The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 3, Episode 37 - The Changing of the Guard - full transcript
Professor Ellis Fowler has been teaching at the Rock Spring School for Boys for a great many years. In fact, he taught the grandfather of one of his current students. Just before Christmas however, he's told by the headmaster that his contract will not be renewed for the new year. Despondent, he returns home convinced that his life has been wasted and decides to end it all. Before he can do so however, his is visited by some very special students from the past who give him cause to reconsider.
[theme music playing]
(narrator)
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.
WE HAVE TALKED OF THE WORK
OF ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN.
BORN...WHAT
YEAR, MR. GRAHAM?
WHAT YEAR, SIR?
PRECISELY THE QUESTION.
UM--
SOMETIME THIS
CENTURY, I THINK.
CLOSE, MR. GRAHAM.
CLOSER THAN USUAL.
[laughter]
ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN
WAS BORN, MR. GRAHAM,
AND FOR THE BENEFIT
OF THE REST OF THE CLASS,
WAS BORN IN 1859.
HIS DEATH OCCURRED,
WHAT YEAR, MR. BUTLER?
UH--AROUND 1900, SIR.
UPON MY SOUL,
YOUNG MR. BUTLER,
YOU AND MR. GRAHAM
ARE KINDRED SPIRITS.
YOU ARE MASTERS
OF INEXACTNESS.
ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN
DIED IN 1936.
ALL OF YOU WILL RECALL,
I'M QUITE SURE,
A SHROPSHIRE LAD.
A LITTLE OF WHICH
I'M NOW GOING TO
READ TO YOU.
"WHEN I WAS
ONE AND TWENTY,
"II HEARD A
WISE MAN SAY,
"GIVE CROWNS AND
POUNDS AND GUINEAS
"BUT NOT YOUR
HEART AWAY.
"GIVE PEARLS
AWAY AND RUBIES
"BUT KEEP YOUR
FANCY FREE.'
"BUT I WAS
ONE AND TWENTY
"NO USE TO TALK TO ME.
"THE HEART OUT
OF THE BOSOM
"WAS NEVER
GIVEN IN VAIN.
"TIS PAID WITH
SIGHS APLENTY
"AND SOLD FOR
ENDLESS RUE.
"AND I AM TWO
AND TWENTY
"AND, OH,
'TIS TRUE,
'TIS TRUE."
THIS BEING THE
LAST AFTERNOON
OF THE SEMESTER
AND THREE DAYS BEFORE
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS,
I THINK IT BEHOOVES ME
TO SHOW AT LEAST
A MINUTE DEGREE
OF COMPASSION
AND, UH, LET
YOU OUT EARLY.
I MIGHT ADD THAT
WHILST YOUR FINAL
EXAMINATION PAPERS
ARE NOT YET READY
TO BE RETURNED TO YOU,
YOU HAVE
ALL, AMAZINGLY
ENOUGH, PASSED.
OH, BOY.
YES. MY DELIGHT
IS ONLY EXCEEDED
BY MY SENSE OF SHOCK.
IT IS RARE, YOUNG MEN,
THAT IN 51 YEARS OF TEACHING
I HAVE EVER
ENCOUNTERED
SUCH A CLASS
OF DUNDERHEADS.
BUT NICE DUNDERHEADS,
AND POTENTIALLY FINE
YOUNG MEN WHO WILL
MAKE THEIR MARKS
AND LEAVE
THEIR MARKS.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
(narrator)
PROFESSOR ELLIS FOWLER,
A GENTLE, BOOKISH
GUIDE TO THE YOUNG
WHO IS ABOUT TO DISCOVER
THAT LIFE STILL HAS
CERTAIN SURPRISES
AND THAT THE CAMPUS
OF THE ROCK SPRING
SCHOOL FOR BOYS
LIES IN A DIRECT PATH
TO ANOTHER INSTITUTION
COMMONLY REFERRED TO
AS THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
OH, CHARLES, MY
WARMEST REGARDS
TO YOUR FATHER.
SIR. COULD YOU STEP
INSIDE A MOMENT, PLEASE?
WHY, YES, OF COURSE.
SIT DOWN. SIT DOWN.
BE COMFORTABLE.
UH, AM I KEEPING YOU?
OH, NO. NO,
NO, NO. IT'S--
THERE'S A BROADCAST
OF HANDEL'S MESSIAH
ON THE RADIO AT 5:00,
AND I'D VERY MUCH
LIKE TO HEAR IT.
THAT'S A VERY LOVELY
THING THAT, UH--
VERY, UH, YULE-LIKE.
YES, YES.
WELL, THIS
WON'T TAKE LONG.
PROFESSOR, YOU DID NOT
RESPOND TO THE LETTER
THE TRUSTEES SENT
YOU LAST WEEK.
LETTER? UH--
OH. I'M TERRIBLY
SORRY, HEADMASTER.
I'VE JUST REMEMBERED.
