02x22 - The End of Indian Summer

[bunniefuu]

I can't understand it.

Of course.

How stupid of me.

I forgot to put in the water.

I must do that at once,
if I want to catch
anything today.

All of this is not
as absurdly irrelevant
as you think.

For if you listen
very closely,

you will hear the words
"bath tub"

mentioned in
tonight's script.

Of course, other topics
are mentioned

which we could have discussed.

For example, the story
is about marriage.

However, I don't feel
that marriage should be
discussed on television.

It's too controversial.
No question about it.

We are much safer
with a bathtub.

And now, in a moment,
here is tonight's
opéra bouffe,

"The End of Indian Summer. "

Like all stories
about marriage,

it has a great deal
of romance in it.

But watch for that bathtub.

All right. All right.
You don't have to shout.

There's nothing wrong
with my ears.

Anyone can make a mistake.

No, I am not gonna fire him.
Not yet.

Oh, hello, Joe.
I'll talk to you later.

Did you want to see me, Sam?
What's up?

I just wanted to talk to you.
Sit down, will you?

What is it?
Just wanted to go over
something with you.

Does the name Arthur Gillespie
mean anything to you?

No, not offhand. Why?

Well, he was married
to a woman named
Marguerite Johnson,

and he d*ed
on his wedding trip.
Yes, I remember him.

That was one of my cases.
It was settled about
two years ago.

What do you remember about it?

Well, we didn't come into
the case until pretty late.

He had been dead about
six months, I think, before
she applied for the money.

She didn't know he had
the policy until she came
across it in his papers.

Remember the amount?
About $ , , I think.

Nice surprise for her,
wasn't it?
I'd say so.

What did you think
of the lady, Joe?

I never met her.
She was traveling abroad
at the time.

She applied for the money
through her lawyer.
She did?

You mean to say that you
settled a claim for
$ ,

without even meeting
the beneficiary?

Oh, I didn't have to meet her.
I checked into the case
the same way I always do.

Everything was open
and above board.

Didn't it seem even a little
odd to you that he d*ed
so conveniently

six weeks after
a $ , policy was issued?

Did you ever hear of
coincidence, Sam?

It's my least favorite word
in the English language.

Well, that doesn't mean
it doesn't exist.
Joe,

what would you say if I told
you that I came across this
when I was rummaging

through our old cases
the way I sometimes do?

I came across it and
I pulled it out of the files
'cause I didn't like it.

It had a smell to it.

I'd say you were mistaken.

How many times have
I been wrong?
How many times have I?

A few more than I have.

Well, this isn't one of them.

If I'd any doubts about
that case, I wouldn't have
closed it.

Joe.

When I got interested in
this case, I went through
the old files very carefully.

Would it interest you to know
that this was
her second marriage?

Her first husband was also
insured with us
for $ , .

He d*ed four years ago.

Also on his wedding trip.

You sure
that's the same woman?
Quite sure.

Maiden name's the same.
So is the handwriting.

Well, even so,
that doesn't prove anything.

I had an aunt once who buried
three husbands, not just two.

I doubt if they were
quite so heavily insured.

As a matter of fact,
they were. That's why we used
to call her our rich aunt.

A $ , loss
isn't funny, Joe.

It isn't necessarily
true, either.
I could still be right.

Why didn't you insist
on an autopsy?

Because it's a little
difficult after the body's
been cremated.

It's another coincidence.
Listen, Sam...

No, you listen, Joe.

I don't have any proof,
I just have an instinct.

You're gonna go out
and get the proof.

That's why I wouldn't
agree to having you fired.

So, that was me you were
talking about when I came in.
Yeah.

Yeah, that was you.
Great.

One mistake and they're
ready to give you the axe.

$ , is
a lot of money, Joe.

Okay, you said that before.

What is it you want me to do?
Find her.

Find her?
Find out where she is
and what she's up to.

You mean you want me to go
wherever she is.
Exactly.

But not as
an insurance investigator.

We haven't got enough
evidence to come out
in the open yet.

Just go as an ordinary
businessman
looking over the territory.

And take your wife
along with you.

My wife? What for?

Well, if our Mrs. Gillespie
is such a femme fatale,

you're gonna need protection.

Well, now that we're here
what are we supposed to do?

Well, we look the place over.
Get ourselves known
around town.

The best thing, probably,
would be to go
to a real estate office

as if we were looking
for property...

What's the matter?
Don't look now,

but do you know the man
who's sitting in the corner?

Now, how can I tell if
I don't look?

I mean, not just right now.
He's been staring at us
all through lunch.

