 Great Scenes from Great Plays with your host Walter Hamden and starring tonight Miss Celeste Holm and Mr. Walter Abel in Dark Victory. Each week at this same hour the Episcopal families of your own community and the Episcopal Actors Guild invite you to share the dramatic inspiration of Great Scenes from Great Plays as transcribed by famous artists of stage screen and radio and now here is your host the distinguished actor manager Mr. Walter Hamden. Thank you and good evening. Our play tonight is not one of those tales which are briefly told enjoyed and soon forgotten but a story so deeply appealing that it would be told a hundred times and with each telling bring new pleasure. It is George Brewer Jr. and Bertram Bloch's Dark Victory and I'm privileged to present as our stars tonight Academy Award winner Celeste Holm and the ever-popular star of stage and screen Walter Abel. Thank you Mr. Hamden. I'm very happy to be here to play the role of Dr. Frederick Steele and I'm happy as still to have as Judith Trahearne my patient in the story Celeste Holm a lovely star and a talented star if I may say so. Thank you Walter. Judith Trahearne is a wonderful individual under her somewhat misleading manner. I think there beats a heart that every woman will understand. I like her so much that sometimes I forget she isn't real. Oh but she is Celeste as we're about to learn. So let us go together through the open door of our imaginations into Dark Victory. We're in a hotel room. The early morning sun shines through the windows on fine furnishings and on a man's expensive leather bags in the process of being packed. Outside the traffic of New York City roars down the avenue but inside the two men arguing hear only each other's quiet voices. And I realized last night I was licked Fred. There are cases beyond the scope of a general practitioner and this is one of them. So I thought of Dr. Frederick Steele the best brain surgeon of the city and I came to you. Thanks Parson. You flatter me but anyway it's too late. I closed my office two days ago and my train for Vermont leaves this afternoon but this is a matter of life and death. I tell you she's desperately ill. Think Fred a girl 27 years old beautiful rich everything to live for and she'll die unless she gets help. Help from you. What's the vacation compared with that? I'm not taking vacation. I'm packing up everything I own clearing out for good. Don't mean you're retiring at 35. Of course not. I'm going to be a country doctor. Parsons among my old friends and neighbors. Human beings I know and can keep on knowing even when they're well and their case is closed. That's the kind of doctoring I want. Well you can at least give me a diagnosis can't you? Well if I can diagnose from the facts you give me here and now. Very well. The girl's Judith Trehearne. She's the daughter of Robert Trehearne. The late wire manager. I don't want her pedigree I want her symptom. Five months ago she had a queer kind of accident. She was riding cross country with a chap she knows. They were making for an open gate. She was on his right and as they came near the gate he kept well over to the left to give a room but instead of riding through the opening she went head on for the fence as though she hadn't seen it. What's that? She held her horse straight for that fence about six feet from the opening naturally the animal shied and threw her. I saw her about an hour after she ridden home had breakfast and seemed quite all right but then she had a fainting spell. Did she actually faint or was she just very dizzy? I couldn't make up. My first guess was her heart but I think now she injured her head in some obscure way. What made you think so? She developed headaches after that and they've been growing steadily worse. Fred I'm desperate. You make it so tough to refuse Parsons. Then don't refuse. Will you promise to bring me back in time to catch my train this afternoon? Yes I promise. All right then come on I'll go talk to your Judith Trehearne. How do you do Mr. Trehearne? Hello doctor. Oh how did you get those burns on your fingers? What burnt? It doesn't matter. Sit down Mr. Trehearne. How nice of you to ask me Dr. Steele in my own living room or is it your office now? Hardly resembles an office does it except for the books. Do you read all those books? Not much. That is not lately. Why have your eyes been bothering you? No if you don't mind we won't talk about my health it bores me. Parsons insist there's something wrong with me. He's always bringing in new doctors. There isn't anything wrong with me and I don't like doctors. You're 27 years old Mr. Trehearne. Yes and I'm an only child. I weigh 125 pounds. I've had mumps, measles and whooping cough all at the proper ages. My father drank himself to death and my mother lives in Paris. If you're interested we dislike each other cordially. So you live alone? Yes but in plush surroundings. As well as lonely? Lonely? Don't kid yourself doctor I have a marvelous time. All the pleasures of the idle rich and I like them. Anywhere that's my racket. What's yours? Mine. High pressure surgery. Park Avenue-Pliantel about ten days off each summer. Sounds awful. It is. It's a dreary round to which I've been caught up as you've been caught in yours. But I'm quitting Mr. Trehearne. I'm getting out. Where to? A little town in northern Vermont. I'm going to be a country doctor there. I thought you were tops in your line and made loads of money. The order of my life was still upset. Order? That's old fashioned nonsense. You might take a look someday at the universe