Original subtitles

Good evening, fellow inmates.

I suppose you're wondering why I'm here.

I was picked up by an agent from the Federal Bureau, the Bureau of

Standards, that is. He claims I was lying about my weight.

The vertical stripes were my tailor's idea.

They not only give me that slim look, They also make it impossible for the

guards to tell where the bars leave off and I begin.

I have a different uniform for each day, and on each one the stripes are closer

together.

In ten days I expect to disappear completely.

As for tonight's story, it is a somber little jeep entitled Silent Witness.

It will occupy this space in just a moment.

My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, and every tongue brings in a

several tail, and every tail condemns me for a villain.

Perjury, perjury in the highest degree.

Murder, stern murder in the direst degree.

All several sins, all used in each degree. Thronged to the bar, crying all

guilty, guilty.

I shall despair.

There is no creature loves me, and if I die, no soul shall pity me.

Nay, wherefore should they, since that I myself find in myself.

No pity to myself.

Class dismissed.

Professor Mason, this line, my conscience hath a thousand several

that Freudian?

You're not getting a guilt complex, are you, darling?

I think one of us has to start developing a conscience.

This late, Dave?

It's never too late.

Oh, yes, it is, darling.

I'll tell you about it tonight.

I'm sorry, I can't tonight. Tonight.

Absolutely. It's always so clear when you explain it, Professor.

Well, perhaps if you were to work on it at home, Miss Powell. I certainly will.

In fact, I'm going to spend all this evening just in your course.

Claudia, I can't see you tonight. I have to take my wife to a dinner party.

Don't get tricky, dear.

Tonight's your wife's gym class.

The usual place.

No.

It's out of the question. I'm not going to see you again anywhere.

Nancy?

Yes, dear?

How'd you like to go for a drive?

See a movie?

Fine. When?

Now. Tonight.

What's come over you?

I don't know. I just felt like getting out.

Well, it's a perfectly normal middle -class impulse. Is there anything wrong

that? No, but I've never known you to have impulses, middle -class or any

kind. You forgot normal.

I am normal, you know. I'm just as normal as anybody else.

Oh, look.

I...

Well, I know this is your gym night, but couldn't you miss it just once? I mean,

it isn't that important, is it?

Oh, yes, it is. I've got to control my figure if I'm going to compete with all

the jailbait in your class.

Well, that isn't very funny. I know.

And every year it gets less funny.

Bob, if you're restless, why don't you call Tim and the two of you go bowling?

Oh, it's an idea. Maybe I will.

See if he can make it. If not, I'll go to a movie with you.

Professor Mason speaking.

There's been a change of plans, darling. I won't be at the usual place.

Well, that's too bad. I know the course is difficult.

I was afraid you wouldn't show up, so I took a last -minute babysitting job at

the Davidsons.

In fact, I can see you right now.

Come on over as soon as Nancy leaves.

No, no, that's quite out of the question.

Well, then I'll come over there.

Don't think I won't, darling.

Well, very well, Miss McCaffrey.

Anytime. Yes.

Good night.

Who's that?

Oh, one of my students. She's having a hard time with Richard III.

Well, you see to it he makes an honest woman of her. I've got to fly. Happy

bowling, dear.

Insanely insane.

You're like an avalanche, Bob.

Takes a lot to get you moving.

We've got to stop this, Claudia.

Shh. Oh, wait, Linda.

Do you like babies, darling?

Oh, I don't know. I... Yes, I suppose so. I never used to until I started

babysitting. I find you can get used to anything if you have to.

I've gotten quite a lot of experience. Claudia, you know how dangerous this is.

Getting involved with a student is the worst thing a professor can do. Do you

realize what would happen if we were discovered?

That never bothered you in the beginning.

I know.

I know. It must have been out of my mind.

I never intended for it to go this far. I don't know how it could have been so

incredibly stupid.

Stupid? Well, what I mean is we let ourselves go off the deep end.

We've managed to get away with it so far, but it's only a matter of time

we're found out.

I know, though. That's why I wanted to talk to you.

We're going to get married.

