 Family Theater presents Bobby Driscoll and John McIntyre. In cooperation with Family Theater presents John McIntyre in Mahoney's Lucky Day. To introduce the drama, your host, Bobby Driscoll. Thank you, Gene Baker. I wish I could express my wonder and delight when I first heard the stories of the Knights of the Round Table and the other tales of gallant men of old. Their shining armor and their prancing steeds. I always hoped that somewhere they still rode this earth, battling dragons, rescuing damsels and distress, steadfast in the cause of helping the helpless. Well, we're going to tell you the story of a modern knight in shining armor. His helmet is an old cloth cap, and a rather shabby leather jacket is his armor. His mouth has four wheels and six cylinders, and it belongs to the Purple Taxicab Company, Incorporated. But his spirit is the unquenchable spirit of Lauselot and Gallahad, and his faith is equally dauntless. His name is Mike Mahoney, and with John McIntyre as Mike, I bring you the story of Mahoney's lucky day. How's the coffee? Oh, fine. I want a word with you. That is, if you can tear yourself loose from them funny papers for a couple of minutes. Mike, I'm talking to you. This is terrible. Terrible. Scandalous would be a better word for it. And I'm glad it's finally come to your lordship's attention. Nor have they got tracely trapped in the incinerator and pruned face going to let him have it with the atomic pulverizer. Beats me how he'll ever get out of this one. Michael Mahoney! Yes, Nora, darling. We are about to have a lesson in arithmetic. Now, how much is two from four? Five. Two dollars. Very good, very good. Now, subtract five from ten and what do you get? Five. You're a prize scholar. Now, tell me this. What's left over when you subtract our expenses from your paycheck? Well, I guess it's about... Yeah, I see what you mean, all right. Oh, Mike, you've been working for the purple cab company for eight years, not counting the time you built all them aeroplanes during the war. Eight years. You sure it's to be that long? Eight years and two months come Monday. Well, I sure met a lot of interesting people at that time. Did I ever tell you about this kind of thing? I can't find the paper. Well, I didn't think you could. Sit down and eat your breakfast. The paper. I've got to see what happened to Tracy and Warby. I'm sitting on them. What? And I'm not getting off until we finish our little talk of yesterday. The one you bamboozled your way out of, as usual. All right, Nora, what are we talking about? I haven't... Where are you going to do it, Mike? Ass! Gesundheit! Mr. Rotten, I hate you. Well, I asked you a question. Oh, I thought maybe I'd better wait until... What's the matter with today? Today. Well, I don't... After you punched the clock at the garage this morning, why don't you walk right into Farrell's office and say, Farrell, how about me, Michael Mahoney, for that next road supervisor job? But I... Who has a better right to it? Why... Nobody. So? Nora, I'll do it. Right away. Oh, is that a promise, Mike? You really may not... Certainly. I got a feeling this is my lucky day. She shrugs her shoulders and says, now get this... get this, France. Uh, Farrell. She says, oh, just lucky, I guess. Yes. Well, what's on your mind, Mahoney? Well... You see... Dear to the point, this is my busy morning and you want to be out rolling your hack right this minute. Yeah, well... Maybe I better see you some other time. No, you're in here now. Let's have it. Well, it's about... about that road supervisor job. Well... God given me a chance at it. And a supervisor's job? You? Yeah, me. Why not? Look, Mahoney, that's a job for a guy who can handle responsibility. And what do you mean by that crack? Just what you think. As a cab driver, you're supposed to phone in and dispatch her several times a day, right? Right. I mean, I... How many times did you call in last Thursday? Thursday. Well, that was different. You didn't call in at all. Not once. But I told you about that. There was an old guy and his wife. It was the 50th wedding anniversary. And I was driving them down to the terminal to catch the train for Niagara. What's all this, Scott? I'm trying to tell you. And they get into this big fight and he goes into the men's bar at the ritz and he won't come out. So, naturally, I... You had to stick your nose into it and forget all about your number one responsibility. You see, that's just what I mean. Well, there was a nice old couple. I just couldn't drive off and leave them in a mess like that. Why not? It was none of your business. And listen, Mahoney, if a woman engages a cab for a trip to the maternity hospital, what should be the odds on her making it? On time, that is. I don't know. Maybe... At least 20,000 to one. And how many fortunate women have become mothers in your cab during the past five years? Now, wait. Seven. Seven in five years. That's not fair. This is my fault. I'm a busy man, Mahoney. Go out and get over to your stand at the radio station. When you settle down and do the job you're supposed to be doing, we can start thinking about a promotion. Good bye, Mahoney. Close the door on your way out. Don't worry about their own troubles. I tell Nora, women. Driver, I