Original subtitles

Good evening, and thank you for your kind attention,

erratic though it may be.

You have, of course, heard of canned laughter,

the hollow recorded laughter which accompanies some comedy shows.

Naturally, since this program is entirely serious in nature,

we have never resorted to this means of audience stimulation.

However, I have just been shipped

a number of cans of fresh audience sounds

which may be useful.

[screams]

[screams]

Most of these cans contain screams.

There are some filled with shudders.

And some of them hold whimpers and gasps.

Just now, we do not intend to use these recordings.

This is merely a warning.

If you fail to react to our stories

at the emotional level we feel they deserve,

we’ll turn these sounds loose.

So much for blackmail.

Now, for our story.

[woman] It sure feels good getting out of the car after that long drive.

Honestly, Mother, I don’t know how you can stand wearing a girdle!

I’m used to it, dear.

Now, do you have a list of things you’re gonna buy?

Oh, I know what I need.

Besides, Burt will remember.

But you haven’t been up here for over a year. Not since...

Not since your father died.

Don’t worry. I’m sure Burt hasn’t forgotten.

He’s part elephant.

[doorbell chimes]

Ah, afternoon!

Something you ladies want?

Why, it’s Mrs. Blythe, ain’t it?

Sorry I didn’t recognize you at first.

Oh, that’s all right, Burt.

You haven’t seen me in over a year.

Year and a half, nearly. Just after Labor Day.

Well, I didn’t expect you to remember me that long.

Oh, never forget a face.

Guess Doc was right, must need new glasses.

Told me I needed ’em just before he passed away.

That was in, uh, ’48.

Reminds me. Heard about you losing the mister.

Was a year ago, weren’t it?

Yes, just after we closed up the cabin here.

Ah! Sorry to hear it. Heart attack, weren’t it?

Yes. It was quite sudden.

I know. Lost a brother the same way.

Recently?

Yeah, 19 and 36.

Mother, don’t you think you’d better give him your order?

It’s getting late, and we have to get out to the cottage.

Oh, come back to stay?

Well, no, not exactly.

[Burt] Didn’t think so.

Pretty early in the season for that.

-There ain’t nobody else up here yet. -Yes.

Kind of lonesome without the summer folk around.

Yes. I see now.

Maybe you figure on selling, that it?

Yes, that’s it.

I just came to do a little cleaning over the weekend.

We’ve already handed it over to the real estate agency.

If you happen to know of anybody who is interested,

have them contact Mr. Scott in Ardmore.

Oh, you folks been over to Ardmore?

[Blythe] We stopped in at Mr. Scott’s office. Why do you ask?

Well, just thought maybe you had some news about...

You know.

-What? -Well, you know!

The one that got away this morning.

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Well, the news came over the radio,

the late news.

It said one of them patients had busted loose from the rest home.

But I didn’t even know that there was a mental home anywhere near here.

Oh, yeah! Right outside of town.

’Course they call it a "rest home",

but you know what it really is.

Why don’t you keep your radio on for more news?

That station goes off the air at 4 o’clock.

That was half hour ago.

Sun’s still high up.

Oh, I had no idea it was so late!

My watch must have stopped.

Funny, it seems to be broken.

Never mind, Mother. You can take it to the jeweler tomorrow.

But I’m gonna be up here until you and Jim come for me on Sunday.

[daughter] After what we heard?

I wouldn’t dream of letting you

stay up here all by yourself.

You’re gonna drive back with me right now.

Nonsense!

I used to stay by myself all week

when your father was working in town.

Nobody ever bothered me.

Please, Mother, I’d feel better

if you came back with me now.

And I’d feel better if I stayed right here.

I have all that cleaning to do,

and Mr. Scott promised to come over tomorrow

and see the place.

And you forgot,

we stopped in at the phone company in Ardmore.

They promised to connect up the phone.

But all this can wait until next weekend.

I have no intention of making that long drive twice.

Now don’t worry, everything will be all right.

I’m sorry, Burt.

Now, let me see...

Like a pound of coffee,

a pound of butter...

Oh, a loaf of bread, dozen eggs...

Just a moment till I get the lights.

There, that’s better.

Come on in!

Where do you want this?

Just put it down anywhere.

I’ll get rid of these groceries.

Don’t close the door, dear.

This place needs a little fresh air.

[daughter] I’m not afraid of the air getting in.

Oh, for Heaven’s sake,

are you still thinking about what Burt said?

Really, Mother, I wish you’d change your mind

and drive back with me tonight.

Whatever for? I’m perfectly safe here.

We didn’t see a single soul on our way up.

But that’s just the point. You’ll be all alone.

And with no telephone. What if somebody did come?

Oh, the shutters are still on the windows,

there’s a good lock on the door and there’s a chain as well.

All right.

If you won’t come with me, I’m staying here.

Oh, now that’s perfectly ridiculous!

Jim is expecting you home before 9:00.

And what about the children?

No, run along now. I’ll see you both on Sunday.

