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Alfred Hitchcock Presents Season 4 Episodes
Season 4 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 1988 - 1989
Episode 1
Fogbound
Sat, Oct 8, 1988
On a foggy evening, Karen Wilson is at her coastal home alone. A stranger knocks on her door and asks her for help claiming that his car broke down and he has to take his wife home since she's not feeling well. Karen, fearful over the news report about the recent serial killings in the area, refuses despite his desperate pleas to let him in. Later that night the sheriff arrives with the stranger, Manuel Sanchez, in custody. It turns out that he was telling the truth and that by the time he got back to his car, his wife had gone missing only to be found barely alive hours later in a nondescript condition on the beach nearby. Karen gives Sanchez an alibi but he swears revenge on her, blaming her for what happened to his poor wife. Karen feels enormous regret for what she's done and talks to her next door neighbor, screenwriter Simon Carter, about it. They take a stroll down the marina and meet their other neighbors, three friendly prep boys Rick, Tom and Ed, who are also worried about what had happened. That night, Sanchez's wife dies and he goes to Karen's house to killer her. However, he's not alone. Plot twist after plot twist ensues.
Episode 2
Pen Pal
Sat, Oct 15, 1988
Margaret Lowen is a nice but somewhat lonely old lady who cares for her niece Margie. When Margie leaves town with some friends, Margaret plans to have a peaceful quiet night and watch an old romantic movie. That's when slightly crass Lt. Berger suddenly shows up at her door with some shocking news. Her niece has a pen pal and it's none other than John Harris, a young convict serving life in prison for a brutal murder he committed as a teen. The man has now escaped from prison and he might be coming for "his" girl. As soon as he leaves, Harris breaks into the house and takes Margaret hostage. However, although on the very edge of his nerves, Harris seems to be telling the truth when he promises not to hurt Margaret since she's Margaret's aunt. However, things escalate when he notices a picture of Margie with a boy and becomes insanely jealous. The story ends with a melancholic twist.
Episode 3
Ancient Voices
Sat, Nov 12, 1988
In this nostalgic tribute to Hollywood's classic western era, Cheryl Northcliff, the young wife of a rich aging Hollywood lawyer, Tom Northcliff, still hasn't gotten over her first husband who died some time ago, so she has regular seances with her medium Adam Ouspensky, who may or may not be a fake but either way respects her wishes and gives her some comfort. Tom, angered by the fact that she doesn't love him nearly as much as her dead ex, can't stand this psychic arrangement which he sees as a farce, so he decides to kill her and frame Adam. When Cheryl decides to have a seance during one of their exclusive Hollywood parties, Tom uses this opportunity to strangle her and create a solid fake alibi for himself using his unknowing assistant Bradley. Young eccentric rookie homicide detective Rick Hayden, who always wears a baseball cap, questions everyone who knew the girl, including actor Clete Madden, a once famous western movie star who now lives from any roles he can get and waxes nostalgically about the classic western film era and the past. He liked Cheryl very much and implores Rich to find out what happened. Rick is also pressured by the Chief of Police to solve the case quickly. In the end, Clete gets a chance to be the hero for one last time.
Episode 4
Survival of the Fittest
Sat, Nov 19, 1988
Thaddeus is a famous writer of detective novels and master of deduction. He's also a proper English gentleman save for his smugness. On his way home, a man tries to full Thaddeus but he sees through the man's ruse. Thaddeus arrives at his big secluded house in the woods to mark the anniversary of his young wife's death. There he's greeted by his talking pet parrot, whom Thaddeus thought to quote Shakespeare's Othello so that he can have someone to regularly spar with when it comes to quoting Shakespeare's plays. However, Thaddeus soon realizes that someone's been in his house. As night falls, his house is surrounded by a unit of highly trained uniformed mercenaries led by mysterious, vengeful Griffin who seems to have a history with Thaddeus. A deadly game of cat and mouse begins. Why are these men so determined to kill Thaddeus and is there another side to him that no one knows about?