I HAVEN'T OPENED MY MAIL
FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
SO BUSY. PREPARATION
FOR THE HOLIDAYS
AND RE-GRADING,
FINAL EXAMINATIONS
AND THAT SORT OF THING.
THOUGH VERY I'M CERTAIN
I KNOW THE CONTENTS OF
THAT PARTICULAR LETTER.
AND, UH, YOUR REACTION?
OH, WELL, NATURALLY,
I'LL GO ALONG.
WELL, THAT'S
VERY PERSPICACIOUS
OF YOU, PROFESSOR.
I SHALL TELL THE TRUSTEES
THAT YOU'VE READ THEIR
COMMUNICATION
AND THAT YOU
AGREE WITH IT. NOW, AS
TO YOUR REPLACEMENT --
I WAS TELLING
MY HOUSEKEEPER
ONLY THE OTHER DAY,
I SHALL VERY LIKELY GO ON
TEACHING IN THIS PLACE
UNTIL I'M 100 YEARS OLD.
TWO YEARS AGO I
ACTUALLY TAUGHT
THE GRANDSON
OF ONE OF MY FORMER
PUPILS. THE GRANDSON,
MARK YOU.
ON MY WORD, I THINK
IT'S NOT BEYOND THE
BOUNDS OF POSSIBILITY
THAT I SHALL LIVE TO
TEACH A GREAT GRANDSON
ONE OF THESE DAYS.
IT WAS THE REYNOLDS BOY.
YOU KNOW HIM. HIS FATHER
WAS DAMON REYNOLDS,
AND HIS GRANDFATHER,
UH, OH, DEAR.
REGULAR RASCAL OF A BOY.
WOULD PERSIST IN CALLING
ME "WEIRD BEARD."
DIDN'T KNOW I KNEW
HE WAS CALLING
ME THAT.
PROFESSOR FOWLER,
I THINK IT BEST
YOU READ
THAT COMMUNICATION
THE TRUSTEES SENT.
OH, YES. YES, I WILL.
OH, INDEED, I WILL,
MR. HEADMASTER.
THOUGH IT'S AN ODD
FORMALITY, ISN'T IT?
THIS CONTRACT
SIGNING YEAR
AFTER YEAR.
YOU CAN TELL THE TRUSTEES
FROM ME THAT OLD FOWLER
WON'T DESERT THE SHIP.
NO, SIR. HE'LL STAY
AT THE WHEEL THROUGH
FAIR WEATHER AND FOUL.
WATCH THE CREWS
COME ABOARD AND
THEN DEPART.
PROFESSOR.
PROFESSOR FOWLER,
PLEASE HEAR ME OUT.
HM?
THE COMMUNICATION
FROM THE TRUSTEES
WAS NOT A CONTRACT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
IT WAS A NOTICE
OF TERMINATION.
YOU'VE BEEN
ON THE FACULTY
FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
YOU REACHED THE NORMAL
RETIREMENT AGE SEVERAL
YEARS AGO.
WE DECIDED AT OUR
WINTER MEETING THAT
PERHAPS A YOUNGER MAN--
IF YOU COULD HAVE BEEN
AT THAT MEETING, SIR,
YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY
PROUD OF THE THINGS SAID
ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WORK.
A TEACHER OF INCALCULABLE
VALUE TO ALL OF US, BUT
YOUTH MUST BE SERVED.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD.
THAT SORT OF THING.
AM I TO UNDERSTAND, UH,
MR. HEADMASTER,
THAT I-I--
MY CONTRACT IS
NOT TO BE RENEWED?
I'M...DISCHARGED?
DISCHARGED?
OH, NO, PROFESSOR,
PLEASE DON'T CALL IT THAT.
IT'S RETIREMENT
AND AT HALF SALARY
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
REST OF MY--
WELL,
IT CERTAINLY
PROVES ONE THING.
ON MY WORD IT DOES.
PROVES THAT A MAN
SHOULD READ HIS MAIL.
[laughing]
YES.
CERTAINLY SHOULD
READ HIS MAIL.
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
PROFESSOR.
HAVE A HAPPY
HOLIDAY, SIR.
MR. McTAVISH,
MR. HALIDAY,
HAVE A VERY
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
DON'T EAT TOO
MUCH, UH, TURKEY.
YOU'RE FINE YOUNG
MEN, BOTH OF YOU.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
[chuckles]
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH OLD WEIRD BEARD?
HE WAS CRYING.
DID YOU NOTICE THAT?
HE WAS CRYING.
[music playing on radio]
WOULD YOU CARE FOR
SOME MORE TEA, SIR?
NO, THANK YOU.
DINNER WILL BE READY
IN A HALF HOUR.
WHY DON'T YOU
TAKE A LITTLE NAP?
I KNOW I'M BEING
VERY DIFFICULT,
BUT DO YOU THINK
WE MIGHT PUT OFF
DINNER FOR TONIGHT?
I HAVEN'T MUCH
OF AN APPETITE.
BUT, PROFESSOR,
YOU'VE GOT TO
EAT SOMETHING.
PERHAPS LATER.
