 proudly we hail now another proudly we hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half-hour starring Lee Tracy and presented transcribed by your army and your Air Force 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 our play is entitled final choice and it's a story of a man's fatal decision a decision involving life or death we'll be ready with our first act in just a moment after a few words from Ken registered nurses volunteer for service with the Army Nurse Corps there are immediate assignments open in this country and overseas and only qualified graduate nurses can fill them right or wire the Surgeon General Department of the Army Washington 25 DC do it now and now with your star Lee Tracy in the role of Richard star your Army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production of final choice the man who called himself Richard star arrived in the rural village of Abbotsford at the tag end of a hot oppressive midsummer's day he arrived unannounced unknown and introduced himself to Jed Moore the town clerk and general fact totem of Abbotsford my name is star Richard star star a that's a good name kind of bright I'm Jed Moore not so bright just hot mmm but a scorcher all right I've been sitting here watching them clouds pile up over there they've been doing it for a week now pile up under regular thunderheads that's all sit down mr. star and tell me what I can do for you maybe with the two of us watching them we can coax a little rain out of them do you have a doctor in Abbotsford mr. Moore ain't sick are you oh no no nothing like that now let's see nearest doctors over in Linden that's about 12 14 miles from here you're really off the beaten track yes I suppose we are kind of nice nobody bothers us most of the people around here are farmers aren't they most good land even with the hills yeah I can see that you think you could use a doctor around here any place could use a doctor mr. star but I don't know how one could afford to live here two things against it folks are healthy but poor unbeatable combination you were doctor that's right you're a good doctor good as I can be I'll come you'll pick a place like this oh I don't know I've had enough of cities I want a little peace and quiet my doctor ordered it well you wouldn't starve that's a fact folks could give you food if they couldn't give you money as a matter of fact you could go to work right now what do you mean Tom Grover's wife Mary has been sick for a week now Tom doesn't think much of doctors hasn't bothered the get one over in Linden but I saw him this morning and he seemed pretty worried thought I'd drop around the night myself and if Mary wasn't better I'd call the doctor over in Linden no matter what Tom said why don't you and I take a drive out there right now a good idea I'll get my bag and I'll lock up here you know it's funny I don't often forget a face that's where I'd seen you someplace before that's funny I don't ever remember seeing you even in town how did you how's Mary about the same Tom this is dr. star he's come to live in Abbotsford how about letting him have a look at Mary doctor I don't hold any truck with doctors I can help I'd like to that's it I don't think you can't help when Billy got sick we had a doctor had four doctors Billy died I don't know whether the doctors killed him or not but they sure didn't save him if I can't help your wife I'll tell you if I can I'll tell you that won't lose anything by letting me have a look at her that's straight enough all right come on in the house well how close is the nearest hospital Melrose 20 miles over your wife has a rupture dependence we taken a Melrose she may die before we get there if I operate here and now there's a possibility she may live I don't operate we don't try to take her to Melrose she'll die before tomorrow die you want it a straight that's it how can you operate here you too will have to help me is there a house that kids can stay at sure the Adams will take them in well what about it Glover don't have much time what will it be you say the trip to Melrose my killer the sooner she's operated on the more chance she has to live you kill my wife listen you fool if you hadn't been so pigheaded and gotten a doctor when she first got sick she wouldn't be in the spot she is now she dies it'll be nobody's fault but your own I'm not the almighty I can't guarantee to save her all I can do is try make up your mind ever have you ever done in operation like this before yes I've I've done operations like this before much worse conditions all right let's get it over with like a cigarette no no no thanks will she live don't know done everything I can now it's up to her and the penicillin these new drugs are wonderful aren't they good thing you had some with you came prepared thanks for all you did mr. Moore you were a big help most folks around here call me Jed all right Jed you might as well go home now I'll stay here in the morning anyway stay with you if you like no no point in it I'll just sit here on the porch a minute and I'll go in and stay with her you sure not time out fast he needed sleep what about you haven't you heard doctors never sleep kind of a lucky thing for us you showed up here yeah lucky for me too Jen Tom poured the ether and I held the light and he stood there like a rock and did the whole thing I never saw anybody's hand move so fast and so sure don't you think it's odd though he's showing up here like this well maybe it is Joe but I figure that's his business all right daddy but don't you think everyone in town is gonna make it there's everybody but us it's really quite thrilling man arrives out of nowhere and says he's a doctor he doesn't have to say it I will he's quite a fellow whoever he is it's about time I drove out the Thompson found out how things are going can I come wouldn't be curious would you certainly would all right bring up your coffee and come along morning Tom how's Mary Doc says she's think he thinks she's gonna be all right he's in with her now stayed up all night morning Joe maybe I could go in and help won't hurt to ask she's in the front room hello how are you I'm Joe Joe Moore anything I can do she's asleep you know anything about nursing a little I could take care of her all right you're gonna feel pretty rotten for a while she's gonna be all right there aren't any other complications if you could stay for the day I'd come back this evening I'll tell you what to do you certainly have started off with a bang here haven't you regular firecracker let's hope I don't disturb too many people another hot day and another