The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 3, Episode 10 - The Midnight Sun - full transcript
When the Earth falls out of orbit, two women try to cope with increasingly oppressive heat in a nearly abandoned city.
( theme music playing)
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.
YOUR NEXT STOP,
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
( knock at door)
( door opening)
( door closing)
Man: SUZY!
DON'T TAKE THE LADY'S WATER.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, MR. SCHUSTER.
I'VE GOT PLENTY.
NOBODY'S GOT PLENTY.
OH, MR. SCHUSTER, I THOUGHT
I HEARD YOUR VOICE.
FOR THE LAST TIME, MRS.
BRONSON, WE'RE LEAVING.
DID YOU GET GAS?
I GOT 12 GALLONS.
I FIGURE THAT OUGHT TO GET US
AT LEAST TO SYRACUSE.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO TORONTO.
MR. SCHUSTER HAS A COUSIN THERE.
I'M NOT SURE IT'S WISE
YOU'RE DOING THIS.
THE HIGHWAYS ARE PACKED
BUMPER TO BUMPER THE RADIO SAYS.
AND WHAT WITH THE GAS
SHORTAGE AND EVERYTHING...
I KNOW THAT, BUT WE'VE
GOT TO TRY ANYWAY.
IT'S BEEN NICE LIVING HERE.
YOU'RE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
LET'S GO, HONEY.
BYE.
GOOD LUCK.
SAFE TRIP.
( door closes)
AND NOW WE ARE TWO.
THEY WERE THE LAST?
BUILDING'S EMPTY NOW...
EXCEPT FOR YOU AND ME.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
I DON'T KNOW.
I HEARD ON THE RADIO
THAT THEY'RE ONLY GOING
TO TURN THE WATER ON
AN HOUR A DAY FROM NOW ON.
THEY SAID THEY'D
ANNOUNCE WHAT TIME.
AREN'T YOU GOING TO LEAVE?
NO.
NO, I'M NOT GOING TO LEAVE.
YOU KNOW, MRS. BRONSON,
I KEEP GETTING THIS
CRAZY THOUGHT...
THIS CRAZY THOUGHT
THAT I'M GOING TO WAKE UP
AND NONE OF THIS
WILL HAVE HAPPENED.
I'LL WAKE UP IN A
COOL BED, AND...
IT'LL BE NIGHT OUTSIDE
AND THERE'LL BE A WIND...
BRANCHES RUSTLING...
SHADOWS ON THE
SIDEWALK... A MOON...
TRAFFIC NOISES...
AUTOMOBILES...
GARBAGE CANS... MILK
BOTTLES... AND VOICES.
THERE WAS A SCIENTIST
ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING.
HE SAID THAT IT'LL GET A
LOT HOTTER, MORE EACH DAY,
NOW THAT WE'RE MOVING
SO CLOSE TO THE SUN.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE...
THAT'S WHY WE'RE...
THE WORD THAT MRS.
BRONSON IS UNABLE TO PUT
INTO THE HOT, STILL,
SODDEN AIR IS "DOOMED"
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
YOU'VE JUST SEEN
HAVE BEEN HANDED
A DEATH SENTENCE.
ONE MONTH AGO,
THE EARTH SUDDENLY
CHANGED ITS ELLIPTICAL ORBIT,
AND IN DOING SO
BEGAN TO FOLLOW A PATH
WHICH GRADUALLY, MOMENT
BY MOMENT, DAY BY DAY,
TOOK IT CLOSER TO THE SUN.
AND ALL OF MAN'S LITTLE
DEVICES TO STIR UP THE AIR
ARE NOW NO LONGER LUXURIES.
THEY HAPPEN TO BE PITIFUL
AND PANICKY KEYS TO SURVIVAL.
THE TIME IS FIVE
MINUTES TO 12, MIDNIGHT.
THERE IS NO MORE DARKNESS.
THE PLACE IS NEW YORK CITY,
AND THIS IS THE EVE OF THE END
BECAUSE EVEN AT
MIDNIGHT, IT'S HIGH NOON,
THE HOTTEST DAY IN HISTORY,
AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO
SPEND IT IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Bronson: NORMA, IS
THAT YOU, HONEY?
YES, MRS. BRONSON.
THE STORE WAS OPEN.
WIDE OPEN.
OH, I THINK
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE
I WAS EVER SORRY I
WAS BORN A WOMAN.
