Original subtitles

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening.

We have here all that remains of a television series.

It succumbed, not to the indifference of the viewers,

but to a passion for reality.

Everyone thought the idea

would make a very amusing series.

A family of cannibals moves into the middle

of a typical suburban community.

The possibilities were endless.

The clash of cultures would produce the laughter

and underlying it all would be a subtle social criticism.

Actually, the cannibals weren't difficult as actors,

they weren't temperamental, just hungry.

And considering the food at the commissary,

I'm not sure I blame them.

(slow mysterious music)

- I'm Detective Sergeant Martinez.

- I'm Detective Gabe Greeley.

- [Ellen] Oh, he's in recovery now.

They'll be moving him to room 114 very soon.

- Thank you miss.

- An intelligent girl.

Pretty girl.

- This is it.

- Here he comes.

- Stand by, Joe, we'll handle it.

Thank you Miss Winters.

- Dr. Michaels will let you know just as soon

as you can see the patient, gentlemen.

- You honor us, miss.

Tell the good doctor we'll wait without.

- You oughta grow a mustache, then you could twirl it.

- Can I help it if I have a personality?

- Not here, Gabe.

- He's conscious.

- Can he talk?

- Well, he won't make much sense.

He's groggy and confused.

- Best time to talk to him.

- Would it hurt him to talk?

- I suppose not but I don't like it.

- Just a few minutes.

- All right, a few minutes.

- Thanks doc, we'll be forever grateful.

- Miss Hatch, these gentlemen are from the police.

Please stay while they're questioning the patient.

- Yes, doctor.

- Take it easy with him.

No more than two minutes Miss Hatch.

Call me if you think I'm needed.

- Walsh.

Walsh!

Who was with ya in the hold up?

- What hold up?

- [Gabe] Who was your partner?

- Jesse James.

- You had a partner, Walsh, tell us where he went.

Save everybody a lotta trouble.

- Walsh, all we want is the name of the man

who was with you.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- Cooperate and you might get life

instead of the gas chamber.

- You don't want the gas chamber, Walsh.

They walk you down the hall,

they put you in a chair, they strap you in, blindfold you.

And they turn the little wheel

and a cyanide pellet drops into some acid.

Smell comes up.

Gets into your nose, you try not to breathe

as long as ya can

but sooner or later you gotta breathe

and then boom, ya better talk.

- Stop it.

- Do you know what this man did, miss?

He and his partner shot and killed

a 24 year old rookie policeman.

The man had a wife and two kids.

Tommy, aged three, Ursula, one and a half.

His partner got away.

He's got a gun and we want him bad.

Bad enough to shake him up a little if we have to.

- [Jake] Hold it, Gabe.

- That's all he can take right now.

- All right, Miss Hatch.

Mind asking the doctor to come in?

- Mary, would you ask Doctor Michaels to come

to room 114 please.

Thank you.

- We wanna move him to the prison ward

of the Carney Hospital.

- He can't be moved.

That's 40 miles from here.

It might kill him.

- I wouldn't wanna do that.

- You move him now, he'll hemorrhage.

- How soon can he be moved?

- Four or five days at best.

It depends, it could be longer.

- [Gabe] Who's payin' for this fancy room?

- The county, I suppose.

We can't put him in a room

with any of our other patients.

- That's for sure.

You're positive he can't be moved?

- The police surgeon examined him, he agrees.

I suggest you check with him.

- I'm not questioning your competence, doctor.

Just makes a problem for us and for you.

We'll have to put bars on this windows.

A man outside the door to keep an eye on him.

No visitors.

I want the same nurses assigned to him

that are on the case now.

- We can't give him special nurses.

- I didn't say special nurses.

I said the same nurses.

Anything wrong with his arm?

- No.

- I'm gonna have to handcuff him to the bed.

The guard will have a key to these.

I want him in the room every time

that's not on him and Gabe,

get a leg iron over here tomorrow.

- Thank you Miss Hatch.

Sedate him now.

- Maybe you'd better sedate me, doctor.

- It's not our business, Miss Hatch.

- How are you feeling?

- Hungry.

- Well, you'll just have to be hungry for a little while.

You feel any pain?

- A little, not much.

- Well, this'll make you feel better.

- All right.

Nurse?

- Yes.

