Ep 12. Can A Dead Man Strike From the Grave?

Can A Dead Man Strike From the Grave? is an episode from the first season of Rod Serling's Night Gallery. The episode is about a wealthy businessman named Alec Ritchie, who dies in a car accident and later returns from the dead seeking revenge on those who he believes caused his death.

The episode begins with Ritchie's funeral, where his wife, Margot, is visibly upset and distraught. As she is leaving the cemetery, she is approached by a stranger who claims to have known her husband and wants to speak with her about his death. The stranger tells Margot that Alec did not die by accident, but was actually murdered by his business partner, Harry Wheeler, and Margot's former lover, Steve Hastings.

Margot is shocked by the revelation and decides to investigate further. She meets with Harry and Steve separately, both of whom deny any involvement in Alec's death. Margot becomes increasingly paranoid as she tries to decipher the truth, which leads her to uncover a number of disturbing secrets about Alec's past.

As the episode progresses, strange and inexplicable events begin to occur. Margot receives anonymous phone calls from someone claiming to be her dead husband, and she starts to believe that Alec has returned from the grave seeking revenge. She hires a private investigator to look into the matter and the investigator becomes embroiled in the mystery when he discovers that Alec's grave has been tampered with.

The episode builds to a suspenseful and chilling conclusion as Margot's fears are realized and Alec emerges from the shadows, seeking to exact revenge on those he believes betrayed him. The characters are forced to confront their past mistakes and face the consequences of their actions in an unexpected and disturbing way.

Overall, Can A Dead Man Strike From the Grave? is a thought-provoking and intense episode that explores themes of revenge, betrayal, and the supernatural. The mystery is well-paced and keeps the audience guessing until the very end, and the resolution is both surprising and satisfying. Rod Serling's Night Gallery remains a classic anthology series, and this episode is a standout example of its ability to weave complex stories into a compelling and eerie narrative.