WEBVTT 00:00:17.460 --> 00:00:25.440 Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:29.780 to the fear you can hear. Welcome to the world 00:00:29.780 --> 00:00:34.679 of terrifying imagination. Our suspense -filled 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:39.600 tale is about two ladies. One heedless, one, 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:44.079 alas, headless. To meet them both... we shall 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:46.920 have to span an ocean and several centuries. 00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:51.000 The story of both ladies comes from Rudley Castle 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:54.679 in the Cotswold Hills of England. But the tale 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:58.960 of the First Lady belongs in this century, while 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:03.280 the legend of the Second comes riding to us out 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:10.540 of the medieval past. Charles! Charles! What? 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:14.670 Charles, wake up! Can't you hear them? There 00:01:14.670 --> 00:01:17.750 they are again! What is it, Beth? The Hothbeats! 00:01:18.510 --> 00:01:20.329 This time they're coming straight for the house! 00:01:20.409 --> 00:01:23.010 Where are you going, Beth? I've got to see! It's 00:01:23.010 --> 00:01:25.170 the dead of night, you can't see anything! It's 00:01:25.170 --> 00:01:31.969 bright moonlight! Oh, God! She's right in the 00:01:31.969 --> 00:01:36.030 courtyard below! Stop it! Will you have your 00:01:36.030 --> 00:02:43.229 mind? She's throwing... The title of our tale 00:02:43.229 --> 00:02:47.919 is, A Lady Never Loses Her Head. This has been 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:50.960 an accepted dictum since the beginning of recorded 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:55.280 history. But in the literal sense, in feudal 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.659 times, a lady unfortunately could, and frequently 00:02:58.659 --> 00:03:02.759 did, lose her head. Thank heavens, of course, 00:03:02.780 --> 00:03:08.340 that is no longer possible. Or is it? Let's travel 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:11.639 to London and start our narrative in the gloomy 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:16.900 gray atmosphere of Scotland Yard. Excuse me, 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:19.759 inspector. Yes, Cuthers, what is it? Young lady 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:23.419 outside to see you. Most attractive. Blue -eyed, 00:03:23.780 --> 00:03:28.080 blonde hair, about 24. American, about five... 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:30.699 Yes, sir, I can do without the vital statistics. 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:34.659 Does she have a name? Yes, sir. Beth Stanton. 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:38.800 Miss... Beth Stanton. Stanton? My old friend 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:41.020 Biff's daughter. Well, don't just stand there. 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:44.099 Man, bring her in. Right this way, Miss Stanton. 00:03:44.650 --> 00:03:48.409 Thank you, Sergeant. My dear girl, you are Biff 00:03:48.409 --> 00:03:51.229 Stanton's daughter, of course? Of course. Oh, 00:03:51.229 --> 00:03:54.710 how nice to meet you. Come in, come in. Dear 00:03:54.710 --> 00:03:57.930 me, this is a pleasure. Oh, do sit down. Oh, 00:03:57.930 --> 00:04:00.349 thank you, Inspector Finchley. Tell me, what 00:04:00.349 --> 00:04:02.969 are you doing in England? Oh, first, before anything, 00:04:03.270 --> 00:04:05.250 following Dad's orders and coming to see you. 00:04:06.530 --> 00:04:10.550 Also, I brought you something from him. Really? 00:04:10.629 --> 00:04:13.389 I should have brought it earlier or sent it, 00:04:13.389 --> 00:04:17.839 but... Well after he died I was a mess so long 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:20.860 it had just been the two of us Took me a year 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:24.540 to pace myself back together again. I wish I 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:26.620 could have helped at the very least I should 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:29.139 have come over for the funeral Oh, there was 00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:31.600 none dad wouldn't have wanted that. Mm -hmm. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:36.000 I can imagine Anyway, he wanted you to have this. 00:04:36.579 --> 00:04:42.259 Oh No, no, I can't now you have to If Stanton's 00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:46.189 wings Any idea what they mean to an old fogey 00:04:46.189 --> 00:04:48.430 who went through the Battle of Britain shoulder 00:04:48.430 --> 00:04:51.430 to shoulder with him I? Can tell you something 00:04:51.430 --> 00:04:54.750 my dear these mean more to me than the crown 00:04:54.750 --> 00:04:59.110 jewels You know you're everything dad said you'd 00:04:59.110 --> 00:05:06.930 be Hello for real uncle Alfie After that what 00:05:06.930 --> 00:05:11.310 can I do to make England yours? Not a thing it's 00:05:11.310 --> 00:05:15.550 already mine. Oh how so? Well, it's mad, wild, 00:05:15.670 --> 00:05:18.949 out of sight. Here I was on the boat coming over, 00:05:19.410 --> 00:05:21.769 still fighting all the trauma of Dad's death, 00:05:22.689 --> 00:05:25.290 and suddenly I met this marvelous Englishman. 00:05:25.610 --> 00:05:28.269 Only a little less marvelous than you turned 00:05:28.269 --> 00:05:31.769 out to be, of course. And just like that, I did 00:05:31.769 --> 00:05:35.250 a crazy thing. What was that? I married him. 00:05:35.750 --> 00:05:38.589 I'm not really Beth Stanton anymore. I'm Mrs. 00:05:39.050 --> 00:05:44.199 Charles Rudford. Well, dear me, dear me. Congratulations. 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:48.139 I deserve them. I'm so lucky. Well, I'd like 00:05:48.139 --> 00:05:51.079 to meet your husband. What's he like? Too much. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:55.300 He's tall, black -haired, blue eyes, and just 00:05:55.300 --> 00:06:00.680 so Englishy English. Well, now, will you live 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:03.660 here or in America? Oh, it has to be here because 00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:07.759 of Charles. Ah. What's his line of work? He doesn't 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.519 have to work, actually, although he is a very 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:14.089 fine artist. Well, I envy this chap in more ways 00:06:14.089 --> 00:06:17.949 than one. Why doesn't he have to work? Because 00:06:17.949 --> 00:06:21.250 most of his time is spent in managing his estate. 00:06:21.949 --> 00:06:25.250 Which reminds me, I've got to run. I'm off to 00:06:25.250 --> 00:06:27.829 the ancestral home in the Cotswolds to take up 00:06:27.829 --> 00:06:31.009 my position as Lady of the Manor. Dorset, eh? 00:06:31.110 --> 00:06:34.310 Lovely country. Whereabouts? Chauncey Castle. 