WEBVTT 00:00:17.630 --> 00:00:25.390 Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. An ancient 00:00:25.390 --> 00:00:29.449 Chinese anecdote tells of a poor man who meets 00:00:29.449 --> 00:00:33.229 a philosopher. The poor man begs for charity. 00:00:34.250 --> 00:00:38.350 The philosopher says, Look at that pebble. He 00:00:38.350 --> 00:00:42.590 points to a tiny stone. The stone turns to gold. 00:00:43.750 --> 00:00:47.130 The poor man says, May I have something bigger? 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:51.520 The philosopher points to a rock, and it too 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:55.700 turns to gold. The poor man again asks for something 00:00:55.700 --> 00:00:59.280 bigger. The philosopher points to a mountain. 00:01:00.060 --> 00:01:04.280 The entire mountain turns to gold. The poor man 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:08.519 is still unhappy. Finally, the philosopher asks, 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:13.799 What do you want? And the poor man replies, I 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:18.549 want your finger. The moral of this and the tale 00:01:18.549 --> 00:01:23.069 you're about to hear you can't satisfy everybody 00:01:23.069 --> 00:01:27.870 no Don't come near me. Please don't you kill 00:01:27.870 --> 00:01:32.689 me. Yes. I will You can't get away. Don't stick 00:01:32.689 --> 00:01:36.530 me with that. It won't hurt I don't want to die 00:01:36.530 --> 00:01:42.950 I Don't want to die you should have thought of 00:01:42.950 --> 00:01:48.590 that before you all People, you know, there's 00:01:48.590 --> 00:01:54.790 no such thing as the perfect crime. Oh, that's 00:01:54.790 --> 00:01:58.030 nonsense, my dear. There are hundreds, thousands, 00:01:58.269 --> 00:02:00.870 for all we know, millions of perfect crimes. 00:02:01.790 --> 00:02:05.049 Why, every unsolved murder is a perfect crime. 00:02:05.730 --> 00:02:09.710 And yours wasn't even a murder. It will look 00:02:09.710 --> 00:02:23.699 like a perfect accident. Our mystery drama, I 00:02:23.699 --> 00:02:26.659 Thought You Were Dead, was written especially 00:02:26.659 --> 00:02:30.300 for the Mystery Theatre by Sam Dann and stars 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:47.219 Arlene Francis. A statement, a slogan. should 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:50.180 never be accepted merely because it is widely 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:54.340 held and seldom challenged. For instance, they 00:02:54.340 --> 00:03:00.060 say dead men tell no tales, but this is not necessarily 00:03:00.060 --> 00:03:04.699 so, as many a murderer has discovered, but too 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:09.479 late. A dead man, especially a recently dead 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:13.759 man, can tell a veritable anthology of tales 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:19.219 to people like doctors. and detectives. But what 00:03:19.219 --> 00:03:23.539 has all this to do with Jennifer Partridge? Jennifer 00:03:23.539 --> 00:03:28.020 Partridge. Sleek, slender, sophisticated Jennifer. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:32.219 In exactly ten seconds the telephone will ring 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:35.520 in Jennifer's elegant penthouse apartment. And 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:44.080 Jennifer is going to speak to a dead man. Hello? 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:54.210 Hello? Yes? Jennifer? Who... Who is this? Jennifer. 00:03:54.789 --> 00:04:00.789 Do you have to ask? But... It isn't... It can't 00:04:00.789 --> 00:04:10.189 be. It is, Jennifer. It is. No! No! What's the 00:04:10.189 --> 00:04:14.289 matter with me? I... I... It couldn't have been... 00:04:18.730 --> 00:04:24.509 It's crazy. How could it be Scott? I won't answer 00:04:24.509 --> 00:04:31.290 it. I won't. Yes, I will. Now listen here. What 00:04:31.290 --> 00:04:33.389 kind of obscene, practical joke do you think 00:04:33.389 --> 00:04:38.829 it's... Jennifer? Oh, Paul. Now, what was that 00:04:38.829 --> 00:04:42.850 all about? Oh, some idiot. Look, is everything 00:04:42.850 --> 00:04:46.149 all right? Everything's fine. You sure? Yes, 00:04:46.149 --> 00:05:06.149 I'm positive. What about tonight? Tonight? Right 00:05:06.149 --> 00:05:10.589 now. Let me see. Well, perhaps I can... Please, 00:05:10.910 --> 00:05:15.529 Paul. Suppose I come to your place? Yes, Paul. 00:05:15.689 --> 00:05:18.350 I'll see you soon. Goodbye. Thank you, Paul. 00:05:27.050 --> 00:05:37.410 The best thing is not to answer. Martin was supposed 00:05:37.410 --> 00:05:41.430 to call at 7 .30. Yes, it must be Martin. Hello, 00:05:41.550 --> 00:05:50.149 Martin? Hello? So, it's Martin. See here, whoever 00:05:50.149 --> 00:05:54.589 you are. You know who I am. Martin's a moron. 00:05:55.069 --> 00:05:58.750 Yes, he's rich, but he's a moron. Do you mean 00:05:58.750 --> 00:06:03.029 you actually murdered me for Martin? You did, 00:06:03.029 --> 00:06:17.339 you know. I didn't murder you. What do you want? 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:24.019 I'm Scott. I'm your husband. And your place is 00:06:24.019 --> 00:06:38.439 with me. But you're dead. Exactly. Exactly. But 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:43.699 Scott is dead. I spoke with him. Twice. It isn't 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:48.170 possible. Paul? I know Scott's voice. A practical 00:06:48.170 --> 00:06:51.230 joker. Someone could imitate Scott's voice, perhaps, 00:06:51.350 --> 00:06:55.910 but... But what? But not the way Scott talks, 00:06:56.550 --> 00:06:59.730 the way he forms those sentences. He has that 00:06:59.730 --> 00:07:03.410 whole circular way of... The way Scott talks, 00:07:03.629 --> 00:07:07.610 how he forms sentences, he has that circular 00:07:07.610 --> 00:07:10.910 way. You realize you're using the present tense. 00:07:11.009 --> 00:07:13.209 Because I just heard his voice. I'm sure you 00:07:13.209 --> 00:07:17.379 did. Well, finally. In your mind. Oh, I see. 