Alfred Hitchcock Presents s02e22 Episode Script

I can't understand it.
Of course.
How stupid of me.
I forgot to put in the water.
I must do that at once, if I want to catch anything today.
All of this is not as absurdly irrelevant as you think.
For if you listen very closely, you will hear the words "bath tub" mentioned in tonight's script.
Of course, other topics are mentioned which we could have discussed.
For example, the story is about marriage.
However, I don't feel that marriage should be discussed on television.
It's too controversial.
No question about it.
We are much safer with a bathtub.
And now, in a moment, here is tonight's opéra bouffe, "The End of Indian Summer.
" Like all stories about marriage, it has a great deal of romance in it.
But watch for that bathtub.
All right.
All right.
You don't have to shout.
There's nothing wrong with my ears.
Anyone can make a mistake.
No, I am not gonna fire him.
Not yet.
Oh, hello, Joe.
I'll talk to you later.
Did you want to see me, Sam? What's up? I just wanted to talk to you.
Sit down, will you? What is it? Just wanted to go over something with you.
Does the name Arthur Gillespie mean anything to you? No, not offhand.
Why? Well, he was married to a woman named Marguerite Johnson, and he died on his wedding trip.
Yes, I remember him.
That was one of my cases.
It was settled about two years ago.
What do you remember about it? Well, we didn't come into the case until pretty late.
He had been dead about six months, I think, before she applied for the money.
She didn't know he had the policy until she came across it in his papers.
Remember the amount? About $50,000, I think.
Nice surprise for her, wasn't it? I'd say so.
What did you think of the lady, Joe? I never met her.
She was traveling abroad at the time.
She applied for the money through her lawyer.
She did? You mean to say that you settled a claim for $50,000 without even meeting the beneficiary? Oh, I didn't have to meet her.
I checked into the case the same way I always do.
Everything was open and above board.
Didn't it seem even a little odd to you that he died so conveniently six weeks after a $50,000 policy was issued? Did you ever hear of coincidence, Sam? It's my least favorite word in the English language.
Well, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Joe, what would you say if I told you that I came across this when I was rummaging through our old cases the way I sometimes do? I came across it and I pulled it out of the files 'cause I didn't like it.
It had a smell to it.
I'd say you were mistaken.
How many times have I been wrong? How many times have I? A few more than I have.
Well, this isn't one of them.
If I'd any doubts about that case, I wouldn't have closed it.
Joe.
When I got interested in this case, I went through the old files very carefully.
Would it interest you to know that this was her second marriage? Her first husband was also insured with us for $50,000.
He died four years ago.
Also on his wedding trip.
You sure that's the same woman? Quite sure.
Maiden name's the same.
So is the handwriting.
Well, even so, that doesn't prove anything.
I had an aunt once who buried three husbands, not just two.
I doubt if they were quite so heavily insured.
As a matter of fact, they were.
That's why we used to call her our rich aunt.
A $100,000 loss isn't funny, Joe.
It isn't necessarily true, either.
I could still be right.
Why didn't you insist on an autopsy? Because it's a little difficult after the body's been cremated.
It's another coincidence.
Listen, Sam No, you listen, Joe.
I don't have any proof, I just have an instinct.
You're gonna go out and get the proof.
That's why I wouldn't agree to having you fired.
So, that was me you were talking about when I came in.
Yeah.
Yeah, that was you.
Great.
One mistake and they're ready to give you the axe.
$100,000 is a lot of money, Joe.
Okay, you said that before.
What is it you want me to do? Find her.
Find her? Find out where she is and what she's up to.
You mean you want me to go wherever she is.
Exactly.
But not as an insurance investigator.
We haven't got enough evidence to come out in the open yet.
Just go as an ordinary businessman looking over the territory.
And take your wife along with you.
My wife? What for? Well, if our Mrs.
Gillespie is such a femme fatale, you're gonna need protection.
Well, now that we're here what are we supposed to do? Well, we look the place over.
Get ourselves known around town.
The best thing, probably, would be to go to a real estate office as if we were looking for property What's the matter? Don't look now, but do you know the man who's sitting in the corner? Now, how can I tell if I don't look? I mean, not just right now.
He's been staring at us all through lunch.
At you, probably.