00:06:34.790 --> 00:06:38.199 I expect you know it. I'm afraid I'm a bit shaky 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:41.199 on Burke's pillage. Oh, Charles isn't an Earl 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.439 or a Duke, really. It's just his family line. 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:47.120 I don't even know what his title is exactly. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:50.579 Well, would you like me to find out? No, in this 00:06:50.579 --> 00:06:53.800 day and age, what does it matter? Now, Uncle 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:56.100 Alfie, I must go. Charles went on ahead of me 00:06:56.100 --> 00:06:58.519 with his sister. Nora insisted she had to have 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:01.120 a day to get things ready. I told Charles I needed 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:04.439 a full day to shop for a sort of late trousseau. 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:08.160 So he drove her up with most of my bags. All 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.620 right, my dear. I shan't keep you. Give me a 00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:14.000 few weeks to get settled, and I promise you'll 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:17.000 be our first house guest. You only have to ask 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:22.839 me. Bye -bye. Yes, sir. A very tasty young lady. 00:07:23.420 --> 00:07:28.819 Mm. And a hasty one. How's that, sir? Marion 00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:34.939 Haster Pintiton. Beg pardon, Inspector. Oh, nothing, 00:07:35.620 --> 00:07:38.459 nothing. Too many years of policeman, I suppose. 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:41.839 One tends to fall into the habit of looking for 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:45.000 trouble. Still, she is the daughter of the best 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:48.540 friend I ever had, and she must be a very rich 00:07:48.540 --> 00:07:52.920 young woman. I say, brothers, rustle me a copy 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:56.839 of Bert's peerage, will you? Something I'd like 00:07:56.839 --> 00:08:06.680 to have a look at. Well, my lady, how do you 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:10.819 like your castle? Oh, Charles, it's something 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:15.500 else. It's what? I mean it. I mean it's too much. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:20.779 It's magnificent. Just breathtaking, thrilling. 00:08:21.660 --> 00:08:24.879 There just aren't enough words. But it's sort 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:28.779 of creepy, too. Creepy? Well, you know, everything's 00:08:28.779 --> 00:08:33.429 so... old and so big. Yes, and so very drafty. 00:08:33.769 --> 00:08:36.330 I'm glad we won't be living here. But we can 00:08:36.330 --> 00:08:39.009 if you want, my darling. Oh, no, please, no. 00:08:39.070 --> 00:08:42.169 I feel like an exhibit. It's so comfortable at 00:08:42.169 --> 00:08:46.129 the gatehouse. Yes, except for poor Nora. She 00:08:46.129 --> 00:08:49.370 is sort of underfoot. Oh, come on. It's not that 00:08:49.370 --> 00:08:52.330 small. And I'm not going to put Nora out of her 00:08:52.330 --> 00:08:54.409 own home. You're sure you don't mind, dear? Are 00:08:54.409 --> 00:08:57.509 all these paintings legitimate ancestors? Yes. 00:08:58.410 --> 00:09:04.289 Charles? What is it, Beth? Who... who is that? 00:09:04.889 --> 00:09:08.590 Ah, yes. I thought that one might pique your 00:09:08.590 --> 00:09:12.590 curiosity. That was the Lady Elizabeth Chauncey. 00:09:12.710 --> 00:09:15.269 Beyond question, the most attractive of all the 00:09:15.269 --> 00:09:19.870 family. Until now. But she looks just like me. 00:09:19.990 --> 00:09:23.409 A very pallid copy, my darling. Besides, she 00:09:23.409 --> 00:09:27.309 was very dark. Not like my fair and golden -haired 00:09:27.309 --> 00:09:32.909 American beauty. Well, still, imagine all those 00:09:32.909 --> 00:09:36.730 years ago, someone in your family who... When 00:09:36.730 --> 00:09:41.809 did she die? Somewhere in the middle 1500s. She 00:09:41.809 --> 00:09:46.009 died very young, as the story goes. How? Oh, 00:09:46.950 --> 00:09:48.929 accidentally. Darling, I think we ought to get 00:09:48.929 --> 00:09:51.269 back to the gatehouse. It's almost time for tea. 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:59.600 Do you have milk in your tea, Beth? No, thanks. 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:04.659 Well, how did you like the castle? Oh, it's great. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.700 I mean, it's terribly impressive and fascinating. 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:12.299 And inexpressibly gloomy, damp and musty. Well, 00:10:12.299 --> 00:10:14.279 I didn't say that. Oh, but it was what you were 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:17.860 thinking. Oh, no, you're marvelous. Yes, I thought 00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:20.100 all of those things. I just hope Charles doesn't 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:22.620 want to live there. Oh, heavens dear, not a chance. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:25.620 You see all the rebuilding, refurbishing that's 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:28.580 going on there? Yes, I did. That's why I thought 00:10:28.580 --> 00:10:31.440 maybe... Oh, not intended for private life, Beth. 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:34.960 Strictly for the public. Big pardon? Well, the 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:38.179 only way of supporting these charming and historic 00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:40.820 white elephants is to open them to the public 00:10:40.820 --> 00:10:45.240 for a small fee, which mounts up. Oh, what a 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:49.039 shame. Your own home, poor Charles. Oh, he doesn't 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:52.139 mind any more than I do. The place is much too 00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:55.379 big and full of cobwebs and ghosts. It gives 00:10:55.379 --> 00:11:00.139 me the shivers. Ghosts? You mean real ones that 00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:03.019 actually haunt? And if you want to believe in 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:06.720 such things, the usual clanking of armour and 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:11.480 dragging of chains. Except, of course, for the 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:16.240 Lady Elizabeth. The one whose portrait I saw 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:19.820 today? Oh, I'm not sure if I know you did. We've 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:22.620 had a great many Elizabeths. Well, the very young 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:25.100 one. The one who looked like me. Oh, that would 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:30.559 be she. Yes, you do favor her. You know, Charles 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:34.379 was so funny about her. I mean, he didn't seem 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:37.320 to want to talk about how she died. Jolly right, 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:42.019 I should think. Gruesome silly story. Well, she 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:45.539 was married to one of the first Earls of Chauncey. 