Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

This is an associate of mine, Mr. Lloyd.

-Mr. Lloyd will introduce tonight’s show. -[squawks]

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... -[squawk]

...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."

Hello, Cliff.

The cat’s out of the bag, Mr. Cox.

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

Who? Who knows?

Everybody. The story’s all over the courthouse.

How can they know?

We just put him on ice last night.

The boys downtown aren’t stupid.

After all, you sprung him from jail.

They know he’s still 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 it.

Well, it’d come out by Monday, anyhow.

By Monday I would’ve had indictments

against Davis and Stillinger.

If Heinz holds up before the Grand Jury.

You know what? You should’ve left him in jail.

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

He’s gonna 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.

Where is he?

Third floor front, right side.

Where’s Heinz?

Where would he be? The bar up the street.

Park around the corner and wait.

Take Ernie’s car, circle the block and watch for Heinz.

OK.

[steps approaching]

How’d you get here?

You’re bright.

A real genius, Ernie.

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 he comes back.

Not until I get what I came after.

What are you looking for?

His records.

There aren’t any records.

They’re all in his head. That’s why I hired him.

Yeah.

You did, didn’t you?

A rum hound!

You want the landlady to hear you?

She went out, we saw her.

She could come back and so could Heinz.

Now, get out of here!

-I wanna 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.

Go on, you get out and 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, Mac, I have!

I sweat when I think about it.

I wake up at night and I’m--

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-- -[horn blare]

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 Heinz, 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 locate him?

He asked to talk to me. He was in a...

drunk tank at the city jail and...

-wanted to get out. -Drunk tank?

What kind of a witness is that?

Well, he was key man in the organization

till a couple of years ago.

-A hoodlum? -[Cox] An accountant.

He knows the whole operation, then.

You have copies of the records?

No... sir, no records.

Well, you don’t expect him to keep books, do you?

What evidence do you have without records?

He has it all in his mind.

He’s a sort of a mathematical wizard.

[mayor] 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 this city.

Maybe there haven’t been any.

In a city this size?

Let’s not kid each other, Rudy.

You used the word yourself.

-Organization. -[Cox] All right.

Why does it word so smoothly?

Because Davis isn’t a cheap racketeer from the prohibition era.

-He’s quiet and he’s smart. -[mayor] Smart?

Or "protected"?

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

This is my question, Rudy.

It’s one that’s beginning to come from a bunch of disgruntled voters.

A 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.

[chuckles] 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 as 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.

A 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 will 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 jumpy.

The whole case has got me jumpy,

if we got a case.

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

[footsteps approaching]

[knocks on door]

[Cox] Heinz?

Heinz. It’s Mr. Cox, let me in.

Talk again.

[Cox] It’s me, Mr. Cox. Open up.

J-Just a minute, Mr. Cox.

What’s the matter with you?

I-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 know-- -H-He can’t, huh?

That’s very funny, Mr. Cox.

That’s real funny.

Take a look.

"To M.D. With gratitude. 1944."

Where did you find it?

On the table.

How...?

You went out, didn’t you?

Well, I had to have a drink tonight, didn’t I?

You didn’t leave me anything.

And one of his runners must’ve spotted you.

You gotta help me, they’re gonna get me, I know it.

Calm down. Calm down. That’s not Mac’s way.

But he’s not alone. There’s Ernie Stillinger.

Ernie Stillinger is no--

Oh, I gotta get out of town.

Listen, that is all you have to do,

and you will 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, wouldn’t you?

Well, you go out on the street again,

and it will be your obituary.

What am I gonna do?

You are going to stay right here where it’s safe--

-Uh. -Get yourself locked in.

I’ll call and have guards based around the house.

Will you? W-Will you do that?

And don’t you go out.

If you need anything,

you send the landlady.

All right, Mr. Cox, anything you say.

Are you going to be all right now?

[scoffs]

And don’t open this door for anyone except me.

Right. Anything you say, Mr. Cox.

How is he?

He’s drunk.

[engine starts]

[Cox] Well, have a good weekend, Cliff. What’s left of it.

[Cliff] See you Monday.

[car driving away]

Hi, beautiful.

Are you going someplace?

It’s the club dance tonight.

Don’t tell me you forgot.

I’m afraid I’ve had too many things on my mind, dear.

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

And the Appersons have been waiting for us since 8:30.

Honey, could we possibly skip this one?

Oh, Rudy, it’s Madge’s birthday.

Honestly I am... just beat.

Between this gardening and this thing downtown...

Goodness, can’t you ever get a weekend off?

Why don’t you go ahead and say I’m stuck with work or something?

Oh, no, darling.

What? They’d believe it.

You work twice as hard as you have to.

[chuckling] Got an argument about that from the mayor.

He says I am "not ambitious."

Are you sure you don’t mind if I go?

No.

Wake me when you come in.

[Cox] Have fun.

[doorbell ring]

Hello, Rudy. Long time no see.

What do you want, Mac?

A 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!

[giggling] 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?

[Mac] I’m alone. I even parked my car around the corner.

[Cox] Why?

In case you have nosy neighbors.

[chuckles] That’s better.

Where’s your wife?

She’s out for the evening.

How about a cup of coffee?

Sure. I was just fixing a sandwich.

[Mac] Good, 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.

[Cox] Am I?

Got a match?

What happened to that lighter I gave you?

I lost it.

Not up at Heinz’s, by any chance?

OK, I was there.

But only to get Stillinger 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.

-We were lucky. -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.

But, as I say, I’ve had it.

I know you don’t have much of a case,

but Ernie’s scared silly.

He’s all for getting rid of Heinz.

-You want that heated up? -No.

The thing is this.

There’s a reform element in this town that’s howling for my scalp.

It’s a big vote, 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.

A laugh, isn’t it?

No, this is the real thing.

She’s different, she’s got class.

She’ll marry me if I get out of the rackets.

What do you mean?

I mean I’m getting out.

I’m dumping the whole organization

in Ernie’s lap.

Washing my hands of the whole thing.

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

I’m getting out, That’s what a good D.A. wants, isn’t it?

Yeah, yeah.

So it won’t benefit you politically

because you won’t have the chance of sending me up.

But that’s not gonna stop you from being governor.

You’re gonna make it.

-I know. -Thanks, thanks.

But on somebody else’s back, eh, Rudy?

For old time’s sake.

[sighs]

[chuckles]

I told you, Mac, I owe you my life.

I’d appreciate it if you got me that lighter.

Kind of a memento, like I said.

[laughs]

Glad to.

Good night.

[Mac] Oh...

I’d invite you to the wedding, but it wouldn’t look right.

You know what I mean.

Good luck just the same, Mac.

So long, Rudy.

Regards to the bride.

-Morning, Ms. Cox. -Hello, there.

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 us?

[Mrs. Cox] Officer, would you be so kind

as to turn the water off for me?

Thank you.

What I came about is that witness of yours

in the vice case involving Mac Davis

and Ernie Stillinger.

-You mean Heinz? -Yes.

He’s dead, Mr. Cox.

They shot him last night about 10:00.

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.

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

But it looks like Mac.

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...

Ernie could’ve used Mac’s gun.

Sure, that’s circumstantial.

But there’s the matter of the alibi.

Ernie has a couple of boys who’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...

wha-what time do you say that was?

[lieutenant] 10:00.

-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.

Thank you, Mr. Cox.

-Lieutenant. -Yes, sir?

Uh, don’t... step on the begonias on your way out.

Yes, sir. Goodbye, Mrs. Cox.

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.

The garrulous Mr. Lloyd is no longer with us.

He has answered a higher calling.

Next week we shall return with another story.

Until then... goodnight.