All language subtitles for Alfred.Hitchcock.Presents.S04E31.Your.Witness.1080p.PCOK.WEBRip.AAC.2.0.H.265.-EDGE2020_track3_[eng]

*

*

Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen,

and welcome to
Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

I am busy getting ready
for tonight's play,

which is a
courtroom drama,

and is called
"Your Witness."

Before court
convenes, however,

we have our usual
one-minute recess.

*

*

*

Good afternoon,
Mrs. Shawn.

Oh, good afternoon.

Can you tell me
in which of the courtrooms

my husband is
trying his case?

The first turn to
the left, Mrs. Shawn.

He has his client
on the stand right now.

Thank you.

Do you understand
the full gravity

of the charges against you?

Yes, Mr. Shawn, I do.

And that a woman's
life was the tragic cost

of an accident in which
your car was involved?

That especially,
I'm afraid.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

I have raised this
point once again

only because the
prosecution's references

to it might suggest that
Mrs. Thompson's death

was a matter of
indifference to you.

Kenneth, let me ask you
what you really thought

when you learned that
Mrs. Thompson had been killed.

There's no pressure on you now.

Just tell us
in your own way.

I'm not sure that
I can describe it.

How would anyone feel?

I couldn't believe it when
the police first told me.

I kept telling them
there had to be a mistake.

Why, Kenneth, why did
you keep insisting

that there'd
been a mistake?

Because I had
no recollection

of hitting anyone.

As I said, the light in
the intersection was green,

and when I heard a thud
against the side of the car,

I thought it was
just an empty crate.

The road behind me
was littered with junk

that had fallen
from a truck.

Did you tell the
police the truth

when they first
questioned you?

Yes, I did.

But they didn't believe me.

Now, one more
thing, Kenneth,

a very important thing.

If you're talking
about the truth, Arnold,

it is important.

But difficult
to recognize it

when you use it
the way you do.

I suppose I love you still,
in my unreasoning way.

But what is the
truth concerning us?

How much of it did
you manage to obscure

when we talked a month ago?

Well, any marriage is apt to
spring a small leak sometime.

Trouble is you
can't save the boat

by throwing away the oars.

Why don't we just
try to be sensible?

Sensible?

Arnold, you talk like a man
who's being nagged by his wife

for staying out
too often with the boys

or betting the grocery
money on a horse.

I'm talking about what's
happened to our marriage.

About the woman
you've been seeing.

But that's done with.

Why did it happen, Arnold?

I don't suppose
I can really say.

Vanity of the
species, I guess.

A man's married
for 10 years,

he suddenly finds himself
admired, and he's flattered.

At least for a little
while he can feel like

he's the king
of the barnyard.

Oh, Naomi,
I'm really sorry.

That girl doesn't
mean anything to me.

I told you, it's over, finished.

How can I know
that, Arnold?

I don't suppose you can.

There really
isn't anything

to endorse a good
intention, is there?

Nothing, except the
10 years we've already had.

They're pretty good
collateral, aren't they?

Wouldn't you bet
on those again?

Wouldn't you?

Oh, please.

Arnold, don't.

(doorbell ringing)

Oh, that's Carmody.

This late?

Yes, he's been investigating
that surprise witness

they think they're
going to spring on us

in the hit-and-run
case next month.

Gonna cost that boy's
father a lot of money.

Hello, Arnold.

Oh, good evening,
Mrs. Shawn.

Hope I didn't
keep anybody up.

That's quite all right,
I'm sure, Arnold.

I think Al and I'll be
busy for a while, dear.

Want a drink, Al?

Yeah, sure, bourbon,
if you got it.

I always fly better with
fuel in the tank, Mrs. Shawn,

if you know
what I mean.

I'll get it.

Thanks, dear.

Now, this witness, Arnold,

he won't be no
bed of lilacs.

He's a volunteer.

One of those, "I will
do my best, sir,"

kind of good citizens.

What's his name?

Babcock,
Henry Babcock.

Uh-huh.

And he's going to
be a tough one, huh?

This Henry Babcock's
prepared to testify

that when young Jerome's
pretty sports car

knocked a nice, old lady
looser than a beanbag

and as dead
as a pork chop,

the traffic light
was against him.