Oh, but, Mother--

Now, look, you’re acting as though I’m an old woman!

Well, don’t you want me to help you unpack?

What? That little overnight bag?

No, no, you go on to your family.

-I’ll call you as soon as they hook up the phone. -Yeah.

That reminds me, what time is it?

Uh, five to seven. Why?

Oh, your watch is broken. Here, you’d better take mine.

No, I don’t need to. I’ll set the clock.

You remember this clock?

Your father gave it to me on our fifth anniversary.

You were just a little girl.

[cuckoo noises]

You must have set it a little ahead.

Yes, I just wanted to hear it.

I love the sound of a cuckoo clock.

Your father used to say that... What am I talking about?

Now you have a long trip ahead of you.

-You must go right away. -Mother, are you sure?

Now let’s not start that all over again, now.

-Run along now. -All right.

Promise me one thing.

-Keep the door locked. -Of course.

Now run along and I’ll see you on Sunday.

-[daughter] Call me tomorrow. -What?

Call me tomorrow.

I’ll call you as soon as they hook up the phone.

[sigh]

[humming]

[thunder]

[thunder rumbles]

[screams]

I’m sorry to barge in on you like this,

but it’s kind of an emergency.

My name’s Madeleine Hall.

I’m Mrs. Blythe.

Oh, you’re shivering!

It’s just kind of cold out there, that’s all.

I think you’re frightened.

All right, so I’m frightened. Who wouldn’t be?

Haven’t you heard about it yet?

Heard about what?

That man who escaped.

I felt sort of nervous, knowing that he’s on the loose.

So... So I thought I could use your telephone.

It’s not connected yet.

I just arrived this afternoon.

Oh, then you have a car. That’s much better--

I’m sorry, there’s no car.

My daughter drove me up. She’s gone back to the city.

-Where do you live? -I’m staying in Ardmore.

Ardmore? But that’s where--

No, in the town.

Not out by that place.

But then what are you doing way out here?

I just went for a hike this afternoon.

You mean to say that you walked all the way from Ardmore?

Is there any law against it?

I just felt that I had to get away, by myself.

Haven’t you ever felt that way?

That if you just didn’t get away,

then something inside of you was just gonna explode.

Come and sit down here. Sit down.

You’ll be fine. There.

You can sit right here.

Are you sure that you’re all right?

Are you sure you’re not sick?

I’m not sick!

What is with psychologists, that all I hear is,

"You’re sick, you’re sick, you’re sick."

-[Blythe] Please, I-- -I’m sorry.

[sigh]

I just shouldn’t push the panic button, that’s all.

Now I suppose I’ll have to tell you.

Tell me what?

You know that hill,

behind the woods?

About a mile from here?

Oh, yes. I think they call it "the Hunter’s Ridge."

Well, I was painting there all afternoon.

Oh, you’re a painter!

No! No, not really. It’s just a hobby.

But it’s supposed to be very relaxing.

Good therapy.

Yes, I’ve always heard that. I always wanted to try it

but I was never any good at drawing.

Oh, you don’t have to be good at it.

The main thing is just t-to g-get out and b-be alone,

by yourself.

Well, that’s very important.

But you wouldn’t understand about things like that.

Oh, yes, I would.

Sometimes that can be very important.

Oh, it was to me.

I didn’t even know how late it was getting

till I saw the sun going down behind the trees.

And then I wanted to catch the sunset,

so I started up this hill.

And that’s when I saw that man!

What man?

At first, I thought it was just a shadow.

But shadows don’t stare.

He was watching you?

He was just standing there,

just-just staring into the sunset.

Well,

probably was some farmer.

There aren’t any farms around here.

And what would a farmer be doing

wandering around the hills in a raincoat?

Oh, you got a good look at him, then?

No.

But I knew who he was. I knew who he...

[stammers]

And then I remembered that news report on the radio.

And I knew he was the man.

Oh, but you could be mistaken.

I didn’t wait to find out.

I just started running and I kept running.

I dropped the easel and the paints and everything

and I just ran till I saw the light outside your door.

-Oh, you’d better turn it off! -What?

I said...

I think he followed me.

You’re letting your imagination run away with you.

Oh, wait...

-What’s the matter? -Listen!

Don’t you hear anything?

-No, I don’t hear-- -Shush!

It’s just the wind--

It’s him. It’s him!

I told you he followed me.

[knocking]

[knocking]

[knocking]

-Don’t answer that door. -That’s--

Be quiet.

[knocking]

Listen. I think he’s going away.

I can’t see a thing. The shutters are closed.

Oh, I haven’t opened them yet.

Good. Leave it that way. We’ll be safer.

I don’t hear anything.

I think he’s gone.

[sighs]

Thank goodness!

But suppose it was the police?

-[kettle whistles] -[both scream]

[sigh, chuckles]

Don’t worry, it’s just my kettle.

I put the water on before you came in.

I could do with a cup right now. How about you?

No, thank you.

Take off your coat, dear, and sit down.

I didn’t think to ask if you preferred coffee.

