The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 1, Episode 20 - Elegy - full transcript
In a far corner of the universe, a spaceship with three astronauts lands on a planet with gravity and air conditions virtually identical to that on Earth. Their surroundings appear as Earth did 200 years ago but the planet has two suns so they're fairly certain they didn't somehow end up back home. People however seem to be frozen in time. They eventually stumble upon Jeremy Wickwire, who is the caretaker for the locale. His explanation of what he is and where they are defies belief but in the end, he does grant them their wish.
Elegy
First Aired: 19 February 1960
English Subtitles by
Pandorafilm - Heerlen
You're traveling
to another dimension.
A dimension not only of sight
and sound, but of mind.
A journey into a wondrous land
of imagination.
Next stop: The Twilight Zone
The time is the day
after tomorrow...
in 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.
I hear the atmosphere.
-This may be it, Pete.
It better be.
We're about out of fuel.
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? Do you call that a Martian?
Here, boy, come on.
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.
And as possible as any other.
Except that to my knowledge Earth
has never had more than one sun.
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...
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.
How are they biting?
Mister?
Hey, wake up.
Do you hear that? The music, a band?
There's somebody here.
It seems to be coming
from over there.
The music's coming from
that loudspeaker.
It's being piped in from somewhere.
Look.
Concert's over.
Well, any ideas, professor?
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 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?
You don't see the movements of a
clock's hands, but they do move.
Well, this clock has no hands.
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.
It's better than huddling together
like frightened children.
Remember, we meet back
here in one hour.
Hello.
Anybody there?
Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
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?
What's wrong with everybody
in this crazy place?
Answer me.
Can't you talk? Can't you move?
Answer me.
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.
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 Jeremy Wickwire.
Gentlemen, there's nothing to
be afraid of. Truly, there isn't.
But, you're real.
-Of course, I am.
Isn't everybody?
I used to think so.
-Oh, you mean...
Do come inside. Come on, won't you?
Come on, come inside.
There's nothing to be afraid of,
I assure you.
Do you like it?
We built it for a Mr Jenkinson.
But at the last moment he wanted
to be a knight in armor.
So he's out there in the medieval
section, slaying a dragon.
You mean there are other sections?
Yes, we have many sections.
There's the Roman, the Egyptian,
the Wild Western.
This is the most popular. This
is a period in American culture...
when creature comforts
were most abundant.
And before peace on Earth
became impossible.
Now, look, Mr Wickwire.
We are from Earth.
We were on a geological mission.
We ran into a meteorite storm. Some
of our equipment was knocked out.
We got lost.
That was six months ago.
We saw this asteroid and we landed.
Our fuel is gone.
We've got to stay here.
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...
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.
You tell us one thing right now.
Where are we?
Why, you're in a cemetery.
Didn't you know?
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.
Excellent.
Liebfraumilch, isn't it?
Mister...
-Wickwire.
We're very confused. We need help.
Sit down, my boys, sit down.
Come on, sit down.
What is it?
You said that we were in a cemetery.
What did you mean?
Just exactly that.
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.
-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 one thing more. When
you left Earth, what was the date?
September.
-No, no, the year.
2185.
-2185?
Now I understand.
-Well, that's nice. We don't.
When you arrived I thought you
were the men from Happy Glades.
But by your behavior,
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.
The management hit upon this scheme
for those who could afford it.
'This scheme' being?
-This little asteroid.
Where we recreate the exact condi-
tions under which the 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.
In other words, this is the place
where your dreams come true...
after you've stopped dreaming.
-That might be one way of putting it.
Yes, that's very good.
-You expect us to believe that?
I hadn't thought of that.
Don't you?
It's true, you know.
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? Your boss could
have bought a piece of desert.
Oh, 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.
What about you?
Yes, 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.
Now, I'm afraid you're forcing me
into an embarrassing admission.
You see, I'm not actually human.
I am now, but when you've gone...
I shall go back to sleep again
until I'm needed.
You see, I'm merely
a scientific device.
I go on and off again
like a machine.
You understand.
Yes, it's not very complicated.
He goes on and off.
-Yes.
I think I must have been
off for about 200 years.
Look, mister, you think...
-All right, Pete.
Mr Wickwire, we're staying here.
Yes, I know.
Yes, but you said something...
about our being gone.
-That's a figure of speech, captain.
I meant 'Departed.'
'Gone on' as it were.
You know what he's saying, don't you?
I told you not to trust him.
We meant you no harm.
-I realize that and I'm sorry.
