 presents Donna Reed and Jack Haley from Hollywood the Mutual Network in cooperation with Family Theatre presents Uncle Jim starring Donna Reed and now here is your host Jack Haley. Family Theatre's only purpose is to bring to everyone's attention a practice that must become an important part of our lives if we are to win peace for ourselves, peace for our families and peace for the world. Family Theatre urges you to pray. Pray together as a family. Now to our transcribed drama Uncle Jim starring Donna Reed as Caroline. Miss Caroline, come in, come in. Hello, Hannah. Oh, it's good to see you. Oh, it's good to be back, Hannah. You look tired. Didn't you enjoy your trip? It was all right. At least it got me away from things for a while. I know. Why don't you go into the drawing room, Miss Caroline? I'm fixing some lunch for you and Mr. Wilkinson. Is he here yet? On his way. He just phoned from his office. Oh, I don't think I'll ever be able to see this room again as it really is. That's just the scent of the flowers, Miss Caroline. I've tried to air it out, but you can still smell them. There were a lot of flowers, weren't there? No. Your Uncle Jim had a lot of friends. Don't. Don't cry, Hannah. I'm sorry. It's just that I miss him so. We both miss him, don't we? You and me, blubbering like this. More likely he'd laugh his head off. Yes. Yes, I guess he would have that. Miss... Miss Caroline. Yes, Hannah. You didn't mean what you said at the funeral, did you? About not living here anymore? I guess I meant it at the time, Hannah. This place seems so empty with him gone. But you'll stay on now, won't you? Perhaps we'd better wait and see to whom this house belongs before I make any promises. Oh, sure, Miss Caroline. You're his only living relative. Who else did he leave it to? I suppose you're right. You're going to be a wealthy woman. Mind if you aren't. Oh, that must be Mr. Wilkinson. I'll get it, Hannah. All right. Lunch will be ready in a few minutes. Caroline, how are you? Just fine, Ed. You? Get along, get along. Looks as if that vacation agreed you there. You've got a good tan. Well, I should have. I sat on the beach most of the time. And looked at the sea and thought about life. I guess I did a little of that, too. Here, let me take your briefcase. Not going to need it right now. Let's sit down and get the legalities over with. Can't you just tell me what's in the wheel? I can. Need any young men while you're away? Oh, a few. Anyone in particular? Now, what's that question supposed to mean? Well, you know anyone you took a shine to. No. Oh, pity, pity. I understand Bill Keely thought you were great stuff. And just which one of your spies turned up that little item? I happened to have lunch with his father over in Lockport yesterday. You ought to keep that alive. Bill's a fine boy. Well, I'd hardly call him that. He's 34. Mm, vital statistics. What's his favorite color? I don't know, and I care less. Carolyn, what's the trouble? What's holding you back? You've had your share of admirers? You mean Jim Franklin's niece has had her share of admirers? Oh, that's nonsense. It's happened too much, Ed. I'm Carolyn Morgan when I go somewhere. And I'm left strictly alone until I run into someone who knows or knew Uncle Jim. At which point, my admirers appear romantically sniffing the fresh clean odor of greenbacks. Do you honestly think that's what Bill Keely liked about you? Jim's money? Well, I'm just telling you how it happens, how it always happens. Well, at least this document puts an end to that phase of your life. What do you mean? From now on, it won't be your uncle's money the jiggalos are after. It'll be your own. He left it all to me. Except for a few thousand to his housekeeper, Hannah. And even though this is your place now, Hannah comes with it, guaranteed lifetime job. Well, I wouldn't think of doing it any other way. Also, there's a lot of technical gibberish here, which translated roughly means that this isn't the complete will. There are additional carousels. Where? In a safety deposit vault downtown. Well, shouldn't they be included in this? Well, I'll be frank, Carolyn. I don't know what kind of hocus pocus Jim was up to when he made this will. I drew up this portion of it and it's legally airtight. It provides certain conditions you have to meet and it mentions the carousels, designates the location of the safety deposit box. I've never seen them. Don't know what they provide. Well, I suppose we ought to get them. Not for three months. That's one of the conditions. There's two of them. Two separate sealed documents. You open the first in three months, the second in six months. Don't ask me what they're all about. I don't know. This doesn't sound much like Uncle Jim. Well, he must have had something in mind. And as I said, it's legal. You have to go along with it. You said there was more than one condition. Two more. Very simple. You have to reside here in the house for the next year. I expect to stay on longer than that. And every other Saturday night, starting this coming one, you ought