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03x12 - Crimson Witness

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour". Aired: September 20, 1962 – May 10, 1965.*
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It was a segment of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, this time, lasting an hour.

03x12 - Crimson Witness

Post by bunniefuu »

["Alfred Hitchcock" theme music]

- Good evening.

I'm doing a bit of surveying.

We thought we would
straighten out this channel.

Some of the commercials have
been scraping their sides

as they go through.

It would be dreadful
if one of them

were to become stuck.

Since no one will hear of
making the commercials smaller

we must make the channel larger.

So much for television surveys.

This evening we are
presenting a story

of the business world.

And of an ingeniously
planned crime.

It is called "Crimson Witness".

I have a target in my sight
that is most tempting.

But I have no ammunition.

You may see for yourselves.

[gentle music]

[jazzy music]

- You're early.

- What's the matter?

- Ernest, it's just too early.

- It is never too early.

- [Woman] Don't.

- Barbara you've been
brushing me off all week.

- Yes, I know.

- What's the matter Babbsy?

- Will you please
stop calling me that?

Can't you call me Barbara
like everybody else does?

- Since when?

- So coy, Babbsy.

I hate it.

Anyhow--
- Anyhow what?

- I am your secretary.

You are my boss.

This is a place of business

and these are working hours.

- And I am giving
you five minute off.

Come here.

- Don't.

Just don't, that's all.

- Barbara there's
something I want you to do.

Pay off all your bills.

- No.

I don't want to.

I'll pay them off myself.

- You gotta be kidding.

- No.

- Barbara, can you
explain something to me?

- Oh lots of things.

But not now.

- Tell me why you're so
storm task this morning?

- Lotta reasons.

But not now.

- [Ernest] When?

- I don't know.

- Well tonight.

I'm seeing you
tonight, aren't I?

And we'll talk.

- All right.

Ernest, you are a married man.

You seem to keep
forgetting that.

But I can't.

Also, you're a thief.

- Am I?

- I know how much you make.

You can't afford to
pay off my bills.

You're gonna get
in a lotta trouble.

- Don't you worry about it.

- Did I say I was worried?

Did you hear me say that?

- All you have to be is bright.

Know how to handle a
ledger and an eraser.

The money'll be put back.

- I hope so, Ernest.

See you tonight.

- [Ernest] And we'll talk.

- Oh yes, we'll talk.

[jazzy music]

[intercom buzzing]

- Yes?

- [Barbara] Mr. Baldwin wants
you in his office right away.

- What for?

- [Barbara] Because he's the
boss and that's what he said.

- Okay.

- What I don't want
you to think, Ernie,

and this is really

the sum total of our
meeting here this morning,

what I don't want you to
think is that you're fired.

Divorce yourself from that idea.

Okay?

What's the name of that?

- What?

- That rose in your lapel.

- It's a golden rapture.

- Why?

- [sighs] I don't know why.

- Every morning you wear a
different rose, don't you?

- Not every morning, no.

- It seems so.

- Mr. Baldwin, I've been
working for you for 15 years--

- You are my good
right arm, Ernie.

But we're entering
into a new phase.

I don't think you've
got the muscle

to take the great leap forward.

Which is what we're
planning to do.

But I interrupted you.

I beg your pardon.

You were saying that you've
worked for me for 15 years.

Now what's your point?

- I was about to say there
aren't that many varieties

of roses that I could wear a
different one each morning.

[jazzy music]

Well where's my cup?

- In transportion, Mr. Mullett.

- What is it doing
in transportation?

- It's the most expeditious way

for it to get to
where it's going.

- Oh.

- I'm a student of
human nature, Ernie.

Not in the terminology of
your psychologists, you know,

but I study a man, I
get a feeling about him.

I study him under stress.

That way it comes
out about a man

whether he's the kind that
can start with nothing and win

or whether he has to
start with everything

and he loses anyhow.

