Not Rated | 30min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, TV Series | Episode aired 3 February 1959
A skeptical man has his fortune told at a cocktail party. As events begin to unfold exactly as the psychic has predicted, his disbelief turns to fear that the psychic's final prediction, that he will be pursued by a knife-wielding woman, will also come to pass.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Collier Young, Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: Lin McCarthy, Paula Raymond, Jocelyn Brando
A skeptical man has his fortune told at a cocktail party. As events begin to unfold exactly as the psychic has predicted, his disbelief turns to fear that the psychic's final prediction, that he will be pursued by a knife-wielding woman, will also come to pass.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Collier Young, Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: Lin McCarthy, Paula Raymond, Jocelyn Brando
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The amazing drama you're about to see is a matter of human record. You may believe it or not, but
00:10the real people who lived this story, they believe it. They know. They took that one step beyond.
00:30Like, oh, thousands of other couples in Manhattan, Jim and Betty Hennessy are giving a cocktail party.
00:45Now, all those other parties will end with people falling in love with each other, with people
00:50getting sore at each other, with hangovers, and with plenty of work for the maid. But this one,
01:00oh boy, this one. I don't know. Sometimes I can't do it at all. Oh, stop that. What about the time
01:08that you told Marie Cooper that their house was going to burn down three days before it happened?
01:12Yeah, that was really out of this world. It was really horrible. It wasn't your fault, darling.
01:17After all, you got us married. How did she manage that? She told me I was going to meet a man in
01:24Bermuda because of a flat bicycle tire, and a year later I would marry him. And we were married
01:29to the day. How come you could fix a bicycle tire? In the army, you couldn't clean your rifle.
01:34I still can. Oh, now, come on. It's not that bad. Oh, he's very handy.
01:39No kidding. She's really terrific. She, uh, she went into some kind of hypnotic sleep
01:45a year before Betty and I ever laid eyes on each other, and she called all the shots right on the
01:50button. Now, sure she did. You don't believe it, huh? I believe she saved lots of cocktail parties.
01:59Look, next time you're in Chicago, remind me to take you on State Street to a little old woman.
02:03She's got a genuine African monkey paw. All she does is touch it, and the whole future lights up.
02:09Now, she told me I'd be the next governor of Illinois. Oh, you'd love her. Okay, buddy.
02:17Ladies and gentlemen, we have a wise guy from Chicago in our midst. He doesn't believe in our
02:23Alan. What do you say, Ellen? Would you be willing to do it? Oh, please, I'd rather not.
02:29Well, maybe the spirit's all with Miss Larrabee today.
02:34Some other time. You mean when there are no cynics on the premises?
02:39No, just some other time. But there can't be any other time, Ellen. He's flying back to Chicago
02:43tonight. Come on, don't make a jackass out of me. I think this is wonderful. You and Arthur have
02:49never seen each other before. You know absolutely nothing about him. And you might be able to tell
02:54him something. It'll wipe that smug smile off his face. Charlie, come on. You make her do it.
03:02Now, what's Charlie got to do with it? Well, they sort of work together. Ah, that's an act.
03:08Well, maybe it is an act. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.
03:13You want to, Ellen? I just don't feel up to it now.
03:17Well, then forget about it. You don't have to sing for your supper around here.
03:23It's too bad. I like party games, like post office.
03:26Well, where's the post office? Well, I'm sorry I'm such a wet blanket.
03:34Oh, look, for Pete's sake, I hope I didn't hurt your feelings. You didn't hurt my feelings, Mr...
03:39Douglas. Mr. Douglas. All right, I'm ready. Oh, marvelous. Oh, good.
03:50Ellen, you don't have to do this. I want to. Mr. Douglas, I hope you'll be amused.
03:56Well, come on, everybody. Get comfortable. Grab a chair. Now the party livens up. Excuse me.
04:09All right, Ellen, now close your eyes. Now relax. Relax completely.
04:19Now you're sinking. Down, down, down.
