 presents Diana Lynn and Barry Sullivan. Hollywood the Mutual Network in Cooperation with Family Theatre presents the Stupid Saint starring Diana Lynn. And now here is your host Barry Sullivan. Thank you Tony Lafannin. Family Theatre's only purpose is to bring to everyone's attention a practice that must become an important part of our lives if we are to win peace for ourselves, peace for our families and peace for the world. Family Theatre urges you to pray. Pray together as a family. Now to our transcribed drama the Stupid Saint starring Diana Lynn as Pauline. Miss Fry? Miss Fry I know you're awake. Open your eyes please. If you make it necessary for me to raise my voice it'll simply disturb the other ladies in the world. All right doctor I'm awake. What do you want? How do you feel? How should I feel? Oh a little weak I guess. All right I feel a little weak. What's the screen doing around my bed? So we can talk privately. How many other beds are there in here? Five but just now only two more of them are occupied. Are they cases like mine? No. Mrs. Goggin across the aisle has a liver ailment and the lady next to you Miss Cartmel suffers from arthritis. So all we've got in common is being on the county. That's not a very pleasant way of putting it. No but there it is isn't it? Miss Fry I find it interesting that you can face this situation squarely but that you... Do the others know why I'm here? No. How soon can I leave? I'm afraid that's not up to me. Oh well who is it up to? Miss Fry in cases of this kind the hospital authorities have an obligation to well to make every effort to. Oh yes to prevent the patient from trying it again. Roughly yes. To heal the spirit as well as the body. Well it must be wonderful to do that doctor. How does it feel? You just wheel them into the operating room and lay open their soul. You take a little stitch here a little stitch there and everything's great again. You're not acting very sensible. Yeah but you're doing fine. If you don't want the others to know why you're here. I don't care what they know. Doctor you come in here with your white coat and your clean hands and you're going to save me. How idealistic. There's nothing idealistic about it. You're a sick woman. Then let me die why can't you? That's all I wanted. I just wanted to die. Miss Fry. I don't want to talk. You don't have to but there's something that you must understand about why you're here. When a person attempts what you've attempted they can hurt quite a few people besides themselves. I don't have any family. I don't have any. That's not what I mean. You wouldn't hurt anybody and it would stop this terrible loneliness. This time it was sleeping pills but the next time you might decide to turn on gas in a building where 50 other families are living or throw yourself out of a window onto a crowded street. That's what I mean about hurting other people besides yourself. Well you worry about the other people doctor. They never worried about me. We say there's nothing like a nice breakfast to start off today. All but the prunes every day prunes prunes. But they're very good for you Miss Cartmel. Doctor Oliver says that they're especially good for the blood. You're thinking of spirit. Oh no no no I heard that long before Doctor Oliver all my life. Oh yes prunes are good for the blood. Haven't you heard that miss. Miss. It seems I heard they were good for something. Wait until I tell that to your friend Mr. Kobe good for something. But nobody knows what Mr. Kobe is very fond of prunes. That's not what he told me. Well it's what he told me just yesterday afternoon in this very room I was saying to him Mr. Kobe it's getting so I dread the thought of breakfast and those prunes and he said I know how you feel Miss Cartmel. Well he's always trying to please everyone. You just ask this young lady isn't that what Mr. Kobe say. Is he the old man that came in here with the checkerboard. Don't let him hear you call him old. That's the one he's very sensitive about his age. I'm afraid I didn't pay much attention to anything he said. Well he was very explicit about the prunes. I must say I'm not surprised just like him. If you ask me young lady I think he just eats them to keep up his strength for checkers. You know he plays over 20 games a day. What's wrong with him. He just likes it. No I mean why is he here in the hospital. Oh what is he suffering from. I think he's just old and not very bright. Oh now don't let him hear you say that. He did have some stomach trouble for a while but that's all cured. I think they just let him stay around. Oh my nine twenty. Time for Janet Burke. For what. On the television Janet Burke. Girl in turn. They let us watch it down in the lobby every morning. Oh for heaven's sake where are my slippers. Under your chair and if they were snakes they'd bite you. Like to come along miss. No thanks. Well it is the worst thing you ever saw but. I don't think the man who writes it was ever inside a hospital. Are you sure you won't come. No I did lots of laughs. Yeah well I can't. I'm confined to the ward. Oh. I forgot. Come on Jesse. We'll bring up a newspaper on the way back. Where's everyone going. Mr. Kobe. We're going to see Janet Burke girl in turn. Mr. Kobe I've got a bone to pick with you. Did you tell Miss Cartmel you were tired of prunes. Oh I hardly think so. Mr. Kobe. Now what did I tell you. I may have said that it's possible to get too much of a good thing. Exactly. And prunes are a very good thing Miss Cartmel. Oh Mr. Kobe I knew you would like them. Yes