03x29 - Off Season

[bunniefuu]

["Alfred Hitchcock" theme music]

- Good evening.

I have made a rather
interesting discovery,

an Indian village in
a remarkable state
of preservation.

Judging from the items
I've found around here,

this was the barbershop.

I imagine it was originally
part of a large shopping center

which stood on this very spot.

Actually, this a peace pipe.

It was by far the most
popular style of pipe,

because it was so
handy in case the peace

conference didn't work out.

Tonight, we shall show you a
series of commercial messages,

and if you watch
closely, a play.

[suspenseful music]

[footsteps]

[suspenseful music]

[car passing]

[suspenseful music]

[traffic passing]

[suspenseful music]

[glass smashing]

[alarm blaring]

[horn honking]

[alarm blaring]

- Come on.

[alarm blaring]

All right you, come on out.

[alarm blaring]

- It's empty.

- This is the police, come
out with your hands up.

Stop!

[g*n firing]

[glass breaking]

- What's the matter with you?

- You saw him, he was
trying to get away.

[alarm blaring]

- He's dead.

[alarm blaring]

I couldn't help
it, he was armed.

- Was he?

[alarm blaring]

[soft dramatic music]

- Do you think we'll be
friends after we're married?

- Who wants to be
friends with you?

- What time do
you have to leave?

- I'm supposed to
be at the police

psychiatrist office at 11.

I suppose there'll be
a hearing tomorrow,

later in the week.

- Johnny, what can
they do to you?

- Nothing.

He was trying to get away.

I told him to stop.

He didn't, I shot him.

- Sweetheart?

- Hmm?

- Why do have to carry a g*n?

- Honey, the only thing
a cop has between him

and extinction is his g*n.

- Well.

Then if you tell them the truth,
everything'll be all right.

- Yeah.

[soft dramatic music]

[traffic passing]

- The truth, Mr. Kendall,
consists of many things.

For example, I've
just finished reading

Sergeant Racin's report here.

Now suppose you give
me your version.

- Well, it's hard to remember.

I mean, it all happened so fast.

I mean, all of a sudden,
there I am in a dark alley

with some guy that's just
busted a liquor store.

Well how could I tell all he
had in his hand was a bottle?

Coulda been a knife.

Or a g*n.

I mean, for all I
know, he's a k*ller.

Don't you see, Doc,
I had to sh**t.

Put yourself in my place.

- Suppose I try.

Seems to me I'd fire my
first shot as a warning.

Then if I thought
the man was armed,

I'd sh**t to disable him.

Aim for his hand, or his foot.

Yet the medical report says here

that all three b*ll*ts
were in the chest,

close to the heart.

- I told you, I
had to sh**t fast.

- Here's your practice records
on the police target range.

You are rated one of the top
marksmen in the department.

- But this was different,
it was dark, I couldn't see.

- And you have made
excellent scores

under simulated
night conditions,

exceptionally high on
both speed and accuracy.

- Just say it.

Say it, why don't you?

You think I k*lled him
on purpose, don't you?

Don't you?

All right then.

Tell me why.

Why would I wanna k*ll him?

He was a bum, a whino!

A poor old guy who couldn't
wait for the next drink.

Why would I wanna k*ll him?

- Suppose you tell me.

- I don't know.

I just don't know.

- Well, perhaps it would
help if we could find out.

We might make arrangements
for treatment.

- You think they'll suspend me?

- No.

I'm going to
recommend an honorable

discharge from the force.

I said honorable.

There'll be no hearing.

I've read your record,
your entire record.

This sort of thing,
it could happen again.

- A cop has got to
protect himself.

- He has got to
protect others too.

Look at it this way.

When you carry a g*n, you
also carry responsibility.

And for you, it's
too much of a load.

[soft dramatic music]

- What happened, what did
they say about the hearing?

- There won't be any hearing.

- Oh, darling, I'm so glad.

- Of course we'll have to
put off our wedding a while.

Only till I find another job.

- Another job?

- I quit the force.

- Johnny.

That doctor, what
did he say to you?

- Nothing, just that,

I'm okay, I'm okay.

- [Sandy] Then I
don't understand.

- I've had it, that's
all, I've just had it.

- What are you doing?

- There are plenty of other
towns, plenty of other jobs.

Soon as I find something,
I'll send for you.

- Take me with you.

Please?

I can quit my job tomorrow,
and we can go together.

Johnny, I won't stay
here without you.

- You better go now.

You have a lot of packing to do.

[soft romantic music]

I'll see you home.

- [Sandy] No, that's okay,
you have a lot to do.

- Call me in the morning,
soon as you're ready.

- It'll be like starting
a new life together.

- That's right,
darling, a new life.

[soft romantic music]

- Goodnight, Johnny.

[soft dramatic music]

[door closing]

[soft music]

- Where are we?

