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Lux Radio Theater – The Scarlet Pimpernel of 40

Lux Radio Theater “The Scarlet Pimpernel”

Originally aired December 12, 1938

CAST

Announcer

Cecil B. deMille

Man 1

Woman 1

Man 2

Woman 2

The Barber

Scarlet Pimpernel/Percy Blakeney1

Count de Tournay

Armand St. Just

Sir Andrew Ffoulkes

Lady Blakeney

Lady

Romney (The Great Artist)

The Prince of Wales

Chauvelin

Mother

Midge

Dot

Bobby

Servant

Ffoulkes

Brinker

Servant 2

Madame Grenier

Innkeeper

Sergeant

Guard

Squad Commander

1 The character is listed as both to indicate what quality of voice to use. The Scarlet Pimpernel is more assured and

a leader, whereas Percy is more light-hearted and whimsical.

SFX: Jail door opens with loud squeak Knocking on door Door opens & close Door locks Horse & cart Paper rustling Writing Clock chimes twice Ship sounds Door unlatches Slap Clock ticking Firing squad marching Firing squad rifles lock Rifles fire Trap door


MUSIC:

ANNOUNCER: From Hollywood, California, the Lux Radio Theater presents

Leslie Howard and Olivia De Haviland2 in, “The Scarlet Pimpernel.”

MUSIC: up, and continues under.

ANNOUNCER: Lux presents Hollywood. “The ‘Robin Hood’ of the reign of

terror.” That was the Scarlet Pimpernel, whose daring defiance, whose

colorful romance we bring you tonight, with Leslie Howard and Olivia De

Haviland. Madam Hilda Grenier, formally royal dresser to Queen Mary of

England, is our special guest, while our music is conducted by Louis Silvers.

Before our producer takes over the program, let me remind you that Lux

helps you get longer wear out of your stockings. It helps them stay nice and

elastic, so that they give under strain instead of pop and run. Yes, Lux cuts

way down on runs. So give your stockings regular Lux care. Buy Lux

flakes in the large sized box for greater economy. Our producer takes over

the program. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Cecil B. deMille.

MUSIC: concludes.

APPLAUSE

CECIL B. DEMILLE: Greetings, from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. They

call it “the poor man’s weatherglass,” this little crimson flower that lends a

splash of color to English wayside, and closes up its petals in warning,

whenever there’s a storm approaching. They also call it, “the scarlet

pimpernel.” And by the mark of this flower only the mysterious hero of our

play, Sir Percy Blakeney, signed his daring exploits. As a play, “The Scarlet

Pimpernel” was performed over 5000 times. And it’s perhaps the most

popular screen characterization of the celebrated star who reenacts the title

role for Lux listeners tonight, Mr. Leslie Howard. All the acclaim the stage

and screen can bring a star has been won by Mr. Howard. He may continue

his career as an actor, but should his present plans materialize, he’ll also join

the ranks of film producers. Which I hope he does. Olivia De Haviland,

who’s been away from our stage too long, is the brown-haired, brown-eyed

heroine of Warner Brothers’ new production “Dodge City” which she plays

opposite Errol Flynn. She’s co-starred tonight as Marguerite. And Dennis

Green plays Chauvelin. As producer of the Lux Radio Theater, I want to

take a moment before raising our curtain to thank all of you for your support.

2 Originally the film starred Merle Oberon. Olivia, herself, afterwards played Arabella Bishop in “Captain Blood”

and Maid Marian in “Robin Hood”, both opposite Errol Flynn.


Thousands of you have written, telling us that you show your appreciation

by regularly purchasing our product. With this kind of cooperation, ladies

and gentlemen, you can depend upon hearing Hollywood’s brightest stars on

our program every Monday night. And now for the play. The Lux Radio

Theater presents Leslie Howard and Olivia De Haviland in, “The Scarlet

Pimpernel.”

MUSIC:

CECIL B. DEMILLE: Paris. In the year 1793.

MUSIC: French National Anthem, up and continues.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: French Revolution is over. But the reign of terror casts is

gruesome shadow across the city. Every day the citizens of Paris watch and

endless procession of death. Crude wooden carts, laden with the nobles of

France, on their last journey through the streets—a journey to the guillotine.

MUSIC: Changes, and continues under.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: Into this maelstrom comes one man to stem the rising tide

of French blood. An Englishman, known only as “The Scarlet Pimpernel.”

The object of every nobleman’s prayer, and every Revolutionist’s curse, he

works silently, mysteriously, and successfully. In his native England, they

speak of him with baited breath (fade out)

MAN 1: The Scarlet Pimpernel. He’s the only hope the French know.

WOMAN 1: The Scarlet Pimpernel? Does anyone know who he is?

CECIL B. DEMILLE: No madam. But I must confess I feel quite proud when I

remember that he is an Englishman.

WOMAN 2: They say he’s always in disguise.

MAN 2: Oh, he’s an actor, that man. He speaks French like a Frenchman, they

say. And I’ve heard he can assume a hundred disguises in an hour’s time.

And old hag, a peddler, a captain of the guards. You never know in what

dress the Scarlet Pimpernel will strike.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: And now the Scarlet Pimpernel is about to strike again.

Into a barber shop in Paris comes an old man, in the black robes of the

priest. The French barber greets him jovially.

BARBER: Ah, good morning, Father. You wish to be shaved this morning?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: (as an old French priest) Yes, if you will, barber.


BARBER: Sit down, sit down. Did you come from the square, father? The

guillotine is busy again today, eh?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: I don’t know. I didn’t stop.

BARBER: No? Well, it is always the same. The drums roll, the knife falls, and

another aristocrat parts company with his head.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Yes. Very monotonous.

BARBER: And so clumsy. That great, ugly machine. When all they need is a

sharp razor, like this… a quick rip, and ZIP.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Oh, please, please. Don’t flick quite so close to my

throat. I only want a shave.

BARBER: Oh. (laughs) You are all right, Father. But I wish they’d give me a

few aristocrats to shave. Can you not see me dealing with The Scarlet

Pimpernel?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: The what?

BARBER: The Scarlet Pimpernel. Haven’t you heard?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: No.

BARBER: There is a band of Englishmen helping these cursed aristocrats out of

the country. Their chief is the only man who ever cheated Madam

Guillotine. He is known by the title of “The Scarlet Pimpernel.”

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: And who is he?

BARBER: Ah, that is the mystery.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: The mystery, of course. Yes.

BARBER: But there will be ‘eads for him today, in spite of him. Some very

famous heads, Father.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Yes?

BARBER: We checked off the names last night. The Duke the Tour, the Count de

Tourey, the Mejions, the Count De Tournay and his wife and daughter.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: (dropping his character) Tournay? (recovering) Are

you sure, de Tournay?

BARBER: But certainly I am sure. They were taken to prison over a month ago.

Why, Father? You are not a… friend of theirs?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Oh, ho, ho. A friend? No, no, no. No, it isn’t safe to

know any Nobles these days, hm?


BARBER: Oh. (laughs) Good. Very good. (laughs)

FADE OUT

MUSIC:

FADE IN

GUARD: You wish to see the former Count de Tournay, is that so, Father?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Yes. If you don’t mind.

GUARD: Very well, Father. They haven’t long now. You’ll find the former Count

de Tournay in that room over there.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Thank you. Thank you.

SFX: jail door opens followed by loud squeak.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Good morning. Are you the Count de Tournay?

CT DE TOURNAY: Yes. I suppose you have come to offer me the last rights,

Father.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: In a manner of speaking. If you will just look at this

passage I have marked in the book, your spirits will be up-lifted.

CT DE TOURNAY: I am not afraid to die, Father.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Even so, it is sometimes better to live, my son.

CT DE TOURNAY: To live? What are you…

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Sh. Read there. In the book.

CT DE TOURNAY: But… but, there is nothing on the page, except a red mark.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Look carefully.

CT DE TOURNAY: It is a flower. A red… a scarlet pimpernel.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: (quickly) Sh.

CT DE TOURNAY: (whispering) Father, are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: (dropping his character) Be careful. It will do you no

good to know. Just listen to me. Before you start on your journey to the

guillotine, they will bring your wife and daughter to you. You will ride in

the same tumbrel3. On the way there will be an accident. The wheel of the

tumbrel will come off. There will be a commotion, the soldiers guarding the

cart will be jostled by the crowd—all carefully arranged for. Look sharply. 3 a vehicle carrying condemned persons (as political prisoners during the French Revolution) to a place of

execution.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tumbrel


An old hag will drive past in a wagon. You will be placed to hide in the

back large enough for three people. The old hag will drive you through the

city gates. (whispering) If all goes well you will be safe in England in three

days.

