Lead upon company of Roamington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry, presents the Cavalcade of America. Tonight's play, Star and Shield, starring Broderick Crawford and featuring the very young Miss Eileen Mary. Star and Shield is a true story out of the American campus. It might happen anywhere, in your town or mine. It actually happened in Union City in the fall of 1952. Union City, New Jersey. Here's across the Hudson River at the sprawling giant of Gotham. Close enough to see the towers and yet far enough away to be a big little city all on its own. Just a block or two off the main stem is the corner of Central Avenue and 32nd Street. To the Hudson County Motorcycle Police, this is post 35. For the past 28 years, the regular noontime beat of Officer Bill Campbell. Come on now you kids, the whole lot of you, on the double, let's go, let's go. All right, make it snappy. Last one across is a ring-tailed monkey. Hey you there, little half-pipe. Are you crossing or not? Come on now, you're holding up traffic. Your last warning, are you coming? All right, stay right where you are then. Now see here miss, isn't there enough piggledy-piggledy in life without you having to park yourself on a street corner, not coming, not going, just staying put. Lady. Hello. You've been standing there ever since I came on duty. Now, you want to get across? No. You don't want to get across? No. You're just satisfied to stay where you are? Yes. Don't you go home for lunch? No. Well, you can't go back to school without lunch. I don't go to school. Uh-huh, a thruant, eh? What's that? A thruant? Well, a thruant is someone that should be in school but isn't. It's a pretty terrible crime. But I don't go to school. Oh? Aren't you going to do that traffic no more? No, I'm not. No, you're sure you're not a thruant? Because if you're not, the way you say it, it's a technicality. What's that, Frank? Now never mind, never mind that now. How old are you? I'm almost 50. How old are you? Me? I'm 53. What business is this of yours? How old I am? These are very personal questions. This is disgraceful. It's very private. Look, I have two girls of my own. They're all grown up now. When they were small, they looked very much like you, but that's my private business and I'm not telling anyone. Now, what's your name? That's private business and I'm not telling anyone. I'm a policeman. That's not anyone. That's someone. Oh, it's Margaret. Where do you live, Margaret? Down there. Won't your mommy be looking for you for lunch? I live with Grandma. Oh? Aren't you going to do that traffic no more? Well, you see, right now I happen to be on my lunch hour and I... Hey, perhaps you'd like to join me, huh? You going to a restaurant? Yeah, I am. Can I have a hamburger? Yup. And peach pie? Yup. So maybe I think I'll join you and I'll have a hamburger and peach pie. Now, come on. You've got another swallow of milk there. Come on, stop sneezing and finish it up. Ah, you want some more? Oh, no. Here, come here, come here. Let me clean your face off with this napkin. You've got a milk and a hamburger mustache from ear to ear. You know something? What? I bet if you had a bath you'd turn out to be real pretty. You tell your grandma I said so, would you? But we don't have a bath. Oh? You've got a sink. Grandma can't lift me up and down anymore. I'm too big. So you don't get bathed, huh? Not all over, not ever. Let me ask you something, Miss Margaret. Have you got a last name? Correct, silly. Everybody has a last name. Oh, kittens don't. Don't they, do they not? They just don't. If I had a kitten I would give it a last name. Would you? The same as yours? Same as mine. I would call a kitten Leonie. Leonie, huh? Is that your grandma's name too? No, her name is Grandma. Well, I'll tell you what we're going to do. Right now we're going to pay a visit to Grandma. Can we come for lunch again tomorrow? Sure. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. You and me. You know what? We're going steady. Here's the place we live in the bath. Oh, it isn't very fancy, is it, Margaret? My little Joey. He calls us the Who is it out? He says it's the best book. Do you think so? It wouldn't surprise me a bit. So come on, let's go in and see Grandma. Don't they ever have a light in this hallway? That's me right. Not that she's through the street anyway. Just those bowels and things. It's back here. I think somebody else has one. I'll go tell Grandma what I did. I'll go in and do you know what? What? Right in the hall. They not only had a light, but you know what else? No, what else? A chair. I mean a real one. To sit on. Right in the hallway. You don't say. I guess that's real fancy. Is it this? Uh