- Wagon Lake.

Can you use some sleep?

- Can I?

It feels like we've
been driving forever.

- I told you, I wanted to
get far away as possible.

- Can I help you folks?

- [Johnny] Yes, could you
get us a couple of rooms?

- Right this way.

[door closing]

[birds singing]

- Don't bother, Mr.
Kendall, nobody home.

The young lady left
about an hour ago.

- Left?

- Didn't wanna disturb you.

Said you needed a good nap
after all that driving.

She just drove into
town with my wife.

- What for?

- Oh, said she wanted to
look around for a job.

So my wife offered to drive her.

Anything to leave
me with the chores.

[birds singing]

Looks like you folks
decided to stay a while.

- Apparently.

- Well, it's nice around here.

Quiet.

[birds singing]

Like I was telling the young
lady, it's good for the nerves.

- You told her that?

- Oh sure, nothing like country
living to get you relaxed.

- Maybe you're right.

[footsteps]

- Going sightseeing?

- No.

If the young lady
gets back before I do,

tell her I got the message.

[engine starting]

[soft music]

- Irma, see that the judge
gets a copy of this circular.

- Shall I keep one for the file?

- That might be a good idea.

- I'm looking for the sheriff.

- What do you wanna
see him about?

- Well I'd like a job.

- Nobody hires anybody around
here until the season opens.

- So I found out.

I've been making the
rounds all afternoon.

Fella down at the
service station told me

you might have an opening.

- Sorry, I need an
experienced man.

- You got one.

I was on the Canyon
City police force

for almost seven years.

- That so? Well come on in.

Why did you leave?

- Oh, got tired of the grind,
decided I wanted to travel.

I got an honorable discharge.

- Your name?

- John Kendall.

- You married?

- I will be, soon
as I find a job.

- Now this pays 75
a week, it's nights.

- What do I have to do?

- I need a man to
patrol the lake area,

keep an eye on the cottages.

People keep some
pretty expensive stuff

in those old places.

They like to know it's
protected while they're away.

- How you been patrolling
it up till now?

- I had a man up until last
week, had to let him go.

Now this is the lake area.

All you do is drive a
patrol car around it

every hour and
check the cottages.

It's just routine.

Don't even have to carry a g*n.

- No g*n?

- This is a peaceful
community, Kendall,

and I like it that way.

Well, what do you say?

- Sounds fine to me, I'd
like to give it a try.

- Well good.

Irma?

Irma's my wife.

- Yes, honey.

- Irma, I'd like you
to meet Johnny Kendall.

He's applying to
be our new deputy.

- How do you do, Mr. Kendall?

- Please to meet you, Mrs. Dade.

- Irma, have we got any of those

job application
forms around here?

- I'll get one from the office.

- Well you can start
on a temporary basis

until I run a check on you.

- Okay.
- Good.

- And I'll show you around
the lake area tonight.

- Thank you.

[soft music]

[door opening and closing]

- Is this why we
came 1,000 miles,

so you could become
a policeman again?

- I told you, it
was the only job

I could find open in town.

Thought you'd be glad.

- Glad?

- It's $75 a week,
we can get married.

- [sighs] Oh, it's my fault.

- What are you talking about?

- I shouldn't have
rushed things.

Running off to find
work on my own,

deciding we should stay here.

- You found a job.

- Sure.

Waitress in a greasy
spoon, 50 a week and tips.

- So between the two of
us we'll do all right.

And you like it here.

- I hate it.

- You were the one
that wanted to stay.

- Four days ago,
you k*lled a man.

Just four days ago.

And here you are again
with a g*n in your hand.

- No, Sandy.

I won't have a g*n in my hand.

I don't have to carry
a g*n in this job.

The sheriff doesn't like his
deputies to carry weapons.

- Oh, Johnny, I was so worried.

- Were you?

Why, Sandy?

Don't you trust me with a g*n?

Are you afraid
it'll happen again?

- Darling, you know I trust you.

That's why I'm here.

I trust you with my wife.

[crickets chirping]

[soft music]

[door closing]

[soft music]

- Trip around the lake
takes about a half hour.

Start with these
cottages through here.

[crickets chirping]

The only trouble you're
likely to run into

will be a couple
of boozed up kids.

Sometimes they hit the
taverns, get loaded

and try to break into a cottage.

So check the taverns
first every night.

Then come out here
about, oh, 11 o'clock.

- Gotcha.

Sure is quiet around here.

- You ever do this
kinda thing back east?

Patrol duty, I mean.

- Yeah.

- Then how come you're so jumpy?

[crickets chirping]

- Sheriff, there's something
I have to tell you.

- Well, sh**t.

- I k*lled a man while I
was on duty, just last week.

- How did it happen?

- An old wino broke
into a liquor store,

and I thought he was
armed, so I shot him.