to have at least ten guests to dinner. What? No less than half of whom must be unmarried men below the age of 40. Well, that's the most preposterous thing I ever heard of. I won't do it. Uncle Jim wouldn't expect me to... He wrote the will. I won't do it. And for every Saturday you skip, $5,000 of the estate goes to a worthy charity that I shall designate. I don't believe it. Read the writing. $5,000 to whatever charitable organization my attorney, Edward J. Wilkinson, shall deem deserving. Oh, and why? Why would he do this? He knew how I felt. Maybe that's exactly why he did it, because he knew how you felt. It just isn't like him. He was always so kind and thoughtful. I regard this will as very kind and thoughtful. He wants you to go out and meet the world. He wants you to stop trying to figure out why people like you and just be grateful that they do. It isn't fair. Well, most rich girls enjoy giving parties. Ten guests for dinner. It's a good round number. Half of whom must be unmarried men below 40. I want you to know you can count on me to strengthen the ranks of the other half. I won't do it. Suit yourself. I think I'll earmark that first $5,000 for the Red Cross. Not this Saturday or the next one. Then there's the Polio Foundation. Or the one after that. Muscular dystrophy. I don't care if it soaks up every nickel he left me. I will not. Not go fishing for a husband. Very good dinner, Cal, and... I'm glad you enjoyed it. All in all, quite a successful evening so far. Except for the Red Cross. Yes. You know that would have been deductible. Then consider it deducted. I sent them a check. Softy. But only for $500. See, I didn't know young Keely could play the piano so well. Who's the blonde he brought? I haven't the faintest idea. Her name is Muriel Weber and her father's president of the Lockport Federal Savings and Loan. She's 26 and that's a bleach job. I see. Well, if you ever pick up anything specific, can I let me know? Notice how she hangs on him like a vine. No, I hadn't. Absolutely like a vine. Then I suppose you've also noticed that he keeps looking over at you like a hawk? No, I hadn't. I could be wrong. What do you mean wrong? He's been staring at you. I thought you hadn't noticed. Very funny. Well, since he is staring and he is, let's go over and hum a few bars of that Porter thing. It isn't a Porter thing, it's a Kern thing. Anyway, I knew it was from the Connecticut Yankee. Not from the Connecticut Yankee. Take my word for it. When the song's familiar and I don't know the title, it's always from the Connecticut Yankee. Ed, all this chatter is designed to paralyze me and I will not, not. You're scared of fish. Hi, Carolyn. Bill. Mr. Wilkinson. Ed, at parties I'm always Ed, especially after 9.30. Miss Weber, I'm strictly a dancing man. Another word, follow me once around the floor. Hey, I can use a little of that medicine. They smile, they nod, they acquiesce. All silently. Note that, William. All silently. Rain, what's the secret? Legal mind. Say, how about something from the Connecticut Yankee? All right. See you here. I thought that was from Schoble. Dance, rest your legal mind. Fair enough, Miss Weber. I'll lead if you don't mind. I was just thinking. Yes? There was someone else here who played the piano. You and I could dance, too. Yes. What do you do for a living? Hello, new subject. I sell insurance. You want some insurance? No, no, I've got some. Want to go swimming tomorrow? With you? It's wrong with me. I can swim. Do you sell much insurance? As much as I'll buy. Let's go swimming tomorrow. I'll bring the hot dogs. All right. Now, how can you talk and play the piano at the same time? Well, it's a trick. I've got a division of labor. You like the song? I love it. It's a good song. Tell us the truth. Now, three months. First carousel. Ribbit open, I'm a witness. You don't have to take your hands off. I'm just interested. Well, what's it say? Oh, this is ridiculous. What is it? I don't believe Uncle Jim made this thing. It's in his hand. What's it say? I have to keep a diary for the next three months. Until we open the last envelope, huh? Well, I guess that's the idea. Oh, I'm not going to do the rest of this. Such as what? Make a list of all the men I'm going out with. Names, dates, locations. There ought to be a cinch. Just put down Bill Keely every night, any place. I don't go out with him every night. Very well, write your own diary. Well, this last part is really too much. I must present the diary to you at the end of the three month period for verification of the facts. Promises to be very interesting. Well, I won't do it. Why not? You're in love with Bill, aren't you? Well, now, what's that got to do with it? Have you promised to marry him? No. Still counting your nickels, huh? Oh, Ed, I don't know what to do. About Bill? I want to believe everything he tells me so much. And, Ed, I don't dare. Does he think you're in love with him? He knows I am. And he says he's in love with you? Yes. Then why don't you believe him? He believes you. I don't know. You're a lawyer. What's