Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

This is an associate of mine, Mr.

Lloyd.

Mr. Lloyd will introduce tonight's show.

I paid a great deal of money for this bird, but of course it will be worth it.

He may even take over my work permanently, thus freeing me for other

ahead, Mr. Lloyd.

Come now. Good evening, ladies.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I don't understand it. He's been working regularly on a local radio station.

Had a program of his own.

As a news commentator.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I'm afraid I'll have to do it myself.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Next on view is tonight's story, Ambition.

The cat's out of the bag, Mr. Cox.

What? They know we've got Lou Hines.

Who? Who know?

Everybody.

Stories all over the courthouse.

How can they know?

We just put him on ice last night. The boys downtown aren't stupid.

After all, you sprung him from jail.

They know he's been involved with Mac Davis and Ernie Stillinger.

You had any calls from the press yet?

No.

You will.

Why did this have to happen now?

First decent break I've had since I became D .A. and some loudmouth tips it.

Well, it'll come out by Monday anyhow. By Monday, I would have had indictments

against Davis and Stillinger.

If Hines holds up before the grand jury, maybe you should have left him in jail.

He wouldn't have talked. That was part of the deal.

He's going to testify against two top racketeers to get out of a 90 -day

sentence as a habitual drunkard?

Cliff. Will you just let me handle this?

It's not me you have to convince, boss.

It's the mayor.

He's waiting to talk to you.

Third floor, front, right nine.

Right nine.

Where would he be? The bar up the street.

Park around the corner and wait.

Take Ernie's car, circle the block, and watch behind. Okay.

How'd you get here?

You're bright.

A real genius, ain't he?

Charlie told you. Which makes him twice as smart as you are.

It's a good thing it's me instead of Hines, isn't it?

I wish it was him.

Now get out of here before he comes back.

Not until I get what I came after.

What are you looking for?

Records.

There aren't any records.

They're all in his head. That's why I hired him.

You did, didn't you?

Don't talk.

I don't want the family to hear you. She went out with Star. She could come back

and soak with Heinz. Now get out of here.

I want to wait for him. Why?

To get rid of the evidence, Mac.

You would, wouldn't you? I'm not going to jail.

You will if you kill him.

I'll take that chance.

When you get out, look after yourself.

It's his word against ours.

His nerves are so shot from drinking, he'll need a couple of belts to brace

Our lawyer will tear him apart at the trial.

There's not going to be any trial.

You've never done time, Mac. I have.

I sweat when I think about it.

I wake up at nine. I'm not going to jail.

All right, Annie.

But let me play my cards first.

What cards?

The DA owes me a favor.

What for?

Something happened.

That's Charlie.

Someone is coming. Now clear out.

Are you sure, Mac?

I said I'd fix it tonight. Now come on.

You better fix it.

And who is this witness?

His name is Lou Hines, Your Honor.

Is he in protective custody?

No, sir.

Why not?

Well, that was part of the deal, that he wouldn't be confined.

How did you locate him?

He asked to talk to me. He was a drunk tank at the city jail and wanted to get

out. Drunk tank?

What kind of a witness is that?

Well, he was key man in the organization until a couple of years ago.

A hoodlum? An accountant.

Oh, he knows the whole operation, then.

You have copies of the records?

No, sir, no records.

Well, you don't expect him to keep books, do you?

What evidence do you have without records? He has it all in his mind.

He's a sort of mathematical wizard.

You and Mac Davis are old friends.

Who told you that?

Oh, I have my informants, too.

Care to deny it?

Your Honor, I haven't seen that man since I became district attorney.

Since you took office, we've uncovered very few major crimes in this city.

Maybe there haven't been any. In a city this size? Let's not kid each other,

Rudy. You used the word yourself.

Organization. All right.

Why does it work so smoothly?

Because Davis isn't a cheap racketeer from the Prohibition era. He's quiet and

he's smart.

Smart? Or protected?

I don't think I like what you mean, George.

This isn't my question, Rudy.

It's one that's beginning to come from a bunch of disgruntled voters.

A reform group that may set up a third party in the next city and state

elections.

Good, good.

Let them run a magician for district attorney.

See if he can get convictions without evidence.

I just don't understand you, Rudy.

