ANNOUNCER:

The NBC Theater presents-

(MFX)

 

PUBLIC ADDRESS VOICE:

(filtered, announced like a train station PA) Screen Directors Guild Assignment... Production, "Stagecoach"... Director, John Ford... Stars, John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Ward Bond.

(MFX)

 

SFX:

APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER:

This is The Screen Directors Guild production of the United Artist's motion picture classic "Stagecoach", starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor and Ward Bond, and introducing the director of the film, John Ford!

(MFX)

 

ANNOUNCER:

Before we begin our story, here are a few words about the entertainment you will hear tonight, and in future weeks at this time. The NBC Theatre is proud to present the president of The Screen Directors Guild and the imminent director of such films as "Variety Girl", "The Perils Of Pauline", and "Taproots", Mr. George Marshall!

SFX:

APPLAUSE

MARSHAL:

Thank you and good evening. This is the first performance of a series of Screen Directors Guild productions, in which the directors will personally bring you their favorite film assignments, along with the stars that created the original roles. Tonight your director is John Ford. John, if you remember, is the winner of five Academy Awards and the guiding hand of such great pictures as "The Informer", "How Green Was My Valley", and, of course, "Stagecoach". You're on the set, John.

SFX:

APPLAUSE

FORD:

Thank you George, ahem, and good luck on our first production. (making a little joke) "Stagecoach" is ready to roll! The last time I made that crack was about ten years ago (chuckling) when I first had the opportunity of putting on film this "romance of the West". For the cast, the picture authors an array of colorful character types right for the actors' talents! Now the story and the cast are united again. Here is "Stagecoach", with John Wayne as the Ringo Kid, Claire Trevor as Dallas and Ward Bond as Doc Boone!

(MFX)

 

FORD:

In 1885, the stagecoach was the only means of travel on the American frontier. And in those days no name struck more dread into the hearts of travelers than Geronimo, leader of the war-like Apaches! This folks, is the story of a party of people who travel from Tonto to Lordsburg, by stagecoach in 1885. It's a story still told by the Indians...

INDIAN NARRATOR:

(narrating, with a bad stilted Tonto dialect) In the land of Arizona, land of the Apache Indian, where the roaming Cherakowa fought the mighty white invader, stood the white man's city "Tonto"! (beat) "Tonto" where the flying wagon that the white man called a "stagecoach" start to take men to the west, where Geronimo was leader, chief of the Apache Indian race...

(MFX)

 

SFX:

DISGRUNTLED CROWD

BUCK:

Well, that's how it is, folks. Geronimo's Apaches are on the warpath, burnin' every ranch in sight!

HATFIELD:

Then the question before the party assembled in this stagecoach is... shall we continue?

LUCY MALLORY:

I say yes! Continue-

HATFIELD:

-Continue? Mrs. Mallory... should you be traveling in your condition?

LUCY MALLORY:

My husband is in Apache Wells with his troops; I want to be with him when our baby arrives.

HATFIELD:

Madam, I am a gambler. And I admire and respect a bold gamble. But aren't you gambling with a life beside your own-

BUCK:

Oh I fergot to tell you, Mr. Hatfield. We're gettin' a Calvary escort to Apache Wells

LUCY MALLORY:

-That settles it; I'm going on!

HATFIELD:

Count me in, of course, Buck-

SFX:

FOOTSTEPS ON DIRT

BUCK:

All right, I'll go find my shotgun guard

CURLY:

(coming up to mike) You don't have to go no further, Buck

BUCK:

-Wha-? Well, Curly! Well doggone it, how are you Sheriff?

CURLY:

(chuckling) Fine, thanks! And I'll be ridin' shotgun up next to you this trip, Buck!

BUCK:

You?!? What fer-

CURLY:

The Ringo Kid escaped from prison. I'm lookin' fer'em

BUCK: -The feller who shot Jed Michaels dead?

CURLY:

I hear he's headed fer Lordsburg to shoot it our with the three Plummer boys. So, I'll be right up there withya Buck. All the way to Lordsburg.