- Hold my hand for a minute.

- What?

- Please?

Just for a minute, please?

- I'm Joe Chandler.

- [Ellen] I'm Miss Hatch.

- I know.

How is he?

- He's been sedated.

Tell me, did he really do all those things?

- So they say.

- I don't understand his being chained to the bed.

What harm can he do sick as he is?

- Well, I've seen them try to walk out

in worse shape than he's in.

- Are you going to sit in here?

- Well, that's what the man said, ma'am.

- The man?

- Martinez and he is the boss.

- I wonder, would you be kind enough

to call the charge nurse if the patient wakes?

- Well, she can't see him, just you.

- Well I have other things to do.

She'll call me.

- Okay Miss Hatch.

- Dinner?

- I'm on duty.

- Breakfast?

- You're on duty.

- Lunch?

- No.

- Point killer.

- Officer, does that policeman have to stay

in the room with the patient?

- Yes, ma'am, he does.

'Til we get bars on the windows.

Then he can move to the hall.

- Mary, cover for me for a few minutes.

If I don't have something to eat,

I'm gonna fall over.

- Okay, Ellen.

- Thank you.

- Eating alone is bad for the soul.

Oh, come on Miss Hatch.

I'm not as ferocious as I sound.

(cutlery clatters)

We made ya sore, didn't we?

- A little.

You like being a policeman?

- Sometimes.

Do you like being a nurse?

- Most times.

When we lose a patient it's sad.

- Sometimes you have to pressure them.

- Do you know that he did it?

- Two witnesses say he did.

- They could be wrong, couldn't they?

- Both of them?

- I guess I don't like what you have to do.

- Sometimes it isn't pleasant picking up the trash.

But things look better for everyone

after it's been done.

(suspenseful music)

- Night shift again?

- For the next two weeks.

I don't mind.

- Well, he's all yours.

- Thank you.

- Hi.

- Good evening.

- I'd hoped you'd come back.

- [Ellen] Why?

- So I could apologize to ya.

- Apologize, for what?

- Oh, you know, last night.

Holding your hand.

- Oh that.

Well, you really weren't rational.

- I didn't mean to seem fresh.

It's just that you remind me of a girl I used to know.

She was kinda special to me.

She was special to me.

What's the matter?

- Nothing.

It's just that it seems rather far fetched

to think of you being attracted to a girl

that looked like me.

- Well, why do you say that?

- I know what I look like.

Take your pills.

- What's wrong with the way you look?

- I could think of a lot of things.

- Listen, don't think you're not pretty

just because you don't wear a lotta lipstick

or paint your eyelids

or dye your hair six different colors.

A lotta fellas like girls

that keep their natural beauty

and I just happen the be one of 'em.

Never could stand flashy women.

- Here.

Drink this.

Slowly now.

I never thought of myself as having natural beauty.

- You know something.

You oughta stop feelin' sorry for yourself.

There's no reason for it.

- You were right before.

You are fresh.

As a matter of fact, you're downright rude.

- I don't want any more just now, thank you.

- I'll get your dinner.

- How's he doing?

- He'll live.

- Maybe.

- I don't think that's very funny.

- We promise not to twist his arm.

- I see.

- Take five Joe, we'll watch the A.

- Thank you, Sergeant.

- Same question, Walsh.

- Go away.

- Who was your partner?

- Napoleon Bonaparte.

Now look, you guys know everything you need to know

now why don't you just get outta here

and leave me alone.

- I must've talked to 500 of you hard guys in my time,

sooner or later you all crack open.

- Well, I'll let you know when I do.

- You don't have to let us know when you do.

I'll be there.

- With this no orderlies,

it's causing a lot of extra work

for myself and the other two nurses.

- I'm sorry about that.

I know how busy you are.

- Well, I suppose it's all right under the circumstances.

- We'll be back tomorrow, Walsh.

- Sorry I can't put your bed up yet

so I'll have to feed you.

- I can't imagine anything I'd like better.

- I was rude when we talked before.

You were trying to be nice in your own way

and I was impolite, I'm sorry.

- Forget it.

And look, I wasn't trying to be nice.

I mean, not forcing myself to be nice.

I meant it.

I guess I'm just a little clumsy with words.

- I think you speak very well.

- Do I still have a temperature?

- We're not supposed to tell the patient that.

