 Kathy and Elliot Lewis on stage two of the most distinguished names in radio Appearing each week in their own theater starring in a repertory of transcribed stories of their own and your choosing radios foremost players in radios foremost players Ladies and gentlemen Elliot Lewis Good evening. May I present my wife Kathy? Good evening There's a very special reason why we're doing tonight's play But we'd rather tell you about it after the show is over and so as quickly as possible We introduce the new radio play by E. Jack Newman. It's called heartbreak Vicki Where have you been? It's almost seven. I got tied up at the office. I couldn't get away until all the traffic started How are you wonderful? I'm bushed. Oh, there's a rough one today You'll feel better after shaving shower. Hurry dear. You don't have much time. I'd rather sit down and have a smoke and wonder Why I'm alive. Do I have to hurry to do that? We're having dinner at the Wilksons tonight. Did you forget? Is it that bad? I'm tired Vicki just plain tired and I have to get at it again tomorrow first thing Yeah, it's that bad. You know, you could have told me this morning that you didn't want to go out I didn't know what kind of a day it was gonna be this morning. I would have told you if I'd known believe me Do you want me to call them up and tell them we can't make it? They're only expecting us in a half an hour What time we do there 730 a Shave and shower will help. I know it will forget. I looked sad. We did not sure You look awful pretty to be my wife. Hmm too pretty for me Could a guy have an old-fashioned while he's dressing sounds like a fine idea. I'll only be a minute I don't expect us to be right on time anyhow My blue silk come back to clean it's on the bed, dear Find the bidders Dan seem to find the bidders anywhere, and I know we have some around here somewhere, and you had them last Dan Hey, Dan We're in Chicago. Oh, Vicki do something Can't breathe How's he been feeling lately any complaints no He's been a little tired. He's been working very hard. Are you getting any exercise? Place golf when it can but He's been so busy. I don't think he's played in over two months. They're not like that. The oxygen Don't want to have an accident Dan's never been sick a day in his life We all get sick sometime rather as pulse is picking up now. Do you have any idea? What's the matter? We'll know more in a minute Okay He's all right Hello Dan Well easy now easy You've had a little trouble Dan, but it's all over now Just used some oxygen to help you out of it. Oxygen Vicki here here Right here dear. I guess I must have scared you, honey. I Think I'd ever breathe again I was just starting to shave I Felt this pain where dad right here in my chest This spread all the way now my arm here If you let me pain now dad Feels a little tight as all here no Here Mm-hmm anything like this ever happened before no Well, we'll get you straightened out Dan take it easy. I want to use the phone Just as you come in at the front of the hall Then I'm gonna take you to the hospital tonight. I want to find out what this is all about You might want to get some things together for I don't want to go to any hospital Dan This could be your heart the hospital is the best place to find out Excuse me. I'll make that call That must be crazy Never show with my heart Vicki. You know that Vicki have a good night pretty good. I guess I'm not used to this kind of thing much. Are you treating you all right give me a Yeah, I suppose they're treating me all right, but you weren't I need a phone in here I got business to take care of let somebody else take care of it for a few days, Dan I don't want you to have a phone. Just want you to get some rest Okay Can't get much rest worrying about things at the office. I'm afraid you have a little damage in here My heart. Yeah We'll have to get busy and clear it up and get you feeling good again. You mean a little damage How bad is it looks like an acute coronary occlusion? Best way to treat is for you to stay here in the hospital for a while How long three weeks? I'd say Vicki and I are supposed to go east in two weeks I know she told me but the main thing to think about right now is getting you back on your feet Making you completely well You're very lucky We caught it early. We know about it and we can do something about it right away Could it have been something else beside my heart? It's your heart down. Couldn't have been I've been working too hard It's your heart Dan and the sooner you pull off that long face the better off you'll be People recover from heart attacks and heart disease. I Have a lot of patience just like you back at their old jobs enjoying their work the same as before So don't let any fables you've heard about this sort of thing get in the way of the facts I'm not interested in people. It's me lying here wondering about the payments on the house in the car Let's talk about me, huh? They want to make a few more cardiographs and keep a close eye on you We'll do everything we can to help you, but it won't mean a thing then unless you help yourself You want to do that, don't you? Oh, sure. I'll get it. I can reach you. I know you can Here thanks and when you get home you can start in gradually Limit your activities a little bit your work and your play your smoking and drinking Avoid exertion of every kind. You don't have to carry those groceries from the car. Let somebody else do it The elevator instead of the stairs, you know When you need rest you rest when you need food you eat when you need relaxation you take it And do those things during your convalescing period and you won't have anything to worry about Vicki's already planning for the time when you'll come home. I talked for a little while Why does she come over and see