WEBVTT 00:00:17.019 --> 00:00:24.320 Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. And I want 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:26.640 very much to tell you the story of a young lady 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.839 named Barbara. Everyone is more or less mad on 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:33.600 one point, said Rudget Kipling, the famous English 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.539 writer. And I'm inclined to agree with him, since 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:39.659 I myself am more or less mad on the point of 00:00:39.659 --> 00:00:43.020 mystery. But our sweet heroine's madness took 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:46.100 a strange turn, as we shall soon discover in 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:49.299 the unfolding of the tale entitled, All Living 00:00:49.299 --> 00:00:53.320 Things Must Die. Barbara, you're a nut, you know 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:57.070 that? Why am I? Well, maybe you're not. Maybe 00:00:57.070 --> 00:00:59.570 you're just trying to con me. Well, it didn't 00:00:59.570 --> 00:01:02.329 work, little lady. The answer is still no. I 00:01:02.329 --> 00:01:05.250 hate you. No, dog. No, baby. Just be happy with 00:01:05.250 --> 00:01:07.950 all these dumb plants. I hate you. You're lucky 00:01:07.950 --> 00:01:11.510 I let you keep them. I hate you. I wish you were 00:01:11.510 --> 00:01:16.569 dead. What did you say? I said I hate you. I 00:01:16.569 --> 00:01:29.019 wish you were dead. Our mystery drama, All Living 00:01:29.019 --> 00:01:32.180 Things Must Die, was written especially for the 00:01:32.180 --> 00:01:36.000 Mystery Theatre by Elspeth Erick and stars Mercedes 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:39.859 McCambridge. I'll be back shortly with Act One. 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:53.659 Now begins our story of the lightly demented 00:01:53.659 --> 00:02:00.730 Barbara. A lovely lady of 31 or 2, even 4 or 00:02:00.730 --> 00:02:04.090 5. But as we now discover her in the living room 00:02:04.090 --> 00:02:07.569 of her suburban home, she could be younger than 00:02:07.569 --> 00:02:12.270 springtime. She could be spring itself. I love 00:02:12.270 --> 00:02:19.129 you. I love you all. You are my darlings, my 00:02:19.129 --> 00:02:23.750 pets, my very own treasures. Oh, how beautiful 00:02:23.750 --> 00:02:29.210 you are. And how much I love you. What? Well, 00:02:29.210 --> 00:02:31.930 that can't be Frank. He never forgets his key. 00:02:33.729 --> 00:02:38.210 Oh. Oh, it's... Johnson, man. Detective Sergeant 00:02:38.210 --> 00:02:42.430 Johnson from the other day. Oh, yes. Come in. 00:02:43.289 --> 00:02:45.930 I didn't realize you'd be back. Well, I was just 00:02:45.930 --> 00:02:48.550 checking up. Had any more of those, uh, obscene 00:02:48.550 --> 00:02:51.669 phone calls? No, not one. And it's such a relief. 00:02:51.689 --> 00:02:53.900 You can't imagine. You had your number changed? 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:56.479 Yes, yes, and that seems to have done the trick 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:59.060 all right. Oh, good, good. Now, a lady like you 00:02:59.060 --> 00:03:00.840 shouldn't be bothered by things like that. Well, 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:04.719 there's one other thing I hate to mention. No, 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:06.400 no, go ahead. Mention anything you want to. We're 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:10.099 here to serve. Well, it could be my imagination, 00:03:10.139 --> 00:03:15.039 but every once in a while I see a man sort of 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:18.020 hanging around across the street. Not doing anything 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:22.599 in particular, but just hanging around. Any special 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:26.759 time of day? Yes, usually about this time. I 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:29.699 see him through this window when I'm putting 00:03:29.699 --> 00:03:33.539 my plants to bed. You tuck them in, do you? Sort 00:03:33.539 --> 00:03:36.879 of. I talk to them and sometimes I sing them 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:40.979 a lullaby. I know that sounds silly, but well, 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:44.719 that's what I do. And then sometimes through 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:47.919 the window... I think I see this man. It's kind 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:50.439 of hard to see out this window, ma 'am. The plants 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:52.280 ought to get in the way. Yes, I know they do, 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:56.240 but they like it here. I tried other places, 00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:59.000 but they weren't happy, so... They are happy 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:02.259 here, huh? Well, they haven't complained. Although 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:05.680 I'm not sure about Annabelle. This one is Annabelle. 00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:10.780 That's Arthur. And that's Kenneth. And this is 00:04:10.780 --> 00:04:15.230 Marianne. And that spider plant over there. is 00:04:15.230 --> 00:04:18.069 Michael. Oh, Michael's in great shape, isn't 00:04:18.069 --> 00:04:22.529 he? Oh, yes, he is. He's... Are you laughing 00:04:22.529 --> 00:04:26.870 at me? Please don't. Do I look like I'm laughing? 00:04:27.829 --> 00:04:31.089 My husband laughs at me sometimes. I wouldn't 00:04:31.089 --> 00:04:38.129 know why. Oh, because... Now, you see this one, 00:04:38.370 --> 00:04:40.410 Marianne? Well, you take a close look because 00:04:40.410 --> 00:04:42.529 you won't see a Marianne every day in the week. 00:04:42.589 --> 00:04:46.889 Well, Mary Ann is, uh... She looks like Ivy to 00:04:46.889 --> 00:04:50.149 me. Yes, but her leaves... Her leaves are heart 00:04:50.149 --> 00:04:52.870 -shaped, can't you see? Each one is shaped like 00:04:52.870 --> 00:04:56.230 a perfect little heart. You know, you're right. 00:04:57.470 --> 00:05:01.490 There are more than 200 varieties of Ivy. Did 00:05:01.490 --> 00:05:04.490 you know that? No, no, I never did. Hey, what's 00:05:04.490 --> 00:05:08.149 going on here? Oh, Frank! That's my husband. 00:05:08.490 --> 00:05:12.050 Frank! This is Detective Sergeant Johnson. Ed 00:05:12.050 --> 00:05:13.870 Johnson. How are you? Pleased to meet you, Mr. 00:05:14.029 --> 00:05:16.350 Murray. He came to check up on those phone calls. 00:05:17.050 --> 00:05:20.670 Oh, yeah, from the degenerates. I told Barbara 00:05:20.670 --> 00:05:22.329 she should answer them back in his own language. 00:05:22.509 --> 00:05:24.189 Oh, Frank, please. Let him have it. Give it to 00:05:24.189 --> 00:05:27.110 him right between the eyes. The ears, I should 00:05:27.110 --> 00:05:30.589 say, in his senses. Well, I'll be getting off. 00:05:30.769 --> 00:05:33.529 Well, I'll show you to the door. Say, listen, 00:05:33.610 --> 00:05:38.220 why can't you catch those freaks? Thank you for 00:05:38.220 --> 00:05:41.040 coming around, Mr. Johnson. Yeah, sure. I'll 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:43.360 stop by again if it's all right with you. Anytime, 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:47.180 practically. I'm almost always here. And take 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:50.279 good care of Annabelle. I will. And don't let 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:53.740 Michael grow too fast. I'll do my best. Good 00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:55.579 night, Mrs. Murray. Good night, Sergeant Johnson. 00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:59.819 And thank you. Now, don't you mention it. What 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:03.509 was all on about? Oh, I told you. The phone calls. 