Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

How do you do, and welcome to "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour."

Strange how old fashioned ways are sometimes best.

In a plastic age, with its many new and different fabrics,

I have suddenly realized the amazing properties

of a material as old as civilization, rawhide.

Here are two of our new rawhide bathing suits.

They are identical.

This one is still wet.

This is the way it looks

after you have been lying in the sun.

Obviously, this is the answer to man's most urgent problem,

how to reduce without exercising.

Of course, this material has other more important uses,

as a gift to a friend.

Perhaps I can explain by telling you

I have just presented the sponsor with a vest.

It's quite modern.

There are no unsightly buttons.

After he puts it on, it zips together at the back.

After all, I don't want him to change his mind

when it begins to dry,

and be able to take it off.

And now a word from the man

with the incredible shrinking vest.

(somber music)

(wind whistling)

(dramatic music)

- You pass anybody along this road

in say the last 10 or 15 minutes?

- No.

Oh yes, I did.

A woman, maybe 20 minutes, half an hour ago.

- Do you live in this neighborhood?

- No, just happened to be taking a walk.

(wind whistling)

- Would you mind getting in the car?

- Now look officer, I don't follow you.

I mean, I don't get the point.

- Oh you will, sir.

Would you please get in the car?

(ominous music)

I thought you might like

to talk with this fella, Sergeant.

We picked him up down the street.

- Well?

- He doesn't live in this neighborhood,

and he says he was just out for a walk.

- It seems they've never heard

of such a thing before, Sergeant.

Is there any law against taking a walk?

- No sir, no law against it.

What happened to your clothes?

- [Officer] You were saying?

- I was about to say that I simply fell when I was walking

and I tripped over something in the dark.

- You're new in Lewisburg, aren't you mister?

- Clements, Howard Clements.

See?

Look, here's the driver's license

and the social security card.

Employee identification.

I work for Futurama Plastics.

I was just transferred here.

- Excuse me a minute.

Doctor?

Bring him in.

There's no reason to be frightened now, Isabel.

I just want to see if you can identify this man.

Clements?

- Yes.

I'm certain this is the man.

- Huh?

What does she mean, what man?

I passed her on the street, I told you,

but I was never within six feet of her.

(Isabel sobbing)

Well make her look at me!

- [Sergeant] This is such a serious charge,

I would like you to consider it once more.

Are you sure this is the man?

- Yes.

I was calling the parents of one of my students,

and I was searching for the address in the dark when he...

Don't ask me to repeat what happened.

I screamed, and fought him off,

and I somehow found my way to the nearest house,

and this lady called the police.

(Howard chuckles)

- Sergeant, this isn't possible.

I passed her on the street, but that's absolutely all.

(Isabel sobbing)

I got one look at her.

Hey, hey now, you're all crazy.

I had nothing to do with it.

I've only lived here a couple of months.

I came from the Chicago office of Futurama.

Now wait a minute, I'm not some bum

you found sleeping in an alley!

- Suppose we save the details

until we get back to the station house.

- Station house, why should I go to the station house?

- Because I'm taking you in for further questioning

on possible charges of attempted assault

with criminal intent.

- Are you telling me this woman has got a case?

Now what kind of law do you practice, Mr. Selby?

- Well now, wait a minute.

- You think it was easy for me

to scrape up that retainer I paid you?

Look, I want something for my money, I want help.

- [Selby] I'm trying to help you, believe me.

- Well you could've stopped them

from ever bringing the case to trial.

I mean, what kind of evidence have they got?

They've got the testimony of one hysterical woman.

- Well that hysterical woman, as you call her,

doesn't always give that impression.

She's well known in Lewisburg.

She runs one of the finest private girls schools

in New Hampshire.

My own daughter went there.

- But it's still my word against hers, now isn't it?

Well, isn't it?

- Well, yes.

- Then what difference does it make?

- No difference in the eyes of the law.

However, in the eyes of a jury--

- Ah, ah so my word isn't as good.

I mean, I'm a stranger in town

and she is the pillar of the community, right?

- It's not as cut and dried as that.

I mean,

well let's look at the circumstance.

You go for a three mile walk on a cold night.

Something people just don't do.

- Correction, please, some people.

- All right, some people.