THIS IS ALL I WAS STRONG
ENOUGH TO CARRY.
THERE WEREN'T ANY
CLERKS AROUND...
THANK YOU.
JUST A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE
TAKING WHAT THEY COULD GRAB.
WELL, AT LEAST WE
WON'T STARVE ANYWAY.
AND THERE ARE THREE
CANS OF FRUIT JUICE IN THERE.
FRUIT JUICE?
FRUIT JUICE?
OH, NORMA, COULD
WE OPEN A CAN NOW?
OH, OF COURSE WE
CAN OPEN A CAN NOW.
OH, WHERE'S THE CAN OPENER?
OH, IN THE OTHER DRAWER.
OH, I'M SORRY.
I'M ACTING JUST LIKE
AN ANIMAL, AREN'T I?
NO.
NO, NO, JUST...
JUST LIKE A FRIGHTENED
WOMAN, THAT'S ALL.
YOU SHOULD HAVE
SEEN ME IN THE STORE
RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE AISLES,
AND I MEAN RUNNING.
KNOCKING THINGS OVER
AND GRABBING THINGS
AND THROWING THEM
AWAY AND GRABBING AGAIN.
AND AT THAT, I THINK I WAS
THE CALMEST PERSON IN THE STORE.
ONE WOMAN JUST STOOD IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE ROOM AND CRIED.
SHE CRIED LIKE A BABY,
PLEADING FOR
SOMEONE TO HELP HER.
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen.
This is station WNYG
coming on the air to
bring you essential news.
First, a bulletin from
the Police Department.
Keep your doors locked
and prepare to protect
yourselves, if necessary,
with any weapons you may have.
A majority of the police force
has been assigned to
the crowded highways
outside this deserted city.
And citizens
remaining in New York
may have to protect themselves
from the cranks and looters
known to be roaming the streets.
From the Weather Bureau:
The temperature
stood at 110 degrees
at 11:00 this morning.
Humidity 91%.
Forecast for tomorrow...
forecast for tomorrow... hot.
More of the same, only hotter.
Man: Stop it.
Announcer: I don't care.
Who are they kidding with
this weather report stuff?
Ladies and gentlemen,
tomorrow, you can
fry eggs on sidewalks,
heat up soup in the ocean,
and get help from wondering
maniacs if you choose.
What do you mean "panic"?
Who's left to panic?
( chuckles): Ladies
and gentlemen,
I'm told that my
departing from the script
might panic you and...
Let me alone. Do you hear me?
Let me alone. Let go of me.
THERE, YOU... (
music playing over radio)
YOU SEE, MRS. BRONSON?
YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY
ONE WHO'S FRIGHTENED.
THERE WE ARE.
( liquid pouring)
( music continues playing)
GO AHEAD, DRINK IT.
IT'S GRAPEFRUIT JUICE.
NO, I CAN'T. I CAN'T
LIVE OFF YOU LIKE THIS.
YOU NEED IT FOR YOURSELF.
MRS. BRONSON,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
START LIVING OFF EACH OTHER
FROM NOW ON.
( clinks glasses)
HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU.
( music dies out)
CURRENT'S OFF AGAIN.
IT STAYS ON A
SHORTER TIME EACH DAY.
NORMA, WHAT IF IT SHUTS OFF
AND DOESN'T COME BACK ON AGAIN?
THIS PLACE WOULD
BE LIKE AN OVEN.
AS HOT AS IT IS, IT COULD
BE SO MUCH WORSE.
OH, NORMA, IT COULD
BE SO MUCH WORSE.
NORMA...
PLEASE PAINT
SOMETHING COOL TODAY.
PAINT SOMETHING... PASTORAL...
WITH A WATERFALL AND...
TREES BENDING IN THE WIND.
PLEASE PAINT SOMETHING COOL.
DON'T PAINT THE SUN ANYMORE!
DON'T PAINT THE SUN ANYMORE!
( sobbing)
( sizzling, Norma gasps)
MRS. BRONSON?
MRS. BRONSON?
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YES, I'M ALL RIGHT.
IT'S SO QUIET.
I HAVEN'T HEARD A SOUND.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.
DID YOU GET ANY SLEEP?
I LAID DOWN AWHILE.
( soft thumping)
WHAT WAS THAT?
SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING FELL.
NO... IT WAS SOMEONE.
