All language subtitles for Hitchcock s02e07 Starring The Defense

Good evening.

I have just made my first catch.

This.

No license, no pedigree, just running
loose in the streets and attacking

The highways seem to be filled with
them, all equally vicious.

Incidentally, getting this position
proved to be quite easy.

I was the only applicant who didn't mind
going out in the noonday sun.

Oh, there was one other, a dog, but he
didn't look a bit well.

For those of you who are wondering, this
is the Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

Tonight's tale concerns a man who was
once a motion picture actor, but who

decided to take up honest work instead
and became a lawyer. It begins as soon

our sponsor makes his opening statement
to the jury.

Mr. Crawford?

Mr.

Crawford? Mr.

Brody's been here ten minutes already.
You forget that he was coming over?

Okay, I'll be right out.

Sam!

Oh, what are you doing in here?

Let's go and wake me up.

You're an old man. You need your rest.

Look who's talking.

Besides... I'd rather look at Gene
Harlow any day than your ugly face.

What a woman.

Did you ever make a picture with her,
Merle?

No, I never made a picture with her.

How about this one? The redhead with the
big eyes.

Now, what's her name? Now, now, tell me.

That's a long ago. I've forgotten.

I remember.

She was in that picture with Douglas
Fairbanks. The one about the Indian

fighter. Jenny, turn up the thermostat,
will you?

As cold as general Alaska in here.

I have just the cure for cold weather,
Miles.

A little trip to the Golden West.

You can still harp on about that.

Oh, why not?

Lawyers get a vacation too, right?

Two glorious weeks in sunny California.

Sunny California, huh?

In Hollywood.

Why not?

Maybe if some big shot movie producer
sees you again, you could make a

Sam, I'm a... Lawyer, not a movie actor.
Those days are far behind me. I'd

forgotten about him long ago. Now, why
can't you?

Okay, okay. Let's play cards.

Oh, I can't get a decent card.

Don't. Tell me.

Is that a car door slamming?

Sounds like it.

I thought you said Todd went to some
kind of dance tonight.

I did.

It's only 10 o 'clock. It's pretty early
for a dance to be over.

Maybe he had a fight with his girl.

Want to find out?

The cards will wait.

The cards will wait, all right.

Gin.

When did you start getting in for
midnight?

I wanted to come home early. Do you
mind?

Feeling all right?

I feel great.

Just great.

Wait a minute, Todd.

Todd!

What's up?

Kid all right?

Sure, he's all right. Like a tiger, it's
all right after he takes a chunk out of

you.

Don't you know my son by now?

Well, you wanted to play cards? Come on,
let's play cards.

Miles, am I crazy or is somebody
bleeding around here?

Want me to come with you?

Just a scratch.

Little car accident. Nothing serious.

Here, let me see it. It's not serious, I
said.

What's the matter with you? You never
hear of infection?

You cut a finger, you can lose an arm.
I'm telling you, it's nothing.

How did it happen?

Did you hit someone?

The car's all right. I'm not talking
about the car.

I just want to know what happened. What
kind of an accident it was.

All right, it wasn't an accident.

It was a fight.

Miles!

Miles, you better come down.

What is it? A car pulled up in the
driveway, a police car.

Police?

A fight, huh?

Todd, what did you do?

Nothing I said.

Todd, if you expect me to talk to...

There was a little trouble on the
highway. On Route 4?

Well, maybe more than a little.

We'd like Todd to come with us, Mr.
Crawford, for questioning.

What did he do?

You can't just drag him out of here
without any explanation.

Do you have the warrants?

Yes, sir.

We have the warrant.

Your son got into trouble with a boy
named Jules Herman.

They got into a fight on Route 4.

The boy got cut up pretty bad.

Todd?

You'll have to come with us, Todd.

You better take some overnight stuff.

Your father can bring anything else you
need in the morning.

Wait. Wait, I'm coming with you.

hold off till morning, Mr. Crawford.
Nothing much is going to happen tonight.

I'm coming with you.

Don't worry.

I'll have you out on bail the first
thing in the morning. Mr. Crawford,

don't count too much on it.

How about bail and all that?

What do you mean?

Well, this boy, Jules Herman, he's dead.

Well, here's the number.

