Lest We Forget - Stories To Remember - #2 The Outcasts

Summary

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Podcast Summary:

Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Lest We Forget - Stories To Remember #2: The Outcasts
Original Air Date: May 23, 2026
Story originally published in Collier’s Magazine by BJ Chute, starring Ralph Bellamy
Adaptation: Sigmund Miller | Direction: Earl McGill | Production: Harold Franklin

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Episode Overview

This episode presents “The Outcasts,” a dramatized radio play from the Golden Age of Radio, exploring themes of community, prejudice, and the courage to stand against discrimination. Set in a comfortable postwar American suburb, the story centers on Wallace Adams and his family as their idyllic life is disrupted by the prospect of “undesirable” new neighbors seeking to purchase a home. The episode examines the moral choices faced by individuals and a community when confronted with the temptations—and consequences—of exclusion and bigotry.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Domestic Tranquility and Community Standards

[01:29 – 04:21]

• The episode opens with vivid descriptions of Wallace Adams’ home and family life, setting up an atmosphere of security and belonging.
  • “You stand there for a minute before the entrance to your home. It’s the peak of rose time. The rich scent comes at you like a wave… your piece of earth. With deep contentment, you walk up that neat little path to your home.” (Wallace Adams, 01:29)
• The tone shifts as Helen, Wallace’s wife, announces there’s something important to discuss—an offer has been made on a nearby property.

2. Neighborhood Prejudice and Rationalization

[03:52 – 06:01]

• Helen reveals neighbors want to meet about the prospective buyers for the Stiles place because they are “undesirable.”
  • “They're... they're undesirable.” (Helen, 04:18)
  • The neighborhood’s exclusivity is normalized—protecting “investment” is used to rationalize exclusion.
  • “It's like zoning a residential district against... well, against nightclubs or something.” (Helen, 05:14)

3. Gathering of the Community Leaders

[07:28 – 09:00]

• A cocktail party serves as the formal backdrop for neighbors to discuss exclusion.
• John Newhouse takes a lead, proposing a committee to inform the agent their “wishes.”
  • “All of us here are property owners. And we chose our section for its neighbors as well as for its beauty. Naturally, we want to maintain it the way it is.” (John Newhouse, 09:13)

4. The Moment of Conscience—Wallace’s Stand

[09:36 – 11:01]

• John nominates Wallace as committee chair. With everyone watching, Wallace hesitates, then refuses.
  • “This is the moment you were afraid of... Now you must declare yourself. You can no longer be an innocent bystander.” (Narrator, 09:36)
  • Wallace’s stand:
    • “I can't.” (10:01)
    • “I just don’t feel that I want to do this.” (Wallace, 10:04)
    • “Why don’t you say it? … Why don’t you say they’re Jews?” (Wallace, 10:43)
    • “If they’re undesirable, that’s reasonable. But not if they’re undesirable just because they’re Jews.” (Wallace, 10:53)

5. Others Find Their Voices

[11:23 – 11:38]

• Madge Hennessy joins Wallace, voicing her dissent:
  • “I’m for letting these people buy the place. I don’t really see why Jews shouldn’t live as neighbors… Better count me with Wallace.” (Madge, 11:27)
• The two are in the minority; others remain silent or acquiesce.

6. Revelation and Leadership—Arthur Hearn Arrives

[11:48 – 13:38]

• Mr. Hearn, the influential original landowner, arrives and is offered the chairmanship.
  • Newhouse outlines the issue: “We’re organizing formally to see that undesirable people are kept out of the community.” (John Newhouse, 12:05)
• Hearn asks direct questions about the prospective buyers’ means and character, not their religion.
  • “I know a lot of Jews I'd be glad to have as neighbors. What we need to know about these people is what they're like. That's what the committee ought to be finding out.” (Hearn, 13:14)
• Hearn asks Wallace to serve with him on the new committee, based on broader criteria.

