MUSIC:

... FOR A GLAMOROUS INTRODUCTION

HOST:

As talented a bit of loveliness as ever came from the friendly sod of old Ireland is our guest tonight, Maureen O'Hara. This charming young lady is living up to and beyond all press notices and expectations, and delighting critics and moviegoers alike who mutually find her artistry something to marvel at. We feel sure that you will agree with this high praise of Miss O'Hara when you witness her splendid performance in R-K-O's forthcoming production, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Tonight Miss O'Hara appears for us with John Archer, one of Hollywood's most promising young leading men, and Miss Charlotte Treadway, in an original radio sketch written by Hilda Lawrence entitled "Rendezvous with Tomorrow." Presenting Maureen O'Hara--

MUSIC:

FOR AN INTRODUCTION ... THEN IN BG, OUT SOFTLY AT [X]

ANNOUNCER:

It is twilight in a sleepy little village, and in a small, white cottage on the edge of town, two women are alone. One of them [lies quietly in bed, her great dark eyes are dim with pain, and she] looks ahead - into nothing[ness]. The other, a faithful servant, watches and waits. Finally, she speaks. [X]

MATTY:

(GENTLE, SOLICITOUS) Miss Judith? Do you want anything? Can't I get you a little somethin'?

JUDITH:

No, Matty. I don't want anything.

MATTY:

The doctor said you was to have anything you wanted.

JUDITH:

Did he? He said something else, too. Something he didn't mean me to hear. What was it, Matty?

MATTY:

Oh. Oh, that. (UNTRUTHFUL) That was good news, Miss Judith. He said you was goin' to get well. Real soon now, he said.

JUDITH:

How soon?

MATTY:

(EMOTIONAL) Well, most any day. You'll be better tomorrow, he said. And the next day, better than that.

JUDITH:

[Matty? Matty, are you crying?

MATTY:

(UNCONVINCING) No, ma'am. What should I be crying for?]

JUDITH:

Matty -- you're not hiding anything from me? Are you?

MATTY:

No, miss.

JUDITH:

(ANXIOUS) Yes, you are. Don't lie to me. There's been an answer to my telegram. Michael - Michael isn't coming, and you're afraid to tell me. That's it, isn't it? Matty, he isn't coming!

MATTY:

Oh, no, miss. There's been no answer. I'll bring it to you straight away -- you know that.

JUDITH:

[Oh, Matty, if he doesn't answer that telegram, I don't know what I'll do.

MATTY:

Oh, he's going to answer all right. You've got to give him time. He'll write a nice long letter back and tell you when he's coming. Then you'll know how foolish you've been talking.] Why, don't you stop worryin', Miss Judith? It makes you worse.

JUDITH:

I can't help it, Matty. You don't understand. I treated Michael very badly at one time. I said [some] stupid, cruel things. Maybe he hasn't been able to forgive me.

MATTY:

He loved you once, didn't he?

JUDITH:

Yes. But that was ten long years ago.

MATTY:

[Ah, but the minute he hears your voice again, you will both forget about that other time.

JUDITH:

Will we, Matty?

MATTY:

Why, of course you will.

JUDITH:

I wonder - I wonder if he - if he ever wanted to write, and was afraid.

MATTY:

Of course he did. But how could he? He didn't know where you were.

JUDITH:

Yes, but he knows now. And still he doesn't answer. Matty, it isn't a bit like Michael. He was always so - so thoughtful. I suppose that means he doesn't want to come. He's had plenty of time to answer. We sent it yesterday, didn't we? It was yesterday, wasn't it?

MATTY:

Yes, ma'am.]

JUDITH:

Oh, Matty, I must have said the wrong thing in my telegram. Or perhaps I didn't say enough. Matty, I wonder if I made it clear how much I want to see him and that I'm not angry any more. Did I, Matty? Tell me what I said again. What did I say?

MATTY:

Ye just said, "I need ye."

JUDITH:

"I need you." I thought that would be enough.

MATTY:

Miss Judith, I just got an idea. Do you know what I think? I think he was so pleased and happy to hear from ye that he didn't take the time to answer. I think he just got on the train and come along.