(MFX)

 

SFX:

CROWD WAITING FOR THE STAGECOACH

STATION AGENT:

(calling from off mike) Stagecoach-

TOWNSMAN 1:

Here she comes! Top of the hill now, there comes the stagecoach

STATION AGENT:

(calling from off mike) Stagecoach

TOWNSMAN 2:

Better stand back then, Doc

DOC:

(drunkenly) -Yeah... stand down the road there, Dallas-girl!

DALLAS:

Thanks, Doc-

DOC:

Hail the sagebrush chariot

DALLAS:

Doc Doc, why do I have to leave town because- because all these women here say I have to? I don't wanna go to Lordsburg-

DOC:

No more do I Dallas! But you are a lady somewhat too hospitable to gentlemen, and I am a doctor somewhat too hospitable to spirits! We girl are the dregs of Tonto! They send us from their midst! Come Dallas, be a proud, glorified dreg like me

SFX:

STAGECOACH PULLING UP

BUCK:

Whoa, there! Whoa-

DOC:

Hi there, Buck! You have acquired two more, eager passengers

BUCK:

The injuns are rising, Doc

DOC:

I thank them for that mark of respect; tell them they may be seated now! Enter Dallas

DALLAS:

Thanks Doc

DOC:

-Take your place beside the other lady... then forward! On to Lordsburg!

(MFX)

 

SFX:

STAGECOACH MOVING

CURLY:

Watch yer driving through this canyon, Buck-

BUCK:

Well, I aim t'be hard t'shoot at, in case Geronimo's Apaches'er in these hills

CURLY:

I'm with ya, Buck... th'law

BUCK:

That don't make me bulletproof

SFX:

BULLET RICOCHETING

BUCK:

Oh, kingdom high! Here she comes! Apaches

CURLY:

Keep yer shirt on and stop th'coach! It ain't Apaches it's someone up ahead, blocking th'road- with a rifle!

BUCK:

Whoa there! Whoa whoa!

SFX:

STAGECOACH SLOWS TO A STOP

CURLY:

Here he comes... whoever he is.

SFX:

FOOTSTEPS ON DIRT

BUCK:

Well... it's the Ringo Kid!

RINGO:

(coming up to mike) That's right, Buck. Hiya, Curly.

CURLY:

Ringo.

RINGO:

Didn't expect t'find the sheriff ridin' shotgun-

CURLY:

I was headin' fer Lordsburg... same as you, Ringo

RINGO:

-Well, m'horse went lame, so y'got another passenger.

CURLY:

I'll take that Winchester first, Ringo.

RINGO:

That so, Sheriff-

CURLY:

Yer under arrest... for the murder of Jed Michael

RINGO:

Sorry Curly, but this Winchester here sez diff'rent

CURLY:

-Sorry Ringo, but if you'll look back up th'road apiece, you'll see our escort, the United States Calvary comin' up.

RINGO:

Oh-

CURLY:

I'll take that rifle now, Ringo

RINGO:

Sure, Sheriff. Butcha better hold onto it! You may need it before we git t'Lordsburg

CURLY:

Thanks. You can git into th'coach now

SFX:

WOODEN DOOR OPEN/CLOSE

RINGO:

Much obliged, Sheriff

CURLY:

(yelling out) Git going, Buck

SFX:

WHIPCRACK/STAGECOACH RIDING OFF AGAIN

BUCK:

(yelling too) -Giddyap! Bessie! Giddyap! Bonnie! Hyah!

(MFX)

 

SFX:

STAGECOACH MOVING ALONG

HATFIELD:

So you're the famous Ringo Kid, huh?

RINGO:

My friends call me Ringo. Right name's Henry.

DOC:

Henry? Seems to me I knew your family, Henry. Didn't I fix your arm once when you were, oh, bucked off a horse?

RINGO:

That was my kid brother broke his arm. You did a good job, Doc,: even if you was drunk.

DOC:

Thank you, son. What happened to that boy whose arm I fixed?

RINGO:

He was murdered-

DALLAS:

Oh no

RINGO:

-Him and my dad... by the three Plummer boys.

DOC:

Well, good luck when you get to Lordsburg son-

RINGO:

Thanks, Doc

DALLAS:

-Mrs. Mallory? You're tired. Would you like to rest your head on my shoulder?

LUCY MALLORY:

No. Thank you. Mr. Hatfield? Would you mind if I sat on your side of the coach-

HATFIELD:

-Not at all, m'aam.

