["Alfred Hitchcock" theme music]
- Good evening.
May I help you?
We have a fantastic
assortment of lost articles.
We have a number of ways, some
bearings,
and a national purpose.
We have some dear little lambs,
a weekend,
and one entire generation.
And we have one gentleman
back here named Mr. Clean.
A single button is found
early in tonight's story,
and as they used to say,
"Thereby hangs a tale."
The tale is called, "You'll
Be the Death of Me,"
and it begins in a few moments.
[dramatic orchestral music]
[suspenseful music]
[upbeat country music]
[men laughing and chattering]
- Hi boys.
- [Customer] Howdy there.
- [Customer] Hey.
- Got a cold one?
Nice.
- Where we gonna spend the
night?
- [Tompy] Well, you expecting
company
on the bus, Betty Rose?
- Thinkin' of takin' it, Tompy.
I hear it's a lovely time of the
year
in New Orleans right now.
[wind whipping]
- Why don't you drink up
your drink, Betty Rose,
I might just buy you another
one.
- One drink, ain't worth all the
struggle.
[men laughing]
Course, if it was Driver Arthur,
that would be another matter.
Driver's saving his money
though.
- Fixin' to build his bride
a new house, I reckon.
What kind a house they
got in the Orient, Driver?
- It's up on stilts, Tompy.
Lots a alligators floatin'
around below
to police up the garbage.
- Alligators?
You sure keepin' that little
beauty all to yourself, Driver.
Ain't nobody in the Valley seen
her,
'cept comin' from the station.
- She ain't missin' nothin'.
- Not so long as she's
got Driver comin' home
night after night.
Driver Arthur, always
in the driver's seat,
whether it's cars or women.
Ain't that what they
used to say about you?
- Mm-hmm, that's what they used
to say.
- Maybe you better go
back to just plain Bob,
I don't see that Driver
hardly fits you anymore.
- No?
- No.
You're like all the
rest of the married men.
You ain't in the driver's seat,
you just go whatever way you're
pushed.
[upbeat country music]
[wind whipping]
You got a match?
- Oh, any time for you, Betty
Rose.
- Listen, will you go
roost someplace else?
You ain't talked since the
cradle
and you ain't gonna talk now.
I got nothin' to say to you
except quit haunting me.
- I don't know why she riles
you so much, Betty Rose.
- She takes spells,
always flapping around me
like a little brown buzzard.
I get tired of her starin'
at me all the time.
Like she's waitin' for
somethin'.
- Poor child's only got half a
reason,
she can't do you no harm.
How 'bout a little dancing,
Betty Rose.
- I don't dance with nothin'
Kyle Sawyer.
You were born nothin',
you ain't nothin' now,
and when you die, they
ain't gonna have nothin'
on their hands to bury.
Now leave my pretty waist alone.
[men laughing]
You feel like dancing, Driver?
You know, you ain't danced
with me since you got back.
Did they give you some medals
this time?
- Was there, but yet I
didn't see no action.
But I got me a medal, and I
got me one sweet little bride.
- Dance with me, Driver.
Or are you afraid to hold me in
your arms?
[upbeat country music]
[wind whipping]
[upbeat country music]
Like old times, hm?
- I better be gettin' on up that
hill.
[upbeat country music]
- See you around, Driver man.
[wind howling]
[suspenseful, tense music]
Well, look who's here
counting his memories.
- Why'd you come here?
- Why didn't you go up on the
hill?
It ain't that easy, is it,
Driver?
Too many things to remember,
like this place here.
- I'm a married man now, Betty
Rose.
Can you get that through your
head?
Huh, can ya?
I'm married.
- Sure Driver, I can get that
through my head just fine,
'specially since I thought all
the time
that you was gonna come home and
marry me.
- I ever tell you that in so
many words?
- I kinda thought it was
understood.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have
waited.
- Yeah.
You waited all right.
You waited with Tompy, Burt
Clark,
yeah, that's the way I heard it.
- What was I suppose to do,
join a sewing circle or
somethin'?
You got married.
- Well, if I led you to
believe that, I'm sorry.
It wasn't meant.
