Original subtitles

Good evening.

I suppose you think this is snow.

It's confetti refrigerated for realism.

This began as a simple little celebration.

Paper hats and horns.

Then a cold front moved in. I became separated from my party and I've been

lost for days.

This is not the abominable snowman.

In fact, it isn't even a snowman.

It's a snow woman.

It was getting terribly lonesome here.

I've been using this to call for help.

However, no one seems to hear me except a rather amorous moose.

For those of you who are safe and warm in the bosom of your family, we have a

play. It is entitled The Ordeal of Mrs. Snow, and it tells of a woman's battle.

to survive a terrifying experience.

Now, Martha, Martha, not so much.

You know, we older ladies have to watch our weight.

Yes, Jack, I know you prefer eggs. Maybe Lorna will leave you some on her

breakfast tray.

You get farther away every morning.

What?

Three months married and you have newsprint on your nose before you finish

your coffee.

I thought that only happened in cartoon strips.

Now, you watch out. I'll lock you up in the tower.

I had a professor at Bennington.

He said, don't let your husband confuse nagging with loving.

Well, I had a professor once, Eastside Athletic Club.

What did he teach you?

Not to bite the hand that takes you out of the unemployment line, especially

when it belongs to your wife's rich aunt.

A man's got to make a good showing when he comes into a new world.

And what did he say about love and marriage and that sort of thing?

Well, he said, buster.

It's all instinct.

Oh, that fellow taught at Bennington.

Oh, Bruce, I wish Aunt Addie would have lost some of my money.

Then I'd never let you go to work again.

Never.

Mr. Richmond?

What is it?

And Mr. Arthur to see you, sir.

Well, he's not going to bite you, is he?

Oh, no, no. I just forgot. He said he'd drop by.

Do you have to go right away?

Mm-hmm.

You can be a bad influence.

Well, obviously, Mr.

Arthur is more influential and a lot prettier.

Good morning, Mr. Richmond.

Good morning, Bruce.

Oh, good morning, Aunt Addie.

Remember me, Charlie Arthur?

Sulzberger Land Company?

How about that property in Arkansas?

Oh, yes, yes, of course. Mr.

Arthur, Mrs. Snow.

Very pleased.

Well, why don't you take Mr. Arthur into the drawing room?

I have some papers for Hillary that I want you to take to the office.

I'll be in the study. Right.

I don't need land in Arkansas.

We have a special on IOU notes.

Say, wouldn't Eddie love to have a thing like that now?

I told you not to come here. There's this man who wants money.

Well, you tell the man who wants money that when I get money, he'll get money.

Well, he figures it's about time you got money.

Well, suppose you tell him there's nothing I can do about that right now.

But you're not seeing it his way.

Don't handle the merchandise.

You see, his way, he figures he's sorry your horse lost.

But he also feels he's entitled to the money that you owe him before the horse

dies. And that horse is getting awful old.

Now he figures you marry a girl. I didn't marry a girl with anything.

This is her aunt's house.

When my wife hits the right birthday, there won't be any trouble with money. I

told the man that.

I don't think the man wants to wait. Well, there's nothing he can do but

wait.

Well, he figures he can get very talkative, and a guy's reputation can

start looking awful tacky, you know?

Especially when it's an awful tacky reputation to begin with.

It's been nice seeing you again, Mr. Richmond.

Oh, by the way, Eddie asks for you. Yeah, Eddie, Phil, Bernie, Eleanor,

they all ask for you.

Sure beats horse racing, Mr. Richmond.

Was he convincing?

Who?

Your salesman friend.

What do you mean?

Did he sell you?

Oh, no.

No, no. He just had some crazy real estate scheme.

Well, good for you. If you're going to learn to handle money, you have to learn

to say no, don't you?

Of course, it would be more sensible if I let Hillary sign these monthly checks.

But you know old widows. They like to defy their financial advisors.

When Henry was alive, he used to sign each and every check personally.

It played havoc with his arthritis.

Well, there we are.

And thank you for waiting.

Well, I owe you a lot more than waiting, Aunt Addie.

You've been very good to Lorna and me, letting us live here. You are my nephew

-in-law.

And I must admit, you've given Lorna more happiness in three months than I

have in all the years since her parents died.