I COULD KEEP IT
WARM FOR YOU.
WHY DON'T YOU
TAKE A LITTLE NAP?
TIMOTHY ARNOLD.
I NEVER THOUGHT
THAT ONE WOULD PASS.
HAD AN INCORRIGIBLE HABIT
OF CHEWING BUBBLE GUM
AND THEN POPPING IT.
SOUNDED LIKE
A HOWITZER.
I MUST SAY,
IT SOUNDED EXACTLY
LIKE A HOWITZER.
WILLIAM HOOD.
LITTLE BILL HOOD.
SMALLEST BOY EVER TO PLAY
VARSITY FOOTBALL HERE.
HAD A PENCHANT
FOR SHELLEY.
ARTIE BEECHCROFT.
NOW, THERE WAS A LAD.
THERE WAS A STAUNCH LAD.
FULL OF HEART, THAT ONE.
NOW, WAS HE
THE ONE THAT--
OH, YES,
I REMEMBER NOW.
HIS FATHER WROTE
ME A LETTER. HE WAS
KILLED AT IWO JIMA.
FRECKLE-FACED LITTLE
FELLOW. HE HAD A MOST
INFECTIOUS GRIN.
NEVER STOPPED GRINNING.
MINUTE HE WALKED
INTO THE CLASSROOM
HE JUST HAD TO SMILE.
THEY ALL COME
AND GO LIKE GHOSTS.
FACES, NAMES, SMILES.
FUNNY THINGS THEY
SAID OR SAD THINGS,
OR THE POIGNANT ONES.
I GAVE THEM NOTHING.
I GAVE THEM
NOTHING AT ALL.
POETRY THAT LEFT
THEIR MINDS THE MINUTE
THEY THEMSELVES LEFT.
AGED SLOGANS THAT
WERE OUT OF DATE
WHEN I TAUGHT THEM.
QUOTATIONS DEAR
TO ME THAT WERE
MEANINGLESS TO THEM.
I WAS A FAILURE,
MRS. LANDERS,
AN ABJECT,
MISERABLE FAILURE.
I WALKED FROM
CLASS TO CLASS,
AN OLD RELIC
TEACHING BY ROTE
TO UNHEARING EARS,
UNWILLING HEADS,
AS AN ABJECT,
DISMAL FAILURE.
I MOVED NOBODY.
I MOTIVATED NOBODY.
I LEFT NO IMPRINT
ON ANYBODY.
NOW, WHERE DO YOU
SUPPOSE I EVER
GOT THE IDEA
THAT I WAS
ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING?
THINK I'LL TAKE
THAT NAP NOW.
AND I APOLOGIZE
FOR PUTTING OFF
OUR DINNER LIKE THIS.
[sighs]
HE'S TAKEN--
PROFESSOR!
PROFESSOR.
PROFESSOR FOWLER?
PROFESSOR FOWLER?
WELL, MR. MANN,
I WONDER IF YOU EVER
HAD ANY SELF-DOUBTS.
I GUESS NOT.
"BE ASHAMED TO DIE
"UNTIL YOU HAVE WON
SOME VICTORY
FOR HUMANITY."
I HAVE WON NO VICTORY,
AND NOW I AM
ASHAMED TO DIE.
[bell chiming]
CLASS BELLS.
WELL, THAT'S ODD.
WHY WOULD THEY RING NOW?
THERE'S NO SPECIAL
ASSEMBLY NOW.
THERE'S NOTHING
OF THE SORT.
[chiming continues]
[chiming continues]
[chiming stops]
[whispers]
WHAT?
BOYS.
UH, FORGIVE ME, BOYS,
BUT I DON'T,
UH, UNDERSTAND.
WHAT I MEAN
TO SAY, I--
I DON'T RECOLLECT, UH--
ARTIE BEECHCROFT, SIR.
SECOND FORM, CLASS OF "41.
HOW ARE YOU, PROFESSOR?
H-HOW'S THAT?
HOW'S THAT AGAIN?
YOU SAY YOU'RE
ARTIE BEECHCROFT.
WHY, SO YOU ARE.
I'D RECOGNIZE
YOU ANYWHERE.
I'M DELIGHTED
TO SEE YOU, ARTIE.
I REALLY AM
DELIGHTED TO SEE YOU.
I'VE MISSED YOU, ARTIE.
BUT, UM,
FORGIVE ME, BUT,
UH, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
YOU SHOULDN'T
BE HERE.
ARTIE, YOU-YOU WERE--
I WAS KILLED
AT IWO JIMA, SIR.
THAT'S RIGHT, PROFESSOR.
I WANTED TO SHOW
YOU THIS, PROFESSOR.
IT'S THE CONGRESSIONAL
MEDAL OF HONOR.
IT WAS AWARDED
TO ME, POSTHUMOUSLY.
VERY PRIDEFUL THING,
MR. BEECHCROFT.
VERY PRIDEFUL THING.
AND I AM INDEED
PROUD OF YOU.
