 Family Theater presents Anna Maria Albergatti and Aldo Ray. From Hollywood, the Mutual Network and Cooperation with Family Theater presents Shut Out, starring Aldo Ray. And now here is your hostess, Anna Maria Albergatti. Thank you, Toni Lafranco. Family Theater'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 and peace for our families and peace for the world. Family Theater urges you to pray. Pray together as a family. And now to our transcribed drama, Shut Out, starring Aldo Ray as Frank. Mr. Burns. Yes. Mr. Endicott, we'll see you in a few minutes. Would you mind filling out this application while you wait? Well, I listed most of my background in that letter I sent. Well, this is just for our personnel files. We have to have one. It's a company rule. Oh, I see. Just the usual stuff. Name, age, past employment. Shouldn't take you long. Okay. You can use that desk right over there. Do you have a fountain pen? Yes, yes, I do. Fine. If Mr. Endicott's able to see you before you're through, you can finish this up after the interview. Okay, thanks very much. It was the usual application for him. You have to fill out for every job. I'd seen a lot of them in the last year and a half. I'd gotten to be an expert. Printed across the top of this one was the name of the firm, the Farnsworth Annuity and Insurance Company. After that, it was just like all the others, a cold, empty record, waiting to be filled in with all the details. All the triumphs and failures, the hits and misses, every bit of personal information you can think of. It was funny there were questions your best friend wouldn't ask you. But here's this young girl sitting at a switchboard outside the great man's office. And she hands you an application that says, Spill it, the story of your life. And don't leave out anything. Name? Francis R. Burns. But that's not the name you'd know me by, not Francis. Age? 36, but I don't look a do I. That's the outdoor where it keeps you young. Home address? 73, uh, no, no, let's just put down the Harrison Hotel, 4th and Main, at the moment I don't have any other home. Position applied for? Salesman. I could be a good one too if I keep my mind on it. Education, circle the highest number which applies. Grammar school, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. High school, one, two, three, four. College, one, two. That's the one girly, circle that one. College, two. Doesn't look like anything very important, does it? Just a little circle around a number. But that was a big year for me. A real big one. It was a second week in May and I'd been picked as a starting pitcher to open against the state teacher's college. I went eight innings, eight innings without giving them a hit. You don't see that kind of hurling in college baseball. You don't see it once in ten years and I was just a sophomore. I wound up pitching a shutout. They picked up a scratch single in the ninth and that killed a no-hitter but the man died on first because I struck out the next two batters. And that night when I picked Paula up at the sorority house I told her the rest of it, what had happened after the game. Oh you sounded so excited on the phone. Yeah let's sit down out here in the porch. Is anything wrong, Fred? No I just don't want anyone else to hear this, not yet anyhow. Well, what is it? You see the game this afternoon? You know I saw the game. I mean were you really watching? Well of course I was watching. Okay, okay now tell me honestly how did I look out there? Well you, you were wonderful. Even in the ninth when I was in trouble? That's when you looked best of all. You got out of it by yourself. I didn't seem nervous or anything. No? Well I felt plenty nervous. I don't know if I showed it or not. No you didn't. Frank will you tell me what this is all about? Well someone else was out there in the stands today. A scout for one of the majors, a fellow named Jerry Graham. He came down and introduced himself after the game. I just had dinner with him. Well and? He made me an offer. To play professional baseball? Well of course to play professional baseball. Well I just asked. What do you think he's scouting the chess team? Oh I thought maybe he just offered you a tryout. No it's a real offer. A contract with a bonus and I have to make up my mind about it right away. You mean denied? Well in the next day or so the grades are scouting pitchers. Oh would you have to quit school? Well I'm not worried about that. I just wonder if I'm ready. Well Frank what's this going to do to all the plans? Well the only thing I can do is speed them up. If I connect we can probably get married sometime next year instead of having to wait for that degree and then the big job hunt. Well what if you don't connect? Well I sure ought to know before the summer's out if it doesn't work I'll come back