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:20.819 I imagined it. That's what you're implying. Well, 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:23.319 there are all kinds of technical terms we might 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:26.720 use to describe this phenomenon. But imagination 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:29.379 is as good a word as any. And it really tells 00:07:29.379 --> 00:07:33.720 the story. But I heard the phone ring. I answered 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:37.759 it. It was Scott and I hung up. Yes, Jennifer. 00:07:38.279 --> 00:07:42.839 Oh, please. No patronizing. Please. You and Scott. 00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:46.500 The love match of the century. Of course, you 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:52.660 miss him, and so... And so what? And so you actually 00:07:52.660 --> 00:07:55.420 did hear the phone ring. You actually did hear 00:07:55.420 --> 00:07:59.220 Scott. And what did Scott say? He accused me 00:07:59.220 --> 00:08:03.600 of murdering him. Well, did you? Did I what? 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.569 Do you think you murdered Scott? You were there 00:08:06.569 --> 00:08:09.769 when Scott was killed you know how Scott was 00:08:09.769 --> 00:08:12.949 killed. How can you ask if I killed him? I didn't 00:08:12.949 --> 00:08:15.790 ask you if you killed him. I asked you if you 00:08:15.790 --> 00:08:18.370 think you killed him It was an accident. I wasn't 00:08:18.370 --> 00:08:22.110 even there. That's not the issue Perhaps you're 00:08:22.110 --> 00:08:26.009 thinking if you had been more diligent more devoted 00:08:26.009 --> 00:08:29.149 Scott might not have been there either I am trying 00:08:29.149 --> 00:08:33.049 to tell you Paul did the better one die out in 00:08:33.049 --> 00:08:36.679 the year that Scott's been dead. How many stories 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:41.960 have you sold? Well, I haven't really been trying 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:44.139 to... Before you married Scott and began the 00:08:44.139 --> 00:08:46.779 famous Scott and Jennifer Partridge collaboration, 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:50.100 how many stories had you ever sold on your own? 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:56.840 Well, I'm having a... It's a case of block. Writers 00:08:56.840 --> 00:09:00.379 block. It happens now and then. But you are writing. 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:04.060 And Martin tells me he's having trouble. Editors 00:09:04.060 --> 00:09:06.759 complain something seems to be missing. People 00:09:06.759 --> 00:09:10.840 are starting to talk. Was Scott the real creative 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:15.100 talent of the team? It's a lie. You may be one 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:17.639 of America's top psychiatrists, but you are still 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:21.039 a male chauvinist. You consider the fact of a 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.240 man and woman writing team, and what is your 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:25.960 automatic reaction? The man is the one who is 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:28.720 the true talent. I'm only trying to tell you... 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.860 Never mind that just now. Let's consider what 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:34.620 I'm trying to tell you. Yes? I'm trying to tell 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:37.559 you I heard Scott's voice on the telephone. Scott 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:40.179 called me on the telephone. And I'm trying to 00:09:40.179 --> 00:09:46.440 tell you why you think... Well, who could that 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:53.759 be? Well, go ahead, answer it. I... I... Hello? 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:59.200 Hello. Doing anything, Jennifer? I thought we'd 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:04.409 chat. Just a minute. Paul it's Scott pick up 00:10:04.409 --> 00:10:12.169 the extension. You'll see it's Scott There's 00:10:12.169 --> 00:10:15.110 no one on the line It's just a dial tone, but 00:10:15.110 --> 00:10:18.370 it was Scott He hung up. He didn't want you to 00:10:18.370 --> 00:10:22.190 hear him, but he spoke to me. He spoke to me 00:10:22.190 --> 00:10:26.309 Jennifer. He's dead Is that a fact but I tell 00:10:26.309 --> 00:10:32.340 you is it a fact yes or no? Yes Then these conversations 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:36.580 can only be taking place in your mind But it 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:48.200 seems so real so real He looked deep into her 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:52.960 eyes into those smoldering passionate eyes of 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:58.740 and he knew Now he knew He knew how it could 00:10:58.740 --> 00:11:02.659 be possible for a man to sacrifice his honor, 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:06.440 his career, his country. Do you have that, Miss 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:08.899 Kulit? Yes, Mrs. Partridge. Could you please 00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:12.379 read it back? He looked deep into her eyes, into 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:16.139 those smoldering passions... Wait. The whole 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:20.220 passage, it sounds familiar. It sounds as if... 00:11:20.220 --> 00:11:22.759 Yes, Mrs. Partridge. Now that you mention it... 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:26.330 Why should it sound familiar? You... You and 00:11:26.330 --> 00:11:28.830 Mr. Partridge had written that same paragraph 00:11:28.830 --> 00:11:34.850 five years ago in Dead Man's Merrick? Oh, yes. 00:11:35.789 --> 00:11:38.230 Yes, that's right. I simply have to get away 00:11:38.230 --> 00:11:44.490 from eyes. That was Scott's trick. May I come 00:11:44.490 --> 00:11:47.029 in? Absolutely not. I'm working. How's it coming? 