presume this cab is not engaged. No, Nora. Where to, Nora? I beg your pardon. Excuse me, young fellow. Where was you wanting to go? Anyplace away from here. How's that? Here's $10. Not sure we proceed. Certainly. That's your service. This is Michael Mahoney. What's yours? How do you do, Mr. Mahoney? My name is Leroy Ledbetter. Please make your acquaintance. This is our second time through the park, Leroy. Is there someplace else you... You may drive me to 89th Street and Fifth Avenue, and that will be all. Yes, sir. Right away, sir. I'm going to speak place on Fifth Avenue, and I get him the change, give him the change for his $10 bill. Then I figure I might as well come home for lunch. You got some more of this delicious pot roast, honey bunch? Here, finish it up. And then what happened? Well, he gives me a tip when any turns and goes off up the alley, walking stiff and straight like a little soldier. Is that all? Well, not entirely. More of a sudden, he bends over and he starts to cry. Remember before I could even get out of the cab, he starts running and disappears and back at a house. Ah, the poor little fella. He ain't at a shame. I figure his old man must be a janitor or something. Well, uh, something. What did you say their kid's name was? I didn't say, but I think it was Larry. No, it was Leroy. That's it. Leroy Ledwiffer. Leroy Ledbetter? That's right. Oh, my goodness. What's the matter? Well, sure, he's a celebrity. Go on, he's just a kid. We saw him in a movie short just last month, and he's on the radio every week. He's the star of the juvenile quiz show. No, I did think he looked familiar. Oh, Mike, why don't you use your head? What are you thinking of all the time? Well, I... I... That's funny. That's just what Farrell said to me. Uh-oh. Uh-huh. So, you've been stalling. You did speak to Farrell. Well, come on, out with it, out with it. Ahem. Let him all pat roast, honeybee. No, you've already had enough for six. I want to hear what Farrell had to say, and I want to hear every last word. Yes, wee bee doll. Well, you see, it was this way. I... Approximately asking Farrell for the job or that she gets mad when I tell her what old fatso says. Where did we along call Dave before I got away for some str... Yes, sir. Where to, sir? Oh. Hello. Hello, Mr. Mahoney. Could you get me away from here fast? Yeah, but... but where? Well, well, here we go again. That's better. Mr. Mahoney. Yes, sir? I... I feel I owe you an apology. This morning you were trying to be helpful and I was very rude. I'm truly sorry. I sure, Leroy. Take nothing of it. Any old time I can do something for you. You just say the word. Thank you, Mr. Mahoney. Could you drive me to the park again, please? Absolutely. Any place special? Uh, no. Just cruise around. Oh. Still meditated, Leroy. Yes. I have yet to find the solution to my problem. Check. On to Central Park. You may leave the park and drive to the nearest restaurant. I... I didn't have much lunch. Well, I know a joint on 3rd Avenue that serves triple cheeseburgers with chili onions and relish. That sounds quite nourishing. I... I think we may have some conversation over the food, Mr. Mahoney. You will be my guest, of course. Well, now that's mighty kind of you, son. But I think I'd better... No, no. I insist. Some instinct tells me that you will be a sympathetic listener. Uh, your instinct is hidden on all six today, Leroy. Sympathetic listening is my favorite sport. Only, are you sure your mama won't be wondering what happened to you? Mr. Mahoney, please. I am not an infant. Kindly remember it. Triple Western feature. Oh, Clifton, you know Leroy shares my opinion of Western movies. He thinks they are childish and utterly unworthy of consideration. Yeah, that's right. So he does. Kind of a shame, too. The day I caught one last Saturday afternoon, there was a lullo. It seems this fellow is the fastest man with a gun in the whole state of Texas and the other man held a mortgage on it. Clifton, let better. How can you stand there calmly discussing your escapades while our only child may be lying in some, some foul ditch? Come now, Bessie. You're just getting yourself all upset over nothing. You just pulled the same stunt this morning, didn't you? This morning he did not have an appointment with his radio producer and this afternoon he did and failed to arrive. Now Leroy is usually very conscientious about things like that. He's just a kid. You can't expect... Listen here. He is not just a kid. And I won't have you saying that Leroy is the same as any ordinary child. Now, are you or are you not going to call the police? The police? Oh, no. Now that won't be necessary. If you just calm down... Police department. Oh, Bessie. Hello, hello. This is Mrs. Clifton, let better. Yes, my son Leroy has been kidnapped or murdered or afternoon appearance on the juvenile quiz program. Straight, Leroy. You've been on this radio quiz show since you were eight years old. Check. It's all that time. You're never muffed a question. Check? Check. That isn't until today, Mr. Mowry. Uh-huh. They stuck you with a real heart, huh? On the contrary, it was quite simple. I just can't understand how I managed to miss it. It was easy, huh? They played a few bars of a very familiar