 Remember a hallmark card when you care enough to send the very best Tonight from Hollywood the makers of hallmark greeting cards bring you Loretta young in Irving stone's great story Immortal wife on the hallmark way home Each week hallmark will bring you Hollywood's greatest stars in outstanding stories chosen by one of the world's best known authors They distinguish novelist mr. James Hilton Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is James Hilton Tonight on our hallmark playhouse We present a dramatization of a book by a writer who has made a habit of giving us excellent biographies that read like excellent fiction He is Irving stone and the book of his we have chosen is immortal wife Which is the story of a woman who married one of the great pioneers of American history John C. Fremont? Fremont was a soldier explorer whose name every American and especially every Californian should revere and like many men of action He owed a great deal to his wife Indeed in an age when custom did not often permit a complete partnership between husband and wife in all phases of their lives Jesse and John Fremont proved themselves pioneers in this sense also Jesse was truly an immortal wife as mr. Stone calls her And his book is a fascinating and fitting tribute to a wonderful woman Starring in our part tonight. We are privileged to present mr. Loretta young And now Frank gas have your word or two about hallmark There are hallmark cards for every memorable occasion on your calendar for birthdays anniversaries holidays Yes for every occasion that calls for remembrance for a friendly greeting a word of good cheer an expression of sympathy There is a hallmark card that says just what you want to say the way you want to say it And that identifying hallmark on the back that says you cared enough to send the very best Now hallmark playhouse presenting immortal wife by Irving stone and starring loretta young But none of us comes into the world complete We are half beings Searching for the love that can make us whole I was born a woman, but I lived the life of a man The life of my husband John Charles Fremont I met him when I was 16 in the year 1839 And I loved him for as long as he lived You talked to me? Yes that young lieutenant Who is he? Lieutenant Fremont John Charles Fremont all the girls are just buzzing me Where'd he go? He had to bring me some punch. I'm exhausted from dancing. Isn't it a wonderful party? Yes, yes it is wonderful Jesse will you come in here for a moment, please? Oh, certainly father Excuse me Harriet. Will you wait here for lieutenant Fremont telling that I'll be back shortly Lieutenant Fremont Of course Jesse Sit down Jesse Father you're looking at me rather strangely Have I displeased you? People have been commenting about your actions of the past two weeks Jesse You owned this young lieutenant Fremont. You mean I've been enjoying his company. I have You've done as much yourself. You seem quite taken with him nevertheless I would prefer that your association with him be terminated before it goes too far I'm sure it's perfectly innocent, but why attempt the young man with a marriage that could be so advantageous to him advantageous to him While lieutenant Fremont is not an adventurer. He's one of the most promising and talented young men in Washington But not so promising that he can't see the benefits of a marriage to senator Benton's daughter So you think you're produced a daughter so unattractive that I can't be loved in my own sense Oh, you're just a young girl. Jesse. It's my job to protect you. Oh, please father Don't deal with me on the basis of age when I was born you wanted a son Well, I served you like a son. You've discussed Senate problems with me since I was 14 And now now suddenly you what you thrust a calendar in my face and tell me I'm a child Jesse, I'm sorry, but I must forbid you to see lieutenant Fremont again Oh, I'm sorry too, father I love you But for the first time in my life I will not obey you Jesse. I'll have him packed off in an expedition do that father do that Because then he'll prove to you how right I am Send him away But remember this when he comes back I'll be waiting for him America was growing Spreading out weaving the fabric of its destiny Civilization was moving west And with the passing years John was mapping the trails that the pioneers were to follow And then at last father consented And we were married Later John left washington again to prepare for a map making expedition into oregon It was his first command his first big opportunity But then one day my father brought a visitor to the house You know jesse, I believe you know colonel coney. Why of course what a pleasant surprise colonel I hope you'll still think so after I've left mrs. Fremont What there's something wrong there most definitely is your husband has made a mistake that not only puts his career in jeopardy But one that also has caused me Considerable embarrassment Now I'm certain that anything john may have done will be quite logical when he has had an opportunity to state his reasons He borrowed a cannon from my command. I exceeded to a simple request I had no idea he intended to take the weapon into the oregon territory What's so terrible about that colonel the war department doesn't think a 12 pound cannon is necessary