The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 3, Episode 21 - Kick the Can - full transcript
An old man living in a rest home thinks he's found the secret of youth in children's games.
( 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.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
MY SON IS COMING TO GET ME.
GOOD-BYE.
GOOD LUCK.
( children shouting happily)
( engine starting)
( can clattering)
( children laughing)
( children laughing)
I DIDN'T SAY I'D COME
AND GET YOU, DAD.
I SAID I'D COME AND
WE'D TALK ABOUT IT.
( engine starting)
( motor revs)
Five... ten... 15... 20... 25...
30... 35... 40...
45... 50... 55... 60...
65... 70... 75... 80...
( louder and faster):
85, 90, 95, 100!
HERE I COME, READY OR NOT!
HEY, MISTER.
THAT'S OUR CAN.
WE'RE PLAYING.
HEY, MISTER.
SUNNYVALE REST, A
HOME FOR THE AGED...
A DYING PLACE...
AND A COMMON CHILDREN'S
GAME CALLED KICK-THE-CAN
THAT WILL SHORTLY
BECOME A REFUGE
FOR A MAN WHO KNOWS
HE WILL DIE IN THIS WORLD
IF HE DOESN'T ESCAPE
INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100.
HERE I COME, READY OR NOT.
( children shouting playfully)
Boy: GIVE THAT CAN!
( children cheer)
LISTEN TO THEM.
HOW CAN A MAN THINK?
THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED
TO PLAY ON THE GROUNDS.
THE CHILDREN?
ARE THEY HURTING ANYONE?
OLD PEOPLE NEED
THEIR REST. ( boy counting)
LET THEM PLAY SOMEPLACE ELSE.
THEY GOT PLAYGROUNDS.
THEY GOT HOMES.
WELL, IT'S THE GRASS, BEN.
KIDS CAN'T RESIST GOING
WHERE THE GRASS IS.
WHAT'S WRONG?
( children laughing)
NOTHING.
YOUR OWN SON TURNS AGAINST YOU.
WELL... THE BOY HAS
GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
IT'S A SMALL HOUSE,
AND THE SECOND
BABY IS ON THE WAY.
IT WAS A FOOLISH IDEA THINKING
I COULD MOVE IN ON THEM.
THEY DON'T WANT AN OLD
DUFFER LIKE ME UNDERFOOT.
NO... THIS PLACE IS
GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
( children shouting happily)
LISTEN TO 'EM.
IT'S ENOUGH TO WAKE THE DEAD!
OH, BEN, THEY'RE
PLAYING KICK-THE-CAN.
DON'T YOU REMEMBER?
OH, WE USED TO
PLAY IT ALL THE TIME.
OH, WE WERE RUNNING
AND SHOUTING...
AND ALL THAT NOISE.
WELL, YOU CAN'T STOP KIDS
FROM PLAYING KICK-THE-CAN.
IT'S LIKE STATUES AND...
AND HIDE-AND-SEEK.
IT'S IN THEIR... THEIR BLOOD.
IT'S A... A SPECIAL
SUMMER RITUAL.
Boy: FIVE, TEN,
15, 20, 25, 30...
DID YOU EVER
STOP TO THINK OF IT?
ALL KIDS PLAY THOSE GAMES.
AND THE MINUTE THEY STOP,
THEY BEGIN TO GROW OLD.
IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH PLAYING
KICK-THE-CAN KEEPS THEM YOUNG.
YOU EVER NOTICE THAT?
SAY, YOU DON'T BELIEVE
IN MAGIC, DO YOU?
THERE... THERE WAS
A TIME THAT YOU DID.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE KNOWN
EACH OTHER EVER SINCE...
OH, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
( chuckles softly)
EVER SINCE WE WERE A
COUPLE OF TOWHEADED KIDS.
AND YOU BELIEVED IN MAGIC THEN.
ME? MAGIC?
YES, YOU DID.
WHEN WE WALKED ON DIFFERENT
SIDES OF A STREET LAMP
YOU'D SAY, "BREAD AND BUTTER."