yes yes. How about some checkers this afternoon. Yes sir. Good afternoon. Would you like a game young lady. No I'm afraid not. We were introduced yesterday. Yes I remember. Miss Fry isn't it. Look I'm sure your intentions are very kindly but I really just don't feel like talking from the Midwest. Yes Ohio and now if it's all the same do you ever come to New York. Mr. Kobe I have no doubt that you've heard all about me. You see I'm the girl that swallowed the bottle of sleeping pills. Now six years ago I placed third in a beauty contest and so I came to New York and between then and last week when I bought those pills just about everything you suspect of me has happened. Now that's the whole story so you can get out now and start spreading it around. You don't have a very good opinion of people do you. No I don't. At least of all knows the old men with checkerboards. Maybe if you could try to make friends with some of the ladies. I don't want any friends. Look I've spent six years in this city waiting for somebody just anybody to do one nice thing without wanting something for it. To say one nice word and they didn't and they won't. So please just leave me alone. I'll come back tomorrow morning maybe you'll feel like playing. No. No I won't. I'll come back anyway. Mr. Are you asleep. No I've been waiting for Jesse to drop off I wanted to tell you something. What about you see Jesse's awful innocent about the world and she'd be scandalized to hear me say something like this. So I wanted to be sure she's asleep. Well she's asleep all right. I've been listening to her wheeze for the last half hour. Yes. Well it's about the trouble you had with Mr. Kobe this morning. You see when you shouted at him and all. Oh that was a big mistake. Ms. Cartwell when I want any advice. Don't get feisty with me. I'm just telling you for your own good. You want to get out of here don't you. What's that got to do with it. Well the longer you take coming around to acting civil the longer you'll be here. They watch things like that. Oh well I don't care what they do. Well at least you'd like to get out of this room with the bad windows wouldn't you. Maybe take a walk down on the courtyard and get some fresh air. Maybe. I'm sure you would a young girl like you. You just get down in that courtyard and get a little sunshine and air. Life will look a lot better. You keep saying down. Where is it. It's just the other side of this building between the two wings. We're up on the fifth floor though. Yes I know. That's why I say if you want to start getting privileges don't go picking on Mr. Kobe anymore. He's been around here a long time. Is that right. Yes. And anyone will tell you he may not be very bright. But if you can't get along with Mr. Kobe you can't get along with anyone. Well thanks Miss Cartwell. Thanks very much. That was a good one. That was a good one indeed. It's your move Mr. Kobe. Well let's see. There. And there. That's the nastiest trap I ever walked into. Two games in a row. You're too good for me Pauline. Do you want another. No sir. I think I'll smoke my pipe unless you mind. Oh no go right ahead. I understand you. You finished your whole breakfast again this morning. That's four days in a row now. You keep close tabs don't you. I'm sorry. No I'm sorry. It doesn't matter I don't care. You must care about something. Well sure sure I do. Like what. Well life living again. I've decided I made a mistake. I'm still young and I've got a lot ahead of me. Do you really feel that way. Well sure I do. That was a crazy thing to do. Gosh I'm glad to hear you talk like this Pauline. You know all you really need is friends. That's a whole secret. Just like that. I learned a long time ago friends are the best thing to keep a person from being unhappy. You know Mr. Kobe. I never thought of it that way. Well I want you to know you can count me as one of your friends. And you make others too you ain't see. Well it's pretty hard to make any others cooped up in this room. Yes I know. Maybe if I could go down and sit in front of the television with Jesse or Miss Cartmel or we'll take a walk out in the courtyard. That'll come you see. Yeah but I've been here over a week now. I'm perfectly well. Well I I think they're worried about you. Well why should they be worried anymore. I told you I realize I made a mistake. I know you do. Just from hearing you talk I can tell you mean it but. But you think the doctors might not believe me. Well they they take a lot of time making up their minds about things. Do you think Mr. Kobe that if you were to say something. Oh I don't count for anything like that around here. Oh I'm sure you're wrong. Jesse and Miss Cartmel say that you have a lot of influence. No. You said I count you as one of my friends. I want you to Pauline. Well look won't you even try. They wouldn't listen to me. At least you could tell them that you like me and that we were friends and that you thought I ought to be able to get up and walk around a little. Well sure I'd be glad to do that but I don't want to raise your hopes. Oh that Janet girl in turn it just gets worse every time. Morning ladies. You know today she took out an appendix with a Barbie pig. Well I was a checker game Mr. Kobe. Pauline beat me bad this morning. I was just lucky. Oh dear. Will you look at that sunshine out that window. If it weren't for my liver I could jump through a hope. And it went for my arthritis. I could hold it for you. Sure is beautiful day. You suppose they'll be walking down in the courtyard this morning. Oh