This was the pilot episode of the series.
INNER SANCTUM was a television series that ran for 40 episodes during 1954. It was based on the long running radio program (1941-1952) of the same name. It presented various mystery, terror and thriller stories. (There was also a b-film series released by Universal Studios in the 40's)
In this one, we have Walter Brooke ending up at the wrong end of a pretty blonde. Brooke is a hearse driver for a funeral home. He is putting the hearse away for the day when he is approached by Jean Carson. Carson offers the man a cool thousand dollars for a small favour. The favour, simply pick up a stiff and haul it to a cemetery.
Of course she wants to avoid all the messy paperwork and such. The reason is the stiff is a man whom she has murdered. Brooke is a bit leery about the idea, but he could use the cash. He agrees to the deal and drives to the address Carson gives him. Inside he finds a bloody stiff propped up on a chair.
Brooke now decides that any amount of cash is not enough, and heads for the door. His exit is blocked by a Police Detective answering a shooting call. The Detective, Ralph Bell asks Brooke who he is and did he make the call. Brooke tells Bell that he was just leaving and there was no shooting here, someone must be pulling a gag. The Detective then leaves and Miss Carson puts in an appearance.
Some verbal prodding from Carson soon has Brooke back to work hauling out the stiff, John McQuade. Brooke has just finished tucking McQuade into a casket when the Detective reappears with a few more questions about the phone call. Once Detective Bell moves on, a completely rattled Brooke drives off to meet Carson at the cemetery. This, "easy" thousand bucks is turning into a nightmare of raw nerves.
Brooke hooks up with Carson and prepares to plant the coffin in a handy grave. The coffin though is now empty, which pushes Brooke closer to the edge. Now the cop, Bell, shows again. Bell had followed Brooke from the apartment. Now we find out that Carson is in fact married to Detective Bell. Bell had suspected that the dear wife had been stepping out on him. The deal here is that Bell believes the paramour is Brooke.
There is a brisk struggle for Bell's gun and Bell goes down. Carson seems to have been stepping out on Bell, but with McQuade who turns out to be quite alive. They had tricked Brooke into helping them get rid of the hubby, Bell. Bell is soon stuffed in the coffin and buried.
Needless to say that Carson and McQuade's perfect plan hits a speed bump. Brooke has cracked under the stress of being used as a fall guy. Miss Carson and her lover are soon at the killing end of the gun themselves.
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A pretty nifty little episode which just features the four actors. They all hit their marks delivering a tasty bit of evil.
Director Mende Brown began an unusual, sporadic career with this episode, one that veered more distinctly into the horror genre with the highly-regarded Australian production THE EVIL TOUCH, often called "The Twilight Zone down under," which ran for 26 episodes in 1973-74.
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