- An unscrupulous free-lance writer extorts the elderly owner of a seedy second-hand shop who is prescient about the future.
- An unethical free-lance writer, desperate for money, has noticed that many well-to-do businessmen frequent Peter Talley's seedy second-hand shop, where they buy seemingly mundane items for large sums of money. He browbeats mild-mannered Talley into giving him "what he needs," an ordinary pair of shears, and is cautioned to always carry them on his person. The greedy writer, anxious to obtain money to marry his slatternly girl friend, finds the shears to be a life saver. When his scarf is caught in machinery and threatens to strangle him, the scissors literally save his life. Sensing there is money to be made, he extorts the store owner into revealing himself as a scientist whose back room machine gives him a window into a man's future.—(duke1029@aol.com)
- The aged proprietor of a curio store, Peter Talley, has exactly what a customer needs, even if that customer doesn't know it himself! A reporter, Tom Carmichael, stumbles on to Talley and his store and realizes it could be a big story. Carmichael confronts Talley with what he already knows, trying to force the rest of the story from Talley. Talley refuses, but by spying Carmichael learns the secret is a machine that can see into the future. Hoping to be rid of him, Talley gives Carmichael a pair of scissors, informing him "These are 'What You Need'".
Later while talking to his editor about Talley, Carmichael's scarf gets caught in a printing press. He remembers the scissors just in time and cuts off the scarf. By now, Carmichael is overcome with greed and plans to do whatever it takes, including murder to get the machine for himself.
Meanwhile, Talley (with the aid of his machine) has figured this out and devises a plans to protect himself. He gives Carmichael a pair of shoes with very slick bottoms. Remembering the incident with the scissors, Carmichael puts on the shoes. After a few drinks in the bar, he goes outside, slips off the icy sidewalk and into the path of a delivery truck. He is dead.
Talley, knowing what he has done, smashes his machine in a fit of remorse,
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