Auto Light and its 98,000 dealers present Suspense.
Tonight Auto Light presents a special program for this holiday season.
The unusual dramatization of Twas the Night Before Christmas starring Ms. Greer Garson,
who appears by arrangement with MGM, producers of the new color picture,
Knights of the Round Table, in Cinemascope starring Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner and Mel Ferrer.
Good evening, this is Harlow Wilcock speaking for Auto Light.
Tonight as a special Christmas presentation from the worldwide Auto Light family,
we bring you Ms. Greer Garson in a story about a certain little girl on a certain Christmas Eve.
And now Auto Light presents Transcribed Twas the Night Before Christmas,
hoping once again to keep you in suspense.
Cathy, Cathy honey, come on wake up.
Wake up Cathy, it's the day before Christmas.
Oh, and there's so much to do.
Miss Buff, it's right out already.
You said you were going to wake me really early today,
so we could go to the airport and meet them.
Come on, up you get, let's get you dressed.
Buffy, they're going to be waiting for me and you didn't wake me.
I know what, they're home already.
Cathy.
Mommy, daddy where are you?
Daddy, mommy.
Buffy, they're not in their bedroom.
Where are they?
Cathy.
I know, I'll bet they're in the kitchen already having their coffee.
Mom.
Miss Buff, they're not home.
I know honey.
The clock in the kitchen said 8.30.
Cathy, here put this on dear, you told me you wanted to wear this dress today.
So that's why I ironed it for you.
Miss Buff.
Yes dear.
Why aren't they here?
Oh, they'll be here.
But when I talked to mommy on the telephone yesterday,
she said she would be here at six this morning.
And I promised her I'd meet her at the airport, her and daddy.
I know, I know.
And daddy said he had a surprise he was bringing for me all the way from Paris.
It's 8.30 Buffy.
Let's go out to the airport now.
Oh, but there's so many things to do first.
You've got to get your breakfast and we have to finish decorating the tree.
And oh, there's so many things I want you to help me with.
Oh, everything can wait Buffy.
Hurry, I promised to meet them.
No dear.
Why not Buff?
Well, I think we'll wait for them here.
Cathy.
Yes.
You remember what you promised your mommy and dad?
That you'd do everything I ask you while they were away.
Yes.
Then we'll wait for them here.
Alright Buffy.
Yes.
It's noon Buffy.
I know.
Don't you think they might have called and told us they'd be late?
Oh, I'll go and make our lunch.
You must be very hungry.
No I'm not.
Oh, you didn't eat your breakfast, Cathy.
Miss Buff, I'm not hungry.
Look.
Oh look, it's snowing honey.
We'll have a nice warm lunch and then we'll go out for a long walk.
They should have called.
I'll tell you what Cathy, we'll take our walk first.
We'll see the shops.
We'll visit.
We'll go and see Johnny and your aunt and uncle.
Maybe if it snows hard enough we can all build a snowman.
Wouldn't you like that?
Yes, that would be fun.
Well go get your coat and hat and galoshes dear.
Alright.
And when we come back mommy and daddy will be home.
Well you go and get your things now.
Oh I'll get it.
I'll get it Buffy.
Mommy.
Oh who's this daddy?
He's um, oh from a newspaper.
I see.
It's a man Buff.
He says he wants to talk to an older person.
Here.
Hello?
Yes, this is the Harper residence.
I'm the housekeeper.
I...
Well just a moment please.
Cathy.
Who is it?
Someone wants to talk to me honey.
Will you go get your things?
No.
Who are you talking to Buffy?
Never mind dear, go and get your things.
No.
No I won't.
Hello?
I see.
Yes, yes I saw the papers.
Yes, yes that was the daughter.
Yes the only child.
No she doesn't.
No, no, no I wish she wouldn't.
Please don't hear.
No.
Who was it?
Just a man honey.
It was from the newspapers.
Why?
What did he want?
Nothing.
He asked about me didn't he?
Why?
Honestly honey it was nothing.
It was about mommy and daddy.
Wasn't anything important?
Buff.
Yes dear?
I don't know.
Look at that snow coming down Cathy.
Get your things dear, go on.
Don't they sing beautifully Cathy?