04:27Floating. The mind is free in space. The world's far away.
04:34Far away. You feel wonderful. Light and wonderful. Wonderful.
04:45Wonderful. Wonderful. Now where are you, Ellen? Moving. Moving.
04:56Do you see anything? Nothing. Nothing.
05:05No. He doesn't notice them. Notice what? They're not his anyway.
05:15What's not his, Ellen? The keys.
05:23Now it's dark. Dark, dark, dark, dark. It's un... it's stopped. What stopped?
05:34Where did it stop? There's so much noise. What kind of noise? People and trains.
05:49Many trains. I hope the act improves. You just told her I was taking a plane.
05:58Are you in the station, Ellen? He's late. He's hurrying.
06:04Now run. Run. Running. He's running. Where's he running? 102B. 102B.
06:20Compartment B. Car 102. Shouldn't someone tell her I'm flying? They shouldn't. They're making him go.
06:28Things making him go. Oh, he shouldn't have. He shouldn't have. It's a snake.
06:43It's a snake? A snake. A shining gold band.
06:50You mean a ring? Yes, a ring.
06:54Yes, a ring. Now I see. To thee, for whose dear love I rise and fall.
07:06Isn't that lovely? It must have meant a lot. Whose ring, Ellen? Hers. Hers. Well, well, well.
07:18Now, Arthur, if this bores you, we can stop right now. No, no, no. Don't be silly now.
07:21It's getting interesting. Oh, she's so pretty. Dark hair. Very interesting. Traveling suit. Gray. Fur bow.
07:43He's nervous.
07:47He's frightened.
07:48He's spilling her drink. And now he's running. Running. Running. Running. 102. 102. Quickly.
07:57Quickly. Oh, he's so frightened. Oh, he's all alone. In the dark.
08:06In the dark.
08:13The light is blinding.
08:29She's standing in front of him with a knife.
08:32With a knife. With a knife. Ellen. Ellen.
08:44You're all right, darling. You're all right now.
08:49Well, nothing like this ever happened before, Arthur. I'm sorry. I guess it was a lousy idea.
08:58What did I say?
09:02I talked about you, didn't I? Well, if you did, I hope you're wrong. Was it bad?
09:09Bad? Oh, I'm going to be rich as a Maharaja, live to be 150, and fall in love with an international
09:17beauty. Look, thanks for the most exciting cocktail party I've been to in years. I wouldn't have missed
09:22it for the world. Goodbye. Goodbye, all. Goodbye.
09:32I'm afraid this wasn't a barrel of laughs. Well, have a good trip, Arthur. Thank you.
09:37I'm glad you're going by plane. You know something, you really married a spook.
09:41But, uh, she's good looking. So long, Arthur. Bye-bye. See you soon.
09:49For being such a bust, there's an awful lot to clean up.
09:53Never mind, Matty. I'll get it. I wonder who that could be. I hope nobody forgot anything.
09:59One thing I can't stand is a party that never ends.
10:03Arthur. Hey, where's the party? What happened?
10:07I don't know. It's been a while since I've been to a party like this.
10:10Well, it's been a while since I've been to a party like this.
10:12Well, it's been a while since I've been to a party like this.
10:14Arthur. Hey, where's the party?
10:18What happened? Why aren't you in the plane? Well, don't you ever look out your windows?
10:22Nothing's leaving idle while for who knows how long.
10:24What are you going to do? Exactly what your Miss Larrabee said I was going to do.
10:28Well, I knew you wouldn't mind my waiting here instead of the station.
10:31You're not going to take a train.
10:45One bag, Chicago special.
10:49I'm sorry about the traffic, sir, but New York City wouldn't we have fun?
10:51All right, you've changed. Thank you, sir.
10:55I'm sorry. That's all right, that's all right.
10:59Hey, mister. Mister, mister, mister. You dropped your keys, sir.
11:03They aren't mine. Okay.
11:06The keys. They're not his anyway.
11:09Going right out, sir.
11:15Sit down.