huh. You know, I can't see a thing here. Is this the door? Uh huh. Damn, I don't hear so good. What is this? It's me Grandma. Margaret? What's up? I'm coming. Oh, Margaret, where have you been? Why, what's the matter officer? Something wrong? Margaret? It's all right Grandma. This is my friend, Officer Campbell. He says we're going steady. How are you ma'am? Has she been in trouble officer? What did you do? No, no, it's no trouble at all Mother. We just had lunch together and I had a few minutes before going back on duty and I thought I'd drop in and meet Grandma. Margaret told me a lot about you. May I come in? Well, yes, yes, come in please do. Sit down, sit down officer please. Thanks. I can offer you a cup of tea. No, no, no, no, don't get any trouble Mother. Margaret and I had a fine time together. Matter of fact, she had the whole rest, I'm talking. Not many youngsters her age have this fine manners at the table. Oh well, manners is something even poor folks can afford. I do my best to teach her right. Look, I, well, I don't want to sound inquisitive Mother, but what about Margaret's folks, her parents? Well, her father's dead. Her mother lives and works in New York. She comes and visit sometimes when she can. And you're her grandmother? I'm a great grandmother. Oh. Yes. You're, you're not going to start things to take Margaret away from the Aryan, take her to an institution are you? No, no, I wouldn't do that Mother. Why, we get by, but we get by pretty well. On what? Well, I've got a little pension, but we get by. Must be a little tough, huh? Well, we manage. Tell me, where does Margaret sleep? In here, I'll show you. That's my bed. In here? Why, there isn't even a window in this room. Well, you know that's silly, how can a window where you sleep, it's only dark when you sleep anyway. Wait a minute, wait a minute, what's wrong with that stove Mother? What are you talking about? It leaks, I can smell the oil all over the place and that's dangerous. I've been meaning to buy a new one, but well, shopping's a little difficult for me. Yeah, I suppose it is. Look Mother, tomorrow the first thing, you go over to Kramer's department store and get yourself a new stove. Oh, you mean the stove? Kramer? Here's ten dollars. Now you tell Mr. Threadway that this is a down payment and he's to send me the payment book for the rest. Oh, it's not right for me to let you do this, why, why we're just strangers. I want to do it, I really do, I want to and I don't think you have the right to refuse me Mother and I hope you won't. Oh well, well all right officer, but it's not for me, it's for Margaret. All right, let's look at it that way then, it's for Margaret. Now one other thing, I'd like to have Margaret come and spend the weekend with me. You mean me? Thanks, huh? Yeah, that's right. I've got two grown daughters, I know they'd love to meet Margaret. May she come? Why yes, I suppose it'll be all right. I'm coming for your hot shower, Alexander. Uh-huh. And then I can wear something else. I'm coming for a sleep and sleep. Well, that's part of it Margaret, but the main reason you're coming is to have a bath. Yes. Stop, stop, stop, stop. Oh no Margaret, they're all over the place now. You know what, you better get a mop and you better get that little water rat out of the bathtub before she dissolves. I'll get the mop. How's she coming in there, Dobby? You were right, Pop. Right about what? She's cute as a button. Well, I've always had good taste, you know that. Is it all right for a daughter to tell her old man that he's a plenty sweet guy? Now wait a minute, I'm a cop. They don't make cops sweet, it's bad for business. Oh sure, a real tough cop. Now don't start getting mushy with me. She's just a kid that needed a bath. Yeah, but lots of kids need baths. Yeah, and lots of grownups, see that they get them. The whole world isn't made up of selfish souls, Dobby. It's made up mostly of just plain people, mostly good ones. Margaret! Look at me, look at the ribbon in my hair. Hey, come back here, I'm not finished. Oh my gosh, the mop. Oh, forget the mop, just get a can and we can bail. The bathroom's underwater. Hey, you are a pretty little cuz, aren't you? Now come on, off to bed. Valerie and Dorothy will take you up. Do I have to? Yes, you have to. I'm saying so and I'm a cop. Yes, sir. Don't forget to say your prayers. Oh, I don't have to say prayers. You only say prayers when you haven't got anything. And tonight, I've got everything in the world. All right guys, line up for roll call. Terrell. Alicon. Control the Patterson Plank Road. Wyvern. Yes. North Pike. Lynch. Yes. Eighteen post north of the circle. Campbell. Yes. Thirty-five post central