The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 3, Episode 35 - I Sing the Body Electric - full transcript
A recent widower, needing loving care for his three young children, orders a cybernetic "grandmother". While two of the children accept her, one of his daughters fiercely rejects her, with near tragic consequences.
( 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.
Man: I UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU FEEL, NEDRA.
Woman: WELL, GEORGE,
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS,
AND I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME OUT
BECAUSE I'M NOT
GOING TO REPEAT IT.
BABY-SITTERS AND NURSES
ARE NOT THE SAME
THING AS PARENTAL CARE.
IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE
THEIR MOTHER DIED,
AND LITTLE ANNE HAS
BECOME MORE SICKLY
AND HOSTILE EVERY DAY.
SHE'S UNHAPPY
AND SHE'S INSECURE.
WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT
ABOUT ANNE, NEDRA,
BUT TOM AND KAREN
ARE HAPPY ENOUGH.
OH, NONSENSE.
THEY'RE ONLY COVERING UP.
THEY'RE SAD, UNHAPPY CHILDREN.
THEY HAVE NO BASE,
THEY HAVE NO ANCHOR.
THEY HAVE NO DIRECTION.
THEY'RE LIKE LITTLE
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM.
NEDRA, IT TAKES TIME.
ANNE NEEDS MORE TIME.
SO DO I.
YOU'VE HAD TIME.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
ANNE'S PROBLEM IS
A KIND OF SICKNESS,
AND IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE
AND WITHOUT GUIDANCE,
SHE ISN'T GOING TO BE ANY BETTER
TWO WEEKS FROM NOW
OR A MONTH FROM NOW.
NEDRA...
Nedra: WHERE ARE MY DEARS?
YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE
HAD A VERY PROBING TALK.
A VERY REVEALING ONE.
AND I TOLD HIM,
AND I SEE NO REASON
WHY I SHOULDN'T TELL YOU.
I'M NOT AT ALL PLEASED
WITH THE WAY THINGS
HAVE GONE IN THIS HOUSE
SINCE YOUR POOR MOTHER DIED...
NOT AT ALL PLEASED;
NOT AT ALL PLEASED.
I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU.
GEORGE, YOU CAN BE
SURE I WON'T LOSE TOUCH.
I'M SURE OF THAT, NEDRA.
WELL, GOOD-BYE FOR NOW, THEN.
GOOD-BYE, ANNE, DEAR.
OH, YOU POOR, POOR LITTLE DEARS.
POOR, UNHAPPY LITTLE DEARS.
GOOD-BYE, CHILDREN.
Children: BYE, AUNT NEDRA.
SHE WANTS TO TAKE US AWAY,
DOESN'T SHE, DAD?
DOES SHE, DADDY?
IS THAT WHAT SHE WAS HERE FOR?
SHE DOESN'T APPROVE
OF THE WAY I'M BRINGING YOU UP.
SHE SAYS I'M TOO BUSY.
PERHAPS I AM.
SHE SAYS THAT YOUR SITTERS
AND NURSES HAVE BEEN, UH,
WELL, TOO MEAN OR TOO NICE...
OR TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD.
SHE SAYS THAT YOU'RE UNHAPPY.
ARE YOU UNHAPPY?
Children: OH, OF COURSE NOT.
WELL, LOVE YOU DON'T NEED.
LOVE I CAN GIVE YOU.
BUT GUIDANCE...
HOW DO YOU BUY GUIDANCE
FOR YOUR CHILDREN?
SOMEONE HERE ALL THE TIME.
SOMEONE AROUND WHO CARES.
WHAT DO YOU DO, ADVERTISE?
"WANTED: SOME KIND,
GENTLE SOUL WHO WILL CARE."
DAD?
HMM?
LISTEN TO THIS:
"I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
"SING THE BODY ELECTRIC"
IS THE MOTTO OF
FACSIMILE LIMITED.
"I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC"?
LET ME SEE THAT, TOM.
"INVENTORS AND MAKERS
OF ELECTRICAL SHADOWS,
"EFFIGIES, MIMICS,
MANNEQUINS. DR. CHEYNEY.
"TO PARENTS WHO WORRY
"ABOUT INADEQUATE
NURSES AND SCHOOLS,
"WHO ARE CONCERNED
"WITH THE MORAL AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN,
"WE HAVE PERFECTED
AN ELECTRONIC DATA
PROCESSING SYSTEM."
AN ELECTRIC...?
WELL, WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN, DADDY?
"AN ELECTRONIC DATA
PROCESSING SYSTEM
IN THE SHAPE OF AN
ELDERLY WOMAN BUILT..."
A WOMAN?
YEAH. SORT OF A ROBOT.
"A WOMAN BUILT WITH PRECISION.
"WITH THE INCREDIBLE ABILITY
OF GIVING LOVING
SUPERVISION TO YOUR FAMILY."
Anne: CAN THEY BUILD A MACHINE
LIKE A HUMAN?
I DON'T KNOW.
IT DOESN'T... IT DOESN'T
SOUND SO GOOD.
BUT MAYBE WE
OUGHT TO INVESTIGATE.
I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC.
THEY MAKE A FAIRLY
CONVINCING PITCH HERE.
