All language subtitles for Alfred.Hitchcock.Presents.S04E08.Safety.for.the.Witness.1080p.PCOK.WEBRip.AAC.2.0.H.265.-EDGE2020_track3_[eng]

*

*

(gunshot)

Well, as Mother
used to say,

"It's better to be
safe than sorry."

Actually, what
you've just seen

is not to be
taken seriously.

It was all make-believe.

All play-acting.

Of course, the gun is
genuine and was loaded.

But the doctor isn't a
real doctor, he's an actor.

I think it's interesting

that the duel is no longer
considered good form,

while cold-blooded murder
is more popular than ever.

There seems to
be no way to stay

the march of civilization.

Tonight's story
is about murder,

and we call it,
"Safety for the Witness."

Our next minute is devoted
to a television commercial,

and I call that.

*

*

I beg your pardon,
Mrs. Crawpit.

This is a magnificent
rifle, Mr. Jones.

-What caliber?
-300 Magnum.

It comes complete
with telescopic sight.

It's hardly sporting for
anything smaller than rhino.

You might say, it was
designed for those

who want to be sure.

Well, my husband has
a little astigmatism.

As a matter of fact,
on our last safari,

he was trampled by zebras.

-Oh?
-Yes.

It was during
the cocktail hour,

and he mistook a
small herd of them

for the striped awning

that we just bought
from Abercrombie's.

Well, in future,
we must watch

what goes into his canteen.

Naturally, Mrs. Crawpit.

Be with you in a
moment, Lieutenant.

I think this rifle will
do very nicely, Mr. Jones.

You might ship it to me,

care of my daughter
in California.

We shall go north from
there to the Aleutians.

You know her address, don't you?

Oh, certainly, Mrs. Crawpit.

Oh!

Oh.

Thank you.

Thank you again,
Mrs. Crawpit.

Thank you.

You run a nice shop, Jonesy.

That's a classy old doll.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

And you also do business

with some of the
town's prize hoodlums.

Well, I suppose
that's true enough.

It takes all kinds, you know.

Hmm, when is the last time
you sold a gun to Dan Foley?

Mr. Foley?

Let me see.

On January 3rd of this year,

I sold a pocket model
Colt to Mr. Foley.

He had a permit, of course,
the registration number is--

I can see the
registration number.

You also have it entered here

that you serviced
the gun on May 24th.

What was the matter with it?

Well, he had complained

that the action of
the gun was sluggish.

Was it?

As a matter of fact, it was.

It had rusted some.

He'd been on a picnic,

target shooting
with Mr. Felix.

Tarzan Joe Felix?

Why, yes.

That gorilla.

They've always been very
courteous to me, Lieutenant.

I didn't know Mr. Foley
was in trouble again.

I didn't say he
was in trouble.

We're just playing it safe.

We picked up a pal
of Mr. Foley's

for a waterfront
killing two hours ago.

We want to protect the witness.

A witness?

Oh, that's too bad.

I'm sorry to hear
a thing like that.

What do you mean,
"It's too bad

and you're sorry
to hear it"?

You can't get a conviction
without a witness, can you?

That's just the point.

You know, Lieutenant,
it seems to me that,

somehow or other, the
law should be changed.

What are you getting at?

Well, let me
put it this way.

Some of my best friends
have been witnesses.

I don't like your
attitude, Jonesy.

Well, I'm sorry, Lieutenant.

Are you trying to
say that we don't

protect our witnesses?

I'm not venturing
to guess, Lieutenant.

If you'll forgive me,

I'm just recalling
the statistics.

Well, so long, Jonesy.

Goodbye, Lieutenant.

*

(door closing)

*

*

(guns firing)

*

Good evening, Mr. Foley.

Good evening, Mr. Felix.

I'm sorry, Jonesy.

It's just too bad
it had to be you.

(guns firing)

*

*

*

*

Jonesy?

Who did it, Jonesy?

Tell your pals,

who shot you
full of holes?

Jonesy, it's been
three weeks now.

This is Commissioner
Cummings with me, Jonesy.

We got the D.A. and
the Mayor on our backs.

Do you hear me?

The door was open,
we just walked in.

That door wasn't open
and you know it.

There are two of your
brass-buttoned dandies

stationed outside just to
see that it isn't open.

Look, ma'am--

Wait a minute,
Flannelly.

Flannelly, we don't
have to apologize.

We're here
investigating a murder.

We don't have to worry
about hospital protocol.

-Who are you?
-Young lady,

I happen to be the police
commissioner of this city.

I see, well, then you ought
to have a lot more sense

than you're showing,
Commissioner.

This man is a victim,
not a criminal.

And when Dr. Thissbaum says
that he may be interviewed,

we'll let you know because
it's Dr. Thissbaum's orders

that we go by here.

Dr. Thissbaum said

that after three weeks
we could talk with him.

It isn't three weeks
yet, it's 20 days.

