh, he too, but a man cannot get married when he is only a worker in a factory. You mean all those men who work at your factory aren't married? Oh, no, many are. But to ask for the hand of a young woman like you, a man should make a good salary. He should be able to give you, I mean her, a green home, a house in the country, a white house for the garden. Not just two rooms and a flower pot. That would be very nice, of course. But when two people are in love, they don't need a house and a garden. Wherever they are, it's a power. Alice, that is very beautiful. Like you are very beautiful. Alice, I... Yes, Peter. Are your hands still cold? No, I mean yes. Oh, Peter, why don't you say it? Say what? David, you love me. Of course I love you. Oh, I said it. I thought I would not have the courage to say it. And I said it. You have enough courage left over to ask me to marry you. You are my courage. You are my heart and my blood. When you marry me... What? Hold it tight. Yes. Thank you. What are you sewing, my dear wife? A new apartment. Ah, a new apartment. And it should have been our own house. Peter, it's a perfectly beautiful free room apartment. And we're lucky to get it. Lucky. What are you reading there? The History of America. For the citizenship examination. Peter, you've got several years to go before you can take it. It's too soon to read the history of America. And if I forget, I'll read it over again. But I don't think I will forget. Alice, when our son is born... You're maybe a girl. No, no, no. In our family, the first is always a boy. When our son is born, he will be American citizen. The first man he draws bread, yes? That's right, dear. That is something wonderful. My son will be citizen before me. How much terror can catch up with him? Where's my place? I look all right. Oh, you look fine here. Now don't be nervous. Victor, soon I will be American citizen like you and the baby and your mother. What do you think of that, huh? Why is Mama crying? Alice, you're crying at such a moment? It's just because I know how long you've waited for this. And how much it means to me. And because I feel a little ashamed of the way I've taken it for granted all my life. But I didn't stop it extent for the precious things I did. I'm an American citizen. Peter Verrick. Alice, he's calling me. Yes, right here, Mr. Judge, your honor. I am Peter Verrick. Peter Verrick, you have fulfilled all the requirements for naturalization. Are you prepared to take the oath of citizenship? Oh, yes, your honor. Raise your right hand and repeat after me. Please, your honor, it is not necessary to say it for me. I studied it for six years. I know it in my heart. I, Peter Verrick, hereby declare on oath that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abduer all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate status over energy of which I have here before being a subject. That I will support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. So help me, God. You're listening to Jean Herschold as Peter Verrick in Parade on the cavalcade of America sponsored by the Vupont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. As he watches a parade march by, Peter Verrick, surrounded by his family, thinks back over the 30 years since he first came to America, a penniless immigrant. There have been wonderful times and sad times for him, the years of the First World War, the years when things were hard, and he thinks of the dream he cherished of getting a little White House for himself and his family. And now he thinks of something else, the realization of another dream, one that seemed almost too wonderful to have come true. There he is, Peter. I see him. All looks so serious. It is a serious moment when a boy graduates from college. They all look so nice and their cats and guns marching along the path. Don't say Uncle Clem. He's a fine boy, a son to be proud of. He did it all by himself, Clem. He worked his way right through the four years. And even after I was promoted to form and he wouldn't let me help him, he said to put it in the piggy bank for the little White House. Still dreaming about that little White House, Peter, even after all this time. What has time got to do with it? The dream doesn't get over. Peter, they're breaking up. Come on, we must find Victor. Oh, there he is now. Victor, here we are. My son, a college graduate. A wonderful country. Oh, hello, folks. Did you enjoy the ceremonies? Congratulations, darling. My boy, I am so proud of you. It's a good thing that my suit is a little loose to me. Now we go back to the apartment and have a little party. What are you going to do now, Victor? Have you made up your mind? Well, yes, I have. What? Victor, you didn't tell us anything. Well, I wasn't going to tell you even now, but, well, I don't have much time, so I suppose now is as good a time as any. Victor, what are you talking about? I've enlisted in the Air Corps. The Air Corps? You're going to be a soldier? Oh, Victor, why? Our country isn't in the war. Sooner or later, we will be, Mom. All of us. He is right, Alice. This is not a war against certain countries. It is a war against all decent people. Victor, if I was proud of you before, there is no word for how I feel now. Who's there? Peter, is that you? Alice, what are you doing in the street doing an air raid drill? I've been looking for you for half an hour. Here, put on your scarf. You break the rules to bring me a scarf? It's cold out now. You put it on. At least if it was something important I only wish it were. I wonder if he's still in England. Oh, Alice, you didn't leave the lights on in their apartment. No, dear. Dorothy came home just as I left, and I reminded her not to turn the lights on until after the all clear signal. Got your family well trained, Mr. Air Raid Warden. Yes, very well trained. You went out in the pitch dark just to... Come on, I'll take you home. I hope none of the other wardens will see us. Can't I stay with you till the drill is over, dear? Maybe I can help you in your work. Well, if you want to help me in my work, you stay home and see that their apartment is dark and so another fastener on my armpand. Isn't it dark? This should have an inside room. We have our own little house. We will have an inside room. Darling, I heard about a very nice house. It's for sale in Maybank. You want to go out and look at it? Is it wide? Yes, darling. We'll go see