DIDN'T YOU LOCK THE ROOF DOOR?
YES.
NO, I... I DON'T KNOW, I...
I DON'T REMEMBER.
I THOUGHT I DID.
( footsteps approaching)
( doorknob rattling)
Man: HEY, SOMEBODY IN THERE?
COME ON OUT.
COME ON OUT, BABY.
COME ON OUT AND BE FRIENDLY.
I AIN'T GOT ALL DAY.
IF YOU DON'T COME OUT,
I'M GOING TO COME IN.
( cocks hammer)
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
THAT WAS A GUN.
GET OUT OF HERE.
DOWN THE STAIRS AND
OUT THE FRONT DOOR.
LEAVE US ALONE.
Man: OKAY, BABY.
I NEVER ARGUE WITH
A LADY WITH A GUN.
( footsteps walking away)
OH, I'M SO GLAD HE'S GONE.
HE HASN'T COME OUT
THE FRONT DOOR YET.
NO!
NO!
CRAZY DAMES!
IT'S TOO HOT TO PLAY GAMES.
MUCH TOO HOT.
( glass shatters)
YOU DO THIS?
YOU'RE GOOD.
YOU PAINT REAL GOOD.
MY WIFE USED TO PAINT.
PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE.
WE DIDN'T DO YOU ANY HARM.
PLEASE.
( sighs)
SHE WAS SO FRAGILE,
JUST... JUST A LITTLE THING.
SHE COULDN'T TAKE THIS HEAT.
I TRIED TO KEEP HER COOL...
BUT SHE COULDN'T TAKE THE HEAT!
BABY DIDN'T LIVE
MORE THAN AN HOUR.
THEN SHE FOLLOWED HIM.
I'M NOT A HOUSEBREAKER.
I'M A DECENT MAN.
I SWEAR TO YOU,
I'M A DECENT MAN.
I'VE BEEN WALKING AROUND
ALL... ALL DAY TRYING
TO FIND SOME WATER.
( whimpering)
I WOULDN'T HURT YOU.
I WOULDN'T DO YOU ANY HARM.
HONEST.
PLEASE BELIEVE ME.
PLEASE... PLEASE
FORGIVE ME, WOULD YOU?
I'M JUST OFF MY ROCKER.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
WHY DOESN'T IT END?
WHY DON'T WE
JUST... JUST BURN UP?
( sobbing)
I PAINTED IT FOR YOU LAST NIGHT.
IT'S FOR YOU.
OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, NORMA.
I'VE SEEN WATERFALLS
JUST LIKE THAT BEFORE.
THERE'S ONE NEAR
ITHACA, NEW YORK.
YES, IT'S THE
HIGHEST WATERFALL...
THE HIGHEST WATERFALL IN
THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.
AND I LOVE THE SOUND OF IT.
THAT WONDERFUL BLUE WATER
TUMBLING OVER THE ROCKS.
THAT WONDERFUL,
COOL, CLEAR WATER.
YOU HEAR IT, NORMA?
HEAR IT?
YOU DO HEAR IT,
NORMA, DON'T YOU?
THAT WONDERFUL SOUND?
YOU KNOW, WE COULD...
WE COULD SWIM IN THAT WATERFALL.
LET'S DO THAT.
LET'S SWIM IN IT, SHALL WE?
I USED TO DO THAT
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
JUST... JUST SIT THERE AND...
AND LET THE WATER
COME DOWN OVER ME.
( excited breathing)
MRS. BRONSON?
MRS. BRONSON?
MRS. BRONSON?
( sobbing)
( glass breaks)
( screams)
( wind howling)
Man: SHE'S COMING OUT OF IT NOW.
NORMA?
NORMA?
YES?
YOU WERE RUNNING
A HIGH FEVER, BUT
IT'S BROKEN NOW.
FEVER?
Bronson: YOU GAVE
US A START, CHILD.
YOU WERE SO ILL,
BUT YOU'RE GOING
TO BE ALL RIGHT NOW.
ISN'T SHE, DOCTOR?
ISN'T SHE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT?
OF COURSE.
I WISH I HAD SOMETHING
LEFT TO GIVE HER
BUT THE MEDICINE'S
PRETTY MUCH ALL GONE NOW.
I WON'T BE ABLE TO COME BACK.
I'M GOING TO MOVE MY
FAMILY SOUTH TOMORROW.
