The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 2, Episode 25 - The Silence - full transcript
Jamie Tennyson is an overly talkative member of a private men's club. He is challenged by fellow member Col. Archie Taylor to keep his mouth shut for one year. Should he do so, he would win $500,000. Taylor dislikes Tennyson and if nothing else, finds this a way to get a bit of peace and quiet at the club. Tennyson will live in a room in the club, under observation and will communicate in writing only. As the months go by, Taylor begins to worry that Tennyson may just succeed. He can't believe Tennyson's will but neither party proves to be completely honorable.
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.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU GENTLEMEN
THE MOST IDIOTIC THING
OCCURRED IN THE MARKET TODAY.
JUST IDIOTIC. I'VE BEEN
DABBLING IN THE SYNDICATE.
IT HAS SOME OIL
HOLDINGS IN TEXAS.
JACK BREWER HANDLES
OUR NEW YORK OPERATION.
HE CAME ON THE FLOOR TODAY...
I JUST HAPPENED TO BE THERE.
THIS WAS ABOUT
10:30 THIS MORNING.
HE HAS A SHEAF OF
PAPERS IN HIS HAND
HE WAVES TO ME.
NOW, IF THERE IS
ANYBODY THAT I DON'T WANT
TO SEE BEFORE NOON
ON ANY GIVEN DAY
IT IS JACK BREWER.
HE'S A RAUCOUS SORT, A
LITTLE CRUDE, NOUVEAU RICHE...
YOU KNOW THE TYPE.
CHARLIE, OLD MAN, YOU DON'T
MIND IF I SIT HERE, DO YOU, BOY?
WELL, WHERE WAS I?
OH, YES, JACK BREWER.
HE, UH, WALKS ACROSS
THE FLOOR TO ME
AND WITH AN INTENSE VOICE...
A VOICE ABSOLUTELY
SHAKING WITH INTENSITY...
HE SIDLES UP TO ME
AND HE WHISPERS...
HE'S GOT THE MOST MISERABLE
HABIT OF WHISPERING...
SOTTO VOCE... SO THAT EVERYONE
IN THE WORLD CAN HEAR HIM.
ANYWAY, HE SAYS TO ME "JIM,
"I MUST SCRAPE UP A
QUARTER OF A MILLION
AND YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
THAT CAN HANDLE IT FOR ME."
NOW, THIS IS BREWER
SPEAKING TO ME.
A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS!
AND I AM SUPPOSED TO
SCRAPE IT UP FOR HIM.
I MEAN, I AM SUPPOSED
TO SCRAPE IT UP
AS THOUGH IT WERE
SOME KIND OF RESIDUE
THAT COULD BE LITERALLY
SCOOPED UP OFF A FLOOR!
TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT
HE ARRIVES AT THE BUSIEST
TIME OF THE MORNING
ABSOLUTELY THE BUSIEST TIME
AND HE SAYS TO ME
"JIM, I'VE GOT AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CORNER..."
I JUST GOT YOUR LETTER.
SHH! OUR YOUNG FRIEND
IS DISCOURSING AGAIN.
WELL, OF COURSE I LOOKED
A LITTLE ASKANCE AT HIM
BECAUSE THE BOOR WOULDN'T
KNOW A CORNER OF THE MARKET
FROM A RAILROAD ROUNDHOUSE!
THE ONLY THING WORSE
THAN HIS TALKING SO MUCH
IS HIS TRANSPARENCY.
IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS, ALFRED,
HE WILL VERY NONCHALANTLY ASK
FOR A LOAN FROM
ANYBODY WITHIN EARSHOT.
JUST LAST WEEK HE ASKED ME
FOR THE LOAN OF A QUARTER
OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE LETTER YOU SENT ME
IS THE MOST INCREDIBLE
THING I HAVE EVER READ.
ARCHIE, WE'RE OLD FRIENDS.
I MUST TELL YOU... MY
COMMUNICATION TO YOU
WAS NOT AS AN OLD
FRIEND, BUT AS MY LAWYER.
IS THE WAGER I
HAVE IN MIND LEGAL?
NO WAGER IS LEGAL IN THIS STATE.
WELL, IS IT AGAINST
THE LAW, THEN?
ANYTHING CRIMINAL IN IT?
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING
CRIMINAL IN IT, NO.
ALFRED, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
I WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOU.
FRANKLIN, WOULD YOU TAKE
THIS NOTE ACROSS THE ROOM
TO YOUNG MR. TENNYSON
OVER THERE.
ARCHIE... YOU TELL
HIM IT'S FROM ME.
ASK HIM TO READ IT IMMEDIATELY.
WHY, YES, SIR.
THE NOTE THAT THIS MAN IS
CARRYING ACROSS A CLUB ROOM
IS IN THE FORM OF
A PROPOSED WAGER
BUT IT'S THE KIND OF WAGER
THAT COMES WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
IT STANDS ALONE IN THE
ANNALS OF BET MAKING
AS THE STRANGEST GAME
OF CHANCE EVER OFFERED
BY ONE MAN TO ANOTHER.
IN JUST A MOMENT, WE'LL
SEE THE TERMS OF THE WAGER
AND WHAT YOUNG
MR. TENNYSON DOES ABOUT IT.
AND IN THE PROCESS
WE'LL WITNESS ALL PARTIES
SPIN A WHEEL OF CHANCE
IN A VERY BIZARRE CASINO
CALLED THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I COULD DO
WITH A QUARTER OF A MILLION
DOLLARS IN A DEAL LIKE THIS?
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THIS... I
COULD TREBLE IT, QUADRUPLE IT.
WHY, WITH AN INITIAL INVESTMENT
OF A QUARTER OF
A MILLION DOLLARS...
I COULD TAKE THIS
PLASTICS THING...
EXCUSE ME, MR. TENNYSON.
A NOTE FOR YOU
FROM COLONEL TAYLOR.
JUST PUT IT DOWN
SOMEWHERE, FRANKLIN.
EXCUSE ME, MR. TENNYSON,
HIS INSTRUCTIONS ARE
THAT YOU READ IT IMMEDIATELY.
I BEG YOUR PARDON.
ACTS LIKE HE HAD SEEN A GHOST.
THIS IS... THIS IS
ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.
WHAT ABOUT IT, TENNYSON?
IS THIS SOME KIND OF A JOKE?
I MEAN, REALLY,
COLONEL, IF IT IS A JOKE,
IT SUGGESTS A SENSE OF
HUMOR QUITE BEYOND ME.
