Starring Joan Bennet in So Red the Rose on the cavalcade of America sponsored by DuPont, maker of better things or better living through chemistry. Good evening ladies and gentlemen this is Clayton Collier. Tonight cavalcade brings you one of Hollywood's loveliest young stars, Joan Bennet. As Phyleth Bedford in Stark Young's colorful and romantic story of the Old South, So Red the Rose. By special arrangement with Paramount Pictures, DuPont presents a radio version of the exciting screenplay and best-selling novel on the cavalcade of America. Joan Bennet in So Red the Rose. A lazy spring afternoon of the year 1861. On the veranda of the plantation house of Portobello on the Mississippi, two southern gentlemen are taking their eaves. The elder is Malcolm Bedford, master of Portobello. The younger, handsome, more careless in his dress is Duncan, a distant cousin. Proud too of the name of Bedford. As our play opens, they are joined by Sally Bedford, mistress of Portobello. I hope you gentlemen don't mind if I join you for a refreshment. Quite the contrary, my dear. My cousin Duncan persists in talking about what we should do with next year's crop. Oh Duncan, I'm ashamed of you. Talking business on an evening like this. Why, that's Yankee style. Sooner or later we're going to have to wake up and adopt some Yankee customs, cousin Sally. Duncan. You'd better not let Bellevue hear you talking like that, Duncan. She thinks we ought to declare war on the Yankees. Well, now that's young, yeah. She thinks war is romantic. Well, isn't it? Cousin Sally, have you ever been present at the amputation of a leg wounded by a grape shot? Duncan, such talk before a lady. I don't think I'm going to like having you with a son-in-law at all. Well, Sally, don't mean half what you said, Duncan, and neither do you. Ah, here come the refreshments. Yes, sir. The ones with three mint sprigs has double whiskey, gentlemen. I'll bring along some tea for Miss Sally. Thank you, William. Oh, William, have you seen Mr. Pendlin about? No, sir. He done rode off to some meeting or other up to the river. It seems they're getting together some kind of a volunteer militia. Militia? What's this about the militia, William? Well, Valette, how lovely you look. Thank you, Cousin Duncan. Now then, William, what's this about a militia? I don't know, Miss Valette. They say they're fixing to ride again the Yankees. How perfectly thrilling. Oh, I do hope the fighting breaks out soon. Valette, you don't know what you're saying. Yes, I do. And you'll be in there too, Duncan, when the time comes. I pray God it'll never come, Valette. Oh, everybody's so serious. Goodness, you think I'd said something terrible. Well, you did. Now don't you children start falling again. Well, there's Mr. Pendleton turning into the drive. Why, there's a whole group of them. It must be the militia. Mr. Pendleton riding at the head of it. Oh, good. Good evening, folks. Miss Valette, Miss Sally, gentlemen. Good evening. Mr. Pendleton, you've been holding something from me. Where did you get that handsome uniform? Oh, that's my old Texas militia get-up. I brought it along in my trunk. I thought I might need it before I got back home. And I was right. What do you mean, Pendleton? I thought something's been fired on, Duncan. Something? You sure? News just came. The boys and I are making the rounds of the county raising the militia for the fighting. I see. Ain't you coming along with us, Duncan? No. No, I'm not. I've never heard of a bed for chucking his duty before, Duncan. He doesn't mean it, Mr. Pendleton. Of course you're going with some Duncan, and you're going to bring back a Yankee scout just for me, aren't you? No, no, Valette. Don't talk like this. We've got no quarrel against the Yankees. They're Americans, the same as we are. Those hotheads over in South Carolina want us to see that's their business. But as long as Mississippi's still in the Union, my duty is to the United States. And to think I let myself get practically engaged to you, Duncan. Well, anyway, we was hoping to pick up a few mounts from your stables to pack our supplies, Duncan. You're welcome to them, Pendleton. Yes, I reckon the Bedford's raised good, brave horses anyway. And if I may trouble you for my locket I gave to you, Duncan. But, Valette. Please, Duncan, I'm serious. As you say. Mr. Pendleton, I meant this locket for a fighter, a real man. So if you'll accept it from one whose prayers are going into the battle with you. Miss Valette, I hardly know what to say. Don't say anything, Mr. Pendleton. Just kill as many Yankees as you can. Ma'am, if I wasn't so mad at them, I'd be feeling sorry for those Yankees right now. Mail boat just come in from Vicksburg, Miss Valette, this letter's for you. It's for Mr. Pendleton, Laubette. Fetch me the letter opener from over there, William. Yes, Miss Valette. William, what ever is all that singing back of the house? That's young Mr. Edward, Miss. He's training some of the field hands for the fighting. Field hands? For the