Cathy and Elliott Lewis - Public Furlough

Kathy and Elliot Lewis, on stage. Kathy Lewis, Elliot Lewis, two of the most distinguished names in radio, appearing each week in their own theater, starring in a repertory of transcribed stories of their own and your choosing.

Radio's foremost players in radio's foremost plays. Drama, comedy, adventure, mystery, melodrama. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Elliot Lewis. Good evening. May I present my wife, Kathy?

Good evening. You know, it's a source of constant pleasure to both Elliot and me to watch what a good writer can do with an idea. Tonight, for example, Tony Ellis called us...

And said over the telephone, what if Kathy were a famous picture actress and you were a soldier going on furlough and you wanted to date with her?

And then we got his script, and here's what happens to the idea Tony told Elliot. The story is called Public Furlough. The scene, an army post in California

about midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. You pick a camp. It's a bright, clear day, and off to the side of the drill field

in one of the few permanent buildings is an orderly room. The corporal at the typewriter is deeply intent on his composition. The other side of the room, another soldier is practicing being a con man into the telephone.

No, no, I said Frantisan. Sure you gotta have some Frantisan. Anybody knows that. Hey, Dave, this long kid says he never heard of Frantisan.

Yeah. Now listen. Will you listen already? The captain says three creels with franisad.

If that's what the captain wants, that is exactly what the captain is going to get. Well, how should I know what he wants with him? Okay. Okay, send him in care of Corporal David Sampson.

No, no, no, he's going on furlough. You better send him to me. Okay, pal. Hey, Dave.

Did you hear me giving the old double talk? I wish we were going to be around to see what he sends over. Do me a favor. Sure.

See how this sounds. Oh. My dear Miss Wood. Well, okay, if you're going to be smart.

Okay. I'm sorry. Go ahead. You see, I want you to tell me if you get a feeling out of this, you know.

Sure, sure. Go ahead. My dear Miss Wood, thank you for your last photograph. The boys and me sure think it's a swell one.

Oh, not me. I don't, boy. To me, that dame is a slob. Will you listen?

I already know what you think. Will you just listen? All right, go ahead. Sure, it's swell.

Tonight I start my furlough. Ten days, and I'm hopping a plane first thing for Hollywood. As I told you... Like I told you.

As I told you in my last letter, the biggest thing that could happen to me in my life is for me to meet you personally. Believe me, Miss Wood,

I am not just a movie-struck soldier. Ah! I have a high respect for you as an artist and a person, I will be shoving off for the Pacific when my furlough is up, so you couldn't

make me happier or proud than to accept a date with me while I am in Hollywood. I will call your studio when I get in and leave my address as to where I will be, yours very truly, in hopes, David Sampson, Corporal U.S. Army. How's about your serial number? Oh, cut it out, will you? I'm serious. What do you think? You really want to know? I'm asking. I think

you're nuts. Now, wait a minute. You asked me. I think you're nuts. Is the letter okay? Sure, the letter's okay. That's all. Now, what's the matter with you? From me, I'd expect something like this, but you're smart, Davey. She ain't gonna give you a tumble. You ought to know better. I wanna meet her. Not a tumble. I wanna meet her. That's all. You gonna waste all that time

slapping around waiting to see her while you and me and the boys could be having a high old time in Frisco? Oh, don't go, Davey. I'm telling you, she's a big star. She don't need... Thanks, Eddie. Okay, okay You want me to mail it for you?

I'm going over to the TX Uh-uh, no, no, no I'm sending it by telegram What, all that?

Well, you're nuts I wanted to get to her before I call So long See you in ten days

Oh, glory, I'm tired Be a doll and fix me a drink, will you, Leo? Oh, my feet Must I take pictures tonight?

Trade so, dear Oh, glory Why can't we take them tomorrow? Will you tell me that?

Why? They want to get the proof to New York to catch the Sunday papers Oh, Alma Thursday, your day off

I didn't want to go out for dinner tonight I'm hungry Why does she always have to have Thursday? I'll make some eggs

I'm hungry Thanks. Uh, Danny, I want you to read something. Tomorrow.

Right now. Only take a minute. Why did I ever hire you? What?

Telegram. Came to the studio this afternoon. Oh. Miss Daniel Wood.

Well, he spelled it right for a change. Hmm. David Sampson, Corporal U.S. Army? Who's David Sampson, Corporal U.S. Army?

You read it. No, go on. Read the telegram. Oh, well.

Believe me, Miss Wood, I'm not just a movie-struck soldier. Don't you just love that? Leave my address as to where you can send it. Yours very truly in hopes, David Sampson, Corporal U.S.

Oh, for glory's sake, Leo. Well? Well? Well, what?

I think you should do it. Do it? Me? David Sampson, Corporal U.S. Army?

Yeah. Not me. Oh, no. No stunts like that, Mr. Hyland.

It would be good. For who? You and the kid. Look, I checked the files.

He's written a dozen letters in the past six months. We sent out pictures, all that stuff. Now, why not give him a break? I'm tired.

Good publicity. It won't hurt. Look, I don't mind those dances. In the hospitals, that's great.

But that's where it ends. I'm not going to have some kid mooning and slobbering all over me. It won't be like that. Don't tell me.

Give him a day. One day. Show him around the studio. Take him to Chasen's.

Everything. Who pays for it? Expenses. I think you should, Danny.

When's he coming in? Tomorrow. I can't. The picture will...

The picture's finished tomorrow. He's got ten days. Oh, I'm hungry. Okay.

All right. Will you call up somebody and get some food over here? I'm hungry. National Arts, good morning.

Uh, Miss Danielle Woods, please. Who's is calling, please? Uh, this is Corporal David Sampson. I think she's expecting me to call...

Just for a moment, I'll give you publicity. One moment, please. I'm ringing Mr. Hirey's office. He'll take care of it.

Thanks. Hello? Hello. This is David Sampson.