All language subtitles for Alfred.Hitchcock.Presents.S07E13.The.Silk.Petticoat.1080p.PCOK.WEBRip.AAC.2.0.H.265.-EDGE2020_track3_[eng]

Good evening.

I’m serving a sentence
for slander.

Something I said
about our sponsor, I believe.

The warden thinks
I’m making a tail for my kite.

He’s not terribly bright.

[flute playing]

And now, while I make my escape,

you, less fortunate,
must stay and face the music.

Uh.

Some of the names on tombstones
are really funny.

Look at that:
"Jeremiah Mutton."

[chuckles] He’s as dead
as mutton, too.

If you weren’t looking so grim,
I think I’d laugh outright.

Look at that one.

I didn’t bring
you here to see that.

I know you didn’t.

You’re being very mysterious.

Why did you bring me here?

I wanted you to see
something else.

"Flora,

wife of...

Humphrey J. Orford.

Died November 1793.

Age 19."

Your wife?

Humphrey, you never told me
you’d been married before.

She died 20 years ago.

But we are going to have
our wedding in this church!

So close to her grave, it seems.

I’m sorry if it upsets you.

But the inscription,
she was your wife!

Why didn’t you have some kind
remembrance of her

carved on the stone?

She was vicious, she was
unfaithful, she was a liar.

To let her be buried here
at all was a gesture
of kindness on my part.

Humphrey, must we be married
in this church?

Darling, we’ve already sent out
the invitations.

We’re being
married on Wednesday,
we can’t change the church now.

So close to her grave.

I feel she could almost
reach up and touch me.

Good evening, Mrs. Boyd.
Mr. Orford at home?

-No, Dr. Minden, he isn’t.
-Is my daughter here?

No, they’ve gone to the church
to see about the music
for their wedding.

-But they’ll be back soon.
-Oh, yes.

Are your lodgings comfortable?

Yes, thank you,
quite comfortable.

[chuckles]
Much too comfortable, in fact.

You know, a country doctor
cannot afford to live
so luxuriously.

Mr. Orford chose them himself.

They’re only a few minutes away.

My daughter’s enchanted
to be in London.

She’ll find the house
strange at first,

but in time
she’ll get used to it.

[door opening]

Papa!

I hope we haven’t kept
you waiting.

No, no, I’ve only just arrived.

Humphrey, the house looks
exactly as I remembered it.

Yes, I never redecorated it.

Why should I, living here alone?

But we’re going to change
all that, aren’t we?

You can start any time you like.

There’s a lot to do. I’ve never
seen the rooms upstairs.

You never asked, my dear.

You can see the bedrooms now
if you like.

It’s your study
that interests me most.

-The place where you write.
-Oh.

The study is littered
with papers and books.

I feel quite ashamed
to let anyone see it now.

Let’s wait till Mrs. Boyd
can make it look presentable.

A glass of cherry, Doctor?

Thank you.

A study should be littered
with books and papers.

I want to see it exactly as it
is when you’re working in it.

Do you mind, Humphrey?

Not at all.

Come with me, please.

I hope you won’t find it
too shocking.

When Mrs. Boyd tidies my study,

I usually find
my most important papers
in the waste paper basket.

So I keep the place locked.

I warned you, the place
is something of a mess.

Over here are the books
I have collected

in connection with my work
on the early Christian martyrs.

These, I suppose,
are my choicest treasures.

This is the life
of St. Sebastian
according to St. Ambrose.

And this is the Acta Sanctorum
of St. Sebastian

attributed, quite wrongly,
to St. Ambrose, too.

Sebastian’s missionary zeal
upset the Emperor Diocletian

who had him tied to a stake and
shot at by the royal archers.

Sebastian’s agony was exquisite.

In that condition, the victim’s
pain becomes pleasure

so that those who inflict it
can hardly be called torturers

or even sinners.

What is this doing here?

What is it, my dear?

It’s a silk petticoat!

There’s a needle and thread in
it, somebody’s been mending it.

Well, it probably belongs
to Mrs. Boyd, she must’ve been
in here cleaning.

But it’s a party-petticoat,
it couldn’t belong to Mrs. Boyd!

Why don’t you ask her, my dear?

Perhaps she was mending it
for someone else!

As I was saying, in that
condition pain becomes pleasure.

Those who inflict it might be
called cathartic agents,
since they’re

instruments of so-called torture
are really instruments
of purification.

[gasps]

Whatever is it, Elisa?

Could I go home, Father?

Don’t you feel well, my dear?

I feel faint.

You come downstairs,
I’ll get you something to drink.

I’d rather not--
I’d rather go back
to our lodgings,

they’re just across the square.
The fresh air might...

You must have something.
I’ll get you some brandy.

Elisa, my dear, what is this?
What is it?

Look, Papa!

Why would anyone want to live
with such a horrifying painting?

[Dr. Minden] Well, I suppose it
must signify something to him.

Papa, I don’t know
what is happening to me.

