["Alfred Hitchcock" theme music]
- Good evening.
We are broadcasting my portion
of this evening's program
by radio instead of television.
I seem to have lost some weight,
and I don't wish
to mar my image.
I cannot reveal exactly
how much weight.
I can only say that had
I lost 10 more pounds,
I would have had to file
a missing persons report.
For the uninitiated,
I should explain
that radio is simply television
with the tube burned out.
In radio, sound is a rather
important ingredient.
When it does not exist,
it is manufactured.
For example.
This cellophane simulates the
sound of a crackling fire.
This sound effect
is so authentic
one can almost smell the smoke.
This evening's play
tells of two nurses
who spend one terrifying night
in a large house in the country.
But first, some sound
and fury, signifying
our sponsor's product.
[siren blaring]
- Thank you for everything.
You're sure you're all right?
'Cause I can go
in and get my coat
and walk you back to the clinic.
- I'm absolutely fine.
Goodnight, Mr. Crispis.
- Goodnight, Miss Little.
[suspenseful music]
[twig cracking]
[dog barking]
- [Man] Frieda?
- Who's there?
- [Man] You're such a
pretty nurse, Frieda.
[screaming]
[man laughing]
[wind howling]
- While the news from
overseas is filled
with expl*sive new developments,
here in the city, the
tension continues to mount
with each new dramatic turn
in the current rash
of brutal killings.
Now there is another one,
and this is the third
nurse m*rder committed in this
area in the past two weeks.
The search for
nurse Frieda Little,
who disappeared last
Thursday evening,
was ended early today with
the discovery of her body
here in Northside Park at
seven o'clock this morning
by a park gardener.
The victim had been
dead for several days.
Miss Little was returning
from an assignment
where she'd been engaged
for the past three days.
Newsman Al Ruben interviewed
Mr. Boris Crispis,
the last man to have
seen Miss Little alive.
- And you had no idea when
she walked out of this door
you would never see her again.
- Well, no, no.
She was a real fine nurse.
My wife has been sick
about a year now, and uh,
well, we've had a lot
of them through here,
and she was saying just this
morning that she was the best.
We were wondering why
she'd never phoned.
- Did Miss Little ever speak
of the other two murders,
the nurses that were
k*lled two weeks ago?
- Yes, we spoke about
it a little bit.
She, uh, she said
she knew one of them.
She was upset about it,
I guess you could say.
- Uh-huh, was there
ever anything else
that was strange or
unusual that happened
while she was here in the house?
- Yes, as a matter
of fact, there was.
It happened the night
before she left.
Oh, I, I pooh-poohed
it at the time.
You see, my wife has been
bedridden about a year now,
and she woke up
one night yelling
that she saw a man
standing at the window
looking in at her
and Miss Little.
Well, I took a flashlight
and I went outside,
but I couldn't see anything.
- Thank you very
much, Mr. Crispis.
- All three murders
in this neighborhood.
The police are now searching
for a definite suspect,
and they are certain that
he is still in this area
and have cautioned
all residents,
particularly all nurses,
to be extremely careful
until the k*ller is caught.
You are urged to
speak to no strangers,
keep your doors
and windows locked.
Now let's take a
look at the weather.
- That's charming.
He obviously finds out
where nurses are working,
and waits for the
chance to get at them.
Oh, it's horrible.
I wouldn't go out
tonight on a bet.
- Not for a million.
Lock every door, every window.
- I'll check
everything downstairs.
- Fine.
[suspenseful music]
- I read in a book about a man
who only k*lled
trombone players.
He beat them to death
with their own trombones.
You know, this is the
same kind of thing,
only this one just. [gasping]
Oh, oh, Miss Stella.
We're going to have
to have some rules,
we're going to have to
start knocking, I suppose.
- I'm sorry.
- Is everything all right?
- I'm just checking that
everything is locked.
- [Cook] The kitchen's
tight as a tick.
- Stella?
- Yes?
- Stella?
- What is it, Miss Ames?
- When was the last time
you checked the oxygen tank?
- I don't remember.
- Is there another
tank in the house?
- No, why?
- The pressure's very low,
it won't last the night.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
Sam, you'll have to
go into the clinic
and get another tank,
we must have it.
Stella, you simply can't
forget things like this.
[cat meowing]
- I'm sorry, Sam.
- Just go to the clinic,
ask for a tank of oxygen.
- Yes, they know, there's
a standing order there
for Mr. Baker, you'll
just sign for it.
- I'll go with you.
- You stay here and do your job.
You gotta feed
these people, Maude.
