The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 2, Episode 13 - Back There - full transcript
At a prominent club in Washington, D.C., a socialite argues about whether it would be possible to change history by traveling back in time. When he leaves the club he finds himself in 1865, on the night that President Lincoln will be shot.
( eerie music)
YOU'RE TRAVELING THROUGH
ANOTHER DIMENSION...
A DIMENSION NOT ONLY OF
SIGHT AND SOUND, BUT OF MIND.
A JOURNEY INTO A WONDROUS LAND
WHOSE BOUNDARIES
ARE THAT OF IMAGINATION.
THAT'S THE SIGNPOST UP AHEAD.
YOUR NEXT STOP,
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
THANK YOU, WILLIAM.
YES, SIR.
CUT.
WHAT'S YOUR POINT?
THAT, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE
FOR A PERSON TO GO BACK IN TIME,
THERE'D BE NOTHING IN THE
WORLD TO PREVENT THEM
FROM ALTERING THE COURSE
OF HISTORY? IS THAT IT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
LET'S SAY, CORRIGAN,
THAT YOU GO BACK IN TIME.
IT'S OCTOBER, 1929,
THE DAY BEFORE THE
STOCK MARKET CRASHED.
NOW, YOU KNOW THAT, ON
THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
SECURITIES ARE GOING
TO TUMBLE INTO AN ABYSS.
NOW, USING THIS PRIOR KNOWLEDGE,
THERE'S A HUNDRED
THINGS YOU COULD DO
TO PROTECT YOURSELF.
BUT I'D BE AN ANACHRONISM.
I REALLY DON'T
BELONG BACK THERE.
YOU COULD SELL OUT THE
DAY BEFORE THE CRASH.
BUT WHAT IF I DID, AND
STARTED THE CRASH EARLIER?
NOW, HISTORY TELLS US
THAT ON OCTOBER 24, 1929,
THE BOTTOM FELL OUT
OF THE STOCK MARKET.
THAT'S A FIXED DATE.
IT EXISTS AS AN EVENT IN
THE HISTORY OF OUR TIMES.
IT CAN'T BE ALTERED.
AND I SAY IT CAN.
NOW, WHAT'S TO PREVENT ME, SAY,
FROM GOING TO A BROKER
ON THE MORNING OF
OCTOBER 23 OR 22?
WITNESS A THEORETICAL ARGUMENT,
WASHINGTON, D.C., THE PRESENT.
FOUR INTELLIGENT MEN TALKING
ABOUT AN IMPROBABLE
THING LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME.
A FRIENDLY DEBATE REVOLVING
AROUND A SIMPLE ISSUE:
COULD A HUMAN BEING CHANGE
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE?
INTERESTING AND THEORETICAL
BECAUSE WHO EVER HEARD
OF A MAN GOING BACK IN TIME?
BEFORE TONIGHT, THAT IS.
BECAUSE THIS IS
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
GENTLEMEN, I'M AFRAID
I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO LEAVE TIME TRAVEL
TO H.G. WELLS.
I'M MUCH TOO TIRED
TO GO INTO ANY MORE
METAPHYSICS THIS EVENING.
AND, SINCE NO ONE HAS
EVER GONE BACK INTO TIME,
I FIND THE WHOLE BLAME SUBJECT
MUCH TOO THEORETICAL ANYWAY.
PHIL, I'LL PROBABLY SEE
YOU OVER THE WEEKEND.
DON'T GET LOST BACK
IN TIME, NOW, CORRIGAN.
I CERTAINLY SHALL NOT.
GOOD NIGHT, GENTLEMEN.
GOOD NIGHT, PETE.
SO LONG, CORRIGAN.
WELL, WHERE DO WE GET A FOURTH?
GOOD EVENING.
I'M DESPERATELY
SORRY, MR. CORRIGAN.
THAT WAS VERY CLUMSY OF ME.
I THINK I SHALL SURVIVE,
WILLIAM. I REALLY DO.
DID YOU... DID YOU
HAVE A COAT, SIR?
NO. I'M RUSHING THE SEASON
A LITTLE TONIGHT, WILLIAM.
I FELT SPRING IN THE AIR,
SO I CAME OUT LIKE THIS.
WELL, APRIL IS SPRING, SIR.
WHAT IS THE DATE, WILLIAM?
UH... APRIL 14, SIR.
APRIL 14, 1961, RIGHT?
I BEG YOUR PARDON, SIR?
OH, YES, 1961.
WELL, GOOD NIGHT, WILLIAM.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
YES, SIR.
HOME.
HOME. THAT'S IT.
I'LL GO HOME... I'LL GO HOME...
( horse's hooves
clopping on street)
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
HAVE A BIT OF
PATIENCE. I'M COMING.
YES?
OH, I'M SORRY.
ISN'T THIS NUMBER
19 12th STREET?
THAT'S RIGHT.
WHOM DO YOU WISH TO SEE?
I USED TO LIVE HERE.
THIS... THIS USED TO
BE THE OLDEST BUILDING
IN THIS PART OF TOWN.
WHAT'S THAT?
WELL, THAT IS, AS I
REMEMBER IT, IT USED TO BE.
NOW, LOOK HERE, YOUNG MAN.
I CAN'T STAND AROUND ALL EVENING
TALKING ABOUT SILLY THINGS
LIKE WHICH IS THE OLDEST
BUILDING IN THE SECTION.
NOW, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE...
DO YOU HAVE A ROOM?
YES, I HAVE ROOMS FOR
ACCEPTABLE BOARDERS.
DO YOU COME FROM AROUND HERE?
YES, I DO.
ARMY VETERAN?
YES... YES, AS A
MATTER OF FACT, I AM.
MAY I INQUIRE AS TO
WHAT BUSINESS YOU'RE IN?
I'M AN ENGINEER.
OH, REALLY?
A PROFESSIONAL MAN.
WELL, RIGHT UPSTAIRS
AND TO THE RIGHT.
( woman laughs)
GOOD EVENING, MRS. LANDERS.
GOOD EVENING.