MY FRIEND HAS A PRIVATE PLANE.
WELL, THEY SAY ON THE
RADIO, MIAMI IS WARMER.
SO THEY SAY.
BUT WE'RE ONLY PROLONGING IT.
THERE WAS A SCIENTIST
ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING.
HE WAS TRYING TO
EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.
HOW THE EARTH HAD
CHANGED ITS ORBIT
AND WAS STARTING TO
MOVE AWAY FROM THE SUN,
AND THAT WITHIN ONE, TWO,
OR MAYBE THREE
WEEKS AT THE MOST,
THERE WOULDN'T
BE ANY MORE SUN...
WE'D ALL FREEZE.
OH, MRS. BRONSON.
I HAD SUCH A TERRIBLE DREAM.
IT WAS SO HOT.
IT WAS DAYLIGHT ALL THE TIME.
THERE WAS... A MIDNIGHT SUN.
THERE WASN'T ANY NIGHT AT ALL.
NO NIGHT AT ALL.
( sighs)
ISN'T IT WONDERFUL
TO HAVE DARKNESS AND COOLNESS?
YES, MY DEAR.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
THE POLES OF FEAR,
THE EXTREMES OF HOW THE EARTH
MIGHT CONCEIVABLY BE DOOMED.
MINOR EXERCISE IN THE CARE
AND FEEDING OF A NIGHTMARE,
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
BY ALL THE THERMOMETER-WATCHERS
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 WE
MOVE BACK INTO TIME,
BACK TO 1863.
A DISTINGUISHED
ACTOR, MR. GARY MERRILL,
PLAYS THE ROLE OF A
CONFEDERATE SCOUT
WHO GOES OFF ON A PATROL
AND WINDS UP SMACK-DAB
IN THE CENTER OF
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
OUR STORY IS AN ADAPTATION
OF A STRANGE TALE
BY MANLY WADE WELLMAN
CALLED "THE STILL VALLEY."
THIS ONE IS FOR CIVIL WAR BUFFS
AND THE STUDENTS OF THE OCCULT.
I HOPE YOU'RE AROUND
TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
HELLO. I'M CELESTE HOLM.
GIVE THROUGH THE
REFUGEE AID PROGRAMS
OF THE CATHOLIC,
PROTESTANT AND JEWISH FAITHS.
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.
YOUR NEXT STOP,
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
( knock at door)
( door opening)
( door closing)
Man: SUZY!
DON'T TAKE THE LADY'S WATER.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, MR. SCHUSTER.
I'VE GOT PLENTY.
NOBODY'S GOT PLENTY.
OH, MR. SCHUSTER, I THOUGHT
I HEARD YOUR VOICE.
FOR THE LAST TIME, MRS.
BRONSON, WE'RE LEAVING.
DID YOU GET GAS?
I GOT 12 GALLONS.
I FIGURE THAT OUGHT TO GET US
AT LEAST TO SYRACUSE.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO TORONTO.
MR. SCHUSTER HAS A COUSIN THERE.
I'M NOT SURE IT'S WISE
YOU'RE DOING THIS.
THE HIGHWAYS ARE PACKED
BUMPER TO BUMPER THE RADIO SAYS.
AND WHAT WITH THE GAS
SHORTAGE AND EVERYTHING...
I KNOW THAT, BUT WE'VE
GOT TO TRY ANYWAY.
IT'S BEEN NICE LIVING HERE.
YOU'RE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
LET'S GO, HONEY.
BYE.
GOOD LUCK.
SAFE TRIP.
( door closes)
AND NOW WE ARE TWO.
THEY WERE THE LAST?
BUILDING'S EMPTY NOW...
EXCEPT FOR YOU AND ME.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
I DON'T KNOW.
I HEARD ON THE RADIO
THAT THEY'RE ONLY GOING
TO TURN THE WATER ON
AN HOUR A DAY FROM NOW ON.
THEY SAID THEY'D
ANNOUNCE WHAT TIME.
AREN'T YOU GOING TO LEAVE?
NO.
NO, I'M NOT GOING TO LEAVE.
YOU KNOW, MRS. BRONSON,
I KEEP GETTING THIS
CRAZY THOUGHT...
THIS CRAZY THOUGHT
THAT I'M GOING TO WAKE UP
AND NONE OF THIS
WILL HAVE HAPPENED.
I'LL WAKE UP IN A
COOL BED, AND...
