The Last Escape story
Joe and Wanda Ferlini are a husband-and-wife escape artist act, though their marital relationship is strained. When Joe performs a dangerous water escape, Wanda switches his keys, causing him to drown. However, at the funeral a coroner opens the coffin, revealing to the public that it is empty. Joe's agent privately arranged that Joe be buried somewhere secret as a final "escape", but due to the stunt, Wanda goes insane. Directed by: Paul Henreid. Story by: Henry Slesar.
13 total · 2 choice · 5 major · 6 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| spouse murder | choice | Wanda and her lover, Tommy, did in Wanda's escape artist husband Joe by switching the key to Joe's handcuffs before he attempted a dangerous aquatic escape. |
| stage magic | choice | The story concerns a nightclub performing escape artist who plans to make it to the big time by pulling off a dangerous river escape. |
| agent and client | major | The escape artist Joe's agent, Harry, arranged for there to be an empty casket at Joe's funeral in a grand act of showmanship. |
| extramarital affair | major | Wanda was having an affair with Tommy behind her husband Joe's back. |
| husband and wife | major | The story examines the troubled marriage of Joe and Wanda Ferlini. |
| love triangle | major | Wanda was having an affair with Tommy behind her husband Joe's back. |
| obsession | major | Wanda complained about Joe's obsession with escape artistry, which was clearly ruining their marriage. |
| coping with aging | minor | The 46-year-old escape artist Joe didn't take it well when Wanda insinuated that he was too old to perform a risky aquatic escape. |
| fishing | minor | In his sketch, a fishing rod holding Alfred Hitchcock suggested that he'd caught a real, live mermaid. |
| funeral rite | minor | The attendees at the escape artist Joe's funeral were left to wonder whether he might have performed one last great escape when he casket was revealed to be empty. |