Witness 04 Love Children

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio - Episode: Witness 04 Love Children

Title: Witness 04 Love Children
Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
Release Date: July 16, 2025
Description: Relive the Golden Age of Radio with engaging stories that captivated families before the advent of television. This episode, "Witness 04 Love Children," delves into themes of love, growth, and understanding within a small American town.

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Introduction

"Witness 04 Love Children" is a poignant radio drama that explores the complexities of youth, familial expectations, and the transformative power of love and understanding. Set against the backdrop of a small, previously barren town now blossoming through the efforts of Franz and Gretchen Schultz, the episode presents a compelling narrative centered around Corky, a young boy grappling with his place in a new environment.

Setting the Scene

The story unfolds in Den Brook, a once-deserted town transformed into a lush community by Franz Schultz's horticultural expertise. The Schultz family's dedication to gardening serves as a metaphor for nurturing growth, both in plants and in the lives of those around them.

• [00:26] Robert Young introduces the narrator and sets the stage:
  "In the normal course of most any day, every one of us is a witness to matters of life and death... Franz Schultz... brought beauty where before there was none."

Characters and Relationships

Corky: A young boy recently relocated to Den Brook, struggling with his new environment and harboring resentment towards his hosts.

Franz Schultz: A dedicated gardener who has transformed Den Brook, embodying patience and nurturing qualities.

Gretchen Schultz: Franz's wife, passionate about gardening and committed to fostering growth in both plants and people.

Slim (Tom Manzola): A friend of the Schultz family, providing a supportive presence for Corky.

The interactions between these characters highlight the tensions and eventual understanding that form the crux of the narrative.

Main Conflict

Corky's resistance to his new life in Den Brook is palpable from the outset. He despises the rural setting and resents being compelled to contribute to the Schultz family's gardening efforts. His aspirations to become a lawyer starkly contrast with the Schultz family's agrarian lifestyle, leading to friction.

• [04:10] Corky confronts the Schultz parents:
  "Why do I have to come and live here and do dirty work just to get you the dough you can't earn?"

Corky's frustration culminates in a dramatic act of defiance when he destroys Gretchen Schultz's prized rose bush, symbolizing his rejection of their way of life and his desire to assert his independence.

• [07:13] Slim accuses Corky:
  "Well, you ripped up Mr. Schultz's special rose bush. What'd you have to do that for, Quirky?"

Resolution and Insights

The tension reaches its peak as Gretchen confronts Corky, leading to a heartfelt conversation that unveils deeper layers of the Schultz family's motivations. Gretchen shares the profound loss of their only son in the war, underscoring their commitment to nurturing life and growth as a form of healing and remembrance.

• [11:26] Gretchen explains to Corky:
  "We lost our son... We still had to help things to grow, right? So we got Slim, who had no garden to grow in. And now, Corky, we have you. And then we want to help you to grow strong and tall."

This revelation fosters a newfound understanding in Corky, bridging the gap between his aspirations and the Schultz family's values. The episode concludes on a hopeful note, emphasizing the importance of love, patience, and mutual respect in fostering personal growth.

• [12:38] Corky expresses his willingness to reconcile:
  "Could I help you do it?"

Key Themes

1. Growth and Nurturing: The Schultz family's dedication to gardening serves as a metaphor for nurturing personal growth and overcoming adversity.

2. Generational Conflict: Corky's desire to pursue a different path highlights the tensions that can arise between generations with differing values and aspirations.

3. Healing Through Love: The Schultz family's patience and understanding illustrate the healing power of love and acceptance in resolving conflicts.

4. Understanding and Forgiveness: The episode underscores the importance of empathy and forgiveness in overcoming misunderstandings and building strong relationships.

Notable Quotes

• Gretchen Schultz on nurturing growth:
  "When my plants don't grow straight, I do not punish them. I help them. I prop them up. I give them nourishment. I care for them."
  [09:57]

• Corky's expression of frustration:
  "I'm not gonna grow up messing around in other people's gardens. I'm gonna be a lawyer."
  [04:29]

• Gretchen's hope for Corky's future:
  "One day he will let us love him, and then he learn to love too. Like Slim."
  [09:08]

Conclusion

"Witness 04 Love Children" masterfully weaves a narrative that resonates with listeners through its exploration of universal themes such as familial expectations, personal ambition, and the transformative power of love and understanding. The episode serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of patience, empathy, and open-hearted communication in fostering meaningful relationships and personal growth.

