Starring Loretta Young in Children This Is Your Father. The story of a veteran's reunion with his wife and family after four years overseas separation. On the cavalcade of America sponsored by the DuPont Company. Maker of better things for better living through chemistry. But first here is Gain Whitman. How's the weather in your neighborhood? The forecast is colder soon and that's one thing about the weather you never know just how soon. Don't let a sudden freeze-up catch your car without protection. Go to your dealer or service station tomorrow for a checkup. Have rust and scale cleaned out with DuPont cooling system cleanser. Protect the system against leaks by pouring in a bottle of DuPont cooling system sealer. Then add a DuPont antifreeze. Xerox, war emergency Xeron or five star. Each gives you double protection against freezing and against rust and corrosion. All of these car protection products are examples of DuPont's better things for better living through chemistry. The DuPont Company presents Children This Is Your Father. Starring Loretta Young as Peggy Lester on the cavalcade of America. Be Day, BJ Day, Victory. Family men overseas disregarded the exuberant celebrations. To them victory was a big seven letter word that meant home. Home to families they'd left. Families like that of Lieutenant Sam Lester and his wife Peggy. Mama can I have another little cake? You mean may you Karen? Yes you may. Oh, you have another one. You're slim enough you can afford it. Oh thanks. And I can afford it too because I got my allotment check today. Peg, what do you hear from Sam? Oh same old weather reports. My darling is such a lousy letter writer. I haven't the faintest idea what he's doing. Except that he's still in charge of that supply depot in France. Well how do the children feel about him? I mean do they remember him? Oh Mickey does a teeny bit. But Karen not at all. She was just an infant when he left. You know Sam's been away almost four years now. This is my daddy's picture. Yes Karen I know. He's very nice looking isn't he? He's beautiful and he's very tall and very strong. And in the war he killed a thousand Germans all by himself. And he got lots and lots of mail from General I. Karen darling imagination is a nice thing to have. But you mustn't let her run away with you you know. Peg, this beautiful room. Where did you ever find a decorator? I didn't. I painted it myself. Peg Lester you did. I certainly did all by myself. Do you really like it? Why it's wonderful. Positively professional. As if you've been swinging a paintbrush all your life. Well as long as you said such very nice things about my paint job and seeing you're my very best friend. I'll let you in on a little secret. What? After wearing myself out taking the paper off one complete wall I discovered I could paint right over the paper. Not really and you can't even tell. Oh my my the wonders of science. Oh there's Mickey. Oh not the one who's barking that's gorgeous that's the family mutt. Well hello gorgeous. Oh my he's a friendly little thing. Yes he is. I mean isn't she? Mickey picked her up about two months ago and talked me into keeping her as a watchdog. Well that's a good idea. Without a man in the house you need one. Ellie if a burglar came along that dog would hurl herself at him and lick his shoelaces in abject adoration. She's a darn friendly. Hey mom. Ah here is the master of the Lester clan. Hello Mickey. Hello mom you know what Buster Climbs just told me about his father. Know what? He got a bullet in his leg and a purple horn and a silver star on account of he cleaned out a nest of Jeffs and made a bunch of other Jeffs surrender. He got a silver star mom. That's fine Mickey. Gosh Buster sure is lucky having a dad like that. Well for goodness sake your father's no slouch. Just because he's modest and doesn't make a lot of fuss about how many Germans surrendered to him or how he wiped out a pill box. When? When did he wipe out a pill box? What the? During a battle. Which battle? Well the battle of the bulge. That was the turning point of the whole European war. Oh boy. When will I see a Buster? Oh no no. I mean it's time for your milk kids. Take Karen into the kitchen and pour out two big glasses. Okay I'll tell Buster later. Come on Karen. Did you hear that Karen? What mom just did about dad? Yeah jeez. Oh Peg. And you told Karen not to let her imagination run away with it. Oh I know Ellie but I can't help it. I'm not going to let Mickey feel for a single instant that his father is any less heroic than anybody else's father. For goodness sake if they'd given Sam combat duty like he wanted he'd simply be