["Alfred Hitchcock" theme music]
- Good evening.
Welcome to our improvisational
theater.
This is, of course,
completely unrehearsed,
unwritten, and unintelligible.
Nothing is planned.
We just ask our audience to call
out
what you would like us to do.
Simply give us a last line,
a title, some characters,
a theme, a setting, a
point of view, a plot,
a first line, and some lines in
between,
and we make up the rest,
improvising as we go along.
To be perfectly honest,
we have never done this,
since, to date, no audience has
managed
to come up with a last
line, a title, characters,
a theme, setting, et cetera,
et cetera, et cetera.
They keep getting hung up.
Apparently, people can
think on their feet,
but have difficulty when
they are sitting down.
Tonight's play tells of
an actor in Hollywood
and his response to a call for
help
from a desperate girl in New
York.
This next minute is completely
rehearsed,
planned, and calculated.
Your reaction to it,
however, may be improvised.
You are on your own.
[bittersweet instrumental music]
- Ed, stop, stop it!
- [Ed] I'll k*ll him,
so help [groans].
- Stop it, please!
Stop it.
- [Ed] You tell me everything.
[gasping]
- Ed.
[shattering]
Ed, he loves me.
- He's playing a game.
- I love him, leave us alone.
- Where is he?
Where?
Tell me, where he is!
- No!
[crashing]
- Come here.
- No.
- [Ed] Come here.
- No.
- [Ed] Come here.
- No.
- Where is he?
Where is he, where is he?
- No.
- Where is?
I'll find him.
Wherever he is, I'll find
him, I'll expose him.
I'll get him, if it takes
the rest of my life.
[thudding]
[cascading instrumental music]
I'll k*ll him.
- Ed.
Ed.
Ed.
[cascading instrumental music]
Operator,
I'd like to make a
person-to-person call
to Hollywood, California.
[phone rings]
- Hello.
- [Operator] New York calling.
I have a person-to-person
call for Mr. Larry Duke.
- Speaking.
- [Operator] You're Mr. Larry
Duke?
- Yes, who is it?
Put it through, please.
- [Operator] Go ahead, New
York, your party's on the line.
- [Distraught Woman] Larry, is
that you?
- Janice?
[Janice sobs]
Janice, darling, take
it easy, take it easy.
- [Janice] I'm sorry if I woke
you,
but I just had to talk to you.
I'm half out of my mind.
- What happened, are you
in some kind of trouble?
- Larry, it was horrible, it was
Ed.
- [Larry] Who?
- Ed, my husband.
He found out where I was living.
He burst in here half an hour
ago.
He was drunk and he started
hitting me.
- Did he hurt you, Janice?
Janice, are you all right?
- Yes, yes, I'll be all right.
- [Larry] How did he find
out where you were living?
- I don't know, he
must've gotten my number
from the office.
Larry, I've never seen him so
violent.
He started beating me and
swearing
he'd never give me a divorce.
Larry, Larry, he's out of his
mind.
He wanted to know where you were
living.
He threatened to k*ll
you, ruin your career,
do anything, anything to pay you
back
for what's happened.
- Oh, you poor baby, you poor
kid.
- [Janice] Darling, what are we
gonna do?
I'm so mixed up.
- Just take it easy,
darling, just take it easy.
What happened after that?
- He passed out, he just keeled
over and went to the floor.
I've never seen him like this
before.
- [Larry] You mean he's still
there?
- Yes, I'm afraid to touch him.
I mean, suppose he wakes up.
What am I gonna do?
- What a lousy break.
I'm 3,000 miles away.
- [Janice] Darling, I'm sure he
means it.
He won't give me a divorce
and he'll come after you.
- [Larry] Don't worry about it.
I'm more concerned
about you at the moment.
- Oh, darling, I miss you so
much.
These last weeks have been like
a century.
When will you be able to come
home?
- Once this picture's
over, they won't be able
to hold me here with chains.
I figure another month, it'll be
all over.
- Oh, but that's so long.
Couldn't I come out to you,
please?
I could leave tomorrow.
- Darling, you're
wonderful, you really are.
Nothing would make me happier.
But suppose he follows you.
I mean, the last thing I need
now
is any kind of scandal, you know
that.
No, sweetheart, there's too much
at stake.