00:06:03.569 --> 00:06:05.189 I mean, all that whispering, all that bizz bizz 00:06:05.189 --> 00:06:07.569 bizz at the door just now. Oh, we weren't whispering. 00:06:07.850 --> 00:06:09.610 Well, what were you talking about that I wasn't 00:06:09.610 --> 00:06:13.750 supposed to hear? Nothing. He just said, I don't 00:06:13.750 --> 00:06:16.250 know, something about the plants, that's all. 00:06:16.730 --> 00:06:19.430 What does he know about plants? Well, nothing 00:06:19.430 --> 00:06:22.610 much. When he was here the first time, and just 00:06:22.610 --> 00:06:24.350 now before you came in, I told him about them, 00:06:24.490 --> 00:06:27.310 he knows that I talk to them and that they have 00:06:27.310 --> 00:06:31.639 names. He was just being friendly, Frank. That's 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:33.939 being friendly? Dropping in all the time when 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:37.019 I'm not here? Only twice. This was only the second 00:06:37.019 --> 00:06:40.980 time. He's a crook like you. Freaked out over 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:43.759 a bunch of plants. He was only expressing an 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:45.480 interest. What's interesting about a bunch of 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:48.720 plants with no flowers? Look at them. They take 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:50.819 up the whole window. You've got them strung all 00:06:50.819 --> 00:06:53.060 over the place. Up to the ceiling, hanging down. 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:56.540 They're vines, Frank. They're silver lace and 00:06:56.540 --> 00:06:58.639 philodendron and ivy. Whatever they are, they're 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:02.480 dumb. Plain dumb. I wouldn't object to a nice 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:04.420 pot of tulips, something like that, sitting on 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:08.100 a table. Like a nice pot of color, a higher scent. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:12.720 They smell good, but these... Don't, don't, don't 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.199 hurt them, don't. I've got no use for them at 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:17.339 all. Get rid of them, why not? No, no, never. 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:20.939 You can't make me. Oh boy, you sure cry easy. 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:23.879 What did I say was so terrible? You said get 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:26.360 rid of them. Well, all right, all right. Forget 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:30.399 I mentioned this. What's for dinner? It's Swiss 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:35.279 steak. Again? Well, it's been a whole week. Well, 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:36.660 get it on the table, because I've got to get 00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:38.300 out of here early. You mean you're going out? 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:40.699 I've got a date to go bowling. Tonight? Well, 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:42.540 certainly tonight. What do you think, next year? 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:44.759 But you were out last night. And the night before. 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:46.819 I may go out tomorrow night. I might after that. 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:49.939 So what? Frank, Frank, I get so lonely. Well, 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:52.660 read a book, watch TV, listen to the radio. But 00:07:52.660 --> 00:07:55.000 almost every night and all day. Well, all right, 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:57.379 talk to your plants. That's what you're going 00:07:57.379 --> 00:08:00.430 for, is it? Have a nice little conversation with 00:08:00.430 --> 00:08:04.970 Michael and, uh, Mary Louise and, uh, Archibald, 00:08:04.990 --> 00:08:09.750 whatever you call them. Never mind. Just never 00:08:09.750 --> 00:08:11.790 mind. Well, look, I'm gonna take a quick shower 00:08:11.790 --> 00:08:14.850 and then we'll leave. Ten minutes on the outside, 00:08:14.910 --> 00:08:25.250 okay? Okay. Oh, Arthur. Annabelle. Tell me that 00:08:25.250 --> 00:08:33.799 you love me. Somebody loved me. Michael. Kenneth. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:41.779 Somebody loved me. Please. Somebody loved me 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:54.000 or I'll die. That Swiss steak wasn't bad at all. 00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:59.350 Thank you. Got any dessert? Just fruit. I'll 00:08:59.350 --> 00:09:02.970 take an apple with me. Frank, don't go for a 00:09:02.970 --> 00:09:04.509 minute. I told you, I've got a date. No, I want 00:09:04.509 --> 00:09:07.129 to talk to you about something. Well, go ahead, 00:09:07.210 --> 00:09:11.549 but keep it short, will you? Well, Frank, remember 00:09:11.549 --> 00:09:14.190 when we got married? Well, how could I forget 00:09:14.190 --> 00:09:17.409 with you to remind me? Well, you said then that 00:09:17.409 --> 00:09:19.509 you didn't want to have any children right away. 00:09:20.169 --> 00:09:22.129 I don't believe in rushing into things like that. 00:09:22.169 --> 00:09:24.889 Frank, that was ten years ago. Yeah, I know. 00:09:24.889 --> 00:09:28.299 But isn't it different now? Well, not necessarily. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:32.279 I mean, I think I'm too old for kids. Oh, you're 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:35.320 only 45. And by the time my kid grew up, I'd 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:38.559 be an old man. No, not really old. Well, aren't 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:40.460 you kind of old to be having a kid for the first 00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:42.299 time? Frank, lots of women have children at my 00:09:42.299 --> 00:09:44.720 age. Lots of them. I don't know if it's safe. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.600 Yes, it is. It happens all the time, and I'm 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:48.539 very healthy. I'm very strong. You don't look 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:50.440 too strong. Well, I am, because the doctor said 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:55.480 so. When did you go to see a doctor? Last week. 00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:58.620 I don't like you doing that without asking me 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:00.559 first. Well, I wanted to be sure before I talked 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:03.159 to you. And the doctor says it'd be perfectly 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:04.539 all right for me to have a baby. As a matter 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:05.840 of fact, he said it'd be the best thing in the 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:07.980 world for me. Well, I can't see it. On account 00:10:07.980 --> 00:10:10.480 of the loneliness, Frank, I don't think you realize 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:15.080 how lonely I get. That's why I talk to the plants 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:18.460 and sing to them. Because I haven't got anybody 00:10:18.460 --> 00:10:20.759 else. Well, make some friends, why don't you? 