Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

May I help you?

We have a fantastic assortment of lost articles.

We have a number of ways, some bearings,

and a national purpose.

We have some dear little lambs, a weekend,

and one entire generation.

And we have one gentleman back here named Mr. Clean.

A single button is found early in tonight's story,

and as they used to say, "Thereby hangs a tale."

The tale is called, "You'll Be the Death of Me,"

and it begins in a few moments.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(suspenseful music)

(upbeat country music)

(men laughing and chattering)

- Hi boys.

- [Customer] Howdy there.

- [Customer] Hey.

- Got a cold one?

Nice.

- Where we gonna spend the night?

- [Tompy] Well, you expecting company

on the bus, Betty Rose?

- Thinkin' of takin' it, Tompy.

I hear it's a lovely time of the year

in New Orleans right now.

(wind whipping)

- Why don't you drink up your drink, Betty Rose,

I might just buy you another one.

- One drink, ain't worth all the struggle.

(men laughing)

Course, if it was Driver Arthur,

that would be another matter.

Driver's saving his money though.

- Fixin' to build his bride a new house, I reckon.

What kind a house they got in the Orient, Driver?

- It's up on stilts, Tompy.

Lots a alligators floatin' around below

to police up the garbage.

- Alligators?

You sure keepin' that little beauty all to yourself, Driver.

Ain't nobody in the Valley seen her,

'cept comin' from the station.

- She ain't missin' nothin'.

- Not so long as she's got Driver comin' home

night after night.

Driver Arthur, always in the driver's seat,

whether it's cars or women.

Ain't that what they used to say about you?

- Mm-hmm, that's what they used to say.

- Maybe you better go back to just plain Bob,

I don't see that Driver hardly fits you anymore.

- No?

- No.

You're like all the rest of the married men.

You ain't in the driver's seat,

you just go whatever way you're pushed.

(upbeat country music)

(wind whipping)

You got a match?

- Oh, any time for you, Betty Rose.

- Listen, will you go roost someplace else?

You ain't talked since the cradle

and you ain't gonna talk now.

I got nothin' to say to you except quit haunting me.

- I don't know why she riles you so much, Betty Rose.

- She takes spells, always flapping around me

like a little brown buzzard.

I get tired of her starin' at me all the time.

Like she's waitin' for somethin'.

- Poor child's only got half a reason,

she can't do you no harm.

How 'bout a little dancing, Betty Rose.

- I don't dance with nothin' Kyle Sawyer.

You were born nothin', you ain't nothin' now,

and when you die, they ain't gonna have nothin'

on their hands to bury.

Now leave my pretty waist alone.

(men laughing)

You feel like dancing, Driver?

You know, you ain't danced with me since you got back.

Did they give you some medals this time?

- Was there, but yet I didn't see no action.

But I got me a medal, and I got me one sweet little bride.

- Dance with me, Driver.

Or are you afraid to hold me in your arms?

(upbeat country music)

(wind whipping)

(upbeat country music)

Like old times, hm?

- I better be gettin' on up that hill.

(upbeat country music)

- See you around, Driver man.

(wind howling)

(suspenseful, tense music)

Well, look who's here counting his memories.

- Why'd you come here?

- Why didn't you go up on the hill?

It ain't that easy, is it, Driver?

Too many things to remember, like this place here.

- I'm a married man now, Betty Rose.

Can you get that through your head?

Huh, can ya?

I'm married.

- Sure Driver, I can get that through my head just fine,

'specially since I thought all the time

that you was gonna come home and marry me.

- I ever tell you that in so many words?

- I kinda thought it was understood.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have waited.

- Yeah.

You waited all right.

You waited with Tompy, Burt Clark,

yeah, that's the way I heard it.

- What was I suppose to do,

join a sewing circle or somethin'?

You got married.

- Well, if I led you to believe that, I'm sorry.

It wasn't meant.

But right or wrong, we gotta be through now.

Now you understand that?