my next move? You've only got one. Yeah? Keep the diary. Dear diary, it's almost two in the morning and I can hardly keep my eyes open. But I have to tell you what happened at the Halloween dance last night. Bill was late picking me up, so we didn't get to the club until after 9.30. The ballroom was marred. Everyone was wearing crazy costumes and false faces, so I didn't have the faintest idea if a couple was that came up to our table until the man opened his mouth. Well, I thought you'd never get here, Cinderella. Ed, is that you? It is not. It's Humpty Dumpty. Oh, you make a great one. Mr. Keely, that I could say the same of your Mickey Mouse. Ah, what's wrong? One of your ears is a half-mass. Good grief. How's that? Any better? Midland, midland. Ed, aren't you going to introduce us to... Martha Washington? Oh, excuse me. I was going to guess Betsy Ross. Mrs. Garfield, Caroline Morgan. How do you do? And I think you know Mr. Keely. Indeed I do. How are you, Bill? Quite well. Thank you, Mrs. Garfield. I suppose you know Evelyn's here tonight. I know, no. The table just to the right of the orchestra. Marie Antoinette. Ah, as she looks lovely. Miss Morgan, my dance, I believe. Well, Ed... Come on, come on. You might as well get it all the way. I don't hog her all night. William, you're being offensive. I leave you in good hands, Mrs. G. Indeed you do. You like to dance, Mrs. Garfield? Oh, don't be silly. Do come over to our table, Bill. Evelyn's dying to see you. Ed... Smile, the time of the music. Who is that woman? A client. I couldn't help it. And who is Evelyn? Her daughter. She's beautiful. That's just a white wig. She's only fair. She's ravishing. Smile, smile, you're being watched. Ed, what's the big idea? If you'll stop snarling, I'll tell you. Mrs. Garfield is a client of mine. And some years ago, about ten... Look! What? Bill and that white wig, they're dancing. Which is more than anyone could say of us. Carol, do you know what's behind the idea of hiring an orchestra for these affairs? What? It's to provide, among other things, a temple to which the dancers should synchronously move their feet. Now, who is Evelyn? She used to be engaged to Bill a long time ago. Carol! What happened? She stepped on my foot. I mean Bill and her. I accept your apology. I don't know. It just didn't go through. Was he in love with her? Well, people don't usually get engaged despite each other. Well, he never mentioned her to me. I've never even heard of her. You wouldn't. She lives in New Rochelle. She's a buyer for some department store in New York. Where's her husband? She hasn't got one. Well, what's she doing here? She ought to go home. Well... Look at them. Like they've been dancing together for a million years. I know how they feel. Is she rich? Not like you, honey. Now, Ed, that wasn't a very nice thing to say. That's what you wanted to know, isn't it? No, isn't it? It is not what I wanted to know. I... Come on. Clap for the music. Clap for the music. I wish you hadn't said it. I wish you hadn't asked me. Well... Here comes Mickey Mouse. What? I'd say he dropped her pretty fast. Garland? Are you trying to fob me off on Mrs. Garfield again? It's her daughter. She says you've got the next dance. Oh, me. The Trials of Bachelorhood. Well, a client is a client. Have fun, children. That's part of the plan. I'm going to ask you something. Bill? I'll do the talking. It's very important. Your chair. Thank you. My pleasure. I'll begin with... Bill? Let me finish. I had it in mind to apologize to you for having the first dance with an old girlfriend. I know. I know all about her. All right. We can save some time. Will you marry me? I was engaged to Evelyn ten years ago. Yeah, I know all about her. Maybe you know that a thing like that doesn't get out of your system one, two, three. I've never been engaged. How will I have? Did she tilt you? I don't even know what that word means. Did she break it off? Well, Sam broke it off. I got drafted. Oh, three chairs for the red, white, and blue. Look, I'm trying to tell you something. I used to think I was in love with that girl. But, General Hershey changed your mind. Let me finish. I used to think I was in love with her. Maybe you were in love with her. Maybe I was in love with her, but not now. I'm not in love with her now. I am grateful she is here tonight. I'll bet you are. Carolyn, I'm trying to propose to you when we're having a fight. What is this? You know, you must have done a lot of dancing together. But now her two steps are a little rusty. Foxtrotten, it's not rusty. Now, will you let me say this, please? Shh, everybody's looking at us. I get my way. They'll be looking at us for the rest of our lives. You know, it's Halloween, all right. All the ghosts are out. All I wanted to tell you was it's a relief to find out that you can't be in love with two women at the same time. You can't? No, you can. Will you marry me, Carol? I think it over, Bill. All right. I want to think it over without being rushed. Does that mean we stop seeing each other until you make up your