All language subtitles for Alfred Hitchcock s05e12 Specialty Of The House

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. A
dear friend invited me to this picnic,

he doesn't seem to be around.

I seldom go on safaris of this kind.

They can be simulated perfectly in your
own home, thanks to these two shakers.

You just sprinkle these on your
sandwiches. This one contains sand,

and this one, ant.

The reason for my invitation is now
obvious.

Rattlesnake sticks in the original
package.

While I attempt to unravel this mystery,
we have one for you to puzzle over.

Here it is.

Shouldn't we go lower, Mr. Lester? Come
on, come on. But you're out of breath.

Now wait here and I'll try and find a
taxi.

Don't make that disgusting noise. There
are no taxis here. Come on. I'm not out

of breath. It's the excitement. It
always happens.

It's hard to imagine the office is only
five blocks away. When I enter this

street, the whole city ceases to exist.
Look, there it is.

You mean this is the restaurant you've
been telling me about?

You mustn't judge by appearances.

It isn't only a restaurant.

It's a club.

The only club of its kind.

The world.

Come along.

Beyond this door, we leave behind us the
vulgarity of our time.

Two qualities are missing from this day
and age.

Mystery and dignity.

Especially mystery.

Inside, they're both restored to us.

Do I sound pompous?

Of course you'll say no, since I'm your
employer.

Good evening, sir.

Mr. Laffer and guests.

Let me take your coat.

You make me feel as if we're going into
a temple, not a restaurant. In a sense,

we are.

I hope you're not being facetious.

You do realize what a privilege it is to
be invited to eat here.

Oh, I do. I'm so sorry if I gave you the
wrong impression.

Good evening, sir. Good evening.

Ah, Henlein, eating alone tonight?

Where's Jackson?

Resigned.

Resigned? But he's just been elected a
life member.

Good evening, sir. Oh, Carlton, come
here.

I want you to meet Mr. Lom Fong Ho, one
of our vice presidents.

Mr. Costin, a business associate of
mine.

How do you do, sir? Mr. Lom Fong Ho is
from Singapore.

I make three visits a year from
Singapore just to eat here. Bon appétit.

Well, what do you think of our little
club?

Plenty of atmosphere anyway.

Are there many members?

Exactly 40.

No, only 39 now that Jackson's resigned.

Can't understand it.

Suppose it must be true.

Yes, there's his picture on the wall.

The Jackson's the puffy one.

At the end.

Excuse me, sir.

Did you wish to dine now?

Is the specialty of the house being
served tonight?

I am so sorry, sir. Not tonight. I've
waited so long now.

So has everyone else, sir.

Soon, I imagine, we shall have our
patients rewarded.

Oh, I hope so.

Hope so.

Very well, you can start serving.

Yes, sir.

Don't you have menus?

Bye, dear boy.

When you've studied the art of fine
eating as long and as vigorously as I

you won't trouble with menus.

Some printer prints, some head waiter
writes words on a card. What do they

Sauce Mornay, the menu tells us.

Who can say with what love and care the
bechamel was prepared from which the

Mornay is derived?

Who can say with what tenderness the
cheese was grated?

Who can say whether the result...

will be a delight or a disappointment.

Here at Spiro's, we have no doubts. We
ask no questions. We only know that

is a genius in the kitchen.

I know good food when I taste it, Mr.
Lafleur. I know you do, my boy. That's

it's such a pleasure to introduce you to
Spiro's.

What are we going to have?

I can't tell you that.

Spiro offers no choice.

We all eat the same meal.

All I can tell you is that it will be
extraordinary.

Is it different every night?

Always different.

Always superb.

What happens if a member of the club
doesn't like a particular dish being

on a certain evening?

My mother used to say, we eat what's set
before us, and we like it.

I'm sorry I can't offer you a cocktail.

We only drink wine here, you know. No
slits.

what I hoped. I wanted so much to
introduce you to Spiro's master.

