Original subtitles

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to Alfred Hitchcock Presents. After many years on television,

I�ve just learned that we open our show incorrectly,

These days good form demands it should begin with a provocative and exciting scene,

designed to enchant and entice the viewer.

This scene is called the teaser.

Always eager to embrace new ideas after others have thought of them,

we present tonight's teaser: The Time 1878.

The place: Tombstone Arizona.

What's a pretty school teacher like you doing in a place like this?

After seeing that I�m sure you won't want to miss our story,

which takes place entirely in New York city in the year 1916.

-Where's the boss? -Mr Fine is taking his bath. -He's what?

-You heard me. -Tell her boss Healy the blackjack dealer can't come in tonight.

He cut his fingers and won't be able to handle her cards.

-Is that Otto? -Oh yes it was, mr Fine.

He says to tell you that Healy can't be in,

tonight, he cut his fingers so you won't be able to deal.

-Was it a bad cut? -I didn't say mr Fine.

Well it's not much of a problem,

and always borrow a dealer from Masotti.

That's too bad about Hilly, I hope it's not serious.

Oh by the way John, do you recall Sweet Remorse?

That was that philly that we saw running last summer at aqueduct.

Oh yes mr Fine, I do. She had great spirit all the way.

Well she ran yesterday in New Orleans and I,

happened to remember to put down a bet for you.

You don't mean to say she won?

Oh she won easily, one by three. You'll find an envelope in the top drawer.

Mr Fine...what can I say.

You don't say anything John.

Good evening sir.

Good evening mr Fine.

-Two aces. You lose. - 500 says I�m right this time.

Well it's your money mr Combs and,

we always welcome this kind of action.

Well if you always walk by why bother talking about it?

Nine nine is your number.

Just thought I�d might suggest that uh perhaps it's a,

little early in the evening for you to be crowding your luck.

Particularly the way things have been going recently now.

Thank you for your concern but my money's as good as anyone else's, isn't it?

-10 easy 10 your point of announcing. -Yes it is it's every bit as good,

and you seem to have more of it.

-Cover His bets time give the young man all the action you want. -Yes sir, mr Fine.

Another 500 says the dice are wrong.

Thank you Frank.

I think I�ll need this one.

This kid shoots craps like he's the first national bank don't he mr Fine?

That's the trouble Frank.

He's too rich and he's too excitable.

I wish he'd take his business someplace else.

This lad's old man is this the same Avery Haggard Combs,

with the railroads and the steamship lines?

That's right, and if the father knew the way the boy was throwing the money around...

Not only here but the Dumpy's and Masotti's.

I guarantee you there'll be a grand jury investigation.

-Don't you ever get any rest? -So we could never rest.

Oh John I�m serious,

never get the bed before me and you're always up ahead of me.

-What'd you find a dollar. -Dollar?

Yes I mean pressing my pants and taking care of my shirts and arranging your time,

every day to suit my convenience, don't you ever get sick of it?

Oh no mr Fine that's part of the job,

you didn't pick me off an old pink bed of rose when you hired me.

They say that no man's a hero to himself.

but believe me I can understand that.

You see us pretty much the way we are,

the ribbon off the package,

tired, uncertain.

Let's face it John, much of the time I'm afraid.

The family of the late James Francis Finery gratefully,

acknowledges your kind expression of sympathy...

That was 400 dollars worth of flowers.

I suppose people thought it was strange I didn't go to the wake of the funeral.

-Dd you think it was funny? -Oh no mr Fine.

Well that's because you know the truth about me John,

you know I have trouble facing a healthy flower, much let's go to a funeral.

John,

John I�m so afraid of death.

My heart turns over like a lump of sod whenever,

I see a team of horses dragging a hearse.

Oh that's nothing mr Fine, it's just one of them things,

different people scared of different things.

With me it's lobsters.

I see.

John you're all right.

I�d never break it on you like this mr Fine,

but I thought you ought to know about young Combs.

-What is he do it? -He just blew his brains out.

In the subway about a block and a half from here.

I�d like to tell you something Meyer,

they offer holes for your two bright friends here.

I�ll eat this cue ball like a hard-boiled egg,

if there's been two games of pool played here in the last five years.

It's nice to have you all together,

with christmas only four days away,

sort of a pity we couldn't have had the dutchman here,

in place St Nicholas.

-How about that Masotti? -I�ll tell him what he missed lieutenant,

I�m sure he'll feel real bad.

You can also tell him for me that these private clubs you fellas have been running,

for restricted membership, will soon be a thing of the past.

You told us that two years ago, lieutenant.

Well this isn't two years ago,

it's now, young Combs was seen coming out of here not more than five minutes,

before he walked into the subway and put a gun to his head.

He wasn't here for the pool and the light conversation,

as you put it. Any more that he's been going to your place Masotti.

Or to your joint Dumphy,

for the watercress sandwiches and the Parcheesi.

Now what do you got against Parcheesi?

Lieutenant has played in all the better homes.

Shut up,

young Combs bank account shows they went through,

a quarter of a million dollars in 11 months.

-What about it lieutenant? -This about it.

You three have been plucking the wrong bird,

old man Combs has a million dollars for,

every skull you ever cranked Masotti,

and I can tell you that's been a lot.

He'll see the three of you in jail if he has to turn this city upside down.

Well now I�ve seen everything,

a butler no less.

The last time I saw this pigeon he was flying east on 43rd street,

with somebody's watch and chain.

You care for cream and sugar with his coffee liutenant?

Oh yeah three lumps.

Uh just a little cream, and uh stir it very carefully.

And when you're finished with it,

you can pour it in your ears.

Thank you Dumfee.

Where is Masotti?

