 Family Theater presents Frank Leahy and Jack Haley from Hollywood the Mutual Network in Cooperation with Family Theater presents Past Imperfect starring Jack Haley and now here is your host Frank Leahy Thank you, Tony 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 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 Past Imperfect starring Jack Haley as Jim You wanted on the phone dear oh Oh, I guess I dropped off, honey. Oh just once I'd like to have you come home at night from the office without a brief case full of work I'll taper off in a few weeks But you said last month Sometimes I wish you'd never been elected president of the firm. I don't you worry feeling fine Who's calling? Oh, mr. Wilson. He says he's with the Johnson cement company. Do you know him? No, but I got a lunch at appointment with one of Johnson's big competitors tomorrow Wonder what this fellow wants. I don't know. Shall I tell him you're not here? No. No, I'll talk to him Hello Yes, this is Mr. Steele What can I do for you? Yes, I know your firm Well, I'm sorry, but I don't believe I've ever met you mr. Wilson. I knew your name is what? George Wilson From Terrenceville. What is it dear? Why? Why? Yes? I sure do remember you very very well You want to talk about what? tonight oh Oh, you'd like my company to buy some of your cement for a change. Well, that's very interesting Well, sure sure. I'd be glad to see you George about an hour Sure, come on over We'll talk about old times Of all the crust Jim, what's the matter George Wilson? George Wilson coming to me for a favor Jim. Will you stop fuming and tell me doesn't that mean anything to you? George Wilson In Terrenceville we used to call him Wendy Wilson Wendy Wendy Wilson The town skunk the biggest little bully in the county Wendy Wilson What's he doing here after all these years? He's a salesman for Johnson cement salesman Imagine that but his family was so wealthy why they owned half the town and they acted like they owned all of it Wendy Wilson The little stinker now Jim. I wish I had a dime for every time he beat me up Just a dime now. There's no sense in losing your temper. I'd be rich You are rich Jim. You're a success. It's silly to let a childhood grudge upset you but the nerve That's what gets me the nerve of that guy expecting me to help him Why did you ask him to come over if you don't intend to help him to tell him off? That's why I've been waiting for over 30 years for this chance. Oh Jim This isn't like you the little stinker, but he's not a little stinker now He's a middle-aged man trying to make a living to me He's still the same lazy little louse who was always telling everyone what a big deal he was and how much doors All man had then you're not going to help him. Sure. Sure. I'll help him I'll help him out of here on the end of my foot after I tell him what I think of Jim I'm going back to the study and do a little more work If you go up to bed before Wilson gets here knock on the door so I can be listening for the bell Jim, I wish you didn't feel this way. I wouldn't if Wilson had been a different kind of guy Good night Lois Good night here Wendy Wilson Boy, wouldn't it have been a pleasure when we were kids if I knew then I was going to be a success and windy a failure What I've told him what I have told him off Things would have been different plenty different Even that day way back in sixth grade when he beat me out for the pitchers job because he owned the baseball Okay, fellas you make up your mind. What do you want to have for a pitcher me or this little runt here? Who are you calling a runt Wendy? I'm calling you a runt Jimmy Steele. Yeah. Yeah So shut up or I'll knock your teeth out. Yeah. Yeah, and it's my baseball. So I'm gonna pitch. Yeah, there's no game Yeah Well, I guess if you want to be like that about it, I'm gonna be just like that about it. Okay, you guys batter up All the stinkers Boy, if he only knew that someday I'm gonna be a big deal. Then he Say wait a minute. I Know I'm gonna be a big deal Why don't I tell him? Why don't I just tell him all about it? Listen runt? I said I was gonna pitch now go chase yourself Boy, are you riding for fall Wendy? Huh? You are really a sad man. You don't know what's in store for you. What are you talking about? I'm talking about you your big phony. You're gonna wind up coming to me for a job someday You know that a job are you nutty my old man owns the bank and half the real estate in town He's got more dough than you could count now get off the mound Yeah, ten years from now. He's gonna be broken a stock market crack. What kind of crash is that you see and I'll tell you something else You're gonna be a bum all your life. You shut up or I'll lay one on you go ahead I'm gonna be rich and you're gonna be a bum So hit me why you little punk and another thing you're gonna lose this game by 14 runs because you can't pitch for sour apples That's all you know. I'm gonna win you watch I watched and Wendy lost just like I told him he would he was awful really awful But he wouldn't quit cuz it was his baseball Boy, did he take a shellackin and was I happy? On the way home, I met Lois Johnson She was the prettiest girl in the fifth grade then and I told her how Wendy had lost the game I didn't know he was going to come along and beat me up Sorry, you didn't get to pitch Jimmy. I don't care. I'm better than he is anyhow I practice the only reason he pitches cuz he owns the ball Oh, look here he comes now who Wendy see oh my gosh. I better get