CT DE TOURNAY: God bless you. Whoever you are. God bless you.

MUSIC:

SFX: knocking on door. Door opens.

ARMAND ST. JUST: Well? What is it?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: (as old hag) Good evening. Have you a crust of bread

for an old lady?

ARMAND ST. JUST: No, I’m sorry. Here, take this.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Thank you, monsieur. Thank you.

ARMAND ST. JUST: Good night.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Oh wait. Isn’t this the home of Monsieur Armand St.

Just?

ARMAND ST. JUST: Why, yes. I am Armand St. Just. What do you want?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: (as Scarlet Pimpernel) I want to come in, Armand.

ARMAND ST. JUST: (startled whisper) Percy! Quick, quick!

SFX: door close and lock

ARMAND ST. JUST: Good. Lord Percy.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: How are you, Armand?

ARMAND ST. JUST: Heh, I’m afraid I will always be startled at these disguises

of yours. The last time I saw you, you were a priest.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: And now, I’m an old hag. Here, help me out of these

clothes. I feel silly.

ARMAND ST. JUST: Did you get the Tournays out of the city?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: I got the girl and the Countess. What happened to de

Tournay? He wasn’t in the tumbrel?

ARMAND ST. JUST: I know. He was remained at the last minute.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Why?


ARMAND ST. JUST: Because Robespierre wants to see him. And Robespierre

wants to see him because the ambassador of the French Republic has come

over from London.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Chauvelin? Here in Paris?

ARMAND ST. JUST: Yes. All in your honor, Percy. Your work is becoming

more dangerous than it was.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Our work, Armand. Well, let’s hope Chauvelin will

go back to England, though, knowing less than ever. I’ll be going back

myself for a few days. Then we must lay our plans to free de Tournay.

ARMAND ST. JUST: Percy. Aren’t you risking too much? Why do you persist

in this mad sport?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Why do you?

ARMAND ST. JUST: Why? Because I am a Frenchman. This is my country.

You, you are English. You are Sir Percy Blakeney, an English Baron. With

a lovely, oh, and a charming wife.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Even if she is your sister.

ARMAND ST. JUST: My sister or not, I’d still say. Marguerite is charming. Or

perhaps you don’t think so any longer.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Why do you say that? Has she said anything to you?

ARMAND ST. JUST: She hinted at it in her last letter. She said you... changed,.

Percy.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Did she? Well, I have changed. I’m rarely at home

now, and when I am, I play the fop. I’m insipid, vain, silly. I think only of

the latest fashions in clothes, the latest court gossip. But all for good reason,

Armand. The greater fool I am in England, the safer I’ll be in France.

ARMAND ST. JUST: But you could tell Marguerite...

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: No.

ARMAND ST. JUST: Just so she would understand.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: I said no. And don’t you tell her. (pause) Armand.

You asked me why I live over here in the shadow of the guillotine while

heads fall one after another. I can save only a few, I know that. The rest

have to die. People I know and love. Innocent people. Kindly people.

Herded together like sheep and butchered like cattle.

ARMAND ST. JUST: But what has it to do with you?


SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Armand, do you remember the case of the St. Cyr

family?

ARMAND ST. JUST: I think so. They were one of the first families to go to the

guillotine.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Yes. It’s because they were betrayed, Armand.

Before their execution they told me who it was who betrayed them. It was

Marguerite.

ARMAND ST. JUST: My sister.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: My wife.

ARMAND ST. JUST: It is a lie!

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: I wish I could believe that, but I can’t. I watched that

execution, Armand—the Marquis, his wife, his son. And it was my wife

who put them there.

ARMAND ST. JUST: So, that’s why you stopped loving her. What a tragedy.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Stopped? I shall love her till I die. That’s the

tragedy.

ARMAND ST. JUST: And it’s to make up for what she did to them that you risk

your own life, week after week, to rescue the others.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Oh, don’t be so heroic, Armand. I got a smack in the

eye and took refuge in sport. And what a sport. By gad, I think I shall give

up fox hunting this winter.

ARMAND ST. JUST: Percy, don’t joke about it.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: I have to. It’s the only think that can save me. Well,

I’m off for England in the morning, Armand. My love to Monsieur

Chauvelin if you should see him.

MUSIC:

SFX: horse and cart

FFOULKES: Gads, Percy, but it’s good to have you at home again.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: So far, so good, Ffoulkes. I’ve still got my head.

FFOULKES: You should hear them talk about you in London. You’re the

greatest mystery of the ages.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Yes, well I hope no one solves me just yet. But tell

me about Marguerite. Has she been well?


FFOULKES: As well as a neglected wife can be.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: What’s she been doing?

FFOULKES: Having her portrait painted, mostly. Romney’s been there every

day.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: And our friend, Monsieur Chauvelin?

FFOULKES: The French Ambassador? What would he be doing in your house?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Oh, one never knows, Ffoulkes, one never knows.

Well, England again, I shall have to become the fop once more. (shifting

into his “fop” persona) “The London Dandy” who has been at Bath for the

past ten days taking the cure. And sink me, I’m still not cured yet, I still

have to go back to Bath again.

FFOULKES: (laughs)

MUSIC:

(ladies laughing)

ROMNEY: Lady Blakeney. Lady Blakeney, please. I can’t paint you unless you

sit quite still.

MAUGARITE: I’m sorry, Monsieur Romney, but we were just talking of this

man they call The Scarlet Pimpernel.

ROMNEY: Oh.

LADY: He must be quite wonderful, Maugarite.

MAUGARITE: So they say. But it’s maddening to think that somewhere there is

a man as marvelous as that and we never see him. He is of no use to us

whatever.

(ladies laugh)

BRINKER: Lady Blakeney?

MAUGARITE: Yes, Brinker?

BRINKER: Sir Percy, milady. He’s just returned.

MAUGARITE: Percy.

(as Percy enters, the ladies make a commotion)

PERCY BLAKENEY: Good day, ladies. So charmed to see you here. Have you

been taking good care of my lovely wife, you servant ladies. Maugarite, my

dear, your slave.


MAUGARITE: Percy. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming.

PERCY BLAKENEY: So few things are surprising in this world, my dear. I

should like to be one of them. And how are you, Romney? And how is the

portrait progressing?

ROMNEY: You may see for yourself, Sir Percy.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Hm. Yes. But the-the-the-the eyes are wrong, aren’t

they? And is the nose all right? You know, I rather think you’ve missed

the mouth all together. Yes, you have, Romney. Otherwise, of course, it’s

the image of her.

ROMNEY: I think that will be enough for today.

MAUGARITE: Poor, Mr. Romney. You are tired. And so am I.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Tired. Zwounds, I too. You know, dear ladies, I’ve just

been to Bath to be cured of fatigue. And now I’m so fatigued by the cure

that I really think I shall have to go back to Bath again to be cured of the

fatigue.

(ladies laugh)

LADY: Maugarite, my dear, we must be going.

MAUGARITE: Yes, goodbye darling.

(all the ladies say goodbye.)

PERCY BLAKENEY: Goodbye, goodbye. Your servant, ladies, your servant.

SFX: door close

MAUGARITE: Well, Percy. What do you think of my portrait?

PERCY BLAKENEY: It’s clever. (dropping the fop) But there’s something

lacking.

MAUGARITE: What?

PERCY BLAKENEY: I don’t know. There’s a look. A look in the eyes. He’s

lost it.

MAUGARITE: Perhaps I’ve lost it. Perhaps it was… happiness.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Good gad, my dear, how you could be unhappy I can’t

imagine.

MAUGARITE: Can’t you? Percy, can’t you?


PERCY BLAKENEY: (making light of the subject) No, cursed if I can. Why,

you’re the most courted woman in town.

MAUGARITE: By whom?

PERCY BLAKENEY: By everybody.

MAUGARITE: Except you.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, my dear, I-I-I-I’m your husband.

MAUGARITE: Months after we were married we were still happy. And then

came this… estrangement. Heaven knows, it’s not of my making.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Can you honestly say that?

MAUGARITE: Can you honestly deny that you’ve changed? So changed, that I

scarcely know you. You’re never with me now. You’re always away on

some pretext or other. I’m always alone.

PERCY BLAKENEY: My dear, the fashionable belief today is that one makes

one’s own life. I’m trying to make mine, you must try to make yours. Now

I must leave you for awhile. There’s to be a fight for a prize out in the

countryside. Mendoza vs. Jackson. Quite a battle.

MAUGARITE: Percy. You’ve only just come home. Do you… have to leave

right now?