yeah. But you won't be able to find space on the path. I'd love to try. Oh my goodness. Dr. Is it Wednesday again. Morning Dr. Oliver Mr. Kobe ladies. Time for another test. I'm afraid so Jesse they're waiting down in the lab. Oh that's all this place is tests and tests and prunes and prunes. I like the prunes. Yeah I'll be right along doctor. Say Dr. Oliver. Yes. Have you got a moment please. There's something I'd like to ask you. It looks like you've taken my advice to heart Miss Fry. Do you mean Mr. Kobe. He's practically adopted you. Yeah. Well he seems to enjoy. He enjoys everything. I wish I knew his secret. It's no secret. I was brought up by an uncle like Mr. Kobe. He too was sweet and gullible. Was he happy. Well sure he was happy. He didn't have brains enough not to be. Sometimes I wish I had a few less brains. Well kid yourself. People like that are asleep. They go through life thinking everybody loves them and then they wind up in a place like this. What can you do. Well the minute you find you're alone Miss Cartman I'll just make sure you stop getting any older. Let's see now Miss Fry. You say you want me to contact your uncle in Ohio. That's right doctor. I want to go back. To live there. Yes. I never realized how much I miss the place. It's well it's taken this thing I've been through to make me see it. What will you do when you get home. We'll take some kind of job I guess. I learned typing in high school. I'll contact him. But I don't believe you. Well it's true. In taking those pills I realize I made a mistake. I'm sure of that. I only wish I knew where you think you made it. What is that supposed to mean. Nothing. Nothing Miss Fry. I'll write to your uncle and if that's all. Yeah there's one other thing doctor. Yes. Well I've just got to get out of his word for a while. I've got to get a breath of fresh air. We should be able to arrange that. Oh good because if I could just take a walk down in the courtyard with Jesse or Miss Cartman or Mr Kobe. Yes. Why do you mention him because he mentioned you. That's what he came out of your ward to speak to me about yesterday. What was that. He said you needed to get a breath of fresh air. Oh well I guess I did say something about it in front of him. We play checkers every morning. So he tells me. Yeah he's a wonderful old man. You may not think so but he is. I just said I thought so. Take it easy. Is this the way you treat people just because they're broke. Just because they're on the count. You love that phrase. You twist everything doctor because they can't fight. All right Miss Fry. You can go walking in the courtyard. Now let's let it go at that. Miss Fry. Are you getting a quiet Jesse. Where are you going to get a drink of water. Oh they don't like us wandering around the court is after the lights are out. Why don't you ring. It's just down the hall I'd rather not bother the nurse. Would you like me to fill your glass. Oh no thank you I still got plenty. I'll be right back. Miss Fry. Yes. You're feeling a lot better aren't you. Yes much better. Oh I can tell. This is the first time I've ever heard you offer to do something for someone else. And that's a good sign. I'm glad you think so. It's those walks down in the courtyard you've been taking the past few days. What you're making friends and starting to care about life again. I'm very thirsty. So I hope the nurse doesn't see you. It would be terrible if they took your privileges away just when you're making such progress. I'll be all right. That's why I hope they find that old key. You see if they don't they might take away everyone's privileges. What key. The one I was telling you when Miss Cartmel about a supper tonight. The janitor's key to the Sunday. Well he probably just misled it. Well that's what I say but Miss Cartmel says she thinks it was stolen. But I say now why would anyone steal a key to a Sunday. It's just a balcony. There's no place to go from there. But that's what I mean. Oh I do hope they find it soon. Well I'm sure they will Jesse. I'll be right back. You be careful now. Don't you get caught. Don't worry I won't. What are you doing. Don't do it Pauline. Are you watching me again. Please don't come any closer. All right I won't but listen please listen to me. I've been down in the chapel because when I heard that key had been stolen I was afraid it might have been you and I went down to pray that it wasn't. Don't do it Pauline. You've got a whole life ahead of you. A whole life of what. Believe me. What. A life in a place like this. That's not what counts. Yeah well it counts with me. No. It's friends Pauline. You've got to understand that. People you can do for. No you don't understand it. If I could just smack it. See how simple it is. Mr. Colby. What's wrong. I know you could. Mr. Colby. Mr. Colby. What's the matter. I had no idea he was ill. He's always so chipper in everything. Oh did the nurse say what it was. No just something about his stomach and he was still breathing though when they put him on the stretcher. Yes he was still breathing. He's told us all this four times. It's your breath. I just want to be sure. I wish we'd hear something. Dr. Oliver's with him now. He'll be all right. You can trust Dr. Oliver. What did they say what they were going to do to you for stealing that key. No they didn't probably take your privileges away. That's the usual for breaking any rules. Well it just doesn't seem very important. Oh well you say that now but you'll change your tune in a few days. It's the privileges around here that make