Very lovely.
The street and all the decorations and the singers.
It's very lovely Miss Buff.
Honey here, give this to the man.
Oh thank you, thank you Missy.
Let's go home now.
In a little while don't you remember?
We were going visiting too.
Mommy and daddy are probably home right now waiting for me.
Wondering where I am.
And we'll build a snowman together like I said.
Come on honey.
I remember when I was a little girl how excited I get.
All the wonderful things to see.
The sights and the smells and the sounds.
Pretty shop windows and snow.
To be a little girl at Christmas time.
To be young at Christmas time.
And happy.
What's the matter Buffy?
Oh Cathy.
Buffy.
Let me hold you.
Oh Cathy darling.
Buffy you're crying.
I'm just silly I guess.
Why look there Santa Claus watching us.
Let's say hello to him.
You were crying.
Hello Santa.
Merry Christmas.
Oh Merry Christmas little girl.
Merry Christmas.
You're a pretty little girl.
What's your name?
Cathy.
That's a nice name for a nice little girl like you.
Thank you.
And I can tell you you've been a good little girl.
I saw the way your mommy was holding you.
She's Miss Buff.
My mommy's away.
Daddy too.
We're taking a walk to make them come home.
Oh and where are they?
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Oh.
Cathy.
Cathy come in darling.
And Miss Buff.
Come in.
Mother.
Mother guess who's here.
What?
Cathy and Miss Buff.
Hello Aunt.
Hello Mrs. Cleveland.
Take your things off.
We've got a big fire in the living room.
And wait till you see our Christmas tree Cathy.
I'm sure it's very beautiful.
I'll bet Cathy came to see her cousin Johnny didn't she?
Yes I did Uncle Ted.
I would like to see him very much.
Do you know what that boy of mine did Miss Buff?
No.
He found the train.
Oh he did?
Yes I did.
I took so much trouble to hide them out in the garage he found them.
So of course I had to set them up for him.
Well it's the day before Christmas.
He's in his room now Cathy.
Yes I would like to play with the trains.
Of course you would.
Johnny.
I can't come now Daddy I'm busy.
Cathy's here.
Hey come on out and play with my trains Cathy.
You ought to see.
I've got them all hitched up now.
Go on Cathy.
Alright.
I've been on the phone since seven this morning Miss Buff and there just isn't any word at all about the plane.
Look, look, look.
A man from the newspaper called the house I told him to stay away.
Did the child know?
I think she does.
What did you tell her?
Nothing.
How do you tell a child Mrs. Cable?
Look at it go.
What I can't understand is why no word at all.
The plane took off from Paris on time and there was radio contact over Ireland from what I could find out.
But since then nothing.
You'd better tell her John.
Tell me what?
Well there was a storm.
Over the ocean.
Pretty bad storm.
They said.
Miss Buff.
Yes darling.
I've just figured out something.
It's about mommy and daddy.
Cathy.
They're not coming home.
They're not ever coming home.
Auto Light is bringing you Miss Greer Garson with Anne Whitfield as Cathy in Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
This is Harlow Wilcox again with a message from Mr. Royce G. Martin, President and Chairman of the Electric Auto Light Company.
It is presented in the name of the Auto Light family, which includes some 30,000 Auto Light men and women and their families,
18,000 people who have invested a portion of their savings in Auto Light,
as well as 98,000 dealers and the greatest names in the industry who use Auto Light products as original equipment.
This is the message from Mr. Martin.
In our America, we are especially blessed this Christmas with a free country.
We are surrounded with freedom loving people who appreciate the word Christmas.
We are grateful for what this day means to all of us and for what it meant to our great forefathers.
We will never forget the one whose holy birthday we are about to celebrate.
We thank him for the word freedom and the happiness that he has given us.
We of the Auto Light family wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with health and happiness.
And now Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage, Miss Greer Garson in Elliot Lewis's production of Twas the Night Before Christmas.
A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Oh, it's going to be good to get inside of the house, Kathy.
Oh, look at you. You look almost like the snowman you and Johnny built.
Here, let me brush you off a bit before we go inside.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Let me brush you off a bit before we go inside.
There's a man there.
What did you say, darling?
