 Family Theater presents Desi Arnaz and Unimerco. Hollywood, the mutual network in cooperation with Family Theater, presents summer replacement starring Unimerco, and now here is your host, Desi Arnaz. 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, summer replacement starring Unimerco as Alice. And now back to the solution of tonight's story on Defender of Justice. Defender? Yes, Miss Myers. You're wanted on the phone, it's the governor. And I'll take it in here. But chief. Yes, Regan. How did you know McKenna was the killer and not old Loopy Louie, who all the time was really an FBI agent on a trail of an international narcotics ring? Yes, chief. How did you know that? Miss Myers, I'm surprised at you. Now you're talking in riddles, chief. Whoever would have suspected that McKenna, the wealthy sign of a Philadelphia family, and a blue blood to bloot. I mean, boot. I mean, haha. You're a card, Regan, isn't he, chief? Yes, Miss Myers. And you just said it, Miss Myers. That was it. His card. Whose card? What card? McKenna's card. His calling card. He left it at the scene of the crime. You're talking in riddles, chief. And do you see these? McKenna's calling card, the one he left here at the office. Identical with the one found by the body. Then you knew all the time. Every step of the way, Miss Myers. Chief, you're a regular marvel. Oh, Defender. Yes, Miss Myers. The governor's waiting on the line. Oh, of course. I'll take it. Hello? Yes, Your Excellency. What? What? I'll be right over. What's up, chief? Warm up the car, Regan. Yes, chief. My hat, Miss Myers. Another case, Defender? Yes, another case. And I'm going to call this one the case of the last defense. Tune in again next week for another thrilling adventure with Marvin Moody, Defender of Justice. And meantime, be sure to stop in at your corner drug store and stock up with REIT, the cooler cola that can't be beat. Remember, it's cool, it's sweet, it's all REIT. This program has come to you from Hollywood. Hey, folks, that's the show. Thanks much. The pleasure was all yours. Where are we getting these scripts, Marvin? I think tonight's script was very good. Are you kidding? It was a crawler. Even last week's wasn't this silly. The agency was very happy with last week's show. That's not the way I got it. Well, then you got it wrong, Alice. If you all must know, I wrote this script and I wrote the one last week, too. And when we go to TV, I'm going to have even more control of the writing. Oh, Marv, look, you got your hands full enough just being the Defender of Justice. What's the matter with Billy Jackson? He gave you some fine scripts. Billy is not with us anymore. You mean he quit? He was let go. The fog is beginning to lift. He'd begun to think he was indispensable. I got news for you, Marv. He was. And I've got news for you, Harry. Neither he nor anyone else connected with Defender of Justice is indispensable. We're going into TV and we're going in big. I don't want anyone along who is going to be unhappy or try to rock the boat. Do you get the message? I got you. Alice. After 15 years of being Miss Myers, I would hardly start standing up for my right to this stage of the game. Chief. Well, don't mind a little innocent kidding, Alice. After all, we've been together a long time. How true. So I just want you to know that whatever happens isn't personal. And it's all for the good of the show. What's that supposed to mean? Nothing. Nothing definite. And nothing definite at all. Oh, thanks, honey. We had a bite after the show. You and Bob? No, Harry Regan. I'll have a glass of milk. Sure. He's been calling you. Bob has? Couple of times. You ought to break down and marry the guy, Mom. The milk, please. It's not every day you get proposed to by a vice president in charge of greed. Would you really like Bob Rabin for a stepfather? I think he's a great guy. He is. Also, he's loaded. Pete. Well, isn't he? Well, that hasn't anything to do with it. We've managed very nicely. Us and the defender of justice. Oh, front door. Oh, I'll go, honey. You finish your sandwich. If that's Rocky, tell him I'll be right with you. All right. Good evening, Alice. Bob, come in. Come in. Pete was just saying you'd call. Yeah, yeah. I thought about calling it with rehearsal, and then I decided I'd rather talk to you alone about this. Very mysterious. Sit