All language subtitles for The.Alfred.Hitchcock.Hour.S01E04.I.Saw.the.Whole.Thing.1080p.PCOK.WEBRip.AAC.2.0.H.265.-EDGE2020_track3_[eng]

("Alfred Hitchcock" theme music)

- Good evening, I'm organizing a
key club.

It seems to be the thing to do.

For the uninitiated, a key
club is one which members

can enter only if they possess a
key.

These clubs are terribly
exclusive

since membership is limited to
men.

My club is completely different.

It's just for women.

Inside the club is everything

a woman could want, including
me.

You see, I am the club's only
bunny.

This evening's story
is not about key clubs.

It is about a man who finds
himself in a unique predicament

and is called "I Saw The Whole
Thing."

If you wish to see the whole
thing, I suggest you watch

this spot closely for the next
60 minutes.

(dramatic music)

- Hiya, Penny, you waiting for
somebody?

- Not for you.

- Yeah, I called you at your pad
Thursday,

but the warden said you were
out.

Hey, I'm having a big bash
at my place next week.

Interested?

- Look, Freddy, can't you take a
hint?

You know I'm going steady with
George.

- Is that who you're waiting
for?

- Will you kindly flake off?

- Oh, he's the jealous type,
huh?

- He'll go stark staring
ape if he finds you

hanging around me again,
so if you don't mind--

- Okay, okay, see you around.

(tires screeching)
(dramatic music)

(tires screeching)

(tires screeching)

(tires screeching)

- My name is Michael Barnes, I--

- Would you speak up please?

- My name is Michael Barnes.

I had an auto accident
yesterday.

My car hit somebody,
a man on a motorcycle.

- Yes, we've been looking for
you.

- I heard your broadcast,

the one where you were
asking for witnesses.

- Just a minute.

Get me Lieutenant Sweet.

Your license number PN3271?

- Yes.

- Lieutenant Sweet, the driver

of the hit-and-run case is here.

Yes, sir, he just walked in.

Okay.

Are you prepared to make
a statement Mr. Barnes?

- That's what I'm here for.

- This is Lieutenant Sweet
of the Automobile Squad.

This man's name is Michael
Barnes, Lieutenant.

His license number checks out.

- Yeah, I'm very sorry about all
this.

- I'm sure you are.

- The broadcast didn't say too
much

about the man's condition.

Is he gonna be all right?

- He's got a pretty bad
concussion

and a couple of broken ribs.

But the doctor thinks he'll be
all right.

Come with me, Mr. Barnes.

On Tuesday, May 17th,
my car was heading north

through the town of Greensville.

There's a stop sign at the
intersection

of Holland Avenue and
Greensville Road.

My car stopped at the stop
sign and then, when no traffic

appeared in either direction,
proceeded to cross the road.

A motorcycle came out of nowhere

and headed in the direction of
my car.

It was going very fast.

The driver of the
motorcycle decided to pass

in front of my car, and he ran
into it.

He was thrown over the top
and landed on the road.

My car stopped and then went on.

That sound about right to you?

- Did I say it just like that?

Not very good English, and
I'm supposed to be an author.

- We don't want fiction now,
Mr. Barnes, just the truth.

My car stopped and then went on.

Like to add anything to that?

- That doesn't sound very
good for me, does it?

You say this statement is
gonna be read in court?

- If you're prosecuted, it will
be.

- You mean, there's a chance
that I won't be prosecuted?

- Well, that's not for me to
say.

The district attorney is
assembling the evidence.

That's why they've asked for
witnesses to come forward.

I can tell you right now
there were plenty of them.

What kind of an author
are you, Mr. Barnes?

- I write crime stories.

- I never read 'em myself,
cops are always too dumb.

Now if you'll just sign this
statement.

- Say, will I have to
be kept here very long?

My wife is in the hospital.

I'd like to get over there

as soon as I can.
- Just sign the statement

and then we'll let you go.

We'll be in touch with you
later.

- Cheer up, Mr. Barnes,
women have had babies before.

- I suppose I have been
pretty jittery about all this.

You know Stella's report
card better than I do.

I mean, if you struck out twice
already--

- This isn't a ballgame.

If she got this far, I'm
sure she'll be all right.

- Mustn't go wrong this
time, it just mustn't.

She wants this baby so badly.

- You know, you older
fathers are always the worst.

Water?

- Thanks.
- Especially if it's

the first baby.

- It isn't easy for a woman
who's not so young, is it?

I mean, Stella's 36.

Do you have any children,
Doctor?

- Three incredibly hungry
ones shooting up like weeds.

- Kids get older fast and so do
parents.

Are you sure that she's
gonna be all right?

I mean, she's not as nervous

as when I brought her in this
morning.

