Original subtitles

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

this is an associate of mine mr Lloyd,

mr Lloyd will introduce tonight's show,

I paid a great deal of money for this bird but of course it will be worth it,

he may even take over my work permanently,

thus freeing me for other duties, go ahead mr Lloyd,

come now, good evening ladies,

good evening ladies and gentlemen,

I don't understand, it he's been working regularly on a local radio station,

had a program of his own,

as a news commentator,

good evening ladies and gentlemen,

I�m afraid I�ll have to do it myself,

ladies and gentlemen welcome to Alfred Hitchcock presents,

next on view is tonight's story: Ambition.

-Oh Cliff. -The cat's out of the bag mr Cox.

-What? -They know we've got Lou Heinz.

-Who? who knows? -Everybody,

stories all over the courthouse.

How can they know? we just put them on ice last night.

The boys downtown aren't stupid,

after all you sprung him from jail,

they know he's been involved with Mac Davis and Ernie Stillinger,

-you had any calls from the press yet? -No. -You will.

Why did this have to happen now?

first decent break I�ve had since,

I became D.A. and some loudmouth tips.

Well it'd come up by Monday anyhow.

By Monday I would have had indictments against Davis and Stillinger.

If Heinz holds up before the grand jury,

however you should have left him in jail.

He wouldn't have talked that was part of the deal.

He's going to testify against two top racketeers to,

get out of a 90-day sentence as a habitual drunkard.

Cliff, will you just let me handle this.

It's not me you have to convince, boss,

it's the Mayor,

he's waiting to talk to you.

Third floor front right side.

-Where's Heinz? -Where would he be? the bar up the street.

Park around the corner and wait,

take care of this car and watch.

-How'd you get here? -Yeah bright,

-a real genius, honey. -Charlie told you?

Which makes him twice as smart as you are.

it's a good thing it's me instead of Heinz, isn't it?

I wish it was him.

Now get out of here before it comes back.

Not until I get what I came after.

-What are you looking for? -It's records.

There aren't any records, they're almost head that's why I hired them.

Yeah, you did didn't you?

-You want the landlady hear you? -She wentout with her son.

She could come back and soak with Heinz, now get out of here.

-I want to wait for him. -Why?

To get rid of the evidence, Mac.

-You would wouldn't you? -I�m not going to jail.

You will if you kill him.

I�ll take that chance, when you get out look after yourself.

Ernie, it's his word against ours,

his nerves are so shot from drinking he'll need a couple,

of belts to brace him our lawyer will tear him apart at the trial.

There's not gonna be any trial,

you've never done time back, I have,

I sweat when I think about it,

I wake up at night,

I�m not going to jail.

All right Ernie, but let me play my cards first.

What cards?

The D.A. owes me a favor.

-What for? -Something happened...

That's Charlie someone is coming,

now clear out.

-Are you sure Mac? -I said I�d fix it tonight now come on.

You better fix it.

And who is this witness?

His name is Lou Heintz your honor.

Is he in protective custody?

-No sir. -Why not?

-Well... -That was part of the deal, that he wouldn't be confined.

-How did you look at him? -He asked to talk to me, it was,

droug tank at the city jail and,

-wanted to get out. -Drug tank, what kind of a witness is that?

-Well he was key man in the organization until a couple of years ago. -Hoodlum?

An accountant.

Oh he knows the whole operation then,

you have copies of the records.

No, sir no records. Well you're not expecting to keep books, do you?

-What evidence do you have without records? -He has it all in his mind,

he's a sort of uh mathematical wizard.

You and Mac Davis are old friends.

-Who told you that? -Oh I have my informants too,

care to deny it?

Your honor, I haven't seen that man since I became district attorney.

Since you took office we've uncovered very few major crimes in the city.

Maybe there haven't been any.

And a city this size let's not kid each other Rudy,

you used the word yourself,

-organization. -All right.

Why does it work so smoothly?

Because Davis isn't a cheap racketeer from,

the prohibition era he's quiet and he's smart.

Smart or uh protected?

I don't think I like what you mean, George.

This isn't my question Rudy,

it's one that's beginning to come from a bunch of disgruntled voters,

reform group that may set up a third party,

in the next city and state elections.

Good, good, let them run a magician for district attorney,

see if he can get convictions without evidence.