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:24.159 That's not easy for me. Why not? I do it all 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.649 the time. Anyway, it's not the same as having 00:10:26.649 --> 00:10:29.450 somebody right here in the house with me all 00:10:29.450 --> 00:10:34.129 the time. It's not the same intimate kind of 00:10:34.129 --> 00:10:39.629 thing. If I had a baby... Oh, Frank, I wouldn't 00:10:39.629 --> 00:10:42.809 ask for anything else ever. And I'd give that 00:10:42.809 --> 00:10:45.750 baby so much love and attention. It would grow 00:10:45.750 --> 00:10:47.470 up to be the most marvelous person because it 00:10:47.470 --> 00:10:49.049 would know from the very beginning that it was 00:10:49.049 --> 00:10:53.230 loved and wanted. Oh, so much wanted! Well, I 00:10:53.230 --> 00:10:57.100 don't want it! You got that? That kid is the 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:59.159 last thing in the world I want. Please. No, no, 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:03.259 no. I live in this house too, you know. I don't 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:04.740 want a kid running around, messing up everything, 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:07.320 making a lot of noise. Getting in the way all 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:09.460 the time. No, it wouldn't be like that. Oh, yes 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:13.340 it would. No. No, I won't have a kid messing 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:15.360 up my life in that spinal, so forget it, huh? 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:18.419 You hear me? Forget it. Put it out of your mind. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:26.480 Okay. Well, I gotta get going. Guys are waiting 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:28.600 for me at the bowling alley. Frank. All right, 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:30.320 now what? No, no, I won't keep you a minute. 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:33.039 I haven't got a minute. Please, less than a minute. 00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:36.840 Well, okay, spill it. When I was at the supermarket 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:40.500 this morning, there was this dog. A dog, oh boy. 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:43.960 Really, a very pretty dog and so sweet. And he 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:45.700 was just wandering around. Nobody knew who he 00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:48.379 belonged to or if he belonged to anybody. He's 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:51.700 just a stray as far as anybody knows. No dog. 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:53.539 And he has this cute little tail that curls up 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:56.480 right over his back. And great ears that stand 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:59.740 up straight and then flop over. And he's mostly 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:03.019 black with a kind of white face. Barbara, we've 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:06.100 been through all this. I will not have a dog 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:09.539 in my house. Now that is how it is and I don't 00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:12.960 want to talk about it now or never. Understand 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:19.919 that? Yes. I gotta go. Frank. I said I gotta 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:24.919 go. Just one more thing. There's this... A man 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:29.720 hanging around outside. What man? Hanging around 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:31.360 where? I was telling Detective Johnson about 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.759 it. This man sort of hangs around across the 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:39.500 street. And I thought if he's a prowler or a 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:43.860 dangerous kind of person, well, a dog would be 00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:46.840 protection for me, see, when I'm alone. What 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:48.659 makes you think this guy's dangerous? I don't 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:50.539 know that he is, but every night now when I'm 00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:52.399 watering the plants just before you come home, 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:55.299 I can see him through the window, just sort of 00:12:55.299 --> 00:12:59.620 standing there and looking around. This window? 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:04.360 Yes. He looks kind of shifty, Frank. And if I 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:07.080 had a dog, I'd feel safe. I can't see it. Yes, 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.700 right across the street. I can't see on a kind 00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:12.299 of these dumb planets. No, don't hurt them. Why 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:14.240 do they have to grow them so damn long? Well, 00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:18.340 just part them very carefully. Here, let me... 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:23.340 Oh, no, I can do it. I can do it. Can you see 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:29.379 that man? I see him. Barbara, you're a nut, you 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:33.700 know that? Why am I? That's the guard they hired 00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:35.879 at the high -rise. They pay him to watch the 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:38.360 building. Of course he's here every night. That's 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:41.879 what he's paid for. I didn't know that. Are you 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:44.659 trying to come in to let him have a dog for protection? 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:47.679 But it won't work, Barbara. The answer's still 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:51.320 the same. No dog, no baby. Just be happy with 00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:54.500 these dumb plants. They're bad enough. They have 00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:57.059 the whole bloody window spilling all over the 00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:59.500 place. I hate you. Yeah, look, I'll let you keep 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:04.100 them. I hate you. I wish you were dead. What 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:09.500 did you say? I said I hate you. I wish you were 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:14.559 dead. Did you really say... Hey. Hey, what... 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:17.240 Hey, what's this? The bloody plants are on my 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:21.840 neck. Hey, Barbara, they're all around me. They're 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.980 choking me up. I can't get them off. Hey, Barbara. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:29.259 Barbara, they're just around me. Barbara, don't 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:34.059 stand there. Get them off me. This isn't Barbara's 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:50.470 decision. I hate you. I hate you. choice not 00:14:50.470 --> 00:14:54.429 over thy greatest enemy being dead. But remember 00:14:54.429 --> 00:14:59.289 that we die all. Ecclesiastes chapter 4 verse 00:14:59.289 --> 00:15:04.210 37. We'll return shortly for the second act of 00:15:04.210 --> 00:15:19.929 all living things must die. for the second act 00:15:19.929 --> 00:15:24.529 of all living things must die. It is a year later, 00:15:24.990 --> 00:15:26.909 and our heroine no longer lives in the little 00:15:26.909 --> 00:15:29.909 suburban house, nor is her name Barbara Murray. 00:15:30.629 --> 00:15:33.649 She lives in a cheery little two -room apartment, 00:15:33.970 --> 00:15:37.090 and she is married to Detective Sergeant Ed Johnson. 