- She seemed a little worried,
but that's only natural.

- Truth is, it's not just
Stella that I'm anxious about.

Something happened yesterday,
I was in an auto accident.

- Oh?

- Motorcycle ran into me.

Man who was riding it was hurt.

Stella doesn't know about it
yet.

- Was the man badly hurt?

- He'll recover.

Might be some upsetting
things in the newspaper.

Might even be a trial.

- I see.

Well, I suppose the sensible
thing to do is to keep

the whole thing quiet, at least
until your wife feels well.

- Oh, could you do that?

That would mean a great deal to
me.

- Yes, I'll speak to the
nurses and see that she's kept

out of touch with the world.

You know, I never did
prescribe newspaper headlines

for my patients.

- Thank you, thank you very
much.

(doorbell ringing)

Hey, you got over here pretty
quickly.

- The way you sounded on the
phone,

I hope the house is burning
down.

I don't smell any smoke.

- I'd have come over to your
place,

except I didn't want to leave
the house.

It's Stella, she's in the
hospital.

Might be a call.

- So soon?
- Mhm.

- Thought the baby wasn't due
for a month.

- Rush order.

Can I fix you a drink,
Counselor?

- No objections, Your Honor.

Scotch on the rocks.

So that's it, Stella.

- What?

- I've just been weighing
the bags under your eyes.

You look like a man with
troubles.

- I spoke to Dr. Palmer,

and he says that everything
is all right so far.

But you know Stella.

You know how nervous she can
get.

She's already lost two babies.

- Mike, you didn't ask me over
here to talk about Stella.

What's the matter?

- Haven't you been reading the
papers?

- Well, not the local ones.

I got back from the coast this
morning.

- It looks like I'm
facing a criminal action.

- You?

What'd you do, write yourself
into one of your own stories?

- Had an accident driving
through town last week.

A motorcycle ran into my car.

It wasn't my fault, but
well I just didn't stop.

- You mean you--

- I didn't stop.

I lost my head, I drove on.

There were plenty of people
around to help the guy.

Maybe too many people.

- You mean witnesses.
- Mhm.

I turned myself in the next
morning

after I drove Stella to the
hospital.

- Hit and run, well, that could
be serious

even if there were
mitigating circumstances.

- Yes, but there are other
things too.

The witnesses claim that I
didn't stop at a stop sign,

that I passed right through it.

Now that's not true, but
that's what they say.

- Any witnesses on your side?

- Yes.

- Who?

- Me.

Jerry, what's the sentence
for that kind of a crime?

- You're talking about two
crimes.

Hit and run's a felony.

Passing a stop sign's a traffic
violation.

This could be serious if
the victim's critical.

How is he?

- He's got a concussion,

but they say he's gonna be all
right.

But Stella, that's a different
story.

If she knew what was going on--

- And she doesn't?

- No, the hospital's keeping
the newspapers away from her.

But if I had to go to jail,

I couldn't hide that fact very
long.

- And you're positive you
stopped at that stop sign.

- I stopped, I stopped.

That's what's so crazy
about this whole thing.

Now five witnesses go to the
district attorney's office

and swear that I didn't.

Now how do you figure a
thing like that, Jerry?

- You don't know any of these
people?

- Never saw any of 'em before in
my life.

Now how could they see
something that never happened?

- Mike, I'm not a criminal
lawyer,

but I've been around
enough courtrooms to know

that an eyewitness can be the
weirdest animal in the zoo.

Personally, I like a good, clean
case

with circumstantial evidence.

Five eyewitnesses can tell
you five different stories

about the same thing.
- These five are telling

the same story, and they're all
wrong.

What's a jury gonna think about
that?

- Well, you leave that
up to your attorney.

I'm going to give you
the name of a man I know.

- I'm not hiring an attorney,
Jerry.

- [Jerry] What?

- No, I'm gonna defend myself.

- Where'd you get such a
cockamamie idea?

Just because you're a
hotshot mystery writer--

- No, no, I'm gonna defend
myself.

I been around courtrooms before,
you know.

I just don't dream up
that stuff that I write.

That has to be authentic these
days.

- A man who keeps his own
counsel--

- Has a fool for a lawyer, I
know, I know.

Well, I've thought a lot about
this.

This is something I've got to
do.

There are reasons, believe me.

- All right, now you're Clarence
Darrow.

So what do you want from me?

- Talk, advice, anything you can
give me.

Jerry, you've got to show me

how to shake up those witnesses.

- All right, so we'll talk.

- Thank you.

Can I fix you another drink?

- Better put on a pot of coffee.

- Right.

- A big pot.

And Mike, I'm your friend,
right?

- I'm telling you the truth,
Jerry.

