Original subtitles

Good evening.

I am now engaged in a new business.

As you can see, I am the resident barber specializing in bloodletting.

I think it's a sad commentary on our times that barbers have concentrated so

on the mere appearance of their patients that they've neglected their health. In

fact... They've so forgotten their true calling that today when one of them

nicks you while shaving, he apologises.

The only thing they do that is vaguely medical is to amputate a beard now and

then. I haven't heard of a good bloodletting in years, or occasionally a

gangster may be shot down in a barber shop, but that's not the same thing.

But enough of the miracles of medical science.

I'm sure you are anxious to get on with tonight's commercials.

Here is the first one.

This is a nice quiet place. Be cooler over by the water. Fine.

You all right?

I think so.

Oh, come on, darling. Don't let this spoil our day.

Why bother look there are no bones broken come on let's eat

You're

not going to sleep are you hmm?

Why not?

Food. I'm not hungry.

I'll eat after I take a well-earned rest.

Well-earned, indeed.

What about me?

Well, you can sleep, too, if you like.

No, thank you.

I'm going to go exploring.

What's the point of coming all the way down to Mexico if we don't even see the

place? Well, don't get lost. Good wives are hard to come by, you know.

Why, thank you, sir.

Not at all.

Pardon me, senor. Did you see a lady up the... Una senora muy

hermosa. Ah.

No, senor.

Laura, what are you doing? I thought you... I've answered enough

questions. Now, are you going to let me out of here or not? That's all I want to

know. Certainly.

That's what I have come for.

Sure, and while I've been sitting here, the murderer, the man you should be

looking for, could be a hundred miles away.

He could indeed, but I don't think he is.

Well, what about the man on the road? He just appeared out of nowhere and then

disappeared again just as fast.

People have the habit of doing that in Mexico. It has no particular

significance.

In any case, I have spoken to the man.

He's not the one we're looking for. Well, what makes you so sure?

Apart from anything else, he has only one hand.

In order to strangle a woman, you need two.

I can assure you that the person responsible will be punished.

When? It'll take time, but it will be done.

Excuse me, Father.

My name is Louise Trevor.

This is my husband.

Father? Laura was my sister. We came down from New York.

It seems to me that Mr. Needham is determined to seek some kind of

vengeance. A vengeance that is not his to take.

I think for his own sake, you should persuade him to go home with you.

Well, we tried, Father.

If there is anything I can do, you come and see me. Thank you, Father. Thank

you, Father.

Alec, have you decided what you're going to do yet?

I'm staying here.

Mark.

Darling, he shouldn't be by himself. Not today.

He's better off by himself today.

For Laura's sake, we've got to see him home safely.

It may mean we'll have to stay here a couple of more days.

If you think you're up to it.

I suppose you're surprised to see me again.

Not really, but you're lucky to find me here.

I only come over from the state capital once or twice a week.

What can I do for you?

I want to find out if you've made any progress.

If we had made an arrest, I would have informed you.

Well, I just can't sit around the hotel waiting, knowing that the man who killed

Laura is probably going on with his life as if nothing had happened.

Oh, I can promise you he's not doing that.

In fact, I think I can say he is now a very frightened man.

What do you mean he's frightened? Who?

Who do you suspect?

Come down, Mr. Needham.

Please sit down.

Tell me, are you a gambler?

Sometimes. I think perhaps on this occasion I will be too.

You see, there is a way in which you could possibly help.

It will have to be entirely unofficial.

I could hardly expect my superiors to approve.

So if you get into any kind of trouble, I might not be able to help you. Is that

understood? What do you want me to do?

I want you to find someone.

Who? And in order to do this, I think you should spend some time down by the

harbor.

What does he look like?

That I cannot tell you.

Or rather, I prefer not to at the moment.

How am I supposed to recognize him?

The important thing is that he recognizes you.

And if he does?

Then you make some reasonable excuse for being wherever it is that you happen to

be at the time.

Then you come and tell me.

Do not come here.

Call me at this number.

And then we shall meet somewhere.

Excuse me. I'm making some inquiries about... About...

About renting a boat.

We don't rent boats.

Just a moment, mother.

We don't rent boats. We just fit them out.

Accessories. You'll have to try below.

Thanks. I'll do that.

Come along now.

Dinner's getting cold.

Yes, yes, yes.

He's an American?

Mm-hmm.

I think he recognized me.

I remembered him right away. He's the fellow that nearly ran us down on the

road that day.

He's the man who killed your wife.

You've known all along?

More or less.

