[Eerie music]
You unlock this door with the key of ima Gina tion.
Beyond it is another dimension.
A dimension of sound,
a dimension of sight,
a dimension of mind.
You're moving into a land of both shadowand substance,
of things and ideas.
You've just crossed over into the twilight zone.
[Adding machines clacking]
[Electronic bell chimes]
[Whistles twice]
Charley. Charley!
Recess.
Oh, thank you. I just want to finish up here.
You trying to make us look bad, Charley?
What do you mean?
Now, just what do you think I mean?
Forget it. Come on, we're gonna be late.
Look at him. Little goody two-shoes.
Oh, I'm sorry, excuse me.
We're going to take a look
to the world's greatest examples of primitive art.
Some of the pieces, the shields, for example,
are hundreds of years old,
but some were made as recentlyas 1950.
Now, the reason for this is that, uh,
some parts of Africa are still largel y unexpl ored
and, therefore, unspoil ed land.
Some natives in the interior
have never seen a white man,
and they live and die without realizing
the world extends beyond the limits of their jungle.
Oh, you know these natives speak over 500 different languages?
However, uh, you ladies of the art appreciation society
will notice tha t their art has a grea t unity.
Ea ch piece here has been carved for a specific purpose.
Now, this one, can you all see it?
Now, this was made to frighten a way the evil spirits.
And this one as a protection against disease.
Now, in my hand here I ha vea pestle, you see.
And that is a mortar.
[Piano playing faintly]
(Narrator) To the a Vera ge person,
a museum is a place of knowledge,
a place of beauty and truth and wonder.
Some people come to study, others to contempla te,
others to look for the sheer joy of looking.
Charley parkes has his own reasons.
He comes to the museum to get away from the world.
It isn't really the 60-cent cafeteria meal
that has drawn him here every day.
It's the fact that here in these strange, cool halls,
he can be alone for a little while. Really and truly alone.
Anyway, that's how it was before he got lost
and wandered in to the twilight zone.
[Piano playing Mozart's piano sonata in a major]
Uh, e-excuse me.
Oh, yes, sir?
This may sound silly, but how do they manage that?
How do they manage what?
In there, in the glass case.
Oh, well. Well, I couldn't say exactly.
I know they use magnifying glasses,
little tiny tools, single-hair brushes, things like that.
But mostly they keep at their job until they get things right.
But how do they get the girl to move? Transistors?
How's that?
The girl playing the piano.
Oh, it stopped now.
I don't think I...
I'll show you.
She was playing just a few seconds ago.
It was, uh, uh, something like this.
[Whisfing melody]
Fl dum, ta, da, dum, ta fl
did you hear it?
Now, look, mister, I don't like jokes.
Not when I'm on duty, anyway.
Oh, I'm not joking.
Well, then you're hearing things.
There isn't any sound mechanism in that piano,
and the doll was carved out of wood,
a single block of wood.
Now who's joking?
See for yourself.
Well, I'm, uh, sorry.
I could have sworn...
It's probably some kid with one of those pocket radios.
They sneak them in once in awhile.
But I saw her move. At least, I think I did.
You know better now, don't you?
Yes, I know better now. Thank you.
Uh, I'm sorry to have bothered you.
No bother.
You're feeling all right now, aren't you?
Yes, uh...
Just a little embarrassed.
Well, is there anything I can do for you?
Uh, no, I have to be getting back...
Oh, well, thanks for your time.
Don't mention it.
[Adding machines clacking]
[Adding machines stop]
[Adding machines sz'arz' clacking again]
Come in.
Sit down, Mr. Parkes.
I'm sorry I'm late, sir.
Well, I'm sure you have a good excuse.
Well, no, sir, I don't.
I just let the time slip by.
I don't know how it happened.
You know, parkes,
this is the first sign of humanity you've shown in almost four years.
I beg pardon?
Up until now, you've come and gone like some kind of wind-up toy.
You're never early. You're never late.
You're always keeping to yourself.
Don't you like us, parkes?
