Thu, Oct 18, 1962
A mystery novelist sends a series of weird audiotapes to his publisher. On the first tape, the author boasts that the publisher won't be able to discern if the story he narrates is the history of an imminent murder - or a mere fantasy. The author tells of his brief marriage ending when his wife was killed after he lost control of their car. They were kissing, making up after an argument over his wife's staying out all night with a rich old man, the same evening the author was briefly with the man's alluring, young wife Janet. Janet made a pass at the author, who immediately cut the evening short. The author says he fell into a severe depression, declined a needed brain operation, moved from France to San Francisco where he changed his name, then became a mystery writer. The tapes relate how the author eventually ran into Janet , and though she's still married, dived into an affair. When she and the author begin to plan her husband's murder, the publisher calls in another of his mystery novelists to determine: are these tapes just an unorthodox pitch of a new novel - or the bizarre confession of a deranged killer?
Thu, Oct 25, 1962
On her way back to the nunnery, a beautiful novice loses a priceless 15th-century Donatello statuette donated to the convent by an aging criminal seeking redemption for his illegal endeavors. To track it down, the guilt-ridden young woman leaves the order and dives naively into the sleazy world of the criminal who stole the icon from her at a train station on her return trip.
Thu, Nov 1, 1962
A disturbed man's other identity snares others in a perilous web. David is a successful, quiet young scientist - but on weekends he has an impeccable country cottage where as the confident William, he fantasizes as if actually entertaining ex-girlfriend Annabel, now happily married nearby. When his co-workers, one of whom has a crush on David, follow him up the coast, David's dream world by the sea for Annabel, morphs into a nightmare for all.
Thu, Nov 22, 1962
An unfaithful wife taunts her husband that she's ditching him for a real man. As the drunken couple argue on the stern of a yacht, the normally timid husband shoves her overboard to drown. The society party-goers on the boat support his tale that the wife accidentally fell overboard that night, and the police believe the husband, too. At first, he's relieved, then gradually guilt takes him over, but friends feel his panicky behavior is grief. The widower blurts the murder to his friends, but his story was so convincing they downplay his confession, not wanting to be involved in an embarrassing murder inquiry. As his internal pressure mounts, the killer desperately seeks a way out.
Fri, Jan 4, 1963
An inquest rules a wife's death as accidental, but when the widower returns to work, it seems someone is tricking him, including a letter accusing him of murder and one of his wife's letters appearing, revealing she had a lover. Increasingly the widower's own mind tricks him, rejecting logical explanations, instead angrily confronting his co-workers.
Fri, Jan 18, 1963
A beautiful young newlywed is wary of her much-older husband's business trip leaving her alone in their beach house. A group of beach boys and a neighboring screenwriter provide her some company, unwanted by the husband. When an Hispanic man knocks on her door at night asking for help, she turns him away, leading to tragic consequences.
Fri, Feb 1, 1963
At first, a childless young couple are thrilled to relocate for the husband's new executive job, and especially happy with their new home. Is the next-door neighbor boy's cruelty to them just a youngster rebelling against his blue-collar, strict father? The husband's empathy for the boy drives a dangerous wedge into their marriage.
Fri, Apr 5, 1963
Mousy bank teller Oscar Blenny, a guest at a desert casino, is enamored of Eva, a seductive casino hostess who's having affairs with two male co-workers. With the sinister Bill, she's conniving to rip off the casino. When her superior discovers she's two-timing him, their confrontation turns violent and she kills him. Realizing that Oscar is just outside the room, she screams so schlemiel Oscar can corroborate her damsel-in-distress excuse of self-defense. The casino owner limits the publicity damage by firing Eva and exiling Bill, who drops Eva cold, to Mexico. The now unemployed Eva cadges a ride to L.A. with Oscar and soon they are wed. When Oscar is nominated for a promotion, slovenly alcoholic Eva is a big liability, especially when Bill resurfaces in L.A. Does Eva kill Bill, will Bill reveal all about Eva, or will Oscar decline the award?