 Lux presents Hollywood. The Lux Radio Theatre brings you Walter Brennan, Charlotte Greenwood, Edward Ryan, Gene Crane, and June Haver in Home in Indiana. Ladies and gentlemen, your producer, Mr. Cecil B. DeMille. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. In his book America Learns to Play, Foster Ray Dulles has told the history of our country in terms of sport. He points out something I never knew before. At the past time, which has most intrigued us through the years, and which has most closely paralleled our history and development, is the trotting race. Horse racing, of course, belongs to the ages, but the trotting race belongs to America and to America alone. And tonight's Lux Radio Theatre play, Home in Indiana, the 20th Century Fox hit, brings you some of the fascination and excitement of the harness race, a story of love and jealousy, of heartbreak and triumph, against the background of thundering hooves and swirling dust. And in their original screen roles, you'll hear Walter Brennan, Charlotte Greenwood, Gene Crane, and June Haver. When I saw Home in Indiana, it seemed so typically American in its background and color and spirit that I was mighty glad that it would go by short ways to our soldiers overseas, for whom the Lux Radio Theatre is, I think, a friendly and familiar link with Home. We get a lot of mail from our overseas audience and from their parents. One mother forwarded us a letter from her son, a sergeant in New Guinea, who tells of doing his own washing in a tub of water heated with a homemade blowtorch and generously studded with Lux Flakes. His simple directions are marvels. We just dump the daily clothes in and then stir until the water's dirty. Well, blowtorch heating may be something new in washing clothes, but not Lux Flakes, even in the South Pacific. And now for our play, as the curtain rises on Act 1 of Home in Indiana, starring Walter Brennan as Thunder, Charlotte Greenwood as Penny, Edward Ryan as Spark, Gene Crane as Char, and June Haver as Cree-Cree. If you've ever been to an old-fashioned county fair, you know that the king of the fair is the trotting horse, and the supreme event is harness racing. You know, too, that the farmhand with one horse, which he himself has trained and he himself may drive, is every bit the equal of the county square. For harness racing is the sport of gentlemen, rich and poor, competing not just from money and silver cups, but for the sheer love of the trotting horse and the betterment of the brood and the breeze. We got the telegram before we got the boy. Come from Connecticut, did, from some sheriff up there. There's a visitor coming, Penny, a boy. Well, read it to me. What's it say? This will introduce your nephew, Sparks Thornton, who was decreased to you by your sister the late Miss Henrietta Boat. As you may know, Miss Henrietta raised the boy since your other sister's death several years ago. In accordance with Miss Henrietta's wishes, we have paid his bus fare and therefore assume no further responsibility. He should arrive early Thursday afternoon. How old's the boy, Thunder? Don't exactly know, reckon, about 16. I'll fix up the spare room. Thursday, he said, huh? Tomorrow. I'll get into town and meet him. That's how Sparks Thornton come to Roundhouse Farm. When Thunder opened the door and told him to come in, there was a funny soda look in his eyes, like he was trying to find another door that would let him out. This here is your Aunt Penelope, son. Hello, Sparky. Come here. You a bad boy? That's what they say. You do, huh? Well, ain't a place on Earth with more room for a boy to be bad in the Roundhouse Farm. It's got itself so overgrown with quiet that anything has come as a relief. Yes, ma'am. Show him where to stow his done-edge thunder. This way, son. I'll show you your field chores, too. I was in the kitchen later when I saw Sparky disappear into the cornfield. I might have called Thunder. But if the boy was going to stay, he'd have to decide for himself. I knew what he'd see beyond the cornfield. A board fence six feet tall that's kept us apart from that farm beyond for 18 years. But sure as fate, he'd be a climb in the fence and see him once more. Gosh. Get down there, mister. Who's you smooching around here? I'm Sparks Thornton. Mr. Boat's my uncle. Who are you? I work for you, uncle. I'm Tuppy. What you fooling around that fence for? I was just looking. All those horses and stables and an exercise track. Roundhouse here make that place look like the pool house. Roundhouse? This? Before you was born, more records was busted by horses trained by Mr. Thunder than they got horseshoes next door. Oh, I didn't know Mr. Boat was a trainer. What's that? That's Lady. My uncle's got horses? Only one. Lady, the only one left. Well, could, could I see her? Come along, boy. Gosh. She sure is pretty. Hello there, lady. See, Tuppy, how old is, why, why she's blind? Blind is deep sleep. Lady. Poor lady. No, no poor lady. What? Lady don't need no more eyes. Plenty of horses with two good eyes that ain't never seen what the lady sees. She sees the finish line. First. Tuppy, when does Mr. Boat work out? He don't work out. I give her a mile a day on the lead ring. Maybe sometime I'll let you take her. If you're going to be around. Oh, sure, sure. I'll be around. I told him next morning how to find his way to school. He started out all right, but he never did see school. He went back again to that board fence and climbed over and headed straight for one of their staples. Had a man eatin' stallion in there, but Sparky didn't know that. Whoa, boy. Whoa, easy now. Just trying to get through that, doll, boy. Whoa, whoa. There. That's better. That's better. Hey, you crazy fool. Get away from there. I'm a comin' out, not a