Exploring the Intrigue of "Mr. and Mrs. North: Dying to Live"
The 1950s was a golden era for television, with many shows that are still celebrated today for their innovative storytelling and charismatic characters. Among these classics is the detective series "Mr. and Mrs. North," which aired an episode titled "Dying to Live" in 1953. This episode stands out as a prime example of the show's blend of mystery, drama, and wit.
"Mr. and Mrs. North" featured the adventures of a married couple, Jerry and Pamela North, living in New York City. Jerry, a mystery magazine publisher with a knack for amateur sleuthing, and his wife Pamela, find themselves embroiled in various crimes, often solving them before the police can. "Dying to Live" presents the Norths with a particularly perplexing case involving embezzlement, blackmail, and murder.
The episode's plot revolves around an accountant who, upon learning he has only a few months left to live, devises a scheme to enjoy his final days in luxury. He blackmails his embezzling boss for $10,000 in exchange for a confession letter to be opened upon his death, absolving his boss of the crime. However, when the accountant is found dead and the letter goes missing, the Norths are drawn into a web of deceit and danger.
The charm of "Mr. and Mrs. North" lies not only in its clever plots but also in the chemistry between its leads, Richard Denning and Barbara Britton. Their portrayal of the Norths brought a sophisticated and witty dynamic to the screen, making the series a beloved part of television history.
For those interested in revisiting this classic or discovering it for the first time, episodes of "Mr. and Mrs. North," including "Dying to Live," can be found on various online platforms. The series offers a nostalgic trip back to a time when storytelling was paramount, and every episode promised a new mystery to unravel.
"Dying to Live" is a testament to the enduring appeal of "Mr. and Mrs. North." It captures the essence of the 1950s detective genre, with its mix of suspense, humor, and the timeless allure of a good whodunit. Whether you're a fan of classic TV or just love a good mystery, this episode is sure to entertain and intrigue.
The 1950s was a golden era for television, with many shows that are still celebrated today for their innovative storytelling and charismatic characters. Among these classics is the detective series "Mr. and Mrs. North," which aired an episode titled "Dying to Live" in 1953. This episode stands out as a prime example of the show's blend of mystery, drama, and wit.
"Mr. and Mrs. North" featured the adventures of a married couple, Jerry and Pamela North, living in New York City. Jerry, a mystery magazine publisher with a knack for amateur sleuthing, and his wife Pamela, find themselves embroiled in various crimes, often solving them before the police can. "Dying to Live" presents the Norths with a particularly perplexing case involving embezzlement, blackmail, and murder.
The episode's plot revolves around an accountant who, upon learning he has only a few months left to live, devises a scheme to enjoy his final days in luxury. He blackmails his embezzling boss for $10,000 in exchange for a confession letter to be opened upon his death, absolving his boss of the crime. However, when the accountant is found dead and the letter goes missing, the Norths are drawn into a web of deceit and danger.
The charm of "Mr. and Mrs. North" lies not only in its clever plots but also in the chemistry between its leads, Richard Denning and Barbara Britton. Their portrayal of the Norths brought a sophisticated and witty dynamic to the screen, making the series a beloved part of television history.
For those interested in revisiting this classic or discovering it for the first time, episodes of "Mr. and Mrs. North," including "Dying to Live," can be found on various online platforms. The series offers a nostalgic trip back to a time when storytelling was paramount, and every episode promised a new mystery to unravel.
"Dying to Live" is a testament to the enduring appeal of "Mr. and Mrs. North." It captures the essence of the 1950s detective genre, with its mix of suspense, humor, and the timeless allure of a good whodunit. Whether you're a fan of classic TV or just love a good mystery, this episode is sure to entertain and intrigue.
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FunTranscript
00:00Mr. and Mrs. North, starring Barbara Britton and Richard Denning.
00:30We'll hurry up, can't you?
01:00Tuttle.
01:01What is it?
01:02There's something I'd like to speak to you about, Mr. Compton, privately.
01:11Privately?