I hope not.
He's not my idea of a conquest.
Look, look.
He's just going out the door.
Well, his back doesn't look familiar.
Why do you suppose it always makes you feel so guilty and uncomfortable when someone stares at you? Guilty conscience, probably.
Look, honey, would you sign the check? I want to see if I have any calls.
Well, let me see.
Miss Gillespie has been living in Oxport for a little more than a year now.
I see.
Well, thank you.
You're welcome.
Yes, can I help you, sir? Yes, are there any calls for Joe Rogers? Not yet, sir.
Look, would you tell the telephone operator I'll be out for a couple of hours in case there are? Be glad to.
Thank you.
Is that the guy who was watching us during lunch? Yeah.
Yes, why? Do you know him? You bet I know him, he's an investigator.
You mean, you've met him? No, but I can spot one a mile away.
Not only that, but he's on the same case.
He was pumping the clerk about the Gillespie woman.
I don't understand.
I do.
You make one little mistake, or what Henderson thinks is one, and he sends someone out to check up on you.
Give me change for this, will you? I wanna make a phone call.
Surely.
Joe, you don't know it's true.
You're just guessing.
Who else but Henderson would be interested in her? She wasn't involved with any other insurance company.
I know, I checked.
But if you call him and ask him that, you'll look silly.
He'll think you Your change, sir.
Thank you.
You're right.
Let him get his progress reports from his little follow-up man.
Come on.
Now, this is the best possible business location.
Whatever your business is, we have some very desirable lots for sale in this area.
Well, it certainly looks like it's in the heart of things.
Yes.
Yes, but we couldn't possibly live there.
We have plenty of houses, too.
I wonder if by any chance, you handle this darling little house we saw when we were wandering around town.
Well, now if you could give me the exact location.
I jotted it down.
It's 244 Maple Avenue.
I should have known that.
You know, that's one of our gems.
Unfortunately, though, it's not for sale.
But you know who owns it? Yes.
I know who owns every house in this town, Mr.
Rogers.
And the one you are talking about happens to be one of the oldest in this part of the country.
Mrs.
Gillespie owns it.
Do you think she might be interested in selling it? Well, that's hard to say, of course, but I'm inclined to doubt it.
You see, when she bought it I handled the deal myself.
And she said to me, "I intend to live out the rest of my life right there.
" It's too bad she won't sell it.
Well, but Mr.
Rogers, just a moment.
If you care to see it, I'm sure she'd be very glad to let you.
She loves to show it.
She That sounds like an imposition.
Not at all.
You just tell her that I suggested it.
She'd be delighted Well, if you're sure she won't mind, we'd love to see it.
Not "we," dear.
You mean I can't go along? No, I think it'd be better if I saw her alone.
Well, I'm sure you do, but I don't think that's such a good idea.
Well, if I saw her alone I might be able to persuade her to sell it.
Thank you so much.
You're welcome.
Good day.
Good day.
Good day.
Good day.
Good afternoon, sir.
I'd like to see Mrs.
Gillespie, please.
Won't you come in, please? I'm Mrs.
Gillespie.
What can I do for you? Oh.
Good afternoon.
I'm afraid this is rather an intrusion, but you see, I've been admiring your house and Mr.
Graham suggested Well, that is he said he was sure you wouldn't mind Showing it to you.
I should say I wouldn't.
I'm very house-proud.
Will you come in? Thank you.
I was just going to have tea, will you join me? We can see the house afterwards.
Well, that's very kind of you, if you're sure that I love company.
Oh, I know it's fashionable these days to be self-sufficient and not need people around, but I'm old enough not to mind being old-fashioned.
What a beautiful room.
I think so.
You know, it's strange about rooms in houses.
The moment you walk into them, you know.
All my life I've looked for this house.
And this room is my favorite.
I'm so happy here.
What's your name? It's Rogers.
Joe Rogers.
And I'm Marguerite Gillespie.
Do sit down.
You know, that's a wonderful thing about a small town like Oxport.
Everyone's so friendly.
I can show you the house, ask you to tea, and never give it a second thought.
Cream and sugar? Yes, thank you.
I take it that means you haven't always lived here, then.
Oh, dear me, no.
By the town's standards, I'm a real newcomer.
