[Eerie music]
(Narrator) You unlock this door with the k e y of ima Gina t/on.
Beyond it is another dimension...
A dimension of sound,
[glass shattering]
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.
[Clock ticking]
Fl my grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf fl
fl so it stood 90 years on the floor fl
fl it was taller byhalf than the old man himselffl
fl though it weighed nota pennywe/ght more fl
ohhh, such a long face.
Fl my grandfa ther said fl
honey.
Fl that of those he could hire fl
flnota servant so faithful he'd found fl
fl for it wasted no time... fl
what's wrong?
I have to go up to talk to him.
I don't know what to say to him.
He's so happy, singing.
Honey, I know how much you love him,
and I love you,
but we're gonna ha ve to face facts.
I know.
You're good for me.
Someone's got to take care of the homely women of the world.
Hmm, thanks loads.
Fl 90 years without sl umber/ng fl
fl ticktock, ticktockfl
fl with life's seconds numbering fl
fl ticktock, ticktock... fl
[laughs]
That's good, that, uh, that...
Gran dpa?
Come on down.
[Oh, marne. Uaughs]
Don't waste your eyesight, grandpa.
Well, you know, once a clockmaker...
And it's been a few minutes off lately.
Grandpa, are you all right?
Me?
Why, never better.
Why, marn?
It's just that you didn't come down for dinner.
In fact, you haven't been out of your room all day.
Well, my friend's been acting up today.
I can't seem to get it regulated just right, you know.
Gran dpa,
we know how you love the clock...
But-but you see,
it's ticking along nicely now.
We shouldn't have any trouble for a long while.
Of course, with a clock as old as that,
well, you-you're bound to run into problems, you know.
Just like old people.
Oh, oh, oh.
Now you ignore that.
Just ignore the clock and ignore me.
The main thing is really you and the baby, you see.
See, that's more important than...
Will you get some rest?
Take care of yourself.
Oh, you know me.
I-I never sleep.
Well, at least eat.
Well, maybe later.
Promise?
Promise.
Okay.
Go ahead.
[Clock ticking very slowly]
[Watch ticking very quickly]
Oh, it's... it's running slow.
I didn't wind it properly.
They're making me so nervous.
I'm becoming careless.
I mustn't... I mustn't let them make me nervous.
Please, please, don't stop.
I'll never forget to wind you again.
I promise.
Each man measures his time...
Some with hope, some with joy, some with fear.
But Sam forstmann measures his allotted time
by a grandfather's clock,
a unique mechanism
whose pendulum swings between life and death,
a very special clock
that keeps a special kind of time...
In the twilight zone.
Where is he this morning?
Still sleeping, I guess.
I'm not surprised.
He must have been fiddling around with that clock
till 4:00 in the morning.
Did you hear him?
Sit down.
Will you please sit down, honey?
Is tha tall you're ha v/ng?
I'm not hungry.
What about the baby?
I'm sure you don't have to worry, Doug.
Honey, now, let's not start fighting again.
But you're gonna have to face the fact
your grandfather's just not a well man.
He's always been so alert, so easy to be with.
Maybe it's just a temporary thing.
Maybe it's a little something.
Whydon't we let Mel a very talk to him,
just to make sure.
You think I'm crazy, don't you?
Mel Avery is a psychiatrist.
He's a head shrinker.
You don't have to tell me, I know.
Grandpa, Mel's been a friend of ours for years.
He and Doug went to college together.
You've met h/m.
Oh, I've met lots of people.
But I don't let them tinker with my head.
Sam, no one's going to tinker with your head.
All we're suggesting
is that you see Mel and talk to him.
Well, why do I need to see a psychiatrist?
Well, your preoccupation with the clock, for instance.
I'm fond of my clock and that makes me crazy.
My, what a strange world we live in.
You have to admit you spend a lot of time with it.
Sometimes half the night.
Aha! Just because I have insomnia
and working on the clock relaxes me,
that makes me a candidate for the loony bin.
I've had insomnia all my life.
So did my fa ther.
He died at 90.
90 years without slumbering...
Just like the song says.
Grandpa, Doug only has your best interest at heart.
Oh, yeah, my best interests.
All right, son.
I'll go to see your friend the ps ych/a tr/st tomorro w.
You may be surprised when you find out
who the crazy one really is.
(Grandpa) Tha t cl ock was completed exactl y 76 years ago.