It's been easy.

You love her very much, don't you? Very much.

I'll see Hillary gets these.

Thank you, Bruce.

Is that the prize you want, Daddy?

But he loves me.

Oh, why should it?

Well, I just hope you appreciate him, that's all.

Well, of course I do.

He wants to be somebody.

Well, you don't need to defend him.

Well, it hasn't been too easy for him here, you know.

What do you mean?

Living here, not being able to get us started in our own place.

Well, Hillary does pay him a salary.

If that's what you want to call it. Well, he's only just started.

After all, he hasn't had a great deal of experience.

But there are other things that can be much more important than experience,

Aunt Addie. Well, I know that, dear. Well, then you must see that it makes no

sense to have money sitting in a bank in my name that I can't use.

Oh, really, Lorna?

I have nothing to say about that.

But you're my legal guardian. You've got a responsibility.

Perhaps you could find an answer.

I have no control over your father's will.

Besides, you come into your inheritance in just another year. But isn't it

ridiculous to have to wait that long? The family's full of money.

It might be the best possible thing.

Perhaps you'd learn that money isn't the answer to making people happy.

We are not at church, Aunt Addie.

As a matter of fact, it might be a very good thing for Bruce to have a year to

prove himself.

Thanks for having such confidence in him.

Lorna, wait a minute.

Dear, I don't seem to handle these things very well.

Oh, Henry.

Henry.

I do so miss you.

You hardly know the man.

Now, he is Lorna's husband.

They've been married four months, Eddie.

That's a great sum of money to offer the Lenn people.

Oh, well, she'll pay me back as soon as she comes into her own money. I shall

make that very clear to her.

She met him in a coffee house.

I met Henry Snow in a water faucet factory.

Besides, you said he was doing well at the office.

Well enough.

Still, I don't know the man.

You don't know him. Nobody knows him.

I do know, Hillary, that Lorna's unhappy.

And I don't want to be responsible for that.

When you get to my age, you don't want to grow old and selfish.

Well, you've been much too free with your money lately anyway.

But this is ridiculous.

What do you mean I've been too free with my money lately?

I glanced at your statement a few days ago.

Three checks.

Twelve hundred dollars.

Fifteen hundred.

Some other notable sum.

I certainly hope you picked up a few good pieces.

When did I write these checks?

Ah, you see, you're becoming forgetful.

I'm not a filing cabinet.

Edwards has them at the office.

Well, look at your checkbook if you want the dates.

My checkbook.

Well, don't forget you're dining with Ruth and me tonight.

No.

No, no. No, of course not. And I'm looking forward to it.

Particularly since the children are going to the Wilsons at East Hampton for

the weekend.

Pick you up at seven o'clock.

Yes. Bye, Eddie.

Goodbye.

Mr. Edwards, this is Adelaide Snow.

I wonder if you could get me my bank statement to date by messenger.

Yes, and the council checks, too.

Right away, please.

Yes, thank you very much.

Thank you, sir.

If Sally calls, tell her I'm on my way to pick her up.

Carl, don't push my hat.

And her husband will pick Bruce up at 4.30.

Drive carefully. We will. Do you have plans, Aunt Anne? Yes, dear. Hillary and

Bruce are taking me to dinner. Good.

See you late Sunday if you're still awake.

Have fun.

Oh, Friede. Now, there's no need for you and Carl to wait around just for me. You

go off on your weekend.

Oh, thank you, Mrs. Snow. You know, there's plenty of beef hearts in the

freezer for the cats.

And I've made you a nice cathedral.

Oh, well, bless you, Freda. Have a good holiday.

Both of you. Thank you.

Rita? Carl?

Anybody home?

Aunt Addie?

Oh, hi, Jeff.

Aunt Addie!

Oh, there you are.

Protecting the family jewels?

Where is everybody?

Well, they've gone. I let the servants off for the weekend.

All right. I'll carry my own bag.

Well, Lorna took it with her.

Hey, what you need is a little drink.

That'll make those cheeks of yours rosy.

There we go. A little taste for you and a little taste for me.

Yes.

Aunt Addie?

When you first came here, you needed money to pay an old gambling debt.

Yes. I let you have it.

