Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

Please do not be alarmed.

This is not a remote broadcast.

I'm still very much with you.

Actually, this is from my collection of ancient weapons.

In the days of the bow and arrow, this could strike

with a force of a machine gun.

Furthermore, instead of the bothersome rattle of explosions,

a burst of shots from this instrument was accompanied

by sweet music, a feature which was undoubtedly appreciated

by the victims.

Actually, you will find quite a number of these about today.

Most of them are in our larger symphony orchestras.

They help keep the conductors from becoming obstreperous.

With that thought in my mind, I can't help but turn

to our sponsor, that dear person would like to spend

the next minute talking about himself.

This will be followed by Power of Attorney, a drama

about a woman and her devoted companion and about a man

who helped her with her investments, and so in just one

lamentable minute, Power of Attorney.

(suspenseful music)

- [Man] It was so unexpected.

- It isn't true.

- [Man] I'm afraid so.

- But you told me,

you told me only yesterday that those stocks

were worth $10,000.

- [Man] Only this morning.

- Where are you going?

- [Man] Back to the office.

- That was Shirley's college money that I gave you.

- I invested $5000 of my own.

- [Woman] Will you be coming back at dinner?

- You can't feel like cooking for me after what's happened.

- Oh darling.

It isn't your fault.

It's just rotten luck, that's all.

- I'll be back, at eight on the button.

- [Officer] What time did his hotel say he checked out?

- [Woman] Six o'clock.

- [Officer] And he was supposed to be here at eight?

- He told me that he was in love with me.

He said that he wanted to marry me.

He said he was gonna triple my $10,000 stock

in three months.

- [Officer] Where did you meet this

Wilford James, Mrs. Norton?

- On a plane coming back from Jamaica.

He came over and sat down beside me and

began feeding me that line.

- Salzburg is a charming town.

I was there last in '59.

- We go every year for the festival.

- Oh, I've never been for the festival.

- [Old Woman] It's the best time.

- Cigarette? - No.

Agatha doesn't smoke.

- Agatha, you're Agatha?

Agatha what?

- Tomlin.

I'm Mary Caulfield.

- James Jarvis.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

And how do you do?

- How do you do?

(suspenseful music)

- After I passed the bar examination, I set up a law office

in my home town in competition with my father.

He was actually very proud.

Married my childhood sweetheart, and I thought, boy,

James Jarvis, you have really settled down.

And then my darling wife

died in childbirth.

After that I couldn't stay in England any longer.

So I immigrated to America, came to New York,

started to fool around the stock market.

You know it seems I found my niche, it's fascinating.

Do you know anything

about stocks and shares, Mrs. Caulfield?

- Not a thing.

- Miss Tomlin?

You a financial wizard?

- Hardly.

(James chuckles)

- My lawyer takes care of everything.

I don't want to know about numbers and contracts.

Handling money is a man's business.

(glass clinks)

(dramatic music)

I told you she'd be late.

- She's always late.

- Who's always late?

- My great-niece.

She was to meet us here.

- Which way are you going?

We could share a cab.

- We live at the Golden Angel Hotel.

- You wanna talk about coincidences,

that's where I'm staying this trip.

What about that.

Here, give me your tags, I'll get the luggage.

- Eileen! - Aunt M!

- Darling. - Aunt M,

I'm sorry we're late.

It wasn't our fault, the traffic was backed up for miles.

Ask Robert, bumper to bumper.

- Robert. - Hello, Mrs. Caulfield.

- Mr. Jarvis, this is my great-niece, Eileen Harris.

Robert Reeves.

We're gonna give Mr. Jarvis a ride to the hotel.

- Will there be room in the car?

- Robert brought his father's car.

- Robert.

- Give me your things and I'll get your bags.

- That's all right, I have them right here.

- Are we ready?

Then let's go.

- Oh, Miss Tomlin, look here.

Let me take that.

And that one's too heavy for you, dear.

