Now from Hollywood, Romance.
Romance, transcribed stories of love and adventure, of excitement and daring do, of conflict and
human emotion.
Today, starring Barbara Whiting as Susie and Doris Singleton as Myra, we present Kathleen
Height's emotional story, A Girl's Best Friend.
Like it?
Oh, it's cute.
It's just as cute as it can be.
How's the lathe?
Well, fine, but shouldn't Susie try it on to be sure?
Susie.
Nora, dear, it's my dress.
Oh, goodness.
What's wrong?
Oh, nothing, nothing, nothing, really.
I was just so sure it was for Susie, that's all.
Oh, but it really looks quite nice on you, Myra.
Really it does.
Well, I thought so in the store.
But the way you're reacting, I don't know.
Well, I love it on you.
It's just that somehow I suppose that you bought it for Susie.
You know, you're always buying new things for her.
She always looks so sweet and nice.
Oh, I bought her a dress, too.
To tell you the truth, I just couldn't decide between them.
So Miss Jensen suggested I buy them both.
She knows our taste so well.
Miss Jensen?
The teen shop?
Uh-huh.
Well, I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just can't seem to get a proper fit anywhere else.
Well, that's what you get for hanging on to that trim little figure of yours.
Honestly, Myra, if you weren't one of my oldest friends, I might be forced to loathe
you a little.
Now, don't you talk like that.
Everyone says you're one of the best dressed women in town.
Now, how about some more coffee?
Oh, only half a cup.
You've got to stop in the market on the way home.
Oh, Nora, it was nice of you to drop by.
Funny, isn't it?
I see so much more of Johnny than I do of you and Mitch.
Well, as long as your daughter stays as attractive as she is, you'll see a lot of Johnny.
Oh, he's a delightful boy, Nora.
Susie and I are so fond of him.
Oh, Johnny's all right.
Well, I think you'd get sick to death of him.
He practically lives over here.
Susie's whole gang practically lives over here, and I love it.
Well, you must.
It certainly agrees with you, which brings me to the point of my visit.
Point?
Well, Mitch and I want you to come to dinner Saturday night.
Now, we're just having a few people.
Why, that's very nice, Nora, but...
Well, now, wait a minute.
I know you don't like to be the extra woman at parties, and I don't blame you, but Fred
Stanley's in town, and Mitch said Fred was quite taken with you in that one brief meeting
you had last spring.
Well, I do appreciate it.
It's just that I...
And Myra in that stunning new dress.
Well, none of the men will be safe.
Oh, aren't you nice.
But you see, Saturday...
Well, as a matter of fact, it's the reason I bought the dress in the first place.
We're having the crowd in here, Susie and I, a little supper and a dance.
Another party, Myra?
Well, you just had one last week.
I know, but...
It's none of my business, I know, but you do so much for Susie and her friends.
Nora, they're young.
It's a time for parties and all the fun things of living that they deserve them.
Time... time passes so quickly.
Well, I'm thinking about you, Myra.
You know, you deserve a life, too.
Life of your own with friends your own age.
I'm not complaining.
Susie and I are more than mother and daughter.
We're friends, too.
We've had to be all these years alone.
Well, you're an amazing woman.
Well, I've still got the marketing to do and if there's a party Saturday night, I'll have
to send Johnny's blue suit to the cleaners.
Oh, don't mention the party to Johnny just yet, Nora.
Oh?
Well, it's just that it's sort of a surprise.
I haven't even told Susie.
Oh, all right, Myra.
I won't tell him.
Susie?
Susie, you home?
In here, Myra.
Oh, golly, it's dreamy.
Just dreamy.
What's just dreamy?
Oh, you like it, huh?
How do I look?
Why, fine, sweetie, just fine.
Only, well, I know it's just a trifle too long.
Half an inch, maybe, but I can have it fixed.
Well, don't worry.
By the time you're ready to wear it, who knows?
You may have grown half an inch.
Oh, oh, well, I'll bet you look just great in it.
Just dreamy.
And I'll bet you look great in this.
Wait, wait, it's nice, Myra.
It's wonderful.
I think it looks just like you.
Gee, another new dress.
And after, I thought we'd bought all my clothes for school and everything.
Thanks, Myra.