01:12The Fred Hewitt estate, seventy-eight thousand dollars shortage.
01:28Seventy-eight thousand dollars, Mr. Compton.
01:34Mr. Compton, I know at a time like this you're not interested in my troubles.
01:39But I haven't been very well lately.
01:43Last week I went in for a complete physical checkup.
01:47This morning, I received the report of that checkup from my doctor.
01:55I've just learned I only have a few months to live.
02:00Mr. Compton, a man with only a few months to live has very little to lose.
02:08You, on the other hand, have a great deal to lose.
02:15All my life I've been poor.
02:18I think a man's entitled to something before he dies.
02:26This, Mr. Compton, is a confession.
02:31Admitting that I embezzled, instead of you, seventy-eight thousand dollars from the trust fund of Fred Hewitt.
02:45For ten thousand dollars, I'll sign that confession.
02:54You see, Mr. Compton, I intend to enjoy my last few months.
03:02What proof have I that you'll go through with this?
03:05As I said before, Mr. Compton, I have nothing to lose.
03:11They can't put a dead man in jail.
03:14And I shall be dead long before the annual audit of the books.
03:20How do I know you're really sick?
03:22I took the precaution of having my doctor call your personal physician as a consultant.
03:29He confirmed the diagnosis.
03:32Mr. Compton, if my figures are correct, you have twelve thousand, two hundred and twenty dollars in your office safe over there.
03:44I'll take ten thousand dollars in cash.
03:56Oh, it's quite complete.
03:58As I said before, I wouldn't cheat you.
04:00I have nothing to lose.
04:03However, I am in a hurry.
04:06I think it'll be better if we talk this thing over in the morning.
04:09No, we'll settle it now, Mr. Compton.
04:12I have very little time.
04:33How will I explain why you sent me the confession?
04:36You won't.
04:37The confession will be found on my body.
04:39You mean I don't get to keep it?
04:41That's right.
04:42Those are my terms.
04:44You'll either profit from my death, or you'll read of the unfortunate event while sitting in jail.
04:52Sign it.
05:01Thank you, Mr. Compton.
05:07And good night.
05:19I heard it all.
05:21You fool.
05:22He's got ten thousand dollars, and what have you got?
05:24Nothing.
05:25I had no choice.
05:26You had no choice.
05:27Haven't you got any backbone?
05:28No.
05:29If I had, I wouldn't have allowed you to get me into this mess.
05:31Are you trying to blame this on me?
05:33Money, that's all you care about.
05:34I got it for you, and you spent it.
05:36I'm in trouble.
05:37Because you were so clumsy about it, can't you ever do anything right?
05:40According to you, no.
05:41Let's get going.
05:42We can't keep the Mortons waiting.
05:45Try not to look so guilty that the Mortons think something's wrong and you'll lose their account.
05:49Then you'll have to get a new wife as well as a new auditor.
06:03Hello.
06:05Hello, Mr. North?
06:07This is Tuttle.
06:09I'm sorry, I'm going to be a few moments late.
06:11Well, have you any idea how long it will be?
06:13You see, my wife is going to take me to the ballet.
06:18Oh, fine.
06:19Yes, everything is ready for you.
06:21All right, thank you.
06:22Bye.
06:23Who was that, Jerry?
06:24Mr. Tuttle.
06:25Say he'll be a few minutes late.
06:27By the time that man helps us with our income tax report, it costs us money.
06:37Is there anything else you need, Mr. Tuttle?
06:39No, I don't think so.
06:41I think that's about all.
06:43I'll get you some envelopes so you can mail them in.
06:47Do we get all that back?
06:49No, dear.
06:50That's what we pay.
06:56Here we are, Mr. North.
06:59Of course, that one item is liable to be contested, but you have all the data, so...
07:04Oh, I see.
07:05Well, I guess that's that.
07:07Well, here, I'll make out your check for you.
07:10Will that be the same as last year?
07:12Well, if you don't mind, Mr. North, I'd like this to be a little present from me.
07:17You see, I'm retiring.
07:20I haven't been so well lately, and so I'm taking a little vacation.