Uh, well, I never thought about it, sir.
Well, think about it now.
Do you like your fellow workers?
Well, I suppose so.
You suppose so?
Well... I never thought about it, sir.
I don't dislike them.
You know, I'm afraid, Mr. Parkes, that isn't good enough.
An office, uh, is like a team, a platoon.
Either it works together or it doesn't.
Here, it doesn't, and the reason is you.
I knew you were a square peg when I hired you,
but you were bright, and well, I thought we'd wear those edges off.
We ha ven't. None of them.
You're still a square peg.
You understand me?
Yes, sir, I think I do.
I was gonna use the excuse of your being late, but I can't.
The fact is that I'm letting you go because you just don't fit in.
I understand, sir.
Uh, parkes.
Yes, sir?
I know this isn't any of my business, but,
don't you think it's time you gave up living with your mother?
Well, she needs me.
Why? Is she ill?
No, not actually ill.
You see, my father died some time ago,
and my sister's married, and, uh, well, she needs me.
I see. You're welcome to stay on a few weeks if...
Uh, no, sir, that's very nice of you, but I'll manage. Thank you.
You can pick up your check tomorrow.
Thank you.
He had no right.
He had every right, mother.
Hiring and firing people is his job.
But why you?
I told you. He didn't think ifit in.
Wha t's tha t mean?
It has something to do with being on the team.
That's ridiculous.
What are you going to do?
I'm gonna phone that man and find out why you're being persecuted.
Mother, please don't. It won't do any good.
Oh, Charley, what's gonna become of you?
I've worked so hard trying to bring you up right.
What have I done wrong?
Have I been too strict?
No, mother.
Or too lenient? Maybe that's it.
Maybe if I'd let your father punish you the way he wanted to.
It's all right, mother.
It's just a minor setback.
Oh, you say that every time.
Why can't you keep a job, son?
Why do you always end up
making everyone feel uncomfortable around you?
I don't know.
I suppose they blame me.
Well, I'm not keeping you here. You're free to go.
I know that, mother.
Nothing in the world would make me happier
than to see you settle down with a nice girl,
raise a family, and live a normal life.
Please, don't cry.
I can't help it.
I hate to see you hurt, son.
I'm not hurt.
Well, you should be. Getting fired.
It would have killed your father.
It would have killed him.
I'll go to the employment bureau tomorrow.
[Sniffling]
Where are you going?
To my room.
Charley, will you please bring me my heart medicine, dear?
Charley, why were you late getting back to the office?
I was, uh, detained.
What's that supposed to mean?
Nothing. I was detained, that's all.
Charley, do you feel all right?
Yes, mother.
[Whistling Mozart]
What's that you're whistling?
Pardon?
You were whistling. What was it?
Uh, I don't remember.
Mother!
Now, you lie down, Charley, and take a little nap.
All right.
Mother, please.
Why? I'm only trying to help.
I know it, mother, and I appreciate it,
but I prefer to untie my own shoes.
I'll bring you some cocoa.
Thank you.
[Sonaz'a playing]
[Whistling sonata]
Back again, huh?
Yes.
[Mendelssohn's spring song playing]
[Song fades out]
[Playing piano]
[Anoz'her melody playing]
Charley, your breakfast is getting cold.
You see?
Late for his meals, awake every night tossing and turning.
I tell you, I'm half dead from worry.
He's sick. I know he is.
Sounds to me like he's got himself a girl.
Don't be sill y.
What's so silly about it? Charley's a good-looking guy.
A little peculiar, maybe, but, uh...
I onl y meant if he had a girl, he'd tell me.
Isn't that right, Myra?
Sure.
And he hasn't told me, so it's not possible.
Okay, okay.
I'm not one of those mothers who try to keep their children
with them all the time. Ask Myra.
Pass the butter, please.
Charley! Your breakfast is on the table getting cold.
I'm sorry.
Hey, hiya, Charley boy.
Hello, buddy, how are you?
Couldn't be better, buddy, couldn't be better.