I I just don't understand you Rudy,

when you took office I thought you were bright, ambitious,

that's the impression you gave the whole party.

Just as ambitious as the next man.

And you haven't shown it.

Why because I haven't got an indictment against Davis?

Let's not forget Stillinger, he's not as smart as Davis or is quiet.

-Mac keeps him under control. -Mac? your friendship is showing.

Do us both a favor will you George, don't mention that again.

I can't help it,

you see I�m not running for office again,

with any kind of a showing you could be elected mayor next year,

you're still a young man, good job here might put you in line for governor.

Now don't you think I know that?

Rudy, there's another way one that'll protect all of us.

Like what?

Step aside make a public admission of your, friendship and disqualify yourself from the case,

-let the governor appoint a special prosecutor. -No.

Be sensible, people will admire your loyalty to a friend

if he's convicted, you'll get credit for not helping him.

The answer is still no, I�ll do my own job.

I hope you know what you're doing Rudy,

but if you don't get an indictment, and a conviction this time,

you're through.

I�ll just be a couple of minutes you wait here for me.

All right that mayor's got you jumping.

Okay got me jumping if we got a case.

I just want to check and see if Heinz is okay.

Heinz...

Heinz, it's mr Cox, let me in.

-Talk again. -It's me mr Cox, open up.

Just a minute mr Cox.

-What's the matter with you? -I thought it might be a trick.

I thought it might be Mac Davis.

Now listen, don't you go getting yourself worked up over nothing.

-we just moved you in here last night, he can't possibly... -But he can...

That's very funny mr Cox,

that's real funny,

take a look,

to MD, with gratitude, 1944.

-Where'd you find it? -On the table.

How?

you went out didn't you?

Well I had to have a drink tonight, you didn't leave me anything.

And one of his runners must have spotted.

You gotta help me, they're gonna get me, I know it. -Calm down, calm down,

-that's not Maxwell. -But he's not alone is there any still Stillinger.

-Ernie Stillinger it's not... -Ah, gotta get out of town.

Listen that is all you have to do and you gotta get yourself killed.

Sit down, sit down.

Now listen to me,

look, maybe you'd better come down to the city jail with me,

-No. -You'd risk your life for that booze, dindn't you?

will you go out in the street again and it will be your obituary.

-Now what am I going to do? -You are going to stay right here,

where it's safe to keep yourself locked in, I'll call guards placed around you.

-Will you do that? -And don't you go out,

if you need anything, you send a landlady here.

All right mr Cox anything you say.

Are you going to be all right now?

And don't open this door for anyone, except me.

All right, anything you say mr Cox.

-How is he? -He's drunk.

-Well, have a good weekend, Cliff, what's left of it. -See you Monday.

Hi beautiful,

you go some place?

Well, the club dance tonight, now don't tell me you forgot.

I�m afraid I�ve had too many things in my mind.

I don't think you have to shave again, do you?

And the appreciate has been waiting for us since 8:30.

Annie could we possibly skip this one?

Oh Rudy it's Madge�s birthday.

Honestly I am I�m just beat.

between this uh, gardening, this thing downtown...

goodness can't you ever get a weekend off?

Why don't you go on ahead and uh say I�m stuck with work or something.

-Oh no darling. -Why not they believe you?

You work twice as hard as you have to.

Get an argument about that from the mayor,

he says I�m not ambitious.

-Are you sure you don't mind if I go? -No.

Wake me when you come in. Have fun.

-Hello Rudy, long time no see. -What do you want Mac?

-Little talk with an old friend. -I�ve got nothing to say to you.

I have something to say to you.

-What's the matter with you? -Open your jacket, open it!

I haven't used one in years I wouldn't even know where to look for it.

Yes, you hire boys to do that for you nowadays, don't you?

I�m alone, I even parked my car around the corner.

-Why? -In case you have nosy neighbors.

That's better,

where's your wife?

She's asked for the evening.

How about a cup of coffee?

Sure, yeah just fixing a sandwich.

But I�m starving.

What do you want Mac?

I want you to drop it Rudy,

I can't.

Why not?

-You haven't got anything. -No.

Is that why you tore Heinz�s room apart today?

-You're dreaming. -Am I?

What a match?

What happened to that lighter I gave you?

-I lost it. -Not up at Heinz by any chance?

