Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

And welcome to Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Before we show you tonight’s story,

we shall have a commercial.

I hope the manner in which my picture

jumps about the screen

doesn’t confuse you.

I had a small disagreement with our cameraman.

Fortunately, being the producer, I have the last word.

In this case, that word is,

[echoing] He-he-he-he-he-he-he-lp...

But you say you feel all right now.

[man] Well, of course I do, doctor, but...

I felt all right after the other time too.

And this other time you mentioned,

you say that started out the same way?

The same way.

I was just a kid at the time.

I didn’t think much about it.

But now that it’s happening again...

Yes, I understand how you feel.

Now, suppose you tell me about this last time.

Well, the-- the day that it happened,

it was as if the powers that be had had a meeting

and decided that would be fun to drive me nuts.

It started out with the half-cooked eggs,

burnt toast,

and then as I was taking Rosemarie from her mother,

she dribbled on my tie, so I had to change that.

When I got to the office, my secretary had picked this day

to tell me that she was leaving to get married.

Then Lucille called and said Rosemarie had swallowed a button.

Then right after that...

[exhales] ...well, it was that kind of a day.

I didn’t have much hope for the evening.

As it turned out...

it was worse than the day.

-[woman] Ralph? -Yeah, it’s me.

Gee, where have you been?

Did you forget what night this is?

Never mind about that. What about the button?

-What button? -The button.

The one that Rosemarie swallowed.

That button, I found it in the crib.

Well, you might have called me back.

I’m sorry.

[sighs]

The Hornsbys?

They’ll be here at 8:30.

Now, Ralph, please don’t act like that.

Listen, I’ve had a very difficult day.

When the laundry came, instead of bringing me

the good tablecloth I wanted to use tonight,

they brought me a man’s shirt instead.

Oh, and mother called. She said Jack would need about 200

to close that uptown option.

Lucille. We just gave your brother 300

to close the downtown option.

Well, I know it.

Why so touchy about money all of a sudden?

It’s not all of a sudden, and it’s just not the money.

Things seem to be closing in, that’s all.

Must you drink before you shower?

Yes, I must.

It’s been a bad day, honey.

Lucille, where are you going?

I’ve got to go to the kitchen, I’ve got things going there.

You’ll feel better after you shower.

[Lucille] Oh, I forgot to tell you,

a man called just before you came in.

What did he want?

[Lucille] He wants $50.

Why does he want $50?

[Lucille] He represents the tenants

opposing the raise in our rent.

He says we’re gonna fight it through the courts

if it costs us a million dollars.

Hurrah.

[Lucille] Ralph?

Yeah?

There’s a magazine on the armchair table.

What about it?

It’s open to a page I want you to look at.

Are you looking at it?

Yes, I’m looking at it.

Ralph, I wish we had a house

just like the couple in that article.

You know? If we ever had a second baby...

that would be the house to have.

If we ever have a second baby, I am going to cut myself

a knotty oak stick.

I will take one pair of socks, a toothbrush,

and wrapped them up in a red bandana,

I will put on an old pair of pants,

attach my little bundle to the knotty oak stick,

and take off for the wide open spaces.

I will take either a northerly or a southerly direction

because I wouldn’t want the Pacific Ocean

to get in my way.

That is not funny.

That is the best I can do after a long, hard day.

Well, I suppose you’ll be saying next,

you’re sorry you married me.

Well, I will say

that life was less complicated two years ago.

I was living peacefully in a furnished apartment.

I had fewer problems.

-Is that so? -Yes, that’s so.

It was a simple, carefree life.

Well, Ralph, if you want out of this marriage,

just say so.

A bargain’s a bargain.

Well.

If that’s the way you feel about it,

I just want you to know that I can have

my old job back at Eagle Soap

anytime I want it.

Lucille.

[sighs]

[exhales]

[Ralph] At just what moment it happened,

I don’t know.

I remember vaguely getting up...

leaving the apartment...

waiting for the elevator.

