Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

Welcome to the Hitchcock Pavilion of the World's Fair.

The lack of activity at this stand is rather embarrassing,

especially when I tell you that

I'm buying kisses not selling them.

It all seemed like such a good idea,

buying some kisses for a dollar

and then turning around and selling them for two.

Unfortunately, just after going into business,

I discovered that several unscrupulous persons

were giving them away.

I shall probably lose my entire investment,

this stand, a crate of lemons and a pound of alum.

After all, with lips like mine,

puckering could be a problem.

This evening's story concerns some rather bizarre events,

which take place in a very ordinary home

in very ordinary surroundings,

the suburbs of a large city.

It is called "Misadventure",

and begins just as quickly as we can

run through this next commercial.

(telephone ringing)

- [George] If that's for me, I'll be right there, darling.

- Hello. - Hello.

Is that 555-6709?

- No, this is 555-6790.

- [Bruce] Oh, I must have a wrong number, sorry.

- Well, that's perfectly all right.

No trouble at all.

- Really? - Really.

- Are you sure? - I'm sure.

- [Bruce] Tell you what I'll be over in about half an hour.

- Yes, yes, you do that.

Goodbye. - Goodbye.

- Wrong number.

(chuckles softly)

Do you have to do that every time?

- What's that, darling?

- Nothing, dear, it's just that

when I see you polishing the silverware I just washed,

I get the feeling I'm in a restaurant or something.

- Do you know my father used these tools all of his life,

these same little gravediggers.

- Yes, dear, I know.

- Just think of the thousands of times that

that fork went in and out of the old man's mouth.

All those meals, breakfast, lunches, dinners, snacks.

- Yes, dear.

- Gives me great satisfaction to have his silver.

It's not like being in a restaurant at all.

I mean, I know where these have been.

- Yes, dear.

- By the way I'll be home for lunch today.

- Oh.

- You weren't going out, were you?

- No.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I was going to town.

- Oh.

Well, I'll have to have lunch at the coffee shop then.

- I'm sorry, darling.

But I really do have a lot of shopping to do.

- It's all right.

Hey, we have any of that lobster left?

- Well, yes, we have some in the refrigerator.

Did you want some?

- No, no, no, no, not now.

I was just thinking.

Why should I pay out all that money to a restaurant?

I'll just come home and have the lobster,

a little salad and a great big gob of mayonnaise.

You get some mayonnaise?

- I'll get some, dear.

It's awfully late, darling.

You'd better hurry.

- Goodbye, dear.

Have a nice day in town.

(dramatic music)

- Goodbye, dear. - Bye.

Oh, dear.

Here's $3.

Have a good lunch.

- Thank you, darling.

- Bye, bye.

- Thank you very much.

(soft knocking on door)

- The gas man.

- Beg your pardon? - May I read the meter?

- Oh, yes, come in.

- Well?

- [Eva] What'd you say?

- Well, where is it?

- It's right through there.

The light switch is on the wall.

- I can't remember every house, you know.

No matter how many times you been there

they just don't pay us to be that smart.

- Well, sorry.

(gas blowing)

- I'd like to know who's been playing with that meter.

- Nobody been playing with meter that I know of.

Is anything wrong?

- Anything wrong?

We're not fooled by a sudden low reading on the meter.

- Now look here just what are you suggesting?

- I'm not suggesting anything.

- Well, really I assure you that if the...

If there's a low reading on the meter,

it isn't because somebody's been

tampering with the silly thing.

(gas blowing)

Oh, ooh, there's a terrible smell of gas in there.

- I don't smell anything.

- Oh, you can even hear it.

- No, there's nothing down there.

- You left something open.

- I don't smell anything.

You left one of the burners on.

Yeah, we're always being called in.

- They were off I just checked them.

It's coming from in there, I tell you.

- From in where?

- From in the basement.

You can even hear it.

It's awful.

- Lady, look I can't spend

the whole morning holding your hand.

- Please, please don't go now.

You can't just walk out and leave me with this.

- Listen if anything was wrong, I'd know, wouldn't I?

- Look will you just listen?

If you can't smell it, just listen.

(gas blowing)

Don't light a match, you fool!

You wanna blow up the house.