00:11:45.850 --> 00:11:48.649 A man quite literally, believe it or not, old 00:11:48.649 --> 00:11:53.269 enough to be her grandparent. And so, quite naturally, 00:11:53.409 --> 00:11:56.129 she fell in love with one of the young bloods 00:11:56.129 --> 00:11:58.590 who traipsed around in the retinue. Oh, what 00:11:58.590 --> 00:12:01.190 was his name? Oh, heavens dear, Ivan the foggiest. 00:12:01.629 --> 00:12:06.009 No one remembers him. At all events, sex being 00:12:06.009 --> 00:12:08.730 just as urgent in those days, if not quite so 00:12:08.730 --> 00:12:12.450 publicized, the two of them were caught cavorting 00:12:12.450 --> 00:12:15.460 in, uh... Plagranti de licto, I think, is the 00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:19.039 polite Latin phrase. And the elderly Earl was 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:22.919 quite put out about it. So much so that he... 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:28.100 he had the poor little thing beheaded. Oh, violent 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:31.740 times, you know, violent measures. Even that 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:34.899 wasn't quite enough for him. What do you mean? 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:37.500 What else could he do to work? Well, it gets 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:39.480 a bit bloody, dear. Maybe we'd better just... 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:46.100 No, I want to know. Well... I'm afraid he had 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:50.179 the head impaled on a pike and left to wither 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:54.340 on the battlements. The body, of course, was 00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:59.039 interred. Oh, my God. Nasty types they were in 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:01.960 those days. How old was she? Oh, see, I think 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:09.100 I remember. Oh, yes, 24. Just my age. So young 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:13.539 to die and be buried forever. Well, the legend 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:18.419 is, of course, that she hasn't been our parlour 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:23.639 legend. You mean she haunts? Oh, rather. She 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:27.519 was quite a horsewoman, history tells us. And 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:30.539 any night, but particularly when the moon is 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:35.399 full, she rides the grounds searching for her 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:41.279 lost head. She's quite famous locally. I must 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:44.799 admit, when the wind's from the west, I... I 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:52.200 sometimes swear myself I can hear the hoofbeats. 00:13:58.340 --> 00:14:06.059 Poor... Poor Elizabeth. Poor... No. What's that? 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:11.789 Charles! Charles, wake up. What is it, Dolly? 00:14:12.690 --> 00:14:16.509 Do you hear them? Why? Somebody riding a horse. 00:14:16.710 --> 00:14:19.289 It's 2 .30 in the morning. But can't you hear 00:14:19.289 --> 00:14:23.210 them? You don't suppose Elizabeth... Oh, that 00:14:23.210 --> 00:14:26.049 stupid legend. I'm really quite furious at Nora 00:14:26.049 --> 00:14:29.250 for... No, no, no. Don't be, please. I expect 00:14:29.250 --> 00:14:34.250 I'm the stupid one. It's all so new to me. I'll 00:14:34.250 --> 00:14:39.860 settle down. Let me assist in that process. Darling, 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:44.820 darling. I don't hear the hoofbeats anymore. 00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:48.620 You never did. Just the excited beating of your 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:52.419 husband's heart. Oh, I love you. And I love you. 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:56.840 You're so lovely. I can't wait to paint you. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:59.799 I'll sit for you. Do you know what I'd like to 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:03.580 do tomorrow? What? Make a life mask of you. Oh, 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:08.120 how do you do that? You'll see. Tomorrow. You'll 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:15.539 see Charles really has something more sinister 00:15:15.539 --> 00:15:18.600 than history lurking in the dark corners of Chauncey 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:23.419 Castle and what if one examines it is a life 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:27.559 mask a mold of the features once done in plaster 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:31.500 of Paris today in modern plastic a technique 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:34.240 often employed to perpetuate someone departed 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:38.100 from this life and originally named The Death 00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:52.820 Mask. I'll be back shortly with Act Two. Have 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:56.460 you ever had a mask made of your face? It's a 00:15:56.460 --> 00:16:00.120 quite terrifying experience. The material is 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:04.830 laid on like shaving soap or a mud bath. and 00:16:04.830 --> 00:16:08.590 you lie there while it hardens and sets. In the 00:16:08.590 --> 00:16:11.450 last moments, there is an excess of heat and 00:16:11.450 --> 00:16:14.450 a feeling as if you will be buried forever in 00:16:14.450 --> 00:16:18.610 concrete or stone. You can breathe, but the shut 00:16:18.610 --> 00:16:22.250 -in feeling, the claustrophobia, suggests you 00:16:22.250 --> 00:16:25.909 can't, that maybe whoever it is making the mask 00:16:25.909 --> 00:16:31.570 wants to kill you, smother you, like Beth, wordless, 00:16:31.909 --> 00:16:34.909 speechless. helpless at this moment. Hand me 00:16:34.909 --> 00:16:38.990 the straws, Nora. Here you are. What a really 00:16:38.990 --> 00:16:41.450 dreadful thing to do to the child. Now, don't 00:16:41.450 --> 00:16:44.169 try to talk, dearest. The plastic is just beginning 00:16:44.169 --> 00:16:47.889 to set. It won't be much longer. I'm going to 00:16:47.889 --> 00:16:50.950 have to cover your mouth now, so I'll put these 00:16:50.950 --> 00:16:53.769 straws in your nose and you'll be able to breathe. 