Ernie, I don't think you get
any real joy out of winning.

- You're wrong, Mr. Baldwin.

- No, I'm not.

- Well the men in the shop

say I'm the best plant
manager they ever had.

- When I worked
on the punch press

I used to tell my plant
manager the same thing.

I wound up firing him.

Drive, you haven't got
much of that Ernie.

What you've got is loyalty.

Which is fine, which I'm
willing to repay with security.

There'll always
be a place for you

on our table of
organization, Ernie.

At the present time
it's cost estimating.

Ernie, would you like to
know who's replacing you

as plant manager?

- I'll k*ll him.

- [Mr. Baldwin] That's
an honest reaction.

- Who?

- Your brother.

- My brother?

- Farnum's a very
bright man, Ernie.

And I can thank you for
bringing him to my attention.

- Well I got him the job here.

- I just said that, and
I thanked you for it.

- He's only been here two years.

- He's a tiger.

Ernie, your brother,
Farnum is a real tiger.

- [Ernest] My brother the tiger.

- Farnum.

Hello dear.

This is the one I was
telling you about.

Wonderful?

- Judith I've told you about
not cutting roses at night.

- Your brother suggested it.

- My brother, the tiger.

Hmm.

Has he told you
what else he's done?

- What else has he done?

- Oh it's not enough that he's
been a guest in our house.

Of course I was expected
to get him a job.

Judith, guess who the
new plant manager is?

- But darling I thought you
were going to be the new--

- No, no, not me.

Him.

My job right out
from under my nose.

- Were you fired Ernie?

- No, no, I wasn't fired.

'Cause you see I'm loyal.

- Well then so what?

- I don't think
I understand you.

- What don't you
understand, darling?

- What kind of a wife
are you to say so what

when I've just been
aced out of my job?

- I don't know.

What kind of a wife am I?

- She's been a fine wife to you.

- Farnum, you've been a guest
in my house long enough.

Now get out!

- All right.

- [Ernest] Right now!

- Oh come on.

Don't mimic some bad play
you read in high school.

- Right now, right now.

[tense music]

I'll k*ll you.

[men yelling]

- She loves me.

Judy loves me.

She's leaving you.

- Now pussycat, right now.

[gentle music]

[jazzy music]

[Ernest moans]

- Thank you.

[speaking in foreign language]

- [speaking in foreign
language], Ernie.

- That about sums it up.

[speaking in foreign language]

Hello and goodbye.

[chuckles]

You don't know
what just happened.

- Tell me about it.

- You tell me.

- Tell you what?

- What does my brother
Farnum have that I haven't?

- It's time you should know.

He has all the
qualities of a rat.

- [Ernest] No, I mean it.

- Mm, I mean it too.

Now you check me.

He's self centered, cunning,
greedy and calculating.

Hmm?

- And bright.

You gotta give him that.

- [Barbara] Oh yes, he's bright.

- Like a computer.

- Do you know what
else he is, Ernie?

- Mm.

- Fascinating.

- Huh?

- Cruel, exciting.

- You're putting me on.

My brother Farnum?

[laughs]

Oh boy.

My brother is the biggest flab.

Why compared to him--

- You're nothing.

Compared to him you're nothing.

Oh you're very sweet Ernie,

and most pleasant to look at.

But your problems are pretty
uncomplicated and kinda stupid.

I mean that's the truth, dear.

- You're kidding.

- Oh no, I'm not kidding.

Being with Farnum

is like living on the
edge of a slide area.

Being with him is like--

- Being with him?

- He opens his heart like
most people open a door.

As easily.

With as much importance.

And closes it as easily.

- Being with him?

You?

- I love him.

Oh how I love him.

- I don't believe that.

I just don't believe that.

- It's true.

I'm sorry.

No, no I'm not.

I'm not sorry.

I love him.

And maybe it'll be a disaster.

And maybe there'll
be pain to it.

