Perfect Specimen

Originally Aired: January 2, 1939 Lux Radio Theater #200, "Perfect Specimen," stars Errol Flynn as Gerald Ferrisford Wicks, a sheltered young heir kept virtually imprisoned on his grandmother's estate by the domineering Mrs. Wicks. Protected behind fences and guards, Gerald has been raised in isolation as the perfect gentleman, groomed to take over the family's Wix Utilities empire and marry the suitable Alicia. His regimented life consists of supervised outdoor activities and improving literature, all controlled by his overbearing grandmother. Everything changes when Gerald accidentally crashes through the estate fence and meets Mona, a spirited young woman played by Joan Blondell, who introduces him to the real world beyond his gilded cage. As Gerald tastes freedom for the first time, attending dances and experiencing life outside the estate walls, he falls for the independent Mona. When grandmother discovers Gerald's escapades and his relationship with this unsuitable girl, tensions explode. Gerald must choose between his duty to his grandmother's plans, including marriage to Alicia, and his newfound love and independence. The conflict culminates as the domineering Mrs. Wicks faces off against both Gerald and Mona, leading to a confrontation that will determine whether Gerald remains a perfect specimen in his grandmother's control or breaks free to live his own life.