Approved | 30min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, TV Series | Episode aired 16 June 1959
On a trip through India, a married couple encounters a beggar who seems to be different from all the others they've seen--the husband is convinced that this particular beggar is trying to kill them.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: Warren Stevens, Bethel Leslie, Barry Atwater
On a trip through India, a married couple encounters a beggar who seems to be different from all the others they've seen--the husband is convinced that this particular beggar is trying to kill them.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: Warren Stevens, Bethel Leslie, Barry Atwater
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 the real people who lived this story, they believe it. They know. They took that one step beyond.
00:30This is the Bombay, Calcutta mail moving through the hot vastness of India. Still remote, mystical, mysterious, even in the jet age. India's teeming millions look upon life and death in ways that are difficult for us to truly understand.
00:53Like the young American couple in the next compartment. You know where I like to be? Where? Home. In my own swimming pool with a cold beer in my hand. Get the water for the salt tablet, dear.
01:08He's kind of ugly at that.
01:14Better have two.
01:17Yes, sir. No passports, no cholera shots, no customs.
01:22Are you really that sorry we came?
01:24Well, it does seem kind of silly. You know, we plan on this trip for 700 years until we go to some place like Paris, London or someplace sensible. No, no, my girl's got to see the Taj Mahal.
01:35Well, wasn't it beautiful?
01:37It was beautiful. I knew it was beautiful before we left.
01:51Get out of here. This is our compartment. Get out of here.
01:54Len, the poor man must be lost.
01:56I told you to get out.
01:58What are you getting so excited about?
02:03Go on, get out of here.
02:05Len, you're frightening him. He doesn't understand you.
02:07Get out!
02:09Len, stop it!
02:11Oh, what is it?
02:13My father, didn't he train me?
02:17Get him out of here.
02:22I must plead for your indulgence. He is an ignorant villager. His first time on a train, he became confused.
02:29So many of our people have never travelled on trains before. It is difficult for them to understand about the different classes.
02:38Well, that's a fine way to act. Getting all excited over nothing and in this heat.
02:44Don't let that conductor fool you.
02:46That old man wasn't confused. He knew exactly what he was doing.
02:51What?
02:53Well, didn't you see it?
02:55See what?
02:57His face. Have you ever seen such a murderous expression in your life?
03:00Murderous? That sweet old man?
03:02Sweet old man?
03:04Well, if we'd been asleep, that sweet old man would have cut our throats for the baggage.
03:08You're some judge of character, you are.
03:11You better take a couple of nerve pills, too.
03:13Don't act like I'm goofy. I saw the look on his face.
03:18I saw the look on your face.
03:20Betty, will you knock it off?
03:26I'm sorry.
03:29Maybe it is the heat.
03:30You better give me those pills.
03:33What are we supposed to use for water?
03:45What happened?
03:47Oh, Len.
03:50I did that?
04:01Go ring for the porter. He'll get us some more water.
04:05Oh, we've been ringing for that porter ever since Bombay.
04:08I'll get it.
04:10Len.
04:14Hey, are you all right?
04:16Yes.
04:19Yes, I'm all right.
04:30Come on.
04:31Come on.
04:59Sir.
05:02It is wiser for first-class passengers to remain in their own compartment, sir.
05:07I was looking for the porter.
05:09The porter is greatly occupied.
05:11May I be of assistance?
05:13Yes, we need another bottle of water.
05:15I will tell the porter.
05:17He will bring it to your compartment at his earliest opportunity.
05:19Wait.
05:21Who's that old man in there?
05:23Which old man, sir?
05:25That old man right there.
05:27The one who tried to break into our compartment.
05:29Do you know anything about him?
05:31I talked to him after the misunderstanding.
05:34I assure you, he was only confused.
05:37Do you know who he is?
05:39No, sir.
05:41Are you sure?
05:43Sir, we are a nation of hundreds of millions, and most old men look quite the same.
05:47Okay.
06:02Are you still there?
06:04Yes, I am.
06:06What's the matter?
06:08I can't hear you.
06:10I can't hear you.
06:12I can't hear you.
06:14I can't hear you.
06:16I can't hear you.
06:18I can't hear you.
06:20I can't hear you.
06:22I can't hear you.
06:24I can't hear you.
06:26I can't hear you.
06:28I can't hear you.
06:29I can't hear you.
06:31What are you staring at?
06:35You're beginning to scare me.
06:48Stop staring at him like that.
06:50What's gotten into you?
06:57Look at him.
06:59Honey, will you stop this?
07:01If he tries anything, I'll kill him.
07:03Leonard.
07:11Leonard!
07:14Leonard!
07:29Leonard!
07:56Did you see a man come by here?
07:57I'm looking for my husband.
08:02When?
08:08Oh, darling.
08:13Isn't there someone here who speaks English?
08:15Is there anyone who can help him? He needs a doctor.
08:19I am helping him, ma'am.