[Madeleine] No, thank you.

My ancestry’s English

and I’ve always thought that tea

was a great pick-me-up.

You don’t need to worry now. He’s gone.

[Madeleine] Yes. But where?

Wandering around alone out there in that darkness

with nowhere to go,

nowhere in the whole world.

Because everybody’s against him.

It’s no wonder he’s so full of hate.

Hate?

What makes you say that?

Because that’s what happens.

That’s the way it is when you’re sick.

You feel so alone,

like everybody’s against you.

[sobbing]

And you’re so hurt,

that you just wanna hurt back.

Haven’t you ever felt that way?

Of course not! Why should I?

Of course not. Why should you?

[cuckoo sounds]

That’s a good question.

My Aunt Dora had one of these

when I was a little girl.

You remind me of her.

The calm, sensible type.

She used to live alone, too, just like you do.

She did a lot of sewing.

And she kept a canary.

Except that she didn’t really keep it.

Because one day she just...

cut its head off with the pinking shears.

Just like that.

Please...

Do you have to talk about such things?

I just wanted to show you how it can happen,

even to calm, sensible, ordinary people,

when they’re filled with hate.

And some of them don’t stop with canaries.

Why don’t you try your telephone and see if it’s connected.

Not yet.

Well, I have to go then.

He might decide to come back.

Oh, do you think he would?

He might. He must know someone’s here.

And he might have seen the light under the door.

Oh, but then I can turn it off the way you suggested--

It’s too late for that now.

You’ll just have to take your chances.

Don’t leave me.

Please don’t leave me.

Are you really so frightened?

[nervous chuckle]

To tell you the truth, I’m scared to death.

Perhaps it was my little story about the canary.

Well, you don’t have to worry.

I made that up.

And the man?

You made up about the man, too?

-No. That part’s true. -Don’t leave me, please!

He may be waiting for you outside there.

The phone will be connected

and then we’ll be able to call out.

Please stay with me! Please!

All right.

I’ll stay.

Since I’m going to stay, why don’t we have that tea?

Yes, of course. I think the water’s still hot. Yes, it is.

I could do with a cup, myself.

Why did you make up that story about the canary?

Did you intend to frighten me?

-Did you? -I don’t know.

You did it to upset me, didn’t you?

-Yes. -Why?

-Because you’re-- -No. No.

The doctor just said

that I should quit my job at the agency

and just get away and relax and paint.

And he put you in that rest home, didn’t he?

That’s where you came from, the sanatorium in Ardmore!

I’ve been staying at the hotel for two weeks.

You can ask anybody!

And I was fine. I was just fine

until today when I saw that man.

Man! There isn’t any man!

-[knocking on door] -[whimpering]

He’s back. I told you he’s back. Please, please don’t.

I’ve got to see who it is. It could be the police.

-Promise me, don’t you let him in! -All right.

I promise. I promise. But this time,

I have got to know who is outside there.

What do you want?

[man] I hope I didn’t frighten you,

but what I have to tell you is rather important.

I suppose you heard what happened today

about the patient that escaped from over at Ardmore?

Yes, yes, I know.

[man] Well, there’s really nothing to be alarmed about.

Oh, you mean that they’ve caught the patient?

No, not yet.

But just keep your door locked

and I’m sure everything will be all right.

You see, she’s rather extremely dangerous,

the one we’re looking for. Clever, too.

That’s all.

I’m sure everything will be all right.

-No, but-- -Don’t, don’t, don’t!

-That’s blood! -[Madeleine] It’s paint!

-It’s blood! -It’s paint.

Come on in, the girl’s here. The door’s open.

[Blythe] Here she is. The girl’s right here.

Yes, I see.

That’s what I counted on.

I followed her down from the hill.

When I saw your light...

I guessed where she might be.

The first time I knocked, you wouldn’t let me in.

That’s when I decided to play my little trick on you.

It worked.

Didn’t it?

-Didn’t it? -Yes.

Yes, it worked.

It was a clever little trick.

Wasn’t it?

Wasn’t it?

Answer me!

[cuckoo sounds]

[Blythe screams]

It was mocking me.

And I can’t stand being mocked.

[telephone rings]

[man] Look at the clock.

[telephone rings]

[man] Just look at the clock.

[Blythe screams]

[telephone continues ringing]

I don’t think he played that quite fairly, do you?

Some people will cheat, tell fibs, do anything, in fact,

in order to kill someone.

I don’t approve at all.

It gives murder a very bad name.

But I can assure you, he won’t try that again.

At the next house he broke into,

they were more hospitable.

It belonged to the sheriff.

[screams]

Oh, this is from the section of quick-frozen screams.

They have to thaw out.

A number of people have been asking

where we obtained these canned screams, gasps, etcetera.

They are, of course,

authentic audience reaction recorded at a comedy show.

I don’t believe it’s on the air any longer.

[screams]

Good heavens!

They forgot to remove the audience.

Next time, I shall return with another story

laced together by my impertinent remarks.

Until then, goodnight.