covered with silver stars and oak leaf clusters and kisses from French generals. Well I think it was very smart of the army not to let his experience in organization and supply go to waste. Oh so do I. I'm pretty darn grateful too. It is hard to make the children see that doing a necessary but unexciting job can be heroic too. They go for the active stuff. And since Sam didn't get a chance to kill Germans behind a desk in a supply depot well I have to embroider a little. I know of course but Sam may find he has a lot to live up to when he comes home. When he comes home. Them mighty pretty words Ellie. I suppose you've imagined his homecoming scene a dozen different ways. A hundred different ways and each one was more dramatic and thrilling than the last. But I know how it'll really happen. One day Sam will walk in the door and Karen will pipe out with mama who that man. Karen don't be a droon you got to get on the other side of the table you can't be shooting right alongside of me you're a jack. I'm not a jack I'm an American just like you you are not your jack. And now you're a big jack why don't. I am not a big jack I'm not. Mama. Oh baby Mickey can't you let Karen be an American once in a while. You've made her play jack so much that her eyes are beginning to slant. Oh they are not. And besides having to be a jack all the time they give her an inferiority complex. Why you wouldn't want to. That funny smell coming from the laundry room the laundry room. About the. It's burned a hole right through the irony board pad Mickey did you plug that iron in. I was only making believe I was the engineers looking up a dynamite charge and I guess I just forgot on what are you trying to do Mickey burn the house down over our heads behind our backs I've told you once I told you a hundred times not to fiddle with the electrical equipment now look at the irony board it's ruined and probably the iron to Mickey I just have no choice in the matter I have got to give you a whipping. Run away Mickey run away and hide don't be a droon I'm not afraid come here Mickey. Bend over. Oh shut up gorgeous it's going to hurt me more than it will you. Tell them I'm going to tell them mama aren't you going to say hello I suppose I'll have to get up Mickey but this is only a temporary reprieve we'll pick up right where we left off. Hello yes yes it is Lester. Oh tell Graham. Read it to me please. Yes. Yes. I can't believe it are you sure that's what it says. Yes thank you thank you a thousand times. Western Union I love you. Coming home your father. Is going to. Tomorrow morning on the ten forty three oh my darling so wonderful. It's just too wonderful to be true why are you. I don't know I mean I guess because I'm so happy. Your father's coming home and I'll never have to whip you again. You. Know they cost me kids we don't want to miss him you know you see many women you see you know not yet there just too many people. Here. Oh. Oh. Oh my dear. Here's your. Great. Wonderful. And these are our kids. Children this is your father hello Mickey. Hello hello Karen. Well aren't you going to say something to me you're not as pretty as your picture. Oh. Well come on kids don't hang back Sam this will be the first time you walk into our house in almost four years I feel as if I ought to carry you over the threshold. That's a good idea. Her name is gorgeous she'll probably cover you with kisses. Very affectionate animal. Gorgeous. Oh for goodness sake I've never seen her act like that before maybe she doesn't like me silly darling and do put me down OK my lady. Quiet you idiot make you figure out how I'm going to carry you. Well. What do you think of your children are you've done a swell job big they're wonderful they have a wonderful father I'm not so sure they think so oh darling they're just shy when a few hours I won't be able to pry them off your lap with a crowbar I hope you're right say the house looks different why you had it done over had it done over I did it over myself a little paint a little chance and a lot of elbow grease. Thank you terrific and I went away you couldn't park the car without smashing a vendor you couldn't put a nail in the wall without smashing a thumb and well now look at you ain't seen nothing yet remember that temperamental furnace of ours when I got it tamed and eating right out of my hand they honest to goodness I don't think I'm needed here oh darling don't be a drone a what a drone is a children's favorite word it means a cross between a drip and a goon hmm I'll have to remember that. I'll have to remember that. Another piece of pie darling. No thanks Peg. Oh for heaven's sake kids