OFF TO THE PLAY?
YES. DINNER, AND
THEN OFF TO THE PLAY.
WELL, ENJOY YOURSELVES.
APPLAUD THE PRESIDENT FOR ME.
WE'LL CERTAINLY DO THAT.
GOOD NIGHT. HAVE A GOOD TIME.
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
WELL... WHAT DID I SAY?
TO THE OFFICER. YOU
SAID SOMETHING TO HIM.
SHE JUST SAID SOMETHING TO YOU
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.
SHE TOLD ME TO APPLAUD HIM.
WHERE MIGHT YOUR SYMPATHIES LIE?
YES, YOUNG MAN, WHICH
ARMY WERE YOU IN?
WELL, I WAS IN...
THE ARMY OF THE
REPUBLIC, OF COURSE.
WELL, THEN WHY MAKE SUCH A THING
OF APPLAUDING PRESIDENT LINCOLN?
IT'S HIS DUE, WE FIGURE.
THAT AND EVERYTHING
ELSE, GOD BLESS HIM.
YOU'RE GOING TO A PLAY TONIGHT?
WE MAY OR MAY NOT,
DEPENDING ON WHEN MY HUSBAND
MAKES UP HIS MIND
TO CALL A CARRIAGE
TO GET US TO THE
THEATER AND TO DINNER.
WHAT THEATER? WHAT PLAY?
WELL, FORD'S THEATER, OF COURSE.
FORD'S THEATER...
FORD'S THEATER...
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
ARE YOU FEELING ALL RIGHT?
WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE PLAY?
I BEG YOUR PARDON?
THE PLAY... THE ONE YOU'RE GOING
TO TONIGHT AT FORD'S THEATER...
WHAT'S IT CALLED?
IT'S CALLED OUR AMERICAN COUSIN.
OUR AMERICAN COUSIN...
AND LINCOLN'S GOING TO BE THERE.
AND IT'S APRIL
14, 1865, ISN'T IT?
REALLY, SIR, I'D
CALL THESE ACTIONS
MOST STRANGE.
IT IS APRIL 14, 1865.
LET ME IN! LET ME IN!
THE PRESIDENT'S GOING
TO BE SHOT TONIGHT!
LET ME IN!
NOW, WHAT HAS THIS ONE DONE?
WHILE YOU IDIOTS
ARE SITTING HERE,
YOU'RE GOING TO
LOSE A PRESIDENT.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S BEEN YELLING
ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE STATION.
AND THAT'S WHY THE DOORMAN AT
FORD'S THEATER POPPED HIM ON THE HEAD.
HE TRIED TO POUND HIS WAY
RIGHT THROUGH THE STAGE DOOR,
YELLING SOME SORT OF NONSENSE
ABOUT "PRESIDENT
LINCOLN'S GOING TO BE SHOT."
PRESIDENT LINCOLN WILL BE
SHOT, TONIGHT, AT THE THEATER.
A MAN NAMED BOOTH.
AND HOW WOULD
YOU BE KNOWING THIS?
ARE YOU SOME KIND OF A
CLAIRVOYANT OR SOMETHING?
I ONLY KNOW WHAT I KNOW.
IF I TOLD YOU HOW I KNEW,
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME.
LOOK... KEEP ME
HERE IF YOU LIKE...
LOCK ME UP... BUT HEAR ME OUT.
LET HIM SLEEP IT OFF.
SOMEBODY BETTER GET
TO THE PRESIDENT'S
BOX AT THE THEATER.
KEEP HIM OUT OF THERE!
PUT A CORDON OF MEN AROUND HIM!
A MAN NAMED JOHN WILKES BOOTH
IS GOING TO
ASSASSINATE HIM TONIGHT!
WELLINGTON, SERGEANT.
JONATHAN WELLINGTON.
WELL... AND WHAT CAN WE
DO FOR YOU, MR. WELLINGTON?
THAT MAN YOU JUST
HAD INCARCERATED...
MR. CORRIGAN, I BELIEVE
YOU SAID HIS NAME WAS?
DRUNK, SIR.
THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT HE IS.
DRUNK OR... OR PERHAPS ILL.
I WONDER IF HE MIGHT BE
REMANDED IN MY CUSTODY?
HE MIGHT WELL BE A WAR VETERAN.
I WOULD HATE TO
SEE HIM PLACED IN JAIL.
YOU SAY YOU WANT US TO
REMAND HIM IN YOUR CUSTODY?
PRECISELY.
I'LL BE FULLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR HIM.
I THINK PERHAPS I MIGHT
BE ABLE TO HELP HIM.
ALL RIGHT, SIR,
IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU'D LIKE IT.
HAVE CORRIGAN
BROUGHT BACK IN HERE.
THIS GENTLEMAN IS GOING
TO LOOK OUT FOR HIM.
THAT'S REAL DECENT OF
YOU, SIR. REAL DECENT OF YOU.
I'LL BE OUTSIDE.
HAVE HIM BROUGHT OUT
TO ME, IF YOU WOULD?
I WILL INDEED, SIR. YES.
UH... ABOUT THAT CORRIGAN, SIR.
WHAT ABOUT HIM?
WELL, WOULDN'T
IT BE WISE, SIR, IF...?
IF WHAT?
HE SEEMED SO
POSITIVE, SIR. SO SURE.
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, I MEAN.
AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO...
SEND ALL AVAILABLE POLICE
TO FORD'S THEATER?
AND ON WHAT AUTHORITY?
ON THE WORD OF
SOME DEMENTED FOOL
WHO PROBABLY LEFT
HIS MIND IN GETTYSBURG?
IF I WERE YOU, MISTER,
I'D BE CONSIDERABLY
MORE THOUGHTFUL
IN SIZING UP A SITUATION
OR YOU'LL NOT ADVANCE
IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
NOW, BE GOOD
ENOUGH TO STEP ASIDE
SO I CAN GET ON WITH MY WORK.
SERGEANT, IT WOULDN'T HURT IF...
IT WOULDN'T HURT IF WHAT?
