[Eerie music]
(Male narrator) There is a fifth dimension
beyond tha t which is known to man.
It is a dimension as vastas space
and as timeless as infinity.
It is the middle ground between lightand shadow.
Between science and s upers ti tion.
It lies between the pit of man's fears,
and the summit of his knowledge.
This is the dimension of ima Gina tion
it is anarea which we call the twilight zone.
The time is the da y after tomorrovl/,
the place, a far corner of the universe.
The cast of characters, three men lostamongst the stars,
three men sharing the common urgency of all men lost.
They're looking for home.
And ina moment the y'll find home.
Nota home that/s a place to be seen
buta strange, unexplainable experience to be fel t.
[Rocket sound]
I hear the atmosphere.
Keep your fingers crossed, Pete. This may be it.
It better be; We're about out of fuel.
[Vehicle decelerating]
20.95 parts oxygen
78.09 nitrogen.
I don't get it, that's air.
Gravity, unit one.
That's incredible. Conditions identical to earth
and yet we're 655 million miles
away from earth.
Wait a minute, Pete.
These instruments could be wrong.
What's the difference?
We're not going anywhere now.
Yeah, I guess you're right.
How far did you say we were from earth?
655 million miles.
We're back on earth.
No? What do you call that, a martian?
Here, boy, come on.
[Suspense music]
Well, anyway, look at those trees.
It's got to be earth.
Well, what do you call that?
It's called a tractor.
They were in use on earth
during the 20th century before the total war.
You mean, we're on earth 200 years ago.
It's an interesting theory, Pete
and as possible as any other
except that to my knowledge
earth has never had more than one sun.
(Pete) All right. You expla in it.
The only thing I'm certain of
is that we're not on earth.
We're not alone.
Excuse me, sir.
My name is Webber,
we ha te to bother you...
(Pete) Wha t's the ma tter wi th him?
Seems to be in some sort
of a trance or...
Let's get out of here.
Hey, look, there's somebody!
Hey, mister!
Mister!
[Panting] How are they biting?
Mister?
Hey, wake up.
[Suspense music]
[Band playing]
Do you hear that?
The music, a band, do you hear it?
There's somebody here.
It seems to be coming from over there.
[Band music]
The music's coming from that loudspeaker.
It's being piped in from somewhere.
Look!
[Music stops]
Concert's over.
Well, any ideas, professor?
Well, I suppose
it could be some sort of illusion.
Yes, maybe we're being made to see and hear
what we hope to find
the sights and sounds of home.
No, no, that's all wrong.
This is more than 200 years
ahead of our time.
Or it could be
that time itself is suspended here.
Or time may have, in a sense
have speeded up for us
or slowed down for them.
You mean, they might actually be moving?
It's possible.
Then why can't we see it?
Well, you don't see the movements
of a clock's hands
nevertheless they do move.
Well, this clock has no hands.
[Suspense music]
Carl, do you really believe
what you're saying?
No, of course not.
But they're not just statues.
They're flesh and blood
or something tha t feels like flesh and blood.
It's something real.
It's got to be here.
Now, I say separate
and meet back here in one hour.
Well, it's better
than huddling together like frightened children.
(Webber) Remember, we meet ba ck here
in one hour.
[Knocks] Hello.
Anybody there?
[Romantic violin music]
Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
[Violin music continues]
[Distorted strings]
[Pleasant music]
Your majesty.
I don't blame the judges.
You're the prettiest of them all.
But tell me something, your majesty,
what's wrong with you? [Distorted strings]
What's wrong with everybody in this crazy place?!
Answer me!
Can't you talk?
Can't you move?
Answer me!
[Suspense music]
[Mischie vous music]
This is the way it was on earth not so long ago.
My great grandfather showed me pictures of it.
Quiet and peaceful.
You mean you like it here?
I would if it were real,
if I could be sure it wasn't going to vanish in a puff of pink smoke.
[Ring]
Well, as for me, it's a nice place to visit
but I wouldn't want to live here.
Like it or not, this is home from now on.
Charming.
Lovely, isn't it?
If you want it, it's yours.
Yes, that's true isn't it?
You don't mind
if we have a look around
do you, sir?
Not at all.
You're most welcome.
My name's wickwire, Jeremy wickwire.
Gentlemen, there's nothing to be afraid of.
Truly, there isn't.
But, y-y-you're real.
But, of course, I am.
Isn't everybody?
I used to think so.
Oh, you mean, [chuckles]
Do come inside.
Come on, won't you?
Come on, come inside.
There's nothing to be afraid of
I assure you.
Eh, do you like it?
We built it for a Mr., uh,
Mr. Jenkinson.
But at the last moment he decided
that the one thing he wanted to be was a knight in armor
so he's out there in the medieval section
slaying a dragon.
You mean there are other sections?
Hm?
(Wickwire) Oh, yes, of course,
we have many sections.
There's the Roman,
the Egyptian,
the wild western
but this is the most popular
because it represents a period
in American culture
when creature comforts were most abundant
and before peace on earth became impossible.
Now, look, Mr., uh,
wickwire.
Wickwire, we are from earth.
Oh?
(Webber) We were ona routine geological mission.
We ran into a meteorite storm.
Some of our equipment was knocked out.
We got lost.