what's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Well this morning you had a hundred questions you were going to ask your dad. It's all right Peg leave him alone. Dad. Yes Mickey. Will you please tell us the Durbin nudge? Certainly. The what? The Durbin nudge darling that's the bread and jam spelled backwards Mickey has a mania for pronouncing things backwards. Oh oh I get it. Now here you are Yekim. Pardon? Yekim Mickey spelled backwards. Oh that's cute. Eh heh. Something tells me I've just been a groom. No darling it's droon with a D. Mother can I have some? What comes out with your name? Smoke. Your wish and my wish will never be broke. What in the name of college? They're making their wish. Touch red my wish will be stead. Touch green my wish will be seen. Touch blue my wish will come true. That darling is what happens in this house when two people say the same thing at the same time. Oh I see. Well Mickey what did you wish? I'm not allowed to tell. It won't come true then. I wish that daddy would give us our souvenirs. Karen. Honey I will give them to you just as soon as my bags get here. What have you got for me? Well let me see now I think there's a pretty French doll for you. Oh goodies. And for Mickey a wristwatch. No German helmet or a bombshell? What are you gonna bring in there? Well no. Gosh Dick Gordon's dad brought him a German helmet. Well unfortunately I didn't come in contact with any armed Germans so I couldn't. You didn't? Well what about the time you wiped out that pill box? I wiped out a pill box? Sure in the Battle of the Balls. Mom told us all about how you were. Lunch is over children. Go outside and play now. But mom didn't you say that dad was. Outside. Take gorgeous and lunch and run along now both of you. Go on. Oh alright. But what good a wristwatch you can get them here. Peg just what did you tell them about me in a German pill box? Nothing nothing at all darling. Peg I want to know. Oh for goodness sake dear it was just a little bedtime story I made up. Well you know you were the hero of all of our stories. But Peg that sort of thing is dangerous. Suppose a story like that got around. Now Sam don't be ridiculous. I just told it to the children. Couldn't possibly go any further. I'll get it. Hello? Why hello Mr. Whitefield. Yes it's true he's back. Oh just wonderful. Yes of course hold on. Sam darling it's your old boss. Oh thanks. Hello Mr. Whitefield. Just this morning. Great thanks. Why? Just a second please. So the story couldn't possibly go any further. What do you mean? Whitefield wants me to come down to the office to show off my medals. He says it's all over town about me capturing a whole German regiment single handed. You are listening to Loretta Young in the dramatic story Children This Is Your Father on the Cabalcade of America sponsored by the DuPont Company. Maker of better things for better living through chemistry. As the second half of our play opens Lieutenant Sam Lester has returned home. He's having a little trouble explaining to the community about his pre homecoming build up. Well listen Mayor I appreciate your phoning me. The sentiment is wonderful but I tell you I'm not a hero. No no I'm not being modest. All I did in this war was sit behind a desk in a supply depot in France. The only Germans I saw were prisoners. Oh it's all an embarrassing figment of my son's imagination. Yes I'm sorry Mayor. Good day sir. Daddy. Oh in here Karen. Daddy. Yes dear. I think you're awful nice. You do? I like you very much. Well that's just swell honey. Can I have a nickel for ice cream? Sure sure thing baby. Here you are. Oh thank you Daddy. Sam was that Karen who just went out? Yep I gave her a nickel for ice cream. Sam you shouldn't have. She only asked you because I refused. She's not allowed to have ice cream before supper. Oh well maybe you're too hard on her. Well don't you be too easy. Children need discipline. And that reminds me Mickey's in the kitchen and I want you to give him a good talking to. What about? Well he's been tinkering with the electrical appliances again. Oh Sam he's just got to stop behaving like a young Tom Edison the second. I'll talk to him. Thank you darling. And remember be firm. Well I talked to Mickey. I heard you. Sam you were about as firm as melted ice cream. Only a day before you came back he burned out the iron and I was all set to give him a whipping. Reasoning with him is a much better way Peg. He's given me his word that he won't go anywhere near those electrical gadgets again. Sam darling you're going to have to be so much more severe with the children. Well I happen to think that kindness gets you first. What