Original subtitles

Good evening.

Some of our late viewers tuning in.

One of the commonest questions that people ask of a producer of mystery

pictures is which is written first, the words or the music?

In our case, the background music always comes first.

After it is written, we sprinkle the score liberally with sound effects and

hire an author to write appropriate scenes to accompany the music.

Quiet scenes to coincide with the somber passages, and scenes of violence to

synchronize with the noisier sections.

Finally, we garnish this potpourri with a title composed of from one to four

words, selected because they are eye -catching and provocative, and we

them in a manner designed to titillate and confuse.

Let me show you what one of our stories sounds like before it is written.

can you get i trust this has been educational i deliberately cut that

short because it was the music for tonight's story alibi me and i didn't

you to know how it comes out if you haven't already guessed here is the way

begins

No knock on the door.

No, can I come in, please?

Just no class.

I want a showdown.

Shh. Now, hold it down.

This ain't no candy store. You're in a high -class office.

Upstairs, there's a music professor.

And downstairs, some legitimate businessmen.

So keep it down.

You got some explaining to do, Lucky.

Me, I don't explain nothing.

It's tough enough to hustle a buck without you always interfering.

Here.

Sit down.

Have yourself a nice salami sandwich.

Now, you mind if I go on eating?

Look what you made me do.

That's bad luck.

Boy, I sure hate to spill salt.

Look, I just come from Pitkin Avenue.

There ain't a store down there that'll handle my machines no more. All our

pinball machines we take from Lucky, they say.

They say correct.

But from Pitkin Avenue to Wadsworth is my territory.

I built up the percentages there, you know that.

When Blackie Hurst got bumped off, he said I should take over. You built it up

real nice for me.

And I appreciate it.

Now put the rod away.

You look goofy holding the rod on me.

You ain't gonna use it, so put it away. I'm warning you.

Georgie, I can't kill you and you can't kill me.

And we know why.

Here.

Get a gander at that face on the front page.

Go on, look at it.

Imagine a cop like Larkin getting to be a lieutenant.

Larkin sure come up in the world.

Larkin ain't got nothing to do with us.

Don't be a fool.

Larkin's got everything to do with us.

He's sort of an insurance policy between you and me.

What do you mean?

You got a bad memory. Even when we were kids, Georgie, you hated me and I hated

you. And every cop in the neighborhood knew it.

Especially Larkin.

Don't ever forget what Larkin told us.

If one of you punks gets knocked off, the one that's left alive had better

a good alibi.

That's why I say, put the gun away.

You ain't gonna need it. I ain't letting you take away my business.

Hearst gave me that concession, and I need the dough.

You need dough?

Go work a cheap con game on East Broadway.

Oh, if you should happen to get hungry.

Here's a half a buck.

You can drop in any place and get yourself a nice salami sandwich.

And keep the change.

Lucky, you better stop ragging me.

Go away, will you please?

I got a million things on my mind.

It's almost four o 'clock.

You know, it's six o 'clock.

I got to report the lock -in for my parole.

If you were to squeeze that trigger, I'd be missed terribly.

I ain't gonna let you make a sucker out of me. I already have.

Just today, I sent you the biggest lollipop in town. A present from me to

The biggest lollipop in town.

For the town's biggest sucker.

punks gets knocked off, the one who's left alive had better have a good alibi.

Hey, Uncle Leo.

You and me, we've been through some pretty rough things together, huh?

And a couple of times you needed my help real bad, remember?

Georgie, if I live to be a hundred, I'm not going to forget. You know what I say

to the family? I say, Georgie, He can have my right arm up to him.

Anytime you ask about it.

Well, salute.

Well, Uncle Leo, I need your help real

bad now.

Oh, sure.

Only I'm a little broke, you know. I had my gallstone out the last summer in the

business. No, no, no, no, no. It ain't money.

Come here.

Sit down, sit down.

Look, in case anybody should ask, you tell them I was here since half past

this afternoon, okay?

Half past three?

Why? What's the difference why?

You do me this little family favor, huh?

I don't know, George. You worry me.

You gonna do it or not?

Look, if I'm going to alibi you, I want to know what for. Family or no family?

Don't make a production out of it. They probably won't even ask you. But if they

do, you just tell them I was here since 3 .30. You okay? You're in trouble with

them hoodlums again. Your friend Lockie, the guy where they bumped off for

Blackie Hirsch. I told you to run around with them. You know what you got to

get. Uncle Leo, you just got to do me this favor. You got to. Not on you life.

I ain't going to alibi you.

Why not?

One guess.

His name is Locken.

So you don't forget a favor, huh? Your right arm up there. Boy, some uncle.

Look, look, look. You need money. I'm going to find the money for you. I don't

know where, but I'll find it. You need food, I'll feed you. You need clothes,

the best of flannel, I'll get it for you. But no alibi, Georgie.

