Original subtitles

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,

and welcome to-- Please.

I’m quite busy. Would you wait a moment?

Welcome to Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

This evening we are presenting a drama entitled

"Keep Me Company."

And now, sir, what is it you want?

If you insist.

You realize you’re on television?

That you’re in full view of millions?

He says business is bad and he needs the publicity.

Some people have no shame. I say this in referent

not to the gentleman you have just seen,

but to the one you are about to see.

[laughter]

Hey, what do you call this?

Come on, put some meat on the table, huh?

This stuff’s rabbit food.

It’s salad, you dope. It’s good.

Julia makes her own dressing. Right, honey?

Oh, don’t mind that stupid brother of mine, Julia.

-He eats out of a pail. -[exclamations]

Yeah, a lot you know.

Look, I didn’t drive a truck three years for nothin’.

Now, if there’s one thing a truck driver learns,

it’s where to get good eats.

Well, the main course is coming up.

I’m broiling some steaks.

Hey, now you’re talking. Hey, Marco, you know,

maybe you did the smart thing, getting married.

Look, steak every day and uh...

Watch it.

Hey, this is pretty good, Marco.

-It seems all right, you know. -See, what did I tell you?

All right, give me the bread, I’m starving, huh?

You ought to taste the fried chicken.

You think mama made good fried chicken?

I’ve got news for you, guys.

Mama could have taken lessons from Julia.

Now you’re living pretty high, Marco.

What are you doing, taking money out of the business?

-Don’t get smart, Junior. -Look who’s talking.

We’ve been in business together two months,

and who’s the first one who buys a new car?

Little Kenny here, the Flatbush Romeo.

Look, I’ll do what I want with my share.

I don’t tell you guys what to do with yours.

Yeah, yeah, all the girls go for that fancy convertible,

huh, Kenny boy?

[Julia] I think the steaks are ready.

I want mine three inches thick and raw.

[glass clatters]

Hey, what’s the matter? Let me help you, sweetheart.

I’ll clean it up. Just go on back to your brothers.

Well, what’s wrong, honey?

Say, are they gettin’ on your nerves?

Look, just take the plates inside for me, huh?

Look, they don’t mean any harm, sweetheart.

-You know that. -Darling, now look what happened.

I burned the potatoes.

Look, Julia, I might have to go out with them tonight

after dinner.

You what?

[Kenny] Hey, Marco. Where’s that wine you promised us?

[Sam] Yeah, how ’bout a little service around here, huh?

I better bring them the wine, huh?

[Julia sighs]

Hey, that’s what I like to see.

Hey, remember what Papa used to say?

A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.

Boy, the sun shone on Pops all the time, huh?

[Sam] Oh, watch what you say, Junior, a little respect, huh.

-[exhales] -Steaks are on the way, fellows.

Look, Julia burned the potatoes a little bit.

Don’t say nothing about it, huh?

[Julia] Thank you.

[Kenny] Hey, looks great.

Boy, I could eat a horse tonight.

-Only I hope it’s a cow, huh? -[laughter]

[Julia] Thank you.

Uh, look, fellas, about tonight...

[Sam] Yeah, what about it?

Well, I’ve been working every night this week.

Maybe we ought to relax for a change, huh?

[Kenny] Are you kidding, Marco?

-You know we got things to do. -[Sam] Oh, now listen.

You want to have a successful business,

you gotta work at it.

And this wholesaling racket, it ain’t no cinch.

We got plenty of competition.

Potatoes are burned, but I can make some rice,

if you want to wait.

No, they look fine, I like them that way.

[Sam] Oh, and the steak’s just right.

[sighs]

Look, I know how you feel, Julia.

I mean, what the heck, married a few months and everything.

Uh... I know what it’s like.

Do you, Sam?

You know how boring can be sitting around

this crummy apartment without anybody to talk to?

Julia.

All right.

[Marco] We won’t be out late.

Tell you what. I’ll be home before 11:00.

Right, Sam?

Yeah, sure, sure.

[soft-jazz music playing]

[music continues]

Morning, sweetheart.

What time did you finally decided to come in last night?

