Approved | 30min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, TV Series | Episode aired 21 April 1959
A young woman is left alone and unloved by her domineering and arrogant husband. She soon invents an imaginary lover who loves and comforts her--then she begins to suspect that her invisible "lover" may not be all that imaginary.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus, Michael Plant
Stars: John Newland, Maria Palmer, Robert Douglas
A young woman is left alone and unloved by her domineering and arrogant husband. She soon invents an imaginary lover who loves and comforts her--then she begins to suspect that her invisible "lover" may not be all that imaginary.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus, Michael Plant
Stars: John Newland, Maria Palmer, Robert Douglas
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The amazing drama you're about to see is a matter of human record.
00:07You may believe it or not, but the real people who lived this story, they believe it.
00:14They know.
00:16They took that one step beyond.
00:30Where is Sylvia Aykroyd?
00:34Many have asked that question.
00:35Her husband, her friends, the police, especially the police.
00:41I'm not the first, nor will I be the last, to visit this room.
00:46But Sylvia's room, now become one of the world's more celebrated bedchambers, thanks
00:51to Scotland Yard's highly trained clue-seekers.
00:55They began, as they usually do, with personal effects.
01:03With these dresses, all knit by hand.
01:07Lonely hands.
01:10The hands of a woman who had nothing else to do.
01:14But where is Sylvia now?
01:18Dead?
01:19Well, not exactly.
01:22Well, not officially.
01:25That morning, the 4th of April, was an important day.
01:30It was her birthday.
01:33Sylvia?
01:36Her 40th birthday.
01:37Good morning, my dear.
01:40Harrison.
01:41I have something for you.
01:47You should have come down to breakfast this morning.
01:49S.E. did something triumphal with kidneys and bacon.
01:53Kidneys make me nervous at the best of times, let alone breakfast.
01:56Don't you mind signing here and here?
02:04What is it?
02:05It's a new stock I'm buying.
02:06Now, please, dear, I'm in rather a hurry.
02:07I'm sorry.
02:08But I do like to be told about things now and again.
02:09I'll tell you later.
02:10Incidentally, I won't be home for dinner tonight.
02:11I didn't expect you.
02:12It's Friday.
02:13You're always late Fridays.
02:14Merely because Friday happens to be the most opportune evening, fulfilling business associates
02:15with expensive champagne.
02:16Of course.
02:17As a matter of fact, I'm taking Horton Bassler down to Sunningdale.
02:18Really?
02:19You remember Horton.
02:20He was with me during the war.
02:21He was a good man.
02:22He was a good man.
02:23He was a good man.
02:24He was a good man.
02:25He was a good man.
02:26He was a good man.
02:27He was a good man.
02:28He was a good man.
02:29He was a good man.
02:30He was a good man.
02:31He was a good man.
02:32He was a good man.
02:33He was a good man.
02:34He was a good man.
02:35He was a good man.
02:36He was a good man.
02:37He was a good man.
02:38He was a good man.
02:39He was a good man.
02:40He was a good man.
02:41He was a good man.
02:42He was a good man.
02:43He was a good man.
02:44He was a good man.
02:45He was a good man.
02:46He was a good man.
02:47He was a good man.
02:48He was a good man.
02:49He was a good man.
02:50He was a good man.
02:51He was a good man.
02:52He was a good man.
02:53He was a good man.
02:54He was a good man.
02:55He was a good man.
02:56He was a good man.
02:57He was a good man.
02:58He was a good man.
02:59He was a good man.
03:00He was a good man.
03:01He was a good man.
03:02He was a good man.
03:03He was a good man.
03:04He was a good man.
03:05He was a good man.
03:06He was a good man.
03:07He was a good man.
03:08He was a good man.
03:09He was a good man.
03:10He was a good man.
03:11He was a good man.
03:12He was a good man.
03:13He was a good man.
03:14He was a good man.
03:15He was a good man.
03:16He was a good man.
03:17He was a good man.
03:18He was a good man.
03:19He was a good man.
03:20He was a good man.
03:21He was a good man.
03:22He was a good man.
03:23Mrs. Aykroyd, where are you?
03:38I'm down here, Essie.
03:39What are you doing down there?
03:43Celebrating my birthday.
03:45Oh, thank goodness.
03:47I've been wanting to get this place cleaned up.
03:50Ten years this stuff's been lying around here.
03:53All the things I had in Paris.
03:55Oh, the welfare people could use some of these.
03:59Here's a perfectly good sweat.
04:00Oh, no, Essie.
04:01This saved my life.
04:04It didn't have any heat during the occupation.
04:06Oh, living in the past when them things could keep some poor kid warm.
04:10Oh, Essie, look.
04:12Our transmitter.
