The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 2, Episode 7 - Nick of Time - full transcript
Don and Pat Carter are on their honeymoon when their car breaks down in the small town of Ridgeview, Ohio. They have a few hours to spare while their car is being repaired and spend time in the diner. There they find a fortune-telling machine, a game where you can ask a question and for a penny will spit out an innocuous answer. When the machine apparently begins to predict events - Don's promotion at work, a near accident on the street outside - a superstitious Don becomes infatuated with the device threatening his marriage and his future with Pat.
( 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.
( groans)
HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE?
LIKE I TOLD YOU, NOBODY STOCKS
FUEL PUMPS AROUND TOWN.
I'LL HAVE TO SEND
INTO DAYTON FOR IT.
HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
OH, THREE, FOUR HOURS.
BETTER FIGURE ON
FOUR, TO PLAY SAFE.
FOUR HOURS?
CRAZY.
LET'S GET SOME LUNCH.
LUNCH? WE CAN HOMESTEAD.
( sighs)
JUNE, CROON, HONEYMOON.
QUIET.
QUIET.
DON'T THINK I SHOULD
PHONE THE OFFICE AGAIN, HUH?
YOU ARE GOING TO
LOSE THAT PROMOTION
IF YOU KEEP
PESTERING THEM, LOVER.
I'M GOING TO LOSE IT ANYWAY.
AH, THAT'S A FINE WAY TO TALK.
AND I THOUGHT I MARRIED
A MAN WITH CONFIDENCE.
AND WHO IS THE BEST
MAN FOR THE JOB?
ME, BUT... BUT?
BUT THOMPSON HAS SENIORITY.
AW! DOESN'T MEAN A THING.
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.
THAT'S ME.
BREAD AND BUTTER.
YES, DEAR.
JUST TRYING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.
SHALL WE?
LET'S HAVE SOME MUSIC, DON.
GREAT.
( slow dance music plays)
I THOUGHT WE
CAME IN HERE TO EAT.
YES, WE DID.
SHALL WE SIT HERE?
WELL, WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?
"THE MYSTIC SEER."
THE WHAT?
LET'S TRY IT, SHALL WE?
HAVE YOU GOT A PENNY, HONEY?
I THINK SO.
WHAT'LL WE ASK IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I GOT IT.
WHAT?
DOES ANYTHING EXCITING
EVER HAPPEN AROUND HERE?
"IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE."
THE HAND BELONGS
TO MR. DON S. CARTER,
MALE MEMBER OF A HONEYMOON TEAM
EN ROUTE ACROSS THE OHIO
COUNTRYSIDE TO NEW YORK CITY.
IN ONE MOMENT, THEY
WILL BE SUBJECTED
TO A GIFT MOST HUMANS
NEVER RECEIVE IN A LIFETIME.
FOR ONE PENNY, THEY'LL BE
ABLE TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
THE TIME IS NOW, THE PLACE IS A
LITTLE DINER IN RIDGEVIEW, OHIO,
AND WHAT THIS YOUNG
COUPLE DOESN'T REALIZE
IS THAT THIS TOWN HAPPENS TO LIE
ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
HOWDY.
HOWDY. HELLO.
WHAT'LL IT BE?
I THINK I'LL HAVE A TOMATO
AND LETTUCE ON WHOLE WHEAT
AND SOME ICED COFFEE, PLEASE.
I'LL HAVE THE SAME.
I'VE GOT SOME VERY GOOD
CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK OUT THERE.
NO, THANK YOU.
NO? NO.
YOU FINISHED WITH THAT?
YES.
OH!
GOOD, HMM?
GREAT. HE MUST HAVE
SIPHONED IT OUT OF A SWAMP.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
GETTING SOME PENNIES.
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO ASK IT NOW?
WHAT ELSE?
AM I GOING TO BE
PROMOTED, FOR PETE'S SAKE.
HEY, LOOK.
WHAT?
"IT HAS BEEN DECIDED
IN YOUR FAVOR."
AH! YOU SEE, YOUR
WORRIES ARE OVER.
I THINK I'LL PHONE.
HONEY... WELL, I WAS
GOING TO ANYWAY.
WASN'T I?
HELLO, OPERATOR?
GIVE ME MAIN 1-8-9-9-7
IN SAINT LOUIS, PLEASE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
( coin drops into slot)
HOW MUCH?
75 CENTS?
HONEY, YOU GOT
ANOTHER QUARTER ON YOU?
IS THIS CALL NECESSARY?
HERE YOU ARE, OPERATOR.
( phone dings)
HELLO.
CONNECT ME WITH
MR. WELDEN'S SECRETARY, PLEASE.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED.
I'M DOING IT UP HERE.
HELLO.
HELLO, PAULINE?
IT'S DON.
FINE. FINE. AND YOU?
WHAT'S THE SECRET WORD, PAULINE?
I DID?
I MADE IT.
OH... THANK YOU, PAULINE.
