Starring James Cagney in Thirst Without End on the cavalcade of America sponsored by the
DuPont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry.
But first, here is Gane Whitman.
Now that the new cars are beginning to come through, their bright newness will make your
old faithful suffer by contrast.
But it needn't, because throughout the country there are thousands of DuPont authorized refinishers,
body repair and paint shops.
Many of these shops are specialists in smoothing out bumps and dents that mar the good looks
of your car.
They put on a factory finish, again available in Duco and Dulux, so that you won't be able
to find the places that have been repaired.
And best of all, the cost is moderate in comparison with the protection and beauty it affords.
Duco and Dulux automotive finishes are examples of the DuPont pledge, better things for better
living through chemistry.
The DuPont Company presents James Cagney as Robert Corbin in Thirst Without End on the
Cavalcade of America.
There weren't enough drugs in the world to cure Bob's disease.
Oh, it wasn't a disease of the body, not at first.
It attacks the mind and then the home, the job, the children.
And not only Bob, but thousands of Americans have it, an insidious, lingering malady.
Bob had it, but he recovered.
It wasn't easy, though.
Treating an alcoholic is a long, tough job, heartbreaking to wives and mothers like me.
But it can be done.
And many American homes can be saved.
I know.
Ma?
Ma?
Yes, Betty?
I'm hungry and it's pretty late.
It's not usually this late.
Well, he's probably busy.
I wonder if he...
No, I don't mean that.
Don't mean what?
Nothing.
Nothing.
Freddie, don't ever say that again.
I didn't say it.
Don't even think it.
Hey, that's somebody at the front door.
Yes.
Freddie, why don't you go upstairs and get ready for dinner?
You'll have to wash.
But, if that's Dad, I want to see him.
Dear, I told you to go upstairs.
Hello.
Hello, Bob.
Betty.
Hiya, Dad.
Bob, I'm going to the bathroom.
You're all right.
I mean, you want dinner, won't you?
Yeah, yeah.
I want dinner, Elaine.
I'm all right.
Good.
I'll have dinner on the table in a few minutes.
Freddie, don't forget to wash up.
Or I won't.
Well, what'd you do today, son?
Oh, nothing much.
It was raining most of the time.
Yeah, it was.
It's right.
Sorry I didn't see you last night, but I got home late and had some work to do.
Sure.
I know, Dad.
Betty, I want to ask you a question.
What about?
Oh, well, uh, it's just that for a couple of days now, you've been acting like a stranger.
What's the matter?
Well, last Thursday, you was father and son day at the Scout Club.
Yeah, well, I should have remembered.
Oh, Mom said, well, said you were busy.
Yeah, that's right, sure.
All the other fellas had their dads there, except Johnny Ward.
Oh, well, where was his dad?
Don't you remember?
He, he got killed in France.
Oh, yes, that's right, yeah.
Johnny and I, well, we kind of sat together.
Look, Freddie, forget it, will you?
It won't happen again.
The next time something like that comes up, I'll be on the spot right with you.
Cross your heart?
Cross my heart and on his dungeon.
That's the right thing to say, isn't it?
Yeah, sure.
That's the thing to say.
Sure.
Why, Bob, I thought you liked that program.
Yeah, I like it, but not on.
Oh.
You see, you see the, oh, I'm sorry, honey, I'll turn it on again.
Oh, no, if it makes you nervous, leave it off.
Nervous?
What, why don't you think I'm nervous?
Oh, it was just an expression, darling.
I didn't mean anything by it.
Oh, look, if you want to say it, like you think I need a drink, go ahead and say it.
Don't beat around the bush.
Let's have it.
I can't stand hints.
But Bob, I didn't have anything like that in mind.
You did.
No, I didn't.
Well, you, oh, I'm sorry.
I know I've given you nearly crazy.
Well, I've, I've done about the same thing to myself.
I know what I am.
I know what I'm doing to you and Freddie and to myself.
But it's, it's something I can't explain it.
If a guy makes a bad mistake in business, he remembers it and doesn't pull the same boner
again.
Oh, it happens over and over and over.
Please don't, don't talk about it now.
When the war was on, I did the work of three men.
A fella needed a drink now and then to prep me up and get me going when I was dog tired.
I did, depended on a drink doing that.