YOU WERE ALWAYS
A FINE YOUNG MAN.
FINE YOUNG MAN.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
PROFESSOR?
SIR.
I'M BARTLETT.
THIRD FORM.
CLASS OF '28.
I DIED IN ROANOAKE,
VIRGINIA, SIR.
I WAS CONDUCTING
RESEARCH ON X-RAY
TREATMENT FOR CANCER.
I WAS EXPOSED
TO RADIOACTIVITY AND
I CONTRACTED LEUKEMIA.
I REMEMBER.
I DO REMEMBER
NOW, BARTLETT.
THAT WAS AN
INCREDIBLY BRAVE
THING YOU DID, BARTLETT.
I KEPT REMEMBERING,
PROFESSOR, SOMETHING
YOU TOLD ME.
A QUOTE, A POET
NAMED WALTER.
HOWARD ARNOLD WALTER.
I REMEMBER.
HE SAID,
"I WOULD BE TRUE,
FOR THERE ARE THOSE
WHO TRUST ME.
"I WOULD BE PURE,
FOR THERE ARE
THOSE WHO CARE.
"I WOULD BE STRONG
"FOR THERE IS
MUCH TO SUFFER.
"AND I WOULD BE BRAVE
FOR THERE IS
MUCH TO DARE."
I NEVER FORGOT
THAT, PROFESSOR.
THAT WAS SOMETHING
THAT YOU, YOU LEFT ME,
AND I NEVER FORGOT IT.
UH--
VERY DECENT OF YOU,
BARTLETT, TO SAY THAT.
THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT
THIS MEDAL TO SHOW YOU,
PROFESSOR FOWLER.
BECAUSE IT'S
PARTLY YOURS.
YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT COURAGE.
YOU TAUGHT ME
WHAT IT MEANT.
HOW INCREDIBLE.
SIR.
WEISS! ISN'T IT?
DICKIE WEISS.
[sighs]
YOU WERE THE FIRST ONE.
THE FIRST ONE
TO DIE, PROFESSOR.
I WAS AT PEARL HARBOR
ON THE ARIZONA. I WAS
AN ENSIGN.
I REMEMBER, DICKIE.
YOU SAVED A DOZEN MEN.
GOT THEM OUT OF A BOILER
ROOM AFTER THEY WERE TRAPPED.
LOST YOUR OWN
LIFE DOING IT.
YOU WERE AT MY ELBOW
THAT DAY, PROFESSOR.
YOU MAY NOT HAVE
KNOWN IT, BUT YOU
WERE THERE.
IT WAS SOMETHING
YOU TAUGHT ME. A
POEM BY JOHN DONNE.
"ANY MAN'S DEATH
DIMINISHES ME
"BECAUSE I AM
INVOLVED IN MANKIND.
"AND THEREFORE,
NEVER SEND TO KNOW
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS.
IT TOLLS FOR THEE."
THOMPSON, SIR.
SECOND FORM,
CLASS OF '39.
I DIED ON NEW GUINEA,
BUT YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT PATRIOTISM.
RICE, SIR.
THIRD FORM,
CLASS OF 1917.
I DIED OF WOUNDS
AT CHATEAU THIERRY.
YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT COURAGE.
HUDSON, SIR.
SECOND FORM,
CLASS OF 1922.
YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT LOYALTY.
WHITING, SIR.
FOURTH FORM,
CLASS OF '51.
YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT ETHICS
AND HONESTY.
WE HAVE TO GO
BACK NOW, PROFESSOR.
BUT WE WANTED
TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT WE WERE GRATEFUL.
THAT WE WERE
FOREVER GRATEFUL.
THAT EACH OF
US HAS IN TURN
CARRIED WITH HIM
SOMETHING THAT YOU
GAVE HIM.
WE WANTED TO THANK
YOU, PROFESSOR.
[bell chimes]
[chiming stops]
OH.
[carolers singing]
YES, HEADMASTER,
HE'S HOME. HE'S
ALL RIGHT.
YES, HE'S JUST
FINE. THANK YOU.
[singing continues]
J THE WORLD IN
SOLEMN STILLNESS LAY J
J TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING J
A MERRY CHRISTMAS, PROFESSOR.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MY BOY.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I'VE HAD TIME
TO THINK IT OVER,
MRS. LANDERS, UH,
I REALLY THINK
I WILL RETIRE.
I'VE TAUGHT ALL
THAT I CAN TEACH,
AND I WOULDN'T WANT
THE RETURNS TO DIMINISH.
I DO BELIEVE I MAY
HAVE LEFT MY MARK.
A FEW GAUNTLETS
OF KNOWLEDGE THAT
I'VE THROWN DOWN
THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN PICKED UP.
"BE ASHAMED TO DIE
UNTIL YOU HAVE WON
SOME VICTORY
FOR HUMANITY."
WELL, I DIDN'T WIN
THE VICTORIES,
MRS. LANDERS,
BUT I HELPED OTHERS
TO WIN THEM, SO, PERHAPS,
IN SOME SMALL MEASURE
THEY ARE VICTORIES
I CAN SHARE.