Myra, you're looking good.
Well, I wish I could say the same for you, Charley.
I haven't been sleeping too well.
Because of what, the job?
Yes, I suppose so.
It's been terribly hard on him walking every day in the hot sun.
Boy, that can get you down.
Charley.
Yes?
We've gota surprise for you.
Tell him, bud.
It's like this, I heard about them giving you the roust.
I mean, you know, and, uh, like, I know the head dispatcher
pretty well over where I work. I talked to him about you,
and he said, uh...
[Clears throat]
Well, he said he'd give you the job!
Yeah.
Isn't that wonderful?
Charley.
That's very nice of you, buddy, really.
Well, you've had experience in billing, haven't you, Charley?
Yes.
Well, then what?
Well, I-I don't think I really wanna travel that far.
It's out of the city, isn't it?
Oh, well, buddy can pick you up and bring you home.
Sure. Until you get your own car, anyway.
Charley, for hea ven's sake, don't just sit there.
Buddy's offering you a job.
I'm sorry.
I appreciate it, really,
uh, but I'm afraid I can't.
You got something better?
Yes.
(Mother) Cha rl e y.
Charley!
Good morning. My mother sa ys tha t breakfast
is the most important meal of the day.
Have I told you about my mother?
She's, uh, ver y nice.
Of course, she still treats me I/kea child,
but you can't blame her because I'm all she has.
I suppose that's not very much.
Of course, it isn't any of my business,
but I really do think you should eat more than that for breakfast.
Oh, you know, I have a sister about your age.
Her name's Myra. She's nice, too.
And her husband sa ys she's very pretty,
but she's notas prettyas you are.
I guess you're about the prettiest girl in the whole world.
I don't mind sa ying tha t because I know you can't hear me.
But I think I'd say it even if you could, because...
[Clears throat]
Hi. Little early today, aren't you?
Yes.
I guess you must get a real kick out of some of these displays.
Oh, yes, i-i...
This one here in particular.
What do you see, mister?
Oh, nothing.
A man doesn't stand four hours at a stretch looking at nothing.
Well, I'm not breaking any rules, am I?
Then, uh, leave me alone, please.
Well. All right.
[Piano playing]
[Car horns honking]
[Spring song playing]
Good morning.
Tha t's a new dress, isn't it?
I haven't seen it before.
Can I help you, miss?
[Whispering] Oh, no. Thank you.
Charley?
Oh, hello, Myra. What are you doing here?
I was just passing by and I saw you come in.
That's nice.
Buy me a cup of coffee?
Well, the cafeteria's closed.
Well, we could go somewhere else.
All right.
Thank you.
Charley, I want to be honest with you.
I didn't just
happen to, to see you. I followed you.
Why?
Because mama asked me to.
She's been worried about you, Charley, and so have I.
You haven't been yourself lately.
No, I suppose I haven't.
Do you go to that place every day?
Yes.
I thought it might be a good idea to improve my mind.
Tha t isn't why.
No?
I'm your sister, Charley.
I grew up with you, and I know you.
And I love you.
You go there because it gives you a chance to be alone,
and you want to be al one because you're scared.
Myra.
Charley, listen to me. This is important.
You're over 30 years old,
and you're living exactly the way you did when you were 14.
Well, some of it's mama's fault,
but some of it's yours.
And it's not natural, Charley.
It's sick.
And you know it's sick, and tha t's why you're scared.
You're probably right.
Charley, stop agreeing with me!
You agree with me all-all the time.
I could say you were a blue monkey, and you'd agree.
Look, Charley, / don't knowanyth/ng about psychology
or anything like that,
buti thinki know what? T's the ma tter with you.
You need a girl.
You're a t tha t time of life.
You know what? t I mean?
Well, not exactly.
Well, uh...
It's a little difficult to explain, um...
But you've never had a girl, have you, Charley?
Well, not actually.
That's what I thought.
Well, we are going to change all of that.
How?
I am going to introduce you to Harriet gunderson.
