Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

(door creaking)

Welcome to tonight's program.

As you see, I have joined those of you who enjoy

the most popular indoor hobby.

Coin collecting.

Perhaps some of you think that the rise of the credit card

and credit buying was spontaneous.

Actually, the reason for these devices is quite simple.

Coin collectors have taken so much money out of circulation,

there isn't enough to spend.

If this trend should continue, and I see no reason

why it should not, we will have to reintroduce barter.

With that possibility in mind, I have already begun

collecting beaver pelts.

I'm sure it will come as no great surprise to you

to learn that in tonight's program,

a crime will be committed.

And I do not refer to the one our sponsor

is about perpetrate.

(dramatic music)

(mysterious music)

- Five cents, Jimmy.

(roaring)

Jimmy, stop it.

Jimmy, don't.

(growling)

Leave her alone.

I'll tell your mother.

(light music)

- Terry, grab the wrench for the engine mounts,

I'll rig the hoist.

Well come on, kid (snaps fingers).

(soft mysterious music)

(engine starting)

(dramatic music)

(engine idling)

- Fred?

Fred, Fred?

(soft mysterious music)

I can't do it, Fred.

- What's that all about?

- Well, what do you think?

He's only been out about a month.

- He's too nervous for my money.

- Well, I once knew a guy used to walk up

eight flights of stairs to see his parole officer,

because he couldn't stand being cooped up in an elevator.

(hard breathing)

(children shouting)

(traffic passing)

- Hi.

- Hi.

No business school today?

- Only twice a week.

- Oh.

It's warm.

(sighing)

- Indian summer.

I haven't seen you for a couple of days.

- I was in yesterday for cigarettes.

Your dad said you were out.

- School.

Father said I could have some time off this afternoon

after I finish at the store.

I think I'll go to the park.

- Fred owes me some time, maybe I could go with you.

It's a free park.

(gentle music)

You don't talk much, do you?

- I guess not.

- Is the rest of your family like that, quiet, I mean?

- I don't know.

I don't even know who they were.

I was raised in a county home.

- You mean like an orphanage?

- Now what else could it mean?

- I'm sorry.

- Maybe we oughta start back.

It's a long way.

- We can take the subway.

- I wanna walk.

You wanna take the subway, go ahead.

- If that's the way you feel about it,

why did you come with me?

(birds chirping)

- I, I didn't mean it like that.

It's just that it's the rush hour now, and,

look, I got a thing about being closed up

in places, that's all.

(birds chirping)

- Claustrophobia?

- Yeah.

- So does Mr. Calucci.

He was a prisoner of war.

(birds chirping)

- I was a prisoner once.

No war, though.

- You mean the home?

- Home, reformatory, state prison, take your pick.

Anything else you'd like to know?

Some date, huh?

Bet you don't have any boyfriends like me.

No, huh?

- I don't have any boyfriends.

- [Terry] Come on.

- I haven't dated since high school.

- Girl like you?

- Why not, what do you know about me?

- I can learn.

You like popcorn?

It's the only time we ever got outside the home.

I loved that school bus.

Not the school, just the bus (sighs).

I thought that driver had it made,

free, in control of things.

(birds chirping)

I watched him till I could shift gears in my sleep.

- Is that what you stole?

- I just wanted to take it for a drive, that's all.

- And they sent you to a reformatory for that?

They must have known you weren't really stealing it.

- They didn't wanna know.

All they know is locks, walls and bars.

When I got out, I was gonna be a racing driver,

work someplace, build my own car.

Ever apply for a job?

- Not yet.

- Did you ever work around cars before, kid?

Oh, where'd you learn?

Where you from, who are you?

And if you lie,

there's your probation officer.

Big brother, just dropping by to ask

the boss how you're doing.

- What did you go to prison for?

- What they expected me to go for.

Stealing more cars.

- Does Mr. Kruger know?

- Oh no, of course not.

- Now you have a chance to do what you want to do.

- You bet I have.

- That's why I'm taking a business course.

Once I get a job, maybe I can get Papa to give up the store.

- You don't think he'll let you, do you?

Huh?

Look, once somebody gets you under their thumb,

they keep you there.

Why do you stay with him?

- I'm all he has.

Everybody needs someone.

(gentle music)

(traffic passing)

(door creaking)

(bell ringing)

- I'm sorry I made you walk.

- I liked it.

Don't, Terry, please.

- I didn't mean anything wrong.

- I know.

I just don't want to.

Goodnight, Terry.

- It's okay.