07:25Well, that's very nice of you, but I feel we should pay you something.
07:29Well, it's been my pleasure, Mr. North.
07:31It's nice knowing such a lovely couple.
07:34Well, now, I know you're in a hurry, so I won't detain you.
07:41Here.
07:42Oh, thank you.
07:45It's been nice knowing you, Mr. North.
07:48Thank you, and good luck.
07:50Well, thank you, Mr. Tuttle, and a pleasant journey to you.
07:53What?
07:54Oh.
07:55Oh, yes, of course.
07:57Well, good-bye.
07:59Good-bye, Mr. North.
08:00Good-bye, Mr. Tuttle.
08:01Good-night.
08:05Well, he's certainly nice of him.
08:09Well, he's a sweet old man, isn't he?
08:11Jerry, you know we have tickets to the ballet.
08:14Oh, the ballet.
08:16Look, darling, wouldn't it be much nicer just to spend a quiet evening at home?
08:20You know, get to bed early and...
08:22Jerry, you didn't hear a word of complaint out of me when I went with you to the fights last week.
08:27All right, darling.
08:30I promise to cheer even if Pavlova only gets a decision.
08:44You know, I've always wanted to come to this place.
08:47It's my boss's favorite spot.
08:50He says you make the best martini in town.
08:56You know something?
08:58I think maybe he's right.
08:59Thank you, sir.
09:03Yes, ma'am.
09:04More olives, please.
09:05You're cleaning me out.
09:06You've had 23 of them already.
09:08Oh, but who counts?
09:09I'm mad for them.
09:12Uh, maybe, uh, the young lady would like this one.
09:17No, thanks.
09:23Would you care for another drink, sir?
09:24No, I don't think so.
09:26Just, uh, just the check.
09:31I'm sorry if I seem rude to you, but, well, you sort of startled me.
09:36Oh, well.
09:37I thought, as we both seem to be alone...
09:40I'll have the same as his.
09:42I'm Janie Holloway.
09:44Oh, how do you do?
09:45I'm, uh, George Tuttle.
09:48Miss Holloway.
09:49It is, uh, Miss, isn't it?
09:50Mm-hmm.
09:51Well, a pretty girl like you.
09:55How come you're not married?
09:57What's the matter with all the young men in this town?
09:59Oh, you're sweet.
10:11You're, you're quite welcome, I'm sure.
10:14You know, Mr. Tuttle, I, uh, I have had many offers of marriage, but...
10:18Well, there was always my widowed mother and my little sister, Agnes.
10:23Poor, sick little Agnes.
10:26Oh, but I mustn't burden you with my troubles.
10:28Oh, that's all right, my dear.
10:30You can talk to me as you would your own father.
10:33Oh, you are kind.
10:35Oh, uh...
10:54Come on, Georgie, I'm gonna take you home.
10:57Okay.
10:58I guess I'll have one or two two minutes.
11:00Well, you just lean on me.
11:02Excuse me.
11:07This way, ladies.
11:12Tuttle, go after him.
11:13He's drunk.
11:14He could talk.
11:15He could do a lot of things that wouldn't be healthy for you.
11:17All right, you take care of them all.
11:18Tell him I've gone back to the office to pick up something I forgot.
11:20I'll be back as soon as I can.
11:22And don't forget anything this time.
11:33Oh!
11:42It's kind of cold in here.
11:51Got a match?
11:52Huh?
11:53Oh, yes.
11:55On the table.
11:56Oh!
12:12It pops!
12:24Oh!
12:25Napoleon Brandy!
12:27That's for me!
12:28No, no, Jenny.
12:30It's not for you.
12:32That's mine.
12:35It's for a very special occasion.
12:44You mustn't touch it.
12:45Not until a certain day.
12:48And that's gonna be someday.
12:52I will have lived.
12:54I will have eaten my last dinner.
12:57And then, then I'm gonna take out that cork
13:02and I'm gonna drink it down to the last drop.
13:06All alone.
