Original subtitles

Send her to a lunatic asylum.

Did you learn any medicine at all before I threw you out as hopeless?

I had two years of it.

They drive anything into your head. Could you guess what a competent doctor

might say about such a wound?

Well, it's a knock or a blow.

Yes, we're aware of that. But if a tile had fallen from the roof when he was

bending over, it could have hit him?

Yes, well, it's...

Possible?

Come on.

No.

Why not?

She said she hit him several times.

I can't stand it.

I can't stand it. You have got to stand it, my dear.

And get that hysterical note out of your voice. The serpent might hear you. We

are talking of weather.

If he had fallen down the cellar steps, they're made of stone.

Several times in the same place.

No, no, not.

Let's go over it all again.

Millicent? No, please.

Millicent, we must go over it all again. Perhaps you forgot something. One

little detail may save us or ruin us.

You don't want to be put in a lunatic asylum, do you? Or to be hanged? They

hang you.

So stop shaking. Keep your voice quiet.

We're talking about the weather.

Now.

I can't. I can't. You said that one morning ago.

Was it known, do you think, that you were in love with this wretched

No. I didn't tell anybody.

Except... Don't worry, the whole town knows.

It's been the joke at the Oak Creek Inn for months.

No doubt.

Like that ranch hand she fell for and all the others.

No doubt.

Oh, what?

Well,

we continue.

You were in the harness room?

Yes. Putting the croquet set in the box? Yes.

You heard? someone crossing the yard? Yes.

And it was Withers? Yes. Coming in by the back way? Yes.

Did you call him?

Yes.

Loudly? Did you call loudly? Could anybody have heard? No, nobody heard. I

didn't call.

You said you did. I waved and he saw me and he came over.

Did you both step into the stable?

It started to rain harder.

He wanted to talk to me.

And what did he say? Every word.

He said, hello, Millie.

He said that he came to the yard because he was on his way to Oak Creek and he

saw the house and he thought of me and he wanted to talk to me.

Yes.

Because he was so happy.

He said he wanted to share it.

He was going to have his own church in Willow Springs and that man, he could

married.

He was sorry.

So sorry.

Ellen Davis.

He said the things he said to me were just funny.

Just friendly.

But I looked at him.

He was frightened.

And then?

He turned to go away from me.

To go to her.

I had the croquet mallet in my hand.

In my hand.

Did you say, did you shout, did you scream, say anything as you were hitting

him? No.

No, I'm sure I didn't. Did he?

No.

He fell down.

You hit him again?

Threw it down.

And I came straight here.

No one saw you?

No.

I wish I was dead.

I wish I was dead!

I wish that made me grunter. Don't cry.

It's a luxury you can't afford.

No one goes into the stables.

He was walking over to Oak Creek.

Came here on the spur of the moment.

Probably told people he was going to Oak Creek. Nobody knows he came here.

He would have gone through the woods. He might have been attacked in the woods.

George?

Hmm? Seems possible.

Now, let's consider every detail.

A preacher with his head battered in. Oh, don't bother.

Do you want to be hanged?

in the woods.

But who'd want to kill withers?

Who would want to kill withers?

I would, for one, gladly, with pleasure, relish, and delight.

How do you do, Mrs. Princey? I walked right in. I'm afraid my raincoat is

dripping abominably in your hallway.

Father, he heard you.

Well, my dear, we all have our little joke I put on such a face.

A little theoretical preacher killing Lowry. These days we think of nothing

thrillers, detectives, homicides.

Preacherside? Oh, preacherside.

Justifiable preacherside, eh?

Well, have you heard about Ella Davis?

I shall be laughed at.

Laughed at?

She's engaged.

Two withers.

Almost engaged for myself.

Now, don't say you didn't know. Everybody knew.

She almost said yes. I'm telling you, I've told others.

And now I'm turned down.

Oh, too bad.

Fortunes of war.

Didn't come here to bore you with my troubles, however. Oh, Theodore

sit down, my dear fellow. Mother Millicent, console Mr.

Larry with your feminine wisdom. Would you like a drink?

Uh, I've had enough.

I plan to go up to my cousin's place for a couple of weeks in the mountains.

Lick my wounds.

Good idea.

Get in a little hunting and fishing. I plan to drive up in the morning.

Yes, excellent idea.

So, I just dropped by to let you know.

Keep an eye on my place, won't you?

Of course, of course.

I'll be back in a few minutes. George, come with me, will you?

Oh, now, don't look so concerned, Mrs. Princey.

This isn't the first time I've made a fool of myself.

We all have our little weaknesses, haven't we, Millie?

I don't know what you mean, Mr. Lowry.

Well, Millie thinks that she can beat me at croquet.

No, it's true. Do I? Oh, no, indeed.

I may not be good at tennis, and I don't like horses, but when it comes to

croquet, I can beat anybody, can't I, Mother?

Who won on Saturday?

I did.

Who won when the Higgsons were here? I did.

You know it's true.

I could beat you any day of the week.

Any rainy day.

I had the hoops out and everything.

And then the rain came on.

I had to put everything all back again.

That's why I was in the harness room.

That's why I was there.

I didn't make him come through the yard.

Millicent. Don't say I did it.

Of course you didn't make it rain. Of course you didn't.

They're not going to send me to one of those places.

Not if you don't talk and excite yourself.

He looked frightened.

He looked frightened.

That's what made me do it.

Jack, I wonder if you could help us with something out here.

Oh, yes, of course.

We'll be back in a few minutes.

I'm sorry, I have some tea and coffee.

in the stable. I could have a look.

Oh, good, good. Nothing I like better than taking a look at things.

Well, I hope for your sake it's not roof trouble.

I've had that place of mine two years.

