All language subtitles for Alfred Hitchcock s06e22 The Horse Player

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Someone had the brilliant idea that I
should don this costume in order to

dramatize the title of tonight's play.
It is called The Horse Player.

Just a moment, you forgot something.

I'm sure you want to know who authored
this clever charade.

His previous works include the following
one -minute audio collage.

Be our protection against the wickedness
which snares the devil.

May God rebuke him with holy prayer and
do thou a prince of the heavenly host.

God send hell, Satan, all the evil
spirits who wander through the world,

to ruin my soul.

Amen. Amen.

Most sacred heart of Jesus.

Have mercy on us. Most sacred heart of
Jesus.

Have mercy on us.

Most sacred heart of Jesus.

Have mercy on us.

I have been asked to announce that the
meeting of the Mother's Committee has

been postponed until next Thursday.

Now, Mr. Cheever, I would take space.

Father, I mean, I brought those figures
we were talking about. I'm afraid it's

not very good news.

You see, Father, it's not just a matter
of a few broken shingles.

I could plug up one leak, all right, but
another would just break out someplace

else. Yes, I understand, Mr. Cheever.

You're going to have to have a whole new
set of drains, downspouts.

I just can't see it being managed for
anything less than $1 ,500.

Well, I'm sure you've done your best.

Unfortunately, Mr. Cheever, it seems
that the church treasury has as many

as the church roof. We've had so many
repairs this year. But I've placed the

facts before the bishop, and maybe he
can work a minor miracle.

Meanwhile, well, we can only hope for
fair weather.

I'm very sorry, Father. Thank you.

Goodbye.

Oh, Father.

Will you take a look up there?

What is it?

Ten dollar bill, Father.

So it is.

I don't think I've seen a ten dollar
bill in a midweek collection since

the war.

Did you see who the kind owner was?

Oh, I couldn't help noticing him, sir.

Even before he gave me his donation.

He was in the first pew on the left.

I don't think he's ever been at service
before.

What was so unusual about him?

Well... Sort of a rough -looking fellow,
sir.

Sort of sporty clothes.

Oh, you mean the gentleman in the sport
shirt.

Oh, yes, I did see him.

I don't think it's very charitable of
you, Morton, to criticise his attire.

Oh, I wasn't criticising him, sir.

Especially after I saw his donation.

Well, I didn't quite mean it like that,
sir.

I understand how you feel.

It does seem a shame that we should be
so preoccupied without expenses, but...

I'm sure things will improve.

Yes, Father. The Lord will provide.

Amen.

Aramis. Arate frate.

Just for a moment. Oh, sure, Father.

I've been wanting to talk to you for the
past week.

Oh, really?

By the way, I enjoyed your sermon very
much, Father.

Oh, I hope you realize that some of it
was meant for you. I couldn't help

noticing how generous you've been to our
poor church.

Are you new in the parish?

Oh, no. I've been around this
neighborhood over 20 years now. Only,

ain't never been much for churches. In
fact, the first time I came in here was

about two weeks ago on a Tuesday.

Well, I'm certainly glad that you've
changed your mind.

Seems to me I've seen you here several
times during the past two weeks. Well,

yeah. It's okay, ain't it, Father? I
mean, you don't mind, huh?

Mind?

Why should I mind?

Well, I don't know.

By the way, my name is Sheridan, and I
sure appreciate it, Father. It's meant

awful lot to me to come here to the
church.

Well, I'm glad.

Yeah, I'm glad, too. You see, when I saw
that little sign of yours, you know, a

little sign you got outside that says,
uh, try prayer?

I says to myself, what have you got to
lose? You ain't had no luck at nothing

else, so why not give this prayer thing
a chance? So I came in and tried it. Did

it help?

Oh, boy, I'll say it helped.

Well, that makes me very happy to hear
you say so, Mr. Sheridan. You won't

believe this, Father, but that day I had
six winners out of eight.

Six out of eight, and one of them was a
20 -to -1 shot.

I never had a day like that since I've
been going to the track.

In fact, I was down to my last two
bucks.

Just a moment.

I don't understand what you mean.

The track, Father. You know, the horses.

Look, I don't want you to get sore. I
suppose a guy like you, you probably

go in for gambling and stuff like that,
huh?

You mean my sermon sent you to the
racetrack? Oh, no. I was going to go

I go to the track all the time. That's
how I make me living.

See, I used to be in the hardware
business, but I got kind of tired of it.

as I say, when I saw that sign of yours,
I said, why don't we give it a whirl,

Charlie? What have we got to lose?

So, I started praying.

Boy, how I prayed.

Give me a winner, please.

Please, God, give me a winner.

So what happened?

I got six of them. And I've been picking
them real good ever since.

Mr. Sheridan, I don't think you
understood my message at all.

I said that prayer could work miracles,
but not for such selfish aims.