But nobody else was seen in the vicinity

where Isabel Smith was attacked.

Then your clothes were in a mess.

- Now look, come on.

- Yes, yes, you had a convenient explanation of course.

You fell.

Then there was that art collection in your apartment.

The nudes.

- Oh, please.

Now those pictures are prints of established classics!

Degas, Matisse, Picasso.

They're available in most department stores.

Now come on, that's about as racy

as two pounds of hamburger.

- But most of all, there's Isabel Smith herself.

Isabel Smith says you're the man.

Well, she's known to be an honest woman.

Why should she say it if it weren't true?

- That's the part I can't figure out.

All right, Mr. Selby, why did she do it?

- That's an interesting question, Mr. Clements.

A very interesting psychological question.

I've known Isabel Smith for a long time,

and frankly, well she's not a woman

who's gotten much out of life.

I think she was already a spinster,

even before she was old enough to marry.

- Yeah, she's no beauty.

I mean, how people could even think

I'd risk getting sent to jail because of her.

- Now, I'm not saying that Isabel Smith

is aware of this herself, but somewhere,

deep down in her subconscious

she may still be waiting

for her (speaks in foreign language)

to come out of the West.

- That's ridiculous.

- No no, no I'm serious.

You know what I really think?

I think it's possible some man did accost her that night.

Unfortunately, he got away.

And that left you.

- But why me, why did she have to pick on me?

- Wish fulfillment, maybe?

She saw your face, and she remembered it.

In other words, Mr. Clements, she wanted it to happen,

and she picked you.

- Howard Clements, will you rise and face the court?

Howard Clements, having been found guilty

of attempted criminal assault,

it is my duty to sentence you to a term

of not less than one,

and not more than five years imprisonment

in the state penitentiary.

(dramatic music)

(somber music)

(Howard knocking)

- Come in, Clements.

That's all right, sit down.

We're not so formal here when you're leaving.

I see you're from Lewisburg.

Think you'll be going back there?

- Yes, I'm going back.

- I see.

Well, just what plans have you made?

- Oh I've made plans.

- [Man] For a job?

- That's right, a job.

Who knows?

I might even find a nice girl in Lewisburg, and settle down.

- Oh that's the best thing you could do, take it from me.

Little family responsibility

really makes a man toe the line.

Well, that's neither here nor there.

You've

earned $105 for your wages in the machine shop.

Give this to the clerk at the gate.

- I've got a lot more than that coming.

- Well, how's that?

- Well I gave up a pretty good job

to work in that machine shop, warden.

I figure I lost about $13,000 in salary alone.

Now is the state gonna make that up to me?

- The state doesn't owe you a thing, Clements.

We gave you something for your time, a lesson.

I sincerely hope you never forget.

- You know, you may be right at that, warden.

I did learn some lessons here.

I learned a great deal.

(suspenseful music)

12,900, 12,950,

15,000.

I'd like to get a bus ticket to Lewisburg.

One way.

(somber music)

(engine idling)

(ominous music)

(Isabel yelps)

Oh, excuse me!

- Officer!

This man is annoying me.

- What's that ma'am?

- No, please, Ms. Smith.

Why must you keep on persecuting me?

Haven't you done enough already?

- He tried to attack me once before.

I want you to arrest him.

- Would you mind repeating that, ma'am?

- Officer, I hope you realize

I am not making this charge irresponsibly.

- Oh that may well be ma'am,

but I was standing right here.

Now I saw what happened.

Now what kind of charge are you prepared to make?

- No charge.

(upbeat music)

- That was four dollars and 77 cents with tax, and five.

I hope you enjoy it, sir.

Come in again.

Allow me.

Can I help you, Ms. Smith?

- No, thank you.

Well, yes you could.

I'm looking for some music

for a ballet recital we're giving at the school.

- Well, I might recommend some--

- No, that's not the truth.

The truth is, I feel guilty about yesterday.

I know I made a mistake about yesterday.

- I'm glad you told me.

- I didn't mean to be rude.

I hope you understand that.

- Well, I know that it wasn't easy for you

to come here and say this,

but I'm very grateful.

- I'd almost completely forgotten about that other time.

I suppose I never expected to

see you in Lewisburg again.

- I wanted to come back.