Truly I am.
The antidote. Give us the antidote.
-There is no antidote, captain.
Even now the eternifying fluid is
coursing through your veins.
But 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.
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.
English Subtitles by
B. Cornelis - Pandorafilm - Heerlen
First Aired: 19 February 1960
English Subtitles by
Pandorafilm - Heerlen
You're traveling
to another dimension.
A dimension not only of sight
and sound, but of mind.
A journey into a wondrous land
of imagination.
Next stop: The Twilight Zone
The time is the day
after tomorrow...
in 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.
I hear the atmosphere.
-This may be it, Pete.
It better be.
We're about out of fuel.
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? Do you call that a Martian?
Here, boy, come on.
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.
And as possible as any other.
Except that to my knowledge Earth
has never had more than one sun.
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...
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.
How are they biting?
Mister?
Hey, wake up.
Do you hear that? The music, a band?
There's somebody here.
It seems to be coming
from over there.
The music's coming from
that loudspeaker.
It's being piped in from somewhere.
Look.
Concert's over.
Well, any ideas, professor?
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 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?
You don't see the movements of a
clock's hands, but they do move.
Well, this clock has no hands.
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.
It's better than huddling together
like frightened children.
Remember, we meet back
here in one hour.
Hello.
Anybody there?
Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
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?
What's wrong with everybody
in this crazy place?
Answer me.
Can't you talk? Can't you move?
Answer me.
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.
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 Jeremy Wickwire.
Gentlemen, there's nothing to
be afraid of. Truly, there isn't.
But, you're real.
-Of course, I am.
Isn't everybody?
I used to think so.
-Oh, you mean...
Do come inside. Come on, won't you?
Come on, come inside.
There's nothing to be afraid of,
I assure you.
Do you like it?
We built it for a Mr Jenkinson.
But at the last moment he wanted
to be a knight in armor.
So he's out there in the medieval
section, slaying a dragon.
You mean there are other sections?
Yes, we have many sections.
There's the Roman, the Egyptian,
the Wild Western.
This is the most popular. This
is a period in American culture...
when creature comforts
were most abundant.
And before peace on Earth
became impossible.
Now, look, Mr Wickwire.
We are from Earth.
We were on a geological mission.
We ran into a meteorite storm. Some
of our equipment was knocked out.
We got lost.
That was six months ago.
We saw this asteroid and we landed.
Our fuel is gone.
We've got to stay here.
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...
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.
You tell us one thing right now.
Where are we?
Why, you're in a cemetery.
Didn't you know?
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.
Excellent.
Liebfraumilch, isn't it?
Mister...
-Wickwire.
We're very confused. We need help.
Sit down, my boys, sit down.
Come on, sit down.
What is it?
You said that we were in a cemetery.
What did you mean?
Just exactly that.
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.
-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 one thing more. When
you left Earth, what was the date?
September.
-No, no, the year.
2185.
-2185?
Now I understand.
-Well, that's nice. We don't.
When you arrived I thought you
were the men from Happy Glades.
But by your behavior,
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.
The management hit upon this scheme
for those who could afford it.
'This scheme' being?
-This little asteroid.
Where we recreate the exact condi-
tions under which the 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.
In other words, this is the place
where your dreams come true...
after you've stopped dreaming.
-That might be one way of putting it.
Yes, that's very good.
-You expect us to believe that?
I hadn't thought of that.
Don't you?
It's true, you know.
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? Your boss could
have bought a piece of desert.
Oh, 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.
What about you?
Yes, 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.
Now, I'm afraid you're forcing me
into an embarrassing admission.
You see, I'm not actually human.
I am now, but when you've gone...
I shall go back to sleep again
until I'm needed.
You see, I'm merely
a scientific device.
I go on and off again
like a machine.
You understand.
Yes, it's not very complicated.
He goes on and off.
-Yes.
I think I must have been
off for about 200 years.
Look, mister, you think...
-All right, Pete.
Mr Wickwire, we're staying here.
Yes, I know.
Yes, but you said something...
about our being gone.
-That's a figure of speech, captain.
I meant 'Departed.'
'Gone on' as it were.
You know what he's saying, don't you?
I told you not to trust him.
We meant you no harm.
-I realize that and I'm sorry.
Truly I am.
The antidote. Give us the antidote.
-There is no antidote, captain.
Even now the eternifying fluid is
coursing through your veins.
But 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.
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.
English Subtitles by
B. Cornelis - Pandorafilm - Heerlen