me? I asked her not to come until this evening All she wants you to do is get well down. That's all any of us want you to do We'll all do our best. I know you can get over this and it won't take long either Well, I've got to be running along. I'll drop in on you a little later Anything you want and just ring the nurse, okay? See you this afternoon give me back my health That's what I want Morning to Kathy and Elliot Lewis on stage tonight's play heartbreak If you're a smart young lad these days You don't wait for old man opportunity to come knocking at your door Go out and find him yourself and a good place to look is in America's many fine engineering schools Today good engineers are needed in hundreds of varied fields You can build a fine career as a trained engineer and at the same time Help maintain America's scientific and engineering superiority Well, I'll say this for a hospital life You certainly find out how much money the florist and card makers are pulling in every year if I had a nickel for every get Well-fast card that came in here. I'd be able to pay the hospital bill You are loved and cherished by one and all then I'm so adorable. Yes Hey Yes, you are smelling very good. I Try to always honey. Yes I can't say I'm too happy to be in this jam, but now that I'm here. I'm gonna make the best of it That's all any of us can do dear At first I thought I well, I thought an awful lot of thoughts You were very depressed here. I was mad too mostly at Kim was only doing his job as a doctor After he left I got mad at myself then I got mad at you. I had quite a time. I know dear There's nothing funny about this sort of thing. Well, it won't last forever Living is pretty attractive. I'm gonna keep on doing it. You'll have to be very careful. I can be careful All I'm looking forward to right now is getting up and getting out of here as soon as I can being home With you Where I belong Yes I'm lucky. They caught it early Lots easier to cure this way could have been twice as bad as bad Dan I'm going to take good care of you Well, you should feel fine Dan lying around here for three weeks doing nothing but eating and sleeping and holding hands with nurses When does it look like you'll be getting out? Well, as a matter of fact, I had a little while yet Jim Well these things take time now Vicki hated it when I first came here now. I think she wants me to stay No, dear. I just want to be sure you're ready to leave I guess you'll be glad to get him home Vicki Hospitals no place for Dan. Don't say it's nine o'clock already. I have to be leaving too. Sure. Nice seeing you Dan I'll tell everybody downtown. How well you're looking be sure miss. It won't be long now Thanks for stopping by Jim and Dan as soon as these people here say it's okay I'm expecting you back at the office. That's where we really miss you. I better get out of here now Good night, Vicki. Good night, Jim. Good night, Dan. Take it easy. I will night folks. Good night Jim giving me talks as much as ever doesn't he seems to I better go dear rules or rules Vicki Did you have any reason for not telling him when I'm leaving? Yes, I I thought it might be better if you got home and got used to things first If he knew you were coming home Friday, he'd expect you downtown Monday morning And you just can't do that for a while Dan. I know but I hardly think he'd expect anything like that Dan We're gonna have to live with this and and and work it out together Let's do it slow All right If anything ever happened to you Dan, I'd die I just die Home Give me your arm. Look. I got pants on for the first time in four weeks. I feel like a man again I want to walk up to my own front door a loan. Let me help Okay, okay slowly dear. I don't have to creep but you don't have to run Well to do something about this lawn pretty soon. Don't you worry about the lawn? I'll do it I was kind of looking forward to trimming up the edges around the plants, you know next year maybe Well, sir Look good to you. It sure does boy Home you better sit down. I feel fine Doctor says I got to start exercising a little bit anyhow, but sit down for now. Yeah, okay No, what don't pull the chair over. I want to look at the fireplace. I'll turn it around Dan There well, thanks now And make yourself comfortable. Yeah Remember dear you can't do those things now a little exertion could be very harmful Well, you know, that's true dear. I don't have to tell you. You're right. You're absolutely right I'm going to have to watch it. I Have an observation You do you may be a little tougher than they were at the hospital You're not my patient. You're my husband. You better go to bed now. Yeah Well at least I'm home Guy can't have everything can he all right dear. It's only the wind. Oh, I better close the I'll get it I'll get it. Oh Forgot can I get you anything dear? No moon's pretty. Mm-hmm. I was having a dream. I Was very active. I was running and jumping and swimming and doing all sorts of things It felt fine You better get some sleep. I'll never get back to that dream. You'll run and jump and swim again someday dear kid yourself Hmm, don't kid yourself Vicki I'm not kidding myself People who have what I have don't get well But they do Dan they get well and carry on their lives the same as before why don't you face it? I am facing it. Then you'd get rid of me and get yourself a man I'm just a vegetable this way Don't say anything like that. Don't ever say anything like that You're my husband. I love you Sickness and in health remember? It was swell as long as both lasted. I'm serious Vicki leave me I've been thinking about it ever since I got home and really found out what it's like trying to live with a bad heart. I Could kid myself in the hospital because a hospital's geared for sick people, but a house is