Paul Marlin appears dazed and confused in the California courtroom where he was just found innocent of murdering his wife. I saw that same look after the verdict in the OJ Simpson courtroom, except it was on Marcia Clark. [1]
Marlin’s lawyer recommends he get out of town for some rest. He still wants to know who killed his wife. Maybe he should have hired Perry Mason. He would have gotten Marlin off, found the real killer, and manipulated the evidence just to be sure. [2]
In the hallway, they are approached by a journalist named Ferris — the old fashioned kind of reporter that didn’t go to Harvard, leaves the office, wears a felt hat, and reeks of cigarettes and whiskey. He asks Marlin how he feels about being “let off.”
Marlin says to Ferris, “You’ve gone so far out of your way to twist and distort everything I’ve said since my wife’s death, I see no point in even trying.” Say, maybe he is a modern journalist.
Ferris suggests the trial was rushed through, that the victim’s brother was kept from testifying, and that Marlin killed his wife in cold blood for family money that was in her name. Marlin socks him in the jaw, and it is one of the best screen punches I’ve ever seen.
Marlin takes his lawyer’s advice to get out of town. He takes a bus, so I guess that family money has not come through yet. He gets a nice 3rd floor walk-up for $6 per night — coincidentally, the current price of that bottle of water in your room that has sat there for five years because no sane human being will pay $6 for a bottle of water. Don’t think so? Ever seen an expiration date on a bottle of water?
That night, Marlin sees a vision in the mirror of a man with an awesome, awesome moustache firing a pistol. He seems very unnerved by this. And, regardless of who the man was, and whether he had a gun or a so-so moustache, who wouldn’t be?
He goes to a nearby bar and downs a few shots. The man from his vision enters. Strangely, the man asks the bartender for change for the cigarette machine, and hands the bartender change for the change. This is further emphasized when tries to pay for his scotch with giant bills that have Sauron’s picture on them. The man apologizes about the currency and says he just got off the plane from New Zealand. Overhearing about the NZ money, Marlin realizes this is his wife’s brother, Roger!
The man thinks he recognizes Marlin and pulls out a photo. [3] He approaches Marlin, who panics and runs out of the bar. He goes back to his room and discovers his brother-in-law’s luggage there, including a Luger.
The man returns to Marlin’s room and confronts him. Marlin is so panicky and sweaty that the man has to be pretty dense not to see what is going on. Marlin says everyone thinks he killed his wife. He accuses Roger of coming there to kill him. And, frankly, that is what the vision showed him.
Marlin breaks down completely. Drenched in sweat, he admits he killed his wife for her money. Then he shoots Roger with his own Luger. Turns out Roger brought a letter that the late Mrs. Marlin had written to him. She said she had never been happier. She even planned to transfer her wealth to her husband’s name to show her love.
Well, this one was a mess. Ross Martin was excellent as the panicky Marlin, but the pieces just don’t come together. I can’t remember an OSB where the vision turned out to be wrong. Usually the blast from the past breaks through to our reality to restore harmony or mete out some justice. In this case, it just got an innocent man killed.
I guess this is supposed to be like The Twilight Zone where a little cosmic justice is beaten into a bad guy. In this case, Marlin finally admitted he killed his wife. So he will be punished for his evil act! One problem in this scenario: the only person who heard his confession is dead. All Marlin has to do is get rid of the body.
Other Stuff:
- [1] A more accurate reference would have been OJ’s stooge Robert Kardashian, but who wants to bring that family into it?
- [2] At least, that was my takeaway from reading a couple of the books (before realizing they don’t live up to the dames on the covers). He always seemed to throw in some extra knives or whatever to obfuscate the evidence. I never saw the TV show, but I assume he was more ethical there.
- [3] THIS is the picture Roger carries around with him? It’s from a newspaper, so maybe that wasn’t the first time he decked that reporter. But why was the story printed in New Zealand?
Eleanor is reading the paper when George comes home that night. He has brought flowers for Ethel who is not feeling well. Ethel says Eleanor is doing a great job. George had been worried because she had no references. Ethel says that is because she had been taking care of a widow’s mother “and couldn’t very well have references”. [4] If the mother croaked, I don’t see how that prevents the widow from giving a reference. Unless in 1949, you had to be a man. Eleanor announces dinner is ready.
When he returns home, kinda tipsy, he finds a thermos of hot cocoa that Eleanor left for him. He takes a sip, but it must not taste right because he spits it out. He finds the arsenic can in the cabinet and sees the top has been removed after he replaced it that morning. Thinking he has caught the Arsenic Killer, he pours a sample into a small jar. 
Mabel wakes up late the next morning and finds Albert working on the beehives. He has the baby out there with him which seems dangerous. He had no trouble getting her to eat. Mabel is thrilled that she already looks healthier. 
All of the furniture is covered with sheets. Ellen notices a portrait of Captain Michael Klaussen (1860-1902). Andrew is momentarily hypnotized by the picture. He snaps out of it and tells Ellen they have to rent this place!
Andrew grabs her — literally — he is kind of a grabby guy. [1] He wants to explore the rest of the house. As they are coming down the stairs, Andrew suddenly gets a stabbing pain in his leg. The next day, he is badly limping.
Andrew pushes Ellen around pretty violently, then begins strangling her. A knocked over lamp catches the picture on fire and Andrew runs to it. His hair is now thick and white like the Captain’s. Andrew screams and collapses. As the picture burns, he returns to normal.
Mrs. Gardner promises him they will have some cash soon. Then she smells gas. Mr. Mason seems strangely uninterested in this gas leak which could blow up his building, his job, and his collection of Hummel Figurines. She enters and finds her husband Ray on the floor. Their apartment is even shabbier than the Kramden’s down in 3B. At least the Kramden’s bed is in a bedroom; although, God knows I don’t want to think too much about what goes on in there. Mrs. Gardner opens the windows and turns off the stove. Ray wakes up.
They decide, for no good reason, to separate. Both feel like all eyes are on them. Because Ray doesn’t have 2 dimes for the train, it leaves without him. I guess that’s back when turnstile jumping was illegal. They meet up later at Grand Central Station.