Writer:	George Clayton Johnson
Director:	Buzz Kulik
Star:	Rod Serling (Narrator/Host),  Jack Klugman (Jesse Cardiff),  Jonathan Winters (James Howard "Fats" Brown)

George Clayton Johnson originally wrote a second ending for the episode - one where Jesse loses and "dies" - the death any second-stringer gets when he doesn't measure up and fades into obscurity. There was some debate on which ending to use. The 1985 remake of this episode used this alternate ending. (edit) Included on volume 3 of Image-Entertainment's DVD collection. (edit)

(Opening Narration)
Narrator: Jesse Cardiff, pool shark, the best on Randolph Street, who will soon learn that trying to be the best at anything carries its own special risks in or out of the Twilight Zone. (edit) Fats: It takes more than skill to be a champion. It takes equal parts of talent, luck, work, nerve. A quality you sadly lack.
Jesse: Nerve. You mean insanity. Risk my life on a game of pool.
Fats: Insanity if you prefer. I'm just a pool player. There's probably no less important thing on the face of the earth. But mark this in your book: I'm the best. It's proud thing to be the best at anything. But you wouldn't know anything about that. (edit) Jesse: I had an eye for this game. (misses his shot)
Fats: What happened to it?
Jesse: I almost made it.
Fats: A funny thing. In geometry, "almost" isn't enough.
Jesse:Geometry?
Fats: Pool is geometry, in its most challenging form. A science of precise angles and forces. (edit) Fats: You know something, Jesse. There's more to life than this pool hall. It isn't right you're being all cooped up in here like this. Get out a little, see what's gong on.
Jesse: You didn't get to be the best sitting on a park bench. You spent a lot of time with that cue in your hand.
Fats: Of course I did. But I took time out to live, too. I've been places where they've never heard of billiards.
Jesse: Fifteen ball in the corner pocket.
Fats: I may not look the part, Jesse, but I made love, walked uphill, swam in the ocean. When I think of the wonderful things there are to see and do. It hurts me. Yeah, see you rotting your life away in this miserable dark hall.
Jesse: You're lying, you're trying to distract me. That's a lousy thing. Fifteen ball in the corner pocket. (Fats starts tapping his chalk, then drops his cue, Jesse misses) You made me do that, you made miss!
Fats: Oh come on. A little gamesmanship, a little fun, and you came apart. Kids stuff to make you break your concentration, go wild. (edit) Jesse: Couldn't be a nice friendly little game, huh?
Fats: I take them as I find it. To you, pool is not a nice friendly game. It's a win at any price affair. I acted accordingly. (edit)

At the end of the episode, when Fats misses what would be his last shot, the cue ball is at the spot mark on the table. Then, when Jesse goes to sink that shot after an interruption by Fats, suddenly the cue ball is much farther away. (edit)

This episode does not have any allusions. Add some now!