Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. If only
I had to do it all over again is a constant cry
from the human heart. And the implication is,
of course, that if some magical power could grant
the plea, how much better things would be handled.
Or, at the very least, how differently. But is
that a valid concept? Does it follow inevitably
that people could or would handle things better
a second time around? Brain injury, boys. Handle
with care. That's it. Nice and easy. Keeping
flat on the cart. How is he, Doc? Still breathing,
Sergeant. Touch and go. You want to stay with
it as we take him in? What's he saying? Search
me. Could hold up a minute so I can hear what
he's trying to tell me. Not a second, Sergeant.
Anything this guy has to tell you will be after
he's operated on, not before. If then. Sounds
like he's talking with someone. Ask him for something.
Yesterday. Something about yesterday. This baby
ought to be worrying about his tomorrow. Our
mystery drama, The Man Who Asked for Yesterday,
was written especially for the Mystery Theater
by Ian Martin and stars Mandel Kramer. It is
sponsored in part by Anheuser -Busch Incorporated.
Brewer's a Budweiser. I'll be back shortly with
Act One. The almost always misquoted quote by
an obscure poet is the theme of tonight's Spine
Tingler. Backward, turn backward, oh time in
thy flight. If you haven't spotted the misquote,
I'll clear it up for you later. Concentrate first
on the fascinating problem of a man with fatal
brain injury who still finds time to talk to
himself. Are you taking him straight to surgery?
No, not yet. Pre -op first. And an operating
team has to be assembled. Can I hang around on
the chance while he's talking to himself I can
get a lead and treat my guest? With that bullet
in his brain, I doubt if even subconsciously
he can track anymore. But he's still trying to
say something. To who? Us? Themself? Like daddy
in the sky? I don't know. He may be louder. Oh,
if you could only... He sure ain't clearer. I'd
give a lot to know if he's really making any
sense or what he's trying to say. I never had
a chance. I should have had a chance. Somebody
should have given me a chance. What kind of chance,
Smolt? Huh? Who? What? The cards were all stacked
against me. I mean, how was I to know? The cards
were stacked. So? Don't you see, if I'd even
suspected for a moment, if I thought that my
own wife... Now, what's the use? Don't give up
yet, smart. Look, mister, I don't know who you
are, and it's like I'm wasting my breath. But
I can tell you something. If I could have yesterday
to live over... Suppose you could. What would
you change? You'd have to know what happened
to me first. Suppose you could convince me that
yesterday should be lived over. Would you be
willing for me to give you that opportunity?
If it were only possible. Well, tell me why you'd
like to ask the yesterday over again. What have
I got to lose? That's quite a leading question.
One you'll have to answer for yourself. Do you
want to tell me about yesterday? It started like
any other day. The tight pull behind my eyes.
The furry tongue, the shivery feeling of insecurity.
Not just because my legs and my hands were shaky,
but because my mind was sticky and not quite
track, and because I had that sick, sick feeling
that I'd fatal cherry again, that I was less
than a wife should expect. Oh, not the cutting
out loud more. You're alarmed to wake you up.
Turn it off. Oh, oh. Sure, honey. Do you have
a bad night, baby? How would you expect? With
you turning and twisting and moaning. I didn't
sleep. I'm sorry, honey. It's just that I'm going
crazy. I don't know what I'm going to do. I thought
you said your horse had to come in today. It
has. It has. 15 straight days. The favorite has
run out of the money. The Lord of Averages has
got to catch up. So, today you'll win. And everything's
fine again. There's only one hitch. What? To
put down a bet, you gotta have the scratch. I
haven't got any. So, you'll borrow some? Yeah,
where? With Uncle Joe. He wouldn't give you some?
Oh, come on, Sherry. You know my partner wouldn't
lend his mother a dime without good security,
and I'm not even real family. Well, he always
says you're like a son to him. Yeah, it's because
he let me buy a piece of the business so he could
have a diamond -cutter salary and work me ten
hours a day for free. I don't know why you let
him get away with it. Look. That's the callot
on the stick, sweetheart. He dangles it in front
of my nose every day. Like a son you are to me,
Mort. Someday this is gonna be all yours. I wish
he'd die already. Ah, don't get your hopes up.
He's as tough as an old chew. Ah, I gotta get
going. No, wait a minute, Mort. What? About the
bet. If you don't want to ask Uncle Joe, why
don't you borrow from the bank? Sherry, you know
I've got no credit. Well, you've got the piece
of the business. I've used that as collateral.