PERCY BLAKENEY: My dear, the prince himself invited me. I’m trying to

make my own life, Maugarite.

MAUGARITE: I see. Goodbye, Percy.

SFX: door opens and close.

MUSIC:

CROWD CHEERING

MAN 1: Come on, Jackson, Come on boy! Come on Jackson, he’s our boy!

PRINCE: Mendoza’s groggy! He’s done for, Percy.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Don’t you believe it, Your Highness, he’s foxy. You wait

until the thirtieth round.

PRINCE: I’ll wager a hundred guineas he won’t last two more rounds.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Done. Come on, Mendoza!

PRINCE: Come on, Jackson!

FFOULKES: Percy.


PERCY BLAKENEY: Ah, Ffoulkes. Sit down.

FFOULKES: Percy, I’ve got to speak to you at once.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Pardon me, Your Highness.

(CROWD FADES TO BACKGROUND)

PERCY BLAKENEY: Well, Ffoulkes?

FFOULKES: Percy, It’s Chauvelin. He’s returned to England.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Chauvelin? Where is he?

FFOULKES: He’s… he’s…

PERCY BLAKENEY: Well come on, Ffoulks, come on, man. Where is he?

FFOULKES: He’s at your house, Percy.

PERCY BLAKENEY: My house? Order my carriage, I’m leaving at once.

(FADES OUT)

(CROWD CHEERING RETURNS FULL AND THEN FADES OUT)

CHAUVELIN: I would advise you to tell me, Lady Blakeney. You are French.

You know these nobles who have escaped. You must know who it was who

helped them.

MAUGARITE: I’m sorry, Monsieur Chauvelin, but I don’t know. And even if I

did, I wouldn’t tell you. You tricked me once into giving you information

about the Marquis de Sincere, and I shall never forgive myself.

CHAUVELIN: I’m sick of this sentimental twaddle about the poor persecuted

aristocrats. Have you forgotten what they did to the defenseless peasantry

for centuries? What this very Sincere did to you?

MAUGARITE: No. I have not. But I am no spy.

CHAUVELIN: Then… that is your last word?

MAUGARITE: Absolutely

CHAUVELIN: I wonder. Oh. By the way, how is your brother, Armand?

MAUGARITE: He is… very well, I hope.

CHAUVELIN: I hope so, too. But yesterday he was arrested.

MAUGARITE: Arrested?

CHAUVELIN: At Boulogne.

MAUGARITE: What for?


CHAUVELIN: As a traitor to his country!

MAUGARITE: Traitor? Oh, you’re lying, Chauvelin. Trying to trick me again.

CHAUVELIN: I have the proof of his guilt in my pocket. A note he once wrote

to the Scarlet Pimpernel. This scrap of paper will certainly send your

brother to the guillotine. Unless, of course, you care to redeem it. Bring me

the name of the Pimpernel and this is yours.

MAUGARITE: But even if I wanted to I don’t know it.

CHAUVELIN: Find it!

MAUGARITE: How can I? If you with an army of spies…

CHAUVELIN: Because you go everywhere, and know everyone in his circle.

That much I do know. And this also. That he will be among the guests

tomorrow night at the Grandville Ball.

MAUGARITE: So will half the world. This is impossible.

CHAUVELIN: To a clever woman who’s brother’s life is at stake, nothing is

impossible. Well?

MAUGARITE: Do you swear to give me that paper?

CHAUVELIN: The moment I catch the Scarlet Pimpernel.

SFX: door opens

PERCY BLAKENEY: (ENTERING) Zwounds, that name again.

MAUGARITE: Percy.

PERCY BLAKENEY: I’ve heard nothing else all day—at the club, at the fight,

and now here. I protest the fellow’s a public nuisance. I beg your pardon,

my dear, do I intrude?

MAUGARITE: No, no. This is… an old acquaintance, Monsier Chauvelin, the

French ambassador. My husband.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Charmed, delighted, enchanted. The devilish clever race,

the French. How they speak that unspeakable language of theirs defeats me.

CHAUVELIN: You flatter us, Sir Percy.

PERCY BLAKENEY: No, no, no, no, no. You’ve got the cleverest heads in the

world. The only trouble is you all go to pieces round the neck.

CHAUVELIN: Round the neck?


PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes. Now, now look at your cravat. Sink me, what a

mess. Now, if you’d really like to know how to tie a cravat, I’ll tell you.

But it isn’t easy, you know. It takes all my brains.

CHAUVELIN: Yes, I’m sure it would.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes. Of course you… now see, look here. First of all…

first of all, the thing goes twice around the neck. And then the front folds

back to allow the back to come to the front. Otherwise, of course, the front,

eh… the front would be all behind as-as-as-as it was before. You see? Hm?

MAUGARITE: Percy, what are you talking about?

PERCY BLAKENEY: You don’t follow me, my dear. It’s exactly what I say, it

takes brains, doesn’t it Mister Chauvelin?

CHAUVELIN: One can see that.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes. Of course one can.

CHAUVELIN: Well, good day, Lady Blakeney.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, no, no, no, no. Don’t go, no. I want you to hear my

verse about that Pimpernel fellow. You’ll love it, Chauvelin. Now listen

here.

SFX: paper rustling

PERCY BLAKENEY: (reading) “They seek him here, they seek him there.

Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven? Is he in….

(laughs)? That dimmed elusive Pimpernel.”

CHAUVELIN: Delightful.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes. It’s del…. I wrote it, you know? Cleve, what?

CHAUVELIN: Yes. Yes, especially that… that line, “Those Frenchies seek him

everywhere.”

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, yes, yes. I like that one, too, yes. Because you see I

hear that they do. And that gives the line sort of a-sort of a-something-that

gives it sort of a… something, if I-if I make myself clear.

CHAUVELIN: Yes, clear as crystal.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes.

CHAUVELIN: Good day, Sir Percy.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Bonjour Monsoo, as the French say, Bonjour Monsoo.

SFX: door closes


PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, it was a magnificent fight this afternoon, my dear.

Gad, I wish you could have been there… What’s the matter my dear?

MAUGARITE: Percy. Who is the Scarlet Pimpernel?

PERCY BLAKENEY: Pimpernel? Gad, Maugarite, how should I know? What’s

your interest in the Scarlet Pimpernel?

MAUGARITE: Oh, no more than any other woman’s. We’d all like to know who

he is.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes, so would your friend Chauvelin, I’ll wager.

MAUGARITE: What makes you say that?

PERCY BLAKENEY: Well, isn’t that what he’s here for? Didn’t he tell you?

MAUGARITE: Why should he?

PERCY BLAKENEY: Why not? Mind you, the man’s clever. But a fellow who

can’t tie his own cravat isn’t likely to put a noose around the Pimpernel’s

neck, is he?

MAUGARITE: Oh Percy, can’t you ever rise above trivialities.

PERCY BLAKENEY: (laughs) Can’t rise above anything more than three

syllables, my dear. Never could.

MAUGARITE: You were a man once. A man a woman could look up to. Could

turn to in trouble. And now… I wouldn’t know where to begin.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Could you begin by telling me what the trouble is?

MAUGARITE: What’s the use? We don’t speak the same language. We did

once. But I don’t think… we ever will again.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Really? Well, perhaps you’re right, my dear.

MUSIC:

APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER: You have just heard Act One of “The Scarlet Pimpernel”,

starring Leslie Howard and Olivia de Haviland. During our brief

intermission, let’s see what The Brownings are doing.

MUSIC: “jingle bells”

(FADE IN, singing) Jingle bells, jingle bells. Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is

to ride on a one horse open sleigh. Hey. (they continue under as Announcer

speaks) Jingle bells, jingle bells. Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride

on a one horse open sleigh. Hey.


ANNOUNCER: Mm, Christmas spirit. That’s Midge and Dot and ten-year-old

Bobby practicing for “The Community Sings”.

SFX: door opens

ANNOUNCER: And here comes mother, home from a shopping tour.

MOTHER: Hello, youngsters.

MIDGE: Hello, Mother.

DOT: Hiya, Santa Claus.

BOBBY: What speed. Look at the packages.

MOTHER: Oh, what a day. Here’s your ribbon and wrapping paper, Midge.

MIDGE: Thanks Mother. And, uh… did you get the, uh… you know.

MOTHER: (chucking) Yes. Here it is, Midge.

BOBBY: Gol-ly, what’s that?

MIDGE: Now, Bobby, no fair peeking.

BOBBY: Well, gee. Can’t I just feel it?

MIDGE: Nix. You keep away.