When you took office, I thought you were bright, ambitious.

That's the impression you gave the whole party.

Just as ambitious as the next man.

And you haven't shown it.

Why? Because I haven't got an indictment against Davis?

Let's not forget Stillinger.

He's not as smart as Davis or as quiet.

Mac keeps him under control.

Mac, your friendship is showing.

Do us both a favor, will you, George? Don't mention that again.

I can't help it.

You see, I'm not running for office again.

With any kind of a showing, you could be elected mayor next year.

You're still a young man.

A good job here might put you in line for governor.

Now, don't you think I know that?

Rudy, there's another way.

One that'll protect all of us.

Like what?

Step aside. Make a public admission of your friendship and disqualify yourself

from the case.

Let the governor appoint a special prosecutor.

No.

Be sensible.

People will admire your loyalty to a friend.

If he's convicted, you'll get credit for not helping him.

The answer is still no. I'll do my own job.

I hope you know what you're doing, Rudy.

But if you don't get an indictment and a conviction this time, you're through.

It'll just be a couple of minutes. You wait here for me, all right?

That mirror's got you jumping.

Well, Casey's got me jumping if we got a case.

I just want to check and see if Heinz is okay.

It's Mr. Cox. Let me in.

Talk again.

It's me, Mr. Cox.

Open up.

Just a minute, Mr. Cox.

What's the matter with you?

I thought it might be a trick. I thought it might be Matt Davis.

Now, listen, don't you go getting yourself worked up over nothing. We just

you in here last night. He can't possibly know who you are. He can, huh?

very funny, Mr. Cox.

That's real funny.

Take a look.

To M .D. with gratitude, 1944.

Where'd you find it?

On the table.

How?

You went out, didn't you? Well, I had to have a drink tonight. You didn't leave

me anything. And one of his runners must have spotted you. You've got to help

me. They're going to get me. I know it. Calm down. Calm down. That's not Max's

way. But he's not alone. There's Ernie Stillinger. Ernie Stillinger is no...

I've got to get out of town.

Listen, that is all you have to do and you will make yourself killed.

Sit down.

Now listen to me.

Look, maybe you'd better come down to the city jail with me.

Now, you'd risk your life for that booze, wouldn't you?

Well, you go out in the street again and it will be your obituary.

Now, what am I going to do? I'm going to stay right here where it's safe to keep

yourself locked in. I'll call and have guards placed around the house. Will you

do that? And don't you go out if you need anything.

You send a landlady.

All right, Mr. Cox, anything you say.

Are you going to be all right now?

Now,

don't

open this door for anyone except me. Right, anything you say, Mr. Cox.

He's drunk.

Well, have a good weekend, Cliff. What's left of it. See you Monday.

Hi, beautiful.

You've got the place?

It's the club dance tonight.

Now, don't tell me you forgot.

I'm afraid I've had too many things on my mind.

I don't think you have to shave again, do you? And the actress has been waiting

for us since 8 .30.

Annie, could we possibly skip this one?

Oh, Rudy, it's Madge's birthday.

Honestly, I am just beat between this gardening and this thing downtown.

Goodness, can't you ever get a weekend off?

Why don't you go on ahead and say I'm stuck with work or something?

Oh, no, darling.

They believe it.

You work twice as hard as you have to.

Get an argument about that from the mayor.

He says I'm not ambitious.

Are you sure you don't mind if I go?

No.

Wake me when you come in.

Have fun.

Long time no see.

What do you want, Mac?

A little talk with an old friend.

I've got nothing to say to you.

I have something to say to you.

What's the matter with you? Open your jacket.

Open it!

I haven't used one in years. I wouldn't even know where to look for it.

Yes. You hire boys to do that for you nowadays, don't you?

I even parked my car around the corner.

Why?

In case you have nosy neighbors.

That's better.

Where's your wife?

She's out for the evening.

How about a cup of coffee?

Sure.

Just fixing a sandwich.

Good, I'm stopping.

I want you to drop it, Rudy.

I can't.

Why not?

You haven't got anything.

No?

Is that why you tore Heinz's room apart today?

You're dreaming.

Am I?

What am I?

What happened to that lighter I gave you?

I lost it.

Not up at Heinz's by any chance.

Okay, I was there.