You gotta stay away from me.

- Why?

Because every time you look at me you start forgetting her?

This is an awful small town, Driver.

If you wanted to stay away from me,

you shouldn't have come back.

- Well, the old farm was the only stake I had.

Now you're always talkin' about wantin' to go

to New Orleans.

Now, what if I was to give you some money?

- [Betty Rose] This is my town, I belong here.

I ain't gonna get out of it for that little--

- Keep your tongue off her!

- All right.

I'm sorry.

But if somebody has to leave this town,

maybe it better be her.

Livin' up there in that old farmhouse, thinkin' it's hers.

Maybe she wouldn't like it so well if she knew.

- What're you talkin' about?

- [Betty Rose] About us.

- You shut up.

- You think she'd stay there if she knew?

And believe me, she's gonna know.

Get your paws off of me.

You ain't gonna just brush me off and forget me, Driver.

You're gonna remember me till the end of your days.

- You stay away from her. - Driver.

- You stay away from her, you hear?

(Betty Rose groaning)

You stay away from Mickey, you hear?

You ain't gonna tell her nothin'.

(Betty Rose groaning)

You ain't gonna tell her nothin'!

(dramatic orchestral music)

Betty Rose.

Betty Rose, I didn't mean it.

(rain splattering)

(slow, somber orchestral music)

(Rags barks)

- All right, Rags, even if no one else is eating,

you must have food.

(thunder clapping)

That's right, eat, I'm all right.

(slow, solemn orchestral music)

Never has he been so late.

Never has he left me alone so long.

(thunder clapping) (slow somber orchestral music)

- Mickey!

(gentle orchestral music)

What's the matter, honey?

- Driver, you scared me.

(slow somber orchestral music) (thunder clapping)

I was so frightened.

- Frightened, why, hun?

Not a living soul within two miles of this place.

A little wind and storm.

Ain't nothin' but the lord's artillery

old grandpa used to say.

Nothin' to be afraid of.

- I thought something had happened to you.

I didn't know what to do.

- Just take it easy.

- But, where have you been?

I've been waiting.

- Yeah, well, I'm sorry I'm late but,

I worked a little overtime, stopped by the Blackbird

for a beer.

- You stopped at the Blackbird?

- Yeah, I stop by for a beer every now and again,

you know that.

- I wait dinner for hours, and you stop for beer.

- Honey, I worked hard all day long!

- There's no need to shout.

- Mickey, I'm wet clear through from the rain.

I walked a couple of miles from that stinkin' bus.

Now I'm sorry I'm late,

and I'm sorry I stopped by for a beer.

What more do you want from me?

(sorrowful orchestral music)

- I didn't mean, please.

(sighing) Everything is so strange here.

I get so lonely when you're gone.

And the storm, (crying)

I was so afraid. (crying)

- Oh, no.

No, I'm sorry, it's my fault.

You're a long way from home.

You're gonna be happy here, aren't ya?

You're not gonna get homesick and wanna leave me.

- (gasps) Oh no.

(sighs) I could never leave you.

I'll be happy anywhere you are.

- When you look at me like that,

I know why I love you so much.

(gentle orchestral music)

(Rags barking)

- Oh Rags, be quiet.

(sniffling) When he sees me cry,

he thinks maybe you have hurt me.

(Driver and Mickey chuckle)

- You fool hound.

I wouldn't hurt you, Mickey.

I'd do anything in the world to keep you from being hurt.

- Driver, if we move in town near the mill,

you wouldn't have to get up so early.

Oh, and ride that stinking bus.

(Driver and Mickey chuckling)

- If I lived in town,

I think I'd shrivel up and die on you.

You see, I've been a mountain man all my life.

And this is my mountain.

(gentle orchestral music)

(slow, tense orchestral music)

(gentle orchestral music)

- Goodnight, my husband.

(sighs) It means nothing, I'm a foolish girl.

I will simply ask him about it, and he will explain.

Yeah, come on, we have work to do, come on.