- Isn't there anyone there
who could bring it up?
- Not this time of night.
- I don't wanna be
left here alone.
- You're not alone,
three hefty women
ought to be able to give
good account of themselves
if someone came
scratching at the door.
Well, I'll be back
as soon as I can.
Just lock up good behind me,
and don't let anybody in.
[wind howling]
[engine revving]
- Did you check the cellar?
- There's no light down there.
Why, I wouldn't go down there
for anything in the world.
- Have you got a flashlight?
- The fixture's
broken down there.
Sam started to fix
it the other day,
and then he left it dangling,
like he does everything else.
I'm right here if you need me.
You know, I knew
somebody once that
tried to k*ll a couple
people with a butcher knife.
He was my father's best friend.
Far as I know he's still
locked up somewhere.
Wonder why this one just
wants to k*ll nurses?
Now, I know why my
father's best friend
wanted to k*ll those people.
[mouse squeaking]
[screaming]
What is it?
- There's a mouse!
[breathing heavily]
- Hey, Gus, a job.
[meowing]
Gus will take care of him.
Here, let Gus earn his keep.
Come on, Gus, get him.
- Why am I so terrified
of such a little thing?
I know better.
- I'm that way about snakes.
Just show me a snake,
any kind of a snake,
and I'll show you how fast
my little legs can carry me.
The way that they, they
frighten their prey,
and then they
swallow them whole.
You know, I read in
a book about a snake
that swallowed a
full-grown goat.
- Well, I think I'll
be going upstairs.
- I'll bring your supper
up in just a few minutes.
[suspenseful music]
[sighing]
[meowing]
- How is he?
- About the same.
- Sam will be back
as soon as he can.
- Have you checked everything?
- Yes, I think so.
- Every door, every window?
- Yes.
Yes.
- You're hesitating.
Have you forgotten something?
- No.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
- Stella, you have
all the qualities
to assure a very good success,
but you must always
be on guard about
a very serious handicap.
- I know.
I just get excited,
and then I get rattled.
- Well, you must not
get excited and rattled.
It makes you forget things.
- I know.
- Some day you'll
forget something vital.
Oh, it won't be a name
or a spoon or even
to check the pressure
on an oxygen tank.
Last night when I
arrived, I thought it was
just because you were tired,
but it's more than that.
[tapping]
He's waking up.
- How do you feel?
- Better.
Is the crisis over?
- Mm-hm, all over.
- Who is this?
- This is Nurse Betty Ames.
Dr. Jones felt I was
working too hard,
so he sent her over
last night to help out.
- Oh yes, I vaguely remember.
Oh, I do feel better.
- Well, he's all yours now.
I'm going downstairs
for a cup of coffee.
[gasping]
Oh, I'm sorry.
- I was going to knock,
I was just trying
to balance the tray
on my knee to knock.
- Is there any
coffee downstairs?
- Fresh pot.
- I'll be in the kitchen
if you need me, Stella.
- Oh, how's the patient?
- Coming up for air.
- Did Stella tell you
about the new m*rder?
Third nurse in two
weeks, strangled,
just like the rest of them.
Chicken soup.
Poor thing, she was k*lled
walking home from a job.
You don't like my chicken soup?
I made that from scratch.
- Even rang the chicken's neck.
- Sure.
- Aw, you're a suspicious
character, Maude.
You ever watch Maude start
the soup from scratch?
Oh, she's a champion
neck-wringer.
- Now that's enough.
- Oh, she lures it
closer and closer,
then she grabs it
and twists it around.
And there she stands,
one hand on her hip
and that look on her
face, and the poor bird.
Oh, I don't want any soup.
- It's going to rain.
It's really going to rain,
and that road turns
to mud when it rains.
It rained one day last year.
Sam was in town, and he couldn't
get back up the hill
for all the mud.
[phone ringing]
I'll get it.
- I bet you think I can't
get out of this bed.
- Well, you better not try.
- I could, though,
if I wanted to.
[phone ringing]
- Hello, Mr. Baker's residence.
Yes?
Oh, hello, Dr.
Jones, it's Maude.
Yes, I'll call her.
Stella?
Stella?
- Yes?
- Just a minute.
It's Dr. Jones.
- Oh.
- If you like, I'll
sit with Mr. Baker,
and make sure he
eats his dinner.
- Hello?
Hello, Dr. Jones.
Oh.
What?
Are you at the clinic?
Oh.
Yes.
Yes.
No, we have no car.
No, Miss Ames arrived in a cab.