hot night have you found a place to stay yeah your father took me all around and produced me to a lot of people I'm gonna rent the Sloan's cottage for the rest of the summer anyway have you had me sleep yet I got a little this afternoon your father's been very helpful so of you we Moore's are very helpful people do you mind if I ask you what everyone's going to be wondering what's that what are you doing here what made you come to this place you like it here don't you sure but this is my home you don't mind if I make it mine no of course not every town needs a doctor but well then let's just say I'm habit for new doctor and let it go at that in other words it's none of my business well is it no matter fact it isn't but if you know anything about small towns you know everyone's gonna try and make it their business that's the chance I'll have to take chance yeah you see I'm really a hatchet murderer but I'm so adept with my tools that I double as a doctor all right I'm sorry I won't say anything more suppose I ask a question do you work for a living I take care of the house and help out as a secretary down at the town hall they could like to help me out to practice a sort of nurse but I'm not really a nurse I know that but you could help maybe a couple hours a day the pay will be rotten sounds interesting let me think about it I'll let you know after supper fine I'll come over come over oh didn't I tell you you are invited to a very formal dinner of leftovers at the moors no you didn't but let's not argue about it I accept me this will break the heat golly I hope so anybody else to see us no he was the last why don't you come for supper getting to be a habit if we don't complain why should you I don't like to impose I wouldn't invite you if you were all right Joe I'll come maybe you'd rather not Joe what's the matter nothing well then stop acting like a two-year-old I'd love to come to supper you're a wonderful cook your father's a character out of a book and I enjoy spending my evenings with you there but enough I'm sorry I guess it's the heat come on let's go I gotta stop in and see Mrs. Meeker first you go ahead there's nothing wrong with her well she's old and lonely she needs someone to complain to all right mr. Anthony but don't be late I'm never late well now who's that come in yes can I help you doctor in no he left a few minutes ago is there anything I can do mind if I sit down it's kind of hot no go right thanks name is quail how long the doctor been here you mean here in Abbotsford about a month and a half why is he a good doctor there are people around here I'll tell you there isn't any better I guess there aren't mind of a smoke who are you what do you want with dr. star star a nice name my name is quail came all the way from New York been a long time on the road it's hot this look like dr. star well yes that's his picture would you mind telling me what this is all about here's my picture Henry quail police to your policeman detective what do you want to see dr. star for a little unfinished business will he be back here no no he he went to Melrose to the hospital there he won't be back till late just my luck well I guess I'll have to drive over to Melrose pass through there didn't I yes yes so you follow route 46 what's the unfinished business you have with the doctor you ask an awful lot of questions lady well let's just say that it's a slight case of murder and let it go at that murder yeah murder M. U. R. D. E. R. Tracy starring in the role of Richard star in the proudly we hail production of final choice will return for the second act in just a moment registered nurses here's a chance to be of service to your country and to yourself the Army Nurse Corps has opportunities for you as a commissioned officer with good pay and allowances you'll have excellent chances to further your career you'll have the benefit of working with some of the finest equipment in the world and of learning the newest techniques in the medical profession so get all the facts today right or why are the Surgeon General United States Army Washington 25 DC do it now you are listening to proudly we hail and now your Army and your Air Force present the second act of final choice what's the matter Joe cat got your tongue no I was just thinking well don't do it too much put wrinkles in your head hey dick much too pretty I had to put wrinkles there's about time we had this think I'd better go upstairs and check the windows that was a good dinner honey ate too much that was close dick you've got to get out of here and right away huh just after you left a man named quail came he was looking for you he was a police detective I told him you've gone over to Melrose I see nice of you Joe but you shouldn't have done it no point in getting yourself in trouble I guess that's that I thought maybe I'd give them the slip but they're too smart dick what is it you've done please tell me Joe I killed a man I shot him deliberately no but why it's a long messy story had a kid sister got mixed up with a wrong man he drove her insane I killed him it's as simple as all that my thought maybe I could get away with what I see I can't I'm not gonna run any farther dick they'll send you to prison I suppose so you take the law into your own hands I guess you pay the penalty we'll get a lawyer that'll know just what to do you're very kind Joe I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before dick how blind can you be don't you know never mind what I know never mind what I feel it's just too late it was too late when I came here it always will be sooner you forget it the better it isn't it isn't something you forget stop looking at me like that time takes care of a lot of things we'll tell your father and I'll go home and I'll wait for quail you'll probably want to leave tonight you came here unexpectedly you'll leave the same way that's right I'll get it well Joe I'm sorry I couldn't last I like it here like the people like a rock that's what dad said you were the night that you operated on Mary Glover like a rock inside and out don't you have any feelings maybe you've hidden them for so long that you've lost them let's say I have let it go at that dick dick you've got a rush call that was Myers lightning struck a tree in front of his place and the tree fell on the car fell inside his old smashed up how awful who was it nobody from around here Sam said his name was Vale or quail or something what are you gonna do if I operate got a chance a good one if you don't is it what do you mean you know what I mean I have to operate more questions not to what it caused