All language subtitles for Alfred Hitchcock s02e37 The Indestructible Mr Weems

Good evening.

Since you're allowed to make yourselves
comfortable during our show, I thought

it only right that I be allowed to
relax.

After all, the rules of television seem
weighed far too much in favor of the

viewer. You can relax in your home,
while I must stay here in this drafty

studio.

I'm not feeling a bit well.

But the show must go on, whether you
like it or not.

And tonight's show is called The
Indestructible Mr.

Williams.

Have any luck?

Oh,

not bad. Shot a 41 on the front line and
a birdie... No, I mean...

Not on their boat. You can't give them
away.

You'd think we were stealing their money
instead of doing them a favor.

We, Knights of the Golden Lodge, pledge
ourselves in brotherhood, unassistingly

to help our fellow members and those
less fortunate than ourselves.

Board meeting of the Knights of the
Golden Lodge is now in session.

It distresses me to inform you that
after months of hard work by our sales

committee, we have yet to sell our first
plot.

Well, maybe if we didn't call it a
cemetery.

Maybe if we called it something else,
like a resting place or something.

Quite well taken, Brother Brodsky.

You will notice the tract is now
officially referred to as Elysium Park.

Elysium is taken from the Greek, meaning
paradise.

Quite appropriate, I think. I remember
when I was a golf course.

Shot an 81 there once.

The eighth green was a lulo.

Brother Elkins, I'm sure your golf score
is of great interest.

But at the moment, we have more serious
things to consider. I merely want to

impress you with the fact that our
members seem to be ignoring our

efforts in their behalf.

Meanwhile, taxes and cost of upkeep
continue to climb, while the project

a park instead of a final resting place
where our dear brothers may lie down at

the end of a weary journey.

Well, take it from me. No one wants to
be the first to lie down.

I beg your pardon?

Believe me.

No one's signing up until we've got a
customer in the ground.

I believe Brother Brown has hit the nail
on the head, gentlemen. Yeah, he struck

a nerve, all right. When things are slow
in used cars, I run a contest.

Now suppose we give a plot away as a
door prize at the next large dance.

There's a certain dignity in preparing
for one's final confinement.

I find your suggestion highly reviled.

Sorry, I was... Just thinking out loud.

Any of you remember Clarence Weems?

Weems?

Weems? Yeah.

I sold him a sedan six years ago.

He wears an upper plate. I made it.

Brother Weems.

Yes.

Yes, a man in his declining years.

An auctioneer by trade, but a credit to
the lodge and to the community.

Yes, now that I recall, he ceased being
an active member over a year ago.

That's when he lost his wife.

And his business went sour and he got
sick.

He's kind of given up.

In fact, he isn't expected to live out
the year.

Oh, that's too bad.

But what is this to do with our
immediate problem?

Suppose we make him a proposition.

Say we give him $50 a week.

Support him until the end.

In return, say, he agrees to be our
first customer.

Now, that wouldn't be charity.

We'd be giving him something.

He'd be giving us something.

That's the answer.

Are you suggesting that we subsidize
Brother Weems if he agrees to be

in our park?

Sure.

Are you positive he's teetering on the
edge of immortality?

Well, he's been in a sickbed for over a
year.

He's practically got one foot in a
grave.

I see.

Well, what have we got to lose?

Fifty dollars a week.

Yes, but think of the taxes and the
upkeep. I say let's give it a try.

Me too.

All right, gentlemen.

An emergency calls for extraordinary
measures.

Suppose we look in on Brother Weems.

Agreed? Agreed.

Walk -up apartment?

Well, if he was a rich man, we wouldn't
be here.

What floor, Harry?

For Please daddy try and rest.

Yes, dear. I will

Hello. We're from the lodge.

The lodge?

Yes. The Knights of the Golden Lodge.

I wonder if we might see Mr. Weems.

Oh, hi, Harry. I didn't see you. Come
in, please.

Laura, this is Mr.

Stone, Dr.

Elkins, and Mr.

Brodsky. How do you do?

You're coming by later to take him to
the movie, aren't you, darling?

I mean, I asked Mrs. Collins from down
the hall to come and sit with Daddy.

Of course. It was a promise.

Good.

I'll tell my daddy that you're here.

I didn't know you were so friendly with
Miss Weems. Oh, we've known each other

for a long time. Are you engaged?

Well, in a manner of speaking, we were
supposed to be married last December,

the weddings had to be postponed.

Brother Brown, exactly what caused the
postponement?

We're not in a lodge now. Call me Harry.
We're on lodge business, though. I

repeat. Why is the wedding being
postponed?

You can come in now. Oh, this way,
gentlemen. This way.

You remember these gentlemen, Mr. Weems?

Lodge members.

I didn't know you were all in the
convalescent committee.

Well, we're not, exactly.

That must be Mrs. Collins now.

I just want to tell her when to give you
your medicine.

Excuse me.

She's a good girl. Can't do enough for
me. Well, maybe I won't be a burden to

her much longer.

So you've come to cheer a sick man up,
have you?