04:15We used to send messages on that across the channel
04:18and you don't know how hard...
04:19Jump.
04:22You know, we really should send some of these things to the hospital.
04:27My diploma from the Sorbonne before the war.
04:30What's all this?
04:32Oh, Essie.
04:35Madame Soulon and I made these the day the Allies marched into Paris.
04:40We dyed little strips of rags with red and blue ink
04:45and, oh, we waved them and waved them
04:49as the boys came marching up the Champs-Élysées the day I met Harrison.
04:55Oh, Essie, it was so exciting.
04:58Well, it's over now.
05:01Yes, it certainly is.
05:05It's hard to believe it was even me.
05:07What's this?
05:10A game for young and old.
05:12Oh, well, that can go to the hospital.
05:15No.
05:16There's room in here for some of these clothes.
05:17No, Essie.
05:20Well, what is it?
05:23Jeremy.
05:28Jeremy.
05:31Jeremy.
05:42Jeremy.
05:47Jeremy.
06:11Jeremy.
06:17You remember.
06:18You remember today.
06:21Oh, bless you.
06:23I needed it so much.
06:26Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy.
06:47Oh, Essie, that's not very big.
06:52You're lucky to get anything sending me down at the last moment.
06:55Three shops I had to go to for enough candles.
06:58And I got lamb chops for your dinner.
07:01Wonderful.
07:02Wonderful.
07:03Maybe I should get some more.
07:05There's only enough for one.
07:07No, that's right, Essie.
07:08Dinner for one.
07:09I'll have it up here on a tray.
07:41Sir.
07:42Hmm?
07:43I was wondering if you knew a man called Jeremy.
07:47Hmm, doesn't that look good.
07:50Jeremy who?
07:51I don't know.
07:53He came to call on Mrs. Ackroyd yesterday.
07:56Jeremy, Jeremy.
07:57Oh, probably Jeremy Carlos from the Spanish Consul.
08:01What did he look like?
08:02Oh, I didn't see him.
08:03He came when I was down at the shops.
08:05Mrs. Ackroyd asked me to get her a birthday cake, and it was when I got back...
08:08Oh, was it her birthday?
08:09Heavens, Essie, why didn't you remind me?
08:12Anyway, it was quite a party.
08:14Well, good.
08:15I'm always telling Mrs. Ackroyd she should have more friends, have a few laughs.
08:19Well, there were plenty of laughs yesterday.
08:22I could hear them even when I was down here dusting the sitting room.
08:26Good morning, darling.
08:27Good morning.
08:28It's all right, Essie.
08:29I'll help myself.
08:30Oh, I'm so hungry this morning I could eat me kidneys.
08:32Scrambled eggs.
08:34Oh, so they are.
08:37Darling, I'm sorry about yesterday.
08:41What?
08:42Your birthday.
08:43Oh, darling, I forgot yours last year.
08:47Anyway, I thought you were just being tactful.
08:50You know how women dread birthdays.
08:52I was saying to...
08:54I was thinking...
08:56That's one advantage in not having any children.
08:59You never miss an opportunity, do you?
09:02I didn't mean it that way.
09:04I just meant that this way I can stay the same age forever...
09:09without suddenly finding I have a daughter years older than I am.
09:13Anyway, I'm glad you had a nice day.
09:16I did.
09:17I did.
09:19Essie tells me you had quite a party.
09:22Who was here?
09:24Oh, it wasn't really a party.
09:27I just thought a birthday cake would be fun.
09:30That man from the consul?
09:32Who?
09:33Carlos.
09:35Carlos.
09:37Oh, no, Harrison.
09:40Then who was here?
09:43There was no one here.
09:48Sylvia, what you do is your own affair.
09:50I use that word judiciously.
09:52Frankly, I don't mind...
09:54as long as you're clever enough to keep it that way.
09:57But you must understand my position.
09:59I will not risk adverse publicity.
10:02I don't intend to find my name in the morning papers.
10:08I hope I make myself perfectly clear.
10:30Jeremy?
10:33You know, Harrison thought I...
10:39Oh, Jeremy.
10:50Harrison, you're early.
10:52Where did you go tonight?
10:54Oh, I got bored with the house, so I thought I'd dine out.
10:58Oh, so you thought you'd dine out.
11:00Yes, Harrison.
11:01It's Friday, your night out.
11:04I thought it was time for my night out, too.
11:07Where did you go?
11:08Quigley knows.
11:09Did you see anyone we know?
11:11Yes, I saw the Bradens.
11:14And did they see you?
11:16They were sitting at the next table.
11:22Well, you're going to tell Lily Braden right now...
11:24how delightful it is to have your cousin over here on a visit from France...
11:27No, I won't, Harrison.
11:29Because Lily wouldn't know what I was talking about.