(Rags barks)

(Rags growling and barking)

He probably knew many pretty girls,

but he chose me for his wife.

He prefers me above all the others.

(Rags growling)

(slow, solemn orchestral music)

(chuckles softly)

Better now, Rags, hm?

(Rags barks and whines)

(thunder clapping) (gentle orchestral music)

(door bangs shut) (Rags barks)

(Rags growling and barking)

Who is it?

Who is it?

(Rags barking)

Who is it?

(mysterious music)

Who are you, what do you want?

- [Man] Shouldn't leave your door unlocked, ma'am.

- Who are you?

- [Gar] Garfield Newton, Mrs. Arthur,

I take care of the police work around here.

- My husband is not here.

- Didn't think he would be.

(tense orchestral music) (thunder clapping)

Like to talk to you, Mrs. Arthur.

(tense orchestral music)

Be a might easier if you came in here.

- Oh, my husband.

(Rags barking)

Rags, go lie down.

My husband, he is perhaps hurt, there is trouble.

- Your husband's perfectly okay, Mrs. Arthur.

There has been a little trouble though.

I thought maybe you might be able to help me out a bit.

- But how could I--

- You shouldn't hide yourself away up on the hill like this.

You oughta come into town, start gettin' acquainted.

You'll find the natives are real friendly.

(thunder clapping)

- We have no car yet, my husband is working very hard.

- Working overtime a bit?

- Yes.

- Well, the place sure looks a lot better

than the last time I saw it.

A woman's touch.

Driver work late last night?

- He um,

you said that there had been some trouble,

and you wish me to help.

What kind of trouble is it and how may I help?

- Did you ever meet a girl named Betty Rose Calder?

- No.

- Well she was strangled to death down by the lake.

- Lake?

But that is--

- Not much more than a thousand yards from your front door.

That's why I said you oughta keep it locked.

You see any stranger around here yesterday afternoon?

- [Mickey] No.

- Well, I guess you wouldn't know a stranger.

Did you see anybody?

- No.

How terrible a thing to happen, the poor girl.

- Did you hear anything?

Any sounds, or crying?

See any cars on the road?

- No.

- And you're sure nobody came around the house?

- Rags would let me know if anyone came close.

Why did you question me about my husband?

- That's my job, Mrs. Arthur.

What time did Driver come home last night?

- I did not look at a clock, Mr. Newton,

so I could not tell you truly what time it was.

- I see.

Well, if you should remember anything you'll let me know?

I'll be around the neighborhood for awhile.

Might just come back.

Looks like it's lettin' up.

You better keep this door locked.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(somber orchestral music)

(Rags barks)

- Rags, I cannot play now.

(serious orchestral music)

(Rags barking)

Oh Rags, if Driver comes home and there's no milk,

he'll be furious with both of us. (sighs)

Oh, my dress.

(sighs) Now I must change.

(Rags whines) Naughty.

(slow, solemn orchestral music)

Is that you, Ruby?

(slow, solemn orchestral music)

(Rags whimpering)

You like Rags, I know.

I'm going to your mother's store,

would you like to walk along with me?

Would you like to take his leash?

(solemn orchestral music)

(Rags barking)

(chickens squawking)

Hello, Mrs. McCleod.

- Well hello there, Mrs. Arthur.

Ruby, where you been so long?

Took you an hour and a half to find out

about one sick calf.

That's all right, Mrs. Arthur, you can put Rags down.

What can we get for you?

- Well Rags spilled the last of the milk

and I'm already late with my husband's dinner.

- Well, don't get so upset about it,

he ain't gonna send you home for that.

Ruby, fetch in a can of milk.

You two come down the hill together?

- Yes, she held Rags' leash.

- I'm mighty grateful to you being so kind to the child.

- Well, I'm happy to be her friend.

She's sweet and good-hearted.

- Most people only see what she lacks,

like that Betty Rose,

she couldn't bear the sight of the child.