But only to get Stillinger off his back.

You've got the lighter?

No.

Why not?

I didn't think I should take property that wasn't mine.

Yeah.

I remember when you gave it to me.

All right, I'll say it for you, Mac.

For saving my life.

It was a memento.

I appreciated it.

I've often thought of that night in Germany when you dragged me across that

field.

You were lucky.

No, you had guts. You didn't have to do what you did.

So I did it.

That was then.

But now I'm tired.

I've come a long way since those days, and so have you, Rudy.

But as I say, I've had it.

I know you don't have much of a case, but any scared silly is all for getting

rid of Heinz.

You want that heated up? No.

Well, the thing is this.

There's a reform element in this town that's howling for my scout.

That's a big role, Rudy.

Enough to get you into the governor's mansion someday.

Maybe. So you'll keep on trying, and maybe one day you'll get a case.

But I'm getting too old and comfortable to do a stretch.

I've made my pile.

I'm fixed for life.

And I want to get married.

You'll never get married, Mac.

You've been a bachelor too long to submit now.

No laugh, isn't it?

No, this is the real thing.

She's different. She's got class.

She'll marry me if I get out of the rackets.

What do you mean? I mean I'm getting out. I'm dumping the whole organization

Ernie's lap.

Washing my hands of the whole thing.

Isn't it too late?

Not if you lay off.

I'm getting out. That's what a good DA wants, isn't it?

Yeah, yeah.

So it won't benefit you politically because you won't have a chance of

me up.

But that's not going to stop you from being governor.

You're going to make it.

I know.

But on somebody

else's back, eh, Rudy?

For old time's sake.

I told you, Mac, I owe you my life.

I'd appreciate it if you got me that lighter.

Kind of memento, like I said.

I'd invite you to the wedding, but it wouldn't look right. You know what I

Good luck just the same, Mac.

Hello, Rudy.

Regard to the bride.

Sorry to bother you on a Sunday, Mr. Cox, but something's happened I figured

you'd want to know about right away.

Well, I want to get this weeding done today, Lieutenant.

You like begonias?

Oh, yeah.

Uh, dear, would you excuse us?

Officer, would you be so kind as to turn the water off for me?

Thank you.

When I came about, is that the witness of yours, sir?

The place came from bombing Mac Davis and Eddie Stillinger.

Oh, you mean I?

Yes.

He's dead, Mr. Cox.

They shot him last night about 10 o 'clock.

He was in his room.

You sure about that time?

No doubt about it. His landlady went out to get him a bottle of gin.

When she came back 15 minutes later, he was dead.

So Ernie Stillinger finally got trigger happy, huh?

Well, we figured it was either bound to be Ernie or Mac.

But that looks like Mac.

We found Mac's cigarette lighter in the room with his name engraved on it.

And the bullet we dug from Heinz came from a gun owned by Mac.

Well, Ernie could have used Mac's gun.

Sure, that's circumstantial. But there's a matter of the alibi.

Ernie has a couple of boys who'll swear they were playing cards with him last

night.

What about Mac?

Well, that's the only thing that's got us stumped.

Either he's bluffing, he's crazy, or he's got the best alibi in the world.

Mike said he was in your house with you last night at the time Heinz was shot,

Mr. Cox.

And what time do you say that was?

Ten o 'clock.

Are you holding Mac?

Certainly. He must be out of his mind to think he could get away with an alibi

like that.

You know something, Lieutenant?

I haven't seen that man since I took office.

Then we've got him this time, dead to right.

Yes.

Yes. I believe we have.

Thank you, Mr. Cox.

Lieutenant.

Yes, sir?

Don't step on the begonias any way.

Yes, sir.

Goodbye, Mr. Cox. Bye -bye.

I'm afraid we didn't show you all of that story.

Unfortunately, Helen discovered that two coffee cups had been used the night

before and became suspicious.

And to save his marriage, poor Rudy had to tell the truth.

Of course, his career was ruined, but that's the way life is on television.

Have you ever observed that catastrophes usually come in threes?

If this is true, another commercial must be on the way.

prudent.

Thank you for your kind attention.

The garrulous Mr.

Lloyd is no longer with us.

He has answered a higher calling.

Next week we shall return with another story. Until then, good night.