But I'll feel it
and know I'm alive.

- Barbara?
- Hmm?

- Barbara you mean it's
sort of a worship love?

- What do you mean?

- Like an infatuation.

- Oh no, no.

I love him.

- Yes but love from afar.

I mean love from afar.

There has been something
going on behind my back

with you and Farnum, eh?

- You said that, I didn't.

- Let me ask you something.

He's a tiger, isn't he?

- What?

- My brother, Farnum.

He's a real tiger.

- Oh yes.

- Burns bright and proud.

Well it might
interest you to know

that he went off
with my wife tonight.

- What?

- Mm hmm.

He went off with my wife.

Well say something.

You don't believe me?

You wanna get on the
phone, we'll find them,

you can talk to 'em.

You believe me.

It's exciting, isn't it?

It's fascinating to feel pain
and know that you're alive.

- I'll k*ll him.

- When?

- Ernest, Ernest.

I don't know what
made me say that.

- 'Cause of something
you have to do

to pay him back for all these--

- I love him.

- You still love him?

- I'll wait for him.

He's just having
his little fling.

When it's all over
we'll sit down together

and talk about it and laugh.

Oh how we'll laugh.

- You'll laugh?

When you sit and
talk about Farnum

coming between me and
my wife you'll laugh?

- Oh I'm sorry, Ernie.

I really am.

But don't you see that's
what makes your brother

the exciting man that he is?

He's evil and unpredictable

and well he shatters me.

[jazzy music]

I love him.

- Call me Madeleine.

Or Maddy.

Either one, Mr. Mullett.

You're sharing me with
five other cost estimators.

And if there's anything I don't
know about this department

it hasn't been written
in the manual yet.

So if there's anything
you need just ask.

- Well thank you very much.

- Oh about the coffee.

There's always hot coffee and
each of us chips in $1 a week,

but since you're coming
to us on Thursday,

you be our guest.

- That's very kind, thank you.

- Oh and transportation just
delivered your coffee cup.

- That's very clever of them.

- Everything just
works out, doesn't it?

- I'll try to remember that.

- Well I guess that's it.

I'll sharpen these for you.

Oh, that's your brother that's
taking your place, isn't it?

- That's putting it mildly.

- Well Mr. Mullett,
I sat behind him

one day in the cafeteria

when you's talking to a
group of visiting engineers,

and I overheard him.

He is a highly intelligent man.

He is one of the brightest men

that I have ever
heard in my life.

You really have quite
some brother there.

I'll sharpen these up for you.

[playfully mournful music]

[jazzy music]

- We can stand lightening

the color of this
paneling a shade or two.

What do you think?

Ernie.

Ernie, come in, sit down.

Sit down boy, we'll talk.

You and I've got a
lot to talk about.

- Barbara said you were busy.

- Never too busy to
see you, brother.

No matter what Babbsy says.

Should the occasion arise

where you wish to
discuss something,

anything should come up in cost
estimating you can't handle

I'd be hurt if you
didn't come right to me.

- It has nothing to do with--

- Oh Ernie, would
you mind, the doors.

- It has nothing to do with
cost estimating, Farnum.

- I've taken it up,
have you noticed?

Never forget to borrow
a quality you admire.

Try to remember that, Ernie,

it may do ya some good.

[chuckles]

Mine's called a
white Indian pipe.

I'm afraid they don't thrive
in these environs though.

I have to have them
flown in especially.

Different esoteric blooms.

Look, you can do
me a favor, Ernie.

I've gotta change the
combination on this safe.

Which one of the gadgets
behind this door does it?

- [Ernie] The one on the right.

- Ah, yes.

Thank you.

Now brother, what
can I do for you?

- How's Judy?

- When I left her,
your wife was fine.

- Is she happy?

- Happy?

Well, happiness is such a--

- Generic?

- Generic, yes.

Thank you, generic
term, isn't it, Ernie?