I mean, I wouldn't be here
if it weren't for you.
Darling, I wanna make you so
proud of me.
- I'm proud of you now.
And, Larry, Larry, look,
all those ridiculous things
I said in that last letter,
you know I didn't mean a word of
it.
I mean, you must know that.
I'd be the last person in the
world
who'd want to spoil your
chances.
- Then let's go ahead as we
planned.
Sweetheart, when this picture is
over
and I can write my own ticket,
we're gonna be sitting
on top of the world.
Janice?
- Yes, I'm sorry, Larry, he
moaned.
I thought he was coming to,
but he's still dead to the
world.
What am I gonna do if he wakes
up?
- Darling, I'm taking the next
plane east.
I can be with you.
- No, Larry, just talk to me.
Just talk to me.
The sound of your voice
is so reassuring, so good.
I don't know how I ever
lived one day without you.
- The same goes for me, baby.
Before you, it's all a blur.
- Two months,
only two months ago.
So much has happened.
So very much.
Of course, Harold.
All right, gentlemen, I'm
sorry to have kept you waiting.
Last minute script problems.
Would you all stand up so
I can get a look at you?
Now, you've read the scene.
The part calls for
someone suave, debonair,
strictly bon vivant type.
Mr. Roberts and Mr. Drake are
inside,
waiting to hear you read.
Now, unfortunately, they
have to fly to Boston
within an hour, so, to save
time,
I'm going to select only those
of you
I think are closest to
what we're looking for.
- Yes, one moment.
Mrs. Brandt, telephone.
- [Janice] Who is it, Mimi?
- It's your husband.
Shall I tell him to call back?
- No, no, I'll take it here.
Hello, darling.
- [Ed] Hello, Janice.
- How'd the meeting go?
- [Ed] Great, they're
sending me to Chicago today.
- Oh, wonderful fabulous.
Isn't that rushing things a bit?
Oh, of course I'm excited for
you.
I mean, flying to Chicago
at such short notice.
Yes, well, I mean, how
long will you be gone?
- [Ed] Only tomorrow.
- Only tomorrow?
I guess I can survive.
- [Ed] Will you miss me?
- Yes, yes, call me as soon as
you land.
Good luck, I'll keep my fingers
crossed.
- [Ed] Will you be all right,
Janice?
- Hmm, oh, don't worry about me.
I have dozens of scripts to
read.
See you tomorrow.
You, you,
and you.
Will the three of you come with
me?
Just go right on into my office.
Thank you very much, gentlemen.
Try us again next week.
- Just a second, Miss High And
Mighty,
just a second here.
I've been waiting three hours
to do a reading for you.
I was the first one here.
- I'm sorry, you're not the
type.
- I'm an actor, I can
be any type you want.
What right have you to
judge me without a reading?
- Just call it intuition.
- I'd rather call it stupidity.
- What's your name?
- Larry Duke.
Larry Duke.
Remember it, it's gonna
be on a lot of marquees
before I'm finished.
- As far as I'm concerned,
you're finished right now.
Thank you, gentlemen, and
better luck next time.
Harold, they're ready when you
are.
- [Harold] We're ready, send
them in,
one at a time.
- Right.
Who wants to be first?
- Me.
- Maybe you haven't noticed,
but I made my selection.
- Listen, lady, I'm
gonna be a star some day.
Be the first in your
neighborhood to discover me.
- Uh, would you go in, please?
Start reading from the top of
page 22.
Good luck.
- What's he got that I haven't
got?
- Good manners.
Look, for your edification, this
is not
the way to win friends and
influence casting agents.
- All I want is a
chance, I'm a good actor.
Right now, I need a job,
it's as simple as that.
- I'll make it simpler.
Go home, you're not right for
the part.
- Why not?
- You read the description.
It calls for nobility, breeding,
a kind of English aristocracy.
- So?
- You're Greenwich
Village, the dr*fter type.
It shows all over you.
- So?
I'll fall on my face,
so what, it's my face.
- Mr. Duke, this is a very busy
office.
- I'll bet you've never
even looked at my face.
- I see it!
[buzzing]
- I bet you think there's
nothing behind it, don't you?
Well, lady, you're wrong.
There's dreams and feelings
behind it
the size of mountains.
- [Mimi] Mrs. Brandt.
