Three Secrets Page #3

Don't cheat your son, Susan.

Think of the moment when he finds out.

But giving him away...

my own flesh and blood

it's wrong...

unnatural.

Living with an illegitimate child will be

wrong and unnatural too

only it will last the rest of your life.

This will be over in a few months.

It's right and natural for every child

to be brought up in a normal home.

You must realize that.

Is it so terrible that I'm fighting

for my own child?

No, Susan, after all,

I'm fighting for my child.

I'll come back this evening.

Now you get some rest.

Just a minute, nurse.

You must be new here.

Yes, I am.

This baby never goes to its mother.

Oh.

Oh, nurse.

I'm Mrs. Connors.

May I hold the baby for a moment?

Of course.

She'll be back at The Shelter at five.

Yes.

Spread on child welfare might be interesting,

don't you think?

Just whistling in the dark myself.

Bad joke.

Sorry.

Why don't you keep quiet,

or would you like to wear a sign

with your name on it?

Relax. The way you're acting

you'd think you were the father.

Look at that. Isn't she a classic example?

Shhh.

Men.

Hey, I could swear

I've seen that girl before.

You have.

That was Ann Lawrence.

You may come in now, please.

Before you sign these

final surrender papers, Miss Connors...

it's my duty to tell you that

upon signing them

you sever all connections, both legal

and personal, with your child.

You'll have no recourse through law

for recovering your child.

And never under any conditions

will his whereabouts or any information

concerning him be available to you.

Do you understand, Miss Connors?

Is it empty?

No.

It's me.

Are you going through?

No, can I park?

Right over there.

Thanks.

Under the dawn light, the drama here

at Jackson's Lodge intensifies

with the preparation of the rescuers

making ready for their perilous ascent.

The volunteer climbers will be led

by kingpin mountaineer Noel Stephani

expected momentarily from Winnipeg.

Stephani is the only man available

who has made the direct ascent of the sheer face

of the south cliff where Johnnie Peterson lies.

Sunglasses, lady? You're gonna need them

when the sun comes up.

No, thanks.

Not many left, $3.

This climb, with the boy's life at stake,

is one of the most desperate challenges

ever hurled

at the group of men who are attempting

to scale the rocky cliffs.

And now I want to bring you the man in charge

of the operations here, Mr. Neil MacDonald.

Sir, could you tell our radio audience

how high Thunder Mountain is?

It's 12,892 ft.

That's over two miles.

Looking at it from here it seems almost impossible

that anyone could get to that peak.

We're counting on Stephani.

We've been informed by the Bishop airport

that Stephani left there by car

half an hour ago.

I suppose the climbers will start up

as soon as he arrives.

That's right.

Would you like to forecast how long

it might take them

to reach little Johnnie Peterson?

That depends on Stephani, Sir.

And God.

Thank you, Sheriff.

And now, while we're awaiting

the imminent arrival of Noel Stephani,

I want to bring some of the other climbers

to the microphone.

These volunteers from the rock-climbing section

of the Sierra Club

are all from different walks of life

with the one thing in common:

a relish for danger and for high places.

Pardon me, would you be good enough

to tell me your name?

Yes, sir, Paul Estes.

Where are you from, Paul?

Burbank.

I see, how long have you been doing

mountain climbing?

Approximately 12 years.

I see, undoubtedly then you've been

in some rescues before this.

Yes, sir.

Thank you very much, Paul.

Over here on the emergency truck,

one of the other climbers is working

on some metal objects.

Pardon me, may I have your name, sir.

My name is Lavelle.

And where are you from, Mr. Lavelle?

Los Angeles.

And what's your business?

I'm an engineer, and I, well,

I like to climb mountains particularly.

I see, well, you're gonna have

a pretty grim task today, I wonder...

Yes, it is.

...what are you using there, Mr. Lavelle?

These are pitons.

And how are they used?

Those are used to drive in cracks in the rocks

to anchor the carabiners and rope

as a means of safety.

I see, the carabiner, that must be this

sort of chain link there...

That's right.

You mean these little things are strong enough

so they can stand your weight?

That is right. They will stand

several thousand pounds of pull.

I see, thank you very much.

Over here, by the Red Cross table

a couple of the other boys are having

a cup of hot coffee

I bet that tastes pretty good this morning,

doesn't it?

Really hits the spot.

What's your name?

Roy Ghoren.

I see, where are you from, Roy?

I'm from Los Angeles.

What's your business?

I'm with the Treasury Department,

Bureau of Customs.

I see, the government, in other words, has given

you a leave to participate in this rescue.

That's right.

I see, thanks very much.

You're welcome.

Over by the ambulance...

one of the other fellows is packing away

tennis shoes.

Does that mean you're gonna have to use

different kinds of shoes in the climb today?

Yes, on the steep rock

we'll have to use tennis shoes.

Hm-hmm. What is your name?

Ray Van Aken.

Where are you from, Ray?

Los Angeles.

And do you work?

No, I go to school.

Oh, I see. Then mountain climbing

is sort of a summer hobby with you.

Yes, that's right.

Thank you very much, Ray.

Ladies and gentlemen, you've heard

from several of the climbers

about to make the dangerous ascent

up the side of the south cliff

It won't be long before...

Do you know anything about

the terrain up there, Mr. Stephani?

Can you tell me what course you'll take?

We'll approach the main buttress

from the north.

Then take the south couloir

up to the third pitch

We'll make a piton traverse to the west end

Follow the west direct to the main head wall,

after that, straight up.

How long do you think it will take?

That's enough, boys.

We got to get these men started.

I won't waste any time, men.

Stephani here will lead you.

The Army will keep you spotted

from the air

and your handy talkie will keep you

in touch with us.

If by any chance we lose radio contact

you will use flares.

When you reach the boy

send up one flare.

If he's still alive, send up another.

Dr. Ferguson will go along with

first-aid supplies.

He's not an expert climber so I suggest

you keep him in the middle in case of a fall.

I don't have to impress upon you

that speed is important.

But caution is also important.

An injured man can cost you hours.

Well, I guess that's all, men.

Good luck, and God bless you for volunteering.

It's going to be a dangerous climb

but they go fully equipped

taking with them, as we can see, of course,

a stretcher which will be used to bring

the young man down should that be necessary.

And here at the base,

an ambulance waits also to remove him quickly

to the hospital if that may be.

We know of course that the prayers

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