Original subtitles

Good evening.

As you see, I'm devising a new parlor game.

It is based on the story of the young man who had to choose between two doors.

He was told that behind one was a beautiful lady, behind the other a

ferocious tiger.

Of course, my personal theory is that he knew which door each was behind, but was

still in a dilemma.

You see, he couldn't remember whether they had said the lady was beautiful and

the tiger ferocious, or that the lady was ferocious and the tiger beautiful.

He was a very confused young man, just as I am at this moment.

This should make a perfect party game. It is the best way I've found to thin

out a guest list.

without hurting anyone's feelings.

Our main attraction this evening is not about tigers, but we do have two ladies

and one very interesting door.

It is at the other end of this dismal one-minute corridor.

This is it.

Come on, let's go.

It's all locked up, Dave.

Wait right here.

Won't you come in, madame?

So this is the old homestead, huh?

Holy mackerel.

While you were warming yourself here, I was out grubbing for pieces of coal on

the railroad tracks.

I can't help the way I was born, Dave.

I'm sorry, honey.

You know I've got an inferiority complex.

How do I rate a girl like you, huh?

It's the other way around.

You could get any girl you want.

Hey, what's wrong now?

You scare me when you get like that.

Two weeks ago, when you said we were through, do you know, Dave, I almost

died?

That'll never happen again.

You're the only boy I've ever loved in my whole life.

The whole 19 years of it?

What's the matter?

It's so long since I've been here.

I was only six when Daddy died.

And then Mother moved us to the city right after.

Leaving all this...

Like it was nothing.

How long has it been for sale?

Years.

Come on, let's go see the rest of it.

Do you think we should?

Sure, why not?

Hey, wait for the tour conductor.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Uncle Eustace, the black sheep of the Daniels

family.

Hi, Eustace.

Meet the black sheep of the Snowden family.

You're not a black sheep.

You're a woolly lamb.

Boy, what a bedroom.

Mother never liked anyone to come in here.

Who's little freckle face?

That was me, I'm afraid.

All right, cutie.

like a child dave stay put for just one moment

oh i'm so happy

so am i more than you'll ever know

hey

this one's stuck no it's locked it's always been locked well what is it

I don't know.

There were some workmen here for some time. I never did know what they were

doing. Then Daddy died. We just left the house and never came back.

Well, how mysterious and intriguing.

What do you say? Should we break it in? No. Why not?

I just feel funny about it, that's all.

Maybe I associate it with Daddy's dying.

I don't know. That's silly.

Look here, there might be money in there.

I mean, your father left the place to you, didn't he?

There's anything of value why it's yours.

I don't care.

That's all I'd need is a room full of money.

Then you'd get that strange look on your face as though you hated me for it.

Not you, just the idea that you've had things I could never give you.

Then forget it.

Please.

Sure.

Let's see your room. Where is it?

It's upstairs, but...

I don't ever want to go in it again.

For Pete's sake, why not?

I spent almost the first six years of my life in there.

All I can remember is being sick and puny.

I was never happy in this house.

Not even today, with me?

Always with you, Dave.

Daddy barely came near me.

He couldn't stand the thought that he had a daughter who wasn't pretty.

Now, cut that out. You are pretty.

Daddy didn't think so.

I suppose that's why Mother's always been so protective.

She's always been afraid I'd meet some wickedly handsome fortune hunter.

And you did. You did.

She meant well.

But she gave me so many doubts about myself, I thought...

No boy could ever really like me.

I kept my feelings all locked up.

Like that room upstairs.

Maybe there's a key to that room, too.

I can't imagine where.

What do you say? Should we make a search?

Oh, honey, I'm so tired.

I just want to stay here, close to you.

There.

My back.

We've got company.

Mother. Yes, mother.

I found this young thief.

Now, just a minute, Mrs.

Daniels. I really couldn't believe it when old Mr.

Spencer called.

I told him he must be mistaken. My daughter's in school.

And then I found your car outside.

Mother, this is Dave Snowden.

I know who he is. I know all about him.

I made it my business as soon as you started mentioning him in your letters.

Now get your things. I'm taking you home.

You're not taking her anyplace.

Would you prefer that I press charges against you, Mr. Snowden?

For what?

She happens to be my wife.

It's true, Mother.

We were married last week in Elkton.

Would you like to see the license?

Why, you child.

You pathetic child.

Now look, Mrs. Daniels, be reasonable.

I know what you're thinking.

But it's not true.

I happen to love Bonnie.

Love? Oh, come now.

An uneducated boy, a nobody without a dime to his name, pursues a plain young

girl. Very plain, but very rich.

That's enough.

You've been yelling plain, plain, plain at her until she's afraid to show her

face. She's afraid to show her right now.

You made her so scared of guys being after her money that she ran away from

any man that gave her a second look.

