Original subtitles

Good evening, television consumers.

You will be very much interested in these latest products of the scientific

mind. They will be placed on street corners, drugstores, hotel lobbies, etc.

These are not telephone booths, television booths. No matter where you

you can slip into one of these and by depositing a dime can view three minutes

of this wondrous art form.

How often have you had to go to the corner drugstore on an errand and then

learned how a play ended?

Now you need no longer be chained to your home set. In one city where the

television booth was introduced, a gentleman ventured from his home for the

first time since 1947.

His wife reports that he walked out of the house with $50 worth of dimes and

not been seen since.

Because so many people are used to seeing television from a horizontal

either slumped down, feet on the coffee table, or while lying in bed, every

other booth is constructed with a TV screen in the floor, so you can look at

picture through your feet.

But we must begin our show.

If you have paid a dime...

and one of your three minutes turns out to be this next one, you have my

sympathy. But we shall keep the dime.

Darling, that will be enough of that, dear.

Good morning.

It is Mrs. Mallory, isn't it?

I'm afraid you don't know me. I'm the Reverend George Locke. I wonder if I

speak to your husband.

Well, I'm expecting him back any moment. Won't you come in?

Thank you.

Dear, that will be enough now, please.

You have guests.

Won't you sit down, Reverend?

This, uh, this isn't Anne, is it?

No. This is our younger daughter, Barbara.

Barbie, this is Reverend Locke. Pleased to meet you, Reverend.

Delighted. Now, why don't you go upstairs and put your dress on, dear?

Daddy's going to be home in a minute. Come here. Yes, Mommy.

Now, now, how stupid of me. Anne would be almost 14 by now, wouldn't she?

Is that why you're here, Reverend? Is it about Anne?

As a matter of fact, it is.

Is there some problem?

No, no, it's purely a personal matter, which, if you don't mind, I should

to discuss with your husband.

Yes, of course.

You see, I was chaplain at the Seabrook State Prison in the Smokies many years

ago, and I had occasion to know your adopted daughter's real father before

wretched man's unhappy death.

You know the stores close early on Saturday, dear. I'm sorry. Your dress is

your bed.

Oh, why can't I go like this? Anne.

All right, Mother. And don't shout. Your father has a visitor in his office. Who

is it?

No one you know. Go in. What?

What, my office?

Your visitor is a Reverend Locke.

Reverend? What did I do now?

Reverend Locke?

Charming family, Ranger Mallory. Oh, so charming, eh?

I cannot tell you how pleased I am both to meet you and to find out that the

daughter of that unfortunate man is in such loving hands.

Excuse me.

She's upstairs right now and she's going out in a few minutes. I think my wife

explained to her. Yes, yes, yes. And since the child remembers nothing of the

past, I can see how important it is to both of you that she continue to believe

your little fabrication.

that she was adopted by you at the age of three after the peaceful and entirely

normal demise of her mother and her father.

I tell you, it's remarkable that a child of such a tragedy should be so happy

and so normal.

Why?

Well, your wife did mention a few visits to a Dr. Holt.

Well, that had to do with her schoolwork.

My wife explained that, too. Yes, but a psychiatrist?

Just because of some minor anxiety or a future scholarship?

Or perhaps there was something more?

Look, Reverend, this is a kind of a personal matter. Oh, is it mine, mine,

No.

Anne is a perfectly normal child. She has a brilliant mind, very brilliant.

has a desire to excel in everything she does.

But she blames herself that she's not 100 % perfect in everything.

Yeah.

She demands too much of herself, but Dr. Holt says that these are symptoms of

things that are essentially good.

Your vehemence in her defense is very touching, Mr. Mallory.

Still, it must be a source of great worry to you.

The thought that this child might turn out to be like her father.

Oh, that's a stupid thing to say.

Perhaps, but then, you see, I happen to know a good deal about psychiatry. It's

very useful in my work.

And I'm sure Dr. Holt must have warned you of the extreme danger to a child,

especially such an emotional child, if she were to learn the truth about her

real parents and how they died.

But, Reverend, I don't like your manner for a clergyman, you... Ah, but then you

see, I am not really a clergyman.

No, actually,

I am a businessman.