Maybe nobody will believe
it, but it's the truth.

(dramatic music)

- Mr. Anderson, you may
make your opening remarks

to the jury.

- Thank you, Your Honor.

Members of the jury, the
defendant in this trial

is charged with a felony
known to you as hit and run.

The case for the
prosecution is a simple one.

We'll bring to the witness stand

five independent eyewitnesses.

Each one of them will
give you direct evidence

regarding the accident in
question.

None of these witnesses has
any interest in this case.

None of them knows either the
defendant

or the man who was injured,
Harold Brady.

I would like for you to
listen very carefully

to their testimony.

Now each of these witnesses will
tell you

without qualification that
the accused, Michael Barnes,

was involved in a collision
between his vehicle

and a motorcycle at Holland
Avenue and Greensville Road.

Pardon me, Your Honor.

Thank you.

Your Honor, I've just received
some important information

regarding this case.

The victim of the accident,
Harold Brady, has just died

as a result of his injuries.

In view of this development,

I request that the hit and
run charge be dismissed.

The case can then be refiled

with a charge of involuntary
manslaughter.

(dramatic music)
(people murmuring)

- Mr. Anderson, are you ready
to call your first witness?

- Yes, Your Honor.

Prosecution calls Miss Penelope
Sanford.

- Penelope Sanford.

Hold it, Miss.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the
truth, so help you God?

- I do.

- State your full name.

- Penelope Sanford.

- Take the witness stand.

- Miss Sanford, you live

at 12 Ridgewood Drive in
Greensville?

- That's right.

- But on the day in question,
you were at the corner

of Holland Avenue and
Greensville Road, weren't you?

- I was waiting for somebody,
the creep.

- I beg your pardon.

- I was waiting for George
Peabody.

- [Richard] And who is George
Peabody?

- The creep I was waiting for.

- Miss Sanford, I assume George
Peabody

is a friend of yours.

- Not anymore he's not.

- All right, Miss Sanford,
so now we know why

you were there, but let's
get to the accident itself.

You were the witness to
what happened on May 17?

- Well, I don't remember the
date.

It was on a Tuesday.

- [Richard] But you remember the
accident.

- Oh, it was awful.

I had to look away so as not to
see it.

- But you saw what happened
before you looked away.

- Of course.

- [Richard] All right, will
you please tell the court

exactly what you saw?

- Well, I saw this man
flying over the car,

and then I didn't look anymore.

- But what did you see before
that?

Now please start at the
beginning.

- The beginning, you mean
George?

- No, not about George.

Miss Sanford, this is a
diagram of the intersection

where the accident took place.

Would you mind showing us what
happened?

- Oh sure.

The car was coming from there,

and the motorcycle was coming
from there.

- Now when you first saw
the car, where was it?

- Coming down the road.

- And did it stop at the stop
sign?

- Oh no, it went right through.

- How fast?

- Oh, whoosh, like that.

- And it didn't stop at all?

- Not until it got in
the middle of the road.

That's when the motorcycle hit
it.

- Now how fast was the
motorcycle going?

- Oh, pretty slow I think.

He was very cute.

- Who was?

- The boy on the motorcycle.

I saw him before the
ambulance took him away.

- Thank you, Miss Sanford.

I have no further questions.

- Mr. Barnes, do you
wish to cross-examine?

- Yes, Your Honor.

Miss Sanford, you were
standing on the street

across from a place called
Harry's.

- Oh yes, I always stand there.

I mean, it wouldn't look very
good

standing in front of a bar.

- Yes, now Miss Sanford,
you told Mr. Anderson

that you looked up and you
saw this motorcycle driver

flying over the car, is that
right?

- Yes.

- And then you turned your head
away.

- That's right.

- Miss Sanford, are
you sure that your head

wasn't turned away before the
accident?

- Oh no, I saw the whole thing.

- Miss Sanford, do you remember
what you were thinking about

before the accident?

- What I was thinking about?

How should I know?

- Well, I mean you weren't
thinking about the accident

just then, were you?

- Well, of course not,
it hadn't happened yet.

- Objection, Your Honor, this
is not a relevant question.

- Oh, it is relevant, Your
Honor.

Now the witness has just told in
detail

how the accident happened.

Now I know that it didn't happen
that way,

and I want to know what was
on her mind at the time.

- Well, I'll not stop you, Mr.
Barnes, but I'll caution you

not to carry this line
of questioning too far.

- Thank you, Your Honor.

Miss Sanford, you spoke
of a George Peabody.

- Don't even mention his name to
me.

- Now when you talked about
him, you called him something.

What was it?

Shall I have it read back?

Will the recorder please read
back Miss Sanford's statement?

- Question, and who is George
Peabody?

Answer, the creep I was waiting
for.