WELL, I ONLY MEANT
TO SUGGEST, SIR,
THAT IF PERHAPS WE
PLACED AN EXTRA GUARD
IN THE BOX WITH THE PRESIDENT...
THE PRESIDENT HAS ENOUGH GUARDS!
THE WHOLE FEDERAL
ARMY IS AT HIS DISPOSAL.
AND, IF THEY'RE SATISFIED
WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR HIS PROTECTION, SO AM I!
SO SHOULD YOU.
Wellington: HERE.
TRY THIS.
IT'LL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.
BETTER?
WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY?
AT THE MOMENT, I'M
YOUR BENEFACTOR.
APPARENTLY, YOUR ONLY FRIEND.
I'M IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
BUT, AS A YOUNG MAN IN COLLEGE,
I DABBLED IN MEDICINE OF A SORT.
MEDICINE?
MEDICINE OF THE MIND.
PSYCHIATRIST.
DON'T KNOW THE TERM.
WHAT ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS?
THEY DO INTEREST ME.
THIS STORY YOU WERE TELLING
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT
BEING ASSASSINATED...
WHAT TIME IS IT?
THIS TIME?
HALF PAST 7:00.
PLAY DOESN'T BEGIN FOR ANOTHER
THREE-QUARTERS OF AN HOUR.
WHAT GAVE YOU THE IDEA...
THAT THE PRESIDENT
WOULD BE ASSASSINATED?
I JUST HAPPEN TO
KNOW, THAT'S ALL.
YOU HAVE A PREMONITION?
I'VE GOT A DEVIL OF A LOT MORE
THAN A PREMONITION.
LINCOLN WILL BE ASSASSINATED
UNLESS SOMEBODY
TRIES TO PREVENT IT.
I SHALL TRY TO PREVENT IT
IF YOU CAN CONVINCE ME
THAT YOU'RE NEITHER
DRUNK NOR INSANE.
IF I TOLD YOU WHAT I WAS,
YOU'D BE CONVINCED I WAS INSANE,
SO ALL I'M GOING
TO TELL YOU IS THIS:
I HAPPEN TO KNOW FOR A FACT
THAT A MAN NAMED
JOHN WILKES BOOTH
WILL ASSASSINATE
PRESIDENT LINCOLN
IN HIS BOX AT FORD'S THEATER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
TIME IT'LL HAPPEN.
THAT'S SOMETHING I FORGOT.
SOMETHING YOU FORGOT?
YES, LISTEN, I...
HERE. THAT HASN'T
BEEN TREATED PROPERLY.
YOU'D BEST COVER IT.
THAT'S ODD.
WHAT IS?
SUDDENLY, I FEEL FAINT.
I FEEL WEAK, AS IF I WERE...
AS IF YOU WERE WHAT?
AS IF I WERE...
SUDDENLY DRUNK OR...
( panting)
I'VE NEVER FELT THIS WAY BEFORE.
I'VE NEVER... I'VE NE...
( laughs)
YOU! YOU... YOU DEVIL.
YOU DRUGGED ME, DIDN'T YOU?
YOU DRUGGED ME!
HAD TO, MY YOUNG FRIEND.
YOU'RE A VERY SICK MAN,
AND A SICK MAN
DOESN'T BELONG IN JAIL.
HE BELONGS IN A
COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATION
WHERE HE CAN SLEEP AND REST
AND REGAIN HIS
COMPOSURE... HIS REASON.
REST... MR. CORRIGAN.
I'LL BE BACK SOON.
PLEASE...
PLEASE, YOU'VE
GOT TO BELIEVE ME.
LINCOLN WILL BE SHOT TONIGHT.
AND THAT'S ODD...
BECAUSE I'M BEGINNING
TO BELIEVE YOU.
GOOD NIGHT, MR. CORRIGAN.
REST WELL.
( cheering and applause)
SOMEBODY...
PLEASE... LET ME OUT!
I KNOW!
( moans)
I KNOW...
OUR PRESIDENT'S GOING
TO BE ASSASSINATED.
Woman: NO NEED TO BREAK
THE DOOR DOWN, OFFICER.
I'VE GOT AN EXTRA KEY.
NOW, STEP ASIDE,
IF YOU DON'T MIND.
( key turns)
( gasps)
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
WHAT TIME IS IT?
YOU'VE GOT TO TELL
ME WHAT TIME IT IS.
IT'S 10:00. COME ON, CORRIGAN.
YOU'VE GOT TO TELL ME
WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS.
YOU MAY BE A MADMAN OR A
DRUNK OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT,
BUT YOU'VE GOT ME CONVINCED.
I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO THE POLICE
COMMISSIONER'S HOUSE
TRYING TO GET A SPECIAL
GUARD FOR THE PRESIDENT.
THEN GO YOURSELF.
FIND OUT WHERE HE'S SITTING,
AND GET RIGHT UP
ALONGSIDE OF HIM.
HE'LL BE SHOT FROM BEHIND.
LET ME HELP YOU UP.
HE WAS SHOT FROM BEHIND.
THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED.
THEN THE ASSASSIN JUMPED
FROM THE BOX TO THE STAGE
AND RAN OUT OF THE WINGS.
YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS
AS IF IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.
IT HAS HAPPENED... IT HAPPENED
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO...
AND I'M HERE TO SEE
THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
WHERE'S THE MAN WHO BROUGHT
ME HERE? WHERE'S WELLINGTON?
WELLINGTON? THERE'S NO
ONE HERE BY THAT NAME.
DON'T TELL ME THERE'S
NO ONE HERE BY THAT NAME.
HE BROUGHT ME HERE.
HE LIVES IN THIS ROOM.
THERE'S NO ONE
HERE BY THAT NAME.
I TELL YOU, THE MAN WHO
BROUGHT ME HERE'S NA...
"J.W.B."
OF COURSE.
MR. JOHN WILKES BOOTH,
WHO LIVES IN THIS ROOM.
AND THAT'S WHO BROUGHT YOU HERE.