I've had the roofers in four times. The ring still gets in. Oh, it's not roof

trouble.

We've come out here to shoot a rat, which George heard squeaking under that

Now, you must listen to me very carefully, or you will be shot by

I mean that.

Very well.

Go on.

There's been tragedy here this afternoon.

It'd be even more tragic unless we can smooth it over.

Oh? You've walked in in your informal way. You heard George ask me who would

kill Withers.

Millicent made an unguarded remark.

Yes, but what of it? Nothing except that you will hear if you survive the next

few minutes.

Withers has met a violent end this very afternoon.

You killed him?

No, no, no, of course not.

Millicent. Oh.

Oh.

I see.

You must also see that you constitute a problem.

But Millicent, why did she do it?

You know her weakness?

She deluded herself that she... Well, she thought that he was in love with

Oh, yes.

Of course, he came to the house and told her about the Davis girl.

She struck him.

With that thing.

Now, I have no wish that she should be proved a lunatic or a murderer.

I could hardly live here after that.

No, I suppose not.

This is my place.

I propose to continue to live here.

Well.

So, you're a problem.

You want me to keep quiet?

I can make you keep quiet with this.

Mr. Lowry, you can either join me or you can join Mr. Withers.

You want me to promise not to... Promise.

Made at the point of a gun.

Well, if I give my word, I'll keep it.

I'm sure you would. Everything went well.

But there was questioning, there was suspicion, the fear of being an

There must be an accident.

Listen.

We can't. He wouldn't be mad enough.

I assure you, I would.

Unless... What?

You gave me the idea yourself.

You said that you would kill Withers.

And you have the motive.

I was joking.

You're always joking.

People wonder what's behind it.

No, I can't trust you, Mr. Lowry, so... You must trust me.

Or I'll kill you.

Within the next few minutes.

Trust you.

How?

You must give me proof.

But I told you I... Proof that you did it.

Then you will keep your mouth shut.

What kind of proof?

George.

Hit him in the face. Very hard.

Oh! Sorry about this. We need traces of a struggle.

Once more, George.

Don't bruise your knuckle.

Oh! Oh!

I'm telling you, you can take my word.

Yes, I will, as soon as we're finished.

Now, George, take your handkerchief. Pick up that croquet mallet.

Wipe that wretched girl's fingerprints off the end of it.

Hold it by the middle.

Mr. Lowry, I want you to grasp the end of this mallet.

Very firmly.

Don't try to snatch it or I'll shoot.

Squeeze it.

That's right.

Put the mallet down in the corner, George.

Now, claw at his head a little. Get two or three hairs. Make a slight scratch.

Keep still, Mr. Lowry. It'll be much easier.

Under the fingernails of the right hand.

Take your knife.

Flip the nail a little. Wet the hair in.

Very distinctive color.

Great help.

Think that where he is?

Just for the moment. I want you to check this bar.

Don't make any sudden movement.

And that flagstone covered the stable sewers. Lift it off.

won't touch him.

Go on.

No.

I'm sorry about all this.

Don't talk to me. I want you to realize that everything is safe. It's perfectly

safe. He told me, listen, he'd set out for Oak Creek.

He only came here on the spur of the moment.

It's five miles to Oak Creek. It's thick woods half the way.

Besides, preachers, when they find themselves engaged to be married, they

sometimes react very strangely.

I mean, that woods will be searched, they'll ask here, among other places.

no one here has seen him. They'll conclude he couldn't face it.

Troublesome.

Don't think he ran away.

Let me go now.

Come and bow us for a minute.

You have to be normal, all right?

We'll have coffee.

Rose cookies.

Dear, we have a visitor.

I looked into the stables as we passed and there was Lowry inspecting our

stalls. Do you remember the short cut?

Yes. Yes, that's it.

Rosa, bring another cup for Mr. Lowry.

Your hands are shaking, Jack.

Is there a cut on your face?

What's wrong? Have you had a fall?

Yes, I... I... I slipped on some wet stones. It's nothing. Do you want to go

to the bathroom? I can tell Rosa to get the iodine. No.

No, thank you. It's nothing. Nothing at all.

Very well, Rosa. That's all.

Mr. Lowry is very kind. He knows our trouble.

We can rely on him.

I have his word.

Oh?

Thank him.

Oh, Mr. Lowry, how very kind.

How very good you are.

How can we ever thank you?

It's all right.

I'd like to leave now, if you don't mind.

You mustn't worry in the least, Jack. I assure you everything will be all right.

There's blood in that stable. I'll clean it up now.

Well, I'm sorry you won't stay.

I hope you have a good time in the mountain.

All will be well, my dear.

This little visit is all you've seen of Lowry. Do you understand that?

Millicent. Let's make her understand that.

Millicent.

Millicent.

You're getting a cold.

Bad cold. I think you'd be better off in bed for the next few days.

Where's my coffee?

You're too late, Rosa. I'm afraid Mr. Lowry couldn't stay.

Oh, no.

I've never seen Lowry behave so strangely.

Before, I must have shaken him up. When we came out of the stables, he looked

absolutely stunned at me.

Rosa, these cookies are better than ever. Best yet.

Yes, sir.

The sheriff's office, please.

Who is this, Bob?

Joshua Prince, out at the ranch.

Bob, I hope I'm not being alarmist here, but there's something very peculiar out

in my stables.

Well, there's certain things out there.

Blood, I'm sure it's blood, and other things.

I tell you the truth, Bob, I'm terribly worried. Could you come over and maybe

send one of your deputies?

Well, Jack Lowry was here a short while ago.

He seems to be in a terrible state.

Oh, excellent.

If you come yourself, I shall know the matters in the best possible hands.

you, Bob. Thank you.