But you managed to catch up with her.

That's right, and we're married, and there's nothing you can do about it.

You're quite wrong, Mr. Snowden.

I can have it annulled. Can you?

Will you tell him, or shall I?

Tell me what?

Mother, please, can't we... She's a minor, Mr. Snowden.

She's 19.

17, and she won't be 18 for another month.

What about her driver's license?

Females lie, especially about their age.

when they're afraid of being too young or too old.

Well, now, are we ready to go home, or shall I call the sheriff for this young

man?

Wait for me in your car.

I love you, Dave.

She can't stop that.

All right, you spoke your piece.

What are you waiting for? For you to get out of this house, and if you ever enter

it again, you'll find yourself in a larger one, a penitentiary.

My chauffeur is outside. He'll drive you home.

My attorneys will contact you about the annulment.

I'll get her back.

If it's the last thing I ever do.

Mr. Snowden, I'm Adam Driscoll.

Where's Bonnie?

She's in the other room. You'll see her.

I just thought it might be wise if we settled a few details first. Sit down,

please. Thank you. I'll stand.

I'll skip the last cigarette in the blindfold.

I have prevailed upon Mrs. Daniels to consider this situation from your

viewpoint.

A young man falls in love with a girl of a different station in life.

They enter into a rash marriage that unfortunately is not legal without the

consent of Mrs. Daniels.

Now, according to the information contained here... What is that?

You were no longer attending the university where you and Bonnie met.

I had to drop out and go to work.

That's too bad. A young man needs a diploma these days.

How would you like to go back and get yours?

We'll arrange a sort of a scholarship, you might say.

Then after graduation, a very good job to get you started.

I see.

Free tuition and a job.

Courtesy of Mrs. Daniels.

In exchange for what?

For getting out of my daughter's life and staying out.

And what if I say no to this deal?

We're not making any deal, as you put it.

Bonnie is a minor, Mr. Snowden. This annulment will be granted with or

without your consent.

Mr. Snowden, in less than three weeks, on her 18th birthday, Bonnie will make

her debut.

Coming out party.

Dave, you claim to love Bonnie.

I do.

Then prove it.

What do you want me to do?

Just sign this.

Quiet and painless.

Painless to whom?

May I see her now?

Bonnie, would you come in, please?

Dave has agreed that the annulment is in the best interest of everyone concerned.

And he's accepted your mother's offer to pay his way through school.

That's not true.

I agreed to the annulment, period.

I'm not right for you.

I never was.

But it's you I love, not your money or hers.

Your gracious offer is declined, Mrs. Daniels. Without thanks.

Dave! Bonnie.

It's for the best, Charlie.

Who is it?

Who is it?

May I come in?

Oh, David.

You're supposed to be with your mother, aren't you?

I couldn't stand to be away from you a moment longer.

This is the first chance I've had. She's been with me night and day.

She's going to send me away tomorrow to a school in Switzerland.

This is the first place she'll look for you.

But it doesn't matter now.

I'm 18 today.

I'm 18 and she can't do anything about it.

You still want me, don't you?

Wouldn't work.

Dave, give me a chance.

Let me prove it to you.

Someday she'll see.

You are beautiful.

All right, Barney, come along.

Now that you've said goodbye, we have guests waiting.

And you have a busy day tomorrow.

Yes, very busy.

We're getting married again, Mrs. Daniels. Would you care to come along?

I don't think that will be necessary, Mr. Snowden.

There is perhaps a little detail I should have mentioned to you before.

Everything Barney has, everything, is held in trust by me until her 25th

birthday. She can't touch a thing, not a dime.

Without my consent, even her car.

Seven years, Mr. Snowden.

Seven long years.

So why don't you find yourself another rich and stupid victim?

Don't listen to her, Dave.

I'll kill myself if I lose him. I swear I will.

Don't be melodramatic, Bonnie.

The school offer still holds.

Take it or leave it.

Well, Mr. Snowden...

Get your purse, Bonnie.

The car keys, Mrs. Daniels.

This is my home.

It's not much, but it's mine.

Don't ever come here again unless you're invited.

I'd be very sorry about this, Tony.

Look what I've got. Come on down.

I can't. I'm not dressed.

Okay.

Well, what do you think of it? Who's easy?

Ours. 65 bucks and a bargain at the price. Nobody leaves my wife without a

car. Oh.

Well, it's not really too much, is it? It's wonderful.

I love it already.

What do you say we take a nice long drive this weekend? Get out of this

rat's nest, huh? Hey, crazy.

We might even pay a visit to the old homestead.

Do you think we should, Dave?

I mean, wait things over.

Well, why not?

The place belongs to you, doesn't it? At least it will someday.

Then why don't we just wait until someday?

What's the matter with you?

Is it that locked door in the house that intrigues you so?