Credits:
A heartfelt thanks to J. Carol Nash, Gil Stratton, Virginia Gregg, Tim Mathewson, Peter Leeds, Jerry Hausner, and Bernie Hamilton for their exceptional performances. Produced by Marjorie Hunt Pearson, directed by Thomas Freebairn Smith, and written by Lawrence Waddy. This production is presented by Art Gilmore for the Episcopal Church.

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Join us again for more captivating stories from the Golden Age of Radio with Harold's Old Time Radio.

Transcript

[Corky]

Foreign.

[Robert Young]

J. Carol Nash in the Witness. And here is your host in Hollywood, Robert Young.

[Narrator]

In the normal course of most any day, every one of us is a witness to matters of life and death. The way we involve ourselves in these vital matters makes our own lives worthwhile or meaningless. Franz Schultz and his wife Gretchen had been born and brought up in the beautiful forests of Bavaria. When they came to America, they settled in a barren section which knew few growing things of any kind. And certainly not the lush, green giants of nature they knew so well. But Franz knew how to make things grow. And with a dauntless spirit and sheer determination, he brought beauty where before there was none. Not much further, Corky.

[Corky]

What is this place, Mr. Manzola?

[Narrator]

Den Brook.

[Corky]

It's.

[Narrator]

It's only a small town. Used to be all desert around here.

[Corky]

Why do I have to come to a place like this?

[Narrator]

Now, Corky, we've been all through that. Mr. And Mrs. Schultz want to give you a home.

[Corky]

Now we turn here. I don't want to come here. Look, take me back to New York. I hate this place.

[Franz Schultz]

Hi, France.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Your friend or neighbor. How are you today?

[Franz Schultz]

Fine, thanks. Just passing by. Say, look at that garden of yours, France. You're a magician.

[Gretchen Schultz]

No, no, I am not a magician. I. I just learned what the plants need.

[Franz Schultz]

And Slim, he's learning to help. Hi there, Slim.

[Slim]

Hiya, Joe. You seen our new rose bush?

[Franz Schultz]

No, Slim. Don't say I have.

[Slim]

What's around here? Boy, it's a butte.

[Franz Schultz]

Something new, huh, France?

[Gretchen Schultz]

No, I. I just try to breed a new rose. I think pretty soon the bud should come out right and there the folks can enjoy her.

[Franz Schultz]

Well, what do you know? A new type rose. Say, that's really something. But you're the one to do it, Franz. You sure know how to make things grow.

[Slim]

You like the bed, Corky?

[Corky]

Sure is soft.

[Slim]

Well, when I first came here, I couldn't sleep in this bed. I've never slept anything soft like that.

[Corky]

You didn't have a real bed?

[Slim]

My auntie had too many of us. I had to sleep on the floor. Where did you live, Corky?

[Corky]

I mean before. Before I got arrested. Well, with my mother. Why, there's. Sometimes I live there.

[Slim]

Oh, Where'd she live?

[Corky]

New York. We moved around a lot, and sometimes she wouldn't want me around.

[Slim]

So what'd you do then?

[Corky]

I'd sleep in the park.

[Slim]

You slept in the park? On one of the benches.

[Corky]

Oh, sure. Well, sometimes I did. Or on the grass.

[Slim]

Gee, I never did that.

[Corky]

Hey, hey, is that him coming upstairs? I hate him with his dirty boots and that crazy foreign voice. I hate him, and I'll always hate him.

[Slim]

More.

[Mrs. Schultz]

Mem.

[Slim]

Well, yes, please, ma.

[Mrs. Schultz]

You cocky.

[Corky]

No.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Ah, my rose bush. It is now beginning to bloom.

[Mrs. Schultz]

The new bush out front.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Yeah, that's right. I am so proud of my roses, Corky.

