Not Rated | 30min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, TV Series | Episode aired 2 June 1959
Paul Martin is acquitted by a jury of the murder of his wife, although most people believe he did in fact kill her. To escape questioning reporters, he takes a house in the country. Soon, however, he begins to have premonitions of his own murder, and is shocked one day when his dead wife's brother shows up at his front door.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: John Newland, Ross Martin, Ed Kemmer
Paul Martin is acquitted by a jury of the murder of his wife, although most people believe he did in fact kill her. To escape questioning reporters, he takes a house in the country. Soon, however, he begins to have premonitions of his own murder, and is shocked one day when his dead wife's brother shows up at his front door.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: John Newland, Ross Martin, Ed Kemmer
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The amazing drama you're about to see is a matter of human record. You may believe it
00:09or not, but the real people who lived this story, they believe it. They know. They took
00:16that one step beyond.
00:30Only a very few moments ago, this was the scene of a tense human drama, played for very
00:36high stakes indeed, in a man's life. A jury has just determined that Paul Marlon did not
00:43murder his wife. Thus, a sensational murder trial comes to an end. But sometimes, the
00:50end is also the beginning. Perhaps if Paul Marlon could have known what lay ahead, he
00:56would have preferred being found guilty.
00:58Well, you just going to sit there all day?
01:11What?
01:14Hasn't it gotten through to you yet? It's all over, Paul. You're a free man.
01:19Yes, I know.
01:23Such enthusiasm. It's not that I expect thanks, Paul. Nobody who charges the kind of fees
01:35I do should expect gratitude, too. But I had an idea that you might at least feel relieved.
01:41Dan, I'm sorry. I'm just so bone tired, I can hardly feel anything. I didn't even remember
01:48to thank you. No, I am relieved, and I'm very grateful, too. You were just wonderful.
01:55I'm lucky I had you for my attorney.
01:59It's easy to be marvelous when your client is innocent. You're still thinking about Julie,
02:12huh?
02:13I am. I don't know if I'll ever really stop. I only knew who did it or why.
02:21What are you going to do with yourself, Paul?
02:27Oh, I don't know. Start trying to pick up the pieces, I guess.
02:33You could do with a change of scene.
02:35Yes, I suppose so.
02:36And a rest. You need a rest, Paul.
02:42I'll think about it.
02:44Never mind thinking about it. You're going to do something about it. Come on.
02:58Hey, Martha. My paper'd like to know how you feel about being let off.
03:03Being let off?
03:05Okay. Being found not guilty.
03:08Pretty silly question, isn't it? How do you think he feels?
03:11Why don't you let your client answer, Counselor?
03:13Well, you've gone so far out of your way to twist and distort everything I've said since my wife's death,
03:18I see no point in even trying.
03:20How about you, Counselor? Do you want me to print no comment also?
03:26Or do you have anything to say about the very peculiar shortage of prosecution evidence and witnesses?
03:32Not even the district attorney can produce what doesn't exist, Ferris.
03:35Is that why the murdered woman's family wasn't even called to testify?
03:40Or did you and the DA decide they didn't belong at your private little trial?
03:45Now look, Ferris. You know perfectly well I tried to reach her brother in New Zealand.
03:49Sure you did. Tried real hard.
03:52Yes, we did. But communications to the back country of New Zealand are practically non-existent.
03:57Uh-huh.
03:58Besides, it wouldn't have possibly contributed anything relevant.
04:01And you know that, of course, without even asking him.
04:04Look, Ferris, what are you trying to build? The trial's over. Your paper got a lot of circulation out of it.
04:09Now why don't you find someone else to pick on?
04:11It's just that I believe, along with a lot of people in this town, that Marlon killed his wife in cold blood.
04:16Now wait a minute, Ferris. I'm getting sick and tired of this.
04:18Now go if you see him walking away scot-free.
04:27Thanks. I've got my headline.
04:36Paul, come on. I want to talk to you.
04:38I walked right into his trap.
04:41You know your nerves are on edge. All you needed was a push.
04:46Look, Dan.
04:47No, I want...
04:48I'm talking to the police. There's something I want to ask you.
04:51Are the things he said about the trial, about the way it was handled...
04:54No, no, no.
04:55Now you didn't...
04:56Now, Paul, it's just as I told you.
04:58The DA's office jumped before they had anything much to go on.
05:01By the time they realized they had no real evidence against you,
05:05what with the papers beating the drums, getting people worked up,
05:08if they were publicly committed, they had to go through the motions.
05:10All right, then. Why Ferris' personal vendetta with me?