She's a girl who works in my office,
and she's a real swell kid. You'll like her, Charley, really.
Myra.
Oh, please, Charley? Just this one time.
Try. For me, huh? And if you do,
I promise you I'll never bother you again.
All right.
There's her address.
You don't even have to phone.
You can just, uh, pick her up.
About 8:00.
Charley?
Hm?
What are you thinking about?
Oh, nothing in particular.
Boy, you sure are quiet.
That means you're the dangerous type.
You can't trust the quiet ones.
You can trust me.
Who says I want to?
Well, I only meant, uh...
You know, you ought to...
Relax. Oh, lean back.
Take it easy.
There.
Isn't that nicer?
Yes.
Charley?
Hm?
Do you like me?
Very much.
Then why don't you show it?
Well, how do you mean?
Well,
you might...
You might try kissing me first.
Well, we hardly even know each other. We just met this evening.
Well, try anyway.
Ouch!
Oh, I'm sorry. Please, let me help you up.
Oh, forget it, buster.
Just forget it.
And you tell your sister you don't need a girl.
You need a doctor!
Twilight zone will continue after sta tion identifica tion.
Then, uh, she told Mei needed a doctor
just because I wouldn't kiss her.
I know that must be hard for you to believe,
but that's the way things are these days.
Of course, / realize she was doing itas a fa vor to Myra,
but even so...
Run.
Run!
Don't you lay a hand on her. Don't you touch her.
He was trying to harm her.
What?
He tried to kiss her last night,
but she wouldn't let him, so he came back.
Sure. Sure.
The maid-the maid tried to stop him,
but he hit her over the head with his cane.
Then he went after the girl.
She fainted, and he carried her to the bedroom.
I had to stop him. You can see that, can't you?
Sure, sure, I can see that.
I-I had to, I had to stop him.
I had to. I had to do it.
Now, Mr. Parkes, I want you to understand
that no one is saying you didn't see these things.
There's no doubt that you did.
But you must realize that you saw them only in your mind.
They were real.
To you, they were. That's the way it is with hallucination.
Ordinarily, the eye sees and transmits a picture to the brain.
But sometimes, that's reversed. In certain cases,
the brain sees and transmits its message to the eye.
Do you understand?
No. They were real.
In that case, others would have seen them, too.
Isn't that so?
I don't know.
It's logical, isn't it?
I suppose so.
But no one did see them.
Now, how do you explain that?
I don't know.
Think about it for a moment.
Well, Mr. Parkes?
I don't know why nobody else saw them.
Maybe they weren't looking.
You said that there were three figures in the display case.
A young girl, her maid and a man.
That's right.
Let's lookat it log/cally for a moment.
According to the museum officials,
there was only one figure: The girl.
Where did the others come from?
Well, the maid always came from the kitchen
or the dining room.
And that-that fellow...
Yes. Where did he come from?
Outside.
Outside the case?
No, outside the house.
Mr. Parkes, think about it.
There was nothing outside that house but glass,
and beyond that, other displays. Isn't that true?
Yes, but he came in the front door.
And they went out together once, uh,
to the opera or something. I-I-I don't know.
And... she never knew what kind of person he was,
but I could have told her.
You only had to look at him to see what kind of person he was.
But she's so
trusting and-and innocent
and helpless.
Not like other women?
No, nota tall.
Have you seen her?
Yes.
Oh, well, is-is she all right?
I-I've been worried sick.
Would you like to see her?
Yes.
Be careful!
You're holding a piece of wood in your hand, Mr. Parkes.
A beautifull y carved piece of wood.
Do you have to take her back?
I'm afraid so.
It is museum property.
Now, / want you to go back to your room
and thinkabout what? t I've said.
Will you do that?
And remember, what you saw is not the important thing.
Our job is to find out why.
Once we've accomplished that,
you'll have no more hall ucina tions.
Where is Charley?
Oh, he'll be here in a few moments.
Is he really normal, doctor?
That is a word we try not to use, Mrs. Parkes.
Why not?