IT IS NOT A JOKE.
YOU KNOW ME REASONABLY
WELL, TENNYSON.
YOU KNOW THAT HUMOR IS PERHAPS
THE LEAST DEVELOPED
ASPECT OF MY CHARACTER.
I AM QUITE SERIOUS.
WOULD YOU MIND
TERRIBLY, TENNYSON
IF I ACQUAINTED THE MEMBERS
WITH MY PROPOSITION?
WELL, THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS,
COLONEL, QUITE YOUR BUSINESS.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL
MAKE YOURSELF HIGHLY SUSPECT.
I'LL TAKE THAT RISK.
I PROPOSE A WAGER
TO MR. TENNYSON HERE.
THE WAGER IS TO TAKE
THE FOLLOWING FORM.
I WILL BET HIM $500,000...
THAT HE CANNOT REMAIN
SILENT FOR ONE YEAR.
THE WAGER CARRIES WITH IT
THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
HE WILL BE PLACED IN A
ROOM FOR OBSERVATION
BY ME OR BY ANY ONE
OF US, AT OUR DISCRETION.
HE WILL BE FURNISHED
WITH ANYTHING HE DESIRES
BY WAY OF DIVERSION.
BUT HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK
ONE SINGLE WORD FOR 12 MONTHS
NOT ONE SINGLE WORD.
HE WILL MAKE HIS WANTS KNOWN
IN WRITING, NOT BY VOICE.
WHAT ABOUT IT, TENNYSON?
WELL, MAY I ASK WHAT IS
THE REASON FOR THIS WAGER?
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY MIGHT
HORRIFY THE AVERAGE PERSON
BUT TO SOMEONE AS
INSENSITIVE AS YOU
IT PROBABLY WON'T MEAN A THING.
I DISLIKE YOU
INTENSELY, TENNYSON.
IT GOES MUCH BEYOND
THE ORDINARY DISTASTE
I FEEL FOR SOMEONE
WITHOUT BREEDING
WITHOUT PRINCIPLES,
WITHOUT MANNERS.
YOUR VOICE HAS
BECOME INTOLERABLE.
I SIT HERE EACH NIGHT AND THE
SOUND OF IT MAKES ME WINCE!
I CANNOT ASK YOU TO
RESIGN FROM THE CLUB.
I HAVEN'T GOT THAT RIGHT.
SO IT OCCURRED TO ME
THAT I'D BE WILLING TO
OFFER A LARGE SUM OF MONEY
JUST TO HAVE SOME QUIET.
YOU SEE, TENNYSON
YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY
REMAIN SILENT FOR A YEAR.
IT'S NOT IN YOUR NATURE.
YOU'RE A SHALLOW, TALKATIVE,
EMPTY-HEADED NE'ER-DO-WELL
AND TO REMAIN SILENT
WOULD DESTROY YOU.
SO WHAT I ASSUME WILL HAPPEN
YOU WILL PERHAPS
WITHSTAND THE PRESSURES
FOR THREE OR FOUR WEEKS,
MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS
AND THEN YOU WILL SUCCUMB.
THAT'S, AGAIN, YOUR NATURE.
IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL DERIVE
OH, SEVERAL MONTHS
OF EXQUISITE SILENCE.
WELL, TENNYSON
DOES IT APPEAL TO
YOUR SPORTING BLOOD?
ODDLY ENOUGH, IT DOES
APPEAL TO MY SPORTING BLOOD.
NOW, THAT, TOO, IS
PATENTLY RIDICULOUS.
THERE'S NOTHING SPORTING
ABOUT YOU, TENNYSON.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW
YOU'RE DELIVERING
YOUR NIGHTLY FINANCIAL FOLDEROL
BECAUSE YOU'RE IN
DESPERATE STRAITS.
YOU'VE RUN THROUGH
YOUR INHERITANCE
YOUR DEBTS ARE INSURMOUNTABLE
AND YOU'D DO PRACTICALLY
ANYTHING FOR MONEY.
EXCEPT, PERHAPS, TO
REMAIN SILENT FOR A YEAR.
IF THIS WERE EUROPE, OR THE
COMPANY WERE MORE SOPHISTICATED
I SHOULD BE FORCED
TO INVITE YOU OUT
FOR THE THINGS
YOU'VE SAID TO ME.
THE GROUND RULES HERE, HOWEVER
ARE DIFFERENT.
I CAN EITHER IGNORE
YOU OR CALL YOUR BLUFF.
WELL, I CHOOSE TO DO THE LATTER.
I ACCEPT YOUR WAGER.
UH, JUST A FEW QUESTIONS.
WHERE AM I TO BE INCARCERATED?
WELL, IN THE OLD GAME
ROOM DOWNSTAIRS.
IT ISN'T BEING USED.
WITH THE PERMISSION OF
THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
I'LL HAVE SOME WORK DONE ON IT.
YOU'LL BE IN A GLASS-ENCLOSED
LIVING ROOM AND BEDROOM.
MICROPHONES WILL BE
PLACED AROUND THE ROOM
WHICH YOU ARE TO
LEAVE UNTOUCHED.
YOUR EVERY MOVEMENT
WILL BE RECORDED
AND SO WILL YOUR VOICE
WHEN YOU DECIDE TO GIVE UP.
YOU WILL PERMIT
ME OR ANY ONE OF US
TO OBSERVE YOU AT ANY TIME.
WHEN, UH, IS THIS
SUPPOSED TO START?
WELL, THE ROOM COULD BE
PREPARED BY TOMORROW NIGHT.
I'VE MADE ALL THE
NECESSARY INQUIRIES.
YOU COULD ENTER
ANYTIME AFTER 10:00 P.M.
AND SO, AT 10:00
P.M., JUNE 3, 1962
YOU MAY LEAVE THE ROOM.
AT THAT TIME I WILL HAVE
A CHECK FOR $500,000
WAITING FOR YOU
ASSUMING, OF COURSE,
THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENS
AND YOU'RE ABLE TO REMAIN
SILENT FOR THOSE 12 MONTHS.
I'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT.
UH, COLONEL, I WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE THAT CHECK CERTIFIED
AND PLACED ON DEPOSIT IN MY NAME
A PHOTOSTAT OF IT AVAILABLE
AND WITNESSED BY EVERY
MEMBER OF THIS CLUB.
THAT MIGHT BE THE
USUAL PROCEDURE
IN A FISH MARKET OR A PAWN SHOP
BUT NOT IN THIS CLUB
AND NOT WITH ME.
