04x34 - A True Account

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Alfred Hitchcock Presents". Aired: October 2, 1955 – June 26, 1965.*
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American anthology series featuring dramas, thrillers and mysteries.
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04x34 - A True Account

Post by bunniefuu »

Good evening.

Please don't be alarmed.

This is just a routine checkup.

It seems to me she could take my
blood pressure with a tyre gauge.

If you don't care to watch the
details of my physical examination

perhaps you would enjoy perusing
my doctor's collection of X-rays

of prominent personalities.

The following is a true and full account

and hereby sworn to by me
Paul Brett, attorney-at-law.

Sometime ago,
my records will show the exact date

I was just preparing to
leave my office when my

secretary came in
with an unusual request.

Can you take a minute
to see Miss Cannon?

No appointment,
no reference.

And what does she want,
who is she?

Advice, I imagine.

She's young and attractive.

And a lot more tense
than she let's on.

I thought you just said she
didn't have any references.

She doesn't.

I didn't think my account for anything.

Well you got your house cleaning,
send her in.

Will you come in Miss Cannon?

Won't you sit down, Miss Cannon?

Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Brett.

I'm afraid I'm urgently
in need of legal advice.

Well let me give you
some right away.

Lie to anybody you want
to except your lawyer.

Isn't that a little
prematured, Mr. Brett?

I haven't told you anything yet.

Well, you said your
name was Miss Cannon,

you're wearing a wedding ring.

My maiden name is Cannon.

If you don't mind we'll leave it there.

So we seemed to be
getting off to a bad start.

Why did you come to see me?

I was told you're the best
criminal lawyer in town.

Thank you. Now supposed you
tell me what your problem is

we'll decide if we want to proceed.

What does a person do if she knows
a m*rder has been committed?

Well, I would say that if for any reason
she can't report it to the police,

she should confide in her lawyer.

Before my marriage
I was a private nurse.

I had a patient named Mary Hughes.

She was bedridden, had been
that way for several months.

Naturally she was inclined
to be irritable and demanding.

(PERSISTENT BUZZER SOUNDING)

I thought you've forgotten
about my medicine.

Oh Mrs. Hughes, you wouldn't
think that, did you?

You were just hoping I'd forget it.

Well, you were late
with my lunch today.

You haven't been eating
very much lately.

I thought I try to make your
tray a bit more appetizing.

Here we are.
Drink this.

It's vile.

I'll never get used to it.

And your sleeping pills.

I'll try and make you
more comfortable now.

Anything else you'll
be wanting tonight?

Yes, my husband.

Tell him I want to see him.

I'll send him right up, Mrs. Hughes.
Good night.

Is Mr. Hughes still in the study?

Yes, he is, Miss Cannon.

Thanks you, Mrs. Simpson.
Good night.

Come in.

Mrs. Hughes is waiting
to say goodnight sir.

Of course.

Nurse

does she seemed any better to you?

Doctor says she's making progress.

Good.

Mr. Hughes

I wonder if she might do
better with another nurse.

Why do you say that, Miss Cannon?

Your wife doesn't seem to like me

and I find that a patient does better
if she likes a nurse.

If you care to change,
I'd certainly understand.

Please believe me Miss Cannon.

I know it's been difficult for you.

My wife is not an easy patient.

- It's not your fault.
- But she'd be happy with another.

We've already had two other nurses.

No one has done more than you have.

I know that, and I'm sure that...

In her heart, my wife knows it too.

Please, will you stay?

Of course I will.

Good.

Hello doctor, this is Miss Cannon.

Can you come over immediately sir?

Yes she seems to be in a coma.

I understand sir. cc.
I'll do my best.

- What's happened?
- Thank you, doctor.

She's had a relapsed.
The doctor will be over in a few minutes.

Mary, I'm right here.

The death of his wife seem to leave
Mr. Hughes in a state of collapse.

He had no other family so I stayed
on until the day after the funeral.

Miss Cannon.

I er... I can never repay you
for everything you've done.

Especially this last week for me.

This is just a slight token.

Mr. Hughes, th-...

I can't accept this.
This is for much more than you owe me.

Miss Cannon,
you've earn every penny of it.

- No, I couldn't, really.
- Please.

I'd like you to take it.

Thank you.

I hope we don't lose touch
with each other completely.

Thanks again for everything.

Goodbye, Mr. Hughes.

Bye.

- Alice?
- Ya?

- Do you want an apple?
- Ya.

How do you like this shade?