YES, WE'LL SEND YOU A
POSTCARD FROM NEW YORK.
AS SOON AS WE ARRIVE.
GOOD-BYE, AND SAME TO YOU.
GOOD-BYE.
I MADE IT.
OH, DARLING, I'M
SO PROUD OF YOU.
YOU'RE NOW LOOKING
AT THE WORLD'S
YOUNGEST OFFICE MANAGER.
AND I'M HAPPY TO
SAY I TOLD YOU SO.
AND SO HAS HE.
YEAH? WELL, I TOLD YOU FIRST.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO CELEBRATE.
HERE'S A DIME FOR THE JUKEBOX.
SOME SUCCESS MUSIC.
OR "THE TRIUMPHAL MARCH."
DON'T KNOW THAT
I CAN FIND IT HERE.
( big-band swing music plays)
CRAZY.
OH.
THANK YOU.
YOU AIN'T GOING TO LIKE THIS
AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD
THAT CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK.
WE'LL BEAR UP.
AH... OFFICE MANAGER.
I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.
LET'S ASK HIM SOMETHING ELSE.
HE REALLY CAME
THROUGH ON THAT ONE.
WHY DON'T YOU ASK HIM
WHY HE DIDN'T WARN US
THAT THE WHOLE-WHEAT
BREAD IS STALE?
"DOES HE/SHE LOVE ME?"
I KNOW THE ANSWER
TO THAT ONE, HUH?
"WILL I BECOME RICH?"
I KNOW THE ANSWER
TO THAT ONE, TOO.
I'M GOING TO BE THE WORLD'S
FIRST MILLIONAIRE ACCOUNTANT.
OFFICE MANAGER.
RIGHT.
IS IT REALLY GOING
TO BE FOUR HOURS
BEFORE WE GET OUT OF HERE?
"YOU MAY NEVER KNOW."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHO KNOWS?
HE DOES.
MM-HMM...
BUT IT'LL COST YOU
ANOTHER PENNY.
I'M AN OFFICE MANAGER NOW.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
"WE MAY NEVER KNOW"?
NO, THAT'S NOT A
"YES" OR "NO" QUESTION.
YOU MEAN SOMETHING WILL
KEEP US FROM KNOWING?
SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN TO US?
"IF YOU MOVE SOON."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL, HE'S A MYSTIC.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
( coin clinks)
OH, I CAN SEE I'M
GOING TO HAVE TO BE
THE FRUGAL ONE IN OUR FAMILY.
JUST ONE MORE.
YOU MEAN, IF WE'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO MOVE,
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY HERE?
JUST ONE QUESTION
PER PENNY, PLEASE.
"THAT MAKES A
GOOD DEAL OF SENSE."
HOW LONG SHOULD... NO, UH...
SHOULD WE STAY HERE UNTIL 2:30?
( pushes lever)
"TRY AGAIN."
SHOULD WE STAY
IN HERE UNTIL 3:00?
"THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT."
DON, LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AROUND THE TOWN, HMM?
EVERY ANSWER SEEMS TO FIT.
YOU'RE JOKING, AREN'T YOU?
I MEAN... DON, NO MORE.
IF WE DON'T STAY
IN HERE UNTIL 3:00,
SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO US?
OH, DON, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES.
READ IT.
"DO YOU DARE RISK FINDING OUT?"
DON, LET'S GO.
WELL, I HAVEN'T FINISHED
MY SANDWICH YET.
DON'T YOU WANT SOME ICE CREAM?
CAN WE GO NOW?
DON'T YOU WANT
SOMETHING COLD TO DRINK?
PLEASE, LET'S GO.
ALL RIGHT.
SAY, CAN I HAVE MY CHECK?
YOU DON'T NEED A CHECK.
I KNOW WHAT YOU HAD.
TWO SANDWICHES: 80 CENTS,
ICED COFFEE: $1.10,
TWO ICE CREAMS: $1.60,
WITH THREE CENTS TAX.
HERE. KEEP THE CHANGE.
WELL, THANKS.
AND COME ON BACK, NOW.
HOT, HOT, HOT.
YEAH.
MAYBE IT WON'T TAKE
THEM FOUR HOURS
TO FIX THE CAR. YOU THINK?
MAYBE.
DON, YOU DIDN'T REALLY WANT
TO STAY IN THERE, DID YOU?
NO.
HONEST?
WELL, WHY WAS IT SO SPECIFIC?
SPECIFIC?
SWEETIE... "IF YOU MOVE SOON."
"THAT MAKES A
GOOD DEAL OF SENSE."
"TRY AGAIN." "THERE'S
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT."
"YOU MAY NEVER KNOW."
"DO YOU DARE RISK FINDING OUT?"
DON, IT'S JUST A NAPKIN HOLDER
IN A LITTLE CAFE
IN RIDGEVIEW, OHIO.
OH, I KNOW, I KNOW.
ALL RIGHT, WHAT ABOUT
MY PROMOTION, THEN?