here and finish up. But you'll lose a whole semester. Honey I don't think that's very much to lose for a chance like this. No I suppose not. You really want to do this don't you Frank? Yeah yeah I think so. All right it's all right with me. Yeah girly college two that's where the circle belongs. It really should be college one and a half since I left before the second semester was over. But you don't have any one and a half on this form so it'll have to be college two because I never went back. List all former positions chronologically starting with your first job. I only had one position pitcher but I don't think that's what you want. Even if it was I wouldn't put it down. List employers full name and place of business. Well technically I was employed by Mr. Samuel Griswold of the Griswold Brewing Company. I only met him twice in all the time I worked for him and I never even saw the inside of his brewery. But he owned a gray so that makes me a former employee of his. Describe the exact nature of your work. Let's see I threw a curve a fastball. My first few years were so fast you couldn't see it. But that's kind of a limited description of what I really did. When you get down to it I guess you could say I promoted the sale of tickets. Thousands of them. Boxes, grandstands, bleachers. Everybody came out to watch lefty burns. Yeah that'd be more accurate I'll just put down that I did sales promotion for the Griswold Brewing Company. State the exact length of time you were employed. That's easy girl 11 years not counting time in the armed forces. That was when I really hit my stride just after the war. I got out in time for spring training 45. By then Jerry Graham was managing the grays and he spent a lot of time on me. Every afternoon after the other guys had gone to the shower he got out there with a catcher's mitt and I'd pour it in for a extra half an hour. Sometimes between pitches I'd look over at the grandstand and see Paula holding little Bill in her lap. They'd both wave and I'd wave back and then Jerry yelled me to quit moaning and I'd pour it on some more. I won 23 games that year and never less than 19 the next four after that. And then it started to happen. I'd pitch maybe five or six innings all the old fire and everything then I'd tighten up. Sometimes I was just a little tired. I still have the speed and the control but I had to take more time and work harder to get it. My salary was 25,000 that year plus almost another 10 for endorsements. The next season I took a little cut and then another one then a year ago last February Jerry called me on the phone at home and asked me to drop over to the clubhouse that afternoon. Sit down Lefty. Thanks thanks. How's Paula and Bill? Good. We're looking forward to some of that Florida sunshine. Incidentally I haven't got my contract yet. I know Lefty. Or was I invited down here to be softened up for another cut? No, no it's more than that I'm afraid. The club's not taking up your option this year. They aren't. I tried pretty hard for you but the boy's in the front office. Oh I see you don't have to explain Jerry. It happens that's all. I'm sorry kid. I've known this for almost a week but I I wanted to do a little looking around unofficially of course. See if anyone else in the league was interested. I seem to remember that Chicago tried to buy my contract a few years ago. Four years ago. But not now? Afraid not Lefty. Well I can't kick the games and very good to me. Yeah. For a lot longer than most of them. You you fixed okay financially? Oh not not bad. You know you make it. You spend it. I've got a few bucks. Glad to hear it. I've got something else too. I've got a name. No question about that. Then I'm gonna use it while it's still hot. Any ideas how you will use it? Well I don't know. Some kind of a promotion job maybe. Sporting goods outfit. Well those can turn out to be a lot of work. I don't kid yourself. All day wants the name. Stop worrying Jerry. I'll connect. I'll find something. Paula took the news just fine. She'd seen it coming from a long way off and in a way I had the feeling she was almost glad it was over. But there wasn't any fooling her about the money. I had to get a job and get one fast. List your next most recent position in the name of your employer. No I don't think so. It doesn't make very good reading. State the length of time you were employed. No sir. That's what's bad about it. Three months. State your reasons for leaving. They weren't my reasons. They weren't mine at all. Although I was sure enough to blame for what happened. It took me almost four months to land that first job and it was the kind I might have been pretty good at if I hadn't started feeling sorry for myself. I got on with the sporting goods outfit. A big one. And about a month later I went to this convention in