Original subtitles

Good evening.

I thought Friday would never come.

I'm not here, by the way, as a result of a shipwreck.

It was a misunderstanding.

Something to do with our ship being overweight.

I understand the pirates once buried their treasure on this island.

I've been digging, and if this is true, they spent most of their time burying

water.

Actually, it's rather nice here. We have sports, particularly swimming, when the

tide comes in. I may not have said that correctly. To be truthful, it's touch

and go as to whether the tide comes in or the island goes out.

This evening's drama is appropriately entitled A Home Away From Home.

In it, a young lady finds herself in a world she never made nor quite

understands.

It follows the following.

And here I am with one of old Fred Carno's troops touring the provinces.

Coo, that was a long time ago.

I'll recognise you immediately.

Aren't you the flatterer, Doctor?

And don't I love it?

Oh, here's one you won't recognise.

Charlie Chaplin's understudy, Arthur Stanley Jefferson.

Later on, he changed his name to Stan Laurel.

You knew them all, didn't you? Worked with the best I did.

George Robey.

Never a star myself.

But always a quick study.

Always reliable I were for 40 years.

Well, it's all over now.

All over. Oh, you shouldn't mourn the past, Mrs. Sanders.

Celebrate the present.

How are you feeling now?

Oh, I feel fine, Doctor, just fine.

I always feel good talking to you.

Well, that's what I'm here for.

Yes, I know.

But what am I here for?

There's nothing wrong with me.

It's that Dr. Norton, isn't it?

Now, Mrs. Saunders, you must try to understand.

Oh, I understand all right.

Just because I'm getting older, he thinks I should be shut up.

Oh, come now, isn't that bad?

You have the freedom of the house, room to yourself.

Bars on the windows.

Bars for me, what's toward the old wide world.

I'm a trooper, I am.

There's plenty of show folk in television right now older than I am. I

could have an old brand new career, I could.

Someone to see you, Doctor.

I'll be right there.

Well, Sarah, you must excuse me.

Please.

Perhaps you could talk to Dr. Norton for me.

Well, he does make the decisions, you know.

But you're a doctor too. You could make him understand.

Just tell him the truth.

Tell him I'm as sane as you are.

Isn't that right, Andrew? Isn't it?

Quite right, Mrs. Sanders.

I'll see what I can do. Thank you, Doctor.

Howard.

Hello, darling. I got your letter. Good.

You said there was something important.

Yes. Please sit down.

I'm sorry I can't ask you to join me over here, but there are rules, you

know. Of course.

We've got to avoid confusion.

If we allowed the visitors to mix with the patients, we'd never get them sorted

out again.

Howard, really?

Oh, that's the truth.

Don't forget, you're talking to a doctor now.

Do you know the one thing that really separates the sane from the mentally

disturbed in our society?

This net.

That's all a net.

Bars, a wall, some physical barrier.

Psychologically, up here, there's very little difference.

Please, let's not talk about that. You know what Dr. Norton says?

Of course.

And why shouldn't he say it?

Look at him, living like a king on this estate, with me here to do the real job

for him.

You? Yes, didn't you know that?

I make the rounds with him every day.

I keep my own case histories.

Why, I spend more time with inmates than he does.

But you're a patient yourself.

Yes, I know.

And Norton's an old fogey.

But he still knows a good thing when he sees it.

That's why he keeps me here.

I do his work for him.

You came here because you were ill.

Yes, that's right.

I kept up that killing schedule and working on the book night after night.

At the time, what I really needed was this.

Rest. The best therapy in the world.

Well, it did the job for me, and now I'm ready to go back to work again.

You're quite sure?

Well, look at me.

Do I appear to be ill, as you so politely put it?

No.

Do I sound disturbed?

Have I said or done anything irrational?

Darling... Of course not.

Then for the love of all that's holy, get me out of here.

I'm not paranoid.

I know Dr. Norton is not plotting against me.

It's just that he's weak, and he makes excuses and takes advantage of the

situation for his own benefit.

Oh, darling, please help me.

What do you want me to do?

Talk to him.

Get him to approve a discharge.

And if he says no?

Then go to an attorney.

I can be released in your custody. After all, you are my wife.

Howard.