That's why I was asked
to resign from the force.

- I know, I had a
check run on you.

[crickets chirping]

- I didn't tell you
everything, because,

well, I wanted the job.

- Well, these things happen.

I don't hold it against you.

- Thanks.

- Nothing like that
could happen around here,

especially since you
don't carry a g*n.

Come on.

[frogs croaking]

- What's that?

- Just frogs down at the lake.

You'll get used to them.

[crickets chirping
and frogs croaking]

- Enough brush to hide an army.

[owl hooting]

[frogs croaking]

- Hoot owl.

[frogs croaking]

[crickets chirping]

- Something moving down there.

[crickets chirping
and frogs croaking]

Maybe I am jumpy.

- You'll get the hang of it.

Couple more cottages over here.

[dramatic music]

- This second half of our story

will be on view after we
hear from your local station.

But first I have
some exciting news.

I have just been informed
that I have been selected

for an honor which has
been awarded only once

before in our history.

The previous winner was
General George Custer.

[pool ba*ls colliding]

- Hi ya, Deputy.

- Hello, Bill, how's it going?

- No complaints,
how about yourself?

- All right.

- Drink?

- Thanks, I'm on duty.

Just came in to
check the action.

Everything okay?

- No problem.

[patrons chattering]

- Hey, Deputy.

You got a minute?

- What's the trouble?

- No trouble.

I just wanted to take a real
good look at you, that's all.

See, I had your job
up until a week ago.

- Is that a fact?

- Did Sheriff Dade tell
you why he fired me?

Well you ask him
sometime, will you?

Yeah, ask him how come
he fired Milt Woodman.

[patrons chattering]

[keys striking]

- Ah.

- Problems?

- When are they gonna
invent a typewriter

that doesn't make mistakes?

- I thought your wife
did all the office work.

- Irma, I gave her the day off.

- Nice of you.

- Yeah, it gives her a little
free time to do the washing.

You're off duty yourself.

- I know, just passing by.

- Anything on your mind?

- Oh, nothing really.

I met a fella in a
tavern last night.

Milt Woodman.

- Oh, did he give
you any trouble?

- No.

Just said to ask you
sometime why you fired him.

- And are you asking?

- Not important to me.

- That's right, it isn't.

But, uh, you let me know if
he does cause you any trouble.

- Why should he?

- Oh, no reason.

Just keep on your toes.

Wait a minute.

Irma told me to ask
you and your girl

if you'd like to have
dinner with us tonight.

Think you can make it?

- I guess so.

I'm picking her up at the
restaurant around five.

- Well good, then we'll
expect you about six.

- See you then.

[soft mysterious music]

[traffic passing]

[soft mysterious music]

- Hi, darling, you're early.

- So I see.

It's all right, don't hurry.

Smoking a lot?

- Just that one.

Can't you tell my
brand from the others?

- Now you know why I
never made detective.

But if I had, why,

I'd say you've been having
coffee with a customer.

- Well how about that,
Mr. Sherlock Holmes?

- I saw him leaving
when I drove up.

Who is he?

- Somebody here in town.

- What's his name?

- I don't know.

He comes in occasionally
and hangs around.

- He does, does he?

- Of course.

They all do.

Don't tell me you're jealous.

I'll be ready in a minute.

- Oh by the way,

Sheriff Dade and his wife asked
us over for supper tonight.

- Hey, Al, did you hear that?

A real home-cooked meal.

- Yeah.

I wish I could get one.

[crickets chirping]

- You all go in the front
room and enjoy yourselves.

- Oh, let me help you.

- Oh no, Sandy.

- Absolutely.

- Sandy.

Let's get outta here
before they put us to work.

- You're right.

Sheriff, there's
something I wanna ask you.

I didn't want to before,
but now I'd like to know.

- Well, what's that, John?

- Why did you fire Milt Woodman?

- Has he been
giving you trouble?

- No, guess I'm just curious.

- All right.

He had too many other
things on his mind.

- Such as?

- Well, for one thing,
when he had your job,

he used to drive
down to the lake

and take some gal into
one of the cottages.

- Quite an operator.

- Just a no-good bum.

Never shoulda hired
him in the first place.

You might keep an eye on him.

- I will.

Thanks for filling me in.

[soft dramatic music]

[knocking at door]

- Who's there?

- Sandy.

Were you asleep?

- No.

[door closing]

Hard day?

- Yes, it was.

- Too bad.

I was hoping we could go
looking for an apartment.

I still got a couple of
hours before I go on duty.

- Not today, sweetheart, please.

I'm really too tired.

- You didn't act like you
were too tired this afternoon.

- What are you talking about?

- I passed the restaurant.

I saw the two of you in
there talking and laughing.

- Woodman?

Darling, I told you,
he's only a customer.

- Sure, and now
you know his name.

- Well yes, he told me today.