At you, probably.
I hope not.

He's not my idea
of a conquest. Look, look.

He's just going out the door.
Well, his back doesn't look
familiar.

Why do you suppose
it always makes you feel

so guilty and uncomfortable
when someone stares at you?

Guilty conscience, probably.

Look, honey, would you
sign the check? I want to see
if I have any calls.

Well, let me see.

Miss Gillespie
has been living in Oxport

for a little more than
a year now.

I see. Well, thank you.
You're welcome.

Yes, can I help you, sir?
Yes, are there any calls
for Joe Rogers?

Not yet, sir.

Look, would you tell the
telephone operator

I'll be out for a couple
of hours in case there are?

Be glad to.
Thank you.

Is that the guy who was
watching us during lunch?

Yeah. Yes, why?
Do you know him?

You bet I know him,
he's an investigator.

You mean, you've met him?
No, but I can spot one
a mile away.

Not only that,
but he's on the same case.

He was pumping the clerk
about the Gillespie woman.

I don't understand.
I do.

You make one little mistake,
or what Henderson
thinks is one,

and he sends someone out
to check up on you.

Give me change for this,
will you?

I wanna make a phone call.
Surely.

Joe, you don't know it's true.
You're just guessing.

Who else but Henderson
would be interested in her?

She wasn't involved with
any other insurance company.
I know, I checked.

But if you call him and ask
him that, you'll look silly.
He'll think you...

Your change, sir.
Thank you.

You're right.

Let him get his
progress reports from his
little follow-up man. Come on.

Now, this is the best
possible business location.

Whatever your business is,
we have some very desirable
lots for sale in this area.

Well, it certainly looks like
it's in the heart of things.
Yes.

Yes, but we couldn't
possibly live there.

We have plenty of houses, too.

I wonder if by any chance,
you handle this
darling little house

we saw when we were
wandering around town.

Well, now if you could
give me the exact location.
I jotted it down.

It's Maple Avenue.

I should have known that.
You know,
that's one of our gems.

Unfortunately, though,
it's not for sale.

But you know who owns it?
Yes.

I know who owns every house
in this town, Mr. Rogers.

And the one you are
talking about

happens to be one of
the oldest in this part
of the country.

Mrs. Gillespie owns it.

Do you think she might be
interested in selling it?

Well, that's hard to say,
of course,

but I'm inclined to doubt it.

You see, when she bought it
I handled the deal myself.

And she said to me,

"I intend to live out
the rest of my life
right there. "

It's too bad
she won't sell it.

Well, but Mr. Rogers,
just a moment.

If you care to see it,
I'm sure she'd be
very glad to let you.

She loves to show it. She...
That sounds like
an imposition.

Not at all.

You just tell her
that I suggested it.
She'd be delighted...

Well, if you're sure
she won't mind,
we'd love to see it.

Not "we," dear.

You mean I can't go along?
No, I think it'd be better
if I saw her alone.

Well, I'm sure you do,
but I don't think
that's such a good idea.

Well, if I saw her alone
I might be able to
persuade her to sell it.

Thank you so much.
You're welcome.

Good day.
Good day.

Good day.
Good day.

Good afternoon, sir.
I'd like to see
Mrs. Gillespie, please.

Won't you come in, please?

I'm Mrs. Gillespie.
What can I do for you?

Oh. Good afternoon.

I'm afraid this is rather
an intrusion, but you see,
I've been admiring your house

and Mr. Graham suggested...
Well, that is he said he
was sure you wouldn't mind...

Showing it to you.
I should say I wouldn't.
I'm very house-proud.

Will you come in?
Thank you.

I was just going to have tea,
will you join me?

We can see
the house afterwards.

Well, that's very kind of you,
if you're sure that...
I love company.

Oh, I know it's fashionable
these days to be
self-sufficient

and not need
people around,

but I'm old enough not to
mind being old-fashioned.

What a beautiful room.

I think so.

You know, it's strange
about rooms in houses.

The moment you walk into them,
you know.

All my life
I've looked for this house.

And this room is my favorite.

I'm so happy here.

What's your name?

It's Rogers. Joe Rogers.

And I'm Marguerite Gillespie.
Do sit down.

You know, that's
a wonderful thing about
a small town like Oxport.

Everyone's so friendly.

I can show you the house,
ask you to tea,

and never give it
a second thought.

Cream and sugar?
Yes, thank you.

I take it that means
you haven't always
lived here, then.

Oh, dear me, no.

By the town's standards,
I'm a real newcomer.

I've only been here a year.