fighting? Yes. He said if he gets a call for the army, we'll be needing them to protect us here at Portobello. That is, if the Yankees gets Vicksburg. Too ridiculous, the Yankees will never get to Vicksburg. Go and ask Mr. Edward to come here to me. I want to talk to him. Yes, Miss Valette. Morning, Valette. Morning, Mother, morning, Father. Morning, my dear. Here's a little packet that came with the letter, Valette. William brought it to me by mistake. Oh, thanks, Father. I'll open it when I finish the letter. Who is it from, darling, Mr. Pendleton? No, from Charlie Tolliver, and it sure is amusing. Listen to this, Mother. Dear Valette, I know you would love me if you could see me in a fine blue coat. I borrowed it off the Yankee gentleman the other day. As he was about seven foot tall, I can truthfully say that my new pants cover an honest heart. Isn't that just like Charlie? Go on, darling. What did you want to see me for, Valette? Now, Edward, sit down. I'm reading a letter from Charles. Oh, what did old Charlie say? Now, you can meet it yourself later. Oh, read me the rest of it, Valette. That's about all there is amusing in it. Then there's a postscript. Mother, what is it, honey? Mother, listen. Haven't time to write you a new letter as we're in the midst of a retreat from Shiloh. Pendleton is no longer with us. He wanted you to have the locket, Valette, to give to some other soldier. Said it made him fight so brave. It might make a real good soldier win the war. He died with your name on his lips, Valette. The locket. That's what the package has in it. Poor, poor boy. Oh, Valette, darling. I think I want to be alone for a while. Sis, you let the locket. I never want to see it again. Pendleton, my best friend. And now this disaster at Shiloh. Do you realize what that means, Dad? I'm afraid I do, son. Poor Valette. I wonder how Duncan will take this news. Well, Duncan's all right, Sally. You'll see. Men like him have to know in their minds what they're fighting for. Well, I think I'd better go and try to comfort Valette if I can. If I can be of any help. I'll let you know, Mac. Father. Yes, son? Will you give me the little bay man? Of course, Edward. So, you're going too? I've got to, Father. Without saying goodbye to your mother? Yes. Don't you think that's best? Yeah, I think it is, son. Well, goodbye, Father. Goodbye, son. God be with you. Oh, Malcolm. Hi, Edward. He went out. How's Valette? He's better. He asked me to bring the locker, Charles, and back. Where is he? He was right here on the table. I think Edward took it with him. Oh, then. But he can't. You shouldn't have let him. He's only a boy, Malcolm. War has a curious effect on people, Sally. It makes them grow up quickly. Yes. Yes, I... I knew I couldn't keep him any longer. May I sit here beside your cousin, Valette? You can't farewell prevent your cousin, Duncan. I was sorry to hear about poor Pendleton. You're sorry. You stay here safe at Portobello, feeling sorry. While men are dying in the cold, you're here to stay here. You're here to stay here. You're here to stay here. You're here to stay here. You're here to stay here. You're here to stay here. I'm sorry. While men are dying in the convent. Still sending the lambs off to slaughter, aren't you, Valette? First Pendleton, then your baby brother. Edward went because he saw his duty. I had nothing to do with it. You helped him to see his duty, didn't you? With the dead man's locket. You know, I'd be careful how I handed that locket around if I were you, young lady. Seems to be bad luck. I didn't even know about the locket. He... he just took it. Valette, you know it's women like you who make wars. With your blasted souvenirs and mementos and your everlasting cotton and anything with two legs in a uniform. It's not true. Now, you say that, but you know I'm speaking the truth. And Edward, you started on him when he was just a little boy. Showing him the pictures in the books and praying for the day when you'd be bragging about your younger brother in his fine uniform. You're a liar. Bloodthirsty, that's what you are. A Yankee scout. That was your price for your love when you gave it to Pendleton. Liar. It hurts, doesn't it? You're a liar, Duncan. Liar. Liar. Liar! You are listening to So Red the Rose, starring Joan Bennett, on the cavalcade of America, sponsored by DuPont, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. 1863, the disaster at Shiloh. Lee marches northward to patch Johnston's tragically decimated forces in the Cumberland. Stonewall Jackson, dead of his wounds at Chancellorsville. Then, the news that strikes the very heart of the South. Vicksburg. Vicksburg has fallen and Sherman is marching to the sea. With the passing of those years of war and desolation, our play continues. At Portobello, her plantation home near Vicksburg, Mississippi, the belette bedford played by Joan Bennett is standing beneath the portico. A wagon draws up to drive and a man helps a weeping woman down from the seat. Duncan, mother, what is it? Oh, Valette. Darling. What is it, my dear? Duncan, what is it? Look under the canvas in the back of the wagon, if you feel strong. Edward. It's Edward. I knew it. He's come home, Valette. My little boy. Your baby brother. They're left, huh? And Edward. We're all alone now. We all need each other. Let's not be bad friends any longer. My husband and my son, two of the finest men who ever lived. It's not right to be alone. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. It's not right, Valette. Duncan was right all along. Only we wouldn't listen to him. Darling, please don't. We wanted our men to be brave and fight. For what? To welcome them home in a bundle of canvas in the back of a dirty old wagon. William. Yes, dear. That's the glory we encouraged our men to fight for. Come, mother. William and I will help you up the stairs. No, Valette. You wait. William, you go with Miss Sally. You wait. I'll go with you. I'll go with you. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my. William, you go with Miss Sally. Yes, sir. Oh, dear, now, Miss Sally. Don't take on, sir. William, you tell the groom to saddle the great gelden right away. Yes, sir. I'll do that, sir. Duncan, you aren't going to leave us. You can't leave us now. Now, I'm going, Valette, to fight. Oh, there's the locket. Edward had it clutched in his hand when they found you. Would you like to have the locket back, Duncan? You were the first to have it, you know. Valette. I want you to have it, Duncan. Always. Oh, darling. But don't go, Duncan. Now that we're friends again, I can't bear the thought of you leaving me. You did grow up, after all, didn't you, Valette? My poor little Valette. I'm not going to say goodbye to you, Duncan. I can't. I know not how mother felt when she said goodbye to father. Listen, my darling, if you know that, you can do anything. Believe me. I do believe you. That's better. Here comes William now, leading the great gelden. The grooms ain't there, Mr. Duncan. They'll all be leaving. We'll be left alone. All alone. You let those seraphs out of there, William. Yes, sir. Never you fret, Miss Valette. You all won't be all alone. Not so long as old William lives. Thank you, William. Now, I take it. Valette. Well, Valette. Goodbye, Duncan. Goodbye, my darling. Goodbye. Goodbye, Mr. Duncan. We'll be waiting for you to come back, Duncan. Mr. Duncan makes a fine-looking soldier, Miss Valette. You must be mighty proud. Proud of him, William, yes. And ashamed of myself. Mother. Mother, where are you, Mother? Oh, it's you, Valette. Here I am over here, darling. Why are you sitting here in the dark? I was afraid to light the candles. You didn't come back for so long. I keep hearing rifle shots. Real near. They aren't as near as old that, Mother. There. Now, that's more cheerful, isn't it? Yes, it's better with the light, I reckon. What did they say in town, Valette? They say the troops are headed straight this way. Our house will be in Yankee territory before long. I was so worried about you on the road. I told you they're not that close yet, Mother. Here she is again. You're right, Mother. Oh, I wish I knew what to do. If only Duncan were here, he'd know what to do. We don't even know whether Duncan's dead or alive. Do you realize that? Maybe soon it won't matter to us anymore. Mother, it's not like you to talk that way. What's that? Someone at the door. Put out the candle, Mother, quick. Mother, go and get William. I'll look outside. Don't, Valette, don't. Don't let him find me, Miss. Mother, get William, quick. The Yankee soldier, he's wounded or something. Can you stand on your feet, Yankee? Let me come in, Miss, please. I'm begging you. All men, ready for action. Come in, Miss, come in. Please, Miss, get me sure. Come into the house. Here, I'll help you. William. Yes, Miss Valette. Mother, light the candle again. Never mind now. William, help me get this man to the library. We'll put him on the couch there. Yes, Miss Valette. I can handle him alone. Valette, have you gone crazy? He's a Yankee. They'll kill us too if they find him here. Close the door after, William, and get warm water and mud and his wounds. Yes, Ma'am. Valette, you turn him right over to the soldiers. If you don't, I will. Mother, if we were a Yankee family and that man were Duncan, well, Mother. You're right, honey. Yes, you're right. Open up, ma'am. Open up. Anybody in there? Open up. That's them now. Don't worry, Mother. Who is it? This old man. Open up. We can't wait all night. What is it, gentlemen? We're looking for a Yankee prisoner that got loose. We've seen him come on this way. We'll have to search the house. What? I've never been so unsullied in my life. You don't think the Bedford's would hide Yankees, do you? Now, look, ma'am, I haven't got time to explain to you, uh, that we don't trust you, but orders is orders. What's the matter, ma'am? What's going on here? Duncan, it's you. I'm sorry, Valette, but these men are acting under military orders. You'll have to let them in. All right, Duncan. Take them upstairs