New York. My boss told me the first night we were there that we were out for a contract with one of the Eastern clubs. A big contract for a lot of equipment. And all I had to do was smile pretty for the team manager when he came to the party we were throwing in our hotel suite and keep remarking what a great man he was. Except that he wasn't a great man. He was a two-bit busher who had no more business managing a ball club than I did. And after a few glasses of lemonade I edged him into a corner and told him so. Now look brains. I'm the customer. You're the salesman. Don't push me too hard. Salesman my foot jack. This is Lefty Burns. The guy who knocked you out of the pen and three years ago. Go wash your face. You look a little dizzy. Out of the pen and you never forgot it did you. You never forgave me. Okay so now I forgive you stop breathing at me. You had a great team. You know that a great team three years ago. I still got a great team. You got a bunch of bums here. You haven't got a pitcher worthy of the name. Oh I see. You see what. Never mind. Three years ago you had a great team but you blew it. And I suppose all I need to get right back up there is a pitcher worthy of the name huh. You wouldn't know a good pitcher every fella in your lap. Are you thinking to try on it. Don't get personal. Look brains why don't you lose yourself. Before I start thinking this equipment deal over again and maybe change my mind. You never forgave me because you're a little man. That's why you didn't pick up my contract. What are you talking about. Jerry offered it around last spring. Don't kid me. I wouldn't bother. Your name came up on a waiver list and nobody wanted you so why take it out on me. Because you needed pitchers bad and there I was but you just couldn't swallow your prize. Are you a loony. Yeah. Sure I need pitchers. Pitchers not dead armed has been. What do you think you're talking to. Come on now keep your voice down your boss is looking over here. Leave him on my arm. I'll say what I want as loud as I want. Everybody got that. I've I've done more for baseball than anyone in this room here. Me. It wasn't for the stars the players the guys who bring him into the ballpark you birds wouldn't have any equipment business guys like me lefty burns. Three months that's why I just assume forget about that job if you don't mind but Paula was great about it she didn't say a word. List your next most recent position. Two months except that I quit. Your next most recent position. A week no no ten days. And your next most recent position. That was the last there weren't any more and then Paula finally found her voice. Frank you can't go on like this. Will you leave me alone I'm trying to think. I've left you alone for almost a year. Face facts were broke. You've got to settle down somewhere. Don't you think I've tried. All you've tried is cashing in on your name it's not enough Frank. I've got friends plenty of friends I'll find something. Dear I know it isn't easy. You've been a celebrity ever since you can remember but that's over now. People know me it's not over I've got a name that gets me in places it opens doors it's worth something. How much has it been worth in the last three months. All right the last three months but how about the last 13 years. You didn't mind me this is lefty burns then. Frank. You ate it up you loved it now I'm having a hard time and you hit me with my name's not worth anything. But you're worth something Frank. Thanks. That's all I'm getting at. It's not your name that made you a fine pitcher it's what you did. And now I can't do it anymore you're going to get out the spurs huh. Oh Frank. You want me to run down to the employment office and snap up the first 15 cent job they toss at me. I want you to start acting like a man you're a husband and a father. I think I know who I am. I'm not so sure of that. If you're such a model mother why are you yelling at the top of your voice with your son sleeping right in the next room. Bill's not in there. What do you mean. I took him over to mothers this afternoon. I didn't want him around while we had this out. Oh is that what we're doing having it out. Frank try to be reasonable. You decided sign for a showdown and from now on I'd better hop whenever you snap your fingers and that's the way. No he's talking to you now. Where you going. I'm getting out. What are you talking about. You heard me Frank when you get some sense you know where to reach me. For beats sake come back here. Paula. Hello. Who. Jerry you're well and how's everything. Good. Good. Me all not bad. Would I what. Sure sure Jerry. When. No I'm free tomorrow morning. Your office. Sure. Who is it you want me to meet. Roscoe. Oh yeah yeah I've seen him around the little gray haired guy. Yeah fine I'll be there at 10. Paula. Oh she's fine