05:15He can't possibly believe that I killed Julie, can he?
05:18Oh, I doubt if he even cares, one way or the other.
05:22But he will go on needling you as long as it means good copy.
05:26And so will the rest of the press.
05:28Which is just what you want me to avoid.
05:31That's why all this talk about going away?
05:34Yes.
05:35You know, what Ferris said about some people in this town is true.
05:39People react emotionally, Paul.
05:41They react to clichés.
05:43Now, Julie was a lot older than you.
05:45You know that. She had a lot of money.
05:47And, well, people see too many plots in the movies.
05:51You know, they're affected by it.
05:53Now it'd be wise to give the town a chance to cool off.
05:56Yourself, you need a rest.
05:59And you can get a new perspective on things, come back with a fresh outlook.
06:04Is that my lawyer's advice?
06:06No. It's your friend's advice, Paul.
06:14Okay, Dan. All right.
06:17I'll go away for a while.
06:20I just hate the idea of looking as though I were running away.
06:35Miss Wyckoff?
06:36Yes.
06:37Hello. I'm Paul Marlin.
06:39I recognize you, Mr. Marlin.
06:41The hotel phone.
06:43All I have left is a third floor rear.
06:45I'm sure that'll be quite fine, thank you.
06:48Well, it'll have to be.
06:50This is our season.
06:52Yes, so I understand.
06:54I'm sure you'll be quite comfortable.
06:57Guess I'm lucky to get anything at all.
07:00It's right on the button.
07:05How long do you expect to stay, Mr. Marlin?
07:07Oh, I really had no plans.
07:09Would it matter to you?
07:10Not a bit.
07:12Well?
07:16Oh, yes, this'll be fine, thank you very much.
07:20That'll be six dollars.
07:23Well?
07:24Oh yes, this will be fine, thank you very much.
07:40That'll be six dollars a night.
07:42Oh.
07:43When you leave, I'll have the trucks moved tomorrow.
07:48Oh, they're no trouble.
08:20You're welcome.
11:25Help you?
11:26Urban.
11:27Any particular?
11:28Anything, anything.
11:38Water or soda?
11:44Another please, a double.
12:01A dollar and a half.
12:11Keep it.
12:28Another, a little water in it this time please.
12:36Bartender, tell me something.
12:38What do you think, what's your name?
12:41Joe.
12:42Tell me something, what do you think of people who see things that aren't there?
12:46And hear things?
12:49They've had too much to drink.
12:51No, I mean, before they had too much.
12:55Before they've had even one drop.
12:59Too much imagination, I guess.
13:05That's it.
13:07Too much imagination.
13:10Too much imagination is a dangerous thing, you know?
13:15Like the man said.
13:19Now that's a good mirror.
13:22This is a mirror that I approve of.
13:26Friendly, you know?
13:28You look at it, looks back at you.
13:33No tricks, just what's there.
13:37You know, Joe, I've got a mirror in my room.
13:43Very tricky mirror.
13:46Everything, the whole place is tricky.
13:49I trust it.
13:52Sounds and things that aren't even there.
13:55A clock striking the wrong time.
13:58Dogs howling like they're supposed to do when somebody dies.
14:03Thunder, wind and lightning after.
14:07And you know there was no thunder or lightning tonight.
14:11A German man came in with a German Luger pistol and he shot me.
14:21Sure.
14:23And I didn't even know him.
14:25I never saw him before in my life.
14:27And I was wide awake.
14:29I mean, it's not like a dream.
14:31I was wide awake.
14:38That's some imagination, huh?
14:42It's like I'm an inventor.
14:44I invented a person.
14:47I mean, this man didn't...
14:51He wasn't made up of all the faces I'd known before like in a dream.
14:56He was someone...
14:59Someone real.
15:04Tall of my height.
15:06May I have some change, please?
15:11Scotch and water, please. No ice.
15:14What's this supposed to be?
15:33Pardon?
15:34One pound, Commonwealth of New Zealand.
15:37I'm sorry.
15:39I've only been in the country a few hours.
15:41Takes a while to remember about the currency.
16:11I beg your pardon, but...
16:40When is the next bus out of here?
16:55We were.
16:56Anywhere.
16:57There's one at 205 to San Francisco.
16:59Where's San Francisco?
17:01450.
17:05Put your luggage on the ramp.
17:07The driver will pick it up when he gets here.
17:09Put it on the ramp.
17:10I don't have any luggage.
17:36Paul?
17:39What do you want?
17:40I'm Roger Wiley.