IT DOESN'T SEEM
POSSIBLE, THOUGH,
TO FIND A WOMAN WHO MUST BE
TEN TIMES BETTER THAN MOTHER
IN ORDER TO SEEM HALF AS GOOD,
EXCEPT, OF COURSE,
IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
ARE THEY GOING TO
MAKE HER OUT OF WICKER?
WELL, I-I DON'T KNOW.
LET'S WAIT AND SEE.
Man: WON'T YOU COME IN, PLEASE?
WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU.
JUST TO CONVINCE YOU
THAT FACSIMILE LIMITED
CAN DO EVERYTHING
THAT IT CLAIMS THAT IT CAN.
THIS WAY, PLEASE.
EYES... SOFT BROWN, VIVID BLUE.
ANY COLOR YOU CHOOSE.
HAIR... WHITE, GREY, RED, BROWN.
AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL?
EARS... ALL SIZES, ALL SHAPES.
SLENDER OR STURDY.
SHORT OR TALL.
THIS CAN'T BE... OH, NO.
THESE ARE JUST
THE BITS AND PIECES.
JUST THE EYES,
THE LIPS, THE LIMBS
FROM WHICH YOU WILL
CHOOSE THE ELEMENTS
WHICH WILL BECOME
YOUR, UH... GRANDMOTHER?
YOU MEAN WE GET TO
PICK OUT THE COLOR
OF EYES SHE'LL HAVE?
AND HOW TALL?
EXACTLY.
YOU WILL PICK THEM OUT...
AND PUT THEM DOWN THIS CHUTE
WHERE THEY WILL BE
CONVEYED TO OUR FACTORY.
I THINK SHE SHOULD
HAVE BLUE EYES.
THESE EYES HERE.
Boy: NO, THESE.
THEY'RE LIKE THE BROWN AGGIES
I PLAY MARBLES WITH.
LOOK! THOSE HANDS
ARE NICE AND PLUMP.
I WANT THIN FINGERS.
HEY, HER VOICE.
LISTEN.
Woman's voice: "I SING
THE BODY ELECTRIC."
FROM WALT WHITMAN'S POETRY.
HER VOICE IS TOO HIGH.
"I CELEBRATE MYSELF
AND SING MYSELF."
AGAIN, WALT WHITMAN.
TOO LOW.
"THE ARMIES OF THOSE
I LOVE ENGIRTH ME,
AND I ENGIRTH THEM."
THAT'S JUST RIGHT.
THAT'S IT.
COULD YOU BUILD
HER LIKE MY MOTHER?
IF YOU WISH.
EXACTLY LIKE HER?
YES.
Anne: THEN I DON'T WANT HER.
I DON'T WANT HER TO
BE LIKE MY MOTHER.
I'D HATE HER.
ANNE, PLEASE.
EXCUSE ME.
( beeping)
TOM, YOU WANT HER TO
LOOK LIKE MOTHER, DON'T YOU?
SURE.
THEN WE DON'T CARE
WHAT ANNE THINKS.
NAH, SHE'S CRAZY.
I CAN WIN ANY GAME
OF MARBLES WITH THOSE,
AND IF SHE HAD EYES
LIKE THESE... GOSH.
OH, IF SHE ONLY HAD LONG HAIR.
HEY, AGGIES.
BROWN AGGIES.
I CAN WIN ANY GAME
OF MARBLES WITH THOSE.
YOU MUST BE TOM AND KAREN
AND THAT'S ANNE, OF COURSE.
WHO ARE YOU?
GIVE ME ANY NAME.
MELISSA, LAVINIA, MELVINA...
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE?
GRANDMA.
SAY IT A FEW TIMES.
IT'LL SOUND FINE.
I KNOW YOU'RE
THINKING I'M NOT A ROBOT,
BUT I'LL PROVE IT.
HERE.
WIND ME UP.
A KEY.
YOU DON'T WIND ROBOTS UP.
THEY RUN ON ELECTRICITY.
( laughing)
( giggling)
BUT YOU DO WANT PROOF
THOUGH, DON'T YOU?
Tom: AND IF SHE HAD
EYES LIKE THESE...
Karen: OH, IF SHE
ONLY HAD LONG HAIR.
I SEE YOU HAVE A KITE.
GET IT.
BUT I'M ALL OUT OF STRING.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
THERE.
IT'S FLYING!
WHAT DID YOU SAY MY NAME WAS?
GRANDMA!
HEY, ANNE, LOOK WHAT
GRANDMA'S DONE! LOOK!
HOW HIGH SHALL WE FLY IT?
THE MOON.
THE MOON IT IS.
OH, GRANDMA!
DAD! DAD!
GRANDMA, IS THAT A
NEW CAR OUT FRONT?
ASK YOUR FATHER.
DAD, IS THAT OUR CAR?!
IT SURE IS.
I CAME HOME EARLY
TO SURPRISE YOU.
Tom: CAN WE TAKE A RIDE IN IT?
WELL, OF COURSE WE CAN.
WHERE'S ANNE? SHE WANTED
TO STAY IN THIS AFTERNOON.
OH. WELL, YOU CHILDREN
GO ON OUT AND PLAY
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
I'LL BE OUT IN A FEW MINUTES.