goin' in. What devil have you come from? Came through in there. That stall? Don't you lie to me, boy. Now beat it. Or maybe if I was to go back through there and out again, maybe you could use me as a handyman. Get away from that stall before you get killed. Oh, it's all right. Hey. Quiet, boy. Easy now. Easy. See? He's not afraid of me. Well, yes, sir. I'm sorry, I called you a liar, boy. Oh, you all right, sir? Yeah, sure. Go back to work. Hey, what's going on? Nothing at all. Hey, son, how come you know so much about handling a killer like that, Hamill Carr Chief? Huh? You see that sign on the stall? Hamill Carr Chief. Visitors keep away. Go to our bool. Are you Mr. Bool? I work for Mr. Bool. You see, he's our trainer. And I'm Mr. Bool's daughter. Say, Jed, it seems to me there ought to be a place here for a man not scared of the chief. Oh, thank you. You must be terribly brave. Or terribly dumb. What's your name? Oh, I'm Spark Thornton, and I guess I'm dumb. Can you drive a soul key, Sparky? Oh, yes, sir. Allen, come along. Let's see your dog a couple of laps. Gosh, sure have got a lot of horses around here. Yeah, a few. Here's the way, boy. Hey. Hi. Hey, who's that driver? New kid around here. What is he stop jerking those reins? I'll ask him when he pulls up. No, I'll ask him now. Come on, boy. What's the reins? What are you trying to do? Get off the track. Do you want to get hurt? No, and I don't want the mare to leave her. You watch out now. All right. I'll stop her for you. With a rotless piece of driving, I've seen it all my days. Oh, she's a crazy horse. Got a tough mouth. She's not crazy. She's got a mouth like a baby. I suppose you could hold her in. Oh, get out of there. I'll show you. Okay, show me. Tie up my horse and watch. For Hollin off, you need help. Oh, I will. Gee, she sure can drive, huh? She's pretty good, Sparky. I'm sorry. I did so bad. I didn't think it was any different from regular driving. Yeah, no harm done. That takes hands. Huh? Hands. Those two things are 10 fingers are tied to. Spark, look at Char. Why, she can talk to a horse and whisper with her hand. See? Yeah. Well, thanks a lot for letting me try. Goodbye. Goodbye. So long, boy. Well, what are you expecting to do after the way you brawled in my arms? Oh, I guess it wasn't very nice of me, but it made me so mad the way he saw it on Trumpet's mouth and then asked if I could hold her in. Well, boys never like it if you show them up. You ought to remember that. By all means, Char. All proof. Yes, you got to have hands to drive behind a trotting horse. I found out long after how Sparky got his. All the time, Thunder and me figured he was going to school. Sparky was back of our stable learning another kind of lesson from Lady and old Tuppy. Come on, Tuppy. How much longer do I have to do this? You want hands, don't you? Well, sure, but... Then keep walking. Keep walking until you can feel through the lines what she is thinking. Then what? Then keep walking until you can answer right back. What you getting it, boy? Yes, sir, you get it. Got it so well that one day he went over the fence again, drove for Mr. Bruce and got himself a job. I don't know how you learn too quick, son, but you're sure learned. Then you can use me? Yes, see me in the morning. I believe I can. All right, Moes, take this horse away. You did well, Sparky. Oh, thanks. And you aren't mad at me for showing you off? Mad. Oh, if it hadn't been for you, I'd never learned to drive right. That's what I told Cree-Cree. Who? Oh, you know, Mr. Bulls, daughter. Oh, Cree-Cree. Our real name is Christopher, just like mine's short for Charlotte. I don't see her around today. Well, she's at boarding school. You finish school, haven't you? Well, how could I get a job if I hadn't? Well, I better go now. I'll see you tomorrow, Sparky. Yeah, goodbye, Char. Want some more coffee, Aunt Penny? No, no. I'm just sure going to be late for supper. Yeah. What's he doing up there? Sounds just like he's drunk. He is drunk. Oh, I didn't know, Aunt Penny. I didn't mean anything. It's all right, Sparky. Look here, ma'am. Don't you get to think and roam things about thunder? He's a good man. But once to here comes spring, he gets to hear the horses cropping. When that happens, seems like he can't no ways hold back from drowning out the sound with liquor. Now, that's all there is to it. I don't want to be butting in, but what happened, Aunt Penny? You know, between him and Mr. Bull. Well, boy, some men quarrel over women. With Godaw Bull and thunder, it was a horse. Eighteen years ago, they were great friends then, partners too. They had a mare in a race, but something happened to one of her legs, and she lost. Godaw didn't even wait to get her to the stables to shoot her. And when thunder saw him do that, he just went crazy. He beat up on Godaw till he nine most killed him. Well, that was the beginning, Sparky. Godaw set out to ruin thunder, but thunder fought him back. All he needed was money to keep Roundhouse Farmer going, and he figured on winning it in the next big race, but he lost. Seems like after that he lost most everything. Don't, don't have to tell you no more. You're seeing the rest for yourself. But if the stables were fixed up and if there were horses again and, and foals, he wouldn't have those spells. Maybe, but the stables ain't fixed up, and there ain't no horses, except lady and no foals. Yeah. Well, I'll do the dishes. Leave them, Sparky. I'll just sit here a while. I said leave the dishes. Yes, ma'am. Good night. Late that night, I heard voices in the back of the house. Thunder was sleeping it off, and I was scared to wake him. I went to the window. Below in the moonlight, I saw Sparky and one of the colored boys from the Boole Farm. Then I saw