Masotti�s a big boy now if he felt like,

coming here I guess he'd have found his way.

Well I'll say this much for your may you get,

a much classier trade than either Masotti or me.

Yeah I can see why you want to keep the place open.

Mike over there for instance troy the lumber kid.

Daryl the Wall Street man they wouldn't even come into my joint,

but well then again I guess I just ain't got that elegant touch like you, am I?

did you ever think of what it might be like if you got,

raided my what the newspapers could do with names like this.

You uh you know everybody here, don't you?

It's my business to know them.

At least I thought I knew them all. Hubert,

The young fellow at the bar with the package, who is he? How did he get in?

Who said, his name was Johnson he's got a courtesy card from Murphy�s place it's.

Initialed filled out by Murphy in the usual way.

All right then, accept it,

this isn't exactly the usual time.

Otto...

the young fellow with the bar, did you ever see him when you were working at Murphy�s?

I seen him yeah, pretty sure I�ve seen him before.

All right then forget it.

-Wait, the future whenever there's any doubt you'll check with me first. -Yes.

-Another sir? -No thanks it's just about time to go.

Right now for nine shooter nine is the winning number.

The man wih the package, I seen him before but I don't think it was at Murphy�s.

Winner nine.

Otto, whoever it is take care of him.

I want that film destroyed.

Hey you...

Well I I suppose when you really think about it's,

it's just one of those things, you take the bad breaks with the good, right Joe?

Now look, don't get me wrong I don't mean to deny that,

this doesn't point up something that,

that all three of us have known for a great many years that if,

you're going to do a job like this right you have to do it yourself.

And I certainly don't mean to deny that it's a bad situation,

it is it's very bad but it can't be changed.

I don't lost his head, I found out the fella was from the,

detective agency and he lost his head it was never very bright,

but I didn't say kill the man.

Well you were there Joe, you heard what I said,

I said I wanted the film destroyed that's all I said.

Oh you were dandy Meyer, you handled it fine, real fun.

Now look, this goes for both of you,

we're all three of us in this thing together,

now let's keep that absolutely straight,

and if you want to check the facts, we'll get out of in here right now.

That won't be too easy. Otto died an hour ago.

Accidentally from bullets.

The cops never got around to talking to Otto,

it was like you said, just one of those things.

You look sick Meyer, awful sick.

But you gotta remember one thing Otto made a big mistake,

there was no need for murder as you say,

no need to give old man Combs and the grand,

jury the kind of help they've been waiting for.

-Come on. -I don't undertand, just like that?

-You tell me that and then you walk out. -Sorry Meyer,

there's a meeting at the dutchman's, we don't have any extra time.

Wait a minute, nobody told me about any meeting.

Dutchman didn't say anything to me about a meeting.

He didn't?

They're making up their minds about me,

I�ve never been left out of a meeting before never.

Or maybe you don't mean nothing?

No no no, maybe they've already made up their minds I could see it but,

I saw something in the Masotti's face,

that's why I wasn't invited I�ve never been knifed out of a meeting never.

-I might just be a mistake. -Dutchman doesn't make mistakes.

I have to call him.

After all he's heard their side of it,

there's no reason why I shouldn't hear mine.

Try, why not?

Number please? What number are you calling?

Plaza 368 please

-Yeah? -Hello dutch, it's Meyer.

Ah listen dutch I just saw the boys,

frank and Joe dropped in, you know,

and uh, listen there's been a very serious,

misunderstanding and I have to talk to you about it.

Dutch you are listening?

Do we have a good connection?

I have to go see him,

after all I�ve known the man in a great many years we've been very close,

he's heard their side of it there's no reason why you shouldn't hear mine.

That makes sense, doesn't it John?

I�ll get your coat and hat mr Fine.

I know it hurts mr Fine but it's really not much more than a singe.

Overcoat helps, so lucky thing he wasn't a better shot.

I�m lucky.

I�ve been better off if he hadn't missed.

John, John I went to beg the dutchman on my hands and knees,

like little Eva without the pride of a cat.

Was one of the dutchman's boys that fired the shots.

What is it, what do you see?

Oh it's nothing mr Fine, just some guy getting out of a hack.

I�ve seen him before, he's going into his house.

-Nothing else? -No.

No nothing else, now the hack's moving away.

Like I said mr Fine, I got your bag all packed we can get out of here?

No John, John please.

I�ll never get out of here. They'll see to that.

I know a nice little place in Jersey,

friend of mine hid out there for over a year.

What? No Jersey no. John, jersey doesn't make any difference. I,

I can't get away from him.

But at least you might have a chance if you try to break out.

I could never let him see how frightened I am.

-I couldn't stand that. -I�ll get your bag.

Try to fool myself John, I thought I could beat him to the punch,

but I don't have the courage.

John, don't leave me, stay with me.

You're the only friend I have. You're the only one. John,

John, I don't have it, I don't have the courage,

help me, help me, John please.

please please help me.

-Number please? -Give me the police.

Why did you kill him? Why?

I couldn't believe it when I heard it was you.

Why, why did you do it?

Meyer was the only one of that pact that ever had an ounce of decency.

He took you in fed you and clothed you young punk,

he gave you a job, when you couldn't have found the bed in a kennel,

and for that just shoot him?

And I�d like anything human,

and I�d like anything I�ve ever seen.

Did you ever hear of a thing called gratitude?

This concludes our story for tonight,

we shall give you a scene from our next tale,

immediately after this preview of next week's commercials.

I�ve been asked to announce that next week's commercials,

will be just as witty, just as engrossing,

just as exciting and entertaining as that last one.

And now before I say good night, here is that scene from next week's play,

The Time 1879,

the place Fargo North Dakota.

Didn't I meet you once in Tombstone Arizona?

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