MY CREDIT IS WELL-KNOWN
SO IS MY HONOR, AS EVERY
MEMBER HERE WILL VOUCH FOR.
THERE WILL BE NO CHECK
PLACED ON DEPOSIT.
YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD.
I SEE.
IT'S MY COURAGE
AGAINST YOUR CREDIT.
WELL, A YEAR FROM TOMORROW NIGHT
BOTH CAN BE PROVED.
FRANKLIN, GET ME MY COAT.
YES, SIR.
TENNYSON, I'VE KNOWN
COLONEL TAYLOR FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS IS NOT A CAPRICIOUS MAN.
I WARN YOU, HE IS
IN DEADLY EARNEST.
DO YOU KNOW MY WIFE, SIR?
HER NAME IS DORIS.
SHE'S A LOVELY THING...
FRAIL, BEAUTIFUL, FRAGILE.
LIKE A CAMEO BROOCH
BUT HER TASTES RUN
TO UNFRAGILE THINGS...
SIZABLE BAUBLES TO
SIZABLE PRICE TAGS.
SHE SHOPS AT TIFFANY'S THE WAY
OTHER WOMEN ENTER A SUPERMARKET.
MY MISERABLE MISFORTUNE IS
THAT I HAPPEN TO BE VERY
MUCH IN LOVE WITH HER.
I AM ALSO DESPERATE
IN NEED OF MONEY.
I MAY SOUND MELODRAMATIC,
BUT IT HAPPENS TO BE TRUE.
ANY TIME NOW, MR. TENNYSON.
ANY TIME.
OH, MR. TENNYSON'S DINNER, HMM?
YES, SIR.
IS HE EATING WELL,
APPETITE GOOD?
NOT VERY MUCH UP
TO A WEEK AGO, SIR
BUT HE'S EATING VERY WELL NOW.
WELL, THAT'S NICE.
AND I HOPE HE STAYS
IN PERFECT HEALTH.
I WOULDN'T WANT THIS EXPERIENCE
TO DAMAGE HIM IN ANY WAY.
QUITE THE CONTRARY, SIR.
HE SEEMS IN EXCELLENT SPIRITS
AND IT'S NINE WEEKS NOW, SIR
NINE WEEKS TODAY
THAT HE'S BEEN IN THERE.
Taylor: NINE WEEKS?
WELL, THAT'S REALLY
QUITE INCREDIBLE.
I GAVE HIM FOUR WEEKS
POSSIBLY, TO HOLD
OUT, SIX AT THE OUTSIDE.
NINE WEEKS!
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
MORE GRISTLE THERE
THAN I GAVE HIM CREDIT FOR.
WILL THERE BE
ANYTHING ELSE, SIR?
OH, HELLO, ALFRED.
FRANKLIN TOLD ME
YOU WERE WAITING.
ONLY TO POSE THIS
QUESTION TO YOU.
VERY SUCCINCT,
ARCHIE, VERY BRIEF.
HOW LONG?
HOW LONG WHAT?
HOW LONG ARE YOU
GOING TO KEEP ON
WITH THIS... THIS
PROLONGED PRACTICAL JOKE?
WELL, NOT MUCH LONGER.
THANK YOU, FRANKLIN.
YOU SHOULD SEE
OUR BOY DOWN THERE.
FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS,
NOT A SOUND OUT OF HIM.
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
THAT FOP WON'T TAKE
IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH.
THIS I'LL GUARANTEE YOU.
FOR YOUR SAKE, I
HOPE THAT'S THE CASE.
MY SAKE?
YOU HAVE THE MONEY, ARCHIE?
I FIND THAT INSULTING, ALFRED.
I'M SORRY IF IT IS.
I THINK HE'S GOING
TO BEAT YOU, ARCHIE.
I THINK THAT BOY DOWN THERE
IS GOING TO REMAIN
SILENT FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
AND I THINK YOU'RE
GOING TO OWE HIM $500,000.
I JUST HOPE YOU'VE GOT IT.
YOU CAN HEAR ME,
TENNYSON, CAN'T YOU?
I'VE BEEN GIVING THIS
CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT.
YOU FULFILLED YOUR PART
OF THE BARGAIN ADMIRABLY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT
YOU HAVE COMPLETELY
SURPRISED ME, TENNYSON.
BUT THE FACT IS
I FEEL THE WHOLE
THING HAS GONE TOO FAR.
IT'S BECOMING INHUMAN.
I'M PREPARED TO OFFER
YOU A THOUSAND DOLLARS
AND YOU MAY WALK OUT TODAY
RIGHT THIS MOMENT,
IF YOU CHOOSE.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN EARLY
SPRING THIS YEAR, TENNYSON.
YOU OUGHT TO SEE IT.
IN THAT TIME OF THE YEAR
WHEN A YOUNG MAN'S
FANCY LIGHTLY TURNS...
WELL, YOU KNOW
THAT BETTER THAN I DO.
AND YOUNG LADIES, TOO.
FOR EXAMPLE YOUR WIFE.
SHE MUST BE LONELY
FOR YOU, TENNYSON
DESPERATELY LONELY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SHE...
SHE HAS BEEN SEEN
WITH OTHER YOUNG MEN.
IT'S ODD
SHE HASN'T PAID
YOU A VISIT, ISN'T IT?
DON'T YOU THINK IT'S ODD?
I HAPPEN TO KNOW YOU'VE
WRITTEN HER MANY NOTES
REQUESTING A VISIT.
SHE HASN'T RESPONDED,
EVEN TO THE NOTES.
YOU MAY LOSE YOUR
WIFE, TENNYSON.
I HOPE YOU'RE FULLY
AWARE OF THAT.
WHILE YOU STAY HERE BEHIND GLASS
THE VERY REASON
FOR ALL YOUR AGONY
MAY BE SLIPPING AWAY FROM YOU.
WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE, TENNYSON?
WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE RIGHT NOW?
IT STILL MIGHT BE POSSIBLE
TO SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE.
TENNYSON, I SAW YOUR WIFE AGAIN.
SHE WAS GETTING INTO A
LITTLE EUROPEAN SPORTS CAR.
THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, A
NICE YOUNG FELLOW DRIVING IT.
YOUR WIFE... WIFE... YOUR
WIFE... WIFE... WIFE... WIFE.
TODAY IS APRIL
FOOLS' DAY, TENNYSON.
YOU REMEMBER APRIL FOOLS' DAY.
