Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

And welcome to Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Before we show you tonight story,

we should have a commercial.

I hope the manner in which my picture jumps about the screen

doesn't confuse you.

I had a small disagreement with our cameraman.

Fortunately being the producer

I have the last word.

In this case that word is...

hel... p

THE DOUBTFUL DOCTOR

But you say you feel all right now.

Of course I do, doctor. But...

I felt all right after the other time too.

Oh, this other time you mentioned...

you say that started out the same way?

The same way.

I was just a kid at the time.

I didn't think much about it.

But now it is happening again.

Yes, I understand how you feel.

Now... suppose you tell me about this last time.

Well... the day that it happened...

it was as if the powers-that-be had a meeting

and decided it would be fun to drive me nuts.

It started out with a half cooked eggs and burnt toast

and then as I was taking Rosemary from her mother.

She dribbled on my tie so I had to change that.

When I got to the office,

my secretary picked this day to tell me that she was leaving to get married.

Then Lucille called and said Rosemary has swallowed a button,

and right after that...

Well... it was that kind of a day.

I didn't have much hope for the evening.

As it turned out...

it was worse than that day.

Ralph?

Yeah, it's me.

But you, where have you been?

Did you forget what night it is?

Never mind about that. What about the button?

What button?

The button. The one that Rosemary swallowed.

Oh, that button. I found it in the crib.

Well, you might have call me back.

I'm sorry.

The Hornsby's...

They'll be here at 8:30.

Now, Ralph. Please don't act like that.

Listen, I got a very difficult day

when the laundry came instead of bringing me the good tablecloth I wanted to use.

Tonight, they brought me a man shirt instead.

Oh, and mother called.

She said Jack'll need about 200 to close that uptown option.

Lucille, we just gave your brother 300 to close the downtown option.

Well, I know it.

Why so t* about money all of a sudden?

It's not all of a sudden. And it's not just the money thing seem to be...

closing in. That's all.

Must you drink before you shower?

Yes. I must.

It's been a bad day, honey.

Lucille. Where are you going?

I've got to go to the kitchen. I've got things going there.

You'll feel better after you shower.

Oh, I forgot to tell you.

A man called just before you came in.

What did he want?

He wants $50.

Why does he want $50?

I thought he represents the tennants opposing the raise in our rent.

He said if we're gonna fight through court, it costs us a million dollars.

Hoo-rah.

Ralph.

Yeah?

There's a magazine on the armchair table.

What about it?

It's open to a page. I want you to look at.

Are you looking at it?

Yes. I'm looking at it.

Ralph, I wish we had a house just like the couple in that article.

You know... if we ever have a second baby,

that would be the house to have.

If we ever have a second baby, I am going to cut myself a naughty Oak stick.

I will take one pair of socks

a toothbrush and wrap them up in a red band.

Then I will put on an old pair of pants

that attach my little bundle to that knotty oak,

stick and take off for the wide open spaces.

I will take either a Northerly or a Southerly direction

because I wouldn't want the Pacific Ocean to get in my way.

That is not funny.

That is the best I can do after a long hard day.

Well, I suppose you'll be saying next

you're sorry you married me.

Well, I will say that life was less complicated two years ago.

I was living peacefully in a furnished apartment.

I have fewer problems.

- Is that so? - Yes, that's so.

It was a simple carefree life.

Oh, Ralph, if you want out of this marriage, just say so.

Bargain's a bargain.

Well...

If that's the way you feel about it,

I just want you to know that I can have my old job back at Eagle Soap.

Anytime I want.

Lucille...

Just what moment it happened? I don't know.

I remember vaguely getting up,

leaving the apartment,

waiting for the elevator.

It came and I entered it.

And the next thing I knew, I was sitting down.

I remember feeling cold...

it was shivering.

The surroundings were familiar.

Apparently, I left home and gone back to my bachelor apartment.

When I went to the window,

I saw a light snow were falling outside.

Snow in July?

It was real snow. All right.

I couldn't understand any of it.

For example, why were my clothes, all my old cast-offs

hanging in the closet looking new?

My old beat-up desk was there.

So was my calendar.

And I looked at the month and the date.

I began to understand this wasn't the same day at all.

It was a day two and a half years ago.

Hello. Come right in, Mr. Treadwell.

What can I do for you?

Hello yourself and you know exactly what you can do for me.

You can pay your rent.

Your rent?

Oh, oh yeah. I remember now.

I guess I am in the rears*.

You know very well. You're two months behind.

Well, thanks for reminding me,

but I can assure you, it won't be that way for long.

I'm certainly glad to hear that.

Big things are going to happen to me, Mr. Treadwell.

You know that little office that I have account?

In a couple of months time, I'm going into partnership with Ted Parkinson.

We're goning to knock through the wall, expand,

become a really big advertising agency.

That's very interesting, I'm sure.