down. Thanks. Is anything wrong? I think so. Or rather, I think you'll think so. It's about the show. It's going to go TV. I know that. No, I don't mean for next fall. It's going on live as a summer replacement for the Morton show. This summer? They start a week from Wednesday. Radio show's been cancelled. But such a rush. It's nonsense. JB doesn't think so, and he's the sponsor. Well, when do we get a script if we're going to do the show in eight days? That's what I came to tell you about. You won't be doing the show. What do you mean? Well, it's Moody. You know, he owns the property. He sold JB. I'm just saying what he said. Well, say it, Bob. What is it? Well, he thinks you're wrong to play Miss Myers on television. Wrong. I am Miss Myers. I know it. I've been playing her for 15 years. Yeah, well, that's Moody's point. What do you mean? He says you're too old. Too old? He says the public imagines you as a girl in her early 20s. Well, perhaps they do. Well, he sold the old man that that's how Miss Myers should look on television. Hi, Bob. Oh, hello, Pete. What's the funeral? It's nothing, honey. She turned you down again, pal? Pete. Don't just kill him. Oh, forget it. As a matter of fact, I was saving that offer until after the shock war. What shock? Moody wants another actress to do Miss Myers on television. How come? Well, he says I'm too old. That overblown meathead. When did this happen? Moody signed the contracts this afternoon. The show starts a week from Wednesday. So that's what he was talking about. What? After the show, he made a few oblique threats. To you? Oh, nothing definite. In fact, those were his words. Nothing definite at all. The usual speech about none of us being indispensable. And whatever he did was for the good of the show, you know. That lardhead. And all the time, he was sharpening the axe. I sure wish I could suggest something, Alice. There's nothing to suggest if I'm out of mouth. And that's that? If everyone's so unindispensable, I'd like to know how Moody stays on. Well, that's a little different. His is the unmistakable voice of the defender. Well, he may be the voice, but he's not the picture. Only fat and 50. Hey, hey, hey, easy, pal. That shoe's beginning to fit. You know what I mean, Bob. He's such a faker. I know, Pete. I know. But your mother's got the answer. Moody is the voice of the defender. Known two millions. You've got to start from there. Well, isn't Mon the voice of Miss Myers? Sure, but... Well, then what's the difference? Her voice is as well known as his, isn't it? You know, Pete may have something for us. No, wait, wait. That may be an arguing point, but let's see how he can use it. Well, is he keeping Harry on his regent? Yeah, as far as I know. Well, then there it is. The public won't be fooled for a minute. Miss Myers will be the only new voice. And it'll stand out like a sore thumb. Now, I think... I just think we may have an angle here. J.B. feels very strongly about character identification. That's what surprised me most. I don't know how Moody put it through with him. Oh, that's rocky. I'll get it. You going out? Just down the movie. Be right with you, Rocky. Will I be needed for the rest of this conference? No, you go ahead, but don't be too late, son. I won't. You want me to bring home some ice cream? Swell. Have fun. So long, Bob. Smash that spot, sir. I'll do the best I can. Oh, you know, Alice, there's one of the few human beings under 21 that I've ever genuinely liked. Does it remind you of Jim? Yeah, an awful lot. Maybe that's the answer. Yeah, maybe. And again, it reminds me of you, which might also be the answer. You're very sweet. They don't come any sweeter. And remember, folks, this offer is limited. No, not really. Hey, what about it, honey? Bob. Look, I don't think I'm kidding myself. I love you, and I understand it's mutual. You know it is. I don't expect to take Jim's place. I wouldn't want him to... That isn't it, Bob. I've been a widow for a long time, and it's not a case of taking anyone's place. Well, then what is it a case of? This thing's been on dead set enough for almost a year. Well, it was Pete to begin with. I told you about that. You can't just toss a new father to boy and expect him to do handsprings about it. Pete and I hit it off right away. I just wanted to be sure. All right, so now you're sure. I've been