- Thank you.

Now that doesn't sound like

you like George Peabody very
much,

and yet you made an appointment
to meet him that Tuesday.

- Well, sure I did.

I waited on that corner for an
hour,

and he never even showed his
face.

- And you were a little upset
because you were stood up.

- Well, wouldn't you be?

Wearing your best dress and
everything,

and he never even showed.

- In fact, you were quite angry.

- You see, we had this
fight the week before.

I mean, it wasn't my fault.

George gets whacked out of his
skull

at the least little thing.

Well, anyway, I went to this
bash at Freddy Drew's place,

and you know Freddy digs me too
much.

And George went ape about it.

- Your Honor, I think I
might be able to translate.

You see, it appears that
George is highly excitable,

and Miss Sanford went
to part where the host--

- [Penelope] Freddy.

- Where a young man named Freddy

paid her considerable attention.

And this made George quite
angry.

Is that right, Miss Sanford?
- Oh yes, sir.

(people laughing)

Anyway, we had this fight,

and he didn't call me for over a
week.

George, I mean.

And then two hours before the
accident, he gave me a bell.

- A telephone call.

(people laughing)

- He wanted me to meet him at
the corner

of Holland and Greensville at
6:30.

- And you were waiting there,

growing considerably more angry,
when the accident occurred.

- That's right.

- And you were pretty busy

thinking about George too,
weren't you?

- I'll say I was.

Oh boy, the things I
was going to tell him.

- Yes, you were dreaming up all
the things

you were gonna say to
George when you saw him,

and you weren't thinking about
anything else, now were you?

- You just wait till I see him.

- And you didn't notice people
or cars

or motorcycles or anything.

- Oh, but I did, I
couldn't help hearing the--

- You couldn't help hearing
that accident, now could you?

- Oh no, it was an awful crash.

- And that was the first
you knew of the accident,

the sound of the screeching
brakes.

And that's when you looked up.

- I don't think it was that way.

- Isn't it true that you
only think you saw the car

go through that stop sign?

- Well, everybody said it did.

I mean, all the other people.

- That's right, you thought
you heard all the other people

talking about it, and you
believed it.

That's all, Miss Sanford.

- You may step down.

- Your Honor, the prosecution
now calls Colonel John Hoey.

- [Bailiff] Colonel John Hoey.

- [John] Yes?

- In here.

Just a moment, sir.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the
truth, so help you God?

- I do.

- State your full name.

- John Hoey.

- Take the witness stand.

- Colonel Hoey, you live
at the southwest corner

of Holland Avenue and
Greensville Road?

- Yes, I do.

- On the diagram, that would
be about there, wouldn't it?

- Right again.

- You were on the outside of
your house

on the day of May 17.

- Yes, I was in my garden.

- Will you please tell the court

exactly what you saw on that
day?

- As I said, I was in my garden.

I grow roses, prize roses.

I saw a sports car
speeding down the street,

heading for the intersection.

- How fast was that car
traveling would you say?

- I don't know how fast.

Fast, so fast it couldn't stop
at the sign on the corner.

- It passed the stop sign?

- Yes, then this motorcycle
came west on Holland.

It was bound to be a crash.

- And you saw that the
motorcycle
couldn't have avoided it.

- Sir, you asked me to make my
report,

and I'm trying to make it if
you'll please let me finish.

- Now, Colonel, there's
no need for temper.

Counselor is only trying to
make your testimony clear.

- It'd be a lot clearer if he'd
allow me

to tell it my own way.

(people laughing)

- I'm sorry, Colonel, I'll
try not to interrupt again.

Please go on.

- Well, there's not a lot left
to tell.

Car went through the stop
sign, motorcycle hit him,

and the driver went on.

- Did the driver of the
car change his speed

through all this?

- Only at the last minute when
he braked.

It was too late then.

- And the motorcycle that was
approaching from the east,

what sort of speed was he going
at?

- Well, I'm not sure.

Moderate I'd say.

- But not so moderate
that he couldn't have

e avoided the crash?

- It's a question of ballistics.

He couldn't have avoided the car
any more

than a bullet can avoid a
target.

The sports car was right in
front of him.

Shouldn't allow a car like that.

They should keep it on a racing
track.

Shouldn't allow 'em in the
streets.

- Just one more question,
Colonel.

Have you known either the
accused or the injured

before or after the accident?

- That's two questions.

- No, it's four as a matter of
fact.

Answer them all please.

- No, no, no, no.

(people laughing)

- That'll be all, Colonel, thank
you.

- Mr. Barnes, do you
wish to cross-examine?

- Colonel Hoey, I hope
you won't take offense

at what I'm going to ask you.

- Your Honor, I object.