And it was presented to me the day of my birth.
You see, doctor,
my father was very much in love with my mother.
And in those days,
it was very fashionable
for husbands and wives
to be in love with each other.
And it's no longer fashionable, huh?
If it were, the woods wouldn't be full of psychiatrists.
So you and the clock were "born" on the same day
so to speak.
Oh, now, you're trying to get me to say
that I think that the clock is a real, living person.
Well, I don't.
It's a mechanism.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Then why are you so extraordinarily concerned with it?
Well, that clock's worth hundreds of dollars.
It also ls a fam/I y he/rl oom.
Wouldn't you want to keep a thing like that
in perfect condition?
Well, yes, but, uh...
You're not sure, huh?
Yes, I'm sure.
But... we're not talking about my clock,
we're talking about your clock.
Oh, so you have a grandfather's clock, too, doctor, huh?
Well, as a matter of fact, my wife bought one recently.
She collects antiques.
Tell me about it.
Well, it's eight feet tall,
it's han d-carved,
built in Germany in 1874 by, uh... uh...
Mr. Forstmann, we were talking about you.
Oh, I thought we were talking about your clock.
Yes, we were,
but we somehow got off the track.
Track? Are we going to talk about trains now?
[Chuckles]
Mr. Forstmann,
if you don't care to talk about anything else...
Oh, I could talk about clocks
for hours, doctor.
But your time's expensive.
Mine's free.
Oh, there, uh, there is one thing, doctor.
Yes?
When my clock stops ticking,
I'll die.
You really believe that?
Oh, there's no doubt about it.
Does that make me crazy?
Well, crazy is a big word.
But/tis a rather strange idea.
If I had a clock like that, I'd get rid of it.
Oh, either the clock goes or I go.
That's what you're telling me.
I didn't say that.
I think you did.
Good day, doctor.
[Groaning]
Be careful, boys!
Be careful.
Don't worry, pops, we got it.
Right there.
Well, what do you think?
I don't know, pops.
I'm not an interior decorator.
[Ticking slowly]
[Ticking stops]
[Clock begins ticking]
Hey, wait.
What happened?
My clock!
Now, look, pops.
Take it easy.
Oh, I'm all right.
Boy...
You had us worried there for a minute.
Not yet, I guess.
Not yet.
Doug, look.
Oh, no, honey...
He's trying to make
some compromise with us, Doug.
(Grandpa) Wel I, ch/I dren.
Hello, grandpa.
I thought we'd give it a try there.
To see how it looks.
What do you think?
Well... I don't know.
Sam, take a look for yourself.
It sticks out I/kea sore thumb.
Yeah, I guess it does.
Sam, we might as well be honest.
The doctor says the clock should go.
The doctor said that?
He says you're being obsessed by the clock.
He sa ys it's bad for you.
Senile... that's what he really said, isn't it?
No, grandpa.
Yes, and he wants you to put me away.
No, grandpa, he didn't say that.
Well, I'm not going to any loony bin.
I'll tell you what I am going to do.
I'm going to sell the clock.
I love this clock
and your nursery is beautiful.
Marnie, it's just perfect.
Oh, thank you.
Want some more coffee?
I'd love it.
I refuse to get pregnant
until I have my nursery all planned.
George didn't think it was logical.
I have to agree with him, Carol.
Mr. Forstmann, where will you be living
after the baby comes?
Carol, he'll be staying right here
in his own room.
Oh, well, of course, I didn't mean anything.
I'll be needing his help.
You gonna keep the clock here?
Just temporarily.
Carol, do you know anyone
who might like to buy it?
Sure, me.
I wish I could afford it.
Do you mean that?
Do I?
You know what I think about antiques
and that clock will just make our hallway.
Oh, well, I think that we can work out something.
I mean, you could pay me later.
It doesn't ma tter.
Are you serious, Mr. Forstmann?
Yes. Why, it would be perfect.
You living next door to us,
I could visit the clock every day.
I mean, I could take care of it.
Keep it in good condition.
And we'd appreciate it.
It's not one of your eight-day clocks.
It's special.
You have to wind it every other day.
Grandpa, I don't think Carol would like you tinkering with it.
It'll be her clock.
But it'll only take a few minutes every other day.
Oh, I wouldn't mind, marnie,
your grandfa ther could take such good care of it.