Now, you excuse me. I got customers.

Now, get out of here, you little punk.

Oh, for Pete's sake, look what the cat drug him.

Goldie, I missed you so much.

It's been a long time, kid.

Such a long time.

I shouldn't touch you.

I shouldn't even talk to you.

It's been two months.

You want to know why?

Because you begin to mean too much to me, kid.

Don't see her no more, I says to myself.

Just stay away from her.

She'll wear off.

You said that honest?

You mean more to me now than ever, Goldie.

I couldn't stay away no longer. That's why I had to come back.

Oh, Georgie, don't ever stay away again.

No matter what the reason, don't ever stay away from me. Shh, I'm back now for

good. Do you mean that honest?

Take a look at my face and see. I mean, take a good look.

Oh, Georgie. I see.

You satisfied?

Georgie, it's just been awful without you.

Not feeling like going out or seeing anybody.

Just sitting around the apartment watching TV.

I thought I'd go crazy. Well, it's all over now.

The good times are back.

You know what I feel like doing?

I feel like celebrating tonight.

Look, why don't you get into your finest and we'll go out stepping. We'll go to

dinner, we'll go to a show, we'll go dancing afterwards. How does that sound

you? Oh, George.

I've got a new number I've been dying to wear.

Good.

Has anybody been here today?

No.

Not a soul. I was all alone.

Feeling just awful until you came.

What? In case anybody should ask you. Not that they will, but in case anybody

does. Would you do me a favor?

Would you tell them I was here with you all day?

Georgie.

I'll tell the world you were here.

From the rooftops.

I don't care who knows it, Georgie. I love you.

I just love you.

Love you.

Georgie, you look uncomfortable.

So you can't live without me. Goldie, now listen to me. You stayed away

I was getting to be a habit. Isn't that the way it went?

You want me? You want to spend the afternoon here?

Well, isn't that just too touching? I meant what I said, honestly. You're a

liar. You're trying to suckle me into giving yourself an alibi. Will you

stop yelling and listen to me?

What I said is true. I need your answer. Sure you need me. Sure.

To give yourself an alibi.

That's why you came here. Just so I'll say that you were here with me. Now,

Goldie, I... You want to use me.

What have you been up to?

What have you done today that makes you need me like that? Nothing. I was out to

see the... No, don't tell me. I don't care. I don't care what you've done. I

don't care what you've done, and I don't care what's done to you.

An arrest, jail, the electric chair, I don't care.

You get no alibi from me, Mr.

Wiseguy. Now get out of here!

Georgie. Good to see you.

Hey, Timmy.

Sorry I didn't have a chance to get you some flowers or some candy.

How you doing?

Pull up a chair.

How you feeling? For real, Tim?

Not bad.

Doctor says it was a miracle.

How are things with you?

What?

I'll level with you, Timmy.

I come up the back stairs. I don't want no one to see me.

Yeah?

Any spot, Georgie?

Need a favor?

You come to the right man.

Favors have been my business for the past 30 years.

Oh, some fellas call it ward healing.

With me, it's a business.

I need an alibi for the afternoon.

Since 3 o 'clock, Timmy.

You got it.

I got this private room. No one comes here.

Nurses and orderlies, they don't come unless I give a yell.

I can have visitors anytime I want.

No one's been here all afternoon.

Not even my wife.

I'll never forget you for this, Tim.

You'll pay me back someday.

You look better already.

When you walked in, I was going to let you have the bed.

So, I've been here since...

Three o 'clock, huh? We, uh... We play gin all afternoon, okay?

Sure.

Okay.

Now, look.

I'll get the nurse in so she can see you.

And you take the elevator down.

And, uh... Oh, ask some dumb questions so she'll remember you.

I'll ring for her now.

There's some cards in the drawer over there.

Deal a hand out on the bed.

George, it's a ticket, George. You want something, Timmy?

Water.

Tim?

Oh,

don't die now, Timmy. Timmy, you can't die now. Come on, Timmy, please. Don't

die now. You can't die now. Timmy, come on. Please say something, Timmy. Tim.

Hey, let me do that. Give me that.

A nice woman like you should be doing this. Oh, thanks, Georgie. I'm going to

bring that cakey kid if he keeps tearing this linoleum.

I ain't got money to spend buying a new linoleum. Sure, sure. I don't blame you.

Did you just come in?

Yeah. Yeah, I just come in. But in case anybody asks, especially Larkin, you

tell him I've been in my room all day, huh?

Larkin? Lieutenant Larkin, the cop?

Yeah, yeah, Larkin, the cop. Oh, I couldn't do that, Georgie. I wouldn't

that cop.

Don't count on it.

I do count on it, though.