WHEN YOUR BABY TEETH CAME OUT
YOU PUT THEM UNDER THE PILLOW
FOR THE TOOTH FAIRY.
YEAH, YOU BELIEVED IN MAGIC.
WHAT HAPPENED, BEN?
WHAT CHANGED YOU?
WAS IT TIME THAT DID IT?
OR WAS IT SOMETHING ELSE?
WE GREW UP, THAT'S ALL.
EVERYBODY GETS OLDER.
MAYBE THERE ARE...
PEOPLE WHO STAY YOUNG.
MAYBE THEY KNOW A SECRET
THEY KEEP FROM THE REST OF US.
CHARLES.
MAYBE THE FOUNTAIN OF
YOUTH ISN'T A FOUNTAIN AT ALL.
MAYBE IT'S A WAY OF
LOOKING AT THINGS...
A WAY OF THINKING.
CHARLES, STOP IT.
YOU'RE AN OLD MAN,
YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOUR YOUTH HAS BEEN
GONE FOR 60 YEARS.
WHAT I MEAN IS, UH...
YOU'VE LIVED A
FULL LIFE, CHARLES.
DON'T GO SLOPPY NOW.
DON'T SPOIL IT BY
ACTING LIKE A NUT.
BUT IT'S ALL SO CLEAR.
IT MAKES SENSE.
CAN'T-CAN'T YOU SEE IT, BEN?
OH, NO, YOU WERE QUITE
RIGHT TO COME TO ME.
WHEN HE ACTS LIKE THAT,
I-I FEEL I DON'T
KNOW HIM AT ALL.
WELL, MR. CONROY,
WHEN PEOPLE GROW OLD, TRULY OLD,
THEY BEGIN TO ACT
A LITTLE PECULIAR.
NOW MR. AGEE, FOR INSTANCE.
SOME WAY HE GOT AHOLD
OF A FEW FIRECRACKERS,
AND I FOUND THEM TRYING
TO SET ONE OF THEM OFF.
NOW HE COULD'VE GOTTEN HURT.
EVERY TIME ONE OF
OUR PEOPLE GOES SENILE,
I GET A LITTLE COLD INSIDE.
WHEN I FIRST TOOK THIS
ASSIGNMENT, I WAS 32.
NOW I'M 43.
EVERYONE GROWS OLDER,
MR. CONROY, EVEN ME.
( grunts playfully)
( laughing)
NYEAH!
OH, WHAT'S WRONG
WITH YOU PEOPLE?!
CAN'T YOU SHOW A LITTLE LIFE?!
ARE YOU THE ONES
WHO SKIPPED ROPE?
AND HUNT FOR POLLIWOGS?
HUH?
AND RUN THROUGH SPRINKLERS?
HUH?
RUN THROUGH SPRINKLERS.
HEY!
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
WHY, THAT'S THE SILLIEST THING
I'VE EVER SEEN.
OH! OH!
LET HIM DROWN
HIMSELF IF HE WANTS TO.
COME ON IN!
THE WATER'S FINE!
MR. WHITLEY!
COME ON, GET OUT OF THERE.
MR. WHITLEY, WHAT'S
THE MATTER WITH YOU?
HERE, NOW YOU GET HIM INSIDE.
FRESH CLOTHING,
AND GET HIM TO BED!
I WAS AFRAID SOMETHING
LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
IN THE MORNING,
I'LL HAVE TO PUT HIM
IN A SPECIAL WARD
FOR OBSERVATION.
WE'RE GOING TO
ISOLATE HIM FOR A WHILE.
THAT'LL KILL HIM.
SENILE?
ME?
PUT ME IN A SPECIAL WARD?
ALONE?
SHOW THEM YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
CUT THE CRAZY TALK.
ACT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
OH, WHAT A CHOICE.
TO KEEP AN ATTENDANT
FROM PAWING AT MY PULSE ALL DAY
I HAVE TO SIT
LIKE A... VEGETABLE
ON THAT PORCH.
I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU.
