Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

After many years on television, I've just learned that we open our show

incorrectly.

These days, good form demands that you begin with a provocative and exciting

scene designed to enchant and entice the viewer.

This scene is called the teaser.

Always eager to embrace new ideas after others have thought of them.

We present tonight's teaser.

The time, 1878.

The place, Tombstone, Arizona.

What's a pretty school teacher like you doing in a place like this?

After seeing that, I'm sure you won't want to miss our story, which takes

entirely in New York City in the year 1916.

Where's the boss?

Mr. Fine is taking his bath.

He's what?

You just heard me.

Tell a boss Healy the blackjack dealer can't come in tonight.

He cut his fingers and won't be able to handle the cards.

Is that Adam?

Oh, yes, it was, Mr. Fine.

He says to tell you that Healy can't be in tonight.

He cut his fingers. Says he won't be able to deal.

Was it a bad cut?

I didn't say, Mr. Fine.

Well, it's not much of a problem.

You can always borrow a dealer from Mizani.

That's too bad about Healy.

I hope it's not serious.

Oh, by the way, John, do you recall Sweeper Morris?

That was that filly that we saw running last summer at Aqueduct.

Oh, yes, Mr. Brown, I do.

She had great spirit all the way.

Well, she ran yesterday at New Orleans, and I happen to remember to put down a

bet for you.

You don't mean to say she won.

Oh, she won easily.

One by three lengths.

You'll find an envelope in the top drawer.

Oh, the fine.

What can I say?

You don't say anything, John.

Good evening, sir.

Good evening, Mr. Fine.

Coming out?

Here are your subscriptions.

500 says I'm right this time.

Well, it's your money, Mr. Combs, and we always welcome this kind of action.

Well, if you always welcome her, why bother talking about it?

Nine. Nine is your number. Looking for nine, sir.

Just thought I might suggest that perhaps it's a little early in the

you to be crowding your luck.

Particularly the way things have been going recently.

Thank you for your concern, but my money's as good as anyone else's, isn't

Ten easy, ten. Your point is nine, sir.

Yes, it is. It's every bit as good.

And you seem to have more of it.

Cover his bets, Tom. Give the young man all the action he wants. Yes, sir, Mr.

Fine.

Seven you lose.

I mean, out now, next shooter, next roller. I mean, out.

Another 500 says the dice are wrong.

Thank you, Frank.

I got to leave this one.

This kid shoots craps like he's the first national bag, don't he, McFly?

That's the trouble, Frank.

He's too rich and he's too excitable.

I wish he'd take his business someplace else.

This lad's old man.

Is this the same Avery Haggard Combs with the railroads and the steamship

That's right.

And if the father knew the way the boy was throwing the money around, not only

here, but at Dunphy's and Mazzotti's, I guarantee you there'd be a grand jury

investigation.

Don't you ever get any rest?

The wicked never rest.

Oh, John, I'm serious.

Never get the bed before me, and you're always up ahead of me.

Don't you find it dull?

Dull?

Yes, I mean, pressing my pants and taking care of my shirts and arranging

time every day to fit my convenience.

Don't you ever get sick of it?

Oh, no, Mr. Fine.

That's part of the job.

You didn't pick me up on old Pink Batarosa when you hired me.

They say that no man's a hero to his valet.

But believe me, I can understand that.

You see, it's pretty much the way we are.

With the ribbon off the package.

Tired.

Uncertain.

Let's face it, John.

Much of the time afraid.

the late James Francis Finnerty gratefully acknowledges your kind

sympathy.

That was for a hundred dollars' worth of flowers.

I suppose people thought it was strange I didn't go to the wake of the funeral.

Did you think it was funny?

Oh, no, Mr. Fine.

Well, that's because you know the truth about me, John.

You know I have trouble facing a healthy flower much less go to a funeral.

John?

John, I'm so afraid of death that my heart turns over like a lump of sod

whenever I see a team of horses dragging a hearse.

Oh, that's nothing, Mr. Fine.

It's just one of them things.

Different people scared of different things.