00:16:54.490 --> 00:16:57.509 Now the thing is not to get panicky. The whole 00:16:57.509 --> 00:16:59.549 thing is perfectly barbarous. Shut up, Nora. 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:03.220 There's not a thing in the world to worry about 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:06.940 death It just sort of draws and there's a feeling 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:12.160 that it's clamping down But it's soon over Trust 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:29.789 me darling Please don't worry about a thing Thought 00:17:29.789 --> 00:17:33.410 I was going to die. I got the most beautiful 00:17:33.410 --> 00:17:36.349 mold of your face. You'll see it was worth it 00:17:36.349 --> 00:17:41.950 Honestly darling, I was scared I'm like Elizabeth. 00:17:41.950 --> 00:17:45.849 I'm much too young to die. Will you forget her? 00:17:45.970 --> 00:17:50.750 Yeah, I'd like to but She haunts me. I never 00:17:50.750 --> 00:17:54.210 ever thought about death before and now suddenly 00:17:54.210 --> 00:18:00.049 Darling have you made a will? Good Lord, Beth. 00:18:00.730 --> 00:18:05.569 You are morbid. No, since you ask. Well, you 00:18:05.569 --> 00:18:09.970 should. We... Well, everyone should. Well, I 00:18:09.970 --> 00:18:13.029 expect you're quite right. I'm rather careless 00:18:13.029 --> 00:18:15.970 about money matters. I'll take care of it first 00:18:15.970 --> 00:18:19.410 thing in the morning. May I come with you? Why, 00:18:19.430 --> 00:18:22.750 if you want. I want to make one too, Charles. 00:18:23.529 --> 00:18:26.930 It's really quite important. Well, my dear, if 00:18:26.930 --> 00:18:29.910 you insist. You see, I never told you, Charles, 00:18:30.009 --> 00:18:43.069 but I'm really worth an awful lot of money. Oh, 00:18:43.069 --> 00:18:46.789 Crothers. Yes, Inspector? Remember that chap 00:18:46.789 --> 00:18:49.329 in Margate we had to look into because he kept 00:18:49.329 --> 00:18:52.170 getting rid of well -to -do wives at quite a 00:18:52.170 --> 00:18:57.289 clip? That'd be Humbert, sir. Tall, dark chap 00:18:57.289 --> 00:19:01.009 with a thick beard. Made a joke about Bluebeard. 00:19:01.309 --> 00:19:04.750 Did I? Have we a photo of him handy? I think 00:19:04.750 --> 00:19:08.809 I could dig one up. Why don't you? And by the 00:19:08.809 --> 00:19:12.289 by, next weekend's Halloween. I think I might 00:19:12.289 --> 00:19:15.150 leave crime to the small fry and take a busman's 00:19:15.150 --> 00:19:19.650 holiday. You deserve it, sir. Well away. Well, 00:19:19.769 --> 00:19:21.950 I might take a run up to the Cotswolds. Sort 00:19:21.950 --> 00:19:30.400 of a... Sentimental journey, you might say. Morning, 00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:34.839 Beth. Special today, kippers. No, thank you, 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:39.339 not for me. Out of sorts, dear. I haven't... 00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:43.359 I didn't sleep so well. Just a little orange 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:48.660 juice and coffee. Oh, absolutely. Well, anything 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:52.210 wrong? Oh, no, not really. You know, I guess 00:19:52.210 --> 00:19:54.490 maybe I ought to look out for those toddies of 00:19:54.490 --> 00:19:57.390 yours. Why, Beth, nothing but a little scotch, 00:19:57.390 --> 00:20:00.470 sugar and lemon. I didn't mean I suspected the 00:20:00.470 --> 00:20:04.250 ingredients. It's just that maybe I can't handle 00:20:04.250 --> 00:20:06.910 quite so much whiskey. There was only a nip in 00:20:06.910 --> 00:20:12.309 there. Child, you do look a little wan. Should 00:20:12.309 --> 00:20:14.750 we have Dr. Yule in to have a glance at you, 00:20:14.809 --> 00:20:17.859 do you think? Oh, I can't need a doctor. I'm 00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:20.900 always so healthy. Change of clime and all that, 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:23.640 dear, in damp old England. Flu is always floating 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:31.279 around. Why don't we just play safe? What do 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:34.599 you think, doctor? Oh, well, nothing serious, 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:37.859 of course, but a high -strung young lady, you 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:41.920 know. Well, sensitive, naturally, but high -strung. 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:44.940 Well, you know Americans very suggestible. What 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:48.220 is this notion she has about somebody on horseback 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:52.359 without a head? I beg your pardon? Some legend 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:55.700 about a girl who looked like her centuries ago. 00:20:56.400 --> 00:21:00.519 I haven't the foggiest idea. Well, for the moment, 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:02.900 there's no real concern. I've left a sedative 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:05.039 to be filled at the pharmacist with your sister. 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:15.900 Convenient thing, she happens to be an RN. You're 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:18.740 sure you're up to this bet Charles. I've simply 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:21.980 had to get out of doors and away from the cottage 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:26.539 Let's just enjoy a walk walk into the castle 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:30.779 and pretend. It's all the beginning Well, I just 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:33.319 say well in the center of the drawbridge needs 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:37.299 a lot of repairs It's just incredible to think 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:40.299 that knights in armor rode across this bridge 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:43.299 How far do you suppose it's down to the bottom 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:48.079 of the old moat? 50, 60 feet, perhaps. A mess, 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:51.819 isn't it? All those weeds and jagged rocks. Can 00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:54.960 we go in and poke about? Your wish is my command. 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:04.240 Beth? Right here. Where on earth have you got 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:09.380 to? Like a magnet, right back to her. The Lady 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:13.880 Elizabeth. She fascinates me so. Well, there 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:16.680 really isn't all that much resemblance. Oh, I 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:20.920 don't agree. She could be my twin. And it's funny. 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:25.319 What's funny? It's so hard to put into words, 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:30.220 Charles. It's just a feeling. I mean, her portrait 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:33.200 is just as old and the paint is just as cracked 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:37.359 as all the others, but somehow she feels so immediate. 