THEN WE'LL TAKE A RUN
DOWN TO THE SODA FOUNTAIN,
HOW ABOUT THAT?
Karen: WONDERFUL! COME ON, TOM.
I'M SORRY ABOUT ANNE.
YOU'VE BEEN GOOD
TO US, AND FOR US.
NOW, DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANNE.
SHE'LL ACCEPT ME... EVENTUALLY.
YOU SEE, MR. ROGERS,
CHILDREN ARE THE MOST
COMPLICATED THINGS IN THE WORLD.
I COULD BE THE GREATEST
COOK IN THE WORLD,
THE FINEST, MOST
EXCITING PLAYMATE,
THE MOST INCREDIBLY
INTERESTING COMPANION,
BUT THOSE ARE
VERY TINY NICHES...
A SHELF IN THE STOMACH, A
VERY SMALL LEDGE IN THE BRAIN.
IT'S THE HEART I
HAVE TO ENTER...
THE CHILD'S HEART...
AND THIS IS A DEEP
PLACE, DIFFICULT TO REACH.
BUT THAT TOO WILL COME.
ANNE, WE'RE GOING FOR A RIDE.
WILL YOU COME WITH US?
I WANT TO STAY HOME.
I DON'T WANT HER HERE.
Father: ANNE, YOU
MUSTN'T SAY THAT.
I DON'T WANT HER HERE!
DO I BOTHER YOU, ANNE?
I NEVER WANTED YOU HERE.
IT WAS THEM... FATHER
AND TOM AND KAREN.
THEY WANTED YOU, BUT I DIDN'T.
THEY NEEDED YOU, BUT
I NEVER NEEDED YOU.
ANNE.
BUT IT'S TRUE.
YOU SIT AND YOU TALK TO HER,
AND YOU EAT THE FOOD SHE MAKES,
AND YOU MAKE BELIEVE, FATHER.
THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.
YOU MAKE BELIEVE
AS IF IT WERE A GAME.
AS IF SHE WERE REAL.
BUT SHE'S NOT REAL.
SHE'S A MACHINE.
NOTHING BUT AN OLD MACHINE!
ANNE. ANNE, YOU'D BE
SURPRISED, MY DEAR
HOW MUCH A MACHINE CAN DO
BESIDES PLAYING AND COOKING.
THIS MACHINE, FOR EXAMPLE...
THIS MACHINE CAN LOVE.
LOVE? LOVE WHO?
YOU, ANNE.
I CAN LOVE YOU, AND I DO.
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN...
MORE THAN TONGUE CAN TELL.
YOU DON'T LOVE ME.
YOU CAN'T.
SHE SAID SHE LOVED ME.
SHE?
MY MOTHER.
SHE SAID, "I LOVE YOU,"
BUT SHE LIED.
SHE LIED!
AND YOU'RE LIKE HER.
I HATE HER, AND I HATE YOU!
SHE'S RUN AWAY BEFORE.
I'LL GO AFTER HER.
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR HER TO GO.
NO PLACE TO GO, EXCEPT TO ME.
ANNE.
GET AWAY.
YOU'RE JUST OLD JUNK.
ANNE, WHY DO YOU HATE ME?
BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKE HER.
YOUR MOTHER.
I HATE HER!
WHY DO YOU HATE HER, ANNE?
BECAUSE.
BECAUSE?
BECAUSE SHE LIED.
SHE SAID SHE LOVED ME.
DIDN'T SHE?
SHE RAN AWAY.
RAN AWAY?
SHE LEFT ME!
YOU MEAN... SHE DIED.
NO!
YOU MEAN SHE DIED.
YES.
BUT SHE LET HERSELF DIE.
SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE
DONE THAT TO ME!
SHE SHOULDN'T!
SHE LEFT ME!
SHE LEFT ME.
ANNE!
ANNE, DARLING,
DON'T CRY, DON'T CRY.
TAKE IT EASY, TAKE IT EASY.
ANNE. ANNE, LOOK!
LOOK, SHE'S...
Anne: YOU'RE JUST OLD JUNK.
OLD JUNK!
GET AWAY. GET AWAY.
OLD JUNK.
OLD JUNK.
THAT'S MY VOICE.
YOUR VOICE, ANNE.
GRANDMA. GRANDMA, YOU'RE ALIVE!
ALIVE.
BUT THE CAR.
NOTHING CAN HURT ME.
THEN YOU'RE NOT LIKE MOTHER?
IN THIS WAY, NO.
YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY?
I CAN'T. I WON'T.
YOU'LL NEVER DIE?
NEVER.
OH, GRANDMA.
YOUR MOTHER DIED TOO
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG.
HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?
DID YOU EVER FORGIVE HER
FOR RUNNING AWAY LIKE THAT
AND NEVER COMING BACK?
NO, I NEVER DID.
ANNE... NOW,
SHE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
SHE HAD NOWHERE TO TURN.
SHE WAS AFRAID THAT AUNT NEDRA
AND EVERYBODY WOULD RUN AWAY
AND LEAVE HER ALONE.
EVERYONE EXCEPT YOU.
THAT'S MY JOB: TO LIVE FOREVER.
