You Are the Switchman (1951)

[Music] [Applause] w the switchman's job is a responsible one he must determine which is the clear track the right way leads to safety the wrong to disaster here's a decision of life or death they should be no guesswork about it he must know he must recognize the danger signal and throw the switch in the right direction for a clear track ahead you too are a switchman by what you do or don't do you can determine your future and the future of those you love it may even be a matter of life and death as in the doe family that's John Doe just an average American at the head of the table John's a happy man with a good job a comfortable home and with almost enough money saved to start building the house that he and Mary have long dreamed of owning and this of course is Mary the girl next door who married John and hand in hand throughout the years has been his devoted wife and helpmate as for the rest of the doe family this is Bob a typical boy who does a fairly good job at school and doesn't get into too much trouble last but by far not the least is Jane who thinks that mommy is the prettiest lady and Dad the nicest man in the whole world yes all's peace and quiet on the do family front with many many good things to come and everything to look forward to but what's this Bob doesn't miss a thing and that soar is still on Dad's lip why don't you have that fixed up Dad if it was on my lip I'll bet you'd do something about it Mary too has been concerned about that little SAR for most of them heal in a short time but this one seems to be getting worse why don't you drop in and have Dr Benjamin take a look at it she urges oh forget it Sir John nothing to it you know I've never been sick in my life besides I've had other sores that have healed and just because this one is taking a little longer I see no reason for all this excitement skip it forget it it's nothing important skip it says John all right let's skip on to a few weeks later in a quiet evening at home by the way says Mary when you shave in the morning don't you notice how ugly that SAR on your lip is becoming Wham that did it John seems to be quite irritable lately of course I've noticed it he says I think I'm old enough to take care of myself here look one of the men at the plant told me about this sound that heals all kinds of sores and I've been using it for a couple of days already Mary is not impressed and says that black gooey mess seems to me it's getting worse instead of better well give it a little time growls John besides if this one doesn't work I'll try some others there are plenty of other savs on the market perhaps so replies maram but maybe you won't get the right one if there is a right one besides I'd feel much better if you'd go in to see Dr Benjamin gosh Mary stop worrying if it doesn't get any better I'll go in and see the doctor a little later on and here we are just a little later on weeks later on weeks more of delay Mary seems pleasantly surprised when John comes into the kitchen and offers to help little Jane thinks this is a good time to ask for that new dress they saw in the store window but Dad says no can do right now cuz all the spare money went into papering and painting the upstairs and buying the new bedroom set late late John seems a little subdued perhaps it's because that SAR is getting worse and besides he's noticed another SAR or lump in his neck well even a devoted wife can stand just so much and then she simply must let off steam listen here John do there'll be no more Dilly dallying around tomorrow rain or shine you're going to see Dr Benjamin you've delayed entirely too long already in finding out what this is all about and so after weeks of delay John eventually gets to the doctor says the doctor without much question that is cancer of the lip and markedly advanced too it's off to the hospital for you John while I have an examination made under the microscope part of this sore there's no delay now but it seems to be too late the doctor has to tell Mary that had Jon come in to see him earlier he would have had a 95% chance of being being cured but now after all the delay he can't offer much encouragement however he'll do the very best he can not many weeks later poor Mary is entirely on her own the fullback of the doe family team is missing and she has to carry the ball all alone oh she got a job all right Bob helps take care of Jane but it's not the same with John not there if he'd only known the danger signals that might mean caner and it acted on them how different things might have been speaking of danger signals let's return to our switchman when he really knows his danger signals when he acts promptly to protect lives and throws the switch for a clear track ahead to health and happiness let's look in on the doe family again and see what happens when John recognizes the warning signal and acts at once remember that first night when Bob and Mary spoke about the small SAR on his lip remember how he said I forget it skip it remember how through lack of knowledge indecision and delay he wrecked the whole doe train well that's what would have happened if Mary hadn't seen that small circular at the drug store that afternoon and brought one home to show John well how do you know exclaims John as he reads the circular and calms down a bit maybe you're right perhaps I'd better drop in on Dr Benjamin just to be on the safe side and while we're on the subject Mary you'd better come in along too for a checkup get the doctor on the phone find out if he can arrange to see us in the morning Dr Benjamin seems quite pleased that johon came in to see him so early you see it's half of practicing medicine to be able to see people early when something can be done it's like the old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in cancer of the lip 95% can be cured when they're detected and treated early the doctor is suspicious that it is cancer and on the assumption that it is until proven otherwise he'll have a small part of it examined under the microscope if it is he'll use one of the three accepted means of treating cancer x-ray radium or surgery or a combination of the three methods it won't take long and John will only be laid up for a few days here we are again just 3 weeks later with the doe family team still intact John has been back on the job and with a promotion coming up he's already making plans for that Dreamhouse he's going to build for Mary and the kids through making the danger signals of cancer known Mary too is able to plan for the future her thoughtfulness in bringing the circular of warning signals home and calling it to Jon's attention is the reason why the family is still happily United as for Bob and Jane all they know is that Dad's here and Mommy's here and everything is dandy yes they probably just feel warm snug secure and happy about the whole thing cancer can often be cured the hope of cure lies in early detection by the individual and the physician you owe it to your family and yourself see the difference between early treatment and when cancer is moderately Advanced there are only three recognized means of treating cancer they are surgery X-ray and radium so be an alert switchman cancer is curable if caught in time know your danger signals don't take take a chance don't gamble don't doubt find out 50,000 to 80,000 people can be saved every year in the United States if the danger signals of cancer are made known to them and they act at once if one develops use the knowledge and skill that's at the command of the medical profession a thorough examination by your family physician is your best assurance that you will be counted among those who are saved throw the switch in the right direction for a future of health and happiness