I could understand you're not wanting to have a thing like that on your mind.

I agreed that it was to be our secret.

Isn't it? And you agreed that you'd never get into that kind of debt again.

You didn't let it slip to Lorna, did you?

I shall ask you once.

And perhaps you can save me the trouble of trying to find out who did forge my

name on these checks.

And don't try to fool me.

If you did, I can quite easily find out.

Well, I hoped I was wrong.

I did so hope I was wrong. I had no choice. No choice. I was in a jam. I

intended to put it back the same way I took it. Oh, don't try to defend

yourself. There was nothing else I could do. You forged my name.

I lost money at the track. I had to pay.

Well, you've lost more than that now, haven't you? What do you mean? What are

you going to do? What I have to do. I'm going to call Hillary.

And then...

And when you try to tell Lorna... Oh, now, wait a minute.

You don't have to tell anybody.

We can work this out between us.

I'll pay you back some way. I'll make it up to you. Do you actually think that I

would keep this from Lorna?

If you'd try to put yourself in my place, maybe you'd understand. There's

nothing to understand.

Martha.

Martha.

Martha, come out. Do you know what this will do to her? Not my doing, is it?

You've hated me from the first minute I came in this house, haven't you?

You've been waiting for something like this to happen.

I don't wish to discuss it. And the sooner you're back where you came...

Bruce!

Bruce!

Bruce, open this door. I can't open it from in here.

You ready? Uh, yeah, yeah.

No bags? Oh, well, Lorna took my stuff with her. Come on, let's hurry so we can

beat the traffic. Yeah, yeah.

That's all right, Martha.

It's all right. He can't have gone off and left us here. He can't. Nobody would

do a thing like that.

Nobody. He's just trying to punish me.

Bruce!

Bruce! Please open the door.

Oh, this is childish of you. You can't be so stupid.

There's no way out.

There's just no way out, Martha.

Not even your claws could dig us out.

There must be something we can do.

We don't need to. I forgot.

Hillary is coming to pick me up. You'll see the house is dark. He'll start to

worry and then we'll be all right.

You'll see.

He's coming at 7.30. Now that's only a few more hours.

We can hold out a few more hours, can't we, Martha?

Yes, of course we can.

Trouble is I don't exercise enough.

You know, I think I've got to talk to Bruce about hiking, sleeping out and all

that sort of thing.

He sounds just like my cousin with his turtles.

What turtles? I thought he got rid of the turtles.

Oh, no, he took the turtles with him to Colorado.

You see, it's a religious cult.

They sleep out in the open and all that sort of thing.

He'd gotten this letter from Theophilus, someone he'd met in Boston last year.

As it happened, his girlfriend, Sarah Lawrence, 58, decided she needed a

security blanket.

So she joined this cult.

And she got Theophilus to write my cousin a letter.

Well, what's this got to do with turtles?

I don't know. Beats me.

All I know is that the letter said, All living things come to Colorado and reach

for the stars.

Or something like that.

So anyway, my cousin took his turtles to Colorado.

You sure make a potent drink.

Bliss.

I think I'll sleep straight through the winter.

Good. And while you're at it, I think I'll call that daddy and see if Bruce

got off all right.

He'll be here any minute.

Can't you relax about him? I wish I could.

But when he's not around, I feel as lonely as I ever did.

No

answer.

Oh, good, I'm glad.

Maybe she's going out on the town.

Oh, yes, I remember. She said she was going out to dinner with Hillary and

Ruth. Maybe they made it early.

Hello, everybody.

Hi. Hello there.

Well, too bad for you. You missed three traffic jams and an overturned milk

truck. What, no babies were on the freeway?

Well, a man jumped off the Triborough Bridge. How's that?

Seems like they'd be happy to see us, though. But we are, darling, because now

we can swim out beyond the breakers. That you can. I just called Aunt Addie

to see if you'd left.

Oh? What are you drinking, Bruce?

Oh, no, you don't. You're changing into a swimsuit right now.

Bruce can get his own drink.

All righty.

Hasn't Aunt Addie left?

For where?

Oh, well, she told me to tell you that she had decided to go off for the

weekend. I think I'll have a drink.

Aunt Addie went off for the weekend?