NOW, KEEP ON LIKE THIS
AND THEY'LL PUT YOU AWAY.
USE YOUR HEAD.
MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT.
( snoring)
( snoring continues)
COME. COME.
WHAT IS IT, FIRE?
SHH!
HMM? HUH?
WAKE THE GIRLS.
CALL MRS. SUMMERS
AND MRS. WORCESTER.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
HUH?
PSST! PSST!
( rattles can)
WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
I'LL CATCH MY DEATH.
WE OUGHT TO BE IN BED.
WHAT WOULD MR. COX SAY?
WELL, HE'D SAY BEING AWAKE
IS DANGEROUS AND SILLY.
HE'D PROBABLY SAY WE'RE CRAZY.
WELL, MAYBE YOU GOT
TO BE A LITTLE CRAZY
TO MAKE THE MAGIC WORK.
REMEMBER HOW WE USED TO DO IT?
WE'D SNEAK OUT AT NIGHT WHEN
THE WEATHER WAS LIKE THIS?
AND WE'D PLAY KICK-THE-CAN.
OH, EVERYBODY
PLAYED THAT GAME,
OR HIDE-AND-SEEK.
YEAH, SEEMS LIKE A
MILLION YEARS AGO.
SAY, YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
I WAS THE FASTEST
RUNNER ON OUR BLOCK.
WHEN WE WOULD PLAY
KICK-THE-CAN, I WAS NEVER "IT."
LOOK HOW I'VE CHANGED.
I REMEMBER.
I REMEMBER.
WE ALL GET OLD.
IT'S THE RUNNING I MISS MOST.
ME, TOO.
I THINK IF I COULD
ONLY RUN AGAIN
THEN GROWING OLD
WOULDN'T BE SO BAD.
PEOPLE GETTING
ON NEED THEIR REST.
Whitley: WELL, WE CAN'T
RUN FAST OR FAR BUT...
WELL, WE CAN MOVE
AND THERE ARE TREES AND BUSHES.
MAYBE IF THE HUNTED
ARE HANDICAPPED
SO IS THE HUNTER.
US?
CHILDREN'S GAMES?
YES, THAT'S THE SECRET.
DON'T YOU SEE?
THE SECRET OF YOUTH.
SAY, YOU KNOW
I WAS THE FASTEST
RUNNER ON OUR BLOCK?
YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.
HE ISN'T SERIOUS.
YOU BET I AM.
LOOK!
THINK! FEEL!
HERE, HOLD IT.
DOESN'T THAT WAKE SOME
SLEEPING PART OF YOU?
( children laughing in distance)
LISTEN.
CAN'T YOU HEAR IT?
SUMMER... GRASS...
RUN... JUMP... YOUTH!
WAKE UP!
WAKE UP!
OH, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.
I CAN'T PLAY KICK-THE-CAN ALONE.
CHARLES.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
AW, BEN.
COME WITH US, OUT ON THE LAWN.
ME?
YES, YOU, BEN.
WE'VE ALWAYS DONE
EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
LET'S NOT STOP NOW.
COME. COME WITH US, BEN.
COME PLAY KICK-THE-CAN.
CHARLES.
COME TO YOUR SENSES.
BEN, YOU'RE AFRAID.
YOU'RE AFRAID OF A NEW IDEA.
YOU'RE AFRAID TO LOOK SILLY.
YOU'RE AFRAID TO MAKE A MISTAKE.
YOU DECIDED THAT
YOU WERE AN OLD MAN
AND THAT HAS MADE YOU OLD.
I AM OLD,
AND SO ARE YOU,
CHARLES, THAT'S A FACT.
FACT.
YOUR BONES ARE OLD,
AND THEY'LL BREAK IF
YOU TRY TO RUN WITH THEM.
YOUR HEART IS OLD AND
YOUR LUNGS ARE OLD.
YOU'RE USED UP.
WORN OUT BY A LIFETIME.
SIT DOWN, CHARLES.
YOU'RE TIRED.
SIT DOWN.
I CAN'T.