someone else. It was Char. Coming up quietly behind the berry bushes. They didn't see her. They didn't know that she was listening to. But you shouldn't have done it, Sparky. You shouldn't have brought a Hammer Card Chief over here. But nobody saw me. Nobody knows but you. Well, why'd you wake me up? And then I wouldn't have known it either. But Mr. Boole found his out. He bought me a lie. But he won't find out. Hammer Card Chief's back in his stable, and all we got to do is put the planks back in the fence. Listen, Mohs. Lady's gonna have a fall now. But what about the papers? That's just it. You've got to help me get the papers for the fall. Maybe I can do that, but not without you got a hundred dollars. Oh, Mohs, where am I going to get a hundred dollars? What about Mr. Thunder? I can't tell him about it until I get the papers. I've got eight dollars in one minute. Maybe I can collect. I've got twelve so far for exercising horses. Let's see. That's twenty. We've got eighty dollars shy. Oh, yeah. Well, I'll get it. Somehow I'll get it. Oh, no. Quiet now, Mohs. We'll go fix that fence. Morning, Daddy. Morning. Hey, what's the matter with you? Daddy, when is it all right not to tell? Oh, you know the rules. You never tell a secret except for cash, profit, or allowance. Oh, Daddy, you're wonderful. Have you got twenty dollars? Twenty dollars. Who do you want twenty dollars for? He said I didn't have to tell, but it's awfully important. Well, here. But it's coming out of your allowance, young lady, and don't you forget it. Oh, you know it's nine o'clock. Mm-hmm. What are you doing? Oh, helping nature a little. Huh? Plucking my eyebrows. Here, let me do yours for you. Oh, no, Daddy. Grasp me to death. Oh, come on, Char. He would notice just a couple. What's the sense of doing it, then? Look, quickly, I need sixty dollars. Sixty dollars? Well, what for? Well, I can't tell. Well, Char, it's me. We don't have any secrets. Please, quickly, don't ask me, please. Well, where would I get sixty dollars? From your dad. Tell him you need new boots or something. Well, all right, I'll try. If you try right away, I'll tell you something else. What? Gordon's home from college. He phoned, but you were asleep. So why didn't you tell me? Well, the other's more important. Hurry, quickly, please, sixty dollars. Well, I'll be very happy to see you. That's what I told him. Oh, you. Here's my twelve moes. Did you collect anything? Collections have been favorable. Now, if you won't, well, I could take this twenty to the meeting tonight and talk nice and soft to mammy love. Of course. Quiet, moes. Oh, hello, Char. I got it here. Eighty dollars. Eighty dollars? But, but I followed you and moe last night. It's all right though. I don't have to tell on you. Here, but eighty dollars. Well, well, it's a loan. Oh, Char, thanks. Oh, that's all right, Sparky. But how do you get Mr. Boone to sign the certificate without him finding out? Now, don't you worry about that. You took care of the fee. I'll arrange about making it legal. But how? Well, Mr. Boone, he don't lack that mean old chief holds. So, when I bring him the papers to sign, he don't never bother none about reasons. Now, I got seven of us here for him to sign. This one is just going to get lost in the shop. I'm glad you're happy, Sparky. Happy? Oh, I'm so happy. I... Who's car is that, Char? Gordon Bradley. He's home from college. Come over to see Cree-Cree. Well, if college is over, I guess school is over, huh? Yeah, it was over yesterday. Why? Well, then, I've got no more excuse for being over here all day. Well, I thought you said you were through school. I didn't say school was through with me, though. Now, I'll have to help Thunder with the farming. Couldn't I come over and see you? Oh, sure. You could come swimming in the pond and Aunt Penny would think you and Cree-Cree were friends of mine from school. Do you think Cree-Cree would come? Oh, sure. Well, ask her, will you, Char? I got to go now, and thanks a lot. And be sure and ask Cree-Cree, huh? Oh, sure, Sparky. I'll ask her. We'll be back in a minute with Act 2 of Home in Indiana. But first, let's listen to one wife's embarrassing moment. She's in a restaurant with her soldier husband. When I'm away from you, Peggy, it seems you can't be as pretty as I remember. And when you see me? Why, you're even prettier than I thought. Silly. I'm just an old married woman, slaving away. It's a good thing you look at my face instead of my hand. Oh, I wish you didn't have to work so hard, Angel, but say Peggy, there's a C.O. and I think he's coming over here. Oh, Tom. Old everything. Good evening, Sergeant. Good evening, sir. Oh, this is my wife, Major Barn. Happy to meet you, ma'am. Oh, uh, how do you do? Tom, why did I have to meet him? Well, why ever not, honey? When we shook hands like he seemed to stare at mine. They're so awful, so red and rough. Chances are the Major wasn't thinking about Peggy's hands at all, but poor Peggy, those dishpan hands, they seemed as big as a house. Made her ill of ease. Now, if you've been embarrassed that way, if you think your hands have to be red and painfully rough because of dishwashing, just do one simple thing. It really works. Change from strong soaps to luxe flakes for dishes. Luxe really does help your hands to become soft and smooth again. Scores of women prove that luxe takes dishpan redness away. You can change dishpan hands to luxe hands for less than a penny a day. Now, Mr. DeMille returns to the microphone. Act two of Home in Indiana, starring Walter Brennan as Thunder, Charlotte Greenwood as Penny, Edward Ryan as Spock, Gene Crane as Char, and June Haver as Cree-Cree. There's a pond near our lower pasture, and all that summer they come to swim there. Cree-Cree and Char