DIDN'T IT TELL ME, "IT HAS
BEEN DECIDED IN YOUR FAVOR"?
ISN'T THAT...?
OH, FORGET IT.
I SUPPOSE I'M JUST BEING STUPID.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
YOU'RE JUST... DON'T SAY IT.
SUPERSTITIOUS.
IT'S LIKE YOU MARRIED
AN ALCOHOLIC, ISN'T IT?
ONLY, INSTEAD OF
BOTTLES IN THE CHANDELIER,
IT'S RABBITS' FEET AND
FOUR-LEAF CLOVERS
IN MY POCKETS,
IN THE CAR... AND...
AND YOU'RE ALL MINE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT?
WELL, YOU KEEP
LOOKING AROUND AS IF...
DO I?
YOU ARE WORRIED.
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT...
OH, DON, I WONDER
WHEN YOU ACT LIKE THIS.
I'M SORRY. I'M NOT
TRYING TO UPSET YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT.
DOESN'T CHANGE
THE FACTS, THOUGH.
WHAT FACTS?
SIX STRAIGHT ANSWERS.
OH, DON, PLEASE!
OH, STOP TREATING ME LIKE A
RETARDED CHILD OR SOMETHING.
I DIDN'T MAKE THOSE ANSWERS UP.
WAIT, DON. WAIT.
WE CAN MAKE IT.
( horn blaring, tires squealing)
( car driving off)
( passersby exclaiming)
YOU ALL RIGHT?
QUITE A MOMENT.
IF YOU HADN'T PULLED ME
OUT OF THE WAY OF THAT CAR,
ONE SQUASHED HONEYMOONER.
COME ON.
WELL, WHERE ARE WE GOING NOW?
OH, WE'RE NOT
GOING BACK TO THAT...
WHY NOT?
ALL RIGHT, I ADMIT IT WAS
A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.
IF IT WAS A COINCIDENCE,
WHAT ARE YOU WORRYING
ABOUT US GOING BACK, THEN?
I'M NOT.
SO STOP WORRYING.
JUST THE SAME,
YOU WILL ADMIT THAT,
FOR A COINCIDENCE, IT
WAS PRETTY FAR-FETCHED.
MAYBE.
WELL, SOMEONE'S SITTING IN FRONT
OF OUR MYSTIC SEER.
DON?
WHY DON'T YOU TRY THIS ONE,
OR ONE OF THE OTHERS?
I'M SURE THAT...
DON?
WHAT?
LOOK AT ME.
WELL, YOU... YOU REALLY
DON'T THINK THAT THAT...
THAT GIZMO CAN FORETELL
THE FUTURE, DO YOU?
IT FORETOLD OURS.
HOW? HOW DID IT?
WELL, BACK ALREADY.
WHAT WILL YOU HAVE?
HONEY?
OH, I'LL HAVE SOME
ICED COFFEE, PLEASE.
AND HOW ABOUT YOU?
THE SAME.
UM... ALL RIGHT, HOW?
WHEN THAT CAR ALMOST
HIT US, IT WAS 3:00...
EXACTLY WHEN THAT MACHINE SAID.
DON, YOU SAID 3:00,
NOT THE MACHINE.
YOU DECIDED TO SIT IN HERE
AS LONG AS WE DID. YOU.
OH, THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
CAN'T YOU SEE THAT YOU
MADE UP ALL THE DETAILS,
AND ALL THAT
THAT... THAT THING DID
WAS GIVE BACK GENERALITIES?
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING
SO UPSET ABOUT?
YOU. THAT YOU COULD EVEN
CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY...
WILL... WILL YOU LISTEN...?
WILL YOU LISTEN?
EXCUSE ME.
YES?
CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME PENNIES?
OH, SURE. HOW MANY?
TEN.
THANK YOU.
COME ON.
YES, SIR.
DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE CAR
ALMOST HITTING US?
"WHAT DO YOU THINK?"
WILL WE REACH NEW
YORK ALL RIGHT NOW?
"YOUR CHANCES ARE GOOD."
VERY PRECISE.
HONEY, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
A SLIP SHOULD COME OUT AND SAY
"HIYA, DONSY AND
PATSY, SO HOW'S BY YOU?"
EXCUSE ME.
I NEVER SAID THESE SLIPS
WERE MADE FOR US
PERSONALLY... I HEARD!
DON... DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT...
YOU COULD GET THE
SAME KIND OF ANSWERS
FROM ANY ONE OF
THESE MACHINES IN HERE?
TRY AND SEE.
THE SAME KIND, MAYBE,
BUT NOT THE SAME ANSWERS.
( coin drops in)
WILL IT STILL TAKE FOUR HOURS
BEFORE THE CAR IS READY?
HEY...
"IT HAS ALREADY
BEEN TAKEN CARE OF."
SWELL.
LET'S GO, THEN.
Man: MISTER... YOUR CAR'S READY.
GOT A LUCKY BREAK.