NOW, LET US ALL GO HOME
AND FINISH OUR LUNCH.
LAST ONE HOME IS AN OLD MAID.
Girls: AN OLD MAID?
( chuckling)
HEY, DAD, ARE WE
GOING TO BE OLD MAIDS?
NOT ON YOUR TINTYPE.
AS OF THIS MOMENT,
THE WONDERFUL
ELECTRIC GRANDMOTHER
MOVED INTO THE LIVES
OF CHILDREN AND FATHER.
SHE BECAME INTEGRAL
AND IMPORTANT.
SHE BECAME THE ESSENCE.
AS OF THIS MOMENT,
THEY WOULD NEVER SEE LIGHTNING,
NEVER HEAR POETRY READ,
NEVER LISTEN TO FOREIGN TONGUES
WITHOUT THINKING OF HER.
EVERYTHING THEY WOULD
EVER SEE, HEAR, TASTE, FEEL
WOULD REMIND THEM OF HER.
SHE WAS ALL LIFE,
AND ALL LIFE WAS WONDROUS,
QUICK, ELECTRICAL...
LIKE GRANDMA.
THANK YOU, TOM.
WE'RE GOING TO
MISS YOU, GRANDMA.
AND I YOU.
MORE THAN TONGUE CAN TELL.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE?
YOU'RE GOING OFF TO COLLEGE NOW,
AND YOU WON'T NEED ME.
THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
I'M NOT THE WORLD.
THE WORLD'S OUT
THERE, AND IT NEEDS YOU.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
TO YOU NOW, GRANDMA?
( sighing)
I'LL GO BACK TO...
FACSIMILE LIMITED, "I
SING THE BODY ELECTRIC",
AND BE SENT OUT TO HELP RAISE
ANOTHER FAMILY LIKE YOURSELVES
OR PERHAPS... I'LL BE TAKEN
APART, REDISTRIBUTED.
THEY WON'T DESTROY YOU?
OH, NO, DARLING.
MY MIND... MY SOUL,
YOU MIGHT SAY,
WILL GO FOR A WHILE
INTO A ROOM OF VOICES.
A ROOM OF VOICES?
A GREAT, DIM ROOM WHERE
THE MINDS AND SOULS
OF ALL THE OTHER
MECHANICAL GRANDMOTHERS
ARE BROUGHT AND STORED
FOR A MONTH OR A YEAR.
AND IN THAT ROOM, WE'LL
TALK TO EACH OTHER,
AND WE'LL TELL WHAT WE
LEARNED FROM THE WORLD
AND FROM THE
FAMILIES WE LIVED WITH.
AND I'LL TELL WHAT I
LEARNED FROM ANNE...
AND KAREN... AND TOM.
BUT YOU TAUGHT US.
DO YOU REALLY THINK
I LEARNED NOTHING
FROM YOU IN RETURN?
NO.
EVERYTHING YOU EVER SAID OR DID,
EVERYTHING YOU EVER
LAUGHED OR CRIED ABOUT,
I'LL SHARE WITH
THE OTHER MACHINES
IN THE ROOM OF
VOICES, AND SOMEDAY...
SOMEDAY WHAT, GRANDMA?
FOR A REASONABLE CREATURE,
I HAVE AN UNREASONABLE DREAM.
SOMEDAY, AFTER 300 YEARS,
IF I'M VERY WISE AND VERY GOOD,
PERHAPS I'LL GAIN THE
GREATEST GIFT OF ALL: LIFE.
OH, GRANDMA, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO WAIT.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN ALIVE TO US.
I'LL GET IT, GRANDMA.
NO, NO, NO, NOW.
DO ME A FAVOR, WOULD YOU?
GO ON UPSTAIRS.
I'VE NEVER BEEN
ONE FOR GOOD-BYES.
I'M A SILLY, SENTIMENTAL,
OLD GRANDMOTHER,
BUT I WANT TO TAKE
WITH ME THE PAST.
NOW, GO AHEAD. QUICKLY.
BUT, GRANDMA... DARLING, GO ON.
THAT'S FINE.
QUICKLY. THERE.
RUN ON.
GO ON.
A FABLE? MOST ASSUREDLY.
BUT WHO'S TO SAY AT
SOME DISTANT MOMENT,
THERE MIGHT BE AN ASSEMBLY
LINE PRODUCING A GENTLE PRODUCT
IN THE FORM OF A GRANDMOTHER,
WHOSE STOCK IN TRADE IS LOVE.
FABLE? SURE.
BUT WHO'S TO SAY?
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,
TWO INCREDIBLY TALENTED PEOPLE
JOIN FORCES TO SHOW
US WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN AN ACCIDENT-PRONE,
DISCOMBOBULATED LADY
WITH SIX THUMBS
AND TWO LEFT FEET
MEETS A HAPLESS GUARDIAN ANGEL
WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT
MARTINIS THAN MIRACLES.
MISS CAROL BURNETT
AND MR. JESSE WHITE.
THEY'RE THE CHIEF INGREDIENTS
TO A VERY FUNNY STEW.
NEXT WEEK, "CAVENDER IS COMING."
Announcer: FOR AMERICA TO FLOWER
SPIRITUALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY,
WE NEED MORE AND
BETTER COLLEGE FACILITIES.