00:15:37.889 --> 00:15:40.850 But Kenneth and Arthur and Mary Ann and Michael 00:15:40.850 --> 00:15:44.090 and Annabelle, all the plants are grouped together 00:15:44.090 --> 00:15:47.210 in the largest window, and all appear to be in 00:15:47.210 --> 00:15:51.899 the best of health. Baby boats a silver moon, 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:59.740 sailing on the sea. Baby... Oh, he's home. Ed? 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:01.659 Hello, sweetheart. Hello, darling. Hey, hey, 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:03.860 hey, hey, watch out. What have you got there? 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:06.179 Oh, just a little addition to the family. What? 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:08.799 What is it? Well, let me get the paper off, will 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:14.179 you? Okay. There you are. How's that, huh? Ed. 00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:18.299 Oh, it's beautiful. You know what it's called? 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:21.720 Yes, do you? Sure, Purple Passion Plant. That's 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:24.259 right. I thought it was very appropriate for 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:27.539 two people who've been married a month. Oh, it 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:31.340 is. It is, Ed. It's beautiful. And you were so 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:34.299 sweet to think of it. Well, there's something 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:37.980 else I've been thinking of. What's that? Honey, 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:40.139 is it too soon for us to be thinking about having 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:43.759 a baby? A baby? Well, you do want us to have 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:48.700 a baby, don't you, Barbara? I guess so. I brought 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:50.759 the subject up too soon. I can see that dumb 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:52.799 me. I'm sorry. No, they tried. No, no, no. I 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:56.320 was stupid. Forget I'd mentioned it, huh? Only, 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:59.259 it doesn't do any harm to think about it a little, 00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:03.759 does it? No. I guess it doesn't do any harm to 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:17.250 think about it. Nicely, dear. Would take a little 00:17:17.250 --> 00:17:19.670 while before you'll be as long as Annabelle. 00:17:20.589 --> 00:17:23.470 And you'll probably never be as long as Michael. 00:17:23.950 --> 00:17:28.430 But then very few plants are. But you're so healthy 00:17:28.430 --> 00:17:33.190 and strong. And I love your purple leaves. You're 00:17:33.190 --> 00:17:37.690 very beautiful, my darling. Yes, you are. Oh, 00:17:37.690 --> 00:17:41.069 he's home. Darling? Darling, you're home. Yep, 00:17:41.089 --> 00:17:43.490 I'm home. Hey, look what I brought with me. What, 00:17:43.569 --> 00:17:51.839 what? He wandered into the station house about 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:53.700 a week ago. We've been feeding him, and he's 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.039 been sitting in there. Look, look, look. His 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.220 tail curls up over his back. Yeah, he's got a 00:17:58.220 --> 00:18:02.200 great disposition. Oh, my. Doesn't he belong 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:04.259 to anybody? Well, we advertised in the paper 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:06.420 three days running. Nobody answered the ad. You 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:10.200 mean he's got no home? Nobody wants him? Well, 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:13.960 not unless you do. You mean I can have him? He 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:15.680 can live here with us? Well, would you like that? 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:18.640 Oh, yes, yes. Dog, I guess you've got a home. 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:22.130 Oh, I love dogs. Dog, you got yourself a mother. 00:18:22.390 --> 00:18:24.609 Look, look, look at him. Look how he's looking 00:18:24.609 --> 00:18:26.970 at you. Come here. Come here, Dog. Come here. 00:18:27.509 --> 00:18:30.170 Oh, he loves you. You can see it in his eyes. 00:18:30.230 --> 00:18:32.450 He just loves you. Well, I'm his father, aren't 00:18:32.450 --> 00:18:35.890 I? Hey, Dog, do you love your father? Of course 00:18:35.890 --> 00:18:38.230 he loves you. How could he help but love you? 00:18:38.670 --> 00:18:42.589 How could anybody help but love you? Well, there's 00:18:42.589 --> 00:18:45.490 only one person that has to love me. That's you. 00:18:45.930 --> 00:18:49.200 But you have to, baby. It's absolutely necessary. 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:51.079 It's essential that you love me because if you 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:53.200 don't, it's the end of me. Oh, Ed, I love you 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:56.740 so much I can't even talk about it. Just believe 00:18:56.740 --> 00:19:00.180 me. I love you and I love you and I love you. 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:02.440 When you're here and when you're not here and 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:04.059 when you're asleep and when you're awake and 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:06.240 when you talk and when you don't talk and when 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:09.420 you look at me and when you don't, I love you 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:12.279 all the time. That's a lot of love. I've got 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:18.359 more. More? Anytime you need it. Honey. Look, 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:20.900 we've been married better than half a year now. 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:24.519 When are we going to start having a baby? Oh, 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:29.700 I don't know. Pretty soon? I guess. You want 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:33.380 one, don't you, honey? Yes. Well, when do we? 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:36.559 Well, sometime. Oh, sweetheart, we're not kids 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.299 anymore. I know that. You think I'm putting the 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:42.019 pressure on you? I shouldn't do that. I didn't 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.660 mean to. No, that's all right. No, I won't do 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:46.609 that anymore. You just gotta tell me when you 00:19:46.609 --> 00:19:48.369 think is the right time. I won't bother about 00:19:48.369 --> 00:19:52.470 it anymore. Now, what are we gonna name the dog? 00:19:53.369 --> 00:19:57.029 I don't know. How about Cuthbert or Lancelot? 00:19:57.029 --> 00:20:00.009 No, I don't think so. Herman? Dwight? No, no, 00:20:00.009 --> 00:20:01.369 no. I don't want to give him any name like that. 00:20:01.390 --> 00:20:04.210 I want to call him what you called him. Me? I 00:20:04.210 --> 00:20:05.329 never called him anything. Yes, you did. You 00:20:05.329 --> 00:20:08.349 called him Dog. That's what I want to call him. 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:13.859 D -A -W -G, dog? Yes, come here, dog. What a 00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:25.599 lovely dog you are, dog. Hi, darling. Hello, 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:28.220 love. How do you feel? I feel marvelous. Well, 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:30.299 you look marvelous. How's the family? Well, I've 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.940 been giving Annabelle a little too much water, 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.160 but everybody else is fine. Oh, I brought you 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.769 a present. A first anniversary present. Well, 00:20:36.789 --> 00:20:40.690 I have one for you, too. Here. That's an engagement 00:20:40.690 --> 00:20:44.170 ring. You never had one. Oh, Ed, this is lovely. 