 The Mutual Broadcasting System in cooperation with Family Theatre Incorporated presents Jamie and the Promise, starring Jane Darwell and Bobby Driscoe. Joan Leslie is your hostess. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. You know, time is a fleeting thing, gone as quickly as it comes, and yet time is one of the most valuable possessions we have. It's wonderful what each one of us can do in the seconds that are strung out one after another, in the seconds that add up to a lifetime. You know, all of us should have time to be courteous to those around us, to be considered of others. That's important because a lot of unhappiness in homes comes when people haven't time to be patient with one another. It's worthwhile taking a little time to consider that quarreling in a home never solves a problem. It's worth time to realize that separation or divorce is not the solution for misunderstandings and unhappiness in a family. It's worthwhile taking a little time out every day for family prayer. Yes, we all need God's help, and family prayer is a family's investment in happiness for a day, tomorrow, and always. It's a trust fund for the future of a family. It's a partnership with God. Family prayer is God's time in our homes. Let's give it to him. Joan Leslie returns following tonight's family theater play, Jamie and the Promise, starring Jane Darwell and Bobby Drescoe. It's late afternoon on a warm Georgia day. The last rays of the sun beam slant wires across a cotton field to a small weathered farmhouse, sitting a skew on four brick pillars like an old woman with lifted skirts. A wisp of blue smoke curls up from the kitchen chimney. And on the back porch, a man in overalls sits tilted back in the cane bottom chair, reading a newspaper. Suddenly, the chair legs thump to the floor as the man rises and hurries into the kitchen. Right here on page four of the weekly. Ralph, I wish you'd go to the well and draw me a bucket of water. I'm plumber. Well, in a minute. It says here, right now. But don't you want to hear about the contest? Oh, another one of those. Ralph Carter, if you'd spend half as much time working this farm as you do them contest and puzzle pictures, we'd make a decent living. But honey, this contest is so simple a child can do it. It says so right here. And the first prize is $1,000. And the last time it was $15,000. Don't mean a thing. If it ain't a newspaper contest, it's a pinball machine up at the store in town or the chance board at the barbershop. And you've never won a dime's worth of anything. Oh, yes, I have. The time I was in that army camp in California won $50. Well, just because you won something on a radio quiz program doesn't mean you can give up working for the rest of your life. But I also won a year's supply of shaving cream. Well, whatever it was, it sure ruined you for hard work. That was five years ago. And you think you can go through life getting something for nothing. Oh, Sarah, me and you know that there ain't no future in this year farm. I want something bigger for you and Jamie. You just wait. Someday I'm going to hit it lucky in one of these things. When we got married, you was going to put me a sink in the kitchen. That's been 12 years, and I still tote water in the bucket. All right, I'll go draw the water. And while you're outside, look down the road and see if Jamie's left Mr. Thatcher's yet. What's he doing over at Thatcher's? Send him over with a dozen eggs. Mr. Thatcher's hands are molten. Oh, that's Jamie. 10 to 1, he's down to Pigpin looking to Thatcher's bunch of Berkshires. He's plummed crazy about Pig. Well, when you see him coming, send him down faster to get the cow. I want to milk early. Well, I bet a whistle for him, man. No, he'll be along. Yeah, but when? I reckon he'd rather look at pigs than a picture show. Well, then leave him be. You get the cow yourself. There ain't many pleasures for a young one that don't cost nothing. Gee, to share our fine bunch of pigs, Mr. Thatcher. Yep. I bet you they're just about the prettiest pigs in the whole county. Yep. Reckon this will be a good year for pigs. Good corn crop. Yep. Not enough rain for peanuts yet. Nope. That white, that white face from there now. Reckon she's about the prettiest one in the whole litter, ain't she? Reckon she is. You ain't thought about selling her, have you? Nope, I can't say I don't have. I've been thinking about getting me a pig like that. Trace for the stock show this fall. I reckon she just about take the blue ribbon. Yeah, I reckon she wouldn't have no trouble tall. Of course, I wouldn't tell Mom and Pa about it. I'd like to surprise him. Be right smart surprised, would it that? I reckon she's worth about five dollars. Five dollars? That's an awful lot. She'll be