DOT: Mother, did you get the stockings?

MOTHER: Yes. Here they are, Dot.

MIDGE: Who are they for, Dot?

DOT: Mary Lou. She’s always running out of them.

MIDGE: Running out is right. Gosh, did she pop a runner in chemistry today.

DOT: Gee, it’s something awful, the runs that she gets. And snaky seams, too.

BOBBY: (hisses) I’m a snake! Wriggling through the grass!

DOT: (laughing) Oh, Bobby.

MIDGE: Oh, I know. I know.

DOT: Why, what?

MIDGE: Why look, Dot. You could wrap a box of Lux Flakes in with Mary

Lou’s stockings.

DOT: Oh, I bet she’d love to know about Lux.

MOTHER: I’m sure she would, dear. Lux cuts way down on runs.


MIDGE: Gee. And we could write a little card, like this. “Lux these stockings,

fine and sheer, uh…

DOT: … to help cut down on runs, old dear. (laughs) Oh, I think that’s swell.

ANNOUNCER: Now that was mighty helpful of Midge, thinking of Lux Flakes

for Mary Lou. In a month’s time, I’ll bet Mary Lou’ll be very grateful to

Midge, for she’ll be glad to get the special help Lux Flakes gives. You see,

Lux saves the elasticity in stockings, so they give under strain instead of

breaking into runs so often. If you haven’t tried Lux for your own stockings,

you’ll find it’s great, they way it cuts down on runs and helps stockings wear

longer and fit better. Buy Lux flakes tomorrow, in the large sized package

for extra thrift. Now Mr. deMille, and Act Two of our play.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: We continue with “The Scarlet Pimpernel”, starring Leslie

Howard and Olivia de Haviland.

MUSIC:

CECIL B. DEMILLE: The search continues. The search for the cursed elusive

Pimpernel. Forced by Chauvelin to lend her assistance, Maugarite attends

Lord Grenville’s ball.

MUSIC: changes

CECIL B. DEMILLE: As she enters the crystal and marble room, she glances

nervously around, wondering which of the guests is the Scarlet Pimpernel,

never suspecting her own husband, the vain and foolish Sir Percey Blakeney.

Chauvelin appears suddenly at her side…

MUSIC: swells and fades

CHAUVELIN: Well, Lady Blakeney?

MAUGARITE: I’ve learned nothing yet.

CHAUVELIN: I only want to know who one person is. If you don’t tell me, you

know the alternative. The guillotine for your brother.

MAUGARITE: Monsieur Chauvelin, you can’t do this. What if I can’t find the

Scarlet Pimpernel?

CHAUVELIN: My dear lady, the Pimpernel is under this roof. At this moment.

Among your friends. Your move, my lady. And good luck.

MUSIC: swells for scene change.

SERVANT: I beg pardon, Sir Percy.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes, my man?


SERVANT: Sir Andrew Ffoulkes wishes to speak to you.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Of course, of course, delighted.

MUSIC: scene change

PERCY BLAKENEY: Good evening, Ffoulkes.

FFOULKES: Ah, good evening, sir.

PERCY BLAKENEY: What is it?

FFOULKES: Hastings has just arrived from France.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Any news?

FFOULKES: The very worst. The king is doomed. He’ll go to the guillotine any

day.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Where is Hastings?

FFOULKES: He’s dancing. Shall I get him?

PERCY BLAKENEY: No, wait. I’ll send him a note. Come over here to the

desk. Wouldn’t do for me to be seen with Hastings. I want you to give him

this.

SFX: writing

PERCY BLAKENEY: Make sure no one sees you. I’m telling him to come to

the library at midnight. You’d better come, too.

FFOULKES: Very well.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Here, slip this note in the cuff of Hastings’ coat.

SFX: handling paper

PERCY BLAKENEY: (FADE OUT) Then don’t speak to him for the rest of the

evening.

MUSIC:

CHAUVELIN: Ah, Lady Blakeney. Won’t you take pity on a lonely compatriot?

MAUGARITE: Monsieur Chauvelin, are you asking me to dance with you?

CHAUVELIN: (closely, into her ear) Not with me. With Lord Hastings, madam.

MAUGARITE: Why?

CHAUVELIN: He has a note in his cuff. It was just put there by Sir Andrew

Ffoulkes. I want you to get it for me.

MAUGARITE: Oh, but listen, Chauvelin…


CHAUVELIN: Get it. Hurry, please. It might be important.

MUSIC: swells.

SFX: door opens & close.

CHAUVELIN: Come in, please. Well, Lady Blakeney? Did you get that note

from Hastings?

MAUGARITE: No.

CHAUVELIN: You didn’t?

MAUGARITE: I couldn’t. I think he suspected me. I pretended to turn my ankle.

He helped me upstairs and then, while I was sitting there, he read the note

and burned it. Then he left.

CHAUVELIN: He burned the note?

MAUGARITE: Yes. But not entirely. Some of the pieces were left. The note

began…

CHAUVELIN: Go on. Quickly.

MAUGARITE: It said, “… start tomorrow myself…”. And the last sentence was,

“… will be in the library at midnight.”

CHAUVELIN: Thank you. Thank you, Lady Blakeney. And now, if your labors

have tired you, you are quite at liberty to go home.

MAUGARITE: Thank you. I will.

MUSIC: swells for scene change.

CROWD COMMOTION

PERCY BLAKENEY: Are you certain of this, Ffoulkes?

FFOULKES: Quite certain. Hastings burned the note, Percy, as you’ve always

ordered us to. Then he went back to the room. And she was reading what

was left of it.

PERCY BLAKENEY: She went to Chauvelin?

FFOULKES: Yes. You know what that means, Percy. It means that Chauvelin

knows that the Scarlet Pimpernel will be in the library at twelve O’clock.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Perhaps. And perhaps he will.

(FADE OUT)

(FADE IN)

CHAUVELIN: Is this the library?


SERVANT: Yes, Monsieur Chauvelin.

CHAUVELIN: Have you seen anyone go in or come out of this room in the last

few minutes?

SERVANT: No, sir.

CHAUVELIN: Who is that on the sofa?

SERVANT: I don’t know, monsieur. He must be asleep.

CHAUVELIN: Well, please wake him up and ask him to leave. I have an

important engagement here.

SERVANT: Oh, it’s Sir Percy Blakeney, sir.

CHAUVELIN: Blakeney? That fool. Wake him up and ask him if he can have

the decency to go home and sleep in his own bed.

SERVANT: Yes sir. Uh, Sir Percy? Sir Percy!

PERCY BLAKENEY: Huh? Wha-wha-wha-wha-what is it? What is it? Is there

no peace for the weary? What ails you, man?

SERVANT: The French Ambassador, Sir Percy. He would like to have the library

to himself.

PERCY BLAKENEY: The French Ambassador? Ah, Monsieur Chauvelin.

CHAUVELIN: I am sorry to disturb you, Sir Percy, but I have an important

engagement here.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Really? Gad, there’s not a comfortable sofa anywhere

else in the house. I’ve tried them all. Sit down, Monsoo. What time is this,

eh… this gentleman to appear?

CHAUVELIN: He is a little late. If you don’t mind, I’ll wait for him alone.

PERCY BLAKENEY: No, not at all, not at all. By the way, what-what do

Ambassadors talk about in libraries at midnight? Must be very fatiguing.

Are-are you afraid England is going to declare war on France?

CHAUVELIN: That does not concern me at the moment.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Is that so? Your Revolution, now. Now, there-there-

there’s a great bore. Uh, how’s it going? Do you think you’ll win?

CHAUVELIN: We have won, sir.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, you have. I see. Yes. Have I been asleep that long?


CHAUVELIN: I… I hate to hurry you, Sir Percy, but I’m afraid your presence

here is keeping my friend from entering.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, he can come. Is he outside?

SFX: door opens

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, come in. Do, sir, please don’t stand on ceremony.

CHAUVELIN: I hardly think that will persuade him.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Ah, this must be a very secret meeting. I have it, I’ll

wager your expecting that Scarlet Pimpernel, is that it?

CHAUVELIN: (Impatiently) Sir Percy, you are becoming insufferable .

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, Monsoo Chauvelin, you would deprive me. Let me

hide behind the curtain. Anything. Just let me be the first in London to

glimpse that mystery man. Why, I’ll be the most popular man at the club.

CHAUVELIN: It is too late, now. He has been warned.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, then I shall miss him. Oh sink me, well, goodnight,

Monsoo. Better luck next time.

SFX: door opens

PERCY BLAKENEY: (exits) Good night.

SFX: door close.

