Printer's Devil

Description: Season 4, Episode 9

Air Date: February 28, 1963

Plot Summary: After realizing his newspaper business is bankrupt, a man attempts to commit suicide but is persuaded to work with the devil.

Review: This is a pretty cool episode made significantly better by Burgess Meredith's portrayal of the devil. The story feels like an old folktale with the devil trying to swindle people with crafty deals and taking on fake identities. In this instance, the unwitting fool is Doug, the owner of a local newspaper company on the verge of bankruptcy. Doug's main problem is his outdated setup that cannot keep up with a new competitor that has Doug's paper beat in every respect. When Doug's best guy quits, and the realization that it's all over hits home, Doug goes to a bridge in order to commit suicide. I don't blame Doug, his annoying girlfriend would not shut the fuck up about the guy that quit; the dude was working for 2 months without pay, bitch! As chance would have it, Doug's suicide in interrupted by an old man calling himself Mr. Smith. Appearing to be heaven-sent, Mr. Smith wants to work with Doug, is a prodigy on the linotype (an old printing machine), and offers up plenty of money to keep the newspaper afloat for the time being.

Before you know it, Mr. Smith is printing all kinds of scoops that not even the competition can get fast enough. Strangely enough, these scoops tend to be increasingly more dramatic events for, what's an otherwise, little town. Doug and his girlfriend do question all of these coincidences, but the success has them blinded. One day, Mr. Smith explains himself as he wants Doug to sign a contract that gives Mr. Smith his soul. Somewhat tricked, Doug does sign away his soul as Mr. Smith is genuinely revealed to be the devil, and he is the one who has been causing all the chaos in the area. When Doug tries to get rid of Mr. Smith, he willing decides to go, but he wants Doug to kill himself or else Mr. Smith will kill the girlfriend; the devil wants to collect the soul now. I did like how Mr. Smith whispered something in the girlfriend's ear that made her slap him. Since they make this devil out to be as horny as they could get away in the '60s, it's kind of funny to imagine what TZ was implying he said.

Mulling over the idea of committing suicide to save the girlfriend, Doug realizes a possible way out. It would appear the linotype itself can write the future so Doug uses it to prevent his girlfriend's death as well as to break the contract with Mr. Smith. This ending is a bit rushed, as we don't get a final resolution for Mr. Smith, but it felt appropriate enough. The subtle nature of Mr. Meredith as the devil definitely makes this episode stand out since he comes off more as that trickster type from folklore. Overall, this was a proper way to spread out the extended running time while keeping things interesting.