Well, now the war's over.
There's not enough work for me, but I still need that drink.
Not one, but a dozen, fifty.
I don't like it any more than you do.
I know, dear, but you can try to help yourself.
Try?
Sure, I'll try.
I know, but I love you, always will, Elaine.
Freddie, Freddie, what's the matter?
Dad came home.
Oh, who?
Where is he now?
Upstairs, he's sleeping.
He was going to take me to the ball game, but only didn't show up.
And now he'll be back.
Oh, he's gone.
It's all right, dear.
I, I can't help him upstairs.
Mom, I wish I never saw him that way.
I wish I...
Freddie, stay here.
Oh.
Oh.
Elaine.
Yes Bob.
I'm here.
It's dark I...
Yes it's two o'clock in the morning.
Oh.
I don't remember coming up to bed.
Freddie helped you up.
Freddie helped me?
What'd he say? Oh no.
Oh no.
Oh no.
Oh no.
What'd he say? Oh no.
Never mind.
Bob do you want anything?
No nothing.
I'm sorry Elaine. It just happened again.
I was going to take him to the ball game.
I had half an hour before I was to meet him.
Well it was just one drink again.
The one that's always going to be the last.
Go back to sleep.
I can't. I can't. I don't even remember driving home.
I...
Except for one thing.
Oh no. It was a dream I guess.
What was a dream?
I thought I had an accident.
Accident? Bob?
Oh no. Don't worry. It must have been a dream or a nightmare or something.
Don't turn on that light.
Bob you've got to remember. You've got to.
Elaine.
Why are you saying it like that?
Come on tell me. There was an accident Bob. A hit and run accident.
It was an evening paper.
What are you talking about? You weren't home until after seven.
Well after. It was dark.
If you're going to say something say it. What are you getting at?
The driver in that hit and run accident struck a little girl.
Where are you going?
Go take a look at the car.
Alright Mr. Corbin. Start talking.
You called me here.
Go ahead Bob.
Well Lieutenant Wright here.
You're looking for a hit and run driver?
Who hit a little girl about seven o'clock last night?
Yes we are.
I think I'm the man.
What do you think? What don't you know?
I don't know Elaine.
Bob you've got to.
What's this all about? You get me here at three in the morning and then hem and haw around.
You the other guy we want or you're not?
I'm telling you I don't know.
I was drunk.
Oh I see.
Where's your car?
In the garage.
Were you out at seven o'clock? Yes.
Remember anything? Nothing.
Remember anything vaguely?
That's just it. I thought it was a dream that I had an accident.
Then I looked at my car.
And what?
The right fender is dented.
The dent wasn't there before you took the car out? No.
You sure of that too Mrs. Corbin?
Yes I'm sure.
Corbin? Yes?
You realize you're letting yourself in for something very serious.
I know but I had to...
Okay don't touch that car.
Don't go near it.
What are you going to do? Make tests.
A little girl was hit just about fender height.
Medical examination shows it might have been a fender.
How bad is it?
Plenty.
If she gets well, if.
She'll never walk without crutches.
Bob is that you?
Yeah it's me.
Anything new? Yes they question me again.
But I can't tell them a thing Elaine.
Not a thing.
I'm out on bail.
Oh darling no.
You've got to listen.
The bail they fixed was high.
I had to take a mortgage on the house to meet it.
A mortgage on our house?
I couldn't help it.
I'm booked on suspicion.
Where's Freddy? I haven't seen him for a while.
I guess he's up in his room.
He knows about it doesn't he?
It was in all the papers.
I wonder if he'd talk to me.
Why don't you go up and see?
Will.
Freddy.
Can I come in?
Freddy. Freddy.
Freddy.
Why isn't he here Bob?
No I guess he.
Oh wait here's an envelope addressed to you.
To me? Yeah.
Freddy's handwriting.
Oh no.
Dear Mom.
Everybody says Dad's the hit and run driver.
Everybody says he'll go to jail.
Now all the kids will even say
worse things about him than they did before.
I don't want to hear those things.
Not about my Dad.
So I'm going away.
I love you and
Dad too.
I love you and
Dad too.
Oh sure we can stay here all night Jackie.
But it's awful dark Freddy.
Ah we got a fire?
Why my Dad?