With me, it's lobsters.

I see.

John, you're all right.

Thank you.

I'd never break it on you like this, Mr. Fine.

But I thought you ought to know about young Coombs.

What is it, Hubert?

He just blew his brains out.

In a subway about a block and a half from here.

tell you something, Meyer.

The offer holds for your two bright friends here.

I'll eat this cue ball like a hot boiled egg.

If there's been two games of pool played here in the last five years.

It's nice to have you all together.

But Christmas only four days away.

Sort of a pity we couldn't have had the Dutchman here to play St. Nicholas.

How about that, Masati?

I'll tell him what he missed, Lieutenant.

I'm sure he'll feel real bad.

You can also tell him for me that these private clubs you fellas have been

running for restricted membership will soon be a thing of the past.

You told us that two years ago, Lieutenant.

Well, this isn't two years ago.

It's now.

Young Combs was seen coming out of here not more than five minutes before he

walked into the subway and put a gun to his head.

He wasn't here for the pool and the light conversation, as you put it.

Any more than he's been going to your place, Mazzotti.

Or to your joint, Dunphy.

For the watercress sandwiches and the Parcheesi.

Now, what do you got against Parcheesi, Lieutenant? It's played in all the

better homes.

Shut up!

Young Combs' bank account shows they went through a quarter of a million

in 11 months.

What about it, Lieutenant?

This about it.

You three have been plucking the wrong bird.

Old man Combs has a million dollars for every skull you ever cracked, Mazzotti.

And I can tell you that's been a lot.

He'll see the three of you in jail if he has to turn this city upside down.

Well, now I've seen everything.

A butler, no less.

The last time I saw this pigeon, he was flying east on 43rd Street with

somebody's watch and chain.

You care for cream and sugar with your coffee, Lieutenant?

Oh, yeah.

Three lumps.

Just a little cream.

And stir it very carefully.

And when you're finished with it, you can pour it in your ear.

Thank you, Mr. Humphrey.

Where's Mazzotti? Who knows?

Mazzotti's a big boy now. If he felt like coming here, I guess he'd have

his way.

Well, I'll say this much for you, Maya. You get a much classier trade than

either Mazzotti or me.

Yeah, I can see why you want to keep the place open.

Like over there, for instance.

Drury, the lumber king.

Darrow, the Wall Street man.

They wouldn't even come into my joint.

But, well, then again, I guess I just ain't got that elegant touch like you,

huh, Maya?

Did you ever think of what it might be like if you got raided, Maya?

What the newspapers could do with names like these?

You know everybody here, don't you?

It's my business to know them.

At least I thought I knew them all.

Hubert.

The young fellow at the bar with the package, who is he? How did he get in?

Who said his name was Johnson?

He's got a courtesy card from Murphy's place.

It's initialed and filled out by Murphy in the usual way.

All right, then.

Except that this isn't exactly the usual time.

Otto?

The young fellow at the bar.

Did you ever see him when you were working at Murphy's?

I seen him, yeah.

Pretty sure I've seen it before.

All right, then. Forget it.

Up at Ubit.

In the future, whenever there's any doubt, you'll check with me first.

Yes, sir.

Hello, sir.

No, thanks. It's just about time to go.

Only now for nine, shooter. Nine is the winning number.

Mr. Herndon.

A fellow with a package.

I've seen him before, but I don't think it was at Murphy's.

29, pay the line.

Stop him. Get him!

Well, I suppose when you really think about it, it's just one of those things.

You take the bad breaks with the good, right, Joe?

Now, look, don't get me wrong. I don't mean to deny that this doesn't point up

something that all three of us have known for a great many years, that if

going to do a job like this right, you have to do it yourself.

And I certainly don't mean to deny that it's a bad situation. It is. It's very

bad, but it can't be changed.

Arnold lost his head.

I found out the fellow was from the detective agency, and he lost his head.

was never very bright.

But I didn't say kill the man.

Well, you were there, Joe.

You heard what I said.

I said I wanted the film destroyed, and that's all I said.

