Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

I have made a rather interesting discovery,

an Indian village in a remarkable state of preservation.

Judging from the items I've found around here,

this was the barbershop.

I imagine it was originally part of a large shopping center

which stood on this very spot.

Actually, this a peace pipe.

It was by far the most popular style of pipe,

because it was so handy in case the peace

conference didn't work out.

Tonight, we shall show you a series of commercial messages,

and if you watch closely, a play.

(suspenseful music)

(footsteps)

(suspenseful music)

(car passing)

(suspenseful music)

(traffic passing)

(suspenseful music)

(glass smashing)

(alarm blaring)

(horn honking)

(alarm blaring)

- Come on.

(alarm blaring)

All right you, come on out.

(alarm blaring)

- It's empty.

- This is the police, come out with your hands up.

Stop!

(gun firing)

(glass breaking)

- What's the matter with you?

- You saw him, he was trying to get away.

(alarm blaring)

- He's dead.

(alarm blaring)

I couldn't help it, he was armed.

- Was he?

(alarm blaring)

(soft dramatic music)

- Do you think we'll be friends after we're married?

- Who wants to be friends with you?

- What time do you have to leave?

- I'm supposed to be at the police

psychiatrist office at 11.

I suppose there'll be a hearing tomorrow,

later in the week.

- Johnny, what can they do to you?

- Nothing.

He was trying to get away.

I told him to stop.

He didn't, I shot him.

- Sweetheart?

- Hmm?

- Why do have to carry a gun?

- Honey, the only thing a cop has between him

and extinction is his gun.

- Well.

Then if you tell them the truth, everything'll be all right.

- Yeah.

(soft dramatic music)

(traffic passing)

- The truth, Mr. Kendall, consists of many things.

For example, I've just finished reading

Sergeant Racin's report here.

Now suppose you give me your version.

- Well, it's hard to remember.

I mean, it all happened so fast.

I mean, all of a sudden, there I am in a dark alley

with some guy that's just busted a liquor store.

Well how could I tell all he had in his hand was a bottle?

Coulda been a knife.

Or a gun.

I mean, for all I know, he's a killer.

Don't you see, Doc, I had to shoot.

Put yourself in my place.

- Suppose I try.

Seems to me I'd fire my first shot as a warning.

Then if I thought the man was armed,

I'd shoot to disable him.

Aim for his hand, or his foot.

Yet the medical report says here

that all three bullets were in the chest,

close to the heart.

- I told you, I had to shoot fast.

- Here's your practice records on the police target range.

You are rated one of the top marksmen in the department.

- But this was different, it was dark, I couldn't see.

- And you have made excellent scores

under simulated night conditions,

exceptionally high on both speed and accuracy.

- Just say it.

Say it, why don't you?

You think I killed him on purpose, don't you?

Don't you?

All right then.

Tell me why.

Why would I wanna kill him?

He was a bum, a whino!

A poor old guy who couldn't wait for the next drink.

Why would I wanna kill him?

- Suppose you tell me.

- I don't know.

I just don't know.

- Well, perhaps it would help if we could find out.

We might make arrangements for treatment.

- You think they'll suspend me?

- No.

I'm going to recommend an honorable

discharge from the force.

I said honorable.

There'll be no hearing.

I've read your record, your entire record.

This sort of thing, it could happen again.

- A cop has got to protect himself.

- He has got to protect others too.

Look at it this way.

When you carry a gun, you also carry responsibility.

And for you, it's too much of a load.

(soft dramatic music)

- What happened, what did they say about the hearing?

- There won't be any hearing.

- Oh, darling, I'm so glad.

- Of course we'll have to put off our wedding a while.

Only till I find another job.

- Another job?

- I quit the force.

- Johnny.

That doctor, what did he say to you?

- Nothing, just that,

I'm okay, I'm okay.

- [Sandy] Then I don't understand.

- I've had it, that's all, I've just had it.

- What are you doing?

- There are plenty of other towns, plenty of other jobs.

Soon as I find something, I'll send for you.

- Take me with you.

Please?

I can quit my job tomorrow, and we can go together.

Johnny, I won't stay here without you.

- You better go now.

You have a lot of packing to do.

(soft romantic music)

I'll see you home.

- [Sandy] No, that's okay, you have a lot to do.

- Call me in the morning, soon as you're ready.

- It'll be like starting a new life together.

- That's right, darling, a new life.

(soft romantic music)

- Goodnight, Johnny.

(soft dramatic music)

(door closing)

(soft music)

- Where are we?

- Wagon Lake.

Can you use some sleep?

- Can I?

It feels like we've been driving forever.

