Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

Someone has at last found a practical use for my talents.

He reasoned that since I have been frightening people

for years, why not birds?

The job is somewhat restricting,

but I have a number of visitors.

One little girl and a tin woodman are quite bothersome.

They seem to be under the absurd impression

that I'm going to go dancing up the road with them.

In keeping with this bucolic mood,

tonight we are presenting a pleasant little tale

of homicide, lust, deceit, revenge, and greed.

I'm sure you'll love it.

It follows this short prologue.

(whimsical orchestral music)

- Guess they're selling off everything they can move.

- They say lawyers fees took must of it.

It's the way it goes when you're fighting for your life.

- Times like this I wish I were in some other business.

Looks like a long afternoon.

- Brass hand irons and screen,

that goes with the rest of the hardware,

and it's number 165.

Sandwich Glass, milk glass, oh, I tell ya,

we'll number these individually and use series 300.

- All right, sir.

(knocking on door)

(glass crashing)

I'm sorry Mr. Huckaby.

I don't know what happened.

- What was it?

- That little milk glass vase.

- It's only a replica, forget it.

(suspenseful music)

- [Bessie Voiceover] By the time this is found,

it ought be all over.

Justice will have had its day.

The scales will be in balance again.

It will be all over with me too.

I'm ill and tired,

and I've been dying so long I'm bored with it.

I've lived in the county a long time.

This is my home.

These are my people.

Now they've turned against me,

but still I owe them something.

I owe it to them to set history straight.

To bring to the light of day

the two lies that together make a truth.

(Bessie gasping)

- Aunt Bessie, Aunt Bessie!

You turn right around and go home.

- Not on your life.

- You know what the doctor said.

- Who was it?

Who fell off the cliff last night?

- There's nothing you can do about it now.

Go on back to the house.

- Was it Ephraim?

Camilla, tell me.

- They think so.

They haven't found him yet.

(Bessie gasping)

Aunt Bessie, come back here!

- What time did you hear him yell?

- It was a little past eight, I'd say.

- Before eight.

- Samantha, I was in the barn by eight.

- He yelled before that.

- I could've sworn that--

- About 10 to eight, Sheriff.

I was in the kitchen.

I heard it through the open window.

- [Pate] Bessie!

- Did you find the body?

- Well, we found where he hit his head down below.

And if he fell into that,

he probably won't be found this side of tidewater,

what's left of him that is.

He had no business walking this path,

dark coming on, with his eyes as bad as they were, Bessie.

- He wasn't used to this path.

- He could've taken the road.

- A mile and a half out of his way.

- Is this a piece of his mackinaw.

- He was wearing it when he left.

- Well, he probably got it caught in the fence here,

and tried to get it loose,

and well, got careless with his footing.

- He wasn't used to that fence.

None of us are.

- I'm sorry about that.

- It's a great comfort to us all, Mrs. Wilkins.

A great comfort to us all.

Eph has a nephew in Rhode Island.

He'll feel a sight better when I tell him

that the woman who put up the fence

that killed Eph Judge is sorry.

- If he was my hired man, I would've driven him home.

- Well, if you were me,

you would've stayed in bed like the doctor ordered.

- My fence belongs on my property line.

That's where I put it and that's where it'll stay.

If it fenced off a shortcut, that's too bad.

It's legal and proper.

Make of it what you will,

but don't try to put the death of Eph Judge

on my conscience.

- I don't have to put it there, Mrs. Wilkins.

That pass has been a public thoroughfare for over a century.

You had no right!

- Since when?

- Samantha.

- Now there's no point in hashing this thing over now.

- [Samantha] I'm not gonna stand here

and hear that old bitty blame me.

- Bitty, huh?

- Yes, and a snooper and a gossip, and a community nuisance!

- You listen to me!

- No wonder I put up that fence!

It's the only protection I've got with a neighbor like that!

- I've been a good neighbor all my life.

I'm a respected member of this community.

I was a friend of the McKelby's

long before you bought High Hollow.

You and that saggy kneed excuse of a husband!

- Shut your mouth.

- We got along before you!

There was this give and take between us!