- You watch out who you're hitting, lady.

I'll report you to the gas company.

(gas blowing)

(coughing softly)

(dramatic music)

- I turned the valve off.

The pipe is broken.

Would you please fix it right away?

(dramatic music)

What's the matter with you?

What's the telephone number of the gas company?

I asked you a question.

What's your number?

- But if I tell you,

you'll call them and report me.

- Certainly, I'll call and report you.

You're incompetent, also irresponsible.

- Don't tell them, lady.

I'll lose my job.

- It's about time, I'd say.

- No, no, no, look I'll fix the leak.

I promise just as soon as I'm over this attack of fever.

- Fever?

- It's only malaria.

It isn't contagious.

Now please they'll fire me

if they find out I've been sick again.

- [Operator] National Gas Company can I help you?

- For their sake. - Hello.

Can I help you?

Hello. - Please.

- [Operator] Hello?

- I'm sorry, I have the wrong number.

- (gasping) Thank you, lady.

Thank you.

- Get up off the floor and fix the thing, will you?

This is ridiculous, I have a busy morning ahead of me.

- You're being very civilized,

and I won't forget it.

I'll be alright in a minute if you could just,

just spare a minute.

- Look I'd better call a doctor.

You can't stay here if you're sick.

- Oh, no.

No, don't call the doctor.

They'll find out.

You see, a doctor would have to report me.

- Well, you can't work this way.

- No, I'll be alright in a minute.

- You want some coffee?

- Oh, yes, yes.

(man shivering)

If you've a blanket, I'm so cold.

- There, is that alright?

- No, that's marvelous.

You're very kind.

I've always considered you a very kind and sensitive person.

- Oh, really, and how would you know that?

- Well, I seen you before when I come to read the meter.

- Oh.

Well, I try to do my best for people.

- I'm sorry if I seemed rude when I come in,

but I was half out of my mind.

These old wounds they kick up when these attacks come.

- You have old wounds?

- Yeah, I was fighting in the South Pacific,

captured, tortured, put in a PW camp for three years.

Lucky, I guess.

- That's luck. - Yes.

I was a colonel.

- A colonel, very impressive.

- I guess, I'd better get at that pipe.

- I must say you don't sound like a gas man.

(dramatic music)

Are you alright?

- It's no good, is it?

No, it never really goes away till I get warmed up.

I'd better go and come back later.

- Yes, that's a good idea.

You'll feel better when you get home.

- No, oh, no, I can't go home like this.

Well, it's scares my wife,

and she's always looking for a chance to leave me anyway.

No, I'll go find a park bench someplace,

and I'll wait there.

- It's cold out you can't just.

This is ridiculous.

I've got things to do.

- Don't you worry about me.

- We've got to get a doctor and an ambulance.

- You really wanna help me?

- Yes, but as you can see I'm very busy.

- There's something you can do to help me.

It won't take any time, just a few minutes,

and I'll be all right.

- Well, what?

- A hot bath or shower it always works.

- Now really come off it I can't--

- I promise just 10 minutes and I'll be okay.

- All right, all right.

But you've got to hurry.

I've got some friends coming.

- I'll never forget your kindness.

- Nevermind that just hurry because I've got

some friends coming to play bridge.

- I understand.

It wouldn't look right for a mere gas man to be found

taking a shower. - It isn't that.

It doesn't matter who. (telephone ringing)

Look can you manage?

- Yes, I'll manage.

- Hello.

- Hello, Eva? - Yes, Marge.

(gentle dramatic music)

Marge, dear, I can't talk right now.

Can I call you back?

- Alright, dear. - I've got a cake in the oven.

- [Marge] That's as good an excuse as any.

- Yes, dear, goodbye.

Uh, Mister.

Are you alright?

Mister?

Are you alright?

Well, how'd I get into this?

Mister, I'm coming in.

I'm coming in.

Where are you?

(gentle music)

(gentle music)

Oh, no.

- I think, I'm going to be all right.

- I thought you were dead.

That would've been the end.

Hey, you get out of there!

- I think it's gone.

- You get out of that bed this instant.

- Lying down takes the strain off my wounds.

- You can't stay in there.

(doorbell ringing)

- You're perfectly right.