But you haven't arrested him? The fact is, Mr. Needham, I have no proof.

Well, then how do you know that he's the man?

Please, please, bear with me a few moments. I will try to explain.

His name is Theodore Bond.

The family has been living in the town for several years.

No one knows exactly where they came from.

The father is dead, and Bond claims his family is an old and highly respected

one in the East.

He lives with his mother and sister and has had no sweethearts.

That's no crime.

I know.

It's a shame, but not a crime.

Nevertheless, it is interesting.

At least I found it so.

And I've been watching him for a number of years.

Three, to be exact.

One day, about three years ago, a woman was murdered in Rosarito, a town down

the coast.

It just happened that Bond was visiting the town at the time.

He had good reason for being there, but we questioned him anyway.

He didn't object to being questioned.

That's what I found so strange.

It was almost, almost as if he expected to be accused.

Is that all? I mean, that's hardly enough.

Your wife was killed by the same method as that woman in Rosarito

What

do

you want me to do I think Theodore Bond needs a friend If you were his

friend you could find out more from him Then I could hope to discover in a

hundred interrogations.

Besides, you're both Americans in a foreign country. What could be more

natural? When he finds out who I am, he'll run a mile.

On the contrary.

To run would be an admission of guilt.

And he knows it.

Besides, he doesn't know whether or not you suspect him.

He'd want to find out.

All right.

Good.

Be careful.

Very careful.

Right in the boat, eh?

Alex?

I don't know. I haven't decided yet.

I thought you were going back to New York.

Oh, yeah, we were. Luis thought we might stay on here a couple of days.

Keep an eye on me?

No, nothing like that.

That's not necessary, Alex.

I'm sure it's not.

What are you up to, Mark?

I'm looking for Laura's murderer.

That's a job for the police.

I know. They put me up to this.

To what?

I can't tell you, Alex.

Okay.

Look, why don't you have dinner with Louise and me tonight? Since we're in

the same town, it's silly we don't see each other.

All right, sure. Come on.

Well, look, I'll tell you what.

I'll meet you at the motel. There's somebody I've got to see now.

Okay, we'll expect you.

What do you want? I told you, we don't... I know you don't rent boats.

The fact is, I just wanted to thank you for that bit of advice about where to

get one. I picked up a beauty this morning.

You'll have to excuse me. I have to go in the back for some... Haven't I met

you somewhere before?

No.

I don't know you. No, no, no. I never forget a face. Never.

No, please.

Now, wait. It's coming back to me.

I know who you are.

You're the one who nearly ran us down.

Renew town?

That's right, about a week ago, on the road by the beach.

Remember?

No, you're mistaken.

I've never seen your... No, I recognize your car.

And what's more, I recognize your face.

Are you going to admit it, or do we go to the police?

No, wait.

Just let me think.

What day was this?

What's the difference?

I do remember.

Ten days ago, I was on the coast highway. I was there on business and...

Maybe it was me.

I was in such a hurry.

I remember passing a young couple on the road.

If that was you, I'm very sorry.

Now that's better.

I like a fellow that admits his mistakes. It takes guts to do that.

My name's Mark Neal.

I'm Theodore Bond.

Theodore? Well, I'm sorry I had to shout at you like that, but that was kind of a

careless piece of driving, you know.

I'll tell you what to make up for, and I'm going to buy you a drink. How about

that? Fine.

One night when the store's closed, I will... Nonsense.

We'll go right now.

You're the first American I've met in this place. That calls for a drink, if

nothing else. No, really, I... Are you trying to tell me you don't want a drink

with me?

No, I would like... Well, then, come on. Let's go.

Come on.

Come on.

I'll ask my sister to take care of the place while we're gone.

Fine.

Margaret!

Come on in, sweetheart.

Have a seat.

Whatever you say.

Scotch? Twelve years old.

Say when.

Oh, when.

Oh, Aaron, you drinking?

Yeah, sure, sure, but don't wait for me. Go ahead, drink up.

You know, anybody'd think you were gonna be shot.

You look uncomfortable.

Why don't you just relax?

Would you rather have gone to a bar or something?

No.

Why not?

Uh, how do you mean?

I mean, why wouldn't you rather have gone to a bar?

Oh, well, I don't know. It's cheaper drinking this way.

Why?

I, well, I don't mean that it's cheaper drinking your whiskey. I mean, you're

liable to be cheated in the bars around here. I mean, they shortchange you if

you give them half a chance.

Really? Oh, yes.

They're very sharp.