JUDITH:

Oh, Matty, do you think he would? (RELIEVED, EXCITED) Why didn't I think of it? Why didn't I think of that myself? Of course! That's what he'll do. He'd probably come without a hat and not a scrap of luggage, and you'd have to go down to the village and buy him things. Matty - Matty, when is the next train due?

MATTY:

Most any minute now. But you lie still. You mustn't move.

JUDITH:

Then, listen, Matty, you'll have to meet him for me. Explain why I can't come, but don't say anything to frighten him. You'll know him, won't you, Matty?

MATTY:

I'll know him from his picture.

JUDITH:

Of course, he'll look older now. It's been a long time since-- (BEAT, WISTFUL, TO HERSELF) Yes. It's been a long time. (TO MATTY) He may feel a little shy at first, but you'll know what to do. Talk to him, Matty, and make him laugh, and bring him here -- 'cause he doesn't know the way himself.

MATTY:

But I don't like to leave you here alone.

JUDITH:

I shan't mind for such a little while. Hurry!

MATTY:

(MOVING OFF) I'm going.

JUDITH:

(CALLS) And, Matty! Leave the door wide open, please. I want to hear his footsteps.

MATTY:

(OFF) Yes, miss.

JUDITH:

(TO HERSELF) If he comes.

SOUND:

DOOR OPENS AS MATTY EXITS

MUSIC:

ETHEREAL BRIDGE ... THEN ROMANTIC, IN BG

MICHAEL:

(GENTLY) Judith?

JUDITH:

Michael! Oh, Michael, I knew you'd come!

MICHAEL:

Nothing in the world could have kept me away.

JUDITH:

Oh, Michael, I was afraid you'd forgotten me. You know, people do. It's been such a long time and I've missed you so much. I've written so many letters and torn them all up. You see, I didn't know how you might feel about things now. And then I knew I couldn't live another minute without knowing. That's why I-- Oh, Michael, you're here. Nothing else matters.

MICHAEL:

No, nothing else matters.

JUDITH:

Darling, do you know how terrible everything's been? But, no, of course you don't. Oh, there's so much I want to say and I don't know where to begin. [Do you know how ill I've been? Do you know how long I've been in this horrible bed?

MICHAEL:

You tell me.

JUDITH:

Almost ever since-- Well, just centuries. Remember how I used to hate being ill? Well, I still do. Have you thought - much about me? About us?

MICHAEL:

All the time, darling.

JUDITH:

Yes, so have I.] I used to lie here all alone with no one to talk to, and remember all the things we used to do, and I wondered where we'd made the mistakes and where I'd failed. I'm afraid I wasn't very understanding, Michael.

MICHAEL:

Oh, hush, darling. We were both foolish. But that's all over now.

JUDITH:

It is, isn't it? (SIGHS) Michael, you should have been a doctor. I'm getting better every minute.

MICHAEL:

You look swell.

JUDITH:

Do I? That's been worrying me. You know, they won't let me have a mirror, Michael. Michael, how do I - I really look? Tell me.

MICHAEL:

(LIGHTLY) You look exactly like a girl who stood outside of Tiffany's one day and said--

JUDITH:

Yes? What did I say? (NO ANSWER, CHUCKLES AFFECTIONATELY) You don't remember.

MICHAEL:

(CHUCKLES, GOOD-NATURED) Now, you don't remember yourself. You're just trying to trap me.

JUDITH:

Oh, no, I'm not. I remember every word and every minute. I even remember a [little] man who was selling tulips on the corner -- yellow, [they were]. Now, go on. Tell me about that day. Tell me exactly.

MICHAEL:

Well, we'd been shopping -- for diamonds, no less. When you discovered that even the little ones cost more than I could afford, you very kindly said you didn't want an engagement ring anyway--

JUDITH:

And that I'd rather have a dog! (LAUGHS)

MICHAEL:

(LAUGHS)

JUDITH:

Michael, you aren't a day older, and I'm getting younger every minute. Did you hear me laugh then? I wish the doctor had heard it.

MICHAEL:

Mmm, let's see if you can do it again. Now, remember the time when you--

JUDITH: [Oh, no, no, no.] It's my turn now. [I know,] I know. Remember - the time you tried to make me jealous, and went to dinner with that girl who lived across the hall?