But right or wrong, we
gotta be through now.
Now you understand that?
You gotta stay away from me.
- Why?
Because every time you look at
me you start forgetting her?
This is an awful small town,
Driver.
If you wanted to stay away from
me,
you shouldn't have come back.
- Well, the old farm was
the only stake I had.
Now you're always talkin'
about wantin' to go
to New Orleans.
Now, what if I was to give you
some money?
- [Betty Rose] This is
my town, I belong here.
I ain't gonna get out
of it for that little--
- Keep your tongue off her!
- All right.
I'm sorry.
But if somebody has to leave
this town,
maybe it better be her.
Livin' up there in that old
farmhouse, thinkin' it's hers.
Maybe she wouldn't like
it so well if she knew.
- What're you talkin' about?
- [Betty Rose] About us.
- You shut up.
- You think she'd stay there if
she knew?
And believe me, she's gonna
know.
Get your paws off of me.
You ain't gonna just brush
me off and forget me, Driver.
You're gonna remember me
till the end of your days.
- You stay away from her.
- Driver.
- You stay away from her, you
hear?
[Betty Rose groaning]
You stay away from Mickey, you
hear?
You ain't gonna tell her
nothin'.
[Betty Rose groaning]
You ain't gonna tell her
nothin'!
[dramatic orchestral music]
Betty Rose.
Betty Rose, I didn't mean it.
[rain splattering]
[slow, somber orchestral music]
[Rags barks]
- All right, Rags, even
if no one else is eating,
you must have food.
[thunder clapping]
That's right, eat, I'm all
right.
[slow, solemn orchestral music]
Never has he been so late.
Never has he left me alone so
long.
[thunder clapping]
[slow somber orchestral music]
- Mickey!
[gentle orchestral music]
What's the matter, honey?
- Driver, you scared me.
[slow somber orchestral music]
[thunder clapping]
I was so frightened.
- Frightened, why, hun?
Not a living soul within
two miles of this place.
A little wind and storm.
Ain't nothin' but the lord's
a*tillery
old grandpa used to say.
Nothin' to be afraid of.
- I thought something had
happened to you.
I didn't know what to do.
- Just take it easy.
- But, where have you been?
I've been waiting.
- Yeah, well, I'm sorry I'm late
but,
I worked a little overtime,
stopped by the Blackbird
for a beer.
- You stopped at the Blackbird?
- Yeah, I stop by for a
beer every now and again,
you know that.
- I wait dinner for hours,
and you stop for beer.
- Honey, I worked hard all day
long!
- There's no need to shout.
- Mickey, I'm wet clear
through from the rain.
I walked a couple of miles
from that stinkin' bus.
Now I'm sorry I'm late,
and I'm sorry I stopped by for a
beer.
What more do you want from me?
[sorrowful orchestral music]
- I didn't mean, please.
[sighing] Everything is so
strange here.
I get so lonely when you're
gone.
And the storm, [crying]
I was so afraid. [crying]
- Oh, no.
No, I'm sorry, it's my fault.
You're a long way from home.
You're gonna be happy here,
aren't ya?
You're not gonna get
homesick and wanna leave me.
- [gasps] Oh no.
[sighs] I could never leave you.
I'll be happy anywhere you are.
- When you look at me like that,
I know why I love you so much.
[gentle orchestral music]
[Rags barking]
- Oh Rags, be quiet.
[sniffling] When he sees me cry,
he thinks maybe you have hurt
me.
[Driver and Mickey chuckle]
- You fool hound.
I wouldn't hurt you, Mickey.
I'd do anything in the world
to keep you from being hurt.
- Driver, if we move
in town near the mill,
you wouldn't have to get up so
early.
Oh, and ride that stinking bus.
[Driver and Mickey chuckling]
- If I lived in town,
I think I'd shrivel up and die
on you.
You see, I've been a
mountain man all my life.
And this is my mountain.
[gentle orchestral music]
[slow, tense orchestral music]
[gentle orchestral music]
- Goodnight, my husband.
[sighs] It means nothing,
I'm a foolish girl.
I will simply ask him about
it, and he will explain.
Yeah, come on, we have
work to do, come on.