None of this building of fences!

We got along, but you'll get your comeuppance, you'll see.

You'll get your come (gasping).

- Here, here.

- Aunt Bessie, Aunt Bessie!

- I'm all right.

- Just a minute, here.

- Put me down.

- No, no, no, I'll take you home.

- I can get there on my own two legs, thanks.

- If Doc Adamson knew what you was up to,

he'd have your hide, Bessie.

- It's my hide, Pate.

Now, put me down.

- You've had enough exercise for one morning.

- Yes, after you.

- No, no, no!

- I guess I'm to blame for that too.

- Well, I wouldn't be at all surprised.

(melancholy music)

- You didn't have to do that.

- Nah, it's nothing at all.

- Go on in.

- You sure she won't throw me out?

- She didn't mean all that.

It's just her way.

(knocking on door)

- Well, a wonder you didn't catch your death

with that cold morning chill.

- I've been catching my death for three years.

Be a relief when it comes.

- [Henry] Now, now, don't talk like that.

- The whole county knows I'm gonna die.

- After all, isn't everybody?

Only thing is you paddle so much about it

sounds as though you're asking for sympathy.

- I don't need that, thank you,

and I didn't need you to tote me home.

I got two good legs.

- I just did that to prove to you

that my knees aren't as saggy as you think.

- I wasn't talking about flesh and blood knees.

I mean the backbone kind.

- There now, isn't that better?

- Expect so.

- No need to thank me.

- Sit down, rest yourself.

- You know, this is the first time

I've ever been inside of this house.

- It's no fault of mine.

- You can't be as bad as you sound.

- I was very fond of Ephraim Judge.

He worked for me for over 20 years.

- I'm awfully sorry about that.

I want you to know that the fence on the property

was none of my doing.

Samantha put her mind to it and I just couldn't change it.

If Samantha wants a fence on the property line,

we put a fence on the property line.

- That's what I meant by saggy knees.

- (chuckles) I suppose you have a point.

- Doc Adamson just pulled up.

- You know, I, I think she's really feeling better.

- No fever at least.

- Guess I better be going.

- I just made some tea.

Would you like a cup.

- The man wants to go.

There's no point in holding him.

- There's no need to be rude.

- Comes easy though, doesn't it, Bessie?

Go on, have your cup of tea.

- [Henry] Thanks.

- No point in saying something nice

when it's twice as easy to chew a man out, is there, Bessie?

- Who are to talk about chewing folks out, Sam Adamson?

- Now, you shut up.

Can't hear a thing with all that poison

boiling around inside.

- Am I still alive?

- Barely, just barely.

I don't know as it's my responsibility as a medical man

to keep a woman like you alive

when you're so all fired bent on killing yourself.

- None of this soul searching.

Just do your job.

- [Sam] You've been nipping at that Applejack again,

haven't you, Bessie?

- [Bessie] I have not.

- [Sam] Don't you try to hoodwink me, Bessie Carnby.

(door thuds)

- What was all that about Applejack?

- She's very fond of it and he won't let her have a drop.

- What a pity.

- Lemon?

- No thanks, just plain.

To Bessie.

- That's very generous of you.

I hope you won't be too hard on her.

She's very old and very tired.

- Of course, I know just how you feel.

You make a very good cup of tea.

- Thank you.

- The doings out at Bessie Carnby's farm the other day

moved us to reread what we always thought

was one of Robert Frost's best poems.

Something there is that doesn't love a wall, he said, huh.

And we guess poor, old Ephraim Judge,

if he was still around, would agree.

- [Nora] Mrs. Wilkins.

- Yes, Nora?

- I finished the ironing,

and I'll do the windows first thing in the morning.

My ride's waiting.

- Go ahead.

- Night, ma'am.

- Goodnight.

- Mr. Wilkins.

- Henry and Samantha Wilkins up at High Hollow Farm,

like the neighbor in the poem,

want every stone in place.

Good fences make good neighbors they said.

But old Ephraim, along with the poet would ask,

who are they walling in or walling out?

The fence we claim will never

make good neighbors of the Wilkins.