for people who are well and can do things. I Can't even toss a salad for you without wondering if Without wondering if that thing will come up again, and it'll be the last salad I'll ever toss This is no good this way Vicki no fun trips laughs You don't want it dear dear, please. I love you. I'll always love you love isn't gonna cure me Don't you see that Vicki? I'm an invalid. How does it look normal? Nothing wrong with Dan's blood pressure. You sure it's okay I seem to get that feeling in here every now and then you know any pain no pain Well, I can't find anything Dan. I've I just want to make sure everything's going okay. It is you're doing nicely But I'm glad you called me over You can start thinking about going back to work pretty soon now. Wow, that's wonderful. Yeah Yeah, I'll be swell now not a full day or anything like it to start off with But it's not too soon for you to call them up and tell them you're ready to come for a half-day to start Oh, I've got some of the calls to make I'll take you to the door. All right, you cover up, honey. Yeah I'm so relieved you told him about work. It'll do him good to get out of that bed I was gonna call you myself today if he hadn't called I'm just about at the end of my rope Ever since Dan came home from the hospital It's been one thing after another and last night was the worst I've tried to look after him do all the things that have to be done for him, but I just can't seem to do enough Are you both working a little too hard at this? What? He has every chance for a complete recovery Somehow he's reluctant to advance anymore. I noticed it tonight Goodness, he's being cautious. We're both being cautious Don't be over cautious The day Dan left the hospital he couldn't wait to get back home and get started again He's been home almost two months now, and he seems worried over his condition more than ever before He's turning into a cardiac invalid What's that? People who just think they can't do anything Wait a minute wait Dan's not scared He's not scared of anything. I know it. Have you asked him? Ask him Vicki. They told me Sam Clemens did all of his writing in bed. I wonder if I could be a writer You're a pretty good businessman. I was a pretty good businessman Dan I want to ask you something Answer it honestly sure Dan Are you scared to go back to work? Dan I'm the guy who doubled up on the bathroom floor that night I know and you know I was about an inch away from eternity there and I'll never get it out of my mind It can happen again anytime Kimble talking about me going back to work. That's a laugh One day down there one hour down there, and they wouldn't even bother dropping me off at the hospital I'd go straight to the morgue Am I scared? You bet your boots. I'm scared Vicki. I'm scared every single second. I'm away You don't want me to leave you. You asked me. I just said I did I'll say it again clear out This is no fun You said it, but you don't want me to leave you You want me to stay around forever waiting on your hand and foot feeling sorry for you Just the way you feel sorry for yourself right now. No, thanks, Dan I I didn't bargain for that when I married you. Let me remind you of something. I had a heart attack remember I remember Dan help yourself, please. I care all you have to do is get out of this bed and get busy with the job of getting well Or you can stay here the rest of your life if you do that you do it alone Dan if you don't help yourself. I Really will leave you. Well, that's your choice Vicki. I don't have one Dan wake up. It's time Dan Dan Dan got a little fat tonight Yeah, a little still fits nicely. What's for breakfast? Oh Oh What would you like the works eggs and bacon, you know, can I comb my hair first? Yeah If you were going to ask me I feel fine I was you know Last night you had some pretty snappy things to say once you got going I've been thinking about something to tell you I've been as scared as you I Think I'm the one who made you scared Everyone made me scared Vicki, but a funny thing happened to me this morning. I got up and I said to myself I don't want Vicki to walk out on me. I don't want Vicki to stay here and live like a robot What do you want to sit? I said I don't want to be sick anymore. I Don't want to be scared. Oh, yeah, that's the conversation I had with myself I put in a call to Jim. Give me a little while ago. He ought to be calling back pretty soon You're going back to work. I sure am that's him now. I got it. I got it Hello Jim give me Dan. How's the boy? I'm fine Jim. I want to get back on the job Well, we want you back on the job plan today right now sound pretty anxious I am had enough of this laying around and I don't want you to have any more of it, Dan You've got new working hours Why you'll be here at 11 o'clock and don't let me catch you around here later than to I Can't get much work done in three hours. I don't want you to get much work yet I just want you to work into it gradually. Look, Dan. I'm your boss. You do what I say No more 8 30 in the morning to 7 at night to get over burdened. We'll hire something to help you We've got you in good shape again. We want to keep you that way We understand each other Sure, Jim. Sure. Love to Vicki. See you at 11 Hey You won't let me come in until 11 That's all right, dear. Yeah You know, I've been pushed one way and pulled another a lot lately Maybe I ought to ride the middle Otherwise, I'll do something crazy again. I Was crazy enough to try to lose you Vicki. I Couldn't stand that. Oh, no. No, no way When Kim told me it was my heart. I got used to it. I got used to the idea being sick Well, if I could get used to that I guess I can get used to the idea being well, too So that's the way it is dear Do you want me and my foolish heart and my? Dan to be alive