Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

Someone seems to have left this interesting object

at my doorstep.

(clock ticking)

I don't believe it's a baby.

At least, I've never before heard a baby ticking

quite so loudly.

(zipper whizzing)

What a unique gift,

a clock that is powered by dynamite.

Tempus fugit, I'll wager it does.

I see the alarm is set to go off in a moment or two,

so I should speak quickly.

I wouldn't want to be interrupted by any unseemly ringing.

Tonight, we have a drama concerning some people

who are in the motion picture business.

And speaking of business, we come to this item.

(foreboding music)

(birds twittering)

(door thuds) (slow dramatic music)

(high heels clacking)

(door bangs) (engine rumbling)

(motor whirring)

(slow sinister music)

(door bangs) (engine ticking)

(soft dramatic music)

(tools clanging)

- [Leo] Hey, Dancer, hey, hey.

Oh, look who we got this morning.

- Ha, just another pretty face.

- That's what you think.

She's somebody. - Yeah?

- You don't see it, do you?

- What? - The thing surrounding her.

- [Dancer] Like, what is it?

- Like mystery, man, like money.

- Oh, yeah?

- You don't drive up in that

and not give out with a little mystery,

and a little money.

- A starlet, eh?

- Maybe.

- Leo! - Yo!

- Come up outta there, will ya?

Pull off your coveralls and start Miss Revere's car.

The keys are in the ignition.

- Yes, sir.

Revere, Revere, Revere, Revere?

Oh, man, that's who she is.

- Who?

- The daughter of Gavin Revere and Monica Parrish.

- [Dancer] Who?

- You wanna be an actor and you never heard

of Gavin Revere and Monica Parrish?

- No.

- I'm sure it's nothing very serious,

but then I'm not very mechanical.

What I know about cars you could put into a shot glass.

He does insist there's something wrong,

so you'd better look at it.

- I'll go over it with a fine-tooth comb.

Excuse me.

Start the motor, Leo?

(motor whirring) (engine ticking)

Okay, rev her up.

(engine revs)

(engine revs)

(engine revs)

(engine revs)

(engine revving)

(engine revs)

Okay, that's it Leo.

(hood bangs)

Leo?

(hand thwacking)

- Enough?

- Yeah.

- When will it be ready?

- [Bill] Tomorrow afternoon.

- All right.

- Great car, great frame.

You need someone to take you home?

- No, I can get a cab.

- Oh, not at Wagner's you won't.

I'll take you. - No, that's all right.

A cab's fine. - Oh, it's part of my job.

I'll get the keys.

Now, not another word.

(hand tapping)

I love the construction.

- Sounds like it might be the transmission.

- Keys. - Yeah, sounds like that.

Uh-huh. - Come on, come on.

- Oh, wait a minute.

- Give me the keys to your car.

Miss Revere wants to be driven home.

- Let her get a cab.

- Come on, come on. (finger snapping)

- You don't waste any time, do you?

- (chuckles) That's why I'm a specialist.

(horn honking)

(tools clanging)

(door slams)

(mechanics faintly chattering)

(door bangs)

(door slams) (engine rumbling)

- That boy is gonna get into a lotta trouble someday.

- He can take care of himself.

- I wouldn't bet on it.

- You know, I'm a big fan of your father's.

- Yes? - Yeah.

I've seen every one of his movies.

Except, I guess, some of the early ones.

Some of the silents.

Boy, he was a great director.

- Is a great director.

- Whoops. (chuckles)

Open mouth, insert foot.

Story of my life.

I didn't mean it quite that way.

Past tense is past, and he hasn't made a film in years.

- Yes, that's true, he hasn't.

- And your mother, was or is great, too.

- Was, she's retired.

- (sighs) She was a real stunner.

A little on the hammy side,

but we don't have stars like that anymore.

(radio dial clicks) (lively music)

Boom.

Boom.

You believe in fate?

Fate, what is fate?

Well, fate for me right now is the fact

that I almost didn't come in this morning.

(chuckles) Boy was I drunk last night.

Hey, you Swim or Watusi, hmm?

I'm one of the best Swimmers you can imagine.

- What has the Swim got to do with fate?