LUCY MALLORY:

(to DALLAS) Excuse me-

DALLAS:

(hurt) -Yes... of course.

HATFIELD:

Right here, Mrs. Mallory.

LUCY MALLORY:

Thank you, Mr. Hatfield.

RINGO:

Hm. I must have th'plague, huh Dallas?

DALLAS:

You? Oh no... it's not you-

DOC:

-Have a drink Hatfield?

HATFIELD:

No thank you-

DOC:

(chuckling) -"No thank you", he says. "Have a drink, Doc?" Yes, thank you!

RINGO:

(to DALLAS) You're not going to move away from me, are you-

DALLAS:

No, Ringo.

RINGO:

Well, I can't expect to break out of prison and into society in th'same week-

DALLAS:

(whispering) -Shh. She'll hear you!

RINGO:

Guess I'm pretty dumb fer sittin' down beside a lady like you, Dallas.

DALLAS:

(touched) A lady?

RINGO:

Thanks fer not movin'.

DALLAS:

(hurt) Don't-Don't, please! Why're ya lookin' at me like that?

RINGO:

Ain't I-ah seen you some place before-

DALLAS (quickly):

-No- No, you haven't.

RINGO:

(chuckling) I wish I had though-

DALLAS:

-I know you-I mean, I know who you are. I guess everybody in the: Territory does.

RINGO:

Yep, well, I used to be a good cowhand, but...things happened.

DALLAS:

Yeah, that's it... things happen.

DOC:

(drunkenly yelling off-mike) Hellooo, lil' bottle! Drink up, Doc, drink up!!

RINGO:

(chuckling) Doc's gettin' a snootful!

DALLAS (sadly):

Things happen. And now they'll take you back to prison.

RINGO:

Not till I finish a job... in Lordsburg.

DALLAS:

Ringo, I wish you wouldn't-

RINGO:

-"Wish I wouldn't", what?

DALLAS:

Oh, nothing. Nothing.

DOC:

(drunkenly yelling off-mike) Bottle, lil' bottle! Bottle, lil' bottle!!!

SFX:

STAGECOACH GETS ROUGHER

LUCY:

(feeling the ride getting rougher) Oooh!

HATFIELD:

Confound that driver! Why doesn't he drive more carefully??

RINGO:

He's playin' it smart, Hatfield! He took to the mountains. Apaches don't like snow-

HATFIELD:

-Well, he might have more consideration for Mrs. Mallory, in her condition!

LUCY:

(pained) I'll-I'll be all right, Mr. Hatfield! Thank you.

DOC:

(drunkenly yelling off-mike) Bottle, bottle, bottle!!!

BUCK:

(yelling off-mike at the same time) Apache Wells, just ahead! Apache Wells!!

(MFX)

 

SFX:

WOODEN DOOR OPEN/CLOSE/ FOOTSTEPS ON DIRT

LUCY:

Mr. Hatfield? Why did my husband and his troops meet us here?

HATFIELD:

The wrangler tells me that Captain Mallory has been sent ahead to Lordsburg-

LUCY:

Lordsburg

BUCK:

We better turn around and follow the Cavalry escort to Tonto

LUCY:

We can't do that

BUCK:

With Apaches on the warpath, it ain't safe to go through Apache country without escort! I say we oughta turn back

RINGO:

There's only one way to find out; take a vote

HATFIELD:

-What do you say, Mrs. Mallory; on to Lordsburg or back to Tonto?

LUCY:

I want my husband with me when our baby's born-

HATFIELD:

Doc

RINGO:

Ain't you fergot this lady

HATFIELD:

You mean, Dallas

DALLAS:

-Oh, I say-I say go; I've nothin' to go back to-

HATFIELD:

Doc

DOC:

(drunkenly) -Huh-oh, er Lordsburg! Pass the bottle, pass the bottle!!!

HATFIELD:

Ringo-

BUCK:

Ringo's mah prisoner! I'm votin' his proxy; I say Lordsburg

RINGO:

Hatfield

HATFIELD:

I am at the service of Mrs. Mallory

LUCY:

-Thank you.