Mr. Roberts says, would you
send in the next actor, please.
- All right.
- Come on, when was
the last time you were
desperate for something?
- Believe me, you're not
what they're looking for.
- Then let them tell me, please.
- Janice, what's holding you up?
Cal has a plane to catch.
- I'm glad to see you,
Mr. Roberts.
- I know, Harold, I'm sorry.
- I'm Larry Duke.
- Wait, wait a second.
Here, I [speaker cut off].
He doesn't have a chance.
- All right, young man,
now you've gone over the--
- Duke, Larry Duke.
- Yes, Larry Duke.
This is the part of the
Englishman.
- Right, you want this in
dialect?
- Well, just read it, Mr. Duke.
- Well, Mr. Roberts,
England is a big place.
This could be anywhere in
England.
I mean, it could be--
- Just read it, Mr. Duke.
- Ah, Milicent, I knew I'd
find you here in the garden.
Bit under the weather tonight,
aren't you?
- Mr. Duke, we don't have
time for method rehearsals.
- This is not a rehearsal set.
- Would you kindly read
the script!
- I've already started
the scene, sir.
- You have?
- Yes.
- Well I can't hear you.
- Bit under the weather
tonight, aren't you?
Well, old darling, I'll bet the
whiskers--
- Just a minute, who are you mad
at?
What are you shouting for?
This is a light, g*y, airy
Englishman.
This is a comedy.
- Right, right.
- I'll bet the whiskers
on your butler's chin
it's because of your father's
goot.
Faithful Arnold will cheer--
- Gout.
- Should I make it funnier?
- [Harold] Gout, Mr. Duke, gout.
- Right.
Gout.
It's because of your father's
gout.
Faithful Arnold will cheer you
up.
Shall I make a funny face?
[phone rings]
Or do you want to hear a
dandy new bird call I do?
Listen, it's the beckle fellied,
it's the freckle-bellied
wobtail.
Could I please start this again,
please?
- No, no.
- If I can start at the top
again--
- Just continue on from where
you left off, thank you.
- Yeah, well, they want
the bird call here.
It's the whistle.
- Well, I presume that you have
a whistle.
Thank you very much, Mr. Duke.
- Well, I can do a speech.
- It was splendid, thank
you very much, Mr. Duke.
- Mr. Roberts, if I can start
again from the top.
- Janice, the next actor,
please.
- I could get under this thing
and do it.
- Thank you very much,
Mr. Duke.
[bright instrumental music]
Aw, Janice.
- Sorry.
Harold, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Next, I tried to keep him out.
- [Harold] Next actor, please.
[bright instrumental music]
- [Janice] Taxi!
Taxi!
- Remember me?
- Very well indeed.
- Look, I'd like to apologize
for my bad behavior up there.
I guess I'm something of a nut.
- Well, please, forget it.
I really have to--
- No, look, really, I'm sorry.
I'd like to make it up to you.
Look, how about something
warm for a cold shoulder?
- No, thank you, Mr. Duke.
- You remember my name?
Score one for me.
You sure you won't join me?
- I'm sorry, I can't.
- You were right.
They clobbered me in that
meeting.
Look, I really do apologize.
- Accepted.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I'm trying to get a cab.
- [Larry] Why the rush?
- First, I make it a rule never
to drink
with budding actors,
and, secondly, my husband's
waiting.
- In Chicago?
Remember, I was there when he
called.
Look, I don't mean to embarrass
you.
It's just that you're
the first casting agent
I've been able to talk to
for more than five minutes
since I got to New York.
This can be an awful cold town
for a guy just starting out.
I guess I just wanted
somebody to know I'm alive.
Please, won't you join me for a
drink?
- I'm sorry, I'd like to help.
There's a cab, taxi!
Oh!
- You all right?
- I'm fine, I can manage.
Please, if you just hold that
cab.
- Even I'm a better actor
than that Mrs. Brandt.
- [Janice] What are you doing?
- I'm being suave,
debonair, and bon vivant.
How else am I supposed to learn?
[romantic instrumental music]
- Remember, darling?
You literally swept me off my
feet.
And, even then, I had no
resistance.
Larry.
Can you hear me, Larry?
Larry.
Larry.
- I'm thinking, darling.
[twisting instrumental music]
I'm thinking.