[Rags barks]
[Rags growling and barking]
He probably knew many pretty
girls,
but he chose me for his wife.
He prefers me above all the
others.
[Rags growling]
[slow, solemn orchestral music]
[chuckles softly]
Better now, Rags, hm?
[Rags barks and whines]
[thunder clapping]
[gentle orchestral music]
[door bangs shut]
[Rags barks]
[Rags growling and barking]
Who is it?
Who is it?
[Rags barking]
Who is it?
[mysterious music]
Who are you, what do you want?
- [Man] Shouldn't leave
your door unlocked, ma'am.
- Who are you?
- [Gar] Garfield Newton, Mrs.
Arthur,
I take care of the
police work around here.
- My husband is not here.
- Didn't think he would be.
[tense orchestral music]
[thunder clapping]
Like to talk to you, Mrs.
Arthur.
[tense orchestral music]
Be a might easier if you came in
here.
- Oh, my husband.
[Rags barking]
Rags, go lie down.
My husband, he is perhaps
hurt, there is trouble.
- Your husband's perfectly
okay, Mrs. Arthur.
There has been a little trouble
though.
I thought maybe you might be
able to help me out a bit.
- But how could I--
- You shouldn't hide yourself
away up on the hill like this.
You oughta come into town,
start gettin' acquainted.
You'll find the natives are real
friendly.
[thunder clapping]
- We have no car yet, my
husband is working very hard.
- Working overtime a bit?
- Yes.
- Well, the place sure looks a
lot better
than the last time I saw it.
A woman's touch.
Driver work late last night?
- He um,
you said that there had been
some trouble,
and you wish me to help.
What kind of trouble is
it and how may I help?
- Did you ever meet a girl
named Betty Rose Calder?
- No.
- Well she was strangled
to death down by the lake.
- Lake?
But that is--
- Not much more than a thousand
yards from your front door.
That's why I said you
oughta keep it locked.
You see any stranger around
here yesterday afternoon?
- [Mickey] No.
- Well, I guess you
wouldn't know a stranger.
Did you see anybody?
- No.
How terrible a thing to
happen, the poor girl.
- Did you hear anything?
Any sounds, or crying?
See any cars on the road?
- No.
- And you're sure nobody
came around the house?
- Rags would let me know
if anyone came close.
Why did you question me about my
husband?
- That's my job, Mrs. Arthur.
What time did Driver come home
last night?
- I did not look at a clock, Mr.
Newton,
so I could not tell you
truly what time it was.
- I see.
Well, if you should remember
anything you'll let me know?
I'll be around the
neighborhood for awhile.
Might just come back.
Looks like it's lettin' up.
You better keep this door
locked.
[dramatic orchestral music]
[somber orchestral music]
[Rags barks]
- Rags, I cannot play now.
[serious orchestral music]
[Rags barking]
Oh Rags, if Driver comes
home and there's no milk,
he'll be furious with both of
us. [sighs]
Oh, my dress.
[sighs] Now I must change.
[Rags whines]
Naughty.
[slow, solemn orchestral music]
Is that you, Ruby?
[slow, solemn orchestral music]
[Rags whimpering]
You like Rags, I know.
I'm going to your mother's
store,
would you like to walk along
with me?
Would you like to take his
leash?
[solemn orchestral music]
[Rags barking]
[chickens squawking]
Hello, Mrs. McCleod.
- Well hello there, Mrs. Arthur.
Ruby, where you been so long?
Took you an hour and a half to
find out
about one sick calf.
That's all right, Mrs.
Arthur, you can put Rags down.
What can we get for you?
- Well Rags spilled the last of
the milk
and I'm already late
with my husband's dinner.
- Well, don't get so upset about
it,
he ain't gonna send you home for
that.
Ruby, fetch in a can of milk.
You two come down the hill
together?
- Yes, she held Rags' leash.
- I'm mighty grateful to you
being so kind to the child.
- Well, I'm happy to be her
friend.
She's sweet and good-hearted.
- Most people only see what she
lacks,
like that Betty Rose,
she couldn't bear the sight of
the child.
