 The world's greatest wild animal trainer, Clyde Beatty, with another exciting story from his brilliant career. This master of the big cats captures ferocious jungle beasts and trains them to perform under the big top in the circus, where there are always thrills, action and danger. Hundreds of dramatic behind the scenes adventures are all part of the Clyde Beatty story. Here is the story of Brush with Death. Welcome to the center arena and presenting the greatest act-owners. The one, the only, the deceptive master of the big cats, Clyde. Okay, hey, turn the cats loose. Hi, Mr. Beatty. You better keep eye on that new lion, his sheba. Old Nero took a shine to us. The old boy's getting romantic notions, eh? They've been putting the muscle on you, the cat gets nearer. You better watch him. That sounds like an item for the gossip columns. Come on, let's get this show started. Hey, you, Nero, come on. Get out of that chute. Please, Nero, break up. Break it up. What's the trouble? Season Nero fighting that chute, Mr. Beatty. They're jamming up the works. Hey, get those cats into the arena. I tried, boss. Ah, there they come. What's the matter with Nero, Hank? He hasn't acted like that for a long time. He's that young lioness he's showing off for us. Oh, I see. Love has come to the king of the beast. Yeah, I don't like it, Mr. Beatty. That old boy's an ugly mood. He ain't gonna let nothing near that she-cat. Look, he just smacked Caesar off his pedestal. Back there. Up the seat. Up. Nero's got his eyes glued on the lioness. That jealous old thing. He's making you're full of himself. Yeah, he'll make hash at anything that gets Nero. I hope Clyde doesn't try to get in between them. Well, he has to. It's part of the routine. You mean... Remember this next trick, sheba got to cross in front of the boss to get in that other pedestal. Down, sheba, down. Well, Nero don't like it. He's crouching on his pedestal. He's going to leave. Clyde! With death, we're going to finish the routine. If he don't, the cats get all fouled up. We'll have a mess out there. Oh, I wish this was over. I wish he let those animals out. The act will be over in a minute. I'll get ready to open the chute. Now, just lie still a minute, Clyde. This may sting a bit. Hey, what are you trying to do, Dark? That's a deep and nasty scratch, Clyde. I've got to be sure it's cleaned out properly. You don't have to use cleaning solvent or whatever that stuff is. Oh, Clyde, how can you keep your sense of humor? My gosh, Harriet, it's just a little nick. The doc's making a real production on it. Clyde, behave yourself. That little nick, Mr. Lion Tamer, is going to have about 15 stitches in it before I'm through. Oh, great. This circus is rapidly turning into an old lady's quilling society. Okay, sawbones, get on with your hem stitching. Now, a couple of shots of novocaine. Oh, there. Quit jabbing me with that thing, will you? That's all the threads you want, Clyde. Red, white or blue? Mix them up on patriotic. No, wait a minute till that stuff takes hold. I bet you'd put on a real show for something serious like trimming a hangnail. I'll get you sewed up, give you your usual shot of antitepness, then Harriet can tuck you into bed for a few days, then you'll be as good as new. In bed for a few days? Are you crazy? In a few hours, that leg will be as stiff as a board. Sure, if I stay in bed it will. You stay in bed. Nonsense. You heard the doctor, Clyde. I will not stay in bed, and also I will not miss this evening's show. By this evening, you won't even be able to walk. Would you care to bet? What are you trying to prove, Clyde? Nothing, not a thing. Then stop acting like a child. I won't allow you in that arena for at least four days. Four days? Listen, Aerosmith, do you know how much it costs to run a circus? I'm not a circus physician for nothing. It costs tens of thousands of dollars. Yeah, and it costs just the same even when we don't give a performance. Are you the only attraction with this circus? Listen, with this turn of cold weather, we've had to pull every stunt in the book to get crowds. Leave out my act with the big cats, and we'll have more empty seats than our leopards have spots. You try dodging those cats on that gimpy leg, and your show will wind up with an empty saddle in the old corral. Look, there's only two weeks left of the tour. We've got to take in every nickel we can. I'm serious, Clyde. You'd be taking a foolish risk to do an act as dangerous as yours. That leg's sure to be stiff and painful. I appreciate your concern, Doc, and you're probably right. But if I can stand up tonight, the show goes on. Just a moment. Harriet, is something wrong? Yes, Doctor, it's Clyde. He's pacing up and down his room, exercising that leg to keep it from getting stiff. Oh, that baby. Don't worry, Harriet. He won't be on his feet long. Oh, you don't know my man. Don't tell Clyde, but along with his pills, I fed him a sedative. He'll soon be sleeping like a baby. Oh, good. Well, let's go have a look. Well, it's a couple of hours before the evening show. I'm glad he'll be asleep by then. He