- About what?
- Us, what we mean to each
other,
what we've been through.
Janice, every moment we've had
together
has had a shadow lurking
over it, spoiling it,
making our love something dirty
and cheap.
- [Janice] What are you talking
about?
- Janice, do you love me?
- Oh, darling, how can
you ask such a question?
You know there's nothing in the
world
I wouldn't do for you.
- [Larry] Then I'm going to
ask you to make a decision.
- What decision?
I don't understand.
- Janice, don't you see?
If we let him, he can destroy
everything.
You, me, the whole works.
But tonight, we can stop him,
free ourselves once and for all.
That decision is yours.
- What decision are you talking
about?
- The one we've been avoiding
too long,
concerning your dear husband.
- What about him?
- He's dead to the world you
said, right?
Well, sweetheart, I think
it's time we made him deader.
[dramatic instrumental music]
I think it's time we made him
deader.
Janice?
Janice, did you hear what I
said?
- Uh, I'm not sure.
- Janice, he's a curse on us.
You gave me your word
there'd be no trouble
once you asked for a divorce,
but he's still hanging on like a
leech.
Janice, he's capable of smashing
my life,
my career, everything if
we give him half a chance.
Well, he's not gonna smash me,
Janice.
Not now, no one is.
I swear it.
- Larry, you sound so strange.
- Remember, once I told
you I only play it one way,
the only way I knew how.
- Uh, Larry, I'm so confused.
- [Larry] I want you to remember
the first time I said it
and what you answered.
- Larry, he may wake up at any
minute.
- [Larry] He's not gonna wake
up, Janice.
Now, listen to me, I want you to
remember
that first time I told you
how I play this game of love
and what it means to me.
- I'll try.
- Try hard, baby.
Because once you do, it'll
make the rest easier.
Remember, it was that same
day I brought you home.
[dramatic instrumental music]
- This has gone far
enough, put me down now.
- Wow.
- I said you could put me down
now.
- Oh, yeah, service
with a smile, that's me.
How's your ankle?
- I'll manage, thank you.
Good bye.
- Good bye, good bye, she says.
Here I am soaked to the
skin, she says good bye.
Most people wouldn't put
garbage out on a day like this,
let alone a Sir Galahad like me.
The least you could do is
let me dry off a minute.
- I have been rather rude,
haven't I?
All right, you can stay a few
minutes.
I'll make some coffee.
- Oh, coffee, yeah, oh
yeah, coffee, thank you.
That'll hit the spot.
- Just make yourself
comfortable.
I won't be a moment.
- Hey, listen, are you all
right?
- I'm fine.
- Rugged individualist
to the end, aren't you?
- Look, Mr. Duke, I
invited you in for coffee,
not instant analysis.
If you wanna start the
coffee, it's in the kitchen.
- No, thank you, I'll wait for
you.
[soulful piano music]
- Tell me about yourself, Mr.
Duke.
- [Larry] There's not much to
tell.
I wanted to be an actor
ever since I was a kid.
Now I'm not a kid anymore,
I still got the hunger.
- [Janice] What about your
parents?
- No parents.
They were k*lled when I was
five.
Auto crash.
After that, it was one
foster home after another.
You'd be surprised what a
kid can pick up about life
playing that circuit.
It gets to be like a
revolving stage after a while.
Nothing seems real for very
long.
Not even people.
Anyway, after I graduated
that off-Broadway scene,
I bummed around in the
navy for a couple of years.
And here I am,
ready for action.
Any more questions?
- [Janice] Nope.
- Now it's my turn.
How long you been married?
- [Janice] Four years.
- Happy?
- Yes, very.
- [Larry] He's a lot
older than you, isn't he?
say?
- I'm sorry, I can't hear you.
- Skip it.
Your husband drinks, doesn't he?
[dramatic instrumental music]
I'm sorry, but there's always
something
around the eyes gives them away.
- Are you always so positive
about things?
- Only when it comes to
weaknesses of the flesh.
- Not that it's any of your
business,
but my husband is a very
successful copy writer.
Maybe he did drink a little bit
before we were married, but, I
assure you,
that's all over now.
- Bully for him.
But let one little obstacle
come along he can't handle,
I bet he'll be back boozing it
up
before you can say gin on the
rocks.