I'VE HAD A VERY GOOD
LIFE, MRS. LANDERS.
A VERY FULL LIFE.
A VERY RICH LIFE.
THIS PARTICULAR
CHANGING OF THE GUARD,
I WOULDN'T HAVE
IT ANY OTHER WAY.
(narrator)
PROFESSOR ELLIS
FOWLER, TEACHER,
WHO DISCOVERED RATHER
BELATEDLY SOMETHING
OF HIS OWN VALUE.
A VERY SMALL
SCHOLASTIC LESSON
FROM THE CAMPUS
OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
[eerie music]
(male presenter)
THERE'S AN ECONOMIC
UPSWING COMING.
HOW WILL IT AFFECT YOU?
TO FIND OUT, WRITE FOR
YOUR FREE BOOKLET
PROMISE OF AMERICA,
BOX 1919, NEW YORK, 19.
(narrator)
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.
WE HAVE TALKED OF THE WORK
OF ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN.
BORN...WHAT
YEAR, MR. GRAHAM?
WHAT YEAR, SIR?
PRECISELY THE QUESTION.
UM--
SOMETIME THIS
CENTURY, I THINK.
CLOSE, MR. GRAHAM.
CLOSER THAN USUAL.
[laughter]
ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN
WAS BORN, MR. GRAHAM,
AND FOR THE BENEFIT
OF THE REST OF THE CLASS,
WAS BORN IN 1859.
HIS DEATH OCCURRED,
WHAT YEAR, MR. BUTLER?
UH--AROUND 1900, SIR.
UPON MY SOUL,
YOUNG MR. BUTLER,
YOU AND MR. GRAHAM
ARE KINDRED SPIRITS.
YOU ARE MASTERS
OF INEXACTNESS.
ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN
DIED IN 1936.
ALL OF YOU WILL RECALL,
I'M QUITE SURE,
A SHROPSHIRE LAD.
A LITTLE OF WHICH
I'M NOW GOING TO
READ TO YOU.
"WHEN I WAS
ONE AND TWENTY,
"II HEARD A
WISE MAN SAY,
"GIVE CROWNS AND
POUNDS AND GUINEAS
"BUT NOT YOUR
HEART AWAY.
"GIVE PEARLS
AWAY AND RUBIES
"BUT KEEP YOUR
FANCY FREE.'
"BUT I WAS
ONE AND TWENTY
"NO USE TO TALK TO ME.
"THE HEART OUT
OF THE BOSOM
"WAS NEVER
GIVEN IN VAIN.
"TIS PAID WITH
SIGHS APLENTY
"AND SOLD FOR
ENDLESS RUE.
"AND I AM TWO
AND TWENTY
"AND, OH,
'TIS TRUE,
'TIS TRUE."
THIS BEING THE
LAST AFTERNOON
OF THE SEMESTER
AND THREE DAYS BEFORE
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS,
I THINK IT BEHOOVES ME
TO SHOW AT LEAST
A MINUTE DEGREE
OF COMPASSION
AND, UH, LET
YOU OUT EARLY.
I MIGHT ADD THAT
WHILST YOUR FINAL
EXAMINATION PAPERS
ARE NOT YET READY
TO BE RETURNED TO YOU,
YOU HAVE
ALL, AMAZINGLY
ENOUGH, PASSED.
OH, BOY.
YES. MY DELIGHT
IS ONLY EXCEEDED
BY MY SENSE OF SHOCK.
IT IS RARE, YOUNG MEN,
THAT IN 51 YEARS OF TEACHING
I HAVE EVER
ENCOUNTERED
SUCH A CLASS
OF DUNDERHEADS.
BUT NICE DUNDERHEADS,
AND POTENTIALLY FINE
YOUNG MEN WHO WILL
MAKE THEIR MARKS
AND LEAVE
THEIR MARKS.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
(narrator)
PROFESSOR ELLIS FOWLER,
A GENTLE, BOOKISH
GUIDE TO THE YOUNG
WHO IS ABOUT TO DISCOVER
THAT LIFE STILL HAS
CERTAIN SURPRISES
AND THAT THE CAMPUS
OF THE ROCK SPRING
SCHOOL FOR BOYS
LIES IN A DIRECT PATH
TO ANOTHER INSTITUTION
COMMONLY REFERRED TO
AS THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
OH, CHARLES, MY
WARMEST REGARDS
TO YOUR FATHER.
SIR. COULD YOU STEP
INSIDE A MOMENT, PLEASE?
WHY, YES, OF COURSE.
SIT DOWN. SIT DOWN.
BE COMFORTABLE.
UH, AM I KEEPING YOU?
OH, NO. NO,
NO, NO. IT'S--
THERE'S A BROADCAST
OF HANDEL'S MESSIAH
ON THE RADIO AT 5:00,
AND I'D VERY MUCH
LIKE TO HEAR IT.