00:20:44.230 --> 00:20:48.509 Do you like it? Oh, yes, I love it. Almost as 00:20:48.509 --> 00:20:52.450 much as I love you, and Dog, and Annabelle, and 00:20:52.450 --> 00:20:54.950 Kevin. Hey, hey, watch it. And I got you a ring, 00:20:54.950 --> 00:20:57.130 too. A what? Yes, a wedding ring because you 00:20:57.130 --> 00:21:00.710 never had one. Oh, hey, hey, that's nice. That's 00:21:00.710 --> 00:21:03.069 real nice. Is it okay for a man to wear this? 00:21:03.109 --> 00:21:04.809 It just shows everybody that you're married. 00:21:04.829 --> 00:21:06.869 Well, everybody knows I'm married. Does everybody 00:21:06.869 --> 00:21:08.569 really know you're married? Well, I talk about 00:21:08.569 --> 00:21:10.890 it all the time. Do you really? Do you talk about 00:21:10.890 --> 00:21:13.190 it? Well, I'm married to you. So naturally, it's 00:21:13.190 --> 00:21:15.890 you I talk about. I bet you bore everybody to 00:21:15.890 --> 00:21:19.769 tears. I bet I do. Of course, there always comes 00:21:19.769 --> 00:21:21.569 a time when they break in and say, any kids? 00:21:21.730 --> 00:21:24.369 You got any kids? Yes, I suppose they do say 00:21:24.369 --> 00:21:26.529 that. And of course, I say no and they say, well, 00:21:26.650 --> 00:21:31.609 why not? And I don't know what to say. Ed, I'm 00:21:31.609 --> 00:21:34.009 so sorry. Honey, why not? You have to tell me. 00:21:34.269 --> 00:21:37.970 Well, it's a feeling that I have. Well, don't 00:21:37.970 --> 00:21:40.069 you want to, baby? I always thought you were 00:21:40.069 --> 00:21:42.230 the kind of woman who'd want a family. It's hard 00:21:42.230 --> 00:21:46.730 to explain. Well, you've got to try. Okay. Okay, 00:21:46.750 --> 00:21:49.990 I'll try. Only, Ed, I don't think you're going 00:21:49.990 --> 00:21:51.650 to like what I'm going to tell you. Anything. 00:21:51.690 --> 00:21:53.809 I want to hear anything you have to tell me. 00:21:54.670 --> 00:21:57.710 Well, I have to go back to the night that Frank 00:21:57.710 --> 00:22:01.269 died. Frank? Yeah. What's Frank got to do with 00:22:01.269 --> 00:22:02.809 it? I'm going to tell you if you listen. Yeah, 00:22:02.890 --> 00:22:05.990 I'm listening. Go ahead. Well, you remember when 00:22:05.990 --> 00:22:07.829 I called you that night and I told you that Frank 00:22:07.829 --> 00:22:10.769 was dead? You remember that? Yeah, sure. Of course 00:22:10.769 --> 00:22:12.789 I remember. And you came over with the others 00:22:12.789 --> 00:22:16.150 and you asked me how it happened. Yeah. And I 00:22:16.150 --> 00:22:19.269 said I didn't know. I said that Frank was going 00:22:19.269 --> 00:22:20.970 to go out bowling and he must have been in a 00:22:20.970 --> 00:22:24.950 hurry and the room was dark and he must have 00:22:24.950 --> 00:22:28.240 stumbled into the plants and... Got tangled up 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:30.519 in them and he couldn't get out. He was strangled 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:32.779 by the plants baby. It was a freak accident No, 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:35.700 that isn't what happened at all. Are you trying 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:38.460 to tell me I? Don't know are you trying to tell 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.900 me that you pushed him or something that you 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:42.940 wrapped the plants around his neck I didn't all 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:44.539 right now wait a minute. Maybe you better tell 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:47.460 it to me from the beginning well you remember 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:49.859 Frank came home that day while you were still 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:54.779 here and then you left and He told me to hurry 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:57.660 up with dinner because he was going out And I 00:22:57.660 --> 00:23:00.039 got upset. I told him I'd get so lonely here. 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:04.880 Lonely every night, almost every day. Read a 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:08.099 book, watch TV, listen to the radio, talk to 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:10.559 your clients. That's what you got them for, isn't 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:14.140 it? So after dinner I said I wanted to talk to 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:17.839 him about having a baby. A kid is the last thing 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:21.000 in the world I want. And I think maybe it was 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:24.900 then that I got the idea. What idea? It just 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:28.730 seemed... awfully important to me to get Frank 00:23:28.730 --> 00:23:30.990 over by the window where the plants were hanging. 00:23:32.210 --> 00:23:34.529 So I told him that there'd been a man hanging 00:23:34.529 --> 00:23:38.829 around outside across the street. What man? Hang 00:23:38.829 --> 00:23:40.730 around where? And he started walking toward the 00:23:40.730 --> 00:23:45.869 window and I started feeling this this awful 00:23:45.869 --> 00:23:50.529 wild excitement. The nearer he got to the window, 00:23:50.849 --> 00:23:54.890 the nearer he got to the plants and then I said 00:23:54.890 --> 00:23:59.319 it. Said what honey? I hate you. I said, I hate 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:03.460 you At first Frank didn't hear me or maybe he 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.940 didn't believe his ears, but I said it again. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:11.380 I hate you and then I said I Wish you were dead 00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:15.099 He heard me say that then what he started to 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:17.980 look angry And he made a little move toward me 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:22.460 and it was then when he started to move that 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:27.720 the plants moved They moved faster than anyone 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.960 would think plants could move and they wound 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:33.160 themselves around his neck. Around and around 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:36.819 and tighter and tighter. And Frank began to choke. 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:40.579 Barbara, they're all around my neck. They're 00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:44.220 choking me. Oh no. I can't get them off. Don't 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:47.519 stay, Nick. Get them off. Get the scissors. No. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:51.140 Barbara, the scissors. Because there were scissors 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:54.160 there, you know, on the windowsill. And Frank 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:56.160 couldn't reach them. because the plants were 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:58.720 holding him so tight and tighter all the time. 00:24:59.099 --> 00:25:01.460 And I knew the scissors were there. I kept them 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:03.839 there all the time just the way I do now to cut 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:06.740 off the dead leaves and things. But I didn't 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:11.299 move. I just stood there repeating those awful 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:16.119 words, I hate you, I hate you, I wish you were 00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:24.420 dead. I watched his face turn purple and then 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:28.579 blue. and then he dropped to the floor and I 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:32.440 watched him drop and I looked at him but all 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:37.799 I said was dead I listened to the plants for 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:41.240 a while they seemed to be telling me see how 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:44.660 we love you see we'll do anything you ask we 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:49.240 are your true loves we've killed for you now 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:53.160 you know how much we love you and then I went 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:55.869 to the phone and called you Darling, you had 00:25:55.869 --> 00:25:59.990 a bad dream, that's all. No. No, it wasn't a 00:25:59.990 --> 00:26:03.269 dream. I made the plants do what they did, don't 00:26:03.269 --> 00:26:07.529 you see? I said I wanted Frank dead and they 00:26:07.529 --> 00:26:10.329 hurt me. Or they felt what I was feeling or they 00:26:10.329 --> 00:26:12.730 sensed it or something. And because they love 00:26:12.730 --> 00:26:14.390 me and because they know that I'd never kill 00:26:14.390 --> 00:26:17.240 anybody. They went ahead and did it for me. Sweetheart, 00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:19.720 even if what you say is true, if it could be 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:21.480 true... It is true. You never laid a finger on 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:23.579 Frank. But I'm an accessory, don't you see? I 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:27.140 wanted someone to kill Frank. Not me, but someone. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:30.880 And the plants knew it. And they killed him for 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:33.960 me. Do you think anybody's gonna believe you, 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:39.200 sweetheart? Yes. Do you believe me? Honey, is 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:41.400 this why you don't want to have a baby? I want 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:45.150 to, but... But what? That's how it all started. 00:26:45.869 --> 00:26:47.970 Me asking Frank if I could have a baby. Why don't 00:26:47.970 --> 00:26:50.369 you try asking me? You know what kind of an answer 00:26:50.369 --> 00:26:57.509 you'll get, don't you? Go ahead. Ask me. Ed... 00:26:57.509 --> 00:27:18.019 Is it all right? Is it? This is Mrs. Ed Johnson. 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:22.500 Yes. Well, I saw the doctor a couple of days 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:25.500 ago and he was going to have a test made to see 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:31.700 if I... Oh, you can't tell me. It is? Really? 00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:37.519 Really? Yes, I believe you. Thank you very much. 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:49.859 It's true. I'm going to have a baby. Annabelle, 00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:55.019 it's true. Kenneth, Cleopatra, Arthur, finally 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:59.660 I'm going to have a baby. What do you think about 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:03.180 that? Are you pleased? Are you happy? Tell me 00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:04.960 what you think, because you're very important 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:08.779 to me. Yes, you're my best friend. I'm not young 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:11.839 anymore, and there are people who think I'm, 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:15.460 well, strange. I'm too emotional, that's what 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:18.789 they think. And they may be right. How do I know? 00:28:18.970 --> 00:28:23.509 So please, tell me because I trust you. Is it 00:28:23.509 --> 00:28:28.029 all right for me to have a baby? Do you really 00:28:28.029 --> 00:28:35.609 think so? Ed? Ed, it's true! I just called the 00:28:35.609 --> 00:28:38.230 doctor's office and they told me it's true. I'm 00:28:38.230 --> 00:28:43.809 going to have a baby, Ed. Tell me. Tell me. Is 00:28:43.809 --> 00:28:54.170 it really all right? into a house where the plants 00:28:54.170 --> 00:28:56.829 in the window listen and talk among themselves, 00:28:57.710 --> 00:29:02.150 where they feel love and gratitude, but also 00:29:02.150 --> 00:29:07.710 they feel fear and anger and revenge, where they 00:29:07.710 --> 00:29:11.529 stir themselves at last and move in to kill. 00:29:12.630 --> 00:29:29.140 We'll be back shortly with Act 3. apartment, 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:32.740 and the plants still hang in the window, but 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:36.299 everything else is different. The rugs have been 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:39.119 taken up, the pictures have been taken down from 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:41.539 the walls, and the furniture has been moved out, 00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:46.519 and Barbara, Barbara herself has changed. No 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:49.700 longer the reed -slim young lady, she is now 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:53.740 a solid matron with a most conspicuous bulge 00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:57.019 in the center of her body. For it is precisely 00:29:57.019 --> 00:30:01.440 eight months since we last heard her voice. There! 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:05.339 They're gone! Ed, they're gone! What's that, 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:07.099 honey? The movers have gone. They took the last 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:09.440 chair out just now. Oh, I hope they don't break 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:11.400 anything. Oh, sweetie, they won't. Don't worry 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:14.400 about it. Oh, I don't worry about anything anymore. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:17.039 You mean that? Sometimes I try to worry, because 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:19.579 after all, I used to worry all the time. I mean, 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.960 I worried all my life, but now I can't worry. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:25.490 I've forgotten how. It's being pregnant. Well, 00:30:25.490 --> 00:30:28.910 maybe I oughta try it. Oh, I'm so sorry for you, 00:30:28.950 --> 00:30:32.470 you know that. How come? Being a man. You can't 00:30:32.470 --> 00:30:34.529 ever be happy the way I'm happy. I've got my 00:30:34.529 --> 00:30:38.710 own way. I feel so complete, so... So fulfilled. 00:30:38.789 --> 00:30:41.430 I guess so. As though there'd been something 00:30:41.430 --> 00:30:44.589 missing from the day I was born. And now I've 00:30:44.589 --> 00:30:50.690 got it. I was so, so unfinished before, but now... 00:30:50.690 --> 00:30:54.990 I'm... well... I'm complete. Just you wait till 00:30:54.990 --> 00:30:57.049 we get settled in the new apartment, baby. Wait 00:30:57.049 --> 00:30:59.369 till we get the little baby's room decorated 00:30:59.369 --> 00:31:01.390 and the crib moved in and all that other stuff. 00:31:02.269 --> 00:31:04.130 Shouldn't we go over there now? Well, I suppose 00:31:04.130 --> 00:31:05.650 we ought to give them over time to get there. 