08:21I'm not exactly a doctor.
08:23I'm afraid you'll have to settle for a medical missionary.
08:25I sent word to have my jeep brought over.
08:27We'll take him to the mission.
08:29It's nothing serious. Heat prostration.
08:31Are you sure?
08:33Oh, I think so.
08:35Yes, his pulse is better already.
08:37Are you the gentleman's lady?
08:39Yes.
08:41I am Constable Geisin.
08:43The people say he ran through the streets like one demented
08:46until he collapsed from the heat.
08:48And not even to wear a hat at such an hour.
08:51What help can I be, Mr. Graham?
08:53Oh, he's quite all right.
08:55He'll be all right.
09:05We can go.
09:07We can go.
09:22Madam.
09:23There are tourist attractions in our village.
09:25Why then are you here?
09:27What?
09:29As the constable, madam,
09:31there is certain information I must have.
09:33My husband left the train unexpectedly.
09:35But why?
09:37I don't know why.
09:40You're going to be all right, dear.
09:42I've got to find him.
09:44I've got to find him.
09:46Find who, madam?
09:48Oh, it's nothing. It's the heat.
09:50It's made him delirious or something.
09:51I don't know who.
09:53There was an old man on the train.
09:55My husband took a dislike to him.
09:57But why?
09:59Well, he thought he was trying to steal something.
10:01And how does this concern our village?
10:03The old man got off here.
10:05My husband followed him.
10:07What did the old man look like?
10:09Well, now, what difference does it make?
10:11Madam, if we have a thief in our village...
10:13I didn't say he was a thief.
10:15But you said your husband...
10:17My husband isn't feeling well.
10:19What did the old man look like, madam?
10:21He was an old man, that's all.
10:23He was carrying a rooster. He had a terrible scar.
10:25Like so?
10:27Yes.
10:29With such a scar, that could only be Kumar.
10:31And Kumar, madam, is no thief.
10:33May I see your passport, please?
10:35I left it on the train with everything else.
10:38A certain report must be filled.
10:40Oh.
10:42Wait a minute.
10:44My husband kept his in his jacket.
10:47Yes, there it is.
10:49Thank you, madam.
10:51I didn't mention when I finished my report.
10:53Old Kumar.
10:55This is most strange.
10:57I told you, my husband was ill and not responsible.
11:01Yes, so you did, madam.
11:05Call the dean.
11:14Oh, look a bit over towards your wife.
11:17Oh, too much.
11:19Ah.
11:21You've got the arteries of a boy of 20.
11:24Yeah, brains of a three-year-old.
11:27Boy, I feel like a jackass.
11:29What was his name, anyway?
11:31Come on, Len, now forget it.
11:33His name's Kumar.
11:35I must have scared him half to death.
11:37No.
11:39Kumar doesn't scare so easy.
11:41I wish I knew what was the matter with me, anyway.
11:44But my wife will tell you.
11:46I don't think there's a single person that I really dislike.
11:51And here we are, thousands of miles from home,
11:54and I see an old man with a rooster.
11:56Just standing there in the doorway to our compartment.
11:59You'd think I'd seen Adolf Hitler or something.
12:02Boy, it was an awful feeling.
12:05There was fear and there was hate and there was...
12:09I had the craziest feeling that if I didn't kill him,
12:13he was going to kill me.
12:15Len.
12:17Mr. Barrett, you're just going to have to try to relax.
12:18I won't even tell you how high your blood pressure is.
12:22You see?
12:24What is this?
12:26How can a thing like this happen, anyway?
12:28Who knows?
12:30Perhaps it's the reverse of love at first sight.
12:33People accept that readily enough.
12:35Gives me the willies.
12:37Well, you're going to live.
12:41That's for sure.
12:43Now, this part of India is awfully hot this time of the year.
12:48Or maybe you picked up one of our infamous bugs.
12:51I don't know.
12:55Do I intrude?
12:57Oh, no. Come in.
13:01Your passport, Mr. Barrett.
13:03This is Constable Guy Singh.
13:05He's the one who found you and sent for me.
13:07Oh, thank you very much.
13:09Your health has improved.
13:10I'm happy to observe.
13:12Yes, I seem to be feeling a little better now.
13:16Physically, anyway.
13:18Then, embarking on a train tonight will prove no hardship.
13:22Tonight?
13:24That's pretty quick.
13:26You really should rest for a few days.
13:29Besides, the only train tonight is the Calcutta Express.
13:33It doesn't even stop here.
13:35Tonight it will stop here.
13:37In honor of my father.
13:38It will stop here.
13:40In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Barrett of Westport, Connecticut.
13:43Twelve minutes after the hour of ten.
13:46It's a very fine train.
13:48Oh, yes, but if Mr. Graham thinks that he should rest for a few days...
13:52The arrangements have been made, madam.
13:54Look, if it's all the same to you,
13:57I just as soon follow Mr. Graham's advice.