HE TOLD ME HIS NAME
WAS WELLINGTON.
AND THAT'S WHY HE DRUGGED ME.
HE GAVE ME WINE,
AND HE DRUGGED ME.
HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO STOP IT.
HE'S THE ONE WHO'S
GOING TO DO IT.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET
TO THAT THEATER.
YOU'VE GOT TO STOP HIM.
JOHN WILKES BOOTH...
HE'S GOING TO KILL LINCOLN.
PLEASE, YOU'VE GOT TO STOP HIM!
Man: THE PRESIDENT'S BEEN SHOT!
Woman: AN ACTOR SHOT LINCOLN.
( crowd murmuring)
( crying): OH...
YOU WERE RIGHT.
YOU DID KNOW.
( sobbing)
OH, MY DEAR GOD.
( crowd murmuring outside)
I TRIED TO TELL YOU.
I TRIED TO WARN YOU!
WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN?
WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN?!
WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO ME?!
( cars passing, horns honking)
( pounding on door)
GOOD EVENING, MR. CORRIGAN.
DID YOU FORGET SOMETHING?
WHAT? FORGET SOMETHING?
YOU LEFT HERE JUST A MOMENT AGO
AND I THOUGHT YOU
FORGOT SOMETHING.
A MOMENT AGO?
WHERE'S WILLIAM?
WILLIAM, SIR?
THERE'S NO WILLIAM ON DUTY.
THERE'S NO ONE HERE
NAMED WILLIAM, SIR.
OH, PETE. BACK SO SOON, EH?
WANT TO JOIN US?
WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE BEST WAYS
OF AMASSING A FORTUNE.
WHAT ARE YOUR TRIED
AND TRUE METHODS?
YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT TIME TRAVEL...
ABOUT GOING BACK IN TIME.
OH, WELL, WE'RE
ON A NEW TACK NOW:
MONEY, AND THE BEST
WAYS TO ACQUIRE IT.
LISTEN... I'VE GOT
SOMETHING TO TELL YOU.
WHY, OF COURSE, OLD MAN.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
WHY, YES.
YES, I'M ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THEN, DRAW UP A
CHAIR AND COME OVER HERE
AND LISTEN TO A LOT OF PALAVER
OF SELF-MADE SWINDLERS.
WILLIAM, HERE, HAS
THE BEST METHOD.
WILLIAM?!
OH, YES, MY METHOD FOR ACHIEVING
SECURITY IS BY FAR THE BEST.
YOU SIMPLY INHERIT IT.
COMES TO YOU IN
A BERIBBONED BOX.
I WAS JUST TELLING THE
BOYS HERE, CORRIGAN,
MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS ON
THE POLICE FORCE HERE IN WASHINGTON
THE NIGHT OF LINCOLN'S
ASSASSINATION.
HE WENT ALL OVER TOWN
TRYING TO WARN PEOPLE
THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN.
HOW HE FIGURED IT OUT,
NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT
RECORDED ANYPLACE.
BUT THERE WAS SO
MUCH PUBLICITY ABOUT IT
THAT PEOPLE NEVER FORGOT HIM.
HE BECAME CHIEF OF
POLICE, THEN A COUNCILMAN,
DID SOME WHEELING AND DEALING
IN LAND, AND BECAME A MILLIONAIRE.
WELL, GENTLEMEN,
SHALL WE GET BACK TO OUR BRIDGE?
WHAT WAS IT YOU
WANTED TO SAY, CORRIGAN?
WILLIAM...
WILLIAM, DIDN'T YOU
USE TO WORK HERE
AS AN ATTENDANT?
DIDN'T YOU SPILL COFFEE ON ME?
NOW, LISTEN HERE, OLD CHUM.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THIS CLUB
WHILE YOU WERE STILL
GOING TO PREP SCHOOL.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT A SNOB,
BUT, WELL, SIR, AN ATTENDANT?
( chuckles): I REALLY
MUST PROTEST.
IN THE MATTER OF TIME
TRAVEL, GENTLEMEN,
SOME THINGS CAN BE CHANGED.
OTHERS CAN'T.
JUST AS YOU SAY, PETE.
LET'S SEE, I DOCK.
I BID ONE SPADE.
WELL, I'LL PASS THAT ONE.
HERE'S TWO SPADES.
LOOKS PEAKED, DOESN'T HE?
ACTING SO STRANGELY.
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HIM?
MR. PETER CORRIGAN,
LATELY RETURNED
FROM A PLACE "BACK THERE"...
A JOURNEY INTO TIME WITH
HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE RESULTS.
PROVING, ON ONE HAND,
THAT THE THREADS OF
HISTORY ARE WOVEN TIGHTLY,
AND THE SKEIN OF EVENTS
CANNOT BE UNDONE.
BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND,
THERE ARE SMALL FRAGMENTS OF
TAPESTRY THAT CAN BE ALTERED.
TONIGHT'S THESIS, TO
BE TAKEN AS YOU WILL,
IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
MAN: ROD SERLING, CREATOR
OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
NEXT WEEK'S STORY
AFTER THIS WORD FROM
OUR ALTERNATE SPONSOR.
AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
THIS, IN THE PARLANCE
OF THE 20TH CENTURY,
IS A USED CAR LOT... A
GRAVEYARD OF ACTIVE GHOSTS
WHO, BY VIRTUE OF SOME
EXCEPTIONAL SALESMANSHIP
AND AN INDIAN RUBBER
STRETCHING OF THE TRUTH,
REMAIN AS COMMODITIES
IN A WORLD THAT, BY RIGHTS,
THEY SHOULD HAVE
LEFT GENERATIONS AGO.
MR. JACK CARSON PLAYS THE ROLE
OF A LARCENY-LOADED CON MAN
SUDDENLY PREVENTED
FROM TELLING A FALSEHOOD.
NEXT WEEK ON THE TWILIGHT
ZONE, A MOST BIZARRE TALE
THAT WE CALL "THE WHOLE TRUTH."