Anybody finding me here would certainly get

the wrong impression. - You stay there.

- No, I couldn't possibly stay in your bed.

Somebody at the front. - You stay there!

- Oh, no. - If you make one sound,

and I'll kill you.

(doorbell ringing)

- Hi. - Hi, darling.

Bruce, listen to me.

Will you just listen to me?

- [Bruce] It's been four days since I've seen you.

- Bruce, don't.

Now stop it.

- Why, give me a reason? - Because I made a mistake.

- What kind of a mistake?

- My husband's on his way home.

- What? - He called

and said he was sick, and he's coming home.

Wait you will call tomorrow?

- Sure, sure if I got the time, I'll call tomorrow.

- You take that robe off and get out of this house.

My husband will kill you if he saw you in that.

(Eva gasping) (man giggling)

Stop that!

Get out of there, or I will call the police.

- Oh, darling, it's been four days.

- You're a fake.

There's nothing wrong with you at all.

- My ears are fine.

- [Eva] This is impossible!

- Oh, how he ran when he heard

your husband was coming home.

Courage of a rabbit that the best you could do.

- That is none of your business now get out.

- Admit he's your boyfriend.

- I don't have to admit anything to you.

- Where are you going?

- I am going to call the gas company,

and then I'm going to call the police.

- Oh, good, call your husband at the same time.

I'd like to tell him all about this business.

- He won't believe you.

I'll tell him you attacked me.

- And, just suppose I do?

- If I say you attacked me, he'll believe me.

- All right.

You call your husband.

You tell him a strange man is in your bed,

and he won't get out. - You think I won't?

- Mm-hmm, you tell him

that you gave the strange man permission to take a shower,

and now he's in your bed.

Ooh, that should make very good explanation.

- Get out of here right now.

If you think I'm not going to do anything

because I'm afraid of my husband, you'd better think again.

He's not gonna take some fool gas man's word against mine.

Now you get out or I will scream this house down.

- You think my being here is some kind of an accident.

I've been watching you for weeks.

- What do you mean?

- I saw your boyfriend coming in one day

when I was making my rounds.

- He's a landscape artist.

- Oh, is that what they call them nowadays.

- He came here two months ago to install a fishpond.

Now will you take your hands off me.

- He was here three times last week.

Aren't the fish well?

- That's a lie.

- I have three pictures of him,

on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

See I've been sitting in my car across the street

most of last week watching you.

- I don't believe you.

- Here, not bad for a telephoto lens.

I overexpose them on soft paper

and then under develop them.

It makes for a less contrasting print that way.

- You're a blackmailer.

- No, I've never given it much thought.

- Well, this time you picked the wrong person

because I haven't got any money.

So the joke's on you.

(chuckles softly)

- Come on now, huh?

Nice house like this must be worth quite a bit.

- He doesn't give me one cent more than it takes to run it.

- Yeah, well, I've only seen him once in my life,

but he did strike me as being a bit prudent.

- Prudent?

He is a tight-fisted miser.

- [Henry] Filthy rich?

- Loaded.

But not with cash.

It's mostly in trust funds, stocks, and bonds.

You know, that sort of thing.

- Relax I'm not a professional blackmailer.

- Oh, come off it.

Those pictures you went to a lot of trouble.

- No, no, no it was fun.

- Well, I must say you certainly set this up like a pro.

- No, no just an amateur.

- You're very beautiful.

I suppose you're tired of hearing men tell you that.

- What do you mean, "Just an amateur?"

- Well, blackmailers do it for money, don't they?

I'm not after your money, dear.

(dramatic music)

(man sobbing gently)

- What's the matter?

You crying?

You are crying?

Ha, what have you got to cry about?

If anybody's gonna cry, it should be me.

Although, I must say,

you are a most unusual gas man.

- I'm not a gas man.

- Well, then what are you?

I don't even know your name.

- If you think that a gas man

can take all this time off without getting fired,

you're very naive.

- Well, would you kindly explain it?

- I've been watching you every day, all day,

even into the night hoping to catch a glimpse of you.

- What are you talking about?

- The thoughts that go through my mind.

I bought a gun last week.

- Oh, now look here--

- Don't worry.

If I use it, it'll be on myself.