11:28Oh, good evening. Good evening. Douglas.
11:31Oh, yes, Mr. Douglas, because of this storm and all the
11:35reservations that were made at the last minute like yours,
11:38there's been a mix-up in your space.
11:41Now, I can give you compartment L in car 271 or
11:46let's see, car 102, compartment B.
11:49Compartment B, car 102.
11:52What were those numbers? Car 271.
11:55I mean the last.
11:57Compartment B, car 102.
12:01I'll take the other one. Car 270.
12:05It doesn't really matter. The compartments are exactly the same.
12:09That's what you think. I beg your pardon.
12:14Thanks very much.
12:18Put it in.
12:31There you go.
12:56I beg your pardon, sir. This last-minute change seems to have gotten us all fouled up.
13:00I'm afraid we're going to have to change cars after all.
13:03You see, this lady belongs in here.
13:05The porter will move you. I'm very sorry for the bother.
13:08Where are you moving me to?
13:10Well, the only space we have left, car 102, compartment B.
13:14Now, if you'll permit the porter to...
13:16I'm not permitting the porter anything. I'm staying right here.
13:19Oh, but Mr. Douglas...
13:21Look, why don't you put the lady in the other compartment?
13:23Well, you yourself said they were the same.
13:25Not quite, Mr. Douglas.
13:27You see, at 6.12 tomorrow morning, we lose car 102 at Dayton.
13:31That means that its passengers will ride in the club car the rest of the way to Chicago.
13:36And since this lady has had this space reserved for so long,
13:39it hardly seems fair that she should be the one who's inconvenienced.
13:43Well, I'm not moving.
13:48Look, rather than cause all this fuss, I'll take the other compartment.
13:52No, no, no. Just a moment.
13:54Mr. Douglas, as the conductor of this train,
13:56I'm responsible for the comfort of the passengers.
13:59Now, this lady purchased this space some weeks ago,
14:02and she's not going to be inconvenienced because of a clerical error,
14:05and I must say a most uncooperative man.
14:07Look, I've got to get to Chicago.
14:09Car 102 will take you there quite nicely.
14:12And if that compartment is not acceptable to you,
14:15I must ask you to leave the train.
14:17All right.
14:19All right, let's change.
14:20Thank you, Mr. Douglas.
14:21Take nothing of it.
14:23I'm sorry about all this, Father.
14:25All right, all right.
14:46All aboard!
14:57Yes?
14:57All right, excuse me.
14:59I, uh, believe I left my hat in here.
15:01Oh.
15:06I, uh, shouldn't have made all the fuss about the compartment.
15:10Oh, that's all right.
15:11Nobody likes to be shuttled about.
15:14Oh.
15:17Yes?
15:18I, uh, did apologize about getting annoyed, didn't I?
15:22Yes, you did.
15:23I'm sorry.
15:25They're two cheapest words in a language.
15:27When a fellow says, I'm sorry, and offers to buy you a drink,
15:30that really means something.
15:32What do you say?
15:34Oh, thank you.
15:35Maybe if you're in the club car later, I'll see you there.
15:38But first, I must change.
15:39Why, you look fine the way you are.
15:42I'm glad you approve.
15:44I do.
15:46I'll, uh, be waiting for you.
16:01Does that kind offer of a drink still stand?
16:16Traveling suit, gray, fur bow.
16:22Well, you did ask me to have a drink.
16:25Oh, please, forgive me.
16:28Please.
16:32Oh.
16:42What'll you have?
16:44Scotch and soda, if I may.
16:47Scotch and soda.
16:51Oh, she's so pretty.
16:54Not here.
16:57Is something wrong?
17:02I don't know.
17:09You know, I can live without this drink.
17:11Oh, please, please, forgive me.
17:12Please.
17:13I, uh, would you, uh, mind if I ask you a question about, uh, your dress?
17:23It's a suit.
17:26Tell me, is that what you, uh, call an original?
17:30I mean, if that's the only one like it.
17:32No, I wish it were.
