 The mutual broadcasting system presents the family theater starring Loretta Young and Don Amici with Jimmy Stewart as your host More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of This is Jimmy Stewart Tonight the family theater stars Loretta Young and Don Amici You know since this is our first program, maybe we ought to have a dedication. So right now Let's dedicate the family theater to your family with the hope that families everywhere will always be together And that your home will be a happy one with the conviction that prayer Simple prayer will help to keep it that way now Maybe you're thinking this is sort of an odd way to start a series of radio programs programs from Hollywood with movie stars actors and musicians Maybe you're wondering what it's all about. Well Why don't you just sit back and listen? Listen to the music of Meredith Wilson's orchestra and I listen to our story It's called flight from home story written by true boardman and starring Don Amici and Loretta Young All right, I'm already No, no as a matter of fact, I'm writing a letter But I'll be ready when you get here. All right. Goodbye Nora Dear Jim, I Don't pretend even to myself that this letter can make any difference What we said last night before you left was final and definite. I know that Within an hour Nora and Charlie are coming to drive me to the train that will take me home to Cleveland home It's funny that after six years I should suddenly be thinking again of Cleveland as home But what does one do while one waits those last minutes before she says goodbye to a lifetime? I don't know I Only know I feel impelled to put it down in black and white Perhaps then the separate pieces will make some pattern that has sense and order Perhaps seeing it like that will help me and you if you ever read this letter to somehow understand it all As I say I don't know But I have to try I'm sitting now by the front window that faces over the river The day is perfect and you can see all the way to the hills across the valley And as I look out now One object holds my eyes and my thoughts It's something you built for me Jim with your own hands and showed me so proudly the day we arrived here from our honeymoon The day that was really the beginning Okay, Mrs. Matthews your mansion awaits all out. Oh Jim This is the star island place. Oh, you don't tell me Jim we agreed on that little house near the university the place on Elm Street That's Shaq for the wife of a man who in two years will be head of the University Research Lab Couldn't think of it. Oh, come on But darling we we agreed we talked it all over and decided and I decided you should have a place worthy of you Mary wait Before we go inside. There's something here in the garden. You didn't see before. What is it? Come on in here. Well Jim oh Darling it's you see the house was already built and furnished and I wanted a place to have something. I made myself Just for you and what better for a girl I couldn't even get to see for the first three months on you or unless I went to church four times a week you I went to church to see you What do you mean your mother told me you practically lived on at that church before you ever saw Jim Matthews If I didn't already love you more than any man deserves this shrine you built for me would So happy I'm scared You know I got the idea for the shrine that trip I took around the world on an island in the Indies I visited each family has its own shrine outside the house. They do Guarantees every newly married couple fair weather good crops and at least 14 children 14 Come on, let's go inside darling Before we go in could we could we dedicate our shrine? Oh, it has been moment was finished I fell I know oh And what did this fellow say all he said something like Thanks Lord for what I know is gonna be a fine marriage Thanks for Mary understanding about my work and taking the job at the lab here because it means more freedom and authority Even though I could earn more money for somewhere else Thanks for this house and above all may it be blessed with children and May every one of them look like their mother That was all You have anything to add Yes, just one thing why? Thanks dear Lord for Jim and help me to be the wife that he deserves and if it be your will Let there be children all just like their father. That was the beginning Jim Such a rich and warm and happiness filled beginning that I forgot all about your overruling our agreement as to the house we'd buy There was fun for us in those first months that so quickly became years such fun that Well, I wonder now how and when we first began to lose it. I Only know that suddenly we were aware that there were two shadows across our life together We had no child and it began to seem we weren't ever going to have one That was one shadow and the other Well, you felt you'd receive no recognition at the lab for all the work that you've done and Then just before our fourth anniversary there was a night when it all seemed perfect again We were alone and and you were helping me in the kitchen Cash to people can dirty an awful lot of dishes. You don't have to help me with him Jim. You're tired. Who's tired? I only played seven sets. Oh, excuse me. I forgot. I was married to the original Iron Man What do you think of the new man? Well, I played singles with