CHARLES.
I'VE GOT TO FIND OUT, BEN.
HELP ME.
THERE IS MAGIC IN THE WORLD.
I KNOW THERE IS.
WHEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH MARY,
KISSED HER FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THAT WAS MAGIC.
WHEN MY BOY WAS
BORN, THAT WAS MAGIC.
FRIENDSHIP IS A MAGIC THING.
MAYBE I'M RIGHT, BEN.
MAYBE KICK-THE-CAN IS
THE GREATEST MAGIC OF ALL.
ALL RIGHT, BEN, I'LL
DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
( firecrackers popping)
MR. COX!
♪ ♪
MR. COX! MR. COX?!
MR. COX!
MR. COX!
MR. COX! MR. COX!
WHAT IS IT?
HURRY, STOP THEM.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
THEY'VE ALL GONE OUTSIDE.
WELL, WHY?
TO PLAY KICK-THE-CAN.
NOW, CALM DOWN.
WHAT'LL HE DO WHEN
NOTHING HAPPENS?
HE REALLY BELIEVES
HE'LL BE YOUNG.
Man ( laughing): CHARLIE'S IT.
HURRY.
( laughter outside)
NOW, WHERE?
ON THE FRONT LAWN.
Whitley: 20, 25,
30, 35, 4O, 45, 50...
( boy's voice
chimes in): 55, 60,
( boy's voice alone): 65, 70,
75, 80, 85, 90... WHERE
ARE THE OLD PEOPLE?
WHAT ARE THESE KIDS DOING HERE?
I TOLD THEM NOT TO PLAY HERE.
GO ON, KIDS!
YOU'LL WAKE EVERYBODY UP!
READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!
MAYBE WHITLEY TOOK
THEM AROUND TO THE BACK.
ONE, TWO, THREE, YOU'RE OUT.
CHARLES.
CHARLIE, IS THAT YOU?
IS THAT YOU, CHARLIE?
CHARLIE, IT'S ME, BENNY.
CHARLIE... TAKE ME WITH YOU.
TAKE ME WITH YOU.
CHARLIE, WAIT FOR ME.
WAIT.
LAST ONE INTO THE
FOREST IS A ROTTEN APPLE!
NO, CHARLIE, NO.
WAIT FOR ME.
OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
CHARLIE... IT'S ME.
Children: OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
CHARLIE... IT'S ME.
LISTEN, I'LL BET
WHITLEY'S TAKEN THEM
ALL DOWN TO THE ORCHARD.
COME ON.
LOOK ALL YOU WANT, MR. COX,
YOU WON'T FIND THEM.
( in distance): OLLY,
OLLY OXEN FREE.
OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
( cries become fainter)
OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
SUNNYVALE REST, A DYING
PLACE FOR ANCIENT PEOPLE
WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN THE
FRAGILE MAGIC OF YOUTH.
A DYING PLACE FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN
THAT CHILDHOOD,
MATURITY AND OLD AGE
ARE CURIOUSLY INTERTWINED
AND NOT SEPARATE.
A DYING PLACE FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE GROWN TOO
STIFF IN THEIR THINKING
TO VISIT THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Announcer: ROD SERLING,
CREATOR OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
NEXT WEEK'S STORY
AFTER THIS MESSAGE.
AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
NEXT WEEK ON THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
WE ROLL IN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
PURCHASED IN THIS STORE.
NOW THERE ARE PIANOS AND PIANOS,
BUT THIS ONE WAS MANUFACTURED
IN OUR OWN VERY STRANGE,
UNPREDICTABLE FACTORY.
IT COMES TO YOU VIA THE
TYPEWRITER OF MR. EARL HAMNER
AND IT BOASTS A COLLECTION
OF ODDITIES AND ODDBALL DOINGS.
NEXT WEEK, YOU
CAN ROLL UP THE RUG
AS WE BRING YOU "A
PIANO IN THE HOUSE."
RADIO FREE EUROPE NEEDS
YOUR HELP TO FIGHT COMMUNISM.