- Betty Rose, she's the
girl who was k*lled?
- Yes, strange, was Ruby found
her.
- Ruby?
- My poor little night runner.
Wild as a swallow and can't be
caged.
Maybe that Betty Rose had a
foreshadowing
and that's why she always
drove the child away.
Poor Betty Rose, most folks
say she brought it on herself,
but that's man's judgment, not
God's.
- Uh, I do not understand,
she brought it on herself?
- Men just couldn't stay away
from her, she was so pretty.
Well, that she was, Ruby,
but it's a cruel thing all the
same.
You better be careful, Mrs.
Arthur,
maybe it was one of Betty
Rose's men that k*lled her,
and maybe it was a stranger, no
one knows.
But he was strong and he was
mean.
She must've tried to get away
from him
because he tore the
button right off her coat.
But he held her.
And I hear that he
pulled the scarf so tight
around her throat, the flesh was
cut.
So you be careful, you hear?
[slow, serious orchestral music]
[Rags barking]
[chickens clucking]
[slow, somber orchestral music]
- [gasps] Driver!
- I didn't mean to startle you.
You didn't mention you found
this, Mickey.
[tense, bold orchestral music]
- I'm afraid that the
requirements
of commercial television
make it necessary for
you to tear yourselves
away from the story for a short
time.
Lest you lose your place,
I shall stay here and hold it
for you.
[mysterious orchestral music]
- Scared me terrible, comin'
home and finding you gone.
- I spilled the milk.
- Yeah, I noticed that, what
happened?
- Rags was trying to play.
- [chuckles] That fool hound.
Honey, you're trembling.
What's the matter, somethin'
scare you?
- No, only I heard about
the girl who was k*lled
just down by the lake.
- Don't you worry about that.
There ain't been no stranger
around here, has there?
- No, a man came, he said he
was to do with the police.
- Oh.
Gar Newton paid his respects,
huh?
What'd he have to say?
- He had many questions.
- Is that right?
What kind of questions?
- He asked what I had seen or
heard.
Did you know the girl who was
m*rder*d?
- Betty Rose?
Yeah, I used to see her down
at the Blackbird now and then.
What else did Newton have to
say?
- I could not understand all of
it.
He said I should come into town
because the natives are
friendly.
- Well, [chuckles] I'm
not sure I like that.
Guy's partial to pretty women.
Oh.
Did he say anything about this
button?
- No, I do not even think he saw
it.
- But it was right there on the
table
when he was here, wasn't it?
- I think so.
- Don't you know?
- Um, he didn't mention it.
- But he could've seen
it without mentioning it,
couldn't he?
- I don't know, I suppose so.
What is so terribly
important about the button?
- Nothing, I was just
wondering, that's all.
I'm gonna get cleaned up.
[slow, serious music]
- [Mickey] That button.
- What about it?
- Could it have belonged
to the girl who was k*lled?
- What makes you think that?
- Mrs. McCleod said that
the m*rder*r tore a button
from the coat.
- Oh, I see, that's why you were
so upset.
I don't know, could've belonged
to her,
I never thought about it.
- But Driver, if it did belong
to her--
- Now wait a minute!
You're not thinkin' that I--
- Oh, no, no, I-I'm not.
- Honey, I just found that
button by happenstance.
When I was walkin' up
the trail last night.
I saw a glitter and I picked
it up, I thought it was pretty.
Bright and shiny.
I thought you might like it.
[water dribbling]
- Driver, do not be angry with
me.
[sighs] I know, I was only
thinking
that if that button was from
her coat then it is important.
- Yeah, you're right.
That k*ller could've dropped
it right where I found it.
- Then you must tell Mr. Newton.
Don't you see, Driver, it
might help him catch this man.
- Yeah.
And uh, it's a sure
thing Gar didn't see it
on that table, or he'd
have grabbed it, huh?
You know what?
I think I'll go down the
hill right now, see Gar.
Might be exactly the thing he
needs.
- I go with you?
- Why, hun?
- Driver, someone has k*lled a
girl.
I'm afraid to be alone here.
- Oh, yeah, I suppose you're
right.