It came, and I entered it.

And the next thing I knew, I was sitting down.

I remember feeling cold.

I was shivering.

The surroundings were familiar.

Apparently, I’d left home and gone

back to my bachelor apartment.

When I went to the window, I saw a light snow

had fallen outside.

Snow in July?

It was real snow, all right.

I couldn’t understand any of it.

For example, why were my clothes, all my old casts-offs

hanging in the closet looking new?

My old beat-up desk was there.

So was my calendar.

When I looked at the month and the date,

I began to understand this wasn’t

the same day at all.

It was a day 2 1/2 years ago.

[doorbell buzzes]

Hello. Come right in, Mr. Treadwell,

what can I do for you?

Hello, yourself, and you know exactly

what you can do for me. You can pay your rent.

The rent?

Oh. Oh, I remember now.

I guess I am in arrears.

You know very well you’re two months behind.

Well, thanks for reminding me,

but I assure you it won’t be that way for long.

Well, I’m certainly glad to hear that.

Big things are going to happen to me, Mr. Treadwell.

You know that little office that I have uptown?

In a couple of months’ time,

I’m going into partnership with Ted Parkinson.

We’re going to knock through a wall,

expand, become a really big advertising agency.

That’s very interesting, I’m sure.

-And then I’m getting married. -The rent, Mr. Jones.

That’s all I’m interested in.

Now, either you pay up or you go out.

January first. Is that clear?

All right, I’ll get it for you.

I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.

I’m not, Mr. Jones, believe me.

[Ralph] I didn’t like what was happening.

Then I remembered Lucille

and how I’d gotten into the habit of talking things over with her.

If this was 2 1/2 years ago,

I’d find her at the Eagle Soap Company.

In fact, it was the promise of an account at Eagle Soap

that had first led me to Lucille.

She was a secretary there.

Yes?

Hello, honey, remember me?

The words are familiar, but the face is strange.

Now, wait a minute. It’s all right to kid around with strangers,

but I’m different. I’m the man in your life.

Did you come up here on business or... what?

Certainly, I’m up here on business.

I want to see Mr. McCracken.

He’s going to give me a nice account.

Mr. McCracken is out of town.

Oh, no, he’s not out of town.

In about one hour he’s going to sign a big contract with me.

And I’m going to come out here and talk you

into a luncheon engagement.

Well, that is impossible.

Mr. McCracken won’t be back for two weeks,

and I’m not going to lunch with you.

I don’t even know your name.

But that isn’t the way it really happened.

You’ve got to have lunch with me.

I’m Ralph.

I’ll call Mr. Cedric. I don’t think

he’s doing anything for lunch.

Now. Wait a minute, wait a minute.

I know this sounds funny,

but you and I, we’re going to get married.

You’re right. That’s very funny.

Now, look, Lucille.

I’m Ralph. You don’t seem to understand.

I am Ralph Jones and we’re supposed to get married

in about three months’ time, it was a short courtship.

Lucille, you better warm up a little.

I’m going to call Mr. Cedric. Maybe you can thaw him out.

Lucille, quit fooling around.

Now, a joke is a joke, but this has just gone far enough.

I’m taking you out to lunch ad no nonsense about it.

Well, Mr. Jones, I am definitely not going out to lunch with you.

Is that clear? And furthermore,

I just wish you’d get yourself out of here.

I’ve had a very rugged morning as it is,

and this isn’t funny any longer.

But you have to have lunch with me.

No, I don’t.

Goodbye.

Lucille!

Well, if it isn’t the man with the original approach.

Don’t you ever give up?

Lucille, listen to me.

Doesn’t the name Rosemarie mean anything to you?

-No, I’m afraid not. -Well it will.

It’s going to be the name of our first child.

Now, just a minute, please.

The minute I saw you, I knew we were made for each other.

Tell me, what did you do right after the time

they took you away to the mental clinic?