Now we can't deny that
he hit Mrs. Thompson,

because the police traced
the car to the garage

where he'd taken
it to be repaired.

I got a complete rundown
on Babcock, Arnold,

like you wanted.

Seems he's addicted to
bursts of good citizenship.

Well, I haven't seen
a model citizen yet

I couldn't
hang crepe on.

Well, it's gonna
be expensive.

It usually is.

So, start digging up

everything you
can find on him,

from the day
he was christened

to the moment he walks
into that courtroom.

Oh, Mr. Carmody.

Hmm?

Oh, thank you.

*

*

*

I call Henry Babcock.

What do you think
about it, Dad?

I don't know
what to think.

If Shawn could make an
All-American boy out of you,

he'll probably turn this
poor clown into a toad.

I'm paying him enough.

The witness has
already been sworn.

You may be seated,
Mr. Babcock.

Mr. Babcock, you've
previously testified

under oath that you
saw my client's car

drive heedlessly
and illegally

through a red light
on Purness Road

and strike Mrs. Agnes
Thompson, the deceased.

Is that correct?

Yes, sir.

And you further testified

that you saw my
client back his car

for approximately
50 yards,

take one callous look at
the body and then drive on.

Is that correct?

Yes, sir, it is.

Thank you, Mr. Babcock.

It's a help to me to have
you reaffirm these things.

And if I were to believe

what you may well
have testified to

in all good faith,

I would wash my hands
of the defendant now.

I would have no other choice

in the simple
service of justice.

Mr. Babcock, the
prosecution assures us

that you're
a volunteer witness.

I'm sure this
was meant to imply

that you have come forward

through a highly-developed
sense of civic duty.

People do that,
you know.

It's not my intention to
quarrel with public spirit.

However, it is my intention
as well as my duty,

to remind this court and jury

that there are people
who will come forward

for the--for the sheer
thrill and satisfaction

of escaping from
the frustrations

of their own dull lives.

This is not the pursuit
of truth, Mr. Babcock,

but a wild bid for personal
attention, and I submit--

I object, Your Honor!

Objection sustained.

The line of
questioning is improper,

as Counsel should be aware.

Your Honor, this man
has made a solemn promise

to tell the truth.

It's not my intention
to accuse him carelessly.

You've always
had this talent

for making the
innocent seem guilty.

Right or wrong,

I've never succeeded
in my arguments with you,

and least of all,
last night.

*

Oh, hello, I didn't
think you'd be up so late.

Did you have
a pleasant time?

Pleasant?

I don't know, it was
pretty much routine.

Al Carmody had some new
notes on this Henry Babcock,

and I was late
leaving the office,

so, I went over
to see Dan Irwin.

He's got a legal action

on that new magazine
he's publishing.

You're a liar.

Hmm, oh.

You went to that
girl's apartment,

the same girl you
promised me so solemnly

you'd never see again.

I have absolute
proof of it, Arnold,

so don't bother
lying to me anymore.

I hadn't realized
I'd been that careless.

Did you have
professional help?

I didn't need any
rubber-soled Al Carmody,

if that's what you mean.

Well, don't you think you're
being a little old-fashioned

and prudish
about this, dear?

Prudish?

You don't really care,
do you, Arnold?

Oh, I don't know,
that's stating it

a little severely.

Do you care?

I didn't say.

I merely said I thought
your attitude old-fashioned,

which is a polite way
of saying ridiculous.

Now, I have a full day
in court tomorrow, Naomi,

so if you don't mind.

Just wait a minute, Arnold.

I saw her today.

Oh, you did?

Well, she's
attractive, isn't she?

Now, will you excuse me?

Why did you marry me
in the first place?

Will you come off it,
I warned you, Naomi!

-Just answer my question.
-Take it easy!

Why?

For a lot of reasons!

Practical and otherwise!

You want me to
list them for you?

All of them,
every one!

Go on!

Well, for one thing,

your father was an
extremely influential man

a dozen years ago.

And he had a very
attractive daughter,

also a dozen years ago!

Now, I think that combines

the practical
and the physical

rather well,
don't you?

After all, it's been 10
long years since you were 25.

And, frankly,
your type of sweet pea

and assorted
chocolate sentiments

have never
appealed to me.

Does that explain it
well enough for you?

