The Twilight Zone Diaries, episode 12

What You Need

originally aired: December 25, 1959
written by: Rod Serling
starring: Steve Cochran, Ernest Truex

"You're looking at Mr. Fred Renard who carries on his shoulder a chip the size of the national debt. This is a sour man, a friendless man, a lonely man, a grasping, compulsive, nervous man. This is a man who has lived thirty-six undistinguished, meaningless, pointless, failure-laden years and who at this moment looks for an escape. Any escape, any way, any thing, anybody to get out of the rut. And this little old man is just what Mr. Renard is waiting for."

classification: drama

story: A desperate and bitter man tries to exploit the strange powers of an old salesman who can tell what people need in their futures. The salesman fights back by giving the other man a pair of new shoes which cause his death.

my summary: This is mildly clever but just doesn't interest me very much. Serling's opening monologue is great; they used it again for Vic Morrow's racist character in The Twilight Zone Movie and I think it works much better there. Pedot's ending summary was pretty weak. PEDOT? I liked the opening scene: interesting people in the bar. Oh and almost getting hung in the elevator was a nice touch too.

"Street scene, night. Traffic accident. Victim named Fred Renard. Gentleman with a sour face for whom contentment came with difficulty. Fred Renard took all that was needed--in The Twilight Zone."