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"Escape Clause"
The Twilight Zone episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 6
Directed byMitchell Leisen
Written byRod Serling
Production code173-3603
Original air dateNovember 6, 1959 (1959-11-06)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Walking Distance" 		Next →
"The Lonely"
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series, season 1)
List of episodes

"Escape Clause" is episode six of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It is "the story of a strange contract between a mortal man and his most satanic majesty";[1] it originally aired on November 6, 1959, on CBS.

Opening narration

[edit]

You're about to meet a hypochondriac. Witness Mr. Walter Bedeker, age forty-four. Afraid of the following: death, disease, other people, germs, draft, and everything else. He has one interest in life and that's Walter Bedeker. One preoccupation: the life and well-being of Walter Bedeker. One abiding concern about society: that if Walter Bedeker should die, how will it survive without him?

Plot

[edit]

Walter Bedeker, a paranoid and self-absorbed hypochondriac, is convinced his wife Ethel and his doctor (who insists Bedeker is in good health) are conspiring to kill him by purposely making him sick. After they leave, a man calling himself Cadwallader appears in Bedeker's room, offering him immortality and a near-total halt to Bedeker's physical aging. Bedeker guesses Cadwallader's true identity (the Devil) but is unafraid. He haggles with Cadwallader, who admits he wants Bedeker's soul and accurately points out Bedeker will never miss it or notice when it is gone.

Cadwallader inserts an escape clause allowing Bedeker to summon him at any time if Bedeker chooses to die. Bedeker is suspicious, but after Cadwallader leaves, Bedeker tests his new power by placing his hands on a hot radiator and finding them uninjured, then throws all his medicines out of a window, to Ethel's surprise.

Bedeker uses his newfound invulnerability to commit insurance fraud, claiming false settlements, and garnering cheap thrills by hurling himself into life-threatening accidents. After doing so 14 times, he concludes that the absence of risk and fear has made his life a dreadful bore. He purposely mixes a concoction of poisonous household liquids and drinks it, shocking Ethel, but it has no effect on him at all. Bedeker explains his situation to Ethel, admonishing her that if she had any imagination, she would find some way for him to experience some excitement. Proclaiming he is going to jump down the lightwell of their apartment building, Ethel futilely tries to stop him, falling to her own demise.

Bedeker calmly calls the police, confessing to murdering Ethel. He is arrested and brought to trial. He hopes to experience the electric chair. However, due to his lawyer's defense strategy, he is instead sentenced to life in prison without parole. Cadwallader appears in Bedeker's jail cell to remind him of the escape clause. Realizing he will face eternity in prison if he does not use it, Bedeker nods and immediately suffers a fatal heart attack. The guard discovers his lifeless body and sighs, "Poor devil … ."

Closing narration

[edit]

There's a saying, "Every man is put on Earth condemned to die, time and method of execution unknown." Perhaps this is as it should be. Case in point: Walter Bedeker, lately deceased. A little man with such a yen to live. Beaten by the devil, by his own boredom, and by the scheme of things in this, the Twilight Zone.

Preview for next week's story

[edit]

One of next week's stars is alongside me now. She'll appear in a most unusual tale called "The Lonely". It's a story that takes place on a - (female voice) an asteroid, and it's a most intriguing premise. (Serling) 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 - a woman? I don't understand it either. Thank you and good night.

Production

[edit]

"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").

Impact

[edit]

"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.

Disney's Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has a reference to this episode located in the basement of the attraction. The elevators have a certificate of inspection plaque, signed by "Cadwallader", bearing the inspection number "10259". These numbers represent October 2, 1959, the date The Twilight Zone first aired.

