 Family Theatre presents Phil Carey and Ricardo Montalban. Hollywood, the mutual network in cooperation with Family Theatre, presents Ruffneck starring Phil Carey. And now here is your host, Ricardo Montalban. Thank you, Tony Lafranco. 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, Ruffneck, starring Phil Carey as Ed. Arizona, 35 years ago. A young vital state, but far different from the booming populace area it is today. Distances were long. The horse was a more usual mode of transportation in the automobile and a plane overhead was a cause for downright wonder. It's evening and in the kitchen of the rented house in the mining town of Bisbee, Mary Rungy and her son Jim were finishing the household tasks. Your rinse water's hot, Jimmy. Okay, Mom. When do you expect that? It shouldn't be long now. The shift of the smelter quits at eight. I sure hope he didn't get too tired. I hope not too. I wish he'd waited a few months more before he tried to work, especially in that smelter. Do you think we'll ever get a ranch again, Mom? Of course we will, Jim. We could try it now if your dad would only make up his mind to start over on a small scale. You know how he feels about mortgages. I know. But yeah, I wish he was like he used to be. He will be, son. He's had an awfully tough time of it. Let's sing some more, huh? All right. Let's see. Where were we when we were so rudely interrupted by a broken cup? Oh, hi, Dad. Ed, I'm so glad you're home. How'd it go, dear? You look awfully tired, Ed. Sit down. There's hot soup to start with. And I got a steak for you to celebrate your going back to work. Jim, are your sisters in bed? Yes, they are, Dad. All right. You get upstairs, too. And don't finish those dishes. But, Dad, I... Take your mother's apron off. Don't let me catch your word again. Dad, I was only... Get upstairs. Ed, I knew you'd be tired. And I knew you'd hate the smelter. But if you have to take it out on someone... I told him at the smelter I wouldn't be back. Jim and I are leaving in the morning. Leaving? For where? I don't know yet. But we're starting over. Without women. It's bad enough you're thinking you can take on a man's responsibilities when you put my son an apron strength. Please, our son, Ed. I don't know how many times we've had to rehash this. I've worked while you were ill. So we'd have the money that's left in Montana to get another ranch and some stock for it. On 10,000? What we get is another mortgage and lose everything. You've let one bad experience ruin your whole perspective. Mrs. Green cheated you. But most people are honest. She robbed me of my ranch. And you want to rob me of my pride. It's false pride, believe me. That money should have been used to support us. But as long as it wasn't, I'm going to take it and build it into enough to get the kind of a place Jim and I need. Ed, if we both worked another year or two... While you make Jim into a housemaid and a child nurse, I told you, Mary, I'm through. Ed, please. I'll send money for Janet and Sally. But you go right on teaching if you think of yourself as a breadwinner and bring them up to be women if you want to. Oh, stop it. But you're not going to make a laughing stock of me or an apron-wearing soprano singing sissy of Jim. He's going to be a roughneck like his father. Now, this is the life, eh, Jim? Sure, Dad. It's fun. This work sponsored me pretty hard, though. Ah, you're doing all right. Just grip with your legs and let them know you've got the rain. I'm trying to. Ah, this is working out fine, son. We're comfortable in the little house. We've got a place for the stock. And when we find just the right horse, we'll be rolling in money. I don't see how one horse can roll us in money. We just have to buy it from the right party. That old woman who took our ranch away from us in Montana taught me something, Jim. Find her sucker and play him for all he's worth. Help! Help! Dad, look. I'll run away, Jim. I'll try and cut across and stop him. Hey, grab your Ranger. I can't! All right, we'll do it this way. Oh, there, whoa, whoa, whoa. Steady, you local Mustang. Crazy, Dave. Easy, son of a... You better just smile. You all right? I guess so. Oh, thanks, mister. You risked your life leaking for Dave's rider like that. He'd have been a goner in that quicksand up ahead. Where does a fool woman get the idea she can ride a crazy-ranked coat like this? Oh, steady, you steady. I persisted. Stopping your reign like that. You shouldn't be allowed in America around me. Like Dave has been my pet ever since he was four-old. My husband started to saddle-breaking the other day and I thought I'd finish up. Only Dave saw his first cougar. If you're married, why don't you stay in the kitchen? Where you belong. There's nothing I can say to thank you enough. I'm Ruth Ellis. My husband's a deputy sheriff, and we have a horse ranch two miles south of town. You're new around here, aren't