I THINK IT WAS NAMED FOR YOU
FOR ONLY A FOOL WOULD STAY
IN THERE AS LONG AS YOU HAVE
KNOWING PRECISELY WHAT'S
HAPPENING ON THE OUTSIDE.
YOUR WIFE, I MEAN, TENNYSON,
YOUR WIFE... WIFE... WIFE.
TENNYSON, THIS
NONSENSE MUST CEASE!
YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THERE.
YOU REALLY DO.
WHY I COULD TELL YOU SOME
STORIES ABOUT YOUR WIFE.
HOW ABOUT IT, TENNYSON?
I MIGHT SEE MY WAY
CLEAR TO GIVING YOU $5,000.
THAT WOULD PAY OFF
A LOT OF YOUR DEBTS.
AND A LITTLE BRACELET
FOR YOUR WIFE.
SOMETHING TO COMPENSATE
FOR THE MONTHS OF LONELINESS.
HOW ABOUT IT, TENNYSON?
$5,000.
$6,000, TENNYSON.
YOU'RE AN IDIOT, YOU
KNOW THAT, TENNYSON?!
YOU'RE GOING OUT OF
YOUR MIND IN THERE.
I KNOW YOU ARE.
YOU'RE READY TO
CRAWL UP THE WALLS.
LISTEN, TENNYSON, YOU CANNOT
STAY IN THERE ONE MORE HOUR.
NOT ANOTHER HALF HOUR.
Man: I WOULDN'T
HAVE BELIEVED IT.
A YEAR IN THAT ROOM
AND NOT ONE WORD OUT OF HIM.
Man: TWO MINUTES IS ALL THE
POOR DEVIL HAS GOT NOW...
TWO MORE MINUTES.
Man: LOOK AT ARCHIE.
NOT THE FACE OF A HAPPY
MAN, WOULD YOU SAY?
A RATHER MONUMENTAL
OCCASION, ISN'T IT, ARCHIE?
12 MONTHS AGO TO THE MOMENT
YOU DESTROYED YOURSELF
MUCH AS I TOLD YOU YOU WOULD.
YOUR LITTLE REMINDERS
ARE GRATUITOUS, ALFRED.
BESIDES, IT'S NOT YET 10:00.
WHETHER IT IS OR
WHETHER IT ISN'T
THE DESTRUCTION
I'M TALKING ABOUT
HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.
THERE HAVE BEEN
UGLY RUMORS, ARCHIE
THINGS YOU'VE DONE TO HIM
LIKE LITTLE ASIDES, INNUENDOS
SUGGESTIONS,
GOSSIP ABOUT HIS WIFE.
YOU PLACE SUCH A
PREMIUM ON HONOR, ARCHIE
BUT YOU HAVEN'T ACTED
LIKE AN HONORABLE MAN.
PLEASE DON'T GO TO THE
TROUBLE OF DENYING IT.
I'M SURE MUCH OF IT IS TRUE.
BUT THE UGLY AFFAIR
HAS PROVED TWO THINGS
HASN'T IT, ARCHIE?
THAT THAT BOY DOWN
THERE IS STRONGER
THAN YOU GAVE HIM CREDIT FOR
AND YOU ARE CONSIDERABLY WEAKER.
HOW COULD HE HAVE DONE IT?
HOW COULD HE HAVE DONE IT?
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
YOU, UH, HAVE ME AT A
DISADVANTAGE, MR. TENNYSON.
IN A RATHER
COMPROMISING SITUATION.
YOU FORCE ME INTO A POSITION
OF... RATHER DISTASTEFUL CANDOR.
THE TRUTH IS I AM A FRAUD.
I HAVEN'T ANY MONEY.
I OFFERED YOU A THOUSAND
DOLLARS, THEN $5,000.
I WOULD HAVE HAD TO
GO OUT INTO THE STREET
TO BEG EVEN THAT AMOUNT, LET
ALONE A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
IT'S TRUE THAT I HAVE PRIDE
BEARING, TASTE,
EXCEPTIONAL BREEDING...
BUT I LOST MOST OF MY
MONEY SOME YEARS AGO.
NOW YOU HAVE FORCED ME
TO UNCOVER THE SITUATION
PROVING, MR. TENNYSON,
PROVING THAT, OF THE TWO OF US
YOU ARE BY FAR THE
MORE SUBSTANTIAL.
AND I WILL NATURALLY RESIGN.
I WILL NOT ASK YOU TO SUFFER
MY PRESENCE ANY LONGER.
TENNYSON, YOU CAN
TALK, YOUR TIME IS UP.
YOU CAN TALK, GURGLE, SING,
CHORTLE, ANYTHING YOU WANT.
Man: WHAT'S HE WRITING?
Man: WHAT IS HE DOING?
WHY DOESN'T HE TALK?
WHAT DOES IT SAY, ARCHIE?
WHAT DID HE WRITE?
WHY DIDN'T HE SAY SOMETHING?
"I KNEW I WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP
"MY PART OF THE BARGAIN...
"SO ONE YEAR AGO
I HAD THE NERVES
TO MY VOCAL CHORDS SEVERED."
MR. JAMIE TENNYSON
WHO ALMOST WON A BET
BUT WHO DISCOVERED
SOMEWHAT BELATEDLY
THAT GAMBLING CAN BE A
MOST UNPRODUCTIVE PURSUIT
EVEN WITH LOADED
DICE, MARKED CARDS
OR, AS IN HIS CASE, SOME
SEVERED VOCAL CHORDS.
FOR SOMEWHERE BEYOND
HIM, A WHEEL WAS TURNED
AND HIS NUMBER
CAME UP "BLACK 13."
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE
IT, ASK THE CROUPIER
THE VERY SPECIAL ONE
WHO HANDLES ROULETTE
IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Announcer: 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.
NEXT WEEK ON THE TWILIGHT ZONE
YOU'LL SIT IN THIS COURTROOM AND
YOU'LL WATCH WHAT IS APPARENTLY
THE STANDARD, EVERYDAY
TURNING OF THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE.
BUT BECAUSE THIS
IS THE TWILIGHT ZONE
DON'T BE FOOLED BY
THE READILY APPARENT,
FOR WHEN THE JUDGE
ENTERS, THE JURY RISES,
THE BAILIFF CALLS OUT
THE CASE, ALL OF THIS
IS THE OPENING SALVO TO ONE
OF OUR WILDEST JOURNEYS YET.
OUR PROGRAM IS
CALLED "SHADOW PLAY"
AND IT'S WRITTEN BY
MR. CHARLES BEAUMONT.