Your insurance? That's tied up, too. Then you're
really flat, huh? I'm up to my ears in Hockham
with nothing. The only thing I've got left that's
worth a cent is my body, and I wish to God I
had the guts to fall out a window so at least
you'd be able to... Oh, Hush. Hush, honey. Don't
you dare talk like that. We'll work it out. You'll
see. Oh. I don't deserve you, honey. Now, let's
not go into that. Look, why don't you take your
shower and shave, and you and me will get our
heads together over breakfast and see what we
can figure out. Oh, that's a good idea, honey.
I won't be long. Take your time. You know, you're
the best wife a man ever had. Just you keep thinking
that way. Gary? Whatever it is, it'll wait till
breakfast. Now get in the shower. I thought he'd
never move. Where we want him. Did he leave already?
No, he's in the shower. But he finally admitted
it this morning. He hit bottom. So do we go ahead?
You know the deal, sugar. You can count on me.
Then we move. More coffee, Mark? No, no, no.
I wish we had more time to think. If only you'd
been here last night, at least I could have slept
on it. Oh, I'm sorry I was so late. But you know
Marge. I don't know why you spend so much time
with her. Oh, she's a good friend. And with you
working the hours, you do, I... I know, I know.
I guess I shouldn't complain. Never mind. Anyway,
it's like I told you. Marge is a wonder with
the Ouija board. And how she could have read
my mind, and all about worrying over you, I...
She actually said that I was going to make a
killing today? Her very words. I just gotta hit
a winner. Never mind Ouija boards. It's plain
mathematics. So? Go ahead. Make the bet. Without
cash? Well now, surely that old bookie of yours
will take your check. You've been a good customer.
And then you can pay him when you win. And suppose
I lose? More will you think positive for once.
This is gonna work out just right for us. I know
it. All right. All right. I'm going to take a
chance, honey. I mean, what could they do if
I lose? You can't get blood out of a stone. Oh,
that's the way. Now, you just keep thinking positive.
Yeah? Oh, Herb. Herb, it's Mort Herman. Hi, Mort.
What's your action? Look, I want to get a bet
down on the fourth of Jasper Gardens today. You
got it. One horse, how much? A favorite. Final
chance. A thousand on my nose. The banks are
closed, huh? Yeah, yeah, I know. I mean, I don't
have that much on me in cash, you know. I tell
you what, you drop me off your personal check
on the way down and you got your bit. With a
real good customer like you, what am I gonna
lose, huh? Sherry, baby, I'd like to die laughing.
You should have seen him writing out this bum
check. His hand was shaking so bad, I thought
he'd never be able to sign. But you got it. And
he is, huh? Oh, not so fast. He is playing a
favorite. You know, that horse could win. Well,
you and me are going to go with better odds.
What do you mean? Pass me that slip of paper
with that number on it, huh? This? Well, that's
Mort's direct phone line at the store. Yeah,
I asked him how I could reach him this afternoon
after at the race in case my phone should be
tied up. Now look, don't make a sound. Don't
make a sound while I sell a real bill of goods.
Hi, this is Herb. Now listen, I got your bet
down, and then I started to get cold feet about
that check. Look, if you want to cancel out...
I said, listen, now don't interrupt me. That
bet's up the line by now. I can cancel out, but
I can do you a favor. I work playing with rough
boys, Mort, and like I said, you've been a good
customer. I don't want to see you hurt. Hurt
bad. The favorite can't lose. The favorite...
fixes in. The winner is Tidy Lady. She'll go
up at a hundred to one. Now I'm going to stick
my neck out for you. Give me another check at
anything up to twenty five hundred and I'll see
you get down on Tidy Lady. A hundred to one.
A sure thing. A lead pipe cinch. You can't lose.
I'll be right over her. And that so's that up
Sherry baby. There isn't any chance that tidy
lady could win. She'll be lucky to get out of
the gate. Sherry? Sherry, where are you? In the
living room, Ward. Sherry, the most awful thing
has happened. The horse I better... Herb? What
are you... How did you get here? Herb's been
trying to reach you at the office, darling. Oh,
well I... I... I... I'll just leave you two alone.