I think so, Arnold.

Yes.

*

*

One thing we know,
Mr. Babcock,

is that Mrs. Thompson
approached the intersection

from the south.

How do you account
for not having heard her

approach that intersection,
Mr. Babcock?

I didn't say that
I didn't hear her.

Oh, you mean then
that you did hear her?

Well, no...

What I mean is that
I don't really remember.

I was tired.
I'd just come from work.

At the Chichi Club?

Yes, that's where
I'm employed.

You're employed there
as a porter, aren't you?

Well, you could
call it that.

I tidy up after
the place is closed.

At 2:00 in the morning?

Yes, sir.

And one hour later,

after completing your
chores at the Chichi Club,

you were seated
on this bench.

Now where did
you say you lived?

I live in Candlewood.

I have a small
apartment there.

You live alone?

Yes, sir, ever since my
wife died three years ago.

Well, it must
be pretty lonely

coming home nights
to an empty apartment.

It can be very lonely.

I was happily married
for many years.

But you do have
friends, don't you?

Friends?

Well, yes, not that I find
much time to see them now.

I mean friends at your
place of employment?

The Chichi Club,
specifically.

They do have
entertainers there,

don't they, Mr. Babcock?

Among them, some
extremely youthful

and beautiful young ladies.

I object to this line of
questioning, Your Honor.

It's slyly suggestive
and without relevance.

Objection sustained.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

I'm confident that my
questions will prove relevant,

however, I shall
try to rephrase them.

Let's put it this way,
Mr. Babcock.

Isn't it true that you
frequently do favors

for these young ladies,

such as taking
coffee and sandwiches

to their dressing rooms?

Objection.

We're not here to
examine the social side

of this witness, Mr. Shawn.

Neither is it our business

to delve into
his personal affairs.

And why isn't it?

The witness has testified
in direct contradiction

to sworn statements
by my client.

One of them is obviously
a liar or mistaken.

Your Honor, I respectfully
submit that this entitles me

to establish the
credibility of the witness.

Proceed, Counselor.

Mr. Babcock,

let's get back to an
item that we both agree on.

This rectangular mark
does represent the bench

on which you were seated
while waiting for the bus.

Yes, it's where I was seated.

And it was also
from this position,

the time the
accident occurred,

that you saw that the
traffic light was red?

Yes, I saw the light
was against him.

Isn't there a street
lamp on that corner?

Isn't it indicated there?

Well, I guess it is,
but still I...

Well, stop guessing and stick
to the facts, Mr. Babcock.

Wouldn't Mrs. Thompson
have been obliged

to pass within the
arc of that light?

I want to be truthful,
but I don't know.

Maybe she came
too fast for me.

Possibly she was running.

Running?

Running, Mr. Babcock?

Now, why would a woman
of Mrs. Thompson's age,

already tired from
nursing a sick child,

why would she
be running?

I didn't say that
she was running,

but she could have been.

She could even
have been afraid.

Afraid?

Afraid of what?

Give me a reason why she
should have been afraid.

Was there someone else
in the vicinity at the time?

No!

Well, then what could have
frightened Mrs. Thompson?

How would I know?

Except that she was elderly.

Things happen to
women is what I mean.

You read about
it all the time.

I read about it?

What do I read about?

I don't mean you.

I mean anyone.

Things you read
in the paper.

Oh, do you
read about it?

After you've left the
young ladies' dressing rooms,

for instance?

I object, Your Honor!

Objection sustained.

I direct that the
last remarks of Counsel

be stricken
from the record

and that the jury
disregard them.

Your Honor, I'm
sorry if my remarks

have raised a prejudice
against the witness.

If I have
overreached myself,

it's only been to try to solve
a riddle that still remains.

How he could have
turned his head

to observe a traffic light

without seeing the witness
approaching the crosswalk?

Proceed, Counselor.

Mr. Babcock, how long
have you been employed

at the Club Chichi?

About 10 months.

I don't suppose the
salary they pay you

is very substantial, is it?

I manage, my needs are small.

But it isn't comparable
to, for instance,

the salary that
you received as

an instructor of
mathematics for 14 years

at Freeman
High School, is it?

No, sir, it isn't.

Now, why did you give up a
dignified position like that,

that you held
for so many years,

to work in
a cheap honky-tonk?