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:44.359 So today. Almost as if she... just sat for the 00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:47.519 portrait, and the artist had just finished it. 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:50.160 That is rather strange. You can see that the 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:53.079 pigments are medieval. The patina is centuries 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:59.200 old, just like the model. I know. I should stop 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:01.920 identifying myself with her just because of a 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:06.240 chance resemblance. Oh, Charles, I'm cold. Let's 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:08.319 get back to the gatehouse and add nice living 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:18.569 room fire. You look a bit knocked about, Beth. 00:23:19.049 --> 00:23:20.690 Perhaps you ought to turn in a little early. 00:23:21.250 --> 00:23:24.369 I guess so. On top of everything else, I do think 00:23:24.369 --> 00:23:27.289 our damp weather does take a bit of getting used 00:23:27.289 --> 00:23:29.930 to. I have the kettle on the boil to whip you 00:23:29.930 --> 00:23:32.730 up a nice stout toddy. Oh, I don't want anything 00:23:32.730 --> 00:23:35.609 to drink. Oh, just a bit, love. To disguise the 00:23:35.609 --> 00:23:39.230 taste of old Dr. Yule's sedative. Why he has 00:23:39.230 --> 00:23:41.670 to stick to powders instead of up -to -date pills 00:23:41.670 --> 00:23:44.690 is beyond me. Oh, while you're brewing that toddy, 00:23:44.730 --> 00:23:47.920 I have some letters to finish. Letters? Oh, I've 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:50.299 been very remiss. I have all sorts of friends 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:52.640 and half -relations in America who who don't 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:55.319 even know I'm married. I've got to write them. 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:57.720 Oh, of course. You go and get them finished, 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:01.099 and I'll brew you up something nice to put you 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:12.000 to sleep. There you are, darling. Nora's best. 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:15.480 Plus Dr. Yule's guaranteed potion for a restful 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:19.900 night. Thanks, Charles. Oh, I'm sorry to be such 00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:23.259 a bother. Hush. Get all your letters finished. 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:26.720 Yes. I must mail them first thing tomorrow. Let 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:29.140 me have them, darling. I have to run into the 00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:31.420 village to pick up the post. I'll send them off 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:36.200 then. Okay. And by the by, I hate to bother you 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:39.279 with this, but as long as you have pen in hand, 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.960 want to look this over and sign it? What is it? 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:45.180 That last will and testament that you insisted 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:48.039 on making. Technically, I suppose I should have 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:50.720 John and Nellie witness your signing. But I'm 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:53.759 sure they'll take the will for the deed, if you'll 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:57.339 excuse a complicated pun. Sign it later. Oh, 00:24:57.359 --> 00:25:00.000 yes, let's get it out of the way. I have enough 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:03.279 morbid thoughts as it is. What morbid thoughts? 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:07.980 There. I hope to God it never has to be executed. 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:13.000 Amen. Drink your toddy and it will relax you. 00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:17.859 All you need is a good... Night sleep. I'd give 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:21.960 anything for that. If I could just stop dreaming 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:26.920 about her, or hearing those hoofbeats. Charles. 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:31.200 What, dear? You don't think I'm going crazy, 00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:35.980 losing my mind? Oh, now come on. Drink up. And 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:40.640 I'll hold you tight till you go to sleep. It's 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:47.240 strong. But it does feel good. Charles, you're 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:51.220 so good to me. How can I ever repay you? You 00:25:51.220 --> 00:26:07.700 will, darling. You will. Charles! Charles! What? 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:11.119 Charles, wake up! Can't you hear them? There 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:13.660 they are again! What is it, Beth? Oh, Beats! 00:26:13.869 --> 00:26:16.109 This time they're coming straight for the house. 00:26:16.309 --> 00:26:18.750 Where are you going, Beth? I've got to see. It's 00:26:18.750 --> 00:26:21.109 the dead of night. You can't see anything. It's 00:26:21.109 --> 00:26:26.730 bright moonlight out. Oh, God. She's right in 00:26:26.730 --> 00:26:29.730 the courtyard below. Stop it, Beth. She's... 00:26:29.730 --> 00:26:33.890 she's blowing back the hood of the cave. She... 00:27:08.560 --> 00:27:12.599 More and more the question narrows itself down 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:16.640 to a very simple one. Which lady has lost her 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:20.730 head completely? Elizabeth from the past, who 00:27:20.730 --> 00:27:23.990 will not stay at rest? Or Beth from the present, 00:27:24.549 --> 00:27:27.170 who seems bound to raise her from the grave? 00:27:28.289 --> 00:27:31.190 I'll be back with at least some of the answers 00:27:31.190 --> 00:27:45.700 when I return shortly with Act 3. So... back 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:48.519 once again to the problem of our twin danzels 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:52.579 in distress. The medieval one has vanished into 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:56.059 thin air by now, if indeed she ever materialized 00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:59.599 from there, while our modern Beth has confounded 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:03.420 us and her husband by doing something quite medieval, 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:10.059 or at least old -fashioned. Beth? Beth? Beth, 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:16.359 it's Charles. Wake up. What? Charles? Oh, what 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:22.140 happened to me? What... What happened to her? 00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:24.359 Charles, she... Now, darling, darling, listen 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:26.400 to me. There was nobody there. Oh, but I saw 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:29.259 her. I saw her sitting, sitting side -saddle 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:32.279 on the horse, and when she dropped the hood... 