Alfred Hitchcock Presents s02e23 Episode Script

Good evening.
Methinks I should never have come to the colonies.
Here I am, the producer's dream, a captive audience.
Unfortunately, knowing the producer I have already seen tonight's story several times.
It is called, "One For The Road.
" They say there are two sides to every question, but tonight's little problem has three sides.
For it is that age old bit of marital geometry, the eternal triangle.
Marcia! I'm coming, darling.
Where are my cigarettes? I opened a fresh package for you.
Oh? Your bag's all packed.
Good.
I put in only three shirts for you this time.
The last few trips you haven't worn the fourth.
The weather's been cooler.
They get so crushed, they have to be laundered anyway.
But if you think you'll need the fourth I'll see how it works out.
Have I got time for another piece of coffee cake? Uh-uh, it's not good for you.
We have to be careful of your diet.
That's what I get for marrying a nurse.
Can I bring you anything this trip? I've got everything.
At least for half the week.
Good.
This place sure is dreary without you.
Let me, darling.
Oh.
I wish you didn't have to go out on the road.
Oh, it's only for three days, darling.
You ought to be used to it by this time.
Now, where's my coat? Right here.
Oh.
Thanks, honey.
Say, that reminds me.
Don't we have an anniversary coming up next week? Mmm-hmm.
Which one is it? Fourth? Fifth? You know very well it's the eleventh.
No.
Well, if a package comes while I'm away, no fair peeking.
Have I got everything? Mmm-hmm.
No, you might return this to your lady friend.
Where'd you get that? Your gray suit.
Must be my secretary's.
I'm always borrowing hers.
Those are not Miss Inglewood's initials.
I'll be darned if I know where I got it.
I'm in a dozen offices everyday.
Now, try to think, what do the letters B.
A.
stand for? Bachelor of Arts? See you Friday, darling.
Love you.
Now, tell me if that's too dry.
Perfect.
Isn't that another new dress you're wearing? Mmm-hmm.
Like it? Hmm.
You must spend all your time shopping.
Well, I have to fill up those four days somehow.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could be together like this every night? Oh, I don't know.
Might be too much of a good thing.
Speak for yourself.
They say the best romances are those with obstacles.
Adds spice.
Oh.
Oh, marriage doesn't have to be so dull.
Well, I bet ours wouldn't be.
Are we getting married? The penalty for bigamy is pretty severe, I'm told.
Darling, hasn't it ever occurred to you that Well, you could divorce Marcia.
No.
She's a better cook than you are.
Makes wonderful coffee.
Oh, you're not being serious.
Now, suppose she finds out? Oh, that reminds me, she found this in one of my suits.
How'd you explain it? I didn't have to explain it.
Marcia isn't a jealous woman.
I'm sorry.
I guess it's just I love you.
Love you.
Hello.
Miss Inglewood? This is Mrs.
Hendrix.
Yes, I know he's out of town that's why I'm calling you.
I have to get in touch with him.
Where in Lockton? Well, haven't you a number where he can be reached? Yes, it is an emergency.
Miss Inglewood.
Thank you.
Lockton 182, please.
Hello.
Hello, who's this? Well, this is Beryl.
Beryl Abbott.
Well, I was given this number to reach Mr.
Charles Hendrix.
Well, there isn't anyone here by that name, I'm afraid.
You must have the wrong number.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Well, I'll just have it replaced, sweetheart.
It's nothing to get so upset about.
But I was upset.
Terribly.
I'm not superstitious or anything, but to see my anniversary present broken, it seemed like an omen.
I was sure that something had happened.
Well, I'm back safe and sound.
That's why I tried to telephone you.
You But you knew I wasn't at the office.
Miss Inglewood gave me a number to call in Lockton.
Charles, who is Beryl Abbott? I haven't the slightest idea.
That isn't true.
She answered the phone.
Well, I don't know what number Miss Inglewood gave you, but it was obviously the wrong one.
When I'm in Lockton I always stay at the Willow Hotel.
Don't lie to me, Charles.
That cigarette lighter was hers and those initials were hers.
You've been carrying on with this Beryl Abbott.
It's true, isn't it? I won't have you checking up on me.
Suppose I happen to see a woman in Lockton.
What of it? How did you get out of it? It was kind of ticklish for a moment.
My secretary has this number in case the office has to get in touch with me.
She wasn't supposed to give it out but she didn't think that applied to my wife.
What did you tell her? Told her I wouldn't see you anymore.
You didn't really mean that, did you? What do you think? Just the same, I think you ought to change your phone number.
All right, I'll get an unlisted one tomorrow.
Good idea.
Just the same, if we were married, we wouldn't have to worry about other people.
Now, you're not going to start that again, are you? Well, you might think about it.
All right, I've thought about it.
And? This arrangement suits me just fine.
Good night.
You lied to me.
You're still seeing that woman.
Lipstick all over your shirt.
Marcia, dear.
I'm trying to work it out.
You'll have to be patient.
What is there to work out? Can't you decide which of us you want? It's not a question of deciding.
You're my wife.
I have to protect you.
