• 5 years ago
Not Rated | 30min | Comedy, Crime, Drama, TV Series | Episode aired 15 October 1953

A woman on a cruise without her husband feels abandoned and alone, but her spirits are revived by a series of anonymous romantic gifts. Several men on the ship attempt to romance her, but which of them is sending her the gifts?

Director: Robert Florey

Writers: Benita Hume, Barbara Merlin

Stars: Merle Oberon, Lowell Gilmore, Stephen Bekassy
Transcript
00:00Singer Four Star Playhouse presents Dick Powell, Charles Boyer, David Niven, Frank Lovejoy.
00:30Margot!
00:58Margot Storling on my boat!
01:00Charles!
01:01Darling, what luck!
01:02Oh, how providential.
01:03And how promising.
01:04Charles, I am glad to see you.
01:05Yours is the first familiar face since I left Paris.
01:06Have you seen Paul?
01:07I've been looking for him everywhere.
01:08Oh, yes, the husband.
01:09How is he?
01:10That is not the question.
01:11It's where is he?
01:12Well, the last I heard, he was being the big American newspaper man about Paris.
01:13I thought you two were settled there for life, Margot.
01:14What happened?
01:15He was transferred back home.
01:16Where is he?
01:30I've been playing catch-as-catch-can with him for days.
01:33He took a last-minute assignment and had to fly to London.
01:36Now he's supposed to meet me here in Cherbourg.
01:38Looks as though he might have missed the boat.
01:42Charles and John, you're being no help at all.
01:46Well, I want to help, especially if Paul doesn't make it.
01:49Now, cheer up, Margot.
01:50You'll probably stumble over him in your stateroom sooner or later.
01:53Darling, I'd love to stay, but you must excuse me.
01:56I have to unpack my extra tie, you know.
01:58Give little boy last my love when you find him.
02:01Let's all have dinner tonight, shall we?
02:03All right, Charles.
02:04I'll tell him if I find him.
02:16Paul?
02:32No note, nothing.
02:34Come in.
02:39I'm your steward, Mrs. Sterling, Albert Coons.
02:42Your stewardess will unpack for you as soon as we sail.
02:45Some flowers and a note that came for you.
02:51Terribly sorry I had to fly to New York on a hot assignment.
02:55Have a nice trip.
02:56See you pier 35 Friday.
02:57Love, Paul.
02:59I'll like him.
03:00Flying to New York while I'm stuck here on this boat for five days with nothing to do.
03:05Your flowers, madam.
03:07Move, Astor.
03:09You look like a box full of bruises.
03:11I'll have to get an extra vase for them, Mrs. Sterling.
03:15There's a lovely one right here.
03:24That'll be all, thank you, Coons.
03:29Yes?
03:30Darlene, this is Charles.
03:32What about Paul? Did he make it?
03:34No, he did not make it.
03:35What a delightful fellow.
03:37The less I see of him, the more I like him.
03:39Come and have dinner with me tonight.
03:41No, not tonight, Charles.
03:42I think I'm going to have dinner in my stateroom.
03:45Don't tell me you're feeling seasick.
03:46I'm not seasick.
03:48I'm just tired and depressed.
03:50Since that's the case, if I promise to be wildly exciting and interesting,
03:53may I come and dine with you right now?
03:55No, thank you, Charles.
03:57I wouldn't be very good company.
03:59I don't like your being depressed.
04:01I'm very fond of you, you know.
04:03Are you, Charles?
04:05Are you really?
04:07I'm glad someone is.
04:09Good night, Charles, dear.
04:11Good night, darling.
04:15I've brought your coffee, ma'am.
04:19Oh, thank you, Coons.
04:21It was delicious, but I wasn't very hungry.
04:23Oh, and I found these outside your door.
04:27How particularly lovely.
04:29Champagne, 1947, extra dry.
04:31And a peach would go nicely with that.
04:33Oh, yes, that's my favorite.
04:35No coffee without a peach.
04:37Oh, thank you, Coons.
04:39Oh, thank you.
04:41Oh, thank you.