- Betty Rose, she's the girl who was killed?

- Yes, strange, was Ruby found her.

- Ruby?

- My poor little night runner.

Wild as a swallow and can't be caged.

Maybe that Betty Rose had a foreshadowing

and that's why she always drove the child away.

Poor Betty Rose, most folks say she brought it on herself,

but that's man's judgment, not God's.

- Uh, I do not understand, she brought it on herself?

- Men just couldn't stay away from her, she was so pretty.

Well, that she was, Ruby,

but it's a cruel thing all the same.

You better be careful, Mrs. Arthur,

maybe it was one of Betty Rose's men that killed her,

and maybe it was a stranger, no one knows.

But he was strong and he was mean.

She must've tried to get away from him

because he tore the button right off her coat.

But he held her.

And I hear that he pulled the scarf so tight

around her throat, the flesh was cut.

So you be careful, you hear?

(slow, serious orchestral music)

(Rags barking)

(chickens clucking)

(slow, somber orchestral music)

- (gasps) Driver!

- I didn't mean to startle you.

You didn't mention you found this, Mickey.

(tense, bold orchestral music)

- I'm afraid that the requirements of commercial television

make it necessary for you to tear yourselves

away from the story for a short time.

Lest you lose your place,

I shall stay here and hold it for you.

(mysterious orchestral music)

- Scared me terrible, comin' home and finding you gone.

- I spilled the milk.

- Yeah, I noticed that, what happened?

- Rags was trying to play.

- (chuckles) That fool hound.

Honey, you're trembling.

What's the matter, somethin' scare you?

- No, only I heard about the girl who was killed

just down by the lake.

- Don't you worry about that.

There ain't been no stranger around here, has there?

- No, a man came, he said he was to do with the police.

- Oh.

Gar Newton paid his respects, huh?

What'd he have to say?

- He had many questions.

- Is that right?

What kind of questions?

- He asked what I had seen or heard.

Did you know the girl who was murdered?

- Betty Rose?

Yeah, I used to see her down at the Blackbird now and then.

What else did Newton have to say?

- I could not understand all of it.

He said I should come into town

because the natives are friendly.

- Well, (chuckles) I'm not sure I like that.

Guy's partial to pretty women.

Oh.

Did he say anything about this button?

- No, I do not even think he saw it.

- But it was right there on the table

when he was here, wasn't it?

- I think so.

- Don't you know?

- Um, he didn't mention it.

- But he could've seen it without mentioning it,

couldn't he?

- I don't know, I suppose so.

What is so terribly important about the button?

- Nothing, I was just wondering, that's all.

I'm gonna get cleaned up.

(slow, serious music)

- [Mickey] That button.

- What about it?

- Could it have belonged to the girl who was killed?

- What makes you think that?

- Mrs. McCleod said that the murderer tore a button

from the coat.

- Oh, I see, that's why you were so upset.

I don't know, could've belonged to her,

I never thought about it.

- But Driver, if it did belong to her--

- Now wait a minute!

You're not thinkin' that I--

- Oh, no, no, I-I'm not.

- Honey, I just found that button by happenstance.

When I was walkin' up the trail last night.

I saw a glitter and I picked it up, I thought it was pretty.

Bright and shiny.

I thought you might like it.

(water dribbling)

- Driver, do not be angry with me.

(sighs) I know, I was only thinking

that if that button was from her coat then it is important.

- Yeah, you're right.

That killer could've dropped it right where I found it.

- Then you must tell Mr. Newton.

Don't you see, Driver, it might help him catch this man.

- Yeah.

And uh, it's a sure thing Gar didn't see it

on that table, or he'd have grabbed it, huh?

You know what?

I think I'll go down the hill right now, see Gar.

Might be exactly the thing he needs.

- I go with you?

- Why, hun?

- Driver, someone has killed a girl.

I'm afraid to be alone here.

- Oh, yeah, I suppose you're right.

Matter of fact, I wouldn't want you here alone anyway.