And I am here on a matter of business.

What business?

Blackmail.

I don't know what stupid idea you've got in your head.

I think the state police will know what to do with you. Please, don't make the

mistake of thinking I am stupid, Mr. Mallory.

Blackmail is my profession.

You surely don't think I would have come here like this unless I'd taken some

precautions first.

I think perhaps I'd better introduce you to my associate before you do anything

rash or associate.

There is, as you know, a telephone booth in the picnic area at Lookout Point,

which is visible from this window.

I shall now dial that booth.

When it rings, then my associate, Mr. Parker, will emerge from the booth,

twice toward us, and then disappear into the forest.

You see?

You haven't the faintest idea what he looks like. No way to find him.

And he has his instructions.

Now, if anything should happen to me, then he will do very quietly and

anonymously.

He will do what I shall be forced to do unless you and I can come to an

understanding.

Now, shall we have our little chat?

What do you want?

Six thousand dollars by Monday night.

Six thousand?

Oh, I realize you're a little shocked, but it's really not so terrible as all

that. See, I happen to know that you have a savings account for the children.

And any small difference in the amount can be made up with a bank loan.

Using this house as security.

What can you do?

You can either call the police...

Or you could kill me.

But either way, you will utterly destroy your precious little Anne.

Because there's always Mr. Parker.

He's an unhappy young man.

He's almost vicious.

I'm afraid he might take a certain pleasure in telling the child that her

father bludgeoned her mother to death in a drunken rage and then hanged himself.

I can hear him now.

Little girl, your father was a murderer and a suicide.

To me, it is some of him in you.

All her life, she'll wonder, am I insane like my real daddy was? Oh, shut up.

Will I commit suicide like my real daddy was? Shut up! Shut up!

Daddy?

Can I come in?

Honey?

What do you want?

I'm sorry, Daddy.

I thought... No, I'm still here, my dear.

But I very much wanted to meet you. Now, this is Anne, isn't it?

Yes. Your father and I have been having a little chat about old times.

I didn't mean to barge in, Daddy.

But I'm looking for my tray of test tubes. You didn't see them around, did

I haven't seen them, honey, no.

Anne, we're late.

Go on, baby. Your mother's waiting. Hurry.

Next time, when you're not in such a hurry, perhaps we can have a little talk

about, well, about science. I hear you're a very brilliant student.

Goodbye, Daddy.

Goodbye, baby.

Goodbye, Reverend.

Goodbye, my dear.

Charming.

She adores you, and you quite obviously adore her.

You'd move heaven and earth to save her from pain.

Surely $6 ,000 is a very small amount to pay for her future happiness.

Surely.

But it wouldn't stop there, would it?

You'd beat us again year after year.

No, no, no. That kind of blackmail invariably winds up in prison.

It's against my principles, Mr. Mallory.

Once I receive the money, Mr. Parker and I will move on to fresher fields out of

your life forever.

I see.

I take your word for that, huh?

Unfortunately.

Well, I'm not going to.

I'm not going to take your word for anything, and I'm going to see she's

protected from you and your associate forever.

Don't be naive, Mr. Mallory. What about her school friends, her playmates, her

neighbors? No, it doesn't take very much.

Just one or two anonymous telephone calls or letters.

You know what gossips these small -town people are.

How long do you think it'd be before the poor child knew the whole morbid story?

No.

Monday night, 8 o 'clock.

You will walk slowly from this house to the picnic ground.

You will wait there by the telephone booth. When it rings, a voice will tell

exactly where in the forest to meet me.

Now, you'll have the money in $10 and $20 bills wrapped in brown paper.

Now, no marked bills and no futile efforts to contact the police.

I worked this out very carefully, Mr. Mallory.

And if you deviate from my instructions in any way... I shall know it

immediately.

I won't be there.

You'll be there.

With the money.

Good day, Mr. Mallory.

Oh, dear.

Darling!

Oh,

a great dinner we're going to have. Daddy, listen.

Chickens burn. Mother, if you'd let me fix the power on the oven, it never

have happened.

Miss Know -It -All.

Where's my tray of test tubes, you little thief?

Jim, you let the chickens burn.

What happened? Did you fall asleep?