Edwin C. Rutherford, 219 Grand Street.

Phone 555 -2468.

Now call him the first thing in the
morning, Miles.

I'll call him. I'll call him.

We can get Rutherford to take the case.

Half the battle's won.

There isn't a better criminal man in New
York State.

Are you listening to me?

It's my fault, Sam.

Stop blaming yourself for everything.

It's my fault, the way Todd turned out.

What could I do? What could I have done
differently? It was just the way things

were.

That movie business you're so crazy
about.

You think of all fun and games?

1942, I did 12 pictures. The following
year, I did one.

The parts got fewer, and the fewer they
got, the smaller they got.

Do you want some more coffee?

Todd wasn't even three years old when I
cut pictures.

Now... How could I take care of a kid
and build a new career for myself,

in the daytime, studying at night?

His mother and I were divorced the year
Todd was born.

And so my sister took care of him.

So your sister raised Todd.

I went to see him whenever I could, but
it wasn't very often.

I took him back when he was ten, when my
law practice was established.

We had a hard time getting used to each
other.

Maybe...

Well, it was too late then.

It's too late now.

It's almost three o 'clock.

You ought to be in bed.

And so should I.

But that'll count in his favor, won't
it, Sam? The kind of childhood he had.

I don't know.

I don't know if juries understand things
like that.

Well, they've got to be made to
understand.

They've got to be told the kind of
rotten father I am.

You let Ed Rutherford tell them.

Now, you call him first thing tomorrow
morning.

I'll see you at the door.

Hello?

Oh, hello.

Hello.

Is this Mr. Rutherford's office?

Sure it is.

Please tell Mr. Rutherford that Mr.
Crawford is here to see him. Sir!

some of the detail.

I see a newspaper story and the police
version and the report you sent me.

It's a rough business.

Yes, it's rough, all right. That's why
he needs all the help he can get.

You understand the charge will be first
-degree murder?

They can't make that stick. They can't.

There's no premeditation.

It was just an argument, a drunken
argument.

You seem pretty sure.

I am sure. I know my own son.

Do you?

Kids and parents are funny, you know.
They think they know each other, and

all of a sudden they're drinking.

And it's tougher than ever when there's
no mother in the picture.

But I know Todd.

We've never really been very close, but
I know him. He's spoiled, willful,

irresponsible, but he's not a murderer.

You're looking at this like a parent.

You tried looking at it like a lawyer.

Of course I have. I know enough criminal
law to know the difference between

manslaughter and... Oh, so you've
decided it was only manslaughter.

Todd never meant to kill that boy. It
was... It was self -defense.

Ah, you want to change the plea, do you?
Not manslaughter, self -defense.

I don't know what the plea should be.

That's your job.

Well, look, any plea will do as long as
it isn't murder.

My son is not a killer.

Your son killed?

You're telling me there's a difference?

Yes.

Now, if you can't see that difference,
then Sam wrote he's wrong. You're not

man I'm looking for.

I don't see how you can help if you have
no faith in Todd.

Well, you're right. I don't have faith
in Todd. I don't know Todd.

In that case... I have faith in the law.

I know the law.

Sit down.

There is a difference between a killer
and someone who kills.

It's the difference between impulse and
premeditation.

And that's the great intangible in this
case.

Well, it's not intangible to me. I know
that Todd never meant to hurt that boy.

Well, obviously the district attorney
thinks he did.

And the defense must prove otherwise.

But the big question is, how?

It must be similar.

Well, what facts do you have?

What evidence can you show? Is there a
single witness on Todd's side? Don't you

see the problem?

Well, I'll just have to tell them about
Todd, about the kind of boy he is, that

he couldn't have meant to kill.

I'm talking about proof.

Well, proof isn't everything. There's
such a thing as faith.

I've got that.

I know I could convince them. You can't
substitute theatrics for evidence.

Why couldn't I tell them?

What?

Why shouldn't I tell them about Todd?

You mean as a witness?

No, as his attorney.

But you're not a criminal lawyer.

But I'm a lawyer. I'm admitted to the
bar. There's nothing in the rules about

defending a member of your own family.

You can't be serious about this.

You're not equipped.