MUSIC:

SFX: clock chimes twice.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: You’ve packed my things?

BRINKER: Yes, Sir Percy

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Good. See that Sir Andrew Ffoulkes receives this

note, would you?

SFX: paper rustling

BRINKER: Yes, Sir Percy.

SFX: Door opens

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Well, Maugarite. What are you doing up at this hour?

That’s all, Brinker.

BRINKER: Yes, Sir Percy.

SFX: door closes.


PERCY BLAKENEY: Well, my dear?

MAUGARITE: Percy. It’s about Armand. He’s in the most terrible danger.

They’ve arrested him in Boulogne.

PERCY BLAKENEY: How do you know?

MAUGARITE: Chauvelin told me.

PERCY BLAKENEY: When?

MAUGARITE: Yesterday.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Why didn’t you tell me when I asked you?

MAUGARITE: I… I don’t know… he… threatened me.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Why are you telling me now?

MAUGARITE: Because I thought you might do something for Armand. You

have influence at court.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Didn’t you ask your friend Chauvelin for help?

MAUGARITE: He promised me that, but… I don’t trust him.

PERCY BLAKENEY: He promised you the life of your brother. What did you

give him in exchange?

MAUGARITE: What? Oh, Percy, what has happened to you? Why do you hate

me?

PERCY BLAKENEY: Why did you denounce the Marquis de Sincere?

MAUGARITE: Oh. So that’s it. Why did you never ask me what the Marquis de

Sincere did to me?

PERCY BLAKENEY: You didn’t even know him.

MAUGARITE: No. I didn’t even know him. But I knew his son. I was only

seventeen when he asked me to marry him. His father heard about it and

had me arrested. And sent to St. Lazarre. Do you know what St. Lazarre is?

Do you know the sort of women that are sent there? I would have killed

myself, only…

PERCY BLAKENEY: Only what?

MAUGARITE: The Revolution came, the fourteenth of July, and I was free.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Free to denounce the Marquis. Free to send two innocent

people to the guillotine. It was your information, wasn’t it?


MAUGARITE: Yes. It was. And yet… I still ask myself, am I really guilty of

their death? The Marquis plotted with Austria. I told a friend, a man whom

I thought a friend. He denounced him, the terror did the rest.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Who was that friend? Chauvelin? Yes. He promised you

your brother’s life. What price did you pay for it? What price did you pay

for it?

MAUGARITE: A horrible one. I betrayed… the Scarlet Pimpernel.

PERCY BLAKENEY: How?

MAUGARITE: Ffoulkes gave a scrap of paper to Lord Hastings. I read it and

told Chauvelin that the Pimpernel would be in the library at midnight. Oh,

what am I to do, Percy. How can I warn him?

PERCY BLAKENEY: Warn him? Against what?

MAUGARITE: Against the danger that threatens him if he goes back to France.

PERCY BLAKENEY: My dear, if he’s the kind of lunatic I take him to be, your

warning won’t help him.

MAUGARITE: But he might be going to his death.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Well, that’s all the fellow lives for. Besides, he doesn’t

know that you’re in love with him.

MAUGARITE: In love with…? I admire his heroism, but I don’t love him.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, but you do, only you don’t know it.

MAUGARITE: Oh!

PERCY BLAKENEY: I didn’t know it myself, until a moment ago. You know,

it’s a dangerous game, falling in love with a phantom, my dear. For all you

know, he may be a married man, who’s… a married man who’s deeply in

love with his wife.

MAUGARITE: Never.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Why not?

MAUGARITE: Would any man who was in love with his wife leave her

continually to face danger? Would you?

PERCY BLAKENEY: Me? Maugarite, I… (catches himself and chuckles)

Zwounds, I’m much more romantic that you think. In a case like that I

wouldn’t leave you… not even to go to my tailor’s.

SFX: door opens and closes.


BRINKER: The horses are ready, sir.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Thank you, Brinker.

SFX: door opens.

MAUGARITE: Are you going away?

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes, didn’t I tell you? Important business in town in the

morning. Goodbye, my dear.

MAUGARITE: Your tailor’s, I suppose.

PERCY BLAKENEY: No. No, no, not only my tailor’s, but my bootmaker’s.

And incidentally, I want to see what my influence is worth at court. That

little matter of your brother, perhaps I can help.

MAUGARITE: Oh, Percy, if you could, I would… love you all my life.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Gad, I... (pause) I must remember that, my dear.

Goodbye.

SFX: door close.

BRINKER: Milady?

MAUGARITE: What is it, Brinker?

BRINKER: It’s very late, Milady.

MAUGARITE: I suppose you want me to leave this room. I’ve never been here

quite alone, have I?

BRINKER: Why, no, Milady.

MAUGARITE: I’ve hardly even noticed the furniture. Is that portrait of Sir

Percy’s one of Romney’s?

BRINKER: Why, yes, Milady. A very fine one, too.

MAUGARITE: He’s a great believer in detail, isn’t he? Look at that ring on Sir

Percy’s finger. You’d think it was… (gasps). Brinker.

BRINKER: Yes, Milady?

MAUGARITE: Have you ever noticed that ring?

BRINKER: Why no. It… it’s a seal ring, Milady.

MAUGARITE: Look closely. That flower. Engraved on the stone. What is it,

Brinker?

BRINKER: Why, bless my soul. It’s a scarlet pimpernel.


SFX: door opens.

SERVANT2: Milady.

MAUGARITE: Well?

BRINKER: A letter to be delivered into your ladyship’s hands.

MAUGARITE: From Sir Percy?

SERVANT2: No madam. From His Excellency, the French Ambassador.

MAUGARITE: Give it to me.

SFX: paper

SFX: door closes.

MAUGARITE: (reading) “Milady. I have at last discovered the identity of the

Scarlet Pimpernel. I hope to catch him tomorrow. And true to my word…”

Brinker!

BRINKER: Yes, Milady?

MAUGARITE: Order my carriage, at once! I must see Sir Andrew Ffoulkes.

MUSIC:

FFOULKES: Lady Blakeney. What’s happened?

MAUGARITE: Sir Andrew, there is no time to waste in talking. Just listen to me.

Your leader, and friend, the Scarlet Pimpernel,… he is my husband.

FFOULKES: How do you know that, Milady?

MAUGARITE: Don’t ask me any questions now. He is in danger. Chauvelin

knows that the Scarlet Pimpernel and Percy Blakeney are one and the same.

FFOULKES: How did Chauvelin come to know?

MAUGARITE: Through me.

FFOULKES: Ah.

MAUGARITE: Yes, yes, yes, I betrayed him. Never mind how. Just tell me this.

Has Percy left for Boulogne?

FFOULKES: Yes.

MAUGARITE: To save my brother?

FFOULKES: And de Tournay.

MAUGARITE: What is their meeting place at Boulogne?


FFOULKES: Why? Do you want to betray him again, Milady?

MAUGARITE: Oh, look at me. Do I look like a woman who wants to send her

husband to his death? I want to find Percy, to warn him, to save him. Or die

with him.

FFOULKES: I’ll go with you.

MAUGARITE: Ah. Can you bring your friends?

FFOULKES: Ten of them. The rest of them are in France. Percy has forbidden

us to go over. It will be the first time we’ve ever disobeyed him.

MAUGARITE: I’ll save Percy, if I have to kill Chauvelin. And if he goes to the

guillotine, I’ll go with him.

MUSIC:

APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER: We pause for station identification. This is the Columbia

Broadcasting System.

MUSIC:

ANNOUNCER: We drop the curtain on the second act of “The Scarlet

Pimpernel.” It goes up again shortly, when Leslie Howard and Olivia de

Haviland bring us Act Three. During this short intermission, we hear from

our special guest and Mr. deMille.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: In addition to being a foremost authority on the period of

tonight’s play, Madame Hilda Grenier, like our drama, has been intimately

concerned with English nobility all her life. For many years she had the title

of “Royal Dresser” to Queen Mary, and has been on duty at every

imaginable Royal function, from baptisms to coronations. Her background

makes her one of Hollywood’s most valued technical advisors. If there is a

more proper introduction for an ex-Royal Dresser, Madam Grenier, please

enlighten us.

MADAME GRENIER: It was infinitely better, Mr. deMille, than my first

introduction to royalty. Princess Charlotte of Germany had granted me an

interview. Entering her salon, I tripped on a rug and went flying along the

highly polished floor like a sailboat in the wind. When I dared to open my

eyes, there I was at the feet of the princess. She laughed, picked me up,

gave me my first lesson in poise. And now sir, I can tell you a little about

royalty, and a little about the Scarlet Pimpernel. Which would you like first?