and Gordon Bradley. I'd see them at times. Char, a follower and sparky around, but him with no eyes except for Cree-Cree. That's a man, I guess, and Cree-Cree smiling at Sparky with a kind of a smile you couldn't tell from a laugh. And that's a woman. And then one evening, Thunder found out about Lady how she was going to have a pole, and he called Sparky in. His veins standing out on his forehead, but his voice low like he was saving all his wild strength to lay down on the boy. I just come from the stable, boy, and I got a strap in my hand. Yes, sir. Don't you hit him, Thunder. Don't hit him. Boy, I'm going to lick you. Get in here. Yes, sir. That lady's sweet. She's mine. She's all I got. And you take her and spoil her, make her to some back alley. That's enough, Thunder. Heaven help you if you hit that boy again. I'll get the rifle. I swear I will. Well, I couldn't help myself. I just couldn't help myself. I've been wanting to tell you, Thunder. Anyway, here. What's that? The certificate for the four when it comes. Certificate? Hemelkar Chief's Decider. Why, you fool. You might have been hurt bad. That Hemelkar's killer. Oh, no, sir. He and I are friends. Men, I could shoot the both of you. Spark, does Boo know anything about this? No, sir. He even signed it without looking. Says he had cost $100. Mo's had eight, and I put in 12, and Char, she helped too. Okay, she did, Mike. Who's Char? Char? Char Bruce. That's Mr. Bruce's daughter. Let's see now. This means we'll have us in April 4th. And you ain't mad at me? No, son. I ain't mad. But before we close this meeting, I want to beg you not to regret the lickin' he gave you. It's a long road you need going to travel, Sparky, and it's never made a real man any less of a man to take an unjust belt or two along the way. Now get out of here. I got a lot of long-range figuring to do. So everything's all right now, boy? Everything's fine. No, it ain't. It's a shame, but there ain't nothing to be done about it now. Once bit, just stay a bit. What's bitten? The horse bug. And it'll never let you rest. However, so be it. Why can't I go in there too? Tubby's in there, Moses in there, but I can't go in. Because they know about those things and you don't. Well, the least they can do is hurry. Don't you think you better sit down? How can I sit down when the lady's having a fall? Well, she can have it just as easy that way. I'm sorry, Char. You know, it's wonderful to have someone stick by at a time like this. Oh, gee, Sparky, I didn't do anything. Well, you got the money. Well, that's just because I just happened to be around. That's what I mean. That's what counts. Spark, come here, boy. It's come. The foal's come. Look at her. Oh, gee. These sweetie fillies I've ever seen. What do we name her? She's more deemed foal. Yes, sir. More deemed foal. Look, Char. Look. What was a new filly? Christmas was on us that year or four. We knew it. The boy had a present for each of us. Me, he gave me slippers. And Thunder, he gave Thunder slippers. And he didn't forget Tuppy. He gave Tuppy slippers. And then we gave him his present, more deemed foal. All harnessed up to a brand new selfie. Mine? It's mine? Yep. From me and your aunt and Tuppy. And fitted to you like the skin to an apple. You like it, boy. Like it. Like it. Oh, gee. Can I try it? Oh, baby. How are you, baby? Just remember, son. She ain't never pulled you away before, so just talk to her slow and gentle with your hands. All right, Tuppy. Let it go. It's a pretty day, Mr. Thunder. Off a pretty day. It's all right, Maudeen. Easy, baby. Easy. Great. Come on. I'll be right up. Look, new car. Well, you're going out? Sure. Oh, but, Mark, he's coming over. Oh, my goodness. Did you get him anything for free? No, that's what I mean. I forgot all about it. Well, what do I do? I don't have it. I know. Very simple. I'll give him this. What is it? The tie was going to give Dad. Oh, Spark, you like it a lot. You know, when I first saw Spark yesterday, I thought he changed. But as soon as he opened his mouth, I knew he was the same old Spark. Still getting all tied up in knots when he just talks to a girl. Oh, Sparky doesn't get tied up in knots with me. We talk all the time. Oh, that's different. You see him every day. Besides, what do you talk about? Oh, horses, usually. That's what I mean. Hey, Merry Christmas. That's him, that's Sparky. Oh, I wish he'd stop using the back door every time he comes here. Oh, hello, Sparky. Hello. Hello, Sparky. How'd you get your colleague to stay down? Saddle soap. Merry Christmas, Sparky. Well, I wouldn't know you all dressed up. Here. For me? Uh-huh. Perfume. Kiss at midnight. Why, Spark? Thornton? Well, it's printed in French. I didn't know what it meant, honestly. I'll bet you did. Smell. Smells kind of sweet. Here, smell, Char. Oh, here's yours. Oh, gee, thanks, Sparky. It's setting. Well, what is it, Char? Come on, let's see. Oh, it's beautiful, Sparky. It's just beautiful. Keychain. Oh, thanks. I figured that even if you didn't have any keys, it was a mighty handy thing to have. Oh, it is. It'll fasten good under your blue jeans. And now it's my turn. Just a little remembrance, Sparky. Oh, gee. Gosh. I hope you like it. Something to wear. Oh, say, this is real good-looking. Hey, Cree-Cree, come on. What's holding you up? Come on in. Oh, Merry Christmas. Hi, Spark. Well, welcome to the club. Huh? Well, let's try. I've got one, too, except I'm wearing it. She must buy them wholesale. Gordon, I don't think that was very nice. Well, I guess I'll be going. And thanks for your present, Char. Open the first thing. And share nice books. Well, I'll see you later. Spark! Yes? Gordon was just trying to be funny. I guess I'm not much good at making jokes. Well, no, you're not. But