I think felicity applies
more aptly to Judy.

I know no one more entitled
by unpretending merit,

nor more deserving because
of habitual suffering,

to receive and enjoy felicity.

If you remember
your Jane Austen?

Hmm?

I stopped in to see
Judy this morning

to discuss her
separation from you.

Nearly made me
late for work too.

And it is my first
morning on the job.

- Farnum, you don't
deserve to live.

- I don't censure you
for saying that, Ernie.

Psychology teaches us that
rejection causes pain.

Pain fear, fear hate,

and when we hate we want
to strike out, to destroy.

Right now you hate
me, don't you?

- For openness.

- And yet this morning,

the very first thing I
came into this office,

I took a few moments
out to scan the ledgers.

You've been dipping
into the till, brother.

That is the [speaking in
foreign language] isn't it?

Hmm?

Dipping into the till.

[laughing]

Of course, ya have.

But don't worry about it.

I think I can rectify your
rather clumsy falsifications.

And not a word
will ever be said.

Therefore how can you hate me?

- My job, my wife, my girl.

- Every possession
must be evaluated

according to how well equipped
the possessor is to hold it.

Read your Hegel.

Brother you just
aren't well equipped.

- I should've k*lled you
when you were 15 years old

when I had the chance

with that shotgun we
borrowed from Mr. Westfall.

- You'd have missed.

Point blank with a shotgun
and you'd have missed.

And that's the
story of your life.

[scoffs]

You must change.

You must seize
opportunity by the throat.

And never let go.

You must remember, Ernie,

opportunity is a juncture
that provokes action.

Be alert, pounce.

I agree, you should've k*lled
me when I was 15 years old.

[dramatic music]

- Just looking for the
middle of the program.

There seems to be a break here.

Which we plan to repair.

In the meantime why
don't you detour

by way of your local station,

then join us again
for the second half.

[jazzy music]

- You probably
won't believe this,

but I had one of those in
my teeth in old Mexico City.

- A Galica Maxima?

- A what?

- Well that's the
name of the flower.

- Oh, I'll remember that.

- Thank you.

- Good morning, Ernie.

- [Ernest] Morning,
is the boss in?

- I don't know.

He's gotten in the habit lately

of going in and
out of his office

through his back door
without telling me.

I have to speak
to him about that.

I'll see.

My that's a pretty rose bud.

- Yes, Galica Maxima.

- Wait 'til you see what
your brother's wearing.

- Oh these are
very hard to grow.

- Wait 'til you see
his, if he's in.

- [Farnum] Yeah?

- Your brother would like
to see you, Mr. Mullett.

- [Farnum] Have
him come right in.

- Thank you.

Oh Farnum there's--

- Ah, ah, ah.



- Huh?

- Dollars.

The number of dollars

you have stolen from
Baldwin Mills Inc.

- I guess so.

It's close enough.

- No, not close.

On the nose.

But your little
secret rests with me.

I can adjust those ledgers
in less than five minutes.

And no one need
ever be the wiser.

That is assuming we have
a nice relationship.

No trouble.

After all there's no reason

why there should be
any trouble between us.

We should be men of goodwill.

We should share a closeness
each to the other.

The friendship
between me and you

I will not compare to a chain.

For that the rains might rust

or the falling tree might break.

William Penn.

I'm offering you my
friendship, brother.

- I hoped you'd feel
that way, Farnum.

That's why I'm here.

- I'm glad.

- Oh Farnum.
- Yes brother, what is it?

- I left something in the safe.

I wonder if you'd mind--

- Oh I don't think you'd
be able to open it.

I've changed the combination.

- Yes, yes of course.

I wouldn't dream of asking
you for the new one.

That's not my
department anymore.

- Now, what have you
left in the safe?

- An insurance policy.

- Oh well it's
perfectly safe in there.

- My wife is a beneficiary
and I want to change it.

- Well after all she did
give ya eight good years.