What do you mean, Charles? Protect me against what? Has she threatened you? I don't care about myself.
But I don't want you to get involved in a scandal.
There's nothing she can do to hurt us.
She can make it seem a lot worse than it ever was.
I'd lose my job, of course.
But I could move to another city and start again.
It's you I'm worried about.
Don't you worry about me.
We'll work this out together.
I knew I could depend on you.
Everything is going to be all right.
I want you to go to the office in the morning and not worry about it anymore.
I don't deserve you, Marcia.
Good night.
Darling.
Hmm? Would you mind taking the bus to the office tomorrow? I think I'd like to have the car.
I want to do some shopping.
Of course you can have the car.
Yes? Well, is there something I can do for you? Oh.
I'm from the Welfare Association.
I'm collecting old clothes.
Oh, yes.
Well, I'm afraid that I don't have any old clothes.
Anything at all will do, no matter how old the clothes are.
No, you see, I don't keep any old clothes.
But it's such a worthy cause.
Surely you have something that you'll never wear again.
Well I'll tell you, I'll see what I have in that back closet if you'll just come back later, all right? I don't mind waiting.
It's no trouble, really.
All right, I'll just be a minute.
Oh.
I was just admiring your kitchen.
It's so practical.
Well, it serves the purpose.
You have a beautiful house.
Did a decorator do it? No, a friend of mine gave me some ideas.
Oh, I see.
Well I'm thinking of buying a new divan.
May I ask how much this one cost? Well, I I really have no idea.
Oh, I'm afraid these aren't very practical.
I hope there's something here you can use.
They're lovely.
I'm sure they can be made over.
Here's an old raincoat.
Maybe some man can use that.
Your husband must be a tall man.
Yes, he is.
I have trouble keeping mine on a diet.
Do you have that problem? No, I'm afraid that I rather indulge mine.
Thank you.
Oh, goodbye.
Hello.
Mrs.
Hendrix? Yes? This is Miss Inglewood down at the office.
I've been trying to reach you all afternoon.
Yes.
I went shopping.
Your husband asked me to let you know he was called out of town.
But he couldn't have.
He left the car at home.
Yes, I know.
He took a company car.
He said it would be rather late, Mrs.
Hendrix.
He had to go all the way to Lockton.
Lockton.
Mrs.
Hendrix.
Are you all right? Yes, Miss Inglewood.
I'm quite all right.
Well, what a pleasant surprise.
Is there something wrong? I mean, you're three days early.
Doll, there's something we've got to discuss.
Marcia's being very difficult.
I thought I could smooth it over but I couldn't.
Well, I suppose it had to come to a choice sooner or later.
I'm glad you're taking it so well.
Oh.
So Marcia wins.
Well, after all I'm married to her.
Sure, it wasn't any contest at all, was it? I thought if we didn't see each other for a while, a few months, just long enough to satisfy Marcia, then we could pick up where we left off.
Well, how very clever of you to work it out so neatly.
Now, don't be like that, darling.
I'm sorry.
I understand.
I'll miss you, of course.
You know that.
Might not be as long as we think.
Where is he? Is he all right? What are you talking about? I'm Marcia Hendrix.
Where's Charles? You're his wife.
I put something in the sugar bowl this afternoon.
What do you mean? It's poison.
I got it from the hospital where I used to work.
You were trying to poison me.
I never dreamed that Charles would come here today.
I tried to telephone you, then I drove just as fast as I could to get here in time.
Mrs.
Hendrix, you didn't get here in time.
You know Charles and his coffee.
Exactly two teaspoonsful for every cup.
I sat there and watched him do it.
I had no idea it was poisoned.
Where is he? Well, he left here about an hour ago.
We have to find him.
We have to get him to a doctor.
I'll go to the police.
If you go to the police you'll have to tell them how Charles got that poison.
I'm going to the police.
Mrs.
Hendrix, if he's dead, you're a murderess.
Nothing matters except Charles.
Who was it? Oh, just some woman from the Welfare Association collecting old clothes.
Oh.
Maybe it's just as well we're calling it off.
I'm getting mighty tired of hiding every time that doorbell rings.
That is rather undignified, isn't it? But adds spice.
Too much seasoning can spoil any dish.
Well, your troubles will soon be over.
You'll be safe at home with Marcia.
You know, marriage does have certain advantages.
Yes.
I recall making that same remark.
Oh, let's not go through that again.
We did have wonderful times together, didn't we, Charles? Of course we did, darling.
It was perfect.
I wanted it to be.
You want to know a secret? Uh-huh.
I've even been learning to cook for you.
I'd give anything if it didn't have to be this way.
Are you sure you don't want to divorce Marcia? I'm afraid that's out of the question.
All right, darling.
At least we can part friends.
I really should be going.
Oh, come on.
Haven't you got time for a cup of coffee with An old friend, of whom I'll always be very fond.
I hope you always will.
How about one for the road? With an old friend.
Why not? One for the road.
It's good to be free again, which is more than Beryl Abbott is.
You see, she was arrested and paid for her crime.
Next time we shall be back with another story.
Good night.