- (laughs) I thought, "Now, why should I go in this morning?

"Why should I go in?"

but then, something, fate, you see?

Said to me, it said, "Leo, get outta bed.

"Get right outta bed because something's on its way."

That something good is meeting you.

Aw, she's shy.

- Turn right here.

(tires squealing)

- You know, you look a lot like your mother.

Prettier though.

- Slow down, please.

(Leo imitates engine revving)

I said slow down.

- You know, I saw one of your mother's movies

on "The Late Late Show" a couple of nights ago.

One where she played a nightclub singer.

Boy, I hate tell you, but she was real old school.

I never saw anybody chew up so much scenery.

- Did you ever see "Death Scene"?

- "Death Scene," no, I don't think so.

- [Nicky] She was wonderful in it.

It's her best.

- Your father direct it?

- He directed all of her pictures.

The next road on the left.

(motor whirring)

(lively music)

(door thuds)

- Mon Vere.

Are you in a hurry? - Yes.

- Why don't you show me around?

I've read about this place.

- I have to go.

- Aren't you gonna thank me?

(soft dramatic music)

- I insist.

- I'll frame it.

Put it over my bed.

Miss Revere?

Wanna Swim with me?

(doorknob rattling)

(door softly clangs)

(ominous music)

(door thuds) (engine revving)

- [Gavin] Nicky!

Nicky!

Nicky!

- I'm coming!

(magazines rustling)

- You never saw "The Richest Dream,"

"Come Fall, Come Love,"

"The Willow Weeps No More"?

- [Dancer] No.

- "Destiny, My Dear," "Forgotten Woman,"

"Goddess of the Silver Nile"?

- Hey, what's their house like?

- I only saw from the outside.

She wouldn't let me in.

Oh, boy, it's a place I'd like to live though.

(Dancer chuckles)

Hmm, you know, her mother was one of the really bad,

but wonderful stars.

Public loved her. - Hmm?

She live there alone?

- No, there's somebody else there.

- [Dancer] How you know?

- I saw someone looking down on me from the balcony.

Probably him. - Who?

- Gavin Revere.

(snickers) You know, he had a terrible accent.

It was during the time they were all playing polo.

You know, "Giddy-up, horsey," kind of a croquet with spurs.

Well, he went and fall down, go boom, cracked his spine.

Crash. - Ouch!

- (laughs) Ended up in a wheelchair.

Tried to make a comeback years ago.

Made a couple of flops,

"Sinful Sister" and "Don't Leave Me Alone."

(chuckles) Oh, boy.

That house and all that land must be worth a fortune.

- [Dancer] Mm-hmm, yeah, I'm sure.

- Want take a look at it?

- Yeah, sure, after supper.

(glasses clanking)

- It's done, al dente, we eat.

(Dancer speaking in foreign language)

(Leo laughs)

(motorcycle rumbling)

Behold, Mon Vere.

(gate clanking)

- Hey, man!

(Leo laughing)

Outta the question.

- What? - No.

- Dancer, she liked me.

- (chuckles) I never saw one yet that didn't.

- It's true, it's true.

- Wow, (sighs) oh, man.

Yeah, it's big.

- Yeah, it's very, very, very big.

You know, I've always wanted a place like this.

You know something?

This may be just the right time and the right place

and the right opportunity.

Outta my way. - Well, okay, man.

It's your funeral. (chuckles)

I'll send flowers. - Yeah?

Carnations, if you please.

(intercom buzzing)

(switch clicks)

- Yes, who is it?

- Hello, Miss Revere, remember me?

I brought you home from the garage today.

I just called to say hello and I think you're beautiful.

- Go away.

- [Leo] (chuckles) It's only 9:30 and the moon is...

Why don't you come out and look at the moon with me?

- Go away.

(switch clicks) (intercom receiver rattling)

- Leo!

(gate rattling)

- Come on.

- Who was that?

- The man from the garage.

(slow sinister music)

(soft dramatic music)

(gearshift clicking)

(Leo whistling)

(door bangs)

(keys jingling)

(doorbell rings)

- Yes? - Brought the car.

- Fine. - No more knocks.

Just needed new points and some spark plugs.

