The Wrong Man

This is Alfred Hitchcock speaking.

In the past, I have given you

many kinds of suspense pictures.

But this time, I would like you

to see a different one.

The difference lies in the fact

that this is a true story...

...every word of it.

And yet it contains elements

that are stranger than all the fiction...

...that has gone into many of the thrillers

that I've made before.

See you later.

Good night.

Good night, Mr. Rotunda.

Good night, John.

Good night, Manny.

- Good night, John.

Hiya, Manny.

How's the family?

Morning, Stan. Fine, thanks.

What'll it be, the usual?

- The same.

I'll bring the toast over to the table.

Thank you.

Oh, Rose, did I wake you?

- I was awake.

Is something wrong?

It's just these teeth.

I haven't been awake all the time.

They hurt, though, huh?

Not much.

I think it's the price that hurts more

than anything else.

The dentist told me what it would cost

this afternoon.

Yeah?

Three hundred dollars for

the four wisdom teeth.

That's a lot of money,

but with prices what they are...

...maybe it's not too unreasonable.

He even gave me a little lecture

on evolution on the side.

It seems the human race

is growing smaller jaws...

...and having fewer teeth.

But the teeth are ahead of the jaws...

...and so everybody has more teeth

than they know what to do with.

That's why I have

four impacted wisdom teeth.

You look just about perfect to me.

If evolution can produce you,

it's doing pretty good.

I don't think we ought to complain

about a few impacted teeth.

All right, we won't complain about it.

How do we pay for it?

We've had big doctor bills before this.

I know, but I thought...

...we'd come to the end of all that.

We borrow money, and for years...

...we pay out on the installment plan.

It keeps us broke.

What is that,

a crossword puzzle?

It's a little game I play.

I pick tomorrow's winners...

...and I write my bets down here,

on the side, see, like this.

And then the next day, I figure out

how much I've won or lost.

Oh, I didn't know you liked horses.

It's the arithmetic I like, honey.

I guess it's the musician in me.

Musicians are always fascinated

by mathematics.

They can't read,

but they can figure.

It would be nice if you could win us

about $300.

In my experience,

I always pay for what I get.

We won't win any 300,

we'll borrow it.

Every time we get up,

something comes along...

...and knocks us right back down again.

That's life, honey.

That's the way it is.

I think we're pretty lucky, mostly.

Are we?

- Sure, we are.

We're in love...

...we've got two good, bright boys...

...I've got a job I like.

I think we're doing pretty well,

except for this toothache.

You make everything all right again.

Are we lucky people?

- Sure, we are.

And the luckiest thing that ever happened

to me was finding you.

Oh, Manny.

Sometimes I'm so frightened,

waiting for you to come home at night.

I always come home,

don't I?

We better get some sleep.

Can you sleep now?

- I think so.

Will you sit here for a while?

- Sure.

You know you've got

some money saved up?

I have?

Well, where?

- Your insurance policy.

I borrowed against mine,

but yours is clear.

Do you think there'd be enough?

I'd have to ask, but I think

there'd be enough for most of it.

Who do you ask?

- I'll go down this afternoon and find out.

Wonderful.

Mother. Mother.

Those kids. Yes?

Yes, what is it?

Will you tell Greg to quit playing

the mouth organ while I practice?

Greg? Greg?

- Will you tell him?

Gregory?

- Yes, Mother?

Don't play the harmonica while Robert

is playing the piano.

But I was playing the same thing.

Was he?

- He thinks he was, but...

I was.

I don't want you playing,

even if it is the same.

He hides in the closet and makes noise.

- What's all this?

Robert was playing the piano.

Greg was spoiling his music.

I didn't.

- You did.

I was playing the same.

- You were not.

You know, Bob,

it sounded to me...

...that last part,

when Greg was playing...

...sounded like he caught the melody.

Try it again, Greg.

- I can't do it now.

No, you can only do it when I'm playing.

Now, be fair, Bob.

I know he's trying to annoy you...

...but he did play some Mozart.

I did, I did.

- Sure, you did.

And you were doing very well

till you let him throw you.

You got a real gift for it...

...so maybe Greg has too.

Wouldn't that be fun, Robert?

Then you could play together.

- I did well?

Sure, you did.

- Sure, you did.

You mustn't let things throw you off.

You don't wanna pound the piano

and then give up.

You were doing very well,

except for that.

It says here Mozart wrote it when he was 5.

So I should be able to play it. I'm 8.

I'm 5, so I should be able to write it.

Tell you what we'll do.

Tonight, we'll take time for music lessons.

Bob on the piano...

...and Greg on the harmonica.

- Mine first.

Each lesson will be

Hello?

Hello, Mother.

How's Pop?

Today?

I guess I could, but I've got

an errand to do first.

It couldn't be a very long visit.

And I'd have to leave early.

I promised the boys

I'd give them music lessons...

...before I go to work tonight.

Look, suppose I get there

about 3:
30 and leave about 4:00?

Goodbye, Mother.

Mother says Pop isn't well.

She wants me to come by this afternoon.

I'll go by the insurance office,

then drop in on Pop...

...and come back as soon as I can.

Is January 4th the first date you replied?

- That's right.

You still at 634255th Street?

- Yes, we are.

All right. Will you sign right here, please?

Is that all I have to do?

- That's all.

Goodbye, then. Thank you.

- Goodbye. Thanks.

I wonder if you'd look at this policy for me...

...and tell me how much

we can borrow on it.

Rose Balestrero?

- Yes. That's my wife.

I wonder...

Could you wait

while I check on something?

Yes. Yes, I'll wait.

Don't look all at one time.

I didn't hear you.

I think the man at the window

is the one that's been here before.

The man who...?

- Yeah, I'm sure of it.

Miss James?

There's a man at the window...

...and Peggy thinks that

he's the one who held you up.

Says he wants to find out...

...how much he can get on his wife's policy.

I don't dare look.

It is the same man.

What can we do?

Look at him.

I'm not looking at him now...

...you look at him.

I don't think I can.

What am I gonna tell him?

I'm not going near that window.

Just look at him.

I think I'm gonna faint.

Ann.

It is the same.

I'm gonna sit right here.

Talk to him about the policy.

Tell him he'll probably get the loan...

...but his wife has to come in.

Mr. Balestrero.

You are Mr. Balestrero, of course?

- Yes.

I can fairly quickly give you the amount

that can be borrowed.

This figure corresponds with

the payments your wife has made.

I've checked the amount.

Yes, I see.

The actual loan, of course, has to have

the signature of the policyholder.

She'd have to come in?

- Yes...

...your wife would have to

come into the office.

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