I'm sorry, Doctor. Visiting time is over.

All right.

But my wife wants to talk to Dr. Norton before she leaves. You can wait in his

office.

Darling, you will tell him?

Don't worry.

Doctor, how is he?

How did he appear to you?

Well, he seemed very articulate.

Yes, I am aware of that.

He wants to go home, of course.

Very much.

And all his arguments are extremely sensible, aren't they? Yes.

What else?

He still doesn't seem to realize.

You see...

It is, as I told you, there are areas of disorientation.

But he seems so normal otherwise.

Well, of course, it's quite natural that you would want to defend him, but he's

not under attack here, and I'm doing my best to help him.

These things take time.

You come back in about a month, and I hope I'll have some better news for you.

There's no possibility of his being discharged soon.

I'm sorry, I'm very much afraid he's going to be with us for some

considerable time.

Goodbye, Doctor.

Goodbye.

Good evening, Dr. Norton.

How long were you outside there?

It seems your patients are never quite ready to go home, are they, Doctor?

Not as long as their families are willing to keep on paying a thousand a

month for all this wonderful personal attention.

I refuse to discuss the matter any further.

There is nothing to discuss. What are you doing here? Give me my cap. Doctor,

there's no reason to become upset.

You know I can't see without them. I don't want you to see.

You're going to discharge me.

I'm walking out of here free man right now, tonight.

That's impossible, and you know it.

Yes, I suppose it is, really.

Because even if I forced you to sign the papers...

You'd get word to the outside authorities, wouldn't you?

Well, I'd have to. You know that. Now, let's stop playing games, hmm?

The game is over.

Fennec?

Hello? Dr. Norton's residence?

May I speak to the doctor, please?

This is he.

Natalie?

Natalie who?

Natalie Rivers.

Oh, really, Uncle Jerry? Just because we've never met face to face is no

reason not to recognize your own niece.

Didn't you get my last letter?

Well, I mailed it from Los Angeles last Monday.

I wanted you to know I was coming.

Coming? Coming here?

Where are you now?

It's a filling station just outside of town.

They say it's only a 20-minute drive.

I'm on my way to Lake Louise for my vacation, but I thought since I was so

close that I'd stop in for the night.

If you have room for me.

Certainly. Overnight will be fine.

I've been wanting to meet you ever since our correspondence.

You know, with Mom and Dad gone, you're my only relative.

You come right ahead.

I'm sure you'll find it most comfortable.

Like a home away from home.

Isn't it exciting?

The Major insisted on coming by to tell you the news.

Quite. Everyone's been informed.

I just can't seem to get it through my head.

Well, it's perfectly simple, really. Dr. Fennec told me himself.

Old Norton's done a bunk.

Just a short vacation, the way I understand it. I hope it doesn't upset

you, dear lady.

The Dr.

Norton's gone away?

Oh, good riddance, I like to sigh.

But to think he'd leave Dr. Fennec in charge.

I don't see why not.

Personally, I think Dr.

Fennec knows ever so much more about medicine.

We all agree on that.

Hear, hear.

Yes, but doesn't it seem strange that he'd leave a patient in charge?

I don't see why.

Everyone here trusts Dr. Fennec. At least I do.

If you ask me, the chap's perfectly sound.

Shouldn't have been a patient in the first place.

Neither should I.

Perhaps he'll let me go home now.

I dare say he has plans.

Wouldn't you like to come down, dear?

Oh, I would very much, but I don't dare.

You know, my condition.

Yes, of course, we understand.

Well, Major, we'd better be running along. Right.

We'll keep you informed, dear.

I'd better go give Martha a push.

This is the first time she's been in a kitchen since her last husband died.

Nice old girl, isn't she? Oh, yes.

By the way, just what exactly is her condition?

All

right,

Nick, you can start taking up the trays now.

You mean I gotta climb all those stairs by hand?

Uh-huh. Why not send them up on the dumbwaiter? Doctor says it's out of

order. Not the only thing I'd order around here, if you ask me.

Nobody asked you, Nicky. Why don't you do what Martha says?

What did you cook for dinner? Flat irons? I've heard of heavy meals, but

this is ridiculous.

Never you mind, now.