- You alright?

- When I was watching that boyfriend of yours,

I was overcome by an emotion I never felt before in my life.

- And what was that?

- Jealousy, raging jealousy!

I wanted to kill that rat with my bare hands.

- Now listen this is a respectable neighborhood.

- And your husband,

the number of times I've plotted his murder

in the last week or two. - Now wait just a minute.

- That's why I bought this gas man's uniform.

It was all part of the plan.

Know how it was going to work?

- Well, hardly.

- I was coming by like I did this morning,

but I'd come by when you were out shopping

and he was alone. - Mm-hmm.

- Then I was gonna go down to the basement.

It was the basement that gave me the idea.

It has only one vent,

and you can stuff it with a newspaper.

And then I was going to disconnect the gas pipe.

Well, you have a large oven in effect.

- Like you did a while ago, you mean?

- No, no, no that was just to annoy you.

Then I was going to disconnect the pipe below the valve

and take out the screw inside the basement door and leave.

- Mm-hmm.

- Place would fill up with gas.

George would smell it.

He'd go down to investigate,

and when he found he couldn't fix it by turning the valve,

he'd rush back up to the basement door.

Turn the knob, give it a pull,

it'll come off in his hand.

- On the inside.

- Clever?

- Oh, crazy.

- It would work.

- Oh, yes, it would work.

But why couldn't he just fit the knob back on

and left himself out.

- Well, he probably could if he wasn't in a hurry

and breathing in gas all the time.

There's very little margin for error.

The bar is very lose.

Miss that bar by 1/64 of an inch,

and it falls out on the other side.

That's it.

Verdict: Accidental death by misadventure.

- (chuckling) It's very ingenious.

I locked myself in a friend's bathroom once the same way.

You know,

you have to be a little way out to figure this.

- I'm madly in love with you.

- Well, come on you better get dressed.

My husband will be home pretty soon for lunch.

- You don't understand.

I'm serious.

- Or would you rather fix it for him?

Now come on.

- Maybe you'll be more impressed

when I tell you that I'm a private detective,

and that I'm here to get evidence

for the divorce your husband is planning.

- What?

- I thought that might impress you,

and it looks like I've got the evidence, doesn't it?

Mm-hmm, you're like all wives with fat husbands.

You underestimate their brains.

He's been on to you for some months.

- You dirty, sneaking.

- So, you just investigated a year of your life for nothing.

With the evidence I've got,

your husband is gonna sue that fishpond artist

for alienation of affection.

You're not only broke but out in the cold.

- I knew you were a phony all along.

I just knew it.

- Too late now though, isn't it?

- You don't have to tell him.

- Oh, yeah.

Yeah, you love me now.

Now that you think I got something on you.

That's what I was afraid of.

- You report to him,

and you will never see me again, I promise you.

- But, dear, it doesn't matter whether I report it or not.

He already suspected what was going on

before he called me in.

My reports only confirmed that a man

was coming around to see you.

- You mean you already told him!

- How was I to know that I was going

to fall in love with you.

I haven't shown him the pictures yet.

But he's already got enough evidence

to start divorce proceedings.

- How dare he suspect me of being unfaithful!

- He's got a mean and suspicious nature, my dear.

- What I've been through with him.

Eating. (dishes clanking)

Eating, eating, and his endless boring talk

about his endless boring family,

and how many times that fork

went into his precious father's mouth.

- Dear, dear, dear, dear.

It's alright don't worry.

He's not gonna bother you anymore, my dear.

Now it's true I'm not rich.

Well, I'm in debt up to my ears.

But look I got a little apartment,

just a couple of rooms over a butcher's shop,

but we can fix it up and it'll be real nice.

Don't you worry we're gonna manage.

I got a lot of credit cards,

and I'm very handy with a hammer and saw.

- All the time he's been sitting there stuffing himself

and smiling at me and he knew all along.

- Deceitful man.

- Get your car.

I'm going to fill it

with everything in this house worth taking

starting with his precious family silver.

- [Henry] It wouldn't work.

He'd have your arrested in hours.

- He's not gonna get away with this.

- There's nothing you can do now, dear.

Except pray that he gets run over on a bus own his way home,

or that his asthma chokes him.

