****SPOILERS**** In this very moving and at the same time surprising, it takes a while to figure out the ending, "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episode we see that there's hope for even the most unfeeling and shyster like among us in the actions of lumber yard owner Harry Wade, Walter Matthau. Harry who's been hit by hard times and in danger of losing his business confides to 45 year old spinster Helen, Betty Field, his pressing problems and what he needs, $8,000.00 in cash,to straighten them out. Helen who's just crazy about Hary is willing to embezzle her real estate company to get him out of the fix that he now finds himself in. This surprises us watching since Harry is anything but kind and loving towards Helen no matter how much love and affection she show for him.
Seeing that Harry is about to lose his means of making a living, his lumber yard, Helen takes the $8,000.00 he needs from one of her clients Mr. Fescue, William Newell, at her real estate company with the promise by Harry that he'll return it to her within 48 hours before, over the weekend, it opens for business. As anyone, except Helen, would have expected Harry comes up short with the cash and poor Helen who put her trust in him is now facing not only the loss of her job but home as well as freedom for embezzling her real estate company! But then something completely out of the blue happens that turns everything around for Helen. But the price is far worse then what she at the time was facing!
****SPOILERS**** We as well as Helen see despite his sleazy and unfeeling demeanor Harry Wade had under that thick hide of his a truly heart of gold. Knowing the fix that he put Helen in Harry went against type and put his life on the line and eventually lost it for her. Not that at first Harry had wanted to risk it. Sure Harry could have left Helen standing out in the cold and lose everything near and dear, including Harry, to her but he didn't. By doing what he did and facing the consequences for his actions Harry showed Helen the love that he really and truly felt for her in death far more then anytime that he was alive.
Seeing that Harry is about to lose his means of making a living, his lumber yard, Helen takes the $8,000.00 he needs from one of her clients Mr. Fescue, William Newell, at her real estate company with the promise by Harry that he'll return it to her within 48 hours before, over the weekend, it opens for business. As anyone, except Helen, would have expected Harry comes up short with the cash and poor Helen who put her trust in him is now facing not only the loss of her job but home as well as freedom for embezzling her real estate company! But then something completely out of the blue happens that turns everything around for Helen. But the price is far worse then what she at the time was facing!
****SPOILERS**** We as well as Helen see despite his sleazy and unfeeling demeanor Harry Wade had under that thick hide of his a truly heart of gold. Knowing the fix that he put Helen in Harry went against type and put his life on the line and eventually lost it for her. Not that at first Harry had wanted to risk it. Sure Harry could have left Helen standing out in the cold and lose everything near and dear, including Harry, to her but he didn't. By doing what he did and facing the consequences for his actions Harry showed Helen the love that he really and truly felt for her in death far more then anytime that he was alive.