 Ladies and gentlemen, The Railroad Hour. I've started Show Train. The Association of American Railroads inaugurates its fall festival of famous musicals by bringing you Sigmund Romberg's enduring success, The Student Prince, starring Gordon MacGray and his celebrated guest from the Metropolitan Opera, Dorothy Kirsten. Our choir is out of the direction of Norman Luboff, and the music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. Yes, tonight another memorable musical is brought to you by the American Railroad. The same railroads that bring you the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the fuel you burn, and the multitude of other things you use in your daily life. And now, here is our star, Gordon MacGray. And good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, Dorothy Kirsten and I are bound for Old Heidelberg, where we'll sing all those great Sigmund Romberg melodies from The Student Prince. These were the days when castles were hung with banners and echoed with a pomp and majesty of kings. These were the days when our crown prince, one expects to wear a crown. Dear repowers, I was summoned by your grandfather, the king, to discuss plans for your university education, and I have persuaded him, my boy, that you must go to Heidelberg. Heidelberg. Oh, doctor, I've never forgotten the stories he used to tell me when you were my schoolmaster about Heidelberg and about the river Necker and the student corps, and how they sang in the evening. And how they sang. And now, Karl Franz, they're going to let you escape from your gloomy castle for a year at least, to be free, to be a student like any other land. I enjoy these days, Karl Franz, for they are the golden days. I know, Dr. Enko. Down where the Necker flows swiftly, the town that is Sigmund's. Come to Heidelberg with me. Why should be honored, Your Highness? Good. When can we be off? As soon as the better. Yes, I am. I just arrived. Well, will you join us with some beer? Well, I'd prefer wine, I think. Wine? Or Kathy? Beautiful, Kathy, bring us some beer. Mind your manners, boys, or I won't serve you a drop. Who is this girl, this Kathy? Oh, she worked here at the inn. She's the mascot of our corps. She's beautiful. Hey, Kathy, come and meet a new admirer. Hello. You just arrived in Heidelberg? Yes, yes, I have. I expect to study very hard. Tell him, Kathy, tell this freshman the way we study in Heidelberg. No idea. But forgive you for treating me as a friend. Oh, now, please, while I'm with you in Heidelberg, let me be one of you. Never, Your Highness, only Karl Franz. A toast, then, to our new friend Karl Franz. And I should like to drink Kathy's. Your Highness, yes, Dr. Ranks. Come now, hurry. We must move into our lodging. Oh, Kathy, will you please show us to our rooms? Thank you, pardon, Karl Franz. But it's getting dark. I thought I'd bring you a lamp. Well, that's kind of you, Kathy. What's that music? It's the students singing the serenade. It's beautiful. Have you any more princes at home? Any more what? Any brothers or sisters? No. A father and a mother, though. They're dead. The king of Crawford. He isn't your father? No, he's my grandfather. I haven't any family either. Poor little Kathy. I only hope the Princess Margaret is one half as sweet, as beautiful as you are. The Princess Margaret? Someday she'll be my wife. Don't you know what she looks like? No. I've never met her. You're engaged, and you've never met? Well, that's the way it is with Royaldy Kathy. These things are arranged, even before you're born. I'm engaged to a livery stable keeper in Vienna. You love him? I don't know. Kathy darling, I... No, you mustn't. I'd better go now. Good night, Carl Frans. Kathy, oh, come in, Dr. Engel. Forgive me, boys, to be Carl Frans. But me and old friend give you a word of warning. What warning, doctor? My boy, I would be very sad if your golden days in Heidelberg were spoiled by an unwise romantic. I know, I know. I will not forget that the Princess Margaret must be my bride. Kathy, in the months I've been here, I've said to myself, I can't fall in love with her. But every day I love you more. What about the Princess Margaret? I can't go back to the suffocating air of the courts. Kathy, will you marry me? I love you so. Magic of springtime is round us tonight. A message has just come from Carl Frans. Carl Frans, your grandfather is dying. No, you must go to his bedside at once. I've already packed your bags. I won't go back. It's your duty, Carl Frans. You must go to your grandfather. He needs you. Oh, Kathy, Kathy. The version of the student prince starring Gordon MacGray as Carl Frans and his guest star Dorothy Kirsten as Kathy. In only four months in Heidelberg, I had to leave my beloved Kathy to return to the court. My grandfather died only a few hours after I reached his bedside. His last request was for me to set a date for my wedding to the prince since I had never seen him. Herstering Highness. Your Majesty. Your Highness, we have long awaited the pleasure of meeting