Well, that's a switch. Where'd she go?

Connecticut. I think she said she talked to someone in Connecticut.

Who does she know in Connecticut?

Uh, Marion Lindsay.

Yeah, maybe it was Lindsay.

That's funny. She never mentioned it to me.

Well, she's an old woman, honey. I'd say she forgets lots of things.

Here's to our old age.

He's late.

And I was not like Hillary to be late.

But he'll come.

You'll see.

Well, I don't suppose there's time for a swim before dinner. Have you been in

yet? Yes. You know, I thought Aunt Addie said she was having dinner with Hillary

and Ruth.

Hillary?

She didn't mention it to me.

I told you we'd be late. You can't control the traffic, Hillary.

Besides, 20 minutes isn't the end of the world. Keep the change.

I don't like to keep anyone waiting. All right, dear. All right.

We shall continue our story in a few moments.

I believe I have wandered near a television station.

Perhaps it will answer my call.

She's probably forgotten about it.

She never has before.

You've never been late before.

I wonder if she's all right.

Well, there's obviously no one here, dear. I think she's just forgotten about

us, that's all.

No, she wouldn't forget.

She'd have called. She'd have let me know.

Well, I wasn't home all day.

Maybe she made other plans and couldn't get in touch with us.

Lana's gone to the Wilsons for the weekend.

You suppose I should call there and find out what was... Now, Hillary, just

because you're a worrier is no reason to spoil everyone's weekend. Oh, it's still

like I just called. Darling. Please, we're going to lose our table and I'm

hungry.

All right.

Let's have dinner. I can call Lorna later.

He's gone.

Now he's worried. Now he's wondering why I didn't answer the doorbell.

He'll call Lorna in East Hampton and she'll tell him that I should be here

and to get someone and to get into the house.

Everything is going to be all right.

Someone will come soon.

Oh, yes, dear.

I know you're hungry, but you know, people can live a long time without food

or water.

It's just the air we have to think about.

When I knocked, I rang.

I did everything but jump through the window.

No one answered.

I thought I'd better give you a call.

That's very sweet of you, Hillary, but you can relax and enjoy your dinner.

Aunt Addie told Bruce she was off to visit Mrs. Lindsay in Connecticut.

Well, I don't know. I suppose she had some sudden impulse.

I wouldn't worry about it. You go on back to your dinner.

What are you having?

Veal.

I always have veal. You should have fish, Hillary. They have brook trout.

Ruth says I'm having fish.

Well, have fun out there.

Sorry I bothered you.

I'm glad everything's all right.

Goodbye.

Well, how do you like that?

To go off for Connecticut.

Trouble is, we don't get enough iodine.

Nowadays, people just take off places.

Just like that.

Of course, there's a theory about that, isn't there?

About what?

Fish and iodine and that minimum daily requirement business.

Minimum daily requirement?

What minimum daily requirement?

Think I'll have fish.

I don't understand it.

Somebody should have come by now.

Surely he called her.

Oh, it's getting so, so hard.

So hard and so, so hard to breathe.

Oh.

Now I will not be afraid.

I will not.

Be afraid.

Maybe I should get some sleep.

I must get some sleep.

I don't think I could have gone one more step.

It's proof we have to move to the country. Do nothing but take care of our

body. And have the whiskey shipped in with the guests, right?

Uh-uh, no guests.

We got to have a little party now and then.

Well, now and then, maybe a guest or two.

Oh, I love you.

You're really quite an athlete.

I'm very impressed.

I swam the East River when I was seven years old.

I'll bet you were a funny little boy.

I don't know if any wouldn't come in time.

Lorne and Bruce won't be here till tomorrow night.

She said late.

Hope not.

Too late.

I mustn't think that way. I must think positively.

That's what Henry used to say to me. Think positively, Addy.

I remember... I remember one time on our boat.

There was a storm.

I was frightened.

And he said, we must sing.

Sing, Addy, he said.

Sing.

Australia, my lads, is a very fine place.

Heave away.

Heave away.

to be born.

Henry, I can't remember the words, Henry.

I can't remember the words.

You asleep?

No. What were you dreaming about?

I'm just thinking.

People aren't supposed to think on vacations.

Cats. What cats?