00:11:47.730 --> 00:11:53.710 Splendidly. Level with me? Atrociously. I think 00:11:53.710 --> 00:11:56.500 you're trying too hard. What does that mean? 00:11:56.620 --> 00:12:00.340 Just relax. What did St. Clair think of the Merry 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:03.340 Christmas caper? He thinks you're trying too 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:06.879 hard. But I simply must... You simply must what? 00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:11.059 Get something published this year. Why? Isn't 00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:13.980 it obvious? People will say that Scott was the 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:16.679 writer. I don't know of anyone who's saying that. 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:20.600 But it's true. Now, look, Jennifer, honey, just 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:26.460 relax. You're nervous, high strung. Just like 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:28.460 a thoroughbred. No, thank you. It's flattering 00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:31.139 to be compared with a horse. Well, baby, you 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:33.580 can compare an agent with a trainer. They both 00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:35.679 have to nurse some very temperamental stock. 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:39.799 Tell you what we should do. Take three months 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:43.220 off, get married, go on a cruise. Martin, darling, 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:45.720 we can't get married until I get something of 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:50.320 my own published. Okay, okay. I know you understand, 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:53.279 darling. I understand. I'm not gonna win arguments 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:57.799 with you, so I came with a suggestion. Yes? People 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:00.440 have worked together so closely, so long as you 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:04.379 and Scott become dependent on each other. But 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:06.659 I'm trying to prove that I... Baby, sometimes 00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:11.299 you just gotta listen. Because Scott died so 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:14.360 suddenly, the break was so... Well, it was too 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:16.779 abrupt. You know what I mean? You weren't prepared 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:24.320 for it. Now let Scott help you. What? What are 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:28.759 you saying? The day Scott died, he told me he 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:30.799 had just done a kind of treatment for a book 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:35.700 called, I Thought You Were Dead. What? You know 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:38.039 how he was. He'd fill up a whole yellow pad with 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:41.720 the story line. Well, he said he just did something 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:45.200 called, I Thought You Were Dead. Why not finish 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:48.419 it? I don't know what you're talking about. What? 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:52.200 You mean... you're not aware of the story? No. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:54.320 Scott never discussed it with me. But he said 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:56.639 he had written 11 yellow pages. He had the whole 00:13:56.639 --> 00:14:00.860 plot. Miss Kulert? Yes? Have you seen 11 yellow 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:03.220 pages? You know, the kind Mr. Partridge would 00:14:03.220 --> 00:14:08.320 do by hand. Oh, no, Mrs. Partridge. Yeah. But 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:11.659 Scott said he wrote it up. Are you sure you haven't 00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:14.500 seen it, Miss Kulert? No, sir. And I generally 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:17.980 know where everything is. Jennifer, you have 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:20.600 to write it. But Martin... Look, this whole thing 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:23.960 is psychological. For years, you and Scott worked 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:26.620 together. He became a habit with you. Well, not 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:30.259 everybody can quit a habit cold turkey, so move 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:32.720 away from him gradually. You see what I mean? 00:14:33.049 --> 00:14:36.029 But we don't even know where the outline is. 00:14:36.250 --> 00:14:38.789 It has to be in the house. We'll turn the place 00:14:38.789 --> 00:14:41.769 inside out and upside down. We'll find those 00:14:41.769 --> 00:14:49.309 11 yellow pages. Now let's start looking. I can 00:14:49.309 --> 00:14:53.169 tell you, Martin, no one will ever find them. 00:14:53.970 --> 00:14:57.730 Because long ago they had been reduced to ashes. 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:02.480 No earthly power can ever recreate them into 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:06.899 Scott's original yellow pages. I burned them, 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:12.700 destroyed them completely. I had to. Because, 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:19.059 otherwise, people might discover how I murdered 00:15:19.059 --> 00:15:33.100 Scott. Scott and Jennifer. Year after year, best 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:36.360 -selling novels and award -winning stories would 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:39.879 stream from their typewriter. Why should she 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:45.340 murder the source of all her wealth? Why? Simple. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.799 Didn't you ever hear the story of the goose that 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:52.679 laid the golden eggs? We'll have some interesting 00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:55.320 little nuggets for you when I return shortly 00:15:55.320 --> 00:16:11.870 with Act Two. Yesterday, the phone rang, and 00:16:11.870 --> 00:16:15.230 Jennifer Partridge answered it. It was her husband, 00:16:15.490 --> 00:16:19.309 Scott. They chatted briefly, and then Jennifer 00:16:19.309 --> 00:16:23.730 hung up. But everyone knows that Scott has been 00:16:23.730 --> 00:16:28.529 dead for over a year. Of course, what everyone 00:16:28.529 --> 00:16:33.210 doesn't know is that Jennifer murdered him. The 00:16:33.210 --> 00:16:39.360 sun rose, finally... First a pale rose glow on 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:45.379 the distant eastern horizon. No, no distant eastern 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:48.679 horizon. What an indigestible mouthful that is. 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:54.460 Damn. Descriptive narrative came so easily to 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:57.080 Scott. Why do I have to worry about the sun rising 00:16:57.080 --> 00:17:00.399 in the distant eastern horizon? I'll just say 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:07.430 the next day. The next day. That's so abrupt. 00:17:07.829 --> 00:17:10.430 Say, don't you hear that damn phone, Miss Kulit? 00:17:10.890 --> 00:17:13.470 But, Mrs. Partridge, you always insist on answering 00:17:13.470 --> 00:17:16.190 the phone yourself. Pick it up. Well, yes, ma 00:17:16.190 --> 00:17:20.269 'am. Hello? Hello. Is that for you, Miss Kulit? 00:17:20.450 --> 00:17:24.309 Yes, sir. Is Miss Partridge there? It's Mr. Evans. 00:17:24.390 --> 00:17:27.710 Are you here, Mrs. Partridge? No. No, Mr. Evans. 00:17:27.869 --> 00:17:30.109 Mrs. Partridge has gone out this morning. Tell 00:17:30.109 --> 00:17:31.970 her to get on the phone. But she isn't here. 00:17:31.970 --> 00:17:35.930 Tell her I have news from St. Clair. He has news 00:17:35.930 --> 00:17:39.049 for Mr. St. Clair, Mrs. Partridge. All right, 00:17:39.049 --> 00:17:45.109 I'll take it on my extension. Yes, Martin? Oh, 00:17:45.109 --> 00:17:48.529 I see you came back. Martin, I do not like to 00:17:48.529 --> 00:17:50.670 be disturbed while I'm working. What are you 00:17:50.670 --> 00:17:54.890 working on? Something new. Drop it. What? I had 00:17:54.890 --> 00:17:57.930 breakfast with St. Clair. Martin! I told him 00:17:57.930 --> 00:18:00.410 you found an outline Scott had prepared before 00:18:00.410 --> 00:18:03.210 he died. But I didn't find it. I told him the 00:18:03.210 --> 00:18:09.839 title. But I don't know anything about it! But, 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:12.059 uh... He's been on the phone to the West Coast. 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:15.279 How do I know? Go ahead, ask me. Martin, you 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:17.539 must listen. I already got a call from one studio, 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.140 and you know what time it is out there? Seven 00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:22.099 o 'clock in the morning. Martin! I haven't found 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:45.720 the story! Arnie! Martin? Martin! I've looked 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:48.579 everywhere, Mrs. Partridge, but I was unable 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:50.420 to find... Yes, well, we'll just have to keep 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:55.039 at it. Now, where were we? Oh, the opening paragraph, 00:18:55.180 --> 00:19:00.000 the sun rose. No, make that the next day. I... 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:05.759 I don't know, I'm in no mood to... I can tell 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:09.170 this is going to be one of those mornings. Look, 00:19:09.289 --> 00:19:11.390 Miss Culeck, why don't you take some time off? 00:19:11.430 --> 00:19:14.829 Drive into town. I could look for those 11 pages. 00:19:15.029 --> 00:19:16.869 Where? We've just about torn the whole place 00:19:16.869 --> 00:19:20.470 apart. Then why don't I dust and clean some of 00:19:20.470 --> 00:19:24.029 Mr. Partridge's trophies and things? If you like. 00:19:24.190 --> 00:19:25.809 Some of the guns and knives should be oiled. 00:19:25.890 --> 00:19:28.829 Well, make sure you're very careful. Actually, 00:19:28.970 --> 00:19:31.150 we should have a gunsmith or someone like that 00:19:31.150 --> 00:19:33.390 come... Oh, I don't mind at all, Mrs. Partridge, 00:19:33.410 --> 00:19:37.710 and I know how to do it. Very well. Tell Mrs. 00:19:37.950 --> 00:19:40.430 Mason to have lunch ready at 12, and that could 00:19:40.430 --> 00:19:42.829 give us a long afternoon for work. Yes, Mrs. 00:19:43.109 --> 00:19:48.269 Partridge. I... I really don't understand it. 00:19:48.809 --> 00:19:52.170 What's that? Mr. Partridge, he was such a methodical 00:19:52.170 --> 00:19:55.710 man. You know, a place for everything and everything 00:19:55.710 --> 00:19:58.609 in his place. Yes, I remember that little homey 00:19:58.609 --> 00:20:01.269 cliché used to drive me wild sometimes. Now, 00:20:01.269 --> 00:20:03.369 every time he would finish writing his notes 00:20:03.369 --> 00:20:06.619 or whatever on his yellow pad... He would always 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:09.180 tear off the pages and put them in his right 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:12.839 -hand desk drawer. Yes, well, they must be around 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:16.980 somewhere. But it's so unusual. I've looked everywhere. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:21.400 Well, you recall the Edgar Allan Poe story about 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:23.480 the missing letter? Was in the middle of the 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:27.380 room in full view all the time? I'm sure that's 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:30.059 what we're dealing with here, too. Yes, Mrs. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:43.789 Partridge. Oh, all right. All right. I'm not 00:20:43.789 --> 00:20:55.470 afraid. Hello? Hello, darling. Scott? Yes, darling. 