- And I'm not exactly a patient.

A friend, I hope.

- You have a fever.

- How soon will they move me?

- Well, three or four days they say.

- The last four days of my life.

Have to make every second count.

That's true, you know.

This is kind of an interlude for me

before the nightmare begins.

- I have to ask you something.

- You've been trying to ask me ever since you first saw me.

Did I do it?

No, I didn't shoot that officer.

I was in the robbery, yes, but I didn't shoot him.

- Then why, why did you do it?

The robbery, I mean.

- Because I was a fool, that's why.

It's the first thing I ever did that was wrong.

But there's no excuse for it, I know that.

Not really.

I had been drinking a little

and I met this fella.

He made it sound so easy.

And then the rope fell in.

And now I'm trapped and I know that too

so let's just forget it, all right?

- And you do know who shot the policeman?

- Yes, I know.

He did.

That other fella.

- Then you must tell them.

- You don't understand about these things do ya?

If someone's killed during a felony,

everyone involved is equally guilty

so what good would it do?

I'd be charged with murder anyway.

Why execute two people when one will do?

Ellen?

You didn't think I knew your name, did you?

Well, I do.

I heard that other nurse call ya that.

Ellen, that's a nice name for you.

It's a nice name for anyone

and I still like girls that keep their natural beauty.

(peaceful music)

- I don't want you to say that anymore.

- All right, Ellen.

I won't if you don't want me to.

But I wanna thank you.

Thank you for listening to me.

And for helping make these last minutes count.

- Is everything all right, Miss Hatch?

- Yes, thank you.

I was just about to leave.

- Thanks again.

- You're welcome.

- Don't you ever smile?

- What's the joke?

Unless it's you, Walsh.

But you're a bad joke, a real bad joke.

(dramatic music)

- We shall resume our story in just a few moments.

In order to prevent you from becoming bored,

even for so short a time,

we have asked your local announcer to entertain you.

(cart rattling)

- Wanna take another crack at him?

- Better wait 'til he's had his dinner.

He won't talk with the nurse in the room.

Oh, Miss Hatch, I like it.

- What?

- Your hair.

- Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

- Miss Hatch.

He won't be needing this.

- You don't take any chances, do you?

- As few as possible.

- Joe.

Take a half hour break, we'll mind the store.

- That's a relief boss.

Much thanks.

- I don't like it.

- Don't like what?

- That fancy hairdo on that nurse.

- So, don't look at it.

- Here's what I mean.

I get that certain feeling.

You remember Aly Caspar?

She had that same look just before

she stuck that shiv in my shoulder.

I got peculiar hints.

- Don't worry about that one.

- She's got a mother hen complex.

- No, Gabe, she's got a wife complex.

She wants to be a wife like all the other women.

- How do you know that?

- I know, I talked to her, I looked at her.

Want me to take her off the case?

- Yeah, I do.

- Thank you.

That was very good.

Where's the guardian of the gates?

- He's in the hall talking to Mr. Greely and Mr. Martinez.

- Here we go again.

Ellen, I wanna tell ya again I didn't shoot that officer.

I wanna tell ya that over and over again

until you believe me.

- I believe you, Jerry.

I do believe you.

I don't want to talk about it anymore.

- Ellen, please, you have to listen to me.

It's important to me that you understand.

I don't care what anybody else thinks.

With you it's different.

- Different?

How's it different?

I'm nobody to you.

- You are, Ellen, you are.

You'll never know.

I haven't got much time left, Ellen.

And I can't expect you to feel the same way about me.

I know you couldn't.

- Feel how?

Tell me what you mean.

- I'm about to give you the biggest laugh

you've ever had in your life.

I'm in love with you.

(melancholy music)

- I don't think that's very funny.

I don't think it's very funny at all.

- How are ya, killer?

- Jerry, we're gonna give you one more chance to be smart.

- Well, you tell me, what do I have to do?

- Give us the address where George Clark is hiding out.

- Who?

- Clark, George Clark, you know him.

He's a friend of yours.

The one who put three out of those five bullets

in the policeman you both shot.

- Now look, I told ya,

I don't know what you're talkin' about.

- Let me lay it out for ya.

You and George Clark were seen together

in a dozen places over the past month.

You've been going to the races,

shooting pool together,

night clubbing all over town.