THAT'S A VERY LOVELY
THING THAT, UH--
VERY, UH, YULE-LIKE.
YES, YES.
WELL, THIS
WON'T TAKE LONG.
PROFESSOR, YOU DID NOT
RESPOND TO THE LETTER
THE TRUSTEES SENT
YOU LAST WEEK.
LETTER? UH--
OH. I'M TERRIBLY
SORRY, HEADMASTER.
I'VE JUST REMEMBERED.
I HAVEN'T OPENED MY MAIL
FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
SO BUSY. PREPARATION
FOR THE HOLIDAYS
AND RE-GRADING,
FINAL EXAMINATIONS
AND THAT SORT OF THING.
THOUGH VERY I'M CERTAIN
I KNOW THE CONTENTS OF
THAT PARTICULAR LETTER.
AND, UH, YOUR REACTION?
OH, WELL, NATURALLY,
I'LL GO ALONG.
WELL, THAT'S
VERY PERSPICACIOUS
OF YOU, PROFESSOR.
I SHALL TELL THE TRUSTEES
THAT YOU'VE READ THEIR
COMMUNICATION
AND THAT YOU
AGREE WITH IT. NOW, AS
TO YOUR REPLACEMENT --
I WAS TELLING
MY HOUSEKEEPER
ONLY THE OTHER DAY,
I SHALL VERY LIKELY GO ON
TEACHING IN THIS PLACE
UNTIL I'M 100 YEARS OLD.
TWO YEARS AGO I
ACTUALLY TAUGHT
THE GRANDSON
OF ONE OF MY FORMER
PUPILS. THE GRANDSON,
MARK YOU.
ON MY WORD, I THINK
IT'S NOT BEYOND THE
BOUNDS OF POSSIBILITY
THAT I SHALL LIVE TO
TEACH A GREAT GRANDSON
ONE OF THESE DAYS.
IT WAS THE REYNOLDS BOY.
YOU KNOW HIM. HIS FATHER
WAS DAMON REYNOLDS,
AND HIS GRANDFATHER,
UH, OH, DEAR.
REGULAR RASCAL OF A BOY.
WOULD PERSIST IN CALLING
ME "WEIRD BEARD."
DIDN'T KNOW I KNEW
HE WAS CALLING
ME THAT.
PROFESSOR FOWLER,
I THINK IT BEST
YOU READ
THAT COMMUNICATION
THE TRUSTEES SENT.
OH, YES. YES, I WILL.
OH, INDEED, I WILL,
MR. HEADMASTER.
THOUGH IT'S AN ODD
FORMALITY, ISN'T IT?
THIS CONTRACT
SIGNING YEAR
AFTER YEAR.
YOU CAN TELL THE TRUSTEES
FROM ME THAT OLD FOWLER
WON'T DESERT THE SHIP.
NO, SIR. HE'LL STAY
AT THE WHEEL THROUGH
FAIR WEATHER AND FOUL.
WATCH THE CREWS
COME ABOARD AND
THEN DEPART.
PROFESSOR.
PROFESSOR FOWLER,
PLEASE HEAR ME OUT.
HM?
THE COMMUNICATION
FROM THE TRUSTEES
WAS NOT A CONTRACT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
IT WAS A NOTICE
OF TERMINATION.
YOU'VE BEEN
ON THE FACULTY
FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
YOU REACHED THE NORMAL
RETIREMENT AGE SEVERAL
YEARS AGO.
WE DECIDED AT OUR
WINTER MEETING THAT
PERHAPS A YOUNGER MAN--
IF YOU COULD HAVE BEEN
AT THAT MEETING, SIR,
YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY
PROUD OF THE THINGS SAID
ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WORK.
A TEACHER OF INCALCULABLE
VALUE TO ALL OF US, BUT
YOUTH MUST BE SERVED.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD.
THAT SORT OF THING.
AM I TO UNDERSTAND, UH,
MR. HEADMASTER,
THAT I-I--
MY CONTRACT IS
NOT TO BE RENEWED?
I'M...DISCHARGED?
DISCHARGED?
OH, NO, PROFESSOR,
PLEASE DON'T CALL IT THAT.
IT'S RETIREMENT
AND AT HALF SALARY
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
REST OF MY--
WELL,
IT CERTAINLY
PROVES ONE THING.
ON MY WORD IT DOES.
PROVES THAT A MAN
SHOULD READ HIS MAIL.
[laughing]
YES.
CERTAINLY SHOULD
READ HIS MAIL.
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
PROFESSOR.
HAVE A HAPPY
HOLIDAY, SIR.
MR. McTAVISH,
MR. HALIDAY,
HAVE A VERY
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
DON'T EAT TOO
MUCH, UH, TURKEY.
YOU'RE FINE YOUNG
MEN, BOTH OF YOU.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
[chuckles]
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH OLD WEIRD BEARD?
HE WAS CRYING.
DID YOU NOTICE THAT?
HE WAS CRYING.
[music playing on radio]
WOULD YOU CARE FOR
SOME MORE TEA, SIR?