See you later.

Porter.

This lot.

(suspenseful music)

- [Clerk] Well, well, good afternoon, Mrs. Caulfield.

Welcome home.

And how was Salzburg?

- [Mary] Wonderful as always.

Anything exciting happen while we were away?

- [Clerk] Not a thing.

Welcome home, Miss Tomlin.

- Thank you.

- No, no, no, not all of those are mine this time.

The bottom bag belongs to Mr. Jarvis.

You better check in, Mr. Jarvis, they were about

to put you in with us.

- I wasn't gonna say a word. (chuckles)

Yes, I have a reservation, Mr. James Jarvis.

- [Clerk] Jarvis?

- James Jarvis.

- [Clerk] Well I'm sorry, there's nothing here

under that name.

- I called from Chicago four days ago.

I called about noon.

- Oh, well it's obviously our mistake.

The only thing I have right at this minute is a single

over the pool.

- How would I like a single over the pool?

- You wouldn't.

Put him in the rear where we are where it's quiet.

- Oh yes, I'll have a room on the fourth floor

sometime after three.

He's not out of there yet, but he's checking out today.

- What time is it now?

- [Clerk] It's 1:30.

- I'll wait for it. - Come and have

a cup of tea with us.

- No thank you, but that's not necessary.

- He'll be with us. - Fine.

Leave Mr. Jarvis' bags.

I'll have them sent up, sir.

- Thank you.

The house in Jamaica was just too much trouble.

I never used it, oh, maybe a couple of times a year.

I just have the apartment in Rome now.

I suppose I ought to have something in New York.

- I used to have a house in New York, but I really prefer

living in a hotel.

Oh that's sweet.

Greetings from Mr. Barton.

- Birthday, Aunt M.

- I'll talk to him.

(phone rings)

- Hello?

It's for you, your room is ready.

- Hello?

Thank you.

Yes, I'll go right up.

405, that's not too far away, is it, Mary?

- One flight up, two doors down.

- Oh, we're neighbors. (chuckles)

- You'll have dinner with us when we get organized?

- Well, until then, why don't I invite you

to dinner somewhere tonight?

- Yes.

- You, Agatha?

Eileen and Robert?

- We have other plans.

- Well, I'll pick you and Agatha up about eight o'clock?

- We'll have a drink here?

- Great, see you later.

- [Agatha] Goodbye.

- Are you always this quiet?

- Always.

Well, happy birthday and bon voyage.

- Merci.

- Alvederzane. - Alvederzane.

(laughs) - Bye.

- [Mary] He's charming.

- You think everyone's charming, Aunt M.

- Isn't he, Agatha?

- Not to me.

(suspenseful music)

- Oh hello, is there a florist shop in the hotel?

Oh fine.

Yes, this is Mr. Jarvis in

405.

I'd like to send a dozen ro,

two dozen roses

to 303.

Yes, one dozen for Mrs. Mary Caulfield,

and the other for Miss Agatha Tomlin.

Fine, bye.

Mm, holding up pretty well for five days.

- Agatha changes the water every morning.

And this morning she gave them a vitamin.

- Well, I'll buy you both some more.

Both of you.

- You were telling us

about the Arlo Trust Company, Mr. Jarvis.

- That tone mean you want me to shut up?

Or do you really want to hear

- [Agatha] It's your choice.

- Don't play games, Agatha.

- Mystery maiden.

- Don't say that.

Just what she wants to hear.

- I want to hear about the Arlo Trust Company,

the chance that comes once in five lifetimes.

- Go wash the dishes.

- No, I'm serious.

I really want to try and understand.

- Well, I have the opportunity of buying through a friend

of mine, a very dear friend, who happens to be on the board

of directors, as many shares in the Arlo Trust Company

as I can afford.

They sell for $50 a share, but I can buy them for 30.

He transfers them into my name, and then when the shares go

on the market, I sell 'em and double my money.