Too bad it was the wrong horse, Amort. Heard
what happened. You told me Tidy Lady couldn't
lose. Yeah, yeah, sorry about that. Even a bookie
gets bum information. Well, let's get our business
settled. I got a thousand bucks for you on final
chance. She went off at even money. So that means
you owe... $1 ,500 on the other bet. And you
said Tidy Lady couldn't lose. That's the fillies
for you. Can't trust them. And I can't trust
you, Mort. Can I? Now look, Herb. You know and
I know these checks ain't worth the paper they're
written on. If I drop them, they bounce out of
sight. Now what are you gonna do to make them
good? Now Herb, give me a chance, will ya? Give
me a break. Oh, yeah, sure I might, Mort, but
the men upstairs, not a chance. I'm only an errand
boy. These are hard cases more You better pay
all how can I? Well, there is one way Let me
show you the only out you got Go on I must be
crazy. I can't do this. You know what happens
if you don't Let's go. I can't rob my own partner.
I'm not gonna open that safe. Oh, yes, you are
Does this get it through your head I'm not wasting
any more time, but put the gun away Oh, no, you
open that safe or I'll save the big boys hit
band some trouble. All right Just just enough
to pay off what I own now, I'll handle the payoff
you open up That's it. Then I'll start scooping
them up. Look, all of them. Leave the jewelry,
but take all of those loose dimes. You said only
enough to pay... Yeah, yeah, yeah. I had to conduit
opening that safe, but don't worry. I'm not greedy.
You wait till you hear my real proposition. Let
me get back to your apartment. There's nothing
else we can do, Mort. I'm really being very generous.
$50 ,000 in diamonds in the seats I booked for
you to South America. Well, it's time to go if
you're gonna make that plane. How can you be
sure I won't refuse? For the same reason I know
you won't be back. One thing I'm not paying off
are your gambling debts. That'll keep you away
from home. Well, Mrs. Herman, are you all packed
as I request him? Yes. I'll drive you to the
airport just to make sure you get off all right.
What did we come off the highway for? We're almost
out of gas. Well, the airport's just across the
bridge. You could have made it. A turn left here.
Right here, under the bridge. There's no gas
station down here. This road goes right to the
river. There's a dead end. You are so right,
Mort. Particularly for you. What do you mean?
End of the line. But I'm going to Southampton.
You said they were too thick? Yeah. For Sherry.
And me. What? Didn't you ever think it was funny?
My dear friend Marge never came to visit us.
You mean it was always Herb and you? Sure. It
takes someone as stupid as you not to guess.
Where's your car, Herb? It's on the other side
of the wharf, honey. Brett, don't go yet. I'll
need you to help me get this car rolling into
the river. Oh, I don't want to be here. No. You're
not going to kill me, Herb. You're not going
to kill me. Soon as that plane is making enough
racket to kill the sounder. Herb, no! Now! Herb!
jerk my head away frantically at the last moment,
where I could feel the bullets smash into my
skull and then burst in a fountain of searing
sparks. But did Mort Herman really die? If so,
how could he be able to ask his mysterious partner
in conversation to borrow back yesterday? Well...
We'll find that out when we return shortly with
Act Two. Can a man on the threshold of death
hesitate and draw back? Is there for any of us
the hope of a second chance? And if we were granted
this chance? If we were allowed to retrace our
steps, could we change the course of events and
find another ending? We're about to return to
the story of a man who asked for yesterday. Am
I dead? Not quite. You're in a hospital with
a bullet in your brain. As the saying goes, as
good as dead. And Sherry and Herb got away with
it. Oh, it isn't fair. If I only had it to do
all over again. Suppose you had. Could you do
better? Of course. Of course, if I knew what
I know now. Naturally. That would have to be
a precondition if you're asking for yesterday
to live over again. You mean there's a chance
that I can? If you deserve it. Oh, please. Please,
give me the chance. Can you? Oh, yes. Well, why
not? I'm a bit of a gambler myself. Let's see
how you can remake yesterday. Isn't that odd?
Oh, sure, honey. Wow. You had a bad night, honey.
What did you expect? Were you churning and twisting
and groaning and moaning? I didn't sleep. Sorry,
honey. It's just that I'm going crazy. I don't
know what I'm gonna do. But that was yesterday.
Now I know what I'm going to do. Or at least
what I'm not going to do. I was aware of Sherry's
voice saying all the things as we had said them.
But I was thinking to myself how I hated her,
knowing the truth. Her pretense of love, the
story about her friend Marge. But now that I
knew I was the one marked for the kill, things
were going to be different. But not till I was
ready. Till then it had to stay the same. Yeah?