I've stayed here overnight lots of times on camping trips.
Yeah but it's awful dark.
Well if you're afraid
you can go on but I'm going to stay.
Freddy. Freddy.
Hey. Freddy.
That sounds like your Dad.
Don't you ever say anything like that.
Freddy.
Freddy where are you?
Oh right here Dad.
I'm going home.
You got coffee Jackie?
No I...
Well here take this. The last car's leaving in about ten minutes.
Thanks. Bye.
So long.
How... how'd you know I'd be here?
Did you think I'd forget our old camping spot?
No I...
guess not.
Come here son. Freddy.
You've got to believe me and you've got to try to understand what I'm about to say.
See never before tonight did I realize
what was happening to you.
To me? Yes to you and Mother.
What? I don't care about me.
It's what they say about you.
Guys I want to be proud of you.
I got a right to be that haven't I?
Yes you have.
If you come home I'll try to make you proud.
Please come home Freddy.
Not for me alone but for your Mother.
Right.
Sure Dad.
I didn't leave because I wanted to.
It was just that...
that I thought you didn't care anymore.
You are listening to James Cagney as Robert Corbin in Thirst Without End on the Cavalcade of America sponsored by the DuPont Company.
Maker of better things for better living through chemistry.
As the second part of our story opens,
Robert Corbin, fully aware of the tragic results of his excessive drinking,
sits before the fireplace in his home, slumped in despair,
while his wife Elaine sews in sympathetic silence.
Did Lieutenant Wright talk to you today Bob?
Yes, yes. The test didn't prove a thing.
It was raining that night. No tire tracks, no broken glass, nothing to prove anything one way or another.
Bob.
I...
I've been wanting to talk to you about something but I didn't know where to begin.
Please don't be angry.
Why should I be?
I... I called alcoholics anonymous today.
You what?
Yes, I called them. I wanted them to help.
And they will Bob, they will, but you've got to see them.
What? You mean that...
you called them about me?
To help me?
Yes, give them a chance.
Oh, you don't know what you're talking about.
But they do Bob, I know it. They'll help you.
Will they? Listen.
I'll tell you what it's like to be me.
You start out in the morning promising yourself.
No drinks, not even one.
And then... and then something happens.
Your throat gets dry.
You think people are looking at you.
Looking at your shaky hands.
You want to crawl into a hole and not face the world, but...
you know that's impossible.
You've got to face it out.
There's only one way to do it. Take a drink.
So, you get it.
You drink it slowly.
It feels terrible going down, but...
it feels good too.
There's no explaining it, except that your nerves in your body are hungry for alcohol.
You drink it in. Every fiber nerve drinks it.
But you don't stop at one, or two, or three, or a dozen.
And pretty soon numbers don't mean a thing.
And... you don't remember.
And that's it Elaine.
That's what it is.
And you think anyone can help?
Alcoholics Anonymous can help me.
Try Bob.
Just try for Freddie and me.
Howdy.
You're a stranger aren't you?
Yes, I am.
My wife called and this is the address.
Sure, sure.
This is our clubhouse. Open from noon to midnight.
Say, let's sit down over here.
Oh, let me introduce myself.
You don't have to tell me your name.
That part about being anonymous?
Why, that's only true as far as the public is concerned.
My name's Palmer, Fred Palmer.
Well my name is Bob Corbin.
Oh, yes.
You too.
You know Bob.
Yes, I know what you're going through.
You?
Bob, eight months ago I was like you are now.
I know the symptoms.
Well, I can help you and you can help me.
Well, I can help you and you can help me.
Well, I can help you and you can help me.
Help you? How?
You see, I won't feel I'm square with myself unless I help another fellow.
You see, I won't feel I'm square with myself unless I help another fellow.
Would you like me?
Would you let me help you?
Look, right now I want a drink and want it bad.
Look, right now I want a drink and want it bad.
And if I don't get it I'll go crazy.
My hands are shaking, my throat is as dry as cotton and...
Oh no, you couldn't help.
Oh now, wait a minute.
My hands shook like that, my throat felt like dry cotton.
But now look at me.
Look at the rest of the people here.
That's why we have this clubhouse, Bob.
So they can come here and not be alone.
You see, we know how strongly urge is to have a drink when you're alone.