Then you and a mysterious Mr. X pull a heist

and all of a sudden, George Clark drops out of sight.

- Who's George Clark?

- Way it stands now, Walsh, you can clam up.

And buy yourself a short trip to the gas chamber

or you can tell us where he is.

Turn states evidence.

Have a chance for a life sentence.

That could get you a parole in 15 or 20 years.

- You're still young, Jerry.

Staying alive is something to think about.

- [Gabe] Come on Jerry, tell us where Clark is.

- That's the first time I've heard the name.

- Some people just have to do it the hard way.

- I'm going to speak to the doctor about those two men.

- No, I don't want you to get involved.

It's my problem, not yours.

- I wish there was something I could do for you.

- I told you I don't want you to get involved.

- I am involved.

I became involved the moment you told me you loved me.

- I don't know, Ellen.

I hadn't counted on you helping me.

If I just had some more time here.

Maybe I could figure something out.

They'll be moving me any day now.

- Don't take your medicine at night

and your fever'll stay up.

I know the doctors won't give permission

for you to be moved until your temperature is normal.

I'll show on your chart that you have taken it.

- No, I don't want you to get in trouble.

- No, I won't.

- Ellen, if I do find a way outta this,

will you come with me?

We can go away somewhere.

Make a new start.

- You sure you want me to?

- [Walsh] Yes.

- It's like a miracle to me.

I know I'm not pretty no matter what you told me.

And I'm not very smart.

Except about nursing, I am a good nurse.

What is it?

- They've got me trapped.

I'll never be able to prove I didn't do it.

They're just waiting out there,

ready to pounce on me.

- I've seen that.

- So I have to get outta here, escape.

If you really wanted to help me,

it wouldn't be so difficult to arrange.

- What do you mean?

- This place'd be a cinch to get out of

if I had a little help.

Just a little help.

- What kind of help?

- Well, some clothes, a car in a parking lot,

some of the medicine I'll need.

At night it'd be a cinch, a real cinch.

- What about the guard?

- You could start bringing him some coffee

so he gets used to the idea

and then when the time comes, you could put something in it

so that it'd put him to sleep.

- I couldn't do that..

- Yes you could.

All right, Ellen, forget it.

It's just a pipe dream anyway.

Just a pipe dream.

But it would be so easy.

And we could have such a time.

I have a little money put away on the outside.

Nobody knows about it.

We could go to Greece.

Have you ever been to Greece, Ellen?

The islands of Greece?

Or the South Seas, the Islands Under-the-Wind?

Or the Southern Cross?

It'd be so great to see them with someone you love.

Someone you really love.

- If only we could.

- We could if you'd help me.

(suspenseful music)

- Would you like a cup of coffee, officer?

- Great.

(peaceful music)

(suspenseful music)

- All right, officer.

Secondary tissue is closing satisfactorily.

I think we can risk moving him.

May we see you outside for a moment, officer.

Miss Hatch.

You please tell Mr. Martinez

that he can take Walsh out of here tomorrow.

And he should try to stand and walk a little

before he leaves.

- Yes doctor.

Let me know, Miss Hatch, I have the key.

- Thank you.

- Did he mean that?

About me leaving tomorrow?

- Yes.

What are we going to do?

- Escape tonight.

Just like we've planned.

I'm strong enough I think.

Will it hurt me to walk?

- Not if you don't bump into anything.

Go slowly.

I have a wheelchair.

- All right, we go tonight then.

You have something for our boy in blue?

- Yes, it should put him out for about five hours.

- Good.

Is there anyone else on duty tonight?

- Not in this area.

- Okay.

You sure everything else is set?

- I have clothes for you in my locker

and a car out by the back entrance, full of gas.

Jerry.

What if they catch us?

- They won't, they won't.

Not if you do exactly what I tell you to do.

It'll be worth it Ellen.

I'll make it worth it.

We'll hide out until I get good and well.

And then it's the South Seas.

We'll go somewhere where nobody'll know us,

just you and me.

That's worth a little risk, Ellen.

- Just all seems so final.

I guess that's why I'm afraid.

- You don't need to be.

I love you

and you're the only chance I have left.

If you won't go, then I won't go

and if you don't believe in me

then the first good thing in my life will be gone.

- All right Jerry.

All right.