mind? No, no. Of course not. I just want some time. Like how much? A month. Maybe even two months. Is that too long to wait? No. But I would like it a little more definite. How about Christmas Eve? All right. You ought to know by then. So, that's it, Diary. That's how it happened. Now I've got to make up my mind, even though my heart's already made up. I just wish one thing. I wish Ed hadn't told me I was richer than Evelyn. I've made an important discovery. Let's have it. Winter is the prettiest time of the year. Also the coldest. Especially at night. Look, look. All the different colored pre-lights in the windows as far down the street as you can see. I can't see past these packages I'm carrying. Can you describe the view, please? Well, now let's see. It is Christmas Eve. We are trudging north on Maple Street. And one of the nicer residential sections of town. Please, now. I'll do the talking. A thousand pardons. North on Maple. Every bush and tree is covered with a soft white mantle of new fallen snow. No little of which is freezing the keely feet? The keely feet should be wearing overshoes. Never touch them. They make me walk pigeon-toed. Now will you continue with the guided tour? Too late. End of the line. Ah. The Carol and Morgan mansion. No relation to the banker. Ah, Miss Morgan herself swings. Open the heavy iron gate. Let's pack animals falling behind and follow her up to the stately colonial structure. It's windows ablaze with lights. Snow glistening on the wa- Bill, look out! Grab me, I'm slipping! I can't! Look out! Oh, are you happy in your new snowdrifts? That's what I need, sympathy. Say, what's going on out here, children? Hello, Ed. Just a little yule-tide frolic. Fine thing, Carolyn. You invite me over to your house to wait up a Santa Claus, and I have to do it single-handed. Oh, but we had last-minute shopping to do. I've just settled down in the snow for a long winter's nap. Here, Bill, give me a hand. Hey! You, Mr. Wilkinson! Let's see if we can get him inside before he freezes solid. You go ahead, Bill. I've got the packages. Mm-hmm. This is more like it. Crackling log on the hearse. Lights on the tree. And mistletoe hanging over the- Say, Bill, look who's under the mistletoe. Stand still, young lady. Bill, don't. Be quiet. Bill. Honey, will you open my present now? Well, maybe we should wait. I got it right here in my pocket. I'm waiting to give it to you all day. Bill, I know where it's going to be. Here. It doesn't even wrap the box in. Oh, Bill. Look, it's not the most beautiful ring in the world, but are you aware, Carol? I'm asking you to be my wife. I-I know what- If you'll excuse me, I told Hannah to put a pot of cocoa on the stove and- You what? Don't-don't have to go, Ed. There's nothing very private about this. I-I can't take your ring, Bill. I'm sorry. You won't marry me? I-I can't take your ring. I-I think that covers it. Oh, no. Not for me, it doesn't. Are you trying to tell me there's someone else? I'm-I'm not trying to tell you anything, except that I-I can't take your ring. All right. There isn't anyone else. I didn't think so. You're pretty sure of yourself. I'm sure I've been in love with you for the last six months, yes. Well, isn't it just possibly a being a little hasty? No, Ed, it isn't possible. All right. You've thought it over, then, huh? Yes, Bill. Your answer's no. It's no. Why? Tell me that. The why is unimportant. The why is all important. For six months now I've watched you wrestling with something inside yourself. I-I won't leave here tonight till I find out what it is. Tonight. Two minutes ago, it was Christmas, even now it's-it's judgment day. Now, what do you want? Don't you understand no? Can't you take no for an answer? I will take no when I find out why it's no. I've got a-as a strong hunch you're in love with me. All right. And you must realize I'm in love with you. Now, that's just what I don't realize. What? I-I don't know whether it's-it's me you love or my house or my money or what. M-your money! Now-now. Now, tell me you've never given my money a single thought. Oh, of course I have. I've thought what a lot I'm asking to expect a rich girl to live on my salary. That's what I've thought. I've thought about that plenty. I wish I could believe you. And I've got the figures to prove it, but you'll never see him. Bill. Whole year's budget, work out to the dollar. Oh, why didn't you tell me? Well, you'd think it was a phony. You think everything's a phony. Oh, that's not true. You and your big bankroll. You're not in love. You don't love anything. It doesn't bear interest. I didn't ask to be rich. Uncle Jim left me the money. Yeah, all right. Well, you just hang on to every penny of it, Carol. That way you'll never get tricked into being happy. Bill. And someday when you start running out of the green stuff, give me a call. What? I think I've heard enough evidence. Come on back here. Ed, will you stay out of this? Sorry, I'm legally bound not to. What's the evidence, Doc? You'll see in a minute. Now, legally bound not to what? Stay out of this. In