NO, THANK YOU.
DINNER WILL BE READY
IN A HALF HOUR.
WHY DON'T YOU
TAKE A LITTLE NAP?
I KNOW I'M BEING
VERY DIFFICULT,
BUT DO YOU THINK
WE MIGHT PUT OFF
DINNER FOR TONIGHT?
I HAVEN'T MUCH
OF AN APPETITE.
BUT, PROFESSOR,
YOU'VE GOT TO
EAT SOMETHING.
PERHAPS LATER.
I COULD KEEP IT
WARM FOR YOU.
WHY DON'T YOU
TAKE A LITTLE NAP?
TIMOTHY ARNOLD.
I NEVER THOUGHT
THAT ONE WOULD PASS.
HAD AN INCORRIGIBLE HABIT
OF CHEWING BUBBLE GUM
AND THEN POPPING IT.
SOUNDED LIKE
A HOWITZER.
I MUST SAY,
IT SOUNDED EXACTLY
LIKE A HOWITZER.
WILLIAM HOOD.
LITTLE BILL HOOD.
SMALLEST BOY EVER TO PLAY
VARSITY FOOTBALL HERE.
HAD A PENCHANT
FOR SHELLEY.
ARTIE BEECHCROFT.
NOW, THERE WAS A LAD.
THERE WAS A STAUNCH LAD.
FULL OF HEART, THAT ONE.
NOW, WAS HE
THE ONE THAT--
OH, YES,
I REMEMBER NOW.
HIS FATHER WROTE
ME A LETTER. HE WAS
KILLED AT IWO JIMA.
FRECKLE-FACED LITTLE
FELLOW. HE HAD A MOST
INFECTIOUS GRIN.
NEVER STOPPED GRINNING.
MINUTE HE WALKED
INTO THE CLASSROOM
HE JUST HAD TO SMILE.
THEY ALL COME
AND GO LIKE GHOSTS.
FACES, NAMES, SMILES.
FUNNY THINGS THEY
SAID OR SAD THINGS,
OR THE POIGNANT ONES.
I GAVE THEM NOTHING.
I GAVE THEM
NOTHING AT ALL.
POETRY THAT LEFT
THEIR MINDS THE MINUTE
THEY THEMSELVES LEFT.
AGED SLOGANS THAT
WERE OUT OF DATE
WHEN I TAUGHT THEM.
QUOTATIONS DEAR
TO ME THAT WERE
MEANINGLESS TO THEM.
I WAS A FAILURE,
MRS. LANDERS,
AN ABJECT,
MISERABLE FAILURE.
I WALKED FROM
CLASS TO CLASS,
AN OLD RELIC
TEACHING BY ROTE
TO UNHEARING EARS,
UNWILLING HEADS,
AS AN ABJECT,
DISMAL FAILURE.
I MOVED NOBODY.
I MOTIVATED NOBODY.
I LEFT NO IMPRINT
ON ANYBODY.
NOW, WHERE DO YOU
SUPPOSE I EVER
GOT THE IDEA
THAT I WAS
ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING?
THINK I'LL TAKE
THAT NAP NOW.
AND I APOLOGIZE
FOR PUTTING OFF
OUR DINNER LIKE THIS.
[sighs]
HE'S TAKEN--
PROFESSOR!
PROFESSOR.
PROFESSOR FOWLER?
PROFESSOR FOWLER?
WELL, MR. MANN,
I WONDER IF YOU EVER
HAD ANY SELF-DOUBTS.
I GUESS NOT.
"BE ASHAMED TO DIE
"UNTIL YOU HAVE WON
SOME VICTORY
FOR HUMANITY."
I HAVE WON NO VICTORY,
AND NOW I AM
ASHAMED TO DIE.
[bell chiming]
CLASS BELLS.
WELL, THAT'S ODD.
WHY WOULD THEY RING NOW?
THERE'S NO SPECIAL
ASSEMBLY NOW.
THERE'S NOTHING
OF THE SORT.
[chiming continues]
[chiming continues]
[chiming stops]
[whispers]
WHAT?
BOYS.
UH, FORGIVE ME, BOYS,
BUT I DON'T,
UH, UNDERSTAND.
WHAT I MEAN
TO SAY, I--
I DON'T RECOLLECT, UH--
ARTIE BEECHCROFT, SIR.
SECOND FORM, CLASS OF "41.
HOW ARE YOU, PROFESSOR?
H-HOW'S THAT?
HOW'S THAT AGAIN?
YOU SAY YOU'RE
ARTIE BEECHCROFT.
WHY, SO YOU ARE.
I'D RECOGNIZE
YOU ANYWHERE.
I'M DELIGHTED
TO SEE YOU, ARTIE.
I REALLY AM
DELIGHTED TO SEE YOU.
I'VE MISSED YOU, ARTIE.
BUT, UM,
FORGIVE ME, BUT,
UH, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
YOU SHOULDN'T
BE HERE.
