Family Theater: Hold-Out Heart

Family Theater presents Margaret O'Brien, Ricardo Montelban, John Howard and Rita Johnson. I'm Hollywood, the mutual broadcasting system in cooperation with Family Theater, brings you Margaret O'Brien, Rita Johnson and John Howard in the Hold Out Heart.

Now to introduce the drama, your host, Ricardo Montelban. Thank you, Tony LaFana. Just a brief mention first of Family Theater's purpose. To light the lamp of prayer in all our lives. to light the lamp of harmony in all our homes, to light the lamp of peace in our times and in our world.

And now to Margaret O'Brien, John Howard, and Rita Johnson, starring in The Holdout Heart. The county orphanage looked quite splendid to passing motorists, and they'd always ask, what place is that? Lawns carefully manicured, brave splashes of bright flowers here and there, a tall, soldierly boarder of iron pickets guarding it like a big estate.

Yes, the exterior was sufficiently beautiful to stimulate the pride of the gardeners and so do the interests of the taxpayers at large. But Margaret lived here, beyond the iron margin of the fence, beyond the flowers you mustn't pick, beyond the smooth lawns you mustn't walk on.

And so did Tommy, both fragments of the compressed heartache that every orphanage is, No matter how modern its buildings and riking tension its attendants. But this was Tommy's last day. Margaret and he had such good times together.

And out by the fence. Gee Margaret, I've never seen you like this. Don't you want me to go? Of course I do, you big chum. Then stop Snifflin'. You're making me wish to Betsy, I didn't get adopted.

Oh, don't be silly. Well then, as well as as folks hardly ever adopt children as old as we are. We are they want babies. Yeah, but someday you'll be leaving too. Do you really think so after all these years?