"One Step Down" is an episode from "Kraft Suspense Theatre"....a highly underrated 1960s suspense show. It stars Gena Rowlands, Leslie Nielsen and Ira Lupino.
When the story begins, Janet (Rowlands) enters a hotel room with a man you assume is her husband. However, when the man soon keels over from a heart attack, her behaviors betray that she is NOT his wife....and the pair were having an affair. This is because Janet doesn't call the police from the room but goes to a payphone to alert the police....but she doesn't give her name and she soon hangs up.
While the police rule that no foul play was involved, the dead man's crazed and heavy-drinking wife, Harriet (Lupino) places all the blame for the affair and death on 'the other woman' and she vows to find the woman and exact her revenge. Interestingly, it turns out Janet IS Harriet's good friend....and Janet and her husband (Nielsen) are the ones that go to Harriet to comfort her when the police tell her about the husband being found dead.
Soon Harriet has paid for a private eye (Phillip Pine) and he goes back to talk with the sleazy motel manager (Jack Weston), The motel manager says he can't identify the woman...but soon he approaches Janet with blackmail demands! Wow, is Janet in trouble now....and you sure wonder what's coming up next!
This is one of the least suspenseful episodes of the series. I've seen every episode and can say that. But it IS so well acted and well written that I really didn't care. Kudos all around for a very interesting show.
When the story begins, Janet (Rowlands) enters a hotel room with a man you assume is her husband. However, when the man soon keels over from a heart attack, her behaviors betray that she is NOT his wife....and the pair were having an affair. This is because Janet doesn't call the police from the room but goes to a payphone to alert the police....but she doesn't give her name and she soon hangs up.
While the police rule that no foul play was involved, the dead man's crazed and heavy-drinking wife, Harriet (Lupino) places all the blame for the affair and death on 'the other woman' and she vows to find the woman and exact her revenge. Interestingly, it turns out Janet IS Harriet's good friend....and Janet and her husband (Nielsen) are the ones that go to Harriet to comfort her when the police tell her about the husband being found dead.
Soon Harriet has paid for a private eye (Phillip Pine) and he goes back to talk with the sleazy motel manager (Jack Weston), The motel manager says he can't identify the woman...but soon he approaches Janet with blackmail demands! Wow, is Janet in trouble now....and you sure wonder what's coming up next!
This is one of the least suspenseful episodes of the series. I've seen every episode and can say that. But it IS so well acted and well written that I really didn't care. Kudos all around for a very interesting show.