Well, Sam's gone to the clinic
to get a tank of oxygen.
Yes, of course.
Yes.
Yes, everything's locked up.
All right, thank you, doctor.
Goodbye.
There's been another m*rder.
- When?
- They've just discovered
the body two miles from here.
Dr. Jones doesn't
know much about it,
and he's on his way over
to make an examination.
He said he'd call
back, but until then,
he said we're not to leave,
and not to let anyone in.
The police think that the k*ller
is still in the neighborhood.
- I'll relieve you in an hour.
- In the neighborhood!
They're sure he's
in the neighborhood.
- Well, we'll be
all right as long as
we keep everything
locked up tight,
and we don't let anyone in.
[suspenseful music]
[meowing]
- 1001, 1002, 1003.
[thunder crashing]
Three miles.
- What?
- From the time of
the lightning flash
to the clap of
thunder in seconds
is how far away the storm is.
Three miles, I
counted three seconds
from the flash of
lightning to the thunder.
- Oh.
- 1001, 1002.
[thunder crashing]
It's getting closer.
- Gin.
- Well, I better go see
if they need anything.
- Yes, it's about time
I went on duty, too.
[thunder crashing]
- 1001, 1000--
[thunder crashing]
[thunder crashing]
It's right on top of us.
- What's on top of us?
- The rain, listen.
- He didn't eat enough.
- Oh, he ate enough.
- It's great kidney pie.
- You didn't eat enough.
Stella, your dinner's
on the stove.
- I'll take care of
him while you eat.
- It's time for
some more oxygen.
- Oh, well, goodbye, goodbye.
Adios.
- 1000.
[thunder crashing]
Look at it.
This house, isn't it lovely?
Oh, it's full of charm.
There are places to
hide in every corner.
On every landing.
You can't have
just a simple house
and simple walls to work in.
Gotta have this thing called
angles and funny turns
and dark pockets.
Ooh, I'll be so glad
when Sam gets home
and the sun comes up.
I can't even force myself to
look out the window again.
Every one of those
little old trees
looks like a man
all crouched down
and creeping up
toward the house.
What amazes me, makes me wonder,
is how all of those poor
girls, now how did he?
He's like a snake
creeping around,
following them and
making his plans.
When and where and how.
You have to make plans to
do something like that.
Now, I knew this man that
started to act strange.
He wanted to get
rid of his wife.
So he got this trunk
from the attic.
It was only about so big, it
was much too small for her.
So he got this knife
and he started to cut.
- Mm, I know, you told me.
[tapping]
[suspenseful music]
- What is it?
- There's something there.
There's something in the window.
[tapping]
- That's only a
tree limb, Maude.
- A tree limb?
- Yes, it's nothing.
It's really nothing.
[tapping]
- That's not what I saw.
- Of course it is.
- No, it's not.
That's not what I saw, I
saw something else, I did.
I saw something else.
[tapping]
[thunder crashing]
- What's the matter?
- Nothing.
- There's enough to
last til Sam gets back
from the village, isn't there?
- Oh, sure.
- Why is it that when
you're taking care of me
I feel so good, and
when the new nurse
is hovering over me
I feel really rotten?
- Haven't the foggiest.
- No?
- No.
- I really do feel
better, though.
You can give Miss Ames her
walking papers in the morning.
- Ah, well, we'll see.
- I don't intend to have
any kind of relapse, unless.
- Unless what?
- Unless you say no.
- To what?
- To marrying me.
- Oh!
- If you say no,
I intend to spend
the rest of my days
in hypochondria.
I'll build a little house
there, with room for you,
'cause I'll always need a nurse.
- That's not a nice
place to live, you know.
The climate's terrible.
- Then say yes.
I promise to get well instantly,
take you hunting tomorrow.
- I don't like hunting,
fishing, or hiking.
I'm afraid I'm a city girl,
and I'd tire of this
place awful fast.
- Well, we don't
have to live here.
Don't you like my house?
- Mm-mm.
I can't tell you
how my heart sank
when the doctor drove me up here
and I got my first look
at the Baker estate.
- Well, I bought it last year.
I had to have someplace to hide
from my students
at the university.
But I don't want, and
I don't intend to have,
that kind of peace
and quiet any longer.
I like the house, though.
I was hoping it was haunted.
I've never lived in a
haunted house before,
I was kinda looking
forward to it.
- All right.
Time to go back under the tent.
- The real estate
agent assured me
there'd never been
a m*rder, a suicide,
or any kind of violence
within these walls.