Okay, I was there,

but only to get Stillinger are off his back,

-you got the lighter? -No.

-Why not? -I didn't think I should take property that wasn't mine.

Yeah,

I remember when you gave it to me.

All right I�ll say it for you Mac,

for saving my life.

It was a memento,

I appreciated it.

I�ve often thought of that night in Germany,

when you dragged me across that field.

-You were lucky. -No, you had guts you,

-you didn't have to do what you did. -So I did it,

that was then,

but now I�m tired.

I�ve come a long way since those days and so have you Rudy,

what else I say I�ve had it,

I know you don't have much of a case, but any scared silly,

he's all for getting rid of Heinz.

-You want that heated up. -No.

Ah, the thing is this,

there's a reform element in this town, it's howling for my scout,

that's a big role Rudy, enough to get you into the governor's mansion someday,

maybe,

so you'll keep on trying and maybe one day you'll get a case,

but I�m getting too old and comfortable to do a stretch,

I�ve made my pile, I�m fixed for life,

and I want to get married.

You'll never get married Mac, you've been a bachelor too long to submit now.

Now laugh isn't it no this is a real thing,

she's different, she's got class,

she'll marry me if I get out of the racket,

What do you mean?

I mean I�m getting out, I�m dumping the whole organization at 90's lap,

washing my hands at the whole thing.

-Isn't it uh too late? -Not if you lay off.

I�m getting out it's what the good D.A. wants isn't it.

-Yeah. -So it won't benefit you politically because,

you won't have a chance of setting me up,

but that's not going to stop you from being governor,

-you're going to make it, I know. -Thanks.

But on somebody else's back, hey Rudy?

for old time's sake.

I told you Mac I owe you my life.

I�d appreciate it, if she got me that lighter,

kind of memento like I said.

-Glad to. -Good night.

Oh uh,

I�d invite you to the wedding but it wouldn't look right you know what I mean.

Good luck just the same thing.

Regards to the bride.

Sorry to bother you on a Sunday mr Cox but something's happened,

I figured you'd want to know about right away.

Well I want to get this weeding done today lieutenant,

-you like begonias? -Oh yeah.

Dear would you excuse it us?

Officer would you be so kind to turn the water off for me?

Thank you.

Is about is that witness of yours uh,

advice case involving Mac Davis and this Stillinger.

-Oh you mean Heinz? -Yes, he's dead mr Cox,

they shot him last night about 10 o'clock,

he was in his room.

-You sure about that time? -No doubt about it,

his landlady went out to get him a bottle of Gin,

when she came back 15 minutes later he was dead.

So Ernie Stillinger finally got trigger happy, huh?

Well we figured it was either bound to be Ernie or Mac,

but it looks like Mac,

but we found Mac�s cigarette lighter in the room with his name engraved on it,

and the bullet we dug from Heinz came from a gun owned by Mac.

Well uh Ernie could have used Mac�s gun?

Sure that's circumstantial, but there's a matter of the alibi,

Ernie has a couple of boys that'll swear,

they were playing cards with him last night.

What about Mac?

Well that's the only thing that's got us stumped,

either he's bluffing, he's crazy or he's got the best alibi in the world,

Mac said he was in your house with you,

last night at the time Heinz was shot, mr Cox.

And uh,

-what what time do you say that was? -10 o'clock.

-Are you holding Mac? -Certainly,

he must be out of his mind to think he could get away with an alibi like that.

You know something lieutenant?

I haven't seen that man since I took office.

Then we've got him this time, dead to right.

Yes,

yes, I believe we have it.

Thank you mr Cox.

-Lieutenant... -Yes sir?

Uh, don't step on the begonias anyway out.

-Yes sir, uh, goodbye mr Cox. -Bye-bye.

I�m afraid we didn't show you all of that story,

unfortunately Helen discovered that two coffee cups,

had been used the night before and became suspicious,

and to save his marriage poor Rudy had to tell the truth,

of course his career was ruined,

but that's the way life is on television,

have you ever observed that catastrophes usually come in threes?

if this is true another commercial must be on the way,

I shall rejoin you as soon as it seems prudent.

Thank you for your kind attention,

regardless mr Lloyd is no longer with us,

he has answered a higher calling,

next week we shall return with another story until then, good night.