13:10Now you just relax and put your feet up here
13:14and take it easy.
13:43Oh!
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17:36Oh, Jerry!
17:38Well awful!
17:40Oh, poor Mr. Tuttle.
17:43But why did he want to kill himself, he seemed so happy!
17:46I don't know darling, it's a terrible thing, isn't it?
17:48Oh makes me sick!
17:50But I can't understand it!
17:52He said he was gonna retire and go on a vacation!
17:53I know!
17:54Well then maybe this is what he meant.
17:56You know, sometimes you can't figure people.
18:01Jerry!
18:02I'll bet this had something to do with it.
18:03What?
18:04I found it behind the hall table this morning.
18:06I tried to call him, but there was no answer.
18:08To whom it may concern.
18:10Certainly looks like Tuttle's handwriting.
18:12Let's open it and see what's inside.
18:13We can't do that.
18:14That's for the police.
18:16It says, to whom it may concern.
18:18Of course, if you think I shouldn't, um...
18:21Oh, my.
18:22What?
18:23I accidentally opened it.
18:25Oh, now really, Pam.
18:28Jerry!
18:29He was a crook.
18:31Who?
18:32What are you talking about?
18:33Mr. Tuttle.
18:35He stole all the money from his employer.
18:38Don't you see he wasn't going to take a vacation?
18:41He'd embezzle the money,
18:43and then he knew that the jig was up.
18:45Where do you get expressions like, the jig was up?
18:48And besides, Mr. Tuttle wouldn't even read a newspaper headline
18:51without giving the boy a dime.
18:53It's true. Read this.
18:58Tuttle's signature, all right.
19:00But offhand, I'd say he'd be more up to kill himself than to steal.
19:04Oh, we'd better tell Mr. Compton.
19:06Yeah, first thing in the morning.
19:07No, Jerry, tonight. This is important.
19:09I'll look up their address in the phone book.
19:11Oh, no.
19:17Look, I told you, mister, she never comes in this early.
19:20The odds are she won't show up at all.
19:22I'll wait.
19:24There seems to be something wrong with my stomach.
19:26Give me some more milk.
19:28Hello, Grace?
19:30Yeah, she's not here yet.
19:32Hi, Mabel.
19:34She's here.
19:37Joe, I think I left my cigarette case here.
19:40Yes, you did.
19:42Oh, thanks.
19:44I got this from my father.
19:46Well, see you around.
19:48I want to talk to you.
19:50Oh, but I'm in a hurry.
19:51So am I.
19:52I know you've got his wallet, and there was $10,000 in it.
19:55Say, what are you, a cop?
19:57You're in a lot of trouble, but if you do as I tell you,
19:59I think I can help you out.
20:00What do you want, the dough?
20:01I don't want the money. I'll tell you about it on the way.
20:03Get going.
20:15I've been going crazy not knowing what was happening.
20:17Did you get it?
20:18Not yet.
20:20Say, what is this?
20:22You said I could keep the money.
20:24Is this a double cross?
20:25I don't want the money.
20:26Well, then what's the deal?
20:27What's all the mystery about?
20:29Who's she?
20:30Never mind who I am.
20:31You'll be told all you have to know.
20:33Shut up, both of you.
20:34I told you I didn't want the money.
20:35I want the paper.
20:36The what?
20:37The paper you took from Tattle.
20:38Where is it?
20:39I don't know what you're talking about.
20:41It must be in the wallet.
20:42Say, what is this?
20:45Well, where is it?
20:46I tell you, I don't know what you're talking about.
20:50Keep quiet.
20:51No, it's too late.
20:52Whoever it is must have heard our voices.
20:53See who it is.
20:54Sit down and keep your mouth shut.
20:59Mr. Compton?
21:00I'm Gerald Norton.
21:01This is my wife.
21:02I don't quite know how to put this, Mr. Compton, but...
21:05What Jerry's trying to say is that your Mr. Tuttle was a crook.
21:11Come in.
21:15You see, Mr. Tuttle has been making out our income tax returns for several years now.