And you'll do it, too.

Don't shake your head. I say you'll do it. You tell Larkin I've been in my room

all day, understand?

Oh, no.

You don't tell him I'm in all day.

And I'll tell him about your daughter, Maria.

I... I don't have any idea what you mean.

Is that a fact?

No idea at all, huh?

No.

Wait!

How did you know, Georgie? Tell me, how did you find out?

What difference does it make?

I keep my eyes and ears open. That's how I found out.

Now, are you going to alibi me?

I don't want any trouble.

I'm honest, and I work hard to keep my kids honest. Sure, you keep your kids

honest. So honest that your daughter yanks a fur coat right out of a

store, huh?

I made her bring it back.

I marched her into the store myself. We gave it back to the manager. Sure, sure,

I know.

But a crime's a crime.

Whether the store makes trouble or not.

Oh, Dorothy, you couldn't.

Why, she's only 15.

Oh, now, come on, Mrs.

Salvatore. What's the crime?

Am I going to tell on Maria?

Oh, of course not.

Oh, please don't tell anyone.

Please. I'll keep my mouth shut just like you want.

And you open your mouth just like I want, and everything will be fine.

Now, if Larkin asks you, I was in my room all day. Agreed?

And you won't tell him about Maria?

I won't say a word.

I swear. Look, I'll take a note.

All right, Georgie.

All right.

But not a word about Maria. My memory is terrible.

Just so long as yours is good.

Yeah?

Open up.

Me, Larkin.

Well, what a surprise.

I'll bet.

And to what? To why you're this great pleasure?

To your friend, Lucky.

Huh?

Anything happen to Lucky? He's been, uh... He's been made dead.

No kidding?

Well, what do you know?

Yeah.

Tough.

And you come to give me your shoulder to cry on, huh?

You're not surprised.

Look, I'm not the only guy in the world who hated Lucky.

So when you find out who did it, let me know.

I'll contribute a sawbuck to his defense.

Save your money, Georgie. You might need it.

Yeah? How come?

Remember I told you, if ever one of you punks gets knocked off, the one who's

left alive better have a good alibi.

Yeah, the words ring a bell.

Come on, give, Georgie. Where were you today?

I was nowhere.

Is that a fact?

Yeah, that's a fact.

I was right here alone in my room all day.

Can you prove that?

It ain't easy to prove you've been alone somewhere all day.

No?

No, besides, I didn't see anybody.

Oh, yeah.

I saw my landlady, Mrs.

Salvatore. Yeah?

Yeah.

Mrs. Salvatore.

Hey, Mrs. Salvatore.

What is it? Come on in here, will you?

All right.

Come on, come on.

It's my landlady, Miss Salvatore. Lieutenant Larkin. Yeah, yeah.

Hello.

Sit down, Miss Salvatore.

You must be tired.

I won't keep you long.

Were you in all day?

Yeah, the whole day.

Was Georgie in all day, too?

Georgie? This Georgie?

How many Georgies have you got in the place?

Yeah. He was in.

Are you positive?

I'm positive. Sure, I'm positive.

What makes you so positive?

What makes me so positive? I clean the room. That's what makes me so positive.

And I press the suit for him later. That's what makes me so positive.

And when I was cleaning the hall, the door was open and I saw him.

And when I was downstairs, he yelled to me a couple of times.

Will you swear to this in a court of law?

I swear.

All right, thank you. You can go.

Well,

that's it then, Georgie.

Meaning? Meaning your alibi smells, as far as I'm concerned.

But for the record, it lets you off the hook.

Yeah? Uh, Mr. George Minnelli.

You George Minnelli? Yeah.

Got a package for you, rapid delivery service. Just sign there.

Who's it from?

Well, Mr.

Moore. Lucky Moore.

Open it, Georgie.

This I want to see.

Whoa, what do you know?

A lollipop.

Gee, I've never seen such a big one. Okay, so you've never seen such a big

lollipop before. Now, will you get out of here? What are you waiting around

for? What do you think he's waiting for?

Tip the kid.

What do you mean, tip the kid? What do you think I am, the mint?

Okay, cheapskate.

Ain't it always the way?

Five times I come up and down them stairs.

Twice this morning and three times this afternoon.

Not even a nickel, tip. Wait a minute.

Come here, kid.

You say you were here twice this morning and three times this afternoon?

Sure.

This guy wasn't even in.

Oh, I almost forgot.

This message goes with the lollipop.

To the biggest sucker in town.

Well, that was a surprise.

The pistol shot Georgie used to kill Lucky wasn't in the original score.

But that's what happens when the musician who plays the revolver is

improvise.

Naturally, Georgie was given life imprisonment while the offending

off with a ten -year sentence.

Next time we plan to bring you more music and sound effects and another

accompany them. Good night.