- A retired detective plans to make a suspect in a murder think he's seeing the victim's ghost on the anniversary of her death in the home she was murdered in. Others are invited to pretend they see nothing, hoping to jar a confession.
- John Bedford is suspected of being the murderer of his wealthy aunt, Miss Ferguson, but the police are unable to break his alibi. Now, exactly two years after the crime, a retired Scotland Yard investigator named William Brent, puts together a plan that he hopes will make the nephew confess. Brent invites the young man to a dinner in the home that once belonged to the late aunt, and secretly hires an actress to pretend to be the ghost of the dead woman. Everyone at the dinner is in on the scheme, and when the apparition appears, no one claims to see anything - but Bedford, that is.—alfiehitchie
- Alfred Hitchcock is on safari with three pretty young women carrying large gift boxes on their head. It's darkest Hollywood and the viewer has to be aware of the creatures that gather around the watering hole to take advantage for themselves. Soon we will be foggy London.
The story opens at evening in Blackheath, a district south east in London. It is October 23, 1903. The atmosphere is cold, dark and windy, but people are still out and about before the rain. At the estate of Major Cook-Finch (Reginald Gardiner), he greets Inspector Brent (John Williams). The inspector greets the Major and tells him that he's now Mr. Brent and he's grateful for the Major agreeing to help with his plan. He checks the dining room to see if the rooms are ready to stage his trap. The Major's manservant Lane is instructed to help Brent with anything he needs. Lane says that a police officer has arrived and Brent talks with Lane to make sure the rooms are dark and lit the way he wants. Brent instructs him to let the officer in the side door. The Major has an interesting side action of his own decanting a fine sherry that he's picked out. Brent continues to talk with Lane to arrange how the guests will be seated. His plot has to be just right for the victim so that they can get a good view of what happens; the Major is moved from where he always sits. The Major is surprised and puzzled that Brent said the victim has to get a good view of the 'ghost.'
Next, a Mr. Robert Stone (Max Adrian), another guest invited by Brent arrives. He is introduced to the Major. We find out that Stone is an actor who is playing in Macbeth currently. Stone says to Brent that he'll have to provide something interesting to get him out on a night like this. Brent says that they are here to investigate a murder. He continues that exactly two years ago tonight that a murder was committed in this house and in the dining room. Stone figures out that Brent was referring to the Blackheath murder. The Major confesses that he bought the house despite its violent history because he could not afford it otherwise. Brent explains that an elderly wealthy woman named Miss Ferguson was attacked while eating her cold supper her maid prepared for her before taking her evening off. Ferguson was found brutally strangled and her meal half finished. Her little Pekinese dog was found dead, too. Stone remembers reading that the murderer must have known Miss Ferguson or else it would have barked. Brent verifies there was a suspect in the case, a John Bedford (Kenneth Haigh), his aunt's sole heir. Bedford had an excellent alibi for the time of the murder in that he was miles away. Cook-Finch says that it couldn't have been Bedford because he met him when he bought the house. We find out some silver was stolen, so the killing was done in the commission of a burglary. However, Brent says that the crime could have been staged to make it appear like a burglary. Stone says that it's someone else's problem now that Brent is retired, but Brent admits that he doesn't like a case remaining unsolved on his watch. Brent gives further instruction to Lane on what he is to do when the actress he hired arrives to play Miss Ferguson's ghost. Both Stone and Cook-Finch are intrigued when hearing Brent mention the 'ghost.' Brent shows a picture of the actress to the two and says that with makeup and her hair like Miss Ferguson, the likeness is absolutely perfect. Brent shows where Miss Ferguson's ghost is to appear and the two will have to ignore seeing the actress. Cook-Finch is hesitant since he isn't an actor like Stone, but Brent assures him that he'll do fine. Brent will bring on the actress when the pheasant is served.
Afterward, Brent goes into another room next to the dining room with the door closed. He introduces Sergeant Balton (Thomas P. Dillon) who will remain in the room to get the small Pekinese dog, Othello, he brought with him to bark on command. Stone and Brent continue conversing and Stone asks that even if they do play the roles Brent laid out, what does he expect to happen. Brent hopes Bedford will incriminate himself in some way, but admits that his experiment may not work. Brent says that he told Bedford that he has new evidence to discuss with him in order to get him to attend his experiment. While drinking the sherry aperitif that the Major has prepared, Bedford arrives. Brent quickly mentions that Bedford had a girl friend who vouched that he was with her that evening. Lane announces a Mr. John Bedford and he strolls into the room as the scene fades to black.
