The Heart Is a Rebel Page #5

Well, honey?

Well, all of your comments

sound so familiar.

Whenever the subject

of religion has come up,

I've always drawn

the same conclusions.

But last night,

I went to the garden.

And somehow, my conclusions

didn't ring true.

I've always prided myself

on the ability

to arrive at most answers

through a logical,

analytical method.

But last night,

I discovered I was

completely ignorant about,

about what christianity

really is.

I knew I'd been groping

for something but,

well, like Alice.

I didn't know what it was until

Mr. Graham began to speak.

It's funny, I can't even

remember much about what he said

except that as he talked,

I, I had a strange feeling

of need...

Need for a personal savior.

I went forward.

I found myself joining others

who were accepting Christ.

Oh, darling, I,

I know this comes as

a complete surprise to you.

I wanted to tell you about it

last night but,

somehow it didn't work out,

and there hasn't been

any time since.

I hope I haven't

offended anyone.

Why, of course not.

Oh, my dear, don't ever

think such a thing.

[Clears throat]

Say, I hadn't noticed,

it's getting rather late.

I've made reservations

for dinner, dear.

I guess we'd, uh,

better be going?

Yes.

Goodbye, hal.

Thank you, Joan.

Good night, Joan.

Good night, Greg.

Thank you for

inviting us.

Hal, see you at the office

in the morning.

Good night.

You're a charming hostess,

Mrs. foster.

Thank you, Mr. Carlson.

It was a wonderful

evening, Joan.

Quite a gal you got there,

chum.

You know, it wasn't easy

saying what she did

in front of those

frustrated intellects.

Yeah...Good night.

Oh, darling, I'd give

anything if it hadn't happened like this.

Last night you gave away

your sanity.

Tonight you casually

tossed away my future with the agency.

What a performance!

I just stood there

and you cut the ground

right out from under me!

Tomorrow it'll be

all over town:

"Ad man's wife

hits sawdust trail."

I wanted so desperately

to tell you about it

last night but you...

Oh, well,

it doesn't matter now.

It sure doesn't!

Please, hal,

listen to me.

Let me tell you

what really happened.

I want to share it with you.

I know it's the answer

for your lives.

Well, if that doesn't

cork it!

First you make a fool

out of yourself,

and now you think

you're going to convert me!

Well, save your breath,

honey.

Because I'm no sucker

for this salvation bit!

What makes you think

you're so self-sufficient?

That you don't need

anything or anybody

but the great hal foster

to depend on!

Oh, darling,

I didn't just stop thinking.

Don't you see, hal,

you're rejecting God

without ever having tried him?

I know why you're doing this.

It's that

"prayer prescription" line,

isn't it?

You've let yourself be duped

into believing that

now you've got a direct

line to the almighty!

Why, you think you can even

pray Davy right out of bed.

No...

I didn't have nerve enough

to ask for anything for Davy.

I only asked God

to help me understand,

to let me reach out

and find him.

And he was there,

that's all.

What more can I say, hal?

You're the one that's

so good with words.

I only know what I feel!

All right.

All right, here it is,

and get it straight.

I don't want any part of

a God that lets my son

live just one step

out of his grave.

[Door slams]

[Keys clicking]

Why does dad

have to work

all the time,

mom?

I miss him.

So do I, Davy.

But he's finishing up

a big job right now.

We'll have him back,

soon.

I'm afraid I don't have

an appointment.

Oh, hal...

Oh, darling.

Where should I begin

to say I'm sorry?

Oh, it isn't important.

Just hold me,

hold me close.

Honey, I, I'd planned

a big buildup about the news,

but if I don't tell you

right now, I'll explode.

Greg presented my copy

to the old man this morning,

and he went for it,

lock, stock and barrel.

Oh, hal, how wonderful!

That's just the half of it.

Greg moved upstairs,

and well,

you're now looking at

Pratt and noble's

new copy director.

Oh, no!

But I've saved the best

to last.

Five thousand a year

raise!

Oh, I just can't

believe it!

Oh, darling,

you've earned it.

You've worked

so terribly hard.

It wasn't easy for you

either.

But now there's a way out

from all the things that

have been pushing in on us.

We don't have any problems

that a few extra bucks

won't solve.

That means a real specialist

for Davy,

you know, the one Dr. chambers

told us about from Europe?

Honey, I've given a lot

of thought

to this religion business.

I know you went for it

as sort of a defense mechanism,

but, well, now,

with the raise and all,

we'll be able to get out

from under the load.

Hal...Oh, hal,

please don't believe

that I turned to God

just because

we were struggling.

I know it may look like that,

but a day-by-day faith

is the one element that

was always lacking in our lives.

I missed you so much.

These past weeks have been

a nightmare for me.

[Phone rings]

I'm sorry...

Hello, Joan foster

speaking.

What is it?

What's wrong, Gladys?

Davy, he's...

Gladys can't wake him!

Gladys,

this is Mr. foster.

Did you call

an ambulance?

Which hospital?

Joan and I'll

meet you there.

What's happening, doc?

Why are you keeping us

in the dark?

I'm sorry.

Can't we see him

for just a minute?

Davy's being prepared

for surgery.

Dr. houser's in charge.

There's none better.

Everything that's

humanly possible

is being done

for the boy.

With God's help,

perhaps we...

Skip the stock answers, doc!

My son's life

is in your hands,

and don't you forget it!

Hal!

Sorry.

Hal is so...

Of course, he is.

I'll let you know

the minute there's any change.

Thank you, doctor.

[Singing a cappella]

sometimes I feel like a motherless child

[Music begins]

Sometimes I feel

like a motherless child

sometimes I feel

like a motherless child

a long way from home

such a long

way

from home

[Heart beating]

[Heart beat slows and stops]

No...No.

Oh, God, God,

God don't let him die.

Don't let him die.

[Sobbing]

Not for me...For him!

Please, God...

Please, please...

[Sobbing]

[Sobbing]

Davy's in fine shape!

[Sobbing]

He sailed through the operation

like a veteran.

Thank you,

heavenly father, thank you!

Dr. hauser did some work

on a faulty heart valve

which may, in time, allow Davy

to lead a normal life.

Oh, when can we see him?

He won't be fully awake

until late this afternoon.

Why don't you get some rest

and come back then?

Doc?

There's no words

for what we really feel.

Just get some rest.

You know, the two of you

look terrible.

I'll see you later on.

Miss Joan, don't you think

we oughta give thanks

to the lord

for how grateful we feel?

Oh, hal, could we?

For just a minute?

We really ought to

give thanks to God...

Look, uh, you two, uh,

go right ahead,

I've got to get home

and get cleaned up

before I check in

at the office.

Office?

You were always honest, hal.

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