FOUND A FUEL PUMP
RIGHT HERE IN TOWN.
LAST ONE THEY HAD, TOO.
FIGURED YOU'D BE WALKING AROUND
A COUPLE OF HOURS
BEFORE YOU FINALLY
CAME TO THE GARAGE,
SO I COME LOOKING FOR YOU.
THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE'LL BE RIGHT OVER.
OKEY-DOKE.
COINCIDENCE?
YES.
ALL RIGHT, THEN YOU
ASK IT SOME QUESTIONS.
OR ARE YOU AFRAID TO?
ALL RIGHT.
WILL WE REACH
COLUMBUS BY TOMORROW?
WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH COL...
"IF THAT'S WHAT
YOU REALLY WANT."
( drops coin)
WILL I EVER BE MARRIED?
( cranks lever)
"THE ANSWER TO THAT IS OBVIOUS."
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO
FORETELL THE FUTURE, IS IT?
"THAT'S UP TO YOU TO FIND OUT."
( drops coin)
YOU'RE JUST A STUPID
PIECE OF JUNK, AREN'T YOU?
"IT ALL DEPENDS UPON
YOUR POINT OF VIEW."
I DON'T WANT TO STAY
HERE ANYMORE, DON.
EVEN IF IT'S TRUE?
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S TRUE.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I THINK YOU ARE AFRAID OF IT.
NOT OF IT.
OF WHAT, THEN?
DON'T YOU KNOW?
ARE WE ALWAYS GOING
TO LIVE IN SAINT LOUIS?
ARE WE GOING TO
LIVE IN THE EAST?
ARE WE GOING TO
LIVE IN THE WEST?
ARE WE GOING TO
LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY?
DON... DON!
WHAT?
LET'S GO.
NO.
ARE YOU JUST GOING TO STAY HERE?
I DON'T KNOW!
OH, SWEETHEART, LISTEN TO ME.
PLEASE, IF YOU LOVE
ME, JUST LISTEN TO ME.
NO, YOU LISTEN TO ME.
THIS MACHINE IS
PREDICTING OUR FUTURE.
DO YOU THINK I COULD
JUST WALK AWAY FROM IT?
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THAT MACHINE ANYMORE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU.
ARE YOU JUST GOING TO SIT HERE
AND LET THAT... THAT...
THAT THING RUN YOUR LIFE?
RUN MY LIFE?
RUN MY LIFE?
ISN'T THAT EXACTLY WHAT
YOU'RE LETTING IT DO?
DON, IT MADE YOU CALL
THE OFFICE BEFORE.
IT MADE YOU STAY
HERE INSTEAD OF LEAVE.
IT MADE YOU AFRAID TO
WALK DOWN THE STREET.
AND NOW IT'S TELLING YOU
WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE.
WHY, IT'S AS IF EVERY
SUPERSTITIOUS FEELING YOU EVER HAD
IS WRAPPED UP IN
THAT ONE MACHINE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHETHER IT CAN
FORETELL THE FUTURE.
WHAT MATTERS IS WHETHER
YOU BELIEVE MORE IN LUCK
AND IN FORTUNE THAN
YOU DO IN YOURSELF.
WELL, YOU CAN
DECIDE YOUR OWN LIFE.
YOU HAVE A MIND...
A WONDERFUL MIND.
DON'T DESTROY IT
TRYING TO JUSTIFY
THAT CHEAP, PENNY FORTUNE
MACHINE TO YOURSELF.
PAT...
WE CAN HAVE A... A
WONDERFUL LIFE TOGETHER
IF WE MAKE IT
WONDERFUL OURSELVES.
I... PAT...
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I WANT US TO MAKE
IT HAPPEN TOGETHER.
DON'T CRY, DARLING, DON'T CRY.
( crying)
IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG?
NO, NO, NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
DON'T CRY.
WE'LL GO, WE'LL GO.
YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M A JERK.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
YOU'RE WONDERFUL.
YES, YES, I AM.
I'M THE WORLD'S BIGGEST JERK.
COME ON, LET'S GO GET OUR CAR.
YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
LET'S GO GET OUR CAR AND...
WE'LL DRIVE OUT OF THIS TOWN
( loudly): AND GO
WHERE WE WANT TO GO
ANYTIME WE PLEASE.
OH... OH, DON, I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU, TOO, BABY.
YOU KEEP THE CHANGE.
THANKS!
COME ON BACK, NOW.
( coins clatter)
GO AHEAD.
CAN WE ASK SOME
MORE QUESTIONS NOW?
DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT
LEAVE RIDGEVIEW TODAY?
( moans)
IS THERE ANY WAY OUT?
ANY WAY AT ALL?
COUNTERBALANCE IN THE
LITTLE TOWN OF RIDGEVIEW, OHIO.
TWO PEOPLE PERMANENTLY ENSLAVED
BY THE TYRANNY OF
FEAR AND SUPERSTITION,
FACING THE FUTURE WITH
A KIND OF HELPLESS DREAD.
