Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

This is a wishing well.

It is a very ancient, romantic,

and profitable institution. (water burbling)

Naturally.

(coins clanking)

We through the smaller ones back.

(coin splashing)

Into the water, of course.

It's the sporting thing to do.

It is very interesting how the wishing well got its name.

It seems a young man was wishing

he could find a way to make money,

then he though of this.

You will find no wishing well in tonight's story,

but the setting is a bucolic one,

where there is privacy and quiet,

and where help is far, far away.

All this begins in just 60 seconds.

(gentle music)

(utensils clanking)

- It's some hard work ahead of you.

Take some more ham.

- I guess I'll need the energy.

- Want another glass of milk?

- Wouldn't hurt.

(squirrel chittering)

- Well, good mornin'.

(squirrel chittering) Good mornin'.

(nut cracking) Hello.

Yes.

Well, good mornin' there.

Well, here it is.

There it is.

Yes.

(squirrel chittering) Oh, come on,

don't be so grumpy.

Well, yes. (mumbles) (squirrel chittering)

(woman chattering faintly)

That's what you wanted, isn't it?

Hmm? (squirrel chittering)

Yes, that's what you wanted, isn't it?

Well, all right.

Well, all right, where you gonna go?

Where you gonna go?

(mumbles) some more of it for you.

Ah, just right.

You just all right, yeah.

There you are.

Hey, don't be such a little pig.

(Stella chuckles)

Be so greedy.

(squirrel chittering) Uh oh.

Forgot the water, didn't I?

I'll fix that.

(water burbling) Ooh, there.

There now.

How 'bout you just have a little somethin' to drink here.

(squirrel chittering) Hmm?

(squirrel chittering)

You're a nice little fella.

Strong and brave, aren't ya?

Hmm? (chuckles)

(birds chirping)

Emery?

Emery?

- Hmm?

- Looks like somebody's comin' down the road.

- Well, it's a public road.

It ain't fancy, it ain't paved, but it's public road.

(squirrel chittering)

(chuckles)

- Greedy little thing, you.

Why don't you get some water, huh?

(chuckles) (birds chirping)

Maybe he's lookin' for work.

You could use some help.

- Not at $6 a day.

- He looks like a tramp.

Maybe you could get him cheaper.

- Tramp, huh?

Well now, that makes a little difference.

If I can get my peaches off of them trees a few days early,

I can get a better price for 'em.

- Thought that might make a little difference.

- Now, what does that mean?

- Nothin'.

If he's tramp, he's probably broke and hungry.

Room and board and $5 a day might be all he'd ask.

(birds chirping)

(squirrel chittering)

(chuckles) Oh, don't take them all now.

(chuckles) Goodbye now.

(birds chirping)

(utensils clanking)

- Come on.

Stella, this is Jesse.

He's gonna help me pick my peaches.

- I seen the peaches,

and I figured that y'all needed some help.

- Yes, my husband does need some help with the peaches.

Don't ya, Emery?

- (chuckles) It's like I said, I seen all the peaches.

- Well, we got some that need pickin'.

Course we don't let hired hands have the run of the house,

we got separate place out back.

- Well, that's all right.

- And your name's Jesse?

- [Jesse] Uh-huh.

- Well, Jesse, you can eat here in the kitchen with us,

but you come in the backdoor.

And you knock, don't forget that.

- (chuckles) All right.

(utensils clanking)

- Now, you'll got room and board and $3 a day.

- All right.

- Well now, I guess you're hungry, ain't ya?

- [Jesse] Yeah, I am hungry.

- All right, Stella, you lay some more beans

out there for Jesse.

That'll be enough ham.

And there's plenty of milk.

Stella?

- Yes?

- Get some eats for Jesse.

Now, you just sit down there, Jesse, and eat.

I'll be scatterin' the pickin' buckets,

out in the orchard.

I got a contract with cannery.

They won't buy nothin' picked off the ground.

And the way I look at it,

it's better to have 'em a little green than a little ripe.

And they ain't gettin' no bigger.

You come on out, just soon as Stella's fed ya.

- All righty.