Oh, honey, I love doing it for you.
You know that.
Help me out of yours, will you?
Sure.
Here.
There you go.
Thanks.
Well?
Well, aren't you going to try yours on?
Oh, well, not just now.
I promised Mary Fleming I'd call her right after dinner.
What is it, Susie?
Nothing.
I told her I'd call.
I really did.
I mean, about the dresses.
You don't mind my buying clothes in the teen shop?
Mind?
Why, no.
I mean, you don't think the styles are too young for me.
You're very young, Myra.
And I've heard a lot of comments and remarks about it.
Mary, all the kids.
They're always telling me how lucky I am that you've stayed so young, so interested in everything.
Aren't they cute?
They envy me, all of them, for having a mother who is more like a friend, a real good friend.
Best friend, Susie.
Now, you run along, call Mary, and tell her hi for me.
Sure.
Oh, when does she leave for school?
Oh, Sunday, I think.
And tell her we're having a farewell party for her Saturday night.
We are?
But we just had a party.
So?
We've both got new dresses and Mary's going away.
Why not have another one?
Well, I don't know.
I'm sure Mary will be pleased.
Oh, now don't look so worried.
I've already made out the guest list.
Oh, it's on the phone table, and I've almost worked out the menu.
It's practically all done.
I'm not worried, Myra.
You always take care of everything.
Can I give you a hand, Myra?
Oh, no, Mary, my goodness, no.
I was just putting the last of our china aside.
Having fun?
Oh, you don't know how much.
Gee, I don't know how to thank you.
Nobody's ever done anything so nice for me before.
We're going to miss you.
We wanted to tell you so.
Oh, I'll miss you.
You and Susie, more than anyone else.
Myra, you're just unbelievable.
I wish my mother were like you.
Oh, Mary dear, I'm flattered, of course, but, well, you really shouldn't say things like
that.
I think them, and I can tell you like I can tell Susie.
Oh, but don't feel sorry for me or anything corny like that.
We get along all right, mother and I, and I'm not unhappy about it anymore.
Well, I had no idea you'd ever been unhappy, especially at home.
Well, I don't get much of a chance to be unhappy there.
I'm not there very much.
I get packed off to school somewhere in the winter and sent off to camps in the summer.
I think mother would like to forget she has a teenage daughter.
Oh, now I won't let you think that.
It's a terrible thing to feel unwanted, and you mustn't.
Well, I honestly think her problem's worse than mine.
Your mother's?
Well, don't you know, Myra?
Well, no, you probably don't.
But the years are ticking by and she doesn't like it.
When I'm around, she's got to face it.
She's old enough to be my mother.
Oh, my goodness, everybody's dancing and we're just standing here like a couple of sticks.
Go on, Mary.
Fine, Bill.
Have fun.
I just wanted to thank you.
Oh, you're more than welcome, dear.
How about a dance, Myra?
Johnny, you're sweet.
But where's Susie?
She's off somewhere.
I don't know.
I'd like to dance with you.
An old lady like me?
Well, if you're game, I am.
You're not old.
There's nothing old about you.
No wonder all the girls are crazy about you.
You know all the right things to say.
You're sure a smooth dancer, Myra.
All the girls here are smooth, Johnny?
Not like you, they're not.
Oh, there's Susie.
She must have been out in the porch.
You'd better finish the dance with her, Johnny.
There are lots of records.
I'll dance with Susie.
I'll see you later.
Night, night, night, Johnny.
Why are you frightening me?
Sorry.
Oh, I thought everyone had gone.
Everyone has.
Everyone else.
But where's Susie?
I thought she was with you.
Oh, she's with Mary and Bill.
They were going off to some corny drive-in.
I told them I had to go home.
Oh, well, you'd probably better be getting home too, Johnny.
You don't really want me to go, do you?
Right.
It's late.
Look, as long as you're here, there are all these dishes...
You don't want to do the dishes.
Look, Myra, I haven't been around all summer
just because of Susie.
You know that.
Johnny, don't talk like that.
You've known it.
I know you have.
Tonight, when we danced, well, you knew it then, Myra.
I know you knew it then.
You're a good dancer and I like to dance.
I'm going to kiss you, Myra.