Eph Judge who fell off the cliff into white water rapids

because of the fence will probably never be found.

And all we can do is hope

that if ever a monument is raised to him

somebody has the good taste to include Frost's opening line,

something there is that doesn't love a wall.

Ah, seems we're not only taking on East Huntsville

and the rest of the county,

we have to contend with Robert Frost as well.

Henry, I want you to go into town tomorrow,

and see this editor.

This is a vicious, personal attack,

and he has got to be made to understand.

Henry, I'm talking to you.

You know something, Henry Wilkins?

Sometimes I wish it were you who had fallen off that cliff.

If I'd been there, I might've given a push!

(whimsical orchestral music)

- Mr. Wilkins.

- Yes?

- Thank you.

- Oh, it's nothing at all.

If I had more time, I could've done a better job.

I hope it'll do for now.

- It will do very well, thank you.

- I'll be dropping in from time to time to check up on you

until you get a new hired hand.

Before I go I think I'll get you some kindling.

- Mr. Wilkins, I'm not very good at apologies,

so I won't try.

I'll just say that I'd be awfully glad

if you'd have supper with us.

- Well, I don't know as how Samantha would except.

- Who wears the pants in your family?

- You wouldn't be putting my sagging knees

to the test now, would you?

- I might.

- (chuckles) I better get that kindling.

- Mr. Wilkins, that was a formal invitation, you coming?

- Well, I'll talk it over with Samantha,

and if I'm still alive at suppertime, I'll be here.

- Supper's been ready for half an hour.

- Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to tell you

the Carnby's invited us over.

- Why?

- Just being hospitable I suppose.

- Well, we aren't going.

- Why not?

- Because I said so.

- Well, I'm going, and you'd better go back into the house.

- You are not going.

Is that clear?

(dramatic music)

- Camilla, Camilla, come here!

There she goes again!

She's been out to the barn three times carrying a lantern.

What do you suppose she's up to?

- We are about to find out.

Aunt Bessie, you did an inexcusable thing

in daring him to come along.

- Don't fret about it, I don't.

- No matter what the provocation.

No matter what happened out there at the fence,

you had no right to insult her.

- I don't care if I did.

- You are old enough to know better.

- Oh.

- And you're bid enough

to bury your feelings for one evening.

Come on now.

We are going up there to invite Samantha in person.

- Oh, I will not.

- Aunt Bessie, please.

Now don't make me go up there alone.

- Oh, the man has no gumption.

He oughta stand up to her

- He has.

- No.

- The day we had tea he must've felt

like getting it off his mind.

Poor man's in a trap.

She owns everything, the farm, the furnishings, the car,

and never lets him forget it.

- Well, he could leave her.

- He did once.

She tried to kill him.

- What?

- With a pistol.

She missed and then turned it on herself.

He still has nightmares about it.

He is deathly afraid of her.

- That she'll kill him?

- That's why I don't want him to antagonize her.

I would feel responsible if anything happened.

- [Bessie] Good heavens.

(whimsical orchestral music)

Shh!

(suspenseful music)

- [Camilla] Mrs. Wilkins!

- What do you want?

- Aunt Bessie thought she made it clear to your husband

that she wanted you both to come to dinner,

and then when we began comparing notes,

we got the feeling that you might think it was only Henry.

I hope you'll forgive us.

- I'd like to speak to Mr. Wilkins.

Where is he?

- [Samantha] He's gone.

- Where?

- He didn't say.

He left very suddenly.

- When will he be back?

- I haven't the slightest idea, goodnight.

(suspenseful music)

- What do you suppose she was doing in the barn?

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic music)

- 21, 22, 23, 24.

Is the pain getting worse?

- Considerable.

- How bad is that?

- Well, I'd like to cry for awhile if I could.

- Well, I'll up these one a day, 34,

but don't take them if you can do without, understand?

- Sam.

- Yeah?

- Sit down a minute.

- Oh, I've got other calls to make, Bessie.

- But they can wait five minutes.

That's better.

- I know it's getting worse, Bessie.

I wish there was something I could do.

But all we can do from here on out is to fight the pain.

