 Family Theater presents Debra Padgett and Walter Brennan from Hollywood the Mutual Network in cooperation with Family Theater Presents the legend of high-chin bar for starring Walter Brennan and now here is your hostess Debra Padgett 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 the legend of high-chin bob starring Walter Brennan as Maverick It's twilight of an autumn day on a small cow ranch in the lush country of north central Arizona Old maverick a rough and weathered relic of an earlier and wilder time Sits in the bunkhouse door staring out at the sunset He shades his eyes as a small boy comes shuffling down the path Then he calls Hi, Lonnie. How come he looks so down just had supper didn't you? Yep, I used to have supper Man's got no call to feel so hang dog after a good meal sit down. Thanks Boy, I've seen some sad-looking criticism of time humans and animals, but you should take the cake My dad's upset with me old maverick real upset. Oh, well now that is bad All you done to get your power riled you've been to some kind of mischief thought let me know about it It's not a mist if he's riled about He says I never stick the anything more than two days. Oh, then you should carry to your powers concerned with Yes, so One day I'm saying I can't live unless he gives me a pony Then if I get a pony, I don't write it. I fit on to something else Well, that is a serious kind of weakness You think your powers got itself quite a good point there You know a man needs to set his sights and just well hold them steady Seems to me like everyone does like I do Why how's that? Well take more One day she can't rest till she bought a pretty new dress Next day she just hangs it in the closet wouldn't be seen on the streets with it Well, women's likely to behave so But not a real western man. No, sir not a rancher like your par A me that's what dad says. No, sir Everyone looks up to a man who sticks with the thing Right through to the bitter end come what may No one admires a fella that ties into one thing and then before the knot is set has turned off to something else I want to do the right things Yeah, the bravest man they ever knew was like that named a high chin bob High chin bob Who's he who was high chin bob? A young man that's raised in Arizona and you asked me such a question lani. I'm plum flabbergasted with you Everyone's here to hide chin bob. I ain't Well, now he'd be a right good fella for you to just to patting yourself after Not that I advised you go and quiet as far as bob did because uh, well, he was He was a might on the extreme side Do you know him? Do I know him? Well, I should hope to tell you I did Me and bob was bunk mates at the lazy j Uh, I was uh, you might call his best friend until until well Right up to the time it happened What happened? Oh now you don't want me to tell you a story sure I do What happened to high chin bob? Well, uh, to understand what happened to bob you first got to know what kind of a cowpawky was How long ago did you know this high chin bob? She good many years back lani I was a young and a 30 of their bouts Bob was just my age Now you want a big man Not in feet and inches, but I never know anybody to match him for courage before or since Like I said him and me was bunk buddies at the lazy j lazy j was good outfit too up in the mokiones Not a big spread, but well a nice bunch of people to work for You know the bosses niece a young lady named poly Well, she was the nicest one of all or at least so thought high chin bob Not that they was without their little disagreements you understand Why'd you ever say he was fond of me if he aimed to back out like this? I'm not backing out and I'm still fond of you I'm just telling you that I don't believe you'll ever save enough money for us to get married Well, of course I will When after we're old and gray all my friends are married bob. I'm the last Well, I hadn't know till this moment that you was in such an all fired hurry Hurry Well, we've been going together for almost five years and you still haven't saved enough money to buy a ring and A license and pay for the honeymoon. Well, there have been one or two emergencies come up There's an emergency every time someone gets out a deck of cars now poly man who works hard all days and title to a little relaxation I have no objections to your relaxing But I wish it didn't always cost us our getting married money. Look. Look. I'll tell you what I'll start saving next payday and in no time at all You said that four years ago No, just a minute If you aim to be unreasonable call it unreasonable if it suits you bob, but listen to what i'm telling you I'm giving us 30 days. Hey, you sound like a judge. Don't try to jolly me I mean what i'm saying if we can't afford to be married in the next 30 days, then Well, and we just better forget it. No, you don't mean that you're just saying it to scare me Try me but 30 days. Where can I get that kind of money in 30 days? I've made up my mind That's the way it's to be now poly don't get that stubborn look. I'm supposed to be the stubborn one in this pair I'm feeling tired bob. I think I'll go in. Hey, no no no wait a minute. Let's talk some more about this There's nothing more to be said bob Good night Good night poly No women They don't get some fool notions 30 days If I could never raise that much money in 30 days Well poor old bob was real upset Because he was right fond of poly though. He