Original subtitles

Good evening.

The suggestion box is the mark of the Enlightened Company.

We have had one for years.

We offer prizes to our workers for the best suggestions, but so far have been

unable to make any awards since these suggestions are usually unsigned.

We used to have a woman do this work, but some of the suggestions were

This first suggestion is directed at me.

I'm touched, but I'll have to return it. I never accept gifts from employees.

And now this evening's drama.

It is about a disappearance, sudden, startling, and frightening.

It follows this suggestion from our sponsor.

You've come a way from here.

Welcome home.

Thomas, my lad.

Wandering boy returns.

Is greeted warmly.

Small crowd, to be sure, but all heart.

Warm, friendly.

Knock it off, Steve.

Knock it off?

Is that the way they really talk in New York?

I know. You've seen the movie. There's a young woman lying there, strangled to

death.

You're going to be flippant about it?

One gets used to it.

I think you should know this, Stevie boy.

Cynics put my teeth on age.

Oh, maybe it's not what I meant.

And maybe it is.

But she's the fourth in a row.

Four of them.

Her age.

Thirty -ish, wouldn't you say?

All strangled to death with a silk stocking.

Began when you were on holiday in New York.

Everybody's frightened.

Especially the women.

Stand back.

I told you, stand back.

All I want is... All you'll get is stand back.

Do you hear me, lad?

Any pattern to this?

Only the stocking.

Something else.

They were all of an age.

Thirty -ish, like her.

Wandering the streets alone, small anonymous lives.

Then found in an alley or at a riverbank.

There's a pattern there if you want it.

Happy wedding day, old boy.

She's lovely.

She's lovely.

Maribor ship, huh?

At paddle tennis.

Enchanting.

Yes, we won.

Oh, doubles.

Mm -hmm.

Not always, though.

Oh.

Drenched with moonlight, pink champagne, and all that sort of thing, huh? And

games. It was a pleasure cruise.

Her mother and father and other planned tour citizens to see the old world.

Lovely, huh?

From within.

She loves poetry.

Keats, Shelley, Lord Byron, that sort of thing.

Much happiness, old boy. Proud to be your best man.

And a little sad, too.

Why? Well, losing a jousting companion, I'm all alone now on the field of

battle. Oh. You know, Marie, Jan, Tinker, and... Oh, they'll really miss

They really will. You have my permission to console them.

Thanks. Oh, I shall. I'd be proud to. Thanks. I said, Tom, I really am.

I'm really happy for you. I'm sorry that it had to be on a day like this.

It has to be today.

Her parents are sailing tomorrow to continue the cruise.

You love her very much.

You're a lucky man.

Beautiful girl, sensitive, poetic, young.

She's not all that young. No.

30 -ish, I should say.

That's right.

Thirty -ish.

Oh, there's the gatehouse.

Now, there's this tradition about it that Ben Johnson worked on it as a

bricklayer with... Trowel in hand and book in pocket.

Book in pocket.

Tell me more.

Why did you choose this place, Sally? The guidebook said it was lovely.

And it is.

Poets once walked here.

Why did you ask to meet me today?

The guidebook said it's one of the most romantic spots in London and that...

It's bad luck to see one's bride on the wedding day.

Didn't you know that?

From childhood.

It's not that I mind.

You really are quite exquisite. Do you know that...

I really would be bad luck to touch your bride

before the... It all happened so quickly, didn't it, Tommy?

That's why you wanted to see me.

Don't you feel it?

Perhaps.

You see, I felt it.

I knew you weren't the kind of man to do things by.

Whirlwind, whether romance or... You want to call it off, Sally?

Tommy, I'm 31 years old and unmarried.

My parents worry about that.

I think they'd be very hurt. Do you love me?

Yes, very much.

And so swiftly I can never believe it.

And it frightens you.

It's going to be a lovely, romantic and marvelous wedding.

Will you be there?

My tailor would be very hurt if I weren't. He hasn't slept in 36 hours.

Well, I guess we can't disappoint them, can we?

My mom and dad and your tailor. And all those tour people.