(door creaking)

(door slams)

You got anymore of them 'mators?

- I'mma have to slice some more.

- (chuckles) No.

Just bring me the 'mators, I'll slice 'em.

(utensil clanking)

- (sighs) You eat like a hog.

(chuckles)

- I wouldn't say that eatin's my worst habit.

(water burbling)

Just the way men eat.

You got a husband, you outta know that.

- Yeah, I guess so.

Where'd you come from?

- Nowhere.

Dozen places.

(food sloshing) (utensils clanking)

- Where were you 'fore you come here?

- [Jesse] Up the road a way.

- Is that all you can say?

"Was up the road a ways?" (plates clanking)

- I could say more.

(chuckles) But I ain't.

- My husband likes to know a little somethin'

'bout his hired hands.

- Looked to me like he wasn't interested in anything,

but whether or not I was gonna pick his peaches.

- Well, he is.

- [Jesse] He outta ask me then.

- I was tryin' to save him the trouble.

- Wouldn't of been no trouble.

- What's your other name?

- [Jesse] Jesse.

That's all.

- Don't you have a last name?

- Just Jesse.

First name, middle name, last name.

(chuckles) That saves a lot of breath, don't it?

- Put that knife outta site.

- Does that make you nervous?

- Yes.

Put away now, hear?

- If you say so.

(engine rumbling)

- [Stella] Emery!

- Now, I know what you're gonna say.

I shoulda paid 'em $5 a day.

Well, if a man is fool enough to work for three, well then,

(chuckles) I'd be a fool not to take 'em up on it.

- You know that's not what's botherin' me.

- Now, what's that supposed to mean?

- Emery, do you need 'em real bad?

- Now look, Stella.

We got a good crop a peaches on the tree.

As soon as we get 'em picked and into the cannery,

we'll have a crop a money in the bank.

Now, that's all I'm after.

If havin' Jesse around makes you unhappy,

well, you're just gonna have to be unhappy for a few days.

Because I aim to get these peaches picked!

And I don't aim to lose a hired hand

that I can get for $3 a day.

Now, get on back in there

and see that he gets what he wants to eat.

(somber music) (buckets clanking)

- Did you tell him about my knife?

Did you tell him about my knife, Stella?

- No.

- What'd you talk about then?

- (sighs) Weather.

Way you eat, I guess.

- Look, I hired out to pick peaches,

not to give lessons in table manners.

Besides.

I get it ate, don't I?

(water splashes) (squirrel chittering)

- Yes. (squirrel chittering)

- Is that a pet squirrel?

- Yes, he's a pet.

Comes around here for eats.

(squirrel chittering)

- He's fat one, ain't he?

(squirrel chittering) (Jesse chuckles)

Maybe I outta kill 'em. (chuckles)

And then you can make Emery and me a stew for supper.

- I'll take care of supper.

You leave the squirrel alone!

(ominous music)

- Well, if you say so.

(squirrel chittering) (Jesse chuckles)

- [Emery] You get enough to eat?

- Just about.

Couple more bites.

- [Emery] Well, eat all you can hold.

We got plenty a work to do.

- Well, that's why I hired out for.

Nice squirrel the wife's got there.

- Yeah. (men chuckling)

- [Jesse] Fat one too, ain't it?

- [Emery] She feeds that squirrel better than she does me,

don't ya, Stella? (men laughing)

- No.

(laughing historically)

(chuckles nervously)

(exhaling heavily)

Well, less you got some more eatin' to do,

I guess it's time for us to get to work.

- Well, this'll hold me 'til supper.

- Well now, you start to work here, by the house,

and I'll join you,

just as soon as I finish scatterin' the picken' bucket.

(ominous music) (door slams)

(squirrel chittering)

(dirt rustling) (squirrel chittering)

(chuckling)

(squirrel chittering)

(Jesse laughing historically)

(squirrel chittering)

(Stella gasps)

(suspenseful music)

(screaming)

(sobbing)

- What's a matter with you?

What?

How'd it happen?

(Stella sobbing)

Jesse, whatcha kill it for?

That squirrel was Stella's pet.