You see, we know how strongly urge is to have a drink when you're alone.
You see, we know how strongly urge is to have a drink when you're alone.
So anytime we feel that way we drop in here and talk.
So anytime we feel that way we drop in here and talk.
It helps, Bob. Helps plenty.
Well I...
I did. Oh and one thing more.
Here.
Here's a nickel.
What for?
I asked Nickel to call me.
Look, Bob.
The thing to remember is you just don't take a drink today.
The thing to remember is you just don't take a drink today.
Tomorrow is another story.
But listen, it's alright. Now keep that nickel.
Someone gave me a nickel like this.
And it saved my life.
Music
More tea Dorothy?
Oh thanks Elaine.
The reason I dropped in was to tell you...
Elaine, you won't feel hurt if I talk to you about Bob.
Elaine, you won't feel hurt if I talk to you about Bob.
No, why should I? He hasn't taken a drink for weeks.
I know.
Greg and I were talking about it last night and
he said he'd be glad to defend Bob on the hit and run charge.
He said he'd be glad to defend Bob on the hit and run charge.
Oh that's wonderful of both of you.
Oh, that must be Freddy.
He loves the doorbell.
Excuse me Dorothy.
Of course, I'll have to be going in a minute anyway.
Freddy, you know better than...
Oh Bob.
Bob.
Music
Bob, how do you feel?
Terrible.
Bob, why did you do it?
Why?
I was alright until I went to the hospital
to see that kid.
I've been going there every week now, bringing
little things. I started
home today and I got to thinking about the whole thing.
I called Lieutenant Wright and
he still got nothing but
my statement.
And then? And I couldn't stand the uncertainty, Elaine.
I thought that if I had one drink, one,
it would help me hold my nerves together
when I thought about that sweet little girl.
Bob, we're going to
call Fred Palmer right now.
Before the damage is done. No it's not.
You didn't touch a drink for weeks. But now you need
him again. You've got to go to the clubhouse.
Music
Bob, bear one thing in mind.
You're not going to take a drink tonight. Just give me one,
will you? One. My head's coming apart.
No Bob. One won't
stop your thirst. One drink is
too many. A thousand are not enough.
Music
What time is it? Nine o'clock.
That's what you said an hour
ago. Come on Bob. Deal the cards.
Music
Why don't you get that clock out of here?
Driving me nuts. Take it easy, Bob.
Look, let me have
one drink, will you? And I promise you,
I'll come right back. No drinks
tonight, Bob.
Music
What?
What time is it?
It's four thirty.
I'm getting light outside.
You'll feel better when the sun comes up.
Feel better?
You know the only thing that will make me feel better.
Music
It's all right now, Mrs. Carvin.
You can come and get him.
He's fallen asleep. Exhaustion.
But he didn't have a drink.
Music
Phone rings
Yes, just a moment.
Hello, Mrs. Carvin. Oh,
Lieutenant Wright, I...
Please come in. Thanks.
Your husband in? Yes,
upstairs. Eh, is he...
Can I talk to him? Oh, he hasn't taken
a drink since he went to the hospital that day a week ago.
But you...
Is there anything wrong? Elaine, who was out of the front...
Hello, Carvin.
Oh, hello, Lieutenant.
Well, Carvin, you've got a
break. A man spotted
your picture in the paper. Read the story.
He hadn't seen it before. Came into us
and told us that you couldn't have been the hit-and-run
driver because that dented fender of yours
was the result of a little accident you had with him.
Then I did have an accident.
Well, yes and no. The man said his
car wasn't damaged and you were so roaring
drunk he didn't stop to argue about it. So...
You're in the clear.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
Yeah. Thanks for coming in.
Sure, sure. Of course, you've still got a
drunk driving charge to face. But you
can thank your lucky stars. It wasn't what you
were afraid of. Well,
I guess I'll be going.
I, uh, I'm not drinking anymore.
So your wife tells me.
I think it's swell.
Good luck.
Oh,
I can't believe it.
Hey, Dad, I thought we were going fishing.
There's a... Hmm.
What's the matter? Is anything wrong?
Oh, no, son, nothing at all.
And I never will be again. Come on.
Elaine, we're going to bring home a string of fish a yard long.
Well, in case
you don't, I've ordered them from the market.
Now, have a good time.