around you. You'll find it full of hidden mystery and incredible vitality. Balanced and ordered in all its parts. You have only to look and you'll see. I intend to though not quite that way. I want to see the whole show doctor to try everything once while I'm young. Get all the excitement that's going. Have every sensation, every experience there is. Admiration and gaiety and music and dancing and the world at my feet. Oh dear. What's the matter? I haven't done this in years. Talked on like that. You made me, you led me on and not. Now you have a headache. No. Yes and the light hurts your eyes. It does not. Why did you fall Mr. Trehearne? The horse threw me Dr. Steele. But why? Was it because you couldn't see the gate you were headed for? No. No it's not true. But you were afraid and you didn't tell Dr. Parsons. And you never told him about your eyes. My eyes are fine. Are they? And what about that strange dull feeling in your right arm? Oh. That's how you got the burns on your hand Mr. Trehearne from a cigarette. And you never even felt it because your tactile nerves are paralyzed. Don't. I've got to. Your memory's all shot to pieces too isn't it? No. Stop fighting. I won't let you talk. What did you do yesterday quickly? Well I played bridge in the afternoon. I went to the theater. The other way around wasn't it? No. Of course. No. Wait. How'd you come out at bridge in the evening? I don't know. I play so often. You lost didn't you? Yes. I guess so. Rotten luck I've been having. No Mr. Trehearne. Lately you've been forgetting what cards are out and what's been bid. All right. All right. That's true. Everything's true. But I can't help it. Can I? Perhaps I can help it. That's why I'm here. Now. Will you let me try? Well Parsons. I've diagnosed the case for you. And a brain tumor. Glyoma. Beyond any doubt. In the temporal and paratol lobes. I've got to operate. Will it cure it? Temporarily. But if the x-rays show that the tumor's diffused and I think it is. She'll get a recurrence. How long? Ten months to a year. She probably never know until the last. She'll just suddenly someday go blind for a minute. Blind. It won't last but that's the signal. Afterward there'll be not more than a few hours and then sleep. Will you tell her? Well I can't give her the blunt truth. But I've got to tell her something. After I've seen the x-rays I'll have a talk with her. Mr. Han. This may be something of a shock to you but it's only the idea that's hard to accept and not the thing itself. It's to be a punch doctor. I'm ready for it. That's not shadow box. You see according to the x-ray something's gone wrong and that incredible labyrinth of wires. The brain. Brain. Now don't be alarmed. It's like any other part of the body. It gets out of the kilter sometimes and it has to be adjusted. Adjusted? An operation. Oh no I don't believe that. It's absurd. I won't have it. It must be pretty serious. It is very serious. It's going to take our combined efforts to beat it Mr. Han. I need all the help you can give me. All the faith. All the trust. How long would I have to stay in the hospital? About six weeks. And then I could lead a normal life again doctor. I'd be completely cured. I think I can guarantee that you'll make a complete surgical recovery. A complete surgical recovery. What's that mean? What means you'll get well? Any more worries? I just wanted to be sure I knew the truth and that you weren't keeping anything back from me. All right Dr. Steele. I trust you. A great old and blame in person. It's wonderful to see you back in your old form. Thanks. To what do I owe this? Great honor. Oh stop it. Get down off that horse and I'll tell you. Tell me this way. It's safer. Nonsense. Judith every time I see you must you throw up to me what I am with other people. You know it's different with you. You're the only person in the world I respect. The only completely honest person I've ever met. I've met one myself. Ah the brilliant brain surgeon. I'm sorry. Don't be angry. I don't think I can be today. It's spring and I've been riding for the first time since my operation. I never felt better in my life and I'm free all then free. I'll never have to be afraid again. Not even a few. Now what did you want to see me for? Oh nothing much. Oh for heaven's sake don't sulk. If you've been waiting at my house you must have some reason. Well the fact is my publish is descending on me this evening for a conference. He doesn't like my new book. Well I still don't see what I've got to do with that all. Well I mean he'll be in a frightful mood you see so I thought of a little dinner very gay very chic with a few of my better friends tonight. Yes will you come Judith please. I can't really all I'm having an important guest of my own for dinner a very important guest. Let me look at you Judith. You look splendid. Do I. Completely fit. No headaches. None at all. Patient dismissed. Thank you. It's nice to be dismissed. So you're really starting off to be an old fashioned country doctor hideously old fashioned in Vermont way back in the hills of Vermont. Will you get down here again occasionally. Not often I expect they'll keep me pretty busy. I expect so and you'll love it in time you'll forget us here. No I Judith remember this I'll come to you whenever you call me whenever. But why should I call you. No reason but if you did I'd come but I've interfered with your life enough already and I you you're three months late going to Vermont because of me who told you that Dr. Parsons I know you gave up your plans to save my life Fred I can't find words