 And now another proudly we hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half hours starring Lee Tracy and presented transcribed by your army and your Air Force. From Radio City, New York, here is your star and host on proudly we hail the distinguished Broadway stage screen and radio star Lee Tracy. Thank you Kenneth Banghart and hello everyone welcome again to proudly we hail. I believe this program is going to be one of our finest, a combination of a tender moving story together with some truly beautiful music. We'll begin our play in just a moment after a word from Ken Banghart. The United States Army and the United States Air Force urgently need young men and young women. If you volunteer right away you'll have the choice of many jobs now open. Get full details at your nearest U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Recruiting Station. Be a volunteer, serve yourself and your country now. Now Lee our play. Ken this story appealed to me the moment I first read the script. It's a story of a beautiful girl who creates beautiful music and she well Ken let's begin. With our star Lee Tracy in the role of David your army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production of Concerto. If you were to drive along the mountain road heading east on the new super highway you'd come around a wide swinging curve and there above you tucked into the pine thatched brow of a long sloping hill you'd see the house here the wind moves through fur and hemlock they bother heads and whisper at your approach behind the hill the mountain towers and above it thunderheads mutter ominously the man who built this place made it a part of the scenery not an intruder on it flowers and shrubs border its sides morning glories and rambler roses grow in profusion along its walls a single glass window accounts for nearly half the length of the house and from behind that window comes the sound of a piano someone is playing music beautiful and haunting who lives here let us enter and find out Francesca yes dad I'm sorry to interrupt your work but are you sure you'll be all right without me of course I'll be all right anything you'd like me to get you you can check and see if those books I ordered have come what books I thought my library could stand some additions I've just about worn the pages off of some of those things I'll check and see if they've arrived goodbye dr. Stewart have a good time I'm on my way Katie don't you worry none no I'll try not to look for Katie is my very own sweet sounds like a big storm coming up I can feel it in the air you can indeed we're going to get it all right will you see that all the windows are closed Katie that I will and aren't you thinking this time you were taking yourself a bit of a rest working that hard all the afternoon have I been Katie funny how quickly time goes when we're busy let's hear what the radio has to offer I'll turn it on would you like to hear something in particular no I'll settle for anything we'll be brought up for a boat first thing tomorrow here's more on the prison break the bulletin just in says the two men made their getaway in a stolen car police have set up roadblocks throughout the area and a vast motorist to be on the lookout for license number JK406 the two men both serving life terms shot and killed the guard earlier this afternoon turn it off Katie it's too much static and nothing very pleasant to hear anyway I heard all about it earlier couple of Divils they must be and you know that prison is just over the other side of this valley only 20 miles away well don't worry about it the police will catch them before they get far they'd better I don't like murderers running around loose don't worry Katie I'll protect you now who could be calling us maybe Mr Stockton that manager fella I know a good way to find out you stay right there I'll answer it Mr Thunder are you applauding or booing? oh you don't say well how do you like this? you reserve judgment well that's kind of you you're going to do what a terrible thing oh my poor sister Nellie she oh dear oh dear what's going on Katie Katie get a hold of yourself now what's the trouble what happened to Nellie she and Jack they've been in an automobile accident Nellie is in the hospital hurt bad oh Katie that's awful what hospital is it? Midland that was Jack he's all banged up too oh what can I do? well first sit down and try to calm down well then you'd better take the station wagon and drive to Midland and you'd better plan to spend the night there Jack won't be much help and you'll have to take care of their children and leave you here all alone and why not I'm quite capable of taking care of myself and dad will be here later I just couldn't be doing this to you the storms coming and well suppose suppose nothing do you think I mind a storm or being alone now you can leave me some supper on a tray and I'll sit right here and work no no I'll not believe you listen Katie that's very kind and very loyal of you but this is an emergency and you'll do a lot more good taking care of Jack and the children I'm not an invalid or a baby now you better hurry and leave before the storm breaks what would your father say? he'll understand perfectly you're wasting time Katie fix me something light and get started it's a terrible choice I have my sister I suppose you're right yes you're a dear girl sure and I wouldn't be wanting to be left alone with the thunder cracking and the wind howling through the trees who's there? I said who's there? no need for alarm who are you? what do you want? question one let's just say I'm a lonely wafer a long way from home question two I want to get out of the storm why do you stand over there? because it's dark over here this way you won't be so frightened I'm not frightened and what does the dark have to do with it? most people who see my face can't bear a second look unless they can't believe the first what's the matter with your face? well let's just say it's a kind of a mess and let it go at that what difference does that make? a person can't help how he looks? you're so understanding and a person can't help how other people react to the way he looks well since you've decided to stay until the storm is over you might as well sit down you're very very kind are you here all alone? yes would you mind checking and seeing if the windows are all shut? do you mind if I make an observation? I'm sure you'd make it whether I'm minded or not you're right you're a very pretty and a very lazy woman such flattery that's quite a storm quite a view too look at the way the lightning snakes across the valley I'm surprised you don't insist upon having all the lights on aren't you afraid of being in the dark with a strange man? sometimes I'm afraid of being in the dark but I'm not afraid of you or any man bravo what's so funny? if you're not afraid of me why do you keep looking over there to the chair? couldn't be that if you saw me clearly you or did you see my face in a lightning flash? no I haven't seen your face I just thought you were sitting over there look it's not that dark in here from here it's dark everywhere what do you mean? you're not very observing are you? haven't you noticed? I'm blind you can't see at all? not with my eyes well how is it you're all alone? you can't live here all by yourself no there's my father and Katie our housekeeper dad had to go out and Katie's sister was in an automobile accident so I let her go home doesn't it bother you to be alone? why should it? who would want to harm me? besides I'm not really alone what? what do you mean? who's here beside us? now it's you who are frightened I meant I have this I have my books and the radio what's that you're playing? how can Cherito I'm trying to compose? well how can you do that when you can't see? my fingers aren't blind no my ears no my mind have you always been blind? for the last ten years no chance to see again? none ah it must be tough you mind if I turn on the radio? you'll get nothing but static I tried it earlier you didn't happen to hear any news did you? only about the two men who escaped from prison what about the two men who escaped from prison? I couldn't hear very much of it you don't say what did you say your name was? I didn't say but you can call me David Lee Tracy starring as David in the proudly we hail production of Concerto will return for the second act in just a moment but first I have a message for the real red-blooded young men in our audience as a paratrooper in the United States Army you will have an exciting career that you'll be proud of your distinctive paratrooper uniform and silver wings distinguish you as a member of the Army's most highly respected outfits yes if you can pass the rigid airborne training you can win your paratrooper wings a badge of achievement among men in uniform volunteer for the United States Airborne today get full details at your local U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force recruiting station you are listening to proudly we hail and now with your star Lee Tracy as David and featuring John Guarnari at the piano we present the second act of Concerto you seem different somehow when you broke in here you weren't quite so relaxed or at ease were you stood in a dark corner in fear that I might see you too clearly now that you know I'm blind everything is fine and dandy you become gay and ebony a blind girl is nice company completely helpless she can't do you a bit of harm you even praise her can shift to look take it easy I'm just a bum on his way to nowhere of course it's a relief to know that you can't see me if you could you'd be yelling bloody murder I don't doubt that your face I believe you said it was what's the matter with it exactly oh it was a pretty good face once at least people didn't go under their beds when I came around and one day it made the mistake of getting in the way of a dynamite blast one of those things that wasn't supposed to go off but it did when the smoke cleared away I didn't look very pretty you've heard of plastic surgery you've heard of money you mean the people you were working for wouldn't you it happened in South America the company took care of all the doctor bills but there wasn't anyone around who knew how to put a face back together let me feel your face what do you mean I want to see for myself I can see with my fingers you can go to the devil yours is a tale that grips my heart Mr. Adams I think you said it was tell me what kind of work were you doing when this terrible thing happened to you I was building a bridge Miss what's your name anyway we haven't been formally introduced have we forgive me most of my guests usually know who I am before they come to call we've always felt it was a good basis to start on my name is Francesca Stewart Francesca sounds like your music I think it's a beautiful name you are a very noble man and you Francesca are a very sarcastic young lady and you Mr. Adams are an out and out liar and why should I lie to you what do I gain time perhaps yeah tell me Francesca are you famous you know what do they call them concert pianist quite the blindness has been a great selling card have you heard my dear that blind girl is giving a concert oh you know the one I mean they do say she plays very well I wonder how she does it poor thing it isn't so much being blind it's being lonely you have a beautiful talent and an empty heart an empty heart and who is there to fill it you don't love a blind woman you pittier you pittier Francesca what business is it of yours what I do get out of here and leave me alone you you murderer murderer that's not a very nice thing to call a person what are you doing I'm sitting down beside you I'm taking your hand and mine like this and I'm going to tell you some things you've never been told before let me go let me go now now now Francesca don't you know I wouldn't harm you when this storm is all gone I'll go but because I'm a strange voice to you someone who walked