- I told you, I wanted to get far away as possible.

- Can I help you folks?

- [Johnny] Yes, could you get us a couple of rooms?

- Right this way.

(door closing)

(birds singing)

- Don't bother, Mr. Kendall, nobody home.

The young lady left about an hour ago.

- Left?

- Didn't wanna disturb you.

Said you needed a good nap after all that driving.

She just drove into town with my wife.

- What for?

- Oh, said she wanted to look around for a job.

So my wife offered to drive her.

Anything to leave me with the chores.

(birds singing)

Looks like you folks decided to stay a while.

- Apparently.

- Well, it's nice around here.

Quiet.

(birds singing)

Like I was telling the young lady, it's good for the nerves.

- You told her that?

- Oh sure, nothing like country living to get you relaxed.

- Maybe you're right.

(footsteps)

- Going sightseeing?

- No.

If the young lady gets back before I do,

tell her I got the message.

(engine starting)

(soft music)

- Irma, see that the judge gets a copy of this circular.

- Shall I keep one for the file?

- That might be a good idea.

- I'm looking for the sheriff.

- What do you wanna see him about?

- Well I'd like a job.

- Nobody hires anybody around here until the season opens.

- So I found out.

I've been making the rounds all afternoon.

Fella down at the service station told me

you might have an opening.

- Sorry, I need an experienced man.

- You got one.

I was on the Canyon City police force

for almost seven years.

- That so? Well come on in.

Why did you leave?

- Oh, got tired of the grind, decided I wanted to travel.

I got an honorable discharge.

- Your name?

- John Kendall.

- You married?

- I will be, soon as I find a job.

- Now this pays 75 a week, it's nights.

- What do I have to do?

- I need a man to patrol the lake area,

keep an eye on the cottages.

People keep some pretty expensive stuff

in those old places.

They like to know it's protected while they're away.

- How you been patrolling it up till now?

- I had a man up until last week, had to let him go.

Now this is the lake area.

All you do is drive a patrol car around it

every hour and check the cottages.

It's just routine.

Don't even have to carry a gun.

- No gun?

- This is a peaceful community, Kendall,

and I like it that way.

Well, what do you say?

- Sounds fine to me, I'd like to give it a try.

- Well good.

Irma?

Irma's my wife.

- Yes, honey.

- Irma, I'd like you to meet Johnny Kendall.

He's applying to be our new deputy.

- How do you do, Mr. Kendall?

- Please to meet you, Mrs. Dade.

- Irma, have we got any of those

job application forms around here?

- I'll get one from the office.

- Well you can start on a temporary basis

until I run a check on you.

- Okay. - Good.

- And I'll show you around the lake area tonight.

- Thank you.

(soft music)

(door opening and closing)

- Is this why we came 1,000 miles,

so you could become a policeman again?

- I told you, it was the only job

I could find open in town.

Thought you'd be glad.

- Glad?

- It's $75 a week, we can get married.

- (sighs) Oh, it's my fault.

- What are you talking about?

- I shouldn't have rushed things.

Running off to find work on my own,

deciding we should stay here.

- You found a job.

- Sure.

Waitress in a greasy spoon, 50 a week and tips.

- So between the two of us we'll do all right.

And you like it here.

- I hate it.

- You were the one that wanted to stay.

- Four days ago, you killed a man.

Just four days ago.

And here you are again with a gun in your hand.

- No, Sandy.

I won't have a gun in my hand.

I don't have to carry a gun in this job.

The sheriff doesn't like his deputies to carry weapons.

- Oh, Johnny, I was so worried.

- Were you?

Why, Sandy?

Don't you trust me with a gun?

Are you afraid it'll happen again?

- Darling, you know I trust you.

That's why I'm here.

I trust you with my wife.

(crickets chirping)

(soft music)

(door closing)

(soft music)

- Trip around the lake takes about a half hour.

Start with these cottages through here.

(crickets chirping)

The only trouble you're likely to run into

will be a couple of boozed up kids.

Sometimes they hit the taverns, get loaded

and try to break into a cottage.

So check the taverns first every night.

Then come out here about, oh, 11 o'clock.

- Gotcha.

Sure is quiet around here.

- You ever do this kinda thing back east?

Patrol duty, I mean.

- Yeah.

- Then how come you're so jumpy?

(crickets chirping)

- Sheriff, there's something I have to tell you.

- Well, shoot.

- I killed a man while I was on duty, just last week.

- How did it happen?

- An old wino broke into a liquor store,

and I thought he was armed, so I shot him.

That's why I was asked to resign from the force.

- I know, I had a check run on you.

