Ep 18. The Last Dark Step

In "The Last Dark Step," the 18th episode of the fourth season of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, we meet a troubled man named John, played by Pat Hingle. John is a soldier who has returned home after serving in the Korean War, but he is haunted by the things he saw and did during his time overseas. Unable to shake his demons, John turns to alcohol to numb the pain.

One evening, while stumbling home from the bar, John sees a woman named Laura (played by Katherine Squire) fall down the stairs of her apartment building. He rushes to her aid and carries her back up to her apartment. Laura insists that she doesn't need a doctor and pleads with John to stay with her. John agrees and spends the night with Laura, taking care of her and listening to her stories.

Over the next few days, John visits Laura every day, bringing her groceries and doing odd jobs around the apartment. The two begin to develop a close relationship, and Laura tells John about her life and her hopes and dreams. But as John spends more time with Laura, his own dark thoughts and memories begin to resurface.

One day, while John is at Laura's apartment, he sees a man named George (played by Wendell Corey) enter the building. George is Laura's estranged husband, and John can tell from the look in his eyes that he is a dangerous man. Not long after, Laura confides in John that George has been threatening her and trying to force her to give him money.

Desperate to protect Laura, John decides to take matters into his own hands. He confronts George, but the encounter quickly turns violent. In the end, John is left with a terrible choice to make - one that will have far-reaching consequences for both himself and Laura.

"The Last Dark Step" is a tense and suspenseful episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, exploring themes of trauma, guilt, and redemption. As always, Hitchcock's signature style is on full display, with clever twists and turns that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Hingle and Squire deliver powerful performances that bring their complex characters to life, while Corey adds a sense of menace and danger to the proceedings.

Overall, "The Last Dark Step" is a standout installment in the long-running series, showcasing Hitchcock at his best and providing a gripping and emotionally resonant story that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll.