▶ "One Step Beyond": Episode of the Week (9/17)

"HOUSE OF THE DEAD" -- SEASON (2) EPISODE (37). June 7 1960.
COMMENTARY (spoilers alert): Many "One Step Beyond" episodes are constructed so tightly and move so swiftly that one emerges from a viewing with a sense of breathlessness. "House of the Dead" is just such an installment, filled with engaging characters and built on a "time limit" and a "needle in a haystack search" that foster a true sense of urgency.
"House of the Dead" is erected with an eye towards generating suspense. John Newland's opening narration establishes that in "Hong Kong, all things are possible . . . and nothing is what it seems", hinting at that common "One Step Beyond" trope: that "ethnics" (Indians in "The Riddle," Gypsies in "Gypsy," Native Americans in "Night of Decision", et al) have a more well-rounded view of life and the universe; and that the white man is hampered by his traditional, Christian, Euclidian view of the world.
After setting up that thesis, the episode establishes a few points. Firstly, Lt. Fraser is due to be shipped out of the county in a short amount of time. Secondly, he is in love with Mai Ling, a beautiful girl who gains the audience's sympathy instantly. She is so sweet and kind a character that one understands immediately why Fraser loves her. Then Mai Ling disappears and Fraser is forced (with only two hours left in the country before being shipped out) to undertake a search through the vast city that "only a man in love would ever attempt." The love relationship thus established (and threatened), the viewer is invested in Harry's mission, aware of his imminent departure, and therefore behind him all the way as he fights the odds to find Mai Ling.
Often it is illuminating to see how a writer stacks the deck in his favor, balancing one story element against the other to create a viewer's identification with the material. By making Mai Ling sympathetic (she is afraid that her ethnicity is a problem for Harry), by creating a "deadline" (Harry's departure from Hong Kong), by putting up an impossible obstacle (a search of all the Houses of the Dead in Hong Kong), Don Mankiewicz constructs a story so tight, so compelling, that viewers are completely engaged by the time that the paranormal enters the picture in the form of a "ghost cabbie" who leads Harry to Mai Ling.
And what is one to make of the fact that a man can be in two places in the same instant of time, as the cabbie directs Harry to his lover and simultaneously lays dying in a House of the Dead, tended to by the lovely Mai Ling (?) Though bilocation and the OBE are possibilities, one senses this episode may have been trying to grapple with a slightly different experience: the NDE (Near Death Experience). The screenplay establishes that the cabbie is at the final transition between existence and non-existence, hoping to conduct a last act of grace before he finds his destiny in the afterlife.
This certainly sounds like a Near Death Experience, although most NDEs feature visions of the afterlife (and common elements like a tunnel of light, a feeling of peace and serenity, a meeting with friendly faces from life who have already "passed on"), not some attempt at redemption in this life. Perhaps the occurrence in "House of the Dead" is merely an OBE-like journey that occurs near the time of death. Whatever one calls it, it allows for a triumphant reunion and a happy ending, so one can be grateful for It.
The other "psychic" component of "House of the Dead" involves the blind street prophet who is able to (in a very general sense) determine Mai Ling's location. This seer draws sketchings with a stick and his grandson then traces over his drawings, which inevitably reveal something of great importance. How to explain the prophet's powers (?) Well, he could simply be a good guesser, since there are apparently dozens if not hundreds of Houses of the Dead in Hong Kong. This is rather reminiscent of a psychic who determines "telepathically" that a corpse has been buried near a "body of water." It is so general an answer that it will inevitably be interpreted as "correct." Bodies of water are frequent, and how does one "quantify" close (?) A mile, two miles (?) Thirty miles (?)
On the other hand: one can assume that the Prophet's powers in "House of the Dead" are real if one accepts that old chestnut that one who has lost an important sense (such as sight) develops other radar (such as telepathy). A great episode (and an involving love story), "House of the Dead" is notable also for an early performance by James Hong. This is the Asian actor who has appeared in films such as "Blade Runner" (1982), and TV series such as "Hawaii Five-O" and "Kung Fu" . . .
From John Kenneth Muir's definitive book "An Analytical Guide to Television's One Step Beyond": • ▶ "One Step Beyond" Ba...

