[Eerie music]
(Male presenter, off) There is a fifth dimension
beyond tha t which is known to man.
It is a dimension as vastas space
and as timeless as infinity.
It is the middle ground between lightand shadovll,
between science and s upers tit/cai,
and it lies between the pit of man's fears
and the summit of his knowledge.
This is the dimension of ima Gina tion.
It is anarea which we call the twilightz one.
You're about to meet a h ypochondria c.
Witness Mr. Wal ter bedeker, age 44,
afraid of the following,
DEA th, disease, other people, germs, draft
and everything El se.
He has one interest in life, and tha t's wal ter bedeker,
one pre o c c upa ti on,
the life and wellbeing of wal ter bedeker,
one abiding concern about society,
tha t if wal ter bedeker should die,
how will it survive without him?
Well?
Doctor, I asked you a oues tion.
How bad is it?
Oh, it isn't bad at all.
It's quite good.
You have no temperature.
Pressure normal, respiration normal,
heart action normal, no infection,
throa t clear, nasal passa ges clear, ears clear.
What about the pains in my back and side?
What about four sleepless nights in a row?
What about that?
Wha tabout tha t?
That, Mr. Bedeker, is psychosomatic.
Psycho... you mean that I'm sick only in my mind?
That is my considered opinion.
Mr. Bedeker, there's nothing wrong with you
except these ailments you manufacture for yourself.
Your pains are ima ginary.
Your inability to sleep isa case of nerves.
No thing more.
In short, Mr. Bedeker, you're a very healthy man.
You see, tha t's a doc Tor.
Four years premed, four years medical school,
two years internship, two years residency,
and what is he?
I ask you, what is he?
A quack!
[Door opens]
Doctor, how is he?
Oh, don'task him.
The man's an idiot.
Wal ter, Don't ex ci te yourself, plea se.
Then stop whispering.
There's half my trouble.
This woman goes around whispering,
making me think I'm sick, even when I'm not.
And I am!
I'm on the threshold of death,
and who is ushering me out?
A quack and a whispering woman
I'll call tomorrow.
Don't bother. Just come over with the death certificate.
You can sign it here.
Oh, Walter.
Oh, stop those crocodile tears.
She'd love to see me gone, I can't tell you.
Well, good-b ye, Mr. Bedeker.
Take good care of yourself.
Thank you.
Doctor.
Doctor, how is he, really?
Mrs. Bedeker, your husband is one
of the healthiest patients I have.
(Ethel) But he's sick most of the time.
Well, I'll call again, Mrs. Bedeker.
It wouldn't be a bad idea
if you took a few vitamins yourself.
You look a little run down and pale.
(Walter) E thel, there's a draft in here and I feel a cold coming on!
Yes, dear, I'll, I'll be right there.
All right, take a few of those.
I'm sure you'll feel much better.
Thank you.
Don't worry. See you.
Good-bye, doctor.
[Sighs]
(Walter) Freezing air blast/no into the room.
You know how many germs there are
in a cubic foot of air, Ethel?
(Both) 8,900,000.
I know you want me to die.
That's why you leave windows open.
But, as a point of decency,
couldn't you do it more subtly?
The doctor said it was stuffy. You need fresh air.
What have you got there?
I'm well, but he gives you prescriptions for me.
He says I'm not sick
but, while I lie here helpless,
he tells you I've got a life expectancy of 20 minutes.
Don't deny it, Ethel. I could smell the collusion.
It was for vitamins, Walter, for me.
Vitamins for you?
Here I lie,
with my life ebbing away,
and that quack prescribes vitamins for you.
See? I'm dying, but she gets vitamins.
Stop, Ethel. Get out of here. Let me die in peace.
All right, Walter.
What?
I simply meant that I'd let you alone
so you can take a little nap.
I can't nap.
Why does a man have to die?
I asked you a question.
Why does a man have to die?
The world goes on for millions of years,
and how long is a man's life?
This much. A drop. A microscopic fragment.
Why can't a man live 500 years,
or a thousand? Why does he have to die
almost the moment he's born?
I don't know, dear.
Of course you wouldn't.
Go on. Get out of here, Ethel.
[Grumbling]
Oh, it's a crime for a man
to live such a short span of years.
Why can't a man live a decent number of years?
200? 300?
(Male) Why not 500? 600?
Yes. Or a thousand?
What a miserable thing to contemplate.
[Eerie music]
A handful of years, then an eternity
under the ground in a casket
in the cold, cold ground.
With worms, yet.
Yes, of course with worms.
I subscribe to your views wholly, Mr. Bedeker.
I mean wholly.
That's mighty decent of you.
Who are you?
Cadwallader's my nam e.
At least it's the name I'm using this month.
It has a nice feeling on the tongue.
"Cadwallader."
How'd you get in here?
I've never been gone.
I've been here for some time.
I'll make it brief, Mr. Bedeker.
You look like a man
with a nose for a bargain,
so I'd like to make you a proposition.
We each have something the other wants.
That seems a relatively solid basis for a bargain.