You don't feel any
obligation to that?

- Nope.

- To quote Santa Anna--

- A new broom sweeps clean.

Quote Ernie Mullett.

I want that policy, Farnum.

- Very well.

[mournful music]

[unsettling music]

- I know you feel a
sentimental attachment

toward this old safe, Ernie,

but the new combination
is privileged.

- You don't think for a minute--

- No, no, no, no.

I wouldn't dream of it.

- Thank you.

- I think I'll get
it if you don't mind.

Oh.

- On the top shelf.

- Ah!

Is that it?

- Yes, thank you.

- Well, if there's nothing
else I can do for you right now

I'm pretty busy at the moment.

- Well I hope I haven't
been too much trouble.

- No, no, no, no trouble at all.

- Oh, Farnum.

- What is it?
- There's something else

I forgot in the safe.

- What?

- It's an isometric drawing.
- Do you need it right now?

- It's a design
problem I'm working on.

- Yes, but design is no longer
your department, brother.

- It's a neat problem
and no one said

I couldn't work on
it on my own time.

- No.

[unsettling music]

Ernie.

Forget it.

Design isn't your
province anymore.

That's an engineering function.

- All right.

- Why don't we just
stick to cost estimating

for a while, Ernie and
then maybe something'll

turn up for you in
engineering again.

- All right, fair enough.

Thank you.

Oh by the way, that's
a beautiful bloom.

What is it?

- Flaming Star.

Thank you for noticing it.

- Hmm.

They don't live long, do they?

- What?

- No, they don't.

[unsettling music]

[jazzy music]

Ray, your letter of the 3rd,

I am returning the
blueprints posthaste.

Sincerely Ernest Mullett.

Personal question.

- Please.

- You like Mexican food?

- Why I love it.

How did you know?

- Your jewelry,
the way you dress.

- Well now don't you observe.

[both giggling]

- I observe, I evaluate,
I make up my mind.

Come to the point.

Will you have dinner
with me tonight?

- Well I'd consider
it my pleasure.

- I want you to know
that I'm a married man.

At the moment I'm not
living with my wife.

- Well we're adults
and I evaluate too

and I would consider
it my pleasure

to take dinner with
you this evening.

- Wonderful.

Do me a favor and straighten
up my desk a little.

I've gotta go down the hall.

[speaking in foreign language]

[speaking in foreign language]

- Please don't be long, Ernie.

I'm gonna leave right at five.

- I'll be with you in a minute.

- There's no hurry.

- Brother?
- Yes, Farnum.

- It slips my mind something
by Oliver Goldsmith.

- What is it?

- Some quotation of his in
reference to being pestered

but it slips my mind.

You're taking
advantage, you know,

coming in here so often.

- It'll stop.

- What is it you want now?

Something else from the safe?

- No, no.

If I wanted anything
from the safe

I'd just walk over and open it.

- What?

- I saw the first
two letters, Farnum.

JU.

The second two
would have to by DY.

JUDY.

My wife's name.

Only you would think
of something like that.

[dramatic music]

[suspenseful music]

[jazzy music]

Well, that didn't take long.

- I'll be out of
here in one minute.

- You miss me?

- Oh Ernie, don't start that.

You're a very nice man
and you're nice to look at

and you wear nice rose buds.

- Oh you like it?

- And that's what you are.

Nice.

And that's all you are.

Now I have to leave.

[jazzy music]

Could've let me know.

- What?

- That he was leaving.

I'm gonna have to train
him about that back door.

- He was probably in a hurry
to get home to my wife.

- Ernie, what are you gonna
do with a man like that?

[relaxing music]

- Take Malaga now.

Did I mention Malaga to you?

Well that's the Spanish
city on the Mediterranean

right around the bridge
colony of Gibraltar.

Didn't I mention that?

- No, I'd like to know about it.

- Well every year I take
my two week vacation

in another part of the world.