17:33I hate to think about it,
17:34but there are probably a thousand women walking around in exactly the same thing.
17:45Here's to the man in compartment B.
17:52Live in Chicago?
17:54Not exactly in Chicago.
17:56Evanston.
17:57Have friends in New York?
17:59A few, not many.
18:02Tell me, by some wild chance,
18:06you happen to know Ellen Larrabee?
18:09No, I don't think so.
18:11Now, you're sure?
18:12Quite sure.
18:13Now, she's small, brown hair and eyes are sort of...
18:16I really don't know Ellen Larrabee.
18:20I'm glad.
18:22What?
18:24You want to hear something really crazy?
18:27I went to a cocktail party this afternoon,
18:29a perfectly normal cocktail party,
18:31and there was this completely average-looking woman there,
18:33this Ellen Larrabee.
18:35Now, look, I'm the most practical guy in the world.
18:38I believe two and two are for a period.
18:40But this Ellen Larrabee told me that I was...
18:48It's a snake!
18:53What did she tell you?
18:57A snake.
19:01Well, do you want them or not?
19:03To thee, for whose dear love I rise and fall.
19:11Let me see that.
19:12What?
19:14That ring.
19:17All right.
19:18It's quite old.
19:19It's a serpent ring.
19:21I picked it up in a little antique shop on Madison Avenue.
19:24Being a woman, I liked the sentiment inside.
19:27To thee, for whose dear love I rise and fall.
19:31Isn't that lovely?
19:32It must have meant so much to...
19:33Look, do you know me?
19:35Have you ever seen me before?
19:38Now, I must know, I must.
19:41Did you know I was taking a strain?
19:43No, I've never seen you before.
19:44Are you feeling all right?
19:45Look, my name is Douglas, Arthur Douglas.
19:48Now, does that name mean anything to you?
19:49Look, Mr. Douglas, it's none of my business,
19:51but I really...
19:52Oh, this is insane!
19:57Oh, you're so bright.
20:24Hey, look, it's all alone.
20:27Shh, it's dark.
20:35What is this?
20:39What is this?
20:53It's the light, it's blinding!
21:23Mr. Douglas?
21:39Mr. Douglas?
21:53Mr. Douglas?
22:13Mr. Douglas?
22:18Mr. Douglas?
22:23He's standing in front of him and he can't see him.
22:52He's standing in front of him with a knife, with a knife.
22:57Just lie still.
23:01She'll be all right now. You've got quite a slice in the head, but she'll be all right.
23:05You're lucky.
23:07Lucky?
23:08Why, sure. Look at the service you're getting.
23:11I'm a first class surgical nurse and this gentleman here, he's a doctor.
23:15Happened to be in the next car.
23:17You're going to be all right.
23:19Lost a little blood, that's all.
23:25Whatever made you pull that emergency cord?
23:29They'll probably give you a medal.
23:31A medal?
23:32If you hadn't pulled that cord, Lord knows how many people would be dead instead of just shaken up.
23:37What are you talking about?
23:39I'm talking about the freight train that was stalled on the track a hundred yards ahead of us.
23:43The signal system failed.
23:45We stopped about six yards from the caboose.
23:49But how did you know that the train was there?
23:52I mean, you couldn't possibly have known.
23:55No one could have known.
23:58No one?
24:02Ellen Lara they knew.
24:05How?
24:06Well, there are a lot of theories.
24:09Precognition.
24:11Clairvoyance.
24:12Some people might even call it a happy coincidence.
24:16But does that explain it?
24:19I mean really explain it.
24:23To whom it happened we know.
24:25Where it happened we know.
24:27How or why it happened.
24:33In a moment, something else to wonder about.
24:43Next week?
24:45This is a film developing tray.
24:47A rather ordinary object.
24:49But next week when we take that one step beyond,
24:53this commonplace item from a photographer's darkroom
24:56will play quite a part in a bizarre story of the unknown world.
25:00I think you'll be shocked by what develops.
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