- That's not what I wanted to talk about.

Sam, tell me, am I a nosy, suspicious, old bitty,

like that Mrs. Wilkins said?

- Why do you let that woman rile you so?

That's one reason the pain's getting worse.

You sit here chewing that over all the time.

- Answer me.

(Sam sighs)

Took up birdwatching.

Got a pair of bobolinks building a nest out yonder.

- How long has he been gone?

- 10 days.

- Well, he won't be the first man

to take off after a fight with his wife.

- I think she did away with him.

Does that make me a busybody?

- It sure does.

16 cylinder, jet-propelled.

Now, why in the world you wanna meddle with that

when you got maybe six months left on this planet?

- Well, I can't die here in peace

with a murderess next door to Camilla.

Chew on me throughout all eternity.

- Who said she's a murderess?

- I do, he told Camilla she threatened to kill him.

- Well, that's Pate Turnbull's business, not mine.

And your business is to tend to your own,

and not your neighbors.

Now, you mind what I said about those pills.

(whimsical orchestral music)

(Bessie scoffs)

(suspenseful music)

- Do you take sugar, Nora?

- Yes, thank you.

- You might explain to her

that we only want you half day a week.

- Well, I don't know how Mrs. Wilkins would feel about that.

- There can't be very much for you to do now

since Mr. Wilkins left.

- He'll been gone a long time they say.

- Who says?

- I just happen to hear it uptown.

- A long time?

- Well, after all, you should know, Nora.

You do the upstairs rooms, don't you?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Well, you'd know if he packed

for a long trip or a short one.

- Well, that's just the point.

He didn't pack at all, no suits, no clothes,

not even so much as a toothbrush.

- Well.

- Well, indeed.

- It's the Lord's truth.

Not even so much as his toothbrush.

- Doesn't that seem strange to you

that he'd go off in the dead of night

without packing a stitch?

- Well, it's a strange house.

- I mean suspicious.

- Of what?

- That she killed him.

- Killed him?

Good heavens, no.

Why, she may jump on him now and then,

but she wouldn't do a thing like that, that's illegal.

- There's no law says a man can't leave town

as if and when he wants to,

with or without a toothbrush.

Bessie.

- Thanks.

- Camilla?

- No, thank you.

- Well, how is it, Bessie?

- Very good.

- If I wasn't on duty, I'd join you.

You know I think old Doc Adamson

is making a big mistake denying you that.

Good belt of Applejack two or three times a day

you wouldn't be so darn mean.

- She hasn't had a phone call from him since he left,

or a letter, or a postal card.

He didn't pack a stitch of clothing,

not even his reading glasses.

And he didn't leave town by train or a bus, we've checked.

- Oh, you have, have you?

Well, that still doesn't mean there's any foul play.

- [Man] Can I see you a moment, Sheriff?

- Bessie, I'm sorry.

- Are you waiting for his body

to turn up on the village green?

- Well, now if it does, just don't you hesitate to call me.

- Well.

- I don't think his body's

gonna turn up on the village green.

Closer to home maybe.

- [Bessie] Huh?

- I still wonder what Samantha was doing in the barn.

(suspenseful music)

- [Bessie] Peace offering.

- I don't know as I should.

- Oh, please, take it.

Whatever else I am, Mrs. Wilkins, I'm not sneaky.

I don't like doing things behind a person's back.

I was upset when your husband

didn't come for supper two weeks ago.

I was puzzled when he didn't come by to explain,

but now a fortnight later and no word from him,

I must say, I am concerned.

- I'm sure he'd appreciate that, I don't.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

Have you had word from him?

- It's none of your business.

- A phone call, a telegram, a letter?

- Mrs. Carnby, I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me.

- Wait a minute, I'm not through.

He must've flown out of here, Mr. Wilkins.

There's no record of his taking either train or bus.

- So, all right, he flew,

and I suggest you fly off my property

before I call the sheriff.

- Let's save her the trouble.

(suspenseful music)

(Penny barking)

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.

(bucket rattles)

(Penny barking)

- (smacks lips) Penny, be still!