I've only been here a year.
I see.
Thank you.
You're surprised that a woman of my age should come to a new place and start a new life? No, I don't think so.
Yes, of course you are.
Well, it is unusual.
But, I had a great personal tragedy in my life.
Which made it impossible for me to return to the place where I'd been.
I'm sorry.
We all have our share.
Though sometimes I feel I've had more than my share.
To have lost out twice seems unfair somehow.
I'm afraid I don't quite Understand? Why should you? Well, there's nothing mysterious about it.
It's just that I I've been married twice and I've lost both my husbands.
Now I know that I'm getting old.
When I prattle on about my personal life to a total stranger.
You're a remarkably forthright woman.
I'm a remarkably lucky one, in spite of what's happened.
I have a comfortable income, a lovely home Good afternoon, May.
And something else besides.
Will you excuse me? Yes, of course.
Howard, how nice to see you.
I've been looking forward to this all day.
Howard, this is Mr.
Rogers, he was kind enough to admire the house, and I was showing it to him.
Howard Fieldstone, Mr.
Rogers.
How do you do? I'm very pleased to meet you.
I don't suppose you'd like to buy it? Howard.
Well, why not? You know we decided we didn't want to be tied down.
This way we could make all the arrangements, before we go on our wedding trip.
Well, what do you say, young man? You want to buy it? Well, I I don't quite know what to say.
Mrs.
Gillespie was just telling me how she loved the house and I It's true, I expected to spend the rest of my life here, until I met Howard.
But he wants to travel.
You shouldn't have told him, we were going to keep it a secret until after our wedding trip.
I know, my dear, but it seemed like such a good opportunity.
Oh, I don't mind, really.
It's just that I thought it would be sort of fun to Well, to elope.
We hadn't made any plans until after the honeymoon.
Well, sometimes it isn't necessary to plan beyond that, is it? I don't understand what you mean.
Well, I mean that when you're not sure where you're going to travel, sometimes it's better not to plan.
Of course, we're coming back here first, because Howard has so many friends and he wants to see them before we go out on an extended trip.
Yes, of course.
Well, I'm sure I wish you every happiness.
And as far as the house is concerned, I'll have to discuss that with my wife.
But don't you want to see it all now? I'd rather not bother you now.
I'm staying at the Manor Hotel.
But I would appreciate it if you'd get in touch with me before you consider anyone else.
You shall have first refusal.
We'll be in touch.
Goodbye, Mrs.
Gillespie.
You will keep our little secret, won't you? Yes, of course.
Don't bother showing me to the door.
Goodbye, Mr.
Fieldstone, nice meeting you.
Any luck? I said, any luck? I don't know what you're talking about.
Well, there's no need to take that attitude.
I'm not taking any attitude.
I just don't think we have anything to discuss.
I tell you, I was fully convinced she was innocent until that poor little old man walked in.
You know something? They should never assign you to cases involving old people.
It's the only time you lose perspective.
That's ridiculous.
It is not.
You get very sentimental at the sight of white hair.
Very protective.
Well, I'm not feeling protective about Marguerite Gillespie, I can tell you that.
You were till the old man came into the picture.
Now you're feeling protective towards him.
Well, I couldn't just stand by and see him murdered, could I? Joe, you have no more proof against this woman than you had before.
The fact that she's marrying again doesn't prove anything.
No, of course, it doesn't.
But, you know, I'll be getting an answer to my wire pretty soon, and then maybe I'll know Maybe that's it.
Telegram, sir.
Thanks.
There's your proof.
I wired them to check our branches and they found just what I expected them to find.
A letter requesting a policy for $50,000 in the name of Howard Fieldstone.
The letter was in her handwriting.
Well? Nothing.
I can't find one single thing against her.
If I come right out and accuse her without any evidence, she can slap a libel suit on us for a million bucks.
And if I don't If you don't nothing's going to happen just yet.
Not while she's still in town.
If she doesn't plan to come back She doesn't.
Look.
Look.
There's the little man who sits and watches.
Well, anyway, she's sure to want to sell the house before she goes.
By the time she can do that you'll have turned something up.
Anyway, I'm not taking any chances.
I've arranged for the real estate man to let me know just in case she sells it.