Oh, Mr. Wagner said I better be sure

that you're completely satisfied.

- And how would you be sure of that?

- Oh, by taking a little drive around the grounds.

(chuckles) I might get fired if you aren't satisfied.

- Really? - Really.

And while we're taking that drive,

I intend to apologize for last night.

- Well, it was only 9:30.

- And there was a moon.

- Yes, I know.

No more knocking?

- Purrs like a kitten.

Put the spark plugs in myself.

- Nicky, who is that man?

- [Nicky] The man from the garage.

- Go in the house.

(door clangs)

- Mr. Revere? - Yes?

- Car's in great shape now.

- Let me hear it idle.

- Sure.

(engine rumbling)

- [Gavin] Too fast, it's idling too fast.

- I'll fix that.

Mr. Revere?

(hood squeaking)

I just want you to know

it's a big thrill for me to meet you, sir.

I've been, I guess, a fan of yours since I was a kid.

I think you're the greatest.

You know, I saw Revere Festival

in New York just last spring.

Went every afternoon for three weeks.

(chuckles) "The Perfect Hostess,"

that's my favorite.

Boy, that's great.

Witty, paced like crazy.

You know, you put all these new directors to shame?

- What do you know about films?

- Well, I came out here to be an actor,

but I never did anything, one commercial.

I gave it up for good, steady employment.

- Then, you never were an actor.

A real actor never gives up.

- [Leo] How's that?

- Better, better.

Were my films well-attended in New York?

- Packed, audience applauded all the way through.

You know, they don't make 'em that way anymore.

Mr. Revere, is there some place I can wash my hands?

- Yes, I'll show you, come.

- You know, my favorite sequence in all films

is the banana sequence in "Forgotten Woman."

- Ah, yes, first door on the left.

- Thank you.

Whoa.

(door thuds)

(door rattles)

(water sloshing)

(high heels clacking)

(suspenseful music)

(doors rattling)

(doors creaking)

(doorknob clicks)

(wheelchair rattling)

Oh, am I somewhere I'm not supposed to be?

The door was open and--

- Curiosity killed the cat.

I once made a picture called "Curiosity Killed the Cat."

- Yeah, I know, I saw it.

It's great.

And I saw this one and this one.

And, oh, that one, oh.

And this one.

- [Gavin] Yes, "Death Scene."

- I never saw it.

I've read about it.

- Yes, they write about me, don't they?

As if I've been dead for years.

But my films will live on.

- Well, don't you wanna work?

- Of course, I want to work.

But not one of them, and I helped all of them,

all of them get where they are!

Do you think one of them would extend himself

to help me now? (scoffs)

They don't return my calls.

They think I am finished, but I am not.

I have got Mon Vere, and I have got Nicky.

And as long as I have got Nicky, I am not finished.

You stay away from her.

- Well, I guess I'd better go.

(brooding music)

(doorknob rattling) (door thuds)

Your old man's in a fit.

I thought he was gonna start foaming at the mouth.

- Life is very hard for him now.

- [Leo] Yeah.

(soft dramatic music)

But it shouldn't be for you.

- What do you mean?

- [Leo] I mean, you're getting wrapped up, thrown in,

and buried alive.

It's true.

He's squeezing you to death, just look.

You can't spend every minute

spooking around a place like this.

It's like living in a mausoleum.

- I love Mon Vere.

- Of course, you love it.

And, someday, it'll be all yours.

When can I see you again?

- [Gavin] Nicky!

- Have dinner with me tonight.

- I can't. - Why?

- Because I just can't. - Nicky!

- Listen, you're going to have to go now.

- I'm not leaving until you tell me

why we can't have dinner tonight.

Name's Leo Manfred, call me.

You won't, will you? - Nicky!

(lips smacking)

Nicky!

(doorknob clicks)

(door bangs)

(hood clangs) (soft sinister music)

- That concludes the first half of our story.

My new clock seems to have stopped.

I suppose I shall have to buy fresh dynamite.

Luckily, our story is much more easily activated.

It will resume after the following message

from your friendly neighborhood station.

(hands rhythmically tapping)

* Lover boy, lover boy *

- Dancer, knock it off.

