Escape clause
| "Escape Clause" | |
|---|---|
| The Twilight Zone episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 6 |
| Directed by | Mitchell Leisen |
| Written by | Rod Serling |
| Production code | 173-3603 |
| Original air date | November 6, 1959 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
"Escape Clause" is episode six of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It originally aired on November 6, 1959 on CBS.
Mean-spirited, abusive hypochondriac Walter Bedeker sells his soul to the devil (appearing as a rotund rogue who calls himself "Ted Cadwallader" here) in exchange for immortality, adding enough conditions to keep him out of Cadwallader's clutches forever. Cadwallader readily agrees to his demands, only stipulating an escape clause which allows Bedeker to choose the time of his death if he tires of being immortal.
Bedeker uses his newfound invulnerability to collect insurance money and cheap thrills by hurling himself into life-threatening accidents. Soon growing bored with this, he comes to the realization that his constant fear of fatal illness was the one thing which gave him any interest in life. He tells his wife that he is going to attempt to regain the thrill by jumping off the roof of their apartment building. While trying to stop him, his wife accidentally falls off the edge herself. Bedeker tells the authorities he murdered his wife, hoping to experience the electric chair. However, due to his lawyer's defense strategy, he is instead sentenced to life in prison without parole. Cadwallader visits Bedeker in his holding cell to remind him of the escape clause. Realizing he will face eternity in prison if he does not use it, Bedeker nods and suffers a fatal heart attack. The guard discovers his lifeless body and sighs, "Poor devil..."
"Escape Clause" was one of the three episodes-in-production mentioned by Rod Serling in his 1959 promotional film pitching the series to potential sponsors, the others being "The Lonely" and "Mr. Denton on Doomsday" (referred to as "Death, Destry, and Mr. Dingle").
"Here was a little gem. Good work, Rod Serling. This little piece about a hypochondriac who gets tangled up with an obese, clerical devil ranked with the best that has ever been accomplished in half-hour filmed television." —Excerpt from the Daily Variety review.
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