The Rip Van Winkle Caper
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Template:Infobox TTW season two
Episode name: The Rip Van Winkle Caper
Episode number: 60
Season: 2
Original airdate: April 21, 1961
Writer: Rod Serling
Director: Justus Addiss
Notable Cast members
- DeCruz: Simon Oakland
- Farwell: Oscar Beregi
- Brooks: Lew Gallo
Synopsis
To escape the law after stealing $1 million worth of gold bricks, a band of gold thieves hide in a secret cave in the desert and put themselves into suspended animation for 100 years. When they wake up, greed overcomes all of them. DeCruz kills Brooks by running him over with their getaway truck. But the truck goes out of control and gets wrecked, forcing Farwell and DeCruz to walk through the desert carrying as much gold as they can. Later, Farwell losses his canteen and is forced to pay DeCruz one gold bar for each sip of water. When the fee goes up to two bars, Farwell strikes DeCruz with the gold bricks, killing him. Farwell then continues to a highway, carrying the gold he refuses to let go. Finally, weak and dehydrated, he collapses. A car drives up and Farwell offers his gold to the couple inside in exchange for water and a ride to the nearest town. But Farwell dies — never knowing that a way to manufacture gold was found, making his treasure absolutely worthless.
Themes
This episode is a diatribe against greed.
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