in out of the night let me have my say Francesca you're like your music haunting enchanting from without you or something like this house that looks out over the valley distant a bit aloof lonely and untouchable you know I haven't known very many women but any other woman would have screamed bloody murder when I walked in here whether she could see me or not you didn't you have courage Francesca and spirit you're not defeated I wish I had half your courage you make me feel small if I had a life to offer you're the kind of a woman I'd offer it to but I have nothing I'm just a voice to you I came out of the night unexpected and unwelcome and I'll go back into it again but someday Francesca you'll meet a man who will kiss the loneliness from your lips and there'll be no pity in his love for you good night Francesca hear your music wait I don't understand who are you nobody Francesca nobody at all but you why did you say those things to me no one ever said such things to me before give them a chance they will David tell me the truth are you what's the matter I hear someone coming I'll duck out the back way goodbye David wait wait don't go David David no it ain't David baby they've already got David they ain't gonna get me never mind who just sit down and shut up who's here beside you I said who's here beside you you told me to shut up oh wanna be cute huh now who's here beside you no nobody that better not be this little thing in my hand shoots real bullets you get out of this house huh real wild cat ain't you if you don't behave I'll get real tough help help Adam you just don't learn do you let go of me you just call me stan baby stan wolf just a wolf at heart help help don't fight me will you don't let go why you David David where are you over here here you hurt you hurt yeah I guess I guess so who was he never mind that now well David you weren't lying to me were you not to you Manchester not to you David oh David well young fellow how do you feel today fine doc almost as good as new you're rugged couple of weeks ago I wouldn't have placed any bets on you well I'm not much to bet on but with your daughter to sit here and hold my hand how could I lose Dave maybe I've gone a bit too far but after what you did to protect Francesca well I Dave I've got a good friend in New York he's one of the finest plastic surgeons in the country I wrote to him about you talked to him on the phone just the other day and he wants to help you once you get back on your feet and have a job you can pay him back think you'd be interested I'd be an awful dope doc if I wasn't you know I well thanks soon as you feel fit to travel we'll make the arrangements how about right now now Mr. Adams I think we've got everything sure and you know Katie old girl you're after being the apple of me I go on with you now any man who'd risk his own neck for my Francesca and help catch a murderer and devil sure and you've got a friend in Katie O'Hara you know when you said your name was Dave at the poor child's love just glad that I am to be having your friendship me lovely Colleen and remember not every David in the world is serving time and prison are you sure your name is Adams it wouldn't be O'Leary now oh Adams Katie yeah oh Adams well you tell that doctor in New York when he gives you a new face to put a touch of Irish I'll do that Katie it's better to be getting back to my kitchen goodbye Katie and thanks for everything goodbye and luck go with you come back soon real soon hello there you you're going now yeah what will you do when it's all over I I mean once you're out of the hospital get a job building bridges maybe who knows I'll know better afterwards I'll uh be in New York for a concert sometime in the fall would you invite me to come and visit you if you're still in the hospital no Francesca no do you remember when I told you if I had a life to offer you're the kind of a woman I'd offer it to yes of course and wait till that time comes I don't know how long it'll be but one day I'll come back here and we'll talk about it then if that's the way you wanted David yeah that's the only way it can be alright and now I I've got to go David would you kiss some of the loneliness for my lips before you go Francesca I'll be waiting here for you sure I speak for our audience when I congratulate you on a great performance Ken it's nothing but a pleasure to play a role for you like David did to me he's one character I won't forget for a long time we won't either Lee and I know you'll join us in our thanks to our maestro John Guarnere for his inspiring concerto composed especially for this program Lee Tracy will be back with a word about next week's program in just a moment after this message young men and young women throughout America can be of real service to their country serving in the United States Army by enlisting now of several branches of service if a young man volunteers for infantry he'll receive expert training in many fields he'll learn about motor mechanics intelligence communications and all about modern weapons for the tops in service he has the opportunity now to become a paratrooper find out all about the infantry and other branches of the army at your nearest US Army and US Air Force Recruiting Station volunteer this has been another program on Proudly We Hail presented in cooperation with this station by your army and your Air Force Proudly We Hail stars Lee Tracy supporting Mr. Tracy in the cast where Helen Christian, Jota Santis Miriam Wolff, Jack Jason and Bill Lipton concerto was written by Dewitt Cop the music was composed and conducted by John Guarnere Proudly We Hail is directed by Charles Wilkes this is Kenneth Banghart speaking and here again is your host and star Lee Tracy we look forward to your being with us next week for another Proudly We Hail program entitled Sins of the Fathers it's a gripping story about one of the major social problems of today the problem of what to do about sons of criminals I'm sure you'll like it goodbye