will be. I slept him one nice little dose. When he's lying down, he'll be sure to doze off. Clyde's the most stubborn man I've ever known. Oh, Harriet, you know you don't believe that. But he just won't listen to reason. Why, I've seen him go into that arena with cuts and bruises that would put most men in the hospital. Clyde Beatty isn't like most men. That's for sure. But he doesn't do those things merely for heroics. He was too smart for that. I know. It's just that he's so wrapped up in his circus. He feels responsible for everyone who works with us. He never wants to let anyone down. Well, here's the trailer. It sounds kind of quiet in there. Maybe he's asleep. I see. Don't sleep, Doctor. Good. The rest will do him good. I'll load off my mind. You won't wake up for hours. Probably sleep right through the night. I hope so. Well, I've got a job to do. You mean to call off the performance? Why, Doctor, don't you know, the show must go on. I forgot. You're also one of that strange breed called show people. Right. There are five customers of 5,000. They're going to see the best show I can scrape together. Harriet, are you here? I'm in. That leg. Stiff as a plank. Shouldn't have gone to sleep. Where's that darn clock? Oh. Harriet, where are you? Isn't that the performance music? I'm going to be late for my act. You've got to get out there fast. What acts on out there? Mr. Beatty, what are you doing here? Never mind. Where's Mrs. Beatty? She just finished a turn with Brimba and Anna May. She's back in the dressing tent going over a fill-in dancing at some of the girls. A fill-in for what? A fill-in for your act with a big cat, of course. Nonsense. This crowd wants to see animals, not dancers. Well, the boys are tearing down the steel arena crowd. Knows you ain't going on. Hank, stop the boys. Have them put that cage back together. Balls, you can't go on. Do what you're told. Then get those cats out there. Over here, Mrs. Beatty. Get him in there. He's in no condition to do his act. I tried to stop him, and he wouldn't listen. Send someone to the doctor at once. That isn't necessary. I heard them announce Clyde's act. That man's crazy to go in there like this. Doctor, we've got to stop him. It's bad enough of that leg, but with the sedative I gave him, it's sure to slow up his reactions. The boss is working in slow motion. Chief, the sea's almost tacked him. Hank, can't you get those cats out of the arena? Can't. They won't come out until I finish their routine and the boss cues them out. Look at Nero. He's acting up again. Mr. Beatty's between them. Clyde, look out! What's going on? Clyde, look out! Stop him over to Sheba. Now's our chance. Open this chute! Another forceps. Quickly. Now, sponge. Another. Can't stop the blood. Audrey's severed. Got to find the ends. Beals obscured. More pressure on the tourniquet. Enough? Clamp. Good. Guess that's all I can do for the moment. Doctor. Don't come in, Harriet. I've got the report on the blood donor. I'm afraid this isn't very pretty. How is it? Clyde's lost a lot of blood. Too much blood. Will he be all right? Suffering from shock. The transfusion of whole blood will help. I haven't been able to find a blood donor. What? You didn't check my list? There were three or four at least that have Clyde's rare blood type. Harriet, we've no time to lose. Two of the three quit the circus last week. But there it is, Sandy Mosk. Sandy Mosk? But he's in sickbay. He can't give a transfusion. I know, I know. What can we do? Not a prayer that we'd locate someone with that proper type in this town. They haven't even got a hospital. I've checked with the village doctor. He's got plasma, but that's all. I've got plasma, but he won't do. Where's the nearest large city? Madison. It's 50 miles away. 50 miles? I better get a call for it right away. Could we drive him to Madison? Can't. Don't dare move him until I get the transfusion. Operator, this is an emergency. Put me through to the general hospital in Madison. What are you going to do? It's a big hospital. They'll surely have a donor. They can rush him out here in ambulance. Better put another blanket over him, nurse. Oh, he's so pale, doctor. So pale. He's in a state of deep shock. I'll do everything I can for him. Do you think they can get here for Madison in time? Let's hope so, my dear. Let's hope so. Hello? General Hospital? This is Dr. Backman speaking. I want you to send an ambulance to the Clyde baby. And I'll back to Clyde Bady's adventure, brush with death. This was racing through the night, bringing a blood donor to our circus grounds. Clyde laid pale and unconscious. Only the doctor's stethoscope could detect his weak pulse. Hushed, helpless, I watched. Outside our trailer, the entire circus family huddled together in silent groups. Their prayers mingled with mine as the long minutes ticked by. This pulse is weak, Harriet. Very weak. If only the ambulance would come. So on the way, my dear. But it's been almost two hours. Isn't there something we can do, doctor? We've done everything possible. Why do things like this always have to happen when there aren't