GIVE NOW TO RADIO FREE EUROPE.
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.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
MY SON IS COMING TO GET ME.
GOOD-BYE.
GOOD LUCK.
( children shouting happily)
( engine starting)
( can clattering)
( children laughing)
( children laughing)
I DIDN'T SAY I'D COME
AND GET YOU, DAD.
I SAID I'D COME AND
WE'D TALK ABOUT IT.
( engine starting)
( motor revs)
Five... ten... 15... 20... 25...
30... 35... 40...
45... 50... 55... 60...
65... 70... 75... 80...
( louder and faster):
85, 90, 95, 100!
HERE I COME, READY OR NOT!
HEY, MISTER.
THAT'S OUR CAN.
WE'RE PLAYING.
HEY, MISTER.
SUNNYVALE REST, A
HOME FOR THE AGED...
A DYING PLACE...
AND A COMMON CHILDREN'S
GAME CALLED KICK-THE-CAN
THAT WILL SHORTLY
BECOME A REFUGE
FOR A MAN WHO KNOWS
HE WILL DIE IN THIS WORLD
IF HE DOESN'T ESCAPE
INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100.
HERE I COME, READY OR NOT.
( children shouting playfully)
Boy: GIVE THAT CAN!
( children cheer)
LISTEN TO THEM.
HOW CAN A MAN THINK?
THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED
TO PLAY ON THE GROUNDS.
THE CHILDREN?
ARE THEY HURTING ANYONE?
OLD PEOPLE NEED
THEIR REST. ( boy counting)
LET THEM PLAY SOMEPLACE ELSE.
THEY GOT PLAYGROUNDS.
THEY GOT HOMES.
WELL, IT'S THE GRASS, BEN.
KIDS CAN'T RESIST GOING
WHERE THE GRASS IS.
WHAT'S WRONG?
( children laughing)
NOTHING.
YOUR OWN SON TURNS AGAINST YOU.
WELL... THE BOY HAS
GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
IT'S A SMALL HOUSE,
AND THE SECOND
BABY IS ON THE WAY.
IT WAS A FOOLISH IDEA THINKING
I COULD MOVE IN ON THEM.
THEY DON'T WANT AN OLD
DUFFER LIKE ME UNDERFOOT.
NO... THIS PLACE IS
GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
( children shouting happily)
LISTEN TO 'EM.
IT'S ENOUGH TO WAKE THE DEAD!
OH, BEN, THEY'RE
PLAYING KICK-THE-CAN.
DON'T YOU REMEMBER?
OH, WE USED TO
PLAY IT ALL THE TIME.
OH, WE WERE RUNNING
AND SHOUTING...
AND ALL THAT NOISE.
WELL, YOU CAN'T STOP KIDS
FROM PLAYING KICK-THE-CAN.
IT'S LIKE STATUES AND...
AND HIDE-AND-SEEK.
IT'S IN THEIR... THEIR BLOOD.
IT'S A... A SPECIAL
SUMMER RITUAL.
Boy: FIVE, TEN,
15, 20, 25, 30...
DID YOU EVER
STOP TO THINK OF IT?
ALL KIDS PLAY THOSE GAMES.
AND THE MINUTE THEY STOP,
THEY BEGIN TO GROW OLD.
IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH PLAYING
KICK-THE-CAN KEEPS THEM YOUNG.
YOU EVER NOTICE THAT?
SAY, YOU DON'T BELIEVE
IN MAGIC, DO YOU?
THERE... THERE WAS
A TIME THAT YOU DID.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE KNOWN
EACH OTHER EVER SINCE...
OH, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
( chuckles softly)
EVER SINCE WE WERE A
COUPLE OF TOWHEADED KIDS.
AND YOU BELIEVED IN MAGIC THEN.
ME? MAGIC?
YES, YOU DID.
WHEN WE WALKED ON DIFFERENT
SIDES OF A STREET LAMP
YOU'D SAY, "BREAD AND BUTTER."