Didn't I mention that to you?

Oh I'm prone to repeat things
when I get carried away.

- That's very refreshing.

- Now where was I?

- I believe it was Malaga.

- Oh, oh, well our party
stopped there a day and a half.

And I had experiences that
would last me a lifetime.

- Ah, I'd like to
know all about them.

- Well we're not on
the kinda territory

I could just plunge
right in and tell you

all about Malaga, Mr. Mullett.

- Mr. Mullett?

- Ernest?

- Ernie.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Health and money and love
and time to enjoy them.

- I'm for that.

Hey, hey, take it easy.

- Are you taking care of me?

- One of the first
rules of friendship

is to protect one another.

- That's lovely.

Who said that?

- I did.

I just made it up.

- You know I must tell
you something, Ernie.

I perceive in you something
shy and wild, deep waters.

You're a very exciting
man, did you know that?

[laughing]

A girl doesn't know where
she stands around you though.

Do you mind my leading the
conversation down these roads?

- No, not at all.

It's almost midnight.

- Oh well I've been
complimented on my margaritas.

We could go to my
place and have a few.

- The next time.

Tonight I'll just
drop you at home.

Come on, let's go.

- It's been a lovely evening.

[jazzy music]

- At about a quarter to five

I came in here to
talk to my brother.

We chatted about an idea I
had for corrugated steel foil.

It was a few minutes before five

without the conversations
really being finished.

My brother seemed to
be in a hurry to leave.

Outside the office I
spoke with his secretary

for a few minutes
and she came in here.

She returned in a moment
and told me he had gone.

Then I went back to my office
and a few minutes past five

I left the building
with my secretary.

We went to dinner.

It was a long dinner.

Little after midnight
I took her home.

She was with me the whole time.

Is there anything else
you'd like to know?

- I understand your brother
recently took over your job.

- [Ernest] That's correct.

- You hold any ill feeling
toward him on account of it?

- He's my brother.

- [Detective] But
he took your job.

- The only ill feeling I had
about that is against myself.

I couldn't hold it.

- All right Mr. Mullett.

- Thank you.

- Just a minute.

I wanna get it
absolutely straight.

Now you were here in this office

for a couple of
minutes yesterday

a little before five o'clock.

- That's right.

- And you never at any
time opened this safe.

- [laughs] How could I?

I didn't have the combination.

- You did once.

- Yes but you see when my
brother took over the job

he changed it.

And only he and the
president of our company

knew the new combination.

I suggest that you
investigate that.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Well what do you think?

- Robbery.

Medical examiner says
the victim was k*lled

somewhere between four
and seven last night.

According to the
secretary out there

he left at five
by the back door,

which he had a habit of doing.

Then he returned, probably
after a quick dinner

to do some work.

The m*rder*r was
either waiting for him

or surprised him opening
the safe, k*lled him,

took the money.

About $5,000 short
according to the bookkeeper.

Simple as that.

No big deal.

How about you?

What do you think?

- Well the brother's alibi
checks out, doesn't it?

- Oh he was with the
secretary all right.

From a little after
five to midnight.

No question.

- I guess that lets
him off the hook.

- Ernest.

Oh Ernest are you all right?

- I'm fine, I'm fine.

- Was I long coming
to you, dear?

When you called and
told me what happened

I said to myself oh
Ernest, poor Ernest.

And I came to you right away.

You do forgive me
for everything?

Don't you darling?

- Yeah I'll try.

- Ernest your brother was a
man who attracted violence.

You know that now,
don't you, dear?

- He attracted you a
little too, didn't he?

- Darling, you wanna
know my first reaction

when you told me what happened?

Oh it's a terrible thing
to say, but relieved.

I confess it.

I felt relief.

- Confession is
good for the soul.

- Oh no no, don't do that.

Farnum always did that.

He always had a
quote for everything.

- Farnum was a bright man.