It'd be like having a cricket match cancelled because it rained.

Tell me.

Yes?

Touch me if you want.

Bad luck, remember?

Tell me more about this place.

Please tell me.

It had an evil reputation once.

Haunt of rogues and beggars. There was a pillory there and many executions.

In the year 1586...

Anthony Worthington, who conspired to murder Queen Elizabeth I, was put to

there with nine of his accomplices.

And in 1647, Otis Ruxton was also executed.

What am I talking about morbid history when my own job is filled with it right

now?

Stalking murders, mayhem.

I'm going back to the hotel, Tommy. I'll come with you. No, that's all right.

Happy wedding day.

You too, Sally.

What was that for?

Didn't you like it? Sure I did. I loved it.

So many things to do.

Last minute touches on Sally's dress, the caterers, the flowers. It's

isn't it?

What I like is a rapid wedding. Two young people meet and right away they

to get married.

It's a good omen.

Love should happen quickly.

Sally, have a nice walk. Fine.

Sally, are you all right?

I'm fine.

I want to see you in your dress in case there are any last -minute changes.

Yes, Mother.

What's bothering our daughter is premarital jitters.

I've got them, too.

Are you excited, darling?

I don't know, Mother.

I'm 31 years old and I don't know what I feel.

Whether I'm excited or frightened.

I'm 31 years old and I don't know if I'm ready to get married.

Darling, don't be frightened.

He's a very gentle man.

Yes, he is. And you are 31.

Try on the dress.

At my age?

A white wedding dress.

It'll fit fine. But, Sally... Mother, it'll fit fine.

Are you going out again?

Yes.

Sally, you've got to be at the chapel at eight o 'clock.

That's only four hours away.

I know, Mother. Don't worry about it.

But, Sally, you can't... Mother, listen.

The man I'm going to marry wanted to touch me this afternoon.

It shattered me.

What happened inside of me was terror.

I'm going out for a while.

Every woman... Please don't try to answer it for me, Mother.

I'm going to walk and think about it, and when I get back, I'll be fine.

All right, darling.

Some women are never meant for marriage. Did you know that?

Sally is bright and she's lovely and if you permit a cliche, I personally don't

feel I'm losing a daughter, but I'm gaining a son.

A policeman?

Well, they come in handy.

In London?

We live in Vincennes, Indiana.

Come in.

They found a girl in Soho this morning.

Strangled with the stocking.

How about that, huh?

Very British, huh? Four in a month. Very, very British.

Shades of Jack the Ripper, huh?

Shades? I like London.

Where's Sally?

In her room.

She still gonna marry that cop?

Son, what kind of talk is that?

She still gonna marry that cop?

Yes. Sweet of you to invite us to the wedding.

It was very sweet.

She means we're just shipboard acquaintances and all. Imagine.

Married to a cop.

Elegant.

Hello, everybody.

Oh, Sally.

Where are you going?

Out.

Why would you want to go out now?

For a walk.

I love walking in this city, Father.

And I want to do it alone.

After I'm married, I won't be alone ever again.

Of course you will, darling.

Never. Won't be the same.

Anyhow, I have to go to the druggist and pick up some cosmetics.

Chemists.

That's what the British call druggists.

Chemists.

You need to trim, Elliot. You're a little scraggly. You better be careful,

that's all.

What?

Girls are getting strangled all over the place in London town.

You want me to go with you?

Thank you, Elliot.

See you at my wedding.

Careful.

She'll let me go with her.

Wine of the country.

Vino della Pais.

It took some doing to find this, believe me, all the way from the good old USA,

where the earth is the greatest.

And the rainfall.

Natural rainfall versus man -made irrigation.

Well, a toast before the ceremonial, shall we?

To the blushing bride.

She in her bedroom blushing?

She's... Well, we can soon fix that.

Let's send her in a little bubbly. She's not here. She hasn't gotten back from

her walk.

Well, why not?

I really don't know.

Well, I do. She just got interested in the landmarks. She forgets about the

time. On her wedding day?