- I didn't mean to kill it, but the animal attacked me.

- [Emery] Attacked ya?

Why that squirrel's so friendly, he--

- Look, I can't help it.

Even friendly animals have a way of dislikin' me.

That's why I always carry this knife with me.

'Cause no matter how friendly an animal is,

it always seems that it takes a dislike to me.

Must be my scent or somethin'.

- [Emery] Well, there's nothin' we can do about it now.

Stella, you, you go on back in the house,

and I'll get a shovel and bury the squirrel,

and you go on back to work.

- All right.

(somber music)

(birds chirping)

(Stella gasps)

(Jesse humming)

Well.

I'm gonna get me some sleep.

- Good night, Jesse.

- Good night.

Good night.

- Good night.

(door creaking)

(door slams)

Emery, I-- - Wait.

Wouldn't that a little puff a wind?

- Yes, but the radio said clear.

Emery, tomorrow-- - Tomorrow, I'm gonna get up

real early, take that truckload a peaches into the cannery.

- Yes, I know. - And that way,

I'll get back in time to do a full days' work.

- I wanna go with you.

- [Emery] What for?

- I want you to let me off at the hotel.

- [Emery] The hotel?

- Yes, I...

I wanna stay at the hotel 'til that man's gone.

- Now, there you go-- - Will you please, Em--

- What did he ever do to ya?

I wish you would tell me.

Kill that squirrel?

- Yes. - The squirrel attack 'em.

- Oh, that-- - No, sir,

he's been out with me all afternoon,

he's a good worker, I need 'em, and I aim to keep 'em.

- Emery, please, just this once. (mumbles)

- What did he do?

Did he say anything smart-alecky?

Did he do anything?

- He's got that knife.

- I seen the knife.

If he wants to carry a knife, that's his business,

not mine, not yours either.

- He didn't have to kill my squirrel.

- [Emery] Stella, you heard what he said,

the squirrel tried to attacked 'em.

- Oh, I don't care!

- [Emery] All right, all right, you can go to the hotel.

$3 a day, plus meals.

You can stay-- - No, no, no, no,

I'll stay here.

- No, no, go ahead.

Go into town, spend my money.

I know I'm not much of a farmer.

Nobody ever said I don't work hard.

Far as I know, this is the first time

you ever said I can't protect my wife.

You might have thought, but you never said it.

- [Stella] Emery, don't ya say that about yourself.

You're a good husband.

Good protector.

I trust you.

No matter what, I love you.

- You still wanna go to the hotel?

- No.

I'll stay here with you, where I belong.

(dramatic music)

(alarm clicking)

(alarm ringing)

(Emery grunting)

(sighs) Can't you wait 'til daylight?

- [Emery] Now, Stella.

- All right.

I'll fix ya some breakfast 'fore you go.

- [Emery] No, I'll wait 'til I get back to eat.

Jesse'll be wakin' up pretty soon.

He said he's an early riser.

You's fix some breakfast for him

and tell him by the time that he's finished eatin',

they'll be light enough to get to work.

You hear me?

- All right.

- [Emery] Now, it won't take me long.

I'll be back, sittin' down to breakfast table

'fore you know it, all right?

- All right.

(dramatic music)

(ominous music)

Mornin'.

(sighs) Breakfast isn't ready yet.

- [Jesse] I know.

Emery ain't back yet.

(indistinct rustling)

- He tell ya his plans?

- [Jesse] That's right.

(water burbling)

- You wait outside 'til I get breakfast ready.

- [Jesse] Well, how come I can't wait in here?

- You know my husband's rules.

Hired hands aren't allowed in the house, except mealtime.

- [Jesse] How come you're so afraid of me?

Huh?

- Makes you think I'm afraid of you?

(indistinct rustling)

(indistinct clanking) - 'Cause the way you look.

You know that the blood rushes down from your head

and your face gets all pail.

See, that means that you're afraid of me.

- That don't make sense.

If lookin' at you makes me scared of you,

why don't you tell me

what there is about you that scares me?

- I don't know.

- You're lyin'.

(chuckles)

Why did you stop here?