Aunt Allie's cats.

What about her cats?

Well, who's going to feed them?

Well, how do I know who's going to feed them?

She never takes them with her, and she let the help go.

So people all over the world have cats, let the help go, and still manage to

take a few days off.

I'm going to take a shower.

think about it the more i think she would have let me know she was going

lorna she's probably as happy to get away from you as you are from her i'm

just trying to make a point a man has what he wants he doesn't want to give it

up not a moment of it not for anything right

right henry

the boat is swaying so i I think I'm going to fall.

It's a storm coming.

The waves are coming over and I don't think that I can stay up.

You've got to help me, Henry.

Oh, it's so hot.

help myself anymore.

But it doesn't matter.

Lorna is all right. She can take care of herself.

She doesn't need me.

She's almost grown up.

Soon she'll get married and leave.

Wait. Wait.

She is married.

She's married.

i never liked bruce but i let her marry him because i thought i thought if she

was happy she loved me more i was thinking of me oh now

now i've got to let her know what it is

your clothes. I can see I'm going to have to take full charge of your

wardrobe.

Hey.

You rat.

What? I can't hear you.

You're a rat. I thought you said you were leaving your work at home.

What?

What are you doing coming on a vacation with that Addy's back statement?

What did you do? Go through my pockets?

Well, of course not.

Bruce, I happened to notice it when I put your jacket on the hanger. What, are

you spying on me? Give me those. I wasn't spying. I didn't even look at it.

I just happened to see there was Aunt Addie's. Well, it's none of your

business. Give them to me.

Bruce, what's the matter with you anyway?

I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little tired. Hillary had me through the mill all

week.

Aunt Addie asked me to go over these for her. She...

Said she couldn't balance them.

I thought Hillary did that.

Hillary's not doing it this month. I am.

All right with you?

Of course.

You don't have to be so tense about it.

I'm sorry.

Look, I've got a good idea.

Let's have a nice, quiet drink together before the others come.

Okay?

So Theodore McCloskey changed his name from Duncan. To McCloskey. To McCloskey.

And you know, he used to come over to our house and tear my clothes off

playing pom-pom pull-away. What's pom-pom pull-away? You never heard of

pom-pom? Oh, look.

No,

no, no. It's all right. I'll wash it off with water before it sinks.

Excuse me. John, you do it once at every party. It never fails.

What's pom-pom pull-away?

An old Pennsylvania Dutch friend of Bruce's took off all his clothes.

Ed McCloskey.

Oh, I don't know him. Oh, of course you do. His father wrote a letter to

Congress complaining about the weight of the dime.

I see we're going to have a wild boat party tonight.

Is everybody going?

Well, I hope so. I have enough food on board for the entire 7th Fleet.

Good. We can go for a week's cruise.

Operator, I want to call Fairwood, Connecticut, please.

Mrs. Marion Lindsay. I don't know the number.

Yes, yes, that's it. Would you please?

Busy.

No, no, I'll try again in a minute. Would you give me that number?

thought out oh it's fine you've got to watch out for john he'll spill every

time he gets the chance it's all right it'll be fine i'll be down in a minute

all right

Is she wearing a dress?

Oh, no, it's all right. She'll be right down.

She's just making a phone call.

Excuse me, please.

Could I speak to Mrs. Snow, please?

Addie Snow.

Well, is Mrs. Lindsay there?

In Europe?

How long has she been there?

Oh.

No, no, no, it's all right. No message.

How's the dress?

It's fine.

Come on down. I've been practicing my dancing.

Oh, Bruce, I think I'm a little worn out for dancing.

You feel better when you get on the boat and get your second wind. Come on.

Bruce, would you mind terribly much if I didn't go?

Well, of course I'd mind.

Why wouldn't you go?

Well, I don't know.

Too much sun, I guess. I'm not feeling very well. Well, you'll feel better when

you get on the boat.

No, Bruce, you go on without me.

I don't mind, really.

Well, now, if you don't go, I don't go.

I'll stay here and rub your back. I could use a good massage myself.

Well, now, isn't that ridiculous?

Why should you stay here just because I... I didn't come here to be with all

those other people in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean while you sit around the

house.

Uh, maybe you're right.