Episode 5
The Big Spin
Sat, Jan 7, 1989
Vinnie Pacelli, a sleazy New York City yellow cab driver, picks up Tanya, a beautiful high-class fashion model, and immediately starts hitting on her. She refuses his advances at first but when he visits her at work to ask her out, she plays along and agrees. Vinnie also picks up an old strange praying woman who leaves behind her lottery ticket which Vinnie takes and keeps for himself. Tanya writes her address down on it for him. Meanwhile, Vinnie's caring, meekish, live-in girlfriend Sandy, a hairdressing assistant who works in an all-female hair salon, is convinced by her co-workers and her lady-boss to finally leave womanizing Vinnie. That night at Tanya's luxurious pad, Vinnie fails to perform sexually, so Tanya starts making fun of his masculinity. Humiliated, Vinnie becomes consumed by murderous rage and strangles Tanya. He goes home to his girlfriend and convinces her that three men attacked him that night, so that's why he's late and bloody. In the morning he learns that the ticket he has is the winning one but he can't turn it in as long as the address of the girl he murdered is still on it.
Episode 6
Don't Sell Yourself Short
Sat, Jan 14, 1989
Middle-aged low level stock brokers and best friends, meek Richard and assertive Michael, celebrate Richard's birthday. Richard suspects that his wife Joyce is cheating on him. Michael proposes a get-rich-quick scheme to him. If they kill a rich guy called Joseph Campbell, short-sell his stocks and buy majority share in a biotech firm called Dinogenics, they'd be rich. Richard doesn't like it but Michael insists that it's a good idea. Richard tries to kill Campbell but can't bring himself to do it. However, corrupt Securities and Exchange Commission officer and Richard and Michael's frienemy, Sam, kills him instead. This sets off a chain reaction that leads to more murders, double crosses and plot twists.
Episode 7
For Art's Sake
Sat, Jan 21, 1989
Arthur Hollister and his wife Debra (erroneously credited as Sarah in the episode's end credits) have a mutually lucrative secret arrangement - she paints and moulds, while he sells the art as his own since he's better at that side of the business. They have a contract with art dealer and gallery owner Erica Fortune. However, Arthur is also cheating on Debra with Erica and Erica is getting jealous. After being almost caught by Debra, Erica gives Arthur an ultimatum - either he leaves his wife for her or she'll tear the contract they have with her. Arthur consults with Time Magazine's art critic and friend Bryan Holland who warns him that they'll never find a good deal in New York again, if Erica dumps them. Fearing for his career, Arthur concludes that his only way out is to kill Erica. But things don't go as planned.
Episode 8
Murder in Mind
Sat, Jan 28, 1989
Comedy with a dark punchline about Julie Fenton, a thrill-seeking, hyperactive, murder mystery writer with a very vivid imagination, who's an outright chatterbox. One night, she becomes convinced that her strange neighbor across the street, Mr. Blanchard, has murdered his wife Ellen. This causes her to wildly speculate about it all night and imagine several ways in which he could have killed her. She even goes to his house to investigate. As she's doing all this, Julie is also constantly talking, either to her annoyed, dead tired husband, who keeps trying to get some precious sleep, or directly to the audience, breaking the forth wall.
Episode 9
Mirror, Mirror
Sat, Feb 4, 1989
Karen Lawson is on the edge of her nerves. She fears that she might be schizophrenic and a recent string of murders in her neighborhood has made her paranoid to boot. Her only comfort is her sister Kate with whom she talks to over the phone. Police lieutenant Trevor Reed and young sergeant Jim Sweeney talk to her about the murders. Later that day, hulking electrician Jimmy arrives to fix the malfunctioning lights in her dance club. Karen shows up and apparently tries to seduce him only to become terrified by him moments later. Jimmy doesn't appreciate this inexplicable change of heart and becomes violent. Meanwhile, Reed, who's also interested in Karen, goes to check up on her as well as check her up. What follows is Karen's deadly descent into madness. But is she really mad or is there another more sinister explanation behind both her sudden mood swings and the killings?