HATFIELD:

Buck-

BUCK:

(reluctantly) Well, Lordsburg it is! Well, let's all step inside and get some grub! Look spry

HATFIELD:

Er, better take my arm up these steps Mrs. Mallory

LUCY:

No, thank you, really I'm qui I'm quite- oooh!

SFX:

BODY FALLING TO FLOOR/GROUP REACTS

HATFIELD:

Mrs. Mallory-

DOC:

(drunkenly off mike) Bottle, bottle, bottle

HATFIELD:

-I've got her! Doctor Boone! Mrs. Mallory needs your help!

DOC:

Wha, who? What-what-

DALLAS:

Oh, it's no use; he's drunk! Ringo

RINGO:

Yeah

DALLAS:

I don't know for sure, but I think you'd better go inside and start heating some water

RINGO:

(going off mike) -All y'want and then some... and then some!

DALLAS:

Carry her inside, Mr. Hatfield-

DOC:

(drunkenly hiccupping) -Oh, allow m-hic-allow me-

HATFIELD:

-I'll carry her myself, you sot!

DOC:

Thank you, sir-

HATFIELD:

You drunken swine

DOC:

Thank you

HATFIELD:

Now, if you'll open the door for me, Dallas

SFX:

FOOTSTEPS/WOODEN DOOR OPENS/CLOSES

DALLAS:

-Yes.

HATFIELD:

Drunken swine of a doctor!

BUCK:

Doc? Honest, aincha ashamed?

DOC:

Di-did I understand that swine to call me a drunken swine?

BUCK:

Ohh... Ah wish ah could do somethin'-

DOC:

There is somethin' you can do Buck

BUCK:

Yeah, but what kin you do... in yer condition

DOC:

-I can drink all of the hot, black coffee you can make! I, sir, am a doctor! Now get busy! Get busy!!

(MFX)

 

ANNOUNCER:

The NBC Theater is presenting the Screen Directors Guild production of "Stagecoach", starring Claire Trevor, John Wayne and Ward Bond, and with screen director, John Ford!

(MFX)

 

INDIAN NARRATOR:

(narrating) "Apache Wells", the white man called it. Here the white squall had her child, while the flying wagon waited... waited while my tribesmen gathered... (a couple of beats)... On the hills and on the desert, gathered the Apache warriors, while the white squall had her child and the flying wagon waited...

BUCK:

Oh, it makes me nervous being held up like this in Apache country! Just when they're mad at us again-

RINGO:

Quiet Buck

BUCK:

Huh

RINGO:

-Someone's comin'!

(MFX)

 

SFX:

WOODEN DOOR OPENING/CLOSING/FOOTSTEPS ON DIRT

RINGO:

Dallas?

DALLAS:

Look! It's a little girl.

RINGO:

(touched) A girl-

BUCK:

Lemme see it! Well, I'll be doggone

CURLY:

That's real fine, ain't it Dallas? Real fine

DALLAS:

Oh yes, Curly... it's fine-

BUCK:

A baby! Well how I mean, er, why-

RINGO:

-I'll explain it ya sometime, Buck.

SFX:

FOOTSTEPS IN THE DIRT

DOC:

(coming up from off mike) Listen boys-

CURLY:

Doc Boone? Come on, boys, three cheers for old Doc Boone

DOC:

-Never mind the three cheers; just pour me four fingers instead. I'm thirsty!

(MFX)

 

SFX:

OUTDOOR SOUNDS/COYOTE HOWLING

RINGO:

(from off-mike) Dallas?

DALLAS:

(startled) Oh-

SFX:

FOOTSTEPS THROUGH DIRT

RINGO:

(coming up to mike) -It's me, Ringo.

DALLAS:

(relieved) Oh.

RINGO:

You oughtn't to be outside here, alone. Apaches like to sneak up: and pick off strays.

DALLAS:

Well, you're here now.

RINGO:

(shyly) Yeah, well I... I watched you with that baby, today. You looked-you looked, well, nice.

DALLAS:

I just wanted to hold it a minute.

RINGO:

You, ah, visiting in Lordsburg?

DALLAS:

No, no, I have friends there, and maybe I can find work... Ringo? Why don't you try to escape? Why don't you get away?

RINGO:

I aim to...in Lordsburg.