to a peaceful scientific survey Jesse Well, his only purpose for taking the weapon. I'm certain is for use in case of attack Can you guarantee that we are on the verge of war with mexico Or england or both How can we qualify the transporting of such a weapon into the disputed territory? I'll tell you mrs. Fremont. This could precipitate a war. I'm afraid colonel coney is right jesse John should have considered that I have faith in my husband's judgment and I will not be questioned in his actions But he's a headstrong young man. I'm glad the war department has recalled him Recalled him a letter was sent to him yesterday If we reach him before he leaves the assembly area that calls lending but that expedition cannot be abandoned It's important another officer will be sent to replace john. I'm sorry mrs. Fremont. This has not been pleasant for me either I want to state my position clearly Good day senator. Goodbye colonel Mrs. Fremont. Goodbye colonel How serious is this to john's career? Well, he's already been relieved of his command As for what else they may do I I don't know Oh Curney is quite bitter John has made a powerful enemy. I want to be prepared for anything that might happen Father what is the worst? Well jesse it could be a court marshal Oh well Suppose he got a chance to go through with the expedition if it were very successful Would that change anything the war department doesn't give chances jesse. No father But a wife does For me madam Fremont. Yes derossi My husband is being removed from his command But they must be mad He's the best topographer in the court. I know I have served with all of them He has not yet received official notification. The letter is on the mail boat to cause landing Then it will reach him in four days derossi Can you beat the mail boat to cause landing? Oh, please madam Fremont. I could not bring the lieutenant such unwelcome. You can you beat the mail boat? With fresh horses along the way. Yes Then here's the money for the horses My husband must be gone from cause landing before the boat reaches there now giving this message for me Only this and nothing more Tell him I said Not to delay another day. He must trust me and start at once Madam Fremont You are magnificent I go at once One more thing derossi. Yes madam Tell him that tell my husband But I love him. My father and the whole world came to know the man I had married He took a canon across the country to prove that the trail he had mapped was passable for wagon trains And with his leadership California decided to join its territory with the united states John became a colonel But his success had made him enemies strong enemies in high places Why are you so preoccupied jessie? You haven't even touched your food I have been watching you father You and all your visitors I know that something is wrong. What is it? Uh jessie, I've never been very good at hiding things from you There's been trouble ever since john practically started the california rebellion and we took over the territory He acted unofficially you mean he acted courageously That land must be part of this country from ocean to ocean americans developed it Why should others be allowed to step in and take it over? You've argued that point and so is the president and the war department these jessie I know all this but cerny is a general now and he still hasn't forgotten that review from the war department about the canon He blames john for this new situation What do you think you'll do he's already done it i'm afraid John has been removed from his command Oh, but he can't do that It's unfair father One without john california would have been at the mercy of any opportunist nation that wanted to seize it jessie This is no time for temper John is being returned to washington to face the court marshal A court marshal For what patriotism Or for the petty revenge of small men Other what can they charge him with cerny has charged him with mutiny mutiny Cerny dares say that All right, all right, father i'll be calm But cerny is in for a fight he never found on a battle Because john will fight this action until cerny is exposed for what he really is these are critical times jessie I don't think it will depend on whether john is right or wrong The charges of such a high ranking officer are almost certain to be upheld very well then Let them be upheld We've been defeated before john and i But the feet only hurts when you refuse to fight And i tell you father We are going to fight the moment james helton will return to present the second act of the immortal wife starring loretta young but first His name was joseph and he lived not so long ago His last name not many people really know Yet i need only say lord jim and you recognize joseph conrad foreign master of our native tongue This is the joseph who said give me the right word and i will move the world Yes, the right word can move the world can double our joys cement our friendships solidify our love And no one appreciates the importance of the right word so well as the makers of hallmark greeting cards With the rare discernment of distilled experience. They know what magic words can work So you'll always find a hallmark card that truly expresses your own feelings joyful congratulations to proud new parents Felicitations on a friend's good