Further reading

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Escape Clause

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An escape clause is a provision in international trade agreements that permits a contracting party to temporarily suspend, withdraw, or modify its trade concessions if, as a result of unforeseen developments, increased imports cause or threaten serious injury to domestic producers of like or directly competitive products. This mechanism serves as a safety valve to provide temporary relief, allowing affected industries time to adjust to import competition without requiring proof of unfair trade practices. The concept originated in Article XIX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) of 1947, titled "Emergency Action on Imports of Particular Products," which establishes the conditions under which such actions may be taken, including consultation with affected parties and efforts to maintain a substantially equivalent level of concessions. Under GATT Article XIX, a party must demonstrate that the injury results from obligations incurred under the agreement, such as bindings, and that imports have increased in and under conditions that cause the harm. This provision was designed to balance the promotion of with protections against sudden economic disruptions, reflecting post-World War II efforts to stabilize global commerce. In the era, the escape clause framework was elaborated and disciplined through the 1994 Agreement on Safeguards, which builds directly on GATT Article XIX by specifying procedural requirements, such as investigations, transparency, and compensation to trading partners. The Safeguards Agreement prohibits "grey area" measures like voluntary export restraints, imposes time limits on safeguard actions (typically up to four years, extendable to eight), and mandates that measures be applied only to the extent necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury. It also requires notification to the WTO Committee on Safeguards and allows for dispute settlement if measures are deemed unjustified. In the United States, the escape clause is implemented domestically through Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 (codified at 19 U.S.C. § 2251 et seq.), which authorizes the President to provide relief to industries injured by fairly traded imports. The U.S. Commission (USITC) conducts investigations, determining whether increased imports are a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof, defined as significant overall impairment in production, sales, or employment. If affirmative, the USITC recommends remedies like increases, quotas, or tariff-rate quotas, which the President may accept, modify, or reject within 60 days; relief for up to four years, which may be extended up to a total of eight years. Notable applications include safeguards on (2002), solar cells and modules (2018), and washing machines (2018), demonstrating its role in addressing sector-specific vulnerabilities. Escape clauses also appear in regional trade agreements, such as Chapter 8 of the (now USMCA Chapter 8), which provides similar temporary protections against import surges from partner countries, often harmonized with WTO rules to ensure consistency. Globally, these provisions underscore the tension between and , with empirical studies showing they are invoked sparingly due to political and economic costs, yet remain essential for maintaining support for multilateral trade systems.

Synopsis

Opening Narration

The opening narration of "Escape Clause," delivered by series creator in his signature somber voiceover, immediately immerses viewers in an atmosphere of psychological tension and isolation as the camera lingers on the exterior of a modest urban apartment building. Serling intones: "You're about to meet a hypochondriac. Witness Mr. Walter Bedeker, age forty-four, afraid of the following: , , other people, germs, drafts, and everything else. He has one interest in life, and that's Walter Bedeker. One preoccupation: the life and well-being of Walter Bedeker. One abiding concern about society: that if Walter Bedeker should die, how will it survive without him?" This monologue, spoken over scenes of Bedeker swaddled in heavy woolens on his bed—conducting his ritualistic self-examination amid drawn curtains and sealed windows—establishes the episode's core premise of profound mortality anxiety, portraying the protagonist's existence as a self-imposed driven by terror of the inevitable. By focusing exclusively on Bedeker's internal phobias and egocentric without alluding to any external or otherworldly forces, the narration builds a sense of claustrophobic dread rooted in everyday human frailty, priming the audience for the story's exploration of fear's corrosive power. The tidy confines of the home, visualized as a barricaded against invisible threats, underscore this of hypochondria as Bedeker's unyielding daily vigil, transforming ordinary domesticity into a symbol of precarious security.

Plot Summary

Walter Bedeker is a 44-year-old hypochondriac living in , constantly terrified of illness and death, to the point of keeping a doctor on retainer and wrapping himself in layers of clothing even indoors. His anxious wife, Ethel, caters to his every whim while enduring his and neglect. One day, a mysterious stranger named Mr. Cadwallader suddenly appears in their apartment, introducing himself as a representative from "the other place" and revealing his identity as the . Cadwallader offers Bedeker —complete indestructibility, freedom from disease, and eternal life—in exchange for his after death, emphasizing that "every day will be an eternity" free from fear. Bedeker, initially hesitant, negotiates and insists on including an "escape clause" that allows him to end the contract and his life at any time if becomes unbearable; Cadwallader agrees, and Bedeker signs the pact with his blood. Immediately invigorated, Bedeker tests his new powers with reckless abandon. He jumps in front of an oncoming subway train, emerging unscathed and collecting a substantial payout after claiming . Emboldened, he drinks a bottle of without , stages a house fire that engulfs their apartment—again surviving and profiting from the insurance adjuster's visit, where he feigns shock while gleefully recounting the "miracle" to the skeptical investigator—and subjects himself to further accidents like bus collisions and falls, amassing wealth but growing increasingly bored with his untouchable existence. Ethel, exasperated by his escalating madness and the destruction of their home, confronts him about his bizarre behavior. Seeking a new thrill, Bedeker climbs to the roof of their high-rise building intending to jump, but follows and grabs his arm to stop him. In a moment of irritation, he shoves her away, causing her to lose her balance and plummet fourteen stories to her death. Unfazed by the loss, Bedeker immediately calls and confesses to his wife, hoping to experience the ultimate excitement of execution in the . During , his argues based on Bedeker's erratic actions and history of hypochondria, leading to a conviction for but a sentence of rather than death. In prison, the reality of eternal confinement without hope of release dawns on Bedeker, transforming his initial fear of into dread of endless monotony. Overwhelmed, he invokes the escape clause in his cell, summoning Cadwallader one last time. The appears with a triumphant grin, confirming the clause's activation, and Bedeker suffers a fatal heart attack, his soul condemned to as the that once seemed a proves to be his ultimate curse. In the earlier, Bedeker's bold confession had shocked observers, as he declared, "I killed her—I pushed her off the roof!" while reveling in the attention, only to later regret the deal that trapped him forever.