7. Resolution and Reflection

[13:38 – 14:35]

• The room’s mood changes; most neighbors are quietly reassured by Hearn’s stance—relief replaces tension.
• Newhouse is left isolated, “alone now. Completely alone, like an outcast.”
  • “And they know the lost are not the outcasts. The lost are those who cast them out.” (Narrator, 14:30)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On exclusion:

  • “It’s unfortunate, of course, dear, but it’s like zoning a residential district against... well, against nightclubs or something.” — Helen, 05:12
  • “People aren’t nightclubs or something.” — Wallace, 05:22

• On community conformity:

  • “What was good for Hearn was good for everyone else.” (Narrator, 06:04)

• Wallace’s protest:

  • “If they’re undesirable, that’s reasonable. But not if they’re undesirable just because they’re Jews.” — Wallace, 11:01

• Madge’s support:

  • “I’m for letting these people buy the place. … Better count me with Wallace.” — Madge, 11:27

• Hearn’s verdict:

  • “If we let Jews in. That depends on the Jews. I know a lot of Jews I’d be glad to have as neighbors.” — Arthur Hearn, 13:14
  • “If there’s anyone else in this room who thinks there is another basis for exclusion, let’s hear them.” — Hearn, 13:33

• Moral summation:

  • “The lost are not the outcasts. The lost are those who cast them out.” (Narrator, 14:30)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:40 — Opening narration; introduction to the story
• 01:16 — Wallace returns home; domestic vignettes
• 03:52 — Helen introduces the news about the Stiles place
• 04:18 — The word “undesirable” is introduced
• 07:28 — Cocktail party and arrival of neighbors
• 09:32 — John Newhouse proposes the exclusion committee
• 09:53 — Wallace refuses chairmanship
• 10:43 — Wallace names the prejudice: “Why don’t you say they’re Jews?”
• 11:27 — Madge Hennessy’s solidarity
• 11:48 — Arthur Hearn enters
• 12:16–13:31 — Hearn reframes the issue; committee to judge people by character
• 13:38–14:35 — Community’s quiet agreement; Newhouse isolated
• 14:35 — Story credits

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Tone and Style

• The storytelling is calm, reflective, and intimately personal; much is revealed through Wallace’s internal narration.
• Tension builds quietly, underscoring the insidious nature of everyday prejudice and the difficulty of dissent.
• The episode is an earnest plea for moral courage and human decency, using familiar, neighborly language to make its points with immediacy and warmth.

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Takeaways

• “The Outcasts” dramatizes how communities can quietly enable prejudice, and how moral leadership—however modest—can redirect the group towards fairness and inclusion.
• The courage to ask questions, rather than quietly go along, determines who is truly “outcast.”
• The episode closes with an invitation to remember acts of decency, making it both a product of its time and urgent in its message for any era.

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Transcript

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Neighbor Gable, then Doug. There's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Madge Hennessy]

Hey, everyone.

[John Newhouse]

Check out this guy and his bird.

[Madge Hennessy]

What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[John Newhouse]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Madge Hennessy]

Liberty. Liberty.

[John Newhouse]

Liberty.

[Madge Hennessy]

Liberty.

[Narrator]

Stories to Remember. Stories of people. Stories of human dignity and decency, told by some of America's outstanding storytellers. We present ralph bellamy in a story to remember the outcasts by bj chute.

[John Newhouse]

Well, here you are, Wallace.

[Wallace Adams]

Thanks for the lift, John. It makes it easier for Helen when I can let her have the car.

[John Newhouse]

Oh, sure.

[Wallace Adams]

Well, thanks again.

[John Newhouse]

Bye.

[Wallace Adams]

You stand there for a minute before the entrance to your home. It's the peak of rose time. The rich scent comes at you like a wave. You look at your house surrounded with roses and delphiniums and the smooth rug of green lawn. You stand still for a moment and look at the rich sunset bronzing the windows of your house. Your bright white house with green shutters. Your house and your land. Your piece of earth. With deep contentment, you walk up that neat little path to your home.

[Madge Hennessy]

Daddy. Daddy.

[Wallace Adams]

Hey, that was a fine tackle.

[Madge Hennessy]

Hey, you're home a half an hour early.

[Wallace Adams]

Mr. Newhouse gave me a lift.

[Madge Hennessy]

Oh, him. He's fat. Mother's fixing the dinner and Via's upstairs putting her face on. She got a big date tonight with Jim.

[Wallace Adams]

Jim?

[Arthur Hearn]

Who's he?

[Madge Hennessy]

James Bradford Hutchins. Don't you know him?

[Wallace Adams]

Oh, yes. Yes. You walk into your house thinking about your daughter Vee and her new boyfriend, Hutchins. Yes, that's a familiar name. Vee, who at 17, is any man's dream of spring as beautiful as her mother. You walk into your living room and there's Helen. Self possessed and beautiful. You look at her and you're proud that she's your wife. Darling, you look as cool as a cucumber.