11:33Yes, they did see me.
11:35In fact, they asked me to join them.
11:38Because I was by myself, dining alone.
11:42You're a liar as well.
11:44How dare you!
11:58No.
12:04Now, what about this afternoon?
12:06Oh, I haven't had time to type it up yet, sir.
12:08Here you are.
12:12Let's see.
12:1312.30, cold lobster and salad at the Dover Butchery.
12:171.15, proceeded along Dover Street to Bailey's Gallery...
12:22in the Prince's Arcade.
12:24Made purchase of four pictures.
12:28Did you see what they were?
12:29Well, without getting too close, sir, they looked like military prints.
12:32Soldiers in different kinds of old-fashioned uniforms.
12:36Yes.
12:391.40, took taxi along to the Leicester Square Cinema.
12:44American musical starring Sid Cherise and G...
12:49Did she meet anyone?
12:50Not today, sir.
12:51And Mrs. Aykroyd left the cinema about 4.25 and took a taxi home.
12:56No visit to the museum today?
12:58No, not today, sir.
13:02And all this time, she never talked to anyone?
13:05Well, not to anyone, sir.
13:08What do you mean?
13:09When she thought no one was looking, she talked a lot, sir.
13:12In a low whisper.
13:14And laughing, sir.
13:16Your wife laughs a lot.
13:18But always to herself.
13:21I see.
13:28Jeremy, why can't I see you?
13:31Oh, you're always saying, one day, one day.
13:34It's maddening.
13:36Jeremy, come over here to the piano.
13:41This little figurine.
13:43See if you can move it.
13:46It's not ridiculous.
13:48It's not ridiculous.
13:50Well, then show me.
13:51Push it over, please, Jeremy.
13:54All right, it's silly, but I just want to see if you can do something physical.
14:00Jeremy, no.
14:02Harrison paid a fortune for...
14:04Oh, what'll I tell Harrison?
14:09But how? I don't know how to play the piano.
14:12But I can't.
14:15All right, what do I have to do?
14:18Yes, yes.
14:20I can feel your hands on mine.
14:24Jeremy.
14:27That's beautiful.
14:31Look at my fingers.
14:35You never told me you could play like this.
14:40Jeremy, Jeremy, please let me see you just once.
14:44I'll do anything.
14:48Yes.
14:49What?
14:52I promise.
14:54This afternoon, I'll go to Hot Nails and buy the giddiest thing I can find.
15:00You will? Honestly?
15:03Now, Jeremy, don't tease me.
15:05I couldn't bear it if you...
15:07When?
15:09Jeremy, tonight.
15:12But I'm...
15:14Oh, Jeremy, I want to know how tall you are,
15:18and the color of your eyes,
15:20and what you look like when you laugh.
15:22Turn that off!
15:24How could you? How could you? How could you spy on me?
15:27How could you?
15:36Here, drink this.
15:45Here.
15:52It's pathetic, isn't it?
15:55All these weeks, you've been suspicious.
15:58Now you know.
16:00I do have a friend.
16:02Now you know why I couldn't tell you about him.
16:05It wasn't because I was frightened you'd be jealous,
16:08which you could have been if you were capable of jealousy.
16:11This would never happen.
16:13I know one thing, Sylvia.
16:15I know that you're ill. You need a doctor.
16:17No!
16:19You don't know anything. I'll tell you.
16:24Do you remember me?
16:26I don't mean the heroine of the Resistance or anything like that.
16:30I mean me. Me, the way I was.
16:33Fun and pretty and enthusiastic about things.
16:36Do you remember?
16:39What happened to me, Harrison?
16:43I died.
16:46I wasn't getting older. That did it.
16:50Harrison.
16:52I loved you very much.
16:54Sylvia, you must...
16:55Just listen.
16:59When I found out about you,
17:04I should have fought to keep you.
17:07But I didn't.
17:11I just gave in.
17:17I stopped.
17:19I stopped living.
17:25Until three weeks ago, Harrison,
17:29on my birthday,
17:31something happened to me.
17:34And all of a sudden I was moving again
17:37and there was color and fun and...
17:40and sunlight.
17:43Because someone was showing me some affection.
17:48Who?
17:50Someone incredibly kind.
17:52But who, Sylvia?
17:57Do you know what a Ouija board is?
18:00A Ouija board? What are you talking about?
18:02You remember when...
18:04when Pierre Dardet was captured
18:07and we couldn't get any messages across anymore.
18:10Madame Soulon had read a book on telepathy.
18:12It seemed pretty far-fetched,
18:14but we were desperate enough to try anything.
18:16The nights were long, anyway.
18:18So somewhere she'd find a Ouija board.
18:22Well, you've seen them.
18:24You put your hands on it and they write messages.