You weren't all that interested in pickin' peaches.

(utensil rustling)

- You'd really like me to tell you that, wouldn't ya?

- Yes.

Yes, I'd like to know.

- 'Cause I seen, even from out there on the road,

that you didn't want me in here.

'Cause you're scared of me.

- Why do you wanna scare me?

- Because that's the way I am,

and that's what I like.

Lot a people scared of me, Stella.

(chuckles) 'Specially women.

See, other men, they get invitations from women.

But I don't get that kinda invitation.

See, what I get from women's the other way around.

They always sayin' to me, "Stay away from me now."

Just like you say.

- I didn't say that.

(utensil rustling)

- You know, that used to bother me, Stella.

But it don't bother me anymore.

Now, ain't you better get them flapjacks on the stove?

'Cause I's supposed to have my breakfast

and then out workin' by the time that Emery come home.

(utensil rustling)

- Yes.

Emery's gonna be right back here now.

You better leave me alone.

- I haven't laid a hand on you.

- You talk back to me.

- You know. (clears throat)

I'm gonna have some molasses on my flapjacks.

- It's in the icebox.

- Come and get it for me.

- No.

No, you get it.

- Ah, no, you get it.

(laughing)

(utensil clanking)

Ooh, that's it.

You know, it used to bother me,

that women didn't like me around.

They still don't.

And you know, that one time,

a woman told me to get away from her,

and I made that woman sorry

that she ever said that to Jesse.

- Whatcha do to her?

(chuckles) You'd really like to know that, wouldn't ya?

Huh?

- Yes.

Yes, I'd like to know.

- Well, then call me Jesse and say,

Jesse, I'd like to know.

- No.

- Oh yeah, you call me Jesse, and you say,

Jesse, I'd like to know what you done to that woman!

- No. (laughing)

All right, Jesse. - Now,

say I'd like to know what you done to that woman, Jesse.

- (gasps) No. (laughing)

- Come on.

- I'd like to know what you done to that woman.

- Jesse.

- Jesse. (laughing) That's it.

Now I'm gonna tell ya, just what I did'n to that woman.

Ooh, she was so pretty.

(truck engine whirring)

(laughs) She said, "To get on away from me!"

(door creaking)

(door slams)

- [Stella] Emery, you've just gotta get rid of that man.

- Now, I don't wanna hear another word about Jesse.

You're safe, not a thing wrong with ya.

(door creaking)

Prime quality.

That's what they said at the cannery, prime quality.

What do ya know about that, Jesse?

My peaches are prime quality.

Now all we gotta do,

is just get the rest of 'em picked off of these trees.

- Mr. Emery, you got yourself a real fine orchard.

- [Emery] Prime quality.

- Stella.

Here ya go.

(Jesse laughing)

That (chuckles) woman of yours.

Just a little peculiar sometimes, ain't she?

- [Emery] You have trouble with her?

- [Jesse] No, she just a little bit scared of me.

That's all.

- [Emery] Jesse, that squirrel didn't attack'd you, did it?

- [Jesse] Nope.

- [Emery] Why'd ya kill it then?

- [Jesse] I don't like animal.

I kill every one 'em I figure I can get by with.

- [Emery] Well, I ain't got much love for 'em myself.

- Well, I figured that.

Fact is, that's the reason I kill 'em.

I thought that's what you'd want.

- [Emery] Well, much obliged.

(somber music) Did kinda get on my nerves,

watchin' my woman feed that squirrel.

She's got enough to do, just to feed me.

That's why I'm married.

I don't like to see her spread her work to thin.

- I understand that many of you

have been wishing to know the identification

of the station which is bringing you this program.

We shall now grant you that wish.

Afterwards, we shall continue our story.

(somber music)

(door squeaking)

(door slams)

(water burbling)

(door squeaking)

(door slams)

(Emery grunting)

- What happened to your appetite, Jesse?

- It'll be all right in a minute.

- I don't know why you should be tired.

We didn't get many peaches picked today.

- Three truckloads a peach's a lot a peaches.

- What happened to you, Stella?

- Nothin'.

- Somethin' must a.

This chicken tastes like leather.