(crickets chirping)

- I didn't tell you everything, because,

well, I wanted the job.

- Well, these things happen.

I don't hold it against you.

- Thanks.

- Nothing like that could happen around here,

especially since you don't carry a gun.

Come on.

(frogs croaking)

- What's that?

- Just frogs down at the lake.

You'll get used to them.

(crickets chirping and frogs croaking)

- Enough brush to hide an army.

(owl hooting)

(frogs croaking)

- Hoot owl.

(frogs croaking)

(crickets chirping)

- Something moving down there.

(crickets chirping and frogs croaking)

Maybe I am jumpy.

- You'll get the hang of it.

Couple more cottages over here.

(dramatic music)

- This second half of our story

will be on view after we hear from your local station.

But first I have some exciting news.

I have just been informed that I have been selected

for an honor which has been awarded only once

before in our history.

The previous winner was General George Custer.

(pool balls colliding)

- Hi ya, Deputy.

- Hello, Bill, how's it going?

- No complaints, how about yourself?

- All right.

- Drink?

- Thanks, I'm on duty.

Just came in to check the action.

Everything okay?

- No problem.

(patrons chattering)

- Hey, Deputy.

You got a minute?

- What's the trouble?

- No trouble.

I just wanted to take a real good look at you, that's all.

See, I had your job up until a week ago.

- Is that a fact?

- Did Sheriff Dade tell you why he fired me?

Well you ask him sometime, will you?

Yeah, ask him how come he fired Milt Woodman.

(patrons chattering)

(keys striking)

- Ah.

- Problems?

- When are they gonna invent a typewriter

that doesn't make mistakes?

- I thought your wife did all the office work.

- Irma, I gave her the day off.

- Nice of you.

- Yeah, it gives her a little free time to do the washing.

You're off duty yourself.

- I know, just passing by.

- Anything on your mind?

- Oh, nothing really.

I met a fella in a tavern last night.

Milt Woodman.

- Oh, did he give you any trouble?

- No.

Just said to ask you sometime why you fired him.

- And are you asking?

- Not important to me.

- That's right, it isn't.

But, uh, you let me know if he does cause you any trouble.

- Why should he?

- Oh, no reason.

Just keep on your toes.

Wait a minute.

Irma told me to ask you and your girl

if you'd like to have dinner with us tonight.

Think you can make it?

- I guess so.

I'm picking her up at the restaurant around five.

- Well good, then we'll expect you about six.

- See you then.

(soft mysterious music)

(traffic passing)

(soft mysterious music)

- Hi, darling, you're early.

- So I see.

It's all right, don't hurry.

Smoking a lot?

- Just that one.

Can't you tell my brand from the others?

- Now you know why I never made detective.

But if I had, why,

I'd say you've been having coffee with a customer.

- Well how about that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes?

- I saw him leaving when I drove up.

Who is he?

- Somebody here in town.

- What's his name?

- I don't know.

He comes in occasionally and hangs around.

- He does, does he?

- Of course.

They all do.

Don't tell me you're jealous.

I'll be ready in a minute.

- Oh by the way,

Sheriff Dade and his wife asked us over for supper tonight.

- Hey, Al, did you hear that?

A real home-cooked meal.

- Yeah.

I wish I could get one.

(crickets chirping)

- You all go in the front room and enjoy yourselves.

- Oh, let me help you.

- Oh no, Sandy.

- Absolutely.

- Sandy.

Let's get outta here before they put us to work.

- You're right.

Sheriff, there's something I wanna ask you.

I didn't want to before, but now I'd like to know.

- Well, what's that, John?

- Why did you fire Milt Woodman?

- Has he been giving you trouble?

- No, guess I'm just curious.

- All right.

He had too many other things on his mind.

- Such as?

- Well, for one thing, when he had your job,

he used to drive down to the lake

and take some gal into one of the cottages.

- Quite an operator.

- Just a no-good bum.

Never shoulda hired him in the first place.

You might keep an eye on him.

- I will.

Thanks for filling me in.

(soft dramatic music)

(knocking at door)

- Who's there?

- Sandy.

Were you asleep?

- No.

(door closing)

Hard day?

- Yes, it was.

- Too bad.

I was hoping we could go looking for an apartment.

I still got a couple of hours before I go on duty.

- Not today, sweetheart, please.

I'm really too tired.

- You didn't act like you were too tired this afternoon.

- What are you talking about?

- I passed the restaurant.

I saw the two of you in there talking and laughing.

- Woodman?

Darling, I told you, he's only a customer.

- Sure, and now you know his name.

- Well yes, he told me today.

- What else did he tell you, what else?