It was good enough for three children and four husbands.

All of whom died of acute indigestion.

Sakes alive, what's that?

We must have a visitor.

Hello, I'm Natalie Rivers.

Is the doctor in?

I've been expecting you, my dear.

Do come in.

Your room's all ready for you. Gibson, take her bag upstairs, please.

I see you had no trouble finding the place.

Oh, I nearly got off the side road, but it was such a pleasant drive.

Your scenery is so beautiful.

Well, that's one of the consolations of being so isolated. One of many, I should

say. Yes.

Um, doctor, which room did you mean?

The guest room, the one opposite Miss Sanders.

I must apologize for Gibson. She's new at the job.

I imagine nurses are rather hard to find in an out-of-the-way spot like this. Oh,

you've no idea.

But what do you think of the place?

It's quite imposing.

It's not at all what I expected. Well, that makes us even. You're not at all

what I expected either.

But I sent you one of my recent photographs, remember?

Oh, yes.

Yes, of course.

What I meant was your picture doesn't do you justice.

Let me show you around before you go upstairs.

This is my study.

I come in here and I want to get away from things.

I've just been rereading one of my favorite books.

Take a look at it.

Fascinating.

Permissive Therapy by Howard Finnick, M.D.

A brilliant book and a brilliant man.

Taught me everything I know.

Is it about mental illness?

Oh, that's just a label.

Psychotherapy is filled with meaningless labels.

Well, I thought psychiatrists were doing remarkable things nowadays.

No, psychiatrists are just archaeologists.

They delve in the rubble and the ruins of a patient's past. And what they

should really do is deal with the present, the future.

I'm afraid I don't quite understand.

Neither do my learned colleagues.

They worry about hidden traumas, buried memories.

But what should be really brought out into the open is the patient himself.

Give him a role to play in real life and he'll accept the challenge.

Well, are you saying that the mentally disturbed should be set free?

Well, how can you be healthy and in chains?

Now, really?

Oh, forgive me. I shouldn't have got started. I happen to have a close

personal interest in the subject.

I suppose you'd like to go upstairs and freshen up a bit? Yes, please.

Good. Come along.

Afterwards, you can have dinner with me. I'd like you to meet some of my other

guests. Guests?

Yes. I think you'll find them very interesting.

Where's my dinner?

I want my dinner!

Excuse me, is there something wrong?

And who might you be?

Natalie Rivers.

Doctor's niece.

Oh, I heard you as expected.

Do step in.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude, but I heard you calling. I thought you might

be ill. Don't you believe it?

Sound as a dollar I am.

And hungry enough to eat an horse.

I was just going down to dinner.

I'm not about to get up.

Andrew always brings me my tray evenings.

Have you seen him, dearie? I'm afraid not.

He must have forgot.

They always send it up to him on the dumbwaiter.

It's probably out there right now getting all cold like.

And me starving away.

Well, if you tell me where it is, I could go look.

It's right down the far end of the aisle.

That's a love.

Let me go. No, I won't harm you. I won't harm you. Don't be afraid. Please, just

promise me you won't scream anymore.

Please.

I don't want the others to hear us downstairs, Miss Rivers. Please.

How did you know my name?

The doctor.

He showed me your letter.

He said you were expected today.

But... He said it never arrived.

The doctor?

You saw him?

Well, of course. Just now.

Who are you?

I'm Dr. Norton's assistant.

Look, Miss Rivers, I've got no time to explain, but you've got to get me out of

here, all of us.

All of us? The others are locked just across the hall. I think they're still

all unconscious. It's the cook, the orderly, the nurse.

I just saw the nurse downstairs.

Oh, please, Miss Rivers, you've got to believe me. There's been a terrible

mistake. I am Dr.

Norton's assistant.

I can prove it to you. Just open the door.

I think we've heard quite enough.

Really?

be ashamed of yourself getting this poor young lady all upset. Gibson.

Nurse Gibson, if you please.

She's not a nurse. Don't believe her. She's lying. They're all lying. Poor

fellow.

Well, it's time for dinner now. We must be going.

No, no, come back. Listen to me.

Listen to me.

Who is he?

Well, he's a patient. A patient?

After all, this is a sanatorium.

