Original subtitles

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.