- You don't have very much
faith in people, do you?
- Living in foster homes didn't
help much.
People are masks to each other,
especially in a marriage.
Most couples live out their
whole lives
without ever once exposing
their true natures.
- I suppose you think my
marriage
falls into that category.
How wrong you are.
- Am I?
Then why are you twisting
your wedding ring
like it's burning a hole in your
finger?
- I think that's enough.
- I don't think it's half
enough.
I don't think it's been enough
for the last four years.
- Get out of my house.
- [Larry] You're not as
invincible
as you pretend, are you?
- I said get out of my house!
- All my life, I've
watched women like you,
hurrying down Fifth Avenue,
driving by in big limousines,
treating me like I didn't exist.
Well, I do.
And, for once, one of
you is gonna know it.
[dramatic instrumental music]
My name is Larry Duke.
I'm alive, I'm human, recognize
me.
I wanna belong somewhere, to
someone.
- This isn't happening.
- Let it be you.
[dramatic instrumental music]
I'm stopping now.
If I kiss you once more,
it stops being for fun,
for kicks.
It becomes the real thing, for
keeps.
I don't know any other way to
play.
- Neither do I.
- Then walk away.
One more kiss means we're two of
a kind.
And there's no turning back.
- No turning back.
[dramatic instrumental music]
No turning back.
No turning back.
- [Larry] No turning back.
Those words sealed us forever,
Janice,
and anyone that stands
between is our enemy,
don't you see that?
- Yes, but what can I do about
it?
- You can make certain that we
have
the rest of our lives together
without this barrier between us.
- Larry, don't.
- [Larry] He has to be
taken care of, Janice.
When he's around, we don't have
a chance
of making it together.
- Don't say that!
- It's true, Janice.
All of a sudden, it's crystal
clear.
With him around, we're dead.
But with him dead, we're
free and clear all the way.
- Larry, you sound so crazy.
- [Larry] Me or him, Janice,
that's what it amounts to.
Tonight is showdown
night, one way or another.
- You mean, you mean you want me
to,
do you realize what you're
asking?
- [Larry] Easy now, just take it
easy.
Don't put words in my mouth.
- Look, I'd do anything
in the world for you,
but, please, not that.
- Darling, I wish there was
some other way, I really do.
Don't you see what it can mean?
- But how can we?
I mean, what could I do?
- All right, all right, let
me think about it a while.
I'll figure out something.
Can you call me back in 15
minutes?
- I didn't say I, I didn't say
I'd do it,
I didn't say that!
- Okay, okay, maybe your
loyalty to him is too strong.
We'll just forget the whole
thing.
And maybe while we're at it,
we'll forget
we ever met each other.
Good bye, Janice.
- Larry!
Don't hang up!
I'm so desperate.
I swear I'll k*ll myself if you
do.
I'll k*ll myself.
I can't live without you.
[dramatic instrumental music]
I don't know how I ever
lived one day without you.
- [Operator] Your call to Mr.
Lockwood
can be put through now.
- Yes, yes, Mr. Lockwood.
- [Mr. Lockwood] Janice, is that
you?
- Hello, Jack.
I bet you're surprised to hear
from me again.
- It's a pleasant surprise.
- Look, I've got wonderful news
for you.
I think I found the perfect
actor for Judd in Wild Rebel.
- [Jack] But what about Craig?
- I know, I know you're
about to sign Craig Hamilton,
and he's with the agency, too,
but both Harold and myself feel
you'll be making a great mistake
if you don't test Larry Duke
before signing anyone else.
- [Jack] Larry Duke?
- That's right, that's
his name, Larry Duke.
Take my word for it, Jack.
He's got more appeal than
a dozen Craig Hamiltons.
I tell you, he's sensational!
He cannot miss.
I mean, have you ever
heard me go overboard
for anyone like this?
- [Jack] Well, if you're sure.
- Believe me, Jack, Jack,
he's something special.
- [Jack] Janice, hello?
- Yes.
- [Jack] Are we still connected?
- I'm still here.
What was that, Jack?
- [Jack] You want us to
hold up Craig's contract?
- That's right.
- His contract.
- That's right.
We want you to hold up
Craig Hamilton's contract
until you've tested Larry Duke.
- [Jack] Well, you haven't been
wrong yet.