Oh, boy, they got them here.

Landmarks. Wellington, Trafalgar, Buckingham.

Essie sneaked behind a cold stream guard and waved. I took her picture.

Stay where the lights are bright, pretty babe.

Can't you hear them through your head?

Don't want you out at night, the pretty baby.

Don't want you strangled dead.

Nothing could make me feel so bad as to see you stretched on a marble flag.

Stay where the lights are bright, the pretty baby. Don't want you out at

There she is.

No, she isn't. She has a key. Why would she knock?

Anybody home?

She'll be here.

Do you want my word of honor on it?

Look who's here.

Hiya, ducks.

Hello, everybody.

Hello, Myrna. How nice of you to come.

Why? Maids of honor always show up, don't they?

Why didn't anybody show up? I was waiting at the chapel. What happened?

Have some bubbly.

Thank you.

You know, of course, this is my third wedding since the first of the year.

Of course, I mean as maid of honor.

Being social director on a ship, introducing people, this is my... Maids

honor do.

Brides don't always show up.

Where's Sally?

She's not here.

She just isn't here.

Well, where is she? I don't know where she is.

You don't know?

Please. She went out for a walk hours ago and she hasn't come back.

To golden palaces, strange minstrelsy, fountains grotesque, new

trees, bespangled caves, echoing grottos full of tumbling waves and moonlight.

You say you're from America?

Yes. And you like Keats?

Oh, I love him.

Read some more.

No, no, no.

That's past my dinner time.

However, I shall be open a bit late this evening if you care to return.

There's so much to do.

Yes, well, I don't think you'll find an edition like this in America.

Privately printed.

A limited edition.

Oh, I'd like it very much.

I almost ran away on the day of my wedding.

Sally didn't run away.

Something's happened to her. Nothing's happened to her, honestly. On my word of

honor. Did you know that?

That I almost ran away? I almost did.

You drink okay?

Did she say where she was going?

Blair and Marks. Myrna.

What could have happened to her?

Evening, dearie.

Walk with you a bit?

The likes of us shouldn't be walking alone.

Especially with that weirdy chap about.

And him twisting stockings round girls' necks doing his murders.

Safety in numbers, I always say.

Especially for the likes of us.

The likes of us?

Yes. Else why'd you be in this part of town, huh?

The guidebook says Shelly once walked here.

Hello?

You have to speak up. I can't hear you.

I'm sorry, but I can't... Give me that.

Hello?

Who is this?

Happy wedding, everybody.

Who is this?

Hello?

What's the matter? Who is this?

This must be a bad connection.

All you have to do is jiggle. Hello.

Pass the operator. Jiggle. Hello. Get the operator and give you another line.

Let me do it. Let me do it.

Hello, operator.

Operator.

I... I broke the connection.

What's the matter? What's going on?

Mother?

Father, what's going on?

Nobody seems to know, dear.

Hello?

Oh, yes, this is much better.

Who is this?

Oh, Tommy.

Tommy, you can't talk to her.

Well, she isn't here.

She went out for a walk a long time ago and she hasn't come back.

I don't know.

I said, I don't know.

She's... Gone, that's all.

My daughter's gone.

The second half of our story will be on view presently.

I have filled boxes like this with suggestions that the station break be

abolished.

Just how successful I've been will be apparent in a moment.

Oh, put that down, Essie.

Thank you, Essie.

Mother's worried. She's...

She's terribly worried.

I bought you this.

You and Sally.

But I guess I can take it back since there's not going to be... Elliot.

Please be quiet.

It's for Mother.

Mother, if there's not going to be any way... Elliot, shut up.

For mother.

Oh,

darling, don't cry.

I can't bear to see you cry.

Sally's all right.

We'll see.

Tommy knows what to do. He'll find her.

Of course he will, Mrs. Benner.

Maybe you don't understand, Tommy.

You don't really understand.

We've known you such a short time.

Such a little time.

What Sally means to us.

How we've loved her and cared for her.

Wept over every hurt and bruise.

Do you understand?