Will your dinner things keep?

- Yes, they will keep.

- Won't be gone that long anyway.

Lots of wood underfoot, you better put your boots on.

Might start raining again.

Better take the flashlight,

it'll be dark before we get back.

(Rags barking)

- Driver!

(Driver groans)

Are you all right?

- Yeah, I'm all right.

That no-good mutt's gonna be the death of me yet.

I never saw such a critter for gettin' under foot!

- He didn't mean it, Driver, it hurt him too.

- I'm sorry, hun.

I know he's the most company you've had

since we come here.

Come on, Rags, we'll take you for a walk.

(Rags barking)

- It's all right, you don't have to put him on the leash.

He'll run ahead of us.

(Rags whimpering)

(suspenseful orchestral music)

(Rags barking)

Driver?

- What?

- Driver, you didn't have the flashlight last night.

- No.

- And it was dark when you came home.

- What're you gettin' at?

- The button, you said it glittered.

- So it did in the moonlight.

- Driver, there was no moon.

- You sound like you think I'm lying.

- No, Driver, no, it's just that I do not understand.

- What's there to understand?

The clouds broke for a minute or two,

the moon shone through.

- Yes, of course, I see.

- Stop asking me these fool questions.

- I'm sorry.

(slow, dramatic orchestral music)

What is it?

- You know what, it was just about here

I found that fool button.

(birds chirping)

You know what I'm gonna do?

I've been thinkin' all the way down here

how this is gonna look to Gar,

me having this button all this time,

not even thinkin' about telling him about it till now.

- But Driver, if you're telling the truth--

- The truth don't have nothin' to do with it.

Gar Newton's desperate to grab somebody for this,

and he's no good friend of mine.

You know, Mickey, I could get in some real bad trouble,

all because of finding a shiny button.

(birds chirping)

There, now let somebody else find it.

Be just as good as me telling Gar.

Only important thing is that it gets found.

(birds chirping)

What're you lookin' at?

I know what I'm doin', you're just gonna have to trust me.

What's the matter with you?

- Driver, why are you afraid to tell Mr. Newton

about the button?

- I just told you, he might make out

like I had somethin' to do with it.

- Have you forgotten what you said last night?

That you were at the mill and then with Tompy.

- Did you tell Gar that?

- No, I told him nothing, but,

why shouldn't I have told him if it's true?

- Now Mickey, you stop thinkin' things like that.

- [Mickey] It is true, isn't it?

- Mickey!

- No, it isn't.

And you didn't find the button on the path.

- Now you stop it, you stop it.

You're imagining things.

- I believe you killed her, didn't you?

- Mickey, Mickey we gotta talk about this.

You gotta listen to me.

- You killed her, didn't you?

(Mickey gasping)

(serious orchestral music)

- Now Mickey, please, please listen to me.

I didn't mean to do it.

I tried every way I knew, but she had her head set.

She was gonna do you a hurt.

I couldn't let her do it.

I wouldn't let anybody in the whole world hurt you.

Don't you understand that?

- You killed her.

- I did it for you, Mickey.

I did it for you.

Now,

I'm still your husband, that hasn't changed.

Now you gotta stand by me!

You'll do that, won't you?

I'm all you got,

I'm all you've got in the world.

- No, no don't touch me, don't touch me.

- But you gotta help me.

Listen, you know what they'll do to me if they find out?

They'll hang me.

Now you gotta stay by me and not say a word.

You'll do that, won't ya?

- No.

No, I can't stay with you.

You, you killed her.

(footsteps approaching)

You killed her!

(adventurous orchestral music)

(Mickey crying out)

- You can't leave me.

(Mickey crying)

If you do, they'll know, and they'll hang me.

Don't that mean anything to ya?

(Mickey whimpering)

They'll hang me.

(Mickey crying)

I'll hang.

They're gonna hang me, Mickey.

They'll hang me!

(dramatic orchestral music)

You can't let them do that to me.