Come along now. Everyone's waiting.

The doctor's told everyone about you.

I know they're just crazy to meet you.

I don't seem to be getting anywhere, but you have progressed to the halfway mark.

To celebrate the occasion, we have arranged a station break.

after which we should continue our story.

After dinner drink?

No, thank you.

You seemed so quiet during the meal.

Oh, a little upset, perhaps.

I trust it wasn't the company.

Donald's a nice boy, and Major Hartress is a very close friend of mine.

No, no, it wasn't the guests.

It was the others.

The ones upstairs. Why didn't you tell me about them?

I didn't want to disturb you.

Never thought you'd go up there.

Well, I'm sorry. I heard some noises and I thought something might be wrong.

You had no right to interfere.

What did you see?

I saw a man. He was caged like an animal. It was horrible.

What gives you the right to pass judgment?

I know what I'm doing.

But earlier this evening you were talking about permissive therapy.

Is it really necessary to lock up people that way?

Yes.

Yes, it is.

When they're violently disturbed, otherwise they might harm themselves.

Surely you must have realized the man was irrational.

Did he speak to you?

He kept telling me he was your assistant.

That's a common delusion.

I'm sorry you were subjected to such an unpleasant experience.

Oh, by the way, Gibson tells me you had a visit with Miss Sanders.

Sarah's a nice old girl, isn't she?

She's a patient.

Oh, yes.

I'm glad you saw her. She's a wonderful example of permissive therapy.

No lock on her door.

She seemed quite normal.

Well, appearances can be deceptive, you know.

Oh, I say, there you are.

Come in.

Come in.

I hope you're not intruding.

Not at all, Major. We were just getting better acquainted.

I should like to do that myself.

All these years, and the old boy never breathed a word about you.

Imagine having such a smashing niece.

Isn't she smashing, Donald?

Oh, yes.

Speak up, lad. When I was your age, I'd have set my cap at a little bit like

this. What happened?

After you two left the table, they got into the rest of the wine. I told you to

keep your eye on them.

I say, Doctor, how about a drink?

Well, no, Miss Rivers had a very trying drive today. I think we should retire

for the evening.

A nightcap, then. Splendid idea. What?

Donald, did you hear? We're going to have a nightcap.

But I already did. I helped myself.

All right, pal.

Where is it?

Where is what?

The jug.

The decanter.

Right here on the desk.

But it was right there just a moment ago. Never mind. Where is it now?

Come on.

Give.

Anything else?

My watch!

Please wait.

I'm sorry. If I'd ever dreamt such a thing... They're patients, aren't they?

Yes.

Permissive therapy?

Yes, that's it exactly.

It's a new method, an experiment.

I wanted to prove that my patients would react normally if treated like normal

human beings.

If it hadn't been for the litter... You mustn't feel that way. I think they

behave very well.

At least right up until the last.

I approve of your experiment.

I think it's so much better than that other way. Well, thank you. It's very

kind of you to say that.

You don't know how much it means to me, but I mustn't keep you from your rest.

And please don't worry. There'll be no further incidents.

They'll all be tucked safely away for the night.

Didn't you say something about no locks on the doors? Ah, but there's a lock on

yours.

And here's a key.

Use it.

Thank you.

Pleasant dreams.

So it's you, is it?

Is there something wrong? Keep your voice down. You don't want to disturb

the others.

Don't be afraid, dearie. I'm not like the rest.

The rest?

I wouldn't be here now if it weren't for my condition.

Haven't you guessed?

I'm going to have a baby.

Oh, I see.

Any day now.

I've been in this condition for the past five years.

That's why I've my meals in bed.

Andrew always brings me my tray.

Well, don't you think you ought to be in bed?

I'm hungry.

Haven't you eaten yet?

I told you about my tray and you promised to fetch it. I've been waiting

around here for hours.

Well, I'm sorry, you poor dear.

I'll help you back into bed. I don't need any help, thank you very much.

I'm as strong as an ox I am.

I did look for your dinner, but it wasn't on the dumbwaiter. Did you try

pulling it up?

No. I would have tried myself, but I haven't the strength.

I'm as weak as a kitten.

Well, you just relax, and I'll see if I can find Nicky or Miss Gibson.