13:59I do seem pretty tired.
14:01Twelve minutes after the hour of ten, Mr. Barrett.
14:09Boy, your Constable What's-his-name
14:12certainly is no ambassador of goodwill.
14:16I don't know what's the matter.
14:18I do, he's a self-important little dictator.
14:21No, no, no, no.
14:23He's not like that at all, really.
14:26Well, at least we'll get a couple of hours of bed rest.
14:29That is, if you don't mind the accommodations.
14:33There's our combination schoolroom, storeroom and guestroom.
14:37Quite a collection of odds and ends, isn't it?
14:40This is the way some of the villagers say thank you.
14:43Of course, no thank yous are ever necessary.
14:48Still, they're a proud people.
14:50I suppose I'll go on collecting it
14:53until it crowds me into the street.
15:07I wonder what happened to her.
15:11She was slashed with a knife,
15:13and the clay was still wet.
15:15How do you know?
15:17It does look like knife marks.
15:19Never thought of that.
15:21She's charming.
15:24You know, that's really very, very good,
15:26what's left of it.
15:28I don't know what's left of it.
15:30I don't know what's left of it.
15:32I don't know what's left of it.
15:33Very, very good, what's left of it.
15:36What does that word down there mean?
15:39Oh, purely.
15:41Beloved.
15:43Yes.
15:45Well, I think you'd better lie down now, Mr. Barrett.
15:48Your wife will bring you dinner.
15:51Of course, I should warn you that our food here
15:53is what is charitably called simple but nourishing.
16:04Len?
16:10Len?
16:18Are you feeling well?
16:20I'm fine.
16:25The next time I ask you to take a salt tablet,
16:27will you please listen to me?
16:34I'm sorry, honey.
16:36I'm all right now.
16:38I'm all right.
16:40Okay.
17:03Len.
17:26Len.
17:34Len.
17:46Man, stop that hate!
17:48Man, stop that hate!
18:04Come on!
18:08Go on!
18:10Go on!
18:34Come on!
18:40Don't take the rain.
18:43Don't take the rain.
18:45I can't.
18:47I'm Jack Rowe.
18:53I can't.
18:55I'm Jack Rowe.
18:57I can't.
18:59I'm Jack Rowe.
19:01I can't.
19:03I'm Jack Rowe.
19:12Oh, God.
19:14I'm Jack Rowe.
19:16I'm Jack Rowe.
19:19Oh, God.
19:21I'm Jack Rowe.
19:24God.
19:26God, I'm Jack Rowe.
19:30Len.
19:31Oh, there's no time for this, Mrs. Barrett.
19:40Help me with him, quickly.
19:47Mr. Graham is doing all that is possible.
19:50Why?
19:52Why?
19:53Why?
19:54Why?
19:55Kumar's wife asked a similar question.
20:08How can the same thing happen twice in one lifetime?
20:15Twice?
20:16Piari.
20:18She was once beautiful, as well as beloved.
20:24by two men, unfortunately. Kumar and Ranjit.
20:29Ranjit?
20:30A very gifted young artist in our village, but with a wildness in him.
20:38The scar across Kumar's throat was put there with the same knife that sliced this clay while it was still soft.
20:49Leonard said that had been done with a knife.
20:52Ranjit, in a fit of passion, attacked Kumar.
20:57Kumar slashed back with his own knife.
21:00The blade cut across Ranjit's eyes.
21:04A blind artist is a very pathetic creature.
21:09On Kumar's wedding night, Ranjit went to the house, broke in,
21:15and attacked the man he had come so passionately to hate.
21:22In the darkness, the blindness was no handicap, but Kumar had a gun.
21:30What's that got to do with us?
21:35Madame asked me why.
21:40Perhaps I am telling her why.
21:44I feel as responsible for the tragedy as anyone else.
21:51Why?
21:54Madame, have you not questioned the apparent senselessness of what has happened today?
22:03When I first saw your husband's passport, I should have stayed with him until he left our village.
22:14The day Kumar killed Ranjit is very clear in my mind.
22:19It was my first homicide.
22:24July 17, 1925.
22:39Go to him, Mrs. Barrett. Now.
22:43Yes, sir.
23:02It's over.
23:06Is it, Mr. Krim?
23:13Look at the date of birth of Mr. Barrett's passport and tell me if you think it is ever over.
23:28July 17, 1925.
23:32Leonard Barrett was born on the same day Kumar killed Ranjit.
23:44The last breath of one human being becomes the first breath of another.
23:52There are hundreds of millions of people that believe that.
23:55And if, as in this particular instance, the seeds of vengeance and hate survive,
24:01then it follows that all that is good in the human spirit also survives.
24:07Now, for the millions who reject this concept,
24:10well, there are words like fate, coincidence, destiny,
24:17all very useful words when trying to explain the world of the unknown.
24:40The End