There are things about this town I like.

- It took courage.

- No, I don't think so.

I was counting on the fact that people have short memories.

Also that good music's more important than bad gossip.

You know, I think this town's

always needed a good music store.

- Yes, you know that is true.

I've sometimes had to go all the way to Capitol City

to get a halfway decent record.

Oh well, this will do fine, thank you.

(pleasant music)

- My, it's pretty.

What is it, Ms. Smith?

- "The Damnation of Faust."

it's a new album I bought.

- Faust?

But you've already got a record of that.

I remember I saw it last week.

- Oh, well yes,

but this one is supposed to be a better version.

- [Martha] Sounds exactly the same to me.

- You know you may be right.

It is the school's money I'm spending after all, isn't it?

Perhaps I should get something different.

Don't you think so, Martha?

- Well, just as you think, Ms. Smith.

- Yes, well I think I'll just run right down

and return it.

- Here we are.

One fresh copy of "Swan Lake."

- Oh, thank you.

Sorry to put you to so much trouble.

- Oh it's no trouble at all.

Speaking of Tchaikovsky,

there's a concert tonight at Pilgrim Hall.

Liszt and Debussy too, I believe.

Yes, that's right Debussy's "La Mer."

- Sounds interesting.

- Yes.

I happen to have two tickets.

Now look, I know how strange it might seem to some people

if you went to that concert with me.

- You mean you--

- Now please, don't answer in a hurry.

Things we say in a hurry, sometimes we're sorry later.

Maybe some narrow-minded people

wouldn't expect to see us together,

but I don't care about people like that.

All I care about is what you think.

- No, I couldn't.

I really couldn't.

- The last time you were in here,

you talked about courage.

- Well it's not that.

I have a meeting I have to attend tonight.

It's a charity meeting that I attend every month.

- Of course.

- Well perhaps I could get out of it, just this one time.

May I use your phone?

- By all means, it's right over there.

- Mrs. John Needham, please, yes.

I don't see why I can't miss one meeting in seven years.

- You only live once!

(dramatic orchestral music)

(somber music)

(pleasant music)

- Oh, Howard.

You don't mind.

Would you mind if we didn't go anywhere tonight?

There's something I have to

talk to you about, very important.

Would you come inside?

This isn't easy for me, Howard.

- Oh it can't be all that serious.

Or is it?

- To me it is.

Lieutenant Huntley came to see me this afternoon.

- Oh?

Did he want to know if I'd been annoying you again?

- He heard that I had been seeing you,

and he asked if it were true.

I said yes it was, that I'd seen you several times.

- Uh-huh, and how did he take it?

- He seemed worried.

- Oh.

- Of course, it's none of his business,

but he's more than just a policeman to me, you know?

He was a friend of my father's.

My father liked him,

and he's always taken an interest in me.

- Apparently he's sort of interested in me too.

- Howard.

I told you once that I'd put that time out of my mind.

That isn't so.

I've thought about that night often,

about that night and what happened afterwards.

- Sh, sh, thought we weren't

gonna talk about that, remember?

- I want to talk about it, please.

Lately all I can think about is,

could I have been wrong?

Completely wrong.

I feel now that if you told me the answer,

it would be the truth.

I'd see it in your eyes.

I'd know it was true.

- Do you want the answer, Isabel?

- I don't know, Howard.

I'm afraid of the answer.

Either way, I'm afraid of it.

- If I said I wasn't guilty.

If I told you that it wasn't me that night?

- Then you'd hate me for what I did to you.

You'd hate me, and I couldn't stand that.

- You dope.

Don't you know I could never hate you?

(tender music)

(ominous music)

- A few of our viewers wrote in telling us

that they feel the station break

is the high point of the evening.

We shall now hear from one of those viewers.

(classical piano music)

- Lieutenant Huntley, ma'am.

Lieutenant Huntley, ma'am.

- Oh, oh thank you.

Oh John!

Sorry, I didn't hear you.

- Hello, Isabel.

- Nice to see you.

Please sit down.

Would you like some coffee?

- Oh, no thanks.

- I hope this isn't official business.

- No no, not at all.

It's just that what I have to say to you

is easier standing up.

- Oh.

- You know I was a good friend of your father's Isabel,

and I wanna be your friend too.