(suspenseful music)

(chicken cackles)

(suspenseful music)

(bucket rattles)

(suspenseful music)

(townsfolk chattering)

- There you go.

- I knew it when I saw her going back and forth to the barn.

How long has he been dead?

- Can't tell, quicklime.

- It's not Henry, it can't be.

- You did buy quicklime in town just before he took off,

didn't you, Mrs. Wilkins?

- A colt died.

He send me for it.

We buried it out there in the pasture.

We had three of them sick at once.

I was doctoring the other two.

That's why I was going into the barn.

That's what she saw.

- You still say your husband

just went off on a trip somewhere?

- I do.

- [Sheriff] You have no idea where?

- No.

- Maybe you better take a closer look.

- I don't care to.

It isn't my husband.

- Do you recognize this, Mrs. Wilkins?

- Where'd you get it?

- Whose is it?

- It's Henry's ring!

Where'd you get it?

(suspenseful music)

No.

- I'm afraid so, third finger, left hand.

- And this button was in the other hand.

(suspenseful music)

- We have arrived at the intermission.

Time for rest, relaxation, for stretching ones legs,

and identifying ones station.

(suspenseful music)

- I can't say whether that's it.

I wanna be sure.

- Is it the same brand, Ed?

- Yeah.

- And the quantity?

- 25 pounds, that's what she bought.

Said Henry had a disposal job to do.

- How much would it take to do the job, Doc?

- Five pounds, even less.

She must've used 20 here.

- I talked to Henry afterwards.

Asked him what he wanted with all that quicklime.

He give me a funny look and then he said, "What quicklime?"

- Thanks Ed, if I need ya, I'll get in touch.

- [Ed] Right.

- Look again, Mrs. Wilkins.

Sure you don't recognize these things?

- Well, Mrs. Wilkins, looks like your just about whipped.

- She has no idea how this got in the stove.

- They're Henry's, I tried to burn them.

I was in a panic.

I was scared to death.

I knew what they were all thinking.

I had no idea where Henry went.

When I found these things, I knew what it would look like,

so I tried to get rid of them.

I know it sounds crazy, but it's the truth.

- You still say Henry took off that night on his own?

- We had a quarrel about Mrs. Carnby's dinner invitation.

- Nothing unusual about that, is there?

- That's just it.

We've been quarreling all during our marriage.

For the first time,

Henry wanted to sit down and talk about it.

Wanted to try and get to the bottom

of all the quarreling and the bitterness and the misery.

Thought about it for a long time.

And then he said he better go off on his own for awhile.

- Why?

- Well, it weren't normal for a woman

to be the head of the house.

He said he wanted to try and prove himself.

Well, prove he could make it on his own

without any help from me.

Said he wouldn't write, no phone,

wouldn't come home until he'd done it.

Was something so real about it this time.

As though he really meant it.

Well, I let him go upstairs and pack.

I heard him leave.

Didn't say goodbye.

Couldn't face it somehow.

Wasn't until the next day that I,

I found that he'd left everything behind, except some money.

- Mrs. Wilkins, how do you recon he ended up here?

- I don't know.

- With this in his right hand?

- I don't know.

I don't know.

Well, I know it sounds like I'm making it up,

but it's the truth!

(suspenseful music)

(whimsical orchestral music)

- [Radio Announcer] We have a bulletin

from the state capitol.

The governor denied a last appeal

from attorneys representing Samantha Wilkins,

convicted of murdering her husband

in the Body in the Barn case.

The Easter season not withstanding,

Mrs. Wilkins was executed at seven o'clock this evening.

The first woman to suffer the death penalty

in this state in 17 years.

She maintained her innocence to the last.

This completes another day of programming.

And now may we extend our cordial best wishes to you all

at this Easter season as we bid you goodnight.

(suspenseful music)

(cork pops)

- Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to startle you.

- (gasps) What, what are you?

- Well, I came back to apologize

for backing out of that dinner invitation.

- Where've you been?

- Everywhere, South Pacific, Australia,

East Coast of African.

Able seaman no less,

and here's a fine bottle of brandy from France.

- We thought you were dead.