you? Name's Ed Runge. Boy, Dad, that was the greatest thing I ever saw. Jump for that runaway boy. Jump right over and pick up my horse. Oh, sure, Dad. He's a fine-looking boy, Mr. Runge. This is a fast sort of coat, Miss Ellis. How's he bred? Well, he's out of a champion cutting mare and his size of thoroughbred named Willowel High Time. You for sale? Dave? Well, I should say not. I told you he's my pet, and he's going to be the fastest thing in Arizona over a quarter mile. If your husband lets you have anything bigger than a canary for a pet, he's out of his mind. Look, Mr. Runge, I know you saved my life, but... How about this high-time horse? He owned in these parts? Yes. He belongs to a rancher named George Adams. Good. Ah, that's better. Jim, I'm Mrs. Ellis, and I've been trying to thank your father for saving my life. How do you do? I certainly hope you like living around here. Anything my husband and I can do to make you and the rest of your family feel at home. Thank you very much. We already feel at home, and I'm all the family Jim's got. Dad, there's mother and Sally and Janet. Forget them. They're in Bisbee and they're staying in Bisbee. Uh, you and Jim must be the folks who are on the old Miller's spread, Mr. Runge. That's right. Well, I know my husband will want to thank you too. Couldn't you come over for supper soon? If you're looking for some stock, Phil and I can tell you about practically every horse in the county. But Jim and I can pick out our own stock. On your horse, son, it will be about our business. Yes, Dad. Your coat's quiet enough now. I suppose you think you can handle them. Of course I can. Did I monokey, Dad? Yeah, that was all right. Easy there, Reddy. Hope to see you again soon, Jim. Thanks, Mrs. Ellis. And thank you again for what you did, Mr. Runge. And I hope you'll change your mind about having a meal with us. Oh, we may see you around. Let's go, Jim. Put me in. So long, Mrs. Ellis. So long. Thanks, boss, Jim. Keep a head up. Oh, they're red. Maybe. Ah, that's fine, son. You stay out here and mind the team while I go in and pick up the feed. Oh, hi, Mrs. Ellis. Still risking your neck on that spooky coat? Why, Dave, and I get along fine. Phil, this is the gentleman who saved my life the other day. Mr. Runge, this is my husband, Phil Ellis. How do you do? Hi. And Phil, this is Jim Runge. Oh. I'll do it, Jim. Mr. Runge, I'm sure glad you were around when my wife's horse bolded. What I can say is, thank you very much. No thanks, Mrs. Ellis. Watch the wagon, Jim. That's a nice team you've got there, Jim. Your dad didn't say much about it, but I sort of got the idea that you're going into the horse-raising business. Well, that's what we're working for. Dad knows more about horses than almost anybody, I guess. No, he sure can handle them. I just wish he'd let us all be friends. Dad doesn't really mean to act like he does lately, Mrs. Ellis. It's just, you see, things have been pretty tough for him. If it'll make you feel better to get it off your chest, Jim, maybe it'll help us to understand a little better. Well, we used to have a dandy ranch in Montana. Then Dad went to war, and after he got back, an old lady took the ranch away. Some sort of a mortgage deal? Well, a pretty bad deal. Dad thought he was going to have to pay quite as much while he was in France, but she claimed there weren't any papers where she agreed, so she got all the land back again, even some of the stock. I suppose it's pretty hard to get started again. Well, it wouldn't have been because Dad's so good with the horses. But then he got pretty sick, and it lasted a long time. So Mom started to teach school, and that made him mad. You know, Jim, it's hard for people not to be irritable and things aren't going right. But maybe when your dad gets established here, he'll find he needs your mother and your sisters. He needs them now. He wouldn't admit it, but he sort of mumbles in his sleeve sometimes. I can tell he misses them. So do I. I don't want anybody feeling sorry for me. It's my job to make Dad so proud of me that we can talk man to man all the time. Then I'll try to get him to take mother back. I bet you can do it, Jim. I sure hope so. Because before all the trouble happened, we'd sing around the piano and go to church and the socials, and I'm picnics together, and we all laugh and everything. Your mother and sisters are living in Bisbee, aren't they? Uh-huh. I was going to ask Dad if I could take the train to see him this weekend, but we might be getting some new stock, and of course I'll need me to help send him down. Well, if there's any way Ruth and I can ever help, you'll be sure and let us know. Phil, give Mr. Ungi a lift for those feet, Saxie's passing. Sure. Jim, careful the horses don't shy when I toss these sacks in. Mr. Ungi, let me give you a hand there. I can handle them. They look kind of heavy. I'll just slide this one off. They're