a good sow one of these days. Well, I better be going. Goodbye, Mr. Thatcher. Tell your Pa I'm gonna ride uptown tonight if he wants to go. Yes, sir. Five dollars, gee. Five dollars? You might just well ask me for the moon. But Ma, it's an awful good investment. No telling what a fella could do with a pig like that. Well, son, now you just wait. One of these days I'm gonna buy you the finest pigs that you've ever seen. Maybe I'll get you a little ball of yearling, too. Oh, go on, Ralph Carter. Quit fooling the boy. But Pa, I can't wait to pick sugar up. And maybe Mr. Thatcher will sell her or something. Well, uh, maybe your Ma would let you have some of her egg money. I'll do nothing of the kind. That egg money goes for Jamie's school shoes. I don't hold to spending hard earned pennies for no pig. But Ma, why? Well, all right. Just spend five dollars for her. Come a siege of colliery. The pig catches it and dies. Then where'd you be? Out five dollars and nothing to show for your money. Oh, now, Sarah, you can't never get nothing without taking a chance. You never get nothing without hard work. And the sooner you learn that, the better. If I could borrow a few dollars from the bank and buy me a tractor, you know what I would do? I'd clear out a new ground down there by the creek and plant that bottom land in the sugar cane. I bet you I'll make a good crop down there. Pa, did you say you could borrow money from the bank? Yeah, if you are good risk. Gee, Pa, you reckon Mr. Benson up at the Farmer's Merchants Bank would let me borrow five dollars for the pig? Well, I don't know, son. More than likely he'd want some collateral. Collateral? Well, I'll put it this way. You've got to let him know that you're going to pay him back. I would. I'd promise. Well, if your Pa had a good crop coming in the fall, that might be enough. But banks aren't run on promises. Good morning, Jamie. Morning, Mr. Baskham. Not much mail today. Just a seed catalog for your ma on a postcard for your Pa. It's from the Pine-Oler Soft Drink Company. Here it is. It says they're sorry your Pa didn't win anything. Pa'll sure be put out when he hears that. He was counting on that one especially. Yeah, he ain't surprised. He spent enough on postage to have bought him a good mule. Oh, wait a minute, Mr. Baskham. What's that? I'd be much obliged to provide the time. Well, sure. Hop right in. Thanks. I'll leave the mail in the box. I thought you looked mighty spruced up for a Monday morning. A little early to be going to a picture show, ain't it? Oh, I'm not going to town for that. I got some business to attend to. Oh? That's the bank. That's the bank now. Pam, must be important business judging from them new overalls you got on. Yes, sir. Ma wouldn't let me wear my shoes, though. Says I gotta save them for Sunday. Women. Area of the 31st instance, the Farmers and Merchants Bank is pleased to forward your check on the amount of $17,482. Glad to have your business and so forth. You know how to fix it, Miss Green. Yes, sir. Well, that be all, sir. Let's see who that is. Yes, sir. Hello, young man. Please, ma'am. Is he the president of the bank? That's right, sonny. Something we can do for you. I'll take care of it, Mr. Benson. Oh, no. I-I gotta see the president. In that case, young man, you come right in. Have a chair. Thank you. Now, what can we do for you? It's, uh, sort of a private matter. Oh? Uh, Miss Green. I'll be outside. Now, what's your name? Jamie Carter. All right, Jamie. What can the bank do for you? I want to borrow some money. For ice cream? Oh, no, sir. It's a lot of money for a pig. Well, now, that's different. Here, have a cigar. Stick a gun. Thank you. Now, I suppose we get down to business. What seems to be your problem? Well, sir, it's Mr. Thatcher's pig. She's the prettiest one in the whole litter. And he says he'll take $5 for it. $5. Yes, sir. I-I've been aiming to buy me a pig like that for a long time now. I want to raise it for the stock show this fall. And, uh, all that's keeping you from this pig is, uh, $5? Yes, sir. Have you asked your folks for the money? Oh, they'd give it to me if they could. But Pa, well, he just ain't had the right break so far. And Ma worries all the time about Pa. Mmm, I see. Well, now, just suppose the bank did lend you the $5. We'd have an interest in the pig, you know. Yes, sir. Are you sure you could raise it? Oh, yes, sir. I know a lot about pigs. I already got a pin built down back of the barn. I padded it with pine straw. And I even nailed up a board for a name. I-I aim the colors. Gloria. Gloria? Well, Gloria, huh? Well, Jamie, I think the bank considers you a pretty good risk. We'll let you have the $5. You will? Gee. We're always glad to see a young fellow like you get