it next week. Here we are. Now you can straight up step... Hey, you on the second floor. Turn off that light. Oh, dear. Turn it off before I... Alice, it's our apartment. I know, dear. Dorothy, you must have forgotten. Forgotten? That is no excuse. That my own family should do a thing like this to me. Everyone will see it. Well, why doesn't she open the door? Dorothy, it's me, Papa. Open the... Dorothy, the parlour light is on. Oh, Dad, Mother, I... What's the matter? What is it? This telegram from the War Department. The War Department? About... Big talk? Oh, Daddy, he missed it. Sector's missing in action. It's a beautiful little house, Peter. Right. Like I always dreamed. And with a little land in the back four garden, see? A rose bush would be nice in that corner. Yes, and those tall flowers. How do you call them? Hockey hollies? Hockey hollies. Hockey hollies. Polly hocks right along the back fence. The house itself is just the right size for it. Four bedrooms are just what we need. That is it. If Victor ever comes back, he will come back, Mother. We must not think otherwise, not even for a minute. He will come back. I tell you this, and you must tell it to yourself. Victor will come back. Oh, Peter, I... I tried. It's been so long. No word. No word at all. We must have faith, my darling. I tell you what we do. We decide which of the bedrooms is to be for Victor. And then they fix it up like we are expecting him to arrive there the next day. We put all his things in it. His books and his pictures. And he's close to the closet. Yes, that's how we'll do, Mother. Do you mean we're buying this house? Of course. It's the house I dreamed about when I came to America. It's the house I promised to give you so many times. Of course we'll buy you. Peter, how much did it cost? That I forgot to ask. Oh, darling. It may be much more than we can afford. I know. We asked the agent. Did you enjoy it, Peter? Yes, my dear. I enjoyed every minute. The person is sad times, too. Peter, dear, I'm talking about the parade. What are you talking about? The parade? Why, it's all. You've been very quiet the last ten minutes, Peter. I was thinking about you, Mother, about Dorothy and Junior and Victor. I thought so. Hey, did I hear someone mention my name? Oh, you mind your own business, Victor, and button your coat. Oh, now, Dad, stop treating me like an invalid. I'm okay now. Anyway, it's time now we go home and eat the good Thanksgiving turkey your mother fixed for us. Come with me. Let's go. Think of it, Mother. Our first Thanksgiving dinner in our own home. Look at that turkey. I hope it's done. Now, please, we say, grace first. This is Peter Verich and my family together again for the first time in many long years. And please look where we are, Mr. God, in a little white house of our own. Today's Thanksgiving day, but even if it was just a plain, everyday Thursday, I would say thank you, Mr. God. Thank you for our help and for each other. And thank you for America, where a man like me from a strange land and without any money could have a dream and get a chance to make it true. Please help us to preserve our many blessings. I would like to say much more, but my heart is so full, makes my throat all tight. Also, from the look on Mother's face, I think the turkey's getting cold, so I will finish. Amen. This is Gain Whitman. Many a prayer like Peter Verichs will be offered this Thanksgiving season, and many an American will pause thoughtfully to count his blessings and reflect upon the meaning of Thanksgiving day. We know how it began. The rocky shore on which the pilgrims landed after their stormy voyage represented a land of promise to them, not a land of ease and idleness. Before they could so much as build shelter, they had to cut down trees. It was the same with everything else. They were cold. They were hungry. Many of them died. But at last, the harvest was in. The first all-important harvest, and the pilgrim leaders proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving. The men, the women, the children met with their Indian friends. They thanked God for the harvest, and because man does not live by bread alone, they thanked him for freedom to speak their minds, freedom to worship as they pleased. This year, the first after a war in which democracy was desperately challenged, we have much for which to be thankful, thankful above all else that our democracy has been preserved, thankful too for our abundant harvest. There has been a steady progression in the material side of American life until the average man today has a standard of living higher than many a rich man's half a century ago. The heart of America is our precious freedom, freedom to work when and where we please, freedom to say whatever we please, to whomever we please, freedom to vote, freedom to worship as our conscience directs us. That God has given us the strength and the ability to hold that freedom through the years is our most compelling reason for giving thanks. And so, a happy Thanksgiving Day to you from the men and women who make the DuPont companies better things for better living through chemistry. Now, here is our star, Jean Hersholt, and I think he'd like to say a word about tonight's story. Thanks, Cain. Tonight's show will make me think of many of us who, like Peter Varick, have come to America with dreams in our hearts. Here in America, we have found freedom of expression in our newspapers I think Peter Varick expressed his best when he says, Thank you for America, where a man like me from a strange land could have a dream and get a chance to make it true. Many a prayer like Peter Varick will be offered this Thanksgiving season. Many an American will pose thoughtfully to count his blessings and reflect upon the meaning of Thanksgiving Day. The music for tonight's DuPont Cavalcade was composed and conducted by Robert Armbrister. Jean Hersholt is the star of his own program sponsored by the Cheeseburrow Manufacturing Company. Our Cavalcade play was written by Priscilla Kent. Featured in the cast with Jean Hersholt tonight were Virginia Gregg as Alice and Jerry Mann as Clement. This is John Easton inviting you to listen next week to Anne Harding in Mother of Freedom on the Cavalcade of America brought to you by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. Cavalcade of America came to you from Hollywood. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.