- Wonderful.
Wonderful, Jack, you won't be
sorry.
- [Jack] I hope not.
- I tell you, he's the type of
man
who could charm a woman
into doing anything,
anything at all.
- [Jack] You make him sound
terrific.
- Yes.
Yes, I'll be waiting to hear.
[dramatic instrumental music]
- [Larry] Me or him, Janice.
Who's it gonna be?
- You.
You.
Only you.
- Then call me back in 15
minutes.
Dial me direct this time,
don't use the operator.
I'll be waiting with all the
details.
- Larry, I don't think I can.
I don't think--
- [Larry] Janice, I'm depending
on you.
[dramatic instrumental music]
Now just answer this,
did anybody see him come
into your apartment?
- [Janice] No.
- And his car, did he come by
car?
- I don't know, he's
parked directly in front.
I'm frightened, Larry, I'm so
frightened.
- You and me, Janice.
The rest of our lives
together, remember that.
In 15 minutes, it can all be
ours.
- Larry.
- [Larry] I'll be waiting.
Good bye, darling.
[dramatic instrumental music]
- Ed, Ed, wake up.
Ed, wake up and go home.
Why did you have to come here
tonight?
Why couldn't you have given me a
divorce
when I asked for it?
Now look what's happened.
What are we doing here like
this?
[trembling instrumental music]
- Janice, what is it?
Lately, well, I can't
seem to reach you anymore.
- Can't we discuss it some other
time?
- No.
We've always been
truthful with each other.
Now what's going on?
- Maybe we've just grown
too used to each other,
too unexciting.
That happens, you know.
- What about our plans?
I mean, I mean our plans to
leave New York
if my promotion goes through?
- I couldn't possibly leave
New York now, not now.
It's out of the question.
- I don't understand,
you're like a stranger.
Something's come between us.
- Maybe just the truth
of what a poor marriage
we really have.
- Janice I [speaker cut
off by phone ringing].
- Excuse me.
Yes?
- Lockwood Studios.
- Lockwood Studios?
Yes, put it through.
It's Hollywood, Jack Lockwood,
the call I've been expecting.
Maybe you better go on
to your club meeting.
- [Operator] I have your
party, go ahead, please.
- Hello, hello, Jack.
- [Jack] Janice.
- Yes, it's Janice again.
Say, you are an angel for
calling me back so promptly.
- [Jack] It's my pleasure,
I wish you were here.
- What?
Yes, there's some fine
points I'd like to clear up
with you on the Larry Duke deal.
Well, you wait til you see him.
He's irresistible.
The kind of man that can
make a woman do anything.
Anything.
Anything at all.
[dramatic instrumental music]
[phone rings]
Larry.
- Sweetheart, thanks for calling
back.
You dialed me this time, didn't
you?
- Yeah.
Larry, Larry, don't make me do
this thing.
- Janice, darling, I wish
there was some other way,
but we just can't go on like
this.
I worry about you all the time,
wondering if we'll ever have
a life like other people.
I tell you, I can;'t take it
anymore.
Now listen to me, is he still
out?
- He hasn't moved.
- [Larry] Good, now this
is what I want you to do.
Only, you gotta move fast,
before it starts getting late.
- Larry, I'm shaking all over.
I feel sick.
- Baby, it'll be over before you
know it.
I thought of something so
simple,
it'll be like snuffing out a
candle.
Janice, are you listening?
- Yes.
- [Larry] Where are you?
I mean, whereabouts in
the apartment are you?
- I'm sitting on my bed.
- [Larry] Good, you must
have a pillow there.
- Oh, yes.
I have the pillow you sent
me from Hollywood, remember?
- Get the pillow, Janice.
I want you to go to him
and press the pillow against his
face
for five minutes.
- Larry, no.
- Janice, when you called
back, you sealed this bargain.
I mean it, it's now or never.
I swear to you, Janice, if I
hang up now,
it's for the last time, I'm
finished.
- No, Larry, no.
I'll do it.
I'll do it,
only just don't hang up on me.
- Have you got the pillow?
- Yes.
- [Larry] Get it done with.
Do it now.
- Larry.
- Put down the phone, baby,
don't think about what you're
doing.
I'll be right here waiting, all
the time.
- [Janice] And you'll
never leave me again?
- Never.