IT COMES WELL RECOMMENDED.
HI, THIS IS ED SULLIVAN,
REMINDING YOU THAT THE
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
ALSO BRINGS YOU STAR-STUDDED
ENTERTAINMENT ON OUR SHOW
ON MOST OF THESE SAME STATIONS.
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.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU GENTLEMEN
THE MOST IDIOTIC THING
OCCURRED IN THE MARKET TODAY.
JUST IDIOTIC. I'VE BEEN
DABBLING IN THE SYNDICATE.
IT HAS SOME OIL
HOLDINGS IN TEXAS.
JACK BREWER HANDLES
OUR NEW YORK OPERATION.
HE CAME ON THE FLOOR TODAY...
I JUST HAPPENED TO BE THERE.
THIS WAS ABOUT
10:30 THIS MORNING.
HE HAS A SHEAF OF
PAPERS IN HIS HAND
HE WAVES TO ME.
NOW, IF THERE IS
ANYBODY THAT I DON'T WANT
TO SEE BEFORE NOON
ON ANY GIVEN DAY
IT IS JACK BREWER.
HE'S A RAUCOUS SORT, A
LITTLE CRUDE, NOUVEAU RICHE...
YOU KNOW THE TYPE.
CHARLIE, OLD MAN, YOU DON'T
MIND IF I SIT HERE, DO YOU, BOY?
WELL, WHERE WAS I?
OH, YES, JACK BREWER.
HE, UH, WALKS ACROSS
THE FLOOR TO ME
AND WITH AN INTENSE VOICE...
A VOICE ABSOLUTELY
SHAKING WITH INTENSITY...
HE SIDLES UP TO ME
AND HE WHISPERS...
HE'S GOT THE MOST MISERABLE
HABIT OF WHISPERING...
SOTTO VOCE... SO THAT EVERYONE
IN THE WORLD CAN HEAR HIM.
ANYWAY, HE SAYS TO ME "JIM,
"I MUST SCRAPE UP A
QUARTER OF A MILLION
AND YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
THAT CAN HANDLE IT FOR ME."
NOW, THIS IS BREWER
SPEAKING TO ME.
A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS!
AND I AM SUPPOSED TO
SCRAPE IT UP FOR HIM.
I MEAN, I AM SUPPOSED
TO SCRAPE IT UP
AS THOUGH IT WERE
SOME KIND OF RESIDUE
THAT COULD BE LITERALLY
SCOOPED UP OFF A FLOOR!
TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT
HE ARRIVES AT THE BUSIEST
TIME OF THE MORNING
ABSOLUTELY THE BUSIEST TIME
AND HE SAYS TO ME
"JIM, I'VE GOT AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CORNER..."
I JUST GOT YOUR LETTER.
SHH! OUR YOUNG FRIEND
IS DISCOURSING AGAIN.
WELL, OF COURSE I LOOKED
A LITTLE ASKANCE AT HIM
BECAUSE THE BOOR WOULDN'T
KNOW A CORNER OF THE MARKET
FROM A RAILROAD ROUNDHOUSE!
THE ONLY THING WORSE
THAN HIS TALKING SO MUCH
IS HIS TRANSPARENCY.
IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS, ALFRED,
HE WILL VERY NONCHALANTLY ASK
FOR A LOAN FROM
ANYBODY WITHIN EARSHOT.
JUST LAST WEEK HE ASKED ME
FOR THE LOAN OF A QUARTER
OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE LETTER YOU SENT ME
IS THE MOST INCREDIBLE
THING I HAVE EVER READ.
ARCHIE, WE'RE OLD FRIENDS.
I MUST TELL YOU... MY
COMMUNICATION TO YOU
WAS NOT AS AN OLD
FRIEND, BUT AS MY LAWYER.
IS THE WAGER I
HAVE IN MIND LEGAL?
NO WAGER IS LEGAL IN THIS STATE.
WELL, IS IT AGAINST
THE LAW, THEN?
ANYTHING CRIMINAL IN IT?
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING
CRIMINAL IN IT, NO.
ALFRED, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
I WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOU.
FRANKLIN, WOULD YOU TAKE
THIS NOTE ACROSS THE ROOM
TO YOUNG MR. TENNYSON
OVER THERE.
ARCHIE... YOU TELL
HIM IT'S FROM ME.
ASK HIM TO READ IT IMMEDIATELY.
WHY, YES, SIR.
THE NOTE THAT THIS MAN IS
CARRYING ACROSS A CLUB ROOM
IS IN THE FORM OF
A PROPOSED WAGER
BUT IT'S THE KIND OF WAGER
THAT COMES WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
IT STANDS ALONE IN THE
ANNALS OF BET MAKING
AS THE STRANGEST GAME
OF CHANCE EVER OFFERED
BY ONE MAN TO ANOTHER.
IN JUST A MOMENT, WE'LL
SEE THE TERMS OF THE WAGER
AND WHAT YOUNG
MR. TENNYSON DOES ABOUT IT.
AND IN THE PROCESS
WE'LL WITNESS ALL PARTIES
SPIN A WHEEL OF CHANCE
IN A VERY BIZARRE CASINO
CALLED THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I COULD DO
WITH A QUARTER OF A MILLION
DOLLARS IN A DEAL LIKE THIS?
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THIS... I
COULD TREBLE IT, QUADRUPLE IT.
WHY, WITH AN INITIAL INVESTMENT
OF A QUARTER OF
A MILLION DOLLARS...
I COULD TAKE THIS
PLASTICS THING...
EXCUSE ME, MR. TENNYSON.
A NOTE FOR YOU
FROM COLONEL TAYLOR.
JUST PUT IT DOWN
SOMEWHERE, FRANKLIN.
EXCUSE ME, MR. TENNYSON,
HIS INSTRUCTIONS ARE
THAT YOU READ IT IMMEDIATELY.
I BEG YOUR PARDON.
ACTS LIKE HE HAD SEEN A GHOST.
THIS IS... THIS IS
ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.
WHAT ABOUT IT, TENNYSON?
IS THIS SOME KIND OF A JOKE?
I MEAN, REALLY,
COLONEL, IF IT IS A JOKE,
IT SUGGESTS A SENSE OF
HUMOR QUITE BEYOND ME.
IT IS NOT A JOKE.
YOU KNOW ME REASONABLY
WELL, TENNYSON.
YOU KNOW THAT HUMOR IS PERHAPS
THE LEAST DEVELOPED
ASPECT OF MY CHARACTER.
I AM QUITE SERIOUS.
