User:Brian Kurtz/To do

"The Devil's Platform" is the seventh episode of the supernatural mystery series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. It was directed by Allen Baron with a teleplay written by Donn Mullally, based on a story concept developed by Tim Maschler. It first aired on ABC on Friday, November 15th, 1974 at 8:00 pm.

Synopsis
Robert Palmer seems to be the white Knight Senatorial candidate. However people who either run against him or try to expose his dishonest dealings begin to turn up dead: a wealthy supporter of Palmers opponent dies in a car accident; another contributor is killed in a boating accident; when Palmer campaign manager tries to expose Palmer he is killed in a elevator "accident". Among the witness to the accident is Kolchak who spies a mysterious black dog unhurt in the crushed elevator. The dog tries to attack Kolchak-who succeeds in grasping a strange pendant the dog is wearing.

Another strange thing is Palmer not showing in a TV debate with his opponent. Palmer is confronted by his secretary who tries to blackmail him; she is injured by he same mysterious dog; later in the hospital Palmer appears and kills her. Kolchak finds a picture of Palmer wearing the pendant-and identifies it as sign of the Evil one. Palmer's opponent is killed in a car crash-and the black dog is seen there again.

Kolchak slips to Palmer house and over hears Palmer arguing with his terrified wife-who urges him to break the contract-but he refuses. Kolchak spies Palmer preforming black magic; Palmer admits he signed a contract with the Evil one in return for political power-even the White House! Palmer tries to bribe Kolchak with an offer of a new York press job and a offer of a Pulitzer prize in return for favorable press stories on Palmer; when Kolchak refuses; Palmer turns into the dog and tries to kill Kolchak; during the struggle Kolchak throws Palmer pendant into the blessed Holy water which dissolves the Pendant ; the dog becomes a normal docile hound. At the end Kolchak observes that Palmer "disappeared" and that his wife has fled--hopefully accompanied by a servile and faithful dog...

Notes & Trivia

 * Kolchak: The Night Stalker was created and developed for television by Jeff Rice.


 * This is the third appearance of Emily Cowles.

Allusions

 * Carl Kolchak makes reference to Gone With the Wind in this episode. This is a 1939 historical epic film directed by Victor Fleming. The film has also been referenced in the pilot episode of Scream Queen.


 * The concept of evil dogs wearing bling around their necks will later be explored in the 1976 occult thriller The Omen.