I can't turn out a good days' work on feed like this.

Well, Stella?

- I don't know.

I don't know what happened.

- I can't understand women.

You been cookin' for me 12 years, never late with a meal,

best cook in the county, and all I wants,

well, taste it yourself.

See what I mean?

(water burbling)

Well, I guess she got the right

to cook one bad meal, 12 years.

- Thank you.

- [Emery] What, speak up, Stella.

- Nothin'. - Nothin'?

All right, nothin'.

Hey!

Was that wind?

- Sounded like it.

- Yeah, there's a little thunder head

comin' up in the Southwest.

I thought you told me the radio said clear weather.

- That's right.

- Well?

- Little rain ain't gonna hurt your peaches.

- [Emery] No, a little rain wouldn't hurt,

but a little hail would.

I've even seen hail this time a year.

- [Jesse] You ever lose a crop to hail?

- [Emery] No, but there can always be a first time.

Where you goin'?

- [Stella] Bed.

- [Emery] Without doin' the dishes?

- They can wait 'til mornin'.

- [Emery] No, do 'em tonight.

I've heard how you laugh at women

for leavin' their dishes overnight.

Do 'em tonight.

- [Jesse] Mine's ready to be washed right now.

- No, I'll wait 'til Emery's through.

I need some rest.

(dramatic music) (door slams)

- Jesse.

- [Jesse] Yeah?

- You better turn in.

We got a full days' work ahead of us tomorrow.

- [Jesse] Yeah, I guess you're right.

Good night. - Good night, Jesse.

- [Jesse] Night, Stella.

Good night, Stella. (ominous music)

- Good night.

- She answered ya, Jesse.

(door squeaking)

(door slams)

All right, come on, let's hear it.

- Please, Emery.

- No, you owe me some explainin'.

Up until noon yesterday, I couldn't ask for a better wife,

and since then, I couldn't have a sorrier one,

and I wanna know why.

- I'm scared of Jesse.

- Well, you've told me that.

I wanna know why you're scared of 'em.

He's done the work a two men.

He's makin' me money.

- You're scared of 'em too.

- What?

- You are, you're scared too.

- Now, you act like you're tryin'

to get rid a me or somethin'.

What's a matter with you?

- (hums) Talkin' don't help.

- Well, then we won't talk about it.

But you start actin' right, you hear?

- Emery?

- What?

- I heard ya talkin' to Jesse in the orchard.

- Is that against the law or somethin'?

- You told him, "That you married me,

"to have somebody to feed you."

Is that why we never had any children?

- Now, Stella, you know that is just man-talk.

That don't mean anything.

- Don't it?

- Course not.

Now, we been married 12 years.

I've never even looked at another woman,

and you know that too, don't ya?

- Yes, you've been a good husband.

- [Emery] Well, then what's all this talk about?

- (sighs) I don't know.

I guess I just don't understand.

- But you're still scared a Jesse?

Well, you just gonna have to get used to 'em.

I got my peaches to pick,

and he's gonna be around for at least three more days.

- Yes, I, I guess I just gotta get used to Jesse.

- Well, good.

Now, don't you think you better get in there

and do your dishes?

- I'll be there in a minute.

- Well, don't forget 'em.

I'll be listenin' for the weather report on the radio.

(radio clicks)

(radio buzzing)

(upbeat music)

- [Announcer] Folks, here's news about the weather.

The Weather Bureau tells me

that a weak cool front is movin' in from the Southwest.

It's a preliminary report, and they promised

that they'd give us the real scoop at nine o'clock.

Now, back to that good ole country music.

(upbeat music)

(Stella exclaims) - Hi, Stella.

(gasping)

(screaming)

- [Jesse] Shh, shh, shh, shh.

(Stella gasping)

- [Announcer] Here's that scoop on the weather,

I promised you folks.

The cool front has changed to a cold front.

All peach farmers in this valley are warned,

that the approaching cold front

will produce a sever thunderstorm and hail.

Stay with us now, for all the weather reports.

- [Jesse] Now, whatcha have to go and scream for?

Answer me!

- You scared me.

