Family Theater: The Black Arrow

Family Theater presents Leo McCarry, Betty Lynn, and John Howard. From Hollywood, the mutual network in cooperation with Family Theater brings you John Howard and Betty Lynn in Robert Lewis Stevenson's classic, The Black Era, to introduce the drama, Your Host, Leo McCarry.

Thank you, Gene Baker. All of us spend many happy hours living in the shadow of our memories. One of my first recollections was hearing my mother read to me the wonderful stories of Robert Lewis Stevenson.

So, tonight on Family Theater, it's like calling on an old friend when I introduce Robert Lewis Stevens' well-remembered classic, The Black Arrow. In this story of 15th century England, you will hear John Howard as Richard Shelton and Betty Lynn as Joanna Sidley, alias Jack Matcham.

Come let Jean Baker tell you about The Black Arrow. It was during the War of Roses, and the House of York and the House of Lancaster both fought to control the throne of England, the many scheming warlords came into power.

Among these was Sir Daniel Brackley. Through murder, violence and theft, Sir Daniel and his men of Lancaster had taken tonsil forest and the surrounding countryside. And although the tenants were forced to follow Sir Daniel, their secret hearts, they remained loyal to the house of York and Sir Ellis Duckworth, their rightful leader.

Late one spring afternoon, two of Sir Daniel's loyal followers, Bennett Hatch and Nicholas Applegard, stood before the Tunstle Mothouse, when a horseman approached. Hey, look, Bennett Hatch, this master Richard Schouten, Sir Daniel's war. Most like Sir Daniel's in trouble again and needs men and arms to take more land.

Oh, why there? Hey, Master Richard, what news of Sir Daniel? If Daniel is sent word to your Bennett Hatch, for every man that can draw a bow to follow you to Kettley. What would be, Master Richard?