- (chuckles) You don't mean that.

- What happened?

- Samantha knows all about it.

We discussed it the night I left.

Here, try it.

Well, don't tell me you don't like brandy anymore.

- She said, she said you--

- Oh, she probably didn't wanna go into it.

It's kind of personal between the two of us, but it worked.

I've made it.

I've got a trade.

I can stand on my own two feet.

I'm respected and for the first time,

I'm coming home to her with some pride.

Oh, I brought her this.

It's awfully pretty and I'd like your opinion.

Now, do you think she'll like it?

- I, I don't know what to.

- Of course not.

How could you?

Every woman's taste is different.

Where's Camilla?

- Working late at the library.

- Don't tell her I'm back.

I wanna surprise her.

I expect Samantha's gone to bed.

Has she said anything about my coming back?

- Not for a long time.

- Good, Mrs. Carnby,

I can't tell you how much I've missed her.

Well, goodnight now.

(suspenseful music)

(Henry whistling)

(suspenseful music)

- Henry!

(whimsical orchestral music)

(suspenseful music)

- 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.

- It's all my fault.

- [Sam] Let's not start that.

You've got troubles enough.

- It's true, I should go out to the village green

and shout it to the world.

I did it, me and my busybody mouth.

- Why don't you hit me in the head?

- Why, Sam.

- Well, what your doing is worse.

Well, you had a right to get curious,

but it was me that killed her.

If only I hadn't been so ready to identify the body.

- The coroner said it was the most

natural mistake in the world.

What, with all that quicklime.

- Only I'm not supposed to make mistakes.

They'll forgive you, but they won't forgive a professional.

Eph Judge was 20 years older than Henry.

There were differences in height and build.

The trouble is, I was ready to believe

it was Henry the minute they called me.

Don't matter now if they never find

who picked that body out of the river

and buried it in the barn.

The fact is the people of this county

murdered an innocent woman,

and if any one of us is responsible, it's me.

Raise up, raise up.

- Huh?

- Come on.

- Oh.

Oh.

(suspenseful music)

- [Henry Voiceover] And if I'm still alive at suppertime,

I'll be here.

- [Camilla Voiceover] The man's in a trap.

She owns everything.

- [Henry Voiceover] My knees aren't as saggy as you think.

- [Camilla Voiceover] She tried to kill him.

- [Henry Voiceover] They aren't as saggy as you think.

- [Camilla Voiceover] She owns everything.

- They aren't as saggy as you think.

(suspenseful music)

Morning, Bessie, Camilla!

And the wall comes tumbling down.

Well, you're looking rather chipper this morning, Bessie.

- You're doing this to please me?

- Naturally.

- Well, my innards may not be what they ought be,

but there's nothing wrong with my head, not yet anyway.

- What do you mean, Aunt Bessie?

I thought you'd be pleased Mr. Wilkins

is taking down the fence.

- The only thing Mr. Wilkins could do to please me

would be to march down to Pate Turnbull's office

and tell him how Eph Judge's body

come to be buried in his barn.

Not only how, but why.

- I had a little talk with Mr. Turnbull

about that very thing.

We decided for the sake of the town,

and his own political future,

and for several other reasons,

that old Eph is best off in the cemetery

right where they put him.

- You're a confidence man, Henry Wilkins.

You fooled me, your wife, Sam Adamson,

the sheriff, all of us.

You made a murder weapon of this county.

- No have no right to talk to Henry that way.

- Oh, it's Henry now, is it?

- Camilla, I don't mind.

Look, Bessie, you're blaming your neighbors

for a lot more than you ought to, don't you think?

After all, it was your doing.

Old Eph would be there still if it wasn't for you.

- That's what you say.

- That's what they're all saying uptown.

You may no know it.

You stay home all the time.

You wouldn't have the chance to hear it.

Bessie, you killed poor Samantha.

You and your prying little mind

made a grieving widower out of me.

- They know better than that.

- Camilla, drive Bessie up town,

and let her hear it for herself.

I'll see you tonight.

- That's what you think.

(suspenseful music)

(door thuds)

Camilla!

Show the gentleman out.