Closing Narration

In the closing narration of "Escape Clause," intones: "There’s a saying… every man is put on earth condemned to die. Time and method of execution unknown. (a pause) Perhaps this is as it should be. Case in point—Walter Bedeker, lately deceased. A little man with such a yen to live. Beaten by the devil… by his own boredom… and by the scheme of things in this… ." This directly reflects on Walter Bedeker's ironic demise, where his of the escape clause—intended to end his immortal in —results in a swift by heart attack, the very ailment he had long feared as a hypochondriac. The twist emphasizes the episode's core lesson on the inescapability of consequences, as Bedeker's bargain with the , meant to evade mortality, instead amplifies his suffering through eternal tedium, culminating in a voluntary surrender to . Serling's here embodies his characteristic approach to episode conclusions, offering a succinct philosophical reflection that moralizes the story's events, particularly attuned to the Faustian bargain motif where human ambition against invites unforeseen retribution.

Preview for Next Episode

The preview segment concluding the "Escape Clause" serves as a promotional bridge to the subsequent installment, "," delivered through Rod Serling's signature narration. This structure typically features Serling standing before the camera to summarize the premise succinctly and build anticipation. In the teaser for "The Lonely," Serling states: "Next week on , , , and appear in a bizarre tale of ?" These lines allude to the central premise of a convicted enduring on a remote , where he receives a companion to alleviate his isolation, while evoking themes of human and the blurred lines between artificial and genuine companionship. By teasing the next episode's core elements—such as the setting and interpersonal dynamics—without disclosing key plot twists, the preview upholds the ' format of standalone tales, fostering viewer curiosity and reinforcing the weekly ritual of discovery. Aired on November 6, 1959, "Escape Clause" transitioned seamlessly to "" on November 13, 1959, with these end-of-episode previews contributing to the show's strong viewer retention by linking installments and encouraging habitual Tuesday-night tuning in during its inaugural season.

Production

Development and Writing

"Escape Clause" originated as an original teleplay by , the creator, writer, and executive producer of , drawing inspiration from classic Faustian tales of pacts with the devil while crafting a narrative uniquely suited to the series' anthology format. Serling adapted the teleplay from an unpublished by Frederic Louis Fox and wrote the script in as part of the first season, incorporating elements like a soul-binding that grants in exchange for eternal servitude, complete with an "escape clause" allowing revocation under specific conditions. This mechanic serves as the episode's core, emphasizing the devilish figure's cunning enforcement of the deal's fine print, which traps the in unending tedium rather than peril. The episode's development followed the successful pilot "Where Is Everybody?," with Serling commissioned to produce scripts for the initial run of 26 episodes to capitalize on early momentum. "Escape Clause" was the second episode filmed, wrapping production in June 1959 under producer Buck Houghton, ahead of the series premiere on , 1959. Serling's intensive , often dictating drafts in 35 to 40 hours, infused the script with his hallmark ironic twists, such as the hypochondriac protagonist's leading to profound and self-inflicted ruin, culminating in a desperate invocation of the escape clause that results in sudden death. Central to the script's moral ambiguity is the portrayal of the devilish antagonist, depicted not as a horned monster but as a suave insurance salesman who exploits human frailty with polite precision, blurring lines between tempter and enabler. This characterization underscores Serling's exploration of greed and unintended consequences, where the protagonist's wish for security ironically dooms him to isolation and regret. Serling later adapted the teleplay into prose for his 1960 anthology Stories from the Twilight Zone, published by Bantam Books in April, highlighting its enduring appeal within his body of work.

Casting and Direction

The episode "Escape Clause" was directed by , a seasoned Hollywood filmmaker who had helmed over 20 feature films before transitioning to television in the late 1950s, including acclaimed works like the Midnight (1939) and the film noir-influenced thriller No Man of Her Own (1950). Leisen's direction marked his second contribution to The Twilight Zone, following "," and he employed a polished, atmospheric style that blended shadowy cinematography—particularly in the tense subway and vehicular accident sequences—with intimate domestic framing to underscore the protagonist's escalating and the story's ironic twists. His background in art direction and , honed under in the 1920s, contributed to the episode's efficient visual pacing within the constraints of live-on-film television production. David Wayne was selected for the lead role of Walter Bedeker, the neurotic hypochondriac whose pact with the devil drives the narrative; Wayne, a Tony Award-winning Broadway actor known for portraying anxious everyman figures in films like The High and the Mighty (1954), brought a layered performance blending vulnerability and eventual recklessness to the character. Thomas Gomez portrayed Mr. Cadwallader, the devilish figure offering immortality, in a casting choice that subverted traditional demonic stereotypes with Gomez's robust, gleefully manic energy; the Mexican-American actor, the first Latino nominated for an Academy Award for Gentleman's Agreement (1947), infused the role with charismatic menace. Virginia Christine played Ethel Bedeker, Walter's exasperated wife, delivering a grounded counterpoint to the supernatural elements in her first of several Twilight Zone appearances. Supporting roles were filled by character actors including as the skeptical doctor, Wendell Holmes as insurance salesman Cooper, Joe Flynn as insurance agent Steve, and as Jack, enhancing the episode's satirical take on and mortality through their ensemble dynamics.

