Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Good evening.

Here we are, in orbit once again.

Most of tonight's program will be taken up with a story called, "Poison. "

A rattlesnake.

It's a new warning device I've instituted

to sound an alarm when a pickpocket is at work.

It comes in several sizes,

including very small ones for ladies' purses.

He's very alert.

This is far superior to ordinary burglar alarms.

For if a thief is foolhardy enough to put his hand in the pocket...

There are a few bugs in it.

Once, when a thief put his hand in my pocket,

the snake became confused and struck in the wrong direction.

The doctor had to put a tourniquet around my stomach.

Unfortunately, that proved to be the wrong stomach.

It was the snake who died.

I see that it is now what my sponsor calls "high time. "

And here is what he thinks it is high time for.

Timber.

Timber, come here.

What's the matter?

Shh. Stop. Wait a minute.

What's the matter, Harry? Shh!

Don't make a noise.

You been hitting the booze? No.

Take your shoes off before you come any nearer.

Please do as I say, Timber.

You been hitting the booze.

Quickly, Timber, but take your shoes off first.

Always humor the old and the drunk.

Don't touch the bed!

Please don't touch the bed!

It's either that or a bad go of malaria.

It's a krait.

A krait? Yes!

Where'd it bite you? How long ago?

They kill you in a few minutes.

I haven't been bitten. Not yet.

It's on my stomach. Lying there asleep.

Who are you kidding?

Instead of seeing snakes, now you're feeling them.

No!

You mean to tell me there's a krait lying on your stomach right now?

I swear it.

How did it get there?

I was reading.

I was just lying there, reading.

I felt something on my chest behind the book, sort of tickling.

Then, out of the corner of my eye,

I saw this little krait sliding over my pajamas.

Small, about 10 inches.

Knew I mustn't move.

I could feel it through my pajamas,

moving on my stomach.

Then it stopped moving.

Now it's lying there in the warmth.

How long ago? Hours.

Just after the houseboy left.

But I can't keep still much longer.

I've been wanting to cough.

I believe your story, Harry.

As a matter of fact, that's not a surprising thing for a krait to do.

They hang around people's houses, they go for warm places.

These little fellows kill a surprising number of people each year.

Don't torture me. Think of something!

Okay, kiddy, I'll think of something.

What's that for?

Why, Harry, I'm surprised at you.

Weren't you a Boy Scout?

If that little reptile should get excited and bite you,

why, I'll just make a slash, and I'll try to suck the venom out.

First thing I think we should do is to try to get the sheet down as quiet as we can.

You know, let's just take a look at things.

I don't think it will disturb him.

No!

Don't be a fool. The light would frighten him.

We ought to just pull it down quick

and see if I can hit him off before he strikes.

Why don't you get a doctor?

That's right.

Good old Dr. Ganderbay. I'll do that.

Oh, no. No. It's no good. He's on his vacation.

No. Yeah, I'm sure of it.

Drove to Singapore tonight. Not another medico in the whole district.

Leaving later, cool of the night.

Harry, it's past midnight.

You can try.

Yeah, all right. I'll try.

Oh, Harry, what's the doctor's number?

Oh, don't bother answering. I'll look up in the phonebook. It's around here someplace.

Yeah, well, let's see.

The right district here...

Pahang. Pahang. E, F, G.

Here, under Ganderbay, Dr.

Operator, I'd like Pahang 713, please.

Hello, Dr. Ganderbay?

Oh.

Oh, I'm very sorry.

Got the wrong number.

Should have used my glasses. Here they are.

Yeah, let's see now.

Pahang.

That's it. Ganderbay.

718. I told the operator 713, didn't I?

Well, you know, 8 and 3 look a lot alike.

Shake of a lamb's tail now, chop, chop.

Operator, I got the wrong number.

Yes. I want Pahang 718. Yeah, I said three.

Yeah, it's an emergency, yes.

Hello, Dr. Ganderbay?

Oh.

I see. Well, do that.

Thinks he's left. But the boy's gone to see.

Doctor, doctor!

Party on ding-a-ling.

Say that I've gone.

Yes, Doctor. So sorry. Doctor go?

No, wait. I will come.

Well, I think he must have left. There's nobody...

Oh, no, wait a minute. Here he is.

Hello, Doctor, this is Timber Woods.

Mr. Woods, you are not in bed yet?

Doctor, could you get over here quick?

And bring some serum for a krait bite.

Nobody's been bitten.

Harry Pope's lying in bed, and he's got one lying on his stomach.

It's asleep under the sheet on his stomach.

He is not to move or to talk. I'll be right over.

Like to have a cigarette? It will calm your nerves.

Make me cough.

You mind if I...