facilities? If we've been playing one of the largest cities... If, if, if Clyde had stayed asleep until after the performance, if I could have stopped him before he went in that arena, it's the only possible blood donor. Easy, Harriet. Easy. That won't help Clyde. I'm sorry. It's just the... Oh, it is. It is a doctor. It's the ambulance. After the transfusion, Clyde rallied immediately. His pulse grew strong and the deathly pallor left his bruised and vattered body. It was possible now for him to be moved to the big hospital in Madison. I waited endless hours in the corridor outside the operating room where the doctor was. Harriet. Oh, Norman Carroll, how did you get here? I heard the flash of Clyde's accident on the radio and I hopped a plane from Chicago. Oh, Norman, I'm so glad you're here. How, how is he? How's Clyde? They've had him in the operating room for over three hours. Seems more like three years. You poor dear. You look exhausted. Had to take you someplace we can rest. I'd rather stay here. Well, let me get you some coffee then. No, thanks, Norman. I'm all right. Well, there's Dr. Backman. Oh, they must be finished. Norman, when'd you get here? Just, uh... How is he, Doc? Fair shape. We've been working on him for over three hours. Can I see him? He'll be wheeling him by here. He'll have to come now. If you wait. Is he? He's been cracking feeble gags with us for the past hour. We didn't want to keep him under general anesthesia too long. Well, Harriet, here's your man. Oh, oh, darling. Hi, honey. Hi, darling. His interns finally got through practicing their homework, honey. Was it, was it a rough go, dear? Not so bad. Saved a lot of time if they'd have had a sewing machine. Ha, ha, ha. Am I still under the anesthetic or did that laugh come from Norman Carroll? Well, it's me, Clyde. How's it going, boy? He got me in stature. Give this guy some more ether, Doc. He thinks he's a comic. If you gentlemen have finished your floor show, maybe the nurse can get my patient to bed. All right, nurse. Wheel this funny man out of here. Yes, doctor. May I go along, doctor? Sure. Sing him a lullaby. You've got lots of sleeping to do. So long, Clyde. See you later. Yeah. Stick around, Chum. And I'll give you the details on how Clyde got caught. How about that guy? Got more thread in him than a hooked rug and a cracked joke. His condition is no joke, Norman. He's far from being out of the woods yet. How bad is it, doctor? You won't know for several days. Nero's slashed and clawed him pretty severely. That cat's teeth went clear through to the bone. Oh, that's awful. It's bad, but we'll do our level best to save that leg. You mean he... You mean he lose his leg? Great possibility of infection. Clyde bit you without a leg. I'd never allow it. You may not have a choice. Why did it have to happen to a nice guy like that? They say that about people who slip in the bathtub and break their necks. Now, when a man gets in a cage with 40 lions and tigers and something happens to him, then it can't be classified as an accident. Yeah. This is nurse Brad. Sorry to disturb you, but Mr. Bader's temperature has hit the roof. It's a hundred and seven. What? Oh, I was afraid that might happen. Is it? Yes, infection. The lion's bite can be as deadly as a cobra's. I'll be right up, nurse. No, absolutely not. Clyde, be reasonable. Let's amputate your leg or else. Well, then it's or else. But, darling, I'd rather have you with one leg than not have you with all. I'd rather be dead. If that infection spreads, you will be dead. I don't care. I don't care. I won't let you operate. Clyde didn't lose his leg. He must have had the patron saint of lion trainers on his side, but somehow Clyde met the crisis and passed it. Four months later, he was still in the hospital, a weak and worn shadow of himself, but hobbling around on his own two legs. Clyde, dear. Oh, hi, honey. You've got company. Norman Carroll has come down to see you. Hello, Norman. Oh, man, you look great. What in the world are they keeping in this hospital for? It's my beaming personality. I keep the other patients cheerful. Well, I can't keep you in here much longer. Bet they toss you out in your ear inside a week. Ah, great. Just when I'm getting used to the place, too. Keep joking, Norman. Aren't you, darling? Yeah, yeah, I'm joking. I'm funny as a crutch. Why isn't everybody laughing? Want to see me do my stiff leg dance routine? It's a riot. Could be a hit turn in the circus, replace my wild animal leg. Now, stop talking like that, Clyde. These things take time. You have to be patient. Sorry, little mother. I forgot Clyde's got to be a man about this. Oh, Clyde. Well, what do you expect? Sweetness and light? I don't feel sweet and I certainly don't feel light dragging around these lumps of lead I used to call legs. Look, I've got a great idea. My car's outside. Clyde, maybe you'd like to have me take you for a drive, huh? We could stop for lunch and maybe... Thanks, Norman. I'd rather not. Oh, to do your good to get out of this place, see people, get a little air and sun. Some other time. It would be