Because it's mean/ngless.
"Normal" in the popular sense refers only
to the behavior pattern of the majority, and that pattern
is not necessar/I y good.
Well... if 99.9% of the people in the country were to, uh,
oh, go to bed with their socks on, let's say,
then going to bed with one's socks on would be the normal thing to do.
And if you didn't, you wouldn't be normal, you see?
Oh, I go to bed with my socks on all the time.
What I'm trying to say is,
don't judge Charley's emotional health
by the degree to which he conforms to other people's standards.
Don't expect him to, well, be like other people.
Then you don't think he's sick?
Not now, no. He was when he came here.
The constant pressure of trying to be something he wasn't,
of trying to act and feel and think
the wa yyou wanted him to instead of the wayhe wanted to.
Well, these things contributed to a serious breakdown.
You see, well, Charley was unable to cope with this world,
so his mind created another world.
Of course, he knew it was false, and he destroyed it.
And with that first step,
he started back on the road to mental health.
Of course, he insisted it was real for a long time, as you know,
but tha t is standard beha vior
in cases of hall uc/na t/on.
That's an interesting habit you have, that, uh...
Why do you do it?
Myra.
Hello, Charley.
Old buddy.
Oh, mother, how nice of you to come.
How you feeling, Charley?
Oh, wonderful, doctor, really, wonderful.
I can't tell you how much you've helped me.
No more dreams?
Oh, I've been sleeping like a baby.
Not worried about the girl in the display case?
There was no girl, just a doll. I know that.
And I know what it was that made me think I saw what I saw,
thanks to you.
Thanks to you, Charley.
You figured it out, remember?
I didn't tell you anything after the first da y.
[Crying]
Now, mother.
Oh, Charley.
I was so worried about my baby.
I was so frightened.
I know you were, and I'm sorry
I put you through so much heartache, but I'm fine now.
Isn't that right, doctor?
I think so.
And I'll get a job, and everything will be the way it was,
just the way it was.
I sure missed this.
No one can make cocoa the way you can.
Did they hurt you, Charley?
Well, they were afraid they were gonna have to use shock treatment,
and I hear that hurts quite a bit,
but they decided not to when I got well.
Everything else was fine.
They got a lot of nuts in that place, I guess, huh?
I didn't mean him!
That's all right. I don't mind.
Uh, may I have some more cocoa?
Uh, Charley, we have a couple of surprises for you.
Oh?
First of all, that job
in buddy's off/ce is still open.
Fine.
And I talked to Harriet
and explained things.
But she's a wonderful girl, and she understands.
Well, fine.
And you can tell her yourself, because she's coming over tonight.
Well, that's just wonderful. Thank you, Myra. Thank you, buddy.
It took a lot of doing. I can tell you that.
I mean, where you been and all.
I'm sure it did, but you won't be sorry.
I intend to work very hard.
If I'm gonna be fresh for tonight, I'd better go get a little rest.
Would you like to fix up my bed, mother?
Charley, are you all right, now, really?
Yes, mother, really.
You won't go talking crazy anymore and smashing things?
No, mother, that's all in the past.
It's good to have you back, son.
I can't tell you.
[Laughing loudly]
[Clears throat]
[Doorbell rings] Here's Harriet.
You'd better tell Charley to get ready. Hurry!
Hi. You look great! New dress?
Twenty bucks' worth. Hi, bud.
Hiya, Harriet.
[Wolf whistle]
Charley, your company's here.
Charley?
What's the matter? Can't you wake him up?
No, he must be very tired.
Hey, it's locked.
It couldn't be. Charley never locks his door.
Try it yourself.
Charley, boy.
Buddy. What on earth is all the racket about?
Maybe he doesn't want to be disturbed.
Nobody could sleep through that. Break it down.
Break it down!
Okay.
Charley!
Charley?
Charley.
Oh, now, mama, there's no need to get excited.
But he's gone!
He must've crawled out of the window.
Why would he do a thing like that?
I don't know. He's your son.