* Our little sucker here *

- Knock it off, you're making me nervous.

* Lover boy, love her *

* Lover boy, lover boy, love her *

Ah, go soak your head.

- Hey, Leo! - Yeah?

- Leo? - Yeah?

- Wagner got a call from Nicky Revere.

They're having trouble with the car, again.

She asked for you.

- Well, it's about time.

- Hey, Revere's gonna catch on

you keep monkeying around with his car.

- Yeah, what do you wanna bet, Dancer,

it's the fan belt this time?

(Dancer sighs)

- Had that car for 25 years.

Never had any trouble with it for 25 years.

(groans) Like people though, I guess.

Once something goes wrong, everything starts going wrong.

- Yeah, well, it's nothing serious.

Fan belt needs tightening.

(wrench rattling)

- No mechanic ever touched my cars when I was up and able.

Did it all myself.

(groans) Things change.

- Yeah, they sure do.

- Country is changing, the city changes.

Freeway'll be coming through here.

Soon, they'll start cutting off the hills

and dividing up the land.

Everything gets smaller and smaller.

- Land around here must be worth a lot of money.

- The irony of it, the land.

My talent that bought the land sits wasting

while the thing it sits on grows in value.

Mon Vere won't be caught up in the progress pie.

Mon Vere's standing whole and big as long as I am alive.

(slow dramatic music)

(soft sinister music)

(menacing music)

(rock clatters) (water sloshing)

(rock thudding) (branches rustling)

(dramatic music)

(door bangs) (hand thwacks)

(soft romantic music)

- Let me in.

(lock clicks)

- (chuckles) You'd break it, too, wouldn't you?

- Through fire, through glass, anything to be near you.

(curtains rustling)

You never can tell when the old man is looking.

Did you tell him yet?

Why?

- I never know what he's going to do.

- You have to. - He's capable of anything.

- You have to tell him. - I know.

- He should be happy for you.

You have to tell him soon.

I can't keep finding things to go wrong with the car.

It's getting suspicious.

- I know. (giggles)

- Did he say something?

- Well, he's not stupid.

- I've got to see you alone.

Come have dinner with me in town.

- (gasps) I can't.

- Then tell him. - I will.

- Tell him, tell him, tell him.

(air hissing) (barbells rattling)

(phone ringing)

(Dancer groaning)

- Hello?

Yeah, wait.

Hey, Leo!

Leo!

Hey, wait just a minute.

(Dancer groaning)

(Dancer panting)

Hey, Leo, Leo. - What?

- It's for you. - Who is it?

- [Dancer] It sounds like Nicky Revere, there.

- Good morning.

(chuckles) What time is it?

Really? (laughs)

Nah, you woke me up.

Hey, you miss me?

(laughs) Yeah, I'll bet.

What?

You did?

Well, sure, sure, great.

I'll be right there.

Hey, hey.

You love me?

(chuckles) Yeah, good bye.

Dancer!

Dancer! - Yeah?

- Bring me some coffee.

(Dancer panting)

- Who do you think you are?

- Dancer, you better start looking for a new roommate.

- [Dancer] Oh, you going somewhere?

- I'm about to become the master of Mon Vere.

Marriage, she spoke to her father

and he wants to see me this afternoon.

- I don't believe it.

- [Leo] Coming into the homestretch.

- You've got a big Oaf for operator.

Invite me up for a drink.

- Yeah, there's still the old man.

- Oh, that shouldn't be any problem.

I wouldn't be surprised to read in the papers

that he went rolling down one of those hills.

- Dancer, my father-in-law rolling down a hill?

- She says she loves you.

- I love her, too.

- Ah, yes, love.

And the practical side.

- I have $300 in the bank, a good steady job at $150 a week.

- See around me here, here, there?

Reminders, mementos of glory,

faded out of fame, but still glory.

Aside from their sentimental value to Nicky and to me,

and it's considerable,

these relics are indications that she's lived well, always.

I had intended leaving Nicky a portion of the money

that accompanied this glory.

Mon Vere's all that's left now, all.

There was a life insurance policy

at one time before the accident,

but now I am not considered a good risk.