It belonged to a family, a
little old lady, finally,
who died peaceably in a
clinic at the age of 95.
It's too bad a hideous
old house like this
has no hideous history
to go along with it.
Goodbye again.
[suspenseful music]
[thunder crashing]
[man chuckling]
- Who is it?
Who's there?
- [Man] [chuckling] You
have such a pretty neck.
- Who is it?
[man chuckling]
[thunder crashing]
- What are you doing?
- I heard something.
I heard something!
- Stella.
Miss Stella.
- I heard a man talking.
- What are you doing?
- I'm turning on all
the lights in the house.
I wanna be able to see.
- It was Glendon you heard.
- I know Mr. Baker's
voice, it wasn't him.
I know his voice.
- Turn off the lights, Maude,
the darkness protects us.
Now if there's someone
outside he can see in
and see that we're alone.
[thunder crashing]
[suspenseful music]
Don't turn on
another light, Maude.
- I wanna be able to see.
He may be hiding up there.
- Didn't you hear me, Maude?
[gasping]
- What is it?
What is it?
What happened?
He's here!
- [Betty] You've blown a fuse.
- Why didn't you listen?
[meowing]
- We shall return in a moment,
but first we ask your local
station to take it away.
- They're all blown,
every single one of them.
Well, there won't be
any electricity in
the house tonight.
Are these all the
candles, Maude?
- Uh, there's a
candelabra in the hall.
- Well, go and get it
and take it upstairs.
- I can't, I, I can't
go in there alone.
- Come on, Maude.
Come on.
[suspenseful music]
Hurry, Maude.
[thunder crashing]
[Maude screaming]
- Sh, he's asleep.
But you can't bring that
in, the oxygen's on.
- Oh.
- I gave him a pill.
- Luckily there are
candles in the house.
- No fuses?
- Not a one.
[gasping]
- Sh, Maude!
- I hate it!
- Come on, Maude, come on.
- Now that's enough, Maude.
No, you can't have any more.
- No!
I heard a voice,
he is in the house.
Ooh.
Around and around,
the cat and the mouse.
And the chicken, the poor
skinny little chicken,
chicka chicka chick, you
ever pluck a chicken?
[clicking tongue]
I'll show you first,
you throw him in the hot water,
and then you go
pluck, pluck, pluck.
Stella, don't forget
to singe the feathers
before you put 'er in the pot.
Stella, you'd forget
to singe the feathers,
I'll bet you would, 'cause
you got a bad memory.
That's...
He only kills
nurses, doesn't he?
I'm not a nurse.
Do I look like a nurse?
No, no.
Thank goodness.
He's in the house.
- Well, that's that.
- Nothing could've stopped it.
- But we can't leave her here,
and she's too heavy
to get downstairs.
- We could put her on one
of the singles in my room.
- Right.
- Hm?
- There we go.
- Huh?
- Up you go.
- Where are we going?
Huh?
- Come on.
- Stella.
- Yes.
- Hm?
- Sh.
- Listen, you're not
going to leave me.
[gasping]
- Sh.
- Don't take me in there
by myself, alone.
- She's like a great big bug.
You know, the kind with the
dark, two-section shells?
- Down for the night.
- There you go.
- Stella.
- Hm?
- This morning there
were four of us
who were capable of
defending ourselves,
and now there are
only two of us.
And the police are sure
he's in the neighborhood
Have you ever seen someone
after they've been strangled?
- No, and I'm not up to
any graphic descriptions.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
- We're neglecting our patient.
Pulse is strong.
- I'm not so sure
how sick he was.
- What do you mean?
- He seems much healthier
than he pretends to be.
- He was very sick
three days ago.
I sat with him through the
crisis, it was terrible.
- Stella, he's asked
you to marry him.
- How do you know?
- He told me so tonight.
He wanted my opinion of you.
- And?
- I said you're everything
a wife should be.
A little absent-minded, perhaps,
but love conquers all
failings sooner or later.
- Have you ever been married?
- Yes, years ago.
That was a case where
love conquered nothing.
Disaster.
- I'm sorry.
- Oh, there's no need for you to
feel anything akin to sorrow.
It was a long time ago, and
it had nothing to do with you.
I'm on duty now, you
go and get some rest.
- I don't think I
can sleep very well.
- Well, you ought to try.
Afraid?
- A little, I suppose.
- But everything is
locked up, isn't it?
Isn't it?
- Yes.
[suspenseful music]
[wind howling]
[footsteps thudding]
[man chuckling]
[screaming]
- What is it?
- I heard him again!
He was in the room.