My suggestion to you is
that you try again tomorrow.

Young lady, I'd like
to remind you again

that we have a job to do.

A man was killed and
we need a witness.

You had a witness.

That's what the
Commissioner means.

We need a witness to tell
us who killed the witness.

It's our first
obligation to protect--

I understand what
you're trying to say.

You want a new clay
pigeon to replace the old.

Now, Miss Copeland--

You may try again,
Commissioner.

The patient is resting now,

and come back with Dr.
Thissbaum's permission,

if you please.

(sighing)

We're having
turkey for lunch,

and I saved a big portion
especially for you,

because I know
you like it so.

Mr. Jones.

It was Big Dan Foley

and someone by the
name of Mr. Felix

who shot you, wasn't it?

I heard you talking in
your sleep this morning.

You were saying,
"Good evening, Mr. Foley,"

and, "Good evening,
Mr. Felix."

But it wasn't
your natural voice.

I can tell you, Mr. Jones,

it doesn't pay to be
polite to people like that.

Not even in your dreams.

They're killers, Mr. Jones.

I know.

I haven't told anybody,
not even Dr. Thissbaum,

although I know he could be
depended upon to cooperate

in every possible way.

It's my fault.

For talking in my sleep.

I didn't know anyone knew.

But if the police can't
protect their own witnesses,

what are you going to do?

You're an intelligent
man, Mr. Jones,

so answer me.

What in the world
are you going to do?

*

I hope you enjoyed your
stay with us, Mr. Jones.

You were all very kind.

It's so unusual for
a patient to leave

in the middle of the night.

A lot come in that way.

It's not against
regulations, is it?

Oh, no.

Dr. Thissbaum even left word
that we're not to charge you

for the extra half day.

He understands the
situation so well.

As all of us do, Mr. Jones.

Thank you.

Take care of
yourself, Mr. Jones.

That's a nice man.

A nice little man.

I'll bet you eight to five,
he doesn't live till Tuesday.

*

Jonesy?

*

Jonesy?

Jonesy?

(gunshot)

*

*

(telephone ringing)

*

*

*

*

*

(clanging)

*

Yes, sir?

I'd like a front room
with a view, please.

Something on the
sixth or seventh floor.

You're not the
type that jumps

or anything, are you, Mac?

Oh, no, no, no, sir.

I've been here before.

Several times when I've
worked late at the store.

I find it's much more
pleasant with a view.

That'll be $3.50.

I'll put you in room 621.

I'm sure that'll be fine.

Thank you.

*

*

*

*

*

Hey, what do you think is the
matter with Lynch's coffee?

I don't know, different
theories about this, Joe.

Some wise guy said he thins
it out with needle beer.

Personally, I think he
dropped his sleeve garters

in the coffee urn.

(heels clicking)

*

(click)

*

(click)

*

(footsteps)

*

*

(clearing throat)

Yes, sir, what
can I do for you?

I want to report
two murders.

You what?

I want to report
two murders.

Whose murders?

Big Dan Foley's and
Tarzan Joe Felix's.

You mean you saw
them murdered?

From a distance, yes.

I committed both
murders myself.

Oh, I see, well, that's a very
interesting thing to hear.

You killed Big Dan Foley
and Tar Felix, huh?

For a minute, buster,
you had me going.

There's too many dingbats
like you running around

loose in this town,
get out of here.

I killed them both with
a high-powered rifle

from the sixth floor of
the Hotel Mark Jerome.

Buster, if you keep
talking like that,

you're gonna get yourself
in a whole lot of trouble.

Now, what's your name?

Cyril T. Jones.

I'm a custom
gunsmith at 327--

Hey, wait a minute!

You're the fellow that
was shot a few weeks back.

And you wouldn't talk
for the Lieutenant

or the Commissioner.

You wouldn't open
your little, bitsy lips.

Yes, Sergeant,
that's right,

I'm the one.

Hey, Feeney, come in here!

We got a new kind of a
nut, fresh off the tree.

Come in here and get a
grip on him, will you?

Give me the Lieutenant.

Yeah, that's right.

Hey, what did you
say your name was?

Cyril T. Jones.

Cyril P. Jones.

T.

T.

*

And what's this
supposed to be?

It's a receipt for
the 300 Magnum rifle

I mailed to California.

Oh, boy.

This is going to do
me a lot of good.

So far the lab hasn't even
been able to determine

what kind of gun
killed Felix and Foley.

All they've been
able to come up with

is a few scraps
of soft lead.

I--I know, sir.

(clearing throat)

May I have a drink of water?

Help yourself.

As I told you, Commissioner,

I filed down the
bullets in such a way

that they were bound to
disintegrate on impact.

I never heard of such
a thing in all my life.

Well, it's true, sir.

Naturally, in
my line of work,

I'm better equipped
than the layman

to carry out such a plan.

Oh, you are a
crackerjack, Mr. Jones.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant.

