Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder (1954)

A deleted scene from the script.

The scene here picks up where the depiction of Margot Wendice’s trial ends in the film Dial M for Murder. Here we see that Hitchcock at one time intended to have Tony and Mark as a part of this sequence.

244a (Cont.)

JUDGE’S VOICE:

The sentence of this court is that you be taken to the place from whence you came...from thence to a place of lawful execution.....

We see Margot’s face blanch, her eyes close. Then all the light goes off her face until she is silhouetted against the deep red background. The background changes and we get an impression of a brown paneled office, but still very vague and out of focus. The paneling is light and cheerful. As the light comes on the figure again, we see that it is Tony who occupies the screen. A man’s voice speaks from off screen.

SOLICITOR’S VOICE:

...I spoke to Sir Charles again about the appeal. He was in one of his pessimistic moods and er ... expensive, I’m afraid.

The light changes on Tony’s face, coming from another direc- tion. The background darkens to a moody one with a vague impression of low lighting on it. We hear a rather common man’s voice off.

MAN’S VOICE

After all, Mr. Wendice, our paper is not what you might call a scandal sheet and for that reason we can’t offer you more than five hundred pounds for publishing her letters.

Tony’s expression as he hears this is a thoughtful one, as though debating the price. The background changes to a paneling with a vague red glow on it again. An educated voice comes from off screen.

JUDGE’S VOICE

...have convicted the appellant. In the opinion of this Court there is no reason to interfere with that Conviction and this appeal must be dismissed.

Tony seems to breathe a sigh of satisfaction. The light goes off his face and he is in silhouette. The background changes to a much lighter one — perhaps a more normal wall of a living room, in front of which are shelves containing books. When the silhouette lights up, we see that it is Mark. He is looking forward with intense thoughtfulness. We hear a man’s voice off. It is a friendly American voice.

MAN’S VOICE

Well, Mark, you’re an expert on crime fiction — if you don’t believe the prosecution’s story, why don’t you figure out the right one?

The light on Mark changes. He looks up in a different direction.

MAN’S VOICE

Haven’t you figured out anything yet, Mark? You’ve only got a few days.....

The whole scene –

FADES OUT.