sure for a lot longer than now. It's... Well, you probably won't believe this, but it's true. I decided to say yes, as you must know I've wanted to for a long time. Oh, well, Alice. Let me finish. I decided to a few days ago. I even put it up to Pete again before you came in tonight to be sure how he felt. And what did he say? He said you were a great guy. Love that, Pete. He also reminded me that you were loaded. Oh, well, I am. That's one of my finer points. That's the trouble just at the moment. Oh, Alice, you're not going to give me that. You're rich and I'm poor. Of course not. But if I married you right now, it could look very cold and calculating and messy. Well, what are you talking about? Bob, I've just been fired. I'm unemployed. Oh, now come on. I have. I'm out of work. So what do I do? Bounce into the arms of the nearest account executive? Alice, let's not get silly about this. Well, how else do you think it'll look? How would it look to you? How would what look to me? I haven't made any secret of how I feel about you. But I have, or at least I haven't broadcast it because of Pete. So what? So all of a sudden I'm off the show and the next thing everyone hears, you and I are going to be married. It'll look like I was desperate and I hooked you for a meal ticket. Oh. It will, Bob. Well, I don't care how it looks. Of course you do, and you should. I don't see why we can't leak it that you're quitting the show because we're getting married. Because that isn't how it would leak, not with big mouth moody at large. Well, at least you're not fired yet, at least not officially. You think Pete's idea about my voice? I don't think it's worth trying. That's all, I think. If they aren't changing the others? It's a good arguing point, a very good one. Now, well, I should tell you this. I didn't put up much of a fight when I first heard that you were being replaced. You won't need to work anyhow. But, Bob, I and Julie weren't. I know, honey, and I knew it then, just being selfish. Now, the whole thing's turned around. You know yourself how bad it would look. Can you come down to the office at 10.30 tomorrow morning? I think so. Why? I'm going to set up a meeting for then with Moody and the old man. You think you can change their minds that quickly? I'm going to have to. The show goes into rehearsal tomorrow afternoon. I hope you realize, JB, that I have million and one things to do before rehearsal. I know, Marv, and you'll get 100% cooperation from us. Then just what is such a burning issue that Rayburn can't wait until I... He didn't give me all the details, Marv, but it has something to do with replacing Alice. Oh, that's all been thrashed out. Not with me, it hasn't. JB, I thought we had an understanding. We have a perfect understanding, Marv, and you're the defender of justice, and I am the sponsor. You understand that, don't you? Yes, of course, JB, but this brought us on a usurpation of my creative authority, and it clearly states in my contract... I'm familiar with the contract, Marv, and my lawyers prepared it, including the cancellation clause. Come in. It's us, JB. Good morning, Bob. Alice. Good morning, Mr. Reyes. Marv. Morning, Alice and Rayburn. Now, what's all this about? This is about your decision to replace Alice. Well, I'm sure she realizes that it's nothing personal. Oh, that's neither here nor there. It's the wisdom of the decision that I'm questioning. On what grounds? That Alice is indispensable to the show. No one is indispensable to the show. That I contest, and I think JB will agree with me. To begin with, you are indispensable. That's a nice bit of flattery, Rayburn. Oh, I assure you, Moody, it's not flattery. It's fact. For all of your physical shortcomings, and let's face it, you're no matinee idol. No, look here. I told you it wasn't flattery. For all of your shortcomings, you are the voice of the defender. And people will expect you to be the defender on television as you are on radio. And they'll accept you as you are because they want the real article. I think I'm a little ahead of you, Rayburn. You're going to tell me that the same situation will apply to Alice? Exactly. And I think JB will agree with me. Do you, JB? I must admit, I'm leaning that way, Marv. You said yesterday you thought you could get around this problem. I can, and I have. Alice, can I be brutally