It's not quite as simple as that, but that's basically

how it works.

You know anybody who wants to double their money

in one afternoon?

- Me. - Oh, Mary.

- You better speak to Mr. Barton.

- Well, I would, I'd have to.

I couldn't do anything without consulting him.

He controls everything.

Oh, he's such a character, James.

Nearly 80, never married, but he's as sharp as a tack.

- Sharp as a tack.

Why don't you arrange a meeting between James

and Mr. Barton, and let James explain it to Mr. Barton.

- Why I'd love to.

- Well, let's arrange for lunch tomorrow.

I'll phone Mr. Barton right away.

- Oh, thank you.

Cigarette?

- I don't smoke.

- Mr. Thomas Barton please.

Will you tell him Mary Caulfield phoned?

Hello, Thomas?

Listening in on your answering service again.

Are you free for lunch tomorrow?

Wonderful.

Here, one o'clock.

There's something I wanna talk to you about.

How are you feeling?

Well, you go right to bed.

Goodnight.

No sooner said than done.

- Speaking of bed.

- Really? - Really.

Thank you for a delightful meal.

- Thank Agatha.

- Oh, she's the hash slinger? (chuckles)

It was beautiful.

Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

- And goodnight to you, Mary.

(suspenseful music)

(coughs)

(dramatic music)

- Right on the button, stroke of one. (chuckles)

- And voila.

You know it's the first time in my life I've been punctual

six times in a row?

Of course it may have something to do with the fact

that I only live three minutes away.

- Our plans have changed, Mr. Jarvis.

Something awful has happened.

- Where's Mary?

- Mary's all right.

It's Mr. Barton, he's dead.

His secretary found him this morning.

He didn't go into his office.

They found him in his bed.

He hadn't been feeling well lately.

He seems to have had some kind of a stroke,

suffocated somehow.

Mary is very upset.

- I'm sorry.

- Of course it couldn't mean anything to you,

but Mary and I were both very fond of him.

- I know.

I'm terribly sorry.

- I'm sorry you didn't meet.

You'd have liked each other.

- Don't you think that you should lie down?

- No.

- I'll go.

- Mr. Barton would say we were irrational if he saw us

behaving like this.

Agatha spent all morning fixing this lunch.

We'll have it together.

James.

How, in an instant, flowers take on a new significance.

They seem out of place here.

They seem

to belong to Thomas,

and the dead.

- Here, let me take them.

- [Mary] Very fortunate for me that you're here, James.

(suspenseful music)

Are you asleep?

- No.

- Seven times eight is what?

- 56. - 56.

- Carry the five.

Let's talk about it, Agatha, chase it out in the open.

I don't think I know enough about him.

Known him nearly three weeks, seen him every day.

He's been an absolute miracle.

I don't understand you, Agatha.

You think he's dishonest?

You're such a suspicious old thing.

I have to have somebody to do this.

I have to have a new lawyer.

I've already asked him to come down later

to go over the things that Mr. Barton's secretary sent me.

Well, I certainly trust him much more than I do

any of the men the bank sent me.

And he's more attractive.

I don't think you dislike James so much.

I feel you like him more than you'll admit,

even to yourself.

Ooh, sun's too bright.

I thought so. (doorbell buzzes)

I'll get it.

Come in, James.

- Here I am with my peruse-able cap on.

I hear you've got something needs perusing.

- James, Agatha.

Agatha's on the patio trying to get some sun.

It's the first time I've ever known her to want

to get a tan.

I don't know what's come over her.

She's cut her beautiful hair.

You better have a drink before you look at my affairs.

It's amazing how confused I get in just a week.

- Afternoon, Agatha.

Say, I like your hair, beautiful. (chuckles)

You know, I think I'm making progress with Agatha.

Almost got a smile out of her.

Now, where's all this legal confusion?

- [Mary] On my desk.

- How did you convince Agatha to let me have a look

at this stuff?

Promise her a bushel of persimmons?

