 The Mutual Broadcasting System presents the family theater starring Margaret Sullivan and Van Heflin with Donald Crisp as your host More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of Good evening. This is Donald Crisp Since I'm your host this evening perhaps I ought to tell you what you to expect in the next half hour I'd better begin by telling you that this program family theater got its name because it's dedicated to your family You know the word family can mean a lot of things It can mean bitterness and struggle or it can mean love and companionship and all the most wonderful things in the world Now all of us who are part of the family theater and that includes so many of you who listen well We feel that prayer Family prayer can make the difference between an unhappy and a happy home We have a simple conviction a Family that prays together Stays together Well, now you know why we call this program the family theater But that doesn't mean you can expect a lot of preaching far from it Tonight you can expect some mighty fine entertainment You'll hear an original story by Walter Newman with a splendid cast So let's listen to the play. I Give you Maggie starring Margaret Sullivan and Van Heflin The scene of our play opens in New York City on an October afternoon in the living room of a penthouse overlooking Central Park a Parties being held in honor of a young novelist Tom Padgett Two women Mrs. Padgett and Daphne Lewis literary editor are leaving the crowded room Oh That's better. Have you ever heard anything noisier than a literary cocktail party, Mrs. Padgett? Well, this is the first I ever attended really Here you sit here on the couch, and I'll take this armchair. Thank you cigarette. Oh, no, thank you, miss Oh, I'm sorry not at all Daphne Lewis, Mrs. Padgett Assistant literary editor of the time. Yes, of course. I don't usually do this sort of thing But we're so delighted with your husband's work that I thought it might make a rather good column for next Sunday If I interviewed you the woman behind the author, you know, that sort of thing. I'm afraid it won't be very interesting Oh darling, of course it will. Oh, frankly, it's not my personal dish of tea Comfortable. Oh, yes. Ready? No, wait, let me get a pencil out of my there now. When did you and Tommy marry Mrs. Padgett? Maggie sit down. You're pacing a groove right across the living room Is my mouth on straight, Mama? You look adorable. Relax. It's ten past eight. Maggie, does he always keep you waiting like this? Oh, let her alone, Mama. Stop picking on her. Mona, you be quiet. Maggie, what your mother and I can't understand is Why you haven't had him up to the house before? After all, you've known him, uh, how long? Three months? Four months? I don't like for you to be going out with a young man We've never seen and don't know anything about it. Well, he was supposed to have come here several times. Maggie, is he serious? Oh, you'll see, Mama. What do you mean? I'll see. Maggie. There he is. I tell you, I don't like it, Bertha. Young girl ought to bring her boyfriends around so her parents can see. Tom, my father, my mother. Mrs. Ballum. How do you do? Mr. Ballum. You mean Tom? My sister, Nona. Nona? Hello? Harry. Oh, here. Here. Sit down, Tom. Sit down. We have to go. Well, he can sit down for a minute, can't he? Go ahead, Tom. Sit down. Maggie tells us you've knocked around a lot. Some. It's very interesting. What have you done, Tom? Nothing very much. Oh, you have, too. He's been all over and done everything. Well, it's fine. Go ahead. We'd like to hear. Well, I ran away from an orphanage about 12 years ago when I was 14. I was a road kid for three years. Road kid? Yeah, it's young hobo. Rode the rods and boxcars all over this country in Canada, slept under bridges, begged from door to door. I've been jailed as bum 20 or 30 times. Hmm. And what else? Oh, not much of anything. Well, he was a cow hand in Wyoming until he broke a leg bull-dazing. Dosing. Not dazing. Dosing. And then he was a pearl dive on a beannery. That means dishwasher and a lumberjack and a miner. And he did a hitch with the marines and all like that. Hmm. Uh, what are you doing now? Just sitting here. No, no, I... Oh, well, I read a lot. That's how I met Maggie at the library. I guess she told you that, though. I'm trying to learn how to write. I think I'm gonna be a writer. I suppose you've put aside a lot of money to keep you going until you begin to sell your stories. Mrs. Banner, I have a personal fortune of exactly four dollars. It's not, uh, not very much, is it? No. In fact, after I take Maggie out for a walk tonight and buy her a soda, well, I'll have just