When I tell you this--

- I'm 10 jumps ahead of you, John.

You've come to deliver a sermon

on the subject of Howard Clements.

- No, not a sermon.

I have no prepared text.

I have nothing, but a feeling.

- Yes, to you he's just an ex-convict, a criminal.

But don't you see how funny that is?

I'm the one who called him a criminal, not you.

I don't believe you even thought he was guilty.

- It isn't important what we thought then, either one of us.

What is important is now, right now,

and what he is thinking.

- He's thinking about me.

Is there anything wrong with that?

I suppose you think that's crazy.

Isabel Smith, who would ever think

a man would look at her twice?

- I never said anything like that.

- You know you don't remember, but I do.

I remember listening to you and Daddy

discussing me in this very room.

I remember Daddy referred to me as his ugly duckling.

I suppose he thought I'd grow up and change

and become pretty overnight, but I didn't.

You didn't know I was listening, did you?

But I had good, big ears.

- Your father was thinking of your happiness.

- Well, you're both wrong.

I found a way to be happy.

- Isabel, listen to me.

This man--

- Don't you want to hear

Isabel Smith's formula for being happy?

Don't ask too many questions,

don't put everything under a microscope.

Take what you can get.

- That's what I wanna know, what are you getting?

- What's your theory?

That he's after my money?

Don't you know the school's been in the red

for the past four years?

If it weren't for the assistance we get from the town board,

we would've closed our doors long ago.

No John, that's no good.

Howard's more solvent than I am.

He's planning to open a second store in Springdale.

- I know it's not money, Isabel.

- Then what does he want from me?

- I'm afraid--

- You were all out of mushrooms.

Well, this is a nice surprise, Lieutenant.

- I was just leaving.

- Well maybe you'd like to stay for dinner.

I was about to show Isabel why all the great chefs are men.

Would you look at this?

If you can wait 'til I can get it chilled,

you can help us celebrate.

- Celebrate what?

- Didn't Isabel tell you the big news?

We're being married at the end of the week.

- Married?

- Yes that's right, marriage.

Old and honorable institution.

- Congratulations, to both of you.

- We'd invite you to the wedding,

but it won't be much of an affair.

But I tell you what,

we'll save you some of the wedding cake.

(somber music)

- She really did it, Lou.

She married that guy.

I still can't accept it.

- Where'd they go?

- They're honeymooning on the coast,

a place called Credence Cove about 30 miles from here.

- That's one for the books all right,

the psychiatry journals.

Why'd he do it, Lieutenant?

There's got to be a reason.

- Well it isn't the money, apparently.

Isabel doesn't have any.

The school actually loses money.

She says that Clements is richer than she is.

- I didn't know the record business was that good.

- I wouldn't have thought so myself.

He was only a clerk for Futurama Plastics.

He couldn't have made much money.

- Maybe he inherited some.

- For a guy with inherited money,

he lived in a pretty cheap apartment

when he first moved to Lewisburg.

- Yeah, well he sure didn't earn that capital in jail.

I mean they don't pay that much

for making those license plates.

- No.

When Clements first came to see me,

he said he had money saved.

Margaret, get me Dan Gordon at the Lewisburg Bank.

- What are you thinking of?

- Nothing, I just wanna look this gift horse in the mouth.

Hello, Dan.

John Huntley.

You have a depositor by the name of Howard Clements.

I think your bank arranged financing

for a record shop he owns.

So I understand.

Look Dan, I'd like a rundown on his personal account.

No no, nothing official,

but it is important.

All right, fine.

I'll be waiting for your call.

You know what Isabel said to me?

She said the only way to be happy

is to stop asking questions.

But I have to ask them, Lou.

I have to.

- And this thing went out,

it was the longest ball I've ever seen in my life.

- Lou, would you come in here a minute please?

- Yeah, excuse me.

- I just got a call from Dan Gordon at the bank.

It seems that Clements made his first deposit on June ninth

to the tune of $13,000 exactly.

(Lou whistles)

And the money wasn't transferred from another bank.

It was in cash, in large bills.

- Yeah but that still doesn't mean he's done--

- Now wait a minute.

When I heard this, something clicked in my brain.