- Shh, she knows we're talking about her.

- We're in here talking about you, Agatha.

Boy that really is some shell.

- Much thinner than you think.

- Oh really?

Bark's worse than the bite?

- Much.

She can have a night off anytime she wants it.

- You wouldn't be jealous?

- A little.

- Just a little?

- Ask her.

Maybe she'll stop complaining about you.

It's what she really wants.

(gentle music)

- I was nursing Mr. Caulfield when he was in the hospital,

and then when he left the hospital, Mrs. Caulfield asked me

to come and live at the house and look after him there.

And then when he died,

she was so upset.

She couldn't bear to be alone.

She gets morbidly depressed

if things go wrong.

That's against the law.

- You won't tell anybody, will you?

Goodnight. (laughs)

- Goodnight, James. - Goodnight, sleep well.

- So?

So? - So what?

- Did you have a good time?

- Nice enough.

- [Mary] What do you think?

- About what?

- [Mary] About him.

- He didn't try and kiss me.

- Is that good or bad?

- Not good.

Not bad, clever.

We'll see.

- 22% my dear lady.

22% richer than you were a week ago right here.

- I don't understand it at all.

- Let me see it.

- Just one or two more papers to sign,

then we can talk about something more interesting.

- What are these now, James?

- These give me what's called the Power of Attorney.

- That I've heard of.

But I'm not sure what it means.

- Tell Mary what the Power of Attorney is, Agatha.

- It means that you give James the right

to sign your name for you.

- That you give me the right to make decisions for you

if I can't get to you in time.

Mr. Barton had it.

It's the reason you were never troubled about anything.

Is there any more coffee, Agatha?

- Yes, there is.

- Now, Mary.

Right here.

- Eileen called this morning.

She wants to know if I'm going to be able

to help her visit Robert.

She wants to leave within the next three weeks.

- And there.

Well, the way Arlo Trust is going right now,

pretty soon you'll be able to buy Germany.

There we are.

Safe as safe can be.

- [Agatha] Coffee, Mary?

- Not for me, keeps me awake.

I'm exhausted, going straight to bed.

Goodnight.

- Goodnight, Mary.

Sleep tight. (laughs)

- Night. - Night.

- You approve?

- I approve.

(smacks) (dramatic music)

(smacks)

- Don't you ever do that again.

- Into each life some rain must fall.

And in the center of every hour of television,

we must have a station break, after which,

we shall continue the story of Mary, Agatha,

and their friend, Mr. Jarvis.

- Where's Mary?

- In the sun room.

- You better fix us a drink.

Better fix us all a drink.

Arlo Trust has declared bankruptcy.

- What does that mean?

- Means that everything we've invested in it is gone.

- How much of my money did you invest in it, James?

- Yesterday it was selling for $75 a share.

Now they can't give it away.

- How much?

- I invested every penny you had in your savings.

- My savings?

But that's all

excuse me.

- It was so unexpected.

- I'd better go to her.

- Yes.

- Come for breakfast in the morning.

(suspenseful music)

- I don't know how I can tell any of them.

Peter and his wife live on the money

I send them every month.

Eileen is counting on me to pay her way to see Robert.

- They've all lived off you for years.

Let them help you now.

- Rich Aunt M.

If rich Aunt M spends any of the money in her

checking account, there won't be enough left to pay

the hotel bill this month.

- Mary, I have $1000 in the bank.

It wasn't his fault.

- Be so much easier if it were.

- I thought he was coming down to breakfast.

- He said he was.

405 please.

(phone rings)

- [James] Hello?

Oh hello, Agatha.

- James, breakfast will be ready in a minute.

- [James] Oh sweetheart, something's come up

and I can't make it.

I've got to get down to the office.

- James, I have $1000 in the bank.

Mary won't take it, if it'd be any help.

- Well, yes it

might help me get back on my feet.

- You're welcome to it.

- Could you have it about noon?

