04x31 - Your Witness

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Alfred Hitchcock Presents". Aired: October 2, 1955 – June 26, 1965.*
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American anthology series featuring dramas, thrillers and mysteries.
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04x31 - Your Witness

Post by bunniefuu »

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 it's called "Your Witness".

Before court convenes however,
we have our usual minute recess.

Good afternoon, Mrs. Shawn.

Oh, good afternoon.

Can you tell me which of the courtrooms
my husband is trying his case?

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 which your car was involved.

That especially, I'm afraid.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

I've raised this point once again only
because the prosecution's references to it

might suggests 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 k*lled.

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
has to be a mistake.

Why Kenneth? Why did you keep
insisting there's been a mistake?

Because I have no recollection
of hitting anyone.

As I said, the light at
the intersection was green.

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.

They didn't believe me.

Now, one more thing, Kenneth.

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.

My own reasoning 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 has 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 to walk 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.

Man's married for years

he suddenly finds himself
admired and he's flattered.

At least for a little while he can
feel like he's a king of the barnyard.

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 supposed you can.

Really isn't anything to endorse
a good intention, is there?

Nothing except the ten
years we've already had.

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

Won't you powder your nose again?

Won't you?

Oh please.

Arnold don't.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Uh, that's Carmody.

Huh, 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 the boy's
father a lot of money.

Oh, Arnold.
Oh, good evening, Mrs. Shawn.

Hope I didn't keep anybody up.

It's quite alright, I'm sure.

- Arnold?
- I think Al and I will be busy for a while dear.

You want a drink, Al?

Yeah sure, bourbon if you got it.

I always fly better with fuel in the t*nk,
Mrs. Shawn, if you know what I mean.

- I'll get it.
- Thanks.

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 the name?
- Babcock.

- Henry Babcock.
- Uh hum.

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 the nice old lady

looser than a bean bag 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 had 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 going to 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 the courtroom.

- Oh, Mr. Carmody.
- Hm? Oh, thank you.

I called Henry Babcock.

What do you think about it, Dan?

I don't know what to think.

Sure I can make an
All-American boy in you.

Probably turn this poor clod into a toad.

Enough

The witness has already been sworn.

You may be seated Mr. Babcock.

Mr. Babcock, you previously
testified under oath

that you saw my client's car
drive heedlessly and illegally

through a red light on Furnace 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 yards,
take one careless 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 Civil 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
crawl the 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...
- I object, Your Honour.

Objection sustained.

The line of questioning is improper,
as counsel should be aware.

Your Honour, 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 hullo, I didn't think
you'll be up so late.

You had a pleasant time?

Pleasant?

I donno, it was pretty much routine.

Al Carmody had some new
notes on this Henry Babcock

and I was late leaving the office
so I wouldn't see Dan Irwin.

I got a legal action on that
new magazine he's publishing.

You're a liar.

Hm? Oh!

He went to that girl's apartment

the same girl you promised
me you'll never see again.

I've absolute proof of it, Arnold,
so don't bother lying to me anymore.

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

You have professional help?

I didn't need any rubber sold out comedy,
if that's what you mean.

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?

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, if you'll excuse me!

Why did you marry me in the first place?

Why?

For a lot of reasons,
practical or otherwise.

- You want me to list them for you?
- All of them, everyone.

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 long
years since you were .

And frankly your type of sweet pea
in assorted chocolate sentiments

have never appealed to me.

Does that explain it
well enough for you?

I think so Arnold.

One thing we know Mr. Babcock,
is that Mrs. Thompson approached

the intersection from 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 than that you did hear?

Well no...

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

- I was tired, I just come from work.
- At the Chi-Chi 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'd tidy up after the place is closed.

- At : in the morning?
- Yes, sir.

And one hour later after completing
your chores at the Chi-Chi Club

you were seated on this bench.

Where did you say you live?

I live in Kendall but I have
a small apartment there.

You live alone?

Yes sir, ever since my
wife d*ed three years ago.

That must be pretty lonely coming
home nights to an empty apartment.

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 Chi-Chi 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 Honour.

It is slightly suggestive
and without relevance.

Objection sustained.

I'm sorry, Your Honour.

I'm confident that my
questions will prove relevant

however I shall try
and 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 room.

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.

Now 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 Honour, 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 of 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 was...

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 of...

No!

Well then what could have
frightened Mrs. Thompson?

How would I know?

Except that she was elderly, things
happened 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 lady's
dressing rooms for instance?

- I object, Your Honour!
- Objection sustained.

I direct that the last remarks of
counsel be stricken from the record

and that the jury disregard them.

Your Honour, I'm sorry if my remarks had
raise the prejudice against the witness.

If I have overreached myself

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

How could he have turned his
head to observe a traffic light

without seeing the witness
approaching the crosswalk.

Proceed counsellor.

Mr. Babcock, how long have you
been employed at the Club Chi-Chi?

About 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 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 h*nky tonk.

Why should a man with your
background be reduced to...

...running errands for showgirl?

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 cataract but now...
- I have in my possession

a report from an ophthalmologist,

which states that at the time of surgery

your vision was % impaired and
furthermore you are color blind.

It isn't fair this way.
My glasses please!

- Give it, please!
- Yes, of course.

Your Honour, I move in simple justice

that the testimony of this witness
be stricken entirely from the records.

It's obvious that he isn't
competent to testify to anything

of a visual nature in a court of law.

That isn't true.

You have to let me speak!

Arnold, I have to talk to you.

Congratulations, Arnold.
I managed to catch 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, look I've waited this long,

- I'm sure you can spare a minute...
- Wait until I speak to the judge, can it?

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

Arnold, I went to see
George Fogel this morning.

Appreciate it if you 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's going to change my mind.

I'm not sophisticated enough for the
kind of marriage you seem to prefer.

It'll save us both a lot of unnecessary
recrimination by signing the papers now.

Keep your voice down.

Is this what George Fogel recommended?

The decision is my own.
I never asked his opinion.

Well you tell George I'll send
him the check for his labours

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

A divorce might be rather clumsy
professionally awkward.

Besides it can 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 alright.

.

In God we trust.

Mr. Babcock, please.

I was in the courtroom today and I...

...I couldn't help but notice that...

I can see very well with my
glasses if that's what you mean.

Now that the cataracts are completely cured,

I 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.

Did you park here?

I'm parked here, yes.

Oh good, I can't find a cab.

I wonder if you mind dropping
me off at and friend?

I think I can manage that.

Oh fine, I'll be right here.
I just want to pick up a paper.

You don't mind, do you?

Boy.

Oh 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, that's got me, George,
I'm telling you.

Nobody seems to have seen what
happened except this one fella 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 man watch out.

Sadly enough the police quickly
saw through Mrs. Shawn story.

And the community gave her
a rousing vote of thanks.

And a years 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.
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