out of here. Are you afraid of him? No How come you're talking to that little runt Jimmy is not a little runt Wendy Wilson and he's a better pitcher than you are Oh, yeah, yeah, let's see how tough you are Jimmy knock this chip off my shoulder Go ahead. I dare you knock it off What a rat Boy, if you only knew what a good box I was gonna be in college He wouldn't pick a fight with me. No, sir. He wouldn't have the nerve If I only knew what a sucker he is for a right cross. I Say wait, I Do know what a sucker he is Why don't I just set him up with a left let him drop his guard and then give it to him Go ahead knock this chip off my shoulder. I dare you Okay, Wendy There why you I'm okay. You think so, huh? Yeah on account of this Yeah, if you don't get up off that sidewalk, I'll hit you in the other eye too It's a science the trouble with you windy is you don't know how to Yeah, you're not only gonna be a failure as you go through life You only be able to defend yourself. Come on get up. I'll knock it down again. Don't you dare knock him down Jimmy steel You're nothing but a bully a bully Lois don't talk that way Lois. You and I are gonna be married someday married. I'll never marry a bully But Lois don't you even talk to me? Come on, Wendy. I'll help you at home Thanks This isn't the way it's supposed to be you just wait Jimmy steel I'm gonna take boxing lessons and pitching lessons and someday I'll come around and you'll be sorry That's all you know I'm gonna be present of the biggest engineering firm in the country someday. You will not You're just a bully and you're full of hot air. That's all Hot air, huh? That's what he thinks I'm gonna be a big deal. That's what a big operator All I got to do is wait and let it happen Just wait and let it happen So I don't finish at the top of the class in grammar school or high school So I even have trouble getting into college. What of it? I'm gonna be a big deal Mr. Steel Yes, sir. I regret to inform you that the Dean of Engineering School feels your work is too unsatisfactory for you to continue at the University you You mean I'm being dropped. I'm afraid so but listen you can't do that Oh, I wouldn't take it so hard James after all perhaps you aren't suited to the work, but but I am I Know I'm gonna finish with honors. Oh come Mr. Steel One has to study to finish it all much less with honors You've been here for two years and you've walked the whole time But I'm going to be president of a great engineering firm someday. I've got to graduate. Oh, and what's the name of this firm the Whitcomb company Whitcomb company Never heard of them. Well, it hasn't been formed yet, but it's going to be a big outfit and I'm going to run it Well, I wish you every success mr. Steel But I suggest that before you become affiliated with an engineering firm you first become an engineer. Well, I I'm going to become one perhaps perhaps you shall but not at this University Of all the boneheads doesn't he know who I am Who I'm going to be someday. I don't get it Everything's wrong Everything's backwards Even in Terenceville when I come back and start to work in the bank that summer Everything's wrong Hello, mr. Steel Lois I didn't know you were working here. Oh, yes, George and I are saving up to be married George You you mean Wendy? I wouldn't let George hear you calling by that name if I were you you wouldn't a Don't tell me he'd like to start a fight about it Why don't you ask him he's standing right behind you right behind? What? Hello, Jim How are things in college? Not not bad. I hear you decided to give up engineering. That's right. What about it? Not a thing Seems too bad. That's all I'm going to night school to study the same thing thought we might be able to help one another I don't need any help from you. I guess you don't at that How come you're going to night school? Your old man run out of money. Well, just just like you said that day the Crash got him whole family strapped That must be quite a come down for you. Oh, we don't mind so much. Do we honey? I kind of like it George Say what's going on here? Lois you aren't going to marry this phony. Are you I am you got any objection steel? Well, I You two can't get married Lois is going to marry me Marry you yes me. I'm gonna be a big deal You've been saying that ever since we were kids But you've never done anything about it all you do is shoot your mouth off you shut up Wendy I don't have to shut up for you steel. You're a 14 carat phony Sure, my folks went broke, but I did something about it I went to work and I've got you to thank for it me. That's right You had knocked my block off that day when we were kids I'd be just like you full of hot air marching around town telling everybody what a rough customer I was yeah, well, I got news for you windy I'm a plenty rough customer before you try anything. Yeah, I should tell you I've taken those boxing lessons So what so I don't like people to call me windy. Why are you George look? I'm okay, honey. You think so, huh? Yeah, don't you Oh The rat knocking me down me James steel Will he be sorry? Just wait until I'm president the Whitcomb engineering company. That's all just wait More beans Jimmy. No, thanks, mom. I'm not hungry. No reason you should be now willers loafing around the house all day Here we go again. You bet we do now dad Jimmy explained why I left the shoe company I had no future there. Yeah, and you didn't have much of a past either I'd like to see you just once hang on to a job two weeks run. I stayed