No, being a widow is the only way

to get anything out of him now.

What are you doing?

- It was your idea.

- Oh, no.

Not murder.

- But you said it was a simple case of misadventure.

- Oh, no.

I can't.

- I thought you'd do anything for me.

(man stammering)

- But I'm not stupid enough to murder.

Murder is no basis for a lasting marriage.

- What marriage? - Ours.

I know I'm rushing things a bit.

- Look, darling. - Henry.

- Henry. - Henry.

- Henry, I can't live over a butcher shop.

- I can fix it up.

I'm very handy.

- I don't care how handy you are.

I like nice things,

space, and a new car,

and a good vacation every year.

I want those things for you, for us together,

I don't want you to have to work all your life.

You work too hard.

- Yes.

I just knew you felt something for me.

- Well, a girl can't show everything she feels for a man,

or he might think she's cheap.

(gentle music)

- I suppose if two people love each other enough.

- Now why don't you just fix that door, darling,

and I'll go and change my clothes.

And I'll hide in the garden shed.

You said you didn't want me here anyway when you did it.

He's gonna home pretty soon.

- Look.

- What's the matter?

(stammers softly)

- I don't know if I got the nerve actually.

- I'll turn on the gas if that's what's bothering you.

As you said, "It's just a case of misadventure."

- I hope we're doing the right thing, dear.

- Of course, we are.

- We have reached the halfway point in our story.

While you visit your local station for a moment,

I shall act as an electronic bookmark,

so that you will know where you left off.

(George whistling)

- Darling, hello!

Oh, no.

Oh, it's father's best bone china.

Darling!

Darling, what's happened?

Oh, not all the good cups.

She must be out of her mind.

- [Colin] Look on the bright side, George.

Think of all the spare saucers you've got.

- [George] Colin.

- Aren't you glad to see me, George?

- Of course.

Of course, I'm glad to see you.

You look so much older, Colin.

- Well, things haven't been very easy for me

these last five years.

Perhaps it shows.

- My, my has it really been five years

since you've been in this house?

- Yeah, perhaps just as well considering

how things were the last time we met.

- Well, surely, two brothers can have a little quarrel

now and again without becoming bad friends.

"Blood is thicker than water after all."

- As your mother used to say.

- Yes, I was sorry you couldn't make it to mother's funeral.

- I never liked funerals, George.

- (stammers) Well?

- How long am I gonna stay?

Don't worry, George.

I have a reservation on this evening's plane.

- Oh, so soon.

What a shame.

- Just a quick business trip.

- You must have met my wife.

Or did you let yourself in?

We seem to be in a terrible mess.

Eva!

- She's not here, George.

- Oh, that's right she was going shopping.

(George coughing)

She seems to have had some kind of an accident.

Dear me, she's a charming girl.

You did meet though, huh?

- Yes.

We met.

(George chuckles)

- Not a bad catch for a fellow like me, eh?

Did you have time to talk to her?

- Yes, we got on quite intimate terms as a matter of fact

considering the short time we spent together.

- Well, I'm glad.

She has a charming way even with strangers.

- By the way,

here's a picture that might interest you.

- Oh.

Is this? - Yes.

That's my wife Margaret, the two boys, and little Sandra.

- She looks. - Yes.

She looks terrible, doesn't she?

- I must confess I wouldn't have recognized her.

- Well, as I said,

things have been rather difficult for us lately.

- Well, my nephew Michael seems to have grown.

Curious, Colin, but I thought you had four children.

- That isn't Michael.

It's David.

- Oh.

- Michael died last week.

It was appendicitis.

The old car broke down and didn't make it in time.

- I am sorry. - Are you?

Remember I wrote you two years ago

asking for some money to replace that car,

but you said you needed a new car for yourself?

- Colin, I hope you're not suggesting

that it was my fault that your boy died?

- No, no.

Nothing's anybody's fault, George, not in this world.

No. (chuckles)

It was just a case of death by misadventure.

- Mm.

I am sorry, Colin.

- A combination of unfortunate circumstances.

- Hey, do you smell gas?

- Oh, that's my fault.

I was trying to fix some coffee,

and I couldn't get it lighted.

- Oh, what a terrible thing.