Well, you've come to the wrong place.

I can't stand do -gooders, sympathy, or
long faces.

All I ask is that you have a good time
at the wake.

Brother Weems, you sound like a
practical man. That's why I don't think

take offense at what we have to say.

Ah, got something up your sleeve, have
you?

No, just an honest business proposition.

I lost my business, lost everything.

You see, the lodge is willing to give
you $50 a week until, well,

until the end comes.

I don't need charity.

Laura works in the library.

We'd get along.

Oh, that's not charity, Mr. Williams.
You'd be earning it.

That's right.

You see, the lodge recently purchased a
tract of land and converted it into a

final resting place for the members.

We call it Elysium Park.

That's just a fancy name for a
graveyard.

It's attractively landscaped and ideally
located.

Your real estate office handled the
deal?

Well, yes, we did select the land.

The point is, if you'll agree to be
interred there, the lodge will continue

paying you until the time comes.

Having trouble selling the plot, sir?

They're not exactly busting down the
doors.

My grandmother believed in the wee
people and the leprechauns, but I can't

afford to be superstitious.

I'm overdue now.

As I used to say in the old days, going,
going, gone.

Then you'll accept our offer? It has the
sound of an honorable arrangement.

Good.

We took the liberty of having some
papers drawn up.

Afraid I wouldn't live out the day, huh?

My glasses.

Oh, let me help.

Yes, thank you.

I think you'll find it all there.

Your obligation to us, our obligation to
you, the starting and the ending.

This clause A here, party the first
part, that's you, agrees to pay party

second part, that's me, the agreed upon
sum of money, doesn't say anything about

how much I'm supposed to get.

Oh, that is an oversight.

Better write it in and issue it.

So long as it's on paper, we might as
well spell it out so everyone can

understand. Oh, absolutely.

Now, if you'll just sign here.

Done.

Thank you.

This will be a blessing to Laura.

Now that she knows I'll be taken care
of, she can give up her job and get

married.

I think we'd better be getting back.

Goodbye, Mr. Weems.

I could stay until Laurie gets back.

Goodbye,

Mr. Weems.

Take good care of yourself.

Goodbye.

We might look in on you now and then, if
you don't mind.

Don't bother. Just read the obituary
columns.

Your copy. I've already found it.

Goodbye, Brother Weems.

Goodbye. Very convenient.

Now you can go ahead and marry that
girl.

It just worked out that way. What
difference does it make? From what I've

it looks like a good investment.

A week, maybe a month. Then we can
unload every plot in the park.

Mr. Weems. Come in, Mrs. Collins.

I thought you might like some chicken
broth.

Thanks, but I don't feel like chicken
broth.

I feel like something more substantial.

Maybe roast beef or even steak.

But Dr.

Allen said... Don't bother, Dr. Allen.

You know, Sarah, you're a handsome
-looking woman.

Well, Mr. Weems, what's come over you?

You never noticed me that way before.

Well, it's time I did.

And, Sarah, one thing more.

Yes, Mr. Weems?

Call me Clarence. Yes, Mr. Weems.

I mean, Clarence.

I hear you're getting married next
month.

Looks that way.

Do you know anything about this?

Looks like an application for active
membership in the lodge.

It's from Clarence Weems.

He also sent six months' dues.

Maybe he feels obligated. When he goes,
he wants to go out as an active member.

Well, I see no signs of his going.

For an invalid who's supposed to have
one foot in the grave, he seems to be

possessed of remarkable stamina.

It's only been three weeks.

Yes, and I've trudged up those four
flights every week. And each time he

just the same.

I saw him!

Plain as day, I saw him. Saw who?

Tyrus Waynes.

I was on the ninth hole in the public
park.

He was taking a walk.

And he wasn't alone.

He was with a woman.

Maybe it was someone who looked like
him. No, it was him who even waved at

Well, there's one way to find out just
what's going on.

He looked very healthy.

Coming, gentlemen.

Hello, Mr. Stone.

Is your father home?

Oh, he's taking a nap now. The doctor
doesn't want him disturbed.

Has he been out of the house today?

I'm sorry, I just got in.

Why don't you come by tomorrow and ask
him yourself?

And, Harry, don't forget we have an
appointment with Reverend Newton

I'll tell my daddy to drop by to see
him.

Bye.

Well, you're practically one of the
family.

And that's the sort of treatment we get.

Man's resting.

I tell you, it was him I saw.

So, a man has a right to walk in the
sunshine. It may be his only chance.

Not when it's costing us $50 a week.

To say nothing of the taxes and upkeep
on the property.

Maybe he's just holding out long enough
just to see his daughter married. It's

only human.

All right.

That's one month from now.

In the meantime, I suggest we keep an
eye on Mr.

Williams.

Enjoy yourself.

Well, good evening, Brother Evans.

Nice to see you, Mrs. Evans.

It's like a big night for the lodge.
Yes, go right in.

It's a source of great satisfaction to
see our fellow members turning out.

Good evening, gentlemen.

I want you to meet Mrs. Collins.

Her late husband used to be a member.