Oh, I expect it'll be messy in the beginning. Nancy may object to it.

lost your mind.

I think perhaps in Nevada or maybe Mexico. Stop it.

Stop it. I'm not leaving Nancy for you or for anybody else. She's my wife.

Divorce?

I'd have to resign from the faculty.

My reputation would be ruined.

At the moment, I'm thinking about my reputation.

You're going to marry me, Bob.

Oh, no.

It's utterly out of the question.

I'll give you all the money you need.

I don't have much, but I'll borrow it. Don't talk to me like that. Listen, I've

told you how it's going to be, and you might as well get used to the idea.

Because if I have to, I'll smear you, Bob.

And you won't have to worry about anything.

Nancy, or your job, or your wonderful reputation.

I'll ruin you forever.

but she was one of your students, and I'm talking to all the teachers.

Now, you'll be so good as to tell us all you know about her, her background,

reputation, the men in her life.

You know what I mean?

She, uh... She was very pretty.

Not much of a student, really. She, uh... I guess it doesn't matter.

There'd always be someone to make it easy for her. Kind of wild, eh?

I understand there was a lot of these college boys hanging around here,

Professor. The trouble is, this place is full of college boys, if you know what

I mean.

Yes. I got to start weeding them out.

You think Claudia was killed by one of the students?

How else can you figure it?

Nobody broke into the house. She must have opened the door.

Had to be somebody she knew.

But that doesn't necessarily mean it was someone here at the college.

Well, we'll turn up all our friends before we're finished.

Now, what about these college boys, Professor?

Oh, I... I don't think there was anyone in particular. She was popular with all

of them. You didn't happen to glance out your window last night, did you? If you

would, you would have noticed that your window and the Davidson's window are

bound in the same line. Of course, they probably had the shades pulled.

I didn't even notice that.

I'm sorry, I'm not being very much help. I don't seem to be able to think very

clearly.

Well, only 24 hours ago, Claudia was sitting right over there.

That's the last time I saw her. I realize this is rough on you, Professor,

if you think of something later, I'd certainly appreciate a call.

I'd be glad to, but I'm afraid I didn't see anything unusual.

Murders are seldom committed in front of witnesses.

This one was.

Oh, yes, we've got an eyewitness, but so far she refuses to testify.

The Davidson's baby, Professor.

She must have seen the whole thing.

If only she could talk.

Yes.

No.

Bob just came in. I'll talk to you later.

The phone's been ringing all day. Here, let me take those.

Honestly, the morbidity of people.

Why do you look simply ghastly? Sit down. I'll make you a drink.

You must have had a pretty dreadful day. I had a detective here for an hour. I

suppose the police were in to see you.

You were around talking to everybody who knew the girl.

I gather a lot of people knew her. Men, that is.

Why do you say that?

Oh, she was that kind of a girl, wasn't she?

I found her no different than any of the other girls in any of my classes.

Now, really, Bob, none of the other girls got themselves murdered. She must

been different.

Tell me, what was she really like?

C -average student.

Oh, for heaven's sakes.

Somebody could set off an atom bomb, and if it didn't demolish your ivory tower,

you wouldn't even notice it.

The one I feel sorry for is Linda.

Who? The David. An experience like this could have a very serious psychological

effect on her.

That's ridiculous.

She's too young to be aware of... of anything.

I can see you don't know much about babies, Professor.

The age of consciousness begins around the first year.

Well, there have been cases of babies talking about what they've seen after

learned to talk.

How old is Linda? Fourteen months.

She'll be talking before much longer. Here, darling.

I don't mind telling you. I haven't had an hour's sleep since that dreadful

thing happened.

I can understand why.

I was telling my husband last night.

Telephoned him, you know, all the way to Germany.

I told him to come home right away.

But you know how the army is.

He's due to come back to the States in a month and not one day sooner. I told

him not to be surprised if I'm a complete nervous wreck when he gets

You'd think the police would give us protection.

Or that fiend might come back and kill me next.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

How's the baby?

Frankly, I'm worried.

She's been acting strangely.