almost six months with the department store It was five years ago So what's the matter with you most men your age is settled down married got a good job I'll settle down when the right opportunity comes along Jimmy's just looking around for something with a future looking around You mean daydreaming it isn't daydreaming you wait and see now Don't start in on the Whitcomb engineering company again. I'm a little sick of that. There isn't any such company There is there's gotta be Jimmy, please. I tell you I know there is mom Well, what if there was you're no engineer? You had a chance to be one, but you loathed it away. It doesn't matter I'm gonna run the place someday. I've heard enough of this nonsense I knew you were lazy, but I didn't think you were addled. You see how addled I am. No, I won't I've seen too much already Dad, what are you saying? I'm saying Jim's on his own. We've put up with this long enough Willis. It's all right, mom I don't want to stay where I'm not wanted Willis. He's your son. He's a lazy good for nothing. Yeah Well, if you're gonna be like that about it, I'm gonna be just like that about it now get out Of all the stinkers my own dad But this isn't the way it's supposed to be I'm supposed to be married to Lois And an up-and-coming executive with the Whitcomb engineering company But I don't even know where the Whitcomb engineering company is Maybe Maybe if I could find it Maybe if I just looked and looked And looked you wanted to see me mr. Winters. Yeah still sit down Is anything wrong, sir? Well, perhaps that's something you can clear up when we hired you as a salesman You gave very good out-of-town references. Yes, sir among them the Bradley towel company in Cincinnati That's true, sir But the Edgemont roofing company in Long Island. Yes, sir. However, they will not insurance company in Kansas City Well, I I have worked for each of them. That's true as this employee investigation report certifies Well, then what are you at according to the report you grossly misrepresented both your income and job tenure with each of these firms That's not true. Your signed application says that you work for Bradley towel for almost three years at a weekly salary of $200 Now look here mr. Winters. You said on your application that you worked there from 1940 to 1944 well, it wasn't quite that long you've jumped around this country from job-to-job for almost 20 years What's the matter with you? What are you looking for? I? I'm looking for the Whitcomb engineering company never heard of there a big outfit. I know they are There's no such company in this town. They've got to be somewhere. What good would you be in an engineering firm? You're no engineer. I'll take lessons. I'll practice you wait and see. Oh, yeah You little runt. This is my company and I'm gonna be boss and you're fine. Are you calling a run? I'm calling you a run so shut up or I'll knock your teeth out big phony you you're gonna wind up coming to me For a job someday, you know that mr. Steel is not a little runt mr. Winters And he's a better pitch man than you are Oh, yeah batter up and you wouldn't pick on me if if you knew what a sucky you were for right cross Get off the mound or I'll hit you with this bag of cement cement. Yeah cement Johnson cement. It's connected in New York Connected in New York Johnson cement That's the place That's where the Whitcomb engineering company must be. I know I'll get a job with the Johnson cement company. They're a big outfit And then I'll sell the Whitcomb engineering company a whole carload of cement and they'll hire me Someday I'll be president Whitcomb engineering Whitcomb engineering. Thank you Excuse me. Uh, do you want some cement Johnson cement? No, thank you call back later when he's in When who's in mr. George? Wendy Wilson president of the Whitcomb engineering company. He buys all the cement we need Wendy Wilson, that's right Why mom don't you recognize me? No, what are you looking around for something with the future? I'm looking for the Whitcomb engineering company and this is it. It's got to be jimmy. Please. I know it is I'm gonna run this place someday. Wendy Wilson buys all this cement. I'm sorry. Is he in Is mr. Wendy Wilson the little stinker in no, but here's his briefcase He takes it home every night since he's been elected president of the company But tonight he left it behind why did he do that mom? Well, he promised Lois that just one night he'd come home from the office without his briefcase But I don't want his briefcase. Why are you giving it to me? Because this is the right opportunity and you don't want to stay where you're not wanted It take the briefcase and bring it out to Wendy's house. I can't Why don't I wait till i'm a big deal? I always knew you were lazy, but I never knew you were a big deal Mom, where's dad? I'm right here fixing the switchboard. It's a steady job. It's something you can settle down to Well, how long you've been fixing it all my life, son. It's the only job I've ever had. I've really settled down That's what you ought to do. I'm going to dad. I'm only 45 years old and I'm ready to settle down great Isn't that great mom great well us Whitcomb engineering Whitcomb engineering I'm going to sell this bag of cement dad. I'm going to sell every bit of it Well, if you're going to be like that about it, I'm going to be just like that about it. Whitcomb engineering. Thank you, windy Was that windy the little rat on the phone mom? Yes, and he's waiting for you waiting for his briefcase