Yes, Mrs. Bennett.

I'm sure that... You English cops, you're so... so... Well,

what, Elliot?

So polished, smooth, classy. That's the word, classy.

How nice of you to say so, Elliot.

But do tell us how we're classy.

Yes, do tell us, Elliot, because we'd really like to know.

But I mean...

Everybody's in a panic.

Sally's gone.

Disappeared.

And you, especially you, Tommy.

She's supposed to be your wife tonight.

And you play it so cool.

So Scotland Yard.

And... And these stocking murders.

Women... Go on, Ernie.

Mother?

Yes, dear, what is it?

You know what I mean.

Yes, dear. Of course we do, Dux.

You do make friends rapidly.

Look here, Tommy.

Thomas, old boy. When did you see Sally last?

Early this afternoon.

Quite early.

She just went out.

Do you know where she went to?

She said to the drugstore. I corrected her.

I said...

You people call it chemists.

Oh, bully for you, Elliot.

Well, that's what you people call it. Did she say which drugstore?

The closest one, I should think.

She said she wanted to get a few things.

She said something else.

Sally said something else.

What? She said she wanted to go alone.

Oh, I tried to stop her.

I mentioned about the... To go alone.

She said it was the last chance she'd have to be alone.

Do you have a recent photograph of her?

Yes, we have a snapshot that was taken aboard ship. That'll do.

I'll get it.

Yes, I took that snapshot.

I posed her, and I got the light just...

It's my hobby.

How was she dressed? Was she wearing anything distinctive, anything that...

had on a light wool suit.

And that silver chain with a key on it. A wine steward's key.

It was a souvenir she picked up on board ship.

Find my daughter, Tommy.

Bring her back to me as she was.

We'll do all we can, Mr. Boehner. I'll alert the yard.

We'll, uh... We'll do all we can. Come on, Steel.

Tommy. Tommy, you were pretty late for the wedding yourself.

Anybody else notice with all the goings on? I did.

I was thinking to myself, the bridegroom.

Is he going to show?

Or has he got second thoughts about... Remind me to give you one one day,

Elliot.

Give me what?

What you said.

A second thought.

What about it, Tommy?

What about what?

You were quite late.

I waited almost two hours for you.

The best man gets as jittery as a... Well, as a... As a what?

A metaphor escapes me for the moment.

Had you intended to go through with it?

Do you really love her?

I'm sorry, of course you must.

How stupid of me when... I suppose we'd better rouse that chemist.

Though there is someone else that I'd much rather rouse.

Who's that old man?

Myrna. Social director.

Wonder if she remembers that childhood game.

Of course she must. They always do, finally.

Yes, she was here, all right.

May I see that, please, sir?

Oh, yes.

She is a love, isn't she, Dad?

Give the gentleman back his photo.

That's a good boy.

When was she in, Mr. Gurney? This afternoon, sir.

The exact hour, I couldn't really say.

Did she buy anything, Mr. Gurney?

Yes. What?

Lipstick. Very pale pink, yes.

Some facial tissues, eyebrow pencil, bar of chocolate and, yes,

some vanishing cream.

Oh, and a vial of cologne.

Vanishing cream?

Oh, she's vanished.

Oh, that is a good one.

Have you any idea, Mr Gurney, where she might have gone from here? Did she by

any chance... I know where she went.

Well, she walked about for a bit.

Window gazed for a bit.

Then she went into Sutherland's.

You know the bookshop?

Poets and limited editions.

Rarities and all that sort of thing. How would you know that?

Because I followed her.

Do you mind telling me why?

Because I like yanks, I suppose.

I like the way they walk.

Well, they've got to start all around, haven't they?

So I followed her to Sutherland's and returned.

Yes, it's funny little ways, you know.

Did you talk to her?

Oh, no.

I wouldn't have dared.

They would have spalted.

Strange girl.

A puzzlement, really.

Evanescent. Do you know the word, evanescent?

Yes, sir.

Yes, I don't think I'm likely to forget her.

No, not likely.

Why not, Mr. Sutherland?