oh, mr. Michaels. Why is all right? Oh He's the old man's new pet former student of his So some people think the old man might decide to make him director of the research lab when Professor Kenny retires this fall Oh, Jim, he couldn't you worked hard for that directorship. You deserve it. Don't worry the old man knows that in fact He said something about it's afternoon looks good Jim Jim, what would you do if Michaels did get that appointment over your head? Nothing just blow the roof off the lab and the old man. That's all yeah, and I'd help Oh, Jim by the way, I went to see Dr. Peters this morning. Why? Nothing important just to make sure whether or not we were going to have a baby We are hand me the platter there here Where's this young Michaels from Jim? Pittsburgh How soon but December maybe maybe January, you know, he's quite handsome. Yeah Doc say you're all right perfect swell You know, it's funny people make such a to-do over this baby business In the movies the girl always has moonlight soft music when she tells her husband. He's supposed to faint or something. No, no That's when it's born here. Here's the platter and be careful. Let's take us We're washing dishes matter of fact Just conversation Nobody excited. Nobody nervous. Nobody Look out Jim I'm so happy Tim this time. It's really true. Oh Thank heaven. It's really true Those months that follow Jim for those months. I will always be grateful Our life had purpose again, and it was beautiful and complete And you were as proud as if you'd personally invented the idea of parenthood Then that night That one horrible unforgettable night Darling if only that storm could have happened a week before or later or any time but when it did But it didn't Jim it happened then Perhaps the most crucial moment of our lives. Yes, Dr. Peters, of course, you're right. She shouldn't drive in this storm. Oh I'm yeah, I'm positive. She does. Yes, right here. Yeah, Mary wants to talk to you He's definitely sending another doctor. Oh, yes. All right. Hello, doctor Yeah, fine time I pick helpful Mary. That's me. Oh Yes, yes, of course, I understand you're right. Yes, of course. It's safer in this storm. Oh Certainly as long as you recommend him, but just so it makes it in time. Oh No, no, I haven't been able to find Jim anywhere and doctor. I'm worried about him. He should have been home two hours ago Now doctor, look, you know, I'm not alone. I called Norrin. She came right over that. Now. Don't you worry about me? I'm gonna be all right And don't forget. I bet you it's a girl. Now you say it's a boy. It's still a boy, huh? Nora doctor Peters. Oh Nora hold on honey, hold on that one was 18 minutes The front door Jim is that you? Oh Yeah, I'm so glad you're here. Hi Mary. Hi Nora. Oh darling. Where have you been? I? Jim Bill I've been celebrated all by myself all afternoon. I got some news for you Michael's got that assignment as director of the lab Pretty boy Michaels is now my new boss, right? Jim Mary's needed you the baby. What about you mean? Yes, Jim. Yes, but I'm all right now that you're here a Week old dr. Peters and can't leave the hospital. So he's sending a doctor here But he doesn't want me driving in to the hospital in the storm. That's ridiculous. Of course you're going to the hospital There's time isn't there? Oh, I suppose so, but dr. Peters Jim. That's crazy. The doctor specifically I say she's going to the hospital. We'll have no home delivery with some doctor We don't know you're having the best Mary. Yeah, I mean Jim Matthews wife is having the best there is no storm Or anything else is going to prevent it either Please slow down. I'm sure we'll get there in time and I'm all right But please take it easy. I know what I'm doing Jim are you sure I shouldn't drive I can you know, don't be ridiculous I'm terribly sorry about the appointment dear. You should have had it Jim, please slow down. I'll be quiet Mary. I had a few drinks sure what happens stop sounding as though I'm sorry, there was nothing I could do you should never have tried to drive in through that storm You suppose I don't know that now Doctor what about What about other children for us later? There are many children already born only adoption son I'm sorry Jim. We lost her Jim our baby's dead Dr. Peters couldn't save him You must know this Except for the accident You both would have been all right except for the accident Jim Jim listen to me. I'll let you rest now No, Jim, don't do that But you didn't wait and you didn't listen Then or in the many times in the weeks the months to come when I tried to talk to you about that night I Told you I forgave you, but you just smiled at me as though you heard but you didn't believe me So our marriage went on but actually it wasn't any marriage at all We were two people who lived in a single house a thousand miles apart We both changed I'm afraid I grew a little bitter in my unhappiness and you Well, other people too began to worry about you There was the day professor erin's came to see me from the university the old man as you always called him I assure you Mrs. Matthews. I I try never to interfere with the private lives of my staff members But I'm worried about Jim. He goes on working. Yes, but with sir such an attitude He was the best project man. I had that's why I kept him free Unhampered by