00:20:56.250 --> 00:21:01.190 It's Scott. Who are you? What do you hope to 00:21:01.190 --> 00:21:04.130 gain by... Dearest, I miss you. What are you 00:21:04.130 --> 00:21:07.430 after? Have you won the Nobel Prize for Literature 00:21:07.430 --> 00:21:17.589 yet? I am not willing to believe... Oh, but Scott 00:21:17.589 --> 00:21:21.250 would know. I... I held you back, yes. I kept 00:21:21.250 --> 00:21:24.890 you from expressing your genius. I restricted 00:21:24.890 --> 00:21:27.970 you to trivial little detective pot -boilers. 00:21:28.230 --> 00:21:44.069 I made you fritter away your talent. Whoever 00:21:44.069 --> 00:21:47.029 you are, you have a game. You want something. 00:21:47.970 --> 00:21:53.210 What is it? I want you, Jennifer. I love you. 00:21:54.509 --> 00:21:57.109 We were so good together, in every way. What 00:21:57.109 --> 00:22:01.130 do you want? You refuse to believe I'm scum. 00:22:01.390 --> 00:22:03.150 Look, now you caught me off guard yesterday and 00:22:03.150 --> 00:22:06.470 I was feeling low. But today, today I can laugh 00:22:06.470 --> 00:22:09.809 at a practical joke even, even, even if it is 00:22:09.809 --> 00:22:13.660 in horrible taste. Do you want me to prove? How 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:17.940 could you prove? Who but Scott would know why 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:23.160 you destroyed my yellow page outline? Ah, you're 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:26.640 listening. You're listening now, aren't you? 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:29.940 I don't even know... I don't know what outline 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:32.759 you're talking about. How she kills her husband. 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:37.539 And I left it lying around. I didn't think you'd 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:42.039 use it to kill me. Well, it doesn't matter now, 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:48.970 darling. It doesn't matter. We're incomplete 00:22:48.970 --> 00:22:56.329 apart. I can't come to you. No. Therefore, you 00:22:56.329 --> 00:23:45.599 must come to me. I didn't kill you. I'm just 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:48.259 losing my mind. But that morning, before I left 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:52.200 home, you inserted little transparent plastic 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:54.440 ring down the barrel in front of the chamber. 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:58.859 And so when I... No! When I pulled the trigger, 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:03.140 naturally, it got exploded in my face. No, no, 00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:13.740 no, no! Miss Cullet found you lying on the floor. 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:17.740 Oh, it's Scott, Paul. I tell you, it's Scott. 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:21.839 Jennifer, I think you need a rest. Of course 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:24.380 I do, but that won't solve the problem. Now, 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:28.559 please, stop fighting me. I can't indulge you 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:32.279 in this childish fantasy. But let me tell you 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:36.400 why it is, Scott. Just listen. Not only is it 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:38.759 Scott's voice. Which an actor can imitate. But 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:42.559 it is Scott's diction, his idiom. Also well known 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:46.299 from Scott's writing and broadcasts. But there 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:49.779 are things that were known only to Scott and 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:53.640 me. How we felt about our writing and the quarrels 00:24:53.640 --> 00:25:00.880 that we had and even... Yes? Even an outline 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:03.859 that no one else could know about. Well, I knew 00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:06.960 about it. Scott mentioned it to me and to Martin 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:09.160 that morning. Well, you too. You were the only 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:12.539 ones who knew All right, Jennifer. Let's face 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:16.759 it these Conversations they really are taking 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:21.559 place but in your mind You simply have to believe 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:25.480 that Scott is on the telephone guilt and remorse 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:28.299 First you thought Scott was holding you back 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:30.839 getting a free ride on your talent. I never said 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:34.039 you're talking to me Jennifer You wanted to be 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:36.960 free of him. An accident happened. Scott was 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:39.380 killed. Your wish came true. I never wanted Scott 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:42.380 to be killed. Not consciously. But when he died, 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:45.240 that wish did come true. But you were wrong. 00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:48.160 You can't work without Scott. But I spoke to 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:50.140 Scott. I'll tell you who's on the end of the 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:52.579 end of that phone. I'll tell you to whom you're 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:55.660 speaking. To your guilty conscience. Admit it. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:26:01.960 And then face it and fight it. I can write without 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:05.390 Scott. You believe it don't you Paul? I mean 00:26:05.390 --> 00:26:08.990 you do you believe it of course you can but you 00:26:08.990 --> 00:26:13.549 can't work here not in this house Why? This isn't 00:26:13.549 --> 00:26:17.309 a home. It's a museum Every room is dedicated 00:26:17.309 --> 00:26:22.069 to Scott weapons souvenirs pictures Scott always 00:26:22.069 --> 00:26:23.869 insisted on having the things he wrote about 00:26:23.869 --> 00:26:26.269 in front of us all the time If we were going 00:26:26.269 --> 00:26:28.690 to poison someone we'd we'd have that bottle 00:26:28.690 --> 00:26:31.569 in front of us with the poison in it and and 00:26:32.190 --> 00:26:35.529 We'd fill the bottle and we'd make it mean something 00:26:35.529 --> 00:26:38.569 dynamic. And that's why we have all these things, 00:26:38.829 --> 00:26:41.789 all these spears and these knives and these guns 00:26:41.789 --> 00:26:44.650 and these... and everything. I agree. Realism 00:26:44.650 --> 00:26:47.569 is great. But get rid of everything in this house 00:26:47.569 --> 00:26:51.230 that you can associate with Scott. See, I still 00:26:51.230 --> 00:26:54.289 love Scott. Clear the house of all this junk. 00:26:54.309 --> 00:26:56.609 But how can I part with the things that have... 00:26:56.609 --> 00:26:59.130 You'll never be free of Scott as long as everything 00:26:59.130 --> 00:27:05.960 around you reminds you of Scott. Well, maybe, 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:09.099 Paul. You may just have something. Another thing. 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:12.200 You might get rid of Miss Cullet. Miss Cullet? 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:15.579 But she's a perfect gem. She's one of the reasons 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:18.880 you're trying too hard. Miss Cullet? Why, most 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:21.819 of the time I hardly know she's there. Well, 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:25.220 I'm afraid subconsciously you're thinking she's 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:31.069 comparing you with Scott. Oh, that's true. That 00:27:31.069 --> 00:27:35.250 is true, and I never thought of it But I mean 00:27:35.250 --> 00:27:37.849 she she's given us ten faithful years. How do 00:27:37.849 --> 00:27:42.450 I I? know I'll tell her I'm going on a on a long 00:27:42.450 --> 00:27:47.849 trip and I'll give her a year's pay Two years 00:27:47.849 --> 00:27:52.650 pay be generous and be kind Just remember for 00:27:52.650 --> 00:27:56.349 years now. She's had no other life except Working 00:27:56.349 --> 00:27:59.289 here for you and Scott. Yes. Yes, I'll be very 00:27:59.289 --> 00:28:08.269 considerate of her feelings the poor thing And 00:28:08.269 --> 00:28:11.630 so it might very well be a year before I come 00:28:11.630 --> 00:28:14.670 back miss Cuellar I understand mrs. Partridge 00:28:14.670 --> 00:28:17.210 and if you should like to you know go to work 00:28:17.210 --> 00:28:20.450 again soon Why mr. Evans knows of a great many 00:28:20.450 --> 00:28:23.029 interesting openings that would be very kind 00:28:23.029 --> 00:28:26.779 of him I'll miss you very much. No, ma 'am, you 00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:31.640 won't miss me too much. I mean that, Miss Cuellar. 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:35.359 You won't miss me. Because I'm not going anywhere. 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:39.779 What did you say? Oh, I believe you heard what 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:45.180 I said, Mrs. Partridge. I have no intention of 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:54.839 leaving this house. Now, what's this? What makes 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:58.380 Miss Cullet think her employer can't fire her? 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:02.539 To say I have no intention of leaving this house. 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:07.319 Meek, Miss Cullet? We will have to hear some 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:09.740 more from Miss Cullet before we can properly 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:13.799 evaluate this latest development. And we shall 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:30.059 when I return shortly with Act 3. For ten years 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:33.799 mild modest and self -effacing Miss Cullet has 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:37.420 been secretary to the partridges Scott and Jennifer 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:41.299 Now Jennifer's doctor has ordered Jennifer to 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:45.279 revamp her entire life Get rid of everything 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:48.759 that could remind her of Scott everything and 00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:52.599 everyone But the most astounding thing has just 00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:58.339 happened Mousy Miss Cullet refuses to be fired. 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:01.660 I am not sure I heard what you said, Miss Cullet. 00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:05.259 I said I have no intention of leaving this house. 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:08.940 That outline Mr. Partridge wrote, those eleven 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:13.680 pages of handwritten notes. Well? I found them. 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:21.460 You... found them? Yes, Mrs. Partridge. But that's... 00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:24.240 that's... Impossible? Were you going to say impossible? 