seemed to might kill us of her affections He'd always figured they'd marry someday Now she was pressuring them into action Wasn't there any way he can raise the money Now that's funny. You should ask me that lani because when bob came into the bunkhouse that evening He put the very same question to me Ain't there some way I can raise that money Well, it should be if if we set our minds to it like to think this is just a passing notion of polys I know it ain't she means it now or never Uh, how much money should you have? Well, I figure I need 150 200 dollars to carry it off in style Style see how stylish you have to be Well only figured to make this maneuver once and I want it to be complete Well, that kind of money appears to me a bank hold up Is you're only out You know if I wasn't such an honest critter I think it'd help you No, be serious poly has got blood in her eyes She's likely to marry that that that's silly looking Horace Amberley if I don't come through Well, I've never had that much money in my hands all the once I might stumble onto goldmine while I was out riding herd or fixing the fence. Yeah I've done the side of stumbling myself, but it was never over a no goldmine More likely to be cactus Maybe I could capture me in desperado. You know they pay big rewards for such Well, no desperado is in his right mind. They never come up this way Maverick, I come to you for help and all you've done so far is discourage Now now now wait a minute Bob. I want to help you, but it ain't no good You counting on goldmines and reward money. I've lost her that's the story It's the first time in my life. I ever let anything I wanted get away from now Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Not so quick. We ain't exhausted the possibilities yet. Why there must be a What's old saying he got the wind up about quit that yelling mean maverick's right in here Boss wants us all up in the pasture till the side of 10 horn draw Prado at this hour of the night What fur big mountain lion struck the herd killed two maybe three yearlings boss wants to track him down So get your gear boys and let's hit the trail bet is the same cat that hit before and if it is he's a giant All right, you boys can go to bed. There's one ordinary critter that high chin bob aims to lasso himself You sure ain't a worry in your Lonnie golly snow You all went after that big cat. That's right We had considerable experience with that particular killer This one his first visit and those of us that had seen his tracks knew how big he was Well, sir, we went racing down to the pasture and took off in all directions looking for that cat Me and hide shin bob stayed pretty close together and After three hours of riding and it was clear we wasn't going to meet up with that killer cat Oh, he's got clean away from his maverick. We're wasting our time He's sitting up on a leg somewhere to laugh at us. Well, I ain't no laughing mood. Oh, oh now steady steady girl steady Not feeling saddle sore. Are you sure? I'm just sore all over inside and out How do you get away from us so clean? Well, this ain't no ordinary mountain line This is the daddy of them all until we start treating him with the respect he deserves We ain't gonna tie on to him. Just how'd you go about it? Well, for one thing I wouldn't turn every cowpoke and hound dog in the mokiones loose on his trail No, I'd set just one good man to rope him High chin bob for instance Well, since you've mentioned it, I can't think of no one better qualified Well, uh, when we get back to the ranch, I suggest you just discuss this id with the boss I know he'll appreciate being told how mistook he's been. I could take that line maverick. You know it Yeah, like you said, he's tricky and he's big. I've never turned loose and nothing yet once I got a rope around it Uh I don't care who ropes that cat. I'm sleepy. You know Man who brings in this lion is gonna make a name for himself And I just as soon as to be high chin bob Yeah, just as soon Well for the next week, I heard only about two things from high chin bob Raising the money to marry parley and and roping that killer cat Did bob tell his plan to the boss Yeah, but the boss didn't pay much attention to bob. You see bob. Well, bob was quite a talker and you know when a fella talks too much Folks you get a tendency not to listen. I've noticed that myself Anyways, the excitement about the cat sort of died down and the boss began to get hopeful that he'd moved on bob talked less about how he was going to rope that lion and worried more about How he was going to make poly give him more time Another piece of cake bob. No, no, thanks poly force my limit Yeah, poly About that 30 day limit you handed me. Yeah, just have 20 days left. Yeah Well, I know you just said it to throw a scare into me because I couldn't possibly raise that much money in 30 days I meant exactly what I said bob 30 days And you have 20 left Well, give me three months and three months with a little luck. I can save enough out of my pay I wouldn't wait for luck if I was you bob You counted on it before that's why we've had to wait five years to be married poly I love you Doesn't that mean anything to you? It means a great deal bob. You know it does But Well, I can't wait forever. I want a home. I want children and You have 20 days left. Oh poly 20 days Bob had given up hoping I can tell you he was an uncomfortable sought to be around Moping and