04:43That's my favorite.
04:45No cards?
04:49Open it for me, will you, please?
04:51Yes, of course.
04:55A loaf of bread, a bottle of wine.
05:00A jug of wine, a loaf of bread,
05:02and thou beside me in the wilderness.
05:06But who on earth would be sending me bits of Omar Khayyam?
05:13Will that be all, ma'am?
05:15Yes, yes, thank you, Coons.
05:19It must be from Charles.
05:21Charles, Omar Khayyam.
05:23Strange.
05:25Still, he did say,
05:27I'm very fond of you.
05:29But I've never taken him seriously.
05:33Well, here's to adventure on the high seas.
05:43Ahem.
05:45Lovely, brisk day, isn't it?
05:49I'm glad you don't mind a little choppy weather.
05:51Oh, no.
05:53I love the sea, rough or smooth.
05:55So do I.
05:57It's in my blood.
05:59Of course, my father lived most of his life in Denver,
06:01but I did have a great-grandfather
06:03on my mother's side
06:05whom they tell me was a pirate.
06:08Sounds very dashing.
06:10Does it?
06:12I must tell that to my wife.
06:14Very poor sailor, my wife.
06:16Takes to her bed the minute we get on board.
06:18And I change from a married man
06:20into a bachelor for five days.
06:24I'm in somewhat of a similar situation myself.
06:26Is that so?
06:30Then you could say
06:32I'm a pirate.
06:34Is that so?
06:36Then you could say
06:38we've slipped our moorings.
06:40Nautical expression, you know.
06:44But in my case, I'm not quite sure
06:46who's doing the slipping.
06:50Oh, that's very, very good.
06:52Oh, my dear young lady,
06:54I don't know when I've enjoyed
06:56meeting anyone so much.
06:58I hope you'll let me introduce myself.
07:00I should have done it in the beginning,
07:03of course.
07:05I have a card here.
07:09I beg your pardon.
07:11It's perfectly all right.
07:13How do you do?
07:15My name is Slattery.
07:17Well, hello.
07:19Yes, where were we?
07:21Oh, yes.
07:23It's George, you know.
07:25George Slattery.
07:27Don't bother, Mr. Slattery.
07:29I know a pirate when I see one.
07:32Oh, no, I mean
07:34I beg your pardon.
07:36Oh, yes.
07:38Well, this has been
07:40quite an adventure.
07:42I feel almost as if I'd walked the plank.
08:02Three o'clock movie.
08:04No.
08:06Four o'clock concert.
08:08Eight o'clock horse racing.
08:10Dancing in the French room.
08:12Starlight roof opened.
08:20Hello?
08:22Darling, it's me again.
08:24How's the depression?
08:26Oh, Charles, I am glad you called.
08:28Ah, depression's over.
08:30Say, where have you been?
08:32I looked for you all morning.
08:34I couldn't find you anywhere.
08:36Well, you see, I met a pirate.
08:38You do sound better.
08:40How about having dinner with me tonight?
08:42I'll meet you in the bar at seven.
08:44I'd love it.
08:46I'm sure we'll have a lot to say to each other.
08:48To my favorite heartbreaker.
08:50I must say, Charles,
08:52you're a great comfort to a girl.
08:54Well, I do wish you wouldn't treat me
08:56like an old dead sock
08:59You're kind of an uncle, darling.
09:01After all, you have known me since I was five.
09:03Well, I should like to remind you
09:05that I was, at the time,
09:07a tiny tot myself.
09:09And you did look cute in that bowler hat.
09:11That was a sailor hat.
09:13I will never understand
09:15why I waste my devotion
09:17on such an uncivil woman.
09:19Must be true love, I guess.
09:21Why are you looking at me like that?
09:23Like what?
09:25Like a lean lion looking at a fat rabbit.
09:27I'm sorry, darling.
09:29I'm just wondering about something.
09:31And I don't quite know how to put it.
09:33Well, if it's something disagreeable,
09:35I would advise you to put it right out of your mind.
09:37This is anything but disagreeable.
09:39Very tantalizing.
09:41And?