21:21We read in the paper tonight that he killed himself, and we thought you ought to see this.
21:25He left it at our place when he was there last night.
21:27He killed himself?
21:29What is it, dear?
21:31It's...
21:32It's a confession.
21:34Tuttle's a thief.
21:35He stole over $70,000 of the firm's money.
21:38Confession?
21:39Isn't it terrible?
21:40I can hardly believe it.
21:42Well, frankly, neither could we.
21:44Mr. Tuttle, it just doesn't seem to make sense.
21:46If he needed money, he should have come to me.
21:49Mr. William is generous to a fault.
21:51It's been a great shock.
21:53Well, it was very nice of you to bring it to us.
21:56Oh, not at all.
21:57Well, if you'll excuse us, we'll be running along.
21:59I'll turn it over to the police.
22:01Oh, oh, wait a minute.
22:03You're not going yet, dear.
22:05We have things to talk over, remember?
22:07And it's our secret.
22:08You can't go now.
22:09Oh, can't I?
22:10Well, just try and stop me.
22:12Listen, last night I met Mr. Tuttle in a bar.
22:15I went home with him, and I...
22:17I lifted his wallet.
22:18But when I left him, he was sleeping like a baby.
22:21She's had a few drinks.
22:22Don't pay any attention to her.
22:24Oh, yes, they will.
22:26Tonight, that mug practically kidnapped me,
22:28and he and this woman were ready to murder me
22:30just to get that paper you walked in with.
22:32Don't listen to her.
22:33She's crazy.
22:34Maybe I am, but I'm not crazy enough
22:36to be left here along with you two.
22:38Why don't you stop her?
22:40Mr. Compton, why were you so interested in our confession?
22:44I'm president of the company.
22:45I knew there was a shortage.
22:46How did you know there was a confession?
22:48Oh, leave me alone.
22:49I... I have nothing more to say.
22:51Well, I think you have.
22:53And I know the man who can make you say it.
22:55Pam, get on the phone and get Lieutenant Wigan.
22:57Tell him to get right over here.
22:58You're making terrible mistakes.
23:03Hello, Bill, this is Pam.
23:05This is about the Tuttle suicide case.
23:07Can you come to the Compton apartment right away?
23:10Good.
23:12Was he?
23:15Yes.
23:19Yes.
23:21Yes, Bill, send an ambulance right away.
23:25What is it, Pam?
23:27He didn't kill Tuttle.
23:29And Tuttle didn't commit suicide.
23:31He died of congestive heart failure.
23:33Too much liquor and excitement for a sick man.
23:35Pam, what else did Bill tell you?
23:37He said there was a bottle of brandy beside Tuttle.
23:40And it was loaded with poison called Toxicane.
23:43Slow but deadly.
23:45He said that Tuttle didn't drink any of it, but...
23:47I think I know who did.
23:49You poor, stupid fool.
23:52Didn't you do anything right?
23:54Yes.
23:56One thing.
23:58I drank a glass of very good brandy.
24:07Jerry!
24:10Huh?
24:11Ready for bed?
24:13I certainly am.
24:15I don't wish to be disturbed for at least two weeks.
24:21Jerry, this is addressed to the Director of Internal Revenue.
24:25Shouldn't you do something about it?
24:27What's today's date?
24:29March 15th. Why?
24:39March 15th.
24:41March 15th.
24:43March 15th.
24:45March 15th.
24:47March 15th.
24:49March 15th.
24:51March 15th.
24:53March 15th.
24:55March 15th.
24:57March 15th.
24:59March 15th.
25:01March 15th.
25:03March 15th.
25:05March 15th.
25:07March 15th.
25:09March 15th.
25:11March 15th.
25:13March 15th.
25:15March 15th.
25:17March 15th.
25:19Mr. and Mrs. North is directed by Ralph Francis Murphy.
25:23A John W. Loveden Production.
25:26Produced by Federal Telefilms.
25:29Starring Barbara Britton and Richard Denning.
25:32Featuring Francis DeSales.
25:47This has been a film presentation.