A herb. It's Mort Herman. Hi, Mort. What's your
action? Look, I want to get a bet down on the
fourth at Jasper Gardens today. You got it. What
horse? How much? The favorite. Final chance.
A thousand on the nose. I'll try me in cash.
I tell you what, drop me off here personally.
It was hard to sound scared the way I had before,
knowing that slimy rat was two -timing me with
Sherry. But I had to play it out so he wouldn't
know this time. Know that he was gonna be the
one that got hooked. By the second call, I was
ready to make the first of my chances. And I'll
see you get down on Tidy Lady. A hundred to one?
A sure thing? Trust you, Herb. You wouldn't steer
me wrong. You know it, kid. Look, all right,
how about give me a real break now? Spring me
for a big one. Ten G. Now, uh, wait a minute.
You know I'm good for it, don't you? Look, I
got a safe full of diamonds. Would cover that
ten ways from nowhere. I bet that big might shake
me off. Herb, come on. You can lay it off fifty
different places. Okay. and now going out between
Herb and my no good cheating wife. Did he go
for it? Yeah, yeah. Herb, is something wrong?
No, I just got a little mad is all. Why? I thought
I had my pigeon pegged. Small potatoes better
like Mort wouldn't dare look beyond a two and
a half grand bet. He had a nerve to hold me up
for ten thou. So what's the difference? Doesn't
that give you even more of a lever to talk him
into opening up the safe? Yeah, but that'll run
me quite a few grand more to pay off the boys
upstairs. Ah, it's a drop in the bucket, Herb.
There's easy a million bucks in that safe. So
what do you care? Man, I just got a little nervous,
hon. That fool should walk it going through with
a big caper. Would like to be holding those bum
checks I couldn't cover. I don't want to land
up in the river with concrete boots. Ah, don't
even talk like that, Herb. He'll cave in like
plaster of Paris once he gets the notion he might
be hurt. I promise you. You made the plane reservation.
Ah, I went even better than that. The tickets
are sitting right at home. Did you bring me his
gun? I didn't want to carry it around. It's in
the drawer at home. You're not going to chicken
out on going all the way. Ah, don't you worry.
Because after the heist, he's got to go. He'll
be the one the police figure for it. They'll
be looking for him and we don't want him found
There's no outside chance this tidy lady could
win She'll be lucky to get out of the gate What
they didn't know is that from here on in the
odds were changed I was calling the shots And
don't worry uncle Joe I'm on the store Yeah,
yeah, yeah. I'll set the brake alarm when I leave.
Don't worry. Everything's under control. Yes,
sir. Uncle, your little boy Morty has everything
under complete control. If I didn't know about
that unnumbered bank account you got in Switzerland
or all the blue chip stocks, I'd hate to do this
to you, Uncle Joe. 22 right. 8 to the left. 31
right. 4... nephew maybe you could have trusted
but I made up one you got only yourself to blame.
I cleaned the safe out of everything in diamonds
just like Herbie would have made me do. They
went into my pockets. It's surprising how little
space nearly a million dollars in diamonds takes
up. Then I went to deliver my check to Herb.
I'm stretching quite a point for you more. I
know that herb, but I'll be good for the check
Don't give it a thought you and me. We're gonna
be rich men after that 430 finish and no kickbacks
We're riding on all the suckers money is it you
want a drink to it? No, no, no, no, I'll pass
sir. I'm I'm kind of pooped I've been under a
lot of strain lately So I think I'll I'll just
go on home and take a little map until post time.
Hey, you're not going back to the store No, I
think I'll just watch on TV while I jockey boots
our fortune home. Well, maybe I come up and join
you. We could celebrate together. Why not? Not
in a million years, Herbie. Not ever. You're
not seeing me again. When I heard you laying
off those bets that you had to guarantee personally,
my score with you was all settled. Who's that?
Me. Mort. Why aren't you glad to see me? Well,
of course, sweetie. What are you doing with the
gun? Just checking to see if it's loaded. Why?
Well, you know I always do that when I'm carrying
diamonds. Diamonds? You're carrying some now?
Yep. What for? I'm going on a trip. When? Right
now. But I thought... You thought what? Well,
I thought... Well, didn't you have a... Been
on a horse or something. That's right, I do.