Exciting, he was a tiger.

He wasn't?

- None of those things.

Oh darling you know what's
so wonderful about you?

You're without guile.

A woman always knows
where she stands with you.

You give her a
sense of security.

Did you know that?

- No.

- You see what I mean?

Without guile.

- Well the one thing
I don't understand.

Now that my brother is dead,

how is it suddenly
he wasn't a tiger?

- [chuckles] Oh Ernest,
you're such a child.

Oh darling, a woman
gets restless.

Just like a man does.

When that happens
she feels guilty.

She searches for someone
to feed that guilt

and not someone
splendid like you are.

- She looks for a rat, huh?

[laughs]

Psychology's really
taken some giant steps.

- Oh darling, don't be cruel.

[intercom buzzing]

- Excuse me.

Hello.

Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Baldwin.

Oh I'm fine, thank you.

What?

Oh that's, that's
very kind of you.

Well, there has
been another offer.

Yeah well I'm, I'm weighing it.

Oh yes, yes for the
good of the company.

Yes thank you, Mr. Baldwin.

Goodbye.

Well now, Mr. Baldwin wants
me back at my old desk.

- Was it a good one, dear?

- A good what?

- The other offer you
told Mr. Baldwin about.

- Oh well that was sort
of a fib. [chuckles]

But I think Mr. Baldwin will
worry a little, don't you?

- Oh Ernest you're something.

- Am I tiger?

- You're learning.

- Come here.

- Are you going to forgive me?

- I told you I will try.

- Please do.

[jazzy music]

- I'm sorry to intrude on you

at a moment like
this, Mr. Mullett,

but you're wanted in your
old office right away.

It's urgent.

- Hurry.

- Okay.

- I saw you kissing your wife.

You rat.

- You wanted to see me?

- Badly.

Your wife was in your office
or I would've come to you.

- What's going on in there?

- Oh I don't know, they've
vacuuming or something.

I don't know.

Can you tell I've been crying?

- You look meek.

I like that.

Let me tell you something,
the world is made up

of givers and takers.

The givers are the winners,
the takers are the losers.

Every time.

- Oh that's lovely.

Who said that?

- Well, I don't quote Barbara,
I just make things up.

- Your brother was
a taker, wasn't he?

And you're a giver.

Aren't you?

- Well if you have to
be told, forget it.

- I wanna talk to you, Ernie.

Will you come to
my place tonight?

- Yeah, I'll think about it.

- Oh don't be cruel, Ernie.

- I said I'll think about it.

Now what else do you want?

Look, I'm busy.

- Ernest.

- Well what do you want?

- Don't be too cruel, all right?

- Mr. Mullett?

I was just on my way
down to your office.

- Well let's walk together.

- Let's try it in here.

In here.

- Very well.

- Sit down Mr. Mullett.

- Oh that's all
right, thank you.

- Suit yourself.

Mr. Mullett, I'd like to
ask you one more time,

you never opened this safe
since your brother's tenure

in this office.

- Never.

How could I?

I told you to check.

- Oh we checked.

We took your advise, Mr.
Mullett and we checked.

- Well then you
know it's impossible

for me to get into that safe.

- Do you happen to know the
name of the field flower

your brother was
wearing yesterday?

- Yes, Flaming Star, why?

- A field flower.

- [Ernest] Mm hmm.

- You wouldn't expect it to
shed a rose petal, would you?

- Hardly.

- That's why we'd like
you to explain to us

how we came to find this
rose petal in the safe

a few minutes ago.

[jazzy music]

- I have a confession to make.

This surveying has nothing
to do with television.

We're putting a superhighway
through your living room

and this was the only way we
could do our preliminary work

without facing all
you angry homeowners.

The bulldozers should
be along any day now.

We shall try very
hard not to allow it

to interfere with your enjoyment

of next week's story.

Scenes of which will be
shown in a few moments.

[playfully suspenseful music]