Original subtitles

I ought to

warn you, if you haven't read any of

my storeys, that you may be a little

disturbed by some of the things that happen

in them.

When I'm writing a short storey, I'm haunted

by the thought that I've got to hold

the reader's attention for literally every second, otherwise

I'm dead.

The one you're going to see now is

the first of a series based on storeys

that have taken me 35 years to write.

I find them difficult to do well, so

I work slowly, about two a year.

This one was filmed in its real setting,

Jamaica.

I hope you like it.

Excuse me, please.

Do I have your permission to sit here?

Of course.

Please, go ahead.

Thank you very much.

Ah, splendid day, is it not?

But then, of course, they're all splendid days

here in Jamaica.

Yes, indeed.

Who, might I ask, are all these people

here?

They are Navotel people, no?

No, I think they're American sailors.

Or rather, they're learning to be sailors.

Well, I heard that their training ship arrived

in port yesterday evening.

I expect this is their period of rest

and recreation.

Are you okay?

Yes, I'm fine.

Would you like something to drink?

Good idea.

How about a rum punch?

Lovely.

What's your name?

Kathy.

What's yours?

Tommy.

You are here on holiday, perhaps?

Yes.

And you?

No, no, no.

It was my wife's idea.

She insisted on it.

Forced, as it were.

Is this chair taken?

No.

Do you mind if we use it?

Of course not.

Thank you.

Cigarette?

No, thank you very much.

Here.

Let me give you a light.

That will not work in this wind.

I'm sure it'll work.

It's American.

It always works.

Always?

Sure.

It never fails.

Not with me, anyway.

Well, well.

So you are saying this famous lighter never

fails.

Is that what you are saying?

That's right.

It never fails.

I promise you, it never fails.

One moment, please.

Now, just one moment.

Shall we not perhaps have a little bet

on that?

Shall we not make a little bet on

whether your lighter lights?

Sure.

I'll bet.

Why not?

You like to bet, huh?

Sure, I'll always bet.

I like to bet, too.

Why don't we have a good bet on

this thing?

A good, big bet, hmm?

Wait a minute.

I can't do that.

I'm not rich.

But I will bet you five or ten

dollars.

Or whatever it is down here in local

money.

Now, listen to me.

We are going to have some fun.

First, we make the bet.

Then we go to my room here in

the hotel where there is no wind.

And I bet you cannot light this famous

lighter of yours ten times consecutively without missing

once, huh?

I'll bet I can.

Good, fine.

Shall we agree on the bet?

Sure.

Now, you listen to me.

Outside the hotel is my car.

It's a very fine car.

Jaguar.

Jaguar.

Now, wait a minute.

I can't put up that kind of stake.

This is crazy.

It's not crazy at all.

You strike your lighter successfully ten times one

after another and the Jaguar is yours.

You'd like to have this Jaguar, no?

Sure.

I'd like to have a Jaguar.

Who wouldn't?

All right, fine.

We have a bet.

I put up my car.

What do I put up?

I never ask you, my friend, to bet

something you cannot afford.

Do you understand?

Then what do I bet?

I make it very easy for you, yes?

Okay.

You make it easy.

Some small thing you can afford to give

away and if you did happen to lose

it, you do not feel too bad, right?

Such as what?

Such as the little finger of your left

hand.

My what?

Yes, why not?

You win, you take the Jaguar.

You lose, I take the finger.

I don't get it.

How do you mean you take the finger?

I chop it off.

Chop it off?

Oh, no.

That's a crazy bet.

Let's just make it five or ten dollars.

Well, well, well, I do not understand.

You say that your lighter will light and

yet you do not agree to my bet.

So, we forget it, yes?

Might I have a light, please?

Oh, sorry.

Thank you.

I forgot you didn't have one.

Thank you.

You're from the training ship, I expect?

Yes.

Enjoying it here?

It's pretty nice.

Nice people.

Now, just let me check up on this

bet of yours.

You say we go up to your room

and if I make my lighter light ten

times running, I win your Jaguar.

If it misses just once, then I forfeit

the little finger of my left hand.

Is that right?

That is the bet.

You know, I have studied you.

Briefly, I admit.

But the way you hold the lighter, for

example.

Obviously, you are right-handed.

So, what use is the little finger of

your left hand?

If you lose, you don't lose much.

If you win, fine Jaguar.

But I think you are afraid.

What do we do if I lose?

Do I hold my finger out while you

chop it off?

No, no, no.

That would be no good.

You might be tempted to refuse to hold

it out.

No, what I should do, I should tie

your hand to the table before we start

and then I stand there with a knife

ready to go chop the minute your lighter

misses.

Are you serious?

Well, he's a fine, healthy young man, no?

One quick chop is all right.

No worry.

He's all right.

But maybe you don't lose.

Maybe you win fine automobile instead.

What year is your car?

Excuse me, I...

I don't understand.

What year?

How old is the car?

No, it's very new.

I buy only a few months ago.

But I see you are not a betting

man.

Most Americans are not.

Could I see the car?

Do you wish to...

accept the bet?

There she is.

The white one.

She's nice, no?

Do you like?

Go on, get in.

Sit behind the wheel.

