Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1.14

A Bullet for Baldwin

starring John Qualen, Sebastain Cabot, Phillip Reed

directed by Justus Addiss

A file clerk named Stepp shoots and kills Nathaniel Baldwin, his boss, after Baldwin fires him. They are the only ones in the office at the time. Stepp closes up the office and goes home. He expects that he will get arrested. The next day at 10:30 AM he gets a call from the office asking him why he isn't in yet. He is surprised but rushes into the office. Baldwin is there and looks very much alive.

Mr. King, Baldwin's business partner, explains that he and Baldwin are about to go on a business trip and asks Stepp to prepare some papers for them. Stepp tells Baldwin about what happened. King says he must have imagined it including the part where he got fired. King promises Stepp a raise and to hire an assistant to help him out.

Stepp gets to work. King goes to see Baldwin. They discuss what's really going on. The Baldwin in the office is an imposter. Stepp killed the real Baldwin, just as he thought he did. King and the phony Baldwin discuss how to dispose of the body.

Later that day, King calls Stepp into his office. It is late in the day and they are the only ones there. King tells Stepp that they are going to have to let him go. Stepp tries to protest but Baldwin won't hear it. Stepp gets his gun, shoots King, and then leaves the office just like he did on the day he killed Baldwin.

Thoughts

I enjoyed this episode very much. I love how it is constructed. It isn't hard to see where it is going once King calls Stepp into his office. The acting is spot on. It isn't perfect but I think that it's very good.

Notes

This is the first of three episodes of this show in which John Qualen appeared. I've seen his in a few movies. The film in which I've seen him most recently is The Searchers (1956).

This is the only episode of this show in which Sebastian Cabot appeared. He appeared in one episode of The Twilight Zone (1959). I know him best for playing the part of Mr. French on Family Affair.

This is the first of Four episodes of this show in which Phillip Reed appeared. He appeared in one episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

This is the second of ten episodes of this show that Justus Addiss directed. The previous one was 1.06 Salvage.