TWO OTHERS FACING THE
FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE
HAVING ESCAPED ONE
OF THE DARKER PLACES
OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
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.
( groans)
HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE?
LIKE I TOLD YOU, NOBODY STOCKS
FUEL PUMPS AROUND TOWN.
I'LL HAVE TO SEND
INTO DAYTON FOR IT.
HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
OH, THREE, FOUR HOURS.
BETTER FIGURE ON
FOUR, TO PLAY SAFE.
FOUR HOURS?
CRAZY.
LET'S GET SOME LUNCH.
LUNCH? WE CAN HOMESTEAD.
( sighs)
JUNE, CROON, HONEYMOON.
QUIET.
QUIET.
DON'T THINK I SHOULD
PHONE THE OFFICE AGAIN, HUH?
YOU ARE GOING TO
LOSE THAT PROMOTION
IF YOU KEEP
PESTERING THEM, LOVER.
I'M GOING TO LOSE IT ANYWAY.
AH, THAT'S A FINE WAY TO TALK.
AND I THOUGHT I MARRIED
A MAN WITH CONFIDENCE.
AND WHO IS THE BEST
MAN FOR THE JOB?
ME, BUT... BUT?
BUT THOMPSON HAS SENIORITY.
AW! DOESN'T MEAN A THING.
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.
THAT'S ME.
BREAD AND BUTTER.
YES, DEAR.
JUST TRYING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.
SHALL WE?
LET'S HAVE SOME MUSIC, DON.
GREAT.
( slow dance music plays)
I THOUGHT WE
CAME IN HERE TO EAT.
YES, WE DID.
SHALL WE SIT HERE?
WELL, WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?
"THE MYSTIC SEER."
THE WHAT?
LET'S TRY IT, SHALL WE?
HAVE YOU GOT A PENNY, HONEY?
I THINK SO.
WHAT'LL WE ASK IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I GOT IT.
WHAT?
DOES ANYTHING EXCITING
EVER HAPPEN AROUND HERE?
"IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE."
THE HAND BELONGS
TO MR. DON S. CARTER,
MALE MEMBER OF A HONEYMOON TEAM
EN ROUTE ACROSS THE OHIO
COUNTRYSIDE TO NEW YORK CITY.
IN ONE MOMENT, THEY
WILL BE SUBJECTED
TO A GIFT MOST HUMANS
NEVER RECEIVE IN A LIFETIME.
FOR ONE PENNY, THEY'LL BE
ABLE TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
THE TIME IS NOW, THE PLACE IS A
LITTLE DINER IN RIDGEVIEW, OHIO,
AND WHAT THIS YOUNG
COUPLE DOESN'T REALIZE
IS THAT THIS TOWN HAPPENS TO LIE
ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
HOWDY.
HOWDY. HELLO.
WHAT'LL IT BE?
I THINK I'LL HAVE A TOMATO
AND LETTUCE ON WHOLE WHEAT
AND SOME ICED COFFEE, PLEASE.
I'LL HAVE THE SAME.
I'VE GOT SOME VERY GOOD
CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK OUT THERE.
NO, THANK YOU.
NO? NO.
YOU FINISHED WITH THAT?
YES.
OH!
GOOD, HMM?
GREAT. HE MUST HAVE
SIPHONED IT OUT OF A SWAMP.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
GETTING SOME PENNIES.
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO ASK IT NOW?
WHAT ELSE?
AM I GOING TO BE
PROMOTED, FOR PETE'S SAKE.
HEY, LOOK.
WHAT?
"IT HAS BEEN DECIDED
IN YOUR FAVOR."
AH! YOU SEE, YOUR
WORRIES ARE OVER.
I THINK I'LL PHONE.
HONEY... WELL, I WAS
GOING TO ANYWAY.
WASN'T I?
HELLO, OPERATOR?
GIVE ME MAIN 1-8-9-9-7
IN SAINT LOUIS, PLEASE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
( coin drops into slot)
HOW MUCH?
75 CENTS?
HONEY, YOU GOT
ANOTHER QUARTER ON YOU?
IS THIS CALL NECESSARY?
HERE YOU ARE, OPERATOR.
( phone dings)
HELLO.
CONNECT ME WITH
MR. WELDEN'S SECRETARY, PLEASE.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED.
I'M DOING IT UP HERE.
HELLO.
HELLO, PAULINE?
IT'S DON.
FINE. FINE. AND YOU?
WHAT'S THE SECRET WORD, PAULINE?
I DID?
I MADE IT.
OH... THANK YOU, PAULINE.
YES, WE'LL SEND YOU A
POSTCARD FROM NEW YORK.
AS SOON AS WE ARRIVE.
GOOD-BYE, AND SAME TO YOU.
GOOD-BYE.
I MADE IT.
OH, DARLING, I'M
SO PROUD OF YOU.
YOU'RE NOW LOOKING
AT THE WORLD'S
YOUNGEST OFFICE MANAGER.