BE SURE AND SEE THE
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY'S
NEW COMEDY SHOW MY SISTER EILEEN
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON MANY
OF THESE SAME STATIONS.
YOU'RE TRAVELING THROUGH
ANOTHER DIMENSION...
A DIMENSION NOT ONLY OF
SIGHT AND SOUND, BUT OF MIND.
A JOURNEY INTO A WONDROUS LAND
WHOSE BOUNDARIES
ARE THAT OF IMAGINATION.
THAT'S THE SIGNPOST UP AHEAD.
YOUR NEXT STOP,
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
THANK YOU, WILLIAM.
YES, SIR.
CUT.
WHAT'S YOUR POINT?
THAT, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE
FOR A PERSON TO GO BACK IN TIME,
THERE'D BE NOTHING IN THE
WORLD TO PREVENT THEM
FROM ALTERING THE COURSE
OF HISTORY? IS THAT IT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
LET'S SAY, CORRIGAN,
THAT YOU GO BACK IN TIME.
IT'S OCTOBER, 1929,
THE DAY BEFORE THE
STOCK MARKET CRASHED.
NOW, YOU KNOW THAT, ON
THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
SECURITIES ARE GOING
TO TUMBLE INTO AN ABYSS.
NOW, USING THIS PRIOR KNOWLEDGE,
THERE'S A HUNDRED
THINGS YOU COULD DO
TO PROTECT YOURSELF.
BUT I'D BE AN ANACHRONISM.
I REALLY DON'T
BELONG BACK THERE.
YOU COULD SELL OUT THE
DAY BEFORE THE CRASH.
BUT WHAT IF I DID, AND
STARTED THE CRASH EARLIER?
NOW, HISTORY TELLS US
THAT ON OCTOBER 24, 1929,
THE BOTTOM FELL OUT
OF THE STOCK MARKET.
THAT'S A FIXED DATE.
IT EXISTS AS AN EVENT IN
THE HISTORY OF OUR TIMES.
IT CAN'T BE ALTERED.
AND I SAY IT CAN.
NOW, WHAT'S TO PREVENT ME, SAY,
FROM GOING TO A BROKER
ON THE MORNING OF
OCTOBER 23 OR 22?
WITNESS A THEORETICAL ARGUMENT,
WASHINGTON, D.C., THE PRESENT.
FOUR INTELLIGENT MEN TALKING
ABOUT AN IMPROBABLE
THING LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME.
A FRIENDLY DEBATE REVOLVING
AROUND A SIMPLE ISSUE:
COULD A HUMAN BEING CHANGE
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE?
INTERESTING AND THEORETICAL
BECAUSE WHO EVER HEARD
OF A MAN GOING BACK IN TIME?
BEFORE TONIGHT, THAT IS.
BECAUSE THIS IS
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
GENTLEMEN, I'M AFRAID
I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO LEAVE TIME TRAVEL
TO H.G. WELLS.
I'M MUCH TOO TIRED
TO GO INTO ANY MORE
METAPHYSICS THIS EVENING.
AND, SINCE NO ONE HAS
EVER GONE BACK INTO TIME,
I FIND THE WHOLE BLAME SUBJECT
MUCH TOO THEORETICAL ANYWAY.
PHIL, I'LL PROBABLY SEE
YOU OVER THE WEEKEND.
DON'T GET LOST BACK
IN TIME, NOW, CORRIGAN.
I CERTAINLY SHALL NOT.
GOOD NIGHT, GENTLEMEN.
GOOD NIGHT, PETE.
SO LONG, CORRIGAN.
WELL, WHERE DO WE GET A FOURTH?
GOOD EVENING.
I'M DESPERATELY
SORRY, MR. CORRIGAN.
THAT WAS VERY CLUMSY OF ME.
I THINK I SHALL SURVIVE,
WILLIAM. I REALLY DO.
DID YOU... DID YOU
HAVE A COAT, SIR?
NO. I'M RUSHING THE SEASON
A LITTLE TONIGHT, WILLIAM.
I FELT SPRING IN THE AIR,
SO I CAME OUT LIKE THIS.
WELL, APRIL IS SPRING, SIR.
WHAT IS THE DATE, WILLIAM?
UH... APRIL 14, SIR.
APRIL 14, 1961, RIGHT?
I BEG YOUR PARDON, SIR?
OH, YES, 1961.
WELL, GOOD NIGHT, WILLIAM.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
YES, SIR.
HOME.
HOME. THAT'S IT.
I'LL GO HOME... I'LL GO HOME...
( horse's hooves
clopping on street)
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
HAVE A BIT OF
PATIENCE. I'M COMING.
YES?
OH, I'M SORRY.
ISN'T THIS NUMBER
19 12th STREET?
THAT'S RIGHT.
WHOM DO YOU WISH TO SEE?
I USED TO LIVE HERE.
THIS... THIS USED TO
BE THE OLDEST BUILDING
IN THIS PART OF TOWN.
WHAT'S THAT?
WELL, THAT IS, AS I
REMEMBER IT, IT USED TO BE.
NOW, LOOK HERE, YOUNG MAN.
I CAN'T STAND AROUND ALL EVENING
TALKING ABOUT SILLY THINGS
LIKE WHICH IS THE OLDEST
BUILDING IN THE SECTION.
NOW, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE...
DO YOU HAVE A ROOM?
YES, I HAVE ROOMS FOR
ACCEPTABLE BOARDERS.
DO YOU COME FROM AROUND HERE?
YES, I DO.
ARMY VETERAN?
YES... YES, AS A
MATTER OF FACT, I AM.
MAY I INQUIRE AS TO
WHAT BUSINESS YOU'RE IN?
I'M AN ENGINEER.
OH, REALLY?
A PROFESSIONAL MAN.
WELL, RIGHT UPSTAIRS
AND TO THE RIGHT.
( woman laughs)
GOOD EVENING, MRS. LANDERS.
GOOD EVENING.
OFF TO THE PLAY?
YES. DINNER, AND
THEN OFF TO THE PLAY.