[Madge Hennessy]

You're home early today, Miss.

[Wallace Adams]

John Newhouse was good enough to give me a lift.

[Madge Hennessy]

His wife Katherine called me this afternoon.

[Wallace Adams]

Did she? Must be arranging another one of her bridge parties.

[Madge Hennessy]

No, it wasn't that. It's something rather important. I'd like to talk to you about it.

[Wallace Adams]

About what, darling?

[Madge Hennessy]

Wait for me on the veranda. It's cooler. I'll be there in a minute. Here.

[Wallace Adams]

You sound very mysterious. By the way, who's James Bradford Hutchins, known to our daughter as Jim?

[Madge Hennessy]

Why, he's Clifford Hutchins son. One of our very good families. Jim's a fine, good looking boy.

[Wallace Adams]

Cliff Hutchins. Mmm. Seems to be a nice fellow.

[Madge Hennessy]

Yes. Oh, Ollie, it's so nice to know our children are meeting the right people. And I love it here. But I do want to talk to you about something important. I'll meet you on the veranda. Soon as I see what the new cook's doing with dinner.

[Wallace Adams]

You sit in the wicker chair on the veranda. It's that magical moment. Neither night nor day. You sit and your thoughts are like gusts of soft wind that come from nowhere. Life is full and kind to you, and you wish that all men everywhere could have this same security and peace.

[Madge Hennessy]

You're not asleep, darling, are you?

[Wallace Adams]

No. Just relaxing.

[Madge Hennessy]

Helen, Katherine called to talk to me about Mr. Benson, the real estate agent. He's had an offer on the Stiles place.

[Wallace Adams]

That's fine. Be nice to have someone living there.

[Madge Hennessy]

It would be nice, but these people who made the offer wouldn't do.

[Wallace Adams]

Why? Can't they finance it?

[Madge Hennessy]

No, that has nothing to do with it.

[Wallace Adams]

Well, why wouldn't they do?

[Madge Hennessy]

They're. They're undesirable.

[Wallace Adams]

What? Oh, I see.

[Madge Hennessy]

Mr. Benson told Katherine that it's hard to move such big properties, and he wanted to make sure it was the wish of our community to keep them out. So Catherine thought that all the leading members of the community ought to get together and. Well, actually what she said was that she thought our house would be a good place to hold such a meeting.

[Wallace Adams]

Why our house?

[Madge Hennessy]

Because we've just recently moved into the neighborhood and the new house is like us and, well, they. They know we think the same way. They do.

[Wallace Adams]

Do you know anything else about these people?

[Madge Hennessy]

Not a thing.

[Wallace Adams]

You know their name?

[Madge Hennessy]

No, I don't. I told Katherine she could ask whoever she wanted to. It won't be too much fuss. We'll just serve cocktails. Anyway, I. I do think it's a good thing to have the leading people of the community at our house.

[Wallace Adams]

I suppose so.

[Madge Hennessy]

It's unfortunate, of course, dear, but it's like zoning a residential district against. Well, against nightclubs or something.

[Wallace Adams]

People aren't nightclubs or something.

[Madge Hennessy]

Of course they aren't, but you know what I mean. It isn't just these people. It's what it starts. They bring their friends and they.

[Wallace Adams]

They're pushing when Are we gonna have this cocktail party day after tomorrow?

[Madge Hennessy]

Saturday.

[Wallace Adams]

Will Arthur Hearn be coming?

[Madge Hennessy]

I hope so, but I think he and Mrs. Hearn are still in Canada. Anyway, we know how they feel. This whole community was part of the Hearne estate. There's no question about them.

[Wallace Adams]

No, I guess there's no question about them.

[Madge Hennessy]

I think dinner's about ready, dear. Shall we go in?

[Wallace Adams]

All through dinner, you think about Mr. Hearn, the unquestioned leader of the community, the man of great wealth and power. He set the tone and pattern of the neighborhood without caring whether he set the pattern or not. What was good for Hearn was good for everybody else. You thought of Mr. Hearn and those nameless people who wanted to buy the Stiles place. The unseen, nameless people. You wonder how it feels to be shut out because someone thinks you're undesirable. How it feels to have a door slammed in your face. And what you say to yourself. What if it were you and Helen? What about that?

[Madge Hennessy]

Wally, dear? Wally.

[Wallace Adams]

Oh, what is it, darling?

[Madge Hennessy]

Is anything wrong at the office, dear? Are you having trouble with that Edgeworth contract?