AND I'M HAPPY TO
SAY I TOLD YOU SO.
AND SO HAS HE.
YEAH? WELL, I TOLD YOU FIRST.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO CELEBRATE.
HERE'S A DIME FOR THE JUKEBOX.
SOME SUCCESS MUSIC.
OR "THE TRIUMPHAL MARCH."
DON'T KNOW THAT
I CAN FIND IT HERE.
( big-band swing music plays)
CRAZY.
OH.
THANK YOU.
YOU AIN'T GOING TO LIKE THIS
AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD
THAT CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK.
WE'LL BEAR UP.
AH... OFFICE MANAGER.
I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.
LET'S ASK HIM SOMETHING ELSE.
HE REALLY CAME
THROUGH ON THAT ONE.
WHY DON'T YOU ASK HIM
WHY HE DIDN'T WARN US
THAT THE WHOLE-WHEAT
BREAD IS STALE?
"DOES HE/SHE LOVE ME?"
I KNOW THE ANSWER
TO THAT ONE, HUH?
"WILL I BECOME RICH?"
I KNOW THE ANSWER
TO THAT ONE, TOO.
I'M GOING TO BE THE WORLD'S
FIRST MILLIONAIRE ACCOUNTANT.
OFFICE MANAGER.
RIGHT.
IS IT REALLY GOING
TO BE FOUR HOURS
BEFORE WE GET OUT OF HERE?
"YOU MAY NEVER KNOW."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHO KNOWS?
HE DOES.
MM-HMM...
BUT IT'LL COST YOU
ANOTHER PENNY.
I'M AN OFFICE MANAGER NOW.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
"WE MAY NEVER KNOW"?
NO, THAT'S NOT A
"YES" OR "NO" QUESTION.
YOU MEAN SOMETHING WILL
KEEP US FROM KNOWING?
SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN TO US?
"IF YOU MOVE SOON."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL, HE'S A MYSTIC.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
( coin clinks)
OH, I CAN SEE I'M
GOING TO HAVE TO BE
THE FRUGAL ONE IN OUR FAMILY.
JUST ONE MORE.
YOU MEAN, IF WE'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO MOVE,
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY HERE?
JUST ONE QUESTION
PER PENNY, PLEASE.
"THAT MAKES A
GOOD DEAL OF SENSE."
HOW LONG SHOULD... NO, UH...
SHOULD WE STAY HERE UNTIL 2:30?
( pushes lever)
"TRY AGAIN."
SHOULD WE STAY
IN HERE UNTIL 3:00?
"THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT."
DON, LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AROUND THE TOWN, HMM?
EVERY ANSWER SEEMS TO FIT.
YOU'RE JOKING, AREN'T YOU?
I MEAN... DON, NO MORE.
IF WE DON'T STAY
IN HERE UNTIL 3:00,
SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO US?
OH, DON, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES.
READ IT.
"DO YOU DARE RISK FINDING OUT?"
DON, LET'S GO.
WELL, I HAVEN'T FINISHED
MY SANDWICH YET.
DON'T YOU WANT SOME ICE CREAM?
CAN WE GO NOW?
DON'T YOU WANT
SOMETHING COLD TO DRINK?
PLEASE, LET'S GO.
ALL RIGHT.
SAY, CAN I HAVE MY CHECK?
YOU DON'T NEED A CHECK.
I KNOW WHAT YOU HAD.
TWO SANDWICHES: 80 CENTS,
ICED COFFEE: $1.10,
TWO ICE CREAMS: $1.60,
WITH THREE CENTS TAX.
HERE. KEEP THE CHANGE.
WELL, THANKS.
AND COME ON BACK, NOW.
HOT, HOT, HOT.
YEAH.
MAYBE IT WON'T TAKE
THEM FOUR HOURS
TO FIX THE CAR. YOU THINK?
MAYBE.
DON, YOU DIDN'T REALLY WANT
TO STAY IN THERE, DID YOU?
NO.
HONEST?
WELL, WHY WAS IT SO SPECIFIC?
SPECIFIC?
SWEETIE... "IF YOU MOVE SOON."
"THAT MAKES A
GOOD DEAL OF SENSE."
"TRY AGAIN." "THERE'S
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT."
"YOU MAY NEVER KNOW."
"DO YOU DARE RISK FINDING OUT?"
DON, IT'S JUST A NAPKIN HOLDER
IN A LITTLE CAFE
IN RIDGEVIEW, OHIO.
OH, I KNOW, I KNOW.
ALL RIGHT, WHAT ABOUT
MY PROMOTION, THEN?
DIDN'T IT TELL ME, "IT HAS
BEEN DECIDED IN YOUR FAVOR"?
ISN'T THAT...?
OH, FORGET IT.
I SUPPOSE I'M JUST BEING STUPID.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
YOU'RE JUST... DON'T SAY IT.
SUPERSTITIOUS.