to thank you for just seeing you as you stand there he pays me a thousand times for anything I've done. I'd like to believe that don't you Judith I once asked for your complete trust now I know that's not enough to do with anymore. I want your love to Judith I oh Fred if I shouldn't have said it for give me but I wanted you to say it for so long I've hoped and prayed you'd say it because I love you. This is the first time I've ever asked I didn't know it was going to you don't even know you can kiss me if you want to Judith. Oh darling how do you take your coffee in the morning. Black strong with no sugar. Horrible like apple pie for breakfast they have that in Vermont don't they Fred they used to oh Fred can I have a flower garden can I and and and babies lots of Fred what's the matter don't you want children yes I I then there's something wrong isn't there something about the future Judith you you never said I'd recover completely did you you said I'd make a complete surgical recovery and just a few minutes ago you said you'd come back whenever I called you you meant if I was sick you meant I'm going to be sick again but you didn't want me to know. Fred Fred you've got to tell me I'd hoped with all my soul this wouldn't happen but it has so we'll face it together Judith hold on my hand and listen as far as surgery goes you're cured absolutely that's the truth but there are some things that surgery can't do oh no you mean this horrible things coming back and it's another up no no it doesn't does it it means another operation wouldn't do any good doesn't Fred tell me the truth that's right Judith how will it happen as quietly as going to sleep there'll be a moment when you won't be able to see as usual that's all you mean I'll go blind just for a moment then you'll be perfectly all right again but after a few hours two or three you go to sleep I see how much time have I before six months possibly 10 oh how nice how terribly merciful and you've known this all along from the very first yes and you're still offering to marry me and take me to Vermont with you Judith no I have nothing not you not Vermont another flower garden you're marrying me Judith you're coming with me thanks just the same Fred but I'm staying right here among my friends where I can cram every minute I have left for the only kind of living I know please go Fred and don't ever come back my sweet just dropped in to say congratulations on the loving cup oh that take it if you want it all and I don't after all was killing your horse and your lovely self to get it I wanted to win that's all now I have would you mind leaving my dressing room Walden I'd like to change what's the hurry you're not going anywhere except home that is now that all your friends but me have turned against you they haven't come come my dear you used to be honest all right they have so what nothing I just thought you might be lonely even if it's your own fault get out of here Alden the way you've been acting the past three months get out but I want to stay now look no you'll look in the better there on the wall see yourself as you are now darling Judith because you don't realize how you've changed you ought to be glad there's a man who still wants you but not you Alden you don't want me really you don't know the truth about me you don't know that in a couple of months I'm going to die it's true Alden Dr. Steele knows ask him he'll tell you my old illness is coming back and this time it can't be cured I'm I'm sorry Judith really sorry so that's why you've been kicking over all the traces yes but I'm very grateful to you for pointing it out to me because I was going to die a coward in a cheat and suddenly I find I don't want to rather be brave for a change and if it isn't too late and I don't think it is somehow I'm gonna try to be brave Dr. Fred yes hello miss Jenny I'm home and about time to it's past nine o'clock I'll get you some no please I had supper before I got here did you Frederick now look miss Jenny I'm not in the second grade any longer remember so I can't bully you anymore is that it all right but I do wait I thought I heard footsteps outside no if there were the bell would ring you're just haunted Dr. Fred nonsense you think any medical man believes in ghosts you may not believe in them but there's one in your life and it's made you unhappy ever since you've been here now you can't fool me any more than you could about that supper you said you've just had and I'm gonna warm you up some supper right but miss Jenny come in come in the doors open Judith you've come I've come I've come no no steady darling don't try to talk now you're tired here let me take your suitcase no wait please before anything I have to tell you this I did what I said I would I've lived up to every silly boast I made three months ago you're here I couldn't die without you thinking with you thinking of me like that I I had to show you at least that at the end I've learned something friend I won't ask much of you now except to be here for your strength will help me face Judith darling I'll never let you go again a man and a dying girl have met to love it's not it's not not while we're together for a moment for always darling a moment isn't forever the shadows on my life and I don't want it to fall on you my darling listen between now and now there's been birth and the passing of life sunset and dawn and your shadows mine and your victory over it that's my tool but others what will they think this Jenny she won't know Judith we'll never tell her then then I'm not afraid of the future not with