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:35.940 Beth, it was a dream. She had no head. No head 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:39.460 at all. Except in her hand. You've got to stop 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:41.960 it, Beth. She was holding it by the hair and 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:45.319 the face was all wrinkled like a mummy. Beth, 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:51.339 I... And it was my face. Just like me. And do 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:54.240 you know what she was doing? Do you know what 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:56.319 she was doing? You've got to stop this. I can't... 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:59.299 She was beckoning to me, Charles, calling me 00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:04.559 down. She wanted me. She wanted my head. Stop 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:07.720 it, Beth. Stop it, Beth. Beth! Oh, the awful 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:12.119 thing I could feel myself being tucked, pulled 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:15.880 toward her. If I hadn't fainted, I... Oh, God. 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:18.640 Oh, Charles, what's the matter with me? What's 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:23.299 wrong? What's that? Beth, get hold of yourself. 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:26.880 It must be Nora. Yes? Charles? Has something 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:30.160 happened? Come in, Nora. The door's open. Oh, 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:32.440 bless us. What's the matter with the child? She 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:36.329 just had a bad dream. It wasn't a dream. The 00:29:36.329 --> 00:29:39.769 headless Elizabeth again? Yeah, she thought she 00:29:39.769 --> 00:29:41.970 heard her ride into the court below the window. 00:29:42.309 --> 00:29:46.009 I did! I did! I did see her! Oh, let me take 00:29:46.009 --> 00:29:48.289 the child, Charles. No, no, no. Get her sedative 00:29:48.289 --> 00:29:50.450 powder. We've got to calm her down. I don't want 00:29:50.450 --> 00:29:54.410 any medicine. Just let us take care of you, Beth. 00:29:55.130 --> 00:30:06.799 We know what we're doing. I think we've got her 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:09.700 under control now. I'm so sorry to rout you out 00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:11.940 so early in the morning, particularly on All 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:14.119 Hallows Day. That's quite all right, Mr. Rudley, 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:16.759 quite all right. You'd never have gotten to her 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:19.799 calm down without a shot from me. Oh, silly children 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:22.680 and their Halloween pranks. I can't imagine how 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:26.859 they got this far out of the village. Did, er... 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:30.339 Did you see this apparition that scared Mrs. 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:34.170 Rudley so? Oh, good Lord, no. By the time I got 00:30:34.170 --> 00:30:37.009 to the window, the yard was bare. How the youngins 00:30:37.009 --> 00:30:39.269 could have disappeared so fast. Oh, I don't think 00:30:39.269 --> 00:30:43.549 this was any childish prank. What? No, it's something 00:30:43.549 --> 00:30:47.250 much more serious, I'm afraid. You don't mean 00:30:47.250 --> 00:30:53.130 sleepwalking? Oh, dear me, that too. I see. Now, 00:30:53.130 --> 00:30:56.410 you say she lost her father recently. Yes, a 00:30:56.410 --> 00:31:00.569 year ago. And they were very close. Yes, extraordinarily 00:31:00.569 --> 00:31:03.769 so, I would say. What is it doctor you don't 00:31:03.769 --> 00:31:06.869 think I'll tell you what I do think mr. Rudley 00:31:06.869 --> 00:31:10.490 and I'm going to be very honest This case your 00:31:10.490 --> 00:31:13.509 wife's problem is far beyond the country doctor 00:31:13.509 --> 00:31:17.009 like myself. I Think she needs psychiatric help. 00:31:17.109 --> 00:31:21.109 Oh, no for her own sake If it weren't for the 00:31:21.109 --> 00:31:23.369 fact that your sister is a registered nurse my 00:31:23.369 --> 00:31:26.930 recommendation would be to have her immediately 00:31:26.930 --> 00:31:30.529 hospitalized Psychiatric diagnosis is still my 00:31:30.529 --> 00:31:33.869 recommendation. I believe it's vital to keep 00:31:33.869 --> 00:31:39.430 her from harming herself. Harming herself? How? 00:31:39.470 --> 00:31:43.349 Oh, I don't know that. But I do know that for 00:31:43.349 --> 00:31:46.630 whatever reason, she is, well, in layman's terms, 00:31:46.869 --> 00:31:50.170 a nervous wreck. Hypertense, in spite of all 00:31:50.170 --> 00:31:52.410 the sedation I've been giving her. Subject to 00:31:52.410 --> 00:31:56.990 delusions and the victim of her... of her death 00:31:56.990 --> 00:32:00.799 wish. You must get help very quickly, help from 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:03.680 a specialist. And she should not be left alone 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:07.539 for a moment. Well, that's quite a blow. I'm 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:12.460 sorry, but even suicide is not out of the question. 00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:18.720 Good Lord. I wonder, could I talk to her now? 00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:21.579 She may be a bit drowsy, but if she's not asleep, 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:24.509 yes. Now, I'd like to suggest some doctors... 00:32:24.509 --> 00:32:26.890 Doctor, I want you to. I have to go into the 00:32:26.890 --> 00:32:29.349 village to pick up the post. Would you mind dropping 00:32:29.349 --> 00:32:32.150 me? We can talk on the way. Oh, yes, splendid. 00:32:32.609 --> 00:32:34.710 I'll only be a minute. I want to go back to Beth. 00:32:35.269 --> 00:32:39.869 Meet you at your car. Oh, it's you, Charles. 