WELL, ENJOY YOURSELVES.
APPLAUD THE PRESIDENT FOR ME.
WE'LL CERTAINLY DO THAT.
GOOD NIGHT. HAVE A GOOD TIME.
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
WELL... WHAT DID I SAY?
TO THE OFFICER. YOU
SAID SOMETHING TO HIM.
SHE JUST SAID SOMETHING TO YOU
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.
SHE TOLD ME TO APPLAUD HIM.
WHERE MIGHT YOUR SYMPATHIES LIE?
YES, YOUNG MAN, WHICH
ARMY WERE YOU IN?
WELL, I WAS IN...
THE ARMY OF THE
REPUBLIC, OF COURSE.
WELL, THEN WHY MAKE SUCH A THING
OF APPLAUDING PRESIDENT LINCOLN?
IT'S HIS DUE, WE FIGURE.
THAT AND EVERYTHING
ELSE, GOD BLESS HIM.
YOU'RE GOING TO A PLAY TONIGHT?
WE MAY OR MAY NOT,
DEPENDING ON WHEN MY HUSBAND
MAKES UP HIS MIND
TO CALL A CARRIAGE
TO GET US TO THE
THEATER AND TO DINNER.
WHAT THEATER? WHAT PLAY?
WELL, FORD'S THEATER, OF COURSE.
FORD'S THEATER...
FORD'S THEATER...
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
ARE YOU FEELING ALL RIGHT?
WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE PLAY?
I BEG YOUR PARDON?
THE PLAY... THE ONE YOU'RE GOING
TO TONIGHT AT FORD'S THEATER...
WHAT'S IT CALLED?
IT'S CALLED OUR AMERICAN COUSIN.
OUR AMERICAN COUSIN...
AND LINCOLN'S GOING TO BE THERE.
AND IT'S APRIL
14, 1865, ISN'T IT?
REALLY, SIR, I'D
CALL THESE ACTIONS
MOST STRANGE.
IT IS APRIL 14, 1865.
LET ME IN! LET ME IN!
THE PRESIDENT'S GOING
TO BE SHOT TONIGHT!
LET ME IN!
NOW, WHAT HAS THIS ONE DONE?
WHILE YOU IDIOTS
ARE SITTING HERE,
YOU'RE GOING TO
LOSE A PRESIDENT.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S BEEN YELLING
ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE STATION.
AND THAT'S WHY THE DOORMAN AT
FORD'S THEATER POPPED HIM ON THE HEAD.
HE TRIED TO POUND HIS WAY
RIGHT THROUGH THE STAGE DOOR,
YELLING SOME SORT OF NONSENSE
ABOUT "PRESIDENT
LINCOLN'S GOING TO BE SHOT."
PRESIDENT LINCOLN WILL BE
SHOT, TONIGHT, AT THE THEATER.
A MAN NAMED BOOTH.
AND HOW WOULD
YOU BE KNOWING THIS?
ARE YOU SOME KIND OF A
CLAIRVOYANT OR SOMETHING?
I ONLY KNOW WHAT I KNOW.
IF I TOLD YOU HOW I KNEW,
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME.
LOOK... KEEP ME
HERE IF YOU LIKE...
LOCK ME UP... BUT HEAR ME OUT.
LET HIM SLEEP IT OFF.
SOMEBODY BETTER GET
TO THE PRESIDENT'S
BOX AT THE THEATER.
KEEP HIM OUT OF THERE!
PUT A CORDON OF MEN AROUND HIM!
A MAN NAMED JOHN WILKES BOOTH
IS GOING TO
ASSASSINATE HIM TONIGHT!
WELLINGTON, SERGEANT.
JONATHAN WELLINGTON.
WELL... AND WHAT CAN WE
DO FOR YOU, MR. WELLINGTON?
THAT MAN YOU JUST
HAD INCARCERATED...
MR. CORRIGAN, I BELIEVE
YOU SAID HIS NAME WAS?
DRUNK, SIR.
THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT HE IS.
DRUNK OR... OR PERHAPS ILL.
I WONDER IF HE MIGHT BE
REMANDED IN MY CUSTODY?
HE MIGHT WELL BE A WAR VETERAN.
I WOULD HATE TO
SEE HIM PLACED IN JAIL.
YOU SAY YOU WANT US TO
REMAND HIM IN YOUR CUSTODY?
PRECISELY.
I'LL BE FULLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR HIM.
I THINK PERHAPS I MIGHT
BE ABLE TO HELP HIM.
ALL RIGHT, SIR,
IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU'D LIKE IT.
HAVE CORRIGAN
BROUGHT BACK IN HERE.
THIS GENTLEMAN IS GOING
TO LOOK OUT FOR HIM.
THAT'S REAL DECENT OF
YOU, SIR. REAL DECENT OF YOU.
I'LL BE OUTSIDE.
HAVE HIM BROUGHT OUT
TO ME, IF YOU WOULD?
I WILL INDEED, SIR. YES.
UH... ABOUT THAT CORRIGAN, SIR.
WHAT ABOUT HIM?
WELL, WOULDN'T
IT BE WISE, SIR, IF...?
IF WHAT?
HE SEEMED SO
POSITIVE, SIR. SO SURE.
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, I MEAN.
AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO...
SEND ALL AVAILABLE POLICE
TO FORD'S THEATER?
AND ON WHAT AUTHORITY?
ON THE WORD OF
SOME DEMENTED FOOL
WHO PROBABLY LEFT
HIS MIND IN GETTYSBURG?
IF I WERE YOU, MISTER,
I'D BE CONSIDERABLY
MORE THOUGHTFUL
IN SIZING UP A SITUATION
OR YOU'LL NOT ADVANCE
IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
NOW, BE GOOD
ENOUGH TO STEP ASIDE
SO I CAN GET ON WITH MY WORK.
SERGEANT, IT WOULDN'T HURT IF...
IT WOULDN'T HURT IF WHAT?
WELL, I ONLY MEANT
TO SUGGEST, SIR,
THAT IF PERHAPS WE
PLACED AN EXTRA GUARD
IN THE BOX WITH THE PRESIDENT...