Matter of fact, I wouldn't
want you here alone anyway.
Will your dinner things keep?
- Yes, they will keep.
- Won't be gone that long
anyway.
Lots of wood underfoot, you
better put your boots on.
Might start raining again.
Better take the flashlight,
it'll be dark before we get
back.
[Rags barking]
- Driver!
[Driver groans]
Are you all right?
- Yeah, I'm all right.
That no-good mutt's gonna
be the death of me yet.
I never saw such a critter
for gettin' under foot!
- He didn't mean it,
Driver, it hurt him too.
- I'm sorry, hun.
I know he's the most company
you've had
since we come here.
Come on, Rags, we'll take you
for a walk.
[Rags barking]
- It's all right, you don't
have to put him on the leash.
He'll run ahead of us.
[Rags whimpering]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Rags barking]
Driver?
- What?
- Driver, you didn't have
the flashlight last night.
- No.
- And it was dark when you came
home.
- What're you gettin' at?
- The button, you said it
glittered.
- So it did in the moonlight.
- Driver, there was no moon.
- You sound like you think I'm
lying.
- No, Driver, no, it's just
that I do not understand.
- What's there to understand?
The clouds broke for a minute or
two,
the moon shone through.
- Yes, of course, I see.
- Stop asking me these fool
questions.
- I'm sorry.
[slow, dramatic orchestral
music]
What is it?
- You know what, it was just
about here
I found that fool button.
[birds chirping]
You know what I'm gonna do?
I've been thinkin' all the way
down here
how this is gonna look to Gar,
me having this button all this
time,
not even thinkin' about
telling him about it till now.
- But Driver, if you're
telling the truth--
- The truth don't have
nothin' to do with it.
Gar Newton's desperate to
grab somebody for this,
and he's no good friend of mine.
You know, Mickey, I could
get in some real bad trouble,
all because of finding a shiny
button.
[birds chirping]
There, now let somebody else
find it.
Be just as good as me telling
Gar.
Only important thing
is that it gets found.
[birds chirping]
What're you lookin' at?
I know what I'm doin', you're
just gonna have to trust me.
What's the matter with you?
- Driver, why are you
afraid to tell Mr. Newton
about the button?
- I just told you, he might make
out
like I had somethin' to do with
it.
- Have you forgotten
what you said last night?
That you were at the
mill and then with Tompy.
- Did you tell Gar that?
- No, I told him nothing, but,
why shouldn't I have
told him if it's true?
- Now Mickey, you stop
thinkin' things like that.
- [Mickey] It is true, isn't it?
- Mickey!
- No, it isn't.
And you didn't find
the button on the path.
- Now you stop it, you stop it.
You're imagining things.
- I believe you k*lled her,
didn't you?
- Mickey, Mickey we gotta talk
about this.
You gotta listen to me.
- You k*lled her, didn't you?
[Mickey gasping]
[serious orchestral music]
- Now Mickey, please, please
listen to me.
I didn't mean to do it.
I tried every way I knew,
but she had her head set.
She was gonna do you a hurt.
I couldn't let her do it.
I wouldn't let anybody in
the whole world hurt you.
Don't you understand that?
- You k*lled her.
- I did it for you, Mickey.
I did it for you.
Now,
I'm still your husband,
that hasn't changed.
Now you gotta stand by me!
You'll do that, won't you?
I'm all you got,
I'm all you've got in the world.
- No, no don't touch me, don't
touch me.
- But you gotta help me.
Listen, you know what they'll
do to me if they find out?
They'll hang me.
Now you gotta stay by
me and not say a word.
You'll do that, won't ya?
- No.
No, I can't stay with you.
You, you k*lled her.
[footsteps approaching]
You k*lled her!
[adventurous orchestral music]
[Mickey crying out]
- You can't leave me.
[Mickey crying]
If you do, they'll know,
and they'll hang me.
Don't that mean anything to ya?
[Mickey whimpering]
They'll hang me.
[Mickey crying]
I'll hang.
They're gonna hang me, Mickey.
They'll hang me!
[dramatic orchestral music]
You can't let them do that to
me.
You can't give me away.