sighing and looking plum mortified And try as I would I'm blamed if I could think of one thing to say that it cheer him up What about the mountain lion? Oh, wow. Hey now who's telling his story? I'm coming to that Sandy and bob and me was riding herd in the high pasture It'd been a thunderstorm and we'd been trying to keep the cows from getting too excited The storm was just about over and I was well, I was sort of dozing on my horse when I come plum awake in a hurry Can you tell is he Can you tell bob what hit him? Not much doubt of that Was that cat Look at the shoulder This is awful bob. Why who thought that cat would jump a man like we gotta stop that bleeding man rick You take sandy back to the ranch and tell him what's happened Whatever you say bob, but what are you aiming to do? I'm going after that killer cat Collie's what happened then? Man, I took sandy back to the ranch like bob told me and They sent for doctor. He'd come quick and patched up the shoulder Sandy was weak from losing so much blood, but he he want too bad hurt You the sound of bob and me riding to him. It scared off that cat But what about bob? Well, he he lost the trail of the cat and rode in toward morning Soon as sandy was strong enough to talk we all crowded into here what he had to say and You know, it was hair-raising believe me I don't crowd in so close on him boys. Let him get his breath now Go on sandy. I was Setting my pony. I hadn't heard maybe I was Getting much sleepy storm was over I was tired my pony Never know we're didn't to the shadow and that's when he jumped you it was like a house falling on me I fell his claws going into my shoulder fell off the horse Biggest cat I ever seen bigger than you dream and a man killer And often they'll jump a man Unless they're wounded You'd have finished me a few boys hadn't come up I'll never forget it So heavy I could move to fight him off We got to get that killer cat. He's got to be stopped The boys was all mighty excited and upset The boss he well, he looked real serious and he offered $100 cash to the cow poke that brought that cat in dead or alive $100 collies I'll bet Bob was excited about that. Yes, you know, he was He's seen as his biggest chance and he was dead set to drop a rope around that line Then we got another piece of news that put him even more on edge Hey Maverick Maverick, have you heard? Hear what? There's a man in the house talking to the boss And he's ready to pay another hundred dollars for that killer cat alive He wants that lion alive. Is he is he crazy like a fox? He's heard how big this cat is he aims to put it in a show A hundred dollars? Yep. Well, that means that cat's got two hundred dollars on his own head Just exactly the amount I'm needing to marry Polly. Well, I'll have to see in the way this kitty cat Claude sandy I wouldn't be too anxious to take him alive. Once I get a rope around him. I wouldn't fear him none I am to track him down tonight You coming along Well, he's sure if you want no you go with the understanding that the lion's mind to take Listen, I ain't eager to take him off in your hands. I just go along for the ride. That kill is yours Well, so Lonnie we saddled up me and hi chin bob Neither of us said much and I don't know what old bob was you're thinking but Somehow I couldn't get my mind off and poor sandy And just as we was all set to ride off. We heard someone call and turned to see Polly running toward us Uncle just told me you mustn't do this Do what? Maverick and me just taking a little ride You're going after that cat the one that mauled sandy Well now if we was to happen to run into him. I might just drop a rope over his ugly head Oh, you're doing it for the money because of what I said that cat's worth 200 dollars That'd marry us proper Polly. Don't bob forget what I said. I'll wait I'll wait as long as you like only please don't go after that cat. Please here. No What kind of talk is that from my bride to be you act like you got no confidence in hi chin bob You're gonna try to take him alive. He's worth twice as much alive I I can't stop you I don't figure so Now I got my heart set on lassoing that critter and collecting the money and the glory Well, then will you be careful bob promise? Careful as a cat Polly or even carefully Come on maverick. Let's ride. We mustn't keep our little pet waiting Lonnie I've ridden into some bad spots in my time, but None that gave me a worse fright than the night me and hi chin bob went after that killer lion And bob was sat on catching him alive. Why he had to be alive bob was counting on the extra hundred he He'd draw if the critter was still a kicking now me Well, I was mostly just interested in keeping myself alive How far don't you have to ride? Yeah, there's quite a distance from the ranch In fact, I was beginning to think we wasn't gonna meet up with that old cat and I was sort of lazing along sort of relaxed and That's the way sandy was dozing when the cat jumped and Hey maverick, come on, come on, bob Stop that. Would you sorry to bust into your dreams? But I got me a notion from the way this horse line is a dance in this We may not be too far away from that killer cat. Yeah, mine seems a much skittish too maverick Why don't you ride a little ahead? Then if the cat starts to jump you I'll have now hold on I didn't come out here with you just to be used as bait. I won't let him touch you My rope would be around his neck before you