- And then, I'm getting married. - The rent, Mr. Jones.

That's all I'm interested in.

Now either you pay up or you go out.

January 1st. Is that clear?

All right.

I'll get it for you.

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

I'm not, Mr. Jones. Believe me.

I didn't like what was happening.

Then I remember Lucille.

And how I got into the habit of talking things over with her.

If this was two and a half years ago,

I'd find her at the Eagle Soap Company.

In fact, it was the promise of an account* of Eagle Soap

that first led me to Lucille.

She was a secretary there.

Yes?

Hello, honey?

Remember me?

Well, the words are familiar. But the face is strange.

Stop. Wait a minute. It's all right to kid around.

Strange it is, but I'm different.

I'm the man in your life.

Did you come up here on business? So... what?

Certainley, I'm up here on business.

I want to see Mr. McKraken.

He's going to me a nice account.

Mr. McKraken is out of the town.

Oh, no, he's not out of the town.

About an hour, he's going to sign a big contract with me.

Then I'm going to come out here and talk to you into a luncheon engagement.

Well, that is impossible.

Mr. McKraken won't be back for two weeks, and I am not going to lunch with you.

I don't even know your name.

That isn't what really happened. You got to have lunch with me.

I'm Ralph.

I'll call Mr. Cedric. I don't think he's doing anything before* lunch.

Now wait a minute. Wait a minute.

I know this sounds funny,

but you and I...

we're going to get married.

You're right.

That's very funny.

Now look, Lucille.

I'm Ralph. You don't seem to understand.

I am Ralph Jones, and we're supposed to get married about three months time.

It was a short courtship.

Lucille, you'd better warm up a little.

I'm going to call Mr. Cedric. Maybe you can stall him out.

Lucille. Quit fooling around.

Now joke is a joke. But this just has gone far enough.

I'm taking you out to lunch and no nonsense about it.

Well, Mr. Jones. I'm definitely not going out to lunch with you.

Is that clear?

And furthermore, I just wish you get yourself out of here.

I've had a very rugged morning as it is.

And this isn't funny any longer.

But you have to have lunch with me.

No, I don't.

Goodbye.

Lucille.

Well, if it isn't the man with the original approach.

Don't you ever give up?

Lucille. Listen to me.

Does the name Rosemary mean anything to you?

No, I'm afraid not.

Well, it will. It's going be the name of our first child.

Now just a minute, please.

The minute I saw you, I knew we are meant for each other.

Tell me what did you do right up to the time

they took you away to the mental clinic?

- Now look, Lucille. - No. Let me go.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Will you please... just have lunch with me?

Would you listen to me for a minute?

- I can't. - I promise,

I promise I won't embarrass you.

I promise.

After I explaine how things are...

I'll never bother you again.

Well, I... I don't think it would do any good.

I just want to take you to Cavender's. That's where I took you the first time.

I even remember what you had for lunch.

You had broiled salmon and creamed asparagus.

Mr. Jones.

It's easy to see what your problem is.

Is it simply a case of mistaken identity?

I've never eaten Cavenders in my life

and if I had, I certainly wouldn't have ordered broiled salmon.

I detest it.

All right. I can see that. Some things just aren't the same.

If you don't like salmon, we'll order something else.

Well, all right.

But I can't spend all day.

Thank you. I'll find a cab.

So you see not only do I know you, but...

I've been married to you for over two and a half years.

We have a little girl named Rosemary.

But you said we quarreled now and then.

Oh, no. Not very often.

Well, this one night we did.

And suddenly I found myself back in my old apartment.

And two years were just... wiped away.

That must have been quite a surprise.

You're not kidding.

What am I supposed to do?

Unless you agree to return my affection,

how will we ever get back to where we started?

Well, let's be perfectly honest about this thing.

Let's admit that it's definitely a medical problem.

You don't think it's true.

Well, let me put it this way.

I think you're being absolutely sincere.

But I think it's also obvious you had some kind of a shock.

Well, you ought to try waking up to a day two and a half years ago.

I think you ought to see a doctor.

Preferably a psychiatrist.

And I think you ought to tell him everything.

- Lucille. - No, I'm serious.

Lucille, you don't seem to understand.

I love you. Can't you see that?

Please, you promised not to embarrass me.

All right.

But, Lucille, if you had one little spark of warmth in you,

you'd remember our life together.

You'd remember the time that... we got caught in the rain,

and we had to spend the night in the loggers cabin.

What... you at least remember the night that Rosemary was born?

I went with you myself in the taxi cab.

Oh, please, don't say those things.

They're just part of your delusion.

No, they are not.

If you want know the truth,

think your case is worse than mine.

My case? What are you talking about?

Well, at least I know who I am. I remember I like to get it.

You don't seem to remember anything and what's more...

I can prove that I know a lot about you.

Prove it. How?

About halfway up on your left shoulder,

you have a very fetching...

mole.

