Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Good evening.

I'm looking to see what lies ahead.

The old Romans used to tell the future by cutting animals open and examining their entrails.

Due to some objections by anti-vivisectionists, we have to omit the

butchering, but through the wonders of modern science, we are not denied a glimpse into the future.

Besides, it's much more tidy this way.

This is an X-ray of a goat, an animal which the ancients found to be full of strange portents.

Hm.

It looks like rain.

I can see this will also give one insight about the past.

For example, I now know what happened to those car keys I lost last summer.

As to the immediate future, either this X-ray plate wasn't properly developed,

or else we are in for a very dismal time of it for the next minute.

Wake up.

This is no place to sleep.

Come on, wake up.

You'll freeze to death.

Hey, Milt.

Come out here, quick.

Huh?

Oh, did you sleep?

What's the matter?

Some kid passed out.

Another drunk?

No, I think he's sick.

Take a look.

He's sick, all right.

Give me a lift.

I'll get him into my trailer.

Right.

Over there on the bed, Milt.

I can manage now.

Right.

Hi, Milt.

Hi.

Who's that?

I found him lying outside, passed out.

He looks half-starved to me.

Maybe you'd better heat him up some milk.

If you think I'm gonna stop playin' nursemaid to some crummy tramp,

you've got another guest coming.

Oh, be reasonable, Irene.

Looks like the poor kid hasn't had a good night's sleep.

He's had a square meal in days.

So call the wagon.

There's charity hospitals, aren't there?

I'm not gonna spend all my time in between shows cooped up with him.

You can't just throw him out.

Maybe he's in trouble.

There's no identification on him, nothing.

Well, he gives me the creeps.

Vic, I think he's waking up.

What happened?

Where am I?

Feeling better, kid?

Yeah.

You look like the devil.

Yes.

How did I get here?

Am I dead?

What made you think that?

Because of you.

You look like an angel.

You hear that, Vic?

You... you look like the devil.

Not me, chum.

Victor Sedini's the name.

I'm a magician.

This is my wife, Irene.

She helps me in my act.

Act?

What act?

Well, don't worry about that now, kid.

My name is Hugo.

Hugo what?

Just Hugo.

That's all they ever call me at the home.

What kind of home is that, Hugo?

Oh, it's a big place.

I shouldn't have told you.

You see, I ran away.

What'd I tell you, Vic?

Trouble.

Let him talk.

What are you doing here in Toledo, Hugo?

Oh, well, there was this man I met.

And he lets me sell newspapers for him on the street.

And at night, I sleep under the bridge.

In this weather?

Well, I haven't any money.

The man took it.

His name is Fred.

I think he's a bad man.

How come you got sick?

Oh, I'm not sick.

How much you want?

It's just that I'm so hungry.

I haven't eaten in two days.

Two days?

I mean, tell Milk to give you some hamburgers and see if he has some hot soup to take out.

Okay.

It's your party.

You're going to be all right, Hugo.

Just rest and get your strength back.

What's the matter?

You're not afraid of me, are you?

You're a magician.

I've heard all about them.

They can put spells on you.

I see.

Now, well, somebody's gonna have to put you straight about a few things, Hugo.

I'll tell you what.

Just as soon as you're feeling better, I'll let you watch the show.

Is Miss Irene in the show?

Of course.

Well, then I want to watch it.

I like to watch her.

She's pretty.

Good.

Hugo!

You feeling better?

Oh, yes, much better, thanks.

I wanted to see the show.

I'm not doing anything wrong, am I?

Of course not.

Um, George, this is Hugo.

Hugo, this is George Morris.

He's a high-wire artist.

Oh.

Very happy to meet you.

I like artists very much.

This is the one I was telling you about.

You know, Vic picked him up.

Simple Simon.

Oh, no, my name isn't Simon.

It's Hugo.

Right.

Well, I've gotta go find Vic.

We're on in five minutes.

I'll see you later.

Don't forget what I told you.

I won't.

That angel.

She looks just like an angel.

What do you know about angels, Hugo?

Oh, they told me about them.

About them at the home.

About the devil, too.

What does an angel like her have to do with the devil?

Yeah, sometimes I wonder, too.

Now, come on.

Let's go watch the great Sedina.

We're going to see the magic now.

Yes, Hugo, we're gonna see the magic.

My friends, I'll conclude this little demonstration of mystery and magic with a

celebrated illusion of sawing a woman in half.

I always save this little trick for the last.

Just in case it doesn't work.

All right.

If you're ready, please.

Is he really going to do it?

Just watch and see.

Are you ready?

Yes.

I'm ready.

I'm ready.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Stop him.

Stop him.

He's hurting her.

No, Hugo, it's only a trick.

See?

He's killed her.

The devil's killed her.

Calm down.

Look.

She's smiling.

I tell you, I'm fed up with taking orders from him.

Now he says he wants to put Hugo in the act to take care of the props.

But the kid worships you.

It bugs me just to see him stare.

I tell you, I've had it.

So?

So why don't we blow out of here?

Head for the coast, just the two of us.

Talk sense, Georgie boy.

I'm crazy about you, but that won't pay the rent.

Anyway, Vic's a headliner.

You're just another carny act.

Well, that's to think of the future.

Vic, what's that phone he got?

Just a couple of trunks full of props.