Ernest Truex plays a peddler with a remarkable gift: he can give you an item that is exactly what you will need shortly. It is his performance that really sells this episode; the juxtaposed cheerfulness and grimness of his character provides a depth that warms your heart and chills your bones.
It is clear that Pedott the peddler (Truex) has the power of premonition. He fears a selfish loser who yearns for success, Fred Renard (Steve Cochran). As far as Renard understands, Pedott can see the future, but this is the Twilight Zone, and things are not always crystal clear.
Pedott helps people by giving them an obscure item that they would never think they would need, but does he really know why they need those items himself? Does Pedott actually know why Renard needs a leaky fountain pen, or just that it is needed? The same can be said for the cleaning fluid, bus ticket, and pair of scissors.
Pedott's concept of "what you need" is clearly synonymous with "what will help you". In testament to this, the ever helpful peddler is certainly reluctant to help Renard, but in both cases where he does, it benefits Renard. However, in their final exchange, Pedott does not GIVE Renard anything; Renard forcefully takes a pair of slippery shoes, over the objections of Pedott. Those shoes lead to the death of Renard.
This is no act of malice, murder or manslaughter by Pedott, rather it is an act of suicide by Renard. However, Pedott describes this transaction as "what I need" and, he explains later, Renard would have caused his death otherwise. This is not to say that Renard would have murdered Pedott, just have caused his death somehow, possibly even by accident in an angry scuffle.
People who try to understand or explain this episode (or for that matter any Twilight Zone episode) using only literal interpretations of what is presented cannot possibly understand what the Twilight Zone is about. It is more fantasy than science-fiction, more lateral than literal, and more emotional than logical. The only issue I have with this episode is how Renard managed to get into Pedott's apartment.
It is clear that Pedott the peddler (Truex) has the power of premonition. He fears a selfish loser who yearns for success, Fred Renard (Steve Cochran). As far as Renard understands, Pedott can see the future, but this is the Twilight Zone, and things are not always crystal clear.
Pedott helps people by giving them an obscure item that they would never think they would need, but does he really know why they need those items himself? Does Pedott actually know why Renard needs a leaky fountain pen, or just that it is needed? The same can be said for the cleaning fluid, bus ticket, and pair of scissors.
Pedott's concept of "what you need" is clearly synonymous with "what will help you". In testament to this, the ever helpful peddler is certainly reluctant to help Renard, but in both cases where he does, it benefits Renard. However, in their final exchange, Pedott does not GIVE Renard anything; Renard forcefully takes a pair of slippery shoes, over the objections of Pedott. Those shoes lead to the death of Renard.
This is no act of malice, murder or manslaughter by Pedott, rather it is an act of suicide by Renard. However, Pedott describes this transaction as "what I need" and, he explains later, Renard would have caused his death otherwise. This is not to say that Renard would have murdered Pedott, just have caused his death somehow, possibly even by accident in an angry scuffle.
People who try to understand or explain this episode (or for that matter any Twilight Zone episode) using only literal interpretations of what is presented cannot possibly understand what the Twilight Zone is about. It is more fantasy than science-fiction, more lateral than literal, and more emotional than logical. The only issue I have with this episode is how Renard managed to get into Pedott's apartment.