- A hypochondriac man sells his soul to the devil, exchanging it for several thousand years of immortality.
- Hypochondriac Walter Bedeker has once again had his doctor come to his bedside but he can find absolutely nothing wrong with him. The doctor tells him his aches and pains are psychosomatic but he refuses to accept it. Later that night, a Mr. Cadwallader suddenly appears in his room and has a proposition for him: in return for his soul, he will give him immortality. He even has an escape clause in that if he ever gets tired of living, Cadwallader will provide him with a hasty demise. He accepts the deal and soon collects 14 insurance claims over a variety of accidents. He finds it all very boring however but his quest for a thrill brings results with an unexpected outcome.—garykmcd
- The hypochondriac is a Walter Bedeker is a dull man that insists to summon his doctor due to inexistent diseases but the doctor tells that he has no illness and his problems are mental or emotional. One day, the devil visits him using the name of Cadwallader and offers immortality to him for his soul. He also explains that the contract has an escape clause just in case Walter decides to stop living. Walter accepts the deal and uses it to collect insurance claims. One day, Walter decides to test his immortality and kills his wife with an unexpected result.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- The devil gives an aging hypochondriac exchange immortality, no aging, and complete indestructibility in exchange for his soul. The contract for the deal contains an escape clause allowing the man to end his life. Now why would he need that?—Baron
- Walter Bedeker is a hypochondriac man, who also has an annoying way to address to his wife Ethel. Walter's in bed claiming to have all the illnesses on Earth. In addition, Walter has an intolerable personality and when the doctor comes to checkup him, he says that the man is quite healthy. But Walter insists on having some illness. The doctor says to Misses Bedeker that she's the one who looks ill and prescript her some vitamins. Minutes later, Walter receives the visit of Cadwallader, a kind of diabolic spirit, hearing Walter complaining about the mortality of the humankind. Cadwallader claims that he has the power of giving Walter immortality for 500, 1000 or even 1 million years, if he's disposed to give his soul in exchange. Walter accepts and signs a contract for 1 million year of immortality. Later, Walter's anxious to prove his new immortal condition, committing what seems to be suicide acts, like throwing himself to the tube track, letting to knock down himself by a car, drinking poison, but nothing happens. He's still alive and confirms that he's an immortal man. But Walter doesn't feel well about it. In some way he doesn't believe that he's still alive, and also he misses feeling hypochondriac. Perturbed, Ethel tells Walter that he must feel grateful by this gift, but he wants to prove one more thing: throwing himself from the flat roof. Ethel tries to stop him, but accidentally Walter pushes her and she falls off the roof. But instead of feeling terrible, Walter sees the opportunity of being executed for the crime. In the court, his lawyer gets life imprisonment for Walter, but that would mean spend 1 million years in jail or die before, something impossible for him.—Alejandro Frias
- Opening narration:
"You're about to meet a hypochondriac. Witness Mr. Walter Bedeker, age forty-four, afraid of the following: death, disease, 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?"
Walter Bedeker (David Wayne) is a rather argumentative and egotistical man who feels that the world (from doctors to germs to his wife) wants him dead. However, in Walter's mind, he is too important a person to die (even though he seems to have very little to offer the world except in the way of snide criticism).
After a doctor visits him and finds nothing wrong with him, Walter dismisses the doctor as a 'quack,' and goes back to his train of thought that his death will come soon. Walter ponders why man has to die in such a short span compared to how long the Earth has existed, pondering why man can't live longer than 100 years, or even 1,000 years.
Walter's ponderings are soon interrupted when a man named Mr. Cadwallader (Thomas Gomez), an impeccably-dressed, jovial fat man who also happens to be the Devil, appears by his bedside. Cadwallader soon explains that he is willing to give Walter immortality in exchange for his soul. However, Walter isn't so eager to say yes, and agrees under certain conditions. Cadwallader agrees to give Walter immortality and indestructibility, as well as the inability to age. Cadwallader also promises Walter an escape clause to their deal: if at any time he tires of life, all he needs to do is summon Cadwallader. Walter smiles smugly at the jovial man as if he were crazy, and signs a contract for their deal.
Walter first tests his newfound indestructibility by placing his hands on a nearby heater. When his hands emerge unscathed, he eagerly leaves the apartment. Walter soon uses his newfound indestructibility as a way to claim accident claims by throwing himself in front of busses and trains. However, after surviving 14 incidents with only his suit showing wear and tear (and numerous checks paid out to him by the transit companies), Walter has now grown bored.
His wife has grown concerned, and when Walter attempts to poison himself (and lives), demands to know what is going on. Walter explains his deal with Cadwallader, but his wife refuses to believe it. Turning a deaf ear to his wife's plea to seek mental help, Walter rushes to the roof of their building, intent to get a thrill out of throwing himself off the top of it. His wife follows and tries to get him to stop, but ends up accidentally falling off the roof herself. Walter then casually strolls back to the apartment, and calls the Police, claiming he has murdered his wife.
Walter is taken away, and placed on trial. His defense attorney soon grows exasperated when it seems that Walter's actions in court will send him directly to the electric chair for his wife's murder. Unknown to the lawyer, Walter is savoring the thrill of being electrocuted and surviving.
However, when the sentencing is read, Walter's expectant glee turns to shock when the Judge delivers a sentence of life imprisonment instead. Walter is returned to his holding cell, awaiting transfer to prison. A guard delivers his meal, and snidely proclaims that Walter will probably last 20-50 years in prison before he dies.
Walter soon summons Cadwallader, and wishes to use his escape clause. Cadwallader then causes Walter to pitch over and die of a heart attack, claiming the egotistical man's soul.
Closing narration:
"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."
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content