- I'm afraid that is not the
prerogative

of a witness, Colonel.

- This man was the
driver of the sports car.

I see no reason--
- It's perfectly legal.

Mr. Barnes has chosen to
act in his own defense.

Now you will answer his
questions

just as you did Mr. Anderson's.

- Thank you, Your Honor.

Colonel, I'd like to repeat what
I said.

I don't mean to be offensive,

but well I noticed that you're
lame.

- I've only got one leg.

- Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know
that.

By any chance did you lose
that leg in an auto accident?

- I did not, I lost it at
Corregidor.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

It's just that you seem
to have such a prejudice

against sports cars, I was
just looking for a reason.

- Is that a question?

- No, no, merely an observation.

Colonel, would you mind
telling me what you were

thinking about when you
were in your garden?

- Thinking, what business
is that of yours?

- Well, you must've been
thinking about something.

You said you saw my car
driving down the street.

And what were you
thinking about just then?

- I was thinking about
how fast it was going.

- And that's all?

- I was also thinking about my
roses.

- Your prize roses.

- [John] That's right.

- You're very proud of your
roses, aren't you, Colonel?

- Anything wrong in that?

- No, no of course not.

Colonel, you're a widower,
aren't you?

- That's correct.

- You don't have any children.

- No.

- You don't seem very sure
about that answer, Colonel.

- I have no children.

- Did you ever have any
children?

- Your Honor, this man is out of
order.

It seems to me that--

- Answer the question, Colonel.

- Yes, I had a son.

- Oh, and what happened to him,
Colonel?

- He was killed.

- I'm sorry.

Was he in the war too?

- No, he was killed when
he was three years old.

- I see.

You must think of him often,
don't you?

Perhaps you were even thinking
of him

at the time of the accident.

Colonel, I'm sorry to
have to ask you this,

but how did your son die?

- One of your sports cars got
him.

(dramatic music)

- We now take time out to hear
from an unscheduled witness,

your local station.

We've asked him to limit
himself to the bare facts

of the case, but unfortunately
he is a garrulous fellow.

So I'm afraid you're in for
some extraneous details.

Oh, back so soon?

I thought you'd become lost
among all those commercials,

announcements, bulletins, and
reminders.

Just in case you may still
remember what happened

in the first half of our story,

we present one more distraction.

- Mr. Stuart, we've
been hearing a lot about

faulty observation in this
trial.

Do you feel that you saw
the accident clearly?

- Absolutely.

- You feel that your powers of
observation weren't impaired

on the day of May 17?

- Not in the least.

- You weren't preoccupied
with romantic problems?

- I've been happily married for
24 years.

- And you're not prejudiced
against sports cars?

- No, as a matter of fact,

I gave my son a sports
car on his 21st birthday.

- Well, Mr. Stuart,
since Mr. Barnes is bound

to ask this question,
perhaps you can tell me

what you were thinking about
at the time of the accident.

- Nothing at all, except maybe
about the fool who caused it.

(people murmuring)

- You were in your own car at
the time?

- Yes, I came up right behind
him.

- How close were you to
the actual collision?

- I would say about 25 yards.

- Then you were able to
observe the accident.

- Oh, I saw it all right.

I saw the motorcycle
coming from the right,

and I saw the sports car stop
in the middle of the road.

Then the motorcycle hit the car

and the driver went over the
top.

- What'd you do then, Mr Stuart?

- I put on my breaks and got
out of my car to help the man.

- And the sports car?

- It just drove away.

- You mentioned the fool
who caused the accident.

Well, let's be more charitable
and call him the man.

Which man did you refer to, Mr.
Stuart?

- Why that one, of course.

(people murmuring)

That'll be all, thank you.

- [Judge] Defense may
cross-examine.

- Mr. Stuart, it looks
like the prosecution

has sort of stolen my thunder,
hasn't he?

I mean, after all, we now know
that

you weren't thinking about
anything at all, don't we?

- That's right.

- Isn't that a little unusual?

I mean, I may be peculiar,
but I know that I can't keep

from thinking no matter what I'm
doing.

Right now, for instance,

I'm thinking about that
tie that you're wearing,

the corn on my right foot,
and the temperature in here.

- I was thinking about my
driving.

- Do you always keep your
mind on your driving?

- Yes, that's why I've
never had an accident.

- Mr. Stuart, how fast was
your car traveling behind me?

- Maybe 40 miles an hour.

- And you had no trouble
stopping at the stop sign

traveling at that speed?

- I reduced speed when
I saw the stop sign.

- Oh, well you just told the
court

that you put on your brakes
when you saw the accident.

- I didn't say that.

- Oh yes, but I think you did.

Your Honor, may I have that
statement read back please?