I guess it was a little after 2:00.

We just got so busy, we forgot what time it was.

-[table clatters] -Played 50 games of solitaire.

I didn’t win one game.

Sweetheart, you’ve got to understand how it is.

Sam and Kenny and me, we’re trying to build

something for the future.

I mean, you don’t want to live in three-room flats

for the rest of your life, do you?

I wouldn’t mind, if I had some company.

If your brothers were married,

they’d keep decent hours.

I might as well tell you now, sweetheart, we’re going out again tonight.

-Again? -I’ve got to, Julia.

But this is the third night this week.

Don’t I have something to say about this?

If you only knew how lonely it is around this apartment

when you’re not here.

It isn’t as if I knew anybody in the neighborhood.

Look, Julia, I just can’t help it.

It wouldn’t be fair if Sam and Kenny

to let ’em do all the work alone.

After all, we’re equal partners, aren’t we?

So don’t nag me, huh?

I’m not nagging. I’m just talking to you.

If you’d only let me have a dog or something,

just some company. That’s all I want.

You know about me and dogs, Julia--

sneeze, sneeze, sneeze.

Why don’t you watch TV?

-You can’t talk to a box. -[toaster ticks]

Tell you what.

I promise I’ll be home around 8:30 no matter what.

Heard that before.

Oh, this time I swear it.

8:30, Julia. Maybe even earlier than that.

That’s not so bad, is it?

You really mean it, Marco?

I go crazy for company around here.

I mean it.

-OK. -Well, how about a kiss?

Call that a kiss?

[jazz music playing]

[hums softly]

[music continues]

[screams and shots on TV]

[interference buzzing]

[buzz continues]

[slams]

[exhales]

[woman’s voice] At the tone, the time will be

9:52 exactly.

[beep]

[object shatters]

[shattering]

-[woman’s voice] Operator. -Operator, I want the police.

[man] Third Precinct, Sergeant Russell speaking.

I think there’s a prowler on my fire escape.

[Sgt. Russell] May I have your name and address, please?

Yes, it’s Julia Reddy, and I live at 46 Martin Avenue,

apartment Four A.

[Sgt. Russell] I’ll send someone right over, ma’am.

Oh, please, hurry.

[heavy breathing]

[knock on door]

-[first officer] Miss Reddy? -[Julia] Yes.

We’re from the Third Precinct.

I heard him outside on the fire escape,

right outside my bedroom. It’s this way.

I’ll open it, ma’am.

[second officer] You better wait right here, ma’am.

[first officer] You going out, Dick?

[second officer] Right, cover me.

-Anything? -[second officer] Not a thing.

The next floor up is the roof.

There’s nobody up there.

There’s a couple of cats loose, though, and a broken milk bottle,

I think that’s what it was.

-Are you sure? -I’m sure.

You’ll be OK, ma’am. Just take it easy.

I’m sorry to put you to so much bother.

-Will you have something? -No thank you, ma’am.

A cup of coffee, maybe?

I just made a fresh pot.

Don’t bother, ma’am. Thank you very much. Goodnight.

-Well, it’s no bother. -Goodnight, ma’am.

[Julia] Goodnight.

[clicks tongue]

[soft jazz music playing]

[exhales]

Darn. I wish I did have a prowler.

[music continues]

[woman’s voice] Operator.

Operator, I want the police department,

uh, Third Precinct.

[man’s voice] Third Precinct, Sergeant Russell.

This is Julia Reddy, I called you before

about a prowler on my fire escape.

[Sgt. Russell] Yes, ma’am, we got the report.

About those two men you sent were absolutely no help at all.

He’s still out there. I just saw him.

[Sgt. Russell] You saw him, ma’am?

Yes, I saw him. I want a detective this time.

-[Sgt. Russell] Look, madame... -I tell you I’m all alone here.

I want a detective.

[Sgt. Russell] All right, ma’am, I’ll see what I can do.

[knock on door]

-[man] Miss Reddy? -[Julia] Yes.

Detective Joe Parks, Third Precinct.

-Yes, let me take your hat. -Thank you.

Any sign of the prowler?