- [Jesse] Oh, no, no.

You scared me, Jesse.

- Yes, yes, Jesse.

- [Jesse] You scared me, Jesse, say that.

- (whimpers) Emery will come out here.

- He ain't gonna come out here.

If that scream of yours didn't bring 'em,

ain't nothin' gonna bring 'em.

(Stella breathing heavily)

Now, you scared me, Jesse.

- You scared me, Jesse.

- That's better.

That's very good.

(Stella gasping)

You like for me to hold ya, don't ya?

Yeah, you do.

(Stella gasping) (Jesse laughing)

Huh, yeah, you do. (laughs)

Oh, you don't like it?

Well, then why don't you just scream out again, girl, huh?

Come on.

We gonna move around here, right close.

Come on, Jesse, go on again.

Come on, we gonna move around close.

We can scream right in his ear.

(Stella gasping)

Now, go ahead and scream.

(Jesse breathing heavily)

Maybe that'd wake 'em up, huh?

Boy, that wouldn't bother me one bit.

Have him come on out here.

That boy is slave driver.

He's a tightwad too.

Do you know that everybody else in this valley

pays $6 a day for pickin' peaches,

but old Emery pays me three.

Yes, sir, I'd love for you to scream again.

He'd come on out here and try an protect you.

I'd like to see what old tightwad'd do.

Come on, Jesse.

Come on, Jesse.

Sun ain't as hot as you think, Jesse.

Come on, Jesse.

Lift them bucket up higher, Jesse.

Higher, Jesse. (chuckles)

Sweat a little bit, Jesse.

Come on, Jesse, sweat's good for a man. (laughs)

(Stella whimpers)

(Jesse grunting)

(Jesse yells)

(Jesse laughing hysterically)

(Jesse breathing heavily) (Stella gasping)

Come on, scream, scream, Stella.

Look at 'em.

(Stella gasps) Just sittin' there.

What's a matter, can't ya scream?

You ain't got enough breath to scream?

Oh, come on.

All you need to do is open your mouth.

That's right.

Now, take ya a deep breath and yell. (screams)

(chuckles) I can almost do it myself.

It takes a woman, though, to let out a real scream.

(Stella gasping) Come on, Stella.

Come on!

(Jesse breathing heavily)

Look at him, he just sits there.

You scream loud enough to wake the dead.

I make all sorts of noises,

and old Emery just sits there. - We repeat the weather news.

A cold front is moving in,

bringing thunderstorms and hail with it.

Lightning is visible in the west end of the valley.

(Stella gasping) (Jesse breathing heavily)

- Let's us go see if we can bring the lightning and see it.

(Jesse laughing hysterically)

I hope it does hail.

Hail stones the size a them peaches a his.

(Stella gasping)

Take just about a minute,

to strip every peach tree in his orchard.

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

Yeah, there it is!

I bet ya old Emery heard me,

but he just scared to come on out here.

- Emery isn't afraid.

- Yeah, he's scared half to death a me.

All day long, it's been me'ts the one's

been givin' him orders in the orchard.

Guess our old Emery's just a coward.

(Stella gasping)

Now.

You reckon that old Emery'd come on out here,

if you was to yell that I's about

to stick this thing right in your neck?

(Stella gasping) Huh?

- I don't know.

- [Jesse] How's that?

- (gasps) I don't know, Jesse.

- That's right. (laughs)

Now, let's us just see.

Now, come on and scream!

- (whimpers) No.

(Jesse breathing heavily)

- You're ruinin' it, Stella.

Now, why are you ruinin' it?

Why? (Stella gasps)

- Because you'll kill him.

- You're right.

You're just right as rain.

Oh, I'd just love for him to come out here, one more time.

Just one more time,

say to me, come on, Jesse!

Come on, Jesse!

Just one more time,

and I'm gonna carve him up into little pieces,

the size of these peaches of his,

and I'mma stick him in a bucket

and take it off to the cannery. (laughs)

(lightning booming) What kind a labels

you think that they'll put on the cans

with Emery inside of 'em, huh?

