Rave Notice

Originally Aired: October 12, 1950

Suspense #398, "Rave Notice," presents Milton Berle as Sam, a passionate actor whose world crumbles when director Norman replaces him in the role of the bell ringer during rehearsals. After five days of work, Norman coldly dismisses Sam from the part that he believes carries the entire production, citing only that Sam isn't right for it and brutally telling him he's no actor. The humiliation and rage drive Sam to methodically purchase a shotgun, carefully selecting the weapon that will deliver his revenge. He stakes out the theater district, waiting invisible in the crowd until Norman emerges, then shoots him in the belly on 45th Street.

Now sitting in a cell, Sam learns that Norman still clings to life in the hospital. His lawyer arrives to discuss their options, explaining that Sam's deliberate planning—the threats before witnesses, the careful gun purchase, the premeditated ambush—makes a temporary insanity defense impossible. The only remaining strategy would be proving Sam was insane all along, a suggestion that sparks Sam's interest as he contemplates his fate and waits to learn whether he'll become a murderer or something else entirely.