Right there, standing by the door.
A man.
Hello.
Good evening, Miss.
Hello, little girl. Is this your house?
Yes, I live here.
Who are you? What do you want?
Well, then you'd be the Harper's little girl, wouldn't you?
Yes.
I asked you, who are you?
Now, don't worry about it, ma'am.
I just want to take a picture of the little girl.
You want your picture taken, little girl?
You're the reporter I talked to this morning, aren't you?
And we'll want one of you, too, ma'am.
Here, get in the house, Kathy.
Don't stand there, dear. Get in the house.
I'll be in in a moment.
It's Christmas Eve, Mr. Reporter.
Did you know that?
Oh, now look, ma'am, I've got to get...
It's Christmas Eve.
Where is your heart?
Oh, look, you've got to understand.
I talked to you on the phone.
It was almost 10 hours ago, before noon.
It's nighttime already.
There still isn't any word about the plane.
I represent a newspaper, ma'am.
We've got to assume...
Well, you know, I don't want to say it any more than you do.
Oh, just go away.
Oh, now, really, I've got to...
Were you ever lonely on Christmas Eve?
Alone in a house that's empty?
While outside, other people were singing,
when there was warmth and love and joy.
But outside...
I'm just trying to...
Christmas Eve, the snow is falling.
Christmas Eve, and the child is grieving.
Yeah, I'm sorry.
Good night.
Kathy.
I'm in the living room, Barthie.
I just had a wonderful thought.
Yes?
Let's have a secret.
What, Barthie?
Let's not wait till tomorrow.
What do you mean?
We'll go to our tree and open some of our presents now.
Maybe just one.
We'll choose the one with the most beautiful wrapping.
You can open it, and you can play with it now.
While I go and fix something for you to eat.
I'm not hungry, Barth.
Honestly, I'm not...
Or just some milk and cookies, honey.
You haven't eaten since...
All right.
Well, well, let's choose.
Go ahead, pick one.
All right.
That one.
It's from Mr. and Mrs. Anderson next door.
Open it.
You open it, Barthie.
There you are.
Oh, look.
Very nice.
A carousel.
Well, I wind it for you.
And we put it down here.
Now.
Oh, my sweet.
You watch it.
When it runs down, you can wind it up again.
I'm going into the kitchen.
Kathy, here's your...
Kathy.
Kathy, honey, where are you?
Kathy?
Your milk and cookies are on the table.
Kathy?
Are you in your room, Kathy?
Kathy?
Kathy, honey?
Kathy?
Kathy!
Where's Miss Barth?
Mr. Anderson, is Kathy here?
Well, I know who she is.
Would you mind asking Mrs. Anderson if Kathy's here?
She came in through the back way.
Mrs. Anderson and I have been sitting in the living room for the last hour.
Why, what's the matter, Miss Buff?
Kathy ran out of the house.
Oh, poor child. I can imagine how she must feel.
I thought she might have come over here next door.
She just ran out of the house. I don't know where she is.
Oh, a child like that. And what's happened to her today?
Wait. I'll get my coat, Miss Buff. I'll come with you.
I'll be right back.
Paul! Paul!
Want a sled ride, Miss Buff?
Paul, listen.
Hi, Mr. Anderson. Want a ride?
You can go all the way down the hill for three bucks.
They've got it roped off.
But Paul, have you seen Kathy?
Sure.
Where is she?
I don't know.
Where is she, Paul?
Where did she go?
How am I supposed to know where she went?
But you saw her, didn't you?
Sure. She was running down the block.
I yelled at her to come on over, but she kept running.
Which way, Paul?
Down there, I guess. Where the stores are.
Thank you.
Sure. Merry Christmas, Mr. Anderson.
Merry Christmas, Miss Buff.
Hey, watch.
She hasn't been in my store, Miss Buff, and I...
I'm the only one on the block who's open.
Last-minute Christmas rush, you know.
Thank you, Mr. Rockston.
Say, now that kid and what happened to that plane today,
I'd sure let the police know she was missing.
I think he's right, Miss Buff.
Call them, please. Call them.
Oh, use this phone, Mr. Anderson.
Thank you.
Hello, operator.
Give me the police.
Oh, hello, police.