MICHAEL:

(IRONIC) No.

JUDITH:

Oh, Michael, you must remember that. She'd the longest eyelashes I ever saw.

MICHAEL:

(AMUSED) Eyelashes?! (BEAT, SIGHS, MORE SERIOUS) Oh, darling. Take your hand away from your face. What are you thinking of now?

JUDITH:

(SAD) Nothing.

MICHAEL:

Yes, you are. Tell me. Tell me what you're thinking. You must.

JUDITH:

I'm only thinking - about you and me. How we had everything and then somehow lost it all. Michael, I've almost forgotten what the trouble was. I only remember words and tears, and how afterwards I was sorry, but - too proud to say so. And then it was too late. Michael, what did we quarrel about?

MICHAEL:

I've forgotten, too.

JUDITH:

I wish we had those years again. I know so much more now than I did then. Michael, I'm afraid we've spoiled our lives.

MICHAEL:

No, no, Judith. I came to tell you about that. Our lives are just beginning.

JUDITH:

[No.] You [only] say that because you're sorry for me. You don't really believe it.

MICHAEL:

I'm not sorry for you. And I do believe it.

JUDITH:

Michael? Michael, suddenly, the strangest thing has happened. Everything in the world-- It's all right now.

MICHAEL:

Everything is all right.

JUDITH:

Oh, Michael, I wish I'd sent for you - a long time ago.

MICHAEL:

Perhaps you weren't ready for me before.

JUDITH:

Oh, darling, I wanted you every minute. But something held me back. Then, yesterday and today, I couldn't bear it any longer. I had to see you. Only you. I was afraid of being alone.

MICHAEL:

I know you were afraid. That's why I came.

JUDITH:

You're never going to leave me again, are you?

MICHAEL:

Never.

JUDITH:

Michael? Do you think I'm going to get well?

MICHAEL:

Yes.

JUDITH:

And everything's going to be just as it used to be?

MICHAEL:

Just as it used to be.

JUDITH:

Oh, Michael, that's heaven. To begin again where we left off and go on and on. But - I don't want it to end.

MICHAEL:

It won't end.

JUDITH:

(UNEASY) Michael? It's dark in here. Is it getting late?

MICHAEL:

Yes. Yes, it's time for me to go.

JUDITH:

Oh, no. No. Don't go. Don't leave me now.

MICHAEL:

Only for a little while. I'm coming back.

JUDITH:

But I'm afraid again. Something may happen. Michael - Michael, you might change your mind. If I lose you now--

MICHAEL:

Nothing can happen to us now. I promise.

JUDITH:

Oh, thank you, darling. When shall I see you again?

MICHAEL:

Very soon.

JUDITH:

But how soon? You see, I want to know.

MICHAEL:

Tomorrow.

JUDITH:

Early?

MICHAEL:

Early.

JUDITH:

Michael, if I'm asleep when you get here, will you promise to wake me up?

MICHAEL:

I promise. I'll wake you. Early. Tomorrow.

MUSIC:

UP, FOR AN ETHEREAL BRIDGE, THEN FADES OUT

MATTY:

(GENTLY) Miss Judith? (NO ANSWER, ANXIOUS) Miss Judith?

JUDITH:

It's all right, Matty. It's all right. Everything's all right now.

MATTY:

Yes, ma'am, it is. He sent a telegram. Here, read it, darlin', quick.

JUDITH:

A telegram? But why didn't he--?

SOUND:

TELEGRAM TORN OPEN AND UNFOLDED

JUDITH:

(PAUSE, SOBER) Oh. Now I know. Now I understand.

MATTY:

I'm mighty glad that everything's turned out the way ye wanted. What does Mr. Michael say?

JUDITH:

It isn't from Michael. It's from his sister. She says, "I regret to inform you that my brother Michael died ten years ago."

MATTY:

(DISHEARTENED) Ooooh. Ohhh, Miss Judith. What are you goin' to do?

MUSIC:

ETHEREAL ... SNEAKS IN

JUDITH:

Oh, Matty, Matty. I'm going to wait. For tomorrow!

MUSIC:

TO A GRAND FINISH

SOUND:

APPLAUSE

MUSIC:

NBC CHIMES ...