Barbecued Emery. (laughs)

Broiled Emery. (laughs)

Emery on the half shell,

like they do with them fancy oysters.

Now, you gonna scream, huh?

Now, scream!

(Stella exclaims)

Run, Stella.

Ah, run!

Run, gonna get you, go on.

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

Run.

(Stella exclaiming)

(Jesse laughing)

Ooh, that was hard fall.

I'm gonna pick you up now, so you can run a little bit more.

(both grunting)

Ah, Stella!

(Jesse breathing heavily)

Now.

Gimme my knife back.

Come on.

- Don't you come near me.

You stay away from me, do ya hear?

- Stella.

Now, look.

That knife's razor-sharp now, don't be foolin' with it.

I think you better give it to me.

(Stella exclaims)

(lightning booming) (thunder booming)

(truck door slams) (engine firing)

(engine revving)

(dramatic music)

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

(door creaking)

(door slams)

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

(upbeat music)

(radio clicks)

(Stella sighs)

- Poor Emery.

You've worked so hard.

You don't know that we both almost lost everything tonight.

Work.

It's all you understand.

You poor, hard-workin' peacher farmer, you.

I'm gonna be a good wife and a good cook.

Emery, I'm gonna make you be a good husband too.

Emery!

Emery, wake up!

Emery!

Emery!

Emery, wake up!

Jesse stole the truck!

- Jess, Jesse?

- [Stella] Jesse drove off with the truck.

- But it had a load a peaches on it.

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

Trucks gone all right.

- Yes.

There's a thunderstorm on the way too.

- Yeah, I seen the lightnin'.

Is that all it is, just a thunderstorm, I mean?

- Yes, just a thunderstorm.

Hadn't we better call the sheriff?

- What?

- Well, if we want the truck back,

we better call the sheriff.

- Ah, leave me alone.

- [Stella] All right, Emery, I'll call the sheriff.

- Don't bother.

What good's a truck anyway?

The radio said there a hailstorm comin'.

(lightning booming) My peaches'll all be ruined,

so just don't bother.

(thunder rumbling)

- Emery.

If you heard the radio warnin' about the hailstorm,

you heard me too, didn't you?

You heard me scream out there, didn't you?

Answer me, Emery.

You heard me scream, didn't you?

You heard me scream, didn't you?

- I heard you scream.

I could hear Jesse carryin' on too.

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

- Emery.

Why didn't ya come help me?

Answer me!

- Well-- - Answer me, Emery!

- Well, I didn't figure he'd kill you,

but if I went out, no,

he'd a killed me.

- And you were afraid?

Is that the only reason?

- Well, I figured you could take it a little more,

'til he settled down anyhow.

Then.

- And if he settled down,

you'd still have your $3 hired hand.

Is that it?

(dramatic music)

(lightning booming) (ominous music)

(thunder rumbling)

- [Operator] Number, please.

- Sheriff's office, please.

(phone clicking)

- Sheriff Graham speakin'. (dramatic music)

- Oscar, this is Stella.

Somethin' awful's happened here.

- What's that again? (lighting booming)

There's so much thunder here, I can't--

(thunder rumbling) Our hired hand

has killed Emery and stole our truck.

- [Oscar] Oh.

You feelin' all right?

- He stabbed 'em, Oscar.

- [Oscar] Now, Stella, don't you touch anything

'til I get there.

- Oh.

Well, I already did.

I pulled the knife out of 'em.

I was tryin' to help Emery.

- [Oscar] Ah, well, that's all right now, Stella.

(lightning booming) You just keep your chin up

'til I get there. (thunder rumbling)

You gonna be all right now, Stella?

- Please hurry, Oscar.

(phone clicks) (dramatic music)

(suspenseful music) (lightning booming)

(winds whirring) (thunder rumbling)

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

(dramatic music)

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

(water burbling)

(lightning booming) (thunder rumbling)

that the sheriff was not taken in by Stella's story.

He detected a domestic touch to her husband's demise

and promptly arrested our heroin.

You may be thinking that my wishing well is gone.

Not so.

Except that my wish obviously came true.

Until next time then, good night.

(dramatic music)

(upbeat music)