One for the Angels

"One for the Angels"
The Twilight Zone episode
Ed Wynn and Dana Dillaway in "One for the Angels"
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 2
Directed by	Robert Parrish
Written by	Rod Serling
Featured music	Stock (mostly from Bernard Herrmann's "Outer Space Suite")
Cinematography by	Joseph La Shelle
Production code	173-3608
Original air date	October 9, 1959
Guest stars
Ed Wynn – Lew Bookman Murray Hamilton – Mr Death Dana Dillaway – Maggie Polanski Jay Overholts – Doctor
Episode chronology
← Previous "Where Is Everybody?" Next → "Mr. Denton on Doomsday"
List of The Twilight Zone episodes

"One for the Angels" is the second episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.

Plot summary

A salesman, Lou Bookman, is told by Death that he is to die at midnight. Mr. Bookman argues that his life's work as a salesman is not quite complete, and convinces Death to give him a stay of execution until he can give one last, great sales pitch - "a pitch for the angels", as Mr. Bookman puts it. Once Death agrees, Bookman then announces his intention to quit selling and find another line of work. He is proud of having outsmarted Death and virtually assured himself of immortality.

What Bookman hasn't counted on is that someone has to die at midnight. Because of this, Death has to take one of Bookman's many young friends, a little girl who lives in the same building, who is hit by a truck. As she lies comatose, he comes to claim her. Bookman pleads with Death to take him after all instead of the girl, but Death is adamant; a deal is a deal. However, as they wait for the appointed time, Bookman distracts Death with a sales pitch aimed at him. In fact, he is so compelling that Death is too enthralled to claim the girl, instead purchasing all of Bookman's goods. Midnight passes before Death even realizes that he has missed his appointment.

In saving the girl's life, Bookman has willingly sacrificed his own; he has now made that last great sales pitch - "one for the angels", one that could even persuade Death, thus fulfilling the original agreement. Before leaving with Death, Bookman packs up his case of wares, hopefully remarking that "You never know who might need something up there. Up there?" To which Death replies, "Up there, Mr. Bookman. You made it."

References

• Zicree, Marc Scott: The Twilight Zone Companion. Sillman-James Press, 1982 (second edition)
• DeVoe, Bill. (2008). Trivia from The Twilight Zone. Albany, GA: Bear Manor Media. ISBN 978-1593931360
• Grams, Martin. (2008). The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic. Churchville, MD: OTR Publishing. ISBN 978-0970331090

External links

• "One for the Angels" at the Internet Movie Database
• "One for the Angels" at TV Tome
• Full video of the episode at CBS.com