Oh, she asked me to read for her.

That's something no one has done for years.

Many years. And I felt a stirring in these old bones.

Victim of foul play, did you say?

No, we didn't say that, Mr. Sutherland.

Why did you?

Well, foul play is very rampant these days, and she had an aura of the victim

about her, relative to the description of the other victims, that is.

It was Keats I was reading to her.

Yes, Keats.

Then it was time for my dinner.

However, I invited her to return.

Did she?

Oh, she never left. She browsed while I was in the back of the shop with my milk

and sandwich.

Yes. I recall she was particularly beguiled by the poem which goes, Thou

unravished bride of quietness.

She listened, thanked me, and left.

For where?

Oh, the hoop and wine, I should think.

The pub.

It is the sort of place she had to go to, and she asked, and I touted, the

and wine.

It has a feel about it. It's musty.

But there are distant echoes of golden tongues laved in the wine.

Good night, Mr. Sutherland.

Strangled, you think?

Strangled with a silken hose like the other victims?

We don't know.

Oh, yes.

Yes, yes, yes.

Well, gentlemen, what's it going to be?

A couple of pints.

All right, sir.

You take a look at this.

Young lady done something?

She's missing.

On her wedding day.

That's a pity, don't you think?

Yeah. May I see that?

Of course.

There you are, sir.

Thank you.

Her wedding day.

Chaps.

A lovely girl.

Woman. More to the woman, wouldn't you say?

You know her?

Do you?

Yes.

Strange.

Why do you say that?

I thought at first you were police.

So thoroughly police.

A ever so gentle shockwave you chaps create wherever you... But then, if

you were...

How would you know a woman like Sally? Middle me that.

That's unimportant.

What's important, Mr... Clark.

Edward Clark.

What's important, Edward, is that you know her. How did you manage that?

She came in. She saw me.

We smiled at one another.

I admired her necklace.

What kind of a necklace was that?

A chain with a key on it.

Women like her often speak to me.

We had a drink.

There was a rapport.

I asked her to walk with me.

She did.

Then I came back here.

And now she's missing.

We... I beg your pardon?

We haven't had a trace, have we?

Oh, she's a loner.

She told me about that.

How solitude is like a lover.

I'm sure that wasn't original with her. Where is she?

Do you know where she's gone?

I should think.

Think what, Edward?

Well, I should think.

If I were a derring -do chap, or a newspaper chap, or the police,

I would... You would what, Edward? I'm really interested.

Why?

Have the river dragged, of course.

Oh, it's a very long river, Edward.

It's a... Where do you think one might look, hmm?

We sat here for a while, Sally and I, and we talked.

You talked and then you strangled her, didn't you?

There's a chill.

I'd like tea.

Sit down, Edward.

I'd like to move around a bit.

I'd like tea.

We all would. There's no time for it. The occasion doesn't call for it.

What now?

You mentioned the river.

That's right.

And someone said it was a long river.

And I agreed.

Then someone asked where they should start dragging, and I smiled.

Edward, what do you do?

I'm a hunter.

Hunter of what?

People.

I do that.

I hunt people.

Do you kill them?

We're all of us murderers, and our deepest hearts murder most foul. Edward,

hunt people. Tell us about that.

I meet them in pubs, in shops, and we talk.

And I hunt them, what makes them cripples inside.

And I get involved with them.

Sometimes, when we find one another interesting...

Do you understand?

Yes.

Do you understand?

How do you earn your living?

I don't have to worry about that.

Have you ever been arrested?

Yes.

But not convicted.

What was the charge?

It had to do with girls.

How?

The police said they were quite young.

Too young, in fact.

Which, of course, is ridiculous, since girls inherit the knowledge and guile of

grown women.

Therefore... Therefore what?

I make sure the ladies are quite mature before I concern myself with them.

Thirty or thereabouts.

Well, older than I am, they seem to take a delight in that, that I'm

younger than they.

I permit them that. Tell us about Sally Banner.

Sally Banner, the girl in the pub.

She was older than I.

Was.