Does it?
And what do you have
that could possibly interest me?
A great many things.
Oh, you'd be surprised, Mr. Bedeker.
Many things, varied and delightful.
And what do I have
that could remotely interest you?
Actually, a minor item.
In fact, something less than minor,
insignificant,
infinitesimal, microscopic, teensy-weensy.
What did you say your name was?
What's in a name, Mr. Bedeker, really?
It's a mere question of semantics.
Just language.
A mere stretch of words.
For example,
what is it you want?
You want an extended life-span.
A few hundred years to play around with.
Some people would call that immortality.
But why make it sound so imposing?
Let's call it... Just the two of us...
Let's call it
"some additional free time."
After all, what are a few hundred years
or a few thousand?
A few thousand?
5,000, 10,000?
What is it in the scheme of things?
The world will go on ad infinitum.
So what are a few thousand years
more or less, give or take,
add or subtract?
And this little item
that you want in return
what do we call that?
Well, what could we call that?
We could call it
a little piece of your makeup,
a crumb off the crust of your structure
a fragment of an atom of your being, or,
or what?
A soul?
You're the devil.
At your service.
[Misohie vous music]
How about it, Mr. Bedeker? Why not? A partnership of a sort.
You deed to me your so-called soul
and, in exchange, I give you immortality.
And then inde s truc tibil I Ty
complete inde s truc tibil I Ty.
No thing can hurt you.
Nothing can hurt me?
And I live forever?
Cer ta inl y. Why no t forever?
Governments and institutions may disintegrate,
people die,
but Walter bedeker goes on and on.
[Claps] "Walter bedeker goes on and on."
Mr. Cadwallader, about my soul,
you say I won't miss it?
You'll never know it's gone.
No tricks?
No hidden clauses?
I'll just live as long as I want to live. Is that it?
That is it.
That is precisely it.
What about my appearance?
I'mafraid I can't do much about tha t.
What I mean is, you should look practically the same.
Well, after 500 years
I don't want to look like a dried-up old prune.
Oh, Mr. Bedeker, you drive a mean bargain.
A most difficult bargain.
But I'll show you I'm a cooperative chap.
I'll throw this into the deal.
Whatever aging takes place on your features
will be more or less imperceptible.
Well, Mr. Cadwallader,
I think we're close to making a deal.
You'll never regret this, not to your dying day.
Which, by rights, should not be for several thousand years yet.
However, there is one thing.
[Chuckling]
Now it comes out.
Good day, Mr. Cadwallader.
Oh, it's for your benefit, I assure you.
Article 93. Yes.
Here it is.
Well, it's in the nature of an escape clause.
Your escape clause.
"Whereas the party of the first part,
"upon due notification of the party..."
Well, I'll just give it to you thumbnail.
It's simply that, if you ever get tired
of living, Mr. Bedeker,
you exercise this escape clause
by calling upon me to furnish your...
Well, there go those terms again.
To furnish your, "demise,"
at which point I shall see to it
that you are given a rapid and uncomplicated, uh,
departure.
And let me assure you,
that I'm not the sort of fellow
to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
When you talk of immortality to me, brother,
I mean immortality.
[Chuckles] You're going to have a long, long, long wait.
Mr. Bedeker, nothing could please me more.
Then, Mr. Cadwallader, your pen, please.
[Magic music]
Whew! You sure keep it hot in here.
[Magic and mischie vous music]
[Malevolent laughter]
There, everything seems to be in order.
[Sizzling]
[Chuckles]
Ah!
Walter!
Ethel!
Behold the new Walter bedeker!
[Mischie vous music]
[Onlookers screaming]
[Onlookers murmuring]
(Female) He's alive. Somebod y should ge tan ambulance.
(Male) Is he all right?
(Another male) I t's a Mira ole.
You all right?
How-how... how come you...?
Take your hands off me,
and go get your claims adjuster.
(Male) He should be pulverized.
$1,000?
Considering the fact
that you're not even scratched, Mr. Bedeker,
I think the company's being veryfair.
Shut up and I'll sign it.
I'll get my check tomorrow, I suppose.
First thing in the morning,
just sign right here.
Thank you.
Bye, ma'am.
Hi, Steve.
Oh, hello, Jack. You, too, huh?
Yeah. Subway accident.
Bus here.
You, out.
You, in.
You've got my check, I suppose.
$1,500, Mr. Bedeker
if you'll just, uh, sign right here.
Now, do me the goodness to make a fast exit.
I'll take your money, but youbore me.
[Door shuts]
14 accidents. 14.
Wouldn't you think
there'd be an element of thrill in 14 accidents?
I guess so, Walter.
Well, there isn't. It's dull.
There isn't the remotest element of excitement in it.
In short, I'm bored with it.
Walter, you should count your blessings.
Oh, Ethel.
I swear he's cheated me.
Immortality. What's the good of it?
There isn't any kicks, any excitement.
Walter, do you feel all right?
At least, when I was concerned about my health,
there was some area of risk about it.
I mean, there...
Aspirins.