DALLAS:

Why Lordsburg? Why don't you make for the border now?

RINGO:

My father and brother were shot down by the Plummer boys. I guess: you don't know how it feels to lose your own folks that way.

DALLAS:

I lost mine when I was a kid. There was a massacre in: Superstition Mountain.

RINGO:

That's tough, especially on a girl.

DALLAS:

Well, you gotta live, no matter what happens.

SFX:

COYOTE HOWLING

RINGO:

Yeah, that's it. Look, Miss Dallas. You got no folks, neither have I, and well, maybe I'm taking a lot for granted, but...well, I still got a ranch across the border. It's a nice place, a real nice place...trees, grass, water, there's a cabin half built. A man could live there, and a woman and... well maybe I'm crazy being close to you like this...Will you go?

DALLAS:

But you don't know me. You don't know who I am.

RINGO:

I know all I want to know. Will you go?

DALLAS:

(crying) Ringo...

RINGO:

That ain't an answer, Dallas-

DALLAS:

(crying) Ringo, you can't go to Lordsburg! Not now- The Plummer boys'll be three-to-one against you! You'll get killed-

RINGO:

Can 't tell

DALLAS:

(crying) You can't win

RINGO:

Can 't run away from it either

DALLAS:

(crying) How can you talk about "our life together" when you want to throw your life away

RINGO:

Well... what do you want me to do

DALLAS:

Get away! I'll follow you

RINGO:

-You mean that, Dallas?

DALLAS:

Well, I just can't leave Mrs. Mallory and her baby now, but listen... there's a horse all saddled and ready for you in the corral-

RINGO:

-What?

DALLAS:

Yeah, there's a rifle on the saddle boot! Now get going! I''l come after you

RINGO:

I'm counting on that Dallas... with my life

DALLAS:

Goodbye Ringo! Watch out for Apaches

RINGO:

-I got a rifle now... and I got you! Don't worry Dallas! I'll be waitin'!

(MFX)

 

SFX:

HORSE GALLOPING UP TO A STOP

RINGO:

Hold it! Whoa! Hold it! Hold it, boy, easy... (to himself) smoke signals on the ridge... Apaches... I gotta warn Dallas and the others... I gotta go back- Hyah! Hyaah! Hyaaahh!

SFX:

HORSE TAKES OFF

(MFX)

 

INDIAN NARRATOR:

(narrating) On the ridge and on the mesa, smoke thatched Iroquoian fires... "Rise" the fires told my nation, "Strike the white man's flying wagon! Rise, my kinsman, rise Apaches! Chieftains! Horseman! Lances! Rifles! Stagecoach on the Lordsburg trail!" Thus the signals on the mesa, thus the writing in the sky... thus my fierce Apache horsemen follow on the Lordsburg trail!

(MFX)

 

SFX:

STAGECOACH GALLOPING ALONG THE TRAIL

HATFIELD:

Ah, we're making good time! I say we're out of danger now, thanks to Ringo here... very decent of you to come back, Ringo-

RINGO:

I wouldn't say we're out of danger yet, Hatfield

LUCY:

(worried) We'll be in Lordsburg soon then-

DALLAS:

-Very soon. How's the baby?

LUCY:

Sleeping. Doc told me what you did for me. Thank you very much, Dallas-

DOC:

You know danger whets my appetite, indeed it does. Now let me see, there must be a bottle of something left in this bag

SFX:

BULLETS RICOCHETING

HATFIELD:

A bullet! It just missed your head Doc

RINGO:

On the floor Mrs. Mallory Dallas, you and Mrs. Mallory, get down-

DOC:

Apaches! Hundreds of'em

SFX:

APACHES YELLING OUTSIDE OF THE STAGECOACH

CURLY:

(from off mike) Hey! Hey Ringo

DOC:

Curly's callin' you from the driver's seat, Ringo

RINGO:

-Yeah Sheriff?

CURLY:

(from off mike) Here's your Winchester Use it, man, use it!!