CECIL B. DEMILLE: Well, We’d like to know a little more about you. Suppose

you tell us what a “Royal Dresser” is.

MADAME GRENIER: In addition to direct supervision over Queen Mary’s

wardrobe, my duties included the care of her jewels, order, decorations,

messages and other personal activity. I suppose my greatest responsibility

was to see that everything Her Majesty wore was absolutely correct—right

down to her umbrella.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: (chuckling) Her umbrellas?

MADAME GRENIER: Indeed. Each one in her tremendous collection was

named after the person who gave it to her. She’d simply ask me to bring her

Lord Chesterfield, or papa, or The Emperor, or Dali. But far more famous

than her umbrella collection, is her priceless array of antique furniture.

Many of her most treasured pieces originally came to England without a

scratch4 escaped from France the time of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: What mementos do you have, Madame Grenier, of your

days in the palace?

MADAME GRENIER: Several cherished gifts from both the late King George

and Her Majesty. I was also given a pair of silk stockings worn by Marie

Antoinette, who was the guillotine’s most celebrated victim. Hand made,

they have a texture like gossamer. Of course, Mr. deMille, I wouldn’t dream

of wearing them as you can well imagine. But just from showing them to

my friends they became soiled, and I finally had to make a courageous

decision—I had to wash them. I did the job myself, and with Lux,5 they

came out perfectly. Lux, incidentally, was used in Buckingham Palace

during all the years I served Her Majesty.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: Hm, that’s a real tribute. Looking back over those years,

what stands out most conspicuously in your host of regal recollections?

MADAME GRENIER: Not the pomp and glory, Mr. deMille. The little human

traits of Her Majesty. I remember how, as Princess of Wales, she wept

because she had to leave her little baby, Prince John, for an official visit to

India. How, coming home from a new musical show, she would whistle

tunes from the play, just as you and I. And I well recall how she’d carefully

tear off bits of unused papers from letters and save them for memoranda.

She was, and is, a wonderful woman. Now the word I promised about the

4 It’s hard to hear clearly what she says, but I think it’s “scratch”. It’s sure a good guess.

5 In the recording, she makes an error, clearly indicating that she is reading from a script. Who knows if she

actually did use Lux on these legendary and priceless stockings?


play. It may be a surprise to most Americans to learn he actually existed, Sir

Percy Blakeney, called The Scarlet Pimpernel. To this day, his descendants

are well known in England. As portrayed so excellently by Mr. Howard, he

was vain and foppish, but underneath it all, courageous, almost to the point

of being foolhardy. Was The Scarlet Pimpernel ever caught? Well,

suppose we all listen to the third act of the play and find out.

APPLAUSE

CECIL B. DEMILLE: You’ve entertained us royally, Madame Grenier.

APPLAUSE DIES DOWN

CECIL B. DEMILLE: “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” starring Leslie Howard in the

title role, and Olivia de Haviland as Maugarite, with Dennis Greene as

Chauvelin.

MUSIC:

CECIL B. DEMILLE: Armed with the knowledge that her husband is The Scarlet

Pimpernel, Maugarite takes ship for France to be with him in his hour of

danger. With Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, she stands on deck as their boat plows

its way across the English Channel. Just ahead lies the coast of France—a

few flickering lights in the darkness.

SFX: ship sounds

FFOULKES: You’d better go below, Lady Blakeney, we’ll be coming in soon.

MAUGARITE: What was the name of that Inn? The one you told me of?

FFOULKES: d’Liondour. Sir Percy’s headquarters’ on this coast.

MAUGARITE: And he’ll be there at ten O’clock. You’re certain?

FFOULKES: If all goes well he’ll be there.

MAUGARITE: But Chauvelin knows that Percy is the Pimpernel, what if he goes

there, too?

FFOULKES: We can only hope that he won’t. If Percy can escape this time, he’ll

never go back again.

MAUGARITE: Never again.

FFOULKES: If he can treaty Tournay and Armand, his mission is over.

MAUGARITE: His mission: that I drove him to. Sir Andrew, will we be there in

time?

FFOULKES: I think so. Ah, there are the lights now.


MAUGARITE: Lights?

FFOULKES: Yes, the signal. You see the window of that house off there to the

left? That’s the d’Liondour. See the light swinging back and forth? That

means it’s safe. Up and down means danger. You want to turn back now? I

can’t go with you, Lady Blakeney.

MAUGARITE: Don’t worry. I shall be all right. He has been risking his life

every day for me. I can risk mine once for him.

MUSIC:

SFX: knock.

INNKEEPER: Who’s there?

MAUGARITE: (whispering) A message.

SFX: door opens.

INNKEEPER: Well?

MAUGARITE: Is this d’Liondour?

INNKEEPER: Yes, Madame, but…

MAUGARITE: Let me in, please.

SFX: door opens all the way and closes.

INNKEEPER: Madame, what do you want here? This is no place for one of your

sort.

MAUGARITE: I am the sort that pays well, Citizen Bougare.

INNKEEPER: For what?

MAUGARITE: For a seat by the fire. I’ll wait here for a friend of mine… and

yours.

INNKEEPER: What should I know of your friend?

MAUGARITE: You signaled to him before. You must be expecting him. What

time? What time, please?

INNKEEPER: Ten O’clock. Madame, do... do you… do you know him?

MAUGARITE: Yes. I know him.

SFX: pounding on door. Men commotion.

MAUGARITE: Who is that?

INNKEEPER: I do not know. At this time.


COMMOTION OF MEN BEHIND DOOR

MAUGARITE: Where can I hide?

INNKEEPER: Up those stairs, to the room on your left. Hurry.

SFX: more pounding.

CHAUVELIN: (from behind door) Open here. Open!

INNKEEPER: One moment. One moment.

SFX: door unlatches and opens.

COMMOTION OF MEN AS THEY ENTER

CHAUVELIN: Citizen Bougare?

INNKEEPER: Yes.

CHAUVELIN: Under arrest. Take him, Sergeant.

INNKEEPER: What for?

CHAUVELIN: Betraying the Republic. Helping the enemies of France.

Smuggling Aristocrats out of the country.

INNKEEPER: That’s a lie.

CHAUVELIN: You’ve got one chance. Take it, or I’ll hang you now from your

own sign. Your leader’s coming here tonight, isn’t he?

SFX: slap

CHAUVELIN: ISN’T HE?

INNKEEPER: Yes.

CHAUVELIN: What time?

INNKEEPER: He ordered his boat to be off the point at Ten o’clock.

CHAUVELIN: But he’ll call here first for his passengers, won’t he?

INNKEEPER: He might.

CHAUVELIN: Might. You’ll look pretty swinging in the wind. How does he

know it’s safe? What is the signal? Sergeant, ask him what the signal is. A

twist of the arm will help him to remember.

SERGEANT: Speak up.

INNKEEPER: (in pain) Don’t! I’ll tell. A lantern in the attic window, waved up

and down for danger. Across the window when all is clear.


CHAUVELIN: Thank you, citizen. Sergeant, you may take citizen Brogar (fade

out) outside and...

(FADE IN)

MAUGARITE: Up and down for danger. Oh God, let him see the signal. Let

him see it. Up and…

SFX: Door opens.

CHAUVELIN: Put down that light, Lady Blakeney.

MAUGARITE: Chauvelin.

CHAUVELIN: We meet again. Permit me, Madame, but you were giving the

signal incorrectly. Up and down means danger. That will drive the

Pimpernel away. You must move the light… back and forth… across the

window. So. Now he will come to us.

MAUGARITE: Chauvelin, listen to me. He is my husband.

CHAUVELIN: A fact that you neglected to mention a few days ago.

MAUGARITE: You’ve got to let him go. I’ll do anything you want, I’ll give you

any information I can, but you’ve got to let him go free.

SFX: horse and cart begin to approach from the distance.

CHAUVELIN: Don’t be a fool. You’ve no information to give. And even if you

had, do you suppose I’d sacrifice my meeting with the Scarlet Pimpernel for

it?

GUARD: Monsieur Chauvelin?

CHAUVELIN: Well?

GUARD: A coach, Monsieur, is pulling is pulling up at the door.

CHAUVELIN: Ah. Our friend is early. I’ll let him in myself. Sergeant? You

shall have the privilege of watching over the Republic’s most charming

prisoner for the rest of the evening. (FADE OUT)

(FADE IN)

SFX: knocking on door.

SFX: door latch and opens.

SFX: sound of clock ticking in the room throughout the scene.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Brogare. Brogare.