about enough left for a marriage license in the morning. Maggie! Well, that's all right with you, though, isn't it, Maggie? I haven't made a mistake, have I? No, Tom. You haven't made a mistake. But what are you going to live on? Well, that will be a problem. I make 35 a week. Well, there now, you see? We can easily manage on that, Mrs. Banner. You're going to let her support you. Oh, hold it, Bertha, hold it. Maggie, look. You're dead set on this. Dead set, Papa? Harry, you can't... Bertha? Now, look, you two. You hardly know each other. No matter how much you think you love each other, you can't live on love. So I offer this. Tom, if you'll come around to my office, I'll speak to the chief. And I'm sure we can slide you into one of the departments. Then after a while, when you've saved a little money... Well, that's a very kind offer, Mr. Banner, but it would be just a waste of time for me. A waste of time to make a living for your wife? Well, it's a waste of time for a writer to do anything but write. Look, if you object to Maggie's working, why don't you give us some money? Give you? Just call it a business investment, Papa. Maggie, you're not going to marry this... Well, we are going to be married, Mr. Banner. Now, just start all of your thinking from that premise. Maggie? No, Papa. We're going to be married. Going against us, eh? No, no, not against you, Papa. Just in a different direction. If you marry this... this tramp, you can get out of this house tonight and stay out. No, I mean it. Give me your hand, Tom. I'm all... all shaky. Here, kid. Squeeze it, squeeze hard. You ready, Maggie? Ready, Tom. Now, when did you and Tommy marry, Mrs. Padgett? July 17, 1937. Uh-huh, I see. And how did it come about? Well, he just asked me, and I said, yes. How unusual. Oh, don't mind me. So you married a budding genius. Was it difficult at first? How did you find it? Bitter, sweet? Maggie? Yes? I'm finished for the day. What's up, Reddy? Reddy, it's been on the table for three hours. Well, are you kidding? A closet? No. You managed to disappear in a one-room apartment or something. Oh, look, honey, I'm sorry about supper. You didn't wait for me, did you? Of course I waited for you. Well, you should have eaten. What's the cake and candles for? Is it my birthday? No, it's not your birthday, old Tom. You've forgotten. Forgotten? Oh, no. No, no, I didn't forget. Yes, you did our first anniversary and you forgot. I didn't forget, baby. Honestly, I've got a present for you. In my pocket. Now, we're just a second. There, take it. What is it? That's a poem. You can read it. Can you read my writing? For Maggie, on our first wedding anniversary. Now, go ahead, read it. If I could write the beauty of your eyes and in fresh numbers, number all your graces, the age to come would say this port lies. Such heavenly touches near touched earthly faces. You like it? I like it. Oh, Tom, it's beautiful. It's better than Shakespeare. It is Shakespeare. No. I didn't have time to compose one, so I just copied it. It says what I mean, anyway. It's the nicest present I ever had. Well, then give me a kiss. Oh, Maggie, you're a kissable witch. I think I'll renew my option on you for another year. Oh, Tom, I'm so happy. Yeah, me too, baby. You know, I turned out about ten pages today and you remember that character I told you about last night, Jonesy? Well, he's really beginning to come alive. You know, each week it gets better and better. Do you realize we'll be on our vacation this time next week? Our first vacation together? One week of it. One week of no subway and no office, no ironing, no dishes. Oh, Maggie, look. We simply toss our $40 into the hotel owner's lap and in return he gives us seven days of paradise. Well, there's no $40 anymore. What? Well, we don't have $40. We only have $12. But we... I don't understand. Well, after you left for the office this morning, I broke the typewriter and the man at the shop said it had cost $18 to fix. It would take about ten days, and I rented the typewriter I'm using now for a buck a day. 18 plus 10 equals 28, 28 from 40, at least. No, no vacation. No vacation? No. Couldn't you have used a pencil? Oh, Maggie, not don't. No. Oh, don't, please. Maggie, listen. Look, someday pretty soon maybe I'll finish the book and we'll sell it for a barrel of money and then we'll head for the beach at Acapulca or even Rio and we'll stay not just seven days, but seven months as long as you like. And then when we come back... Oh, Maggie, not don't cry, please. Come on, now, here. Blow. I know you've looked forward to this vacation. I know how it is. Maggie, hey, look. Now, look, when that Pulitzer Prize Committee rewards me, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to propose this toast. Ladies and gentlemen, in accepting this award for literature, I do not accept it for myself, but for the person who really deserves all the credit accruing to my book. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Maggie. From the Colton Publishing House for you. What? What does it say? All right. Wait a minute. It says... Oh, look, here, you read it. Look, I'm too nervous. Your enchanted hill was one of the most unusual novels we've ever read. Go on, go on, Maggie. Frankly, we consider it too advanced for present taste. And so on. I'm going for a walk. Now, look, I'm all right, baby, honest. I just feel like walking, Zella. You're idiots. It doesn't mean a thing. Yeah. I'll see you soon. Maggie, where are you? I'm here fixing the light score. Guess what? What? What is it? Can anybody hear us? No, what is it? Don't tease me. I was walking down the block just now. Yes. And all of a sudden, down at my feet, I saw... What? What? This. This. A dollar bill. You found it? That's wonderful. I bet you were beginning to think I never would be a breadwinner. Well, Mrs. Padgett, instead of walking around the park this afternoon as we do every Sunday, we're going to observe the rites of spring. With a dollar? I'm afraid you lack creative vision. When I look at this dollar, you know what I see? George Washington's picture. I see two round trips to Coney Island. 20 cents. Two buck beers. 20 cents. Two hot dogs. Widow without mustard. 20 cents. And two rides on the merry-go-round. 20 cents. That's only 80 cents. What about the other 20? Philanthropy. The other 20 cents goes back to the sidewalk for the appeasement of tastes far less luxurious than ours. Madam, grab your hat and let us away. Was it difficult at first? How did you find it? Bitter? Sweet? Oh, a little of both, I guess. Yes, a little of both. My leading questions don't seem to lead anywhere, do they? Never mind. And all this while, Tommy just kept plugging away at his writing. Yes, that's right. Except for one period. Except for one period. When was that? I'd like to know the truth. Mrs. Padgett, I'll give it to you straight from the shoulder if you think you can take it. I can take it? Tuberculosis. Now, wait. We've caught it in time, I think. I know definitely after studying the X-rays, but I think we've caught it in time. Now, Mrs. Padgett, what was your husband's daily routine? He was up at 5.30 every morning, no matter what time we went to bed. He was at his desk by 6. He worked straight through until 8, 9 o'clock at night, sometimes later. How about his diet? Coffee for breakfast, no lunch. It's the largest supper I could make him take. And this has been going on for how long? Ever since we were married, three years. Mrs. Padgett, your husband will have to go away for a while. How long? Two or three years. Maybe longer. May I go in to see him, doctor? Well, he's sleeping. I just want to look at him. All right. Don't let him talk too much if he wakes up. I'll let you, kid. Shh. You're not to talk. The doc tell you? Yes. Well, we've been hit a pretty low blow. I know. Yeah, he wants me to go to Arizona. Listen, baby, get a divorce. No, I mean it. I'm being objective, not noble. We've had the top of the bottle. Don't tie yourself to me. Stop this nonsense, Tom. Stop it at once. No, listen. Don't let sentimentality trip you up. Most people go wrong. You have to be hardened, a little bit ruthless. I'd let sentimentality get in my way to have taken a job instead of writing. I'm not listening. Well, you've got to listen, Maggie. I know you're thinking that I'll be alone in a sanitarium or something, but kid, look, I've been alone most of my life and I'm used to it. I never expected anything else. The times we've had together, well, that's just been so much gravy for me. It's been gravy for you, has it? What about me? You're used to being alone. You think for one minute I could live without you? I couldn't, I'd die. Powers of darkness, nameless fears. I give you Maggie. And besides, that was a very hammer enunciation scene. Except for one period. When was that? During the war, he was ill, tuberculosis. Was he in a sanitarium? Yes, in Tucson, Arizona. And you? Oh, I got a job at an army air base near him. I was allowed to see him twice a month. One of the officers used to drive me to town. Was this officer a friend? Well, Maggie, this is the last time I'll be driving you to Tucson. Spence, shipping out? Uh-huh, my squadron leaves tomorrow. Oh, Spence. There's something I want to say to you. No, don't look at me. Look straight ahead. Maggie, I've been wondering if you