No. What went off? Did you even hear it? Yes, I did.

I guess this just isn't my day.

Let me listen.

Oh, well, I'll take some steaks out of the freezer. That'll solve it.

Hey. Hey, is something wrong? You tell me where they are.

Mommy, Mommy, he twisted my arm.

She hid my test tubes. Ann, I told you not to touch her.

If you think she's done something wrong to you, you're supposed to come to me or

your father. You understand?

Yes, Mother.

Barbie, did you take her test tubes?

She can't take a joke.

What did you do with them, Barbie?

They're in the freezer.

The freezer?

Oh, it's ruined now.

The whole experiment is ruined.

You dumb little... Ann, don't talk to your sister like that.

Now, I want you to apologize to her.

Right now.

I'm sorry.

My aunt still hurts.

Will you stop it, all of you? Please, just stop it.

Now, you see, you've upset your father with your fighting.

I want you to apologize to each other.

I'm sorry, Barbie.

I'm sorry, Mother.

Go put some baked potatoes in the oven for Mommy, please.

Yes, Mommy.

Go to a gym.

You're the only one she'll talk to when she gets like this.

Linda. Yes?

I have to talk to you when we can.

I'll tell you when dinner's ready.

Hydrogen plus water react to yield.

Sodium hydroxide plus hydrogen gas.

I looked at it for the first time just now.

And I already know it.

Just like that.

Aren't you proud of me?

I know all that.

And I don't.

Know anything.

I don't know how to be good.

Or kind.

Or how to make people happy.

I don't want to hurt Barbie ever.

I love her and Mother, but... But something inside of me just...

I don't know.

And... And I made you angry too, Daddy.

Yes, yes.

this afternoon when you were talking to the Reverend.

I didn't mean to, but I did.

It just seems that nothing I do or... I don't know.

It's just not simple like... like this.

I love you, Daddy.

help your mother, huh?

Come on. Yeah.

Come on.

A thousand dollars.

That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard.

What do you mean he actually sat there and said this to you?

What did you do?

I didn't do anything.

It's the horrible part of it.

It all seems so weird.

Sat there, calm, smiling.

Jim.

Jim, you don't really think he'd tell Ann, do you?

I think he would, I'm sure.

Did you call the police?

How could I after what he threatened to do to Ann?

But, Jim, we have to.

We can't cope with this ourselves.

I've been hammering at this thing in my mind for hours. Of course, I want to go

to the police, but we can't.

They handle hundreds of these blackmail cases every year.

Not like this one.

Jim, I know how you feel about Ann. They have never handled anybody like Locke.

He's thought of everything.

Well, they can at least advise us. It can't do any harm, can it?

Once we tell anybody about Ann, who knows where it'll end?

Police gossip, a tip to the newspapers.

But we wouldn't have to tell them about Ann's father. We could just say that...

Well, some stranger named Locke is blackmailing us. And leave it at that.

Link, you can't just... I don't know. Maybe you're right. Maybe that's all we

can do.

Not right now.

Tomorrow in the morning, maybe.

Jimmy, he said Monday night. We don't have that much time.

I know that. I've got to think.

Out of this nightmare.

Now, that's as close as I can come to a lock's appearance, but he's got a

long, thin face.

Well, I'm sorry to bore you with all this identification routine, Jim.

At least you know our man has no previous arrests for blackmail in this

You have no idea what his accomplice Parker looks like.

You know, there's a chance if we pick Locke up that Parker will give it up as

bad job and hightail it out of the state.

Chance? Hank, I can't take any chances.

Well, then we'll have to pick them both up together.

It'll be kind of tough.

This guy's smart. He's clever.

Jen, money's involved.

They'll have a rendezvous set up somewhere for tomorrow night or soon

afterwards.

Now, if you're willing to keep that appointment and give him a packet of

counterfeit bills, I'm sure that we can zero in on Locke. Follow him until he

joins Parker and pick them both up together.

I'm sure I'm willing to do anything, but... Well, what if he suspects he's

followed? We're not exactly amateurs at this job.

I know that, Hank, but have you ever tried to track anybody in a forest?

We have quite an effective field communication system. Similar to your

-talkie, but less conspicuous.