CHAUVELIN: Don’t move, Sir Percy. Stand where you are.


PERCY BLAKENEY: Monsoo Chauvelin! Well, well this is a surprise.

CHAUVELIN: Yes, I thought it would be.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes. A very pleasant one, too. How nice of you to wait

up for me.

CHAUVELIN: The time for laughing has passed, Sir Percy. I have followed you

for a year. Your energy, your ingenuity, your audacity have been quite

admirable. But now the game is over.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Because all the trumps are in your hand, eh?

CHAUVELIN: Precisely. This house is surrounded by my soldiers. I have only

to raise my voice…

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes. Yes. Of course, I suppose I-I-I see your point. Yes.

But suppose, eh… Suppose I could reach the door? The night is black. The

sea is mine. I make a DASH!

CHAUVELIN: You won’t.

PERCY BLAKENEY: No, of course, I won’t. I don’t need to, because... Because

you see, one of my friends might shoot you, from behind… hidden in THAT

CLOCK!

CHAUVELIN: What?

PERCY BLAKENEY: Ha, ha… Come now, come now, Chauvelin. Why, you

know that clock is too small to house a man. But there’s still one avenue of

escape. One we could take together. In this pipe there is an ember. And in

that cask behind me there is gunpowder. If I drop this ember here, I fly

straight to heaven, and of course you know where you fly to.

CHAUVELIN: Get away from that barrel!

PERCY BLAKENEY: (laughs) Why, it isn’t gunpowder. I merely wanted to see

you turn pale.

SFX: door open

PERCY BLAKENEY: Ah, come into the window, Ffoulkes. You’re a welcome

sight. I would raise my hands if I were you, Chauvelin.

CHAUVELIN: Another trick. I don’t turn this time.

FFOULKES: I don’t think you’d better.

CHAUVELIN: Why you…


PERCY BLAKENEY: There, you see? Ffoulkes tricks us both. He must have

sensed you and I would meet here. Now, Chauvelin, I’ve had a delightful

visit with you. In the meantime, my friends Armand St. Just and de Tournay

are safely aboard my ship. And in a moment, if you’ll excuse us, Ffoulkes

and I will join them.

CHAUVELIN: You’ll never get beyond that door.

FFOULKES: We’ll need the password, Percy.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Ah, yes, yes. The password. Yes. Well, Monsoo, eh…

do we have to use force?

CHAUVELIN: Not at all, Sir Percy. The password is, “The channel is free.”

PERCY BLAKENEY: Thank you. Ffoulkes, give me your pistol. You get on the

ship, I’ll take care of our friend here and join you in a minute.

FFOULKES: Very good.

SFX: door opens & close

PERCY BLAKENEY: You know, that, eh… that was quite sensible of you,

Monsoo Chauvelin. To give us the password, I mean.

CHAUVELIN: Not at all, Sir Percy. You may go because… I know you’ll come

back of your own free will.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Ah, you overestimate the charm of your society.

CHAUVELIN: I told you once the time for jesting is over. I have all the trumps

in my hand. In that room upstairs there is a woman, under arrest, who has

forfeited her life by aiding the enemies of the Republic.

PERCY BLAKENEY: What woman?

CHAUVELIN: Your wife, Sir Percy. Who loves you very much.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: (stunned) Maugarite.

CHAUVELIN: Is the game up, Sir Percy? Is this the last adventure?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: All right, I give up Chauvelin. What next?

CHAUVELIN: There is a firing squad outside.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: And my wife.

CHAUVELIN: The Revolutionary Tribunal.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: That means death.


CHAUVELIN: It would have meant my death if I had not caught you. Ha. Don’t

be alarmed, Sir Percy. I don’t want your wife’s blood. She’s free the

moment you die.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: I offer you a pact. If you promise to say nothing to

her, if you’ll send her on to my ship immediately… I’ll walk out in front of

your firing squad.

CHAUVELIN: I accept. Sergeant?

SERGEANT: Yes, Monsieur?

CHAUVELIN: Bring the lady downstairs, please. (to Percy) You must be very

fond of your wife, Sir Percy.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Yes, I am. Is that so strange?

CHAUVELIN: Not at all. A charming woman.

MAUGARITE: Percy.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Maugarite.

MAUGARITE: Percy, I came to help you as soon as I knew. I wanted to give my

life to save you. And now… oh, forgive me.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: You came to help me. Chauvelin didn’t bring you?

MAUGARITE: No. I came with Sir Andrew.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Oh, Maugarite.

MAUGARITE: What are they going to do to you? Tell me.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Why, I’m in no danger, my dear.

MAUGARITE: What? No, you’re lying. I know. He’s going to kill you. I can

see it in his eyes. Oh, Percy, don’t leave me! I want to die with you. I

want… (she faints.)

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Maugarite. She’s fainted.

CHAUVELIN: Some water, perhaps.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: No. Our parting would be too cruel now, even for

you. Take her while she’s still unconscious. Good bye, my sweet. It’s good

to know that you loved me a little.

CHAUVELIN: Sergeant! Carry her to Sir Percy’s boat. The boat is to sail the

minute Sir Percy dies. The lady is free when you hear the firing squad.

SERGEANT: Yes, sir.


SFX: door open & close.

CHAUVELIN: Well, she’s gone, Monsieur. Now… are you… quite ready?

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Yes. By the way, do you like poetry, Monsieur

Chauvelin?

CHAUVELIN: “That dimmed elusive Pimpernel?”

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Oh no, no, no, no, no. No, I mean… poetry. “This

other Eden, demi-paradise,

This fortress built by Nature for herself

Against infection and the hand of war,

This happy breed of men, this little world,

This precious stone set in the silver sea,

This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.” 6

I, uh… I forget the rest.

SFX: firing squad marching.

SQUAD COMMANDER: (calls command) _______

SFX: Marching stops.

SQUAD COMMANDER: (calls another command) _______

CHAUVELIN: The firing squad. They’re waiting.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Will you come see me die, monsieur?

CHAUVELIN: No, thank you. I shall remain here. I shall picture the scene in my

own way.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, yes, of course. Make it as horrible as possible.

CHAUVELIN: (smiling) Yes.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Good night, Monsieur.

CHAUVELIN: Good night.


SQUAD COMMANDER: (calls command, perhaps “ready”) ______

SFX: rifles lock.

CHAUVELIN: Present.

SQUAD COMMANDER: Present.

6 From Richard II, Act 2 (Shakespeare)


(pause)

CHAUVELIN: Fire.

SQUAD COMMANDER: Fire!

SFX: rifles shoot.

(pause)

CHAUVELIN: “That dimmed elusive Pimpernel.” (laughs to himself)

(whistling, “God Save the Queen” approaching.)

SFX: door opens

PERCY BLAKENEY: I’m so sorry, Monsieur.

CHAUVELIN: Blakeney!

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes, you see, I’ve come back for my hat. It’s such a

cursed good hat, you know.

CHAUVELIN: But you… but you…

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, no, no, no, no. Don’t-Don’t look at me like that.

Sink me, if you don’t think I am my own ghost.

CHAUVELIN: Durock! Durock!

PERCY BLAKENEY: Oh, you mean the Captain of your firing squad? I’m

afraid it’ll be an hour or so before poor Captain Durock will be able to

resume his duties. I regret that I struck him rather violently.

SFX: door opens

PERCY BLAKENEY: Come in, gentlemen! This, eh… is my firing squad.

Allow me to present Sir Andrew Ffoulkes,…

FFOULKES: Yes.

PERCY BLAKENEY: …Lord Hastings,

HARMAND ST. JUST: Yes.

PERCY BLAKENEY: …Lord Bellville and all the rest of them. But of course

you know all about them.

CHAUVELIN: Your firing squad?

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes, you see, those men you hired—oh, excellent men, all

of them—but oddly enough they can’t resist a drink of wine. Oh they’ll

recover, it was just a mild drug, you know. But, eh… for the moment

they’re all sleeping very soundly.


SCARLET PIMPERNEL: And now, since the volley of shots has freed Lady

Blakeney, I must make haste to join her. Good night.

CHAUVELIN: Why, I… Why, you…

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: Chauvelin. You know, I think a cooling off is what

you need. Ffoulkes, raise that trap door, there.

SFX: trap door opens.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL: You’ll find it very cool below, monsieur Chauvelin.

You will have ample time to think things over. Bonsoir, monsieur. Vive la

France. Long live the King!


MUSIC: Fanfare. Then changes and continues under.

MAUGARITE: Percy. You’re here. They told me.

PERCY BLAKENEY: Yes. Maugarite, my darling, I’m here. And we’re on our

way to England, that’s all you have to know.