WHEN YOUR BABY TEETH CAME OUT
YOU PUT THEM UNDER THE PILLOW
FOR THE TOOTH FAIRY.
YEAH, YOU BELIEVED IN MAGIC.
WHAT HAPPENED, BEN?
WHAT CHANGED YOU?
WAS IT TIME THAT DID IT?
OR WAS IT SOMETHING ELSE?
WE GREW UP, THAT'S ALL.
EVERYBODY GETS OLDER.
MAYBE THERE ARE...
PEOPLE WHO STAY YOUNG.
MAYBE THEY KNOW A SECRET
THEY KEEP FROM THE REST OF US.
CHARLES.
MAYBE THE FOUNTAIN OF
YOUTH ISN'T A FOUNTAIN AT ALL.
MAYBE IT'S A WAY OF
LOOKING AT THINGS...
A WAY OF THINKING.
CHARLES, STOP IT.
YOU'RE AN OLD MAN,
YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOUR YOUTH HAS BEEN
GONE FOR 60 YEARS.
WHAT I MEAN IS, UH...
YOU'VE LIVED A
FULL LIFE, CHARLES.
DON'T GO SLOPPY NOW.
DON'T SPOIL IT BY
ACTING LIKE A NUT.
BUT IT'S ALL SO CLEAR.
IT MAKES SENSE.
CAN'T-CAN'T YOU SEE IT, BEN?
OH, NO, YOU WERE QUITE
RIGHT TO COME TO ME.
WHEN HE ACTS LIKE THAT,
I-I FEEL I DON'T
KNOW HIM AT ALL.
WELL, MR. CONROY,
WHEN PEOPLE GROW OLD, TRULY OLD,
THEY BEGIN TO ACT
A LITTLE PECULIAR.
NOW MR. AGEE, FOR INSTANCE.
SOME WAY HE GOT AHOLD
OF A FEW FIRECRACKERS,
AND I FOUND THEM TRYING
TO SET ONE OF THEM OFF.
NOW HE COULD'VE GOTTEN HURT.
EVERY TIME ONE OF
OUR PEOPLE GOES SENILE,
I GET A LITTLE COLD INSIDE.
WHEN I FIRST TOOK THIS
ASSIGNMENT, I WAS 32.
NOW I'M 43.
EVERYONE GROWS OLDER,
MR. CONROY, EVEN ME.
( grunts playfully)
( laughing)
NYEAH!
OH, WHAT'S WRONG
WITH YOU PEOPLE?!
CAN'T YOU SHOW A LITTLE LIFE?!
ARE YOU THE ONES
WHO SKIPPED ROPE?
AND HUNT FOR POLLIWOGS?
HUH?
AND RUN THROUGH SPRINKLERS?
HUH?
RUN THROUGH SPRINKLERS.
HEY!
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
WHY, THAT'S THE SILLIEST THING
I'VE EVER SEEN.
OH! OH!
LET HIM DROWN
HIMSELF IF HE WANTS TO.
COME ON IN!
THE WATER'S FINE!
MR. WHITLEY!
COME ON, GET OUT OF THERE.
MR. WHITLEY, WHAT'S
THE MATTER WITH YOU?
HERE, NOW YOU GET HIM INSIDE.
FRESH CLOTHING,
AND GET HIM TO BED!
I WAS AFRAID SOMETHING
LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
IN THE MORNING,
I'LL HAVE TO PUT HIM
IN A SPECIAL WARD
FOR OBSERVATION.
WE'RE GOING TO
ISOLATE HIM FOR A WHILE.
THAT'LL KILL HIM.
SENILE?
ME?
PUT ME IN A SPECIAL WARD?
ALONE?
SHOW THEM YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
CUT THE CRAZY TALK.
ACT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
OH, WHAT A CHOICE.
TO KEEP AN ATTENDANT
FROM PAWING AT MY PULSE ALL DAY
I HAVE TO SIT
LIKE A... VEGETABLE
ON THAT PORCH.
I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU.
NOW, KEEP ON LIKE THIS
AND THEY'LL PUT YOU AWAY.