[Wallace Adams]

No, no trouble. Everything's going fine, just fine.

[Madge Hennessy]

You were frowning, darling.

[Wallace Adams]

You smile again. The whole thing really is straightforward and very simple. It had always been understood that the district was a restricted development. Restricted and exclusive. People ought to realize that you aren't being anti anybody looking at this on a business basis. You're protecting your investments on a human basis. You're safeguarding your family. From what? You ask yourself again, from what?

[Madge Hennessy]

Are you ready with those drinks, dear?

[Wallace Adams]

Yes, Helen, just about. You can take some in with you. How many guests do we have now?

[Madge Hennessy]

Oh, it turns out to be quite a meeting. The Hutchins are here, the Brents, Don Atkinson and his wife and Mayor Tennessee. Oh, Lucy, Carol and her husband just came in. The very best people in the neighborhood are here. All of them.

[Wallace Adams]

You pick up the tray of drinks and walk into the living room. It's a gay party. Your guests seem to be having a good time. John Newhouse has arrived. You see him standing at the fireplace with an elbow on the mantelpiece, standing where he can dominate the room. Helen is talking to him eagerly with a drink in her hand. She sees you and beckons you to come over.

[Madge Hennessy]

Darling, here's John Newhouse.

[Wallace Adams]

Hello, John.

[John Newhouse]

Glad to see you, Wally. Hope you don't mind if we hold up the meeting another minute or so. There's a chance Arthur Hearn will be down.

[Wallace Adams]

Really? I thought he was in Canada.

[John Newhouse]

Flew back on a Chartered plane this afternoon.

[Madge Hennessy]

Oh, that's wonderful. I do hope he gets here.

[John Newhouse]

He's a very busy man. I spoke to him and he said he'd try to be here. It's later than I thought. Perhaps we ought to get on with the meeting.

[Wallace Adams]

That's all right with me.

[John Newhouse]

Friends.

[Arthur Hearn]

Friends.

[John Newhouse]

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. We've been hoping that our good neighbor Arthur Hearn could be with us. However, I don't think we should wait any longer. We all know that he'd feel as we do about this. I don't think this meeting will take much time. You all know why we're here. And you all know Benson, the real estate agent, had an offer on the Stiles place. The people involved don't seem to be suitable. I think we're all agreed on that.

[Wallace Adams]

You sit and listen to him. If you have anything to say, now's the time to say it. But you just sit and listen.

[John Newhouse]

It all seems rather formal, but we must establish a clear precedent so that this matter will never come up again. All of us here are property owners. And we chose our section for its neighbors as well as for its beauty. Naturally, we want to maintain it the way it is. Now, it is my proposal that we set up a committee of three to see the real estate agent and make our wishes known to him. And I can think of no better man to be chairman of this committee than our host, Wallace Adams.

[Wallace Adams]

This is the moment you were afraid of. You look at your wife and she looks back at you, proud and eager of this proof of your position in the community. Everyone in the room looks at you. Now you must declare yourself. You can no longer be an innocent bystander.

[John Newhouse]

How about it, Wallace?

[Wallace Adams]

I can't.

[John Newhouse]

Oh, I know you're a busy man. But you and Helen have our interests so much at heart. I'm sure you can find something.

[Wallace Adams]

I just don't feel that I want to do this.

[John Newhouse]

I don't understand. Aren't you with us?

[Wallace Adams]

Well, no. No, I'm not.

[John Newhouse]

This is a surprise. I thought we could depend on you. I assume.

[Wallace Adams]

I'm sorry, John, but your assumption was wrong.

[John Newhouse]

So it seems. I'll propose another chairman.

[Madge Hennessy]

John, I'm sure Wally didn't mean what he said.

[Wallace Adams]

I only meant that we ought to know more about these people.

[John Newhouse]

You only meant that our wishes and yours are not the same. The welfare of our community doesn't interest you. And I don't think we need trouble you for any other explanation. As for knowing about Benson's clients, why

[Wallace Adams]

don't you say it? You've been avoiding saying it since you started to speak. Why don't you say they're Jews?

[John Newhouse]

I don't think it's necessary to discuss that. We're here by agreement. We all agreed.

[Wallace Adams]

All right. I agreed to it too. But I don't want to agree any longer. If they're undesirable, that's reasonable. But not if they're undesirable just because they're Jews.