Oh, Johnny, I...
Myra.
Oh, you shouldn't.
You shouldn't kiss me.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
You shouldn't have done that.
We'll return to romance in just a moment.
Still ahead today on most of these same stations,
here another exciting adventure on Gunsmoke.
It's the radio series that's been widely applauded
for its high standards in adult Western entertainment.
You'll find it follows today's story of romance
on many of these stations.
Don't miss it.
And follow the adventures of Gunsmoke every Saturday
at the Star's address.
And now for the second act on romance.
Oh, my head.
Johnny, I...
Oh, this is wrong.
It wasn't ugly.
It wasn't.
I don't know how it happened.
But you've got to go now.
Right now.
We wanted it to happen.
All summer, Myra, we...
No, don't say that.
Don't think that.
I don't know what to say.
I'm sorry.
But you did want me to kiss you.
A guy can tell.
You wanted, Myra.
You did.
Oh, how can I make you see?
It's wrong.
It should never have happened.
It can never happen again.
The way you look.
The way you've looked at me.
What did you think I'd do?
How did you think I'd feel?
I don't know.
Believe me, I've never known so little as I know right now.
Look, we'll forget it.
You and I, we're the only ones who know it.
It never happened, Johnny.
We'll forget it.
So it never happened.
You want me to go now?
Yes, yes.
Please go and come again soon and see Susie and take her to the movies and football games.
But go home now, Johnny, and forget you ever came back tonight.
Oh, please, God.
Please forget it.
Susie, Susie.
You forget your keys.
Oh, why, Mary.
Wouldn't you know, I left my purse.
Oh, well, come in and look around.
I haven't seen it, but...
Well, I think it's right here on the hall table.
Oh, yes, here it is.
Oh, I'm so glad.
But gee, I hope you don't mind my barging back this way, but I leave in the morning
early and I...
What are you looking for, Myra?
I guess Susie's still out in the car.
I just kept expecting her to come in.
Oh, Susie isn't with Bill and me.
But I thought Johnny said...
Well, no one said, actually, but I thought I saw her go off with you and Bill.
Well, right after the party, sure she did.
But we brought her back.
Brought her back?
Uh-huh.
We got almost to the drive-in and then all of a sudden Susie said three's a crowd and
would we please bring her back home?
So we did.
Funny.
I didn't hear her come in.
Well, I'm just sure she did.
We waited till we saw her up on the porch and she wouldn't let Bill bring her to the
door.
She waved to us and so we drove off.
Oh.
Well, she's probably in bed.
I haven't looked there, but she was tired, I guess.
And I was in the kitchen.
Oh, well, I've got to run.
You know, you better go to bed too, Myra.
You look kind of tired.
I guess I am.
Good night, Myra.
Good night, Myra.
Gee, thanks again.
Don't mention it.
Susie?
You sleep yet?
Susie?
Susie?
Susie, where are you?
Hello?
It's Nora, Myra.
Oh, Nora, if it's about Johnny, he left a little while ago.
No, no, no.
It's not Johnny.
It's Susie.
She's here, Myra.
There?
But I think it better come right away.
Where is she, Nora?
Well, what's wrong with her?
Well, she's quiet now.
I think maybe she's even asleep.
Come in, dear.
Sit down.
But tell me, what happened?
Is she hurt?
Is she sick?
What happened?
I wish I could tell you, Myra, but I can't.
I'll tell you all I know.
Now, Mitch found her just wandering along the street, not far from the house here.
Mitch?
Yes, he drove Fred out to the airport.
Mitch was on his way home when he saw her.
It was late, and naturally he stopped and offered to take her home.
She was crying.
By the time he got her here, she was hysterical.
But why didn't he bring her home?
She said she didn't want to go home, Myra.
Susie!
Oh, sweetie!
Hello, Myra.
Don't, please.
I'm all right now.
Of course you are.
You're coming home now.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Mitchell.
I didn't mean to cause all this bother.
Oh, no, you were no bother at all, Susie.
Just run along home and get a good night's sleep.
You too, Myra, dear.
We will now.
Thanks for everything, Nora.
Come along, Susie.
I'm coming, Myra.
I'm coming.
What was it, Susie?
What happened to you tonight?