Suddenly, I’m terrified
of that man.

Of Humphrey?
Don’t be absurd, my dear.

This room...

This room is so strange.

When he talked
about St. Sebastian,

when he spoke about torture,

he seemed to revel in it.

Did you see his face? He was...

He was a different man.

There’s something evil here,

some evil presence.

You’re thinking
ridiculous things!

Humphrey’s a fine man!

A man you should be proud of.

Instruments of torture

that are really
instruments of...

pleasure and purification.

I’m frightened, Papa!

I tell you, I’m frightened.

Are you feeling better?

Yes, thank you.

Humphrey, I think
we better be going.

Elisa should be lying down.

May I see you in the morning
at the solicitor’s?

I’ll call for you
at 9 o’clock.
Everything’s ready.

All it requires
is our signatures
and then back for the ceremony.

Elisa?

I know this is
a gloomy old place to live in,

but if you like,
we’ll leave for Italy
immediately after the wedding.

-Would you like that?
-You’re very kind to me,
Humphrey.

Thank you. I do appreciate it.

If you’ll excuse me a moment,
I’ll see you at the door.

Papa, did you know
that he’d been married before?

Of course, my dear.

Did you know his first wife?

I heard about her, that’s all.

Elisa.

There’s something
I’ve not told you.

I’m in Humphrey’s debt,

very deeply, too.

-And if I marry him...?
-He’ll settle my debt.

And there’s another thing
we have to remember.

There hasn’t been
anyone straining for your hand.

You’ve forgotten Philip!

Why do you bring up Philip
all the time?

You haven’t heard
from him for months!

I understand.

I’ll marry Humphrey.

You’ll never regret it, my dear.

[bell rings]

Oh, Ms. Minden!

Mr. Orford is out.

I know. It doesn’t matter.

It was you I came to see.

Oh.

Mr. Orford has told
me that I may redecorate
the house exactly as I please.

I thought I’d go over the rooms
one by one.

I’d like to start
with his study.

But, ma’am, Mr. Orford
always keeps

his study door locked.

But you have a key?

No, ma’am.

I do not have a key.

But you must know
where it is kept.

No, ma’am, I do not.

Mrs. Boyd,

we’re going to be spending
a great deal of time in each
other’s company, aren’t we?

Yes, ma’am, I hope so.

Then we mustn’t have any secrets
from each other, must we?

No, ma’am, we mustn’t.

But the truth of the matter is

that Mr. Orford doesn’t even let
me clean the study.

-Not even to clean it?
-No, ma’am.

Well then, let’s start with the
other rooms upstairs, shall we?

I would like your advice,

you know the house
so much better than I do.

Well, as Mr. Orford is not here.

You know, ever since
the first Mrs. Orford died,

this house has become
gloomier and gloomier.

It’s a pleasure to think
that someone is coming
to brighten it up.

I wish we could have
just a little peep at the study.

I have so many ideas about it.

I’ve never been in that room.

What?

Not since Mrs. Orford died.

But Mr. Orford said...

Why haven’t you been in there?

More than once
I’ve had the key in the lock

but somehow I couldn’t bring
myself to turn it.

Well, let’s do it together now,

shall we?

Oh, ma’am.

Please, Mrs. Boyd.

If I do let you in...

you won’t tell him, will you?

No, of course not.

He doesn’t even know
I know where the key is hidden.

And ma’am,

promise me
that you’ll never tell.

I promise.

[sighs in disgust]
Nasty.

That’s what it is.

Mrs. Boyd,

you said you hadn’t been
in here for years, didn’t you?

Well, no one ever comes in here.

Then how did your petticoat
get in here?

-My petticoat?
-When we were here before,

I noticed a silk petticoat
on that chair.

Mr. Orford said it was yours.

Mine, ma’am?

But I told you,
I’ve never been in here
since his first wife died.

No one has,

Mr. Orford wouldn’t allow it.

Mrs. Boyd, I need your help.

Will you help me, please?

Tell me about the first
Mrs. Orford. Who was she?

There’s no mystery about her.

She was the daughter
of Mr. Orford’s gamekeeper.

Wasn’t a lady of quality at all.

But oh, so pretty!

Were they very much in love?

Well, the month
after they were married,
he found her with a lover.

At least, that’s what I heard.

Did she die in this house?

-Yes, ma’am.
-Of what?

Of terror...

or hatred.

And the man, the lover?

What happened to him?

There he is.

Elisa?

-Eh--
-You may go, Mrs. Boyd.

If there’s anything
you want to find out,
why don’t you ask me?

I know so much more
than the servant.

Now, tell me.

What would you like to know
about the man in that painting?

I’m sorry.
I shouldn’t have come here.

No, no, your curiosity
is quite natural.

Humphrey, please...

I found them together
in this house,

so I had him arrested
for house-breaking.

And as I happened to be
Justice of the Peace,

the jury found the wretch guilty
and he was hanged

until he was quite, quite dead.