I see. Thank you.

You're surprised
that a woman of my age
should come to a new place

and start a new life?

No, I don't think so.
Yes, of course you are.
Well, it is unusual.

But, I had a great
personal tragedy in my life.

Which made it impossible
for me to return to the place
where I'd been.

I'm sorry.
We all have our share.

Though sometimes I feel
I've had more than my share.

To have lost out twice
seems unfair somehow.

I'm afraid I don't quite...
Understand? Why should you?

Well, there's nothing
mysterious about it.

It's just that I...

I've been married twice
and I've lost
both my husbands.

Now I know
that I'm getting old.

When I prattle on about
my personal life
to a total stranger.

You're a remarkably
forthright woman.

I'm a remarkably lucky one,
in spite of what's happened.

I have a comfortable income,
a lovely home...

Good afternoon, May.
And something else besides.

Will you excuse me?
Yes, of course.

Howard,
how nice to see you.

I've been looking
forward to this all day.

Howard, this is Mr. Rogers,
he was kind enough
to admire the house,

and I was showing it
to him.

Howard Fieldstone, Mr. Rogers.
How do you do?

I'm very pleased to meet you.
I don't suppose
you'd like to buy it?

Howard.
Well, why not?

You know we decided
we didn't want to be
tied down.

This way we could make all
the arrangements, before we go
on our wedding trip.

Well, what do you say,
young man?
You want to buy it?

Well, I... I don't
quite know what to say.

Mrs. Gillespie was just
telling me how she loved
the house and I...

It's true, I expected
to spend the rest of my life
here, until I met Howard.

But he wants to travel.

You shouldn't have told him,
we were going to keep it
a secret

until after our
wedding trip.
I know, my dear,

but it seemed like
such a good opportunity.

Oh, I don't mind, really.
It's just that I thought
it would be sort of fun to...

Well, to elope.

We hadn't made any plans
until after the honeymoon.

Well, sometimes it isn't
necessary to plan beyond that,
is it?

I don't understand
what you mean.

Well, I mean that
when you're not sure
where you're going to travel,

sometimes it's better
not to plan.

Of course, we're coming back
here first, because Howard has
so many friends

and he wants to see them
before we go out

on an extended trip.

Yes, of course. Well,
I'm sure I wish you
every happiness.

And as far as
the house is concerned,

I'll have to discuss that
with my wife.

But don't you want to
see it all now?

I'd rather not bother you now.
I'm staying at
the Manor Hotel.

But I would appreciate it
if you'd get in touch with me

before you consider
anyone else.

You shall have first refusal.
We'll be in touch.
Goodbye, Mrs. Gillespie.

You will keep
our little secret, won't you?

Yes, of course.

Don't bother showing me
to the door.

Goodbye, Mr. Fieldstone,
nice meeting you.

Any luck?

I said, any luck?
I don't know what
you're talking about.

Well, there's no need
to take that attitude.

I'm not taking any attitude.
I just don't think we have
anything to discuss.

I tell you,
I was fully convinced
she was innocent

until that poor little
old man walked in.

You know something?

They should never
assign you to cases
involving old people.

It's the only time
you lose perspective.

That's ridiculous.
It is not.

You get very sentimental
at the sight of white hair.
Very protective.

Well, I'm not feeling
protective about
Marguerite Gillespie,

I can tell you that.

You were till the old man
came into the picture.

Now you're feeling
protective towards him.

Well, I couldn't just stand by
and see him m*rder*d,
could I?

Joe, you have no more proof
against this woman
than you had before.

The fact that she's marrying
again doesn't prove anything.

No, of course, it doesn't.

But, you know, I'll be getting
an answer to my wire
pretty soon,

and then maybe I'll know...

Maybe that's it.

Telegram, sir.

Thanks.

There's your proof.

I wired them to
check our branches

and they found just
what I expected them to find.

A letter requesting a policy
for $ , in the name
of Howard Fieldstone.

The letter
was in her handwriting.

Well?

Nothing.

I can't find one single thing
against her.

If I come right out
and accuse her
without any evidence,

she can slap a libel suit
on us for a million bucks.

And if I don't...
If you don't nothing's going
to happen just yet.

Not while she's still in town.

If she doesn't plan
to come back...
She doesn't.

Look. Look.

There's the little man
who sits and watches.

Well, anyway,

she's sure to want to sell the
house before she goes.

By the time she can do that
you'll have turned
something up.

Anyway, I'm not taking
any chances.

I've arranged for the
real estate man to let me know
just in case she sells it.

