June 6, 2024 • 28 mins
Delve into the "Radio City Playhouse Collection," a comprehensive anthology of some of the most gripping and heartwarming episodes from this iconic radio series. Each story is a masterclass in dramatic storytelling, featuring compelling characters and unforgettable plots. Whether you're revisiting old favorites or discovering these gems for the first time, this collection offers a rich listening experience that captures the essence of classic radio drama. Perfect for fans of vintage entertainment and captivating narratives.
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(00:03):
The National Broadcasting Company presents Radio CityPlayhouse Attraction two. Before we raise our
(00:29):
curtain, we'd like to take timefor a small speech. It amounts to
this, thanks, thanks very muchfor your many, many, very wonderful
letters in praise of our opening playlong distance. Bowing to your wishes,
we promise we'll repeat it later onin this series. Tonight's play is titled
(01:06):
ground Floor Window. It was writtenby an extremely talented young author, Ernest
Knoy, with Bill Redfield starring asDanny, and directed by Harry W.
Duncan. Here is Radio City PlayhouseAttraction two, Ground Floor Window. I've
been sitting in this ground floor windowof ours for twenty three years. Yes,
(01:38):
ever since I can remember. I'vewatched the girls playing POTSI on the
sidewalk, the boys playing stickball,dodging the cars, shooting marbles in the
gutter. I'm twenty three, nowtwenty three. It was six years ago
that I first saw you, afew with a new upstairs tenants. There
(02:01):
was a big yellow moving van,the furniture, your father managing everything.
I remember the first words your fatherever said to me. The first words
your father ever said to me werehey, you, You and the window.
There's seven ninety one. Huh,I said, is it seven ninety
one? He's asking him, buthe's dopey. Yeah, what do you
(02:23):
know? Yeah, he's a regulargoop just sits there all the time.
I can't see, Like I said, he can't even talk straight. Yeah,
seven ninety one. All right,you're moving in? Huh? Yeah?
Say the goof there. He ain'tdangerous or anything, is he him?
Nah? He can't even got achair. His ma even has the
tiest shoes for him. No,kidd Yeah, okay, rupee, this
(02:45):
is the right place. We're homein the window, pops. Never mind,
Now go find a souper and getthe key to the apartment. He
looks so funny. Go on,you heard me find a soper. All
afternoon, I watched your father andanother man carrying furniture and trunks into the
(03:06):
house. It was dark before thetruck finally pulled a word. The kids
on the block were shooting bottle capsunder the street land, and the ice
cream man had been around twice.Jenny getting lazy. Let me fix you
for this. Oh no, Ma, not yet. I'll stay up a
(03:27):
while. You had a long day, Denny. You should riff Ma all
day, you said, by thewo, let me alone, will you
you want? I should get yousome ginger. It's called I don't want
nothing, Ma, Just leave mealone, so you'll call when you want
to go to bed. All right, all right? Oh yeah ma,
all right? Huh p. Myname is Ruth. I moved in today
(03:53):
upstairs. I saw hey, youmount if, I said, on the
stoop by your win. No,what you mean, Dan? What's wrong
with you? You make funny faces? Well, I can't help it.
I'm Janser Papa. When he askedyou a question this afternoon. I have
trouble talking sometimes. Oh can youwalk? No? Will you run over?
(04:18):
No? I was born like this. You ain't really don't be,
are you. No, it's justI was born with that lady in the
blue dress. She's your mother,ain't she. Yeah? My mother died
last year. She had double pneumonia. Oh that's too bad. Can a
doctor do something else for me?Yeah? Well, my mother took me
(04:38):
to the clinic when I was four. They told her they couldn't do anything.
That's awful. What is it?Well, the doctor said, cerebral
palsy. That means something isn't therein the park. That tells the muscles
what to do. Oh, that'swhat makes me make funny faces all the
time. You don't have to tellme if you don't want to. Oh,
I don't mind you. You won'tlaugh at me, though, No,
(05:00):
I will laugh the rest of thekids on the block do right.
I'm used to it. I guessthey call me dope be dad. That
isn't fairly netful, is it.No, it isn't my fault, Rupie,
Ruthie. I gotta go upstairs tomorrowday. Good night, Ruth who's
dods? Who are talking to?Denny? Girl from upstairs, the one
(05:23):
who moved in today? Uh huh, she should shame herself with such a
dirty face. Her name is Ruth. Such a nice neighborhood. She looks
straight at me, Ma, Soshe looked at you, the one I
should put you to bed. Ohno, no, that's all right,
Ma. I want to sit upa while longer. You go ahead.
(05:45):
I want to think. I watchedyou grow up, Ruthe. You washed
your face now, and soon thoselong black braids gave way to a sort
of soft tangle around your face.You went to Douglas Junior High School with
the kids from the block, andafter school. You used to sit on
(06:08):
the high brownstone stoop just outside mywindow and report on the day's activities.
The teacher don't like me, Danright and go to the whole class,
she said, I didn't do myhomework. Well, did you well?
Not exactly. I tried. Youwent to the movies instead. I saw
you go by. Skip asked meto go. I don't see what good
algebra does anyway. Did you havea good time with Skip? I guess
(06:29):
so. We had a soda afteryou never seen a movie? Have you
done well? Ma was gonna takeme once, but she couldn't get anybody
to carry me. It was aswell picture. I'll see one someday.