IT'S LIKE YOU MARRIED
AN ALCOHOLIC, ISN'T IT?
ONLY, INSTEAD OF
BOTTLES IN THE CHANDELIER,
IT'S RABBITS' FEET AND
FOUR-LEAF CLOVERS
IN MY POCKETS,
IN THE CAR... AND...
AND YOU'RE ALL MINE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT?
WELL, YOU KEEP
LOOKING AROUND AS IF...
DO I?
YOU ARE WORRIED.
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT...
OH, DON, I WONDER
WHEN YOU ACT LIKE THIS.
I'M SORRY. I'M NOT
TRYING TO UPSET YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT.
DOESN'T CHANGE
THE FACTS, THOUGH.
WHAT FACTS?
SIX STRAIGHT ANSWERS.
OH, DON, PLEASE!
OH, STOP TREATING ME LIKE A
RETARDED CHILD OR SOMETHING.
I DIDN'T MAKE THOSE ANSWERS UP.
WAIT, DON. WAIT.
WE CAN MAKE IT.
( horn blaring, tires squealing)
( car driving off)
( passersby exclaiming)
YOU ALL RIGHT?
QUITE A MOMENT.
IF YOU HADN'T PULLED ME
OUT OF THE WAY OF THAT CAR,
ONE SQUASHED HONEYMOONER.
COME ON.
WELL, WHERE ARE WE GOING NOW?
OH, WE'RE NOT
GOING BACK TO THAT...
WHY NOT?
ALL RIGHT, I ADMIT IT WAS
A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.
IF IT WAS A COINCIDENCE,
WHAT ARE YOU WORRYING
ABOUT US GOING BACK, THEN?
I'M NOT.
SO STOP WORRYING.
JUST THE SAME,
YOU WILL ADMIT THAT,
FOR A COINCIDENCE, IT
WAS PRETTY FAR-FETCHED.
MAYBE.
WELL, SOMEONE'S SITTING IN FRONT
OF OUR MYSTIC SEER.
DON?
WHY DON'T YOU TRY THIS ONE,
OR ONE OF THE OTHERS?
I'M SURE THAT...
DON?
WHAT?
LOOK AT ME.
WELL, YOU... YOU REALLY
DON'T THINK THAT THAT...
THAT GIZMO CAN FORETELL
THE FUTURE, DO YOU?
IT FORETOLD OURS.
HOW? HOW DID IT?
WELL, BACK ALREADY.
WHAT WILL YOU HAVE?
HONEY?
OH, I'LL HAVE SOME
ICED COFFEE, PLEASE.
AND HOW ABOUT YOU?
THE SAME.
UM... ALL RIGHT, HOW?
WHEN THAT CAR ALMOST
HIT US, IT WAS 3:00...
EXACTLY WHEN THAT MACHINE SAID.
DON, YOU SAID 3:00,
NOT THE MACHINE.
YOU DECIDED TO SIT IN HERE
AS LONG AS WE DID. YOU.
OH, THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
CAN'T YOU SEE THAT YOU
MADE UP ALL THE DETAILS,
AND ALL THAT
THAT... THAT THING DID
WAS GIVE BACK GENERALITIES?
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING
SO UPSET ABOUT?
YOU. THAT YOU COULD EVEN
CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY...
WILL... WILL YOU LISTEN...?
WILL YOU LISTEN?
EXCUSE ME.
YES?
CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME PENNIES?
OH, SURE. HOW MANY?
TEN.
THANK YOU.
COME ON.
YES, SIR.
DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE CAR
ALMOST HITTING US?
"WHAT DO YOU THINK?"
WILL WE REACH NEW
YORK ALL RIGHT NOW?
"YOUR CHANCES ARE GOOD."
VERY PRECISE.
HONEY, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
A SLIP SHOULD COME OUT AND SAY
"HIYA, DONSY AND
PATSY, SO HOW'S BY YOU?"
EXCUSE ME.
I NEVER SAID THESE SLIPS
WERE MADE FOR US
PERSONALLY... I HEARD!
DON... DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT...
YOU COULD GET THE
SAME KIND OF ANSWERS
FROM ANY ONE OF
THESE MACHINES IN HERE?
TRY AND SEE.
THE SAME KIND, MAYBE,
BUT NOT THE SAME ANSWERS.
( coin drops in)
WILL IT STILL TAKE FOUR HOURS
BEFORE THE CAR IS READY?
HEY...
"IT HAS ALREADY
BEEN TAKEN CARE OF."
SWELL.
LET'S GO, THEN.
Man: MISTER... YOUR CAR'S READY.
GOT A LUCKY BREAK.
FOUND A FUEL PUMP
RIGHT HERE IN TOWN.
LAST ONE THEY HAD, TOO.
FIGURED YOU'D BE WALKING AROUND
A COUPLE OF HOURS
BEFORE YOU FINALLY
CAME TO THE GARAGE,
SO I COME LOOKING FOR YOU.
THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE'LL BE RIGHT OVER.
OKEY-DOKE.
COINCIDENCE?
YES.
ALL RIGHT, THEN YOU
ASK IT SOME QUESTIONS.
OR ARE YOU AFRAID TO?
ALL RIGHT.
WILL WE REACH
COLUMBUS BY TOMORROW?
WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH COL...
"IF THAT'S WHAT
YOU REALLY WANT."
( drops coin)
WILL I EVER BE MARRIED?
( cranks lever)
"THE ANSWER TO THAT IS OBVIOUS."
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO
FORETELL THE FUTURE, IS IT?
"THAT'S UP TO YOU TO FIND OUT."
( drops coin)
YOU'RE JUST A STUPID
PIECE OF JUNK, AREN'T YOU?
"IT ALL DEPENDS UPON
YOUR POINT OF VIEW."
I DON'T WANT TO STAY
HERE ANYMORE, DON.
EVEN IF IT'S TRUE?
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S TRUE.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I THINK YOU ARE AFRAID OF IT.
NOT OF IT.
OF WHAT, THEN?
DON'T YOU KNOW?
ARE WE ALWAYS GOING
TO LIVE IN SAINT LOUIS?
ARE WE GOING TO
LIVE IN THE EAST?
ARE WE GOING TO
LIVE IN THE WEST?
ARE WE GOING TO
LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY?
DON... DON!
WHAT?
LET'S GO.
NO.
ARE YOU JUST GOING TO STAY HERE?
I DON'T KNOW!
OH, SWEETHEART, LISTEN TO ME.
PLEASE, IF YOU LOVE
ME, JUST LISTEN TO ME.
NO, YOU LISTEN TO ME.
THIS MACHINE IS
PREDICTING OUR FUTURE.
DO YOU THINK I COULD
JUST WALK AWAY FROM IT?
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THAT MACHINE ANYMORE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU.
ARE YOU JUST GOING TO SIT HERE
AND LET THAT... THAT...
THAT THING RUN YOUR LIFE?
RUN MY LIFE?
RUN MY LIFE?
ISN'T THAT EXACTLY WHAT
YOU'RE LETTING IT DO?
DON, IT MADE YOU CALL
THE OFFICE BEFORE.
IT MADE YOU STAY
HERE INSTEAD OF LEAVE.
IT MADE YOU AFRAID TO
WALK DOWN THE STREET.
AND NOW IT'S TELLING YOU
WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE.
WHY, IT'S AS IF EVERY
SUPERSTITIOUS FEELING YOU EVER HAD
IS WRAPPED UP IN
THAT ONE MACHINE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHETHER IT CAN
FORETELL THE FUTURE.
WHAT MATTERS IS WHETHER
YOU BELIEVE MORE IN LUCK
AND IN FORTUNE THAN
YOU DO IN YOURSELF.
WELL, YOU CAN
DECIDE YOUR OWN LIFE.
YOU HAVE A MIND...
A WONDERFUL MIND.
DON'T DESTROY IT
TRYING TO JUSTIFY
THAT CHEAP, PENNY FORTUNE
MACHINE TO YOURSELF.
PAT...
WE CAN HAVE A... A
WONDERFUL LIFE TOGETHER
IF WE MAKE IT
WONDERFUL OURSELVES.
I... PAT...
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I WANT US TO MAKE
IT HAPPEN TOGETHER.
DON'T CRY, DARLING, DON'T CRY.
( crying)
IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG?
NO, NO, NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
DON'T CRY.
WE'LL GO, WE'LL GO.
YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M A JERK.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
YOU'RE WONDERFUL.
YES, YES, I AM.
I'M THE WORLD'S BIGGEST JERK.
COME ON, LET'S GO GET OUR CAR.
YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
LET'S GO GET OUR CAR AND...
WE'LL DRIVE OUT OF THIS TOWN
( loudly): AND GO
WHERE WE WANT TO GO
ANYTIME WE PLEASE.
OH... OH, DON, I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU, TOO, BABY.
YOU KEEP THE CHANGE.
THANKS!
COME ON BACK, NOW.
( coins clatter)
GO AHEAD.
CAN WE ASK SOME
MORE QUESTIONS NOW?
DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT
LEAVE RIDGEVIEW TODAY?
( moans)
IS THERE ANY WAY OUT?
ANY WAY AT ALL?
COUNTERBALANCE IN THE
LITTLE TOWN OF RIDGEVIEW, OHIO.
TWO PEOPLE PERMANENTLY ENSLAVED
BY THE TYRANNY OF
FEAR AND SUPERSTITION,
FACING THE FUTURE WITH
A KIND OF HELPLESS DREAD.
TWO OTHERS FACING THE
FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE
HAVING ESCAPED ONE
OF THE DARKER PLACES
OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
BE SURE AND SEE THE
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY'S
NEW COMEDY SHOW
MY SISTER EILEEN.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON MANY
OF THESE SAME STATIONS.