staff responsibilities But lately well, I I've tried to talk to him and his only responses He'll resign if I'm not satisfied now. I don't want that Mrs. Matthews. I want Jim But I want the old Jim not a man who brings his mind to the laboratory and whose heart is left somewhere else We talked Jim when we saw each other, but we might as well have used different languages Then I thought perhaps I'd found an answer That afternoon three months ago I persuaded you to go with Nora and Charlie to the children's founding home on the pretense that they were thinking of adopting a child And when we came home that night you were more yourself than I'd seen you in months There was one child in particular had impressed you Mary did you notice that girl a little older than the others kidding for the turn-up nose and long yellow hair? Why yes, wasn't her name Joan? Yeah, yeah, that's it any Chance of Nora and Charlie taking her. Did you like her me? Well, sure. How can you not like a kid in the spot like that? Well, I mean did you like Joan particular did you Jim? So that's it. Yes, that's it Nora and Charlie had no intention of adopting a kid. No, Jim. No, they didn't but I I thought about it and prayed about it for an awfully long time And I honestly think that a child is the answer Jim Maybe our life is Well as it is because it's too shallow Yeah, I thought of that too. Oh Darling darling do let us investigate. Let us talk to them, but the home. Let's start to think about it seriously What's there to think about? If you want it that way go ahead. Oh Jim and the first thing we'll do is cut that kid's hair Three months Three months leading up to yesterday Three months of interviews with the adoption board and visits to the home and fixing the den over for for room for Joan Three months of planning three wonderful months of living again Then yesterday Yesterday the finale to it all Little Joan happy and eager and frightened all at the same time in her new home And it's not that I'm exactly afraid But I just never slept in a room by myself Anyway, not since I remember I understand Joan and until you get used to it I'll come in here each night and lie down with you until your sleep. How's that? You can tell me stories, huh? That'll be fine mother Should I call you mother or Mary? Whichever you wish It'll just work out. You'll see and what about Jim? Oh, we'll talk to him about that. Shall we? Where is he? You said we should expect him at three o'clock. It's almost five. Well, maybe his trains late You know, he's been on a trip. Are you sure he'll be glad to see me. Oh, Jim Jim and I talked to you over for a long time You'll be glad Why did you take me instead of one of the teensy kids? Most folks who came to the home took the little babies Right about giving up hope on a kind I'm sold. Oh, honey. Oh Honey age has nothing to do with it. You were the little girl our home needed to make it complete I'm sure do I had Mary there he is. I'm in here Jim in the den. I Hello, Mr. Matthews. I'm here Mary didn't you get my wire your wire? Oh, no, dear the phones been out and you know how they are about deliveries now Mary, I've got to talk to you Jim I Mother do you want me to go outside for a little while? Yes, honey. Do you mind? We'll be we'll be out in a few minutes. All right I'll stay where you all right there What did the telegram say Jim are you must have gotten it and you went ahead anyway. No, no, I didn't I? went ahead Oh, so you've changed your mind. No, I made it up. I Had time to think you're in this trip, and I decided once and for all I'm late now because I stopped at the lab. I've resigned I'm leaving here Mary Here It's a deed to the house and a power of attorney if you want to sell it before the final arrangements have worked out I Left most of the money in the joint account Here's the book You seem to have thought of everything I'm sorry about little Joan But perhaps you'll keep it yourself. Well, you know that isn't possible. They wouldn't let me it's adoption idea was crazy for us and you know it More is wrong with our marriage and not having a child in the house What's wrong is wrong with me Well, Jim if you know that why don't you do something about it? Your trouble is Mary that you're still in love with a dream And it was a dream I'm what I am now So let me go all right Jim all right all right go on run go on and keep on running for the rest of your life from me And from your job and from yourself Oh Jim Jim if I could only make you see things the way you think I don't You want the whole truth Mary? We've never faced that have we Well, we will now Two years ago. I killed our baby Jim. That's I killed our baby and made it certain that we'd never have another one Try living with that in the back of your mind Mary take it to work with you day after day See it there in the eyes of your wife every time you look at her That isn't true. Try lying in bed night after night reliving that crash a thousand times You there in the street and in the rain not even crying in your pain Just saying over and over to me. It's all right Jim. I'll be all right and the baby will live The baby didn't live Jim Jim Jim why can't it be simple? Why can't I just put my arms around you and say I love you dear? And I'll always love you and that'll be all the answer But it isn't Our only chance