SFX:

GUN BATTLE

RINGO:

Thanks for my rifle

DALLAS:

Ringo!!! Look out! That Apache on the painted pony

SFX:

RIFLE SHOT

RINGO:

Got it

DOC:

See that Injun on that mustang comin' along side

HATFIELD:

-Don't talk -

SFX:

GUNSHOT

HATFIELD:

Shoot

DOC:

Now you see'em

SFX:

GUNSHOT

DOC:

Now you don't

CURLY:

(from off mike) -You ladies all right?

DALLAS:

We're all right-

DOC:

Now you see'em

SFX:

GUNSHOT

DOC:

Now you don't

RINGO:

Is the baby all right

DALLAS:

Yes, the baby's fine

HATFIELD:

If you gentlemen would be good enough to shoot Indians instead of

SFX:

BULLET RICOCHET: RINGO: Hatfield's been hit

DOC:

Get that Apache; I'll help Hatfield

SFX:

RIFLE SHOT

RINGO:

Got it

LUCY:

(hysterical) Faster! Drive faster... oh fire, fire cancha see they're all around us-

HATFIELD:

Down Mrs. Mallory, you'll get yourself

DOC:

Easy Hatfield, easy

RINGO:

(yelling from off mike) I could use some more help up here

SFX:

RIFLE SHOT

DALLAS:

Gimme that pistol, Doc

DOC:

Take it

DALLAS:

Thanks

SFX:

GUN SHOT

DALLAS:

(marveling) Look at all those Injuns

SFX:

RIFLE SHOT

RINGO:

Apaches all have big families

DALLAS:

Don't talk shoot-

SFX:

EMPTY RIFLE CLICKING

RINGO:

I can't... I'm outta ammunition

DALLAS:

Ohh, why did Buck and Curly stop firing outside

RINGO:

Buck's hit; Curly's empty, too... this looks like it

DALLAS:

(anguished) No! No! Look, I have three bullets left

RINGO:

That's enough... Indians won't get you, or Mrs. Mallory... or the baby

DALLAS:

(resolutely) No... no, they won't

SFX:

CAVALRY BUGLE CALL (about 30 sec.)

LUCY:

(hysterical) Listen

DALLAS:

Get down

LUCY:

-No, listen! It's a bugle! Listen!

RINGO:

(yelling from off-mike) It's the cavalry from Lordsburg!

SFX:

MORE GUNFIRE

DALLAS:

The Apaches are breaking... they're running away-

DOC:

Glory, glory

RINGO:

-How's Hatfield?

DOC:

(solemnly) Dead. Glory... glory.

(MFX)

 

SFX:

SALOON PIANO PLAYING

DALLAS:

(sadly) Well, goodnight, Ringo-

RINGO:

This? Is this where you live in Lordsburg

DALLAS:

I told you... I warned you... I told you, you didn't know me! This part of town is no place for a nice girl, but but it's all right for me-

SFX:

DANCEHALL GIRL LAUGHS OFF MIKE

DALLAS:

(crying) -Now say "goodbye" Ringo. Say "goodbye"!

RINGO:

I asked ya t'marry me, didn't I?

DALLAS:

(touched) I'll never forgetcha askin'.

RINGO:

Well, go on'n wait for me back in the stagecoach-

DALLAS:

Where are you going

SFX:

FOOTSTEPS ON A WOODEN FLOOR

RINGO:

(going off mike) -Business... with the Plummer boys! I'll just take a slow walk down Main Street and see what happens...

(MFX)

 

DALLAS:

(praying) Dear Lord...this stagecoach don't pass much for a church but-but I'm prayin' to you here... please Lord... it's three-to-one against Ringo out there- and the Plummer boys are dead-shots-

SFX:

GUNFIRE

DALLAS:

(gasps, then) -awful dead-shots, Lord-

SFX:

GUNSHOT/BODY FALLING TO GROUND

DALLAS:

(gasps, then) -like I was sayin' Lord... it's two-to-one, Lord-

SFX:

GUNFIRE/BODY FALLING TO GROUND

DALLAS:

(gasps, then) He's all I got... and all I ever want! So, please dear Lord, please let me have him back... (sobbing) please, please, please

SFX:

GUNFIRE/BODY FALLING TO GROUND

MFX:

LONE VOICE SINGING "OH CARRY ME BACK, TO THE LONE PRAIRIE"

SFX:

FOOTSTEPS ON A WOODEN FLOOR

DALLAS:

(drying her tears) Who's- who's that out there?