Let me get my bag.

I probably will feel better if I go.

Our expedition had an auxiliary sloop. I tell you, John, it was cold.

We were huddled together like a bunch of... Puppy dogs.

Oh, is that when you spotted the barge? Yes, not too far off. It was a shambles.

Broken ropes, torn canvas.

It was an awful sight, which just goes to prove my point. Some people will go

anywhere just to take a good picture. Hey, Bruce, someone I'd like you to

meet.

Mr. and Mrs. Richmond, Harvey Crane. How do you do?

Nice to see you. Can you spare your friend for a moment?

Harvey's with Rand Pumps of Indianapolis.

Excuse me, I'm used to here. I'll get myself a drink. No, I'll get it for you,

darling. That's all right. I'll get it.

Whiskey, please.

This matters in business. Sid Flake tells me it's going to catch fire.

Yes, we have a lot of faith in it. Cromwell has a plant somewhere. I think

it's Tampa, isn't it, John?

Yes, St. Outfit.

Hillary had a meeting with him a couple of weeks ago, didn't he? No, that was

canceled. They're doing it Thursday afternoon.

Back to New York.

I told you she's in Connecticut.

She's not in Connecticut. I called Mrs. Lindsay. Mrs. Lindsay's in Europe.

So maybe she went someplace else.

But you said she went to Mrs. Lindsay. No, I didn't say Mrs. Lindsay. You said

Mrs. Lindsay, and I said maybe it was Mrs. Lindsay.

Well, I'm going anyway. All right, I'll go with you.

I don't want you with me. Since when?

Move over.

I'd say this house is deserted, wouldn't you?

She always leaves the hall light on. So you go out during the day, you can

forget a hall light, can't you? Aunt Daddy?

The bed hasn't been slept in. I told you, she's not here.

Now, don't you think this has gone on long enough? And where are the cats?

I don't know. The cats could be anyplace. That's the way cats are.

Sometimes cats go off and don't come back for weeks.

Now, how about going for that boat ride, huh?

You missed one.

It says forgery.

Yes.

I forged it.

Why?

Why do you think?

Because I couldn't come to you for it.

Because I couldn't ask her for it.

Because I get paid enough to keep me in shoelaces by Hillary. That's why.

Because I want to look like somebody, Lorna.

Because you brought me into a world that's just a little bit over my head.

And it's either sink or swim.

That's why.

Well, does Aunt Addie know about this?

Yes. She found out yesterday?

Yes.

What happened?

Tell me what happened.

Nothing.

What do you mean, nothing?

I admitted it.

I told her what I just told you.

She just sat there at her desk and started to cry.

I told her I wanted to tell you. She said not to.

That it would hurt you very much.

But why didn't you tell me all this?

I was going to.

But you didn't. I couldn't.

It's hard enough to tell yourself you're a thief.

Much less your wife.

My first thought was to tell you everything.

That's why I brought those checks.

I was going to show them to you.

I know it isn't easy to understand.

Your aunt tried to.

She's wonderful.

She understands.

I hope you will.

I didn't know what to think.

I felt like everything was coming apart.

What was that?

I didn't hear anything.

It sounded like one of the cats.

I didn't hear it.

I could have sworn I heard something.

Let's start back for the island, huh?

Okay.

There.

You must have heard that.

It's coming from out there.

Jack!

What are you doing in the kitchen?

What were you doing in there, Jack?

Jack was in the kitchen.

I wonder where Martha is.

What is it, Jack? What's the matter?

He's hungry, that's all.

What is it, Jack?

What are you trying to tell me?

What is it?

Daddy!

I don't remember what she said.

The desk. The desk. She kept it in the desk, one of the drawers.

Underneath something.

Oh, where?

Where did she say?

The bottom drawer.

Look.

Yes, here it is.

Start at zero.

Right, 30.

Left, 10.

Right, 7.

Once, twice.

Left, to open.

Aunt Addie.

Aunt Addie.

Aunt Addie.

No.

Yes, yes, of course, I'll get some, sir.

Not for me.

For the cats.

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's program has been sent to you... for an hour's

free trial at the end of this time if you are not completely satisfied you may

return it there are of course a few minutes which are not returnable here is

one of them