probably happier right now than she's been in years. There's no place I could put what happened the next morning on this application form except under references. Then all I can write is the name Mr. Henry Roscoe. He's the one who recommended me to your Mr. Endicott for this job but I didn't know that's what Jerry had in mind when he called me. I wasn't even sure who Mr. Henry Roscoe was except that from time to time I'd seen him around the clubhouse over the years. He was a mousy looking little guy about 60 with bright friendly eyes but when Jerry introduced us and he shook my hand I could tell he had quite a grip. Well it's a pleasure Mr. Burns. How do you do. I know that Henry Mr. Roscoe was stopping in this morning Frank I just thought that maybe he might be able to put you in touch with something if you're interested. I guess it's no secret I haven't had much luck so far Jerry. Well I understand Mr. Burns that you were with the sporting goods firm for a time. Oh I just assume forget that one Mr. Roscoe I made a real mess of it. Oh I was just curious you see I'm in that line myself. Well if that's where most of your contacts are I'm afraid you'd have a hard time getting them interested in Oh no no no no no I'm fairly well connected at a number of other fields too. Yes oh sure sure tell them I'll be right over. Will you excuse me the boss. Of course Jerry. You two don't need me for this anyhow I'll be back about 10 minutes. Well now I hope you don't think this this help of mine is offered with anything but the best intentions Mr. Burns. Not at all it's nice of you to bother. I've been around ballpark selling equipment for over a quarter of a century and I know it's a hard thing for a man to adjust to walking out of the limelight. Oh I see it I see it year after year young men still in the prime of life yet living on memories. Memories are pretty hard things to live without. Yeah it's but living on them isn't the same as living with him. The hardest thing for a former star athlete to accept is that people can forget him in a very short time almost overnight. Are you giving me a lecture Mr. Roscoe. Oh no no no I hope not. I'm right in thinking that you're trying to tell me in a nice way not to write on my reputation. I would say this if you could do such a thing go ahead but you'd be the first man I ever met who got away with it. I think a name should be worth something. It is as long as you don't stop building it it's when you stop working at anything and hope that your reputation will do the job. That's when the trouble starts. Oh I see it I see it year after year. Just what kind of job contacts do you have. Well I know of an opening in an insurance company it's a big company oh yes and they want a salesman. I never sold any insurance. Oh you can do what you sound intelligent you look presentable it's a good opportunity. Here in town. No no it's over in Springton they just opened a new branch and they're looking for a man who can be trained to manage it eventually. Now wait a minute let me see oh yeah here's my card now the man to see is a Mr. Endicott. Let me know if you're interested now contact him. Well I'll I'll have to think it over. I expect you to of course. Now there's one last suggestion Mr. Burns. Yeah. I've helped a lot of young men like yourself get started in a new field and I advised most of them to say nothing about their name if that's the word for it. Well how else are they supposed to account for the time they spend making a living as athletes. I've found that the parent organization of most baseball clubs are very understanding about that. If you ask for it they'll give you a recommendation that is good but not too specific. I see. And also it helps you resist trying to use your reputation to get the job. What's wrong with that. Only one thing it can't help you to keep it. Well goodbye Mr. Burns. So long. I'll think it over Mr. Roscoe. Leaving Henry. Yes Jerry I'm late right now for an appointment. I'll drop in next time you're around. I'll do that. Goodbye Mr. Burns. Bye thanks again. Well he's a funny duffer huh. Well on your point of view. Did he give you anything. He gave me a generous helping of Pius Talk plus a leading insurance job. Thank you follow it up. I guess I can't do any harm. Tell me something is that old cuda very good salesman. One of the best. Well I guess you can see a lot of this business even if you're just around selling baseball bats. What are you talking about. Well he claims to be such an expert on the problems of ex athletes. You mean to tell me you sat in here and looked at that man for 10 straight minutes and never figured out who he was. Henry Roscoe. Hank Roscoe. Hammerhand Hank Roscoe the greatest outfielder New York ever produced. Hammerhand. He led the league in batting for four straight years 1917 