Never mind that. Just fetch me my train.

But if your dinner's been on the dumbwaiter all this time, it'll be all

cold.

Cool. Many's the cold snack I've enjoyed after doing my turn on the boards.

Well, I still think I should get Miss Gibson.

What are you doing?

Well, if you won't get it for me, I'll fetch it myself.

You just stay there. I'll get your dinner.

Promise?

Cross your heart.

I'll be right back.

What's that?

The police, I imagine. I told them it was urgent when I called.

Inspector Roberts, sir.

This way, please.

Inspector Roberts, my niece, Natalie Rivers.

How do you do, Miss Rivers?

The doctor has told me what you reported. We'd better take a look

upstairs. Oh, Inspector, I... I know how you feel, miss, but under the

circumstances, I'm afraid I must insist.

This way.

There you go.

Will you show him, my dear?

You say you just come from this patient's room?

Yes, and I went to the dumbwaiter down here at the end of the hall.

I see.

And when you pulled it up, the body was on the dumbwaiter platform?

Yes.

Miss Rivers, where's the body now?

Well, I don't know.

It was there. I saw it.

It was the body of a man in a white jacket.

You're quite certain you weren't mistaken?

No, there's no mistake. I saw it.

I believe my niece is telling the truth.

Well, I wasn't doubting your word, Doctor, but in a place like this...

Where does this shaft lead to?

Down in the kitchen.

Anyone down there?

Martha the cook, Nurse Gibson, and Nicky, my orderly. They have rooms in

the area.

I'd like to have a few words with them, if you don't object.

I don't mind at all.

Would you like to go now?

Yes.

If you don't mind, I feel a little faint.

I'm sorry.

Perhaps you'd better go to your room and rest for a while.

And don't worry.

We'll take care of this.

This way, Inspector.

Yes, sir.

Who's out there?

Miss Rivers, is that you?

Where have you been?

Didn't you promise to fetch me my tray?

I'm sorry, Sarah, but there's been an accident.

As a matter of fact, everything seems to be going wrong.

I don't care anything about it. I want my dinner.

Please don't get upset.

I'll tell the doctor.

Is something the matter?

Well, I seem to have the wrong key for my room.

Do you know where I could find the doctor?

Well, he was in his office the last time I saw him.

Fine, thank you.

Oh, is that Mrs. Saunders' dinner?

No, it's mine.

Well, she's been complaining. She hasn't been fed.

Let her starve.

Doctor?

Uncle Jerry?

What are you doing here?

I found the body.

Dr. Norton!

Dr. Norton!

My uncle? But... but I... Inspector, then who is that man in charge here?

Dr. Fennec, I thought you knew.

Inspector, my uncle has been murdered.

That's pretty obvious.

The question is, why did you do it?

I didn't do it.

Don't you understand? It must have been one of the patients.

It could have even been Dr. Finnick.

Dr. Finnick must have argued with my uncle before I came here tonight.

Of course.

He killed my uncle. That must be the way it was. Please, please, Inspector,

believe me.

Don't waste your breath, Natalie.

It doesn't matter whether he believes you or not.

He's a patient, too?

It was just therapy, miss.

You see, the doctor here, he asked me to play a part, just like the others.

You see, Martha's a cook, Nicky's an orderly, Gibson's the nurse, and...

Don't bother to explain, Roberts.

Well, I haven't done wrong, have I?

I mean, I am trying to live the role, just as you said.

That's enough.

You're doing a splendid job. Keep it up.

Yes, doctor.

One moment, Natalie.

I assume you're headed for the front door.

Well, don't bother.

You see, this key really works.

What are you going to do?

I haven't decided.

But there's no real hurry, is there?

Sometime during the night, I'll make up my mind.

You'll still be here.

I see. What's this all about?

Major, there's something I've got to know, and maybe you can help me.

Ask away.

Well, it's about Dr. Fennec.

When did he come here?

Oh, years ago, dear girl. He's been here almost as long as I have.

He used to be a doctor, you know, on the outside.

On the outside?

Do you mean he's committed?

He's a patient here like the others?

Yes, yes, he is.

Some nonsense about killing his wife.

It's all blown over and forgotten.

He murdered his wife.