Boy, she did get to you, didn't she?

Who? Your mother. That's who.

She plants her sick little idea and then stands aside to let it grow.

Oh, Dave, I didn't mean... I know what you meant.

Where are you going? Out for some air.

No, Dave, please.

Please stay.

Don't you see what we're doing? Exactly what she wants.

I even suggest a drive.

Right away, the wheels start turning.

But, Dave, why the house?

A destination, that's all. You drive someplace, you drive back.

And what if I am curious about that room?

Must be something of value in there that your father meant you to have.

Would it be so wrong to find out? I don't care.

Maybe you should. Why?

How long do you think we can go on like this?

i don't want anything for myself bonnie but you you weren't meant to live like

this i shouldn't have let you

dave

i'm happy here for how long

we're almost broke

I can't get a job.

But you will.

Things will get better. Wait and see.

Why don't you go back to her until they do? Until I have something I can give

you.

I won't blame you, Bonnie, honestly.

I wouldn't leave you for anything in the world.

I love you, Dave.

She's going to beat us, Bonnie.

I know what poverty can do. I've seen it.

My mother and father.

It's hard for me to believe, but they must have loved each other once.

Promise me something.

Anything.

If it gets too rough, If you just can't take it anymore, tell me, huh?

Don't stick because of some kind of pity or crazy loyalty.

You goof.

You dear, sweet goof.

Promise.

Okay, I promise.

I promise if that ever happens, and it won't, we will go out to the old house

or even rob a bank with our new getaway car.

But until that day, Mr.

Snowden... You prepare yourself for seven years of hamburgers.

I'll always be as happy as I am right now.

You're late.

I was getting worried.

You want some coffee or something?

Yeah.

Well, how did it go?

Bill?

Would you bring another coffee, please?

Great. I got a job.

Bank president.

A thousand dollars a week.

Can't I even ask anymore?

You remember me telling you about Lou Downs?

My buddy at school?

His father's a big shot in a brokerage firm.

Hillinger and Downs.

Well, I went to see him. And?

I told him the whole story.

What did he say?

Your mother is one of their clients, period.

She can't keep doing this, Dave. It just isn't fair.

I'll go and see her.

Thank you.

Talk to her.

About what?

She's convinced I want your lousy money, and that's that.

If there wasn't any money, what if I signed away all rights? She'd have to

believe us then.

I can't let you do that, Bonnie.

I don't care, Dave.

I just want her to leave you alone.

The money is yours. You're entitled to it.

Dave, please.

Please, it's the only way.

No.

I've been thinking too.

It's a crazy idea.

Nutty. I wouldn't blame you for not going along with it.

Well, tell me.

Remember what you said the night she followed you to the apartment about

killing yourself?

I don't follow you.

She didn't believe you, of course.

Nobody believes people when they talk wild like that.

But if anything could make her realize what this marriage means to you.

Don't look at me that way.

I'm talking about a plan, a trick, that's all.

I mean, if she thought you were serious about killing yourself, it might make

her change her mind in a hurry.

She'd say the same thing again.

We couldn't make her believe it. If we were smart, we could.

I mean, if there was an actual suicide attempt.

Not really.

Only enough to make it look good.

How?

There are lots of ways.

Gas, for instance.

You could fake it by turning on the gas, just for a little while.

Okay, forget it. Forget the whole thing.

No, go on, Dave. I'm listening.

How about poisoned iodine or something? Just a little.

Not enough to be dangerous, but enough to have the doctor in.

He'd have to pump your stomach.

Dave, wouldn't that hurt?

Burn?

Yeah, it might.

Okay, no poison then.

Sleeping pills.

Sure. Safer. No pain. I've even got some.

See, you can write your mother a letter.

Tell her what you're planning to do, but that I don't know anything about it.

See?

You could do it while I'm out looking for work.

You mean...

Really take them? Not an overdose, only a few.

But when your mother finds out... It scares me.

Honey, would I let anything happen to you?

Come on, let's go.

Thanks, Bill.

Television seems to be dedicated to the proposition that the viewer's memory

span is only 30 minutes long.

So now we must interrupt to tell you again what station you are watching,

after which our story will continue.

All right, try this.

Dear Mother, forgive me for hurting you.

I know you meant well, but you won't leave us in peace.

And I just can't live without Dave.

By the time you read this, I will have taken an overdose of sleeping tablets.

It's the only thing I can think of.

When Dave gets home, he will find me dead.

But he will know.

He will know how much I loved him.

Okay, sign it.

What time does the mail get to your mother's house in the morning?

About ten.

Ten.

First thing she'll probably do is call here.

And she might call the police or an ambulance when there's no answer.

But she'll probably have somebody else do that while she races over here.

What if the ambulance gets here first?

In this city?

It'll take them half an hour.