[@psw4763]

All these shows are gold. Great stories and narration. Thank you for episode of the week.

[@jamesdevrees8663]

Wow, the youngest appearance of James Hong I've ever seen. Fantastic and versatile actor in everything from Blade Runner to The Two Jakes.

[@barbararemsen8207]

My best friend and I had quite a discussion about this episode a few days ago. I said it was a long road to nowhere. She said it was one of the most beautiful love stories she has ever seen. We don't always agree on everything. But we both love One Step Beyond!

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

Well. So can you fix me up with your friend . . . (?)

[@tse90723]

Unlike Twilight Zone, OSB was based on true life stories.

[@PumaLyn]

Wanted a story to help me sleep. It's 1.42am here in Penang, Malaysia. I'm glad I chose this. Thank you. 😊

[@missjoshemmett]

Very interesting. As a viewer, I would never have thought that thru. I never even looked at the cab driver, so I kept wondering who he was. Now, the story makes sense. Thank you.

[@Saudyization]

Want see a marathon of ONE STEP BEYOND 😁

[@Saudyization]

@Keith Steward ha ok cool 😎 well its my turn next

[@usmale4915]

I like your "Episode of the Week" for One Step Beyond! It's a great idea and your synopsis of each episode just adds to it! I used to watch this when it was first aired on ABC in 1959, so it's good to see this series again. Thank you for sharing!

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

There's a companion video to this one, exploring the real-life background of this episode, that we'll release tomorrow night (Saturday) . . .

[@amandariddell1650]

Another fan here! Fantastic. Thank you 🙂

[@spidermoth1170]

Loved this story of love Thank you 👍🏻👏❤🌹

[@99alfailiwaqain51]

Peace! What an amazing 🥲 love story! I missed this episode in the past….thank you for the Upload!

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

There's a companion video to this one, exploring the real-life background of this episode, that we'll release tomorrow night (Saturday) . . .

[@TerryUniGeezerPeterson]

"She say curse word, I hang up."

[@stephanieclini3834]

Merci de partager avec nous de si beaux épisodes.

[@mrs.g.9816]

I've been hooked on "One Step Beyond" ever since I saw "Night of Decision". I hope all the episodes will be fully restored. I need to crank up the volume whenever I watch an episode. I had that "edge of the seat" feeling all through this episode, hoping that Lt. Frazier and Mai Ling reunite.

[@appletongallery]

Thanks-great show

[@ellietobe]

I love this series, especially the first season. I think the first season was the best. Back then they has a lot more episodes per season than they do now on television series. The music sets up the program really well to give it that creepy factor.

[@joycegresham9044]

Thank you 😊!Love this show!!!

[@Jlevin1955]

Love this show!

[@kathrynbillinghurst188]

You came back, I’m sooo HAPPY 😃

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

There's a companion video, exploring the real-life background of this episode, here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYnGhoFnacxmiqs

[@robinhays8779]

James Hong, such a handsome man!

[@cheyenneasiafoxe292]

Luv John Newland!

[@Lolabelle59]

I think Hitchcock would have particularly enjoyed this episode.

[@steffie6008]

I love this show! 👏

[@cheyenneasiafoxe292]

I love this show!....

[@dianehenkel9088]

I give up. I must be in the slow group. Who is the dead man at the end of the episode?

[@one-step-beyond-1959]

The rickshaw driver at 18:44 . . . is the same person as the dying man at 21:56. He was in two places at the same time, guiding Fraser to Mai LIng; there are different ways to interpret how that bilocation/NDE/OBE might work. Enough people get confused about this that the script should have made it clearer by emphasizing the rickshaw driver's appearance (with a closeup, for example) . . .

[@dianehenkel9088]

@@one-step-beyond-1959 Thank you for the explanation! I didn’t realize the rickshaw man and the dying man were the same person. One Step Beyond is an excellent series. I never saw it growing up. I have been watching them all. Thank you again for explaining the significance and also for posting the episodes. They are fantastic.

[@theplinkerslodge6361]

I see what you did there.