Episode no. Season 1
Episode 2 Written by Rod Serling Production code 173-3608 | Directed by Robert Parrish Cinematography by Joseph La Shelle | |
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Featured music Stock (mostly from Bernard Herrmann's "Outer Space Suite") | ||
"One for the Angels" is episode two of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It originally aired on October 9, 1959 on CBS.
Contents
Plot summary
A Big sidewalk pitchman named Lou Bookman makes a living selling toys, notions, and trinkets. All the children in the neighborhood enjoy this gentle, kindly man. One summer day, Mr. Bookman is accosted by Death and told that he is to die of natural causes at midnight. Lou argues that his life's work as a pitchman is not quite complete, and convinces Mr. Death to give him enough time to give one last, great sales pitch—"one for the angels" as Lou puts it. Once Mr. Death agrees, Bookman announces his intention to quit his profession and find another line of work.
Proud of having outsmarted Mr. Death and now virtually assured of immortality, Lou is informed by Mr. Death that "other arrangements" must now be made, that someone else will have to take his place. Mr. Death chooses a little girl, one of Lou's good friends who lives in the same building. When she is hit by a truck Lou immediately offers to go with Mr. Death, but his pleas are ignored.
Later that night, as the girl lies comatose, Death comes to claim her. Bookman again pleads with Mr. Death to take him instead, despite their agreement. Mr. Death is adamant; a deal is a deal. He must be in the little girl's room at midnight to take her. As the appointed time nears, Bookman distracts Death by beginning a sales pitch. Bookman describes the wonders of his wares so well that Mr. Death is enticed into purchasing everything. Mr. Death is enthralled with Lou's eloquence, and he forgets to claim the girl's life. The town clock tower tolls midnight before Death realizes that he's missed his appointment. The little girl will live.
In making this marvelous pitch, one so compelling that even Death himself was moved—"a pitch for the angels"—Bookman has willingly sacrificed his own life to save that of his friend, thus fulfilling his original agreement. Before leaving with Death, Bookman packs up his suitcase on legs containing his wares, hopefully remarking, "You never know who might need something up there." He repeats, with a note of uncertainty, "Up there?" Mr. Death smiles, "Up there, Mr. Bookman. You made it."
Rod Serling, in his summation, notes that while Lou Bookman lived a very ordinary life as lives go, he was "...throughout his life a man beloved by the children and, therefore, a most important man."