What are you doing when I'm inschool, Danny? I don't know.
Watch the street, I guess.Don't you read well? I can't turn
the pages so good. I usedto have a teacher come twice a week,
(06:53):
but not anymore. See I knowwhat I'll read you Saturday afternoon.
I've gotta read. I'm in Hopefor school anyway, and I just as
soon read it. He Ruthie thatSkip calling you. Let him come over
here if he wants anything. Hey, what you're doing Ruthie just talking,
So don't be Dad. He passingyou shut out? That's all right,
sure day, don't mind, doyou? No? We're old friends,
(07:14):
ain't we? You? Never mind, Skiff, you shut up anyway.
Poor girls are crazy, ain't they? Danny? Danny agrees with me.
Why don't you go away? Skip, I'm going, I want to say,
Ruthie. Uh, all the kidsin school are going up the river
on the dayline Saturday. You're coming, ancient, I don't know, won't
cost much. Look, i'll tellyou what. You come with me and
(07:38):
I'll get your ticket. Well,I was gonna read to Danny said,
we're going to Damn Mountain. JoeBogga's father's giving a hot talk for the
whole bunch. I don't know,Sims swell Ruth. Yeah, it's a
lot better than just sitting on astoop reading all afternoon. I don't know
yet. Skip. I'll let youknow. You went to Bear Mountain with
(08:01):
Skip, Ruth. I wanted youto Skip. Was supposed to be very
funny. He had an imitation ofthe way I talk and how my face
moves. I never saw it,but all the kids in the neighborhood laughed.
Every time. Saturday afternoon, Iwatched the little kids unscrew the top
(08:28):
off the fire hydrant and run aroundunder the water. I thought of you
on the boat, with the windblowing through that short tangle of hair.
I think I enjoyed that trip morethan you did. He came home way
(08:50):
after twelve alone. The night washot, and the whole street seemed to
be weighed down under a smothering blanket. You sat on the stoop, and
even in the dark, I couldtell you were crying. I am not
crying. It's just hop. Well. I didn't mean anything, Ruth.
Then you have a good time.Well, how come Skip didn't bring you
home? Your father will be awful, man, I don't care. Well,
(09:13):
what's the matter? You are crying? Ruth. Nothing. Then something
happened on the trip. It wasSkip, wasn't it, Oh, Danny?
He made quite of the way Italked. I tried to make him
stop, but he wouldn't. Heonly did it because they all lasted.
Danny, it was awful. Youmustn't mind. Slapskip as hot as I
could, and then I ran intothe cattle. Please don't come home with
(09:37):
him. I couldn't stand it.Danny, as long as they don't mean
anything, Ruth. It's just thatI'm different. I don't cry, Ruth.
Please? Is that you rookie?It's Papa. He's been to Connolly's
bar. I saw him go byaround ten. Ruth, answer, Papa,
(09:58):
Danny's drunk. What'll I do?Didn't I tell you to get home
before midnight? Papa? Didn't Isay before midnight? Didn't I? Mister
gawer, what do you want aWell, Ruth was here talking to me.
Oh she was. She was talkingto me. She was, She
(10:20):
was back around eleven. Why areyou lying half with it like that?
Why you little Ruth? I wantto get upstairs before I beat your head
on, mister Gower. You shouldn'tdo that, you overgrown idiot. If
I didn't know that, your mamahas to even wipe your nose for yeah,
(10:41):
I stay away from Ruthie. See, I don't want her hanging around
here. Well, just stay away, Denny. That's what goller? Coming
home drunk again, Denny, Dennykeop crying, No mar what's then?
(11:05):
Can I do something for you?Annybody? You're crying nothing, nothing,
all right? So let me fixthe pillow behind your back it's all crooked.
Mars stopped, Denny. I can'tstand it any longer. Let me
alone, Let me alone, Letme alone. But my mother fixed my
(11:30):
pillow and brought me a glass ofwater and wiped the tears out of my
eyes. I sat at the window, staring out at the street. That
night I dreamed I could walk.I was with you, walking by the
ocean. We were running, handin hand, sort of floating over the
(11:54):
sand, running running, and thensuddenly I fell. I couldn't get up,
and you looked down at me andsaid quietly, cripple. I was
screaming when I woke up, andmy mother came running. She insisted on
sitting up with me all night.I didn't dream again after that. You
(12:20):
didn't come every day. You hada job after school, and I'd see
you go out in the morning withyour books and come back late in the
afternoon. You weren't really pretty.I suppose you always looked tired, and
you took a long time climbing thestool. Hello, Danny, isn't this
a scort? You're tired? SometimesI think you're lucky, Danny. I
(12:45):
get so worn out in the storeI fall asleep over my homework. It
gets tiring just sitting too, Ruth. See you know what I mean,
Danny. Here, I'll straighten apillory. Wll me that you call it,
Danny. It's all twisted there.I couldn't reach it. I'm sorry,
Dan, I didn't mean that.You know. Oh it's all right,
Ruth. I never mind when youtalk about it or anything. You're
(13:07):
different from the other boys. Iknow, Danny, not only because you're
crippled. It's sorry. I mean, it seems like I can always talk
to you. Papa doesn't seem tounderstand understandy Sometimes I think you're older.