- Please read that part
of Mr. Stuart's testimony.

- Mr. Stuart, the motorcycle hit
the car

and the driver went over the
top.

Mr. Anderson, what'd you do
then?

Mr. Stuart, I put on my
brakes and got out of the car.

- I meant that I put on my
parking brakes.

I'd already stopped the car.

- And isn't it possible that
you hadn't braked at all?

That you only put on the brakes
when you saw the motorcycle?

And that you were so busy
stopping your own car

that you didn't see anything,
not anything at all?

- No, I saw the whole thing.

Your car did not stop at the
stop sign,

and the accident was due
entirely
to your careless driving.

(dramatic music)

- Thank you, Mr. Peterson,
that's all I wanted to know.

- Oh, just one moment, Mr.
Peterson.

Mr. Barnes may have some
questions.

- Mr. Peterson, I'm sorry to
disturb you.

- Oh, that's all right.

(people laughing)

- Mr. Peterson, your story seems
to be

the same as everyone else's.

- Shows it must be true then.

- Either that or you're all
wrong.

Mr. Peterson, you've
testified here in court

that you were coming out
of a tavern called Harry's

when you saw the accident.

- Did I say that?

- Yes, would you like to
change your testimony?

- No, no, no, I was either
coming out or going in.

One or the other.

- Well, it might be important
to know which one it was.

Now if you were coming out,
then you were facing the street.

But if you were going in,

then you must've been facing the
door.

- Not necessarily.

- How do you mean?

- I mean, sometimes I've
come out facing the door.

(people laughing)

- You mean you've been
evicted from Harry's.

- Oh no, I wouldn't say that.

- [Michael] Were you ever
thrown out of the tavern?

- No, no, I wouldn't call it
that.

Sometimes I have been assisted
out.

- Well, were you assisted on May
17?

- No, my leaving was purely
financial.

Pockets was empty.

- Well, how many drinks
would you say that you'd had?

- Well, I say one or two
if my old lady asks me.

(people laughing)

- Well, I'm asking you, Mr.
Peterson.

- Oh, in that case I'd say five
or six.

- And were you seeing
things pretty clearly?

- Young man, when I start
seeing things, I stop drinking.

- Well, I mean seeing things

like on the street, the
accident.

- Oh that, oh yeah, I saw that
all right.

- [Michael] You saw that very
clearly?

- No, thank heavens, no.

- But Mr. Peterson, you gave the
court

a pretty detailed
picture of what happened.

- Did I?
- Yes.

Now isn't it the truth
that you were intoxicated

when you left Harry's?

- Well, I should hope so.

- That you had five or
six drinks at the bar

and you were just plain
drunk, now isn't that right?

- I like the other word better.

- [Michael] Intoxicated?

- Yeah.
(people laughing)

- Then you couldn't
give a detailed picture

of exactly what happened.

- I did my best.

- Mr. Peterson, this is very
important.

Now did you or did you
not see that sports car

stop at the stop sign?

- I guess I can't remember that
part.

All I remember is that
fella going through the air.

It was a sobering sight, so I
just went back in to Harry's.

- Thank you, Mr. Peterson,
that's all.

- There's no use
congratulating yourself, Mike.

Peterson doesn't make
that much difference.

- Yes, but you heard him.

Now what kind of a witness is
that?

He admitted he was drunk.

- Anderson never expected
Peterson's testimony

to count for much.

He figured he didn't need it.

- But that girl Sanford and the
Colonel.

Don't you think the jury knows

what kind of witnesses
Anderson has collected?

- You're forgetting Stuart.

- Well, Stuart was a little--
- Nevermind what you think

he is, he's a strong witness.

A man who sticks to his
testimony.

And he's got a reputation.

(phone ringing)

- Hello.

Oh yes, Doctor.

Yes, yes, I understand.

Well, I'll be here the
rest of the evening,

but I won't be here tomorrow.

Look, if nothing happens
between now and then,

can I call you?

Okay, all right, thank you.

Stella, she's in the labor room.

- Could be another false alarm.

- I know.

- Mike, you've got to keep
your mind out of the hospital.

Get it back to the courtroom.

Last witness tomorrow.

- Miss Joanne Dowling.

- [Richard] Your name is Joanne
Dowling?

- Well, not exactly.

- [John] Well, how do you mean?

- Well, that's my maiden name.

I was Mrs. Walter Brooks.

- Pardon me a moment, Counselor.

Miss Dowling, do I understand

that you are separated from your
husband?

- We're divorced.

- I see, proceed, Counselor.

- Miss Dowling, would you
please tell the court exactly

where you were and what you
saw on the day of the accident?

- I was standing at the
bus stop when it happened.

- When did you first see the
car?

- Before it came to the
intersection.