I’ve got the cedar chest all
ready with the camphor to lay
your dress away.

I don’t want to see it again.

Oh, ma’am,
you mustn’t be unhappy.

Mr. Orford has
his peculiarities

but then, what man is perfect?

I’m afraid of him.

But she’s made him what he is.

You must make him something
better, something different.

-I’m afraid of him!
-[knocks on door]

Come in!

-A gentleman to see you, ma’am.
-Who is it?

Lieutenant Philip Haven,
he says he’s your cousin
home from India.

[footsteps approaching]

Philip!

I only arrived in London
this morning

and heard the news
about your marriage.

I’m so glad to see you, Philip!

This is my cousin,
Philip Haven.

He has just returned
from three years in India.

-I’ve introduced myself.
-Of course.

I’ve never seen you
in regimentals before.

You look so handsome.

Never take them off, young man.

If you do, you might look
just like any other young man.

How long will you be staying
here, Philip?

Two months, that’s all.

Well, we are going to Italy
tomorrow, but when we return

-I hope--
-[Orford] Elisa.

Don’t you think
you should be changing?

Oh, let’s have a glass of wine
at least with Philip, first.

I must prepare for our journey
tomorrow, if you’ll excuse me.

It’s nice to have met
a cousin of my wife’s.

Your husband seems to think
I’ve called at the wrong moment.

Of course not.

Now, we must have
a glass of champagne.

You must drink to my happiness.

N-No, please don’t.
I’d better go.

I can wish you happiness
without a glass of champagne.

But you’ve only just arrived!

You must tell me all about India

and about your life in the army.

You hardly wrote to me at all.

Well, I-I was ill
with malaria in March,

it was two months
before I got better.

That’s why
they let me come home.
I wasn’t due until September.

And you love the army,
don’t you?

Yes, and I love India.

Saw a lot of the country.

It’ll be good to go back.

[Philip]
Well, goodbye, Elisa.

[Elisa] But we will see you
when we return, won’t we?

Perhaps.

[Elisa]
Philip!

Promise me you will come
and see us.

I’ll try.

Philip...

I wish you’d written.

Goodbye.

Well, my dear,

let’s drink a toast
to our marriage.

Your cousin’s visit this
afternoon was rather unexpected,
wasn’t it?

Completely.

He heard about our marriage
and he wanted to wish
us both happiness.

It was very thoughtful of him.

When you get to know him better,

I’m sure you will like him.

I think that’s extremely
unlikely.

But you, you like him?
You’re fond of him,
shall we say?

He’s my cousin, after all.

And is he fond of you?

He used to be.

Was he in love with you?

We were so young.

And were you in love with him?

I suppose I was.

But that’s all past now.

He was whispering
to you in the hall.

As he was going,
when you kissed him,
he was whispering to you.

Why would he whisper?

You were arranging to meet you
when you get back from Italy--

-Humphrey, please!
-Why’re you lying to me?

I’m not lying to you!

I asked him to visit us
when we return from Italy.

You think I want to start
another marriage with lies?

If anyone is lying, it is you!

A few hours ago,
you swore a solemn oath.

I’ve had some experience with
a wife who betrayed that oath.

I shouldn’t want
it to happen again.

-[Elisa] Papa!
-Yes?

Papa, would you come upstairs,
please?

Why, what’s the matter, my dear?

We were to have left
half an hour ago,

but Humphrey is locked in
his study and he won’t answer.

Get the key, my dear!

There’s only one key
and it’s gone!

Humphrey. Humphrey!

Papa, there’s something
dreadfully wrong.

-I’m sure--
-Humphrey!

Humphrey!

[Elisa whispers]
Papa...

[grunts]

[gasps]

He’s dead.

He’s been stabbed.

But who could’ve done it
with the door locked?

Yes, but... the door was
locked from the inside.

Papa!

Look!

It’s that petticoat.

It’s his wife, Flora!

She’s still alive!

She must’ve stabbed him
with the paper knife.

Oh, you poor, poor thing!

All these years,
he’s kept her locked up here.

Why doesn’t she say something?

The poor woman has lost
her reason.

[Elisa]
Then it was her petticoat.

[Mrs. Boyd]
Yes.

Why didn’t she call for help?

All these years,
why didn’t she cry out?

He saw to that.

He cut out her tongue.

[Mrs. Boyd gasps]

This seems to be the end
of my attempted escape.

As for our story, however,
there’s a bit more.

Shortly after the scene
you have just witnessed,

the police entered the picture

but because
of the circumstances,

justice was tempered with mercy.

If tonight’s story seemed
a bit strong for you,

perhaps you would like to escape

into the delightful make-believe
of one of our commercials.

After which I,

representing grim reality,
shall return.

I don’t understand.

There must be something
in the atmosphere

that makes,
otherwise strong ropes,

and ladder’s shatter
under my weight.

Next week, if I escape in time,

we shall have another story.

Until then, goodnight.