Two of them, to be exact. On the same race. Well,
I don't understand. Yeah. This was all set now.
I think you do, Sherry. What? Understand. What,
honey? You're... You're so strange. What are
you trying to say to me? I'm not trying, honey.
I'm gonna lay it right on the line for you. How
long have you and her been closing me out? What?
Knock it off, Sherry. I can do without the injured
innocents. I know the whole scheme, so you better
come clean. I don't know what you're talking
about. You got tired of me, Sherry. Maybe you
only married me in the beginning because diamonds
were very big in your eyes. But I blew it all
because I ran to the ponies. And they cleaned
out what little I had. And then you met my bookie.
You want to know something? I never really took
a close look at him until today. He's quite a
hunk of man. If you'd have told me, maybe I couldn't
have blamed you for going for him instead of
her. No, no, look, Mort, before you do something
crazy, just... No, not crazy, baby. No more.
Don't... Don't point that at me. Don't you think
I have the right? Why? Because you know my horse
is going to lose. And then I'm set up to open
the safe, Sheriff. Then when it's opened... Your
lover is going to clean it all out pointing this
gun at me and then you're going to drive me out
to the airport and shoot me and put me in my
car and sink it in the river while you and Herb
take off for South America together. Isn't that
the plan? How could you not? What are you talking
about? You, me, and Herb. And the future. I ought
to put a bullet in your head right now. No, Martin.
No. No, listen to me. I'm Sherry. You're Sherry.
Your wife. Someone who'd do anything for you
to me. No, no, no more please Give me a chance
Whatever is in your mind. We can work this out.
Can't we somehow? Oh my god more can't we somehow?
So the worm has turned with a vengeance the biter
is bit And the man who asked for yesterday seems
in full control and in command of history with
the power to change the shadow that coming events
cast their shadow before. We'll see just how
when I return shortly with Act 3. A woman has
begged for forgiveness. A woman we already know
deserves none. And what about her husband? A
man with a miraculous second chance. Has he the
humanity to be forgiving? Can he change the already
preordained course of fate? In the first playing
out of this particular chain of events, who was
the ultimate victim? And who escaped? The answers
are waiting. Please, Mort, give me a chance.
I think we can work it out, Sherry, with your
cooperation. Well, just tell me how. It'll be
just the way you and Herb planned it. Except
that I'll be using the other ticket that you've
already reserved for South America. What do we
use for money? Just what you and Herb would have
used. I already have the diamonds. We can leave
immediately. Yeah, but the horse race... That
doesn't matter anymore. Doesn't matter? Don't
get so guilty, Sherry. I'm aware that you know
about that. I'm also aware that the bet means
nothing to me. That the horse isn't going to
win. How can you know all these things? Let's
just write it off to the strange fact that I
have suddenly acquired second sight. Now you're
scaring me even more. Maybe that's the object.
Come on, let's pack and go. But Mort, if you're
going to lose the... How is it going to be paid?
Oh, that's the beauty part. That's going to be
your ex -boyfriend's problem, Herbie. But he
hasn't got... Your money? Well, like he threatened
me, then. He can pay for it in blood. Now, do
you want to hang around and do the same? You
couldn't leave me. I know too much. That's how
it goes, sweetie. That's why I offer to come
along, isn't exactly take it or leave it. Let
me put it another way. I've already reserved
an earlier flight. And I'm leaving on it with
or without you. Now it's now or never. Make up
your mind. Mort? What? It still isn't too late.
Too late for what? To go back. Start all over.
How? Well, the race hasn't been run. Make a doctor
herb. Maybe get him to call off the bets? Forget
it, Sherry. The bets are down, all of them. It's
too late to call anything back. What are you
slowing down for? We need some gas. We must have
enough to get us to the airport, or right at
the bridge. Oh, I wish you could know how familiar
this conversation sounds. Why are you turning
off? We have an appointment right below the bridge
here. You're scaring me again. More... What is
it about you that... Maybe I've become the agent
of fate. The what? It's finally catching up to
you, Sherry. I don't know what... Don't turn
left here. This is a dead end. It ends at the
river. I found that out once. Well, Morty...
