- A pitchman is visited by Mr. Death and is forced to get his priorities in order.
- Lou Bookman is a street vendor; a pitchman, making a living selling what he can from his valise - radios, toys, ties and the like. After a long day, he returns to his shabby apartment to find someone waiting for him, someone he saw near where he had been selling that day. That person turns out to be Mr. Death who is there to tell Lou that his time on Earth has come to an end and that his "departure" will be at midnight. Lou tries to forestall his death by asking for a delay until he's able to make a big sales pitch. It's all a ruse however and Mr. Death shows him that his actions have consequences. As a result, Lou makes the pitch of his life.—garykmcd
- Opening narration:
"Street scene: Summer. The present. Man on a sidewalk named Lew Bookman, age sixty-ish. Occupation: pitchman Lew Bookman, a fixture of the summer, a rather minor component to a hot July, a nondescript, commonplace little man whose life is a treadmill built out of sidewalks. And in just a moment, Lew Bookman will have to concern himself with survival--because as of three o' clock this hot July afternoon he'll be stalked by Mr. Death."
Sidewalk salesman Lew Bookman (Ed Wynn) soon returns to his apartment, where he is confronted by a man in a dark suit. The man in question is Mr. Death (Murray Hamilton), but he does not reveal his name to Lew.
As they talk, a little girl who lives in the apartments named Maggie (Dana Dillaway) visits him. When Lew points out the man sitting in a nearby chair, she claims she doesn't see anyone, and assumes Lew is playing a game on her.
Death tells Lew that he is set to die at midnight, and is lucky, as he will go peacefully in his sleep. Of course, Lew does not want to die, and Death says that reprieves can be granted, if certain circumstances are met. Lew tries everything from saying he's wanted to ride in a helicopter, to traveling to see a tribal dance, but these are not valid enough reasons. Then, Lew plays the card that sticks, when he claims that he's always wanted to perform a masterpiece: the Big Pitch ("one for the angels," as he says). This allows Death to accept, but when he asks Lew when the Big Pitch will occur, Lew gives no definite details, figuring he's outsmarted Death.
However, Death informs Lew that he still must 'collect' at midnight, and since Lew seems unwilling to play by the rules, he must take someone else in Lew's place. Just then, a screech is heard outside the apartment building, and it appears that Maggie has been struck by a truck. Lew rushes to her side, where she appears to be conscious, but shaken. However, it is then that she asks Lew who the man with the suit behind him is.
Knowing that Death has now chosen to take Maggie, Lew begs Death to take him, but their deal is still in place: Lew must give his Big Pitch in order to be taken.
As evening settles in, and Maggie's condition seems to hold between Life and Death, Death prepares to collect Maggie, when Lew suddenly comes out of the building with his salescase. Lew claims he's going to make his biggest pitch now, but Death notes that it seems there's noone around. Even so, Lew begins to make his pitch...and soon grabs the attention of Death himself!
Lew charms Death with the amazing deals in his suitcase, soon causing him to want in on the amazing deals. Finally, Lew offers Death something so rare that, it's one-of-a-kind: himself (aka Lew). It is then that the clock strikes midnight, and Death grows upset that Lew has made him miss his appointment. However, Lew's big pitch has been completed, and even though it's past midnight, Death claims he will take Lew.
Before he goes, the Doctor attending to Maggie comes down the apartment stairs, and tells Lew that she'll be alright.
As they prepare to go, Lew packs up his salescase, and prepares to take it with him. Lew claims someone 'up there' might need something from him, before asking Death if he really is going 'upthere.'
"Up there, Mr. Bookman," replies Death. "You made it."
"
Closing narration:
"Lewis J. Bookman, age sixty-ish. Occupation: pitchman. Formerly a fixture of the summer, formerly a rather minor component to a hot July. But, throughout his life, a man beloved by the children, and therefore a most important man. Couldn't happen, you say? Probably not in most places--but it did happen in the Twilight Zone."
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