Uh, no, not since I talked to your sergeant.

Where did you see him last?

Well, I’m not exactly sure I saw anything.

Oh, well, it was sort of a blur out there.

But I did hear something outside.

Through here.

I’ll have a look.

There doesn’t seem to be anyone out there now.

The patrolman said they saw a couple of cats

on your fire escape, Miss Reddy,

and I really think that’s all it was--

[Julia] Uh-- I-I’m so frightened.

You see, I’m all alone here.

Couldn’t you keep me company for a while?

-Well I-- -Please?

Just for a little while?

Well, all right, just for a little while.

-Maybe you’ll like some coffee. -No thanks.

I just had some.

Some wine, maybe? I was just having some.

It’s Chianti, do you like Chianti?

Oh, please sit down, Mr. Parks.

Thanks.

I think I’d better skip the wine. I’m still on duty.

Oh, a little wine won’t hurt you.

You know what they say-- a day without wine is

like a day without sunshine or something like that.

-Here. -Thanks, I’d better not.

[Julia] All right.

[nervous laugh]

I don’t know why I’m so nervous tonight.

I haven’t lived here very long.

I’m originally from Cincinnati, Ohio.

-Nice town, Cincinnati. -Yes it is.

My mother’s still there.

Do you play gin rummy, by any chance?

What?

Wouldn’t you like to play some cards?

Oh, no, no thanks.

I used to play all the time back home with Mother.

She always beat me. She was a real gin rummy expert.

We wouldn’t have to play for money or anything like that.

We could play for matchsticks.

[chuckles] As a matter of fact, Miss Reddy, uh,

since it doesn’t seem to be any real danger, I--

I think I’d better go.

Oh, please, don’t go.

Look, we don’t have to play cards.

Maybe you’d like to watch a late show on television.

[sighs] The set’s broken.

I know. Do you like to dance?

Dance?

-I guess so, but, I... -Good.

I haven’t danced in ages.

I used to be pretty good, too.

Here’s a rumba.

[rumba music plays]

Come on.

I really can’t, Miss Reddy.

How can you resist that rhythm?

This isn’t exactly in the line of duty, now, don’t you think?

Well, a detective has to relax now and then, doesn’t he?

I’ll bet you’re a good dancer.

[music continues]

I can see you’re not bad yourself.

[Julia] Come on.

-You know something, Miss Reddy? -Hm?

I don’t think you have a prowler at all.

[music stops]

I think all you really wanted was...

-some company. -[knock on door]

-He’s here. -Who?

My husband.

You didn’t tell me you had a husband.

-Hi, Julia. -I forgot my key.

Well, if it isn’t the wandering gypsy.

I’m sorry. We got extra busy tonight.

While you were extra busy,

I could have been murdered in my sleep.

-[Marco] What? -There was a prowler

on the fire escape.

I was all alone here when this prowler came.

I could have had my throat cut.

What are you talking about?

Marco, this is Detective Parks of the police.

If it hadn’t been for him,

who knows what would’ve happened to me.

Police?

Hold it.

Are you crazy?

I just told you this is my husband Marco.

Yeah, well, that’s too bad that he is, lady.

Because your husband Marco’s pictures

are all over the department these days.

Turn around, up against the wall. On your toes.

Only the name is Milan.

Harry Milan, warehouse robbery.

We’ve been looking for him and his two accomplices

for almost five weeks.

All right, turn around, Milan.

[Parks] Up.

Marco...

tell him it’s a mistake.

-Move over. -Marco?

Let’s go.

Marco...

Thanks for the invitation, lady.

It was worthwhile.

I think this should teach you men a lesson.

Marco should have taken his wife with him.

In that way, he would not only avoided arrest,

but he and Julia would have had a shared experience

to talk over on their declining years.

And now, appropriately or not,

in the declining minutes of this program,

a commercial,

after which I shall return.

The police apprehended the gentleman

who held me up earlier in the program.

I’m very pleased, of course.

I didn’t mind losing the wallet,

but the money once belonged to a beloved aunt of mine.

Next week I shall return with another story

and possibly, another, home-screen-hold-up.

Until then, goodnight.