Welcome to Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past!  On Thursdays, I will be reviewing Decoy, which aired in Syndication in 1957 and 1958.  The show can be viewed on Tubi!

This week’s episode is really, really good!

Episode 1.11 “Two Days To Kill”

(Dir by Stuart Rosenberg, originally aired on December 23rd, 1957)

Selma Richmond (played by a young Diane Ladd!) is the girlfriend of gangster Johnny Troy (Michael Strong).  Johnny is about to go on trial and Selma’s testimony about his crimes is the key piece of evidence against him.  Knowing that Johnny wants Selma dead, the police put her up in an apartment.  Casey is assigned to protect her.

At first, Casey and Selma seem to become unlikely friends.  Selma is flighty and obsessed with Hollywood.  Even though she’s testifying against him, she claims that Johnny is just misunderstood.  Casey, taking some sympathy on her, tells Selma about the man that she loved.  For the first time, we learn something about Casey’s background.  We learn that her husband was a cop and he died in a shoot out.  It’s a surprising moment and one that’s poignantly played by Beverly Garland.  (The camera closes in on her face while she slowly smokes a cigarette.)  Not only does it help us understand why Casey sometimes to seems to be emotionally detached but it also shows the friendship between the two women.  Casey doesn’t open up for many people but she does for Selma.

However, that friendship ends when Selma realizes that Johnny will be facing the death penalty.  Selma manages to sneak a letter Johnny, letting him know where she’s being held.  Johnny shows up at the apartment, carrying a knife.  Casey is waiting for him with her gun drawn.  During the stand-off, Johnny tells Selma that he loves her and Selma believes it.  The Johnny uses his foot to unplug the apartment’s lamp.  In the darkness, he lunges at Selma and Casey opens fire, killing Johnny.  Selma’s response is to shout, “I bet you’re glad you killed him!”

This was an outstanding episode.  Director Stuart Rosenberg, taking over from Teddy Sallis, makes good use of the gritty New York locations.  Each scene is lit like a film noir, with Johnny literally emerging from the shadows at one point.  Rosenberg also gets excellent performances from both Ladd and Garland.  This was a strong episode and the best of the series so far.