00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:28.609 I... I know. You destroyed them, but I found 00:30:28.609 --> 00:30:31.930 them before you burned them, and I made a copy. 00:30:33.609 --> 00:30:37.490 I see. What do you want, Miss Culis? The notes 00:30:37.490 --> 00:30:40.589 explain how a man was killed when his wife tampered 00:30:40.589 --> 00:30:44.049 with the chamber of his shotgun. That's not proof 00:30:44.049 --> 00:30:46.630 that I... Let's think for a minute and decide 00:30:46.630 --> 00:30:50.349 what it is. Your husband's shotgun exploded in 00:30:50.349 --> 00:30:53.390 his face, killing him. He had written a story 00:30:53.390 --> 00:30:56.069 explaining how it could be done. You tried to 00:30:56.069 --> 00:30:59.490 destroy that story. I will testify that you and 00:30:59.490 --> 00:31:02.029 he fought. We had the normal disagreements any 00:31:02.029 --> 00:31:04.650 husband and wife had. For ten years I sat in 00:31:04.650 --> 00:31:07.369 this office like another chair or a piece of 00:31:07.369 --> 00:31:11.609 furniture. The invisible Miss Kulit. I was a 00:31:11.609 --> 00:31:14.390 machine and took down everything each of you 00:31:14.390 --> 00:31:17.069 said and you said everything in front of me. 00:31:17.490 --> 00:31:22.009 Everything as if I didn't exist. What do you 00:31:22.009 --> 00:31:29.970 want I want Things as they are right now I Don't 00:31:29.970 --> 00:31:32.930 know what that means. I want you to keep living 00:31:32.930 --> 00:31:37.190 in fear Filled with fright worrying wondering 00:31:37.190 --> 00:31:40.990 what I'm going to do about you. That's all you 00:31:40.990 --> 00:31:45.509 want. It's enough. Why? What did I ever do to 00:31:45.509 --> 00:31:49.150 you? What did you ever do to me? Oh How dare 00:31:49.150 --> 00:31:52.549 you ask that. I ask because I don't know. You 00:31:52.549 --> 00:31:57.109 killed the man I loved. The man you loved? You 00:31:57.109 --> 00:32:00.869 killed Scott Partridge. He didn't even know you 00:32:00.869 --> 00:32:04.710 were alive. Does that matter? Can you live without 00:32:04.710 --> 00:32:07.829 the sun? Does the sun know you're alive? You 00:32:07.829 --> 00:32:12.529 loved Scott? Love? Oh, what a weak, fragile word. 00:32:12.890 --> 00:32:16.470 I had... Adored him. I worshiped him and you 00:32:16.470 --> 00:32:19.630 killed him. You killed him. I don't believe you 00:32:19.630 --> 00:32:28.549 Why did I stay here all these years? Yes What's 00:32:28.549 --> 00:32:35.529 that mrs. Mason the moving men did you what oh 00:32:35.529 --> 00:32:41.089 No, no, there must be some mistake I Will ask 00:32:41.089 --> 00:32:44.769 mrs. Bartridge Mrs. Partridge, Mrs. Mason says 00:32:44.769 --> 00:32:48.750 movers are here to take away all of Mr. Partridge's 00:32:48.750 --> 00:32:53.390 things. Is that true? Yes. Oh, no. No, I won't 00:32:53.390 --> 00:32:57.309 permit it. Mrs. Mason, dismiss those men. Mrs. 00:32:57.670 --> 00:33:02.390 Partridge has just changed her mind. Now see 00:33:02.390 --> 00:33:04.190 here, Miss Cuellars... I'll bring those notes 00:33:04.190 --> 00:33:06.910 to the police station. I'll swear you threatened 00:33:06.910 --> 00:33:11.369 to kill him. Nothing. Nothing in this house must 00:33:11.369 --> 00:33:16.650 ever be changed. Do you understand? This place, 00:33:17.410 --> 00:33:33.569 it must remain a shrine to his memory. No. No, 00:33:33.630 --> 00:33:41.650 I don't care. I'm... I know I'm better. I was 00:33:41.650 --> 00:33:49.970 always better. I'll kill her. I'll kill her too. 00:33:54.049 --> 00:33:58.230 Don't ring. No, I won't answer. No, I won't. 00:33:58.250 --> 00:34:04.799 I won't answer. Jennifer. Hello? Jennifer. Jennifer, 00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:14.679 wake up. Jennifer, wake up. Paul. You were having 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:24.340 a nightmare. I was trying to put some notes together 00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:28.820 and I just must have fallen asleep. What are 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:31.360 you doing here? Well, I happened to be in the 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:34.340 neighborhood. I thought I'd stop in and check 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:38.539 on you. Now, Jennifer, what's the meaning of 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:43.360 all this? All what? Well, I thought we'd agreed 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:48.039 to transform this house from a museum, from a 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:52.639 memorial to Scott, into a home for you. Well, 00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:56.639 and, uh, Miss Cullet. She's downstairs cleaning 00:34:56.639 --> 00:35:02.159 a revolver. Why is she still here? Because. Yes? 00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:06.659 Because? Because that's how I want it. Something's 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:10.480 not right. The way Miss Cullet smiled at me when 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:14.300 I came in here today. Yes, Miss Cullet. As if 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:18.320 she knows something. But that's not what I find 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:23.429 strange. Miss Cullet. Miss Cullet's hidden facets 00:35:23.429 --> 00:35:26.710 in Miss Cullet. It's not so much that I noticed 00:35:26.710 --> 00:35:31.289 the smile. It's not It's the fact that I noticed 00:35:31.289 --> 00:35:36.289 Miss Cullet. That's it. I noticed Miss Cullet 00:35:36.289 --> 00:35:40.190 Jennifer Why didn't you fire her? Because I choose 00:35:40.190 --> 00:35:42.530 to keep her. There's something about that woman. 00:35:42.550 --> 00:35:45.360 I'll deal with Miss Cullet What does that mean? 00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:48.980 Let me go back to work. Jennifer, the wastebasket 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:51.099 is overflowing. I'm going to keep trying. Try 00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:53.900 to analyze your problem. What's blocking you? 00:35:54.219 --> 00:35:57.039 Do what Scott would do. Don't you dare mention 00:35:57.039 --> 00:36:00.920 his name. Learn from Scott. When faced with a 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:04.679 problem, how would Scott approach it? Scott. 00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:11.559 Scott would say three magic words. And what were 00:36:11.559 --> 00:36:24.519 they? Who? Why? How? Who? Why? How? Every good 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:30.679 story must have a strong who, a logical why, 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:39.199 a believable how. That's the telephone. Shall 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:44.420 I answer? No. Because if you answer, There'll 00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:52.940 be no one on the other end. Let me. Hello. Hello, 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:57.440 darling. Scott. Jennifer, it can't be Scott. 