frank? I don't think there's ever been much doubt of it. It's your voice, is it not, that our faithful audience will expect to hear from the lips of Miss Myers on television? Yes. They have no knowledge of your appearance. No. So, if the voice is the same, we've solved the problem. Have we not, JB? I would certainly think so. Precisely. Now, would you all be good enough to accompany me to the studio? There's someone over there I'd like you to meet. Miss Pearson. Yes, Miss Rudy. Ellen, I'd like you to meet some friends of mine. I'd be glad to. This is our sponsor, Mr. Rogers. Pleasure, Miss Pearson. Mr. Rogers. Rayburn, our accounting executive. How do you do? Mr. Rayburn. And finally, Alice Stanley. How do you do? So, you're Alice Stanley. It's like meeting a long lost friend. It is? Oh, yes, and I must say you're just as I pictured you. Why, thank you. Ellen has made a very close study of you, Alice. A very close study. She has? Indeed, she has. And Ellen, would you step over there to that microphone while we go into the control booth? Yes, of course. Would you follow me, please? Mar, what's this all about? You'll all see shortly what you think of her. Miss Pearson, she's a knockout. Why? She's going to be our Miss Myers. That? That kid? She's the one. Now, look here, Marv. The girl's not the Miss Myers type. You mean she's not the voice type, don't you? The character of Miss Myers doesn't exist, except as a voice. Well, that's true, but this girl doesn't sound the least bit like Alice. Now, wait and see. Hand me that talk back, will you, Rayburn? Oh, sure, here. Thank you. Ellen, Miss Pearson. Yes, Mr. Moody? Stand by the mic for a moment. I want you to recite something for these people. All right. Alice, speak into the talk back here and say, My name is Alice Stanley, and I have been playing the role of Miss Myers on the Defender of Justice show for 15 years. Why? Let's go ahead and say it. I want to give Jack B. something for a basis of comparison. Well, as you wish. My name is Alice Stanley, and I have been playing the role of Miss Myers on the Defender of Justice show for 15 years. Did you hear that, Ellen? Yes. Hi, Moody. What is this? You'll see in a moment. And now, Ellen, do you think you could repeat that back to us? Word for word? Yes, yes. And do it as Miss Myers would. Okay. My name is Alice Stanley, and I have been playing the role of Miss Myers on the Defender of Justice show for 15 years. Was that all right? Yes, yes, it was perfect. Well, gentlemen, I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. It's quite a remarkable imitation, don't you think, Alice? Remarkable. And does this resolve any doubts you have, Rayburn? Well, I don't think she can keep it up week after week. No, I don't intend that she shall. As the television audience becomes gradually accustomed to Ellen, you see, in the role of Miss Myers, we will drop her imitation of Alice altogether. Very resourceful indeed. And nothing personal, you understand, Alice? I understand. It's for the good of the show. Yes, P.D.? Did I wake you? No, I was just resting. Is the show over? Yeah, just finished. Still got the heading. A little better. Just took a couple of aspirin. How'd you like it? The show? Moody went up on his lines twice. Oh? Lost. Didn't even know what channel he was on. How did the girl look? Like his granddaughter. Oh, don't work so hard at being loyal, honey. I mean, how did she sound? How did she act? You watched the rehearsals. She sounded like you, and she acted like a chorus girl. Well, you got anything against chorus girls? Not in the chorus. Well, I think I'll get up and have a cup of coffee. You expecting anyone? No, I'll get it. How are you doing, honey? Pretty good, Bob. I thought you'd be at the show. No, I left after the dress rehearsal. How'd you like it? I didn't watch it. Pete said it looked fine. Oh, but Moody. And how did he look? Like Moody. Well, the old man seemed satisfied, or at least not dissatisfied. I was just going to make some coffee. Have a cup? Sure. Pete? You folks, go ahead. I told Rocky I'd drop over after dinner. Well, don't be out too late, honey. Tell her I'm a big boy now, huh? Well, after all, mother, he is growing like a weed. And I'll cut him down like same, and you too. Oh, rough, rough. Go on, get out of here. So long, Pete. Hey, that feels good. You know, they