You could prepare the case. We could
prepare it together. You know what a

is. It's just 12 people that have to be
convinced. 12 people that you have to

make feel for you.

I think I could do that, Mr. Rutherford.
I think I could make them feel.

Why? Because you're the boy's father?

Not just that.

Not just that.

You see, many years ago, I was an actor
in a movie.

Wait a minute.

Miles Crawford.

It was a long time ago.

Matter of fact, I've played quite a
number of criminal lawyers.

Surely you don't think that qualifies
you.

Now, but you see, my job is to make
people feel.

It's not just facts now that are going
to help Todd, you know that.

Facts don't always add up to the truth.

Mr. Crawford, the charge in this case is
first -degree murder.

Do you know what the penalty can be in
this state?

I'd listen to everything you had to say
about the case. You'd be in complete

charge. All I want is to be the voice of
the defense, don't you see?

I don't know whether I... There are no
defense teams like this. One man to

prepare the case, the other to deliver
it in court.

I don't think... There's another reason
why I think I can do it better.

You're not convinced of Todd's
innocence.

I am.

Well, what about Todd?

What about your son?

He has something to say about it.

How do you know he wants you to defend
him?

And the least you can do is ask him.

Yes.

You're right, of course, sir.

How are they treating him?

It's just going to be all right. I've
been talking with Ed Rutherford.

He's the best criminal lawyer around.

When's this arraignment they told me
about?

It'll be sometime next week. That's when
we enter our plea for manslaughter.

You understand the difference, don't
you?

Todd, I...

I'd like to ask you a question. It's
very important.

What?

How would you feel if I acted as your
defense counsel?

Now, I don't mean I'd be alone.

I'd rather for me to be doing most of
the real work. I'd just be the front

How would you feel about that?

Well, I won't do it unless you say so.
You've got the right to say no.

Why?

I mean, why?

How come you're so worried about me all
of a sudden?

Well, I've always been worried about
you, Todd.

Maybe you never knew that. Maybe I never
knew how to tell you.

Look, I know I'm not the best father in
the world or the best lawyer.

But who knows? You put the two of them
together in court.

And who knows?

Okay. I understand.

I'll ask Brotherford to take complete
charge of the case.

I didn't say I didn't want you.

It doesn't really matter.

One way or the other, I'm in for it.

But if you think it's a good idea... You
go ahead.

We now take a brief recess.

I must caution you, however, not to
discuss this case until after the trial.

We shall reconvene in a moment.

premeditation on the part of the
defendant, a calculated desire to take

of young Jules Herman.

The prosecution will provide eyewitness
testimony concerning the events of that

night and other witnesses who will
establish the animosity which led to the

of murder.

If the members of the jury will listen
to these witnesses, they will reach one

and only one conclusion that a
deliberate and cold -blooded murder has

committed and waits to be avenged.

Mr. Crawford, do you wish to make your
opening statement?

No, Your Honor. The defense will hold
its opening statement of the jury until

the conclusion of the people's case.

Very well.

Mr. Hanley, will you call your first
witness to the prosecution?

Yes, sir.

Prosecution calls Rudolph Trask.

Rudolph Trask to the witness stand.

Miles, remember, if he deviates from his
testimony at the hearing, mail him

nearing your cross -examination.

Will you tell us your version of what
happened on the night of September 24th?

Well, we went to a dance.

We?

Jules Herman, Todd Crawford, and me.

We were going to this dance given by the
Civic Club at the high school gym.

Well, we got there and we didn't like
it, so we left.

Was it too tame?

No, sir.

It just wasn't for us.

So we cut out, all three of us.

What did you do then?

Well... We went for a drive.

Didn't you make one stop first?

Yes, sir.

We stopped and bought a bottle of
whiskey.

Was this the first time you'd ever done
this sort of thing?

You and those other boys?

No, sir.

It wasn't the first time.

Anyway, we decided that we'd go and
visit these girls we know that live on

other side of town.

And you were all drinking?

Yes, sir.

Well, Julie didn't want Todd to drink on
the kind of Todd was driving.

Well, Todd got sore at this.

Then they started arguing.

Something about a girl and... Well, then
somebody suggested that we, uh... that

we stop the car and settle the argument.

I didn't know Julie meant it to be a
knife contest until I showed his knife.