Oh? You never know what damage a thing like this can do to a child.

Subconsciously, that is.

Why, it might not show up till years later.

Oh, sweetheart, now don't you cry.

It's only Professor Mason, our next -door neighbor.

Oh, that's a shameful way to behave with a nice professor.

Shame on you.

Why, you run along. I'll find something to eat.

I set the table in the kitchen. There's a casserole in the oven and the coffee's

already. That's fine, thank you.

Aren't you feeling well, dear? You haven't looked yourself in weeks.

I'm just a little tired. I've been reading too much, I guess.

You've been working too hard and you don't get enough exercise.

Why don't you go to the men's gym tonight and play some badminton?

I don't know. I think I'll go to bed early.

Get much sleep with that baby crying all night. I know. Mrs. Davidson says she

was up with her half the night.

What's wrong with her?

She's teething.

Oh.

She's growing up pretty fast.

She'll be 15 months next week. Her daddy won't even know her. Mrs.

Davidson's expecting him back in a few days.

Has she learned?

I mean, I suppose she's started to talk.

Who, the baby or Mrs. Davidson?

You have a good dinner and get some rest.

Bye.

Bye.

Here, here now, sweetheart.

You'll feel much better out here. It's nice and cool.

Now then, you stop fussing and go to sleep.

Here, sleep, baby.

Mommy will be right inside.

Sergeant Wagner.

Oh, yes, Sergeant.

Is anything wrong?

You mind if we talk inside?

Were you home all evening, Professor?

Yes, I was asleep.

Then you didn't hear the ruckus next door.

I don't know what you mean.

Mrs. Davidson reported a prowler.

She thinks it's the murder of the Powell girl returning to the scene of the

crime. Why does she think that?

Well, she doesn't make much sense. She's pretty hysterical.

Oh, there was a prowler, all right.

How do you know?

Found his tracks in the backyard.

Looks like he took off over your heads, Professor.

You didn't hear anything, huh?

Say, Professor, you didn't hear anything, huh?

No, I was asleep.

Well, personally, I don't buy the idea it was the murderer anyway. No reason

him to come back, as I can see.

No, the person who did it's sitting tight, waiting, hoping that we'll walk

around him.

Making any progress?

Not for publication.

We're still sifting out those college boys.

I'm sorry I woke you up, Professor, but we have to check out these things.

We're assigning a policewoman to Mrs. Davidson until her husband gets in.

With a baby, mostly.

The baby?

Sure, she was sleeping on the back porch. It was her screaming that

the prowler away.

If this keeps up, I'm going to have to have a talk with that kid.

Good night, Professor.

Good morning, Mr. Mason.

Good morning.

Isn't she a darling?

And quite bright for her age.

You know, Mrs. Davidson told me she said her first word this morning.

What'd she say?

Dada. Oh, once they start talking, you can't keep them quiet.

I raise two of my own, I know.

Oh, that reminds me.

I've got to make a phone call home. I want to make sure my daughter puts the

roast in the oven. Would you mind watching the baby a second?

No.

Professor Mason.

Would you please explain this passage to me?

No, I never give special help to one of my students.

Professor? Anything I can do?

I used to ride on an army plane.

Oh, it's so good to see you.

Hey, we better get inside before we shock the whole neighborhood.

Oh, good.

Has to be. Oh, she's learning to talk. It's the cutest thing. Oh, let me.

No, no, I insist.

She's as clearly as anything.

Dada, Mama.

And now she's learning to say cookie.

Oh, pretty darling, here she is.

Look, Linda, baby, look who's here. It's your daddy.

Hello, darling.

What kind of a welcome is that?

What's wrong with her?

Nothing, silly.

Just takes a little time for her to get used to you. She never sees anything but

women. Every time a man comes near her, she kicks up an awful row.

Oh, it's nothing personal, dear.

She does it with every man.

Look. See, she's stopped already.

Well, you can't win them all.

I understand that Don Mason was condemned to a cell very much like this

And now, daddies and mommies, I think the time has come to lamb out of here.

Suppose you take this opportunity to escape.

Until next time, of course.