Trama

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

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."