- Larry, I'm so afraid.
- [Larry] For me, baby, for us.
I love you.
- I'll do it now.
Wait for me.
[dramatic instrumental music]
Oh, darling, it's absolutely
mad.
I love it, and I adore
you for thinking of me.
- And you really like it?
Yeah, well, I think it's kind of
gauche,
and, of course, you'll
never have any use for it.
I spotted it the night I
arrived,
in a little shop on Hollywood
Boulevard.
Soon as I saw it, I knew I had
to send it to you for laughs.
- Look, I'm dying to hear
about the screen test.
How did it go?
- You ready?
They flipped, they really dig
me.
Even I couldn't believe
how good I came over.
Janice, they've already
signed me to a contract.
They want me to start on
the picture immediately.
Did you ever hear of
anything so fantastic?
- Oh, darling, I'm so happy for
you.
I knew it would happen.
But you have to start to work so
soon.
Won't they let you come back to
New York?
[women laughing]
Can you hear me, Larry?
- Hi, again.
- Hi.
Hi.
Darling, am I interrupting
something?
- [Larry] No, it's just
some publicity people
taking pictures.
They're all gone now.
What was I saying?
- The screen test.
- Oh, yeah, yeah, the screen
test.
Sweetheart, how I wish
you could've been there.
I gave you all the credit.
- Oh, oh, how sweet of you,
darling.
Darling, I'm so excited for you.
I just can't wait to see you.
- [Larry] Janice.
- It's Mr. Roberts, he's back.
- Thank you, Mimi.
Darling, darling, I have to hang
up.
Business, you know, as usual.
Will you call me tonight
at the new number?
- [Larry] You bet I will, baby.
I miss you.
- Oh, I miss you so much.
You do a good job and come home
to me.
I love you.
- [Larry] I love you, baby.
[bittersweet instrumental music]
- Didn't you even tell him what
happened?
- Oh, I don't want to worry him.
He's got more important
things on his mind.
- Mrs. Brandt,
you've been a good friend to me.
I'd like to help.
Would you like to talk about it?
Sometimes talking it out helps.
If you want, I could meet you
downstairs.
- Thank you, Mimi, but
there's nothing to talk about.
- What made you do it?
You knew that Mr. Roberts had
his heart
set on Craig Hamilton playing
the part.
The contracts were already drawn
up.
- I knew all about it.
- Wow, no wonder he fired you.
What made you do such a thing?
- It's what Larry needed, he
needed that part very badly.
- Brother, when you fall in
love,
you really fall in love.
- Is there any other way?
- What are you gonna do now?
I mean, losing your job and
your reputation, your husband?
Is any man worth all that?
- Larry is.
He's worth that and more.
He'll make it up to me.
You'll see.
- Sure he will, sure.
Everything will turn out fine.
- It has to.
Thanks, Mimi.
- Oh, wait.
Your gift.
- Oh.
- You're forgetting your pillow.
And don't worry about
the rest of your things.
I'll send them on to you when
you're settled somewhere.
- Okay.
Good bye, Mimi.
- Bye.
- Thank you.
[twirling instrumental music]
Ed.
Ed, forgive me, Ed, forgive
me, Ed, forgive me, Ed.
[dramatic instrumental music]
- [Larry] Janice?
Janice, is that you?
Janice, why don't you answer me?
Janice.
[dramatic instrumental music]
- Larry.
- [Larry] Janice, you all right?
- Larry, it's done.
I k*lled him.
He's dead.
It was like putting him to
sleep.
- You're positive.
- He's dead.
He looks so small and quiet.
Talk to me.
Talk to me.
Say anything, please.
- It's all right, baby,
it's all right, it's over.
The worst is over.
- [Janice] When are you coming
home?
- Before you know it.
- And you'll never leave me
again?
- Darling, I told you I
wouldn't.
Now, Janice, you've got to
listen to me.
There's not much time.
I want you to take a blanket off
your bed
and cover him with it, you hear
me?
- [Janice] A blanket.
- Make sure the street is
clear and no one sees you,
leave the car door open,
and drag him into it
as quickly as possible.
- I don't think I can.
What if he's too--
- [Larry] Janice.
I'm depending on you, Janice.
You've got to get him into that
car.