Why should a man
with your background

be reduced to running
errands for showgirls?

That isn't fair.

The reason is...

I'll tell you the
reason, Mr. Babcock.

-The reason is this.
-My glasses!

Not your glasses,
Mr. Babcock, your eyes.

Isn't it true
that you gave up teaching

for the simple reason
that you were going blind?

I did have cataracts.

-But now that I'm...
-I have in my possession

a report from an
ophthalmologist,

which states that
at the time of surgery,

your vision was
85% impaired

and furthermore,
you are color-blind.

It isn't fair this way.

My glasses, please.

If it pleases the court.

Your Honor, I move
in simple justice

that the testimony
of this witness

be stricken entirely
from the records.

It's obvious that he is
incompetent to testify

to anything of a visual
nature in a court of law.

That isn't true!

You'll have to
let me speak!

(crowd murmuring)

Arnold, I have
to talk to you.

Congratulations, Arnold.

I managed to catch some
of the last act, anyhow.

You like that, huh?

Listen, you had that
ex-mathematician tied up

in knots that Einstein
couldn't have figured out.

Arnold, if I've
waited this long,

I'm sure you could
spare me a minute...

It can wait till I speak
to the judge, can't it?

I'd like to see the judge,
if he's free, Dan.

Arnold, I went to see
George Vogel this morning.

I'd appreciate it if you'd
sign the preliminary papers

he prepared for me.

Don't you think
we've had enough

whipped-up emotional
nonsense for a while?

I'm divorcing you, Arnold.

Nothing is going
to change my mind.

I'm not sophisticated enough
for the kind of marriage

you seem to prefer.

You'll save us both a lot
of unnecessary recrimination

by signing
the papers now.

Keep your voice down.

Is this what
George Vogel recommended?

The decision is my own.

I never asked his opinion.

Well, you tell George

I'll send him a check
for his modest labors,

but I'm not interested
in a divorce right now.

A divorce might
be rather clumsy,

professionally awkward.

Besides, it could
leave me vulnerable

to other romantic women.

And it's much more
comfortable the way it is.

You can't mean that.

You might even
find our arrangement

a little less depressing

if you try to develop

a few romantic
attachments of your own.

You could still be an
attractive woman if you tried.

*

The judge will see
you now, Mr. Shawn.

*

-Oh, excuse me.
-It's all right.

(coin rattling on sidewalk)

"1947, In God
We Trust."

Mr. Babcock, please...

I was in the
courtroom today, and I...

I couldn't help
but notice...

I can see very
well with my glasses,

if that's what you mean.

Now that the cataracts
are completely cured,

I'd hoped to get
back to teaching,

but I'm afraid after today,
there's no chance.

You know, I tried so
hard to explain my case,

but that man was much,
much too clever, wasn't he?

I'm sure no one believed me
by the time he was through.

Thank you for
your kindness, ma'am.

Are you parked here?

I'm parked here, yes.

Well, good,
I can't find a cab.

I wonder, would you
mind dropping me off

at 6th and Fern?

I think I could manage that.

Well, fine, I'll
be right here.

I just want to
pick up a paper.

You don't mind, do you?

Boy.

*

*

*

(engine starting)

*

(tires squealing)

Look, Officer, I don't
know how it happened.

Except that he stepped
right in front of the car

and when I tried
to apply the brake,

I somehow jammed
the accelerator.

Well, it's got me,
George, I'm telling you.

Nobody seems to have
seen what happened

except this one fellow here.

He was waiting for a bus.

Would you mind
giving me your version

of how it happened, sir?

Well, it must have been
just as the lady described it.

You're going to have
to take her word for it

because it's a legal fact that
I'm not a competent witness.

*

I think that we have
once more pointed out

that behind every great
man there is a woman.

So, men, watch out.

Sadly enough,

the police quickly saw
through Mrs. Shawn's story

and the community gave her
a rousing vote of thanks,

and a 99-year sentence.

And speaking of
long sentences,

I shall be back,
after this one.

Thank you very much.

You know, I thought there
was something peculiar

about those girls.

Now, I'm ready.

But, I'm afraid
the trial is over.

Perhaps I can use
this costume next week,

when we shall return
with another story.

Until then, good night.