09:43Charles?
09:45Yes?
09:47Do you like Omar Khayyam?
09:49No.
09:51Next?
09:53But you know that I like him, don't you?
09:56I know you have a taste for limp leather volumes,
09:58dry champagne,
10:00and chocolates with violet cream in the center.
10:02And I've always deplored it,
10:04although I have given into it on occasion.
10:06But in spite of that, you do like me, don't you?
10:08Oh, I think you might call it that
10:10without stretching a point.
10:12I'm very touched,
10:14you know, darling.
10:16Oh, wait a minute.
10:18What's all this about?
10:20All of a sudden, you're flirting with me.
10:22Is that bad?
10:25Well, I must say, I find it a little startling
10:27after pursuing you for all these years.
10:29Oh, come on, Margot.
10:31You're not fooling me.
10:33Something's happened between you and Paul, is that it?
10:35Would it make any difference if something had happened?
10:37It certainly would.
10:39You mean,
10:41if I weren't married?
10:43I'd be running twice as fast.
10:45Oh, Charles.
10:47In the opposite direction, that is.
10:51Opposite?
10:53But, didn't you...
10:55I mean...
10:57Oh, darling, don't look so divinely woebegone
10:59or I shall have to marry you
11:01and then you will have something to be woebegone about.
11:03While you're finishing your drink,
11:05I'll go see about our table.
11:07If it wasn't Charles
11:09and it couldn't have been
11:11my little pirate,
11:13it must be somebody else.
11:23Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Stirling.
11:25Will you be wanting to dine in your cabin this evening?
11:27Oh, no, Coons. Passe-soir.
11:29Very well, ma'am.
11:31Oh, Coons.
11:33Yes, ma'am?
11:35Do you think you could find out
11:37who sent me the gift I received last night?
11:39You see, I'd like to thank whoever it was personally.
11:41That'd be almost impossible.
11:43I'm afraid I can't.
11:45I'm afraid I can't.
11:47I'm afraid I can't.
11:49I'm afraid I can't.
11:52That'd be almost impossible, Mrs. Stirling.
11:54It could have come from anywhere
11:56and not seeing who left it,
11:58I just wouldn't know where to start.
12:00Obviously, someone who admires you tremendously.
12:04Thank you, Coons.
12:06I'll ring you later if I need you.
12:08Oh, it's beautiful.
12:10A brooch and a toy bear.
12:12Oh, yes.
12:14How does the poem go?
12:16I'll give you brooches
12:18and toys for your delight,
12:20a birdsong at morning
12:22and a starshine at night.
12:24Oh, it's enchanting.
12:26Oh, it's enchanting.
12:28Oh, it's enchanting.
12:30Oh, it's enchanting.
12:32Oh, it's enchanting.
12:34Oh, it's enchanting.
12:37Oh, it's enchanting.
12:39But who?
12:45Yes?
12:47Mrs. Stirling, this is the operator.
12:49I have a call for you.
12:51Would you hold on a moment, please?
12:53Oh, yes. Yes, I will.
12:55Hello?
12:57Hello?
12:59I'm sorry, Mrs. Stirling.
13:01The gentleman was cut off.
13:03Was it Mr. St. John or Mr. Slattery?
13:06But can't you trace the call?
13:08Surely on a ship it should be easy enough.
13:10I'm sorry. The call was made
13:12from one of the telephones
13:14in the main lounge, Mrs. Stirling.
13:16But I'm sure if you'll be patient,
13:18he'll call right back.
13:20Be patient.
13:36Yes?
13:38Margot, dear, this is Richard Rawlinson.
13:40Richard Rawlinson?
13:42Margot?
13:44Oh, yes, Richard.
13:46I am glad to hear from you.
13:48I wanted to ask if you'd dine with me
13:50this evening in the French restaurant
13:52if you like.
13:54What did you say, Richard?
13:56I simply asked if you'd like to dine
13:58with me this evening.
14:00Oh, yes. I'd be delighted to.
14:02Fine. About 8 in the French room, then.
14:04That'll be lovely, Richard.