THE PRESIDENT HAS ENOUGH GUARDS!
THE WHOLE FEDERAL
ARMY IS AT HIS DISPOSAL.
AND, IF THEY'RE SATISFIED
WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR HIS PROTECTION, SO AM I!
SO SHOULD YOU.
Wellington: HERE.
TRY THIS.
IT'LL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.
BETTER?
WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY?
AT THE MOMENT, I'M
YOUR BENEFACTOR.
APPARENTLY, YOUR ONLY FRIEND.
I'M IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
BUT, AS A YOUNG MAN IN COLLEGE,
I DABBLED IN MEDICINE OF A SORT.
MEDICINE?
MEDICINE OF THE MIND.
PSYCHIATRIST.
DON'T KNOW THE TERM.
WHAT ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS?
THEY DO INTEREST ME.
THIS STORY YOU WERE TELLING
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT
BEING ASSASSINATED...
WHAT TIME IS IT?
THIS TIME?
HALF PAST 7:00.
PLAY DOESN'T BEGIN FOR ANOTHER
THREE-QUARTERS OF AN HOUR.
WHAT GAVE YOU THE IDEA...
THAT THE PRESIDENT
WOULD BE ASSASSINATED?
I JUST HAPPEN TO
KNOW, THAT'S ALL.
YOU HAVE A PREMONITION?
I'VE GOT A DEVIL OF A LOT MORE
THAN A PREMONITION.
LINCOLN WILL BE ASSASSINATED
UNLESS SOMEBODY
TRIES TO PREVENT IT.
I SHALL TRY TO PREVENT IT
IF YOU CAN CONVINCE ME
THAT YOU'RE NEITHER
DRUNK NOR INSANE.
IF I TOLD YOU WHAT I WAS,
YOU'D BE CONVINCED I WAS INSANE,
SO ALL I'M GOING
TO TELL YOU IS THIS:
I HAPPEN TO KNOW FOR A FACT
THAT A MAN NAMED
JOHN WILKES BOOTH
WILL ASSASSINATE
PRESIDENT LINCOLN
IN HIS BOX AT FORD'S THEATER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
TIME IT'LL HAPPEN.
THAT'S SOMETHING I FORGOT.
SOMETHING YOU FORGOT?
YES, LISTEN, I...
HERE. THAT HASN'T
BEEN TREATED PROPERLY.
YOU'D BEST COVER IT.
THAT'S ODD.
WHAT IS?
SUDDENLY, I FEEL FAINT.
I FEEL WEAK, AS IF I WERE...
AS IF YOU WERE WHAT?
AS IF I WERE...
SUDDENLY DRUNK OR...
( panting)
I'VE NEVER FELT THIS WAY BEFORE.
I'VE NEVER... I'VE NE...
( laughs)
YOU! YOU... YOU DEVIL.
YOU DRUGGED ME, DIDN'T YOU?
YOU DRUGGED ME!
HAD TO, MY YOUNG FRIEND.
YOU'RE A VERY SICK MAN,
AND A SICK MAN
DOESN'T BELONG IN JAIL.
HE BELONGS IN A
COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATION
WHERE HE CAN SLEEP AND REST
AND REGAIN HIS
COMPOSURE... HIS REASON.
REST... MR. CORRIGAN.
I'LL BE BACK SOON.
PLEASE...
PLEASE, YOU'VE
GOT TO BELIEVE ME.
LINCOLN WILL BE SHOT TONIGHT.
AND THAT'S ODD...
BECAUSE I'M BEGINNING
TO BELIEVE YOU.
GOOD NIGHT, MR. CORRIGAN.
REST WELL.
( cheering and applause)
SOMEBODY...
PLEASE... LET ME OUT!
I KNOW!
( moans)
I KNOW...
OUR PRESIDENT'S GOING
TO BE ASSASSINATED.
Woman: NO NEED TO BREAK
THE DOOR DOWN, OFFICER.
I'VE GOT AN EXTRA KEY.
NOW, STEP ASIDE,
IF YOU DON'T MIND.
( key turns)
( gasps)
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
WHAT TIME IS IT?
YOU'VE GOT TO TELL
ME WHAT TIME IT IS.
IT'S 10:00. COME ON, CORRIGAN.
YOU'VE GOT TO TELL ME
WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS.
YOU MAY BE A MADMAN OR A
DRUNK OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT,
BUT YOU'VE GOT ME CONVINCED.
I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO THE POLICE
COMMISSIONER'S HOUSE
TRYING TO GET A SPECIAL
GUARD FOR THE PRESIDENT.
THEN GO YOURSELF.
FIND OUT WHERE HE'S SITTING,
AND GET RIGHT UP
ALONGSIDE OF HIM.
HE'LL BE SHOT FROM BEHIND.
LET ME HELP YOU UP.
HE WAS SHOT FROM BEHIND.
THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED.
THEN THE ASSASSIN JUMPED
FROM THE BOX TO THE STAGE
AND RAN OUT OF THE WINGS.
YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS
AS IF IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.
IT HAS HAPPENED... IT HAPPENED
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO...
AND I'M HERE TO SEE
THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
WHERE'S THE MAN WHO BROUGHT
ME HERE? WHERE'S WELLINGTON?
WELLINGTON? THERE'S NO
ONE HERE BY THAT NAME.
DON'T TELL ME THERE'S
NO ONE HERE BY THAT NAME.
HE BROUGHT ME HERE.
HE LIVES IN THIS ROOM.
THERE'S NO ONE
HERE BY THAT NAME.
I TELL YOU, THE MAN WHO
BROUGHT ME HERE'S NA...
"J.W.B."
OF COURSE.
MR. JOHN WILKES BOOTH,
WHO LIVES IN THIS ROOM.
AND THAT'S WHO BROUGHT YOU HERE.
HE TOLD ME HIS NAME
WAS WELLINGTON.
AND THAT'S WHY HE DRUGGED ME.