don't let that worry you. He's not so good either. Well, goodbye, Cree-Cree. Goodbye, Sparky. Goodbye. They spent the winter, the boy in thunder, clearing up our old roundhouse tracks, and caring for the filly, and teaching it. Come spring and summer, they started working it. Your hands are good, boy, but now it's pace. Hey, I'll take the lady to 220 clips for one lap and you fall in. When I pull up, you take the filly for another full half. You mean I can let her out? No! You take her a second faster than 220 and you and me is going to tangle again. She ain't ready to be asked what she can do yet, and you ain't ready to ask her. Later on, when Char would come over, Thunder'd let her take Lady and they'd race around the track. She and the boy. And Thunder would watch and teach. Always watch with swell, Sparky. I figured by now I know how to get out of a wheel lock. You long road ahead of you, boy. But you're ready to make a stud. Thanks. Hey, go on, let her out, man. She plucked what she ought to, while we're ready to pick ourselves off a stake. A stake race? You mean you'll start her off in a stake race? You don't think we start Mardini in a claimer, does you? Go on now, we've got things to do. Afterward, could we go for a swim? Well, Thunder says so, sure. Swell. Water again. Yeah, in a minute. You know, you know what? What? You're wonderful. Gee, if you'd have been a fella, we'd have been the greatest friends in the world. Well, what's wrong with me the way I am? Oh, nothing, but, well, you know how guys are. Oh, there's Cree-Cree. I know. She got back from the mountains yesterday. Hi, Spark. Hello, Char. Hello. Oh, I didn't know you were home, Cree-Cree. Well, didn't Char tell you? I forgot. I had to come over to see you. Oh, well, as long as you didn't, we came over to see you. Oh, I'm glad you did. Are you too, Gordon? Thanks. Well, how's the water? Oh, it's swell. Say, you have a marvelous tanzer. And you've gained weight, too. Some, yeah. I'm going in. Come in, Cree-Cree. Right away. Sparky, remember the first time we went swimming? Oh, sure. Every time you dived in, I was afraid your trunks had come off. So was I. Oh, it's so good to see you, Spark. You know, I was just... Well, where's Char going? I don't know. Well, excuse me a second, Cree-Cree. Char? Hey, Char! Well? Hey, wait a minute. Don't go. Oh, I think I'll get on home. Well, I'll walk home with you. You don't have to. Are you mad about something? Why should I be? Oh, right then. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Okay. Bye. Bye. Cree-Cree! Hey, Cree-Cree! A month later, we were at the Mintonville Fairground, Sparky's first race, and Maudine's. The bulls were there, too. They must have brought Char along. Before the first heat, I saw her come up to the rail, where Thunder was stuck. Hello, Thunder. Sitting on Maudine's floor. Oh, hello, Char. Cree, you kept a secret pretty good once. I'm asking to keep this one. If Spark knew, I'd bet all I could dig up on Maudine's nose for this heat. It might upset him some. Oh, I won't tell. Could I see Maudine? Hmm, I'd be pleased if you would. They're harnessing over. Gosh, Maudine's pretty like cedar. She smells as clean as the inside of a red cedar chest. You haven't been over in weeks. Well, I... Look, you were sorry on a kind of I didn't walk home with you that day. We went swimming. I said it was sorry. You needn't be. People being sorry just makes other people mad. It isn't your fault you don't like me. Don't like you? I do, so, Char. Spark! What? Sir? You draw a number eight in a second tier. Could have been worse. Yes, sir. Now, listen close, boy. I picked this track for your first race because who's driving the Guinyin? They ain't the best in the world, but they don't come no trickier. And three of them are behind bull horses. What are you trying to do, Scammy? Listen to me. I ain't saying it ain't fine to be brave, but a little fear's a healthy thing to have. Yeah, it's just that they might try to hedge you off into the railroad or like your wheel or something. So remember what I told you. Now, man up, boy. Do your best. The winner, Maudine Forer, owned by J.T. Boat, driver, Spark Thornton. Second, Stella Hanover, owned by Goodall Boat, please let Dryer up. Third, Bob Hutter, owned and driven by J. Weller. They won the first heat, the Philly and the boy. Thundermere went wild with joy. And in the stand, I saw Godall Boat's face turn blacker and tuppies. And then I saw Cree-Cree laughing. And she got up and I had a good idea when she was going to sleep. You were wonderful. That was really swell, Dryer. Well, thanks, but that was only the first heat. You know, Dad's having 25th. I don't see how you managed to keep your Philly such a secret. Uh, did Char know? Well, she kind of found out about it, so I had to tell her. You could have told me, Sparky. I wish I had. Well, I gotta go now, Cree-Cree. That's the bell for the second heat. Well, wait a minute. Here, and you wear this. Oh, your scarf. But I'll get it all dirty. For good luck, Sparky. Oh, gosh. Thanks, Cree-Cree. Come on, Maudine. Come along, baby. Come along. In heat, ladies and gentlemen, I'm Arale Stella Hanover, owned by Mr. Godall Boat, and driven by please let Dryer. Number two, Bob Hutter with Eddie Ferguson. Number three, Maudine Ford, driven by Spark Thornton. DJ Bolton, owner, and on the outside, Bob McLaren and Dixie. All right, turn your trotters. Turn your trotters. Approach, no hurry now. Hold your position, number one. Mr. Ferguson, keep that horse back there. Hold that, Thornton. Hold back. That's it, steady now. Hey, watch yourself, kill him when you're right off the track. Never mind me. You take care of yourself. Move over there, Ferguson. Hey, look out, I'm coming through. Hold it, boy. Not yet, not yet. Come on, Maudine. Take him, baby. Take him again. Steady, boy. Steady. Now, Spark. Now, let it go, boy. Let it go. No, no. Susala, you're ramming him. Did you need a purpose? A purpose? No. You smashed the line. And then to take you. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. We'll be back with act three of Home in Indiana in just a moment. Oh, Mr. Kennedy. Yes, Sally? It's still easier, isn't it? Even though we passed February 29th? Yes, but if you found someone you want to propose to, you'd better hurry up. No such luck. But I did find an interesting leap your superstition. If a girl proposes to a man, and he turns her down, then he has to give her a silk dress. He'd have a hard time finding one these days. Wouldn't rayon do? Sure. The rayons we get now are just as pretty as silk, and we wear them for everything. And give them the same carouselks, don't you, Sally? Well, almost the same. Using luck's flakes, of course. But rayons do need a few special touches, like handling them extra gently. We must never rub or wring rayons, or use too hot water or strong soap. While treating them that way can leave the colors faded. Literally washed out. Just ghosts to their former selves. That's a sad story. These days, when we're supposed to make things last. Oh, but it's true. We proved it with actual washed tests. Rayons that were washed the wrong way soon looked old and drab. Cheer up, Sally. Remember the happy ending. The things that were washed the luck's way stayed bright and colorful three times longer. I guess the moral of this story is, never risk rayons in soaps that are strong. Luck's care means loveliness ever so long. And now, Mr. DeMille returns to the microphone. After the play, you're invited to join us backstage for a friendly chat with our stars. Now here's act three of Home in Indiana. Starring Walter Brennan as Plunder, Charlotte Greenwood as Penny, Edward Ryan as Spark, Jean Crane as Char, and June Haver as Cree-Cree. It was Sparky who got up first after the crash. And then after Thunder had cut her loose, Maudine four. But one of her feet didn't touch the ground. She carried it loose and limp-like. As gently as they could, they led her to her spot. Easy, baby, easy. Thunder, are you gonna have to get rid of her? Oh, no. What if I give you such a thought? Don't get quarter-cracked. Never did ask how you are, boy, but when I seen you get up, I figured you was alive. Oh, I'm all right, but I wrecked her. My wreck is showing off. Ah, you was framed, son. Flee-flit drier done it. That was no accident. Drier? Come on now. Help me load her on the truck. You load her, Thunder. I got something else to do. Sparky! Hello, Char. I'm so often sorry, Sparky. I was scared to come back here. I thought I'd hear a shot and... Quarter-crack. Maybe she'll race again and maybe not. Where are you going? I'll be back later. Moes? Hey, Moes? Yes, sir? Follow Sparky. He's fixing to get himself in trouble. Yes, sir. And you're gonna let him do it? Sure. Flee-flit might have killed them both. As I see it, Spark's got something to settle. All I can do is see that the arch is right. Get along, Moes. Sparky won't need Moes. Flee-flit might. Oh, can I drive home with you? Daddy said I could. Oh, I'd like that. Fine, Char. Believe Sparky would, too. We was late coming home. A long drive and without words. On the way, we picked up a blacksmith. And all that night, the lanterns burned in our stable. Thunder, is there nothing I can do? Char's showing you what you can do. Set yourself down. Shut up. Bar shoes are about ready, Thunder. Hold her now, Tuppy. Brush on that balsam. If it hurts you, Marty, and you want to bite something, here are his, honey. All right. Stand away. You young'uns, see what he's doing? The frog's a cushion for the foot. When that goes out of business, all we can do is rig up a substitute. You can set it down, Tuppy. Set her foot down. Poor little baby. Poor baby. If she sets her weight on it now, she's cured. Loose her lines. That's right. Put your foot down, Maudine. Try it. Try it, please. She's done it. She's standing on it. Sparky, she's cured. She's running low. Better catch her, boy, before she spreads it again. Maudine was cured. But it'd be months before she'd race again. The boy clung to the filly like a she-bear to its cub. So it weren't until he went off to see Creepery one day that old Tuppy got the chance he'd been waiting for. Are you crazy, Tuppy? Her foot's all right. It's fine. It ain't her foot. It's her eyes. What? Look. Just like a mar. Just like the lady. How long has she got? I don't know. I have to get a vet to find that out. He didn't bother the site yet. She still can see fine. But there ain't no tellin'. Don't say nothing to Sparky about this. Where'd the boy go? Seeing Miss Creepery, I reckon. And he ain't no boy no more, Mr. Tudnus. Sparky's grew it up. Nonetheless, no need for him to know about this, Lee Hashtag. Nice little filly. Sweet little girl. Don't you worry no, honey. You's going to see plenty here. Would you write me from college, maybe, Creepery? Of course. But I won't see you again until Christmas. Well, you'll be coming to the Chester Clay trots, won't you? Maudine will be there and me too. Yes, but so will 50,000 others. Sparky? Yeah? You'd like to kiss me goodbye, wouldn't you? Creepery. Well, why don't you then? Well, you really take a girl at a word, don't you? I told you it wasn't much good at making jokes. I wasn't joking. Well, you don't know how different you are, do you, Spark? You seem older and changed. Why, you're not like any boy I've ever known. I wanted you to kiss me, you see. What was that? What was what? I heard somebody. Is that you, Char? The car's ready. You've set us a hurry. Well, well, come