00:32:40.089 --> 00:32:45.549 Is she asleep? No. No, I'm awake. Charles? Yes, 00:32:45.609 --> 00:32:50.900 darling? Don't leave me. Stay with me. Don't 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:54.700 leave me. Of course I won't leave you. You can't 00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:57.519 get rid of me. I've been very silly, haven't 00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:01.940 I? I can't quite remember. There's nothing to 00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:05.640 remember. What you need is a nice long sleep. 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:08.500 And while you're having it, I'm going to the 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:11.640 village for a few minutes, get the post, and 00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:14.140 a few things we need for dinner. And the post? 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:18.480 Mail? Oh, oh. Oh, yes, don't forget to mail my 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:21.299 letters. I should say not. Have them right here 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:24.180 in my pocket. You won't be... you won't be long. 00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:27.599 No, not over an hour. And Nora will be right 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:31.480 here with you every moment I'm gone. Beth, dear, 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:34.640 don't you worry. Charles and I know just how 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:48.180 to take care of you. Yes? Oh, how do you do? 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:51.359 Are Mr. and Mrs. Rudley at home? Oh, no, I'm 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:54.099 sorry. Mr. Rudley's off to the village, and I'm 00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:57.440 afraid Mrs. Rudley is... is indisposed. Oh, I'm 00:33:57.440 --> 00:34:00.559 sorry. Not serious, I hope. Oh, no, just a little 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:03.559 bout with the flu. May I say who was calling? 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:06.440 Oh, yes, of course. Alfred Finchley. Oh, well, 00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:10.039 are you a friend of Mrs. Rudley's? No, no, not 00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:13.300 really. Old army chum of her father's. Oh. Just 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:15.789 happened to be driving by, and I'd... heard she'd 00:34:15.789 --> 00:34:18.530 been married, and I wanted to, will you know, 00:34:18.829 --> 00:34:21.389 pay my respects. Oh, well, I know Beth will be 00:34:21.389 --> 00:34:24.670 so sorry not to have seen you. I'm her sister 00:34:24.670 --> 00:34:27.710 -in -law, by the way. How'd you do? Perhaps later 00:34:27.710 --> 00:34:29.849 this afternoon, if there was some place she could 00:34:29.849 --> 00:34:32.090 call you. Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm driving back 00:34:32.090 --> 00:34:42.730 to London. Well, that's a lot, Mr. Rudley. You 00:34:42.730 --> 00:34:44.829 owe me tuppence on the one overweight letter. 00:34:45.030 --> 00:34:47.949 There you are, Mr. Margant. Anything to go out, 00:34:48.090 --> 00:34:50.869 sir? No, no letters this time. I thought I saw 00:34:50.869 --> 00:34:53.369 some in your pocket. No, these are not going 00:34:53.369 --> 00:34:55.369 to be posted. I'll take care of those myself. 00:34:55.489 --> 00:35:01.190 As you will, sir. It's just opening time. Want 00:35:01.190 --> 00:35:04.130 to step in the pub and have a nice warm and beer? 00:35:04.949 --> 00:35:07.230 Not this time, Mr. Margant. Got quite a long 00:35:07.230 --> 00:35:09.489 walk home. Better be on my way if I hope to make 00:35:09.489 --> 00:35:12.389 it by lunch. Good morning. Good morning, sir. 00:35:14.909 --> 00:35:19.230 Hey, that's it. Elements is all open for business. 00:35:20.050 --> 00:35:28.929 Not one ruddy customer. Oh, afternoon, Governor. 00:35:29.510 --> 00:35:32.250 Just ten minutes before two, so if you want one, 00:35:32.389 --> 00:35:35.250 better step lively into the bar before closing 00:35:35.250 --> 00:35:38.300 time. Thank you, Barkeep. I think I will. Name 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:42.000 is Margit, sir. Donald Margit Proprietor. And 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:44.840 what'll it be? Well, I think I should have a 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:48.780 gin and, if you don't mind. Coming right up. 00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:54.519 Just passing through. Yes. Lovely country. Oh, 00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:58.880 we like it. Quite a bit of work going on at Chauncey 00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:01.880 Castle. There's the gin and, sir. Oh, thank you. 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:05.199 Oh, yes, yes. Going to be good for business. 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:08.679 Oh, so? Going to open it to the public, the family 00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:12.760 is. Make a tourist attraction. Ah. Well, I thought 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:15.219 it was because the present incumbent had got 00:36:15.219 --> 00:36:20.019 married. Present incumbent? You mean the doddery 00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:23.079 old duke? Oh, no, no, no, no. I meant young Mr. 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:26.480 Rudley. Oh, him. Why, Lord bless your soul, he's 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:30.420 not family, sir. Oh, really? No, no. He's just 00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:33.940 renting. Lease is almost up, I think. Radley. 00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:39.280 I think I once knew... What's he look like? You 00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:41.460 should have been here when I opened. You could 00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:44.880 have seen for yourself. Tall, dark chap he is. 00:36:45.340 --> 00:36:48.980 Yes. He wouldn't by any chance be this chap in 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:53.119 this picture, huh? Eh, well, no. That'd be hard 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:56.849 to tell. I mean, Mr. Woodley's clean shaven and 00:36:56.849 --> 00:37:01.090 a lot thinner than this chap. Still, take away 00:37:01.090 --> 00:37:07.329 the beard. Cut off some of the hair. I just wouldn't 00:37:07.329 --> 00:37:10.969 know. Do you have a doctor in town? Oh, yes, 00:37:11.070 --> 00:37:13.849 sir. That'd be Dr. Udall. You'd find him right 00:37:13.849 --> 00:37:17.409 across the green, sir. Good timing, too. Because 00:37:17.409 --> 00:37:25.010 I have to close. The timing couldn't be worse, 00:37:25.210 --> 00:37:27.170 Nora. She never mentioned she knew anyone in 00:37:27.170 --> 00:37:28.969 England. Oh, I don't think we have to worry. 00:37:29.289 --> 00:37:31.969 It was just a little wisp of a man. Very inoffensive. 