Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series)

Safety for the Witness (1958)

Alfred Hitchcock: Self - Host

Quotes 

• [introduction - Hitchcock is participating in a duel with three men witnessing and shoots his opponent in the back] 

  Self - Host : Well, as Mother used to say, it's better to be safe than sorry. Actually, what you have just seen is not to be taken seriously. It was all make-believe. All play-acting. Of course, the gun is genuine and was loaded. But the doctor isn't a real doctor. He's an actor. I think it's interesting that the duel is no longer considered good form while cold-blooded murder is more popular than ever. There seems to be no way to stay the march of civilization. Tonight's story is about murder and we call it "Safety for the Witness". Our next minute is devoted to a television commercial and is called *that.*

• [afterword - Hitchcock is still holding his gun] 

  Self - Host : Thus it is that Mr. Jones learns the sad truth about murder - committing it is not difficult. It's being convicted that's the trick. Fortunately, the next city administration was a thoroughly dishonest one and it granted him his request. And now, I shall be back in a minute after this brief you-know-what from you-know-whom.

  [commercial break - after which Hitchcock finds himself in another duel] 

  Self - Host : My worthy opponent has taken what I consider an unfair advantage of my poor shooting and insisted that we go through this again. Afterwards, I shall be back next week with another story. Ready?

  [the duel commences and Hitchcock turns to see the three witnesses from earlier siding with his opponent before facing the viewer again] 

  Self - Host : Good night.