Our men will move into your forest area early in the afternoon, except for one

of your fire crews.

They'll fade off into the brush one at a time and wait for night.

One of them spots Locke, the radio the others.

Each one will pick him up and turn, by radio without moving until he leaves the

forest. Then they'll put a normal tail on him.

It's awful complicated. It'd be so easy for something to go wrong.

Oh, Jim.

We've taken your story in faith.

You won't even tell us why you're being blackmailed. We've accepted that up

until now. Now, the least you can do in return is let us handle our job our way.

But how can you be sure?

We can't be sure about anything.

We'll do our best. That's all I can promise.

Keep looking back toward the phone booth.

Are you sure you didn't make a mistake in the time?

Eight o 'clock sharp, Hank. I couldn't forget that.

It's 825 now.

Any other outdoor phone booths in this area?

No. A mile and a half from here. Long Creek Camping Area.

This is the one he meant.

You're sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

Look how much he meant. Maybe he could have spotted one of them.

Take it easy, Jim.

Give him a few more minutes.

Hello.

Mallory, you're a fool.

Get rid of your state police friend.

Go home. Wait there. You'll hear from me.

This is your last chance, Mr. Mallory. Wait a minute. What?

Was it him?

He hung up.

And how did it go?

Mommy, I want you.

He didn't show. He saw right through the police trap.

Mommy. Oh, Barbie has an earache. I'll be right down, dear.

Where's Ann?

She's eating to Barbie.

Fame off. Police can't protect us.

Jim, the $6 ,000 won't be the end of it.

There isn't any other way.

Without even consulting me?

I'm consulting you now.

I'm so confused. You make me feel so guilty.

I'm sorry.

If there was just some other way.

Jim, why don't we tell her ourselves?

No. Then it wouldn't matter what Locke did.

And we destroy her. Can't you see that?

Look, Jim, I love Anne too, but we'll destroy us as a family if we pay that

terrible man.

Jim, why don't we try the police just once more and tell them about Anne's

father? It will at least give them a lead on Parker and Locke.

We've been all through that.

We can protect her.

How? Lock her in her room?

She has to live. Doesn't she go to school, see the other kids?

You know, cruel children can be.

I know, I know, Jim. Remember what Dr. Holt said? This is a particularly

vulnerable time for her. Now, maybe if she was a little bit older, we could

it, but not now.

Stop hammering at me.

Can't you understand what a thing like this would do to her? Why do you always

put her first?

Hello.

Mallory, did you enjoy your little wait?

Is that because you finally learned the state police can't help you?

All right.

Tell me where and when to meet you with the money.

You're late.

Where's the package?

The bank won't let me have the money until tomorrow.

You're lying.

I'm not lying. They just don't hand you $6 ,000.

I've got to have more time.

I want the money now. I'll have it for you in the morning. I promise you now.

It's the best I can do.

Every extra second means more danger for me.

I ought to tell that stupid, gawky little brat of yours just out of spite.

That's for you.

Now, now, now.

One more chance.

I'll phone instructions. Say, Mallory, we got an agreement.

Tomorrow morning, then I'll be out of your life forever.

You say one word to her, I'll kill you.

Yeah?

I'll kill you.

Here you jump, boy. You think somebody's fixing to kill you.

Oh, you're drinking again. You fool.

I told you to stay at the motel.

What if the police were to find out? You know something, boy? I don't give a

soft yawn about no police. You're my man.

And I ain't about to let you skip out of me now. Where is it?

Can't get the money out of the bank till tomorrow morning. Boy, you ain't a very

good liar. Now, where you hiding it?

I'm not hiding it.

All right, just for that.

Old Odie's liable to keep all the money. I mean, after all, I'm the one who sent

you on to Mallory and that little Anna girl.

You fool.

I tell you, he didn't bring the money.

You know something, boy?

I'm getting mighty tired of you calling me that.

Where is it, boy?

Huh? Boy, where is it?

I'm waiting, boy.

I'm waiting!

Our story will continue in a few moments.

Just now, we must observe the quasi -folk ritual of the station break.

Actually, the station break was designed for a very useful purpose.

It keeps the two halves of a show from bumping into one another.

I hate to break this to you, but the opinions expressed during the past two

minutes do not represent those of our sponsor.