- [John] And did it stop at the
stop sign?

- Yes.

(people murmuring)

- Miss Dowling, I asked
you if the car stopped

at the stop sign.

- And she said yes, you heard
her.

- Will you please let me conduct

my own examination, Mr. Barnes?

I want to make sure that
she understood the question.

Miss Dowling, did you
understand my question?

- Well, you asked if the
car stopped at the sign,

and I said yes.

- Are you absolutely positive?

- I think so.

- You think so.

- Yes.
- You think so, but that

doesn't show that you're
absolutely positive, does it?

- Well--
- Your Honor, in view

of Miss Dowling's deposition,

I wish to treat her as a hostile
witness.

- Very well, Counselor.

- Miss Dowling, do you
know what a deposition is?

It's a statement you
made before the trial.

- Yes.

- Do you know the accused,
Michael Barnes?

- [Joanne] No.

- Do you know the rider of the
motorcycle?

- No.

- Have you spoken to either of
them?

- No.
- Or to their lawyers?

- [Joanne] No.

- Do you remember the statement
you made to the police

before the trial at the
time of the accident?

- Yes.

- But you don't remember
it very well, do you?

You've changed your mind.

- Have I?

- Please let the witness
read her statement.

Is that your signature, Miss
Dowling?

- Yes.

- Well, which is right,

what you said then or
what you're saying now?

- What I say now.

- Why?

- Well, because it is.

I must have made a mistake
before.

- That's all.

- Any questions, Mr. Barnes?

- No, Your Honor.

- Well, don't you even
want to ask the lady

what she was thinking about?

- No, thank you, Your Honor.

- Well, I believe I will.

Tell me, Miss Dowling, what
were you thinking about

at the time of the accident?

- Do I have to say?

- [Judge] Oh yes, I'm afraid so.

- I was thinking about my baby.

- I see.

Well, what about your baby?

- Well, he was going to be
adopted.

- You were married how long?

- Six months.

My husband, he wasn't any good.

- So you divorced him, but
couldn't you keep your baby?

- My parents didn't want me to.

They said I was too young.

They said I'd never find anybody
else

if I was tied down with a baby.

I didn't want to have him
adopted,

but they seemed to think
it was the only answer.

- Has he been adopted?

- No, that's where I was
going the day of the accident,

to see the lawyer about
the consent agreement.

- Did you sign the agreement?

- Well, no, I never got there.

I was so upset by the accident
that I just went home.

- I see, well have you signed
the agreement since then?

- No, I called him the
next day, but he was busy.

He said he wouldn't be able
to see me for another week.

- A whole week.

And that baby was with you
during that entire time?

- Yes.

- Tell me, did you ever
get to see this lawyer?

- No, I finally called him and
told him

I wouldn't go through with it.

I love my baby, Your Honor.

- What about your parents?

- Well, they love him too now.

- You know, the truth is
that if it hadn't have been

for this accident, that baby
wouldn't be yours right now.

Isn't that right?

- That's true.

- Yes, you could almost say
that Mr. Barnes did you a favor.

I mean by having the accident
when he did.

- I suppose so.

- Mr. Barnes, do you wish to
call

any witnesses for the defense?

- Only one, Your Honor, myself.

- Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the
truth, so help you God?

- I do.

- [Bailiff] Take the stand.

- Would you like to make
a statement, Mr. Barnes?

- Yes, sir.

I just want to say that I
am innocent of this charge.

The accident was not my fault.

I'm sorry that it happened,
but it just wasn't my fault.

That's all, sir.

- One moment, please.

Your Honor, since Mr.
Barnes has placed himself

on the stand, I'd like the
right of cross-examination.

- Very well, Counselor.

- You're a fiction writer, Mr.
Barnes?

- Yes.

- Crime fiction, I believe.

- Yes.

- Well, all we're interested
in is facts, Mr. Barnes.

You know the stop sign at the
corner

of Holland Avenue and
Greensville Road?

- [Michael] Yes.

- Well, at the time of the
collision between your car and

the motorcycle, did you or did
you not pass that stop sign?

- Look, I've made my statement.

I'm innocent of the charge.

The accident was not my fault.

- Answer the question.

- [Michael] That is my answer.

- I'll repeat it.

Did you or did you not
pass that stop sign?

Well, Mr. Barnes?

- I refuse to answer that
question on the grounds

that it might tend to
incriminate me.

(people murmuring)

- Your Honor, I think this
witness

is confused about his rights.

- Yes, Mr. Barnes, you
must answer the question.

- But Your Honor, I don't have
to.

- Yes, you do.

You see, by taking the witness
stand of your own volition,

you have waived your privilege

of the Fifth and 14th Amendment.

You will answer Mr. Anderson's
questions.