Something that happened in Capitol City on June 6th,

just three days before.

The holdup of a bank messenger.

So I dug out the bulletins.

Now you won't find much in this.

There were no witnesses.

Nobody spotted the license number

on the car the criminal was driving.

The only peculiar thing is

what happened after the robbery.

- An unmarked envelope postmarked to Capitol City

was received by police, containing $2,150.

The total amount stolen from the bank messenger was $15,150.

That would leave 13,000.

- On the nose.

- That's still not proof, Lieutenant.

You can't convict anybody on evidence like this.

- Well it's better than nothing.

- Okay, so maybe Clements did do the job,

but it still doesn't make sense.

Why would he want to marry the woman who sent him to jail?

- Well it isn't for money,

and it certainly isn't for her looks.

Howard Clements is an attractive guy.

He could've married any number of better looking women.

No, Lou.

There can only be one reason.

I think he intends to kill her.

And there's not a thing I can do to stop him.

(pleasant music)

- You have such a nice chin, Howard.

Don't ever grow a beard, promise?

- All right, I promise.

(Howard chuckles)

You're tickling me.

- I just love to look at you.

- Well, that's good because you'll be seeing me

around for a long time.

- It'll never be long enough.

Howard?

- Mhmm?

- I'd hate to think that tomorrow's our last day.

Couldn't we stay a little bit longer?

- Well, I wish we could but--

- The girls are still on vacation.

School won't begin 'til the end of the month.

- Well it's not just your school.

I've got a business to run too, you know.

- Just hate to think about going back.

- Well, we better think about going back right now.

To shore, I mean.

We've used up practically all the gas in this baby.

- No we haven't.

There's still a whole tank left.

- Take a look for yourself.

Yeah, we've only got a couple of gallons left.

- You really don't know very much about boats, do you?

There are two tanks in this kind of boat.

See, there's the port tank.

And a starboard tank.

When this tank is empty, you flip the switch.

And this tank takes over.

So, we've got plenty of gas.

- Well what do ya know?

I had a picture of us being marooned out here.

- That be so bad?

- Yeah, sure.

Couldn't we drift out to sea or die of thirst or something?

- No, if somebody didn't pick us up

we'd probably drift right back into shore anyway.

So that's one thing you can stop worrying about.

- Okay, I'll stop worrying about that.

- Nice little craft you got yourself.

Rented?

- That's right.

Only I'm not the skipper.

That'd be my wife.

Me, I'm just a landlubber.

- Got plenty of company.

Whole danged ocean's filled with Sunday sailors nowadays.

- Yeah, I guess that's right.

- Well, there's a heck of a lot more to it

than hoistin' a sail, or turnin' a wheel.

You got to know what you're about,

or the next thing you know, trouble.

- Huh, is that a fact?

- Seen it happen plenty of times.

- What kind of trouble did you mean, falling overboard?

- There was a couple last month that drifted around

for 18 hours before the Coast Guard picked 'em up.

Brought 'em in lookin' like a pair of drowned rats.

- Well I, I don't suppose

there are many fatal accidents though.

- No.

Whoa, but there was a bad one two years ago last August.

A boat like this exploded out at sea, blam.

All three people in it, killed.

- My, that's terrible.

Do they know what caused it?

- Wasn't enough of that boat left

to make a stack of firewood.

But look, what's the biggest cargo a boat like this carries?

Gasoline, son, and that is what blew her up.

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic music)

- No official reason was given

as the cause of the explosion,

but Police Chief Martin Summers theorized

that a buildup of gasoline fumes

in the bilge caused the disaster.

One possibility mentioned was that the coupling

on the fuel lines from the starboard and port tanks

had loosened.

If the coupling had come loose even a fraction,

Chief Summers said, an explosion could've occurred

when switching tanks.

(suspenseful music)

(dog barking)

Hi.

- Hi.

My, you took a long time to get those cigarettes.

- Well, I thought I'd take a little walk.

You know honey, I've been thinking about that

shop in Springdale.

And you know, if Ferguson

won't accept the $3,000 down payment,

I'll have to give up the whole idea.

- There's plenty of time to worry about that.

- No, no there's no time at all.

Ferguson's leaving for Europe next week.

So I told him to call me here tomorrow and let me know.