We have yet to hear from him.

However, following that, we shall have the second half of Night of the Owl.

Leave the smoke jumpers. You better leave Simmons up there.

Bomb that crown fire. Fall to the tower.

Here comes Jim now. I'll get back to you.

Ben.

Trying to raise you down below, you old smoky dirt.

Back fire's got it whipped up north. How's it here?

Well, we got a line hacked out southwest of the cliff.

We got a holder.

Air control's got the whole first slope.

The wind's just, we're in trouble.

Tell him we went down the south break, huh?

I'm going back in with these fellows as soon as they get their breath.

I'll be right with you.

Well, this is where she started. There's the poor devil that started her.

Burned himself up, most likely.

Lord, preserve us from careless people.

Yeah.

What's the matter, Jim? You know him?

Yeah.

Yeah, I know him.

You must be dog -tired with no sleep on, eh?

Well, I guess you fellas are used to it. There's the fire, wasn't there?

Yes, sir.

Have a tough time getting this one under control?

No, not much.

Better read it first.

Mind if I ask you a few more questions?

Mallory was nice enough to come down here and give his complete statement

away. I don't think we should keep him from his bed any longer.

I just talked to the coroner, Captain.

You were right in assuming it was murder, Jim.

Locke was strangled.

The concussions, evidence of a struggle, all point to an act born of great

anger.

Must have been quite a shock to you and a relief when you saw that body.

What makes you think that Parker killed Locke?

Who else?

Too bad you don't know more about it.

I told you all I could.

Not much to go on, is it?

You say that you saw him on Saturday.

You say that Locke talked about him.

Seems to be about all we know about the man.

So far, he's just a name, sort of Will of the Wisp.

It might help if you told us now why you're being blackmailed.

Hank, I told you I can't. I'm sorry.

Jim, a man's been murdered. You're withholding relevant information.

I think we've had enough for one night, Lieutenant.

Look, let's just get it over with now, huh?

This 8 o 'clock meeting you had, how long were you with Locke?

A couple of minutes, that's all. No more.

Where'd you go after leaving him? Straight home?

No, I was upset.

I wanted to think.

Where'd you go?

Sat up in the hill in the back of the house.

And after that, I went inside and the phone rang about the fire.

What time was that?

Well, you know what time that was. It was around nine.

What were you so upset about?

Look, what do you want me to say? I was upset because I killed Locke. Huh?

Did you kill him?

Yes, in my mind.

A hundred times I wanted to.

But I didn't.

Are you trying to tell me this is what disturbs you? The thought that you might

have been a murderer?

That's all, Mallory.

Sorry we've tried your patience. You've been very cooperative.

Still... After we've done a little looking around, we may want to talk to

again.

Sinus?

No.

Don't.

Annie!

Annie!

Daddy,

you all right?

You had a nightmare.

Where are you from school?

I'm home already.

You slept all day.

Want me to rub your forehead with witch hazel?

No.

You take care of me when I have a bad dream.

Now I can take care of you.

I'm fine now.

You're worried.

It has something to do with me, hasn't it?

It doesn't have anything to do with you.

Ann, did you wake your father up? I was awake already.

Darling, why don't you go finish your homework?

I'm finished.

Oh. Yes, but Daddy wants some privacy. Go on, dear.

Oh, sorry.

Who? It's O .D. Parker, boy, that's who.

Now listen, boy, and listen good.

I need a thousand quick.

1 ,000 green ones aren't going to keep my big mouth shut, yeah?

What do you want me to do?

Put the money in an envelope.

As soon as it gets dark, bring it around to the picnic ground.

Big old trash can chained to a tree.

And stash the cash under the trash.

And then get.

All right.

And no hijinks, boy.

I'm picking it up in my own sweet time.

If I smell a cop, that's it. I mean, your little Annie girl's gonna wish

never been born.

Yeah?

Yes.

Parker?

He's cut the price to a thousand. He wants it tonight.

Well,

all we'll have to do is tell the police and they'll set a trap for him. He's not

that much of a fool. There's no telling when he can pick up the money. It might

be days.

Well, they can wait him out. They don't even think there is a Parker.