I couldn't see him, but I
heard him, he was laughing.
- There's nothing here.
Nothing.
- Oh, yes there
was, I heard him.
I know that I heard
him, I heard his voice,
he was right in here with me!
- We'd better give
her a sedative.
- Yes, please, give me
something to put me out.
- All right, I'll get it.
- Sh.
It's going to be all right.
[moaning]
[branch rustling]
[gasping]
Sh, it's only Stella.
- It sounded like [chuckling].
Just like that.
[chuckling]
He was right here with me,
he was going [chuckling].
Like that.
[chuckling]
He was right here with me.
- Did you hear anything?
- No, did you?
- No.
[phone ringing]
Oh, I'll get it.
Hello?
They hung up.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
No.
No.
Leave us alone.
I hung up on him.
He said he's been
watching you for days.
He was out front last night
when the cab brought
me to the door.
He knows we're alone, and
he intends to pay us a visit
before the night is over.
[phone ringing]
Leave us alone.
[suspenseful music]
[phone ringing]
[suspenseful music]
Yes.
Yes, that's right, Sergeant.
You take the first
turnoff at Cuticutt Road.
Then you continue on
five miles further
til you come to a sign,
"Private, Keep Out."
Then you go on
about 50 yards more,
you take the turnoff,
and come up the hill.
Yes.
How soon?
Yes.
Yes.
N-no one.
Yes.
Thank you, Sergeant,
please hurry.
Well, they're on their way,
but they won't be here
for at least an hour.
I think he thought I
was a bit of a crank.
- Well, at least
they are coming.
- Yes, yes, he said
he'd send a squad car.
[branch tapping]
[meowing]
- What are you doing
out there, Gus?
How did you get outside?
- What is it?
- The cat.
She was down in the cellar.
I wonder how...
The window.
That's what I was
trying to remember.
There was one window
down in the cellar.
One window I forgot to check.
[suspenseful music]
[branches rustling]
[window creaking]
[screaming]
Miss Ames!
Miss Ames, Miss Ames!
- What is it, Stella?
- He's outside, he's here!
I saw him, he's outside!
[breathing heavily]
It's dead, it's dead,
he's cut the wires.
[knocking]
- [Man] Hey there, let me in!
- I saw him, he's
at the back door!
- Go upstairs, go on,
go to your patient.
- And what about you?
- Go on.
Go on.
[suspenseful music]
[thunder crashing]
[knocking]
- [Betty] Go away!
- Go away, go away!
Glendon?
Wake up, Glendon, wake up.
[Betty screaming]
[thunder crashing]
[wind howling]
Miss Ames?
Miss Ames?
[glass crashing]
Glendon, wake up, wake up!
- [Betty] Stella, Stella!
- Miss Ames?
- [Betty] Stella!
Stella!
- Miss Ames?
- [Betty] Help me, Stella.
[chandelier tinkling]
- Miss Ames?
- [Betty] Stella, help me!
He's in the house,
Stella, he's in the house!
[man chuckling]
Stella!
- Where are you, Miss Ames?
- Here, here, under the stairs.
I'm here, help me!
Stella, Stella.
Here, here.
- Oh, are you all right?
- He tried to strangle me.
He had his hands on my throat.
His eyes, Stella.
- Where is he?
- I don't know.
- Did he go out?
- I don't know.
He's, he's in the
house, somewhere.
Come, let's try and
get out the front door.
Run, Stella!
[screaming]
- What is it?
- I saw him.
Behind the door.
- Sam!
Sam!
Oh, I'd forgotten about Sam.
Sam!
[man chuckling]
- Yes.
You'd forgotten
about Sam, Stella.
But I didn't.
Stella, you have a bad memory.
[gasping]
[screaming]
You're the man, the police?
- There are no police
coming, Stella.
I faked that call to the police.
It doesn't matter, Stella.
Stella, you're such
a pretty nurse.
[screaming]
- Thus ends our story.
unless you are interested in
knowing more about Nurse Ames.
You see, he later made
a regrettable mistake,
and found himself attempting
to throttle a nurse
who turned out to be a
policeman in disguise.
It was most embarrassing.
Now I have another radio
sound effect to test.
[door creaking]
Excellent.
Until next week,
then, good night.
[door creaking]
[footsteps thudding]
["Funeral March
of a Marionette"]
[dramatic music]
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Did you know that you can remove censorship board-wide, use our advanced search functions, be notified when new content is posted, join our memberships, set episodes to show in any order you want & more if you are logged into your account?
Register or sign in here: ucp.php?mode=register