00:37:32.369 --> 00:37:35.090 You doctor her food at lunch. Get another of 00:37:35.090 --> 00:37:37.469 your special toddies into her before she goes 00:37:37.469 --> 00:37:40.030 to bed. We'll do it tonight. Well, it seems a 00:37:40.030 --> 00:37:45.230 bit soon. A lot faster than usual. But if you 00:37:45.230 --> 00:37:50.130 insist, darling, naturally we'll go ahead. Kiss 00:37:50.130 --> 00:37:56.780 me. Yes, sister dear. Well, at least she is the 00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:59.980 last one. She has enough money to leave you. 00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:04.539 So I can stop sharing you with the... the pigeon. 00:38:08.980 --> 00:38:11.019 Inspector Finchley of Scotland Yard, Doctor. 00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:14.760 My credentials. Oh, dear me. A policeman, but 00:38:14.760 --> 00:38:16.599 why on earth... Could you answer my question? 00:38:16.969 --> 00:38:21.389 Well, of course. Yes, I've called on her several 00:38:21.389 --> 00:38:24.789 times in the last ten days or so. What's the 00:38:24.789 --> 00:38:26.829 matter with her, Doctor? That's rather difficult 00:38:26.829 --> 00:38:31.670 to say. She has dedusions. Caused by what? Oh, 00:38:31.829 --> 00:38:33.909 now, Inspector, that would take a psychiatrist 00:38:33.909 --> 00:38:36.769 to explain. She couldn't be under the influence 00:38:36.769 --> 00:38:41.550 of drugs, could she? Why, I... Does this man 00:38:41.550 --> 00:38:43.889 look at all familiar to you, Doctor? You'll... 00:38:44.570 --> 00:38:48.369 No, I can't say. Just a minute. Let me get my 00:38:48.369 --> 00:38:52.030 magnifying glass. Now, where did I... Oh, yes, 00:38:52.130 --> 00:38:58.610 here it is. Yes. Oh, yes, by George. Partly the 00:38:58.610 --> 00:39:00.869 facial structure, of course, but this is what 00:39:00.869 --> 00:39:04.210 did it. You see that old scar there, bisecting 00:39:04.210 --> 00:39:06.969 the left eyebrow, more or less? Yes. Something 00:39:06.969 --> 00:39:08.650 a doctor would notice, because it wasn't a very 00:39:08.650 --> 00:39:13.311 good job of suturing. Yes. I think I could swear... 00:39:13.309 --> 00:39:18.849 Shave off the mustache, the beard, and the sideburns. 00:39:19.230 --> 00:39:23.010 Yet, by George, you'd have Charles Rudley. Or 00:39:23.010 --> 00:39:35.210 George Humbert. Thank God for the help of Elizabeth's 00:39:35.210 --> 00:39:37.949 phantom steed. I thought we'd never get her downstairs. 00:39:38.250 --> 00:39:41.409 You wouldn't think she'd be so heavy. Dead weight, 00:39:41.769 --> 00:39:45.519 brother dear. Not quite. Quite yet. Poor Beth. 00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:48.679 A pity. There's no time for sentiment. She's 00:39:48.679 --> 00:39:51.800 worth a lot more to us. Dead. Now help me get 00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:54.320 her off the horse, and then get him back to the 00:39:54.320 --> 00:39:56.880 stable and call the doctor. After you throw her 00:39:56.880 --> 00:40:00.000 over into the moat, you'd better make very sure 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:05.079 she's dead. I'll make sure. All right. I'll get 00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:08.179 her off the horse. Stand still, Radley. Just 00:40:08.179 --> 00:40:10.519 hold it right there. What? I've got you covered. 00:40:10.809 --> 00:40:13.309 This is the police! Don't move! Oh, you fool! 00:40:13.670 --> 00:40:15.449 Well, they're not going to get me! It's too late! 00:40:15.530 --> 00:40:19.650 Get out of my way! Damn! Watch it! Don't shoot 00:40:19.650 --> 00:40:22.349 after the horse! We don't want to harm the girl! 00:40:30.849 --> 00:40:34.829 I just can't believe it, Uncle Alfie. Well, I 00:40:34.829 --> 00:40:37.670 can't blame you, my dear. Nasty chap you got 00:40:37.670 --> 00:40:40.710 mixed up with. Three others before you we got 00:40:40.710 --> 00:40:45.190 away with. The same way? With variations. He 00:40:45.190 --> 00:40:48.010 got a little too fancy on this one. The false 00:40:48.010 --> 00:40:51.769 portrait, but the apparent nervous ailments and 00:40:51.769 --> 00:40:54.150 the sleepwalking were the key to all of them. 00:40:55.130 --> 00:40:58.010 I... I feel as though I'm going to be sick. A 00:40:58.010 --> 00:41:02.369 little past, dear. He was a bad lot. Worth not 00:41:02.369 --> 00:41:07.960 one single dear. And Nora... She... She was the 00:41:07.960 --> 00:41:12.219 one on horseback with the costume rigged to appear 00:41:12.219 --> 00:41:16.000 as if the wearer was headless and a papier mache 00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:20.380 head made from your life mask I think I think 00:41:20.380 --> 00:41:23.760 she's almost worse than him and To think she 00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:28.280 got away scot -free not quite my dear We'll catch 00:41:28.280 --> 00:41:31.780 up with her now you rest a while and don't worry. 00:41:31.780 --> 00:41:35.420 I'm right outside As long as I'm around, you'll 00:41:35.420 --> 00:41:39.320 never have to worry again. Good night. Good night, 00:41:39.380 --> 00:41:45.300 Uncle Alfie. All right, Doctor? Oh, yes. Yes, 00:41:45.320 --> 00:41:51.219 she'll be fine. You, um... You say you did catch 00:41:51.219 --> 00:41:57.079 up with the woman? Nora. A lot more than just 00:41:57.079 --> 00:42:00.699 police caught up with her. You know the work 00:42:00.699 --> 00:42:02.960 they're doing on the castle? Yes, of course. 00:42:03.239 --> 00:42:06.139 Well, apparently they found some structural weakness 00:42:06.139 --> 00:42:09.440 in the arch of the main gate. So they supported 00:42:09.440 --> 00:42:12.579 it by stretching a thin steel cable from one 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:15.800 side to the other. Well over normal head height, 00:42:15.820 --> 00:42:19.860 of course, if you're walking. But unfortunately 00:42:19.860 --> 00:42:23.659 not high enough to clear someone on horseback. 00:42:24.119 --> 00:42:28.840 Good Lord, now! Oh, yes. Cut her head off as 00:42:28.840 --> 00:42:36.440 clean as a whistle. Charles Rudley was eventually 00:42:36.440 --> 00:42:39.559 convicted of murder of one of his earlier wives. 00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:43.980 He was sentenced to life imprisonment. His common 00:42:43.980 --> 00:42:48.239 -law wife, Nora, lost her life and, of course, 00:42:48.360 --> 00:42:51.860 her head. It's nice to consider that, in her 00:42:51.860 --> 00:42:54.659 case at least, the punishment fit the crime. 00:42:55.840 --> 00:43:09.300 I'll be back shortly. Uncle Alfie proved to be 00:43:09.300 --> 00:43:12.500 right about the resiliency of youth. It took 00:43:12.500 --> 00:43:15.239 a couple of years, but eventually Beth settled 00:43:15.239 --> 00:43:18.300 down and is happily married to a psychiatrist 00:43:18.300 --> 00:43:23.639 in Duluth. As for this fable itself, it also 00:43:23.639 --> 00:43:27.900 goes to prove that time not only heals all wounds, 00:43:28.780 --> 00:43:34.110 but eventually wounds all heals. Our cast included 00:43:34.110 --> 00:43:37.750 Kim Hunter, Nick Pryor, Bryna Rayburn, Ian Martin, 00:43:38.309 --> 00:43:41.210 and Court Benson. The entire production was under 00:43:41.210 --> 00:43:44.289 the direction of Hyman Brown. This is E .G. Marshall 00:43:44.289 --> 00:43:46.769 inviting you to return to our Mystery Theatre 00:43:46.769 --> 00:43:51.969 for another adventure in the macabre. Until next 00:43:51.969 --> 00:43:55.349 time, pleasant dreams.