Ep 32. The Hands of Mr. Ottermole

Alfred Hitchcock Presents season 2 episode 32, titled The Hands of Mr. Ottermole, tells the story of Mr. Ottermole, a timid and reclusive man who spends most of his time in his dark and dingy basement workshop, building intricate mechanical toys. The townspeople distrust and fear him, convinced that he is a mad scientist experimenting with dangerous chemicals.

One day, a wealthy collector named Mr. Philips visits Mr. Ottermole's workshop and offers to buy his latest creation, a lifelike mechanical hand. Mr. Ottermole is reluctant to part with it, but Philips convinces him to sell it for a large sum of money. As soon as Mr. Philips leaves, Mr. Ottermole realizes that he has made a terrible mistake and begins to regret his decision.

However, when Mr. Philips returns later that evening to retrieve the hand, Mr. Ottermole refuses to give it back and kills him in a fit of rage. He then hides the body in his basement and becomes increasingly paranoid, convinced that the police will discover his crime and he will be punished.

As the days go by, Mr. Ottermole starts to notice strange things happening around his house. The mechanical hand that he created seems to have a life of its own, moving on its own accord and causing mischief. He begins to suspect that the hand is possessed by Mr. Philips' spirit and is seeking revenge.

Haunted by guilt and fear, Mr. Ottermole tries to destroy the hand and bury Mr. Philips' body, but his efforts only lead to more chaos and destruction. In the end, he is forced to confront his demons and face the consequences of his actions.

The Hands of Mr. Ottermole is a suspenseful and eerie episode that explores the dangers of obsession and the consequences of giving into one's darkest impulses. With Hitchcock's signature twists and turns, it keeps the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end.