The truth, I wanna know the truth.

- [Sandy] Johnny.

- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

- So am I.

(soft dramatic music)

- [John] Sandy?

Where you going?

- To my room.

I wanna get some rest.

- All right, see you in the morning.

- Okay.

(door closing)

(mysterious music)

- Oh, Johnny, I'm glad you stopped by.

I got something for you.

Irma, would you bring in that list, please?

- I had Irma type the name and phone numbers

of the some of the places around town.

You know, bars, all-night joints.

- Here you are.

- [Dade] Thanks.

- Hi, Johnny, how's Sandy?

- Fine, I guess.

- Better look it over.

Up on the top are the names of the places that Smith

and I cover here in town, when we're on night duty.

And down below are the taverns you cover out on the road

between nine and 11 before you hit the cottages.

I figured you might wanna leave one with Sandy.

In case she has to reach you during the night.

- Right, good idea.

- You can thank Irma, she's the one who thought about it.

You know how woman worry.

- Yeah.

- Something biting you, Johnny?

- Sheriff, I been thinking it over.

I want you to let me carry a revolver.

- Any particular reason?

- No, just that I'd feel safer on patrol with a gun.

- And I'd feel safer if you didn't.

Johnny, this is a peaceful community.

And I don't want trouble, and a gun is trouble.

Now as far as I'm concerned, you're a good man.

Now let's keep it that way.

Okay?

- Okay.

(soft music)

(mysterious music)

(traffic passing)

- Well, if it isn't the deputy.

- What were you doing in there?

- Just having a cup of coffee.

There's no law against that, is there?

- Why don't you take your business somewhere else?

- No, I like it here.

That girlfriend of yours,

she makes a real good cup of coffee.

(soft dramatic music)

(door closing)

- Hello, sweetheart, would you like some coffee?

- I've got something for you.

- What is it?

- It's a list of places where you can leave messages for me

in case you wanna reach me in the evenings.

- Thank you, Johnny.

- Maybe you should make one for me.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- I called you at the motel last night, you were out.

- That's right.

I went to a movie.

- Alone?

- Of course alone.

What is this, the Third Degree?

Johnny, relax and have some coffee.

- Save it for your friend Woodman.

- Darling, I told you, he's just a customer.

- You were out with him last night, weren't you?

Tell me the truth, you were out with him.

- Are you out of your mind?

- Is that what you think?

- Johnny, listen to me.

You've been like a stranger ever since you, killed that man.

(soft music)

(footsteps)

(door opening and closing)

(soft music)

(crickets chirping)

(frogs croaking)

(banging)

(soft mysterious music)

(frogs croaking and crickets chirping)

(mysterious music)

(banging)

(mysterious music)

(banging)

(soft mysterious music)

(dramatic music)

(door opening and closing)

- [John] Good morning.

- What can I do for you, Mr. Kendall?

- Miss Evans went to work without her billfold.

I wonder if you'd mind letting me in her room

so I could pick it up.

- Sure thing.

(birds singing)

- Thank you.

(mysterious music)

(door closing)

(mysterious music)

(balls colliding)

- Hey, aren't you a couple hours early tonight?

- I'd like to use your phone.

- [Bill] Be my guest.

(upbeat music)

(switchboard buzzing)

- This is Mr. Kendall.

I'd like to speak to Miss Evans please.

- I'm sorry, Mr. Kendall, Miss Evans is not in her room.

- What do you mean?

- Well, she went out a little while ago.

- Did she say where she was going?

- No.

(upbeat music)

Any messages?

- No.

(upbeat music)

Bill?

Has Milt Woodman been in tonight?

- Yeah, he was here.

Left here about 40 minutes ago.

(upbeat music)

- Thanks.

(pool balls colliding)

(mysterious music)

(crickets chirping)

(mysterious music)

(frogs croaking)

(mysterious music)

(giggling)

- [John] Woodman?

(gun firing)

(screaming)

(dramatic music)

(punches landing)

(dramatic music)

(gun firing)

(screaming)

(gun firing)

(soft dramatic music)

Mrs. Dade.

(soft dramatic music)

(hard breathing)

(whimpering)

(dramatic music)

- While enthusiasm for one's job is always to be admired,

the sheriff thought that Johnny had outdone himself.

He was given a life sentence for his unseemly conduct.

I wish to welcome two new stations

who are receiving the program for the first time tonight.

Fort Overland and Fort Maxwell,

I hope the picture is coming through well.

We had to send it by Pony Express.

Next week, we shall return with another story.

Until then, goodnight.

(instrumental "Alfred Hitchcock Hour" theme music)