- Yes, I have to go out shopping anyway.

James, could we rent a car and drive up the coast tomorrow?

Mary has to get out of this apartment.

- I'll arrange the day that way.

- Good, see you at lunch then.

- About one?

- Yes, goodbye. - Bye.

Yeah, would you get me 626-0025.

Oh hello, reservations please.

This is Mr. Jarvis Smith.

I have a reservation on the 11:15 flight to Mexico City this

morning, but something's come up and I have to cancel that.

Could you manage me one say in the late afternoon?

Yeah, 6:15 would be fine, fine.

Oh, fella, first class, huh?

Yeah, great.

All right.

Front desk?

Yes, this is Mr. James Jarvis in 405.

Would you ask the cashier to make out my bill up to date?

Yeah, I'll drop in sometime this afternoon and pay it off.

Fine.

Bye bye.

- I'm going to the market.

Do you want anything?

- My great-grandfather,

my grandfather,

my father worked their entire lives to save that money.

And now it's gone in one afternoon.

(melancholy music)

Where are you going?

- [Agatha] To the market.

- Market.

Market to buy a fat pig.

- [Agatha] I'll be back in 1/2 an hour.

- Home again, home again,

jiggity jig.

(melancholy music)

Hello, Eileen.

This is your Aunt M.

Eileen, I'm not going to be able to help you go to Germany.

Something drastic has happened.

There was some stock.

Arlo Trust Company.

I had all of my money invested in them.

And now it's gone.

No dear, no, I'm quite all right.

I just didn't want you to go on counting on me.

Goodbye, Eileen.

(classical piano music)

(phone rings)

- Any messages?

- Only a couple of circulars.

Miss Tomlin, we'll all miss Mr. Jarvis.

- Miss him?

- [Clerk] He's checking out this afternoon.

Very nice man.

- Oh yes, today's Thursday, isn't it?

Yes, he told me.

I'd forgotten.

(suspenseful music)

- Are you all right, Miss Tomlin?

- Yes.

Yes.

(classical piano music)

- [Operator] May I help you?

- 405 please.

- [Operator] I'm sorry, Mr. Jarvis doesn't answer.

Would you like to have him paged?

- Yes, page him please.

- [Operator] Mr. James Jarvis.

Phone call for Mr. James Jarvis.

I'm sorry, Mr. Jarvis is not in the hotel.

Would you like to leave a message?

- Yes, tell him that Agatha Tomlin called.

Mary?

Mary, are you asleep?

(dramatic music)

(doorbell buzzes)

- How is she?

- What do you mean?

- Well, she called me an hour ago.

She scared me to death.

She was crying, saying something about she'd lost

all her money.

Is that true?

- She's sleeping.

Yes.

Yes, it is true.

- Well, what happened?

She said something about the Arlo Trust Company.

So I went to see Robert's lawyer to talk to him about it,

and he never heard of it.

So he phoned his broker, who vaguely remembered

an Arlo Trust Company that went bankrupt in Chicago

a few years ago.

How much did she invest?

- I don't know.

- You know to the penny how much.

You invested in it too.

You've been swindled.

- Yes, I'm afraid so.

- Agatha, we'll have to call the police.

- As soon as your aunt wakes up,

I'll talk to her about that.

- Well, if she wants to talk to Robert's lawyer,

I can get him on the phone.

Evans is his name - I think.

- Spannis Worthy Evans in Brentwood.

I have to go downtown now to get my passport,

but I'll be back before in case you need me for anything.

- [Agatha] Thank you.

- Be sure and let me know what the police say.

- [Agatha] Yes, I will.

- Bye, have Aunt M call me tonight.

- [Agatha] Yes, goodbye.

(dramatic music)

- Agatha.

Bagatha.

(chuckles)

- [Operator] Guest please?

- 303.

(phone rings)

- Agatha, bagatha.

(phone rings)

- Hello?

- Oh, Agatha?