HELP THE COLLEGE OF YOUR CHOICE.
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.
Man: I UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU FEEL, NEDRA.
Woman: WELL, GEORGE,
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS,
AND I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME OUT
BECAUSE I'M NOT
GOING TO REPEAT IT.
BABY-SITTERS AND NURSES
ARE NOT THE SAME
THING AS PARENTAL CARE.
IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE
THEIR MOTHER DIED,
AND LITTLE ANNE HAS
BECOME MORE SICKLY
AND HOSTILE EVERY DAY.
SHE'S UNHAPPY
AND SHE'S INSECURE.
WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT
ABOUT ANNE, NEDRA,
BUT TOM AND KAREN
ARE HAPPY ENOUGH.
OH, NONSENSE.
THEY'RE ONLY COVERING UP.
THEY'RE SAD, UNHAPPY CHILDREN.
THEY HAVE NO BASE,
THEY HAVE NO ANCHOR.
THEY HAVE NO DIRECTION.
THEY'RE LIKE LITTLE
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM.
NEDRA, IT TAKES TIME.
ANNE NEEDS MORE TIME.
SO DO I.
YOU'VE HAD TIME.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
ANNE'S PROBLEM IS
A KIND OF SICKNESS,
AND IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE
AND WITHOUT GUIDANCE,
SHE ISN'T GOING TO BE ANY BETTER
TWO WEEKS FROM NOW
OR A MONTH FROM NOW.
NEDRA...
Nedra: WHERE ARE MY DEARS?
YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE
HAD A VERY PROBING TALK.
A VERY REVEALING ONE.
AND I TOLD HIM,
AND I SEE NO REASON
WHY I SHOULDN'T TELL YOU.
I'M NOT AT ALL PLEASED
WITH THE WAY THINGS
HAVE GONE IN THIS HOUSE
SINCE YOUR POOR MOTHER DIED...
NOT AT ALL PLEASED;
NOT AT ALL PLEASED.
I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU.
GEORGE, YOU CAN BE
SURE I WON'T LOSE TOUCH.
I'M SURE OF THAT, NEDRA.
WELL, GOOD-BYE FOR NOW, THEN.
GOOD-BYE, ANNE, DEAR.
OH, YOU POOR, POOR LITTLE DEARS.
POOR, UNHAPPY LITTLE DEARS.
GOOD-BYE, CHILDREN.
Children: BYE, AUNT NEDRA.
SHE WANTS TO TAKE US AWAY,
DOESN'T SHE, DAD?
DOES SHE, DADDY?
IS THAT WHAT SHE WAS HERE FOR?
SHE DOESN'T APPROVE
OF THE WAY I'M BRINGING YOU UP.
SHE SAYS I'M TOO BUSY.
PERHAPS I AM.
SHE SAYS THAT YOUR SITTERS
AND NURSES HAVE BEEN, UH,
WELL, TOO MEAN OR TOO NICE...
OR TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD.
SHE SAYS THAT YOU'RE UNHAPPY.
ARE YOU UNHAPPY?
Children: OH, OF COURSE NOT.
WELL, LOVE YOU DON'T NEED.
LOVE I CAN GIVE YOU.
BUT GUIDANCE...
HOW DO YOU BUY GUIDANCE
FOR YOUR CHILDREN?
SOMEONE HERE ALL THE TIME.
SOMEONE AROUND WHO CARES.
WHAT DO YOU DO, ADVERTISE?
"WANTED: SOME KIND,
GENTLE SOUL WHO WILL CARE."
DAD?
HMM?
LISTEN TO THIS:
"I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
"SING THE BODY ELECTRIC"
IS THE MOTTO OF
FACSIMILE LIMITED.
"I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC"?
LET ME SEE THAT, TOM.
"INVENTORS AND MAKERS
OF ELECTRICAL SHADOWS,
"EFFIGIES, MIMICS,
MANNEQUINS. DR. CHEYNEY.
"TO PARENTS WHO WORRY
"ABOUT INADEQUATE
NURSES AND SCHOOLS,
"WHO ARE CONCERNED
"WITH THE MORAL AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN,
"WE HAVE PERFECTED
AN ELECTRONIC DATA
PROCESSING SYSTEM."
AN ELECTRIC...?
WELL, WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN, DADDY?
"AN ELECTRONIC DATA
PROCESSING SYSTEM
IN THE SHAPE OF AN
ELDERLY WOMAN BUILT..."
A WOMAN?
YEAH. SORT OF A ROBOT.
"A WOMAN BUILT WITH PRECISION.
"WITH THE INCREDIBLE ABILITY
OF GIVING LOVING
SUPERVISION TO YOUR FAMILY."
Anne: CAN THEY BUILD A MACHINE
LIKE A HUMAN?
I DON'T KNOW.
IT DOESN'T... IT DOESN'T
SOUND SO GOOD.
BUT MAYBE WE
OUGHT TO INVESTIGATE.
I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC.
THEY MAKE A FAIRLY
CONVINCING PITCH HERE.