So Todd took out his knife.

Todd, uh... always carried a knife?

Yes, sir.

Most of the time.

Gone, Mr. Trask? Well, that's all there
was.

They started a fight, and I saw Julie
fall on the ground.

Todd jumped in the car and drove away.

When I saw that Julie was dead, I went
to the road and flagged down a car.

They went for the cops.

I mean, for the police.

Had there been any trouble between Jules
Herman and Todd Crawford prior to the

night of the slaying?

Yes, sir.

Would you speak up, please?

Yes, sir.

What sort of trouble? Had they fought
before?

Well, not with knives.

They had a couple of fistfights.

How serious were these fights?

Anybody ever injured?

Ty broke Julie's wrist once.

Was the incident ever reported to the
police?

No, sir. I mean, what for?

That's all, Mr. Trask.

Your witness.

Rudy, how long did my... Did Todd
Crawford know June Turner?

Around eight, ten months.

How often do they see each other?

Maybe two, three times a week.

Then they were really friends, weren't
they? Not enemies.

Objection. I believe that's calling for
a conclusion.

It seems like a reasonable enough
question.

Overruled.

Well, Rudy, they were friends then.

Yes, sir. I guess you'd say they were
friends, all right.

Now, this fist fight in which Julie's
wrist was broken, did they plan to have

that fight?

No, sir. It just happened.

All of a sudden, right out of the blue?

Yes, sir.

Well, Julie jumped on Todd and then...

You say Julie jumped Todd.

Then Julie instigated the fight. Well,
yes, sir, but Todd called Julie. Never

mind what he called him.

Jules Herman made the first aggressive
move.

Yes, sir.

Wasn't that true on the night of
September 24th?

You were witness to the fight, Rudy.

Didn't Jules Herman instigate that as
well?

Didn't he strike the first blow?

Didn't he slash Todd's arm? Wasn't that
the first wound inflicted?

You were watching the fight, weren't
you?

Or weren't you interested?

Well, sure, I was watching it. Todd was
cut first, all right, but that doesn't

mean that Todd had to... That's all,
Rhodey.

Let me step down.

Your name is Barbara Reardon?

Yes, but they call me Babs.

You know the defendant, Todd Crawford?

Yes.

And you knew Jules Herman?

I knew them both, all right.

Did you ever hear and see Todd Crawford
and Jules Herman argue?

Yes.

Did you ever see them actually fight?

I certainly did. They fought all the
time, over anything.

Sometimes me.

Yet they were together constantly,
weren't they?

Didn't you find that strange?

People are sometimes friends, even
though they hate each other.

Do you think they hated each other?

I know they did.

How can you be so sure?

Well, it wasn't just on account of the
quarrels. It was what Todd once told me.

He said that he would kill Julie
someday.

How do you like that?

You mean he actually threatened Jules
Herman's life?

Oh, more than once.

Tell the jury about it.

Well, that's the truth.

He told me that if Julie didn't stay
away from me, that he'd cut his throat.

No more questions, Your Honor.

It's not your fault. I know that.

There's just nobody on our side, that's
all.

Well, it's not just a question of
witnesses, Todd. There are other

know.

Premeditation.

What was on my mind?

Whether I wanted to kill Julie or not.

I mean, how do you know a thing like
that for sure?

It's the jury that's got to know.
They've got to know that you didn't mean

It was a thing of the moment, a crazy
impulse.

Now that girl today, we've got to prove
what a liar she is. Why don't you let

her alone?

She had a crush on Julie. That's why
she's so sore at me.

That's what I mean. That's why we've got
to show that she's nothing but a

vindictive... Don't.

Don't.

Don't you understand the importance of
it? She says you threatened to kill

Julie. Now we've got to prove that she
lied. No.

I did threaten to kill Julie.

What?

Babs was telling the truth.

What do you say?

You're trying to tell me that you're
nothing but a cold -blooded killer? I

said those things.

I didn't really mean them. You threaten
a boy's life and then you kill that boy.

Now, how do you think that's going to
sound to a jury?

You know what they can do to you, Todd?

You're 21 years old. You're old enough.
I'm sorry, Dad, but it's the truth.

I thought that's what you wanted to
hear.