Noi/I/, tha t was six months ago.
We saw this asteroid and we landed.
Our fuel is gone.
We've got to stay here.
I see.
I see, then you're not from the glades.
The what?
But you are from the earth.
Tell me, did they ever have that atomic war?
Yes, in 1985.
Most of the earth's surface was destroyed
and it's taken us 200 years
to pick up the pieces.
Oh, how sad.
Mr. Wickwire
now, you've got to explain some things
before we go out of our minds.
Yes, but you look hungry.
Let me fix you lunch, then we'll talk.
(Pete) Wa I t a se oond.
Now, you tell us one thing right now.
Where are we?
Why, you're in a cemetery.
Didn't you know?
[Suspense music]
Please, make yourselves comfortable.
I'll be back in a few moments.
Cemetery?
Coffee will be served
in a few minutes, gentlemen.
May I propose a toast?
To peace, my friends
to everlasting eternal peace.
[Suspense music]
Excellent!
Liebfraumilch, isn't it?
Yes.
Mister...
Wickwire.
We're very confused.
We need help.
Well, sit down, my boys, sit down.
Come on, sit down.
What is it?
Now, you said
that we were in a cemetery.
What did you mean?
Just exactly that.
But before I explain
you must give me some information.
If you were granted your dearest wish
what would your wish be?
I'm not sure I know what you mean.
I mean, where would you rather be
right now?
I'd like to be on the ship headed for home.
And you, captain.
I'll go along with that.
Splendid, and just one thing more.
When you left earth, what was the date?
September.
No, no, the year.
2185.
2185? [Chuckles]
Now I understand.
Well, that's nice.
We don't!
When you arrived
I thought you were from happy glades.
But by your behavior
of course, I see you couldn't be.
We're still not following you.
What's happy glades?
The world's greatest mortuary.
At least, that's what it used to be.
You see, the management hit upon this scheme
as a service to those who could afford it.
"This scheme" being?
This little asteroid
where we would recreate the exact conditions
under which the dear departed could be most happy.
For an example,
if the deceased always wanted to be elected mayor
he would achieve his ambition here
for all eternity.
You mean those people are all dead?
No, no, not all of them. Just a select few.
The others are imitations.
(Professor) In other words, this is the pla oe
where your dreams come true after you've stopped dreaming.
Yes, that might be one way of putting it.
Yes, that's very good.
You expect us to believe that explanation?
I hadn't thought of that.
Don't you?
It's true, you know.
Well, I'll admit
we haven't come up with anything better.
But a cemetery out in space.
Millions of miles from earth.
Why?
Yes, why?
Now, your boss could have bought a piece of desert.
Oh, no, no
you don't understand at all.
Happy glades promises eternal peace
everlasting peace.
You couldn't have that on earth
now, could you?
He has a point.
Uh, what about you?
Me?
Yes, you, how do you figure in all this?
Why, I'm the caretaker.
It's my job to make sure
that our guests are not,
disturbed.
Well, when did this mortuary... Or whatever it is... begin?
1973, I believe.
Yes, yes.
That'd make you a bit
on the elderly side
wouldn't it, Mr. Wirewick?
Wickwire. [Chuckles]
Now, I'm afraid you're forcing me
into a rather embarrassing admission.
You see, I'm not actually human,
oh, iam now
but when you've gone
I shall go back to sleep again until I'm needed.
You see, I'm... I'm merely a scientific device.
I go on and off again like a machine.
You understand.
Yes, it's not very complicated
is it, really?
He goes on and off.
Yes, I think I must have been off for about 200 years.
Look, mister, you think...
All right, all right, Pete.
Mr. Wickwire
we're staying here.
Yes, I know.
Yes, but you said something
about our being gone.
Oh, that's a figure of speech, captain.
I meant "departed."
"Gone on" as it were.
Well, you know what he's saying
don't you?
I told you not to trust him.
I told you!
We meant you no harm.
I realize that and I'm sorry.
Truly I am.
(Webber) The an tido te...
Give us the antidote.
(Wickwire) There is no a n tido te, ca p ta in.
Even now the e ternif ying fl uid
is coursing through your veins
but it... it won't be painful, I assure you.
But why?
Why us?
Because you are here
and you are men
and while there are men
there can be no peace.
[Mischie vous music]
[Humming]
(Male narrator) Kirb y, Webber and me yers, three men I ost.
They shared a common wish, a simple one reall y,
they wanted to be aboard their ship headed for home.
And fa te, a laughing fa te, a practical jokester
with a smile tha t stretched across the stars
saw to it tha t they got their wish
with just one reser va tion,
the wish came true
but only in the twilight zone.
(Male presenter, off) Rod serl ing, orea Tor of twilight zone
will tell you about next week's storyafter this word from our al terna te sponsor.
And noi/I/, Mr. Serl/ng.
Next week, I try to settle an argument
to the effect that I'm not at my best when writing scripts for women
miss Vera miles takes my side
in a most unusual and unique story we called mirror image.
I hope to see you next week, you in your living room
and miss Vera miles and the rest of us in the twilight zone.
(Male presenter, off) Can we ha ve dynamic growth, low unemployment,
and reasonabl y stable prices? Write for this free booklet
to American assembl y, col umbia university New York City.