[Mickey gasping and crying]
Don't do that, somebody'll hear.
[Mickey whimpering]
Please, Mickey.
[adventurous music]
I can't let them hang me.
[Mickey whimpering]
I did it for you.
[Mickey whimpering]
Don't you understand that?
[Mickey whimpering]
I did it for you.
[Mickey whimpering]
Sh, quiet, Mickey, somebody's
gonna hear!
[Mickey whimpering]
Sh, somebody's gonna hear,
quiet, Mickey.
Please, please don't do that.
Please don't do that, Mickey,
please.
Somebody's gonna hear.
Please Mickey, don't do that.
That's it, sh.
[dramatic orchestral music]
[gentle orchestral music]
[Driver crying softly]
Mickey.
Mickey.
[knocking at door]
Who is it?
- [Gar] Garfield Newton.
- Come on in.
[door click open]
[door clicks shut]
- Thought I'd drop by.
Couple little things I wanna ask
you.
- Well, can't it wait, Gar?
I'm uh, kinda worried about
Mickey.
Um, I was just going out and
look for her.
- Wasn't she here when you got
home?
- No, she started to make dinner
but she must've forgotten
somethin' I guess.
Gone down to Ms. McCleod's.
Time I've been here, she
could've been back there
two or three times, kinda
worried.
- Mm, let's go down and see.
- Yeah, we better get down
there.
- Thank you.
'Bout what time was she here,
Ms. McCleod?
- Oh, late in the afternoon.
She was all fussed about
dinner on account of Rags
spilling the milk, I
ain't seen her since then.
- Well, she never come home
after that.
- What time'd you get there,
Driver?
- 'Bout six, I left Tompy
Dill down at the Blackbird,
came right on up.
Gar, we gotta do somethin',
we gotta find her.
- Can I use your phone?
- Poor little thing.
My lord, I hope nothin's
happened to her.
- Hello, put me through
to the sheriff's office.
Gar Newton.
Hello Bill, this is Gar.
I'm up here at McCleod's.
Round up everyone you can
find for a search party,
send 'em up here.
Ms. Arthur's missing.
[slow, somber orchestral music]
[Rags whimpering]
Sorry, Driver.
- Come away, love, come away.
- Driver--
- Gar.
- Ms. McCleod, why don't you
take Driver along with you.
Go on, you don't wanna be alone.
There's nothing more you can do
here.
I'll drop around later with Doc
Chalmont.
- Come along, Driver.
[frog croaking]
[people chattering quietly]
- Driver, I could make all
the arrangements if you like.
It's hard to put your mind on
things at a time like this.
- Why, thank ya, Doc.
- Unless you need me,
I'll be gettin' along.
- I'll talk to you later, Doc.
- Can I drive you boys anyplace?
- Well thanks, Doc.
- Thank you, Doc.
- Driver, I got somethin' to say
to you.
- Yep.
[door clanging shut]
- I had you figured
for k*lling Betty Rose.
I was wrong.
But I'll tell you this, whoever
did this,
townsman or stranger,
he ain't gonna get away.
- Driver, why don't you stay
with us?
Stay with us till you get
things straightened out.
It ain't good to be alone, I
know.
- Well thank you, Mrs. McCleod
but,
seems like I gotta be alone now.
Come on, Rags.
[chain clinking]
- Chain?
- Girl's daft.
[Ruby banging]
- All right, Driver,
let's not be in a hurry.
- Why of course, she had the
chain.
- Mrs. Arthur?
- Yes, when she came to the
store.
She let Ruby walk the dog with
it.
- You said you didn't
see your wife at all,
from the time you got home
till when we found her.
- That's right, I...
- If that's so, how did you get
the chain?
- Ruby banging.
[dramatic orchestral music]
- Those of you who watched our
broadcast of October 27, 1957
will remember that four minutes
were lost
due to a power failure.
You will be glad to learn
that those four minutes
have been found.
They were discovered just
west of Billings, Montana
by an elderly prospector,
who unfortunately
used three of those four
minutes to soft boil an egg.
However, he has returned the
other minute,
and we show it to you now.
[curious orchestral music]
[bold orchestral music]
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