IT'LL BE NIGHT OUTSIDE
AND THERE'LL BE A WIND...
BRANCHES RUSTLING...
SHADOWS ON THE
SIDEWALK... A MOON...
TRAFFIC NOISES...
AUTOMOBILES...
GARBAGE CANS... MILK
BOTTLES... AND VOICES.
THERE WAS A SCIENTIST
ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING.
HE SAID THAT IT'LL GET A
LOT HOTTER, MORE EACH DAY,
NOW THAT WE'RE MOVING
SO CLOSE TO THE SUN.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE...
THAT'S WHY WE'RE...
THE WORD THAT MRS.
BRONSON IS UNABLE TO PUT
INTO THE HOT, STILL,
SODDEN AIR IS "DOOMED"
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
YOU'VE JUST SEEN
HAVE BEEN HANDED
A DEATH SENTENCE.
ONE MONTH AGO,
THE EARTH SUDDENLY
CHANGED ITS ELLIPTICAL ORBIT,
AND IN DOING SO
BEGAN TO FOLLOW A PATH
WHICH GRADUALLY, MOMENT
BY MOMENT, DAY BY DAY,
TOOK IT CLOSER TO THE SUN.
AND ALL OF MAN'S LITTLE
DEVICES TO STIR UP THE AIR
ARE NOW NO LONGER LUXURIES.
THEY HAPPEN TO BE PITIFUL
AND PANICKY KEYS TO SURVIVAL.
THE TIME IS FIVE
MINUTES TO 12, MIDNIGHT.
THERE IS NO MORE DARKNESS.
THE PLACE IS NEW YORK CITY,
AND THIS IS THE EVE OF THE END
BECAUSE EVEN AT
MIDNIGHT, IT'S HIGH NOON,
THE HOTTEST DAY IN HISTORY,
AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO
SPEND IT IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Bronson: NORMA, IS
THAT YOU, HONEY?
YES, MRS. BRONSON.
THE STORE WAS OPEN.
WIDE OPEN.
OH, I THINK
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE
I WAS EVER SORRY I
WAS BORN A WOMAN.
THIS IS ALL I WAS STRONG
ENOUGH TO CARRY.
THERE WEREN'T ANY
CLERKS AROUND...
THANK YOU.
JUST A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE
TAKING WHAT THEY COULD GRAB.
WELL, AT LEAST WE
WON'T STARVE ANYWAY.
AND THERE ARE THREE
CANS OF FRUIT JUICE IN THERE.
FRUIT JUICE?
FRUIT JUICE?
OH, NORMA, COULD
WE OPEN A CAN NOW?
OH, OF COURSE WE
CAN OPEN A CAN NOW.
OH, WHERE'S THE CAN OPENER?
OH, IN THE OTHER DRAWER.
OH, I'M SORRY.
I'M ACTING JUST LIKE
AN ANIMAL, AREN'T I?
NO.
NO, NO, JUST...
JUST LIKE A FRIGHTENED
WOMAN, THAT'S ALL.
YOU SHOULD HAVE
SEEN ME IN THE STORE
RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE AISLES,
AND I MEAN RUNNING.
KNOCKING THINGS OVER
AND GRABBING THINGS
AND THROWING THEM
AWAY AND GRABBING AGAIN.
AND AT THAT, I THINK I WAS
THE CALMEST PERSON IN THE STORE.
ONE WOMAN JUST STOOD IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE ROOM AND CRIED.
SHE CRIED LIKE A BABY,
PLEADING FOR
SOMEONE TO HELP HER.
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen.
This is station WNYG
coming on the air to
bring you essential news.
First, a bulletin from
the Police Department.
Keep your doors locked
and prepare to protect
yourselves, if necessary,
with any weapons you may have.
A majority of the police force
has been assigned to
the crowded highways
outside this deserted city.
And citizens
remaining in New York
may have to protect themselves
from the cranks and looters
known to be roaming the streets.
From the Weather Bureau:
The temperature
stood at 110 degrees
at 11:00 this morning.
Humidity 91%.
Forecast for tomorrow...
forecast for tomorrow... hot.
More of the same, only hotter.
Man: Stop it.
Announcer: I don't care.
Who are they kidding with
this weather report stuff?
Ladies and gentlemen,
tomorrow, you can
fry eggs on sidewalks,
heat up soup in the ocean,
and get help from wondering
maniacs if you choose.