IT DOESN'T SEEM
POSSIBLE, THOUGH,
TO FIND A WOMAN WHO MUST BE
TEN TIMES BETTER THAN MOTHER
IN ORDER TO SEEM HALF AS GOOD,
EXCEPT, OF COURSE,
IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
ARE THEY GOING TO
MAKE HER OUT OF WICKER?
WELL, I-I DON'T KNOW.
LET'S WAIT AND SEE.
Man: WON'T YOU COME IN, PLEASE?
WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU.
JUST TO CONVINCE YOU
THAT FACSIMILE LIMITED
CAN DO EVERYTHING
THAT IT CLAIMS THAT IT CAN.
THIS WAY, PLEASE.
EYES... SOFT BROWN, VIVID BLUE.
ANY COLOR YOU CHOOSE.
HAIR... WHITE, GREY, RED, BROWN.
AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL?
EARS... ALL SIZES, ALL SHAPES.
SLENDER OR STURDY.
SHORT OR TALL.
THIS CAN'T BE... OH, NO.
THESE ARE JUST
THE BITS AND PIECES.
JUST THE EYES,
THE LIPS, THE LIMBS
FROM WHICH YOU WILL
CHOOSE THE ELEMENTS
WHICH WILL BECOME
YOUR, UH... GRANDMOTHER?
YOU MEAN WE GET TO
PICK OUT THE COLOR
OF EYES SHE'LL HAVE?
AND HOW TALL?
EXACTLY.
YOU WILL PICK THEM OUT...
AND PUT THEM DOWN THIS CHUTE
WHERE THEY WILL BE
CONVEYED TO OUR FACTORY.
I THINK SHE SHOULD
HAVE BLUE EYES.
THESE EYES HERE.
Boy: NO, THESE.
THEY'RE LIKE THE BROWN AGGIES
I PLAY MARBLES WITH.
LOOK! THOSE HANDS
ARE NICE AND PLUMP.
I WANT THIN FINGERS.
HEY, HER VOICE.
LISTEN.
Woman's voice: "I SING
THE BODY ELECTRIC."
FROM WALT WHITMAN'S POETRY.
HER VOICE IS TOO HIGH.
"I CELEBRATE MYSELF
AND SING MYSELF."
AGAIN, WALT WHITMAN.
TOO LOW.
"THE ARMIES OF THOSE
I LOVE ENGIRTH ME,
AND I ENGIRTH THEM."
THAT'S JUST RIGHT.
THAT'S IT.
COULD YOU BUILD
HER LIKE MY MOTHER?
IF YOU WISH.
EXACTLY LIKE HER?
YES.
Anne: THEN I DON'T WANT HER.
I DON'T WANT HER TO
BE LIKE MY MOTHER.
I'D HATE HER.
ANNE, PLEASE.
EXCUSE ME.
( beeping)
TOM, YOU WANT HER TO
LOOK LIKE MOTHER, DON'T YOU?
SURE.
THEN WE DON'T CARE
WHAT ANNE THINKS.
NAH, SHE'S CRAZY.
I CAN WIN ANY GAME
OF MARBLES WITH THOSE,
AND IF SHE HAD EYES
LIKE THESE... GOSH.
OH, IF SHE ONLY HAD LONG HAIR.
HEY, AGGIES.
BROWN AGGIES.
I CAN WIN ANY GAME
OF MARBLES WITH THOSE.
YOU MUST BE TOM AND KAREN
AND THAT'S ANNE, OF COURSE.
WHO ARE YOU?
GIVE ME ANY NAME.
MELISSA, LAVINIA, MELVINA...
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE?
GRANDMA.
SAY IT A FEW TIMES.
IT'LL SOUND FINE.
I KNOW YOU'RE
THINKING I'M NOT A ROBOT,
BUT I'LL PROVE IT.
HERE.
WIND ME UP.
A KEY.
YOU DON'T WIND ROBOTS UP.
THEY RUN ON ELECTRICITY.
( laughing)
( giggling)
BUT YOU DO WANT PROOF
THOUGH, DON'T YOU?
Tom: AND IF SHE HAD
EYES LIKE THESE...
Karen: OH, IF SHE
ONLY HAD LONG HAIR.
I SEE YOU HAVE A KITE.
GET IT.
BUT I'M ALL OUT OF STRING.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
THERE.
IT'S FLYING!
WHAT DID YOU SAY MY NAME WAS?
GRANDMA!
HEY, ANNE, LOOK WHAT
GRANDMA'S DONE! LOOK!
HOW HIGH SHALL WE FLY IT?
THE MOON.
THE MOON IT IS.
OH, GRANDMA!
DAD! DAD!
GRANDMA, IS THAT A
NEW CAR OUT FRONT?
ASK YOUR FATHER.
DAD, IS THAT OUR CAR?!
IT SURE IS.
I CAME HOME EARLY
TO SURPRISE YOU.
Tom: CAN WE TAKE A RIDE IN IT?
WELL, OF COURSE WE CAN.
WHERE'S ANNE? SHE WANTED
TO STAY IN THIS AFTERNOON.
OH. WELL, YOU CHILDREN
GO ON OUT AND PLAY
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
I'LL BE OUT IN A FEW MINUTES.
THEN WE'LL TAKE A RUN
DOWN TO THE SODA FOUNTAIN,
HOW ABOUT THAT?