steady now, Rhett. Easy, Mammy. And now the other one. That does it. Thanks, just the same, Ellis. Oh, sure. I was a big help. Jim and I are going out to take a look at the sire of your wife's coat. What's that fellow's name again? Adams, George Adams. His place is over beyond... I got an idea where it is. You want to handle team Jim? Sure. Good enough. Money glad to meet you, Jim. You too, Mr. Ungi. Thanks again. Forget it, I have. That supper invitation still holds, Mr. Ungi. Let's go, Jim. Right. Glad to see you again, Mrs. Ellis. Nice to meet you, sir. Thanks. So long, and good luck. Bye, Jimmy. Jimmy. If you talk to any more son, tell him your name's Jim. I like the Ellis's dad. So he's a deputy sheriff. A young sprout like that. Well, maybe we will be seeing some more of him. What do you mean? You'll see. Turn right at the next road, Jim. Adams' place is supposed to be over there where the foothills start to rise. And it may be where we start to make some big money. Mr. Adams, I can't tell you how much I admire this horse. I just can't fault his confirmation. He's plenty of horse, all right. Steady there, high time. I'm tempted. I certainly am. Well, there's a holder on him. All it takes is $10,000. What do you think, Jim? Gosh, we got that much money? Have you? I'm not wasting any more time if you're just sightseeing. Mr. Adams, I realize I'm new in these parts. And between you and me, I've been a drift to most of my life. But I wouldn't be here if I didn't mean business. Well, as you can see, that the papers are all in order. Well, all I have to do is sign the transfer when you give me the $10,000. Oh, he's a beautiful horse, Dad, and he seems to like me. What is he worth that much? Good breeding stock comes high, sonny. Mr. Adams is absolutely right, Jim. Smaller than we ought to spend, but, well, you've got to lay out money to make money. That's what I always say. Mr. Adams, give me your honest opinion. Are high-time colts all as good as the one the Ellisys had? If you're interested in breeding these year-quarter horses, I'd say he suits your purpose. We've got a deal, Mr. Adams. Hold the horse, Jim. Mr. Adams signs the transfer, and I make out a check. Okay, here we go, fella. A check? Well, after all, you don't carry $10,000 cash around with you. I suppose it's all right. I'll sign. Order of George Adams, $10,000. There you are. Hey, hey, wait a minute, wait a minute. I never heard of this year's bank. Where is it? Winnet Montana, like it says. I lived there for a while. Haven't gotten around to transferring my funds yet. You climb up and drive, Jim. We'll try to hide time alongside, and I'll hold the haul of myself. Right. Boy, we've really got ourselves a horse now. Yeah, but if this year's check's no good... Mr. Adams, do I look like a fella who'd go around passing bum checks? Well, no, but... You just take that check down to your local bank, and when it opens on Monday, four or five days later, you'll see. Let's go, Jim. Get up there, Red. Mamey. I don't... I'm in no trouble with this, Mamey. Forget it. I've got the horse. You've got the check. Dad? There's something. Is that time really worth the whole $10,000? Uh, he's worth a lot more than that to us. This deal's a new start, Jim. We'll turn that $10,000 to $50,000 or more in less than a month, or your rough-necked dad is really slipping. Are you sure you've thought this all over, Mr. Adams? Of course I thought it over, Phil. Thought about it all night and all morning. Finally, I went to see the sheriff, and he figures that there's something fishy about this year's Rungy fella, too. So he issued a warrant now to serve it, huh? Yeah, that's right. Don't you think you're moving pretty fast? I gotta move fast. I gave him a legal bill of sale on that there horse. We can't find out to Tuesday at the earliest that that check's no good. What makes you think he's gonna skip the county before then? Well, his rents only paid up through today. I found that out. When he paid Miller, he gave him the money in cash. He didn't spring-know when that Montana check's on Miller. All right, we'll go out there. I'll have to feed and bed down my own stock first, though. Well, can't your wife do it? Ruth wouldn't mind, but she's out of town until tomorrow. Well, start feeding him. I'm gonna get back home before it starts to rain. I still think you ought to be sure Rungy gave you a bad check before I slapped this warrant on him. The check's bad, all right. You have to get up mighty early in the morning to fool George Adams. Well, hi there, Mr. Adams. Oh, there, Jim. You're at home? Sure, he's right here. Won't you come in? Thank you. Well, Mr. Adams, Deputy Ellis, this is an honor, I suppose. Although I can't say it's a surprise. Well, didn't Mrs. Ellis come with you? No, Jim, Ruth's on a little trip. Between you and me, Ellis, you ought to teach your wife that a woman's place is in the home. However, nice