Well, then, now
will you please relax?

Let's have another drink.
Where's the waiter?

Oh, Mr. Fieldstone.

I don't know if you know me.

Oh, yes. Of course.

You're the young man
who was interested
in Mrs. Gillespie's house.

That's right. I wonder
if you'd come over
and have a drink with us

and meet my wife?
I'd be delighted!

Oh, waiter.
What will you have?

Scotch and soda.
Two scotches and soda, please.

Helen, this is the gentleman
I was telling you about.
Mr. Fieldstone, my wife.

How do you do?
I'm delighted to know you,
my dear.

Won't you sit down?
Thank you.

My husband tells me
you're going to be married.

I'm a very lucky man.

You see my wife d*ed
quite a few years ago,

and I've been alone
long enough.

Mrs. Gillespie was telling us
yesterday that she'd been
married once before, too.

I think you must've
misunderstood her.

She's lost two husbands.

Naturally, we're hoping
she'll be luckier this time.

Well, you certainly
look the picture of health.

I'll bet you could even pass
an insurance physical
without any difficulty.

I have no use for insurance.
Never have had.

As a matter of fact,
I had a physical check-up
only this morning.

To please Marguerite,
you know.

Was she worried
about your health?

A little, yes, a little.
She'd been after me
for days to do it.

Finally, I said if she would,
I would, and we both did,
and we're both fine.

Well, that's nice, isn't it?

About the house,
Mr. Fieldstone.

We've been talking about it.
It's still on the market,
isn't it?

Oh, yes. But there are
several people interested.

I wouldn't wait much longer
if I were you.

Well, then you plan
to be married very soon.

It can't come
too soon to suit me.

I wonder if you'd excuse me?
I have an appointment.
Of course.

Of course.
It's been so nice meeting you,
Mrs. Rogers.

Thank you. Goodbye.
Goodbye.

How do you like
that for gall?

Ten to one that
physical report's on its way
to the office right now.

Please, calm down.

You said yourself,
she can't do anything
until she sells the house.

Don't worry. She'll sell it.

And when she does, she won't
waste much time after that.
She never has before.

But there must be something
in her record somewhere.

Why did she quit
teaching school?

Voluntary, huh?

Well, keep checking and see
what you can come up with.

No luck?
No.

Hello?
Yes, this is Mr. Rogers.

You what?

What do you mean
they told you
not to tell anyone?

All right, all right.

They sold the house
this afternoon.
Oh, no.

Well, what do you do now?

I'll tell you what I can do.

I can go out there
and tell her who I am.

She may not be so anxious
to go through with it
if she knows we're onto her.

But you said yourself,
she could sue you.

Well, let her sue.
I can't let that little old
man walk into a deathtrap.

Okay, all right.

It'll only take me
two minutes to change.

No, honey, I need to
get out there right now.

Really, it'll only take
one minute, Joe.
Please wait.

No, you better stay here, huh?
Joe.

Please let me...

Well, hello, Mr. Rogers.

Don't you recognize me?
I'm the real estate man.

Yes, I recognize you.
Yes. Well, come in,
Mr. Rogers. Come in.

I'm so glad to see you again.

Where's Mrs. Gillespie?
Oh, she left.

She left?
Yes, to be married.

To be married?

She wanted to keep it
a secret so there
wouldn't be any fuss.

Well, do you know
where she went?

No, I don't think
they told anyone.

Where's Mrs. Gillespie?

Skipped, and no one
knows where.

Oh, no, that's just what
I didn't want to happen.

Well, now that it won't do any
good, maybe you'll talk to me.

I'm Saunders, from Reliable.

Reliable? I thought you were
with my company, Triumphant.

Why should they be interested?

Why should Reliable?
None of her husbands
was insured with you.

What are you talking about?

I've been checking up
on Fieldstone.

Fieldstone?
Yes.

That old character
has had four wives.

And they were all
drowned in the bathtub

on the honeymoon.

Well, she's had two husbands
who were both cremated
before we could find out

how she poisoned them.

No kidding.

Well, they sort of deserve
each other, don't they?

And since we don't know
where they went,
there's nothing we can do.

Not a thing.

Well, I suppose it all
depends now on whether

she takes her bath
before he eats breakfast.

Or vice versa.

Theirs was truly
a wedding of December

and December.

It ended in a draw,

with no one the winner except
the insurance companies.

And now for the epilogue
of tonight's story,

after which I'll scamper back.

We have now passed
another tombstone

along television's highway
to culture.

Please join us next week,

when we continue
our pilgrimage.

Good night.