Flannelly must have
gone out to that hospital

fourteen, fifteen times.

You never peeped a word.

I know that.

But I should have.

I can see that now.

I probably would never
have had a chance

to do this thing
if I had confided

in you or the Lieutenant.

Why?

Because they would
have killed me.

Who would have killed you?

Mr. Foley and Mr. Felix.

They knew I had seen
them kill Mr. Grimes,

so I had no choice,

except to kill them first.

We offered you police
protection, didn't we?

Didn't we?

Yes, sir, you did.

Now, I'll have no
more smart remarks

out of you, Mr. Jones.

May I have another
drink of water?

Help yourself.

And let me tell you
this, here and now,

this case you're trying to
build up against yourself

was pretty thin.

A little mouse of
a man comes in here

and tries to tell
us that he killed

the two worst hoodlums in
town with an elephant gun.

Fine, only the elephant gun
is somewhere in the mail

between here and California.

Well, you're not talking to
an elephant now, Mr. Jones.

You're gonna have to do
a lot better than that

to convince me.

But, Commissioner, I'm
confessing to these murders.

It's a simple matter
of conscience.

Conscience went
out of fashion.

-Commissioner...
-And don't give me

any of that talk
about confession.

We get guys in here
at least once a week

who'll swear that
they shot McKinley.

How long have you
known this guy?

Oh, a long time,
Commissioner.

Ten or twelve years, anyhow.

That's why I'm worried.

What are you worried about?

Well, as far as
anyone knows,

Jonesy's never told
a lie in his life.

He'll even give you six
nickels change for a quarter

if you don't watch out.

Are you trying to tell me

that maybe he's
telling the truth?

I'm afraid so, Commissioner.

Either that or he thinks
he's telling the truth.

You know, a guy with
as many bullet holes

in him as Jonesy could be
getting too much oxygen.

It makes you flighty,
some people say.

But, Lieutenant,
as I said before,

it's a matter of conscience.

I'm entitled to be
put under arrest.

Jonesy...

Listen, the way
things are going now,

you'll only embarrass
the department.

Give us one bit of proof
that you shot those two guys

and I guarantee you we'll
throw you in the can.

Did anybody see you do it?

No one.

As I told you, Lieutenant,
I was diabolically shrewd.

Diabolically shrewd.

You see what I mean?

The guy won't
ever be right.

All right.

Book him.

Lock him up for safekeeping.

For murder, Chief?

No, no.

Vagrancy, anything
that's handy.

First, I got to talk with
the District Attorney.

If you did knock off
those two gorillas, Jonesy,

why couldn't you have
kept your big mouth shut?

Come on.

*

A confession is the
last thing in the world

I want from Jones.

Don't you realize what
he'd be confessing to?

Well, don't you?

Yes.

Sure, sure.

He'll be confessing
to a couple of murders.

Murder, you say?

Listen, murder
is simple enough.

This little bunny is about
to inform the whole world

that it isn't safe for any
witness to walk the streets

of this city, now, that's
what he's confessing to,

and he's got a chest full
of holes to prove it.

Now, Tom, that isn't fair
to the police department,

and you know it.

No?

Well, then let me ask you
how long you were able

to keep Henry Grimes alive?

Or the six other witnesses
who were murdered this year.

Now, if I take this
to the grand jury,

what have I got?

To save his own hide,

a nice little man eliminates

the same gun-happy gorillas

that your department was
never able to clamp in jail.

Now, that's what I've got.

Am I supposed to convince
an intelligent panel

that this man is
really a murderer?

He's two thirds of
a hero right now.

*

Come on, Jonesy.

It's time we got underway.

Is it time for my
arraignment, Lieutenant?

I'll arraignment you.

I ought to shake the
custard out of your skull.

Is something wrong?

Yes, there's
something wrong.

You don't belong here.

You're wasting my
time, so get out.

Oh, do you mean, you're
moving me to another cell?

I mean that I'm moving
you to the great outdoors,

and it's too bad it's
not the South Pole.

You're a free man, Jonesy.

How can I be a free
man, I'm a murderer!

You'd better change your
brand of snuff, Jonesy.

Now will you get going?

Lieutenant, I confessed
to this crime.

I know my rights,
and I won't be treated

like any ordinary citizen.

Look, you will be
treated any way

that we want to treat you.

Those are the
Commissioner's orders.

We don't want any arguments.

Get going.

Get out!

*

Get out!

*

*

Thus it is that
Mr. Jones learns

the sad truth about murder.

Committing it
is not difficult.

It's being convicted
that's the trick.

Fortunately, the next
city administration

was a thoroughly
dishonest one,

and it granted
him his request.

And now, I shall be
back in a minute,

after this brief
you-know-what

from you-know-whom.

My worthy opponent has
taken what I consider

an unfair advantage
of my poor shooting

and insisted that we
go through this again.

Afterwards, I shall be back
next week with another story.

Ready?

Good night.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*