You can't give me away.

(Mickey gasping and crying)

Don't do that, somebody'll hear.

(Mickey whimpering)

Please, Mickey.

(adventurous music)

I can't let them hang me.

(Mickey whimpering)

I did it for you.

(Mickey whimpering)

Don't you understand that?

(Mickey whimpering)

I did it for you.

(Mickey whimpering)

Sh, quiet, Mickey, somebody's gonna hear!

(Mickey whimpering)

Sh, somebody's gonna hear, quiet, Mickey.

Please, please don't do that.

Please don't do that, Mickey, please.

Somebody's gonna hear.

Please Mickey, don't do that.

That's it, sh.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(gentle orchestral music)

(Driver crying softly)

Mickey.

Mickey.

(knocking at door)

Who is it?

- [Gar] Garfield Newton.

- Come on in.

(door click open)

(door clicks shut)

- Thought I'd drop by.

Couple little things I wanna ask you.

- Well, can't it wait, Gar?

I'm uh, kinda worried about Mickey.

Um, I was just going out and look for her.

- Wasn't she here when you got home?

- No, she started to make dinner

but she must've forgotten somethin' I guess.

Gone down to Ms. McCleod's.

Time I've been here, she could've been back there

two or three times, kinda worried.

- Mm, let's go down and see.

- Yeah, we better get down there.

- Thank you.

'Bout what time was she here, Ms. McCleod?

- Oh, late in the afternoon.

She was all fussed about dinner on account of Rags

spilling the milk, I ain't seen her since then.

- Well, she never come home after that.

- What time'd you get there, Driver?

- 'Bout six, I left Tompy Dill down at the Blackbird,

came right on up.

Gar, we gotta do somethin', we gotta find her.

- Can I use your phone?

- Poor little thing.

My lord, I hope nothin's happened to her.

- Hello, put me through to the sheriff's office.

Gar Newton.

Hello Bill, this is Gar.

I'm up here at McCleod's.

Round up everyone you can find for a search party,

send 'em up here.

Ms. Arthur's missing.

(slow, somber orchestral music)

(Rags whimpering)

Sorry, Driver.

- Come away, love, come away.

- Driver-- - Gar.

- Ms. McCleod, why don't you take Driver along with you.

Go on, you don't wanna be alone.

There's nothing more you can do here.

I'll drop around later with Doc Chalmont.

- Come along, Driver.

(frog croaking) (people chattering quietly)

- Driver, I could make all the arrangements if you like.

It's hard to put your mind on things at a time like this.

- Why, thank ya, Doc.

- Unless you need me, I'll be gettin' along.

- I'll talk to you later, Doc.

- Can I drive you boys anyplace?

- Well thanks, Doc. - Thank you, Doc.

- Driver, I got somethin' to say to you.

- Yep. (door clanging shut)

- I had you figured for killing Betty Rose.

I was wrong.

But I'll tell you this, whoever did this,

townsman or stranger, he ain't gonna get away.

- Driver, why don't you stay with us?

Stay with us till you get things straightened out.

It ain't good to be alone, I know.

- Well thank you, Mrs. McCleod but,

seems like I gotta be alone now.

Come on, Rags.

(chain clinking)

- Chain?

- Girl's daft.

(Ruby banging)

- All right, Driver, let's not be in a hurry.

- Why of course, she had the chain.

- Mrs. Arthur?

- Yes, when she came to the store.

She let Ruby walk the dog with it.

- You said you didn't see your wife at all,

from the time you got home till when we found her.

- That's right, I...

- If that's so, how did you get the chain?

- Ruby banging.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Those of you who watched our broadcast of October 27, 1957

will remember that four minutes were lost

due to a power failure.

You will be glad to learn that those four minutes

have been found.

They were discovered just west of Billings, Montana

by an elderly prospector, who unfortunately

used three of those four minutes to soft boil an egg.

However, he has returned the other minute,

and we show it to you now.