You see,

they're very sharp, but they don't fool me.

You see, that's why they don't like me, because I can see right through them.

I guess this must be a pretty dull place to spend your life, huh?

Oh, no, I manage.

I get by all right.

Well, of course you do, of course.

But it must get a little lonesome.

Aren't there any girls?

Oh, there are plenty of girls, but they're no good.

Surely some women must be capable of real love.

I've never met one.

Weren't you ever in love yourself?

Once.

It was a long time ago.

You see, they're just out to get what they want.

They're not serious.

I think people like that should be punished.

Do you?

Well now what kind of punishment would you suggest?

Where's Theodore?

He went out, Mother.

I can see that, but where did he go?

There was a man came to see him. I don't know who it was.

Seemed very friendly.

It's nice for Theodore to have someone to talk to.

I thought we agreed it would be better for us not to meet here.

Yes, but it doesn't matter anymore.

We've got him.

I just spent the whole afternoon drinking with him. You can pick him up

whenever you want.

You mean he signed a confession?

No, but that's not the point.

The thing is, he's about as crazy as you can get, and he obviously hates women.

Did you talk to him about the case at all?

No, I thought you'd want to do that. Now, do you want me to come down there

with you, or shall I wait?

Please, Mr. Needham, look.

We cannot hang a man for that.

Well, you're going to bring him in, aren't you?

What you have told me would be quite useless in a court of law.

What we have to aim at is to break him down.

Well, that could take forever.

It will certainly take time, yes.

Well, I'm not sure I can wait that long.

My superiors are anxious to know why I'm putting so much time here.

I have to leave for the capital for a few days. Leave?

When I come back, we can meet again.

I hope you will not be so foolish as to try to take matters into your own hands

while I'm away.

That could be a very grave mistake.

Do you hear me, Mr. Needham?

Hmm?

Oh, yes.

Yes, I hear you, Inspector.

Adios. Morning, Theodore.

How are you feeling today?

You sort of had one too many yesterday, didn't you?

I hope I didn't make a fool of myself.

Oh, I wouldn't say that, Theodore.

Well, what is it I can do for you?

Well, you can let me have ten fathoms a quarter inch line.

Done.

And, uh...

A winch handle.

A winch handle?

Mm-hmm.

The boat I rented has a few items missing.

I should think this would do nicely.

That's fine.

Anything else?

Yes.

Yes, as a matter of fact, there is.

I'm thinking of taking the boat up the coast for a bit. A few things I'm going

to need.

I was hoping to get your expert advice.

Of course.

Thank you. That's very kind of you, Theodore.

Now, I've got to see someone today, but I thought maybe you could come over and

sort of go over with me. It's the Nina right down here in the harbor.

I suppose so.

Fine, fine.

About nine o'clock tonight.

Mark.

Mark, what's the matter?

Sorry, Louise. I didn't want that man to see you with me.

What's been happening to you since last night? Where did you get to? We waited.

I know. I'm sorry about last night. I just couldn't face seeing anyone.

I found out who killed Laura.

That's right, Theodore Bond, the man up there.

Do the police know?

Sure they know. They won't do anything. They just want to wait.

Mark, this is their job. They know what they're doing. You let them handle this.

I didn't let that man continue to run around loose.

Well, what are you going to do?

I'm gonna kill him.

In case you didn't know, we part our show in the middle. And that is

precisely where we happen to be.

I now turn you over to your local station.

Welcome once again to the Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

The second half of our story begins in a moment.

First, however, here is another bald spot.

On the toupee of television.

Mr. Naden?

Down below, Theodore. I'm down here.

Well, here I am.

Well, welcome aboard, Theodore. Welcome aboard. Have a seat.

Have a seat.

Oh,

no, none for me. I had too much yesterday. Just one to please me.

Well, just one.

What is it you want me to look at for you? Oh, plenty of time for that. Plenty

of time. There's something I want to tell you about first.

I think you'll find...

That it's an interesting story because it's one that could have happened to

anyone.

Oh, in fact, it happened to a friend of mine.

Or perhaps I should say someone I used to know very well.

He was an ordinary sort of a man. I guess you'd say he led quite an ordinary

sort of a life.

He had friends, and though there were probably some people who didn't like

him, he didn't really have any enemies.

And then...

One day, he fell in love and he got married.

And there didn't seem to be any reason why he shouldn't live happily ever

after. As they say in the fairy tales we used to read.

You're not drinking.

What's the matter? Don't you like it?

Oh, yes.

It's very good.

Yeah, that's better.