through 1920. Well I was I supposed to recognize him. Oh brother. Okay so he used to be great but now he's no but. That's no excuse. Why not. He recognized you. So that's it. I've come a long way since that afternoon when I pitched a shutout against state teachers. I've come all the way to the offices of the Farnsworth annuity and insurance company to fill out an application for a job that won't pay me one fourth of what I made my last year in baseball. Mr. Burns. Yes. Mr. Endicott will see you now. This way please. Thank you. Oh have you finished the employment form. Oh yeah here. Thank you. Mr. Burns to see you Mr. Endicott. Now come in Burns come in. How do you do. Quite well thank you sit down. I hope you won't think I'm trying to rush your Burns but I have a mighty important appointment this afternoon. Mighty important. Oh yes I'm taking the train up to see the Grays play Chicago doubleheader. You like baseball. Oh I like all sports. I don't get to see much baseball anymore but your friend Mr. Roscos sent me some tickets so I'm not going to miss this chance. I don't blame you. Well now let's see I've been looking over your letter here and Mr. Roscos letter of recommendation. Yes sir. Let's see. You married. Yes sir. Any children. Eleven year old boy. Good good man needs a family. I imagine your wife would be pretty pleased if you came home with the job today. Yes sir I think she would. Well I wouldn't say you've got exactly the kind of background I'd look for to fill this position but Mr. Roscos speaks very highly of you here. Say tell me. Yes sir. Where you used to work the Griswold Brewing Company isn't that the outfit that owns the Grays the baseball team. Yes sir. So that's how you came to know Roscos. Yes I understand he sells a lot of equipment to the Grays. Oh he's a great salesman and you know why cause he thinks of the other man the customer always thinking how he can help the other man. Remember that Burns the secret is selling anything especially insurance. Yes sir. Does this mean I've got the job. Well we'll give you a try. You won't regret it Mr. Endicott. We're here at the office 8 30 Monday morning I'll give you all the details then. I gotta catch that train. Hope you enjoy the game. Like I say I haven't seen one for oh three four years anyhow. I think they were playing New York last time that Southpaw they used to have was pitching. Lefty Burns. Yeah yeah that's the one marvelous athlete. Say he wouldn't be a relative of yours or anything would he. No he's no relative. A great pitcher. I'd like to meet him sometime. Well who knows Mr. Endicott maybe you will. This is Anna Maria Albergatti again. Have you been in a drugstore lately. I mean one of those big shiny fantastic places where you can buy everything from a seven course dinner to an airfoam mattress. Well I was in one last night and I wandered over to the drug section. They really do have drugs for sale in those places and I was suddenly struck by how much progress man has made in keeping his body healthy. We've got minerals and vitamins and drops for our eyes and ointment for our skin and it all works too. We've got pills for taking off weight putting it on improving vision straightening our bones there is almost nothing they haven't tackle and pretty well conquered when it comes to helping us improve ourselves physically and I got to wondering wouldn't it be wonderful if some all wise scientist could concoct a medicine that would remedy our spiritual ills make us less selfish less indifferent to any interest but our own and more in the image of him who created both our body and soul. Well you can guess the rest had no sooner thought that far when it when it occurred to me that the same all wise scientist who in the beginning created every root and tree from which all our physical accures have been derived also has given us a medicine to straighten our souls whenever we want to take it. The medicine I mean of course is prayer it's something that can be self-administered and it's impossible to get an overdose. One more thing it's very effective when taking a regulatory in in the home that's the reason family theater continues to remind you the family that prays together stays together. More things are brought by prayer than this world dreams of. From Hollywood family theater has brought you transcribed shut out starring Aldo Ray Anna Maria Albergatti was your hostess others in our cast were Charlotte Lawrence Jean Bates David Young Marvin Miller and Howard McNear. 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 is made possible by the thousands of you who 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 and radio who 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 dotted line starring Barry Sullivan Jeanette McDonald 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.