The maximum security facility at Lynn Haven. A vigil is in progress to prevent the execution of death row inmate Vinnie Falco. Falco is condemned to die for killing a jewelry store clerk six years ago during a robbery. He's always maintained his innocence, claiming that the murder was actually committed by his partner...
A man on death row prays for a governor's pardon. One night he has a ghostly visitation from his dead partner, who shows him how to escape. But trapped in the bowels of the prison, the man is terrified to learn that the ghost is the Angel of Death, intent upon keeping his prize, and not being cheated. Originally aired November 24th, 1997. — Rip Torn, opening narration of episode.
Tropes:
- All for Nothing: Vinnie's lawyer manages to get him exonerated of his crimes so he can walk out of prison as a free man, only to discover his dead body moments later.
- Better to Die than Be Killed: Vinnie contemplates suffocating himself with a glove over his face just to spare himself a death by gas chamber in death row prison. Guess how the police officers and layers find his body.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Vinnie is tricked into being led into Hell and is claimed by the Reaper, while his dead body is left back in his prison cell looking as if he committed suicide via rubber glove placed over his face.
- Dirty Coward: Vinnie is revealed to being this long before his scheduled execution via gas chamber. Turns out he really did kill the jewelry store clerk and simply framed his partner Zach to save his own skin. This comes back to haunt him though.
- Downer Ending: Just as Vinnie's lawyer grants him a pardon, his dead body is discovered lying in his cell looking like an unusual suicide by glove and his true self was claimed by the Reaper as punishment for his crimes.
- Foreshadowing: The glove left behind in Vinnie's prison cell.
- The Grim Reaper: The titular ghost tormenting Vinny Falco. It later disguises himself as his fallen friend and partner Zach.
- The Fourth Wall Will Not Protect You: When "Zach" tricks Vinnie by leading him to Hell and revealing himself to being the Grim Reaper, he moves forward to claim Vinnie and he looks as if he is actually moving towards the audience, upping the creep factor.
- Hell Is That Noise: The sounds of people's screams from being tortured in Hell. As Vinnie finds out.
- Hypocrite: Vinnie yells out "Liar!" as he gets tricked by "Zach"/the Grim Reaper into going to Hell. Despite how Vinnie was lying earlier to "Zach" about his innocence.
- Ironic Echo: "Vinnie, you'll just have to trust me on this, won't you?"
- Karmic Death: Vinnie almost escapes to freedom, only to get cheated and tricked by the Reaper for his crimes, resulting in his punishment in Hell and an unusual death.
- Never My Fault: Vinnie lies through his teeth to avoid death row by claiming that the murder was actually committed by his partner Zach. It comes back to bite him though.
- Oh, Crap!: Vinnie when he realizes too late that's he's been led straight to Hell's doorstep and that "Zach" is really the Angel of Death coming to claim him for his crimes.
- Title Drop: During the ending where the police and lawyers discover Vinnie's dead body lying in his cell.
He comes to us in a variety of forms. He can appear as a stranger, a man of the cloth or the closest of friends. Even one you cheated to save yourself. But as Vinnie Falco discovered, the Angel of Death can never be cheated.
— Rip Torn, ending narration of episode.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Just when it seems like Vinnie will get free, Zach leads him through a tunnel...that leads directly to Hell where he belongs.
- Wham Shot: As Zach leads Vinnie further down the deep dark tunnels, they turn a corner to discover the sounds of people crying in pain and a bright glowing orange red light. This leads to a horrifying discovery by Vinnie rather too late.
- Wham Line: Delivered by Vinnie himself and then delivered Vinnie's "friend" Zach.Vinnie: All right! So I lied through my teeth! I killed the clerk!Vinnie: Wait...I get it now! This is payback, isn't it? There's no way out of here! The lights, sound effects, getting me lost! This is all a creepshow you cooked up to pay me back for what I did to you.Zach: You're not lost, Vinnie, and I have no grudge with you. Believe me when I tell you that.Vinnie: Okay, I admit it, I took off on you when we robbed that place. And I left you there when the cops showed up. But I was scared, Zach! I didn't mean for them to kill you, I swear! On my mother's eyes, I swear—!Zach: You can tell Zach yourself. He's waiting for you just around that corner. (evil laughter)Vinnie: What are you talking about?Zach: (bursting into evil laughter)Vinnie: Who are you?Zach: Don't you know? (evil laughter)Vinnie: LIAR!!!Zach: (bursts into flames; morphs into his true form as the Grim reaper).Vinnie: No....