HE GAVE ME WINE,
AND HE DRUGGED ME.
HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO STOP IT.
HE'S THE ONE WHO'S
GOING TO DO IT.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET
TO THAT THEATER.
YOU'VE GOT TO STOP HIM.
JOHN WILKES BOOTH...
HE'S GOING TO KILL LINCOLN.
PLEASE, YOU'VE GOT TO STOP HIM!
Man: THE PRESIDENT'S BEEN SHOT!
Woman: AN ACTOR SHOT LINCOLN.
( crowd murmuring)
( crying): OH...
YOU WERE RIGHT.
YOU DID KNOW.
( sobbing)
OH, MY DEAR GOD.
( crowd murmuring outside)
I TRIED TO TELL YOU.
I TRIED TO WARN YOU!
WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN?
WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN?!
WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO ME?!
( cars passing, horns honking)
( pounding on door)
GOOD EVENING, MR. CORRIGAN.
DID YOU FORGET SOMETHING?
WHAT? FORGET SOMETHING?
YOU LEFT HERE JUST A MOMENT AGO
AND I THOUGHT YOU
FORGOT SOMETHING.
A MOMENT AGO?
WHERE'S WILLIAM?
WILLIAM, SIR?
THERE'S NO WILLIAM ON DUTY.
THERE'S NO ONE HERE
NAMED WILLIAM, SIR.
OH, PETE. BACK SO SOON, EH?
WANT TO JOIN US?
WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE BEST WAYS
OF AMASSING A FORTUNE.
WHAT ARE YOUR TRIED
AND TRUE METHODS?
YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT TIME TRAVEL...
ABOUT GOING BACK IN TIME.
OH, WELL, WE'RE
ON A NEW TACK NOW:
MONEY, AND THE BEST
WAYS TO ACQUIRE IT.
LISTEN... I'VE GOT
SOMETHING TO TELL YOU.
WHY, OF COURSE, OLD MAN.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
WHY, YES.
YES, I'M ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THEN, DRAW UP A
CHAIR AND COME OVER HERE
AND LISTEN TO A LOT OF PALAVER
OF SELF-MADE SWINDLERS.
WILLIAM, HERE, HAS
THE BEST METHOD.
WILLIAM?!
OH, YES, MY METHOD FOR ACHIEVING
SECURITY IS BY FAR THE BEST.
YOU SIMPLY INHERIT IT.
COMES TO YOU IN
A BERIBBONED BOX.
I WAS JUST TELLING THE
BOYS HERE, CORRIGAN,
MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS ON
THE POLICE FORCE HERE IN WASHINGTON
THE NIGHT OF LINCOLN'S
ASSASSINATION.
HE WENT ALL OVER TOWN
TRYING TO WARN PEOPLE
THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN.
HOW HE FIGURED IT OUT,
NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT
RECORDED ANYPLACE.
BUT THERE WAS SO
MUCH PUBLICITY ABOUT IT
THAT PEOPLE NEVER FORGOT HIM.
HE BECAME CHIEF OF
POLICE, THEN A COUNCILMAN,
DID SOME WHEELING AND DEALING
IN LAND, AND BECAME A MILLIONAIRE.
WELL, GENTLEMEN,
SHALL WE GET BACK TO OUR BRIDGE?
WHAT WAS IT YOU
WANTED TO SAY, CORRIGAN?
WILLIAM...
WILLIAM, DIDN'T YOU
USE TO WORK HERE
AS AN ATTENDANT?
DIDN'T YOU SPILL COFFEE ON ME?
NOW, LISTEN HERE, OLD CHUM.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THIS CLUB
WHILE YOU WERE STILL
GOING TO PREP SCHOOL.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT A SNOB,
BUT, WELL, SIR, AN ATTENDANT?
( chuckles): I REALLY
MUST PROTEST.
IN THE MATTER OF TIME
TRAVEL, GENTLEMEN,
SOME THINGS CAN BE CHANGED.
OTHERS CAN'T.
JUST AS YOU SAY, PETE.
LET'S SEE, I DOCK.
I BID ONE SPADE.
WELL, I'LL PASS THAT ONE.
HERE'S TWO SPADES.
LOOKS PEAKED, DOESN'T HE?
ACTING SO STRANGELY.
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HIM?
MR. PETER CORRIGAN,
LATELY RETURNED
FROM A PLACE "BACK THERE"...
A JOURNEY INTO TIME WITH
HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE RESULTS.
PROVING, ON ONE HAND,
THAT THE THREADS OF
HISTORY ARE WOVEN TIGHTLY,
AND THE SKEIN OF EVENTS
CANNOT BE UNDONE.
BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND,
THERE ARE SMALL FRAGMENTS OF
TAPESTRY THAT CAN BE ALTERED.
TONIGHT'S THESIS, TO
BE TAKEN AS YOU WILL,
IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
MAN: ROD SERLING, CREATOR
OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
NEXT WEEK'S STORY
AFTER THIS WORD FROM
OUR ALTERNATE SPONSOR.
AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
THIS, IN THE PARLANCE
OF THE 20TH CENTURY,
IS A USED CAR LOT... A
GRAVEYARD OF ACTIVE GHOSTS
WHO, BY VIRTUE OF SOME
EXCEPTIONAL SALESMANSHIP
AND AN INDIAN RUBBER
STRETCHING OF THE TRUTH,
REMAIN AS COMMODITIES
IN A WORLD THAT, BY RIGHTS,
THEY SHOULD HAVE
LEFT GENERATIONS AGO.
MR. JACK CARSON PLAYS THE ROLE
OF A LARCENY-LOADED CON MAN
SUDDENLY PREVENTED
FROM TELLING A FALSEHOOD.
NEXT WEEK ON THE TWILIGHT
ZONE, A MOST BIZARRE TALE
THAT WE CALL "THE WHOLE TRUTH."
BE SURE AND SEE THE
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY'S
NEW COMEDY SHOW MY SISTER EILEEN
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON MANY
OF THESE SAME STATIONS.