Goodnight.

(gentle music)

(soft dramatic music)

- 32 minutes later, we're back here with $112,000.

Huh, what do you think of that?

- I think you're outta your mind.

- Why?

- I don't know, it's crazy.

I mean, chasing freight trains, with the police to help.

I mean, that's a real beauty.

And that safe's gotta weigh 400 pounds.

Now what are you gonna do, carry it out on your back?

- Don't you ever listen?

We roll it across the floor on this creeper.

(creeper sliding and hitting wall)

Lift it into the truck, it'll take 30 seconds.

- If you're wrong, it could take 30 years.

- Now you fake your breakdown right about here.

And one of the patrol cars coming off duty

comes down this street at about 11:40,

give or take a minute.

You're sitting here at the side of the road

with the flares out, all right.

He stops, you flag him down.

Ask him to get on the radio, call the precinct.

Have the precinct telephone here, send out a tow truck.

Terry, you should get the call about 11:45.

You're ready to roll with the tow truck, you take off.

You meet us here, 11:50.

We leave the tow truck.

Take off in the Packard.

All right, now from here, to the plant,

it's four minutes, right?

- Less.

- Good.

- Okay, at 11:59, a hotshot freight leaves the yards here,

makes the crossing at 12:04.

This is about the same time the other patrol cars

are coming back on duty for the midnight

to eight AM shift, you understand?

- This is the part I don't get at all.

- All right, will you just listen?

So that means we got exactly 10 minutes to get from here,

to the plant, take care of the guards,

get the safe in the track and get back

across the railroad before this freight makes the crossing.

None of these other patrol cars can

possibly get here in time to follow us.

When they do get across, we'll be coming back from the other

side with a breakdown that they already know about.

Huh, any questions?

- Yeah, one big one.

Suppose we don't make the crossing in time.

(soft mysterious music)

(gun clicking)

(mysterious music)

- They're coming.

- Right on the button, we're in business.

(dramatic music)

(soft mysterious music)

(phone ringing)

- Kruger's Tow Service.

Where?

Boy, he really picked a spot to break down, didn't he?

Yeah, thanks.

(phone hanging up)

(upbeat dramatic music)

(engine revving)

(upbeat dramatic music)

(engine starting)

(upbeat dramatic music)

(crickets chirping)

(soft dramatic music)

(engine idling)

(soft dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

(engine revving and tires squealing)

- [Fred] You followed?

- [Al] No.

- [Fred] Good.

- [Al] We're a minute late.

- [Fred] Well, we got a three-minute edge,

come on, let's go.

- [Terry] I thought you said this thing weighed 400 pounds.

- [Al] Something's wrong, it feels like it weighs a ton.

- [Fred] It moved, didn't it, come on.

Come on, all right, all together now.

(safe crashing)

Come on.

Won't budge, the casters are smashed.

- [Al] Look at that clock, we gotta leave it.

- [Fred] No, you don't leave it.

(hard breathing)

Wait here.

(footsteps)

(engine starting)

(engine revving)

(crashing)

Terry, get that truck over here.

Al, stand by and give me a hand with the safe.

(engine idling)

(engine starting)

(tires squealing)

(engine revving)

(brakes squealing)

Wait.

(engine revving)

(tires squealing)

(engine revving)

(safe banging)

- What's the matter with this crate?

- Feels like we broke a spring when the safe hit it.

- Oh great.

(siren blaring)

- We're tagged.

- No police cars, huh?

- Well he musta been delayed answering a call.

(siren blaring)

(train horn blowing)

- They're gaining.

(crossing bells ringing)

(train horn blowing)

- We can't make it.

- We better make it or it's back to the pen.

Go for broke, kid.

(train horn blowing)

I hope it ain't a tie.

(horn blowing)

(crossing bells ringing)

- That broken spring almost cooked us.

- Well just don't cook the money.

(laughing)

- 700 little paydays.

112,000 bucks, huh, you know how much that is a minute?

Oh boy.

Listen, get the suitcase outta my office.

- [Al] Hey, Fred.

- Yeah?

- [Al] What's this thing in here?

- I don't know.

- [Al] What is this?

- Must be something valuable, come on, out with it.

- [Al] I can't budge it.

- Come on, if you try it, you can.

Oop, geez that's heavy.

You got it?

What is this, another safe or something?

Hey you know, sometimes these plants, they use

industrial diamonds for cutting metal.

- This thing opens up over here.

- Good.

- Let's see.

- It's a lock. - A lock.