[Slim]

Some of them nobody ever grew before. A new type.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Corky, you want to come with slim to with me in the truck today, See where we work, huh?

[Corky]

You want some more cheap labor, huh? No, thanks.

[Mrs. Schultz]

Oh, now, don't say that, corky. That's not right.

[Corky]

You get dough for keeping us, don't you? Well, anyway, why do I have to come and live here and do dirty work just to get you the dough you can't earn?

[Gretchen Schultz]

Wait, wait, tun si. Corky, before you say things like that, you don't have to come with us. That is, not until you want to.

[Corky]

Well, I'm not gonna grow up messing around in other people's gardens. I'm gonna be a lawyer. And then, well, someday I'm going to be a lawyer anyway so I can look after myself and not be kicked around.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Yeah, sure, sure. That is right. But if you study hard at school, we help you do that, Corky. But do not despise the people who grow the flowers and the food. A lawyer, he don't grow nothing, Corky. He's useful, but he don't grow the food.

[Corky]

He's too smart to dirty his hands. That's why I'm not going to earn you more money than you get for having me.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Corky, I do not want the money. All the money we get for you and for sl I put in the bank. And when you grow up, it is there for you. Then one day, maybe. Maybe you become a lawyer. And we will be so proud of you.

[Corky]

Proud of me? Don't feed me that stuff. I tell you, I don't want to be here. I don't want to be here.

[Slim]

Corky.

[Corky]

Yeah?

[Slim]

Can't you sleep?

[Corky]

No.

[Slim]

You still want to run away?

[Corky]

Sure, I'm gonna run away. But there's something I'm gonna do first.

[Slim]

What?

[Corky]

Never you mind. Go to sleep.

[Slim]

Don't run away, Corky. Well, they want you to stay.

[Corky]

Oh, sure, sure. You wait and see whether old man schultz will want me to stay. You just wait and see.

[Slim]

Corky, what's the matter?

[Corky]

Shh. Quiet. I'll hear you.

[Slim]

What are you tying your shoes together for? I know. Corky, don't run away.

[Corky]

I'm not stupid. Now, shut up.

[Slim]

Corky, what are you doing? Going out the window.

[Corky]

You keep quiet. This is none of your business.

[Slim]

And you got a knife?

[Corky]

Shut your mouth and keep quiet.

[Slim]

Corky, what if your sheets fall apart? You don't fall. Oh, don't run away. Corky, please.

[Corky]

Quiet.

[Slim]

Oh, no, Corky, not the rose bush. Don't cut down the rose bush.

[Corky]

Stop making that noise. I'm coming up. Corky, get back into bed and stop crying, will you?

[Slim]

Well, you ripped up Mr. Schultz's special rose bush. What'd you have to do that for, Quirky?

[Corky]

To show the great gardener Schultz what I think of him. That's why. Slim. Slim, wake up.

[Slim]

What is it?

[Corky]

Quiet. Come over here to the window and see the show. What?

[Slim]

Come here.

[Corky]

Old Schultz will see it in a minute.

[Slim]

Oh, Corky, I wish you hadn't done it.

[Corky]

Don't be a softy.

[Mrs. Schultz]

Hey, look, he's seen it.

[Slim]

Oh, Corky.

[Corky]

Now he'll come after me, you'll see. Well, he'll have to beat me, that's all. But it'll be worth it to see his face.

[Slim]

He's not moving, Corky.

[Corky]

You wait. He'll come up here soon enough. What's he doing? Hey, what are those things?

[Slim]

Those are his hedge clippers. Look, he's coming over here to clip this hedge.

[Corky]

Well, he thinks I'll be sorry if he waits. He's a cagey old coot. But he don't know me.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Gretchen. I report in bed.

[Mrs. Schultz]

Yeah. France. France?

[Gretchen Schultz]

Yes.

[Mrs. Schultz]

Gretchen, when you going to speak to Corky about it?

[Gretchen Schultz]

Oh, about the rose bush at the proper time. Not just yet, Gretchen.

[Mrs. Schultz]

He was restless all day.

[Gretchen Schultz]

One day he will let us love him, and then he learn to love too. Like Slim. But this rose bush. He has to work his way out, Gretchen.