MAUGARITE: Are we free now? Really free?

PERCY BLAKENEY: I’m free, my sweet. But you… You know, Chauvelin

said that you would not be free until the moment I die.

MAUGARITE: Darling.

PERCY BLAKENEY: And I won’t let it be a moment sooner.

MUSIC: swells and ends

ANNOUNCER: We take leave of “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” You know, hearing

The Brownings get all excited about Christmas reminds me of something.

And I’d like to tell you about it before Mr. deMille comes back with our

stars. I want to tell you a very snappy way to trim your Christmas tree. All

you need is your old friend Lux flakes. Now listen. Pour a large box of

Lux Flakes into a big bowl and add two scant cups of lukewarm water.

Whip it up with an egg beater. Gosh, it’s wonderful the suds you get. A big

pan full of fine white suds, that look like whipped cream in the bowl, and

like real snow on the Christmas tree. Now, take handfuls of the suds, and

spread them with your fingers all along the branches of your Christmas tree.

If you want an even more glittering effect, while the suds are still moist,

sprinkle the tree with artificial Christmas snow—the kind you get in the

stores. Boy, what an effect you get. Your tree looks as though it had been

out in a real honest-to-goodness snowstorm. It certainly is pretty, all

sparkling and everything. And you know, this is one way to help your tree


to last longer. Because the Lux suds cling to the needles and keep them

from drying out and falling off too soon. Want me to repeat the recipe? A

large sized box of Lux Flakes, two scant cups of lukewarm water, whipped

with an egg beater. That’s all. Be sure to get the large sized box of Lux, so

you can make plenty of snow. Here’s Mr. deMille.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: Our stars drop their roles. Lady Maugarite is again Olivia

de Haviland and The Scarlet Pimpernel becomes Leslie Howard.

LESLIE HOWARD: Well, it is every bit as enjoyable bringing this play to the

air, Mr. deMille, as it was bringing it to the screen. As Madame Grenier told

us, the Scarlet Pimpernel really actually existed. I confess, I didn’t know

that until I was making the picture. Because, surely, no character seemed a

more… more a piece of elaborate fiction. So naturally, when someone sent

me a note and said he belonged to Sir Percy’s family, I wondered whether

one of my friends had thought up the gag, you know. It was slightly

embarrassing not long after when a Mr. Blakeney, a descendant of the

original Scarlet Pimpernel, introduced himself to me.

OLIVIA DE HAVILAND: Two weeks ago, Mr. Howard, I heard you say

something on this program about turning motion picture director. Earlier

tonight, Mr. deMille added the word “Producer” after your name.

Apparently you’re really going into the picture business in all its branches.

LESLIE HOWARD: You scare me, Olivia. As a matter of fact, we expect to

produce certain pictures in England. But just to be sure that our efforts will

appeal to our American audiences, we’re going to write our first story right

here in Hollywood. It’ll be the first time, I believe, that this has been done

by an English unit.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: (chuckles) Well, there’s no reason why the tie that binds

the nations can’t be made of celluloid. Miss de Haviland, you’ve been out

of Hollywood a long time filming “Dodge City”.7 Any adventures on

location?

OLIVIA DE HAVILAND: Well, I’m the “Dodge City” dodger. I’ve been

dodging kidnappers.

LESLIE HOWARD: Not kidnappers?

OLIVIA DE HAVILAND: Yes, kidnappers.

LESLIE HOWARD: Really?

7 “Dodge City” released in 1939, starring Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, and Bruce Cabot.


OLIVIA DE HAVILAND: Let me tell you. We were on location near Modesto,

in the Prairie country, and a very nice place I thought for a nice, quiet walk.

But it seems that two very tough looking gentlemen also decided to take a

nice, quiet walk and follow me. And after a couple of miles they were still

right on my heels. There wasn’t another soul around, and the only building

in sight was a farm house. And when I made a dash for that, the two men

dashed after me. I reached the farm house, found it was abandoned, and

decided to face it out. I walked right up to the men, demanded what they

wanted, and looked them straight in the eye. One of them took something

out of his pocket. I didn’t dare look. I was too sure it was a six shooter.

Just as I was about to faint, the man poked it under my nose and said, “We

sure would like your autograph, Miss de Haviland.”

(the men laugh.)

OLIVIA DE HAVILAND: And believe me, gentlemen, I signed. (laughing)

Well, Mr. deMille, I hate to say good night, but I guess it’s time to. Thank

you for another grand evening.

LESLIE HOWARD: Yes, with added thank you to all worked with us in the cast.

Good night, C.B.

APPLAUSE

CECIL B. DEMILLE: Good night, Mr. Howard. Good night, Olivia.

ANNOUNCER: There’s a great show awaiting you here next Monday night.

Listen for Mr. deMille’s announcement of it shortly. Heard in “The Scarlet

Pimpernel” were Denis Green as Monsieur Chauvelin, Walter Kingsford as

Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, Vernon Steele as Romney, Ramsay Hill as Armand St.

Just, Reginald Sheffield as Count de Tournay, Eric Snowden as the Prince of

Wales, Gerald Cornell as the Innkeeper, Keith Kenneth as Brinker, Lou

Merrill as the Barber, George Pembrook as Lord Hastings, John Toti as a

voice, Dave Roberts as a guard, and Geraldine Peck, Ethel Sykes, Coral

Colebrook and Betty Sutter as ladies of the court. Miss de Haviland’s

current film is the Warner Brothers comedy, “Hard to Get”. Mr. Howard is

co-director of the picture “Pygmalion”. Our musical director, Louis Silvers,

appeared through courtesy of 20th Century Fox studio, where he was in

charge of music for the new picture, “Kentucky”. We want to remind you

that this is the time to help the 1938 drive to help tuberculosis. Help make

the world safer. Purchase your supply of anti-tuberculosis Christmas seals

now. Use them on all your Christmas mail. Show that you are helping, too,

to fight the dread disease. Buy seals for Christmas, and you buy health for

the New Year. Mr. deMille.


CECIL B. DEMILLE: It carries a punch, like a prize fighter’s fist, the play you’ll

next Monday night. “Kid Galahad.” An exciting drama of the squared

circle. It’s the story of a manager, the boy he picks to win the title, and the

women who love this naïve thunderbolt called, “Kid Galahad.” The same

two stars you saw in the picture bring the play to our stage. Edward G.

Robinson and Wayne Morris, and with them Miss Joan Bennett and Andrea

Leeds.8

MUSIC:

CECIL B. DEMILLE: Our sponsors, the makers of Lux Flakes, join me in

inviting you to be with us again next Monday night, when the Lux Radio

Theater presents, “Kid Galahad”, starring Edward G. Robinson and Joan

Bennett, with Wayne Morris and Andrea Leeds. And as the evening’s

special guest, the former heavyweight champion of the world, Jack

Dempsey. This is Cecil B. deMille saying, “Good night to you, from

Hollywood.”

APPLAUSE

MUSIC: Concludes.

CECIL B. DEMILLE: Your announcer has been Melville Ruick. This is the

Columbia Broadcasting System.

December 12, 1938. CBS net. "The Scarlet Pimpernel". Sponsored by: Lux. The story of the daring Englishman with a secret identity who bedevils the French during the Revolution. The intermission guest is Madame Hilda Grenier, former royal dresser to Queen Mary. One of her prized possessions is a pair of stockings owned by Marie Antoinette (and three guesses what she washes them in)! Lou Merrill, Louis Silvers (music director), Melville Ruick (announcer), Keith Kenneth, Ramsay Hill, George Pembrook (doubles), Gerald Cornell, Geraldine Peck (doubles), Hilda Grenier (intermission guest), Ethel Sykes, John Toti, Leslie Howard, Olivia De Haviland, Betty Sutter, Cecil B. DeMille, Coral Colebrook, Dave Roberts, Denis Green, Eric Snowden (doubles), Reginald Sheffield (doubles), Vernon Steele, Walter Kingsford, Robert Sherwood (screenwriter), Arthur Wimperis (screenwriter), Sam Berman (screenwriter), Lajos Biro (screenwriter), Baroness Orczy (author, stage adaptor), Montagu Barstow (stage adaptor), Carolyn Newell, Ross Forrester, Frank Nelson (performer, program opening announcer), Marilyn Stuart (commercial spokesman), Betty Jean Hainey (commercial spokesman), Jane Morgan (commercial spokesman), Frank Woodruff (director), George Wells (adaptor), Charlie Forsyth (sound effects), Eric Burtis (commercial spokesman). 59: 04

8 The film also starred Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart.

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