haven't called me, Bob. I mean, even kidding. Bob. Now, look, before you say anything. I wasn't going to say anything. I haven't already said it. All right, Alice, then listen to me. We've been through it five times in the last five days. No, Bob. I'm not going to do something that will make you look like a fool and me a scheming woman. Alice, be sensible. I'm being sensible. Oh, some grand position this is. You don't talk nonsense. I'm not talking nonsense. You are. I love you, Bob, very deeply and honestly. I do. But it's my son who's 17, not me. I've had the moonlight. I've had the roses. Who's talking about that? You are. We're not kids anymore. We can't strike out for new friends, new frontiers. I'm not suggesting we should. Then why won't you face the fact that the people we know and the world we have to live in will treat you very cruelly if I suddenly blossom forth in the next few weeks as Bob Rayburn's unemployed bride? Oh, I think you're absolutely crazy. I don't care what you think. Yes, and I'm beginning to believe that. Bob, listen. No, no. I've listened long enough and I think I've waited long enough because if you're more concerned with what a lot of 15-cent phonies like Moody and that gang think of you. And of you, of you. Okay, then you stay noble and single. Won't you even try to understand? I think I do. I think I understand perfectly, Alice. Bob? You got off the hook very smoothly. Goodbye. Oh, Miss Stanley, I thought you'd never get here. What's all the excitement? Well, didn't JB... I mean, Mr. Rogers tell you over the phone? Well, no, he was very briefed. They started pouring in less than an hour after the show last night. What started pouring in? The telegrams and phone calls. Oh, excuse me. Yes, Mr. Rogers. Would you call Miss Stanley's home and see if she's left yet, Miss Acton? She just came in the office. Well, send her in here. Woman, send her in here. Yes, sir, right away. They're waiting for you, Miss Stanley. Ooh. They be Moody and Mr. Rayburn. Mr. Rayburn? They've been in conference since 8.30. Please, Miss Stanley, if you don't go right in, JB, you'll chew my head off. All right, all right. Thanks much. Alice, come in, come in. JB, I don't think we should lose our heads over this. Morning, Alice. Bob. You worry about your own head, Marvin. Mine's on securely. Alice, sit down, sit down. Now, you can't judge the whole picture from a few telegrams. What's going on? You mean a few hundred? You'll see. Furthermore, I have my suspicions about this spontaneous reaction to last night's show. I never heard of such a thing happening. Well, you've heard of it now. Just look at him. Wires, phone messages from all over the country. How much proof do you want? Mr. Rogers. Alice, it's been fantastic. You won't believe it. I won't believe what? The following you have, the loyal fans. I knew it. I knew it in my heart. Even that Pearson girl remarked, you look just as she pictured you. Will somebody please explain? Well, the show got an immediate reaction, Alice. Everybody wanted to know why we didn't use the real Miss Myers on television. Just read some of these wires. Listen to this. I quote, whoever told that old goat he could act. Oh, no, that one's about you, Marvin. Old goat. Yes. Oh, yes, here we are. We have always imagined Miss Myers to be an attractive, intelligent woman, not a college girl. We'll swallow lots of reed. You see, they even use a product. But we can't swallow the new Miss Myers, signed Edna Wilson, Indianapolis, Indiana. And that's just a sad thing. They all say the same thing. Even our butlers and distributors why a complaint. That's what I don't like about this, J.B. And it sounds like a campaign. An organized campaign. And who do you think organized Miss Wilson of Indianapolis, Indiana or all those other hundreds of people around the country? I'm talking about your salespeople and the distributors. What about them? They aren't the people who buy your product. No, but they sell it. And when they're not happy with a sales gimmick, I scrap the gimmick. Well, that's different. I've got news for you, Moody. The defender of justice is a sales gimmick. In a broad sense, yes. In the narrowest sense possible. I'm not paying 14,000 a week to listen to you huff and puff. No, just a minute, J.B. I want people to drink reed. Oh, as do I, J.B., as do I. Well, they