Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series)

Fatal Figures (1958)

Alfred Hitchcock: Self - Host

Photos 

Quotes 

• [afterword] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : [Hitchcock has a new problem for the supercomputer]  I'm giving the brain one more chance. 3,137 multiplied by 38,915. Please, no help from the audience. While the brain digests the problem, see if you have an answer to the following, after which I hope you'll rejoin me.

  [commercial break, after which Hitchcock is writing out a complicated equation with a marker on a transparent glass board] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : There's nothing difficult about mathematics. I found an answer in a few seconds. I'm now trying to get a problem to fit it. This is all now until next week, when we shall be back with another story. Perhaps I should erase this so you can see the following show. Good night.

  [takes an oversized duster and carefully wipes out his equation with one swipe] 

• [introduction] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : [Hitchcock is holding a large screwdriver and standing in front of a supercomputer which is labelled Electronic Brain]  Good evening, tele-watchers. I am about to demonstrate this amazing electronic brain. Er, may I have the problem, please?

  [Hitchcock looks to his left and a tall young woman dressed like a showgirl walks in, hands him an envelope, and walks out as he looks approvingly and deadpans] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : Figures fascinate me.

  [Hitchcock opens and discards the envelope, and reads the card inside] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : 2+2. Now we feed this problem into the machine,

  [puts card into a slot] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : and the answer will appear there.

  [gestures to the screen; he waits expectantly but nothing appears] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : Perhaps we should have started with something simple.

  [the young woman walks in again, picks up a power plug off the floor, and shows it to him, smiling] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : Of course. Would you please?

  [she plugs in the cord and twists it to switch the supercomputer on; it makes the sound of a wolf whistle as she walks out, leading her to frown at Hitchcock] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : As you can see,

  [nods to the supercomputer] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : it's almost human. And now for the problem.

  [supercomputer whirrs] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : I think the answer is coming.

  [the word, Think appears in very large letters on the screen] 

  Alfred Hitchcock : If this machine persists in these do-it-yourself suggestions, he may find himself replaced by a human being. Now, while I tinker with this, suppose you watch tonight's play, Fatal Figures.

  [turns to the supercomputer with his large screwdriver]