Original subtitles

[eerie music]

(male narrator) There is a fifth dimension

Beyond that Which is known to man.

It is a dimension As vast as space

And as timeless as infinity.

It is the middle ground Between light and shadow.

Between science And superstition.

It lies between the pit Of man's fears,

And the summit Of his knowledge.

This is the dimension Of imagination

It is an area Which we call The twilight zone.

The time is the day After tomorrow,

The place, a far Corner of the universe.

The cast of characters, three Men lost amongst the stars,

Three men sharing the common Urgency of all men lost.

They're looking for home.

And in a moment They'll find home.

Not a home that is A place to be seen

But a strange, unexplainable Experience to be felt.

[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.

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 explain 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 hate to Bother you--

(Pete) What's the matter With 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 that 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 back 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]

[mischievous 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 on a routine Geological mission.

We ran into A meteorite storm.

Some of our equipment Was knocked out.

We got lost.

Now, that 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) Wait a second.

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 place

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, I am 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 antidote--

Give us the antidote.

(Wickwire) There is no Antidote, captain.

Even now the Eternifying fluid

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.

[mischievous music]

[humming]

(male narrator) Kirby, Webber and Meyers, Three men lost.

They shared a common wish, A simple one really,

They wanted to be aboard Their ship headed for home.

And fate, a laughing fate, A practical jokester

With a smile that stretched Across the stars

Saw to it that They got their wish

With just one reservation,

The wish came true

But only In the twilight zone.

(male presenter, off) Rod Serling, creator Of twilight zone

Will tell you about next Week's story after this word From our alternate sponsor.

And now, Mr. Serling.

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 un usual 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 have dynamic Growth, low unemployment,

And reasonably stable prices? Write for this free booklet

To American Assembly, Columbia University New York City.