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This episode originally aired on November 6, 1959. The story takes place in the United States and centers around Walter Bedeker, a 44-year-old hypochondriac, excessively worried about germs, disease, and death. Bedeker's self-absorption is evident in his exaggerated concern for his own well-being and his distrust of his wife Ethel and doctor, whom he suspects of conspiring against him. Walter's life takes a turn when he encounters a man named Cadwallader, who reveals himself to be the Devil. Cadwallader offers Walter a deal: immortality and indestructibility in exchange for his soul. Bedeker, skeptical but tempted, negotiates an 'escape clause' that allows him to call upon Cadwallader to end his life whenever he wishes. Testing his newfound invulnerability, Walter engages in dangerous stunts for personal amusement and fraudulent gain through insurance claims. However, the thrill quickly wanes, and Walter feels the burden of a joyless, eternal life. Desperate for excitement, he concocts a deadly household potion and drinks it in front of Ethel, only to find it ineffective. Walter’s recklessness peaks when he decides to jump from his apartment building's roof. In a tragic turn of events, his wife Ethel attempts to stop him and falls to her death. Unfazed, Walter nonchalantly calls the police, falsely confessing to her murder in hopes of experiencing the electric chair. However, Walter's lawyer successfully argues for a life sentence without parole instead of the death penalty. Realizing he'll face eternal imprisonment, Walter invokes the escape clause, resulting in an immediate, fatal heart attack. As a guard finds his body, he remarks, 'Poor devil...' 'Escape Clause' exemplifies Serling's often philosophical narrative style, exploring themes of human nature, the consequences of one's desires, and the irony of getting exactly what one wishes for.
Негізгі бет Escape Clause - Rod Serling | Science Fiction | Walter Bedeker | Radio Drama
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