There is on the whole block that'sreal. I mean, I don't know,
(13:28):
I Danny, why did you seemkind of good? I don't know.
I mean, it seems so soold, old, as if you
knew what was right. Oh,Dan, you always let me talk to
you. Ruth. I get sotired. I need you to talk to
(13:52):
Danny. You sat on the stoopwith your in your hands, looking like
all the sorrow in the world,and then you looked up and smiled at
me, and I could see tearsin your eyes, and I was glad,
Ruth, glad you wanted me tolisten while you poured out the troubles
of your eighteen year old heart.The war was over. Now there was
(14:24):
a big welcome home streamer stretching fromour house across the street to seven ninety
four. Who is that? Itwas Skip Parson on the sidewalk at the
foot of the stoop. He stoodlooking up at me with his feet apart,
leaning on a sort of steel canethat reached up beyond his right hand
and clamped his arm by the elbow. Hi, Danny, Hello, Skip,
(14:48):
swell to see you while on thestoop. Hello, Skip, how
you rufie? I guess I kindof joined your club? Danny there,
I'm sorry, Skiff. Well,I still got the leg, even if
it is all scrambled up. Howyou've been? Danny? All the same?
(15:11):
You look great, I mean exceptfor the leg. Yeah. But
the surprise is Ruthie. She wasn'tpretty when I went away. I'm sure
you are, isn't she? Danny? You ought to know. I leave
it to you. I guess nevermind what the rbs Skip, oh,
free beers. Mostly they're good,but at least accord. At Connley's.
(15:31):
Did you notice me weaving? That'sthe combat infantry badge, isn't it.
Yeah, I'll tell you a secret. It's the only one that means anything
to me. The other stuff isthe sweet, beautiful ladies off their feet
coming. I didn't think of it. I guess I should have when you
got home just in time, Skip, Ruth graduates high school tonight. Hey,
that's swell. Congratulations. What youshould have told me. I'd have
(15:52):
brought your prison or something, maybeflowers. Why don't you go with her
tonight, Skip, mister Gower's working. Ruth won't have anybody there wasn't goofy.
You need somebody in the audience toclap when they call my name,
holding handed passons, I called me, how's this? I gotta go get
dressed now. Oh, your flowersare swell, Danny. I'm glad in
about an hour or maybe a littlelonger outside a hurry, Well, I
(16:21):
gotta shave see you, lady,Danny, have a good time. Skip.
I saw you go off together tothe graduation. It was almost dark,
and the street lamp went on justas you passed under it. Our
Skip was wrong. You weren't pretty, but the light caught the white flowers
(16:45):
and your dark hair. They dancedwhen you tossed your head and waved to
me. That's the gower girl goingto graduation. Yes, Ma, I
think her father would come home togo with it. He's working, working,
not working. A girl graduates onlyonce. Who's dot with her?
Skip Parson, he came home today. I already heard the shame of his
(17:07):
legs. Such a strong boy.Oh she looked nice, Ma, She
ought you made me buy expensive enoughflowers. So much money for a little
girl like that. Oh my,Still, you're right. Her father wouldn't
get them in on graduation. Agirl should have flowers. They were pretty.
She had them in her hair.Lucky Skip came home, so she
(17:30):
had someone to take her. Everybody'sgot as troubles the whole world, nothing
but troubles. So you want icecream the next time the man comes around.
He came home late. I heardyou both laughing quietly as you turned
(17:52):
the corner, and when you passedunder the street lamp, I saw the
flowers in your hair, wilted andyellowing. Skip had tucked one of them
under his infantry edge like it wasa button. Home, Dan, Hey,
Dan, he's probably in bed,Danny, what do you want to
wake him for? To tell himabout graduation. Give him a break.
Let I promise it didn't keep tillmorning. Danny won't mind. See.
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I wish she could have been there. Why did I clap that? Really?
Skip? It's oh, Danny's beensomething sort of special to me.
Oh, Skip, it isn't fair. Why should he be like that?
It isn't fair. Hey, hey, take it easy. It's graduation night.
He said he was graduate with me. Sure Danny's okay? Say say
(18:36):
you're not in I mean Danny's OhSkip, Ruthie, let's walk out of
the river. It's earlier. Ican't. Papa will be home from work
soon. You'll get mad. You'vegot lots of time, after all,
you only graduate high school once.So I really promise Danny was up here
to end. But the old mandoesn't come home till three. What do
you say? All right? Alwayscame, Lucy. They're drooping anyway.
(19:00):
You might as well throw them away. No, I'll fix the pin.
I want to save them. Wecan make it to the river and back
before your father comes home. I'dheard you when you called, ruth.
I don't know why I didn't answer, but I waited up till you came
back. I wanted to be sureyou got home safely. I was afraid
(19:22):
your father would come home and findyou still out too, but he didn't.
It was a week later when Skipcame by again. He was wearing
his old suit from before the war, but his arm was still braced against
that twisted steel half crutch. Hepulled himself up the high stool. Wow,
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it's quite a climb. Why ifI sait awhile, No, Danny,
You've got to help me me.I know, I got a nerve.