WOULD YOU MIND
TERRIBLY, TENNYSON
IF I ACQUAINTED THE MEMBERS
WITH MY PROPOSITION?
WELL, THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS,
COLONEL, QUITE YOUR BUSINESS.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL
MAKE YOURSELF HIGHLY SUSPECT.
I'LL TAKE THAT RISK.
I PROPOSE A WAGER
TO MR. TENNYSON HERE.
THE WAGER IS TO TAKE
THE FOLLOWING FORM.
I WILL BET HIM $500,000...
THAT HE CANNOT REMAIN
SILENT FOR ONE YEAR.
THE WAGER CARRIES WITH IT
THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
HE WILL BE PLACED IN A
ROOM FOR OBSERVATION
BY ME OR BY ANY ONE
OF US, AT OUR DISCRETION.
HE WILL BE FURNISHED
WITH ANYTHING HE DESIRES
BY WAY OF DIVERSION.
BUT HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK
ONE SINGLE WORD FOR 12 MONTHS
NOT ONE SINGLE WORD.
HE WILL MAKE HIS WANTS KNOWN
IN WRITING, NOT BY VOICE.
WHAT ABOUT IT, TENNYSON?
WELL, MAY I ASK WHAT IS
THE REASON FOR THIS WAGER?
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY MIGHT
HORRIFY THE AVERAGE PERSON
BUT TO SOMEONE AS
INSENSITIVE AS YOU
IT PROBABLY WON'T MEAN A THING.
I DISLIKE YOU
INTENSELY, TENNYSON.
IT GOES MUCH BEYOND
THE ORDINARY DISTASTE
I FEEL FOR SOMEONE
WITHOUT BREEDING
WITHOUT PRINCIPLES,
WITHOUT MANNERS.
YOUR VOICE HAS
BECOME INTOLERABLE.
I SIT HERE EACH NIGHT AND THE
SOUND OF IT MAKES ME WINCE!
I CANNOT ASK YOU TO
RESIGN FROM THE CLUB.
I HAVEN'T GOT THAT RIGHT.
SO IT OCCURRED TO ME
THAT I'D BE WILLING TO
OFFER A LARGE SUM OF MONEY
JUST TO HAVE SOME QUIET.
YOU SEE, TENNYSON
YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY
REMAIN SILENT FOR A YEAR.
IT'S NOT IN YOUR NATURE.
YOU'RE A SHALLOW, TALKATIVE,
EMPTY-HEADED NE'ER-DO-WELL
AND TO REMAIN SILENT
WOULD DESTROY YOU.
SO WHAT I ASSUME WILL HAPPEN
YOU WILL PERHAPS
WITHSTAND THE PRESSURES
FOR THREE OR FOUR WEEKS,
MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS
AND THEN YOU WILL SUCCUMB.
THAT'S, AGAIN, YOUR NATURE.
IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL DERIVE
OH, SEVERAL MONTHS
OF EXQUISITE SILENCE.
WELL, TENNYSON
DOES IT APPEAL TO
YOUR SPORTING BLOOD?
ODDLY ENOUGH, IT DOES
APPEAL TO MY SPORTING BLOOD.
NOW, THAT, TOO, IS
PATENTLY RIDICULOUS.
THERE'S NOTHING SPORTING
ABOUT YOU, TENNYSON.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW
YOU'RE DELIVERING
YOUR NIGHTLY FINANCIAL FOLDEROL
BECAUSE YOU'RE IN
DESPERATE STRAITS.
YOU'VE RUN THROUGH
YOUR INHERITANCE
YOUR DEBTS ARE INSURMOUNTABLE
AND YOU'D DO PRACTICALLY
ANYTHING FOR MONEY.
EXCEPT, PERHAPS, TO
REMAIN SILENT FOR A YEAR.
IF THIS WERE EUROPE, OR THE
COMPANY WERE MORE SOPHISTICATED
I SHOULD BE FORCED
TO INVITE YOU OUT
FOR THE THINGS
YOU'VE SAID TO ME.
THE GROUND RULES HERE, HOWEVER
ARE DIFFERENT.
I CAN EITHER IGNORE
YOU OR CALL YOUR BLUFF.
WELL, I CHOOSE TO DO THE LATTER.
I ACCEPT YOUR WAGER.
UH, JUST A FEW QUESTIONS.
WHERE AM I TO BE INCARCERATED?
WELL, IN THE OLD GAME
ROOM DOWNSTAIRS.
IT ISN'T BEING USED.
WITH THE PERMISSION OF
THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
I'LL HAVE SOME WORK DONE ON IT.
YOU'LL BE IN A GLASS-ENCLOSED
LIVING ROOM AND BEDROOM.
MICROPHONES WILL BE
PLACED AROUND THE ROOM
WHICH YOU ARE TO
LEAVE UNTOUCHED.
YOUR EVERY MOVEMENT
WILL BE RECORDED
AND SO WILL YOUR VOICE
WHEN YOU DECIDE TO GIVE UP.
YOU WILL PERMIT
ME OR ANY ONE OF US
TO OBSERVE YOU AT ANY TIME.
WHEN, UH, IS THIS
SUPPOSED TO START?
WELL, THE ROOM COULD BE
PREPARED BY TOMORROW NIGHT.
I'VE MADE ALL THE
NECESSARY INQUIRIES.
YOU COULD ENTER
ANYTIME AFTER 10:00 P.M.
AND SO, AT 10:00
P.M., JUNE 3, 1962
YOU MAY LEAVE THE ROOM.
AT THAT TIME I WILL HAVE
A CHECK FOR $500,000
WAITING FOR YOU
ASSUMING, OF COURSE,
THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENS
AND YOU'RE ABLE TO REMAIN
SILENT FOR THOSE 12 MONTHS.
I'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT.
UH, COLONEL, I WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE THAT CHECK CERTIFIED
AND PLACED ON DEPOSIT IN MY NAME
A PHOTOSTAT OF IT AVAILABLE
AND WITNESSED BY EVERY
MEMBER OF THIS CLUB.
THAT MIGHT BE THE
USUAL PROCEDURE
IN A FISH MARKET OR A PAWN SHOP
BUT NOT IN THIS CLUB
AND NOT WITH ME.
MY CREDIT IS WELL-KNOWN
SO IS MY HONOR, AS EVERY
MEMBER HERE WILL VOUCH FOR.
THERE WILL BE NO CHECK
PLACED ON DEPOSIT.
YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD.
I SEE.