She'll go through your $300 in a day.

Maybe she won't, I don't know.

But I must be certain, when I leave this world,

she's protected. - I'll take care of her.

- On a bank account of $300?

What would she do if something happened to you?

Unless, you have insurance? - No.

- If you wanna marry Nicky,

you'll have to take out a $50,000 life insurance policy

naming her as beneficiary.

That's my only condition.

(horn honking)

- Sure, you know a good company?

- Yeah, what we have is handled by Jeremy Hodges,

an old friend of mine.

Let me see.

He's a representative of the California Mutual.

I have his card around here somewhere.

I'll find it. - Fine.

- I have a lot of pride, Leo.

That's all I have a lot of left.

Don't tell Hodges why you're doing this.

He's a gossip.

I don't want him to know I'm reduced to making deals.

Don't tell Nicky what I am asking.

She has more pride than I have.

- Are you two still at it?

(high heels clacking)

It's enough now.

It's time for a drink.

You haven't killed each other,

so I take it the terms of my dowry have been arranged,

and I'm to be given away

for three white horses, a litter of pigs,

and a string of assorted beads.

Want a drink, Daddy?

- No, thanks, I think I'll just sun myself a little.

(wheelchair rattling)

- Oh, dear, would you help Daddy into the sun?

- Sure, sure.

(suspenseful music)

- Thank you.

- You're quite welcome.

(soft sinister music)

Come on in, I'll give you a drink.

- [Dancer] Hey, yeah, but I wasn't invited.

- I invite you, come on.

(doorbell rings)

- [Dancer] You're kidding, wow!

- It's Italian.

Everything around here practically comes

from somewhere else.

Stones from Texas, window frames from Morocco.

Here's my girl.

Well, don't stand there gawking.

Come on in.

(door bangs)

Nicky, this is Dancer Smith, my not-for-long roommate.

Dancer, this is my soon-to-be wife.

- Hello. - Hi.

- Where's the old man?

- Oh, he's out getting some sun.

Daddy, Leo is here.

- Oh, good morning, Leo.

- Mr. Revere, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine,

Dancer Smith.

- How do you do, sir?

How are you?

- Are you a dancer, Dancer?

- Yeah, sort of. - And an actor.

He hasn't given up yet.

- How about giving us a little dance?

- [Nicky] Oh, yes, why don't you?

- Yeah, come on, Dancer.

Show 'em what you can do.

- Come on. - All right.

All right, so you wanna see a dance?

- [Gavin] Yeah, let's see your stuff.

- All right. (hands clapping)

(fingers rhythmically snapping)

(horn honking) (hands rhythmically clapping)

- Whoa!

(fingers snapping)

- Look out! - (gasps) Oh!

Watch the wall! - Hey, whoa!

- Whoa! - Whoa, buddy boy.

Whoa, buddy boy.

Well-- - Oh, man.

- You all right? - Yeah.

- Bravo, bravo!

- Bravo right over the edge.

- (chuckles) Look out for that drop.

What drop?

- It's not funny.

- Years ago, there was a big fire through here.

Then, the rains caused the dirt to give way.

Had to build that retaining wall,

almost a hundred feet high.

Well, let's go in.

I have a little surprise for you.

- Come along.

(soft dramatic music)

- Take a seat right here.

- We're going to the movies.

- Not to just any movie.

The pinnacle of my career,

the best performance my wife ever gave on the screen.

(projector clicking)

- [Dancer] Hey, pretty fancy titles.

- [Leo] Pretty fancy director.

(ice clanging)

- Hey, where's the popcorn?

- Yeah. - Shh.

(men laughing)

- [Man] There it is, yeah.

- [Leo] "Chicago, the mecca of reckless youth,

"the fastest city in the world."

(men giggling)

Great, how many days did it take

to get that shot, Mr. Revere?

- [Gavin] Please, shh.

- "Susu, an orphan, lost in the midst

"of gin, jazz, and gasoline." (chuckles)

Is that her?

- Yes.

- [Dancer] What's their motivation?

- [Leo] They never heard of it.

- What? - Motivation.