- Tomorrow?

But we're taking the boat out tomorrow.

It's our last day.

- Yeah, I know.

But it can't be helped.

This is important to me, honey.

Well, it's important to both of us.

I tell you what, why don't you take the boat out yourself?

I'd hate to spoil your fun.

- Alone?

I wouldn't think of it.

- But why not?

You're the sailor in the family, not me.

I hate to see you disappointed.

- I wouldn't enjoy it without you.

Maybe Ferguson will call early.

- I doubt it.

I doubt it, I might have to hang around the hotel all day.

Aww.

Now don't make me feel like a heel, Isabel.

It's the last chance you'll have,

and they say the weather's going to be perfect.

I won't take no for an answer.

- You're so sweet to me, Howard.

(somber music)

(phone rings)

- Yes?

No, this is room 520.

You've got the wrong number.

(somber music)

(suspenseful music) (engine puttering)

(engine roaring)

(dramatic music)

(explosion booms)

Thank you.

- May I come in?

- Why Lieutenant, you're a long way off your beat.

- I thought I'd take a drive down,

and express my sympathies.

- Thank you, but you could've telephoned.

- No, I couldn't.

I wanted to see your face.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- I want to see what you look like now, Clements.

Now that you've got what you wanted.

- You think I wanted this?

Isabel dead?

- I've thought so ever since

I heard you were going to be married.

I couldn't prove it.

I couldn't even say it out loud.

But I smelled murder on you, Clements.

I still smell it.

- And what about now, Lieutenant?

Do you have the proof?

- [John] You know I haven't anything, not even a corpse.

- Yes, the sea is a pretty big graveyard.

I guess you'd have trouble finding anything there, hm?

Now look, would you mind leaving, Lieutenant?

I've been up all night.

I could use the sleep.

- You think you can sleep?

- I can sleep very well, Lieutenant.

(phone rings)

Hello?

It's for you.

- Hello?

Yes, Lou.

What?

It's fine, I'll stay right here.

Thanks for letting me know.

- Good news?

- Very good news.

A fishing boat spotted the wreckage.

There must have been an explosion of some kind,

but Isabel was thrown clear.

She held onto some debris,

and floated in the water half the night,

but she's all right, she's perfectly fine.

She should be back here within the hour.

(phone rings)

- Hello?

Yes, I've heard.

Yes, thank you very much.

- So it didn't work, Clements.

You didn't get your revenge, after all.

- Get out of here, Huntley.

You just leave me alone.

- You don't get many chances at murder, Clements.

A woman can have one fatal accident,

but two would be very suspicious.

We'll be watching you from now on in.

- Now what makes you think that murder's

the only way to get rid of a wife, Lieutenant?

- But you don't want to get rid of Isabel.

She loves you, Clements.

She doesn't care what you are, or why you married her.

She doesn't ask questions.

She just wants you around.

- Well she might have to learn to do without me.

- Marriage isn't so bad, Clements.

It's a lot better than prison,

if you had to go back.

- Go back?

- You see, there was this bank messenger in Capitol City.

Now the man who robbed him got away with more than $15,000

and he was never caught.

A strange sort of criminal.

He seemed to think that the world owed him something.

Owed him $13,000, to be exact.

So he sent back the remainder, and opened a bank account.

- That's got nothing to do with me.

- Oh, there was no real case against him now,

but who knows?

With a little hard work, and patience?

I'm a patient man, Clements.

- You couldn't prove it.

- If you want to take that chance, take it.

But remember what the penalty might be.

Another five or 10 years behind bars.

Five or 10 years, Clements.

A cell can look pretty small in all that time.

- Okay.

What do you want me to do?

- Do, why nothing at all.

What any ordinary husband does.

Love and cherish, honor and obey.

Isabel deserves that much, Howard.

- I can't, I can't!

- It's your choice.

- Howard.

Oh, Howard.

I'm all right, I'm safe.

(somber music)

- And so Isabel and Howard lived happily ever after.

Oh, Howard occasionally had unwholesome thoughts,

but the knowledge of what the consequences would be

proved a purifying influence.

He is now a model husband.

A miserable husband, but a model one.

Next week, we should be back with another uplifting story.

Scenes of which will be on view in a few moments.