I'd apprecia te it, reall y.
It's up to you two, anyway.
I can't wait to see what it looks like.
George doesn't think I'm a bargain hunter.
Wait till he hears about this.
Good morning, marnie.
Good morning, grandpa.
You're up early this morning.
Well, early to bed, early to rise...
You know, Ben Franklin?
Or was it George Washington?
I'm off to wind the clock.
George and Carol are out of town.
Didn't you know tha t?
Out of town?
Just for the weekend.
You'll hardly miss a visit to your clock.
Don't you realize that the clock winds down after 48 hours?
Grandpa, are you gonna start that again?
We've been so happy for the past two weeks.
All of us.
Yes, yes, we've been happy.
Two weeks of borrowed time.
I should be grateful.
It's running out.
It's dying.
Hold it right there.
Look, officer, I have to wind the clock, you know,
it's running down.
It must be wound, it must be.
Oh, sure, sure, mister.
Where do you live?
Next door. You don't understand... I have to wind the clock.
Come on, come on.
You'll wake the whole neighborhood.
Look, please, just let me wind the clock,
and then I'll go home.
That's private property. I can't let you.
You have to!
Now, look, mister,
I can't let you go in there.
But, don't you see?
Don't you see, I'm running down.
And if that stops, I'll die.
I'll really die.
Oh, I don't think so.
You mustn't do this, you mustn't.
Just let me wind the clock, please.
Can I get something for you, grandpa?
I won't need anything.
Don't worry, marnie, it's, it's better this way.
Better?
Good night, grandpa.
Good night, sweetheart.
It is...
It is better this way.
It has to come sometime.
And I want it to come for me here.
[Clock ticking slowly]
[Ticking stops]
Sam, old friend...
It's been a good life.
But now it's time to go.
Well, don't let me detain you.
How the heck did you get in my bedroom?
I don't believe we've been introduced.
Your face is familiar.
I'm your spirit.
Your time has come, Sam.
After all, you are 76.
Don't give me that spirit of 76 stuff.
And who says it's my time to go?
Have you forgotten what your father told you?
And your grandfa ther?
About what?
Didn't they always tell you
that when the clock winds down you'll die?
Yes, and you know something?
I used to believe that stuff.
Well, you should have.
They told you often enough.
But tha t's sill y.
Don't you know tha t?
I do.
I've been to a psychiatrist.
Well, so what?
So he told me he didn't think I needed the clock.
And he didn't think I was crazy.
And you know what?
He was right and we're wrong.
Personally, I never trust the psychiatrists.
Well, you're from another generation.
See, I live in the present.
Live, I said.
Look at me.
You're just a figment of my imagination.
Why, I can see right through you.
I've got a great-grandchild coming.
And I plan to stay around a while to play with him
to, uh, wa tch him grow,
take him to school.
Maybe even to college.
I re pea t,
I don't believe in you,
therefore you don't exist, right?
Right.
Marnie!
What are you doing up this time of the night?
I was worried about you, grandpa.
The thing to worry about
is that great-grandchild of mine.
Now, you let me up, let me out of this bed.
My goodness,
you shouldn't worry about me.
Come on downstairs and I'll get you
a good cup of hot chocolate.
Be careful of the steps.
You must be careful.
It's my great-grandchild.
Look out.
Marnie?
I think I cheated your friends.
That old clock hasn't been running right
for the last 40 years.
Why, it's taken everything I ever learned in clockmaking
just to keep it going.
Really, gran dpa?
Uh, as a matter of fact,
it stopped ticking for the last time
just a few moments ago.
How do you know that?
Oh, don't ask me how I know,
but I know.
And a strange thing happened, marnie.
When that clock died,
I was born again.
(Narrator) Cl ocks are made b y men, god crea tes t/me.
No man can prolong his allotted hours,
he can onlylive them to the fullest...
In this world or in the twilight zone.
(Male presenter) And now, Mr. Serl/ng.
Next time we enlist the aid
of a very talented scribe, Earl hamner, Jr.
He's written a story called "ring-a-ding girl"
and in the milieu of fantasy,
this one is strictly a blue ribbon entry.
It stars Maggie McNamara and it involves a movie actress,
a publicity tour, a strange flight, an airplane,
and some occult occurrences
designed to send shivers through you like a fast subway train.
Next time out on the twilight zone,
"ring-a-ding girl."