is it darling? I fell down and hurt my knee. Poor baby come here daddy will fix it for you. No I want my mama. I don't like you. That's how it is Ellie. My kids don't like me. Now Sam. Peg's ashamed of me. Why Sam? Well why else did she make up stories about how I captured Germans and pillboxes and make a fool of me all over town. Sam I know all about that. I was there when it happened. But Peg only meant it. I know I know for the kids. But why didn't you tell them the truth? There's nothing to hide. Oh Sam don't you think you're taking it all a little too seriously? How can I help it? Ever since I've been home I felt as if I were outside looking in. Oh if you could have seen the way they talked about you and missed you and the way they carried on when they heard you were coming back. Well the fact remains that everything seemed to go on very well without me. Apparently much better. Sam Lester you're talking through your hat. Why the conversion that Peg had to make when you left was as painful as the reconversion is for you now. Oh just be patient Sam. Everything will fall into its right place again. I certainly hope so. Anybody home? And I don't mean you you friendly thing. Well somebody in the kitchen anyway. Oh it's you Mickey. Dad! Mickey what were you doing with that waffle iron? Nothing. I mean I was just making a little experiment. Mickey you gave me your word that you wouldn't fiddle with the electrical gadgets. Well I just wanted to see who would make those same square dimples on cardboard. I didn't mean to break it. Your mother said it was useless to try and reason with you. Well there's only one way left. No! I'm sorry Mickey but you asked for it. Ow! Let me go! Get it off! Ow! All right for you. All right for you. But Sam it's almost eight o'clock. Mickey's never stayed out this late before. Not without telling me first. Oh I can't imagine what happened. Peg I suppose I may as well tell you. When I came home this afternoon I found Mickey fiddling with the waffle iron. My waffle iron? Why it's practically the most precious possession I... Oh honestly Sam once and for all that boy ought to be whipped. That's what I thought too. So I did it. You mean you actually gave Mickey a whipping? Yes. Oh Sam how could you? How could you lay a finger on him? Your own flesh and blood. Oh Sam you never should have done it. But Peg you yourself just said it even. It doesn't matter what I just said. You never should have done it. Why he... he hardly knows you. It was like being whipped by a... by a stranger. Thank you. I'm glad to know how you feel about me. Oh Sam you don't know Mickey the way I do. Beating him with his sensitive soul and his sensitive skin. Sam where did you whip him? In the kitchen. Oh my poor baby. His pride must be smarting all over. No only on the proper place. He's run away. That's what happened. He's run away from home. Sam you've got to call the police. Peg for heaven's sake do you want to wake Karen? Well we've got to do something. We can't just sit here while Mickey is running away in some dirty old bog scarf. Sam if you don't call the police I will. If you do I'm walking out of this house for good. Sam. I mean it Peg. Either I'm the head of this house or you are. And if you are then there's no place here for me. Sam. It's up to you Peg. All right you brute. I won't call the police but you'll be sorry when they bring home our eldest child our only son. When they bring him here on a stretcher all limp and white and maybe. Maybe even. Flo. Mickey. Oh my darling I've been so worried about you. Oh darling I know why you did it. You can tell your mother everything. Mickey dearest. Where did you go? To the movies with Buster Klein. Didn't Mrs. Klein tell you? To the movies. It was a double horror bill. Oh Mickey. And I've been sitting here wearing myself into a pink fit. Peg I told you there was nothing to worry about. Gosh Dad. Aren't women silly? Where? Were you talking to me? Uh huh I said aren't women silly? Oh well maybe they are. But next time you go away to the movies you'd better get permission first. Okay Dad. I don't want no more licking. Gosh you certainly pack a mean wop. You know Mom? He hits much harder than you do. Oh does it hurt dear? Nah I'm no buddy cup. What's the matter? What's all the noise about? Oh I told you we'd wake her. Everything's all right Karen dear. Come on honey. Mommy will carry you back upstairs. No I want Daddy to carry me. You do? I mean sure thing honey. Here we go. Hey look at Gorgeous. She's looking Dad's shoe. Well what do you know? Hey what comes out of the chimney? Smoke. Your wish and my wish will never be broke. Touch green, my