Oh, you were dandy, Meyer.

You handled it fine.

Real fine.

Now, look.

This goes for both of you.

We're all three of us in this thing together. Now, let's keep that

straight.

If you want to check the facts, we'll get Otto in here right now.

That won't be too easy.

Otto died an hour ago.

Accidentally from bullets.

The cops never got around to talking to Otto.

It was like you said.

Just one of those things.

You look sick, Meyer.

Awful sick.

But you gotta remember one thing.

Otto made a big mistake.

There was no need for murder, as you say.

No need to give old man Combs and the grand jury the kind of help they've been

waiting for.

Come on.

I was dead, just like that.

You tell me that and then you walk out?

Sorry, Meyer.

There's a meeting at the Dutchman's.

We don't have any extra time.

A meeting?

Wait a minute.

Nobody told me about any meeting.

The Dutchman didn't say anything to me about a meeting.

He didn't?

They're making up their minds about me.

It's never been left out of a meeting before, Neb.

Well, maybe you don't mean nothing.

No, no, no.

Well, maybe they've already made up their minds. I could see it.

I saw something in Mazzotti's face.

That's why I wasn't invited. I've never been left out of a meeting. Never.

It might just be a mistake.

A judgment doesn't make mistakes.

I have to call him.

After all he's heard their side of it, there's no reason why he shouldn't hear

mine.

Why not?

Number, please.

What number are you calling?

Number 368, please.

Yeah?

Hello, Dutch, it's Meyer.

Listen, Dutch, I just saw the boys.

Frank and Joe dropped in, you know.

And, uh, listen, there's been a very serious misunderstanding, and I have to

talk to you about it.

Dutch, you listening?

Do we have a good connection?

I have to go see him.

After all, I've known the man for many years. We've been very close.

He's heard their side of it. There's no reason why he shouldn't hear mine.

That makes sense, doesn't it, John?

I'll get your coat and hat, Mr. Fine.

I know it hurts, Mr. Fine, but it's really not much more than a thing.

The overcoat helps.

It's a lucky thing he wasn't a better shot.

Lucky.

I'd been better off if he hadn't missed.

John.

John, I want to beg the Dutchman on my hands and knees.

Like little Eva.

Without the pride of a cat.

It was one of the Dutchman's boys that fired the shots.

What is it?

What do you see?

Oh, it's nothing, Mr. Fine.

Just some guy getting out of a hack.

I've seen him before.

He's going into his house.

Nothing else?

No.

No, nothing else.

Now the hack's moving away.

Like I said, Mr. Fudd, I got your bag all packed. We can get out of here. No,

John, John.

John, please.

I'll never get out of here.

They'll see to that.

No, but...

I know a nice little place in Jersey.

A friend of mine hid out there for over a year.

What? No.

Jersey, no.

John, this apartment in Jersey doesn't make any difference. I can't get away

from it. But at least you might have a chance if you try to break out.

I could never let him see how frightened I am.

I couldn't stand that.

I'll get your pay.

I don't have the courage.

John, don't leave me.

Stay with me.

You're the only friend I have.

You're the only one.

John.

John, I... I don't have... I don't have the courage.

Help me.

Help. Help me, John. Please.

Please.

Please help.

Number, please.

Give me the police.

Why did you kill him?

Why?

I couldn't believe it when I heard it was you.

Why?

Why did you do it?

Maya was the only one of that pack that had about an ounce of decency.

He took you in, fed you, and clothed you, you punk.

He gave you a job when you couldn't have found a bed in a kennel.

And for that, you shoot him?

You're not like anything human.

You're not like anything I've ever seen.

Didn't you ever hear of a thing called gratitude?

This concludes our story for tonight.

We shall give you a scene from our next tale immediately after this.

preview of next week's commercials.

I've been asked to announce that next week's commercials will be just as

just as engrossing, just as exciting and entertaining as that last one.

And now, before I say goodnight, here is that scene from next week's play. The

time, 1879.

The place, Fargo.

North Dakota.

Didn't I meet you once in Tombstone, Arizona?