avenue, thirty seconds. Oh, Campbell, I want to see you for a minute. Rester Smith. You want to see me lieutenant? Lieutenant Frisch wants you. Come on, I'll go with you. Some room? You'll find out soon enough. Come on in. Is Campbell a lieutenant? Oh, yes. Hey, Campbell, how long you been with the Hudson County police? Let's see, I got in in 1925. Which means that by now you ought to know how this outfit operates. Well, yes. We operate as a team together. We don't like it when one of our men decides to make like a lone wolf. I don't know what you're talking about, lieutenant. Oh, innocent, huh? Don't know what you're talking about. Well, I don't. We got undercover operators. We know what's going on. We got you nailed to the mask. Are you guys nuts? You might as well confess. Confess, don't. There's a dame involved. A dame? Don't deny it. Buying her clothes. Fixing up her apartment. That's a pretty big order for a cop making $67.50 a week. Now look. Now you look, Campbell. We know the whole story. Yeah, I hear she's a blonde, too. And her name is Margaret Leoni. Oh, little Margaret. So we're telling you now, Campbell, we're not letting you do this anymore. That's right. Not alone, anyway. What? We're in it with you. The whole department. We got a fund started. All the boys are chipping in. And what have you got to say about that? What have I got to say? Nothing. I'd better say nothing. You guys are a lot too tough for me. And now we return to our Cavalcade story, Star and Shield, starring Frederick Crawford as Bill Campbell and featuring Miss Eileen Mary as Margaret. During the months that followed, little Margaret Leoni literally became a member of the Hudson County Motorcycle Police Corps. Standing straight and proud of her, Bill Campbell, she'd appear at every roll call. Carol. Hello, John. Post 12 and 14. Campbell. Yes, sir. Post 35. Leoni. Yes, sir. Post 35 and a half. And the whole community took Margaret to his house. Merchants dressed her like a princess. The whole family school enrolled her into kindergarten, and everybody repeated her bright little sayings. Oh, so there you are, huh? Now where have you been all afternoon? Been in the library. In the library? And I play a chicken dance. Huh? What did you do? I took a ride bus and I kicked it. And then it was Thanksgiving, the day before Thanksgiving, and Officer Bill Campbell went to the shabby little house on Central Street. Hello, Mother. Oh, hello, Officer Campbell. Come in, please. How have you been feeling, Mother? You've been taking your medicine? Oh, yes, yes. Look, I just dropped by to ask if you and Margaret can come to the house tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner. Oh, I... I'll pick you up in my car. Well, I don't know. I... There's something wrong. What is it? Well, I don't understand it. I don't know what to do. Come on, Mother. What is it? Well, we... Margaret and me, we've got to get out. Get out? Yes, it's what they call an eviction. What? Yeah, they gave me the papers. Eviction? What's it all about? Well, they're going to tear this place down. That's what they say. I spoke to the social worker and she says it's the law that we have to get out. She says it would be best for me to go to the county home and... and Margaret... Margaret, she'll have to go to... Oh, we can't take her like that. Is it right? Oh, no, wait a minute. Take it easy, Mother. Oh, well... I told you once I'd see that they wouldn't take Margaret away from you. And they won't. Well, but how... how can you stop them if it's the law? I'll tell you what. You worry about how much turkey you can eat tomorrow. Let me worry about the law. Now, before we get tearing into this turkey, I think maybe we ought to take a couple of seconds to think of all we have to be thankful for. So let the crowd into a few seconds, I know, but... well, let's give it a try, huh? All right, now we can dig in. What can you thank for, Fawdale? Me? Well, for... for being alive, for being here, for having all of you with me, and... Hey, what about you, Margaret? For my new dress, for Grandma's getting better, for most of all, for best of all, for you. I've checked into the whole matter, Bill. There isn't much to do. They're tearing the old buildings down. That's a good thing. Yeah, sure it is, Lieutenant, but what's going to happen to Margaret and Grandma? They've got to be kept together. I even offered to have them come and live with me, but the old lady said no, she just won't do it. You can't blame her. It's a matter of pride. Well, I know that too, but if they put her in the county home, Margaret will have to go to an unci-institution. Well, there's no other way. I don't suppose she could go to New York and live