IT'S MY COURAGE
AGAINST YOUR CREDIT.
WELL, A YEAR FROM TOMORROW NIGHT
BOTH CAN BE PROVED.
FRANKLIN, GET ME MY COAT.
YES, SIR.
TENNYSON, I'VE KNOWN
COLONEL TAYLOR FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS IS NOT A CAPRICIOUS MAN.
I WARN YOU, HE IS
IN DEADLY EARNEST.
DO YOU KNOW MY WIFE, SIR?
HER NAME IS DORIS.
SHE'S A LOVELY THING...
FRAIL, BEAUTIFUL, FRAGILE.
LIKE A CAMEO BROOCH
BUT HER TASTES RUN
TO UNFRAGILE THINGS...
SIZABLE BAUBLES TO
SIZABLE PRICE TAGS.
SHE SHOPS AT TIFFANY'S THE WAY
OTHER WOMEN ENTER A SUPERMARKET.
MY MISERABLE MISFORTUNE IS
THAT I HAPPEN TO BE VERY
MUCH IN LOVE WITH HER.
I AM ALSO DESPERATE
IN NEED OF MONEY.
I MAY SOUND MELODRAMATIC,
BUT IT HAPPENS TO BE TRUE.
ANY TIME NOW, MR. TENNYSON.
ANY TIME.
OH, MR. TENNYSON'S DINNER, HMM?
YES, SIR.
IS HE EATING WELL,
APPETITE GOOD?
NOT VERY MUCH UP
TO A WEEK AGO, SIR
BUT HE'S EATING VERY WELL NOW.
WELL, THAT'S NICE.
AND I HOPE HE STAYS
IN PERFECT HEALTH.
I WOULDN'T WANT THIS EXPERIENCE
TO DAMAGE HIM IN ANY WAY.
QUITE THE CONTRARY, SIR.
HE SEEMS IN EXCELLENT SPIRITS
AND IT'S NINE WEEKS NOW, SIR
NINE WEEKS TODAY
THAT HE'S BEEN IN THERE.
Taylor: NINE WEEKS?
WELL, THAT'S REALLY
QUITE INCREDIBLE.
I GAVE HIM FOUR WEEKS
POSSIBLY, TO HOLD
OUT, SIX AT THE OUTSIDE.
NINE WEEKS!
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
MORE GRISTLE THERE
THAN I GAVE HIM CREDIT FOR.
WILL THERE BE
ANYTHING ELSE, SIR?
OH, HELLO, ALFRED.
FRANKLIN TOLD ME
YOU WERE WAITING.
ONLY TO POSE THIS
QUESTION TO YOU.
VERY SUCCINCT,
ARCHIE, VERY BRIEF.
HOW LONG?
HOW LONG WHAT?
HOW LONG ARE YOU
GOING TO KEEP ON
WITH THIS... THIS
PROLONGED PRACTICAL JOKE?
WELL, NOT MUCH LONGER.
THANK YOU, FRANKLIN.
YOU SHOULD SEE
OUR BOY DOWN THERE.
FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS,
NOT A SOUND OUT OF HIM.
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
THAT FOP WON'T TAKE
IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH.
THIS I'LL GUARANTEE YOU.
FOR YOUR SAKE, I
HOPE THAT'S THE CASE.
MY SAKE?
YOU HAVE THE MONEY, ARCHIE?
I FIND THAT INSULTING, ALFRED.
I'M SORRY IF IT IS.
I THINK HE'S GOING
TO BEAT YOU, ARCHIE.
I THINK THAT BOY DOWN THERE
IS GOING TO REMAIN
SILENT FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
AND I THINK YOU'RE
GOING TO OWE HIM $500,000.
I JUST HOPE YOU'VE GOT IT.
YOU CAN HEAR ME,
TENNYSON, CAN'T YOU?
I'VE BEEN GIVING THIS
CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT.
YOU FULFILLED YOUR PART
OF THE BARGAIN ADMIRABLY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT
YOU HAVE COMPLETELY
SURPRISED ME, TENNYSON.
BUT THE FACT IS
I FEEL THE WHOLE
THING HAS GONE TOO FAR.
IT'S BECOMING INHUMAN.
I'M PREPARED TO OFFER
YOU A THOUSAND DOLLARS
AND YOU MAY WALK OUT TODAY
RIGHT THIS MOMENT,
IF YOU CHOOSE.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN EARLY
SPRING THIS YEAR, TENNYSON.
YOU OUGHT TO SEE IT.
IN THAT TIME OF THE YEAR
WHEN A YOUNG MAN'S
FANCY LIGHTLY TURNS...
WELL, YOU KNOW
THAT BETTER THAN I DO.
AND YOUNG LADIES, TOO.
FOR EXAMPLE YOUR WIFE.
SHE MUST BE LONELY
FOR YOU, TENNYSON
DESPERATELY LONELY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SHE...
SHE HAS BEEN SEEN
WITH OTHER YOUNG MEN.
IT'S ODD
SHE HASN'T PAID
YOU A VISIT, ISN'T IT?
DON'T YOU THINK IT'S ODD?
I HAPPEN TO KNOW YOU'VE
WRITTEN HER MANY NOTES
REQUESTING A VISIT.
SHE HASN'T RESPONDED,
EVEN TO THE NOTES.
YOU MAY LOSE YOUR
WIFE, TENNYSON.
I HOPE YOU'RE FULLY
AWARE OF THAT.
WHILE YOU STAY HERE BEHIND GLASS
THE VERY REASON
FOR ALL YOUR AGONY
MAY BE SLIPPING AWAY FROM YOU.
WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE, TENNYSON?
WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE RIGHT NOW?
IT STILL MIGHT BE POSSIBLE
TO SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE.
TENNYSON, I SAW YOUR WIFE AGAIN.
SHE WAS GETTING INTO A
LITTLE EUROPEAN SPORTS CAR.
THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, A
NICE YOUNG FELLOW DRIVING IT.
YOUR WIFE... WIFE... YOUR
WIFE... WIFE... WIFE... WIFE.
TODAY IS APRIL
FOOLS' DAY, TENNYSON.
YOU REMEMBER APRIL FOOLS' DAY.
I THINK IT WAS NAMED FOR YOU
FOR ONLY A FOOL WOULD STAY
IN THERE AS LONG AS YOU HAVE
KNOWING PRECISELY WHAT'S
HAPPENING ON THE OUTSIDE.
YOUR WIFE, I MEAN, TENNYSON,
YOUR WIFE... WIFE... WIFE.