USE YOUR HEAD.
MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT.
( snoring)
( snoring continues)
COME. COME.
WHAT IS IT, FIRE?
SHH!
HMM? HUH?
WAKE THE GIRLS.
CALL MRS. SUMMERS
AND MRS. WORCESTER.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
HUH?
PSST! PSST!
( rattles can)
WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
I'LL CATCH MY DEATH.
WE OUGHT TO BE IN BED.
WHAT WOULD MR. COX SAY?
WELL, HE'D SAY BEING AWAKE
IS DANGEROUS AND SILLY.
HE'D PROBABLY SAY WE'RE CRAZY.
WELL, MAYBE YOU GOT
TO BE A LITTLE CRAZY
TO MAKE THE MAGIC WORK.
REMEMBER HOW WE USED TO DO IT?
WE'D SNEAK OUT AT NIGHT WHEN
THE WEATHER WAS LIKE THIS?
AND WE'D PLAY KICK-THE-CAN.
OH, EVERYBODY
PLAYED THAT GAME,
OR HIDE-AND-SEEK.
YEAH, SEEMS LIKE A
MILLION YEARS AGO.
SAY, YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
I WAS THE FASTEST
RUNNER ON OUR BLOCK.
WHEN WE WOULD PLAY
KICK-THE-CAN, I WAS NEVER "IT."
LOOK HOW I'VE CHANGED.
I REMEMBER.
I REMEMBER.
WE ALL GET OLD.
IT'S THE RUNNING I MISS MOST.
ME, TOO.
I THINK IF I COULD
ONLY RUN AGAIN
THEN GROWING OLD
WOULDN'T BE SO BAD.
PEOPLE GETTING
ON NEED THEIR REST.
Whitley: WELL, WE CAN'T
RUN FAST OR FAR BUT...
WELL, WE CAN MOVE
AND THERE ARE TREES AND BUSHES.
MAYBE IF THE HUNTED
ARE HANDICAPPED
SO IS THE HUNTER.
US?
CHILDREN'S GAMES?
YES, THAT'S THE SECRET.
DON'T YOU SEE?
THE SECRET OF YOUTH.
SAY, YOU KNOW
I WAS THE FASTEST
RUNNER ON OUR BLOCK?
YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.
HE ISN'T SERIOUS.
YOU BET I AM.
LOOK!
THINK! FEEL!
HERE, HOLD IT.
DOESN'T THAT WAKE SOME
SLEEPING PART OF YOU?
( children laughing in distance)
LISTEN.
CAN'T YOU HEAR IT?
SUMMER... GRASS...
RUN... JUMP... YOUTH!
WAKE UP!
WAKE UP!
OH, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.
I CAN'T PLAY KICK-THE-CAN ALONE.
CHARLES.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
AW, BEN.
COME WITH US, OUT ON THE LAWN.
ME?
YES, YOU, BEN.
WE'VE ALWAYS DONE
EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
LET'S NOT STOP NOW.
COME. COME WITH US, BEN.
COME PLAY KICK-THE-CAN.
CHARLES.
COME TO YOUR SENSES.
BEN, YOU'RE AFRAID.
YOU'RE AFRAID OF A NEW IDEA.
YOU'RE AFRAID TO LOOK SILLY.
YOU'RE AFRAID TO MAKE A MISTAKE.
YOU DECIDED THAT
YOU WERE AN OLD MAN
AND THAT HAS MADE YOU OLD.
I AM OLD,
AND SO ARE YOU,
CHARLES, THAT'S A FACT.
FACT.
YOUR BONES ARE OLD,
AND THEY'LL BREAK IF
YOU TRY TO RUN WITH THEM.
YOUR HEART IS OLD AND
YOUR LUNGS ARE OLD.
YOU'RE USED UP.
WORN OUT BY A LIFETIME.
SIT DOWN, CHARLES.
YOU'RE TIRED.
SIT DOWN.
I CAN'T.
CHARLES.
I'VE GOT TO FIND OUT, BEN.