- What else did he
tell you, what else?

The truth, I wanna
know the truth.

- [Sandy] Johnny.

- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

- So am I.

[soft dramatic music]

- [John] Sandy?

Where you going?

- To my room.

I wanna get some rest.

- All right, see
you in the morning.

- Okay.

[door closing]

[mysterious music]

- Oh, Johnny, I'm
glad you stopped by.

I got something for you.

Irma, would you bring
in that list, please?

- I had Irma type the
name and phone numbers

of the some of the
places around town.

You know, bars,
all-night joints.

- Here you are.

- [Dade] Thanks.

- Hi, Johnny, how's Sandy?

- Fine, I guess.

- Better look it over.

Up on the top are the names
of the places that Smith

and I cover here in town,
when we're on night duty.

And down below are the taverns
you cover out on the road

between nine and 11 before
you hit the cottages.

I figured you might wanna
leave one with Sandy.

In case she has to reach
you during the night.

- Right, good idea.

- You can thank Irma, she's
the one who thought about it.

You know how woman worry.

- Yeah.

- Something biting you, Johnny?

- Sheriff, I been
thinking it over.

I want you to let
me carry a revolver.

- Any particular reason?

- No, just that I'd feel
safer on patrol with a g*n.

- And I'd feel
safer if you didn't.

Johnny, this is a
peaceful community.

And I don't want trouble,
and a g*n is trouble.

Now as far as I'm concerned,
you're a good man.

Now let's keep it that way.

Okay?

- Okay.

[soft music]

[mysterious music]

[traffic passing]

- Well, if it isn't the deputy.

- What were you doing in there?

- Just having a cup of coffee.

There's no law against
that, is there?

- Why don't you take your
business somewhere else?

- No, I like it here.

That girlfriend of yours,

she makes a real
good cup of coffee.

[soft dramatic music]

[door closing]

- Hello, sweetheart, would
you like some coffee?

- I've got something for you.

- What is it?

- It's a list of places where
you can leave messages for me

in case you wanna reach
me in the evenings.

- Thank you, Johnny.

- Maybe you should
make one for me.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- I called you at the motel
last night, you were out.

- That's right.

I went to a movie.

- Alone?

- Of course alone.

What is this, the Third Degree?

Johnny, relax and
have some coffee.

- Save it for your
friend Woodman.

- Darling, I told you,
he's just a customer.

- You were out with him
last night, weren't you?

Tell me the truth,
you were out with him.

- Are you out of your mind?

- Is that what you think?

- Johnny, listen to me.

You've been like a stranger
ever since you, k*lled that man.

[soft music]

[footsteps]

[door opening and closing]

[soft music]

[crickets chirping]

[frogs croaking]

[banging]

[soft mysterious music]

[frogs croaking and
crickets chirping]

[mysterious music]

[banging]

[mysterious music]

[banging]

[soft mysterious music]

[dramatic music]

[door opening and closing]

- [John] Good morning.

- What can I do for
you, Mr. Kendall?

- Miss Evans went to work
without her billfold.

I wonder if you'd mind
letting me in her room

so I could pick it up.

- Sure thing.

[birds singing]

- Thank you.

[mysterious music]

[door closing]

[mysterious music]

[ba*ls colliding]

- Hey, aren't you a couple
hours early tonight?

- I'd like to use your phone.

- [Bill] Be my guest.

[upbeat music]

[switchboard buzzing]

- This is Mr. Kendall.

I'd like to speak to
Miss Evans please.

- I'm sorry, Mr. Kendall,
Miss Evans is not in her room.

- What do you mean?

- Well, she went out
a little while ago.

- Did she say where
she was going?

- No.

[upbeat music]

Any messages?

- No.

[upbeat music]

Bill?

Has Milt Woodman
been in tonight?

- Yeah, he was here.

Left here about 40 minutes ago.

[upbeat music]

- Thanks.

[pool ba*ls colliding]

[mysterious music]

[crickets chirping]

[mysterious music]

[frogs croaking]

[mysterious music]

[giggling]

- [John] Woodman?

[g*n firing]

[screaming]

[dramatic music]

[punches landing]

[dramatic music]

[g*n firing]

[screaming]

[g*n firing]

[soft dramatic music]

Mrs. Dade.

[soft dramatic music]

[hard breathing]

[whimpering]

[dramatic music]

- While enthusiasm for one's
job is always to be admired,

the sheriff thought that
Johnny had outdone himself.

He was given a life sentence
for his unseemly conduct.

I wish to welcome
two new stations

who are receiving the program
for the first time tonight.

Fort Overland and Fort Maxwell,

I hope the picture is
coming through well.

We had to send it
by Pony Express.

Next week, we shall
return with another story.

Until then, goodnight.

[instrumental "Alfred
Hitchcock Hour" theme music]