TENNYSON, THIS
NONSENSE MUST CEASE!
YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THERE.
YOU REALLY DO.
WHY I COULD TELL YOU SOME
STORIES ABOUT YOUR WIFE.
HOW ABOUT IT, TENNYSON?
I MIGHT SEE MY WAY
CLEAR TO GIVING YOU $5,000.
THAT WOULD PAY OFF
A LOT OF YOUR DEBTS.
AND A LITTLE BRACELET
FOR YOUR WIFE.
SOMETHING TO COMPENSATE
FOR THE MONTHS OF LONELINESS.
HOW ABOUT IT, TENNYSON?
$5,000.
$6,000, TENNYSON.
YOU'RE AN IDIOT, YOU
KNOW THAT, TENNYSON?!
YOU'RE GOING OUT OF
YOUR MIND IN THERE.
I KNOW YOU ARE.
YOU'RE READY TO
CRAWL UP THE WALLS.
LISTEN, TENNYSON, YOU CANNOT
STAY IN THERE ONE MORE HOUR.
NOT ANOTHER HALF HOUR.
Man: I WOULDN'T
HAVE BELIEVED IT.
A YEAR IN THAT ROOM
AND NOT ONE WORD OUT OF HIM.
Man: TWO MINUTES IS ALL THE
POOR DEVIL HAS GOT NOW...
TWO MORE MINUTES.
Man: LOOK AT ARCHIE.
NOT THE FACE OF A HAPPY
MAN, WOULD YOU SAY?
A RATHER MONUMENTAL
OCCASION, ISN'T IT, ARCHIE?
12 MONTHS AGO TO THE MOMENT
YOU DESTROYED YOURSELF
MUCH AS I TOLD YOU YOU WOULD.
YOUR LITTLE REMINDERS
ARE GRATUITOUS, ALFRED.
BESIDES, IT'S NOT YET 10:00.
WHETHER IT IS OR
WHETHER IT ISN'T
THE DESTRUCTION
I'M TALKING ABOUT
HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.
THERE HAVE BEEN
UGLY RUMORS, ARCHIE
THINGS YOU'VE DONE TO HIM
LIKE LITTLE ASIDES, INNUENDOS
SUGGESTIONS,
GOSSIP ABOUT HIS WIFE.
YOU PLACE SUCH A
PREMIUM ON HONOR, ARCHIE
BUT YOU HAVEN'T ACTED
LIKE AN HONORABLE MAN.
PLEASE DON'T GO TO THE
TROUBLE OF DENYING IT.
I'M SURE MUCH OF IT IS TRUE.
BUT THE UGLY AFFAIR
HAS PROVED TWO THINGS
HASN'T IT, ARCHIE?
THAT THAT BOY DOWN
THERE IS STRONGER
THAN YOU GAVE HIM CREDIT FOR
AND YOU ARE CONSIDERABLY WEAKER.
HOW COULD HE HAVE DONE IT?
HOW COULD HE HAVE DONE IT?
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
YOU, UH, HAVE ME AT A
DISADVANTAGE, MR. TENNYSON.
IN A RATHER
COMPROMISING SITUATION.
YOU FORCE ME INTO A POSITION
OF... RATHER DISTASTEFUL CANDOR.
THE TRUTH IS I AM A FRAUD.
I HAVEN'T ANY MONEY.
I OFFERED YOU A THOUSAND
DOLLARS, THEN $5,000.
I WOULD HAVE HAD TO
GO OUT INTO THE STREET
TO BEG EVEN THAT AMOUNT, LET
ALONE A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
IT'S TRUE THAT I HAVE PRIDE
BEARING, TASTE,
EXCEPTIONAL BREEDING...
BUT I LOST MOST OF MY
MONEY SOME YEARS AGO.
NOW YOU HAVE FORCED ME
TO UNCOVER THE SITUATION
PROVING, MR. TENNYSON,
PROVING THAT, OF THE TWO OF US
YOU ARE BY FAR THE
MORE SUBSTANTIAL.
AND I WILL NATURALLY RESIGN.
I WILL NOT ASK YOU TO SUFFER
MY PRESENCE ANY LONGER.
TENNYSON, YOU CAN
TALK, YOUR TIME IS UP.
YOU CAN TALK, GURGLE, SING,
CHORTLE, ANYTHING YOU WANT.
Man: WHAT'S HE WRITING?
Man: WHAT IS HE DOING?
WHY DOESN'T HE TALK?
WHAT DOES IT SAY, ARCHIE?
WHAT DID HE WRITE?
WHY DIDN'T HE SAY SOMETHING?
"I KNEW I WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP
"MY PART OF THE BARGAIN...
"SO ONE YEAR AGO
I HAD THE NERVES
TO MY VOCAL CHORDS SEVERED."
MR. JAMIE TENNYSON
WHO ALMOST WON A BET
BUT WHO DISCOVERED
SOMEWHAT BELATEDLY
THAT GAMBLING CAN BE A
MOST UNPRODUCTIVE PURSUIT
EVEN WITH LOADED
DICE, MARKED CARDS
OR, AS IN HIS CASE, SOME
SEVERED VOCAL CHORDS.
FOR SOMEWHERE BEYOND
HIM, A WHEEL WAS TURNED
AND HIS NUMBER
CAME UP "BLACK 13."
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE
IT, ASK THE CROUPIER
THE VERY SPECIAL ONE
WHO HANDLES ROULETTE
IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Announcer: 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.
NEXT WEEK ON THE TWILIGHT ZONE
YOU'LL SIT IN THIS COURTROOM AND
YOU'LL WATCH WHAT IS APPARENTLY
THE STANDARD, EVERYDAY
TURNING OF THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE.
BUT BECAUSE THIS
IS THE TWILIGHT ZONE
DON'T BE FOOLED BY
THE READILY APPARENT,
FOR WHEN THE JUDGE
ENTERS, THE JURY RISES,
THE BAILIFF CALLS OUT
THE CASE, ALL OF THIS
IS THE OPENING SALVO TO ONE
OF OUR WILDEST JOURNEYS YET.
OUR PROGRAM IS
CALLED "SHADOW PLAY"
AND IT'S WRITTEN BY
MR. CHARLES BEAUMONT.
IT COMES WELL RECOMMENDED.
HI, THIS IS ED SULLIVAN,
REMINDING YOU THAT THE
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
ALSO BRINGS YOU STAR-STUDDED
ENTERTAINMENT ON OUR SHOW
ON MOST OF THESE SAME STATIONS.