I'm gonna prove him wrong and look right on thinking I killed Locke.

I'll have to do it myself.

I'll go it alone.

I'll wait him out and bring him in.

But, Jim, you can't. He's desperate. He's killed a man already.

Oh, Jim, there might be some other way. There isn't any other way.

you

Don't move.

Mallory? Drop that.

Come on, drop it. I'm pointing a .38 right at you.

Now climb down here.

Come on.

Hey.

What you gonna do if I don't come down, huh?

You gonna shoot me out of this tree?

Might just call that murder, boy.

Hey, I know. You're gonna come up here after me, huh?

Yeah, just me and you. All by our own selves in this big, bad forest.

You better get along home, Ranger Boy, before it's too late.

All right, Don.

Make me, Ranger Boy. Just try and make me. Gonna be a long wait.

Hey, how long you figure that flashlight's gonna hold out, huh? Daddy?

Stay back there, honey. Stay there.

Don't move.

Don't move, you.

Honey, you run home and tell your mother to call the state police.

Have her say I'm up here with Parker. You understand?

Yes, Daddy.

Annie, girl, you make one little move, I'm going to kill your daddy.

Don't believe him, honey. I'm pointing the gun right at him. Now run.

She don't want to see her little old daddy laying dead on the ground, do you,

Annie, girl? Shut up. Go on, Annie.

Don't you see she can't move far? She's too scared of what her old cousin Odie

might do. That's right.

I'm your second cousin, twice removed, Annie, girl.

Daddy, what's he... Honey, will you get out of here, please?

Yeah. I was just a little old teenager in the smokies when a terrible thing

happened to your real pa and ma.

Shut up, shut up, or I'll kill you. You ain't gonna kill me in front of her,

boy. I mean, that poor old gal got enough to live down.

Daddy, what's he talking about? Honey, I told you to get out of here. Now go on.

Daddy. Your real papa killed your real mama. He killed her dead with a kindling

axe. Then he hung himself in prison.

Jim, I couldn't get Lieutenant Ames when I did speak to the sergeant.

Jim, what happened?

I killed him.

I don't think I killed both of them. I'll lock Ann Parker.

Jim, what are we going to do?

Nothing to do but wait.

Where's Ann?

She's upstairs.

She knows, doesn't she?

I tried to explain to her about the blackmail and those two awful men.

She didn't even cry.

And she finally told me about calling the state police.

But I...

You

go up to her, I can't talk to her.

She needs you more now than she ever needed you before.

If I was 13 and this had happened to me, I'd want you to be with me.

Of course, you're the gentlest man in the world.

happened out there.

I don't want to talk about it. You have to.

Come here.

You got away from that terrible man, and that's all that matters.

Honey, what he said about your real mother and father,

that... I'm sorry, Daddy.

I... I just feel so sad for them.

they could have had a happy life like us.

And I've been thinking, Daddy, about how much you and Mother

must love me and how much you loved me then.

I mean, to want to take into your home a little

girl whose parents died.

like he said.

When you first told me I was adopted, you said how

special I was.

Because you and Mother chose me.

I never felt special.

Until now, Daddy.

Jim?

Lieutenant Ames is downstairs.

Look on, Parker, where you left him, Jim.

I had a man watching your house that ordered us to phone in for help rather

follow you into the forest.

Got there as soon as we could, but I'm afraid we were a little bit late.

Yeah.

Yeah, I killed him, Hank. I killed him.

A man like Parker takes a lot of killing, Jim.

He's a little worth the wear when he found him, but right now he's alive and

kicking.

He knows he's going to have to stand trial for murder.

It wasn't too hard to get a confession once we found Locke's cigarette case on

him.

So, about all we'll need from you is a statement about what went on out there

tonight. You should stop by the office sometime.

Hey.

It would have been easier for you if I'd have thought you were away from the

start.

Linda! I've got to tell my wife.

Linda!

You remember my mentioning the gentleman who disappeared with $50 in dimes.

It saddens me to relate that he became stuck in a television booth where he

eventually succumbed.

Fortunately, he had deposited all his money so that the set will be on for the

next 24 hours.

I know he would have wanted it that way.

Next week, I shall return with another story.

Scenes of which will be visible after the following.