and anything. I know you're fine rope a bob and well After all, it's my neck is sticking out maverick. I don't have to tell you how important this is to me I've got to get that cat and get him alive now. Now. Will you help me? Well, all right, but if you miss I'm counting on the first class funeral I'm not counting on any funerals. I got me in mind to go to a wedding You know this horse of mine sure acts funny. There's no mistake in that. I'll tell you it's the cat And now get moving maverick before he changes his mind makes a run for it. All right Well, here I go get your rope ready. My rope is ready and I'm right behind you Well boy, I'll confess to you. I close my eyes chart on my lip a bit and nudge them of a horse for it There was a clump of trees dead ahead And it stood to reason if that big cat was anywhere near He was likely stretched out on a limb in one of them trees Closer and closer it come All the time wondering just how good high chin bob was with that rope And remember the the things sandy had said We were moving under the trees Nothing happened. It looked like bob had been wrong. I have to breathe and then sigh of relief I wouldn't believe me if I told you how big that lion was He went crashing and banging down the slope just that rope wasn't even around his neck And high chin bob went right after us right after him on his horse I could hear him heading down the slope the cat is screaming and bobber yelling I took after him, but the pace they were setting was too fast for me So what did you do? He stopped in the trail and I waited and pretty soon Sure enough ahead. I'm coming You mean bob and the mountain lion were circling you? It's just what I mean I raised my rifle. I aimed to finish that cat once and for all No, don't shoot him my friend. You're crazy. I got it Five times high chin bob and that lion race passed me and five times I raised my rifle to drop that cat But bob wouldn't turn him loose Well, what happened then? Well, Solani I rode back to the lazy jay and I told him all day just what had happened That high chin bob had roped the big cat and wouldn't turn him loose Does he all go back with you? They did including parley We couldn't find high chin bob that day But after it got dark and the moon started coming up over the rim Just like it is now ronnie We've seen him And high chin bob was still holding that cat You see he was Just as he had been the night before Looking a might weak and way now but still glued to his horse It was a ghostly sight I took in Miss parley was so scared by it. She near faded but she did manage to call out as they've thundered past Days we tried to get bob to turn loose of that cat, but he never would Like I said Lonnie He was a man who stayed with her thing Once she started it You mean he never stopped chasing that cat He never did All maverick you said the story was true And it is boy None trueer While lots of times at night in the mochiones you'll hear a ruckus among the stones that lift the hair right off in your head with fright And you'll see a cowhorst under by A lion trailing along Now ride a bull with his chin on high still holds the rope High chin bob No one else Still fashion to that killer cat Lonnie look look Lonnie boy See see up there begin the moon Shoes it Get a man on the horse. There he goes There he goes the man wouldn't give up high chin bob Still chasing his killer cat This is double pageant again. You have a favorite time to pray One friend of mine a woman thinks that the best time to pray is in the morning Particularly a morning bright with sunshine when the skies are blue and the birds are singing Prayers in the morning. She says our prayers of hope Now another friend a man says that he prays best by the little reminders of the day The sounding of a church bell the sight of a poor beggar on the street Or the shock of a narrow escape at a busy intersection Seeing the inspiration on the face of a nun Watching a policeman helping an old lady across the street Or the feeling of hunger appeased after a good meal He says prayers like this are mostly prayers of thankfulness And still another friend a woman Insist that the best time to pray is when the dark comes and gently unfolds this scary shcottie world of ours Prayers at night are inclined to be prayers of love both of god and neighbor Well, what i'm doing is proving that it doesn't matter much when you pray As long as you do pray But pray especially as a family for there's great joy in praying with others Who of us still hasn't heard that the family that prays together Stays together more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of From hollywood family theater has brought you the legend of high chin bob Starring walter brennan debora pageant was your hostess Others in our cast were vivy janis John daner billy borkham and billy chapein The script was written by john mcgreevy with music composed and conducted by harry zimmerman And was directed and transcribed for family theater by john t kelly 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 is 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 tony lafranco expressing the wish of family theater That the blessing of god may be upon you and your home and inviting you to be with us next week when family theater will present chicky starring and blithe marjorie steel and marvin miller 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 the mutual broadcasting system