I'd rather not talk about it.
I'm tired.
I just want to get to bed.
We're almost home.
But you've never done anything like this before.
Surely you can tell me what's wrong.
I just don't want to talk about it, Myra.
Please.
But it's not like you not to talk to me.
Please leave me alone.
Susie!
I'm sorry.
It's wrong.
It's terribly wrong to keep things pent up inside yourself.
It's hard on you, Susie.
I'm not thinking about myself, but...
All right.
All right.
I want to go away to school.
Away?
Why?
Everything's here for you.
Your home, your friends, me.
I want to go away.
Mary's school, maybe.
Something like that.
There now, I've told you.
I don't know what to say.
I can't believe you'd want to go.
I thought I'd made our home the kind of place you'd want to stay.
You'll miss the driveway, Myra.
Oh.
Why, Susie?
Why do you want to leave me?
I told you I don't want to go into it tonight.
I didn't want to tell you anything, but you insisted, insisted.
But I have a right to know. I'm your mother.
I wish you were.
I could use a mother.
Don't ever say that again.
I think maybe I'd better say it all now, Myra.
I want to go away to school
for the same reason Mary Fleming goes away to school.
She's sent away.
Mary told me that herself this evening.
She said other things, too, Susie.
She said she wished her mother were like me.
She is.
She's just like you.
Do you want me to tell you how?
I don't think there's any need for unpleasant talk.
You ask for the talk, Myra.
It is unpleasant.
It's rotten in spots.
But I'm going to say it all.
So you'll be sure to understand.
All right, all right.
Mary's mother can't stand the thought of growing old either.
So she sends Mary away.
She doesn't want any reminders around.
But I want you with me.
That's a difference, a big difference.
But you won't let me be a daughter to you either.
You've got to be young again.
You've got to dress like me and act like me
and plan parties so you're always surrounded by young people.
It's the same thing, Myra.
The same thing.
This is what you were crying about tonight when Mitch found you.
Why didn't you come home?
Why were you wandering off like that?
I came home, Myra.
I came home first.
I told myself all evening, just as I've done all summer long,
I told myself that none of it was true, none of what was true.
Johnny.
Poor, stupid Johnny.
How could you, Myra?
How could you?
You... you saw?
I saw.
And I ran.
Ran as fast and as hard and as far as I could.
Like maybe if I got far enough away, I'd know it wasn't true.
That I hadn't seen it.
Suzy.
Suzy.
Then I began to put it all together for the first time.
The looks I thought I'd seen before between you and Johnny.
When he asked you to dance, at first I thought what a nice thing it was for him to do.
But tonight... tonight it looked wrong and ugly.
And I was ashamed.
I'm ashamed.
I'm so utterly ashamed.
I feel so sorry for Johnny.
He'll be all mixed up.
A long time, I guess.
And I can't help him.
I can't even see him.
Of course you can.
You must see Johnny and go to the games and movies and parties and have fun.
Oh, you know we can't.
How could we?
We could forget it, all of us.
We could forget it so well.
It didn't happen.
If we try, if we try, all of us, we can forget it, Suzy.
If you believe that, I'm sorry for you, Myra.
Really sorry.
I was sorry for you before.
Because I thought you were trying to make me happy.
You did so much for me.
And you were all alone.
I need you.
I can't be all alone.
If I have you.
Oh, Suzy, you can't leave me.
You can't.
I have to.
Or I'll stop just being ashamed and sorry and sick inside.
And I'll hate you, Myra.
I'll hate you all my life.
Maybe if I go away now.
Maybe what?
Maybe you'll have a chance for yourself.
And maybe I will, too.
Romance is produced and directed by William Frugge.
You have heard A Girl's Best Friend, specially written for romance by Kathleen Height,
starring Barbara Whiting and Dora Singleton.
Featured in the cast were Keith Vincent, Virginia Eyler and Sammy Hill.
This is Dan Cuberley inviting you to hear romance transcribed next week at this same time.
Folk songs and hillbilly hits galore come your way tonight on CBS radio Saturday Night Country Style,
bringing rural rhythm to all America every Saturday night on most of these stations.
Stay tuned now for Gunsmoke, which follows immediately over most of these same stations.
Thanks for watching.
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