know I'm in love with you. Very much in love with you. Don't, Spence. Can't help it. I'm not the sufferin' silence type. I think I've been in love with you ever since I reported for duty here and first saw you in the colonel's office. Maggie, I'm going to make it short. I want you to get a divorce and marry me. We can be married by proxy, no matter where they send me, and I'll be back someday. No, Spence. Face facts. They're brutal, but they must be faced. Your husband is an invalid. He's been in the sanitarium how long? Two years? Three? He may be there ten more, and where does that leave you? You see him only twice a month. You can't even kiss him. No, Spence. Sure. That's that, then. That's all I am on my clip. You know something? Sick as your husband is and healthy as I am. If I could change places with him, I'd do it in a second. And I'd think I'd gotten the best of the bargain. Was this officer a friend? Oh, yes, a good friend. How long was Tommy ill? Almost four years. When did he meet Felice Harrow? Oh, that was after we came back. That was a lucky break, wasn't it? Maggie Felice was wonderful. She thought the book was the best she'd ever read by a modern writer, and she's willing to devote all of her time to getting it published. Maggie, she's just a sort of a literary agent I've been dreaming about. Really? What's she like? Felice, oh, I don't know. She's in her late twenties, I'd say. Smart as a whip. There's lots of style, you know. Pretty? Oh, yes, sure, enormously so. Maggie, I feel tremendously set up about this whole thing. I'm going to have dinner at her place. We're going to talk over some rewrites. Oh, so? Now mind you, I don't agree with all of them, but she's right about two or three of them. She's a smart girl. Look, pick out a tie for me, will you, huh, baby? I'll wait up for you. I want to hear all about it. No, you better not. I may be pretty late. You know how I can talk when I have a new audience. I'm going to take a shower in a shape. Hey, look, do we have any money? I have a $5 bill. That's what. We'll put it in my trousers. Hey, shall I take her some candy? That might be nice. Well, look, if she calls, we'll tell her I'll be there in no time not to worry about it, huh? Yes, I will. That was a lucky break, wasn't it? Yes, for both of them. Very attractive, isn't she? Yes, very. I think personal appearance is so important, don't you? Maggie, you look awful. I do. Awful. Well, you used to be such a pretty girl, too. You ought to be spanked for letting yourself run to seed like this. Oh, Nona, have I run to seed? Well, I don't mean you're hobbling around in slippers like an old rapper, but, well, you ought to look more chic. Look at the lines in your face. How old are you now, 31? Do you know how old you look? No, how old? 31. That's disgraceful. Well, you should look at least five years younger than 31 and at 41 you should... All right, all right, you've made your point. Where's Tom this evening? With Felice, I think. He's seeing a lot of her, isn't he? I shouldn't, he's his agent. Of course. Any news on the book? No, not yet, but Felice keeps trying. I'll bet she does it that. I think personal appearance is so important, don't you? Oh, yes. Yes, it is. Did they accept the book for publication as soon as they read it? No, the Colonial Press was a new outfit. They didn't have enough money. That must have been a trying time. It was. We had to raise $2,500. Did you borrow from friends? No one says for you to go right in, Mrs. Padgett. Thank you. Maggie, hello, Maggie. Hello, Spence. Maggie, I'm... Why didn't you write? Oh, I kept in touch with you through the newspapers. Captain Nolan on this island, Major Nolan on that one. I kept in touch. Did you really? Maggie, are you... is Tom... Completely cured. I see. And you and he are still... Still married. And in love? And in love? Spence, look. I think Tom wants out. He hasn't said anything, but... Well, he's going to be a famous man, Spence, and I don't seem to fit into his life anymore. You know that line about successful writers and the women they happened to marry when they were young? Who is she, Maggie? Felice Harrell, Tom's agent. She's young and smart and literary just as Tom is. And I'm sorry I didn't come here to let my heart out. I came to ask you for $2,500. $2,500? Yes, look. Spence Felice can get Tom's book published if he can put up that amount. He's worked so hard for so long. It's a wonderful book he deserves to be. What? Shifting Sands. I've been aware of it ever since I got back into civilian life. Everyone changes. Nothing's the same as when you last saw it. $2,500? All right. I'll give you $2,500 on one condition. Let