00:31:05.670 --> 00:31:07.630 No, I want to go now. I can't wait. Yeah, neither 00:31:07.630 --> 00:31:12.230 can I. Oh, honey. Isn't it wonderful how we always 00:31:12.230 --> 00:31:14.509 seem to feel the same way? Oh, honey, you'll 00:31:14.509 --> 00:31:17.390 never have that other feeling anymore until you... 00:31:17.390 --> 00:31:20.630 What feeling? You know about how Frank died, 00:31:20.849 --> 00:31:23.500 the plants. You don't ever feel that maybe you 00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:26.660 shouldn't have a baby. Oh, no. Well, you know, 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:28.599 when you first found out, you weren't too sure. 00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:30.599 Oh, but that was eight months ago. That was before 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:35.059 I started feeling the baby grow. Before I knew 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:39.539 that it was going to be my baby, my child. And 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:42.140 then I knew that if there ever was anything that 00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:46.859 was right, having this baby was that thing. And 00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:51.259 Frank? Ever think about him about that night? 00:31:52.329 --> 00:31:55.569 I'm not sure it ever happened. I mean, I'm not 00:31:55.569 --> 00:31:59.069 sure it happened the way I said. I think probably 00:31:59.069 --> 00:32:02.009 you were right. I dreamed the whole thing. It 00:32:02.009 --> 00:32:04.910 was an accident, Barbara. Frank and the plants. 00:32:04.990 --> 00:32:08.769 It was a freak accident. I guess so. Now, come 00:32:08.769 --> 00:32:11.150 on. Let's go to the new apartment. Movers ought 00:32:11.150 --> 00:32:13.089 to be almost there. Yeah, okay. I'll take the 00:32:13.089 --> 00:32:14.789 plants, Doc. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I wanted 00:32:14.789 --> 00:32:16.569 to thank you. No, honey, no. No, no. I don't 00:32:16.569 --> 00:32:18.569 want you doing things like that. Not now. Eight 00:32:18.569 --> 00:32:20.329 months. Holy cow. Oh, don't be silly. I know 00:32:20.329 --> 00:32:22.150 just how they're tied up because I did it myself 00:32:22.150 --> 00:32:23.990 in the first place. Come on, hand me the scissors. 00:32:24.210 --> 00:32:26.990 They're right there. Baby, I think I ought to... 00:32:26.990 --> 00:32:29.170 No, no, really. They wouldn't like anybody else 00:32:29.170 --> 00:32:31.539 touching them. I know what you can do. You can 00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:33.420 get those cartons we saved to pack them in, and 00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:35.440 all that tissue paper. Go on, you do that. That'll 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:37.839 be a big help. Okay, if you say so. Oh, here's 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:39.579 the scissors. Right. I'm gonna take a minute. 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:44.500 Yeah, I'll be right back. Now then, here we go. 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:48.220 Now Cleopatra, let's get you down first. You 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:50.279 know, Michael, you'll have to wait until last 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:53.799 because you're so long and strong. It'll be hard 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:58.420 to separate you from the others. Oh! Gee, it's 00:32:58.420 --> 00:33:02.910 hard to reach. I don't know if I can... Maybe 00:33:02.910 --> 00:33:05.809 I should have let Ed take you, Don. My arms hurt. 00:33:06.670 --> 00:33:08.630 Isn't that funny? I never had any trouble before. 00:33:09.089 --> 00:33:14.329 Well, of course, it's being pregnant. It's this 00:33:14.329 --> 00:33:19.470 baby I'm carrying around with me. Are you a boy? 00:33:19.849 --> 00:33:23.829 Or are you a girl? Or are you twins? I think 00:33:23.829 --> 00:33:26.130 you're twins. Wouldn't that be heavenly? An old 00:33:26.130 --> 00:33:29.569 lady like me having twins. A boy and a girl? 00:33:30.609 --> 00:33:33.869 Oh, I don't care. I don't care about anything 00:33:33.869 --> 00:33:40.230 anymore. Except my husband and my child. I don't 00:33:40.230 --> 00:33:43.849 even care about the plants. Isn't that strange? 00:33:44.549 --> 00:33:47.150 For so long, so many years, they were my dearest 00:33:47.150 --> 00:33:51.150 friends. They were my only friend. And now, they 00:33:51.150 --> 00:33:54.869 just don't matter anymore. I know what I'm going 00:33:54.869 --> 00:33:58.849 to do. I'm going to leave them. Right here. You 00:33:58.849 --> 00:34:01.289 don't need them. We've got a new place to live. 00:34:01.650 --> 00:34:03.930 We're going to have what they want to eat. We 00:34:03.930 --> 00:34:06.670 have each other. We don't need these old plants 00:34:06.670 --> 00:34:12.190 anymore. They can just stay right here. Ed! Ed! 00:34:12.710 --> 00:34:17.789 I just decided that we don't... Don't go! Get 00:34:17.789 --> 00:34:28.360 away! Get away from me! Ed! The plant! Yeah, 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:31.800 I got the cut. Barbara! Oh my God! Don't beat 00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:36.260 me! The scissors! Quick! I can't breathe! It's 00:34:36.260 --> 00:34:39.000 all right. It's gonna be all right. Barbara! 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:42.539 It's all right. Barbara, it's gonna be all right. 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:53.579 Barbara, are you all right? What did the doctor 00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:55.760 say? He says I'm all right. I can go home. Did 00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:57.800 you tell him? How could I tell him? I made up 00:34:57.800 --> 00:35:00.739 something. I said I got tangled up in the clothesline. 00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:02.320 That was the first thing that came into my head. 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:05.099 Anyhow, he didn't ask me many questions because 00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:07.039 he could see that I wasn't really hurt. I was 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:09.780 just scared. Oh, you sure had me scared. Well, 00:35:09.780 --> 00:35:12.199 they didn't hurt me much, really. The plants. 00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:13.980 Well, why should they hurt you at all? You love 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:17.940 those plants. Ed, Ed, Ed. While I was taking 00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:20.300 them down, it was harder than I thought it would 00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:22.380 be and my arms got tired. Told you to let me 00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:24.320 do it. And I stopped for a minute and then I 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:27.320 thought, why am I bothering with these plans? 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:29.940 Taking them down and carting them to the new 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:31.780 place and then putting them up all over again. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:35.599 So I thought, I'm not going to do that. I'm just 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:38.420 going to leave them. I'm happy. I've got everything 00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:42.320 I want. I don't need them. I even think I said 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:44.860 that out loud. And they heard me. But it wouldn't 00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:46.079 have made any difference. They didn't have to 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:48.699 hear me say it out loud. Because they knew I 00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:51.059 was thinking honey. No, you see you can't live 00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:53.360 that close to somebody for so long and so close 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:57.039 without knowing what she's thinking And they 00:35:57.039 --> 00:36:00.320 knew That I was going to go off and leave them 00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:03.880 after all our years together. I Was going to 00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:07.199 abandon them. I didn't care anymore. What