SFX:

WOODEN DOOR OPENS

DALLAS:

(ecstatic) RINGO-

RINGO:

Yeah

DALLAS:

You're hurt

RINGO:

Naw

DALLAS:

(crying again) I prayed for you; I prayed

RINGO:

Y'did good

DALLAS:

Let's get out of here, then! Escape!: RINGO: Don't have to anymore... before he cashed in, Luke Plummer confessed he killed Jed Michael

DALLAS:

-You're-you're free?

RINGO:

Yeah...

DALLAS:

...And they didn't even hurtcha? Dead-shots like the Plummer boys??

RINGO:

Deadest dead-shots ya ever saw-

DALLAS:

(crying again) -Ohh Ringo...Ringooooo...

RINGO:

Dallas... what're ya cryin' for? Nothin's happened...

(MFX)

 

INDIAN NARRATOR:

(narrating, with a bad stilted Tonto dialect) Thus the story of those brave men, riders of the flying wagon, in the land of Arizona, where Geronimo was chief. In the great land in the desert, where the flying wagon galloped, that the white men called the "stagecoach" bringing brave men to the West.

(MFX)

 

SFX:

APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER:

Our stars will return in just a moment. The NBC Theater has presented the Screen Directors Guild production of "Stagecoach", starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor and Ward Bond, and introduced by John Ford. We invite you to be with us then! And now, here again is our special guest, the president of The Screen Directors Guild, Mr. George Marshall!

MARSHAL:

(kind of bored): The premiere production of the screen directors' entry into radio has now joined the stagecoach itself, in that great fund of memories known as "the past". And speaking for the guild, I'd like to express our gratitude to the National Broadcasting Company for the opportunity to better-: MARSHAL (cont.) -acquaint the public with the work and role of the screen director. Take it away, John Ford.

FORD:

(speaking with a high-pitched voice) Well how do you "hearty frontiersmen" like pioneering in an NBC studio (chuckling) instead of the badlands of Arizona?

CLAIRE TREVOR:

(chuckling) Very much...you know just the memory of that dust is enough to send me home to wash my hair!

JOHN WAYNE:

(to FORD) "Pappy", this is wonderful-

FORD:

-"Wonderful"? What do you mean?

JOHN WAYNE :

No getting' up early in th'mornin' and arguin' with a horse!

CLAIRE TREVOR:

(chuckling) You know, I think it's wonderful that the screen director is being honored like this! He's the fellow who really makes the movie-

FORD (faux shocked):

Claire

JOHN WAYNE :

Where would we be withoutcha Pappy, and others like ya

CLAIRE TREVOR:

That's right

JOHN WAYNE :

Y'tell us our business... that's all I can say

WARD BOND:

(still sounding a little drunk) Say talkin' about "wonderful" things, it's a wonder that Pappy hasn't yet displayed his fine, tyrannical hand

SFX:

ALL CHUCKLE

FORD:

Is that so, Ward, John... look, as long as we're speaking about "fine, tyrannical hands", look are we gonna do this again, because it's so-

WARD BOND:

Uh oh, uh oh

JOHN WAYNE (laughing) :

-Yeah, I thought so... you'd have somethin' t'say about it! We had that same trouble ten years ago!

CLAIRE TREVOR:

(chuckling) That's right, now look John, don't you remember? This is radio; there are no re-takes! Goodnight everybody!!

SFX:

APPLAUSE

(MFX)

 

ANNOUNCER:

Our thanks to our stars John Wayne, Claire Trevor and Ward Bond, and our screen directors George Marshall and John Ford. Your announcer has been Frank Barton. John Wayne can soon be seen in John Ford's Argosy production "Three Godfathers". And Claire Trevor appears in the soon-to-be released Amusement Enterprises picture "The Lucky Stiff". Ward Bond is currently appearing in the Victor Fleming production "Joan Of Arc". Listen again next week when the NBC Theater presents-

PUBLIC ADDRESS VOICE:

(filtered, announced like a train station PA) -"Screen Directors Guild Assignment"... Production, "Let's Live A Little"... Director, Richard Wallace... Star, Robert Cummings.

SFX:

APPLAUSE