is for me to try to make you see it all as I do Jim. No, Maria. I'm going now Jim. Listen to me. Listen, please Jim what happened that night two years ago was an accident a single accident for which no one is responsible. I won't do Mary We were on that road for one reason The selfish pride of the man you call your husband Pride that wouldn't let him have his child born here at home when he could be important by rushing into the hospital The same pride that even at the start of our marriage made me buy a bigger and better house than the one we'd agreed on together The same pride that that couldn't take the blow of Michael's being named director And sent me to a bar to get drunk when you need me more than ever before in our life Jim if these things are true or or if you feel they are what answer is it now to run away? Why don't you face them Jim and accept them face them in honesty and humility and stop running away darling? Jim Jim remember that poem you used to read to me. You said it was your favorite the Hound of Heaven remember remember it Jim I Fled him down the nights and down the days member Jim I Fled him down the nights and down the days I Fled him down the arches of the years I Fled him down the labyrinth and ways of my own mind and in a mist of tears I hid from him Why you're that man Jim You're fleeing from your own faith. You're fleeing from your own forgiveness Jim Some things are beyond forgiveness. What things? Did our Lord ever say that? Oh my darling, you know better if you'll just admit it to yourself Oh, can't you see there is forgiveness if you'll just break through this wall you built and accept it Jim? All right Go on now if you must But go on out and find yourself Go out and walk and pray pray with all your heart Darling if you can do that I Know you'll get back to me into our life together It's no use Mary I Tell you it's no use Jim help him Help him and help me to live without him If that's the way it's got to be So it ended Jim you turned and walked out into the night and it was over There it is the whole story. I said that putting it a letter might help me to understand But it doesn't I Only know that I still love you as I shall never love another human being And that when you went out of that door a part of myself went with you What's left? I don't care very much about There's a car in the driveway Jim and that means that Nora and Charlie are here for me So I must finish this quickly Jim and it was that you know, I'll be with you in a minute. I I'm just finishing my letter No Hello, mother What Joan Joan, honey? Joan how did you get I didn't run away and come back here if that's what you mean somebody brought me somebody Who he says he wants to talk to you, please outside. He says you know where yes, of course Of course I do I kept hearing those words I started walking I Must have walked all night But you're right I Fled him down the nights and down the days And all of a sudden there was no place I could go Once the walls I built were down Welcome Really I know I Know Jim and Jim I'm going to help you all I can and I'll need your help. Oh I asked for my job back this morning is Michael's assistant. Oh Oh, I know you won't be sorry Jim. I know you won't I see a lot of things I wouldn't face before The work I can do is a lot more important and whatever title they want to give me Our child is dead. I can't change that But there are lots of kids like Joan Who could use the love we have to give? Oh darling you do see Oh, oh, yes, Joan come on in honey. I mean, of course you may This is our family shrine Joan and after all you're part of the family now a very important part Thank you Loretta young and Don Amici You know, I thought maybe you folks would like to know why we call this program family theater. Well, I'll tell you Because it's the most important thing in the world. Our most precious possession is our family We all want our family to be happy sure, but well sometimes going gets pretty tough sickness bills accidents Which make it almost too much for a man his wife to handle you ever you ever feel that way? You know, you don't know where to turn for help and because you're upset and worried you get irritable and wango Whole family seems to sort of fall apart and you're positive. There's nothing you can do to prevent it, but But just stop and think a minute Maybe you're maybe you're overlooking something Maybe there's a way you can get help The most powerful help a man could ask for but you've got to ask for it and how do you ask for it? Well, you just pray Yes, you you ask Almighty God for his help He wants you to pray But you and your family will never know how much God can help you unless you ask Deep down in your heart You know, we'll help you before saying good night I'm sure that Loretta young and Don Amici join me in expressing our pleasure and having had a part in dedicating this first program of the family Theater thanks to everyone who helped make the family theater possible and you might be interested to know that Richard Sandville directed our play and true boardman wrote it Now next week our stars in the family theater will be Walter Brennan Bula Bondi and an original story No night too dark by Charles Tazwell All right, that's Jimmy Stewart saying good night. Good night everybody This is the mutual broadcasting system