See how comfortable she is.

Well, I must say, it's a very fine

car.

Wouldn't mind having it myself.

What is it?

Is it worth a finger?

Well, no, of course not.

It's only a game, isn't it?

They're not really serious.

I think they are.

Okay, it's a deal.

I accept your bet.

Fine, good.

Now, we begin.

Now look, I don't like this very much.

Nor do I.

What do you want to do it for,

Tommy?

Is it a bet?

Yes.

Good.

Now we go see if you can win

this car.

Oh, and you, sir, perhaps you would be

good enough to, how you call it, referee?

Now look here.

Sir, I would consider it a favour.

Oh, very well, I'll come along.

But I still don't like it.

Good.

Now we begin.

Excellent.

First some gin.

Do you really intend going through with this?

Sure.

I don't think you quite know what you're

doing.

Come in.

Ah, good.

Now there are certain things I want you

to get for me.

You see, we are going to play a

little game here.

So I want you to get me two,

no, three things.

I want some nails.

I want a hammer.

And I want a butcher's knife.

And I want a butcher's chopping knife which

you can borrow for me from the kitchen.

You can get this, no?

Chopping knife?

Yes, yes, of course.

You mean a real chopping knife?

The kind that goes chop, chop.

Off you go now.

You can get these things for me, yes?

Yes, sir, I will try, sir.

Of course I will get it.

Good, and make it soon.

As soon as possible you get these things.

I will soon come back.

Look, don't you think this joke's gone far

enough?

Joke?

Who make joke?

I don't make joke.

But the bet is preposterous.

The bet is fair.

He accept the bet, no?

It's good.

I find expensive automobile against his little finger.

I think it's a fine bet.

I think it's a stupid, ridiculous bet.

What will happen if you lose?

It won't matter.

Come to think of it, I can't remember

ever in my life having had any use

for the little finger in my left hand.

Observe one left little finger.

Here he is.

Here he is.

And he hasn't ever done a thing for

me yet, so why shouldn't I bet him?

I think it's a fine bet.

Can't you talk him out of it?

I've tried.

Seems determined to go through with it.

Thank you.

Now, before we begin, I will give to

the referee the keys to the car.

The papers, the ownership papers and the insurance

are in the pocket of the car.

Ah, good.

You have come.

Now here's some money for you.

And hammer, nails, and chop, chop.

Very good, thank you.

Off you go now, goodbye.

Now we begin to prepare ourselves.

First, the chair.

Now, the nails.

Let's put in the nails.

And now all we need is some string.

If your friend loses, we must rush him

to the hospital using that damn car if

necessary.

All right.

At last we are ready.

There.

Everything is now ready.

Okay, let's do it.

You sit here.

Thank you.

Now, you put your left hand between the

nails like this.

The nails are there so I can tie

your hand to the table.

Now you must clench the fist.

No, no, no, no.

The little finger is sticking out like that,

lying on the table.

Here we are.

Again.

Around.

Around.

Around once more.

And so, like that.

Now, across.

And now the other way, huh?

Look at him.

Anyone would think he was organising party games.

Tom, why don't you back up now, there's

still time.

Back out?

I light this lighter ten times.

I want a great car.

Second you light it, and it could happen.

He'll do it.

He will.

He's dying for you to lose.

He really fixed that good.

Excellent, excellent.

Now we can begin.

One moment, please.

So, now, Mr. Referee, you will please come

and tell us when to start, hmm?

Are you sure you still want to go

ahead with this insane business?

But of course.

And you?

Yeah.

All right.

Are you ready?

I'm ready.

And you?

White, red.

Will you please count aloud the number of

times that I light it?

Yes, I'll do that.

All right.

Go ahead.

One.

Two.

Three.

Five.

Halfway.

Six.

Tommy, stop!

Stay!

I can't!

I want you to stay.

Please.

Good.

Everything is fine.

Now you try your lighter again.

Seven.

Crazy!

You're crazy!

I won't leave you alone!

How many times have I told you not

to do it again?

You promised me!

How many times have I saved you?

Please!

You can go to jail if you don't

love me because you did it!

How many times have I told you?

For God's sake!

How many?

You don't feel good.

You're a coward.

That's what you are.

Say what you want.

Yes, no, say what you want.

You know that when I go out and

interrupt you, why do you do it?

I dare you.

Stupid!

He's crazy.

Crazy.

A menace.

When we were at home, he's taken altogether

47 fingers from different people.

And he has lost 11 cars.

In the end, they threatened to have him

put away somewhere.

That's why I brought him here.

It was just a small bet.

I suppose he bet you a car.

Yes.

The white Jaguar.

He has no car.

It is mine.

And that make it worse.

That he should bet you when he has

nothing to bet with.

I'm ashamed.

I'm very sorry about it all.

Well, madam, here are your car keys.

And thank heavens the whole horrible business is

over.

We're only having a little bet.

He agreed.

There's nothing wrong with a little bet.

He has not a thing left in the

world to bet with.

There's not a thing in the world.

Not a thing.

As a matter of fact, I won everything

from him a long while ago.

It took time.

A lot of time.

And it was hard work.

But I win all in the end.

Yes.

I win everything from him eventually.