happened 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:10.960 to them? And they knew that oh, no, it's just 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:13.900 hard to conceive of right they they wouldn't 00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:17.090 have killed me and they didn't even really mean 00:36:17.090 --> 00:36:20.570 to hurt me they were just saying don't go or 00:36:20.570 --> 00:36:25.429 if you must go take us with you you can see that 00:36:25.429 --> 00:36:27.489 can't you all I know is I came into the room 00:36:27.489 --> 00:36:29.570 and I saw you with the vines around your throat 00:36:29.570 --> 00:36:32.590 and you were saying choking me get the scissors 00:36:32.590 --> 00:36:34.809 well I got those scissors so fast they were they 00:36:34.809 --> 00:36:37.250 were right there on the windowsill and I I cut 00:36:37.250 --> 00:36:40.050 those vines so fast. Boy, you had me worried, 00:36:40.090 --> 00:36:42.309 baby. I must have fainted by then. Yeah, and 00:36:42.309 --> 00:36:43.909 I picked you up and put you in the car, and you 00:36:43.909 --> 00:36:45.889 came too before we got to the hospital. And here 00:36:45.889 --> 00:36:50.070 I am, and I'm all right. Yeah, yeah. Remember, 00:36:50.090 --> 00:36:52.550 you don't suppose I hurt the plants, do you? 00:36:52.550 --> 00:36:54.829 I just slashed away. Well, I don't suppose you 00:36:54.829 --> 00:36:57.070 cut them down very careful. Oh, heck no. Oh, 00:36:57.070 --> 00:36:59.250 they'll be all right. I'll trim them properly 00:36:59.250 --> 00:37:02.389 when we get back. You're not going to leave them 00:37:02.389 --> 00:37:04.570 there? You're going to take them to the new apartment? 00:37:05.449 --> 00:37:09.670 Yes. Yes, I am. I don't know what I was thinking 00:37:09.670 --> 00:37:12.909 of. How could I just go off and leave the things 00:37:12.909 --> 00:37:16.610 that I've loved and that have loved me? I can't 00:37:16.610 --> 00:37:21.150 walk out on them. I forgot that. And they were 00:37:21.150 --> 00:37:24.230 trying to remind me. Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're 00:37:24.230 --> 00:37:27.730 right. But then you always are. Well, I'm right 00:37:27.730 --> 00:37:33.349 about this. Well, let's go, huh? Yeah. Oh, poor 00:37:33.349 --> 00:37:36.559 Cleopatra. Why? Poor Cleopatra. Well, I knocked 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:39.380 her on the floor. You what? Yeah, when I was 00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:41.280 trying to cut you loose, I knocked Cleopatra 00:37:41.280 --> 00:37:43.099 on the floor, broke the pot and everything. You 00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:45.219 mean she's lying there, the pot is broken, and 00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:47.099 she's lying there on the floor with no dirt? 00:37:47.420 --> 00:37:50.079 Yeah, I guess so. Oh, Ed, come on. The pot brought 00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:53.860 her... No, hurry up. We've got to get there before 00:37:53.860 --> 00:38:02.099 she dies. There she is. There's Cleopatra. Let 00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:04.420 me do it, honey. You just stay there. Let me 00:38:04.420 --> 00:38:06.380 pick her up. Look out, Ed. They're angry. Ed, 00:38:06.460 --> 00:38:08.039 they're coming for you. No, it's all right. Ed, 00:38:08.280 --> 00:38:10.340 please get out of the way. Stand back. Let me 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:12.079 do it. If they're gonna let you do it... Of course 00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:14.039 they are. Of course they are. Aren't you, my 00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:18.000 darling? Aren't you? Ed, hand me that Aiden Potter 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:22.039 one right there. Now, now, now, now, now. Your 00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:24.000 roots haven't been out of the earth for very 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:29.130 long, my love. Now gently, gently... No, no, 00:38:29.130 --> 00:38:32.949 I'm not hurting her. See, Michael? I'm being 00:38:32.949 --> 00:38:36.769 very gentle. I'm putting the good earth in the 00:38:36.769 --> 00:38:40.949 pot. See, Michael? Ed, get me some water, just 00:38:40.949 --> 00:38:42.389 a little. Honey, I don't like leaving you here. 00:38:42.389 --> 00:38:43.869 Don't be silly. I'll be perfectly all right. 00:38:44.289 --> 00:38:47.250 Okay, I'll be right back. Now, you see, Michael? 00:38:48.190 --> 00:38:51.869 I'm scooping up every last bit of the nice brown 00:38:51.869 --> 00:38:55.429 earth. And I'm sifting it through my fingers. 00:38:55.869 --> 00:39:02.039 See? See Annabelle see all of you are very carefully 00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:09.039 with the beautiful loose Now we put a little 00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:12.300 water in not very much because the earth wasn't 00:39:12.300 --> 00:39:20.480 very dry Now we mix just a little of it into 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:28.309 the soil there we are And now Cleopatra, my love, 00:39:28.349 --> 00:39:32.789 let me pick you up. I'll hold you for a second. 00:39:33.650 --> 00:39:36.769 And don't be frightened, my dear, no, no, no, 00:39:36.769 --> 00:39:40.190 no. You can put your little roots into the dirt, 00:39:40.929 --> 00:39:45.130 very gently, very carefully. And press the dirt 00:39:45.130 --> 00:39:49.070 down around them. And then we add the rest of 00:39:49.070 --> 00:39:53.309 the dirt, almost to the top, and we press it 00:39:53.309 --> 00:39:57.550 down. Not too high, just enough to make you feel 00:39:57.550 --> 00:40:04.429 safe. There we are. You see, Michael? Marianne? 00:40:05.070 --> 00:40:08.250 Annabelle, see? She's going to be all right. 00:40:08.889 --> 00:40:12.369 You think she really will be? Oh, yes, yes. Yes, 00:40:12.429 --> 00:40:15.269 and when I set her here on the window sill, I 00:40:15.269 --> 00:40:18.130 let the sun pour all over her. Shouldn't you 00:40:18.130 --> 00:40:19.969 start taking down the other plants? No, no, not 00:40:19.969 --> 00:40:22.510 yet. They've had an awful shock. Yeah, but honey, 00:40:22.809 --> 00:40:24.530 the furniture movers at the other apartment, 00:40:24.690 --> 00:40:26.849 they must be going crazy wondering where we are. 00:40:27.250 --> 00:40:31.650 Well, you go. You take the car and go over there. 00:40:32.369 --> 00:40:36.869 What about you? Come back for me later. Okay. 00:40:37.610 --> 00:40:42.289 Like in an hour? Well, make it a couple of hours. 00:40:42.530 --> 00:40:55.519 Okay, baby. Baby boats of silver moon Sailing 00:40:55.519 --> 00:41:06.320 on the sea Yes, my dear ones, rest Rest, my darlings 00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:14.539 Sail, baby sail Out across the sea Only don't 00:41:14.539 --> 00:41:27.320 forget to sail Home again to me The next time 00:41:27.320 --> 00:41:32.199 you pass by a plant, stop and look. Make a little 00:41:32.199 --> 00:41:36.400 bow or tip your hat. And if its leaves flutter 00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:41.699 and make a sound, listen. It may be trying to 00:41:41.699 --> 00:41:58.910 tell you something. I'll be back shortly. living 00:41:58.910 --> 00:42:02.429 things, like old shoes, and throw them away when 00:42:02.429 --> 00:42:06.389 they are worn out or broken with service. Those 00:42:06.389 --> 00:42:08.809 words were written by a Roman biographer named 00:42:08.809 --> 00:42:12.090 Plutarch. They are as true today as when he wrote 00:42:12.090 --> 00:42:16.989 them, almost two thousand years ago. Our cast 00:42:16.989 --> 00:42:19.670 included Mercedes McCambridge, Larry Haynes, 00:42:20.050 --> 00:42:23.170 and Ralph Bell. The entire production was under 00:42:23.170 --> 00:42:26.199 the direction of Hyman Brown. This is E .G. Marshall 00:42:26.199 --> 00:42:28.639 inviting you to return to our mystery theater 00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:33.500 for another adventure in the macabre. Until next 00:42:33.500 --> 00:42:36.880 time, pleasant dreams.