[John Newhouse]

I'm only being realistic. These people may be very nice, but it's what follows. They bring their friends, relatives.

[Wallace Adams]

I bring my friends, my relatives. What's a home for?

[John Newhouse]

There are other homes for these people to buy. Let them live in their own communities. We don't ask to come into their lives. But that's neither here nor there. Let's get on. I withdraw Wallace Adams name for the chairmanship. All of us except Wallace are agreed.

[Madge Hennessy]

I'd like to say something, John.

[John Newhouse]

Why, sure. Go ahead, Madge.

[Madge Hennessy]

I'm for letting these people buy the place. I don't really see why Jews shouldn't live as neighbors with. What is that old fashioned term? Christians? Better count me with Wallace.

[John Newhouse]

Are there any others who disagree besides Wallace and Madge Hennessy? 2 is hardly a majority. I believe the rest of us are in agreement.

[Arthur Hearn]

Meeting's not over yet, I hope. Sorry I couldn't get here any earlier.

[John Newhouse]

Oh, Mr. Hearn. It was really good of you to come.

[Madge Hennessy]

Oh, Mr. Hearn. I didn't hear you come in.

[Arthur Hearn]

The door was open, so I just walked through. How's the meeting going, John?

[John Newhouse]

Fine, Arthur. We were just choosing a committee chairman.

[Arthur Hearn]

Oh, committee for what?

[John Newhouse]

We're forming a committee to see Benson, the real estate agent. He has some undesirable clients who want to buy the Stiles place. We're organizing formally to see that undesirable people are kept out of the community.

[Arthur Hearn]

Oh, naturally.

[John Newhouse]

Of course, we'd be delighted if you took the committee chairmanship yourself, Arthur.

[Arthur Hearn]

Certainly. Be glad to.

[Wallace Adams]

You look at the people in the room. The approval of the great Mr. Hearn has settled everything. There's no use in your fighting it. You did what you could. Your conscience is clear. Helen has just caught your eye. She's bitter, even hostile. No need to fight this any longer. The majority rules. But you can't let it go. It's wrong.

[John Newhouse]

You want to choose your own committee, Arthur?

[Wallace Adams]

Mr. Hearn, I don't think you know all the facts.

[Arthur Hearn]

The facts are quite simple. It seems to me we're opposed to undesirable neighbors.

[Wallace Adams]

How do you know they're undesirable? Mr. Hearn, all we know about these people is that they're Jews. We don't know anything else.

[Arthur Hearn]

Is that right, John?

[John Newhouse]

Well, yes, of course.

[Arthur Hearn]

Now, let me get this clear. Do these people have enough money to finance a property as big as a Stiles place?

[John Newhouse]

Yes, but that's beside the point.

[Arthur Hearn]

Not to me, it isn't. I don't want to see that house bouncing back in the market again. Looks bad for the neighborhood.

[John Newhouse]

It will look worse if we.

[Arthur Hearn]

If we let Jews in. That depends on the Jews. I know a lot of Jews I'd be glad to have as neighbors. What we need to know about these people is what they're like. That's what the committee ought to be finding out. Mr. Adams, if you'd care to serve with me on this committee, I think we can do right by the community.

[Wallace Adams]

I'd be glad to serve on that basis.

[John Newhouse]

What other basis is there?

[Arthur Hearn]

If there's anyone else in this room who thinks there is another basis for exclusion, let's hear them.

[Wallace Adams]

Now. You look at these people, your neighbors and your guests. Many of them look relieved, glad that they don't have to go along with Newhouse. And suddenly it's clear to you that the majority didn't like this business of discrimination any more than you do. For these neighbors are like yourself. They've been stampeded by people like Newhouse. You look at Newhouse, he's staring straight ahead at nothing. Sullen, unyielding. And he's alone now. Completely alone, like an outcast. And they know the lost are not the outcasts. The lost are those who cast them out.

[Narrator]

Ralph Bellamy was starred in today's story, the Outcasts, by BJ Chute. It was published in Collier's Magazine and was adapted for radio by Sigmund Miller, directed by Earl McGill and produced by Harold Franklin. Listen in again next week at this same time for another story to remember a Lest We Forget production of the Institute for Democratic Education.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Madge Hennessy]

Hey, everyone.

[John Newhouse]

Check out this guy and his bird.

[Madge Hennessy]

What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[John Newhouse]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Anyways, get a'@libertymutual.com or with your local

[Madge Hennessy]

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[John Newhouse]

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