-No, look, Lucill-- -Let me go.

I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

Will you please just have lunch with me?

Would you listen to me for a minute?

-I can’t go-- -I promise, I promise

I won’t embarrass you, I promise.

Now, after I explained how things are,

I’ll never bother you again.

Well I-- I don’t think it will do any good.

-I-- -[car honks]

I just want to take you to Cavender’s.

That’s where I took you the first time.

I even remember what you had for lunch, you had...

broiled salmon and creamed asparagus.

Mr. Jones, it’s easy to see what your problem is.

It’s simply a case of mistaken identity.

I’ve never eaten in Cavender’s in my life,

and if I had, I certainly wouldn’t have order broiled salmon.

I detest it.

All right, I can see that some things

just aren’t the same.

If you don’t like salmon, we’ll order something else.

Well, all right, but I can’t spend all day.

Thank you, I’ll find a cab.

So, you see, not only do I know you,

but I’ve been married to you for over 2 1/2 years,

and we have a little girl named Rosemarie.

But you say we quarrel now and then.

Oh, no, n-n-not very often.

Well, this one night we did,

and suddenly I found myself back in my old apartment,

and the two years were just wiped away.

That must have been quite a surprise.

You’re not kidding.

But, what am I supposed to do? Unless you agree

to return my affection, how are we ever get back

to where we started?

Well, let’s be perfectly honest about this thing.

Let’s admit that it’s definitely a medical problem.

You don’t think it’s true.

Well, let me put it this way.

I think you’re being absolutely sincere,

but I think it’s also obvious you’ve had some kind of a shock.

Well, you ought to try waking up to a day

2 1/2 years ago.

I think you ought to see a doctor,

preferably a psychiatrist.

And I think you ought to tell him everything.

-Lucille. -No, I’m serious.

Lucille, you don’t seem to understand, I love you.

Can’t you see that?

Please, you promised not to embarrass me.

All right.

But, Lucille, if you had one little spark

of warmth in you, you’d remember our life together.

You’d remember the time that we got caught in the rain

and we had to spend the night in the logger’s cabin.

Well, you’d at least remember the night

that Rosemarie was born.

I went with you myself in the taxi cab.

Oh, please, don’t say those things.

They’re just part of your delusion.

No, they’re not.

If you want to know the truth,

I think your case is worst than mine.

My case? What are you talking about?

At least I know who I am, I remember our life together.

You don’t seem to remember anything.

And what’s more, I can prove that I know a lot about you.

Prove it? How?

About halfway up, on your left shoulder,

you have a very fetching... mole.

Well...

I am very sorry for you, young man,

but my lunch hour is just about up.

Well, all right.

Oh, just a minute, uh, Jimmy...

Uh, we’re trying to settle a bet.

I’ve been in here quite a few times

with Mrs. Jones. You remember her, don’t you?

A lot of people eat with us.

I don’t recall ever seeing you before.

Guess you’re a little mixed up, sir.

[Ralph] I dropped Lucille at the soap company.

Then I went for a walk to think things over.

I could remember two lives,

one that went the way things should,

and one that didn’t.

The second time around looked like

it was going to be real grim.

All I had was a couple dollars and some change.

Thought of going to the office, but...

I just couldn’t face seeing it the way it was

before Ted joined me.

Looking at the site of the home that would now never be mine,

I wanted Lucille in the worst way.

Both, Lucille and Rosemarie.

I wouldn’t even care if Rosemarie

dribbled on my tie.

-This your ball? -Yes, it is.

-Good catch. -Who are you?

Just a man, a man without a home.

What’s your name?

-Ralph, what’s yours? -Sidney.

What are you doing?

I’m just sitting here.

Wanna have a catch?

No, thanks.

Where are you going?

Well, that is a good question. I’m sorry I can’t answer it.

You know how to catch?

Sure, I played lots of ball when I was a kid like you.

Going fishing, maybe?

Not today.

Nobody ever fishes here.