I think you're crazy! Oh no, sweetie, I can't
do that. A coffin is a coffin no matter who the
corpse turns out to be. What do you mean? You
and her plan for it to be me. I've just revised
the plan. I'm the only one that really deserves
to be shot at you. Goodbye, Sherry. Welcome to
my grave. I forgot I should have waited for a
plane going over to drown out the shot that killed
Sherry. But it didn't really matter. No one heard
it but the two of us. It wasn't much of a climb
back to the highway and I had plenty of time
to walk to the airport. I had no baggage except
a million dollars worth of diamonds. And for
the first time in as long as I could remember
I was free. Ladies and gentlemen, your attention
please. An unexpected total inversion due to
extreme weather conditions. Aggravated by a heavy
smog, this caused a temporary shutdown in all
air traffic. Arriving planes are being shunted
to alternate landing fields and there will be
no repeat, no takeoffs on all scheduled airlines
until further notice. The stunning announcement
caused me my first twinge of terror. I had to
get away. breath I took hold of myself I mustn't
give way to panic I was safe till at least Monday
as far as the diamonds were concerned their loss
wouldn't be discovered until then but I had to
get out of town before the race was run and lost
I knew Herbie would be looking for me I could
head for the nearest airport that was cleared
and take a plane from there the answer was just
across the terminal building Oh, miss, excuse
me, miss. Oh, I'll be with you in just a minute,
sir. I've been waiting for almost half an hour.
Be back in a moment. Some panic, huh? You think
there was a war around or something, huh? They've
canceled all the flights. Yeah, I just heard.
I come in here to use the plane. Now I see where
maybe I'm going to make a heavy buck today. Why,
what do you mean? What do you say, mister? I'm
on a high guy. Oh, excuse me, just a minute.
Miss? Is this the car you want to rent, sir?
I'm sorry, but there isn't a thing. You wanna
go back to the city, friend? Like I was saying,
I got a hack outside. Oh, brother, you're a lifesaver.
Yeah, well, you're here to deal. Fifty smackers.
I'll tell you what. You take me to the nearest
airport where planes are flying, and I'll pay
all expenses and a hundred -buck bonus. No sale,
friend. I'm a family man. I don't show up for
dinner to wipe a glob of me. Besides, save your
dough. For a five -oh, I take you to the railroad
station. You get a train out. A train? Yeah,
sure. Come on. What's the matter, driver? You
got me. Some traffic jam. Looks like firetruck's
up there at the station. Well, there's a cop
over there. See if you can get his attention.
We got it all ready for me. He's on his way already.
You headed for the railroad station, buddy? Yeah,
officer. I got a passenger car. You got nobody
going nowhere. There's a fire in the tunnel.
There won't be a train out of here for several
hours. Turn over to the next corner. Now, wait
a minute, Sergeant. You don't understand. I've
got to leave. Do yourself a favor. With the airport
shut down, there's fire in the tunnel. What you
should be worrying is find yourself a room for
the night. Well, the bus station. I can get a
bus. That's where the laugh is on them. I mean,
the business they could be doing tonight, and
their drivers had to pick this weekend to go
on a strike. Okay, Hackie. You're holding up
traffic. Move on. What am I gonna do? I don't
know, mister. Well, tell you one thing. You've
about used up your fifty. Make up your mind wherever
I drop you. You'd better be close. Just, just
let me think a minute. It was a nightmare. The
bad dream to end all bad dreams. You know the
kind, where you have to escape, but you can only
move in slow motion. Your feet are buried in
mud like glue. You're caught. You're trapped.
You're helpless. You know there's no way out.
Okay, Mike. This is it. End of the line. I don't
think you know quite that. Hey, watch it, will
be. Let's not throw any fits in that thing. I
already got enough trouble out of you. Ah, you
don't get the joke. I ain't interested. I want
you out. You know where you're stuck? Right in
front of my own house. So ain't that a lucky
coincidence? I brought you home. So out. This
is the last place in the world I want to be.
I can't get out of here. Hello, Mort. I've been
waiting for you. Herb. Look, let me give you
a hand out. You look a bit shaky. And don't make
any sudden moves. Oh, uh, you got your fair hacky?
I got it, mister. Take care of your friend there.
He's kind of in a bad way. All right, let's keep
our hands nice and open where I can see them.
And then we'll go inside and we'll have a little
chat. You came back to pay off your debt to me,
and you left Sherry waiting for you at the airport,
right? That's right, Herb. And you want to pay
me off in dying? Well, like I told you this morning,
I don't have the cash on hand. Yeah, I'll get
that. Yeah? Oh, yeah, this is Mr. Herman. Oh,
they are? Oh, that's fine. Yeah. Yeah, I'll be
there to pick them up. Right away. Yeah, thank
you for calling. What was that? The airport.