HELP ME.
THERE IS MAGIC IN THE WORLD.
I KNOW THERE IS.
WHEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH MARY,
KISSED HER FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THAT WAS MAGIC.
WHEN MY BOY WAS
BORN, THAT WAS MAGIC.
FRIENDSHIP IS A MAGIC THING.
MAYBE I'M RIGHT, BEN.
MAYBE KICK-THE-CAN IS
THE GREATEST MAGIC OF ALL.
ALL RIGHT, BEN, I'LL
DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
( firecrackers popping)
MR. COX!
♪ ♪
MR. COX! MR. COX?!
MR. COX!
MR. COX!
MR. COX! MR. COX!
WHAT IS IT?
HURRY, STOP THEM.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
THEY'VE ALL GONE OUTSIDE.
WELL, WHY?
TO PLAY KICK-THE-CAN.
NOW, CALM DOWN.
WHAT'LL HE DO WHEN
NOTHING HAPPENS?
HE REALLY BELIEVES
HE'LL BE YOUNG.
Man ( laughing): CHARLIE'S IT.
HURRY.
( laughter outside)
NOW, WHERE?
ON THE FRONT LAWN.
Whitley: 20, 25,
30, 35, 4O, 45, 50...
( boy's voice
chimes in): 55, 60,
( boy's voice alone): 65, 70,
75, 80, 85, 90... WHERE
ARE THE OLD PEOPLE?
WHAT ARE THESE KIDS DOING HERE?
I TOLD THEM NOT TO PLAY HERE.
GO ON, KIDS!
YOU'LL WAKE EVERYBODY UP!
READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!
MAYBE WHITLEY TOOK
THEM AROUND TO THE BACK.
ONE, TWO, THREE, YOU'RE OUT.
CHARLES.
CHARLIE, IS THAT YOU?
IS THAT YOU, CHARLIE?
CHARLIE, IT'S ME, BENNY.
CHARLIE... TAKE ME WITH YOU.
TAKE ME WITH YOU.
CHARLIE, WAIT FOR ME.
WAIT.
LAST ONE INTO THE
FOREST IS A ROTTEN APPLE!
NO, CHARLIE, NO.
WAIT FOR ME.
OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
CHARLIE... IT'S ME.
Children: OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
CHARLIE... IT'S ME.
LISTEN, I'LL BET
WHITLEY'S TAKEN THEM
ALL DOWN TO THE ORCHARD.
COME ON.
LOOK ALL YOU WANT, MR. COX,
YOU WON'T FIND THEM.
( in distance): OLLY,
OLLY OXEN FREE.
OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
( cries become fainter)
OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE.
SUNNYVALE REST, A DYING
PLACE FOR ANCIENT PEOPLE
WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN THE
FRAGILE MAGIC OF YOUTH.
A DYING PLACE FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN
THAT CHILDHOOD,
MATURITY AND OLD AGE
ARE CURIOUSLY INTERTWINED
AND NOT SEPARATE.
A DYING PLACE FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE GROWN TOO
STIFF IN THEIR THINKING
TO VISIT THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Announcer: ROD SERLING,
CREATOR OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
NEXT WEEK'S STORY
AFTER THIS MESSAGE.
AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
NEXT WEEK ON THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
WE ROLL IN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
PURCHASED IN THIS STORE.
NOW THERE ARE PIANOS AND PIANOS,
BUT THIS ONE WAS MANUFACTURED
IN OUR OWN VERY STRANGE,
UNPREDICTABLE FACTORY.
IT COMES TO YOU VIA THE
TYPEWRITER OF MR. EARL HAMNER
AND IT BOASTS A COLLECTION
OF ODDITIES AND ODDBALL DOINGS.
NEXT WEEK, YOU
CAN ROLL UP THE RUG
AS WE BRING YOU "A
PIANO IN THE HOUSE."
RADIO FREE EUROPE NEEDS
YOUR HELP TO FIGHT COMMUNISM.
GIVE NOW TO RADIO FREE EUROPE.