- Huh?

Here.

- Watch your hand.

(hammer banging)

What is this?

- Some kinda safe, huh?

- There's another opening over here.

Feels like just a hole.

- Let me see.

- No, Fred.

There's some kinda shield here.

- Where?

Warning, dangerous.

This shell contains cobalt 60.

Improper exposure can lead to illness or death

from ra-, radiation?

(dramatic piano music)

Let's get outta here.

- I touched it.

Hey, Fred.

- What?

- I touched it.

I touched it!

- Come on.

(dramatic piano music)

- We have now come to what is known as a station break,

a rent in the fabric of television entertainment.

If you press an eye to the opening,

one generally sees another giant eyeball staring back,

as an announcer intones the call letters

of the local station, after which,

the second half of our story.

(soft dramatic music)

- Hello, Colonel, Frank Ludden.

You hear any newscasts on that Long Island City

job this morning?

No, I'm afraid it was more than a payroll.

That safe had a container of cobalt 60

used to X-ray steel beams.

Very potent.

Multi-Curie source on government license.

Yeah.

Colonel, how many choppers you got

with antennae and detection equipment?

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh, well get them up as soon

as you possibly can, will you?

If that container is breached, we should be able

to pick it up, oh, I'd say, about 1,500 feet.

Yes.

Yes, I want the entire city checkerboard.

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm here with Durrell and Polson

from the Federal Bureau, they're with me.

Same to you, Colonel, we'll need it (sighs).

- [Newscaster] Seemed to have vanished without a trace,

taking with them the firm's safe

containing a $112,000 payroll.

The company announced it will hereafter

pay employees by check, a little late.

Now to the national and international.

- There, you see?

- See what?

- They didn't even mention that cobalt.

All they're worried about's the money.

- Well then why'd they put the sign on that thing?

- They give you the same baloney about too many X-rays.

You've had X-rays, haven't you?

Are you dead yet?

Anything?

- No.

- Look, don't you think they'd say so

if that stuff could hurt you?

- But they don't know I opened it.

I wanna go see a doctor, Fred.

- All right, Al, see a doctor tonight.

In Mexico City.

- How do I get there?

- I called up the travel agency, make reservations.

They're gonna call me back.

- What do we do till then?

- I don't know, I don't know, let me think.

Listen, Al, you better go back to your shop.

You wait there till you hear from me.

- Where you gonna be?

- Well, I can't go back to the garage with that thing.

- I thought you said it wasn't dangerous.

- Well I mean, being near it all day, come on.

- Look at my fingers.

Look at them.

- You were using the torch without your gloves on,

so you got a little burned.

- I wore gloves, it's not a burn.

They feel numb.

It feels like my fingers are dying on my hand.

I'm gonna see a doc.

- Well then we better make sure that

you need one, right, Al?

- Fred, no.

- For 30 years, I've been living high off the hog!

Twice, twice I fell off.

Both times because some jerk like him chickened out on me!

And that's not gonna happen again!

(phone ringing)

(sighing)

Hello.

Yes, Mr. Miller.

Why not?

Monday, that's no good, I gotta get out.

Well haven't you got anything?

Huh?

All right, all right.

Call me back if you get any cancellations, will you please?

Right, thank you.

(phone hanging up)

Friday, weekend.

Everything's booked solid until Monday.

Al, I--

I'm sorry, forgive me, huh?

Look, you go back to your shop,

pretend like nothing happened till we get outta here.

Because if you don't, Al, you know it's gonna be

back to the pen for you.

It'll be back to the pen for all of us,

and we'll never get out again.

You know that, don't you?

- Yeah.

- Sure, come on.

He needs watching.

- Fred?

- Mm.

- What about that thing in the garage?

- What thing?

Oh.

Yeah, we gotta do something about that, don't we?

Listen, tell you what to do, get a sign made up.

Closed for repairs, tack it on the front door.

Well can you think of something better?

- I meant about the neighbors.

- What about them?

- Well they're near it.

Al's hand didn't look very good.

- Oh come on, he's an old maid.

You're not thinking about?

You're thinking about that girl, that Carol, aren't you?

Huh?

She gave you the brush last night, didn't she?

- Yeah.

- Yes, sure, so there's nobody there

we care about, is there?

- No.

- Of course not.

(chuckling)

(soft dramatic music)

(bells ringing)

(soft dramatic music)

- Can I borrow a hammer and some tacks?

- Don't you have any at the garage?

- I forgot my keys.