on in, Char. Sparky's here. Do you think she- Of course not. Char. Char. She's gone. Char's gone. There's nothing anywhere like the Chester Clay County Fair. From all over the country they come. The finest trotting horses and the men who race them. I never saw Thunder Happier. He was one of them again. They shook his hand and said how they was proud to have him back. There was a dance night before the race. Sparky stopped by to watch for a minute. They was both there, too. Creepery and Char. What's the matter with you, Char? Didn't you hear me whistle at you? Oh, was that me you were whistling at? Oh, this is Ted Drake. Hi. Hi. And what do you think you're doing here? Shitterbug. Oh, y'all learn it, Sparky. I don't have time to learn it. And since when do you go around grinning at all the fellas? They're all staring at you. Well, if they don't stare at me, they'll stare at someone else. What kind of talk is that? Look, no one has to tell me how to act. Char, I don't know what's got into you, but I don't like it. Well, I do. Want me to take care of this fella for you, baby? You don't have to. She hit me hard enough. See Char again till after the first heat next day. He placed forth, not too good. But good enough to keep him in the race. And then he found her over to where the Boole horses were stable. The girl's father was driving Stella Hanover. They'd won the first heat. You were wonderful, Daddy. Wonderful. That's Sparky did all right, too. That's all right with me if you root for him just a little bit. Oh, I love you, Daddy. That's fine. Turn around, you've got company. Char. Good luck, Sparky. See you out there. Thanks. I'm sorry, Char, about last night. That's all right, Sparky. I was just a big fool, that's all. But when I saw you like that, well, I was just a big fool. Char, what's the matter with me? Don't you know? I only know that I want for us to be friends again. Will I see you after the races? If you want to. And we're friends again? Sure. Good friend. Oh, gosh, Char. Well, I guess I have to go now. Good luck, Sparky. Thanks, Char. Goodbye, and Char. Yes? I don't want for us to be just good friends anymore. Pretty lucky, wasn't just great. I'm warning you, Fleet Blit. You keep away from me. You're going to get boxed off so fast, you won't know what happened. You try and eat tricks and I'll kill you. No tricks, sonny. Just good driving. I ain't going to win this race, Bruce is. Him and Stella Hanover. Why do you think we both great for good or bad? Thank you, Chief. Ladies and gentlemen, $10,000 cutuary for two-year-old charters. Well, Stella Benson, Lance Butter, Maudean Four, and Swiss Elm Qualifying. All right, man, train your horses. Go well up now and together. I said together, Mr. Walker, what's up now? Gire, wait till they're on the trot. Don't be in a hurry now. Martin, that's Mr. Bruce on the pole. Remember that. Easy, easy all together now. That's it, that's it. Oh, they got him again. They got him. Look out, boy. Look out. Every time they do it on that far turn. That's why Boole's racing two horses. One to take care of Spark and one to win. It's burst up so. Creep is pushing him off to the rail. And right about now, Flea-Flip's wheel is going to come loose. What you saying? Nobody touched his wheels, Tuffy, but... Yes, yes. What you mean? Push up and start praying. Okay, now take him. Take him, take him. Move over, Dreyer. Move around. You'll be a marioness, Squint. Move around, Ramya. Take him, Jed. I got him. Hey, your wheels loose, Dreyer. Get over, your wheels loose. Yes, Jed, my wheels loose. I'll pull it over. Thanks, Dreyer. Now go, baby. Go. That's it. There you go. That's it, baby. That's it. See me, Mr. Boole. You bet I do, Jed. You let that wetted pup of a kid make a monkey out of you again and you're out of a job. The kid won. He won fair. You heard me, didn't you? I'll drive to win, you know that. But winner lose, you and your job can go to the devil. We'll talk about that later. You just win this third heat. I'll win if I can. But what I said... Where's Thunder Tuffy? He's still at the reel, boy. Waiting to see you come out and win again. This is your last chance, Sparky. I know. Your last chance to save him. He's still all might as wonder. You've hung him nearly all the way back. Mr. Thunder's looking straight through tomorrow and he sees good things ahead. There ain't no empty stables where he's looking. Sure, Tuffy, sure. You lose now in all his hopes. They'll shrivel up like dead weeds and roundhouse and everybody in it will be licked again. Oh, I don't want that to happen, Tuffy. You know what to do. I'll be praying with you until you cross that finish line first. Thanks, Tuffy. I'll sure do my best. Good boy. Good boy. Good event, ladies and gentlemen. We have two heat winners on the rail. Stella Benson owned by Godot Abur with Jed Bruce driving. On the outside, Maudeen Ford. TJ Boldowner with Spark Thornton. All right, bring your fillies up. There'll be no tricks this time, Sparky. Thanks, Mr. Bruce. This time, the best horse wins. Mama Trot, don't try to come too fast. Hit the wire together. Take a hold, please. Take a hold. Watch your feeling there, Thornton. Get her off that rail. Now, both of you. You'll have to approach again. But, well, I think... Captain Tuffy, her eyes. She walks straight into the rail. Sparky, she don't know. He don't know what's wrong. She'll erase. She trusts his hands. He's got good hands, Tuffy. Good. Too fast. Now, start together. Take on. Take on. Wait by way. All right. Go! We lived a hundred years, those next two minutes. Thunder at the rail. Never moving. Never saying a word. And old Tuffy, his head bowed next to him. And the people in the stands suddenly quiet, like as if they knew they were seeing such a race as