I told her never to touch the good china.

I use it myself, of course.

It was father's you remember?

- Oh, yes, I remember it very well.

That's why I broke it.

- You, why?

Why would you break father's china?

- They are half mine.

- That's no reason to break it!

- Well, actually I thought it

might please the old man's ghost.

I'm sure he's tired watching you

swill your coffee out of them.

- That's utter nonsense!

You just did it to keep me from enjoying them that's all!

- Why would I wanna do that?

- Because you never got over your jealousy of my mother.

That's why.

- Your mother was a pleasant hobby

my father took up in middle age

to occupy and amuse himself with after my mother died.

(chuckles sarcastically)

I certainly was never jealous.

- Don't you dare talk about my mother like that.

You'd better go I can see nothing has changed between us.

- Yeah.

Alright, I'll go.

First I'd like to ask you a question.

After all,

I did come all this way to kill you.

(glasses clanking)

- You're out of your mind.

- Yes, you see I'm quite serious.

Don't panic, George.

I've had a change of mind.

This was just in case.

(dry coughing)

- What do you want?

- My share what else would I want from you.

- Well, you have no rights.

- No, I got no legal rights.

Your lawyers have made that very clear.

The old man's money went to your mother, then to you,

and all is legal.

But it's really half mine, isn't it?

I mean, if you really wanna be fair.

- Colin, the old man didn't have as much money as you think.

I've had high expenses.

- Keeping it away from me, you mean.

Look, George, I mean I only want a few thousands.

Big things are happening in Africa.

An investment in one of the big African concerns,

and life would be a lot easier for all of us.

For the last time, George.

Can I have my share or not?

- Colin, you don't seem to understand.

- Yes or no, George?

- No.

- Yes.

Well, I didn't think it'd been yes.

Well, there was never any love between us.

Why should you share with me?

- Exactly why should I?

Would you do the same for me?

- Yes.

I think I would.

But then, my mother was soft hearted.

It was her money originally, you know.

Did you know that?

Yeah.

Oh, well, doesn't matter now.

I'll be off.

- Goodbye, Colin. - No.

I don't wanna shake that wet fish hand of yours.

It makes my soul shiver.

- Well, whatever you like.

It doesn't make a bit of difference

just so long as you don't ever come in this house again.

- Oh, by the way your wife's in the basement.

- What, what did you say?

- Well, like I told you when I came here,

I had the bright idea of killing you.

Well, I knew you'd turn me down.

I figured the only way I could get my share

would be to inherit it being your only relative.

But as long as you had a wife,

well, I couldn't inherit it, could I?

So I got rid of her first.

I am sorry, George.

- You.

Eva!

- In the basement, George.

(dramatic music)

(coughing deeply) (gas blowing)

- Eva!

Eva!

(dramatic music)

There's no one here!

(George coughing)

(gas blowing)

(George banging)

Colin!

(George banging on door)

(gentle music)

- Well?

- It's done. - Nothing went wrong?

- Well?

- What happened?

- Well, it's alright now.

- Will you tell me what happened?

- Well, he wouldn't go down to shut off the gas,

so I had to put him down.

- You didn't hit him or anything?

- Well, how else could I get him down there?

- Oh, you fool.

- He wasn't about to go down there with all that gas.

There was nothing else I could do.

- It isn't going to look very accidental, is it?

- Yeah, well, I mean they'll think he fell down the stairs

and banged his head or something.

Look don't worry.

- Don't worry!

You practically put us in the gas chamber

with your stupidity, and you say don't worry!

- Look, all right, now you're hysterical.

Now they'll never be able to figure it out.

- The police have all these scientific things.

- I'm a detective.

I know what they've got.

- You shouldn't have hit him.

- Dear, everything is going to be all right.

Try to forget about it.

Everything is fine.

I wiped up the blood.

- Blood!

Where was it?

- In the kitchen here and there.

You won't find a trace of it.

- But they will.

They can trace anything.

- That's only on television.

Real policemen aren't that lucky.

- Why did I ever trust you?

You're such a fool.

You're as big a fool as George!

- There, there, there, dear.

- Don't touch me, and don't call me dear!

I'm not your dear, and I wouldn't be your dear

if you were the last man in the world!

