A Death Worse Than Fate
| "A Death Worse Than Fate" | |
|---|---|
| Batman episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 10 |
| Directed by | Norman Foster |
| Written by | Lorenzo Semple, Jr. |
| Production code | 8705-Pt. 2 |
| Original air date | February 10, 1966 (ABC) |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
|
Jack Kruschen as Eivol Ekdol |
|
Jack Kruschen as Eivol Ekdol
Douglass Dumbrille as Doctor
Jerry Doggett as Announcer
Victor French as Hood No. I
William Phipps as Hood No. II
Special Guest Villain:
Anne Baxter as Zelda the Great
"A Death Worse Than Fate" is the tenth episode of the Batman television series in its first season. This Batepisode was first broadcast on ABC February 10, 1966 and rerun June 23, 1966, and continues and concludes the story of Zelda the Great, a magician whose fading career has led her to crime. The story began in "Zelda The Great."
From the previous episode, Zelda has kidnapped Aunt Harriet from Wayne Manor and demanded $100,000 for her safe return. Bruce Wayne must contact her within an hour, but the police cannot find the millionaire (because he is currently Batman) Batman tells Commissioner James Gordon that he'll track Wayne down, and with just over half the hour remaining, Wayne reaches police headquarters. There he learns that Zelda has demanded he contact her by television. He and the police race to a nearby studio, where their broadcast interrupts regular programming.
Bruce Wayne, Commissioner Gordon, and Robin appear on the air, and offer a telephone number for the criminal to call, promising it will not be traced. Wayne reveals that the counterfeit story was a ruse and that the criminal has real money. Robin appeals to whatever decency she has left, imploring her to release Aunt Harriet from her being suspended over a tub of flaming oil. Zelda agrees to release her prisoner.
With police help, Aunt Harriet returns to Wayne Manor. Alfred Pennyworth feels guilty, since he was below dusting the Batcave when Harriet received the false telephone summons, but Wayne advises his loyal servant to rid himself of guilt, for the kidnapping has enabled him to deduce the criminal's identity. This declaration surprises Robin, who does not understand how Batman deduced this. Alfred also contributes a clue: a matchbook from the Gnome Bookstore that fell from Aunt Harriet's pocket. En route to the bookstore, Batman encourages Robin to recall Aunt Harriet's predicament, and after putting two and two together, Robin realizes who the criminal is: The suspended over flaming oil escape was Zelda's signature trick when Bruce Wayne took Dick Grayson to see Zelda on Dick's last birthday.
...
Wikipedia