Episode 10
Skeleton in the Closet
Sat, Feb 11, 1989
Betty King is a happily married woman with a secret past. Her husband Tom is rich and successful and he's just been elected captain of the local golf club. The club's president Al Gordon and Betty's friend Janice congratulate her on this as well. Then again, the competition was thin. Several members have suddenly left town without notice. Everything is going great for Betty until shady lustful creeper from her past called Larry Niles shows up and blackmails her. Either she pays him off or he'll tell her new posh friends and husband about her short stint as a prostitute. Betty has no choice but to give in. She arrives at his hotel room and tries to play along but eventually snaps. In the morning, she and Tom are visited by the local unsuspecting friendly sheriff, Sam McKay. Things quickly take a strange, violent and unexpected turn for everyone, thanks in part to the infamous real-life serial killer Lizzie Borden.
Episode 11
In the Driver's Seat
Sat, Feb 18, 1989
David Whitmore is an abrasive former race car driver whose career ended after a nasty car crash that left him paralyzed from the waste down. He's being taken care of by his ten years younger, loving wife Rebecca, caring older sister Ann, dedicated personal trainer Ted and supportive best friend and personal physician Allan, who's actually optimistic about David's chances to walk again. Unfortunately, the only thing on David's obsessed mind is not his recovery but whether or not his wife is truly loyal to him. This paranoid obsession ends up pushing him over the edge and things get bloody fast.
Episode 12
Driving Under the Influence
Sat, Feb 25, 1989
Robert Logan is a successful middle-aged marketing executive and a functioning alcoholic. He's quite friendly and quaint but he also carries a dark secret from his past. One night, while returning from an office party where he had more drinks than he should have, a woman suddenly appears in front of Robert's car and he hits her. Confused and terrified, he stops and tries to help but eventually decides to leave her there and run away. Back at his home, his wife Monica confronts him about his drinking problem and decides to leave him over it. In the morning, his young colleague and friend from work Jason arrives at Robert's home to discuss some work-related matter and notices that Robert's car have a small damage on the front side. Meanwhile, Robert learns from a TV news report that the woman he hit is still alive. Later that day, he gets a call at work. The women on the other side claims to be his hit and run victim and asks for money to keep quiet. Robert opens up to Jason and asks for his support. Det. Frank Weston, who's investigating the hit and run case, shows up as well. Robert is about to face his dark past head on.
Episode 13
In the Name of Science
Sat, Mar 11, 1989
Dr. Rush, Dr. Hendricks, Dr. Clifford and their assistant Cindy Bertozzi are working in a secret government facility under the friendly gaze of their boss Dr. Bingham on a revolutionary formula for a miracle drug that could cure millions. However, Hendricks begins to suspect that something is very wrong with the place since they were all brought in drugged and the formula can actually also be used as a deadly biological weapon that could kill even more people than it can cure. Rush doesn't care either way and decides to escape the facility and sell the formula to the highest bidder. Clifford has seemingly gone stir crazy and just goofs around with everyone. Rush eventually does manage to break out only to realize that they were actually being held in a KGB facility in East Berlin. KGB agent offers him a deal - a briefcase full of money for the formula. But that's just the beginning of a series of shocking plot twists that ensue one after the other that make Rush question reality.
Episode 14
Romance Machine
Sat, Mar 25, 1989
In this darkly humorous Sci-Fi thriller set in a not too distant future, Eddie is a shy genius scientist, who works for a big high tech firm. He has a crush on his boss' secretary Paula. However, he's too shy to approach her and daydreams about her instead. One day, his favorite book "Cyrano de Bergerac" gives him an idea and he decides to make a fully functional sex bot named Edgar - a suave, smooth and sophisticated android double of himself that could seduce any woman out there. He tests it on Paula and the results are astonishing. He tells about this to his boss Jack Gold and Jack immediately loves the idea of a personal sex bot. However, when he asks Eddie for the android's machine code and blueprints, Eddie isn't ready to sell it to the company just yet. What Eddie doesn't realize is that Jack is very ambitious and greedy. What Jack doesn't realize is that Eddie is actually quite unhinged.