(tacks rattling)

Fred's putting in some new equipment.

- Then you won't be around for a while.

- I was thinking about going away.

- Oh.

Have you got a new job?

- Yeah.

In Mexico.

- Then you won't be coming back.

- No.

- I came over last night.

About 12, you weren't there.

- I was out on a call.

- I wanted to see you.

- Didn't act like it the last time.

You let me kiss you, and then all--

(bells ringing)

- Hey, Carol, you get any calls for me?

- [Carol] No, Mrs. Calucci.

- My sister in the Bronx, she got an operation.

Could her husband find a phone, no.

But tell him a tip on a horse,

and he's got a phone in his pocket.

Give me some change, I call her.

(register ringing)

(footsteps)

(phone dialing)

- I'll bring these back.

(bell ringing)

(dramatic piano music)

(hammer pounding)

(speaking foreign language)

(soft dramatic music)

- They got nobody to go and call.

(soft dramatic music)

(bell ringing and door closing)

(soft dramatic music)

- I love you.

I've never used that word before.

I wanted to tell you last night.

(wings flapping cage rattling)

- He's dead.

Last night, when I covered him, he was singing.

- [Otto] What's the matter?

- It's Caruso, he's dead.

- Carol? You gotta come away with me right now, today.

- Away, where?

- Mexico City, we'll get married.

- Be sure this time, Carol.

- [Terry] Be sure about what?

Carol?

Carol?

- There's something you better know.

- What is it?

I met a boy.

In high school, when I was 15.

- Go on.

- We ran away and got married.

We were underage, it didn't work out.

I got a divorce three months later.

- That's not all, is it?

- I had a baby.

A little boy.

- Where is he?

- I don't know.

I never saw him.

I gave him away for adoption.

- You mean, you dumped him?

- No.

- You just gave him away, to be brought up by somebody else?

How could you do it?

- [Carol] How could you steal cars?

- Because maybe I had a mother like you.

- I needed somebody to love me.

- What do you think your kid needed?

(soft dramatic music)

(bells ringing)

(jazz music)

(dramatic piano music)

(gun firing and glass breaking)

(gun firing)

(dramatic music)

(soft dramatic music)

- Baker Nine, go ahead.

Yes, he's right here.

It's for you, sir.

- Ludden speaking.

Yes, Larry.

- I'm at LIC emergency.

They had a homicide here about two hours ago,

unidentified man coming in off the street.

Body's been posted.

Cause of death was a bullet, but the man's hand

showed positive symptoms of primary radiation burns.

Direct contact with a multi-Curie agent.

- Then the container has been breached?

- I'm afraid so, sir.

Public Health is standing by for instructions.

- Okay.

Okay, let them hit the panic button.

Give it to PI for immediate release.

- We've still got 12 hours.

- Not anymore we haven't.

I want all units to converge on the Long Island City sector.

- Yes, sir.

- And pass it on to the choppers.

- Yes, sir.

- If the man was still around, the cobalt must be too.

How long before it could kill somebody?

- Not long enough.

(upbeat music on TV)

- Hi, Terry.

(upbeat music on TV)

Any good?

- I haven't been watching.

- Wanna beer?

- No.

Tomorrow's Saturday, Fred.

- Yeah, yeah I know, Terry.

Seems like a long time till Monday, huh?

Listen, I'm buying a car in the morning.

We'll drive to Miami, take off from there for Mexico.

- I've been thinking, all those kids with no school

tomorrow playing outside the garage.

- Terry, you and I were within a few feet of that thing.

Al even touched it, he's okay.

- Is he, Fred?

- Sure.

Come on, don't let your imagination run away with you.

Think of Number One, kid.

Mexico, huh, racing cars?

You got the dough to buy yourself the best.

And listen, those Mexican senoritas,

they'll make that candy store kid of yours look like a boy.

- [Newscaster] We interrupt the late show

for an urgent news bulletin.

A spokesman for the Atomic Energy Commission

has just revealed--

- We got a long drive tomorrow, kid.

- [Newscaster] Lethal cobalt 60, used to X-ray steel beams.

The AEC warned that the container has been breached.

The AEC personnel and agents of the FBI have been hoping

to recover the container intact,

but that hope has faded with the disclosure

that an unidentified man shot to death in the entrance

of an emergency hospital earlier this evening

was suffering from severe radiation burns.

The man is believed to have been one of the masked bandits.

The manhunt for his two companions has been speeded up.

The AEC warns that the breached container

is highly dangerous.