Ceiling is lifted. They're flying again. They
wanted to confirm your reservations. You're on
the next flight out. Well, how am I going to
get there? I got my car outside. Our business
is all finished. I'll drive you out to the airport.
Come on, Moran. We don't want to keep Mrs. Herman
waiting. You're going out of your way like this.
I don't mention it as a matter of fact. It just
fits in with my plans What are you doing? Don't
turn off here. You and I have a little final
business to complete. No, no, no, no, not under
the bridge Oh, you know this little spot. Is
that where you gave it to Sherry? What are you
talking about? Come on jerk when I took that
gun from you I could smell it had been fired
recently when I couldn't reach Sherry as we planned
earlier this afternoon I had to figure maybe
you'd caught on about us. That's why I was waiting
for you when you got home. What did you do with
her, Mort? I don't know what you're talking about.
Sure you do. Now get out. Now give me your coat.
Her, please. Please. Coat. Jacket. Pants. I want
all the diamonds. Her, please. Did you give her
any chance? What did you do? Shove her back in
your car and roll it in? Look, she had no right.
Okay, okay. You forget it. You just drop those
clothes and walk to the edge of the pier. I wish
I had a car to bury you in. But I'll take my
chances on the tide. Move! It didn't make any
difference. It all turned out the same, didn't
it, Herb? I don't know what you're talking about.
But by me, it comes out even. Goodbye, Mort.
Herb gets away with everything, and I killed
Cherry. At least you could still have been alive.
Well, don't worry about that. Think back to the
first of your yesterdays. Remember the second
time Herb sent Cherry with you into the river,
locked in the car. Well, then how did I when
you were in the backseat? The door wasn't closed
completely. The water pressure opened, you surfaced,
and drifted on the tide to the bank, where a
police sergeant found you and brought you here.
Where? To the hospital? They're operating on
you right now? Then I live? Do you think you
should? I could prove it to you. If you'd just
let me have yesterday again. Oh, no. No, I'm
quite satisfied now. About what? That you belong
to me. Now I pick up my part of the bargain.
Your part? Tomorrow. I'll take care of all your
tomorrows. You can go on home, catch some shut
-eye. You kidding? I just got a new headache.
Know that cut -off by the bridge to the airport?
The one that goes down to the docks? Yeah. Guy
coming up from there got creamed by a trailer
truck. Killed him. Busted his car to nothing.
Now, get this. Scattered diamonds all over the
road. I mean, about hundreds. Stolen? That's
my job to find out. Well... Sorry about your
patient. Funny thing, I saw that little guy earlier
today by the railroad station. Frantic to get
out of town with all the communication jam -ups
we had today. Wonder what he was trying to run
from. I guess we'll never know. But we do, even
if the sergeant never learns. And we also know
it caught up with him. He was a weak little man,
and a scared little man, and a stupid little
man. None of which is any excuse. Mort Herman
got exactly what he deserved. I'll be back shortly.
In the beginning, if you remember, I mentioned
an often misquoted line. Backward, turn backward,
O time, in thy flight. It was written by a lady
named Elizabeth Akers Allen. And the misquote
is one word. Not thy, it's your flight. But the
preposition is of minor interest. It's the adverb
that really matters. Backward. to turn time backward.
One of man's dreams since time began. An idle
dream as we know now because even if we could,
in the end it turns out just the same. Our cast
included Mandel Kramer, Paul Hecht, Evie Juster,
Ralph Bell and Gil Mack. The entire production
was under the direction of Hyman Brown. And now,
a preview of our next tale. You have to believe
me that Leo won't give me a divorce. Don't you
see how easy it would be to take his place? Fine,
fine, but what happens to him? Well, that's the
problem, isn't it? Yeah, that's the problem.
I thought maybe you could think a way out. Yeah,
I can, but I don't like it. Try it on me. No,
I think you've already tried it on, and you like
it. Maybe. Not maybe, positively. That's what
you wanted to lay on me when you said you wanted
to talk. You're not only sexy, but you're smart.
Yeah, you bet. Smart enough to stay away from
murder. Well, who said anything about murder?
I did, my lovely. I did. I said murder. This
is E .G. Marshall inviting you to return to our
mystery theater for another adventure in the
macabre. Until next time, pleasant. Dreams...