All afternoon I sat in Conley's bartrying to figure out how I had
to right. What's trouble, Skip, Well, remember when I was a
(20:11):
kid, I used to call youa dope, Dan, Yes, I
remember Ruthie socked me for at once. I was imitating you on the boat
coming down from them out and seeall off and sucked. I knew about
it. Well, kids are likethat, Danny. You know that,
don't you. I didn't mean anythingspecial I was. I was just you
know, there isn't any excuse.Well I don't mind anymore. Look,
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I know it is anything like it. I mean, my leg in your
trouble. They aren't in the sameclass. But this morning, I saw
two kids following me down the street, making like my brace with a steak.
You'll get used to it. No, that isn't what I mean.
I try to figure out how howI come up to ask you to help.
I wouldn't have had the nerd,but Ruthie told me you always were
(20:56):
a friend, Ruth. Ruth,Yeah, I need you, Danny.
You're the only one who can helpI. What's the matter? Nothing?
You see? It's an old man. He wanted to see anybody goes crazy
every night when he's working. BecauseI can't tell where she is. She's
scared of him, Danny, Whatdo you want from me? I gotta
(21:19):
see you, Danny. I justgot it. She's gonna meet me over
at the park. She told herfather she's gonna read to you. He'll
ask you, Danny. You've gotto tell him she was with you.
I didn't know what to say toSkip Ruth, so I stuttered like I
(21:41):
always do when I get confused.Skip sat by the window and told me
how pretty you were. You weren'treally pretty, Ruth, even on graduation
night with my flowers in your hands. I wanted to tell him there were
lots of prettier girls. So manyothers. He could walk, he could
find the others. Why did hehave to come to me? Why did
(22:03):
I have to help him? Hestopped by my window before you went to
meet him. He sat on thestoop the way you used to. How
do I look to him? Oh? Fine, Rufe, just fine.
(22:25):
I'm going over to the park tomeet the sick. Yes, I know,
Oh, Danny, I love him. What's the matter, Danny?
This gets a good guy. Hewants to get married and go to California.
He knows a job out there wherehis leg won't matter. Only it
wasn't for Papa. Can't you justgo anyway? Yeah? But Skip and
Papa don't like each other, Danny. Why is Papa like he is?
(22:48):
He's not really bad. He worriesabout me that way, you know,
And Danny, he don't need toworry. Why can't he be nice?
Danny? Why can't he? Ruth, You've always been a friend, Danny.
I've always been able to talk toyou. Remember when I said I
wanted to talk to you always,rum, Ruth, I can't even talk
(23:11):
right hardly, even if you couldn'tmove, walk or anything. You were
my very best friend. On theblock. You were my best friend in
the world. Danny. You couldtell what I was thinking. You knew
it without my saying anything. That'swhat I love about Skip, Danny.
He's so gentle and sweet like you. Sometimes I think that you're Ruth.
(23:36):
Danny. I'll write your offer.You're you're not going tonight? Are you
tomorrow? Maybe? If Skip whatI I hope you'll be happy, Ruth
bens your head up, Danny.Well, your face feels hot, Danny.
Are you all right at your feveror something? No? No,
I'm alright far it's so hot,Danny. Tomorrow I'll say goodbye like always,
(23:56):
just like I was going to schoolor something. But you'll know,
Danny, that don't goodbye? Danny. Oh, Daddy, Who are you
(24:25):
talking to? Denny? Somebody's botheringat me, Danny. What's the matter
why you're crying? That's no wayfor a man's wax. A man a
man who can't even button his shirtor tie his shoes. What kind of
a man is that, Denny?What kind of a man that drools and
(24:49):
stammers when he talks like a baby? Denny, Your mom isn't you're my
son? I lived in the housewith you for twenty three years. Oh
please, let's skip past. Hewent two years to award. Danny,
(25:11):
your wall went onsome when you wereborn. I know, I know your
Ruth. She's going away, butyou've still got to live for heaven.
So she goes away, Danny.It didn't take courage till the twenty three
(25:32):
years sitting in a window watching theworld run and play games. A man?
Could there be more of a man? Mama? I love her,
(25:57):
So now I sit by the windowand watch the street all day. I
watched the girls jumping rope and theboys playing stickball. You wrote me,
Ruth, but I didn't answer.This is the letter I write in my
(26:19):
head. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't put it on paper.
I'm twenty three years old and Ican't hold a pencil in my hand.
That was Ground Floor Window Attraction twoRadio City Playhouse, as written by Ernest
(26:44):
Connoy and directed by Harry W.Junkin. Bill Redfield starred as Danny,
and other members of the cast includedBernard Grant, Marilyn Erskine, Anna Karen,
and Arthur Q. Bryant. Themusic was composed and conducted by the
to Roy Shield. Radio City Playhouseis supervised for the National Broadcasting Company by
(27:04):
Richard P. McDonough. Next week, the Radio City Playhouse presents of Unsound
(27:30):
Mind, written by our director HarryW. Duncan. It is the story
of Myra, beautiful, gracious,charming and without a soul. It is
the story of Caleb, her warwounded husband, and of Jeff, the
other man in her life. Wesincerely hope you will be with us next
(27:52):
Saturday when we bring you of UnsoundMind by Harry W. Duncan. Attraction
three, Radio City Playhouse m RobertWarren speaking. This is NBC, the
(28:32):
National Broadcasting Company. Mm hmmm,
The National Broadcasting Company presents Radio CityPlayhouse Attraction two. Before we raise our
(00:29):
curtain, we'd like to take timefor a small speech. It amounts to
this, thanks, thanks very muchfor your many, many, very wonderful
letters in praise of our opening playlong distance. Bowing to your wishes,
we promise we'll repeat it later onin this series. Tonight's play is titled
(01:06):
ground Floor Window. It was writtenby an extremely talented young author, Ernest
Knoy, with Bill Redfield starring asDanny, and directed by Harry W.