What do you mean "panic"?
Who's left to panic?
( chuckles): Ladies
and gentlemen,
I'm told that my
departing from the script
might panic you and...
Let me alone. Do you hear me?
Let me alone. Let go of me.
THERE, YOU... (
music playing over radio)
YOU SEE, MRS. BRONSON?
YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY
ONE WHO'S FRIGHTENED.
THERE WE ARE.
( liquid pouring)
( music continues playing)
GO AHEAD, DRINK IT.
IT'S GRAPEFRUIT JUICE.
NO, I CAN'T. I CAN'T
LIVE OFF YOU LIKE THIS.
YOU NEED IT FOR YOURSELF.
MRS. BRONSON,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
START LIVING OFF EACH OTHER
FROM NOW ON.
( clinks glasses)
HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU.
( music dies out)
CURRENT'S OFF AGAIN.
IT STAYS ON A
SHORTER TIME EACH DAY.
NORMA, WHAT IF IT SHUTS OFF
AND DOESN'T COME BACK ON AGAIN?
THIS PLACE WOULD
BE LIKE AN OVEN.
AS HOT AS IT IS, IT COULD
BE SO MUCH WORSE.
OH, NORMA, IT COULD
BE SO MUCH WORSE.
NORMA...
PLEASE PAINT
SOMETHING COOL TODAY.
PAINT SOMETHING... PASTORAL...
WITH A WATERFALL AND...
TREES BENDING IN THE WIND.
PLEASE PAINT SOMETHING COOL.
DON'T PAINT THE SUN ANYMORE!
DON'T PAINT THE SUN ANYMORE!
( sobbing)
( sizzling, Norma gasps)
MRS. BRONSON?
MRS. BRONSON?
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YES, I'M ALL RIGHT.
IT'S SO QUIET.
I HAVEN'T HEARD A SOUND.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.
DID YOU GET ANY SLEEP?
I LAID DOWN AWHILE.
( soft thumping)
WHAT WAS THAT?
SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING FELL.
NO... IT WAS SOMEONE.
DIDN'T YOU LOCK THE ROOF DOOR?
YES.
NO, I... I DON'T KNOW, I...
I DON'T REMEMBER.
I THOUGHT I DID.
( footsteps approaching)
( doorknob rattling)
Man: HEY, SOMEBODY IN THERE?
COME ON OUT.
COME ON OUT, BABY.
COME ON OUT AND BE FRIENDLY.
I AIN'T GOT ALL DAY.
IF YOU DON'T COME OUT,
I'M GOING TO COME IN.
( cocks hammer)
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
THAT WAS A GUN.
GET OUT OF HERE.
DOWN THE STAIRS AND
OUT THE FRONT DOOR.
LEAVE US ALONE.
Man: OKAY, BABY.
I NEVER ARGUE WITH
A LADY WITH A GUN.
( footsteps walking away)
OH, I'M SO GLAD HE'S GONE.
HE HASN'T COME OUT
THE FRONT DOOR YET.
NO!
NO!
CRAZY DAMES!
IT'S TOO HOT TO PLAY GAMES.
MUCH TOO HOT.
( glass shatters)
YOU DO THIS?
YOU'RE GOOD.
YOU PAINT REAL GOOD.
MY WIFE USED TO PAINT.
PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE.
WE DIDN'T DO YOU ANY HARM.
PLEASE.
( sighs)
SHE WAS SO FRAGILE,
JUST... JUST A LITTLE THING.
SHE COULDN'T TAKE THIS HEAT.
I TRIED TO KEEP HER COOL...
BUT SHE COULDN'T TAKE THE HEAT!
BABY DIDN'T LIVE
MORE THAN AN HOUR.
THEN SHE FOLLOWED HIM.
I'M NOT A HOUSEBREAKER.
I'M A DECENT MAN.
I SWEAR TO YOU,
I'M A DECENT MAN.
I'VE BEEN WALKING AROUND
ALL... ALL DAY TRYING
TO FIND SOME WATER.
( whimpering)
I WOULDN'T HURT YOU.
I WOULDN'T DO YOU ANY HARM.
HONEST.
PLEASE BELIEVE ME.
PLEASE... PLEASE
FORGIVE ME, WOULD YOU?
I'M JUST OFF MY ROCKER.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
WHY DOESN'T IT END?