Well, then, now will you please relax? Let's have another drink.
Where's the waiter? Oh, Mr.
Fieldstone.
I don't know if you know me.
Oh, yes.
Of course.
You're the young man who was interested in Mrs.
Gillespie's house.
That's right.
I wonder if you'd come over and have a drink with us and meet my wife? I'd be delighted! Oh, waiter.
What will you have? Scotch and soda.
Two scotches and soda, please.
Helen, this is the gentleman I was telling you about.
Mr.
Fieldstone, my wife.
How do you do? I'm delighted to know you, my dear.
Won't you sit down? Thank you.
My husband tells me you're going to be married.
I'm a very lucky man.
You see my wife died quite a few years ago, and I've been alone long enough.
Mrs.
Gillespie was telling us yesterday that she'd been married once before, too.
I think you must've misunderstood her.
She's lost two husbands.
Naturally, we're hoping she'll be luckier this time.
Well, you certainly look the picture of health.
I'll bet you could even pass an insurance physical without any difficulty.
I have no use for insurance.
Never have had.
As a matter of fact, I had a physical check-up only this morning.
To please Marguerite, you know.
Was she worried about your health? A little, yes, a little.
She'd been after me for days to do it.
Finally, I said if she would, I would, and we both did, and we're both fine.
Well, that's nice, isn't it? About the house, Mr.
Fieldstone.
We've been talking about it.
It's still on the market, isn't it? Oh, yes.
But there are several people interested.
I wouldn't wait much longer if I were you.
Well, then you plan to be married very soon.
It can't come too soon to suit me.
I wonder if you'd excuse me? I have an appointment.
Of course.
Of course.
It's been so nice meeting you, Mrs.
Rogers.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
How do you like that for gall? Ten to one that physical report's on its way to the office right now.
Please, calm down.
You said yourself, she can't do anything until she sells the house.
Don't worry.
She'll sell it.
And when she does, she won't waste much time after that.
She never has before.
But there must be something in her record somewhere.
Why did she quit teaching school? Voluntary, huh? Well, keep checking and see what you can come up with.
No luck? No.
Hello? Yes, this is Mr.
Rogers.
You what? What do you mean they told you not to tell anyone? All right, all right.
They sold the house this afternoon.
Oh, no.
Well, what do you do now? I'll tell you what I can do.
I can go out there and tell her who I am.
She may not be so anxious to go through with it if she knows we're onto her.
But you said yourself, she could sue you.
Well, let her sue.
I can't let that little old man walk into a deathtrap.
Okay, all right.
It'll only take me two minutes to change.
No, honey, I need to get out there right now.
Really, it'll only take one minute, Joe.
Please wait.
No, you better stay here, huh? Joe.
Please let me Well, hello, Mr.
Rogers.
Don't you recognize me? I'm the real estate man.
Yes, I recognize you.
Yes.
Well, come in, Mr.
Rogers.
Come in.
I'm so glad to see you again.
Where's Mrs.
Gillespie? Oh, she left.
She left? Yes, to be married.
To be married? She wanted to keep it a secret so there wouldn't be any fuss.
Well, do you know where she went? No, I don't think they told anyone.
Where's Mrs.
Gillespie? Skipped, and no one knows where.
Oh, no, that's just what I didn't want to happen.
Well, now that it won't do any good, maybe you'll talk to me.
I'm Saunders, from Reliable.
Reliable? I thought you were with my company, Triumphant.
Why should they be interested? Why should Reliable? None of her husbands was insured with you.
What are you talking about? I've been checking up on Fieldstone.
Fieldstone? Yes.
That old character has had four wives.
And they were all drowned in the bathtub on the honeymoon.
Well, she's had two husbands who were both cremated before we could find out how she poisoned them.
No kidding.
Well, they sort of deserve each other, don't they? And since we don't know where they went, there's nothing we can do.
Not a thing.
Well, I suppose it all depends now on whether she takes her bath before he eats breakfast.
Or vice versa.
Theirs was truly a wedding of December and December.
It ended in a draw, with no one the winner except the insurance companies.
And now for the epilogue of tonight's story, after which I'll scamper back.
We have now passed another tombstone along television's highway to culture.
Please join us next week, when we continue our pilgrimage.
Good night.