you divorce Tom and marry me. Divorce? Now, don't stop to think quick. What do you say? No. Oh, I knew it. Did I say everyone changes? No, I take it back. Everyone except Maggie. Still a fighter, I'm Maggie. Spence... You want to know something? If you said yes, you'd come no closer to $2,500 of my dollars than any other stranger. But you're no stranger, are you? Still the Maggie I remembered. Wobbly on your feet. Still punching her. Spence, you... Yeah, I'm the guy who's delighted to find one constant in the world of change, Maggie. I love you more than ever. May I give you a kiss? Well, that's the best offer I've had today. Did you borrow from friends? Something like that. And so the book was published and the rest is history? Yes, that's right. Well, I guess that's about all. Didn't her did it? Well, I told you it wouldn't be very interesting. Almost everything concerning a Pulitzer Prize winner is interesting. It'll make a paragraph anyway. I'm terribly glad for Tommy and Felice. There aren't two nicer people in the literary game. Tommy's so good-looking. Mrs. Padgett, may I say something? Yes? Well, if I were you and had a husband as attractive as Tommy... Oh, never mind. It's none of my business. Shall we go back to the party? I'd like to stay here for a moment if you don't mind. I want to fix my hair. See you soon. To be such a pretty girl. Felice is wonderful, smart as a whip, lots of style. How old are you now? 31? You used to be such a pretty girl. I'm having dinner with Felice. Don't wait up for me. You used to be such a pretty girl. You mustn't let sentiment tell you to trip me up. That's why people go wrong. You have to be hard. You used to be such a pretty girl. Maggie! Hey, what is it, baby? What's happened? I was just looking in the mirror and I found a gray hair. Oh, Tom. Tom, I'm not young and pretty anymore. I'm not, am I, Tom? No, Maggie. You're not pretty anymore. You're merely beautiful. No. Your face is beginning to line. There's a line between your eyebrows that wasn't there when we first got married. There's one I saw form when my first book was rejected. Here's another that was etched in when I was sick. Oh, there's several lines to say nothing of that one gray hair. Maggie, you imbecile. I didn't marry you because you were pretty. There are thousands and thousands of pretty girls. You see them in the ads or gallivanting about in movies. Corus lines and colleges are filled with them. Felice is a pretty girl. But you're beautiful. All the loveliness I saw deep down inside of you when we first met is pushing its way at me. I say you're beautiful. Maybe I'm prejudiced, but you see, I happen to be in love with you. Fair enough. Come on, blow. I'll take my hand. Squeeze it. Squeeze hard, kid. You ready, Maggie? Ready, Tom. This is Donald Christ speaking again and thanking Van Heflin and Margaret Sullivan for such delightful performances. You know, if we could all have one wish and that wish could be granted, I wonder what we would wish for. Happiness, probably. Of course, you'll always find people who say that it's pretty hard nowadays to have a happy family. It must be hard. Look at all the divorces. And it's pretty hard to bring up boys and girls we can be proud of. Look at all the cases of delinquency. No argument. Certainly it's hard to maintain a happy family. Certainly it's hard to bring up children properly. As a matter of fact, the job's up to be too hard for even the best of parents. But you don't have to do it alone. You can get help. The most powerful help a man can ask for. But remember, you've got to ask for it. Ask and ye shall receive. Yes, ask God for His help. Pray. Pray with your children that God will help your family. You are never so unimportant that God won't listen and help you. Don't forget this. A family that prays together stays together. You'll never know how much prayer will do until you say one. Why not say one? Tonight. Before saying goodnight, I want to express our thanks to all of you who have helped make this program possible. Thanks also to Fred Mackay for directing our play tonight. To our producer, Bob Longnecker. Next week, our stars on the family theater will be Robert Young, Roddy McDowell, and J. Carol Nash. This is Donald Crisp saying goodnight all. This series of the family theater is made possible by the thousands of you who felt the need for this kind of program by the Mutual Network, which has responded to this need and by the actors and technicians in the motion picture and radio industries who have volunteered their services to fulfill it. This program is heard overseas through the facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.