won't bring it if they're all upset about who's playing Miss Meyer. But that will pass, J.B. It will not. They'll get fed up with looking at a phony show. And they'll turn to another channel. And the next thing you know, they'll be drinking root. Root. Our competitors drink. I don't act like you never heard of it. Oh, yeah, yes, I've heard of it, yeah. Then it's all settled. Alice? Yes, Mr. Rogers? You start next week as the real Miss Meyer's on television. Oh, do you really mean it? I do. And Mr. Moody is perfectly agreeable, aren't you, Marvin? Absolutely. Miss Atkins has probably finished typing up the contracts. Would you mind signing them on your way out, Alice? I'd be delighted. Alice, would you be half as delighted to have lunch with me? I'd love to, Bob. Oh, oh, I'll join. You will not. I want to talk to you, Marvin. Won't it keep, J.B.? No. Do you have a reducing machine? A reducing machine. Would you excuse us, J.B.? Yes, by all means, by all means. Now, what would I want with a reducing machine? I feel you're a bit paunchy for a defender of justice. Now, J.B., I'm nothing but skin and bones. Be that as it may. You've got too much skin. Oh, I've got a feeling the defender of justice is in for a bad half hour. Oh, Bob. Well, then, how does it feel to be employed again? I don't care about that. I was hoping that's what you'd say. When I think how angry you were last night. Oh, I wasn't so angry. I know. What do you mean you know? I know why all those wires from the distributors and bottlers came in. You contacted them, didn't you? Well, why not, J.B.? What are their reaction? I didn't load the question. I just asked them what they thought of the new Miss Maya. You faker. No, there wasn't anything fake about it. If they liked it, they'd have said so. I wonder. Well, you don't have to wonder about the wire we got from Miss Wilson in Indianapolis. I couldn't drum that up. What did you do for each one of the distributors? It was on my own bill. The firm didn't get hooked for it. Oh, Bob, it must have cost you a fortune. And what of it? As my future stepson says, I'm loaded. But that was no reason, dear. Uh-uh. The best reason you can have in this business. What do you mean? It was for the good of the show. This is Desi Arnaz again. You know, a friend of mine went to a meeting the other night at which the topic was atomic defense. I suppose a great many of these meetings are being held right now all over the world, and many, perhaps, right at this very moment. We started talking about what happened in the meeting, and he told me, you know, cities are always boasting about how self-sufficient they are until they have to prepare for some emergency. It's only then that they seem to realize how dependent they are upon outside help. In fact, it's only when you survey conditions that you realize how dependent everyone is upon things that were placed in the earth, on the earth, and around the earth, long before man came. I mean such things as air, water, wood, fuel, minerals, minerals. We are so accustomed to summoning electricity out of a switch and water out of a faucet that we never really think of these things. Well, my friend's words gave me plenty to think about, and now that thinking comes to this conclusion. Man has to look outside himself too, not only for the things placed on the earth long before he came, but for someone who existed long before he did. Someone whom even the heavens cannot contain. God. And how do we call for his help? Through prayer. But prayer is not to be only thought of in terms of disaster, for it's both a preparatory and a preventive measure. In fact, a mighty good course of daily action. Now, family theater against reminds you, the family that prays together stays together. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. This series of family theater broadcasts is made possible by the thousands of you who feel the need for this type program, by the 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 to them and to you, our humble thanks. This is George Crowell 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 coat starring Gene Evans. Irene Dunn will be your hostess. Join us, won't you? Family Theater is broadcast throughout the world and originates in the Hollywood studios of the world's largest network. This is Mutual, the radio network for all America.