- And then afterwards, you'll
come home,
and we'll get married, and
you'll be a great actor,
and I'll have dinner waiting
every night,
and we'll drink wine and
kiss each other all the time.
Tell me, please, tell me
it's gonna be like that.
- Yes, of course, darling,
it's gonna be just like that,
right down to the last detail.
Haven't I told you that a
thousand times?
I'll come through for you, baby.
Only, right now, you've
got to come through for me
and finish what we've begun.
After you get him into the car,
drive down to the East River.
See that the blanket's covering
him.
Park on the dock near 22nd
Street,
make sure it's deserted,
and dump the body into the
river.
After that, take the car and
leave it
a few blocks from the house.
Wear gloves.
Walk back to the apartment,
wait for my call.
Have you got all that, Janice?
Janice?
- I did it for you, Larry.
I did it for you.
- [Larry] I know that, baby.
Only, you've got to get
him out of that apartment
before it gets too late.
- Will you call me, darling?
- In an hour.
You should have it all finished
by then.
- [Janice] Do you hate me for
what I did?
- Oh, my darling, my sweet baby,
how can you even think such a
thing?
You're my girl.
I'm with you all the way.
- All the way, all the way.
You call me, darling.
- [Larry] Trust me, baby.
I'll be thinking of you.
- Larry!
- [Larry] What, darling, what is
it?
- Larry, I want to come
out to you tonight.
I want to be with you.
I wanna take the first plane
out.
I can't be alone, not now!
Not now.
I'll take the first plane out.
I won't take no for an answer.
I won't, I must, I must!
I have to be with you.
I must, Larry!
Can you hear me?
Larry!
Larry!
Larry, do you hear me?
- Oh, yes, of course.
You'll take the first plane out,
you'll be with me tonight.
- I love you, Larry.
- Like I said, darling, all the
way.
Only hurry.
Hurry.
[smokey piano music]
- [Operator] Operator.
- Los Angeles Police, please.
- [Man] Sergeant Beck speaking.
- Hello, Sergeant, my name is
Larry Duke.
I'm calling because 10 minutes
ago,
I received a long distance
call from New York,
the wife of a very dear friend
of mine.
She was hysterical, rather
incoherent,
so I don't know if she
was telling the truth.
But, uh, she said she
just k*lled her husband.
She said she couldn't
take his beatings anymore.
At any rate, uh, she
was gonna take his body
and carry it to the car and
dump it into the East River.
She sounded half crazy.
I think the New York Police
should be notified, don't you?
- [Beck] What's her name and
address?
- Yes, a Mrs. Janice Brandt.
B-R-A-N-D-T.
I think you better hurry.
I mean, you know, she
sounded insane, so who knows
what she'd do or say at this
point.
- [Beck] We'll call immediately.
- Right, I'd appreciate that.
Could you call me as soon as you
hear?
- [Beck] What's your number?
- 2714699.
- [Beck] 2714699.
- I'm terribly worried.
- All right, Mr. Duke,
we'll call her immediately.
- Right, Sergeant, thank you.
[snaky instrumental music]
[bright instrumental music]
- [Woman] Who was that
on the phone, Mr. Duke?
- Just a friend, Mrs. Duke.
- You were gone an awfully long
time.
- Well, I had some
business to take care of,
some pre-honeymoon business.
- Did you get it done?
- You know it.
- That's what I like about you,
darling.
You're always so sure of
yourself.
You know exactly what you want,
don't you?
- Like I told you, baby,
we're two of a kind.
Brains, beauty, and ambition
the size of the Pacific.
You and me are headed for the
top.
Ain't nobody gonna stop us.
- You have a nice touch.
- Yeah, don't I, though?
[bright instrumental music]
At first, all seemed blissful
for Larry,
when, suddenly, there
appeared on the horizon
a cloud no bigger than a man's
hand.
Actually, it wasn't a cloud at
all.
It was a man's hand, and it was
on the end
of what is known as the
long arm of the law.
Darlene, a truly ambitious girl,
couldn't resist the publicity
inherent
in breaking down in court
and turning state's evidence.
You see, she'd been listening to
Larry's
conversation with Janice.
Next week, we return with
another story,
scenes of which you shall
see in a few moments.
["Funeral March of a
Marionette" by Charles Gounod]
[dramatic instrumental music]
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