and your bag of cement You better get started But but where is he in his big rich home with lois five miles through the cold and snow? What's the address mom? It doesn't matter. I always knew you were lazy son. You wait and see what direction mom Any direction dear just as long as it's five miles and don't forget your cement bag It's it's all wrong Five miles And what's mom doing working for the Whitcomb engineering company? I'm the one who's supposed to be president not windy It's all wrong It's so cool Look at all these rich houses Bet I'd have a rich house if I hadn't beaten windy up that day in front of lois when we were kids What a little rat That's what made him so ambitious I beat him up the little rat This is his address windy wilson 60 000 money street Right on the mailbox this stinker Look at that house That's my house It ought to be But it's his windy wilson's And he has to buy my cement The whole bag around my failure I I don't understand it This isn't the way it's supposed to be. I knew he was a sucker for right cross. I knew his dad would go broke in the crash I knew everything that would happen to him But he didn't it didn't do any good. He's a president of the Whitcomb engineering company Look at that doorbell gold a golden doorbell windy wilson's golden doorbell the little rat Well, it's too late to turn back now. This is the only thing I can do that's got a future. I'll ring it What a doorbell Or if I just hadn't beaten him up that day What a bum windy wilson be So poor That's why I made my mistake. I shouldn't have beat him up I should have let him beat me up The way he did the first time Well, what are you gonna do jim Los wake up. It's george wilson dear. He's come to see you windy windy He's just arrived. Please be nice to him jim. Oh, where's my cement jim dear wake up. I'm awake the little stinker Are you all right dear? Yeah, yeah, honey. I I guess I was dreaming Uh, is windy wilson really here to see me? Yes, but I wouldn't call him windy dear if I were you I'm sure he doesn't like it. Oh, you wouldn't hey Jim, what's the matter? Don't tell me you'd like to start a fight about it. Darling get hold of yourself. You're still asleep Oh, no, honey. I I just had kind of a nightmare. Oh, you've been working too hard Oh, I haven't I You wouldn't marry windy would you Darling, of course not. I'm married to you. I have been for 20 years Even even if I beat him up. You'd still marry me jim. Are you still asleep? No, no, I just wanted to be sure this was real It's very real And jim. Yeah before use windy. I mean george. Yes Well, how happy we've been I mean Well, you can't get any real satisfaction out of hurting someone who goes back so far in our lives hurt him windy Jim, what's the matter? Windy wilson, you asked me not to hurt him jim. Dear, please don't say anything. You'll be sorry for don't you worry Mr. Wilson Do you remember me jim sure windy? I remember you Well, I was hoping you would I remember the day in sixth grade when you wouldn't let me pitch because you owned the baseball Yeah, that was Well, that was a long time ago. Yep, but I remember it and I remember the same afternoon when you beat me up in front of los I guess I was a real bully in those days. That's what you were windy Now you want to sell me some cement? Well, I uh It's a good line. It's good cement jim I wouldn't care how good it was You wouldn't Nope Because good or bad I'd buy it anyhow windy You mean that sure I do It's the only way I have of thanking you thanking me. That's right For what beating me up that day and all those other days I don't understand jim. I guess I shouldn't expect you to windy It's something I didn't even understand myself until just a little while ago when I had a chance to To sleep on it This is frankly he again I suppose it's only natural at being a football coach or rather an ex football coach I'd be mighty conscious of how important team play can be in any endeavor Very few of us can accomplish even the simplest tasks single-handed We need help in football There is no such thing as a one-man team just as in music There is no such thing as a one-man orchestra And even though teams and orchestras may have their stars The stars always look or sound a lot better when the rest of the organization is playing with them It's that way with families too Every member has to work together play together and not incidentally pray together Because a family like a team is a unit and the closer the members of that unit can draw together through a common dependence Upon god the father of them all more certain they can be of his help and guidance That's what family theater means when it reminds us each that the family that prays together stays together More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of From hollywood family theater has brought you transcribed past imperfect starring jack hailey Frankly, he was your host others in our cast were gale bunny virginia greg Howard culver herb butterfield and davion 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 that need and by the hundreds of stars of stage screen and radio Who give so unselfish leave their time and talent to appear on our family theater stage to them and to you our humble thanks This is tony lofrano 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 door starring cameron mitchell join us won't you? Family theater has broadcast throughout the world and originates in the hollywood studios of the world's largest network This is the mutual broadcasting system