I want to report a little girl who's missing.
Kathy Harper.
Well, she's got blonde hair and blue eyes.
Oh, wait a second. I'll find out.
No, you just go in the house, Miss Buff.
I'm sure they'll find her.
It's 10 o'clock. They've been looking for three hours.
Oh, they have ways. They'll find her.
We waited in that station house
and all the policemen who phoned in, none of them.
Well, you just go in the house.
Now, I'll send Mrs. Anderson over.
No, no, really. I'd rather you wouldn't.
Well...
Mr. Anderson, thank you.
Oh, no.
Yes?
I'm a patrolman Reid, ma'am.
Have you found Kathy?
Yes, ma'am.
Where is she?
Oh, in heaven above.
There she is, ma'am, in the second pill.
Oh, careful, child.
Yes, we see.
The church should have been the first place.
We should have looked for her.
I'm sure she's in the house.
The church should have been the first place.
We should have looked for that kid.
Kathy?
Let's go home now, darling.
Casting tears by the way.
Kathy, let's go home now, darling.
All right.
There we are. All tucked in.
It's almost Christmas, isn't it?
Yes, darling.
You're going to read to me?
Of course. You just lie there.
Kathy.
Yes, darling?
Nothing. Just read to me.
It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was staring.
Not even the mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
And Mama and her catch, and I and my cap, had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Way to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw open the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave a luster of midday to objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh, an eight tiny reindeer with a little old briar,
so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his courses became, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Bronson and Vixen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Dunder and Blitzen,
to the tops of the porch, to the top of the wall, now Dasher away, Dasher away, Dasher away all.
Oh, Bobby!
Oh, Lord!
Mommy! Daddy! Merry Christmas, Kathy!
Kathy, baby!
Hey, hey, it's Christmas. We don't cry on Christmas.
I thought so.
Baby, baby.
Hey, how about a big hug for me?
Oh, Daddy.
Ah, that's my girl.
Where's Miss Buff?
I was in bed. She was reading to me.
In bed's the place for you. Come on, I'll carry you.
Buff! It's Mommy! It's Daddy!
I know, darling, I know.
Hello, Buffy. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Buff.
We had to make an emergency landing in Newfoundland. Small field communications were shot. That storm.
Yes, yes. Let's not talk about it anymore now.
Buffy was reading me a wonderful thing about the night before Christmas.
Here. I'll put you in bed, Kathy.
There. There you are.
Read it to us, Buffy. To all of us.
Oh, well, I, um...
That's my place.
Read it, Buffy.
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the housetop the courses they flew with a sleigh full of toys.
And St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkle I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney, St. Nicholas came with a band.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back and looked like a peddler just opening his back.
His eyes, how they twinkled. His dimples, how merry. His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him in spider myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke but a word that went straight to his work and filled all the stockings,
then turned with a jerk and laying his finger aside of his nose and giving a nod up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down on a thistle.
Then I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
His wife and son, he lived, never, for a man.
Ladies and gentlemen, you have just heard Miss Greer Garson in a dramatization of
T'was the Night Before Christmas, tonight's production in Auto Lights, Suspense. Miss Garson will return in just a moment.
Next week on Suspense, our star will be Mr. James Mason, who has Lord Essex plots to capture Elizabeth's throne.
It's called The Queen's Ring.
Suspense is transcribed and directed by Elliot Lewis, with music composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Lud Gluskin.
Chorus was under the direction of Roger Wagner.
T'was the Night Before Christmas was written for Suspense by Morton Fine and David Friedkin.
In tonight's story, Anne Whitfield was heard as Cathy.
Featured in the cast were Harry Bartel, Irene Tedrow, Mary Lansing, Charles Calvert, Howard McNeer, Herb Butterfield, Johnny McGovern, Sydney Miller, Joseph Kearns, and John Ramsey Hill.
And here once again is our lovely star, Miss Garson.
Harlow, thank you very much, and thank you, Anne Whitfield. While I have these few moments, may I join the Auto Lights family in sending holiday greetings to our friends everywhere.
Merry Christmas, Harlow.
Merry Christmas, Greer. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
This is the CBS Radio Network.
Chorus.