Like to fish?

[Ralph] I haven’t fished for years.

Here you are, Sidney.

You go buy yourself a yacht.

I won’t need this, where I’m going.

Oh no, my mom says never to take nothing

from strangers.

But I’ll tell you what.

I’ll sell you these here cards.

[Ralph] Eddy Mathews, Gil Hodges...

Duke Snyder.

That’s a deal.

Gee, thanks, mister.

What are you gonna do now?

-Drown myself. -Oh.

Well, so long.

[Ralph] The water was ice cold.

But strangely I found I could still breath.

When I opened my eyes,

I’d found myself in our shower stall.

[Lucille] Ralph.

I’ve been calling you. Didn’t you hear me?

No.

It’s almost 8:00.

Thanks.

Was I in there long?

I thought you were never coming out.

-Lucille. -[Lucille] What?

Lucille...

do you remember me?

Unfortunately, yes.

[exhales]

I love you.

Wha-- You must be out of your head.

[Ralph] In fact I love everybody.

I must phone mother and tell her I love her.

I even love your brother Jack. I will write him a check

for his uptown option the minute I get to my office.

I wish there were about two million more people

in the world so I could love them too.

Oh, what happened to you?

You weren’t so loving before that shower.

[Ralph] You just forget about that, I wasn’t myself.

Lucille, you remember the first time

we had lunch at Cavender’s?

[Lucille] Of course.

What did you order?

Broiled salmon and creamed asparagus.

Good girl.

Hey, hello, Nick? Uh, Mr. Jones.

Look, Nick, I would like three dozen, long-stemmed roses.

I don’t care if it is December. I’d like it--

Hmm?

Oh, no, I was just kidding.

I’d like three dozen of something, um...

gorgeous, for the missus.

And put a card in the box.

Say, "Forever yours, Ralph."

Hmm?

Oh, no, y-yeah.

That’s all, thanks.

You must have a guilty conscience or something.

Well, If I have, it’s making me feel

real good, maybe better than I ever have

in my entire life.

And there’s something else.

I knew there was a catch in there someplace.

Oh, no, no catch.

I just wanted to tell you, that if you like to go ahead

and have a couple of twins,

it’ll be fine with me.

And that’s how it was.

I can’t tell you how relieved I was

to find myself back home with little Rosemarie

and a wife who remembered me.

I can imagine, Mr. Jones.

But then I got to thinking about this, uh...

aberration.

You know, this is the second time

that this has happened to me.

That first time was when you were a little boy.

Well, I was in my second year of high school.

We were in final-exam time.

[Dr. Collins] And you were worried.

Just as you were worried this time about finances

and the pressure of your responsibilities.

It was your anxiety

and the resultant inner conflict that

temporarily freed yourself from your rational self.

You looked at the play pen,

and then you fled from reality into a world of fantasy

that your mind created.

You trying to tell me that all I had was

a daydream?

Believe me Mr. Jones, you never left the apartment.

You only imagined you did.

But it was so real.

[Dr. Collins] Of course it was real.

Reveries such as you experienced

are often so vivid they do seem real.

I see.

Now you must be more open about your problems

and your feelings, work to reduce your tensions.

Then this won’t happen again.

Now, why don’t you just forget it?

Doctor, I would.

-Except for one thing. -Yes, and what is that?

Well, I found these in my pocket this morning.

And as you can see, they’re still damp...

as though they’d been in the water.

Gil Hodges, Eddy Mathews, Duke Snyder...

Those are the baseball cards that kid named Sydney sold me.

I thought that cameraman would never stop

spinning me about.

I missed the whole story.

Now you’re upside down.

Well, here is something that should but you on your feet,

-after which I should drop in on you again.

That is quite enough for tonight.

First the blood rushed to my head,

and now my head seems to be rushing some place.

-[thud] -Oh!

Next week we shall return with more commercials,

a new story, and a new cameraman.

Until then, goodnight.