Karen: WONDERFUL! COME ON, TOM.
I'M SORRY ABOUT ANNE.
YOU'VE BEEN GOOD
TO US, AND FOR US.
NOW, DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANNE.
SHE'LL ACCEPT ME... EVENTUALLY.
YOU SEE, MR. ROGERS,
CHILDREN ARE THE MOST
COMPLICATED THINGS IN THE WORLD.
I COULD BE THE GREATEST
COOK IN THE WORLD,
THE FINEST, MOST
EXCITING PLAYMATE,
THE MOST INCREDIBLY
INTERESTING COMPANION,
BUT THOSE ARE
VERY TINY NICHES...
A SHELF IN THE STOMACH, A
VERY SMALL LEDGE IN THE BRAIN.
IT'S THE HEART I
HAVE TO ENTER...
THE CHILD'S HEART...
AND THIS IS A DEEP
PLACE, DIFFICULT TO REACH.
BUT THAT TOO WILL COME.
ANNE, WE'RE GOING FOR A RIDE.
WILL YOU COME WITH US?
I WANT TO STAY HOME.
I DON'T WANT HER HERE.
Father: ANNE, YOU
MUSTN'T SAY THAT.
I DON'T WANT HER HERE!
DO I BOTHER YOU, ANNE?
I NEVER WANTED YOU HERE.
IT WAS THEM... FATHER
AND TOM AND KAREN.
THEY WANTED YOU, BUT I DIDN'T.
THEY NEEDED YOU, BUT
I NEVER NEEDED YOU.
ANNE.
BUT IT'S TRUE.
YOU SIT AND YOU TALK TO HER,
AND YOU EAT THE FOOD SHE MAKES,
AND YOU MAKE BELIEVE, FATHER.
THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.
YOU MAKE BELIEVE
AS IF IT WERE A GAME.
AS IF SHE WERE REAL.
BUT SHE'S NOT REAL.
SHE'S A MACHINE.
NOTHING BUT AN OLD MACHINE!
ANNE. ANNE, YOU'D BE
SURPRISED, MY DEAR
HOW MUCH A MACHINE CAN DO
BESIDES PLAYING AND COOKING.
THIS MACHINE, FOR EXAMPLE...
THIS MACHINE CAN LOVE.
LOVE? LOVE WHO?
YOU, ANNE.
I CAN LOVE YOU, AND I DO.
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN...
MORE THAN TONGUE CAN TELL.
YOU DON'T LOVE ME.
YOU CAN'T.
SHE SAID SHE LOVED ME.
SHE?
MY MOTHER.
SHE SAID, "I LOVE YOU,"
BUT SHE LIED.
SHE LIED!
AND YOU'RE LIKE HER.
I HATE HER, AND I HATE YOU!
SHE'S RUN AWAY BEFORE.
I'LL GO AFTER HER.
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR HER TO GO.
NO PLACE TO GO, EXCEPT TO ME.
ANNE.
GET AWAY.
YOU'RE JUST OLD JUNK.
ANNE, WHY DO YOU HATE ME?
BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKE HER.
YOUR MOTHER.
I HATE HER!
WHY DO YOU HATE HER, ANNE?
BECAUSE.
BECAUSE?
BECAUSE SHE LIED.
SHE SAID SHE LOVED ME.
DIDN'T SHE?
SHE RAN AWAY.
RAN AWAY?
SHE LEFT ME!
YOU MEAN... SHE DIED.
NO!
YOU MEAN SHE DIED.
YES.
BUT SHE LET HERSELF DIE.
SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE
DONE THAT TO ME!
SHE SHOULDN'T!
SHE LEFT ME!
SHE LEFT ME.
ANNE!
ANNE, DARLING,
DON'T CRY, DON'T CRY.
TAKE IT EASY, TAKE IT EASY.
ANNE. ANNE, LOOK!
LOOK, SHE'S...
Anne: YOU'RE JUST OLD JUNK.
OLD JUNK!
GET AWAY. GET AWAY.
OLD JUNK.
OLD JUNK.
THAT'S MY VOICE.
YOUR VOICE, ANNE.
GRANDMA. GRANDMA, YOU'RE ALIVE!
ALIVE.
BUT THE CAR.
NOTHING CAN HURT ME.
THEN YOU'RE NOT LIKE MOTHER?
IN THIS WAY, NO.
YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY?
I CAN'T. I WON'T.
YOU'LL NEVER DIE?
NEVER.
OH, GRANDMA.
YOUR MOTHER DIED TOO
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG.
HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?
DID YOU EVER FORGIVE HER
FOR RUNNING AWAY LIKE THAT
AND NEVER COMING BACK?
NO, I NEVER DID.
ANNE... NOW,
SHE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
SHE HAD NOWHERE TO TURN.
SHE WAS AFRAID THAT AUNT NEDRA
AND EVERYBODY WOULD RUN AWAY
AND LEAVE HER ALONE.
EVERYONE EXCEPT YOU.
THAT'S MY JOB: TO LIVE FOREVER.
NOW, LET US ALL GO HOME
AND FINISH OUR LUNCH.
LAST ONE HOME IS AN OLD MAID.