She can make it in 15 minutes.

You ought to take the pills around 9.

By the time she gets here, you should be sleeping pretty soundly.

Where will you be?

I'll go out just before she gets here.

I'll wait across the street till I see her drive up, and then I'll come up in a

few minutes.

Honey, we've got to make it look good.

I've got to look just as surprised as she is.

You understand that, don't you?

I understand.

We watch the late, late show tonight. By morning, you'll be tired enough to sleep

without the pills.

Well, I'd better mail this right away.

I'll be back in a couple of minutes.

Feel sleepy yet?

I feel funny.

Better take the last one.

Three already.

They can't hurt you.

I took some myself one night.

While we were separated.

And a girl.

Your mother be getting the letter any minute now.

Got to be really sound asleep by the time she gets here.

Yeah.

My mommy?

Coming here?

Good.

You're taking hold now.

That's her now. She's got it.

I know, baby. Come on.

Come on.

All right, knock it off.

Just relax.

Stop fighting it.

That's it.

Dizzy.

Dizzy.

Yeah, be out like a light.

Come on now. I gotta get out of here.

Bonnie. Bonnie, please.

Please, Bonnie.

Bonnie, come. What is this?

What have you done to her? What have I done? Oh, here, read this.

Come here, Bonnie, please.

Dear God.

Why did you leave her?

I was out looking for work.

I can't wake her.

Do something.

I'll call an ambulance. I did that. Come on, get her up. Get her on her feet.

Make her walk.

You're responsible for this. You wouldn't lay off, would you? Because you

owe you.

Come on, Bonnie. Help us try to stand, honey. Come on up. There, baby.

Give me this. Here.

Stand up, Bonnie. Wake up, darling. Come on.

Bonnie. Come on, sweetheart.

Wake up. Come on, darling.

That a girl. Come on.

She's dead.

Bonnie. Bonnie.

Come on.

Four pills.

That's all there were, only four.

One would have been enough.

How could it?

She had rheumatic fever as a child.

It left her with respiratory after effects.

A weak heart.

Any barbiturate would have killed her.

Did she know that?

Leave this open for him.

There's no staff on Saturday.

You sure he's coming?

He said he would at the cemetery.

I prepared these papers yesterday.

Why are you doing this, Celeste?

It would take too long to explain.

You have no obligation to the boy.

Not to him. To Bonnie.

May I come in? Yes, please.

Sit down.

Mrs. Daniels has something she wants to say to you.

Mr. Snowden, under the terms of my late husband's will, anything Bonnie had

reverted to me if she died before me.

Is that it? Is that why you asked me here?

Will you listen a moment?

Whether I liked it or not is no longer important, but you were my daughter's

husband.

And she loved you.

So you finally know that.

Yes.

That is why I feel it necessary to make some sort of gesture in regard to your

welfare.

For Bonnie's sake.

Her sake?

Or your own guilt?

All right, then. Dave.

I'm sorry.

No.

You were right.

I deserve it.

Perhaps if I had accepted things as they were the night I found you in the old

house, Bonnie might... might still be a...

Here.

Did I misjudge you, Dave?

Yes.

Then I want you to have that house and every last memory of it.

Do you want it?

What kind of trick is this?

It's no trick, Dave.

It's yours.

The land, the house, and everything in it.

Why?

I told you for Bonnie. Do you want it or not?

Yes.

Bonnie and I would have been happy there.

Adam, give him the papers.

And a complete set of the keys.

Mrs. Daniels, I don't know how to thank you. Don't.

I didn't do this for you.

If only we hadn't misjudged each other.

That's a misfortune we'll never have to face again.

Isn't it?

It's really mine.

Why won't you sign this?

um

Mother was right, baby.

You were as plain as dishwater.

But you finally paid off.

And now Davey's gonna get a look at the jackpot.

Snowdens are coming, yo-ho, yo-ho.

The Snowdens are coming to find the dough.

Oh! The Snowdens are smarter than once they were.

Just find a rich pigeon and marry her.

Bloody.

Bloody.

This is your home now.

What is it?

What is it?

Where am I?

You should have asked that before.

It was meant to be an elevator.

Bonnie's father was having it built.

She was too ill to walk up and down stairs.

But he died before it was completed.

I had it locked off so that nobody would get hurt.

Especially Bonnie.

Poor little Bonnie.

Believe me! No!

Oh, Mr. Snowden, your keys.

No!

Help!

Help!

Since you didn't seem to mind that two of our principals were disposed of

during the course of the play, I'm certain you shall be able to bear up

under the news that Mrs. Daniels did not live happily ever after.

Justice triumphed, and now she is behind a locked door.

This concludes my portion of the program.

You may think I've made this test too easy by putting signs on the doors.

I don't think so.

There's a tiger in here, and in here...