I'll try.

(peaceful music)

- Tonight then.

- Tonight.

- That's my girl.

- You rest now.

- Gettin' to be a regular mama's boy, isn't he?

- Sometimes I think you policemen are completely cynical.

- You hang around enough of these creeps, you get cynical.

- I'll bring you your coffee when I come back.

- Now that's a kindly thought.

(suspenseful music)

- You can have your coffee inside tonight

because we're beginning Mr. Walsh's exercises.

- That's real service.

You join me?

- In a moment.

We're going to exercise now, Jerry.

- All right, I'll try.

- Sit for a moment.

Now try to stand.

Easy now.

You're doing very well.

Easy.

(cup tinkles)

- Get the clothes.

I can do it.

- I'll get the wheelchair.

(wind whooshing)

- He hasn't moved a muscle.

- Here, get in this.

I'll help you.

I have a bandage for your face.

Secure.

- Get rid of that hat.

The door.

(latch clicks)

(door bangs)

(footsteps tapping)

(rain whooshing)

- How do you feel?

- Rocky but I can make it.

Let's go.

- Which way now?

- Straight ahead, go down to Arcotta Street and turn right.

Come on, hurry!

- I don't want to get a ticket.

- You won't get a ticket.

(engine rumbling)

That's it.

- [Ellen] You'll have to climb those stairs.

- I'll make it.

Don't forget the medicine.

Let's go, Ellen.

I said let's go.

(suspenseful music)

(door bangs)

Next floor at the end of the hall.

- You have to rest.

- Just keep movin'.

- You do, Jerry.

- I said let's keep movin'.

- [Clark] Who is it?

- Open up Clark, it's me, Jerry.

What's the matter, Georgie?

- Wait a minute.

Oh, come on in, boy, come on in.

- Gimme a hand, will ya?

- Man, I can't believe it.

- Put the medicine on the table.

Got any whiskey, Georgie?

Georgie?

- Yeah, whiskey, sure.

Pinky, Pinky, come on in here.

We got company.

Bring the bottle.

- Jerry, Jerry!

You made it!

Baby.

You came back.

- That's right, baby, I came back.

- Oh baby.

- You can go now, nursey.

- Now wait a minute, Jerry.

What do you mean, go?

Go where?

- Back to the hospital, wherever.

- Oh no we can't do that.

She'll blow the whistle on us.

- Nursey wouldn't do that, would ya, nursey?

- [George] We gotta get rid of her, Jerry.

- I know that the charge is murder,

accessory after the fact.

That's what they'd get me for.

So why would I talk?

- That's right.

And we're not stayin' here anyway.

So let her go.

Besides, nursey did me a favor, didn't you, nursey?

Now if you're smart, you'll hustle back

to that hospital and take some

of that spiked coffee yourself.

That way it'll look like an outside job

and you won't get caught.

Well, it beats spendin' 10 years in the pen.

Go on now.

Beat it.

(melancholy music)

- You said you l.

- You don't think I could fall for a dame like you, do ya?

- I suppose not.

- Get outta here.

- [Pinky] So long, nursey.

- I said let her go.

- Everything under control, Ellen?

- Yes.

- Where is he?

- Second floor, door at the back of the hall.

- Clark there?

- Yes.

And a woman.

Clark has a gun.

- I want Clark alive and talking.

Take three men around back.

The rest will go up this way in five minutes.

- May I go now?

- Sure.

(rain pattering)

Ellen, I want you to know

how much we appreciate your help.

- I'm a plain girl, sergeant, plain and dull.

I don't like to think it but it's true.

Dull face, dull mind.

I guess that's why I'm attracted to a man like him.

- He was just an operator.

- I know.

He was the seventh operator in my life.

The seventh.

Sometime I'll tell you about the other six.

You wouldn't think, would you sergeant,

that a plain, dull girl could hate so much.

- You did a good job.

Remember what I told ya.

Sometimes it's necessary to pick up the trash

and we thank you.

- Don't mention it, sergeant.

It was a pleasure.

(suspenseful music)

- Next week I shall return with another story.

Oh, by the way, we just couldn't stand

to see such a good comedy idea abandoned

so we have reactivated our series

about the cannibal family.

We're hoping to have better luck this time.

(bouncy mysterious music)

(dramatic music)