I just got in.

What are you doing?

- Just sitting here, waiting for you to return my call.

Where are you?

- Oh, in my room,

lying down on the bed.

- [Agatha] Did you go to the office?

- Sure.

- [Agatha] Are you able to drive Mary and me

up the coast tomorrow?

- Mm hm, sure am.

- I thought if we started about 10 in the morning

that we'd be able to have lunch on the pier

at Santa Barbara.

- Great.

- I went to the bank and I drew out the money.

I have $1200 for you.

- I'll pay you back just as soon as I can.

- Why don't you come down here right now.

Mary would like to talk to you.

- How is she?

- [Agatha] She's thoroughly disenchanted with stocks.

- From well I imagine.

And with me.

- No, she does not blame you, James, and besides,

it's not such a disaster since the morning's mail.

I was worried about her before.

Hello?

Are you there?

- Oh yes, I was just lighting a cigarette.

Good news?

- I'd say so.

You know that she lost her only brother in Texas last year.

Oh I'm sure she's mentioned it to you.

Well, this morning, such luck.

There was a letter, a legal sort of a thing,

which neither one of us can decipher, but it's plain

that she's inherited the major part of his estate.

Arlo Trust can be forgotten, and she'd like you to be

kind enough to come down and explain it to her.

- Of course.

- But don't you dare mention stocks to her.

She says all she wants to do is put the money in the bank

and live off the interest.

- Must be a sizeable sum.

- Oh much more than we ever dreamed of.

We're expecting you.

- I'll be right down.

Bye.

(suspenseful music)

(doorbell buzzes)

* It was a lover and his lass *

* With a hey and a hey and a hey *

- Keep your voice down.

Mary's resting.

I'll wake her up in a few minutes.

She didn't sleep well last night.

- Good morning.

It is still morning, isn't it?

- I think so.

Would you like some coffee?

- No thank you, ma'am.

- James, I'm so glad you're here.

It was such an awful night.

I was so worried about Mary all day yesterday,

and I found something that scared me.

I didn't know what to do about it.

- And what's that?

- Look at this.

I didn't know she had a gun in the house.

I found it in her bedroom.

It's loaded.

She was so despondent that I was afraid

of what she would do.

Of course the morning mail was a Godsend.

Oh I hate those things.

Get rid of it, James, get it, get it out of the house.

Take it away.

No, don't point it!

Put it in your pocket.

- There (chuckles) I'll look after you.

- Mary, are you awake?

James is here.

She's mumbling something.

I'll get her some coffee.

Meanwhile, you two can peruse, as you say, that letter.

- Mary, Mary, quite contrary.

How does your garden grow?

Hey, Agatha?

Agatha?

What are you doing, you silly baby?

Oh, I see you.

Agatha, what you do that for?

(laughs)

Mary?

- Hello, the police, get the police.

Get somebody up here right away, someone's been shot.

- Agatha!

- 303. - Agatha!

- Hurry!

- Agatha, open up, will you?

(pounds)

Agatha, what are you doing?

Agatha!

Open the door, will ya?

Let me out of here.

Agatha, let me out of here!

Agatha!

(glass shatters)

Agatha!

Agatha, let me out!

(gunshots)

- He's in the sunroom.

Be careful, he's got a gun.

(gunshot)

(dishes shatter)

- Why would he kill Mrs. Caulfield?

- I don't know.

I heard them arguing about some kind of business.

She said that she wanted to go to the police about something

that he didn't want investigated.

Some kind of stocks.

Something called the

Arlo Trust Company.

(dramatic music)

- Well, that's the way the body bounces.

However, I feel compelled to say that the manner

which Mary chose to leave this veil of tears is not the one

to solve one's problems.

In short, we do not recommend suicide as a way of life.

That is all the story we have for tonight.

Some miscellaneous items follow.

I found a new use for my harp.

If you like sliced, homemade bread, just push the loaves

through the harp before baking.