Continuous exposure can lead to blood cell

deterioration and death.

- You killed him!

- What was I supposed to do, let him kill me?

- Oh no, not you, not Number One.

- Use your head, kid.

- I'm beginning to, Fred.

I bought a payroll heist, not this.

(phone dialing)

- You think so, huh?

Well I'll tell you what I bought.

I bought you, buddy boy.

I bought you with two months in solitary,

taking the raps for you.

For the six months' good behavior time

I lost because of you.

For the year I spent with my nose in sweat and grease,

setting up a front for us with that garage,

waiting for you to get out.

- Not me, a wheelman, that's what you wanted.

- All right then, a wheelman.

That's what I paid for, and that's what I'm gonna get.

- [Terry] Oh no, you're gonna have to kill me

the same way you killed Al.

- No.

No, kid.

Because I know what button to push with you, you see.

- No. - Yes.

- Fred!

(dramatic music)

Fred, Fred, please.

- Get used to it, kid.

That's what solitary's like, only in solitary

you won't be alone, you'll have rats

and other things to keep you company.

(soft dramatic music)

- Let me out, Fred.

I'll do it, I'll do whatever you say.

- What about that girl of yours?

- I don't care about her, I don't care, Fred!

(door banging)

Fred!

(dramatic music)

(hard breathing)

I don't care if she dies.

(engine revving)

- [Pilot] All ground units, brief positive

multi-Curie reading on Map Area J4.

- That's it.

Map Area J4, driver, and hit it.

All units to close in for a fixed pattern.

Decontamination teams and a recovery squad.

(engine revving)

- Baker Nine to all units.

- Terry?

Terry, wait till you see the car I bought.

Terry?

- Must have been the food last night.

- I'll go call the doctor.

- No.

Just let me rest.

(door opening and bells ringing)

Go ahead, answer it.

- [Terry] Carol?

Carol?

- What do you want?

- [Terry] You gotta get outta here.

You gotta come with me right now.

- Let me go.

- Will you listen to me?

- I listened to you yesterday.

- I didn't mean what I said.

- I don't care anymore.

- We'll get married.

- So you can throw it up to me the rest of my life?

Don't do me any favors, Terry.

Let me go, leave me alone.

I've gotta call the doctor for my father.

- What's the matter with him?

- We've both been sick all night.

- You gotta get outta here right now.

- Terry, leave me alone!

- Terry.

Leave her alone.

Get out, or I'll call the police.

(dramatic piano music)

- Get outta here.

All of you, get outta here, go play some,

go play someplace else.

Go on!

(children shouting)

(dramatic music)

- Happy now, kid?

There's a car outside waiting for a driver.

- It'll wait one more minute.

The people in there are sick.

I'm gonna call the police.

- Get out to the car, kid.

- After I call.

(body thumping)

(dramatic music)

(engine starting)

(dramatic music)

(brakes squealing)

(dramatic music)

- Fred, Fred?

Let me out.

I won't call anybody till you're gone.

- I know you won't, kid.

- Fred?

Honest, Fred, honest.

I'll do anything you say.

(traffic passing)

(siren blaring)

- Hold everybody on the street.

Get around in the back.

- Just a minute, sir.

I said stop.

(guns firing)

(footsteps)

- Okay, come on, get these people off the street.

- That's Fred Kruger.

- Do you know this guy?

- From the garage.

- You okay?

- Yeah.

- You're sure now?

- Yes.

- Okay, come on, let's go.

Stand back, everyone.

Get that house on the other side of the candy store.

- Terry?

Terry?

- Carol?

Carol, go away.

Go back, the cobalt's here.

Call the police.

(door closing)

- How long they been in there?

- A few minutes, I guess.

- Over this way.

- Hurry it up.

Put him down on that curb over there.

Officer, would you keep an eye on him please?

- [Soldier] Make way, please.

- [Durrell] How many more in there?

- [Ludden] I don't know, couple, I guess.

- Come on, this way.

- Sir?

You heard him ask me to call you, didn't you?

Doesn't that mean anything?

- Not for me to say.

Might mean a lot.

(soft dramatic music)

- [Soldier] This side of the street cleared.

(soft dramatic music)

- I'm sorry.

I tried to tell you.

- It's all right.

(soft dramatic music)

- That concludes our story for tonight.

My coin collecting has also ended.

I had forgotten about that greatest of all

coin collectors, the government.

It all went for taxes and is back in circulation again.

I am too, until next week,

when I shall return with another story.

("The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" instrumental theme music)