fortune An anniversary prayer for your beloved There's a hallmark card that says just what you want to say the way you want to say it And what is true of the right words in a hallmark card is equally true of its design and color and quality too And the hallmark on the back tells your friends you cared enough to send the very best Now we present the second act of immortal wife by erving stone and starring loretta young california joined the union thanks to john And he planned to take us there and make our home He had blazed one trail And now he went overland in search of another And i sailed from new york to meet him in san francisco Panama was infested with evil But i crossed the isthmus to the west And waited for a ship to the new territory Waited for months Until oh i'm so glad to see you and the ships John took an overland route to california I'm on my way to meet him in san francisco. Mrs. fremont san francisco has gone wild It's the gold strike people are pouring into the place The hotels are dirty. They're cold. They're jammed and there's no help to be had It's no place for a lady. Oh, i'm not like other washington ladies lieutenant You have something else in your mind That that new passage that your husband was looking for mrs. fremont. Yes He went into the most difficult part of the rocky is just before the worst storm anybody in the region can remember It's a bitter winter What are you trying to tell me Your husband was injured in snowbound He sent out a relief party, but it took them a long time to break through They said that none of the others could have lived for more than a few days Then you think my husband is dead Yes Oh Because he knows that country and no man in the world is better equipped to survive it now he isn't Well, I hope you're right mrs fremont, but in any case he didn't get through the rocks Go back east mrs fremont. If he's all right. He'll be there when you get back. Thank you lieutenant. Thank you for your kindness You you think my husband is dead, but I have a feeling he isn't He promised to meet me in san francisco And we keep our promises I'm going to san francisco Because I believe that my husband is there Waiting for me and he was waiting for me There was gold and self-rewarding john Gold was found on our land, but john couldn't stay The country was still growing and moving and there was a need for our railroad from east to west And only one man could show the path it should take My husband But I could only follow him Yes, see Every time you and jon are separated you just seem to waste away. You don't even eat Why let him go if it affects you so because I'm not the kind of wife to Keep him from what he feels he must do I can't Because he may be star jesse if this is sheer nonsense If john was starving there would be no possible way for him to communicate that information to you Even if he could he would refuse to do so. I will not allow you to endanger your health this way You're deliberately starving jesse jesse, what's wrong child happen just this minute. Oh stop it See the stage you've gotten into you're you're so weak. No No, I'm not I know father. He's all right Father, what date is it and what time? February 6th and it's eight o'clock Yes, he's all right We'll hear from Now that he's all right. We'll send the message colonel fraymore safe madame. He sent me with a message Let me have it my beloved wife a very rough journey hunger the men were starving days without food But we were finally picked up by a band of youths They fed us It was the indians who saved them I knew he was hungry, but a band of youths found them and fed them They remember him from the last time he went through on an expedition Something else happened that same night madame fraymore the men of the expedition decided to Pick their next candidate for president Strange occupation for hungry men Who's the lucky man The colonel madame Your husband That was very nice of him They were not joking madame They will pursue the thought may I see john's letter my dear, of course father, but don't read the post script That's just for me. Yeah, I'm interested only in the date It was written on February 6th Are you surprised father? No, jesse. I know I don't pretend to understand I But I'm no longer surprised The men on john's expedition had not been joking about the presidency They worked and fought for his nomination when they returned And he was selected to run against james bucannon He had many opponents strong and influential ones And among them was the senator from Missouri my father thomas benton Jesse, I'll oppose john's election. I'll stump the country warning the people. They must not put a fractional candidate into the white house But why father? Why shouldn't john be president because he's all too undiplomatic for politics He doesn't understand compromise and without compromise this country will be plunged into civil war James bucannon is a master of compromise and he's the man out support Does mr. Buchanan's ability to compromise outweigh john's courage his capacity for work his integrity Aren't those the qualities a man in the white house should have i'm not discounting that I'm telling you that he's a dangerous candidate The preservation of the union is at stake. Buchanan can preserve it John cannot father. I know you're well enough