questions of mr. quail didn't survive what's the matter with you you want to be a part of a murder to your hands are hurting I'm sorry I know it I shouldn't think this way either but I can't help it think of that man and they're wanting to take you to prison and I'm willing to do anything to keep you here anything no you're not you're just upset have to help me upset we'll use a table in the kitchen Mrs. Myers don't you realize that if that man in there dies you'll be free to hold yourself once and for all you don't have to leave of course I realize I'd never be free this man hasn't done anything to me he's just doing his job I'm gonna do mine you're gonna help me understand yes yes I understand even if I was tempted to be useless send someone else out here Joe look at me if there was any other way out there was any chance for us I'd take it but they just isn't dry your eyes and help me wash up long time no see sorry it couldn't have been longer didn't think you could give Henry J quail the slip did you you and the rest of the police department no just me I'm on my vacation nobody knows about this but me you're an awful fool to tell me that tree gave me quite a thump knock me screwy guess I'm not gonna make it anyway the operation is a success you'll make it be interesting to find out whether I'll wake up in this world or the next save your breath slip of my hand would make any difference either of us all right Joe start pouring the ether thing to keep you here anything nobody knows about this but me stop him you'll be free fun wake up in this world or the next swap nobody but me nobody but me a lot of trees down on the roads dick they call from the hospital and Mel Rosen said they wouldn't be able to get an ambulance through before morning all right you couldn't be moved before that anyway is he gonna make it oh yes he'll make it a beautiful piece of work true to dr. Starr's form his hands were steady as rocks weren't they that's right you better take her home Jed she's tired no I'm staying here there's nothing for you to do Joe yes there is I'm staying what about a dick I can't make her go hey what's the matter with you too maybe dr. Starr can diagnose the case whatever it is it's incurable it's nearly morning it'd be nicer a night would go on well maybe we can have a week or two before your patient gets on his feet will you marry me no I don't suppose many girls ask and get turned down why not you want the name of a criminal I don't care anything about a name I want you persistent aren't you very over the man I love Joe Joe save save love it is in mind to save I've given it to you and you can't give it back come in you see what I mean I suppose you feel fine stinko quite a surprise why didn't figure I'd wake up in this world you don't have much confidence in me I thought I'd had it don't remember too much besides that guess I owe you my life I'll send you a bill you know why I came out here even if you hadn't been so clear on it last night I still might have been able to guess it's all kind of easy like I'd had a load on you had a load on all right yeah load a lumber dr. Starr sounds pretty good better in the old way yeah well what's the pitch on me how long do I get laid up ambulance is coming from Melrose they'll probably keep you in the hospital over there for a couple of weeks you're gonna be my doctor don't tempt me I can only stand so much you thought I came up here to take you back didn't you what about the general idea you could have finished me last night knowing whatever been the wiser you'll never know how close I came you knew I was on vacation you were quite talkative you're quite a guy aren't you that's what my girl tells me the one who sent me to Melrose that's right she wanted me to cut your throat now I I may yet nothing like a day pretty to you talked enough I'm gonna put you to sleep well that'll be nice oh something you might like to know before you do I didn't come up here to pinch you I came up here to tell you you were free this is your idea of a joke I don't go around taking guys on my vacation you didn't kill Roman even though you thought you did it was a frame when Roman dared you to shoot him he handed you a gun full of blanks you lost your head and you let him have the whole gun full he played dead thought it was a big joke his pal Ziggy knew all about it in fact he was there when you came in the old Roman a lot of money after you'd left he filled the gun with real bullets and goodbye Roman you mind if I sit down how did you find this out oh we cops aren't so damn long have you known it weak or so and how did you know I was here now you're worse than a woman put me to sleep doc when I wake up I'll tell you put you to sleep brother am I gonna take care of you yeah well just put that thing down at your hand stop shaking this is what I get for being a nice guy and on my vacation Joe Joe come in here and help me the rocks turn to water our star lead Tracy will return with a word about next week's programming just a moment there is an urgent need for trained nurses in our expanding Army Nurse Corps Colonel Mary G Phillips chief of the Army Nurse Corps recently had this to say I have a very important message for all the civilian nurses of our country who can be spared from their jobs during the present emergency as you know the Army Nurse Corps needs volunteers and it needs them urgently many more nurses are needed to provide our soldiers with the medical care they must have in order to do their jobs you can serve your country well in the Army Nurse Corps and at the same time advance yourself professionally there are many opportunities for postgraduate training in anesthesia operating room management and technique nursing administration and many other fields the opportunities for advancement are practically unlimited learn all the facts about the Army Nurse Corps right or why are the surgeon general United States Army Washington 25 DC and remember the need is now Colonel Phillips message is indeed urgent and we urge you civilian nurses to get all the facts the address again the surgeon general United States Army Washington 25 DC right today this has been another program on proudly we hail presented in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force recruiting service proudly we hail stars Lee Tracy supporting Mr. Tracy as Joe Moore was Helen Kristen final choice was written by DeWitt Cup the music was composed and conducted by John Guarnieri this program was produced under the supervision of Charles and Rogers Productions and directed by Charles Wilkes this is Kenneth Banghart speaking