Well, it sure was a miracle, all right,
Father, and believe me, I owe it all to

you. There's been a misunderstanding.

You've made a mistake, Mr. Sheridan.

Prayer isn't intended for horse races.

You can't pray for your purse and
neglect your soul.

Oh, I thought you'd be sore.

Oh, no, I'm not angry. Just look at it
this way.

Now, suppose...

Everyone at the track prayed for his
horse to win. Now, you know that isn't

possible, don't you?

So don't you realize what a dilemma
would be presented to the Lord?

Is that fair?

Yeah, I never thought of it that way. I
guess you're right.

Then you do see the error of it.

Well, yeah, it would be tough. That is,
if everybody prayed for a winner. Only

they don't, see?

Everybody ain't wise to this prayer
racket, Father. And that's their hard

ain't it?

Come in.

Father, Amy. Yes, Morton?

That man, he's back again.

I suppose you mean Mr. Sheridan. Yes,
Father.

As I passed this pew a few minutes ago,
he kept saying something about Satan.

Satan? Oh, I don't think you heard
correctly, Morton. Oh, yes, I did,

kept saying Satan or devil or something
like that.

That's it.

Red Devil. He kept saying it over and
over. I wouldn't worry about it, Morton.

Red Devil is undoubtedly the name of a
horse.

Excuse me, could I see Father Rameon for
a minute?

Come in, Mr. Sheridan.

I, uh... Hate to butt in on you like
this, Father. I know you're a busy man.

That's quite all right, Mr. Sheridan. I
just came in to make a little donation.

By the way, you know that rope of yours
is leaking?

I just got a shot of water right in the
head.

I'm aware of it. Well, anyway, as I was
saying, I came in to donate this 30

bucks. You see, I was out to track
yesterday, and I had a pretty good

on a horse named Branding Iron.

You know, one of the horses that I was
praying for.

So, as they lined up at the starting
gate, I said to myself, if Branding Iron

wins this race, I'm giving 30 bucks to
the church.

So, there you are, Father.

He wins by seven lengths.

There's no need for you to tell me where
your donation comes from, Mr. Sheridan.

I thank you for it.

But I'd rather not discuss the source.

Oh, you're still mad at me, huh?

I was never mad at you.

I'm praying for you, Mr. Sheridan.

Oh, you are?

Boy, now I know I can't miss.

Oh, don't misunderstand me.

I'm praying for your soul, not your
horses.

Oh. Now, I don't want you to think that
I'm ungrateful.

Frankly, as you know, our church is a
poor one, and we can use any donations.

You've been a great help, and I
appreciate it.

You're welcome, Father, and you deserve
it.

And if I ever get anything special, you
know, a horse that's real hot and you'd

like to put down a little money...
Really, Mr. Sheridan?

Wait a minute.

I think I got just the horse for you.

Red Devil on the 4th race at Belmont.

Do you mind if I use your phone a
second? Mr. Sheridan, remember where you

I'm sorry, Father. I only thought
that... I have no wish to interfere with

way of life.

And I certainly don't want to be
involved in it.

Our church will survive without
racehorses.

You take care of that coal, Mr. Spencer,
and tell your husband I'll stop by to

see him next week.

Hi, Father. Can I give you a lift?

No, thank you.

I'm only going a few blocks, and I'd
rather enjoy the walk.

How do you like it? Brand new, and I
don't even know a nickel on it.

It's a very handsome vehicle.

Yeah, thanks.

Funny how these things work out, huh?
You know, it was less than a month ago I

only had two bucks to me name.

Remarkable. You know something, Father?

You know how many winners I had last
week alone?

No. Fourteen out of eighteen.

Seems every time I pray real hard for a
horse, it turns out to be practically a

short thing.

Say, Father, I couldn't help but notice
that roof of yours still needs fixing.

You ain't had no luck raising the dough,
huh?

Not for the moment, no.

Well, look, I know how you feel about
the races and all that, but if you've

a few bucks to spare, there's a horse
going this afternoon named Sally's Pal.

Mr. Shatters, I thought we'd close that
subject.

Well, just listen to me a minute,
Father. Let me tell you about this

see, they've been training him in
secret, and I got it straight from the

that the horse is absolutely ready.

In fact, he busted the track record by
over two -fifths of a second. Not only

once, but a couple of times.

This afternoon, he's starting his first
big race, and all he's got against him

is a bunch of broken -down fillies.
Well, I don't have to tell you, Father.

know how colts run away from fillies.

I know nothing of the kind.

Well, take my word for it, Father. They
run like burglars.

And according to the morning line, the
horse ought to pay about 15 to 1,

probably even more than that. So it
looks like a pretty good spot for you to

pick up a fast buck.

And if I really start praying... I'm
afraid I have to go, Mr.

Sheridan. I have a church council
meeting this morning.

Oh, well, it's up to you, Father. All I
know is I'm putting my last buck on this

horse right on the nose. So if
everything goes all right, I probably

seeing you around no more.