I told her about you. She thinks it's
real nice of you to take such an

in me.

That'll be two tickets, thank you.

I'm sorry I was resting the last two
times you dropped by.

But you just keep coming.

You never know when you'll catch me up.

I haven't been to a lodge dance in over
two years.

Get Brown and Elkins right away. I'm
calling an emergency board meeting.

Yeah. Yeah.

They're coming.

I just saw him. I tell you, I just saw
Clarence Williams big as life. And he

that same woman with him.

Powers of observation are remarkable.

Gentlemen, a fraud has been perpetrated
on this lodge.

A bare -faced fraud.

And he did it!

I didn't know he was coming here.

I'm not talking about just that.

It's all clear now.

Everything.

You talked us into this scheme just so
you could marry that daughter of his.

Now, Weems is self -supported.

Now, he's no longer a burden to her.

Lodge is practically financing the
wedding.

And the honeymoon.

I won't listen to such lies.

Not from somebody who practically stole
money from the lodge. What?

Yes, your real estate firm got the
commission for selling the cemetery to

lodge. I heard you admit it to Mr.
Weems. That was merely a coincidence.

Please, please, we're all lodge brothers
here.

Nobody's accusing anybody of anything.

He did. He said I made it all up. I can
prove what I said about Mr. Weems being

a very sick man. Well, then somebody
better tell Mr. Weems.

He's already entered himself in the cha
-cha contest.

If you want an affidavit, ask the
doctor. Is that where you got it from?

He as much as said Mr. Williams wouldn't
be with us much longer.

Well, we're wasting time.

Why don't we talk to him?

That's one way to find out who's telling
the truth.

All right. All right.

We'll all go see his doctor.

Is everyone agreed?

Agreed.

All right. All right. Take it easy,
Cato. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down.

Cool off.

Would anyone like more coffee?

No, thank you.

Sugar cream?

You told the doctor to expect us?

Yes. Oh, I'll tell the doctor that
you're waiting.

Well, it's nice to know that Clarence
has so many friends who worry about him.

Yes.

We'd like to know just how he's coming
along.

I can understand your concern.

Clarence told me about your generous
financial arrangement.

Sort of an insurance policy in reverse,
with the death benefits going to the

company. I admit it sounds crazy, but it
seemed like a good idea at the time.

At the time, perhaps it was.

I think I made it all up.

I believe I can tell you what you want
to know without violating my patient's

confidence.

If you could just tell us what his
chances are.

There's more to it than that.

It takes something out of a man when he
loses his wife and then his business.

Clarence let himself get run down. He
seemed to be wasting away.

He gave up completely.

And he waited for the inevitable.

Yes, Clarence was a very sick man.

But what was this miracle that changed
all of this?

The miracle was you, gentlemen.

You gave Clarence something that medical
science could not provide.

You gave him a reason and a will to
live.

A lifetime annuity is a challenge to any
man.

Congratulations, gentlemen.

You've brought a dying man back from the
grave.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll get back
to the hospital.

Well, there's nothing more we can do
here.

Are you gentlemen leaving?

Don't you want to see my father?

No, thank you.

Coming.

I think I'll just stay and finish my
coffee.

He might outlive us all.

Maybe we could sell the land for a
housing tract.

Or a golf course.

Not while Clarence Weems is an active
member of this lodge.

He swore a solemn oath to uphold the
best interests of the lodge.

Well, he's not doing it.

He's depriving his fellow members of the
ultimate benefits of Elysium Park.

We'll appeal to him in the sacred name
of the lodge.

If he has one spark of decency left,
he's got to listen to us.

Asking a man to die is a duty to his
lodge.

That's asking a lot.

My intention is not quite that drastic.

We'll ask him to tear up the contract
for the sum of, say, $500.

Agree?

Agreed. Agreed.

Agreed.

He's got to listen to reason.

We'll blackball him from the lodge if he
refuses.

Careful, Terrence. You might strain
yourself.

I used to lift pianos.

I'll have it in your apartment in a
jiffy.

Look.

He's as strong as an ox.

He's as white as a ghost.

Hey, here comes Doc Allen. Hurry up,
Doc. Come on up. Quick.

Come on, Doc.

He just looked up and passed out.

I'm afraid he's gone. It's his heart.

He should have been climbing these
stairs week after week.

Poor dear man.

So young to die.

It was a sweet thought.

You're giving that poor dear man the
very plot they gave to you.

It was the least I could do.

He tried dreadful hard to make a success
of this place.

Relatives and good friends of Cato
Stone.

There. I think that proves that we can
be as sunshiny as anyone.

Clarence and the widow Collins lived
happily ever after.

And in desperation, the trustees finally
converted their park into a track for

dog racing.

It proved more popular than a cemetery,
and rather profitable too.

One of the consolations of being ill is
the gifts one receives.

One of my dear friends sent me this.

Solid oak.

Silver handles too.

Apparently the donor wishes to remain
anonymous.

The card is unsigned.

Very nice.

But I better not overtax myself.

Until our next visiting hours, then.