- [introduction]
- Alfred Hitchcock: [Hitchcock is standing at rest with a sword in front of a sword rack with a very large covered wicker basket next to him. He salutes with the sword] Good evening.
- [tucks his sword under his arm, claps his hands twice and lifts up the basket cover. A page boy walks in and climbs into the basket. Hitchcock closes the top, looks at the audience, and thrusts his sword into the basket like a magician. He takes three more swords from the rack, one at a time, and with a flourish, thrusts them one by one into the basket. He stops, and claps his hands twice. When the page boy doesn't emerge, he looks at the audience, then claps his hands twice again before lifting the cover. He peers into the basket and then closes the cover again in shock]
- Alfred Hitchcock: Good heavens. He looks like a toothpick holder on an hors d'oeuvre table.
- [shrugs his shoulders]
- Alfred Hitchcock: Oh, I guess I'll just have to practice some more. So much for the sideshow. Now, turn your attention to the center ring where you will find our main attraction.
- [bows slightly]
- [first lines]
- Hildegard Fell: [to the camera] My name is Hildegard. Hildegard Fell. I'm writing about my hometown, Essington, Massachusetts and especially about Mr. Anderson. Mr. John Anderson. I'm trying to be absolutely honest about everybody, including myself, and that's the hardest part of all. My mother and father don't understand me. No one does really. My father is a minister, and it's not nice to criticize him. But I think he's just the teensiest bit too good-looking for a minister. Now, my mother, she's not a bit too beautiful. She's just right. Someday when my teeth grow back in, I'll probably look just like her.
- [last lines]
- Hildegard Fell: [to the camera] And Mr. Anderson was a man greatly beloved. He did good things and never told on anyone, even when they told on him. He was the kindest man I ever knew, next to my father.
- [afterword]
- Alfred Hitchcock: [Hitchcock is sitting on the basket] Thus ends tonight's story. After seeing it, I think you'll treat your neighbor more kindly. After all, he may be a former ax murderer. Of course, there's nothing to worry about. He's probably out of practice. I hope you'll join us next time when we shall present another story of mystery and/or suspense. Good night.
- Rev. Richard Fell: "A man greatly beloved, understand the words that I say unto thee."
- [quotes the first part of Daniel 10.11]
- Rev. Richard Fell: As far as we're all concerned, that's all we have to remember, all we ever have to say.