We find during their dinner conversation that Bedford is familiar with Stone's work as an actor and asks him about it. He already knows the Major from selling his aunt's house to him. Hitchcock opened the scene with an overhead shot of the dining table so we can see how the others will be seated. Bedford is in the Major's seat and has a great view of the room that the ghost is to appear. We find out from the Major that he's a sporting gent and 'shot' two pheasants. He adds that it was at the local market. The maid starts serving dinner. Bedford is curious as to what the new evidence is as he turns to Brent. Brent says that it could wait because it's nothing too significant. Bedford explains that his aunt was murdered in the house about two years ago and Stone is quick to engage Bedford to explain. The Major remains silent and looks a bit uncomfortable. Bedford's demeanor is relaxed and cordial even as he discusses a personal tragedy that happened in the very room the group is in two years ago. Bedford tells Stone that the police looked at him mighty hard as he was the sole heir. Brent says that it was part of his job to do so, but he's retired now. He and Stone go on to ask what Brent is doing now and he talks about bird watching and how difficult it is to do. While he's engaging Stone and the Major with his tale, we hear from Bedford's point of view of the dog barking in the other room. Sergeant Balton is coaxing the Pekinese to bark with kibble. None of the others let on that they hear the barking as Bedford appears a bit shaken and looks down with guilt. Brent notices Bedford's unease and asks him if he's ever been bird watching and he hasn't. Bedford tries to converse, but the dog barks again. He asks the Major whether the dog barking is his dog. The Major retorts, "What dog?" Bedford asks him whether he heard a dog bark just now and the Major states that he didn't. Brent agrees that he didn't hear anything while the audience can clearly hear the dog bark along with Bedford. Bedford concedes he must have been wrong and looks troubled again. Stone comments that he couldn't do bird watching as the light in the room goes down. The Major explains the gas pressure drops every now and then for some unexplained reason. Fortunately, the light doesn't go completely out. We hear and loud thumping noise and the Major instructs Lane to see what it was. Lane finds the front door has burst wide open from the wind and storm outside.
Lane states to the Major that front door had blown open and Stone changes the subject and says he doesn't understand why he stays in London at this time of year and not go somewhere like Italy. London is windy and rainy during the fall and the temperature drops. While he's talking we see that Miss Ferguson the actress makes her appearance and Bedford is alarmed. He closes his eyes hard as he cannot believe what he sees. He tries to keep a calm presence, but clearly is shaken again as the ghost fades to black. All the while Stone does a fine job continuing talking about his situation and work. Bedford engages him in small talk in order to get over his discomfort. Stone continues talking while we and Bedford see Miss Ferguson appear again. Bedford cannot hide his alarm while Brent and the Major are eating. He has lost his appetite as he continues seeing the ghost. Bedford again banters with Stone, but the ghost will not go away. He is deeply troubled with what he is seeing. Bedford is so disturbed that Stone stops his conversation to ask Bedford if something is the matter. Bedford is pale and sickly looking now, but says nothing is the matter. He looks at where the ghost appeared in the other room and Brent quickly turns to look. The room is very dark. Bedford looks so ashen and shaken that now Brent asks what's bothering Bedford.
Bedford asks whether they saw something, "Didn't you see it?" Brent looks in the dark room again and says, "See what?" He acts puzzled. Bedford continues to stare into room and now the Major asks him whether he's feeling all right. "What is it?" Bedford tries to answer, but the ghost reappears. He's extremely troubled now as Hitchcock shoots a close up of his face. He shouts, "Can't you see her?" He starts raving and shouting for the ghost to go away and get out! The ghost remains and Bedford is so bothered and wracked by guilt that he yells or else I'll kill you again. As soon as he yells those words, Bedford realizes that he has been tricked by Brent. The Sergeant comes out of the room he was hiding in to arrest Bedford for murder. They all go to the front door to see Bedford being taken away.
Next, we see the actress hired to play Miss Ferguson come in from through the side door. She is apologetic and explains to Brent that she just arrived this very second. Brent and the others are now the ones surprised and alarmed.
In the epilogue, Alfred Hitchcock returns to say he's going to hunt the really big game in Hollywood. He's hired a native guide who's wearing a banner "Addresses to the Stars." He explains what happens during this hunt and closes by talking with the native witch doctor as he lies on a couch to explain his problems. Later, Hitchcock brings back the three women carrying his gift boxes and they leave stage right until next week.
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