life worth it. All right. Well you don't have to shout. All right so it puts another week on my sentence more likely to all right make it a month. What's the difference. An old man is sick downstairs and you're yapping about rules and privileges. Well really you don't have to shout. I'll shout if I like. Oh Dr. Oliver. You'll have to excuse us Dr. Wee. That's all right Jesse. Well how is he Doctor. How is Mr. Kobe. I'm sorry to have to tell you that he died about an hour ago. Oh my. Mr. Kobe. He was under sedation. He went very peacefully. I'm such a sweet old man. Always around with his checkerboard. Jesse could I ask you and Ms. Cartnell to let me speak with Ms. Fry alone please. Of course. Anything you say Dr. Oliver. It's almost time for Janet Burke anyhow. Thank you. And we will bring back the paint. Yes we'll do that. And chocolate from the machine. I want to tell you Ms. Fry that you haven't anything to blame yourself for. No matter where he was or what he was doing Mr. Kobe would have died exactly when he did. No. No he wouldn't doctor he wasn't sick. He was incurably sick and he knew it. But he just didn't want it nose to run. I told him three weeks ago that he had a month to live and that was stretching it. Are you trying to heal my spirit again doctor. I don't have to. It's already healed. No. Yes. Last night when Mr. Kobe slumped to the floor. Oh how I wish you were right. I am Ms. Fry and you know it. Tell the truth something happened last night didn't it. No. Not like you think it was just a little thing. But it happened. You could have gone out onto the Sunday can over the balcony but you didn't. Well he was lying there with no one to help him and you were frightened for him for someone outside of yourself for a change. Well you said he'd been down in the chapel praying for me a silly stupid old man I had to do something. I don't think he was stupid. He was simple and fumbling always trying to do things for people that they could do better themselves. I understand he wasn't even a very good checker player. He was a terrible checker player. But I'm not convinced he was stupid. He made friends of people and I think even more important he made them make a friend of him. How do you mean. Well the way you made a friend of him last night by trying to help him when he needed it. That's why you feel like living again. All right I do feel like it but I'm still not sure why. You say Kobe was praying for you in the chapel. That's what he said. Didn't you talk to him. He never regained consciousness but I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted you to have this. What's that. A slip of paper we found in the pocket of his bathroom. He must have taken it down to the chapel with him. Lord make me an instrument of Thy peace where there is hatred let me so love where there is injury pardon where there is doubt faith where there is despair hope where there is darkness light where there is sadness joy divine master that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console to be understood as to understand to be loved as to love for it isn't giving that we receive it is in pardoning that we are pardoned it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. This is Barry Sullivan again. They say that every family has at least one skeleton in the closet. All right who knows. Maybe my ancestors with pirates and maybe your uncle Harry who turns up every few years never did a day's work in his life. If you're going to start worrying about a family skeleton it's good to remember the neighbors next door may have a bigger one only they keep it in a better closet. That's all. Yes we all hold highly with respectability and the idea of living up to the Joneses keeps a lot of people awake nights that is until they come to a realization that all the time the Joneses are usually trying to keep up with them. You know the family can be happiest when they have their own high standards their own family life within their home and the best way for complete unity in a home is a family prayer family prayers a secret every home can have for happy family life praying together as a family means God's daily blessing and when you live up to the daily practice of a family prayer you have indeed the best example for a happy home that any family can give for the family that prays together stays together more things are brought by prayer then this word dreams of Hollywood family theater has brought your transcribe the stupid saint starring Diana Lynn Barry Sullivan was your host others in our cast were Thomas Laughlin G.G. Pearson Marjorie Bennett and her Butterfield the script was written and directed for family theater by John T. Kelly with music composed and conducted by Harry Zimmerman this series of family theater broadcasts as made possible by the thousands of you will feel the need for this type of program by the mutual network which has responded to this need and by the hundreds of stars of state screen radio will give so unselfishly of their time and talent to appear on our family theater stage to them and to you our humble thanks this is Tony LaFranco expressing the wish of family theater that the blessing of God may be upon you and your home and inviting you to be with us next week when family theater will present the visitor starring Edmund O'Brien Dorothy Warren should will be your hostess join us won't you family theater is broadcast throughout the world and originates in the Hollywood studios of the world's largest network this is mutual the radio network for all America