- I can't answer it.

- Then you refuse to testify?

- Mr. Barnes, I must warn you.

Refusal to answer may place
you in danger of contempt.

- I've said what I have to say.

- I see.

But you won't give this
court a simple yes or no

about whether or not you did
or did not pass that stop sign.

(people murmuring)

No further questions.

- Mr. Barnes, I am going to
refer a transcript of this trial

to the district attorney's
office to determine

whether a charge of contempt
shall be placed against you.

That's all, you may step down.

This court will now adjourn
until 10:00 tomorrow morning.

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Well, if it isn't George
Peabody.

- Hiya, Penny.

- I didn't expect you tonight.

- Why not?

- I oughtn't even talk to
you after the way you acted.

- The way I acted?

Boy, that's a laugh.

- Well, you stood me up, didn't
you?

- Who, me?

I was there all right.

- No, you weren't.

- Oh yes, I was, but I figured
you didn't want me around.

- Don't know what you're talking
about.

- Well, I showed up just like I
said,

only I saw you on the
corner with Freddy Drew.

- Freddy?

Oh, George, that was
just like a coincidence.

I mean, he was just passing by.

- He seemed pretty friendly to
me.

- Oh listen, I dig Freddy
the least, you know that.

Anyway, you shouldn't have
walked away.

There was a real crazy
accident on that corner.

- I know.

- I'm a witness at the trial, no
kidding.

The guy who was driving the car
is acting

like his own lawyer.

Did you ever hear anything so
square?

Only he'll probably go to
jail on account of he went

right through the stop sign.

- Oh no, he didn't.

- Oh yes, he did, everybody saw
him.

He went right through the stop
sign,

and then the motorcycle hit him.

- He didn't go through the stop
sign.

He stopped the car first.

- You mean you really saw it?

- Sure, it was a cream-colored
sports car.

He stopped at the sign
and then crossed the road.

This nutty motorcycle ran right
into him.

- Well, gee, why didn't
you go to the police

when they were asking for
witnesses?

- Nobody asked me.

Come on, let's twist.

- Now wait a minute, George.

I mean, if you really saw it,
well,

that means that everybody was
wrong.

- Sure they were wrong,
they just weren't looking.

- Well, you ought to tell
somebody.

I mean, the poor slob's going to
jail.

And he's kinda cute too.

Come on, let's go call him.

- Oh no, not me.

- But you've got to,
George, it's only right.

- [George] I don't want
to get mixed up in it.

- All right, then don't.

But I'll bet Freddy Drew
wouldn't act like that.

- Well, okay if it means that
much to you.

- Oh boy, I bet your name
will be in the all the papers.

- [Bailiff] The jury's coming
back.

- [Judge] Will the foreman
of the jury please rise?

Has the jury reached its
verdict?

- [Foreman] Yes, we have.

- [Judge] Do you find the
accused, Michael Barnes,

guilty or not guilty?

- Not guilty.

(people murmuring)

- You're a lucky man, Mike.

You don't know how close
you came to conviction.

The only time you would've
seen that new son of yours

would've been on visitors day in
the pen.

- Let's see, the nurse said he
should be right around here.

Oh.

- Of course you still might end
up there

if that contempt charge holds.

- Oh, you don't mean that.

- I've been trying to tell you.

A friend of mine in the
DA's office tipped me off.

There won't be any charge.

- Oh, that's swell, Jerry,
that's swell.

- Of course if it hadn't
been for George Peabody,

I wouldn't have given a
nickel for your chances.

- Yeah, it did look pretty bad,
didn't it?

- Name please.

- Barnes, Michael Barnes.

That's my name, we haven't
named the baby yet.

- I still don't understand you
though.

Why couldn't you answer the
question?

Why did you take the Fifth
Amendment?

- I'll tell you why, Jerry.

Because I didn't want to commit
perjury.

- Perjury?
- Mhm.

- Well, you said you
were telling the truth.

- I was, but if I'd had
to testify under oath

about that day, I'd have
had to commit perjury.

There was just no other way.

- You're still not making any
sense, papa.

Why couldn't you testify?

- Look, you know Stella.

You know how truthful she is.

- What's Stella got to do with
this?

Stella was sick.

- Jerry, you were quite right
about those eyewitnesses.

You couldn't have been more
right.

None of them really saw the
accident.

In fact, they didn't
even see who was driving.

You see, I wasn't in that car at
all.

It was Stella who had the
accident.

(baby crying)

- There is sad news about my new
key club.

It has become even more
exclusive than we planned.

The sheriff is now our only
member.

We've been padlocked.

I shall be back next
week with another drama,

scenes of which will
appear in just a moment.

(dramatic music)

(upbeat music)