wish will be seen. Touch green, my wish will be seen. Touch red, my wish will be said. Touch red, my wish will be said. Touch blue, my wish will come true. Touch blue, what the heck. My wish has come true. Oh my. Our star Loretta Young will return in just a moment to our Cabalcade microphone. Now here is Gain Whitman. You climb into the old bus, load in the family, tell the man at the gasoline pump, fill her up please with a blissful sigh, and then the open road again. There were many times during the war when you wondered if that open road was still there. Well there it is. Good gasoline too. The motor purrs. You roll smoothly along. Fall is in the air. Are those leaves over there on the hill beginning to turn? If it isn't the leaves that are red and gold, it's the soft sunshine of fall. Golden with just a little chill in the air. Just rolling along is wonderful. Just feeling the car respond to your touch is a thrill you've not had for a long time. Wait a minute though. Two or three months ago you weren't using your car so much were you? Can you be sure it's in the best condition? How about the pre-war tire? How about that retread with the old tube and the forgotten patch? Too much speed or one bad bump can mean a blowout and tragedy. How about you, the driver? Maybe you're out of practice. Maybe your judgment of speed and distance aren't as keen as they used to be. It takes time to learn to drive again in traffic. Now that you can roll into a service station and say, fill her up, it's a temptation to ride just for the fun of it. Everybody's doing it, but not everybody is driving carefully. Accidents are increasing. The man who forgets the painted line in the middle of the highway, who passes on curves, who speeds and cuts in, is a public menace. Drive wisely. Have your car checked for any mechanical weakness. Careful drivers generally take good care of the appearance of their cars too. Scratches and dents in fenders mean not only bad appearance, but rust. Rust destroys metal. Take your car to the DuPont authorized refinisher near you. He's an expert in the use of DuPont and other DuPont finishes made especially to protect and beautify your car. And he has DuPont which exactly matches the color of your automobile. Use DuPont number seven polish to remove traffic film quickly and easily and restore luster. Or use DuPont DuPont cleaner and then apply DuPont wax, which protects the finish from dirt, moisture, and the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It gives a clear brilliant luster which lasts for months. And of course protect your car against a freeze up this winter with the DuPont antifreeze. All of these products for the protection of your car are DuPont better things for better living through chemistry. And now here is the star of tonight's DuPont cavalcade, Loretta Young. With Victory One, the National War Fund campaign needs our help no less. The need is just as great. Every dollar we contribute will do a three-way job, helping our armed forces, aiding our friends and allies overseas, and assisting neighbors in distress here at home. Now many servicemen will not be so fortunate as Lieutenant Sam Lester in our story. Others will require financial assistance, hospital care, or vocational guidance. Our dimes and dollars will help many servicemen bridge the gap between GI and civilian life. The War Fund drive needs your contribution to carry on its worthy work in your own community. Next week, Cavalcade will tell the story of Johnny Adams, who comes home to a tweed suit, a white shirt, and a bright necktie after four years of Army olive drab. Readjustment for Johnny is complicated by many problems, including the girl he left behind. Next week, you will hear the sometimes tender, sometimes humorous story of a typical young American, his girl and his future. When Cavalcade presents Johnny Comes Home, our stars will be Robert Walker and Susan Peters. Don't forget to tune in next Monday at the same time to hear Robert Walker and Susan Peters in Johnny Comes Home. The music for tonight's DuPont Cavalcade was composed and conducted by Robert Ambruster. Our play was written by Priscilla Kent. Loretta Young may currently be seen in the international picture production along with James Jones. With Miss Young in tonight's Cavalcade were Gail Gordon as Lieutenant Sam, Marlene Ames as Karen, and Tommy Bernard as Mickey. This is Tom Collins inviting you to listen next week to Robert Walker and Susan Peters in Johnny Comes Home on the Cavalcade of America, brought to you by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. This is the National Broadcasting Company. Thank you.