That's what I want to be.

Dad, what were you and Jules Herman
quarreling about on the night of

24th? About Babs Reardon.

Whose idea was it to get out of the car
and fight it out?

It was Julie's idea, I think.

But you didn't know he meant knives.

No, I didn't know that.

You thought it would be just another
fist fight.

Something like that.

Now, did you hate Jules Herman?

No, I didn't hate him.

You're always quarreling. Now, why was
that?

I don't know. We just seemed to get on
each other's nerves.

But we made up again every time.

Things were better before we met her.

You mean Babs Red?

Yes.

Were you in love with this girl?

I don't know.

A little, maybe.

Did you ever tell her that you wanted to
kill Jules Herman?

I might have said something like that as
a joke, maybe.

You know, she told this court that you
threatened Jules Herman's life.

Now, why do you think she said that?

She liked Julie.

She hates me for what happened.

She wants to get even.

That'll be all, Your Honor.

Mr. Hanley, do you wish to cross
-examine?

Yes, Your Honor.

Did you ever have thoughts of killing
your friend Jules?

No. Was killing him in your mind on the
night of the slaying? I don't know what

I was thinking. Just answer the question
yes or no. Were you thinking of murder?

Your Honor, I ask you to instruct the
witness to answer my question. I don't

know what I was thinking.

I guess I wanted to kill him, all right?
I was glad when I did it.

I was only sorry later.

Thank you. No more questions, Your
Honor.

You may step down.

Any other witnesses for the defense?

Miles?

Miles?

No, Your Honor, there are no further
witnesses.

The defense rests.

Very well.

This quarter is then adjourned until 2 o
'clock this afternoon, at which time

we'll hear the concluding remarks to the
jury.

It'll be all right, son.

You'll see.

I'll make them feel for you.

You'll see if I don't.

Mr. Crawford, are you ready for your
summation?

Yes, Your Honor.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

boys dead, and men who call themselves
the caretakers of human justice are

crying out for vengeance.

You see them sitting there before you
demanding life for life, all in the name

of that blindfolded goddess who stands
outside this courtroom.

Now, when you leave this room, it will
be your responsibility to say yes or no

to their angry demands for the total
penalty.

Before you decide, I would like you to
think about just one more thing.

Is there really a perfect justice?

Complete, impartial, blind, or
prejudiced, or special interest?

If there is, I say thank God!

Thank God that we imperfect human beings
have been given such a great gift.

Such blessed forgiveness for our sins
that we are able to meet out.

Perfect justice to other sinners.

If you have never sinned, not even
outside the law's power to punish, then

I have to say is not for you.

If you're blameless, you never made an
error, never harmed anyone, never hurt

injured a fellow man, then you have the
right to choose the way and manner

of this law's punishment.

I wish to close the account book on Todd
Crawford to say that with one moment of

violence, one movement of his hand, one
flicker of an eye, one confused,

bewildered second of his existence, he
forfeited his right to live, to breathe,

to regret, to change, to make reparation
for sins past and present.

This is your privilege.

But be sure of that privilege.

Be sure of your right to it.

You ever said a hurtful word in anger to
your wife?

Your husband.

Your child.

And then were sorry.

No harm done, was there?

Kiss, a gentle phrase, and all was well
again.

You ever plant a stone?

Shouted a curse.

Smashed a dish?

Slapped a cheek, struck a child.

Spoken a lie.

A broken promise.

What was your punishment?

Regret, self -torture, recriminations.

And yet, the book was never closed on
your mistake, was it?

The key was never turned on the lock.

With never a chance to say I regret.

I'm sorry.

I will live to be a better husband.

A wife.

Or father.

This boy did more than break a dish or
promise. He took a life.

In one single moment, blind with the
rage of living in a world he could not

understand.

He took a life.

Premeditated.

No more than the angry word, the shouted
curse, the dish smashed.

or the cheek slapped, premeditated, to
kill in the sight of witnesses, in the

sight of God, under the watchful eyes of
a vengeful law.

To make those, Todd Crawford's account
book.

The law gives you that right.

He's 21 years old.

Perhaps he's even old enough to face a
justice more divine than ours.

But remember this.

Before that divine justice, Todd
Crawford must make this statement.