Reception and Analysis

Broadcast and Initial Response

"Escape Clause" aired on November 6, 1959, as the sixth episode of the first season of on , marking the series' early in its Tuesday night time slot at 10:00 p.m. ET. The episode ran for approximately 25 minutes in a black-and-white format, consistent with the anthology's half-hour structure that included Serling's opening and closing narrations. Initial viewership metrics indicated solid performance for the nascent series, with Nielsen ratings for season 1 episodes averaging around a 20 share, translating to roughly 20% of television households tuned in during the broadcast. This reflected The Twilight Zone's growing traction in the weeks following its October 2 pilot premiere, as the show built momentum amid competition from established network programming. CBS promoted the episode and series through advertisements emphasizing Rod Serling's reputation as a provocative writer, positioning as a premium dramatic offering with imaginative, twist-ending tales. Sponsor involvement included Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, for which Serling appeared in on-air endorsements of Chesterfield cigarettes, integrating product placements that aligned with the era's commercial television norms.

Critical Reception

Upon its premiere on November 6, 1959, "Escape Clause" received positive notices from contemporary critics. In retrospective analyses, particularly in 21st-century Twilight Zone companion literature, the episode has been praised for its sharp irony and dark humor, emphasizing how Serling subverts the Faustian bargain trope to underscore the terror of eternal boredom rather than death. Works like Mark Dawidziak's Everything I Need to Know I Learned in the highlight the episode's moral allegory on the human appreciation for mortality, portraying Bedeker's immortality as a curse that strips life of meaning. User-driven platforms reflect this enduring appeal, with assigning an average rating of 7.3 out of 10 based on over 5,000 votes, and aggregating a consensus of favorable viewer response within the series' high critical acclaim for Season 1. Critics have lauded the episode's strengths in thematic depth, such as its against tampering with fate, but noted weaknesses in character development, particularly for Bedeker, whose role as the exasperated wife lacks nuance and primarily serves to advance the plot. Some reviewers have noted issues with pacing, particularly in the extended sequence where Bedeker's backfires, which occasionally slowed the episode's momentum despite its comedic intent. It is frequently compared to other devil-deal narratives in the series, like "," for exploring similar motifs of temptation and unforeseen consequences, though "Escape Clause" leans more toward satirical humor.

Themes and Legacy

The episode "Escape Clause" explores the profound irony of , portraying it not as a blessing but as an existential that strips life of meaning and excitement. Walter Bedeker's bargain for eternal life, driven by his paralyzing fear of , ultimately leaves him bored and desperate, highlighting how the absence of mortality erodes and . This theme serves as a against excessive caution, critiquing hypochondria as a self-imposed that prevents risk-taking and genuine living, with Bedeker's post-bargain recklessness underscoring the value of in experience. Philosophically, the narrative tests existential limits, questioning whether unending existence without consequence diminishes the essence of being. At its core, the story embodies a classic Faustian bargain, where Bedeker trades his soul for invulnerability, only to invoke an escape clause that seals his damnation in eternal torment, emphasizing the perils of deals with malevolent forces. Symbolically, the figure, Mr. Cadwallader, manifests as a sly, insurance-like salesman peddling false , reflecting manipulative temptations in everyday commerce. The ultimate irony of Bedeker's electrocution—choosing the to end his —twists his fear of into a fatal embrace of it, amplifying the episode's dark humor and moral inversion. Set against a backdrop of mid-20th-century domesticity, these elements subtly evoke suburban anxieties over , mortality, and the monotony of conformist life amid uncertainties. "Escape Clause" has left a lasting legacy, influencing portrayals of Faustian bargains in popular media, with echoes in deal-with-the-devil tropes seen in ' segments, such as the 1993 segment "The Devil and " from , where supernatural pacts lead to ironic downfalls. The episode has been preserved in formats since the 1980s, first on collections by /Fox Video, followed by comprehensive DVD releases of The Twilight Zone's complete series starting in 2002, and high-definition Blu-ray editions from 2010 onward, ensuring its accessibility to new generations. Culturally, it continues to resonate in discussions of moral dilemmas and up to 2025, referenced in philosophical analyses of existential dread and even legal scholarship on prolonged suffering in cases.

References

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