It's pretty bright.
Looks as though your toes are on fire.

You know, speaking of painting toes,
I think I'm going to paint this apartment...

Red!

Well, what do you think
of this hospital white?

Don't you think we've
got enough of that?

Hello?

Oh, hello yes, she's right here.

Just a minute.
Your service.

Hello?

Yes.

Mr. Gilbert Hughes?

I have the address.

Alright, thank you.

I can see the apartment's
not going to get painted.

It's nothing serious.

He's so upset about his wife's death,

probably hasn't been taking
care of himself properly.

I had a patient like that once.

He jumped off a bridge.

Mr. Hughes.

Then you are not sick?

No.

No, not me.

Won't you please come in?

Is it your housekeeper then?

- No.
- I hope there hasn't been a mistake.

My service said that you
needed a nurse here.

May I?

Please forgive me for
using a subterfuge,

but I couldn't think of any
other way of asking you.

Asking me what?

Well I have two tickets to
a concert this evening.

I thought you might
enjoy having them.

Well, er...

This is absurd, isn't it?

What I really want to say is

would you like to go to
the concert with me?

Yes.

- What?
- I said yes.

You mean all I need to do was...

- was asked you?
- That's all.

Well then...

Shall I pick you up at your
place about tonight?

- Will that be all right?
- Certainly, that'd be fine.

Oh er... don't you want my address?

I feel like a rat leaving
you with all this.

Why don't you wait till tomorrow
when I'm off and I can help?

Don't think I wouldn't,
but I have a better offer.

One guess, Gilbert Hughes.

Uh huh. He offered to
come and help me today.

What's with you two?

The way you toss and turn at night

you're making all the
motions of a lovesick cow.

Come now, Alice.

Hughes is a lonesome man
who needs companionship.

Oh, don't give me that.

A concert is companionship.

A dinner is a flirtation.

The painting this room, honey that's love.

I think he's serious about you.

Get out of here or you'll
be docked an hour's pay.

- Mr. Hughes.
- Good afternoon.

I was just leaving.
Hail and farewell.

I hope I didn't frightened her away.

Men don't frightened Alice.

I see you started without me.

Hm... I like the colour.

I got Alice to pick it out.

I want you to wear this because
I don't want to ruin your new suit.

Oo.. how did you know my size?

Oh, I'm just clever
about things like that.

Well... where do you want me to start?

Well, I figure this is your
territory right over here.

There's your paint,
and your brush.

It was nice of you to come
and help me today.

Well, I uh...

I particularly wanted
to see you today.

I'm uh...

I'm going away.

I'm closing the house.

Rather unexpected, isn't it?

Well I... I only decided today

but it's...
it's been building up for weeks.

I uh... I just can't stand it any longer.

Can't stand what?

Well, living alone in that big house.

I spend so much time by
myself and it isn't good.

So I uh...
I'm going away.

Where?

I don't know.

How long will you be gone?

Well I...
I hadn't thought about it.

But...

would you consider coming with me?

- I mean...
- What do you mean?

Augh!

What a terrible mess
I've made of it.

Have you ever received
a more ridiculous

clumsy proposal of marriage?

Frankly, I.. I really cannot say.

When we finish painting,

may I try again?

Well, it's a very charming
story, Mrs. Hughes,

but it seems to have gotten away from
your original point, which is m*rder.

But I haven't finished yet.

I believe my husband
m*rder*d his first wife.

You see right from the start,
I knew she shouldn't have d*ed.

She was making progress.

Well, possibly you
have a feeling of guilt.

But then isn't that perfectly
normal in any young, dedicated...

I did everything possible for her.

Nevertheless, she d*ed.

Yes, but nothing you've told me
so far proved she was m*rder*d.

What evidence have you to
support such a conclusion?

It began after our honeymoon.

The moment we return to that house...


He seem different.

Be on guard, watching or something.

It's hard to put into words.

He was withdrawn,
difficult to reach.

Well I would like to meet
your new boyfriend.

I'll tell you what, I'll check with Gilbert
and let you know about tomorrow night.

Alright Alice. Bye.

- Who was that?
- Alice.

She wants us to come to
a party tomorrow night.

You know how I feel about that girl.

I've asked you repeatedly
not to see or talk to her.

Please refuse for both of us.

Besides, I much rather spend
our evenings at home.

Just the two of us.

We haven't been anywhere
since we've been back.

Don't you like our home?

Yes of course, but...

it would do us good to get out.

We don't even go to movies
or concerts anymore.