But she knew right away there was a quality about me.

A depth.

Sensed it.

She was, in a way, grateful for me.

She needed someone she could adjust to.

For there was a kind of vagueness about her.

Something unfulfilled.

Which, of course, is true of those who use poetry as a crutch.

Who hug to themselves the seeming splendors of another age.

I understand about things like that.

You see, only a few people recognize this quality in me.

A depth.

A depth, Edward?

Yes.

I understand exactly what you mean.

All of us want to be known for what we are.

What sets us apart, what makes ourselves special.

That's right. We see it every day in the newspapers.

Yes.

Yes.

Someone else, not us.

Yes.

Edward, you said the police should drag the river.

I remember.

I said that?

You put Sally in the river, didn't you?

She resisted you and you killed her.

It could have been an accident.

Then you did kill her.

Strange girl.

All I had to do was say that... Byron walked here, or a prince.

Or that just there had been a historic bonfire, and I reached out my hand to

her, and she came. You tried to make love to her, and she resisted you.

I'll take it from here.

Tommy!

It could have been an accident.

She started to run.

Tripped.

And she fell, and she hit her head, didn't she?

And then you strangled her with her stocking, like you did all the rest. I

hand it to you. I really must.

Where did you throw her in?

Show us.

I must compliment you on an excellent effort.

But that's not exactly the way it happened, you know.

I ran after her, yes.

But after that, it was different.

Where did you throw her in?

I'll show you.

There.

You're sure?

Just there.

We'd better start them dragging the river.

Tell me I'll do that.

I'll call the yard.

After they get here, you'd best be with the family.

I'll call the yard.

And the papers, and the photographers.

I'm so ashamed. You must hate me.

Please don't hate me, Tommy.

Oh, no, I... I love you very much.

Where were you? We were looking all over London for you.

Walking.

Seeing London at night.

There's a night tour, you know.

Bus. But, Sally, this was your wedding night. We thought something terrible had

happened to you. I know, Mother.

Tommy, I'm sorry.

I thought you were dead.

I came back to console the family.

Who could you have thought I was dead?

Well, all's well that ends well. I'm bubbly for everybody. I want to talk to

you.

Now, listen.

Just hold me.

I love you so much, Sally. Oh, I'm so glad.

Tommy, when I left, I asked myself if I really loved you.

Maybe I was just desperate because here I am of this age and no one but you has

ever asked to marry me.

And I thought, wouldn't it be terrible to get married and not be sure?

So I needed this time to think.

And now I am sure.

I do love you, Tommy.

And please marry me. Oh, please.

You know, when I...

I phoned you tonight, and they told me that you were missing.

I was really phoning to tell you that I wasn't sure.

I didn't know whether I loved you or not.

I didn't know if I wanted to marry you.

Now I know.

This thing that's happened has made me sure.

I'm going to get married tonight.

Well, it's late at night.

I'll find somebody.

The mixture is before. The wedding is on.

Oh, Sally.

I'm so glad.

I don't feel I'm losing a daughter. I'm gaining a policeman.

You get dressed and look beautiful. I've got a phone call to make. Then I must

go out.

But I'll be back.

Yes, Inspector Bond, would you connect me with Scotland Yard, please?

They're dragging the river for you, did you know that?

Dragging the river?

Some psychopath confessed to murdering you and throwing your body in the river.

I told you I killed her.

But not like you said.

I ran after her, yes.

But after that, it was different.

I discovered that the suggestion box hadn't been open for years and years.

I wish we had taken the trouble.

but some of the oldest ones in the bottom of the box are quite good.

This one, for example.

Why not put wheels and a gasoline engine on the sled and call it a truck?

What is all the more remarkable is that when this suggestion was made, the wheel

hadn't been invented yet, but he provides a drawing.

Unfortunately, we cannot reward this man.

He is no longer with us.

I'm afraid this man isn't either.

Help, I am being held prisoner in the secretarial pool.

Poor fellow. It's too late now.

We must remember to look at these sooner. Next week we shall return with

story and, of course, some commercials.