My last act on earth was to kill the man
who

was my friend.

I was given no time to do any more with
my life.

Court will not permit demonstrations.

Your Honor, in view of the prejudicial
response to Mr.

Crawford's speech, I would like to
reserve closing argument of the

until tomorrow.

Very well, Mr. Hanley.

This court is unadjourned until tomorrow
morning at 10 o 'clock.

Miles, that was terrific.

I didn't think it was possible.

I'd have never believed it.

Oh, here comes Hanley.

Good speech, Mr. Crawford.

You're a talented man.

Thank you.

I've always been a fan of yours.

Yes, come forward.

Ed. Huh?

What do you suppose that's all about?

of the prosecution has just given me
some information concerning the conduct

this trial.

Now, in order that this issue may be
clarified at once, this court shall be

recessed for one hour.

Mr. Crawford, Mr. Rutherford, Mr.
Hanley, Mr. Williams will convene in my

chambers immediately.

Court is adjourned.

All right, let's get this over with.

Get the lights so we can start the
camera. Just a moment, Your Honor. I

the defense has a right to view this
material before you. You will view it,

Rutherford, as soon as you sit down. Get
the lights, please.

a motion picture called We the Guilty.

But that's my picture.

Mr. Collins.

Are you ready to address the jury?

caretakers of human justice are crying
out for revenge.

You see them sitting there before you,
demanding life for life.

All in the name of that blindfolded
goddess who stands outside this

When you leave this room, it will be
your responsibility to say yes.

To their angry demands for the total
penalty.

Before you decide, I would like you to
think.

But just one more thing.

Is there really a perfect justice?

Complete, impartial, blind to prejudice
or special interest? If there is, I say

thank God!

Thank God.

That we imperfect human beings... have
been given such a great blessing, such

generous forgiveness for our sins, that
we are able to mete out perfect justice

to other sinners.

If you have never sinned, not even
outside the law is powered upon it.

That's all I've seen enough.

This film was made almost 30 years ago.

I remembered it.

I was fortunate enough to locate a print
at a warehouse in Long Island City.

It's a fine performance, Mr. Crawford.

Only you should have kept it in front of
a movie camera, not a jury.

Your Honor, it's true.

The speech wasn't mine. It was written
for me many years ago.

I used it because it made sense to me
then, as it still does.

I used it because I... I couldn't think
of anything else to do.

It's true, I've deceived you, I've made
you all feel foolish, made even more of

a fool of myself.

I admit that I... I take the blame,
but... Don't... Don't make Todd suffer

it. Don't punish him when I'm the one
who should be punished.

Wait, wait, just one moment.

But we have a trial to finish, Mr.

Crawford. If I could just say one more
thing, Your Honor.

Your Honor, you were good enough to
permit the prosecution to show this

Will you allow it to be shown to its
conclusion?

Your Honor, I hadn't intended to turn
your chambers into... Just one more

Your Honor. The last scene. Just a few
more minutes.

Show the rest of the picture.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have
you reached your verdict?

Yes, we have, Your Honor.

The defendant will rise to face the
jury.

How do you find? Guilty or not guilty?

We, the jury, find the defendant guilty
of murder as charged.

Sorry, Frankie.

We've had no work from the government.

Are you prepared to make peace with your
God?

Yes, Father.

The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not walk.

He made me to lie down.

He made me to lie down.

He made me to lie down.

He made me to lie down.

Thank you.

Todd Alexander Crawford, you have been
found guilty of murder in the first

degree by a jury of your fellow
citizens.

According to the laws prescribed by this
state, as amended July 1963, I am

empowered to sentence you to either
death or imprisonment for life.

I therefore sentence you to a term of
life imprisonment in the state

penitentiary. Such sentence to begin at
once.

However, in view of the circumstances,
the immaturity of the defendant, his

previous standing in good repute, I
recommend that this case be brought

the parole board for review at the
earliest possible time.

I recommend that the parole board
exercise its discretion at that time

view towards making this defendant a
useful citizen in the community.

are anxious for more, we can offer you
scenes from our next attraction.

By the way, I have made my second
arrest.

I picked this one up for drunkenness. I
must take him in and book him, but I

shall return next week.

In you go. In you go.