with her mother. Look, her mother has one little room and a cheap boarding house. She barely makes enough to support herself. It means that Margaret will have to leave school. It's just... Hello, Bill. Hello, John. Polite people knock on doors. But I'm a member of the force. Oh, I forgot. Hey, hey, hey. Look at those new shoes. How'd you get so much mud on them? My friend, little Joey and me, we've done washing them little new houses on us and Boonaboy. You better be careful down around there. Oh, they're going to be the most wonderful houses, like, like palaces almost. Well, kind of old rent palaces. They have ice boxes with our ice and... Lieutenant. And bathtub. We'll get them in there. Aren't you listening, Bill? Yeah, sure, sure, sure. It can't be done, Bill. I can't even real show. Why can't it be done? Is there anybody listening to me? They got regulations that say only married couples with children can get in. I'm going to see Mayor Thoreau. It's not the mayor who makes the regulations. It's the housing authority. I'm still going to go see the mayor. Mayor. Well, what? Well, I think both of you are just cobbly, cobbly, nude. But Mayor Thoreau, it's the only way to keep Margaret and the old lady together. Can't something be done? You know what you're asking, Bill. There are regulations put down by the housing authority that are set, definite. To change them means public hearings, debates, all kinds of rigs. Excuse me, Mayor. There's a little story I remember. It's about Lincoln, I think. There was a woman who had four sons, and they were all in the Army. Her husband had died, and unless she had one of her sons to help bring in the crop, she'd be destitute. She'd gone to the War Department, their commanding offices. She'd gone everywhere. Always she got the same answer. It's impossible. It's regulations. But finally, in desperation, she got in to see Lincoln. He listened to her story, reached for a little pad of paper and a pencil, and he wrote two words. Do it. One of the boys got home. I'm not Lincoln, Bill. You got a pad and a pencil. Why don't you use it? Hey, Bill. Yes, Lieutenant. Where's your partner? Oh, Margaret. She's chalking wheels on the other side of the street. Bill, you know John Tobler. Oh, sure. How are you, Mr. Tobler? That's fine, Bill. How'd you make out with Mayor Thoreau? I don't know, Lieutenant. I just don't know. Well, while you were up there with him, I thought I'd drop in on John here. You know, he owns the property Margaret's house is on. Oh, no. I didn't know. Yes, and I'm awfully sorry about this eviction business. Those old houses are eyesores, and well, I thought I was doing a public service by holding them down. I didn't know about this Margaret and her grandmother until Lieutenant Krusch told me. Mr. Tobler's willing to hold up the eviction proceeding? Oh, that's all. For how long? Well, we had everything set to start pulling down the buildings next week, but if I can find a spot for the kid and her grandmother in the housing project, I'll hold off turning the buildings down until they can move into the new place. Of course, though, if you can't do that. Yeah, sure, sure. I know you'll have to get going. Well, you understand. Yeah, sure. Hey, here comes a little lady now. Hiya, Margaret. Hello, Lieutenant Krusch. Meet Mr. Tobler. How do you do? I'm fine, thanks. Well, tell me, any business, Margaret? This one car that's ready for a ticket, that's the green one down at the end of the block. It's got two truck marks on it now. Sure looks like a ticket, all right. Holy smoke! What's the matter, John? That's my car. Isn't it a wonderful Christmas party? Just look at Margaret. It's wonderful, Dorothy. Oh, I just wish that... Now everything's going to be all right. Dad says that it's going to be all right. He's done so much for us. Your father, Lieutenant Krusch, Lieutenant Kropkin, all the other offices. So much, it's the only reason to expect them to do more. There's still a little time. Oh, you have to be my age to know how little time can be. Hello, Mother. Are you enjoying the party? Yes, yes indeed. Bill. Yeah, what? I haven't told her yet. Oh, about the eviction, huh? Yeah, I haven't told her, but she'll know tomorrow. It's the last day. Why don't you come and stay with us? Oh, please? No, no, that would be taking advantage of kindness. That would spoil it. Margaret, well, what have you got there? Did you see my working dog? Look, I'll show you. You just push off his chin up and he walks. Isn't he darling? Yes, darling, he is. You're not going to put all my things, Grandma. We'll have to move out of the house to get all my toys and swell, won't we? Well, we'll find room. I'm going to give a lot of