Now, where was I?

Oh, yes.

But you see, my friend didn't live happily ever after.

Because someone...

A complete stranger came along and destroyed his happiness.

Broke his life into little pieces.

Like that.

You see, this man strangled my friend's wife. Murdered her? What do you think

about that? No, no, no. Don't leave yet. Don't leave.

You haven't heard the end of my story.

Strang along with me, the best is yet to be.

Now, you see, my friend didn't know the man who'd done this thing to him.

But he used a lot of time and a lot of patience and eventually he found out,

found out everything about him.

Now, ironically enough, this man kept a store where my friend bought some things

that were going to be very useful for the thing he was planning to do.

Some rope and an object they call a winch handle.

And one night he got this man to a place where they'd be all alone.

And you know what he did there?

He killed him.

So it's gonna be a hunt, is it, huh?

Oh.

Oh, hi, Annie. Alex.

Thanks a lot. I'll see you in the morning.

Don, I've been looking for you all day.

We've got to find Mark.

Why? What's the trouble?

Let's find the man who killed Laura, and he's after him. I tried to stop him, but

he wouldn't listen to me. Well, where is he now?

I don't know. I called his hotel, but he's been out all day.

All right, come on. We'll try his boat.

You stay here. I'll go down and check.

What is it?

What's happened?

I'm afraid we're too late.

There's been a fight on board down in the cabin.

A couple of scratches up there on the deck, like he dumped a guy over the

side. I suppose he used this to do it, but... What do we do?

Come on, we'll try and find Mark before the police do.

We'll check some of the bars.

He must be around here somewhere, unless he's gone back to New York.

Let's try the bar across the street.

Something, senor?

I was just looking for someone.

Well... Mr. Bond?

Mr. Bond?

Yes, who is this?

I'm a friend of Mark Needham's.

There are some things I have to discuss with you.

I thought we ought to meet.

Who is this?

Never mind that.

I want you to come and have a talk with me.

Otherwise, I'll have to come down and see you at the store.

Uh, no, no, that won't be necessary.

When can we meet?

Hello, Mr. Bond.

Who are you?

My name is Alec Trevor.

But you can call me Alex.

You have no idea what a pleasure it is to meet you.

You see, I'm an old friend of Mark Needham's.

He used to talk about you quite a lot.

Tell me, was he actually dead when you pushed him overboard?

Or just unconscious?

What do you want?

Well, that's a difficult question.

How nice of you to ask.

Naturally, I'd like to see... Some kind of justice done.

But it's quite difficult to think just how, isn't it?

Smoke?

That's a nasty accident you had on your hand.

Why, it's nothing. I cut my hand on the can.

You should take care of it.

A thing like that can cause a lot of trouble.

What is it you want?

You give me something, I give you something.

How

much do

you want for that?

$5,000?

No, I can't. I don't have that much.

Then I think you'll have to get it.

I'll give you until tonight.

Say, the Florida bar?

No, I can't. Come now, Mr. Bond.

Maybe your mother could help you you leave my family out of this eight o

'clock sharp

You're

about this was love here for you

He said you could have all you wanted, son, him.

Oh, no, it's no matter.

I'll get it.

Oh, sorry.

I am sorry.

I just can't remember a word of Spanish when I need to.

In an emergency, I'm just lost.

Well, there you are.

Thank you I'm glad to be of service

I Think it's just

wonderful to meet someone who speaks English in a little place like this None

of the other girls on the tour would even come this far

Where are you from?

I live here.

How exciting.

At times.

Doesn't your wife find it lonely?

Oh, I'm not married.

No kidding.

Would you like a drink?

Thank you.

I

guess

we should be doing something about dinner, but

I'm not hungry.

How about you?

I'm fine.

Good.

Only one thing wrong. I don't like this place.

Do you want to go somewhere else?

Yes.

Oh, but I want to change.

Why don't you walk back with me to my motel?

Now?

Why not?

Come on over here.

Sit down.

Make yourself comfortable.

I'll fix us some drinks.

Don't be long.

Do you boss all of your women around like that?

Don't you like it?

I don't know.

We'll have to wait and see how it develops, won't we?

There.

I bet you don't often get service like that.

Thank you.

Is there anything else I can get you, sir?

A kiss.

Oh, now that's going to take some thinking about, isn't it?

Why don't you just finish your drink like a good boy?

Give me a kiss.

You're making me spill my drink. Come on, I thought you said you liked me.

You're making me laugh.

Come on, now, just stand still. Can't you see I'm serious?