Girls: AN OLD MAID?
( chuckling)
HEY, DAD, ARE WE
GOING TO BE OLD MAIDS?
NOT ON YOUR TINTYPE.
AS OF THIS MOMENT,
THE WONDERFUL
ELECTRIC GRANDMOTHER
MOVED INTO THE LIVES
OF CHILDREN AND FATHER.
SHE BECAME INTEGRAL
AND IMPORTANT.
SHE BECAME THE ESSENCE.
AS OF THIS MOMENT,
THEY WOULD NEVER SEE LIGHTNING,
NEVER HEAR POETRY READ,
NEVER LISTEN TO FOREIGN TONGUES
WITHOUT THINKING OF HER.
EVERYTHING THEY WOULD
EVER SEE, HEAR, TASTE, FEEL
WOULD REMIND THEM OF HER.
SHE WAS ALL LIFE,
AND ALL LIFE WAS WONDROUS,
QUICK, ELECTRICAL...
LIKE GRANDMA.
THANK YOU, TOM.
WE'RE GOING TO
MISS YOU, GRANDMA.
AND I YOU.
MORE THAN TONGUE CAN TELL.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE?
YOU'RE GOING OFF TO COLLEGE NOW,
AND YOU WON'T NEED ME.
THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
I'M NOT THE WORLD.
THE WORLD'S OUT
THERE, AND IT NEEDS YOU.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
TO YOU NOW, GRANDMA?
( sighing)
I'LL GO BACK TO...
FACSIMILE LIMITED, "I
SING THE BODY ELECTRIC",
AND BE SENT OUT TO HELP RAISE
ANOTHER FAMILY LIKE YOURSELVES
OR PERHAPS... I'LL BE TAKEN
APART, REDISTRIBUTED.
THEY WON'T DESTROY YOU?
OH, NO, DARLING.
MY MIND... MY SOUL,
YOU MIGHT SAY,
WILL GO FOR A WHILE
INTO A ROOM OF VOICES.
A ROOM OF VOICES?
A GREAT, DIM ROOM WHERE
THE MINDS AND SOULS
OF ALL THE OTHER
MECHANICAL GRANDMOTHERS
ARE BROUGHT AND STORED
FOR A MONTH OR A YEAR.
AND IN THAT ROOM, WE'LL
TALK TO EACH OTHER,
AND WE'LL TELL WHAT WE
LEARNED FROM THE WORLD
AND FROM THE
FAMILIES WE LIVED WITH.
AND I'LL TELL WHAT I
LEARNED FROM ANNE...
AND KAREN... AND TOM.
BUT YOU TAUGHT US.
DO YOU REALLY THINK
I LEARNED NOTHING
FROM YOU IN RETURN?
NO.
EVERYTHING YOU EVER SAID OR DID,
EVERYTHING YOU EVER
LAUGHED OR CRIED ABOUT,
I'LL SHARE WITH
THE OTHER MACHINES
IN THE ROOM OF
VOICES, AND SOMEDAY...
SOMEDAY WHAT, GRANDMA?
FOR A REASONABLE CREATURE,
I HAVE AN UNREASONABLE DREAM.
SOMEDAY, AFTER 300 YEARS,
IF I'M VERY WISE AND VERY GOOD,
PERHAPS I'LL GAIN THE
GREATEST GIFT OF ALL: LIFE.
OH, GRANDMA, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO WAIT.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN ALIVE TO US.
I'LL GET IT, GRANDMA.
NO, NO, NO, NOW.
DO ME A FAVOR, WOULD YOU?
GO ON UPSTAIRS.
I'VE NEVER BEEN
ONE FOR GOOD-BYES.
I'M A SILLY, SENTIMENTAL,
OLD GRANDMOTHER,
BUT I WANT TO TAKE
WITH ME THE PAST.
NOW, GO AHEAD. QUICKLY.
BUT, GRANDMA... DARLING, GO ON.
THAT'S FINE.
QUICKLY. THERE.
RUN ON.
GO ON.
A FABLE? MOST ASSUREDLY.
BUT WHO'S TO SAY AT
SOME DISTANT MOMENT,
THERE MIGHT BE AN ASSEMBLY
LINE PRODUCING A GENTLE PRODUCT
IN THE FORM OF A GRANDMOTHER,
WHOSE STOCK IN TRADE IS LOVE.
FABLE? SURE.
BUT WHO'S TO SAY?
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,
TWO INCREDIBLY TALENTED PEOPLE
JOIN FORCES TO SHOW
US WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN AN ACCIDENT-PRONE,
DISCOMBOBULATED LADY
WITH SIX THUMBS
AND TWO LEFT FEET
MEETS A HAPLESS GUARDIAN ANGEL
WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT
MARTINIS THAN MIRACLES.
MISS CAROL BURNETT
AND MR. JESSE WHITE.
THEY'RE THE CHIEF INGREDIENTS
TO A VERY FUNNY STEW.
NEXT WEEK, "CAVENDER IS COMING."
Announcer: FOR AMERICA TO FLOWER
SPIRITUALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY,
WE NEED MORE AND
BETTER COLLEGE FACILITIES.
HELP THE COLLEGE OF YOUR CHOICE.