things to my friends. No, Joey. Oh, look, it's the mayor. He's just come in. He always comes to the Christmas party. Hello, Your Honor. Merry Christmas, Mr. Mayor. Now, you fellow sure caused me a mile of worry. This little girl and her grandmother. Her great-grandmother. Great-grandmother. Merry Christmas. Oh, Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. I've got a little present for you, for you both. Oh, what is it? An apartment of the new housing project. Three and a half rooms rent $18 a month. You got it? The sense. Just used a pencil and a pen. Hey, that's terrific. I'm going to put in a call for John Tobler. This means he'll hold up wrecking until the apartment's ready. When will that be, Your Honor? I'm afraid. Your Honor, I don't know what to say. Well, it's about Christmas, Mr. Mayor. I must tell you, Margaret. What's this all about, Mr. Mayor? It's about how people, some good people, make Christmas come all year round. All right, Margaret. All right, now. Open the door. Hey, be careful. Some of the paint's still wet. All right, now go in. Go in, go in, go in. Grandma, look. Isn't this gorgeous? Oh, it is wonderful, Margaret. There's the kitchen right in there. This is the living room. Grandma's bedroom will be there. Oh, Margaret. Hey, Margaret. Yes, sir? You want to see your room? Oh, yes. Now, it's not all finished yet. Come on, take a look right through this door. Well, Margaret? Oh, oh, gee. Gee, welcome. I'll thank you for myself with a window. That's better than nothing. Thank you, Margaret Crawford, and thank you, Eileen Mary, for two wonderful performances. We would also like to express our gratitude of admiration to the Hudson County Motorcycle Police Corps for its cooperation in the preparation of our story tonight. And now, Bill Hamilton, speaking for the DuPont Company. On an early cavalcade program way back in 1936, it was reported with awe that 18,600 chemists belonged to the American Chemical Society. That seemed like a lot at the time. But America has grown, and so has her need of chemists. Today, the American Chemical Society has more than 66,000 members. What does it mean to have so many chemists in our country continually striving to create new and better things? Well, most important, it means that the growth of chemistry has made hundreds of contributions to our better living. Entire new industries have been founded, and thousands of people have found new employment. New fiber, new medicine, more food and safer food, better transportation, greater comfort, and better health have stemmed from new chemical knowledge. And it's been a major source of strength in our national defense. The future contributions may be limited by a severe shortage of chemists, engineers, and other scientists. Too few high school students are preparing for technical careers. And yet, the opportunity has never been as great as it is today, and appears to be in the future. To bring this opportunity to the attention of high school students and their parents, the American Chemical Society has prepared a booklet called Shall I Study Chemistry? It answers questions about what chemists do, what working conditions and job opportunities young chemists can expect, what personal characteristics favor success in chemistry. For a free copy, for yourself or for some young friend, write to DuPont-Cavilcade, Wilmington, Delaware. Ask for the booklet Shall I Study Chemistry? You may also wish to bring this booklet to the attention of your local high school. The DuPont Company hopes that many young Americans will decide upon chemistry as a career. For DuPont depends upon today's students of science to help in supplying America with better things for better living through chemistry. Tonight's DuPont Cavilcade was written by Irv Tunick. Original music was composed by Arden Cornwell, conducted by Donald Borey. The program was directed by John Zoller with our star, Broderick Crawford. You heard Eileen Mary as Margaret. Others were Ethel Browning, Sandra Spicer, Mary Fickett, Les Damon, Raichel Kent, Stops Cutsworth, and Alan Hewitt. And this is Cy Harris reminding you to be with us next week when the DuPont Cavilcade will present The Secret Road, our star, Lee Bowman. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Red Cross Month. Each year this organization answers an increasing number of calls for help, calls that can be answered only with your participation. This month do your part to help the Red Cross answer the call. The DuPont Cavilcade of America came to you from the Velasco Theater in New York City and is sponsored by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry. Tonight just for laughs listen to Red Skelton on NBC. Thank you.