Aren't you happy here?

But Gilbert, you won't let me
see any of my old friends.

I really can't go on this way.

- Why not?
- I don't understand.

- Good morning, sir.
- Good morning, Mrs. Simpson.

Would you like some more hot coffee?

No thank you, Mrs. Simpson.

And my mail is just ads and bills.

I hope yours is more
interesting, my dear.

It's just a letter from
my former patient.

We don't write often
but we keep in touch.

A man?

Yes.

An elderly man.

I like his wife as much as I do him.

They've just discovered I'm married

and they like to know what
to give me for a present.

Please tell them you have
everything you need my dear.

Anything wrong darling?

Gilbert?

Dear?

Here Mary.

Drink this and you go back to sleep.

Yes I know you took some earlier
but this is doctor's orders.

He said you'd have
another dose tonight.

That's fine.

That's fine, Mary.

You see...

He shouldn't have
given her the medicine.

He never did.

That was my job.

It's a very difficult situation,
Mrs. Hughes.

You see there is only your word for it
that he said anything at all in his sleep.

It's going to be impossible
to get confirmation of that.

But I'm certain he k*lled her.

Well, that maybe true but...

We have to have more
positive or further proof

before we could do anything legally.

I can't go on living this way.

I can't sleep, he's watching
me every minute.

Why do you suppose he married me?

Well, has it ever occurred to you that

His marriage to you might have
been a kind of insurance policy?

What do you mean?

Supposed there was further
inquiry into his first wife's death.

You couldn't testify against him.

As you know, a wife can't
testify against her husband.

What am I going to do?

Does he have any idea at all that you
overheard him talking in his sleep?

I don't know.

But if he ever finds out...

he'll k*ll me.

Earth to earth,
ashes to ashes

dust to dust.

But the spirit has returned
to God who gave it.

As we are born the
image of the Earthly,

so shall we bear the
image of the Heavenly.

Cherishing memories
that are forever sacred

sustained by a faith
that is stronger than death.

We commit to the Earth

all that is mortal and this,
our friend,

in the hope of the resurrection

and the life of the world to come.

My deepest sympathies on the
death of your husband, Mrs. Hughes.

Thank you.

At the coroner's inquest,

the verdict was returned that
Hughes had committed su1c1de

while the balance of
his mind was disturbed.

Mrs. Hughes was a rich woman now

and she asked me to act for
her in settling up the estate.

Well I would say you have no financial
worries for the rest of your life.

Gilbert did love me.

He never intended to harm me.

- When I think of all the terrible things I said...
- Don't think about that now.

Why did he k*ll himself?

Remorse probably.

For having done away
with his first wife.

He did, didn't he?

Well, of course.

I suppose we'll never be able to prove it.

Oh I suppose.

You decided what you gonna
do about selling the house?

What do you think I should do?

Well, why don't you...

...take your time,
think about it for a while.

An important case?

Very important.

I think right now
I don't really know.

I could let my client go to jail.

I don't think he'd like that.

Yeah, but I don't like him
coming between me and my wife.

Alright then,

I'll go sit way on the other side of the
room and you can go back to work.

You can work now.

- Aw, I'm sorry.
- No, you're not.

You love to demonstrate
your power over me.

You know what I've discovered this
past month since we've been married?

If you had been born
years ago,

You would have been
hanged as a witch.

All right.

I'll be a good girl.

Going to bed and you can
get back to your books.

I'll be along in a few minutes.

Drink this, Mrs. Hughes.

Drink it.

Another dose.

Drink it.

Drink this Mrs. Hughes.

Then you can go back to sleep.

Mrs. Hughes,

I know you took some earlier.

But you have to have another dose.

The foregoing as I have related it

is exactly as my wife told it to me.

but I know now that she lied.

She gave Mary Hughes the overdose
of medicine that k*lled her.

And Hughes did not commit su1c1de.

But was poisoned by her so
that she can get his money.

I have no reason to believe that

having gotten away with two
profitable murders, she would...

...stop at a third.

Now I must not permit either a
glance or a word to give me away.

For if she ever suspects that I
overheard her talking in her sleep,

she will certainly k*ll me.

Mrs. Hughes made one fatal mistake.

k*lling her husband and
his first wife was one thing.

But when she k*lled a lawyer

the police simply
wouldn't stand for it.

It's all very reassuring.

This is all of tonight's program.

Next week, we...

He'll be back in a minute.

She'll be back with another story.

Until then... good night.
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