to know That you will do what you believe is right I'm sorry. You're not with us. I'm sorry too jesse For your sake, I'm proud and happy that john has become one of the important men of our nation But not important enough to be president. No, there are other things more important The welfare of all the people I think the voters will realize that too I think john will be defeated President Buchanan preserved the peace of the nation during his office But the inevitable happened The cannon sounded at fort sumpter and then john General john freemont was gone from me again And then finally the war ended And john went back to building his dream the railroad to the west on our own money He never finished it The money gave out And his health gave out too So I went to work. Oh come in mrs. Freemont. Oh, it's so nice to see you again Thank you, mr. Bonnie won't you sit down and please excuse the looks of this place Publishers are rather careless about the condition of their offices What can I do for you, mr. Bonner I have been thinking that some of my early experiences with mr. freemont And some of my travels in the early days of the california and the oregon territories would Would make excellent articles For your readers. I would not question the value of material like that mrs. freemont How much will you pay for each story why uh We can pay $100 a piece mrs. freemont providing of course that the Articles work out well or they will they will mr. Bonner I will bring you 10 of them early next week 10 in one week But you needn't drive yourself so mrs. freemont We wouldn't need them that soon or perhaps not mr. Bonner But I will need the money that soon You see General freemont is ill with pneumonia And I have arranged to take him to nassau to recuperate I'll need the money for the tickets This is freemont I'm sorry that general is ill I've always been an admirer of his And of yours. Thank you. I hope he recovers I dislike the thought that That you might be left Alone I can never be alone I have had the greatest happiness. I believe a woman can have I have always loved my husband And he's loved me as the greatest gift that life can hold When one is weak The other must be strong When one is ill the other must be well When one despairs the other must be Calm and help neither can be the strong one the well one The brave one all the time This This is married for james helton and loretta young return I wonder how does your garden of friendship grow? Most of us I guess tend to take our friends for granted But aren't you always pleased at every unexpected message from a far-off friend? Why not give your friends that same fine feeling soon? It's easy easy as choosing a card from the wide and varied selection for friendship offered by hallmark For example, here's a friendly card that says just thought I'd drop a line or two to pass the time of day and say Hello, what's doing and how are you anyway? There are many other hallmark cards for friendship to choose from large or small short or long Humorous or just plain friendly Hallmark cards always bring a cheerful blow to each friend who receives one And you'll know a nice warm feeling around the cockles of your own heart too So list the friends you don't want to forget Then visit the friendly store where you'll buy your hallmark cards You'll find a card that's exactly right for every friend and the hallmark on the back Says you cared enough to send the very best Here again is james helton The resourcefulness and the tenderness of a dynamic woman were never better exemplified than in our story tonight Miss young your performance has made this a memorable evening all of us in the playhouse. Thank you for being with us Thank you, mr. Hilton It's been a pleasure And thanks especially to paul mcbay who played thomas benton so splendidly I've admired your series here in the hallmark playhouse Your stories have importance Certainly tonight's story did But perhaps that's because anything that has to do with people is important You know all of us. I think really care what happens to others We may not always have the time to show it, but deep down Most of us want to be thoughtful about this I must say your hallmark cards give us a very easy way to express those emotions on any occasion Thank you again, mr. Hilton for inviting me here this evening Invite me again We certainly shall And may I suggest that you listen in next thursday when we shall present zoe yakin's great story of the theater Morning glory starring elizabeth taylor And the following week one foot in heaven by harzell spence and starring george brent And the week after that betty smiths a tree grows in brooklyn starring that wonderful little girl margaret o' brian Our hallmark playhouses every thursday our director producer is d engelbach Our music is composed and conducted by lin marie and our script tonight was written for radio by joel marcott Until next thursday then this is james hilton saying good night Look for hallmark cards that are sold only in stores have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service Remember hallmark cards when you'll carry enough to send the very best Loretta young can currently be seen in the 20th century box technical production mother is a freshman This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system