Why is that?

Well, I guess I forgot to tell you. I'm
buying me a place down in Florida. It's

got a wonderful location right between
the Catholic Church and Hialeah.

Well, I wish you the best of luck, Mr.
Sheridan. I really do.

Thank you, Father.

Mr. Sheridan, you're really short of
this horse, aren't you?

Oh, sure. I'm absolutely positive,
Father. You know, like I told you, I've

praying real hard all week, plus which I
know the horse has got the stuff.

If someone bet $500 on this horse, what
might he

expect to win?

Well, let me see here. Leavers say the
worst comes to the worst, and the horse

only pays ten bucks.

The least a guy could pick up would be
about $2 ,500.

$2 ,500?

Mm -hmm.

Mr. Sheridan, if I were to give you
$500, could you arrange

this transaction for me?

You mean it, Father?

Would you?

Well, sure, I'd be glad to. You know,
you do unto me, I do unto you.

Good morning, Father. Good morning.

Closing out your savings account?

Yes. Anything wrong, Father? Nothing
wrong.

Our service has been satisfactory,
hasn't it?

Very satisfactory.

How would you like the money, Father?

Doesn't matter. Oh, put it in large
bills, please.

Fifty? That will do.

Thank you. Thank you, Father.

Okay, Father.

Good luck to it.

I don't know what came over me, Your
Excellency. I've never done such a thing

before. Now, now, Father.

I find it hard to believe you could have
done anything really wrong.

At the moment I did it, I regretted it.
If I could have found the man, I would

have stopped him.

I don't even know where to reach him.
Please, Father.

How can I help you if I don't know what
it is you've done?

Your Excellency, I bet money on a horse.

I see.

And just how much money did you bet?

All I had.

Five hundred dollars. I went to the bank
and closed out my savings account.

Well, that is something to be concerned
about.

Whatever possessed you, Father?

You were never a gambling man, nor did
you ever care much about money.

I don't care about the savings.

I just hoped that I'd make enough money
to pay for the roof repairs we've needed

for so long.

I see.

I shall never forgive myself for what I
did.

I shall never understand why I did it.
The man I gave the money to, he seemed

sure of himself, so successful.

Help me to understand what I've done.

Help me.

Help me, please, to explain it to
myself.

Yeah.

I find it hard to believe, Father.

If I didn't know you better, if you were
a young man, I might understand such

rashness.

But it's 40 years.

40 years since you took your vows. And
to do such a... such a...

Such a foolhardy thing. I know, I know.
Please, tell me, what must I do?

You see, you don't know how to find this
man to whom you gave the money.

No.

So there's no way of preventing this bet
from being made?

No, there isn't.

You see, the rate is this afternoon.

Then, There's only one thing to be done.

Only one way to make restitution.

And that is?

You must pray, Father.

You must pray as you have never prayed
before.

And I'll add my prayers to yours.

You must pray for that horse not to win.

Not to win?

Yes.

You can't expect a reward for your
error, no matter what the consequences.

I can see no other expiation except to
ask the Lord to withhold this victory.

You must pray for this with all your
might.

But the money, Your Excellency. We're in
such need now.

The money does not matter.

You're right, of course.

I'll do as you say, Your Excellency.

We must pray that the horse won't win.

Soul of Christ, be my sanctification.

Body of Christ, be my salvation.

Grant me, O Lord, this which I ask in
sorrow and repentance.

Amen.

Father Eamon.

Yes, Morton?

Look, he's back.

It's all right, my son.

I understand.

You understand what?

About the race this afternoon.

You've just returned.

Yeah, I just got back a little while
ago.

And this horse, this Sally's pal, it
didn't win.

Oh, Doug.

Well, now, I don't want you to blame
yourself.

You were trying to do good in your own
fashion.

Whatever blame there is, It must fall on
my shoulders.

I just don't understand it, though,
Father. You know, he was a sure thing if

ever saw one. At the head of the
stretch, he's leading by four lengths,

of a sudden he quits on me.

I just don't understand it.

Sure thing like that, and he quits.

Trouble is, I had my last nickel bet on
him right on the nose, so now I'm back

just where I started from with two bucks
in my pocket.

I think maybe I ought to go back in the
hardware business. What do you think,

Father? I think it's a very good idea.

Yeah. I think so, too. Well, anyway,
here's your money.

My money?

Well, yeah.

You don't think I was going to risk your
dough on a win bet, did you?

I took the 500 and I bet him to place,
so he came in second and paid $8 .40, so

there you are. It's a...

$2 ,100 you won.

The sponsor is being unusually difficult
about this matter of the horse costume.

I've explained the labor -saving
advantages of employing a real horse to

work of two men, but he is so enchanted
with this pun of his on the word horse

player that he insists on having it out
with me. I shall be back shortly.

It will only take a minute to put him in
his place.