started. But Pa, he said you gotta have something called collateral. I-I thought I'd better tell you. I haven't got any. Yes, you have, Jamie. That smile on your face, that look in your eyes, that's enough collateral for me. We'll trust you to pay the money back. Oh, I will, sir. I promise. Cross my heart, I will. I'm sure you will. And here's your money. But I only need $5. Well, that extra quarters for ice cream. A goodwill gesture to all our new customers. Gee, thanks. And will you write it all down on paper, Mr. Benson? About the $5? We sure will, Jamie. We'll make it nice and legal. And Ms. Green. Yes, sir? Bring in a copy of form number seven. I want you to make out a chattel mortgage on a pig named Gloria. Well, I don't hold with it that spot. I just don't. Oh, gee, ma. Gloria won't be a bit of trouble to you. I'll take care of her. Of course. While raising a pig will be good for the boy, Sarah. That ain't what I mean. It's the money. Gettin' it the way he did. So easy now. Well, now, I thought that was pretty smart of him. Sure. Somethin' for nothin'. $5 without workin' for it. Fallen right in his father's footsteps. I didn't get it for nothin', ma. I just borrowed it. Soon as I raise a pig and sell her, I'm gonna pay Mr. Benson back. I promise. Now, Ralph, you see what's happenin' with the example you're settin' for the boy? Ma, I reckon I'll take Gloria. Well, a feller has to do the best he knows how, Sarah, and someday... I said, I reckon I... Someday your ship will come in, huh? Ask me, that ship never set sail. Oh, never mind. Come on, Gloria. I've been around peanuts for a while. Fattin' her out. Well, I don't know where you'll get the peanuts. Our patch ain't been holdin' two months. And them oil drillers, your pod drug out here last week, tromp down all the vines the weeds didn't kill. Well, I reckon drillin' for oil is worth more than one little old peanut patch. Why, if they'd have found oil here on our place, we'd have been worth millions. If they'd found anything. Two weeks of churnin' up dirt and cuttin' ruts through our crops. All for nothin'. Well, it was worth takin' a chance. The minute I heard them fellas was in town, I got them to come out here. Well, I heard tellin' of a man over near Brantley that got $5,000 an acre when they found oil on his land. But we got nothin' but a ruined peanut crop. Ma, I was talkin' to Mr. Thatcher this morning, and he's gonna pick peanuts tomorrow or at his place. Well, a lot of good, that'll do us. But Ma, I said if I'd come and help him, he'd give me some. And he said Mr. Thatcher'd be proud to have you come and sit with her a while tomorrow afternoon. She's piecin' a new quilt. Well, now that's right, neighborly, her. I think you ought to go, Sarah. You ain't been visitin' in a month of Sundays. Well, please, Ma. Well, all right, the people go. There's nothin' like piecin' a quilt to take your mind off your troubles. Oh, my, JV, you sure are a-coison. Don'tin' that sack of peanuts on your back. Hey, boy, look, I'm a peddler. Well, y'all must've had a right nice time over to Thatcher's. I ain't heard you laugh, Sarah, in a long time. Well, it was a real pleasant afternoon. Me and Miss Thatcher pieced quilt squares and talked till the men come in from the field. Then we all had a glass of lemonade. Oh, my, look at the time I gotta put supper on. Ma, is it all right if I take these peanuts down to Gloria now? Well, I reckon, but hurry up. Now, just a minute. You all got a surprise coming. What surprise, Pa? You don't have to worry no more about raisin' pigs, son, or anything. We're gonna get away from this farm. We're gonna have a nice house uptown. You're gonna have a bicycle. You're Ma's gonna get a new dress. Have you took leave of your senses, Ralph? Where are we gonna get the money for all these fancy doings? Right here. Well, what's that? Well, honey, you heard about the atom bomb. Well, the most expensive stuff in the world right now is what they make that bomb out of. It's called uranium. Oh, what's that got to do with us? Well, this afternoon, I was down fixing the pasture gate when a fella come by on a black roadster, and he asked the way to town, and then we got to talking about crops and everything. And the first thing you know, he's telling me about this uranium mine of his. Uranium mine? Ralph Carter, did you... Now, just let me finish. Now, let me finish. Well, I tell him how dissatisfied I am here on the farm, and before you know it, I have talked him into letting me in on this mine of his. How much it cost you? Honey, I've got 10 shares of stock. Guilt eggs. Look at them. And the way that stuffs ourselves. How much? Well, the fella was real nice about that. I didn't have much cash. Just the $15 you had in the sugarcane. My egg