Thriller (TV Series)

The Hungry Glass (1961)

Russell Johnson: Adam Talmadge

Quotes 

• [the real estate agent, Adam Talmadge, and his wife, Liz, are giving the Talmadges a lift to the old Bellmans' mansion] 

  Gil Thrasher : Adam! The truth now. The people who built that place, where were they from?

  Adam Talmadge : The Bellmans? Pennsylvania, I think.

  Gil Thrasher : Sure it wasn't Transylvania?

  [Everyone laughs] 

  Adam Talmadge : The mirrors! Then that's what the old coots were bending your ears about.

  Gil Thrasher : [cheerfully]  Now, look. I'll admit that you warned us that the roof leaks and the cellar floods and the shutters go "Bang!". But what's this about no mirrors?

  Adam Talmadge : Didn't I tell you why you got the place so cheap?

  Gil Thrasher : You said the local characters think it's unlucky.

  Adam Talmadge : Unlucky because of the broken mirrors. Gil, you have no idea how these people can build up a story. Seems there were some nasty accidents up there, years ago. A couple of people killed by shattered glass. So now the yarn's been worked around to where they were actually murdered by the mirrors - with malice aforethought.

  Marcia Thrasher : [jovially]  Seems logical!

  Gil Thrasher : [also cheerful]  Sure, some mornings when I'm shaving, the guy in the glass looks pretty deadly. Especially with a razor in his hand!

  [Everyone laughs] 

  Adam Talmadge : Well, I hadn't thought about it, but I'd better get you some sort of mirror, at least until you get settled.

  Marcia Thrasher : Never mind, there's one in my traveling case.

  Gil Thrasher : Marcia couldn't live without her mirrors.

  [He reaches for her affectionately] 

  Marcia Thrasher : [also affectionately]  What woman could?

• [When they enter the old Bellman's mansion for the first time, Liz Talmadge shines her flashlight around] 

  Liz Talmadge : Well, well! "Early Mausoleum."

  Marcia Thrasher : But, Liz, what a challenge!

  Liz Talmadge : Granted. If you choose a house to pick a fight with!

  Gil Thrasher : Marcia's a decorator, I'm a photographer. We'll do a before-and-after layout that'll cover the down payment.

  Marcia Thrasher : You'll see. It'll be a show-place!

  Liz Talmadge : [drily]  Like Madame Tussaud's.

  [Adam Talmadge enters, bringing the Thrashers' luggage in, out of the wind-storm. He joins the others in looking around at their new estate] 

  Adam Talmadge : Well, Liz, now do you believe that I can sell anything?

• Adam Talmadge : Right this way. I built a fire in the living room.

  Marcia Thrasher : Oh, I love a fire!

  Liz Talmadge : [saucily]  And if you're lucky, it might spread.

• [Talmadge leads them into a large but dark and dirty room] 

  Adam Talmadge : Of course, we use the term "living room" rather loosely.

  Gil Thrasher : Your husband doesn't believe in the hard sell.

  Marcia Thrasher : Who needs it? Behold!

  [Marcia pulls open draperies that reveal an enormous window overlooking the ocean] 

  Marcia Thrasher : Now, I ask you!

  Liz Talmadge : Wow! Wide screen!

  Marcia Thrasher : Is that too much? Our own private ocean!

  Adam Talmadge : And, by a startling coincidence, here's a bottle that came all the way across it.

  Gil Thrasher : Hey! Champagne! And chilled, too.

  Adam Talmadge : Yeah, I put it on ice when I built the fire. Now, how many real estate agents would supply these sensitive little touches?

  Liz Talmadge : [smiling widely]  Only those with a guilty conscience, dear.

  Marcia Thrasher : Actually, Liz, we practically had to force him to take our money. Here's what really sold us.

  [She gestures at the view of the ocean] 

  Adam Talmadge : [working the cork on the champagne]  You never *have* heard my pitch, have you? Well, better late than never.

  Adam Talmadge : [He opens the champagne and pours into the glasses that Gil holds]  I propose a toast to your new home at Cape Caution, folks. A year-around playground where there's never a dull moment. Something stirring every second. For example, in the winter-time, you can sit on the east side of your house and follow the sun around to the west

  [Liz smiles to herself, looking around the room] 

  Adam Talmadge : Then, in the summer-time, you can sit on the west side of your house...

  [Liz looks past Marcia, her eyes widen, and she points and screams in terror] 

• Adam Talmadge : When my wife is having a good time, she tends to scream a little.

• [toasting with champagne] 

  Adam Talmadge : Champagne to our real friends, and real pain to our sham friends!