WHY DON'T WE
JUST... JUST BURN UP?
( sobbing)
I PAINTED IT FOR YOU LAST NIGHT.
IT'S FOR YOU.
OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, NORMA.
I'VE SEEN WATERFALLS
JUST LIKE THAT BEFORE.
THERE'S ONE NEAR
ITHACA, NEW YORK.
YES, IT'S THE
HIGHEST WATERFALL...
THE HIGHEST WATERFALL IN
THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.
AND I LOVE THE SOUND OF IT.
THAT WONDERFUL BLUE WATER
TUMBLING OVER THE ROCKS.
THAT WONDERFUL,
COOL, CLEAR WATER.
YOU HEAR IT, NORMA?
HEAR IT?
YOU DO HEAR IT,
NORMA, DON'T YOU?
THAT WONDERFUL SOUND?
YOU KNOW, WE COULD...
WE COULD SWIM IN THAT WATERFALL.
LET'S DO THAT.
LET'S SWIM IN IT, SHALL WE?
I USED TO DO THAT
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
JUST... JUST SIT THERE AND...
AND LET THE WATER
COME DOWN OVER ME.
( excited breathing)
MRS. BRONSON?
MRS. BRONSON?
MRS. BRONSON?
( sobbing)
( glass breaks)
( screams)
( wind howling)
Man: SHE'S COMING OUT OF IT NOW.
NORMA?
NORMA?
YES?
YOU WERE RUNNING
A HIGH FEVER, BUT
IT'S BROKEN NOW.
FEVER?
Bronson: YOU GAVE
US A START, CHILD.
YOU WERE SO ILL,
BUT YOU'RE GOING
TO BE ALL RIGHT NOW.
ISN'T SHE, DOCTOR?
ISN'T SHE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT?
OF COURSE.
I WISH I HAD SOMETHING
LEFT TO GIVE HER
BUT THE MEDICINE'S
PRETTY MUCH ALL GONE NOW.
I WON'T BE ABLE TO COME BACK.
I'M GOING TO MOVE MY
FAMILY SOUTH TOMORROW.
MY FRIEND HAS A PRIVATE PLANE.
WELL, THEY SAY ON THE
RADIO, MIAMI IS WARMER.
SO THEY SAY.
BUT WE'RE ONLY PROLONGING IT.
THERE WAS A SCIENTIST
ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING.
HE WAS TRYING TO
EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.
HOW THE EARTH HAD
CHANGED ITS ORBIT
AND WAS STARTING TO
MOVE AWAY FROM THE SUN,
AND THAT WITHIN ONE, TWO,
OR MAYBE THREE
WEEKS AT THE MOST,
THERE WOULDN'T
BE ANY MORE SUN...
WE'D ALL FREEZE.
OH, MRS. BRONSON.
I HAD SUCH A TERRIBLE DREAM.
IT WAS SO HOT.
IT WAS DAYLIGHT ALL THE TIME.
THERE WAS... A MIDNIGHT SUN.
THERE WASN'T ANY NIGHT AT ALL.
NO NIGHT AT ALL.
( sighs)
ISN'T IT WONDERFUL
TO HAVE DARKNESS AND COOLNESS?
YES, MY DEAR.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
THE POLES OF FEAR,
THE EXTREMES OF HOW THE EARTH
MIGHT CONCEIVABLY BE DOOMED.
MINOR EXERCISE IN THE CARE
AND FEEDING OF A NIGHTMARE,
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
BY ALL THE THERMOMETER-WATCHERS
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 WE
MOVE BACK INTO TIME,
BACK TO 1863.
A DISTINGUISHED
ACTOR, MR. GARY MERRILL,
PLAYS THE ROLE OF A
CONFEDERATE SCOUT
WHO GOES OFF ON A PATROL
AND WINDS UP SMACK-DAB
IN THE CENTER OF
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
OUR STORY IS AN ADAPTATION
OF A STRANGE TALE
BY MANLY WADE WELLMAN
CALLED "THE STILL VALLEY."
THIS ONE IS FOR CIVIL WAR BUFFS
AND THE STUDENTS OF THE OCCULT.
I HOPE YOU'RE AROUND
TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
HELLO. I'M CELESTE HOLM.
GIVE THROUGH THE
REFUGEE AID PROGRAMS
OF THE CATHOLIC,
PROTESTANT AND JEWISH FAITHS.