I don't want to presume, Mr. Latler, but
perhaps when the specialty of the house

is being served, you'll invite me again.
One never knows. That's the trouble.

One never knows.

Eat your soup.

Very good.

You don't find it good at all. You find
it flat.

I know, because when I was permitted to
join the club a few months ago, I felt

exactly the same about it. I just
thought it could use a little salt.

No salt. No salt.

Keep the palate pure.

We don't allow any condiments here. Not
even salt.

At Spiros, the taste buds are refined to
the ultimate degree.

Spiros... Here comes the main course.

Wouldn't you enjoy your soup?

I must admit, it did have an unusual
flavor.

Very good.

Can't possibly compare to the specialty
of the house.

And what might that specialty be?

Nightingale's tongues or brochette?

Fillet of unicorn?

Lamb armistan.

I've never heard of it. Of course you
haven't.

Very fine, but not lamb armistan.

However, perhaps you're free tomorrow
night. Yes, sir.

We don't want to be late, you know.

Tonight.

Could be the night.

But I'm not at all disappointed, Mr.
Latter. This is the most extraordinary

I've ever eaten. It was not lamb
armistron.

What is this lamb you're so keen on?

Keen on?

We crave it, all of us here.

Well, where does it come from?

According to Spiro, armistron is a
desolate plateau on the boundary of

in Africa.

Share a small but superb flock of sheep.

Graze on the delicate grasses which are
only to be found there. And which give

the lamb its incredible flavor.

I can't say I've ever heard of it. Of
course you can't.

This is the only restaurant in the world
where you can get it. The only one in

the world.

And do all these men feel the same way
about it?

Yes.

We all feel the same.

But lamb, our mestran.

Sort of an obsession.

I have two other obsessions.

One of them is to become a life member
of the club.

The other, to see the kitchens where
these miracles are performed.

Well, why don't you ask Spiro?

I have many times.

I've always been refused.

Doesn't like anybody poking around in
the pots and pans, I suppose.

What sort of a fellow is he?

Where does he come from?

Good evening.

Spiro, good evening.

I think we shall be having the
speciality of the house very soon, my

Spiro, I have a request.

Oh, I couldn't possibly do that. No, no,
no, it's about the club.

Oh, our little club pleases you? Well,
that's putting it mildly. I suppose

there's no chance of my becoming a
member.

Who can say?

But we have here a very... long period
of... Probation?

Testing.

Sometimes months.

I'd be glad to wait.

He has nice manners, your friend.

Yes, I'm going to put him in charge of
my office. I must have someone to look

after it while I'm away.

Mr. Lafleur. He's modest, too.

From the high priestess of our kitchen,
that's praise indeed.

He flatters me.

I merely supervise.

The only dish I prepare personally is
the lamb armistron.

I've been preparing it now for three
days.

Oh.

There's a marinating process, you
understand.

Ah.

I've heard a great deal about it.

And it lives up to its reputation,
doesn't it?

It does indeed.

I'd really like to see how you make it.
Cost 10.

You must forgive my friend. He doesn't
understand.

Don't be angry with him.

I'm not too angry.

Will you return tomorrow night?

If I may.

The speciality should be ready.

You invite him, but he's not a member.

Your friend is always welcome.

Spiro said they're serving the specialty
of the house tonight. I don't want you

here. Go away.

Why? Why not?

Why should I share it with you? It'll be
less for me, less for the other

members. Well, then I shall go in by
myself.

They won't let you in.

Spiro will let me in. Cothran, I order
you to go away. Go back.

Mr. Lafleur.

Let me in.

Spiro, let me in.

Mr. Castaigne, Mr. Lafleur's friend.

Let him in.

I'm sorry sir.

Well, now you know where we keep the
Amsterdam accounts.

Now, in this file, we have the Far
Eastern contracts.

You'd better ask Miss Hinkle to give you
the address of the firms in Mexico and

Canada we do business with. I've already
checked on those, Mr. Latler.

Oh.

I'll only be away a month. Perhaps I'll
be back sooner. I hope you will, sir.