and let them start searching there first. Thank you, Valette. All right, men. Follow me up. Valette, what are you going to do? I'm going to warn the Yankees. Stand at the cup of Yank. Here, this is my brother's jacket. Put it on. They'll hang me if they find me. I'll tell them you're my brother. They'll hang me, Mister. Not in this great jacket. They won't. Here, get into it. Thank you, Miss, thank you. As soon as they've gone, we'll tend your wound. Valette, what's this? Who's that on the coat? Oh, Duncan, please. just a boy he's too young to die. What's your regular. Come on how many were there and I thought I know you're joking. Scouting trooper the events got Duncan stop it is one what are you doing in that great Jack I gave it to you did. Oh all right you get it off and put on your own Duncan what are you going to do to turn him over to our men of course but they'll hang in there let this is war but you can't send this boy to his death. Oh you change you change their lives I remember you making a man promise to bring your Yankees gal. That was. That was before I knew I looked. Duncan you're saving please please for me. Come in. Don't report in Captain Bedford we've searched the house but didn't find it Hey who's that this is miss Bella's brother Edward. You sent home wounded he's just beginning to recover I see well hadn't we better get started Captain right away Sergeant still. Goodbye it would get well soon and join us with the third Mississippi isn't camped. Well there was. A bargain. And thank you. Thank. You. I think the little bro. Try and drink it. Thank you what's the matter. Thank you. Yes. He's dead. The Yankees did. Or. Let me come over the one. I want to say. But it's too late. I wonder if it's too late for everything. All right the soldiers again we might not make it out to the people know what to do. It's not. The Yankees. Are you ladies. Those who were in a few minutes ago but. Don't speak up fast later this is the Union Army you're talking. That there are no better. They get you know. That's right. Rebel soldiers. That's the door. Well quite a nasty area. Soon fix that one of your own men a union soldier in a Confederate uniform but it's true he was wounded we tried to think. Well it is under the circumstances I have only one choice I don't make these decisions you understand they're made for me what are you going to do I give you just two minutes to get your things out of here start back. I'll be generous and give you five quadrangle. And I give the signal you're just a fire. Don't let your men leave the barn to the ground. Then. � casos. Where. And then. Use credit, Ron. My daughter fit the band. and. Living in a slave camp. I never thought I'd live to see the day it's a roof over my head. And when Duncan gets home we'll build another. Duncan coming. We've got to face. We've heard from him long before now I know he's alive. I feel. It. Will build a small. There'll only be three of us. We still got the man I'm strong. But. What is it that. Duncan. I hear Duncan's voice for you all tired out funny it's just your imagination but not. I did. I distinctly heard Duncan's voice. I haven't said that I told the dollar makes the stone. Now I hear. This is. My. It's not. Over there. Over here mother. A hand that I'm going to meet him down. Darling. Really you don't. Go there let's take me on. Don't. Know when I saw the house was burned down. I thought I'd lost you forever. Oh. That if you don't. And that's all. I now we'd like to meet our star John Bennett. This planet as spokesman for the Cavalcade players may I tell you how much we've enjoyed having you as our guest star thank you Mr. Conner it has been fun doing for Red the Rose on the radio I like it immensely both as a novel in a picture and I hope the Cavalcade audience who know it as a book and a film like our play tonight as much as I like. We hope so too miss Bennett as you know our show next week is also based on a best seller and the hit picture it's Edna Ferber's great novel simmer on and our star is Irene done we're doing the program in Hollywood miss Bennett and we hope to drop around and see us if I'm back next week I will Mr. Collier in any event you can count on me as a list we'll do that and again our thanks for tonight's performance. Remember next week the Cavalcade of America stars Irene done in our radio version of simmer on the powerful story of the Oklahoma land rush by Edna Ferber which was a best seller when it was published and a great motion picture when it was produced by our K.O. At this time we would like to remind our listeners that now is the time to join the Red Cross in its membership drive for 1941 your Red Cross button is a badge of honor for humanity and national defense supporting miss Bennett on tonight's production of so read the Rose was Jeanette Nolan as Sally and Carl Swenson as Duncan the orchestra and the original musical score was under the direction of Don Bure on the Cavalcade of America your announcer is Clayton Collier sending best wishes from DuPont