good for you, dear. Good for me. Good for me. I'm sick of doing things that are good for me. Look, you two run on and have lunch. I got a few things to do. Some papers to look over. Oh, wait, Clyde. I'll stay and help you. This is something I have to handle myself. Now, go on up with Norman and enjoy yourself. All right, honey. I'll be back soon. Yeah. Must be getting better. I mean, being cranky like that, that's a good sign. Be back with the circus in no time. No time at all. I hope so. That's what bothers him. He's worried about the circus. Come on, Harry. Let's get that lunch on. All right. Norman, do you really think Clyde will be able to work soon again? Well, of course. There's nothing in the world could get Clyde Beatty down and keep him down. That's what I keep telling myself. You wait and see. It comes time for us to go on the tour. He'll be there. Oh, Norman. What are we doing? Huh? We're kidding us. Does Clyde's manager be honest with me? You know we're kidding ourselves. Oh, not at all, Harry. The only thing wrong with Clyde is he's afraid someone might see him like he is. He can't stand the idea that... Yeah. Yeah, you're right. We are kidding ourselves, Harriet. Well, there, there, my dear. It'll be all right. Oh, it won't be all right. And you don't think so either. We're both afraid Clyde is through. And with the world, he's afraid of it too. During the following week, Clyde fought with all his brave heart to combat the fearful psychological reactions that naturally followed the ordeal he had gone through. Courageously, he battled against the depression that overwhelmed him. He won through, and in the late spring, he was able to join us at our Florida winter quarters. Most of the circus folks had arrived for final rehearsals in preparation for the summer tour. They greeted Clyde like a returning model. Hi there. Hello. Hi there. Hi. How are you? How does it feel to be back with your friends? Wonderful. Just wonderful. This is quite a greeting. Hey, Mr. Vady, we're sure glad to have you back. Hey, you look fit as a fiddle. Well, thanks, Hank. I'm feeling fine. We was afraid you wouldn't make it in time for the tour. Why, Hank, you know, to take more than a few cat scratches to keep me away from the season's opening. I know, yeah. I'd back it up with hard cat. I'd give five to one odd. Ah, so that's why you're glad to see me. You won yourself some dough, huh? No, boss. I'd give up a seasoned salary just to see you back working your cat. The cats? How are they? Oh, fat and sassy and spoiling for a fight. Good. I'm anxious to start getting the act in shape. I've been looking forward to getting back in the big cage. All set, Mr. Vady. You want to work them out this morning? Yeah, Hank. Yeah, I'd better get started with them. Okay, boss. Here we go. The old routine? Yep. The old routine. There you go, Caesar. Get in there so you can find a hide. There's plenty of fights, me boss. Want them to just steal the time? Turn them in in the regular order. Okay, and all yours, boss. Aye, you squint. Back, Caesar. Back, me boss. You're back old time. Yeah. Here's a dozen, boss. Hand them in. Right. And the next one is Nero. Nero, hold him up. Is that all for today? Was something wrong, boss? No, that's all for today. Oh, we haven't even got started. I said that's all for today. Yes, yes, Mr. Vady. Clyde. Clyde, where are you? You must be dreaming, Clyde. Clyde, dear. What? Oh, sorry, honey. I must have had a nightmare. Nero, Nero, Nero, Nero, Nero. Nero, Nero, Nero. Why are they laughing? Where are they laughing? Vady's drooling. Vady's drooling. Let us down. What is it? I had a nightmare, honey. Just another nightmare. You guys, you're all wet. Mr. Vady never let us down. I tell you, when the show's ready to open, he'll be out there with his axe. Mr. Vady. What is that? Oh, we didn't see you standing there, boss. Never mind. Well, it seems you men think this circus will fold, right? Oh, no, we didn't mean that. Hank, we got work to do. Yeah? Get those cats ready to perform. Yes, sir, boss. And Hank. Yeah, boss? The first cat I want in that arena is Nero. I've never seen anything like it. You certainly settled your score with Nero. Yeah, but more important, honey. I settled something with myself. Once again, here is Clyde Vady with a word about our next show. Deep in the jungles of northern Rhodesia lives a fabulous tribe of gigantic natives, the Wombasi. They're extremely savage and keep all other natives away from their country because they wish to maintain the strain that sets them apart from all other tribes. You see, the Wombasi are over seven feet tall. In our next story, Land of the Giants, Harriet and I will tell you an exciting adventure that occurred when we were captured by the Wombasi. All stories are based upon incidents in the career of the world's famous Clyde Vady and the Clyde Vady circus. The Clyde Vady show is produced by Shirley Thomas. Drush with Death was written by Robert T. Smith and Frank Hart-Pausen. All names used are fictional and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This is a Commodore production.