14:09Well, of course,
14:11I've always thought of Richard
14:13as a kind of garrulous godfather.
14:15But then, look what I thought of Charles.
14:17And Richard is rich enough for the brooch
14:19and sentimental enough for the poetry.
14:21Come to think of it,
14:23he does look rather like a teddy bear.
14:30Well, here we go again.
14:34Hello.
14:46Hello, Richard.
14:48Wonderful to see you.
14:50Hope I haven't kept you waiting.
14:52Not at all.
14:54There's nothing more pleasant
14:56than to sit quietly in the street of a bar,
14:58gazing at the serene horizon of one's cocktail glass.
15:00Waiting for someone to rise and shine
15:03Well, Margot,
15:05what a pleasure it is to see you.
15:09Waiter! Champagne cocktail from there.
15:11Is that what you'd like, Margot?
15:13Perfect. Then I can play horizons, too.
15:15And see who comes over the edge of mine.
15:17Much more fun
15:19than looking for people in tea leaves.
15:21Oh, yes.
15:23In my extensive experience,
15:25you are very unlikely to find
15:27a handsome dish and chiffon and pearls
15:29in a homely dish like a teacup.
15:31You've always been one of the most beautiful, Margot.
15:33Richard, have you taken up
15:35palmistry, too?
15:37In your case, yes.
15:39And I see a great change
15:41coming into your life.
15:45Lovely dress.
15:47Lovely pearls.
15:49And, uh, what about that brooch?
15:51Yes, Richard, what about that brooch?
15:55I can't possibly keep it, you know.
15:57Uh, really?
16:00Why not?
16:02Darling, it must have cost a fortune.
16:04And as much as I like that poem,
16:06I'll give you brooches
16:08and toys for your delight.
16:10Ah.
16:12Of birdsong at morning
16:14and, uh,
16:16and starshine at night.
16:18I see you know your Stevenson, Margot.
16:20Yes, but it's my Rawlinson
16:22I'm not quite so sure of.
16:24Well, now, there's nothing I enjoy
16:26more than being a man of mystery.
16:29Oh, Richard, don't tease me.
16:31I'm having entirely too much trouble
16:33with men in the last few days, beginning with Paul.
16:35Who?
16:37Paul, my husband.
16:39Oh, yes, uh, whatever happened to him?
16:41He didn't come.
16:43Well, that's husband for you.
16:45Now, my advice is to throw the rest
16:47of them overboard and concentrate
16:49on me for the remainder of the trip.
16:51Because of the brooch?
16:53The brooch? Why?
16:55Do you think I'm attracted by your great wealth
16:57You mean you didn't give me the brooch
16:59and all the other presents?
17:01Margot, you're a conversational antelope.
17:03But the teddy bear, the wine,
17:05the Omar Khayyam.
17:07You're a lot more mysterious than I am.
17:09Now, um,
17:11what exactly has been going on?
17:13Richard,
17:15get me another glass of champagne.
17:17No, a bottle and a crystal ball.
17:27If I keep this up,
17:29it may ruin my character.
17:31I'm beginning to look at every man
17:33on this boat like Margot the manhunter.
17:40Oh,
17:42a birthday cake.
17:44But who on earth would know
17:46it's my birthday?
17:48It's ridiculous and lovely.
17:57I wish,
17:59I wish,
18:01I wish I knew.
18:27I've been longing to talk to you
18:29ever since I saw you the first day out.
18:31Of course, I immediately looked you up
18:33with the passenger list.
18:35Did you really?
18:37And when I found you were going to dine
18:39at the captain's table tonight,
18:41I couldn't help but think
18:43that you were the one
18:45I was looking for.
18:47I thought you were the one
18:49I was looking for.
18:51I thought you were the one
18:53I was looking for.
18:56At the captain's table tonight,
18:58I managed to rearrange the place card
19:00so you'd be next to me.
19:02But I was next to the captain.
19:04I must remember next time
19:06not to underrate the British Navy.
19:08I don't believe a word of it.
19:10Never mind.
19:12Tell me about yourself.