18:27It's a board.
18:29Well, anyway, it didn't work.
18:31Not for the purposes we wanted,
18:34but we did make a friend.
18:38Go on, Sylvia, go on.
18:41Before God, I'm telling you the truth.
18:45At first the writings were meaningless,
18:48but slowly there was sense and...
18:53then...
18:55Jeremy.
18:57Jeremy?
18:58Yes, he was a soldier who fought for France in 1870.
19:02Oh, I know this sounds unbelievable, but I've checked it.
19:05I've checked in every book in the library.
19:08Everything he told us, it's all there.
19:10His name, his regiment, where he fought.
19:13I swear!
19:14Go on, Sylvia, go on.
19:15Well, we began to depend on Jeremy very much.
19:18He used to tell us where we could find food from the Germans
19:22and he warned us before the Gestapo made searches and he...
19:28Best of all, he made us laugh.
19:35Well, that's my lover.
19:40A man who's dead 80 years.
19:46Operator,
19:48would you give me the number of the Belden nursing home, please?
19:53What are you doing?
19:554561.
19:57Harrison!
19:58Harrison, why are you calling that place?
20:00I'm sorry, Sylvia, we need a doctor.
20:02That's not a nursing home!
20:04Hello.
20:05Can I speak to the doctor in charge, please?
20:08But you...
20:09You can't.
20:10You can't!
20:12Everything I told you was the truth!
20:14Hello, doctor.
20:15This is Harrison Ackroyd speaking.
20:17Could you come over to my hospice as quick as possible?
20:20It's my wife.
20:22Yes, we live quite nearby.
20:24There's nothing the matter with your wife!
20:26Get me Queensgate as soon as possible, please.
20:29I'm not insane! I'm not! I can prove it!
20:31I can! I can! I can!
20:35I can!
20:38Jeremy promised me.
20:43Jeremy,
20:45you promised.
20:51What time is it?
20:53Almost 7.30.
20:567.30.
21:06Jeremy.
21:10Jeremy, please.
21:12I need you.
21:19Harrison.
21:22If you wanted to get rid of me so badly,
21:26why didn't you tell me I would have given you a divorce?
21:30This was a cruel way of doing it.
21:33Sylvia, I don't want to argue at this moment.
21:35I want to argue!
21:36You can't see it clearly now, but what I'm doing is the best for you.
21:40You see, you need care.
21:42No!
21:44Yes, I do need care, but not from a doctor!
21:49When the doctor comes, I'm sure he'll make you understand better than I.
21:53I won't see him!
21:56You mustn't do this.
21:58Harrison, please, don't do it!
22:01I'm sorry, Sylvia.
22:03Now listen to me. If you heard him,
22:06if you heard him too, if you heard his voice, if you saw him,
22:10Jeremy,
22:12Jeremy,
22:14Jeremy, you promised.
22:16I never needed you so much.
22:20Jeremy!
22:22Jeremy!
22:24Sylvia!
22:29Harrison, the tape recorder.
22:33The piano.
22:35Now, you know I can't play the piano, Harrison,
22:38but you heard me play it on the tape recorder.
22:41That was Jeremy.
22:43Jeremy, if I can do it now,
22:47Jeremy,
22:49help me.
22:52Help me.
22:55Help me, help me, help me!
23:03Sir, the doctor's here.
23:06Doctor, I'm Harrison Aykroyd.
23:09That is my wife.
23:13You can trust me.
23:15You'll be happy where you're going.
23:17Come on now.
23:25Is it necessary for me to come with you, Doctor?
23:27Not at all.
23:30I'm sorry, sir.
23:33Oh, don't bother to make up the fire, Essie.
23:35I'll be going out almost immediately.
23:38Oh, I hope the doctor's not having any trouble.
23:44Sir!
23:46Mr. Aykroyd?
23:47Yes.
23:48I'm Doctor Werner.
23:53Who?
23:54Werner. We talked earlier on the telephone.
23:57From the hospital.
23:59I've come for your wife.
24:01Where is she, Mr. Aykroyd?
24:04Where is she?
24:07When she left this house,
24:09Sylvia Aykroyd,
24:11Sylvia Aykroyd joined that bizarre band of human beings
24:16who have simply vanished from this earth.
24:19Finally, utterly.
24:22It would be nice to believe that Jeremy did keep his promise.
24:27He told her she'd be happy where she was going.
24:30Wherever that may be.
24:32In a moment, a word about next week's story.
24:37Next week, we will take you beyond the gay grinning face of the circus
24:41into the very private world of the Flying Petruzzios,
24:44aerialists unsurpassed,
24:46and a nightmarish performance
24:48for which no tickets were ever sold.
25:06© BF-WATCH TV 2021