17:42Roger Wiley, you are Paul Marlin, aren't you?
18:37What is it?
19:01Why do you keep running?
19:03I told you, I'm Roger Wiley.
19:05Julie's brother.
19:15Aren't you well?
19:18Shall I call a doctor?
19:24Oh, the landlady said it'd be all right if I left my bags here while I went looking for you.
19:29Explain who I was.
19:32How, uh...
19:34How did you find me?
19:35Your solicitor told me where you'd gone.
19:38I only landed in San Francisco this afternoon.
19:41Oh.
19:42Where did you come here?
19:45Julie's estate, for one thing.
19:47Then there's the matter of...
19:51The gun body.
19:53I always carry it with me.
19:55It's a good thing to have along when you're out on the range for weeks at a time.
20:01Are you sure that you're all right?
20:04No, I'm fine. I'm fine, really.
20:07Sorry, it's just...
20:09It's just nerves, that's all.
20:14Julie's death.
20:17That terrible trial.
20:20I'm sure the last month has been very unpleasant for you.
20:24It'll probably give anyone the shakes.
20:26I'll be all right in the morning.
20:30Why don't we meet then, over breakfast maybe? We can have a talk.
20:34That's a good idea.
20:36With the hotel full up, I hardly know where to look for a room at this hour.
20:40What I mean is...
20:42I thought perhaps I could flop in that chair for tonight.
20:45Oh.
20:47Yes, yes, of course.
20:50Why not?
20:51Thanks.
20:53You were...
20:55You were saying there was another reason why you came?
20:58Oh, yes.
21:00I've been out on the range rounding up some beef for shipment.
21:04I got back, I found this letter from Julie waiting for me.
21:07Along with a notification from the court about the trial and all.
21:11Julie wrote this the day before she was killed.
21:17Stay away from me!
21:22I know why you came.
21:24I had a warning.
21:25You had what?
21:27I know why you're here, and I know why this gun, too.
21:30I saw it all happen.
21:32Paul, I don't know what you're babbling about.
21:34You're here to kill me!
21:36You read the newspapers, didn't you?
21:38Yes, I did.
21:40I saw it all happen.
21:42You're here to kill me!
21:44You read the newspapers, didn't you?
21:46You believe what they said, that I killed her, don't you?
21:49That I planned the whole thing to make it look like somebody had broken in just to cover up?
21:52Paul, listen to me.
21:54I don't believe anything of the sort. Why should I?
21:56Why are you here?
21:58She told you everything in that letter.
22:00She knew everything right from the start, didn't she?
22:02I never fooled her, not for one minute, I'll bet.
22:04Paul, give me the gun.
22:05No.
22:06You don't realize what you're doing.
22:07No, I tell you!
22:09I waited too long.
22:11I've planned all this too carefully to have it all blow up in my face now.
22:15I am her heir!
22:18I am her sole heir!
22:22You killed her.
22:24Yes!
22:26Yes.
22:30You're not going to take it away from me.
22:34Nobody's going to cheat me of it now.
22:42No.
22:59Dearest Roger,
23:02I only hope and pray you will believe that the last six months have been the happiest of my life.
23:08I know how foolish you thought I was to marry a man so much younger.
23:12I must confess I had my moments of doubt too.
23:16But Paul loves me, really loves me, Roger.
23:19He proves it in a hundred ways every day.
23:22I've never felt so alive, so wanted.
23:26Enough of this, dear brother.
23:28I want very much to give Paul something in return for all he's given me.
23:33I've decided to immediately transfer all my holdings, real estate stocks, everything to his name.
23:40And I want it to be a surprise.
23:43Naturally, there'll be some complications with those things you and I own together.
23:47And as it has been so long since we've seen each other,
23:51couldn't you find the time to come to San Francisco?
23:54It would be wonderful if you could.
23:56Besides, it's high time the two men of my life met and became friends.
24:01Julie.
24:04Paul Marlon went to the gas chamber insisting
24:07that he was the victim of an hallucination that drove him to murder.
24:12The only witness he had to support his plea was the bartender.
24:17And bartenders hear so many strange things, don't they?
24:21Probably it was Paul's guilty conscience
24:24that somehow created the sights and sounds of his own destruction.
24:28His conscience was his executioner.
24:32In a moment, a program word about next week.
24:38If ever there was a place where the ability to see into the future would come in handy,
24:42that place would be a racetrack.
24:44But ace jockey Ronnie Watson's brush with the supernatural
24:48has become one of the great legends of American racing.
24:51See for yourself next week.