you. May I have the favor of a waltz? With pleasure, Cousin. Beautifully, Cousin. It is the duty of a queen to dance well with the king. The princess in my arms was beautiful and proper. She had been schooled since childhood to take her place someday beside me on the throne of Carl Frans. My heart aches to think that my beloved Kathy must be a stranger to my arms from this day forward. I excused myself and retired to my chambers for a night of restless sleep. And I dreamed myself back to Heidelberg again. In the sunshine of our happy youth. And the memories of the gallant times with the student corps fluttered back through my mind. Longing to lift the staining, it was my friends along the banks of the river. I imagined that I saw my Kathy. I had to go back to Heidelberg and keep my promise to Kathy. I beg your pardon. Is there a waitress here named Kathy? I'm Kathy. What can I do for you, ma'am? You were here when the king of Carl Frans was a student. Why do you ask? I am the king of the future wife. The princess Margaret? But it surprised you that a princess could be jealous. It makes me glad. Because you couldn't be jealous if you didn't love him. I love him very much. And my whole life has been planned toward the day when I shall become his queen. Oh, ma'am. He has forgotten me. He'll never forget you, Kathy. As long as you're here waiting for him. He's coming back today. Today? Yes. And if you love him enough, you'll go away. So he will think that you've forgotten him. I can't. I, a princess, humbly beg you to give him up. So that perhaps he will return to me. Your highness. I, I will try to do what you ask of me. You are rarely the happier one. Because you have his love. Well, I can only say that I am grateful to you. They're coming. The student car. The king will be with them. I must not let him find me. For they come to the fellow when he's feeling now or to the fear so yellow as they may. Kathy. Kathy. Kathy, darling. Welcome back to Heidelberg, your majesty. Kathy, what's the matter? Life changes, Karl Franz. You are a king. Your life belongs to your people. But your life, Kathy? I, I didn't wait for you, Karl Franz. I promised to marry someone else. Your majesty? Yes, yes, my friend. We have just learned of your coming marriage with the princess Margaret. May your old friends at the student car wish you every happiness. Thank you. Thank you, my friend. Sing with us again, your majesty. One more song. Yes, my friend. I would like to sing the serenade, perhaps, for the last time. Meanwhile, a word of thanks to our excellent supporting cast, Mary Jane Croft, Victor Rodman, Lamont Johnson, and to our entire company. A student friends with music by Sigmund Raunberg in book and lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly was dramatized for the railroad hour by Lawrence and Lee. The railroad hour is brought to you each week at the same time by the American Railroad. Marvin? In Louisville, Kentucky, next Sunday, both military and civilian transportation leaders will gather together for the eighth annual meeting of the National Defense Transportation Association, an organization that is helping all America keep its attention focused on one of the basic facts of military strength. And that fact is that the armed forces ride to victory on rolling wheels. There are no wheels more important in this respect than those under trains. For without railroads, modern armies could not even be assembled, let alone equipped. Yes, railroads provide the strong dependable wheels under our national defense program. Wheels that can be provided only by trains of cars running on tracks. Thank you, Marvin. And now, folks, here again is lovely Dorothy Kirsten. It's wonderful to be back aboard the show train. Well, it's certainly just so for me, Dorothy, to look across the microphone again and see the glamorous La Kirsten. What's on this show train next week, Gordon? Well, from Heidelberg, we're moving to the Mississippi River, Dorothy, for the unforgettable show boat. And if you anybody else but you play Magnolia, you're mistaken. Okay, dear lord. I'll be here next Monday night when the show train meets the show boat. Night, Dorothy. Night, Dorothy. You're wonderful. All aboard! Well, dear friends, it looks as if we're ready to pull out. But let me remind you, hire the physically handicapped whenever you can. They are ready, willing, and able to do a good job for you. Until next Monday night, on the show boat, we have the members of the cast and of the American Railroad. This is your friend, Gordon McRae, staying tonight. The student prince has been presented by arrangement with Century Library, Incorporated of New York. Gordon McRae can soon be seen in free sailors and a girl in Technicolor. Our choir is out of the direction of Norman Loupolf, and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. This is Marvin Miller saying goodbye until next week for the American Railroad. Now stay tuned for your Monday night of the American Railroad on NBC. This is the NBC Radio Network.