Duncan. Here is Radio City PlayhouseAttraction two, Ground Floor Window. I've
been sitting in this ground floor windowof ours for twenty three years. Yes,
(01:38):
ever since I can remember. I'vewatched the girls playing POTSI on the
sidewalk, the boys playing stickball,dodging the cars, shooting marbles in the
gutter. I'm twenty three, nowtwenty three. It was six years ago
that I first saw you, afew with a new upstairs tenants. There
(02:01):
was a big yellow moving van,the furniture, your father managing everything.
I remember the first words your fatherever said to me. The first words
your father ever said to me werehey, you, You and the window.
There's seven ninety one. Huh,I said, is it seven ninety
one? He's asking him, buthe's dopey. Yeah, what do you
(02:23):
know? Yeah, he's a regulargoop just sits there all the time.
I can't see, Like I said, he can't even talk straight. Yeah,
seven ninety one. All right,you're moving in? Huh? Yeah?
Say the goof there. He ain'tdangerous or anything, is he him?
Nah? He can't even got achair. His ma even has the
tiest shoes for him. No,kidd Yeah, okay, rupee, this
(02:45):
is the right place. We're homein the window, pops. Never mind,
Now go find a souper and getthe key to the apartment. He
looks so funny. Go on,you heard me find a soper. All
afternoon, I watched your father andanother man carrying furniture and trunks into the
(03:06):
house. It was dark before thetruck finally pulled a word. The kids
on the block were shooting bottle capsunder the street land, and the ice
cream man had been around twice.Jenny getting lazy. Let me fix you
for this. Oh no, Ma, not yet. I'll stay up a
(03:27):
while. You had a long day, Denny. You should riff Ma all
day, you said, by thewo, let me alone, will you
you want? I should get yousome ginger. It's called I don't want
nothing, Ma, Just leave mealone, so you'll call when you want
to go to bed. All right, all right? Oh yeah ma,
all right? Huh p. Myname is Ruth. I moved in today
(03:53):
upstairs. I saw hey, youmount if, I said, on the
stoop by your win. No,what you mean, Dan? What's wrong
with you? You make funny faces? Well, I can't help it.
I'm Janser Papa. When he askedyou a question this afternoon. I have
trouble talking sometimes. Oh can youwalk? No? Will you run over?
(04:18):
No? I was born like this. You ain't really don't be,
are you. No, it's justI was born with that lady in the
blue dress. She's your mother,ain't she. Yeah? My mother died
last year. She had double pneumonia. Oh that's too bad. Can a
doctor do something else for me?Yeah? Well, my mother took me
(04:38):
to the clinic when I was four. They told her they couldn't do anything.
That's awful. What is it?Well, the doctor said, cerebral
palsy. That means something isn't therein the park. That tells the muscles
what to do. Oh, that'swhat makes me make funny faces all the
time. You don't have to tellme if you don't want to. Oh,
I don't mind you. You won'tlaugh at me, though, No,
(05:00):
I will laugh the rest of thekids on the block do right.
I'm used to it. I guessthey call me dope be dad. That
isn't fairly netful, is it.No, it isn't my fault, Rupie,
Ruthie. I gotta go upstairs tomorrowday. Good night, Ruth who's
dods? Who are talking to?Denny? Girl from upstairs, the one
(05:23):
who moved in today? Uh huh, she should shame herself with such a
dirty face. Her name is Ruth. Such a nice neighborhood. She looks
straight at me, Ma, Soshe looked at you, the one I
should put you to bed. Ohno, no, that's all right,
Ma. I want to sit upa while longer. You go ahead.
(05:45):
I want to think. I watchedyou grow up, Ruthe. You washed
your face now, and soon thoselong black braids gave way to a sort
of soft tangle around your face.You went to Douglas Junior High School with
the kids from the block, andafter school. You used to sit on
(06:08):
the high brownstone stoop just outside mywindow and report on the day's activities.
The teacher don't like me, Danright and go to the whole class,
she said, I didn't do myhomework. Well, did you well?
Not exactly. I tried. Youwent to the movies instead. I saw
you go by. Skip asked meto go. I don't see what good
algebra does anyway. Did you havea good time with Skip? I guess
(06:29):
so. We had a soda afteryou never seen a movie? Have you
done well? Ma was gonna takeme once, but she couldn't get anybody
to carry me. It was aswell picture. I'll see one someday.
What are you doing when I'm inschool, Danny? I don't know.