- Aunt Bessie.

- Show the gentleman out.

- Dear, Aunt Bessie.

- Don't you call me that.

- But I'm perfectly willing to forget the past.

You took my wife from me.

A woman who was my strength and sustenance

for almost 15 years.

They're all saying that I'll never forgive you,

but I'm willing to turn the other cheek.

- Camilla.

- No, Aunt Bessie, this is going to be Henry's house too.

- What?

- We're going to be married.

That's why the fence came down.

- Brandy, Aunt Bessie?

(suspenseful music)

- There's no proof, there's nothing.

Now, the only thing we would be able to offer in court

is that Henry Wilkins must've buried that body

because we found it in his barn.

Now, nobody saw anything.

Nobody knows where he found the body if he did.

Nobody knows anything.

Bessie, Henry Wilkins has made fools out of us once before.

Now, you can call it politics.

You can call it discretion.

You can call it anything you want,

but from the supervisors on down

there isn't a man that wants to take on Henry Wilkins again.

- You're cowards, all of you.

- Oh sure, that's easy for you to say,

but I've got to live with these people.

Ah, Bessie, I'm sorry, I talked to the doctor,

and he told about you,

and I'm honestly sorry, and you know that,

but I've got to live with these people.

- What if I told you he was planning to kill me?

- [Sheriff] Now, what do you mean by that?

- I told him I was going to disinherit Camilla.

He's got his eye on this farm, not Camilla.

He wants to join it to High Hollow.

- [Sheriff] Are you sure of this?

- He's been giving me my medicine, morphine pills.

I've been missing them a few at a time.

I think he's saving them up somewhere.

Wanted you to know that just in case.

- Yeah, Bessie, yeah, sure.

- You sure she isn't snitching these pills on the side?

- She dropped a half a bottle down the drain.

- You sure?

- That's what she said.

- Now, I want her to have no more

one of these every four hours.

You see to that, will you?

- Right.

- She's a sick old lady.

When it comes, I want it to be in the right way.

You understand what I mean?

- Of course I understand.

Don't you worry.

I'll take care of the pills.

(door thuds)

- Sorry.

- Sure, Bessie's prescription.

(suspenseful music)

(bell ringing)

- Henry.

Henry!

Henry.

- What is it now?

- Is that any way to begin?

- What's got into you?

- When you feel the hand on you,

you can't dislike anyone anymore, Henry.

I'm just finding that out.

- You don't mean?

- I'm afraid so.

I can't hate anymore.

I want you to forgive me, really.

- Bessie.

- Please, Henry, forgive a dying woman

who's made a lot of mistakes.

- Very well, what else do you want?

- I wanna go to sleep.

- And you'd like to have another pill?

- Yes.

- No, Bessie, not until midnight.

One every four hours.

That's what the doctor said.

- Must you always do what the doctor says?

- But, Bessie, I'm concerned about you.

After all, you're my responsibility.

I wouldn't wanna get careless at this point, would I now?

- Some brandy then.

- [Henry] Well.

- Please, Henry.

- Oh, all right.

(suspenseful music)

There you are.

- Thank you, Henry.

(suspenseful music)

Bless you.

Yes, by the time this is found,

it ought be all over with Henry.

Justice took a wild ride,

but I hope it ends up at the right place.

All the lies and the stupidity and the bungling

somehow must add up to truth.

I hope Henry Wilkins thinks of that

when they lead him off to the execution for killing me.

(suspenseful music)

(Camilla whimpering)

- Steady now, I know how much he meant to you.

- I don't think I can go through with it, Mr. Gregg.

- A funeral is always a trial.

You'll do fine, come along.

(suspenseful music)

(Camilla whimpering)

- He didn't kill her, he didn't.

They hanged an innocent man.

- Steady, steady.

(Camilla crying)

- That is the end of tonight's story.

We would like to show you more,

but we seem to be running out of characters.

I decided to come down from my pedestal.

The ah, the birds lacked the proper respect.

I also took on one person's observation

that the whole scene looked like

a coat of arms for television.

A large hand ramped on a field of corn.

Until next week, goodnight.