Rubbing alcohol. Ethel!
(Walter) Ha ve we got an yammonia?
Ammonia?
That's what I said, ammonia.
Walter!
[Gasps loudly]
Nothing!
I've just drunk enough to kill 12 men
and it tastes like lemonade to me.
Weak lemonade.
Walter.
What?
What is this all about?
Would you really like to know?
Yes!
I am immortal.
I'm indestructible.
I have made a pact with a man named cadwallader.
He has given me immortality in exchange for my soul.
More simple than that I couldn't put it.
I'll call a doctor.
You will not.
If you had any imagination at all,
you'd find a way for me to get some excitement out of all this.
I've been in subway crashes, bus accidents,
major fires, I've even drunk poison here.
Nothing!
You know what I think I'll do?
I think I'll go up on the roof and jump down the light well
straight, smack, down the light well,
14 stories, just for the excitement.
Walter, no! Please!
Go drown in the tub Ethel!
Walter, please!
Leave me alone!
Walter!
Walter, please, come back to the apartment.
I'll make you potato pancakes.
You used to love potato pancakes.
Ethel, youare a potato pancake.
You're as tasteless as a potato pancake. Now, leave me alone.
Walter, no!
Ethel, get out of my way.
Walter, please!
Ah!
[Screaming]
I wonder what it felt like.
[Mischie vous music]
Hello. Operator?
Would you get me the police, please?
Hurry. It's, uh, an emergency.
Hello. Police station?
My name is Walter bedeker.
I live at 11th north seventh street.
That's right.
Apartment 1214.
Could you come over here right away, please?
No, no, no. No trouble.
I just killed my wife.
Oh, I'll stay right here.
Good-bye.
[Sighs]
Now, let's give the electric chair a little whirl.
Well, Cooper the legal beagle.
How are you?
I'm miserable, Mr. Bedeker.
I've been miserable ever since I took your case.
I've had tough clients before,
but nobody like you.
Really? What disturbs you?
In five days of a trial,
you've acted like a man desperate to get convicted.
When I examine you, you shut up like a clam.
Is that a fact?
That/sa fact.
Now, tomorrow, here's what I want us to do.
Cooper, put it away.
How's that?
Put it away.
Bedeker, did you get what? T I was trying to tell you?
You are about 12 hours away from a "guilty" verdict
to a charge of first-degree murder.
And what is the penalty?
The penal Ty for firs t-degree murder
in this sta te is DEA th in the electric chair.
Mr. Cooper, the only thing they'll get for their pain
if they try to burn me
is a staggering bill for electricity.
Good-bye, Mr. Cooper.
Bedeker.
I don't know. I just don't understand you.
Mr. Cooper, please don't bother.
[Judge pounding gavel]
Mr. Bedeker, you've been tried
and found guilty of murder in the first degree.
Have you anything to say
before the court pronounces sentence upon you?
No, your honor. I have nothing to say.
Then the court sentences you to imprisonment
in the state penitentiary without hope of parole
for the rest of your natural life.
I knew we could do it!
Congratulations!
[People murmuring]
Life?
Life imprisonment?
It's your last meal with us, bedeker.
They'll be taking you
to the penitentiary tomorrow morning.
The penitentiary for life.
That's right. For life.
Look at it philosophically.
What's life? 40 years, 45 years?
You can do that standing on your head.
Tha t's all. 40, 45 years.
Ma ybe not even tha t much.
[Lock clicks]
40, 45 years.
(Cadwallader) After all, what? T's a few hundred years?
Ora few thousand?
Or 5,000? Or 10, 000?
Wha t is it in the scheme of things?
[Oadwa/iader laughing]
[Laughing louder and louder]
No, no, no. No! No! No!
[Laughter fades]
(Cadwallader) Mr. Bedeker?
About that escape clause, you care to utilize it now?
That's a wise man.
Odd thing. You look like a man having a heart attack.
Just like a man having a heart attack.
Bedeker, that you?
You all right?
Hey, bill, call the doc.
Bedeker just dropped dead.
Poor devil.
(Male presenter, off) There's a sa ying,
”every man is put on earth condemned to die,
time and method of execution unknown."
Perhaps this is as it should be.
Ca se in point, wal ter bedeker, la tel y deceased,
a little man with sucha yen to live
bea ten b y the de vil, b y his own boredom,
and by the scheme of things
in this, the twilight zone.
(Male presenter, off) Rod serl ing, the orea Tor of twilight zone,
will tell you about next week's s Tor y
after this word from our sponsor.
(Male presenter, off) And now, Mr. Serling.
One of next week's stars is alongside me now
she will appear in a tale called "the lonely"
the story takes place in a...
(Female) An a s teroid and it's a most in triguing premise.
It sounds it. Next week on the twilight zone
Jack warden John dehner and Jean marsh
appear in a bizarre tale of a man and... a woman?
I don't understand it either.
Thank you and good night.
(Male presenter, off) Streng th and bea u tyare found in the lord's sanctuary
find the strength for your life,
worship together this week.