Yeah. Hey, there won't be any boats left.
We'll be back by six, Elaine.
Bye. Goodbye.
And so, Bob
is fine now.
The nights when he doesn't come home until late,
Freddie and I don't worry.
Because we know he's working, working hard.
We know he's all right.
That's why
I'm thinking now about other women.
Wives or mothers who went
or are going through what I did.
They're wondering if
their husbands or sons can have
the faith and the patience
and the willpower to do what Bob did.
They can.
And it's worth the fight.
I can tell you
because I know.
James Cagney will return
to our cavalcade microphone in a moment.
Now, here is Game Whitman.
Somebody,
somebody with a queer sense of humor,
once referred to weeds as the only perfect plants.
If you've ever tried
to get weeds out of an orchard
or a lawn, you've probably thought
of several other names to call them.
They're a nuisance and tiresome chore
to anyone with grass to be kept smooth and green.
And they're much worse than a nuisance
to the farmer.
Bindweed, for instance, has been known to reduce
a farmer's crop reduction by as much as 80 percent.
In some regions,
it has even made farmlands worthless.
For many years,
scientists have hunted for improved weed killers.
Tonight, we want to tell you
about two we believe to be
the best so far developed.
Dupont Amate Weed Killer
quickly, permanently destroys
some of the toughest woody perennials.
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak,
Poison Sumac, and many others.
The second and newer compound
is Dupont 2,4-D.
Dupont 2,4-D
Weed Killer is selective
against lawn weeds.
Spray it on your lawn spring and fall,
and it kills chickweed, dandelions,
plantain, and wild onion
without harming the grass at all
at certain concentrations.
It kills plants by making them use their
reserve food supply too fast.
It destroys pigweed,
bullfistle, and ragweed,
cause of much hay fever.
For the farmer also, 2,4-D Weed Killer
is wonderful news.
Wild onion and radish,
and milk a strong flavor if cows graze on them,
are also destroyed by 2,4-D.
It kills trumpet vine,
Virginia creeper,
wild carrot, sassafras, and sumac,
a troublesome enemy of the farmer
in some parts of the country.
Dupont 2,4-D Weed Killer
is also made in convenient tablet form
under the trademark Carmex.
It can be applied quickly
and conveniently as a coarse spray
even from a sprinkling can.
Once it dries on the weeds,
it kills them roots and all,
and keeps its effectiveness despite rainstorms.
This easier, more efficient way
of destroying weeds
is an example of the kind of problem
the sciences of biology and chemistry solve.
Saving time and work,
actually saving valuable acreage
for the farmer,
2,4-D Weed Killer
is one of the newest of the Dupont company's
better things for better living
through chemistry.
And now our star, James Cagney.
Jimmy, as you can tell,
we'd all like to thank you and congratulate you
on doing a swell job tonight.
Thanks, Gaine. That job was really worth doing.
By the way,
be sure to listen next Monday,
won't you? To our program, we have a wonderful story
and a great star.
Well, give them to me one at a time. First, who's the star?
Miss Helen Hayes. Just that's enough.
And she's going to play the part of Molly Brown,
better known as the Unsinkable Mrs. Brown,
which is the title of the story.
The Unsinkable Mrs. Brown, sounds like good listening.
All right, count me in.
That we will, Jimmy, and thanks again.
Thank you, and good night.
James Cagney's next starring vehicle will be
Thorne Smith's comedy, The Stray Lamb,
a William Cagney production.
The music for tonight's DuPont Cavalcade was composed and conducted by Robert Ambruster.
The Cavalcade play was written by Henry Denker.
With Mr. Cagney were B. Benadarit, Aziz El-Aziz,
and the two other musicians,
and the two other musicians,
and the two other musicians,
and the two other musicians,
and the two other musicians,
and the two other musicians,
with Mr. Cagney were B. Benadarit, Aziz El-Aziz,
Conrad Binyan as Freddie,
and Bill Johnstone as Palmer.
Others in the cast included Tommy Bernard,
Virginia Gregg, Will Wright, and George Sorrell.
This is Tom W. Collins inviting you to listen next week
when our broadcast will originate from New York City,
starring Helen Hayes in The Unsinkable Mrs. Brown
on the Cavalcade of America,
brought to you by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware.
This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.