weather we're having, except it's gonna storm like 60. We didn't come to discuss the weather, Rungy. This year's business. Mr. Rungy, would you mind asking Jim to leave the room for a few minutes? Why? Well, I'd rather not talk this over in front of him. All right, son. You better go to bed. We have to be up mighty early anyhow. Whatever you say, Dad. Good night, everybody. I may want to talk to you a little later, Jim. Don't worry about a thing, son. And if you want to listen, it'll be all right. I don't want to listen. Mr. Rungy, you don't hesitate to give me advice about my wife, so, uh... Well, I wouldn't encourage a fine kid like Jim to be an eavesdropper. I want him to hear this. I'm teaching my son to get along in the world. And if you're here for the reason I think, he and I'll have many a laugh over this. I get it over with, Phil. I don't want to get caught in the rain. Sure. Let's get it over with. Mr. Rungy, you made a deal for a horse late yesterday afternoon after the bank was closed for the weekend. Mr. Adams thinks you gave him a bad check. Let him think it. You're planning to skip out of here with that horse mine. You got the legal papers, and I'll be left holding the bag. How did you figure that? I've had plenty of experience with horse thieves. You're a new variety of the breed. But the deputy's got a warrant that'll stop you. Well, go ahead. Arrest me. There's no hurry about that. Phil, you got a legal warrant. Read it to him. Touch him with it. Then take him to jail. And if you've got handcuffs, snap them on me. I'm dangerous. Well, here's the warrant, and here's what I'm going to do with it. Phil, don't rip it up. Are you crazy? I'm just keeping Rungi from making a mistake that he might regret. Ellis, I didn't ask for your advice. Now that I think you can use a little help. Come on, arrest me. I accept the warrant. Phil, you gone local? Not on your life. It's a trick. All right, get out of here, both of you. It'll be a real pleasure. Oh, what kind of a trick? The check Rungi gave you is more than likely a perfectly good one. If it clears, and we're holding Rungi in jail, he can sue you, me, and the county for a whole lot more than $10,000. And the chances are that he'd collect. Are you sure? Of course I'm sure. Ellis, I warned you to mind your own business. Now I'm going to give you something you won't forget. Why don't you come ahead? Hey, look, the barn. Hey, it's a fire. Look at them flames. High time the other two horses are out there. Lightning struck it. There's no use. The barn's a solid sheet of flame. I've got to get them. I've got to. You couldn't live in there, Rungi. If I lose that horse, I'm ruined. He's legally yours and for check is... Hey, wait, wait. Look, look. Get with the horse. It's Jim in high time. Jim, be through a blanket over the horses head and let him out. Mr. Ellis, hold this horse somebody. There's two more to give. Jim, don't go back. Fine. Forget the others. Go back. I'm not afraid. Jim, no. Don't try it, boss. Jim, wait a minute. I'm coming with you. Hey, hey, hey. The whole road's going to go. Jimmy, come back. Come back. Jim, where are you? Over here, Mr. Ellis. Quick. Come on. We've got to get out. Can't leave these horses. Throw this blanket over the Mayor's head seat and leader. All right. Come on. I got red old blindfolded and bridal. Hey, I can't see the door. Oh, I can. Now you grab my other hand, Jim. Let's go. Come on, you red. We'll get you out. We're sure going to give it a try. They're coming around here. They're getting out. The Ridgepole. It's caving in. Come on, Jim, just a few more steps. Is dad going to be all right, Mr. Ellis? Sure. You just thought you were done for it, Jim. It was more than you could stand. Yeah, you saw that Ridgepole, Gordon. You just sort of caved in too. Man, I was close to fainting myself. I'll be proud of you, Jim. But you did took real courage. Oh, it's all I could do. I saw the barn blaze up while you men were talking, so I jumped out of the window and ran to the horses. Didn't you know that you were risking your life? No, I didn't think about that. I had to get hide time out because if we'd lost him, we'd lost everything. Jim, do you know anything about the check your dad gave Mr. Ellis? Oh, sure. There's enough money in the Bank of Montana to cover it. But that's just about all we've got left. You mean you were in on this year a false arrest swindle with your father? I knew about it, Mr. Ellis. And, boy, I've been praying that dad wouldn't go through with it. Jim? Jim? I'm right here, Dad. You're alive. You all right? Sure. Jim's fine. There's not a scratch on him. Yeah, you got a good boy there, Rungie. He's a mite undersized, but his heart ain't. Now, Mr. Rungie, suppose you stand up and listen to me. All right, Ellis. You owe everything to your son. Your horses are safe. You aren't going to be arrested. And you own a $10,000 horse that I think is going to be worth it to you. You said back in the house that we see who got the beating. Well, I've got it coming, and I'm ready to take it. Oh, Dad. Now, I know something that'll do you a lot more good if you can wait until tomorrow. Look, Mr. Rungie, there's plenty of room over at my place for you and Jim and your horses. I'm sort of lonesome with Ruth away. Now, why don't you spend the night and tomorrow we'll talk things over? Well, Miller says he'll be glad to start rebuilding the barn in the morning, Mr. Rungie, if you're planning to stay on the place. It was all insured, and he'll put up a first-class stable. That's mighty fine of you to talk to him for me, Phil. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if he could work out a deal so that the rent could count toward the purchase price if he decided to spread about what you want. I like it. And I think Arizona's going to be a boom state one of these days. The only thing is... Yeah? Well, I've had some family trouble, Phil, and it's all my fault. Unless I could straighten things out with Mary, well, there wouldn't be much to work for her. You think you can? I don't know. The way I treated her and the way I left her, I'll be likely to need an awful lot of help. Stock's all taken care of, Dad. Mr. Ellis. Good. Hey, you're all select up yourself, too. Sure. And so is the kitchen. I figured Mrs. Ellis wouldn't want to come back to a lot of dirty dishes. Oh, that's fine. Fine, Jim. You don't mind? No, of course not. There isn't any question about who's the sissy in our family anymore. Dad, anybody could faint. Hey, who washes dishes out at your place? Huh? We do them together. See, Ruth hopes she'd be back in time for church, but I guess it... Say, why don't we just start? Do we walk or I...? Well, Ruth took the buggy. We'll have to saddle up. I'd sort of like to walk. I never really did look the town over very well. Good enough. Just a couple of blocks. You haven't done this together for a long time, Dad. Way too long, I guess, then. Say, it's a fine morning, isn't it? Well, Ruth made it in time after all. Hi there, Ruthie. Mr. Runge and Jimmy, hello there. Mom, Janet's Sally. Phil, it's my family. Jimmy! Oh, Jimmy, I'm so glad to see you. Mom, Mom! Hey, Janet's Sally of Crone. You talked him into what I see, Ruthie. Oh, sure. But how did Mr. Runge and Jimmy have to be? It's quite a story, I'll tell you. Mary, there isn't anything I can say, except... Don't try to say anything, Ed. We need you to. So very much. This is Ricardo Montalván again. Probably in the not too distant future, from your front yard, or perhaps even from your front porch, you'll be able to look up into the sky, alone about sunset, and see a second moon in the sky. It sounds fantastic, doesn't it? But it isn't. Several of the world's powers are working right now on plans for that second moon, to send the man-made satellite beyond that atmosphere into an orbit approximately 1,070 miles above the Earth. The specific purpose of this second moon to record and relay information back to the Earth, to give us information about the weather, about cosmic and solar energy, the nature of deep space, and a dozen other things. A second moon, gives you something to think about, doesn't it? Actually, it's just another example of man's growth in the physical sciences, and we must grow or die. And that applies to the spiritual, as well as the physical, which brings us naturally to the subject of prayer, for prayer is a means of spiritual growth. As the sensitive instruments in a second moon circling the Earth can bring us closer to the workings of the physical universe, prayer is the means we must use to get closer to the creator of that universe, God. It is the way God gives us of growing spiritually through frequent communion with Him. And when you pray, do it with the other members of your family, for I'm sure you've heard this about daily family prayer, the family that prays together, stays together. More things are brought by prayer than this world dreams of. From Hollywood, Family Theater has brought you transcribed Roughneck, starring Phil Carey. Ricardo Montalban was your host. Others in our cast were Jeff Silver, Margaret Brayton, Joy Terry, Herb Ellis, and Leo Curley. The script was written for Family Theater by Fran van Hardersveld and directed by John T. Kelly with music composed and conducted by Harry Zimmerman. This series of Family Theater broadcasts is made possible by the thousands of you who feel the need for this type of program by the mutual network which has responded to this need and by the hundreds of stars of state 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 Tony Lofrano expressing the wish of Family Theater that the blessing of God may be upon you and your home and inviting you to join us next week when Family Theater will present Wally Bing Crosby 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.