(Leo chuckles)

"Susu's employer, Sam Gread, a gangster." (laughs)

(air hissing)

- Boo! - Boo, boo!

(men giggling)

(glasses clanging)

(men laughing)

- [Dancer] If we had a couple of eggs,

we could have breakfast.

You get it, ham and eggs?

(men snickering)

- Yeah, yeah, 23 skidoo!

(men chuckling)

Shh!

(Leo softly retching) (men softly chuckling)

- (laughs) Now, I could do better than that.

- [Leo] Shh.

- All I need is a string of pearls.

(Leo chortling)

(Dancer giggling)

(men laughing)

(Dancer chuckles)

(Leo giggles)

- "He must never know that I am the one responsible

"for his downfall."

(men laughing)

- Get out! (intense music)

Get out! Get out!

- Mr. Revere, I'm sorry.

- Get out! Get out!

(men chortling)

- [Leo] Beneath you.

- Leave her alone, get out!

(men laughing)

(men faintly chattering)

(slow music)

- I let it ring all night.

Hello, Nicky?

Hello, is that you?

- He says I can't see you anymore.

- [Leo] Oh, who does he think he is?

- "Death Scene" is his favorite film.

- [Leo] Oh, come on, sweetheart.

It's terrible and she's awful in it.

- Come in the morning at 10:00.

We'll talk to him together.

Good night.

(receiver clicks)

- Hey, what? (Leo scoffs)

- He says I can't marry her now.

- Easy come, easy go.

- You think so?

Easy come, easy go?

Tomorrow at 10:00.

- What tomorrow at 10:00?

- (snickers) "The time has come," the Walrus said.

- [Dancer] Time for what?

- Look out for that drop.

What drop?

- [Dancer] (chuckles) You haven't got the nerve.

- I've got nerves of steel.

You look tired.

- I didn't sleep well last night.

- Where is he?

- Out on the lawn.

(door creaks)

Father.

- Good morning, Mr. Revere.

- What's he doing here?

- Nicky and I love each other.

- [Gavin] I don't care.

She's not marrying you.

- She's old enough to make up her own mind.

- That's true. - Let her choose.

- All right, my dear, make your choice between him and me.

(gentle music)

(menacing music)

(Leo thuds) (water sloshing)

(wheelchair rattling) (slow sinister music)

- Yes, it was a strange thing.

And we'd only known him a short time, you know?

Yes, he just delivered the car from the garage, hmm.

And, you know, he said he was a fan of Monica Parrish's.

Had been since he was a little boy.

- (chuckles) Oh, good for him.

(static hissing) (TV audio distorting)

You what?

Oh, wait a minute.

Tommy, turn it off.

Turn it off, Tommy.

- [Man On TV] (audio distorts) with a beautiful woman.

(knob clicks)

- What, $50,000?

- Yes, I have the check right here.

You remember Mr. Hodges, the insurance man?

Well, he handled the whole deal.

Oh, it's Susu.

(ominous music)

Wanna talk to her?

- [Gavin] Well, now, why not?

- Susu, darling, here's your daddy.

I give you a kiss, muah.

- Hi, Susu.

Yes, oh, I think I'll try to find a good script.

I'm feeling fine.

Yes, your mother's fine.

I think she wants to talk to you.

- Oh, Susu, darling, I just wanted to know how Bobby is.

Oh, good, his cold is better then?

Good, tell him his grandmother sends her love.

Yes, okay, I'll give you back to your daddy now.

- Susu, we ran "Death Scene" a couple of weeks ago.

It still holds up, dear.

Your mother's absolutely wonderful in it.

It's a classic Monica Parrish performance.

Isn't it, Monica?

- Oh, yes, it is. (sighs)

(heavy sinister music)

it occurs to me that we may inadvertently have given you

the wrong impression.

You see, Monica and her husband were caught

and paid for their crime.

I like to keep the record straight.

As for my clock, I haven't been able to find a drugstore

that carries dynamite sticks.

Oh, they had some.

But, as you would expect, not the right size.

(clock rattling)

(bomb ticking)

Ah, there we are.

And now we shall hear from our sponsor.

(bomb ticking)

(clock ringing)

(explosion booms)

(mischievous music)

(bright music)