Watch the street, I guess.Don't you read well? I can't turn
the pages so good. I usedto have a teacher come twice a week,
(06:53):
but not anymore. See I knowwhat I'll read you Saturday afternoon.
I've gotta read. I'm in Hopefor school anyway, and I just as
soon read it. He Ruthie thatSkip calling you. Let him come over
here if he wants anything. Hey, what you're doing Ruthie just talking,
So don't be Dad. He passingyou shut out? That's all right,
sure day, don't mind, doyou? No? We're old friends,
(07:14):
ain't we? You? Never mind, Skiff, you shut up anyway.
Poor girls are crazy, ain't they? Danny? Danny agrees with me.
Why don't you go away? Skip, I'm going, I want to say,
Ruthie. Uh, all the kidsin school are going up the river
on the dayline Saturday. You're coming, ancient, I don't know, won't
cost much. Look, i'll tellyou what. You come with me and
(07:38):
I'll get your ticket. Well,I was gonna read to Danny said,
we're going to Damn Mountain. JoeBogga's father's giving a hot talk for the
whole bunch. I don't know,Sims swell Ruth. Yeah, it's a
lot better than just sitting on astoop reading all afternoon. I don't know
yet. Skip. I'll let youknow. You went to Bear Mountain with
(08:01):
Skip, Ruth. I wanted youto Skip. Was supposed to be very
funny. He had an imitation ofthe way I talk and how my face
moves. I never saw it,but all the kids in the neighborhood laughed.
Every time. Saturday afternoon, Iwatched the little kids unscrew the top
(08:28):
off the fire hydrant and run aroundunder the water. I thought of you
on the boat, with the windblowing through that short tangle of hair.
I think I enjoyed that trip morethan you did. He came home way
(08:50):
after twelve alone. The night washot, and the whole street seemed to
be weighed down under a smothering blanket. You sat on the stoop, and
even in the dark, I couldtell you were crying. I am not
crying. It's just hop. Well. I didn't mean anything, Ruth.
Then you have a good time.Well, how come Skip didn't bring you
home? Your father will be awful, man, I don't care. Well,
(09:13):
what's the matter? You are crying? Ruth. Nothing. Then something
happened on the trip. It wasSkip, wasn't it, Oh, Danny?
He made quite of the way Italked. I tried to make him
stop, but he wouldn't. Heonly did it because they all lasted.
Danny, it was awful. Youmustn't mind. Slapskip as hot as I
could, and then I ran intothe cattle. Please don't come home with
(09:37):
him. I couldn't stand it.Danny, as long as they don't mean
anything, Ruth. It's just thatI'm different. I don't cry, Ruth.
Please? Is that you rookie?It's Papa. He's been to Connolly's
bar. I saw him go byaround ten. Ruth, answer, Papa,
(09:58):
Danny's drunk. What'll I do?Didn't I tell you to get home
before midnight? Papa? Didn't Isay before midnight? Didn't I? Mister
gawer, what do you want aWell, Ruth was here talking to me.
Oh she was. She was talkingto me. She was, She
(10:20):
was back around eleven. Why areyou lying half with it like that?
Why you little Ruth? I wantto get upstairs before I beat your head
on, mister Gower. You shouldn'tdo that, you overgrown idiot. If
I didn't know that, your mamahas to even wipe your nose for yeah,
(10:41):
I stay away from Ruthie. See, I don't want her hanging around
here. Well, just stay away, Denny. That's what goller? Coming
home drunk again, Denny, Dennykeop crying, No mar what's then?
(11:05):
Can I do something for you?Annybody? You're crying nothing, nothing,
all right? So let me fixthe pillow behind your back it's all crooked.
Mars stopped, Denny. I can'tstand it any longer. Let me
alone, Let me alone, Letme alone. But my mother fixed my
(11:30):
pillow and brought me a glass ofwater and wiped the tears out of my
eyes. I sat at the window, staring out at the street. That
night I dreamed I could walk.I was with you, walking by the
ocean. We were running, handin hand, sort of floating over the
(11:54):
sand, running running, and thensuddenly I fell. I couldn't get up,
and you looked down at me andsaid quietly, cripple. I was
screaming when I woke up, andmy mother came running. She insisted on
sitting up with me all night.I didn't dream again after that. You
(12:20):
didn't come every day. You hada job after school, and I'd see
you go out in the morning withyour books and come back late in the
afternoon. You weren't really pretty.I suppose you always looked tired, and
you took a long time climbing thestool. Hello, Danny, isn't this
a scort? You're tired? SometimesI think you're lucky, Danny. I
(12:45):
get so worn out in the storeI fall asleep over my homework. It
gets tiring just sitting too, Ruth. See you know what I mean,
Danny. Here, I'll straighten apillory. Wll me that you call it,
Danny. It's all twisted there.I couldn't reach it. I'm sorry,
Dan, I didn't mean that.You know. Oh it's all right,
Ruth. I never mind when youtalk about it or anything. You're
(13:07):
different from the other boys. Iknow, Danny, not only because you're
crippled. It's sorry. I mean, it seems like I can always talk
to you. Papa doesn't seem tounderstand understandy Sometimes I think you're older.
There is on the whole block that'sreal. I mean, I don't know,
(13:28):
I Danny, why did you seemkind of good? I don't know.