Meanwhile, I'm sure I can leave
everything safely in your hands. Oh, you

sir. I trust you completely.

These last few weeks... Eating together
at Spiro's seemed to have brought us

very close.

Yes, sir. These are the keys.

This is the combination of the safe.

And how can I get in touch with you,
sir? You'll find my itinerary on the

Now then, shall I take the bags with me
now? No, we'll leave them here and then

we'll pick them up after dinner. Come
on, I want to have time to enjoy my last

meal at Spiro's.

Well, my last meal for a few weeks. I
must get off a memorandum to the London

office about that shipment of box I were
expecting, and it must go tonight. I'll

join you as quickly as I can.

By the way, I haven't told you.

My application for life membership at
Spiro's has been favorably received.

Oh, congratulations, sir. I've got
another surprise for you.

I've persuaded Spiro to make you a
member.

I'm really very grateful, sir.

I thought you'd be pleased.

Oh, yes, very.

Well, don't be long.

Goodbye, Miss Hinkle.

Goodbye, sir.

Oh, Miss Hinkle, there's one more thing
I'd like you to do for me tonight, a

memorandum to London. I'll dictate it
now and you can type it in the morning.

Very well, Mr.

Castaigne. Oh, by the way, Miss Hinkle,
I'll be using this office.

Costain speaking.

Oh, yes, Spiro.

No, I haven't forgotten.

He hit his head on the pavement.

We'd better call the police.

No, not the police.

Spiro would not like it.

Spiro wouldn't? Why not? What happened,
Paul?

Oh, sir, I don't know. I was hurrying,
so as not to be late for work, and this

man, he jumped on me.

He wanted my money. I don't know why.

So you... You had saved my life.

Oh, nonsense. No, you'd better go and
wash up and get ready for work.

Oh, good evening, headline.

Good evening.

I hear you're off on a trip tonight.

Yes, I was going to inspect our branches
abroad.

Oh, we will miss you.

Oh, how kind of you to say so.

Mr. Lapser, Mr.

Henlein.

My friend, the young man, Mr.

Costain, will arrive late.

Personally, I'm not looking forward to
the trip.

And I always hate eating in strange
restaurants. Our food here surpasses

anything in the world. I quite agree
with you. Will you excuse me? It's my

evening before I go. And I'm sure that
Spiro will have a special treat for me.

How are you feeling now, eh?

Oh, I am so grateful to you, sir.

I will never forget.

No nonsense.

Don't give it another thought.

The specialty of the house is being
served again tonight, isn't it?

I am terribly sorry, sir. Not tonight.

That's monstrous. Send Spiro to me at
once.

Yes, sir.

Good evening, Sparrow.

Oh, Mr. Cockpit.

Good evening.

Oh, you brought it. Good.

Excuse me. Mr. Lafley wishes to see you
at once. He's very upset.

Excuse me.

What is it, Mr.

Lafleur? Spiro, you knew I was going
away.

But you'll be back. That's not the
point. You knew I was going away on this

Tartham journey. You might at least have
had the lamb for me on my last evening.

Oh, it must be an oversight on the part
of the chef.

Come with me into the kitchen.

Let's see what we can do about it.

Do not go into the kitchen. Out of my
way, you idiot. I've been waiting this

for months.

But where's the chef?

In there.

Oh, it's superb.

Just as I imagined it. May I?

May I look round?

Yes,

indeed. I want to offer him my heartfelt
congratulations.

How do you do?

Oh, well, he looks there among our other
absent friends.

I shall be expecting you to dine with us
more often now that Mr. Lafner is away.

Perhaps we shall have the specialty of
the house again soon.

Next week, maybe?

It takes time to prepare.

But I think... I think I can promise
you.

I trust you understand that our having
Mrs. Spiro on our program does not

necessarily constitute an endorsement of
her or her restaurant.

You know, I'm wondering if picnics might
not be as bad as I imagined.

I haven't even seen any ants.

Until next time, when I shall return
with another story.

Good night.