musical composition. I identified it as an excerpt from the second movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Oh, and this was a bad mistake. Oh, ghastly. Actually, the excerpt was from the third movement. You don't see. Let's face it, Mr. Mowry. I'm a failure, a complete failure. Leroy, a choreo. It's pretty tragic, isn't it? Well, no, I wouldn't say that. One wrong answer for four years, why? They'll have you back on that program next week. Sure, a shoot. Just wait and see. Oh, I suppose they will, all right. And then everything will be just stacked, won't it? Yes, just, Andy. Leroy, you've been holding out on me, haven't you? Holding out? Covering up. If there's something else that's really got you out of it, right? Waitress, to check, please. Why don't you tell me about us? Maybe I'll be here. Let's get to the cab, Mr. Mowry. Sure, sure, all right. You want me to take you home now, Leroy, huh? To the park again, Mr. Mowry. The park? Oh, no, them birds and squirrels. My hat! Go further up this hill, Mr. Mowry. Then you can park behind those bushes. Certainly, Leroy. But remember, this ain't no cheap I'm driving. This is fine. Park it right here. Why did we sneak up here, anyway? What's all the... See, there's some kids playing football down there. Ah, they're pretty good, too. Yes. They thought it was a beauty. Leroy, right here, I'll explain it to you. Now, you see that fella there? It was a quarterback sneak operating from a modified T-formation. Well, now, how did you know that? I should. I invented it. You invented it? I invented all her plays. No. Well, say, who are those kids? That's the Park Avenue Pirates, and they're getting ready to play the West Side Wolverines. You don't say. Well, why ain't you down there with them? Because they kicked me out. They said they didn't want me anymore. But I don't care. I move over, son. You and me are going to have a heart-to-heart talk. I understand, Lieutenant. Now, thank you. Thank you very much. What is it, Clinton? What's happened? Have they found you? Leroy was seen in a beanery over on Third Avenue. He was with a cab driver. A cab driver? Oh, my baby. After all, Bessie, when you married me, I was a cab driver. Clinton, please. What were they doing in the restaurant? Eating, of course. Leroy picked up the check and they left together. Oh, the fiend. He has my poor little boy in his power. Thank you. You feel better now, son? Uh-huh. Good. Now, you listen to me. Them football players you figured out for your team were mighty clever. And I guess you think it was kind of mean to them to toss you off the team, don't you? Yes. Well, suppose you think back a bit and then answer this question. Who carried the ball in all those wonderful plays? Why, why I did, naturally. Naturally? I was the best player. Why, it, it was my idea. Leroy, did you ever figure out a play where you did the blocking and some of the other guys carried the ball? Why, no, Mr. Mahoney. Well, why not, boy? The other fellas blocked for you, didn't they? Yes, sir. Well, football's a team game, Leroy. Maybe you're the kind of a guy who does better when he's all alone. I, I guess maybe I am. The trouble is, you're not very happy all by yourself, are you? Now it's all right, kids. We can straighten this out. We, we can. How? You're going to go down the hill and apologize. Oh, no. I, I couldn't. Well, it'll be tough, I know. But it won't be any tougher than what you've got to do after that. Why, by five o'clock this afternoon, you're going to be the most beat-up, bruised, battered, and best-blocker in this old art house. He's out. Now he's getting up. That's the stuff, Leroy, stay in there, boy. How are you? Hey, Kebby. Huh? Look, I'm busy now, pal. Go get another cab, will you? Kill him, Leroy! That's the stuff! Who's Leroy, Kebby? One of the bloody nose? Yeah, that's my boy. How do you like him? Isn't he good? His last name wouldn't be led better, would it? You know, he's a terror, isn't he? Okay, Bill, I got the guy. Keep an eye on the kid while I phone it in. Come on, Kebby. Hey, let go of my arm! What is this? It's a pinch, pal. Are you coming quiet, or would you rather do it the hard way? A pinch, what for? Kidnapping. Let's go. Okay, Mahoney, it's your move. All right. Here. Here. And there. Well, I'll be a triple jump. Mahoney, you're the best checker player we ever had in this jail. Oh, I don't know. Yeah, I mean it. I had a brain like yours. Excuse me, Mike. Certainly, Roger. Yeah? Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm interrogating them right now. No kidding? Well, okay, right away. I set them up. You got the red ones this time. I'm sorry, Mike. They won't show up upstairs. I think they're letting you go. Oh? Well, too bad, Roger. Some other time, maybe, huh? It's mighty nice of you to drive me home with the red letters. That's the least I can do, Mike. Well, I meant to stop at the garage and see fat stuff. I guess I better forget about that. Yeah, I'm very grateful to you, Mike. I bet I didn't recognize Leroy when I first saw him. He looked like a hacky who'd tangled with a buzz. He didn't see it. What a shiner. I never saw him so happy. The way he talked about you. I was sure where she felt that way about me. That's just that you've always treated him as if he was something expensive. He's a real kid. You've got to treat him that way. You two should get along fine, Cliff. You really think so? Certainly. Who'll say I almost forgot? I owe Leroy a buck seventy-five change from his cab fare. Well, you're home, Mike. Yeah, home. Bet your wife will be glad to see you. Yeah, glad. I'm not going to try to thank you again, but you'll be hearing better. Look, there's a place down in the corner. Maybe we could go in and play some checkers. No, Mike. There's something I've got to attend to right away. Good night, and thanks again. Good night. I better go up and take it like a man. I headed out this morning to get me a promotion, and instead I got tossed to the clique and I lost my job. You're mad, and I'll bet you're through with me and I don't blame you. I'm just a no-good-good for nothing. Is that so? Now you listen to me, Mr. Mahoney. Just because I married the kind of a man who couldn't turn his back on a little boy in trouble, I won't have you nor anyone else saying things like that. Yeah, I can't blame you if you just opened your... What? Ah, you big fool. I want you just the way you are. Always getting at the jams and trying to help the whole wide world and coming home and reading the funnies and eating us out of house and home. You're not angry? You're not ashamed of me? Oh, ashamed of you? Sure, I'm so proud I could bust you. But I lost my job. What are we going to do about the... Stand still, you big lummox. Stop talking long enough for a woman to get a kiss at you. Nora, I... Hey! Mike, the doorbell. I said the doorbell. It's ringing. No, Mike. Yes? Evening, Mrs. Mahoney. Is Mike home? Well, just a minute. Mike, it's Farron. That's all. Well, let him in. Come in, Mr. Farron. Well, hello, Mike. Make it fast, sir. I'm a busy man. Sure, I didn't want to disturb you at home, but I thought you'd like to hear the good news. You can skip the sarcasm. Purple Cab isn't the only cab company it tells you. Hey, now hold on a minute. I come over to tell you that starting tomorrow morning you're the new road supervisor. Mike, did you hear that? Farron, as far as I'm concerned, you're just a great big tub of beer with a... What did you say? I said you're the new super. Mr. Ledbetter himself recommended you for the job, and that's good enough for me. And, uh, say, Mike, oh, pal, next time you see Cliff, I'd appreciate it if you put in a good word for us. What's Cliff Ledbetter got to do with all this? Well, look. Who do you think owns Purple Cab? Well, an outlet called the Hercules Transport Corporation. That's right. And who do you think owns Hercules Transport? Uh, a fellow named Hercules. No, a fellow named Ledbetter. Clifton Ledbetter. Clif... This route supervisor, Mahoney, I certainly has been a long day. Ah, yes it has, dearie. And, you know, I was just thinking back to the time when we first got... Nora, in what peculiar place have you hidden the evening paper? You're sitting on it. I'm s... oh. Yeah, well... Hey, let's see now. Mike. Mike. Dick Tracy will never get out of this room. Michael Mahoney! I'm listening, honey bun. Mm-mm. Sure, you know, a chief supervisor's job is the least a man of your ability and value to the company should have. Hold on. Why, the very first thing tomorrow morning, why don't you go right into the office? I just stopped. I mean, I haven't even stopped. I would not have a better job than that. You know, when I was just a little boy, I used to pray for a lot of things and never got them. I used to ask God for airplanes and lions and lots of things. And I used to wonder why I didn't get them. To one day my mom told me, she said that God would give me anything I wanted as long as it was good for me and I really needed it. Mother said that I should pray for the best things and then I'd be heard. Now I ask God to please keep our family together and be happy and healthy. Praying alone is fine, but if all you pray together is a family, it makes a prayer a whole lot louder in heaven. It's just like you hear on this program every week. A family that prays together stays together. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Good Family Theatre has presented Bobby Driscoll and John McIntyre in Mahoney's Lucky Day, which was written by Irwin Lieberman and music composed and conducted by Harry Zimmerman, who was directed for Family Theatre by Jaime Del Valle. Featured in our cast were Martha Wentworth, Tim Graham, Mary Ship and Stephen Chase. This series of Family Theatre broadcasts is made possible by the thousands of you who felt the need for this type of program, by the mutual network which has responded to this need, and by the thousands of stars of stage, screen and radio who have so unselfishly given of their time and talent to appear on our Family Theatre stage. To them and to you, our humble thanks. This is Gene Baker expressing the wish of Family Theatre that the blessing of God may be upon you and your whole, and inviting you to join us next week at this time when Family Theatre will present Gale Storm in the Valle and Plating. Join us, won't you? This broadcasts throughout the world and originates in the Hollywood studios of the world's largest network, in the United States of America.