money. Oh, Ralph, how could you? Yeah, but honey, we had it. I was saving it for Jamie's shoes and for a dress for me and for... You gave it all to him? Well, I needed it all, honey. And well, that wasn't enough even, but he was willing to settle for the pig. Pig? Oh, Pa, not my pig. Now, Jamie. Oh, Pa, you didn't. Well, now, son, don't you worry. I was going to enter in the stock show next week. I was going to surprise you and maybe get a blue ribbon and... Oh, Pa. The stock show? Oh, Jamie, son, I didn't know. I'm awful sorry. Well, being sorry won't bring back his pig. Or my money. Yeah, but you don't understand. We're going to be rich. I'll buy you a dozen pigs, son. And I'll pay you back 10 times what it took, sir. Not with them pieces of paper. Why, inside of a month, there'll be paying dividends. This time, I'm a struggling lucky. You better go get the cow, Jamie. It's almost milking time. Yes, ma'am. Well, is that all you got to say? Ain't you even going to tell me that you're glad about the money? Oh, I don't understand things like that. All I know is my money is gone. Well, you understand, don't you, Jamie? You know that I've done it for you. Sure, Pa, it's all right. Maybe, maybe I wouldn't want to blue-rib him anyway, only. Only what? I owe Mr. Benson up at the bank five dollars. I said I'd pay him next Friday. I promised. I crossed my mind. Well, now, don't you worry none about that. I'll give you the money just as soon as I get my first dividend. But it'll have to be before next Friday. Oh, it will be, son. Well, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if we heard from that stock sooner, Natty. Why? That's Mr. Thatcher. So it is. I wonder what it wants. Evening, Thatcher. Come on in. Ain't got time, Ralph. Nellie up at Central just rang on the telephone. Oh, is this something, ma'am? Peers that away. Sheriff wants a little information. Got Nellie to check all the subscribers. Seems he's trying to trace a city looking fuller in a black roaster. A black roaster. Wait, Pa, that must be the man. Did he say that he was... Why he was looking for this fellow? Yep, got a warrant for him. Been selling restless mine stock all the way from Carolina to Florida. Worth? Oh, no. I knew it. I knew it all along. You seen him, I take it. Yeah, I seen him all right. Well, I'll go ring Nellie and tell her we'll be uptown right away. Well, I'll... I'll go get ready. Worthless. I... I can't believe it. Thirty dozen eggs. Why we even done without ourselves. You... You mean he cheated you, Pa? He took Gloria and... Yeah, yes, son. But... But what about my five dollars? Five dollars. I don't know where we'd get it at now. But I gotta pay Mr. Benson. I promise. Well, you just go tell him you're not good for your debt. Tell him you're worthless and no good like your Pa. Oh, Sarah. Don't, Mom. Don't fuss at him. I... I guess he didn't mean to do it. Well, of course he didn't, son. I'd cut off my right arm before. I just don't understand. It's all right, Pa. Someday you'll have better luck. You see, Sarah, the boy believes in me. Don't you, son? Sure, Pa. I... I reckon I'll go get the car. It's almost milking time. He's a good young man. He didn't even cry. No. He didn't even cry. Howdy, son. You looking for somebody? I'd like to see the sheriff, please. Well, that's me. What's the trouble? I... I've come to give myself up. You come to give... You what? I've heard teller go easier on you when you give yourself up. You've been reading too many funny papers. What have you done? I just been over at the bank. Mr. Benson, he's gone to Atlanta. And when I asked the man behind the window about it, he just laughed and said, he guessed they'd go to jail. Guess who'd go to jail? People... People who take money from the bank and can't pay it back. People who... What in tarnation are you talking about? I got some money from the bank. And this is Friday. And, oh, Sheriff, I'm in terrible trouble. You just better lock me up, I guess. Hey, aren't you Ralph Carter's boy? Yes, sir. It was you folks that fell our swindle last week, wasn't it? Yes, sir. Well, your father's getting some bad breaks, and now you're in trouble. Now, do you know you're here? No, sir. I left him in... I left him with Mr. Thatcher at the barber shop. I didn't tell him where I was going. Oh, I see. Hey, Fred. You want me, Sheriff? Yeah, I want you to take my car and drive out to Ralph Carter's. Where's that? Oh, that little farm next to the old Calhoun place. You know where the road crosses Bitter Creek? Oh, yeah. Now, I want you to get me as Carter and bring her back here. Ralph sometimes ain't got enough sense of responsibility, so we'd better deal with his wife. Okay, Sheriff. Just bring her back here, huh? Yep. Tell her their boy's got himself