And as for marrying you and living over some fish shop,

I wouldn't be!

- Butcher shop.

There now pull yourself together.

Just a bit more, and we'll be finished.

- Get me a drink, will you,

in the den over there?

(dramatic music)

- Sure.

- Operator. - Operator.

Get me the police.

- [Officer] Police department, Officer Smith.

- Hello, listen.

- Darling, don't call the police yet.

We're not ready yet take it easy.

Well you, you weren't going to--

- You murdered him.

It was even your idea.

I'm not going to take the blame.

- You were going to tell the police that.

- You came here and forced me into it.

- Now, darling, think it over.

It was you that took the screw out of the knob.

It was you that broke the gas pipe.

They won't find my fingerprints on anything.

They'll know you were lying.

- Fingerprints?

- You fingerprints don't matter.

You live here.

Oh, trust me, darling.

Can't you trust me? - How could I trust you?

You're such a fool. - Oh, you're upset.

Now look I'll tidy up around here,

and you make your calls according to plan.

- I don't think we should.

- We have got to establish an alibi for you.

You better hurry.

- [Receptionist] Martin and Cranbourne may I help you?

- Hello, this is Mrs. Martin.

May I speak to my husband please?

- [Receptionist] I'm sorry, Mrs. Martin, he's gone to lunch.

- I see, well, I'm in town shopping.

I'll try the house thank you very much.

- [Receptionist] You're welcome, Mrs. Martin.

- What if they trace the call?

- They can't.

- Operator. - Operator.

Give me the police please.

- [Officer] Police department, Officer Smith.

- Hello, I'm worried about my husband,

and I wondered if you could help.

You see he said he was going home for lunch,

and he doesn't answer the phone.

He has very bad asthma and I wondered--

- [Officer] Can I have your name and address please?

- Mrs. Eva Martin, 27 Crescent Drive.

I'm in town shopping,

and I suppose it's silly to worry.

But I called his office,

and they said he definitely went home for lunch.

- [Officer] I see, Mrs. Martin,

and what is the number you're calling from?

- I'm in a booth.

I'll only be here for a little while.

I'll call you back in 20 minutes.

- [Officer] Very well, ma'am I'll send a man over

to check it out.

- Oh, yes, that would relieve my mind.

Thank you very much, goodbye.

Now come on let's get out of here.

(telephone ringing)

- That'll be the police checking to see

that you've dialed your husband at the right number.

- Oh, hurry please.

Do come on.

What's the matter?

What is the matter?

- I can't find those pictures.

- What pictures?

- The ones I took of you and your boyfriend.

- In the bedroom.

- No, no, I had them since I was in the kitchen.

I had them right here in my pocket.

- But where could they be?

- I must have dropped them

when I put George down in the basement.

- Well, hurry up and get them.

- Yes, we have to get them.

The police would certainly

figure things out if they saw those.

- Well, go on and get them.

- I don't think I can bear to look at him.

- Oh, don't be stupid.

- I can't.

I can't do it.

- Oh, give me that.

Besides being stupid you're a coward.

(dramatic music)

(gas blowing)

I can't find them.

- Operator. - Operator.

Would you give me the police department?

- [Officer] Police department, Officer Smith.

- Oh, hello, Officer, this is George Martin.

My wife asked you to phone me.

- [Officer] Man with the asthma?

- Yes, that's right.

- [Officer] Car's on its way now, sir.

- Well, you can find something

more important to do. - I can't find them!

- I've just spoken with my wife, and she's okay.

I'm sorry, you know what a fuss wives

make over these things.

- [Officer] She sounded pretty excited.

Okay, huh?

- Yeah, she's okay now.

She's quieted down.

Well, thank you much, Officer.

She won't be bothering you for a while.

- [Officer] Thanks for calling, sir.

(dramatic music)

(Eva coughing)

(door knob rattling)

(Eva coughing)

- [Eva] (banging) You let me out.

Will you let me out? (banging)

(Eva coughing)

- Colin was apprehended.

I think, it is worth mentioning

that he was tried in the state

that dispenses poetic justice.

He went to the gas chamber.

This concludes my portion of the program.

I shall return next week with another story.

(uptempo orchestral music)

(dramatic music)