A pickup cartridge for a video disc player encloses a stylus arm unit comprising a stylus arm carrying a stylus at one end thereof. A connector plate is secured to the other end of the stylus arm via a compliant member. A spring at the stylus carrying end of the stylus arm releasably retracts the stylus arm to a position within the confines of the cartridge. A diaphragm flexibly suspends the connector plate in the cartridge at an angular orientation relative to the cartridge so that, when the stylus arm is held in the retracted position in the cartridge, the compliant member is not under stress. When the cartridge is installed in the video disc player, a support member engages the connector plate to change its orientation with respect to the cartridge such as to permit the stylus to be moved to protrude outside the confines of the cartridge without bending or stressing the compliant member.