19:14Are you as romantic as you make me feel?
19:16Are you a spy?
19:18Are you a movie star?
19:20Or perhaps a princess in disguise?
19:22Well, naturally I'm a famous movie star.
19:24And in my spare time,
19:26I pry military secrets
19:28from handsome men
19:30with whom I have delightful romances
19:32and then cast them aside
19:34like an old glove.
19:36And here am I, eager and free
19:38to play the part of the old glove.
19:40Yes, I feel the cold hand
19:42of fate upon us.
19:44How ridiculous you are.
19:46It's all your fault.
19:48To look into your eyes
19:50is like staring into a pool
19:53and if I fall in,
19:55I'm going to get awfully drunk.
19:57Sober up, Mr. Da Costa.
19:59You really shouldn't do this, you know.
20:01But how can I help myself?
20:03I'm enveloped in a wild feeling of gallo.
20:05Birthday, confettis, balloons.
20:07Birthdays and balloons?
20:09Then it was you.
20:11But how could you be known?
20:13You're as full of riddles as the Sphinx.
20:15And I don't know the answer to any of them.
20:17Oh, come now.
20:19You can't play the man of mystery all evening.
20:22Here and now for your beautiful gift.
20:24My gift?
20:26Oh.
20:28Did you adore it?
20:30I was enchanted.
20:32And you were amused?
20:34Enormously.
20:36Flattered and mystified?
20:38Utterly.
20:40Then it obviously follows that you are mad about me.
20:42Can't resist me.
20:44And are, in fact, putty in my hands.
20:48Oh, so beautiful.
20:52And all gift wrapped up in a moonlight night.
21:02Now that we are practically down to your batteries,
21:04I think you better tell me what the present was.
21:10What do you mean?
21:12You're joking.
21:14I wish I were.
21:16You mean you didn't send me the cake?
21:18Cake?
21:20I could have done better.
21:22Who was it then?
21:24And what are you doing making love to me
21:26if you didn't send them?
21:28Well, a woman has a face like yours.
21:30Every possible excuse for making love
21:32is crowded between brow and chin.
21:34No man needs more.
21:38But it was such a romantic idea.
21:40Who could it be?
21:42Is it so important?
21:44Cake and balloons?
21:46Anyone might do as much
21:49as the child next door.
21:51Oh, come, let's go back in and dance.
21:55And if your mysterious admirer should appear,
21:57I shall challenge him to a duel.
22:01I give up.
22:19Hello.
22:21Hello.
22:23Hello.
22:25Hello.
22:27Hello.
22:29Hello.
22:31Hello.
22:33Hello.
22:35Hello.
22:37Hello.
22:39Hello.
22:41Hello.
22:43Hello.
22:45Hello.
22:47Hello.
22:49Very thoughtful.
22:55No, not Coons.
23:00Good morning, Mrs. Sterling.
23:02Well, I see you're all packed.
23:04We've already picked up the pilot boat.
23:06We'll be docking in about an hour.
23:08I do hope you enjoyed your trip, ma'am.
23:10Coons.
23:12Yes, ma'am.
23:14This pillow.
23:17Coons.
23:19Yes, ma'am.
23:21What were you doing in here this morning?
23:23This morning?
23:25In here?
23:27The jig's up, Coons.
23:29I was wide awake.
23:31I knew it wouldn't work.
23:33I told him so from the very first.
23:35You told who?
23:37It must have cost him a fortune.
23:39And me, lurking about, hiding in closets.
23:41I felt like nothing more than a common sneak thief.
23:43I can tell you, ma'am, I'm very glad it's all over.
23:46But I'm not glad as yet.
23:48Do you mind telling me who it was?
23:50Who do you think?
23:52Oh, darling.
23:56What a fool I've been.
23:58But who else could it have been?
24:00All my favorite things.
24:02The champagne and the poems.
24:04Idiot.
24:06I've had a lovely trip.
24:08Somebody made love to me all the way across.
24:10Do you know something?
24:12I fell in love with him all over again.
24:16Darling boy.
24:18The cake and the balloon.
24:20You.
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