I mean, it seems so soold, old, as if you
knew what was right. Oh,Dan, you always let me talk to
you. Ruth. I get sotired. I need you to talk to
(13:52):
Danny. You sat on the stoopwith your in your hands, looking like
all the sorrow in the world,and then you looked up and smiled at
me, and I could see tearsin your eyes, and I was glad,
Ruth, glad you wanted me tolisten while you poured out the troubles
of your eighteen year old heart.The war was over. Now there was
(14:24):
a big welcome home streamer stretching fromour house across the street to seven ninety
four. Who is that? Itwas Skip Parson on the sidewalk at the
foot of the stoop. He stoodlooking up at me with his feet apart,
leaning on a sort of steel canethat reached up beyond his right hand
and clamped his arm by the elbow. Hi, Danny, Hello, Skip,
(14:48):
swell to see you while on thestoop. Hello, Skip, how
you rufie? I guess I kindof joined your club? Danny there,
I'm sorry, Skiff. Well,I still got the leg, even if
it is all scrambled up. Howyou've been? Danny? All the same?
(15:11):
You look great, I mean exceptfor the leg. Yeah. But
the surprise is Ruthie. She wasn'tpretty when I went away. I'm sure
you are, isn't she? Danny? You ought to know. I leave
it to you. I guess nevermind what the rbs Skip, oh,
free beers. Mostly they're good,but at least accord. At Connley's.
(15:31):
Did you notice me weaving? That'sthe combat infantry badge, isn't it.
Yeah, I'll tell you a secret. It's the only one that means anything
to me. The other stuff isthe sweet, beautiful ladies off their feet
coming. I didn't think of it. I guess I should have when you
got home just in time, Skip, Ruth graduates high school tonight. Hey,
that's swell. Congratulations. What youshould have told me. I'd have
(15:52):
brought your prison or something, maybeflowers. Why don't you go with her
tonight, Skip, mister Gower's working. Ruth won't have anybody there wasn't goofy.
You need somebody in the audience toclap when they call my name,
holding handed passons, I called me, how's this? I gotta go get
dressed now. Oh, your flowersare swell, Danny. I'm glad in
about an hour or maybe a littlelonger outside a hurry, Well, I
(16:21):
gotta shave see you, lady,Danny, have a good time. Skip.
I saw you go off together tothe graduation. It was almost dark,
and the street lamp went on justas you passed under it. Our
Skip was wrong. You weren't pretty, but the light caught the white flowers
(16:45):
and your dark hair. They dancedwhen you tossed your head and waved to
me. That's the gower girl goingto graduation. Yes, Ma, I
think her father would come home togo with it. He's working, working,
not working. A girl graduates onlyonce. Who's dot with her?
Skip Parson, he came home today. I already heard the shame of his
(17:07):
legs. Such a strong boy.Oh she looked nice, Ma, She
ought you made me buy expensive enoughflowers. So much money for a little
girl like that. Oh my,Still, you're right. Her father wouldn't
get them in on graduation. Agirl should have flowers. They were pretty.
She had them in her hair.Lucky Skip came home, so she
(17:30):
had someone to take her. Everybody'sgot as troubles the whole world, nothing
but troubles. So you want icecream the next time the man comes around.
He came home late. I heardyou both laughing quietly as you turned
(17:52):
the corner, and when you passedunder the street lamp, I saw the
flowers in your hair, wilted andyellowing. Skip had tucked one of them
under his infantry edge like it wasa button. Home, Dan, Hey,
Dan, he's probably in bed,Danny, what do you want to
wake him for? To tell himabout graduation. Give him a break.
Let I promise it didn't keep tillmorning. Danny won't mind. See.
(18:14):
I wish she could have been there. Why did I clap that? Really?
Skip? It's oh, Danny's beensomething sort of special to me.
Oh, Skip, it isn't fair. Why should he be like that?
It isn't fair. Hey, hey, take it easy. It's graduation night.
He said he was graduate with me. Sure Danny's okay? Say say
(18:36):
you're not in I mean Danny's OhSkip, Ruthie, let's walk out of
the river. It's earlier. Ican't. Papa will be home from work
soon. You'll get mad. You'vegot lots of time, after all,
you only graduate high school once.So I really promise Danny was up here
to end. But the old mandoesn't come home till three. What do
you say? All right? Alwayscame, Lucy. They're drooping anyway.
(19:00):
You might as well throw them away. No, I'll fix the pin.
I want to save them. Wecan make it to the river and back
before your father comes home. I'dheard you when you called, ruth.
I don't know why I didn't answer, but I waited up till you came
back. I wanted to be sureyou got home safely. I was afraid
(19:22):
your father would come home and findyou still out too, but he didn't.
It was a week later when Skipcame by again. He was wearing
his old suit from before the war, but his arm was still braced against
that twisted steel half crutch. Hepulled himself up the high stool. Wow,
(19:48):
it's quite a climb. Why ifI sait awhile, No, Danny,
You've got to help me me.I know, I got a nerve.