Matter of opinion.

Woman comes to visit him. Fennec claims it's his wife.

Dr. Norton says it's his sister.

Maybe he doesn't want to remember.

How can you take it for granted?

Got to be tolerant. We all have our little quirks, you know.

But he's dangerous.

Nonsense. Sound as a bell. Great doctor.

I'm glad he took over today.

Tell me, what about the others?

The ones upstairs?

Oh, so you know about them.

We helped him to put them away.

It's quite all right.

Fennec said Dr. Norton gave him full authority to try out his theories.

When did Dr. Norton say that?

This afternoon, just before he left on his vacation.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

I mean, if he hadn't trusted Fennec, he wouldn't have gone away.

Major, listen to me. He didn't go away.

He was murdered. I found his body.

I must go back to my room.

Late, you know.

But don't you understand? We've got to get out of here.

None of my affair.

Ask Fennec. He's very permissive.

Operator.

Oh, Miss Rivers.

Andrew, Dr. Fenwick is going to kill me.

I can't get out of the house. Get to a phone. Call the police.

I tried that, but they cut the wire.

There's nothing I could do as long as I'm locked in here.

If you can just find the key.

But how can I? Dr. Finnick must have it. Maybe one of the others could help you.

Maybe the major.

I talked to him. I can't seem to make him understand.

Well, there's got to be some... Sarah.

Sarah, that's it.

Tell her what's been going on. Maybe she could find it for us. Sarah.

Sarah, yes, maybe she can...

I see. And then what did you say?

Well, I told her to speak to you.

I said that you were very permissive.

Thank you.

Well, good night, Major, and have a good sleep. Thank you.

Come in, girl. Come in.

Sarah, I don't mean to alarm you, but there's been trouble, and I need help.

I've been trying to get you alone all evening, dearie. Oh, Sarah, listen to

me. Did you know that I was with one of old Fred Carno's troops touring the

provinces when I was a girl? Sarah, you don't understand.

I'll bet you won't recognize him.

Oh, I've trooped with the best of them I am. The best of them.

Sarah, I need help.

I know.

It's the ones upstairs you're thinking about, right?

Wish there was Beck in charge right now myself, I do.

Leastwise, I'd be having my dinner.

Well, then you do understand.

If only we could do something.

Maybe we could get the keys. There must be keys to those cells upstairs.

Of course there is.

I've seen them myself.

Right in the desk drawer in Dr. Norton's study.

In the study?

I can't go down there now. Finnick would see me.

It wouldn't do you much good if you could.

The keys aren't there anymore.

Well, how do you know?

Because I took them.

Yes. I was just telling Sarah. You see, I sneaked back into the study and went

through the desk drawers.

See?

May I have them?

Oh, no, they're mine.

Please.

Oh.

You can just steal your own keys.

Now, Donald, give her the keys.

It's a nice boy.

All right.

That's a nice chap.

Run now.

Don't worry, I've got keys.

Oh, good, good.

Really?

Are you up there?

Oh, he's coming.

Hurry, Miss Rivers, hurry.

They don't work.

None of them work.

Now, you don't think I'd leave the real keys lying around for Donald to pick up,

do you?

You see, I plan ahead.

And right now, I'm planning to get rid of the evidence.

Martha and Nicky are outside digging a nice big hole.

Fennec! I know, but don't you see? I have no choice. She's part of the

evidence.

You meddler.

Coming here, interfering in my plans.

Hold it!

Put your hands up!

I wish we'd had these before.

We had to smash the downstairs door to get in.

How did you ever happen to come here?

We had a call. Something about a murder.

Roberts.

After we found the body, I reported to my superiors.

Well, you told me I should act like a real inspector.

It was the right thing to do, wasn't it, Doctor?

Doctor?

Doctor?

So much for Dr.

Fenwick. As for my own problem, it is fast being solved.

I understand the rumor was spread that my island was a quaint out-of-the-way

paradise, untouched by civilization.

Two boatloads of tourists, three hotel men, and a souvenir manufacturer are

already on their way to correct the situation.

In that case, I should be back next week to tell you another story, scenes of

which you will see in a moment.

But first, we must allow the sponsor to say a few words.

Permissive therapy.