Episode 15
Diamonds Aren't Forever
Sat, Apr 15, 198930 mins
In this parody of James Bond movies, a suave gentlemanly super spy named James (played by former James Bond actor George Lazenby as an in-joke) is on a mission to retrieve a valuable stolen golden statue from a quaint isolated hotel in a forest. In medias res, he escapes from Soviet Colonel Volosnikov's plane and uses a parachute with a huge Union Jack emblem on it to arrive at his destination only to find a cast of oddball characters there, each of whom could be the secret Soviet spy who knows where the statue is hidden. Mickey is a former mental patient who suffers from blackouts during which he has violent episodes. A.C. Boone is a 30-something nature documentarian, who's never been with a woman due to his pathological shyness, and has come to the hotel to hang himself. Honi is a bimbo, who wants to be an actress. She thinks Boone is a famous porn director and plans to show him why she'd be a great leading lady. Rachel is Mickey's therapist. He has a mad crush on her, but she's oblivious to it and considers their relationship to be strictly professional. She has brought Mickey to this place to help him relax and complete his therapy. Barney is the hotel's weird bartender. There's also a muscly lumberjack, who helps Mrs. Pickett, the nice lady who owns the hotel and also works as the hotel's receptionist. When someone murders Mrs. Pickett with a sickle that night, everyone's a suspect. The episode features a theme song "My Guy's a Spy" that sounds very much like Shirley Bassey's Diamonds Are Forever.
Episode 16
My Dear Watson
Sat, Apr 22, 1989
Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestrade seek kidnapped Dr. Watson.
Episode 17
Night Creatures
Sat, Apr 29, 1989
Journalist Holly and her photographer Freak, who's into the occult, are sent to interview famous reclusive rock star Martin Lecross, who's shtick is to pretend to be a vampire on stage, after his show in a night club. Holly's boyfriend Cooper is there as well. Max Cantilever, the night club manager, is of no help since he pretends he knows nothing about Lecross. When Lecross turns out to be an actual vampire and tries to turn Holly into one, because he believes she's his reincarnated bride and they're meant to be together, Freak and Cooper try to save her. The episode is constructed like a backdoor pilot.
Episode 18
The Man Who Knew Too Little
Sat, Jul 8, 1989
Bill Stewart wakes up in a nice hotel room with no memory of who he is or what he's doing there. Through interviews with the hotel staff and split second flashbacks, he manages to piece together that he's probably there because of a business conference organized by the head of a chemical company. During his hotel investigation into his identity, he finds an ally in Cassie Wilson, a girl he seems to have spent the previous night with. However, things escalate when she gets abducted in front of the hotel in broad daylight and Bill finds an intruder in his hotel room, who immediately tries to kill him. The episode seems to have been a pilot for a show loosely based on Hitchcock's film of the same name.
Episode 19
Reunion
Sat, Jul 15, 198930 mins
On the night of the anniversary of their colonel's death in a skirmish during the Vietnam War, veteran Paul Stebbins and six of his surviving squadmates meet each year at the villa of the colonel's widow to commemorate their fallen comrades. Everyone is showing signs of PTSD and tensions rise. The release of everyone's pent up emotions comes in the form of a reenactment of the battle in which the colonel and some of their squad members had died. Will this help Paul face the reality of what happened on that horrific night or will this be just another ceremonial reunion?
Episode 20
South by Southeast
Sat, Jul 22, 198930 mins
Michael Roberts is a disgruntled actor who's been offered the lead role in a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's classic mistaken identity action thriller North by Northwest (1959). Michael hates both Hitchcock and the idea but his experienced agent Mary convinces him to at least meet with the producers. A train ride later across the state, Michael arrives at the hotel Hilton and jokingly identifies himself as Grant to the receptionist. Sitting in the hotel lobby, vamp henchwoman Francesca hears this, approaches Michael and takes him to the private business suite of a secretive Van Dorn. Van Dorm asks Michael about Mr. Houseman which means nothing to Michael who still thinks that Van Dorn is the producer with whom he's suppose to meet in the hotel. Unfortunately for Michael, he is not, and things escalate quickly. Eventually Michael finds an ally who might be able to help him clear things up in an attractive toy store owner, Susan Sullivan. The entire episode is a self-aware spoof of North by Northwest in tribute to Hitchcock and serves as the series finale.