All afternoon I sat in Conley's bartrying to figure out how I had
to right. What's trouble, Skip, Well, remember when I was a
(20:11):
kid, I used to call youa dope, Dan, Yes, I
remember Ruthie socked me for at once. I was imitating you on the boat
coming down from them out and seeall off and sucked. I knew about
it. Well, kids are likethat, Danny. You know that,
don't you. I didn't mean anythingspecial I was. I was just you
know, there isn't any excuse.Well I don't mind anymore. Look,
(20:33):
I know it is anything like it. I mean, my leg in your
trouble. They aren't in the sameclass. But this morning, I saw
two kids following me down the street, making like my brace with a steak.
You'll get used to it. No, that isn't what I mean.
I try to figure out how howI come up to ask you to help.
I wouldn't have had the nerd,but Ruthie told me you always were
(20:56):
a friend, Ruth. Ruth,Yeah, I need you, Danny.
You're the only one who can helpI. What's the matter? Nothing?
You see? It's an old man. He wanted to see anybody goes crazy
every night when he's working. BecauseI can't tell where she is. She's
scared of him, Danny, Whatdo you want from me? I gotta
(21:19):
see you, Danny. I justgot it. She's gonna meet me over
at the park. She told herfather she's gonna read to you. He'll
ask you, Danny. You've gotto tell him she was with you.
I didn't know what to say toSkip Ruth, so I stuttered like I
(21:41):
always do when I get confused.Skip sat by the window and told me
how pretty you were. You weren'treally pretty, Ruth, even on graduation
night with my flowers in your hands. I wanted to tell him there were
lots of prettier girls. So manyothers. He could walk, he could
find the others. Why did hehave to come to me? Why did
(22:03):
I have to help him? Hestopped by my window before you went to
meet him. He sat on thestoop the way you used to. How
do I look to him? Oh? Fine, Rufe, just fine.
(22:25):
I'm going over to the park tomeet the sick. Yes, I know,
Oh, Danny, I love him. What's the matter, Danny?
This gets a good guy. Hewants to get married and go to California.
He knows a job out there wherehis leg won't matter. Only it
wasn't for Papa. Can't you justgo anyway? Yeah? But Skip and
Papa don't like each other, Danny. Why is Papa like he is?
(22:48):
He's not really bad. He worriesabout me that way, you know,
And Danny, he don't need toworry. Why can't he be nice?
Danny? Why can't he? Ruth, You've always been a friend, Danny.
I've always been able to talk toyou. Remember when I said I
wanted to talk to you always,rum, Ruth, I can't even talk
(23:11):
right hardly, even if you couldn'tmove, walk or anything. You were
my very best friend. On theblock. You were my best friend in
the world. Danny. You couldtell what I was thinking. You knew
it without my saying anything. That'swhat I love about Skip, Danny.
He's so gentle and sweet like you. Sometimes I think that you're Ruth.
(23:36):
Danny. I'll write your offer.You're you're not going tonight? Are you
tomorrow? Maybe? If Skip whatI I hope you'll be happy, Ruth
bens your head up, Danny.Well, your face feels hot, Danny.
Are you all right at your feveror something? No? No,
I'm alright far it's so hot,Danny. Tomorrow I'll say goodbye like always,
(23:56):
just like I was going to schoolor something. But you'll know,
Danny, that don't goodbye? Danny. Oh, Daddy, Who are you
(24:25):
talking to? Denny? Somebody's botheringat me, Danny. What's the matter
why you're crying? That's no wayfor a man's wax. A man a
man who can't even button his shirtor tie his shoes. What kind of
a man is that, Denny?What kind of a man that drools and
(24:49):
stammers when he talks like a baby? Denny, Your mom isn't you're my
son? I lived in the housewith you for twenty three years. Oh
please, let's skip past. Hewent two years to award. Danny,
(25:11):
your wall went onsome when you wereborn. I know, I know your
Ruth. She's going away, butyou've still got to live for heaven.
So she goes away, Danny.It didn't take courage till the twenty three
(25:32):
years sitting in a window watching theworld run and play games. A man?
Could there be more of a man? Mama? I love her,
(25:57):
So now I sit by the windowand watch the street all day. I
watched the girls jumping rope and theboys playing stickball. You wrote me,
Ruth, but I didn't answer.This is the letter I write in my
(26:19):
head. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't put it on paper.
I'm twenty three years old and Ican't hold a pencil in my hand.
That was Ground Floor Window Attraction twoRadio City Playhouse, as written by Ernest
(26:44):
Connoy and directed by Harry W.Junkin. Bill Redfield starred as Danny,
and other members of the cast includedBernard Grant, Marilyn Erskine, Anna Karen,
and Arthur Q. Bryant. Themusic was composed and conducted by the
to Roy Shield. Radio City Playhouseis supervised for the National Broadcasting Company by
(27:04):
Richard P. McDonough. Next week, the Radio City Playhouse presents of Unsound
(27:30):
Mind, written by our director HarryW. Duncan. It is the story
of Myra, beautiful, gracious,charming and without a soul. It is
the story of Caleb, her warwounded husband, and of Jeff, the
other man in her life. Wesincerely hope you will be with us next
(27:52):
Saturday when we bring you of UnsoundMind by Harry W. Duncan. Attraction
three, Radio City Playhouse m RobertWarren speaking. This is NBC, the
(28:32):
National Broadcasting Company. Mm hmmm,
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