[Mrs. Schultz]

His way?

[Gretchen Schultz]

Yeah, like Mr. Manzola said. That is the probation officer. Everything in Corky's life has been hard. He don't know about love. I know he don't like coming here. So he cuts down my bush to show me that he don't like I'm a gardener and that he don't. He don't want us.

[Mrs. Schultz]

Won't he ever see things can be different?

[Gretchen Schultz]

Well, I hope, but it takes time. He thinks I will punish him. That's what he wants because that's what he understands.

[Mrs. Schultz]

You think he's going to understand if you don't?

[Corky]

Yeah.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Not as right. Gretchen. When my plants don't grow straight, I do not punish them. I help them. I prop them up. I give them nourishment. I care for them. Boys have to grow too. You know that Gretchen just like plants.

[Corky]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Schultz]

Well, now I go fix your coffee. Franz.

[Slim]

You awake, Corky?

[Corky]

Yeah. Why don't he do something? He knows I cut down his bush. Why don't he get it over with?

[Slim]

I don't know, Corky. I guess he just isn't angry.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Ah, nuts.

[Corky]

I'm going downstairs and talk to him. I'm gonna tell him off for now.

[Slim]

Tonight.

[Corky]

He hasn't gone to bed yet. You go to sleep.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Who.

[Corky]

Who.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Who is that?

[Corky]

It's me. I. I want to talk to you, Mr. Schultz.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Well. Well, sure, Corky. You want to talk about the bush, huh? Right.

[Corky]

You. You knew I cut it down.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Yeah, I knew.

[Corky]

Well, then why didn't you beat me?

[Gretchen Schultz]

I. I don't think it is right that I have to do that Corking.

[Corky]

Well, you. You didn't want to cut down, did you?

[Gretchen Schultz]

No, no, no, I did not. It hurt me very bad when I saw it, Corky.

[Corky]

But you didn't get mad and. Well, how come you didn't get mad and yell at me?

[Gretchen Schultz]

Corky, Gretchen and me, we lost our son, our only son in the war. But we still had to help things to grow, right? So we got Slim, who had no garden to grow in. And now, Corky, we have you. And then we want to help you to grow strong and tall.

[Corky]

You still want me to stay after I cut down your bush?

[Gretchen Schultz]

Yeah, we want you. And you do not have to be a gardener. If you want to go to school, learn to be a lawyer, and that's what we want. But whatever's the best way for you to grow.

[Mrs. Schultz]

Some cocky, Franz. And Corky, some hot chocolate.

[Corky]

That's hot for you. Thank you, Mrs. Schultz.

[Mrs. Schultz]

You're very welcome, my son.

[Corky]

Mr. Schultz, that rose bush, it's. It's dead, isn't it? You can't plant it again.

[Gretchen Schultz]

No, no, you cannot plant it again. Not that one.

[Corky]

Well, can you plant another one in the same place? Right. Cut that one down.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Well, if that's what you think you'd like to see. Yeah, it can be done.

[Corky]

Could I help you do it?

[Gretchen Schultz]

That is what I would sure like, Corky. Then it will belong to all of us, won't it? We can watch it grow. And I'd like that.

[Corky]

I'd like to see it grow again, Mr. Schultz.

[Gretchen Schultz]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Mrs. Schultz]

Corky.

[Robert Young]

You have been listening to the witness, and here again is your host, Robert Young.

[Narrator]

All of us have the need for living together in an atmosphere of love and trust. In this way, we attain our full growth. But anyone who has never known love, cannot love. How do children learn to know love in an environment where there is no love? I'd like to thank J. Carol Nash, Gil Stratton, Virginia Gregg, Tim Mathewson, Peter Leeds, Jerry Hausner and Bernie Hamilton for sharing their talents with us. And thanks to each one of you.

[Robert Young]

For being with us. Transcribed in Hollywood the Witness is produced by Marjorie Hunt Pearson, directed by Thomas Freebairn Smith and written by Lawrence Waddy. This is Art Gilmore speaking for the Episcopal Church, which presents the Witness. We hope you'll join us again soon for the next Witness.