00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:02.860 How is the writing coming, darling? Why? How? 00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:07.760 Jennifer, you know the how. It's Scott's voice 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:11.039 on the phone. Now discover the who and the why. 00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:16.670 The who? and the why. What was that, darling? 00:37:17.809 --> 00:37:25.409 The who and the why. You remember who, why and 00:37:25.409 --> 00:37:31.809 how, don't you, Scott? Dearest, I don't remember. 00:37:32.710 --> 00:37:38.210 Dearest, you are a phony and the little game 00:37:38.210 --> 00:37:45.559 is over. And it nearly destroyed my mind, but 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:56.460 no more. Miss Cullet, I would like you to take 00:37:56.460 --> 00:38:00.360 some dictation. I found another outline Mr. Partridge 00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:06.079 had done some time ago. Oh? Are you ready? Oh, 00:38:06.099 --> 00:38:11.019 yes, indeed. He calls this... If I loved you 00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:15.960 twice as much, you'd be half as dead. Oh, poor 00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:19.119 darling, Mr. Partridge. He would always begin 00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:23.719 every treatment with a joke. Now he sets it up. 00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:29.500 Husband, wife, secretary. Secretary idolizes 00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:36.340 husband. Husband idolizes wife. Wife hates husband. 00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:42.349 Wife... Murders husband? Are you getting all 00:38:42.349 --> 00:38:47.289 this? Oh yes, yes. Secretary decides to drive 00:38:47.289 --> 00:38:54.489 wife insane. Secretary hires actor to impersonate 00:38:54.489 --> 00:38:58.929 husband's voice on phone. He wrote that? Secretary 00:38:58.929 --> 00:39:03.869 knows all the inside intimate details of husband 00:39:03.869 --> 00:39:09.019 -wife relationship. Coaches actor so he can sound 00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:14.199 authentic. Yes wife believes actor is husband 00:39:14.199 --> 00:39:20.579 until until what? Don't you know? How would I 00:39:20.579 --> 00:39:27.239 know? until wife discovers Secretary is behind 00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:37.559 it all then Then what then wife? kills secretary. 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:43.940 How? Like this. Oh, no. Don't touch me with that. 00:39:44.360 --> 00:39:50.719 Don't touch me. No. Oh, no. Get me to a doctor. 00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:56.619 You've killed me. Of course. This dart the tip 00:39:56.619 --> 00:39:59.900 is covered with. I know. I know. Oh, please. 00:40:00.219 --> 00:40:04.440 Call a doctor. I'm getting dizzy. I... Poison, 00:40:04.920 --> 00:40:08.460 curare. Scott and I used it as the gimmick in 00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:11.699 our South American jungle mystery. Please, call 00:40:11.699 --> 00:40:14.079 the doctor. He could do nothing for you now. 00:40:14.219 --> 00:40:19.340 You little fool. It was a good try. You did hire 00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:23.920 an excellent actor. I compliment you. I... I 00:40:23.920 --> 00:40:29.599 didn't hire anyone. Forget it. But I... I didn't. 00:40:30.349 --> 00:40:33.710 What do you mean you didn't hire anyone who else 00:40:33.710 --> 00:40:44.070 if it wasn't you Then who why how miss kill it 00:40:44.070 --> 00:41:01.159 miss kill it answer me Hello Oh, please, who 00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:07.079 are you? Who else could I be? Scott? No, Scott! 00:41:07.639 --> 00:41:12.340 Darling, you killed so quickly for such trivial 00:41:12.340 --> 00:41:15.619 reasons. Poor girl, she should have done you 00:41:15.619 --> 00:41:20.460 no harm. Me, couldn't you be generous enough 00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:24.760 to share part of the fame with me? Scott, if 00:41:24.760 --> 00:41:32.139 I could only do it over again. Scott, what's 00:41:32.139 --> 00:41:34.639 going to happen to me? You can't make it on your 00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:39.880 own, sweetheart. You need me. Scott, I need you 00:41:39.880 --> 00:41:46.340 so badly. Darling, you know the pills we used 00:41:46.340 --> 00:41:51.579 in Murder of the Month? No, no. Just one pill. 00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:56.559 You'll go quickly, easily, no pain. You'll just 00:41:56.559 --> 00:42:01.579 fall quietly, pleasantly asleep. I'm afraid. 00:42:02.059 --> 00:43:15.070 I'll be with you. And hopefully they are together 00:43:15.070 --> 00:43:18.909 again. Not just the two of them, but the three 00:43:18.909 --> 00:43:23.500 of them. After all, they need Miss Cullet, too. 00:43:24.260 --> 00:43:28.280 And they're probably writing mysteries upstairs 00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:31.539 for the heavenly version of Mystery Theatre. 00:43:32.420 --> 00:43:36.599 So, when you go to your Just Reward, you won't 00:43:36.599 --> 00:43:51.760 have to miss your favorite program. Well, tonight 00:43:51.760 --> 00:43:55.599 we did more than just entertain you. We also 00:43:55.599 --> 00:43:59.179 taught you one of the tricks of the trade—who, 00:43:59.699 --> 00:44:05.320 why, how. Those are the three magic words. Our 00:44:05.320 --> 00:44:08.719 cast included Arlene Francis, Mary Jane Higby, 00:44:09.219 --> 00:44:13.440 Robert Dryden, and Guy Sorrell. The entire production 00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:17.300 was under the direction of Hyman Brown. This 00:44:17.300 --> 00:44:19.980 is E .G. Marshall inviting you to return to our 00:44:19.980 --> 00:44:23.280 mystery theater for another adventure in the 00:44:23.280 --> 00:44:29.219 macabre. Until next time, pleasant dreams.