I know you're serious. That's what's so funny.

Funny?

Yes, fat and funny.

Now we can start talking. No, no, please.

You've never put on an exhibition like this before in front of a witness, have

you? Well, it's very cooperative of you.

It's just what we needed.

You all right, honey?

Yes.

Just enough of a bruise for evidence.

You got her to bring me here.

You won't get away with it. No rudeness, please, Theodore.

Remember, you're supposed to be civilized.

It wasn't my fault. She made me lose my temper.

I'm sorry.

Well, you may be telling the truth, but somehow I don't get that impression.

Nor I think does the lady.

Do you, Louise?

You saw what happened.

I did.

I'm afraid we have no choice. This has to be handled by the police.

Call Emily, Louise.

No, please.

There's no harm done.

I told you, I lost my temper. I've been drinking this evening. I'm sorry.

That won't do it. This has gone too far.

You don't want any trouble with the police either.

I can get you for blackmail $5,000.

I told you before, be careful what you say.

Maybe you'll remember this time.

I don't understand what you want. I don't know what you want.

Don't you?

You remember Laura Needham and that luckless girl in Rosarito?

That's why you don't want the police.

This is just a bit of circumstantial evidence they've been looking for.

This will give them the excuse they need.

The excuse to keep you under arrest to try and break you down.

Now, can you think of any reason why they shouldn't have that chance?

Call Inspector Ortiz.

No, wait!

There's been no harm done.

I'll do anything.

I'll do anything. Don't let her call the police.

Well, there is one way in which you could avoid arrest.

There may be a small scandal involved, but nothing I think that would worry

your sister or your mother very long.

The chances are that the newspapers will never hear of it at all.

That is the way you want it isn't I I want you to write a letter

I'll tell you what to write

Dear

mother dear mother

I'm afraid that what I'm going to write will distress you.

I hope you will understand and forgive.

I've not felt well for some time.

You'll guess, as I did, the cause of the pains that I've been having.

I'll not put the burden of caring for me on your already overburdened shoulders.

I shall not have long to live in any case.

But this is a cleaner, more humane way for us both.

By the time you receive this letter, I shall be dead.

That's very clever.

Sign it any way you'd like.

Yes.

Because it'd be very difficult for me to hide. I mean to disappear.

The 5,000.

I don't know where to go.

Well, that isn't difficult.

You see, this letter means what it says.

By the time your mother gets it, you will be dead.

No.

You're going to kill me.

No, no.

No, don't kill me.

They'll only catch you.

No, give me back the letter.

I'm not going to kill you.

You're going to kill yourself.

No.

You must be mad.

No, you can't mean it. No!

No! No!

Now come on, pull yourself together.

Now listen to me.

These are the only choices you have left open to you.

You've killed three people.

They have enough evidence now to bring you to trial.

And you're certain to be convicted.

Now they'll either execute you...

Or you'll die slowly in prison.

You won't like prison, and prison won't like you.

And if you're sent to an asylum, well, you'll die just as slowly as in prison.

You'll die, but your memory will live.

Your memory will live in the minds of your neighbors, your sister, your

mother, Theodore Bond, the respectable citizen, the affectionate son and

brother, the strangler.

Oh, yes.

Your memory will live.

But if you kill yourself because you imagine that you're incurably ill,

because you don't want to be a drag on your family, what an obituary.

Bon, the devoted brother and son, sacrifices himself, etc., etc.

Thank you.

Bye.

You'd be surprised how simple this is. You just put on your little noose.

Good job.

No. No, please!

Alex! Alex, stop!

Don't let him touch me! He's going to kill me!

He's going to kill me!

I killed him! I killed him!

I'm sorry. I had to call them.

I killed him! I killed him! Help me!

I murdered him!

I killed him.

I killed him. I killed him. I killed him.

I killed him. I killed him. I killed him.

I know there's always more than one way to skin a cat.

But what you have done is highly irregular.

You heard him. He got your confession.

I appreciate your help in apprehending him.

But it's neither up to you nor me to decide when he must die.

Well, the confession was all I wanted. I wasn't going to kill him.

I admit I was tempted.

I couldn't do it.

That concludes tonight's story.

Next week, we shall present another one for your approval.

By the way, before tonight's case was completely closed... Alex learned to his

sorrow that one can't go beyond the law no matter what the motive.

Before we have our final commercial, I would like to tell those of you who are

interested in my services for bloodletting that I do not make house

calls. However, I have a trained bat who will go anywhere.

Good night.