you Fred let it come Montreal calling dr. steel but he isn't here I can't tell you where to reach him I think he's on his way home so can I take a message I miss his steel yes I'll tell him dr. Platt in Montreal and it's an emergency operation yes you'll have to take the train tonight I understand oh please don't worry he'll be on that train if he's needed you're welcome goodbye oh dear now don't you worry Mrs. Fred if he goes he'll be back soon I can't help grudging every second he's away I better look and see if he's coming any sign of him yet there's no car on the road as far as I can see it's going to snow isn't it what suns gone in it's getting dark I don't know what you're talking about Mrs. Fred the sun's out as bright as ever no angel can't you see it's it's clouding up faster and faster growing dimmer by the minute well it's all dark completely Mrs. Fred child what is it you things went dark for a minute is if I were going to faint I feel better now I can see perfectly willing and Miss Jenny and I'll prove it there's Fred's car coming down the road now that's fine you can tell dr. Fred I can tell him nothing but that telephone message and don't you or he mightn't go and it's his work and he's got to but he and everything else can wait Judith where are you all right dear thanks it's almost time I know I miss Jenny here's a list phone numbers in case you should have to call me all right Frederick if anything goes wrong of any kind you're to phone me immediately you can reach me at any one of those numbers and meanwhile take care of Judith you don't have to tell me here you think spread thanks darling I better get started then I suppose goodbye miss Jenny goodbye dr. Fred and good luck I'll be back with you soon one Judith walk to the car with me of course not a long walk is it compared with some we've taken through these hills no Judith darling if anything if anything happened oh Judith dearest nothing's going to happen go with a quiet mind I thought I could but I can't I'll call dr. Platten tell him I'm right look at me we have our love and we're complete nothing can hurt us now no matter what see what we've had can never be wiped out that's our victory our victory over the dark it's a real one darling because we're not afraid not you and I not afraid ever are we no we're not afraid thanks Judith I can go now and not look back and not look back my dearest hold me a minute close forever is now isn't it fresh yes like this forever I'm off darling goodbye for a little while for a little while friend goodbye friend and then ladies and gentlemen I'll be back in a moment to tell you about next week's play but first an important message of interest to you most of us know very well from the experiences of our own lives the harm that can be done to us and to those around us by fear we know what damage fear can do to our minds and bodies we know how fear can disrupt family harmony and community relations as well as personal happiness and we know too that fear is at the bottom of much of the discord that exists today among nations in tonight's powerful play the heroine Judith Trahearn had to live with a very great fear the darkness of her uncertainty was the darkness of death itself for she knew that her days on earth were numbered yet great and destructive as that fear was she was finally able to conquer it by putting in its place an even greater love the great lesson dramatized in tonight's play is that love can always conquer fear a principle demonstrated by millions of sincere Christians throughout the world who know how the love of God brings them greater peace and security helps them to rise above the myriad fears and uncertainties of our modern world that's why the Christian church is doing so much to relieve the tensions born of fear tensions between nations as well as individuals that's why so many are discovering how much more complete and secure their lives are when they make the teachings of the church the foundation of their entire existence perhaps you will be able to find the spiritual help you need in the Episcopal church you are always welcome at your nearest Episcopal church and its clergyman is always ready and eager to give you whatever help you may require to help you know something about the Episcopal church and how it offers you a faith with which to find security and happiness in these difficult times we have prepared an informative booklet called finding your way it'll be sent to you promptly if you'll simply write your name and address on a postcard and mail it to the station to which you are listening I would like to thank you Celeste Holm and Walter Abel for a magnificent performance next week friends we shall present an old favorite Paul Osborn's delightful comedy drama on borrowed time the amusing and touching story of a very old grandfather and his very young grandson and a mysterious gentleman trapped in an apple tree here to play the role of that victim of strange circumstances will be one of the great stars of stage and screen mr. Boris Karlov I hope you'll join us Celeste Holm appeared tonight through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox producers of apartment for Peggy and now an invitation from the Episcopal Church the Episcopal Church in your community cordially invites you to attend services this Sunday morning if you're not familiar with the location of your nearest Episcopal Church or of the Hours of Service you'll find both listed in your local newspaper or church directory your rector will be happy to have you join the Episcopal family you'll find