never they'd see again. They would neck and neck those fillies when they came around the last turn, and suddenly the crowd came to life. All shouting and screaming as the horses flew past into the finish line. They won the race. Sparky and a little filly who had gone blind. And as Sparky turned her to drive back to the stand, Maudine, head high, to walk helpless like into the fence. And then the boy knew. And he took her head in his arms and cried like a baby. And Thunder ran out on the track, and the girl charmed. Maudine, baby. Blind. Blind. Sparky. Oh, Sparky. I'd done it to you, Maudine. I must have done it to you. No, you didn't. It was the hand of the Lord that touched her. It's been coming on her since she was four. Be thankful she got to do what she was bred to do and take heart and lift your head up for your shamer. Now come. Back to Roundhouse Farm. And in the back of the truck together was Maudine and Char. Caught it crying. Oh, no, you don't, Char. Didn't you hear what Thunder said? She needn't be unhappy or suffer or go hungry ever. No. Never hungry and never unhappy. There'll be another Maudine, Char, someday. And she'll be trotting around the cornfield track with Maudine four alongside, steadying her and teaching her, just like she was taught by the lady. Only then will, then the track will be plowed and there'll be a fence around it and the barns will be painted green and white. And your dad, he'll be the head trainer for Thunder. And Moes, Moes will do all the work so Tuppy can just take care of Maudine four and the lady. Oh, we're going to have the top best farm in Indiana, aren't we, Char? Sure, Sparky. If you say so. I feel so good. So darn good. Our stars return for their certain calls in just a moment. Now, let's Eve's drop as Carrie, the career girl, is getting dressed for work in the morning. She's looking through a bureau drawer for some stockings. Oh, this one's got a run in it. Wait, gosh, seems like they've all got runs. Oh, here's a good one. Uh, oh, wrong again. I'll never have time for breakfast if I don't find some decent stockings. Let's see. The pair I washed last night? Don't sort of damp, but they'll just have to do. There. Now, my other shoe must be under the bed. Oh, another run. And they were practically new. Well, I'll just have to wear them till lunchtime anyway. Don't wear. Do you give them proper care? That's strong stockings last twice. And now, back to Mr. DeMille and our stars. As our stars join us for a well-deserved curtain call, we owe a special vote of thanks to Walter Brennan, Charlotte Greenwood, Edward Ryan, Jean Crane, and June Haver. Thank you, Mr. DeMille. Oh, Jean, now that you and June are both stars, you know your privilege to call Mr. DeMille CB. Me too. Now, wait a minute, Eddie. Now, one at a time, this is a little like graduation, remember? You mean, Miss Greenwood, a CB is as good as a BA? Well, June in Hollywood, it'll get you further. But I think you're exaggerating a bit, Walter. When you worked for me in the Buccaneer, you called me by two other letters. Oh, you? Yes, and now I'm not working for you anymore. Well, whether or not you, you young people, call me Mr... Young people, CB? Well, I was really talking about Jean and June and Eddie. Oh, thank you, Mr. DeMille. All right. I think you're all three off to a great start with the movie Loving People of America, and with the slightly older Walter and Charlotte, you've set us a high standard for our play next Monday evening. What's the play going to be, CB? The next Monday night, we have another exciting drama from the pageant of America, the 20th century Fox success in old Chicago. And our stars will be Dorothy Lamour, Robert Young, and John Hodiac. It's the lusty tale of a city struggling to be born, and of the men and women who fought and loved and died to make it great. Sounds like great entertainment for both old and young, CB. Good night. Good night. Good night. Families in 47 other states will have home in Indiana tonight. Our sponsors, the makers of Lux Flakes, join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night. When the Lux Radio Theatre presents Robert Young, Dorothy Lamour, and John Hodiac in old Chicago. This is CB DeMille saying good night to you from Hollywood. And now an urgent message from Uncle Sam. Paper is a critical war material. When you're shopping, help save paper by bringing your own shopping bag or basket. Don't ask to have things wrapped if you can carry them unwrapped. Home in Indiana was presented through the courtesy of 20th century Fox, who will soon present June Haver in Damon Runyon's Irish Eyes or Smiling, and Jean Crane in Moss Hart's Winged Victory. Walter Brennan is under contract with Samuel Goldwyn, and will shortly be seen in the Goldwyn Technicolor comedy The Princess and the Pirate. He appears through the courtesy of Warner Brothers Pictures, and will shortly be seen in To Have and Have Not. Starting October 15th, Charlotte Greenwood will be heard on her own radio program in behalf of Hallmark Greeting Cards. Edward Ryan is appearing in Darrell F. Zanuck's Technicolor feature Wilson. Clarence Muse appeared tonight as Tuppy. Our music was directed by Louis Silvers. This program is broadcast to our Fighting Forces Overseas through cooperation with the Armed Forces Radio Service. And this is your announcer, John M. Kennedy, reminding you to tune in again next Monday night to hear in Old Chicago with Robert Young, Darryl Amour, and John Hodyak. With new Easy Makes Spry. See the spry ad in October Women's Magazines and Newspapers. Be sure to listen in next Monday night to the Lux Radio Theater presentation of in Old Chicago with Darryl Amour, Robert Young, and John Hodyak. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.