fact, I'm in it up to my neck, or rather, your neck. Now, will you say what you mean? Happy to. Came back to tell you I'm leaving. I'll take no for an answer. Bill, now, wait a minute. I love you. I think we could have a life together, but I don't like the way you think. Hold on. Hold on, Bill. This concerns you both. What concerns us both? This last carousel to the will. Today was the day. I couldn't run you down on the phone, so I went to the bank and got it myself. Ed, I won't have it. I'm sorry, Carolyn, but... I won't have you reading anything so private in front of Bill. It concerns Bill. It can't possibly concern him, and for that reason I will not. Shut up. Precisely. And while I'm at it, Mr. Keely... You'd better listen to this, both of you. It's meant for both of you. That's ridiculous. Now, how could Uncle Jim have known about Bill? He didn't, but he assumed there would be a Bill, and he left the rest of it up to me. The rest of what? Interpreting this last carousel. For example, and reading the diary. You'll never read it. I already have. While you were out, it took some looking for, but I found it. Get out of my house. It isn't your house. Not anymore, Carolyn. It's Bill's. You're insane. Bill. Bill, do you mean mine? Yours. I quote from the last carousel. When it shall become apparent to my attorney, Mr. Wilkinson, that my niece, Carolyn, has genuinely, finally, and in fact, settled her affections upon any young man and is dissuaded from marrying him because of such doubts as she may have concerning the sincerity of his proposal, then I instruct Mr. Wilkinson to transfer title of all my earthly possessions to the young man in question. To the what? What does that mean? Put simply, Bill. It means that if Carolyn doesn't accept your proposal, you will come into an estate amounting to over $800,000. You mean if he doesn't marry me, he gets rich? And your money? And if I do marry her? Money goes into a trust fund, and each of your children get a share of it when they're 35. Oh, no, impossible. It's as legal as a bill of rights. I love it. This is the very best. This is really Christmas Eve. Bill, you wouldn't. Oh, why wouldn't I? Well, you said you loved me. Is that what I said? Well, you said it in front of Ed. He's a witness. All right, maybe I do love you. Of course you do. But how do I know you don't want to marry me just for my money? Oh, it's my money. Oh, not anymore. It's mine. You heard the man all I have to do is get rich. But you said you loved me. You said you wanted me to be your wife. Maybe I do. But let's face it, all that money. Look what I'm giving up. But I would have married you, really. That's easy for you to say that now, but this way it cost me how much? About $800,000. $800,000 to marry you. I'm almost 35 now. I'll be 70 years old before even our kids see any of it. You said you loved me. That's what you said, isn't it? Sure. And you said you loved me. Oh, I do. All right. Then will you put on my ring, Carol? Bill. And marry me. Oh, yes. Yes. Does this prove what you wanted to find out? Well, there's just one more thing, Bill. Yeah? Will you step over here under the mistletoe? You know, there's something wonderful about a library in your home. Now, I don't mean collector's items or first editions with uncut pages and all done up in cellophane. But friendly books. Books that become dog-eared from fond handling and warm companionship. Books that grow better with reading and rereading. Yes, that's the wonderful thing about a library. It's selective. You can choose as companions all the best minds of every age. Summon them at will. Aristotle, Shakespeare, Socrates, Cicero, Dante, or Milton will share your quiet smoke. You can listen while George Washington bids farewell to his troops or hear Abe Lincoln teach the true meaning of democracy. Yes, a library is selective. You can choose your friends and they will give you help and counsel and many wise words. But even more selective is prayer. By prayer we invite God into our homes. He is the bidden guest. We speak to him and hear his answers in our hearts. We tell him our troubles and get his guidance. Books have much wisdom and Heaven knows we need wisdom in our times. But by prayer we go directly to the fount of wisdom for God has wisdom uncreated. And remember always, 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 Uncle Jim starring Donna Reed. Jack Haley was your host. Others in our cast were Lamont Johnson, Herb Butterfield and Florence Rabinol. The script was written and directed for Family Theater by John T. Kelly with music composed by Harry Zimmerman and conducted by Henry Mancini. 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 stage screen and radio who give so unselfishly of their time and talent to appear on our Family Theater stage. 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. Midnight starring Pat Crawley. Ray Bolger will be your host. 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 Mutual, the radio network for all America. Network. This is Mutual, the radio network for all America.