in trouble. Now, Jamie, don't you fret. Your ma's gonna get this all straightened out. Yes, ma. Miss Carter, do you mean the boy's upset just because he can't pay back that five dollar? That's the story, Sheriff. He's been worried all week. Ever since his pa let that swindler have his pay. Why, son, that's nothing to get the head up about. I'm sure Mr. Benson won't prosecute. But I promised I'd cross my heart. Well, that's pretty serious, I know. But we can't lock you up for that. Well, why not? What? I said, why not? Now, look, Sheriff, you know what kind of man Ralph is. Good-hearted, but always looking for the easy way. Right. Well, someday he's got to learn there ain't no easy way. And this is as good a time as any. Ah, I don't get what you mean. You put Jamie in a cell, and then you send for Ralph. I think you'll find him over at the barbershop at the general store. Well, I... And Jamie, when your pa gets there, you do just like I'm going to tell you. I thought you'd never come. Well, Jamie, son, what's you doing in there? I guess you better ask the sheriff. Well, what's going on here? What's the boy done? Well, I'm just doing my duty, Carter. Seems your boy can't meet his dad. With dad? On account of you and your big dealings. But, jail, you can't put a young man in jail. You ain't got no right to do it. It's very... It's all your fault, Ralph. The boy works hard to raise him a pig. And what do you do? Give it away. Yeah, your wife and I wanted you to see Jamie here, Carter. Because if you don't mend your ways, he might well wind up staying behind those bars someday. A kid can stand just so many years of wanting things he can't have. Sheriff, can I see you in a minute? Sure, Fred. Excuse me, boy. Well, Sarah... He's right. A young man needs a pa he can look up to. Somebody he can trust to help him get the things he needs. I always wanted the best for him and you. All you all was meant well, I know, Ralph. But you all always failed. I used to have faith in you, too, but I... Sarah and Jamie... Man can't change overnight, but he can try. I reckon maybe it ain't too late to put that bottom 40 into sugar cane. We could borrow Mr. Thatcher's mule, Pa. And I'd help you pl- Well, now, that's a bargain, son. Sheriff. Yeah? You can let him out now. Come on, Jamie. I'm gonna make me a new start, Sheriff. And to prove it, come Christmas, I'm gonna bring you a gallon of sugar cane syrup. Well, that's fine. I'll, uh, consider that a down payment. A down payment? Yeah, on a little present for Jamie. Fred just found her up the roadways where that swindler sold her to Lem Brown. Gloria! Mike, Gloria! Well, I'll be... She's back! Jamie, let me tell you something. Yes, sir? Ask her. Yep, got the man's word for it. Gee, gee whiz! So, uh, under the circumstances, I think Mr. Benson will sort of, uh, refinance that loan. Yes, sir. Under the circumstances. Well, what do you mean? Under the circumstances. Gloria's eggs! This is Joan Leslie again. You know, we're all affected by the things around us, by what we see in here, by the example of others. And that's so very true in a home. If there's always a kind and encouraging word, we can't help but think bright and cheerful thoughts. And you know something? Those who are close to God are best able to be happy and cheerful. Why? Well, when you know that God is ready and able to help you, you can be confident about the future. Because you know your faith and trust in Him will always bring His help. That's why when a family joins together in daily family prayer, they can be sure of happiness in their home. Yes, pray together as a family every day. For prayer, things peace. A prayerful home is a peaceful home. And the family that prays together stays together. Before saying good night, I'd like to thank Jane Darwell and Bobby Driscoll for their performances this evening. Our thanks to Beth Barnes for writing tonight's play and to Max Tehr for his music. This production of Family Theatre Incorporated was directed by David Young. Others who appeared in tonight's play were Barton Yarborough, Clarence Hartzell, Ralph Moody, Charles Maxwell, Jess Kirkpatrick, and Ann Tobin. Next week, our Family Theatre Stars will be Preston Foster and Daryl Hickman in Half Time Strategy. Your hostess will be June Lockhart. This is Joan Leslie saying good night and God bless you. This series of the Family Theatre Broadcasts is made possible by the thousands of you who felt the need for this kind of program and by the mutual broadcasting system which has responded to this need. Be with us next week at the same time when our Family Theatre Stars will be Preston Foster and Daryl Hickman with June Lockhart as hostess, Meryl Ross speaking. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.