Well, I am very sorry for you, young man,

but my lunch hour is just about up.

Well, all right.

Oh, just a minute.

Uh... Jimmy.

We're trying to settle a bet.

I've been in here quite a few times with Mrs. Jones.

You remember her, don't you?

A lot of people eat with us.

I don't recall ever seen you before.

I guess you're a little mixed up, sir.

I dropped Lucille at the Soap Company.

And I went for a walk to think things over.

I could remember two lives.

One that went the way things should.

And one that didn't.

The second time around look like it was going to be real grimm.

All I had was a couple dollars and some change.

I thought of going to the office, but...

I just couldn't face seeing it the way it was before Ted join me.

Looking at the side of the home that would now never be mine.

I wanted Lucille in the worst way.

Both Lucille and Rosemary.

I wouldn't even care of Rosemary dribbled on my tie.

- It's your ball? - Yes, it is.

Good catch.

Who are you?

Just a man. Man without a home.

What's your name?

Ralph. What's yours?

Sydney.

What are you doing?

I'm just sitting here.

May I have a catch?

No, thanks.

Where are you going?

Well, that is a good question. I'm sorry I can't answer it.

You know how to catch?

Sure. I played lots of ball when I was a kid like you.

Going fish maybe?

Not today.

Nobody ever fishes here.

Like fish*

I haven't fished for years.

Here we are, Sydney.

Go buy yourself a yacht.

I won't need this where I'm going.

Oh, no. My mom says never taken *up from a stranger.

But I'll tell you what.

I'll say these your cards.

Eddie Matthews. Gil Hodges.

Duke Snider.

That's a deal.

Gee. Thanks, Mister.

What are you gonna do now?

Drown myself.

Oh! Well, so long.

The water was ice cold,

but strangely I found I could still breathe.

When I opened my eyes,

I found myself in our shower stall.

Ralph?

I've been calling you. Didn't you hear me?

No.

It's almost 8:00.

Was I in there long?

I thought you never coming out.

- Lucille. - What?

Lucille.

Do you remember me?

Unfortunately, yes.

I love you.

What? You must be out of your head.

In fact, I love everybody.

I must phone mother and tell I love her.

I even love your brother Jack.

I will write him a check for his uptown option

the minute I get to my office.

I wish there were about 2 million more people in the world, so I could love them too.

What happend to you?

You weren't so loving before that shower.

You just forget about that. I wasn't myself.

Lucille, you remember the first time we had lunch at Cavenders?

Of course.

What did you order?

Broiled salmon and cream asparagus.

Hmm... good girl.

Hello, Nick? Yeah, I'm Mr. Jones.

Look, Nick. I would like three dozen long-stemmed roses.

I don't care if it is December. I like it...

Oh, no. I was just kidding.

I'd like three dozen of something...

gorgeous... for the missus.

And put a card in the box, say...

Forever Yours, Ralph.

Mmm?

Oh, no... yes. That's all. Thanks, Nick.

You must have a guilty conscience or something.

Well, if I have, it's making me feel real good.

Maybe better than I ever have in my entire life.

And there something else?

I knew there was a catch in this someplace.

No, no catch.

I just wanted to tell you that if you would like to go ahead

and have a couple of twins,

it would be fine with me.

And that's how it was.

I can't tell you how relieved I was

to find myself back home with little Rosemary,

and a wife who remembered me.

I can't imagine, Mr. Jones.

But then I got to thinking about this... aberration.

You know, this is the second time that this has happened to me.

That first time was when you were little boy.

Well, I was in my second year of high school.

We've been in final exam time.

And you were worried.

Just as you were worried this time about finances

in the pressure of your responsibilities.

It was your anxiety...

and the resultant inner conflict, it...

temporarily freed you from your rational self.

You looked at the playpen

and then you flight from reality

into a world of fantasy that your mind created.

You trying to tell me that all I had was...

a day dream?

Believe me, Mr. Jones. You never left the apartment.

You only imagined you did.

But it was so real.

Of course, it was real.

Reverie such as you experienced are often so vivid, they do seem real.

I see.

Now you must be more open about your problems and your feelings,

work to reduce your attentions.

Then this won't happen again.

Now, why don't you just forget it?

Doctor, I would.

Except for one thing.

Yes, what is that?

Well,

I found these in my pocket this morning.

Now you can see they're...

still damp.

As though they'd been in the water.

Gil Hodges, Eddie Mathews, Duke Snider.

Those are the baseball cards that kid named Sydney sold me.

I thought that cameraman would never stop spinning me about.

I missed the whole story.

Now you are upside down.

Well, here is some in the trip put you on your feet

after which I should drop in on you again.

That is quite enough for tonight.

First the blood rush to my head

and now my head seems to be rushing some place.

Next week, we shall return with more commercials

a new story and a new camera man.

Until then, good night.