Myra! What are you gonna do?
Mama, mama, take it easy.
Myra, what...
Mama.
Hello, operator?
Could you give me the number of the county museum, please?
Thank you.
He couldn't have gone there.
He's well. The doctor said so.
Mama, please!
[Dialing]
Hello, uh, could you tell me, please,
are you open tonight?
Oh, thank you.
Well, you're right. He's not there.
They close at 5:00 every day except Tuesday,
and this is Wednesday.
[Hinge creaks]
[Piano playing]
They tried to tell me you weren't real.
They tried to make me think
that you were only something I imagined.
Of course, I knew better,
but I pretended to believe them.
'Cause if I hadn't ha ve done that, I'd still be in the hospital,
and I never would have seen you again.
That would have been terrible, because, uh,
you see, I love you.
I don't know how I can make you understand that.
Ma ybe if I keep telling you, you will.
I love you, Alice.
I love you.
So then we knocked, but he didn't answer,
so I had buddy knock down the door.
I see. Now, how would you describe his behavior
prior to his going in for the nap?
Well, I don't know how to put it.
It was as if he were so healthy
that I was worried.
It was like he didn't have a care in the world.
So I thought, "well, maybe he went to the museum,"
so I phoned, but they're closed tonight.
So where could he be?
Oh, he's there, all right.
But I just told you they're closed.
I expect he went in earlier and hid somewhere.
Now, I was just wondering...
If you would go along with us, Mr. Russell.
Sure.
It may not be necessary, but you never can quite tell.
And Mrs. Parkes, you might be able to do some good, if you're willing.
Anything for poor Charley.
Good.
Doctor, are you gonna take him back there to the hospital?
I think it might be wise, don't you?
Give me the police department, please.
Dr. Wallman says it happened
because I needed a simple world I could understand,
but your world isn't simple, is it?
No world with people in it is.
There's always loneliness
and suffering and heartache.
Looka t you, cry/ng because you're al one.
Well, I've been alone all my life.
Oh, people ha ve tried.
My mother and my sis ter...
They've tried very hard to understand,
but they can't.
You could.
We could understand each other
and help each other and
love each other.
If only...
[Footsteps approaching]
(Man) I don't know where he'd hide.
I check things pretty carefully every night before I leave.
I'm sure you do, but you'll Grant it's possible?
Barely.
Straight ahead there. Do you want me to turn on the lights?
Not yet. Mrs. Parkes, will you come with me?
And will the rest of you wait here, please?
[Whispering] Tell him you're here. Ask him to come out.
[Plaintively] Charley.
Louder. Command him.
[Firmly] Charley, it's mother. Come out of there.
Again.
[Sternly] Come out of there this second, young man!
You hear me?
All right, guard, you can turn them on now.
Are you sure he's here?
I'm almost positive.
Let's start looking.
Charley?
Charley!
(Narrator) They never found Charley parkes,
because the guard didn't tell them whathe saw in the glass case.
He knew what they'd sa y, and he knew hey'd be right, too,
because seeing is not al wa ys bel/ev/ng.
Especiall y if what? t you see happens to bean odd corner
of the twilight zone.
Some rather special ingredients to a bizarre brew
served up next on the twilight zone.
An oddball printing press, an editor with a stringer
from the lower regions are justa fewas we bring you
Robert sterling, pa tricia crowley,
and special guest star burgess Meredith
in Charles beaumont's printer's devil.
What's the matter?
Matter?
Why did you quit?
Finished.
Why would a man with your talent
wanna work for a hick paper like the courier?
Call it a challenge.
Now, miss Benson, are you impressed?
No. I'm amazed.
It's understandable.
Well, I must confess
that this is not my true vocation.
It isn't?
No. I am a reporter.
Some people have a green thumb. I have a green nose.
Wherever there is news, this old nose smells it.
Well, I'm afraid there isn't that much news to smell
to smell around dansburg, Mr. Smith.
There will be.
[Eerie music]
(Male presenter) Twilight zone is brought to you by