ARTIE, YOU-YOU WERE--
I WAS KILLED
AT IWO JIMA, SIR.
THAT'S RIGHT, PROFESSOR.
I WANTED TO SHOW
YOU THIS, PROFESSOR.
IT'S THE CONGRESSIONAL
MEDAL OF HONOR.
IT WAS AWARDED
TO ME, POSTHUMOUSLY.
VERY PRIDEFUL THING,
MR. BEECHCROFT.
VERY PRIDEFUL THING.
AND I AM INDEED
PROUD OF YOU.
YOU WERE ALWAYS
A FINE YOUNG MAN.
FINE YOUNG MAN.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
PROFESSOR?
SIR.
I'M BARTLETT.
THIRD FORM.
CLASS OF '28.
I DIED IN ROANOAKE,
VIRGINIA, SIR.
I WAS CONDUCTING
RESEARCH ON X-RAY
TREATMENT FOR CANCER.
I WAS EXPOSED
TO RADIOACTIVITY AND
I CONTRACTED LEUKEMIA.
I REMEMBER.
I DO REMEMBER
NOW, BARTLETT.
THAT WAS AN
INCREDIBLY BRAVE
THING YOU DID, BARTLETT.
I KEPT REMEMBERING,
PROFESSOR, SOMETHING
YOU TOLD ME.
A QUOTE, A POET
NAMED WALTER.
HOWARD ARNOLD WALTER.
I REMEMBER.
HE SAID,
"I WOULD BE TRUE,
FOR THERE ARE THOSE
WHO TRUST ME.
"I WOULD BE PURE,
FOR THERE ARE
THOSE WHO CARE.
"I WOULD BE STRONG
"FOR THERE IS
MUCH TO SUFFER.
"AND I WOULD BE BRAVE
FOR THERE IS
MUCH TO DARE."
I NEVER FORGOT
THAT, PROFESSOR.
THAT WAS SOMETHING
THAT YOU, YOU LEFT ME,
AND I NEVER FORGOT IT.
UH--
VERY DECENT OF YOU,
BARTLETT, TO SAY THAT.
THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT
THIS MEDAL TO SHOW YOU,
PROFESSOR FOWLER.
BECAUSE IT'S
PARTLY YOURS.
YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT COURAGE.
YOU TAUGHT ME
WHAT IT MEANT.
HOW INCREDIBLE.
SIR.
WEISS! ISN'T IT?
DICKIE WEISS.
[sighs]
YOU WERE THE FIRST ONE.
THE FIRST ONE
TO DIE, PROFESSOR.
I WAS AT PEARL HARBOR
ON THE ARIZONA. I WAS
AN ENSIGN.
I REMEMBER, DICKIE.
YOU SAVED A DOZEN MEN.
GOT THEM OUT OF A BOILER
ROOM AFTER THEY WERE TRAPPED.
LOST YOUR OWN
LIFE DOING IT.
YOU WERE AT MY ELBOW
THAT DAY, PROFESSOR.
YOU MAY NOT HAVE
KNOWN IT, BUT YOU
WERE THERE.
IT WAS SOMETHING
YOU TAUGHT ME. A
POEM BY JOHN DONNE.
"ANY MAN'S DEATH
DIMINISHES ME
"BECAUSE I AM
INVOLVED IN MANKIND.
"AND THEREFORE,
NEVER SEND TO KNOW
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS.
IT TOLLS FOR THEE."
THOMPSON, SIR.
SECOND FORM,
CLASS OF '39.
I DIED ON NEW GUINEA,
BUT YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT PATRIOTISM.
RICE, SIR.
THIRD FORM,
CLASS OF 1917.
I DIED OF WOUNDS
AT CHATEAU THIERRY.
YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT COURAGE.
HUDSON, SIR.
SECOND FORM,
CLASS OF 1922.
YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT LOYALTY.
WHITING, SIR.
FOURTH FORM,
CLASS OF '51.
YOU TAUGHT ME
ABOUT ETHICS
AND HONESTY.
WE HAVE TO GO
BACK NOW, PROFESSOR.
BUT WE WANTED
TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT WE WERE GRATEFUL.
THAT WE WERE
FOREVER GRATEFUL.
THAT EACH OF
US HAS IN TURN
CARRIED WITH HIM
SOMETHING THAT YOU
GAVE HIM.
WE WANTED TO THANK
YOU, PROFESSOR.
[bell chimes]
[chiming stops]
OH.
[carolers singing]
YES, HEADMASTER,
HE'S HOME. HE'S
ALL RIGHT.
YES, HE'S JUST
FINE. THANK YOU.
[singing continues]
J THE WORLD IN
SOLEMN STILLNESS LAY J
J TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING J
A MERRY CHRISTMAS, PROFESSOR.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MY BOY.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I'VE HAD TIME
TO THINK IT OVER,
MRS. LANDERS, UH,
I REALLY THINK
I WILL RETIRE.
I'VE TAUGHT ALL
THAT I CAN TEACH,
AND I WOULDN'T WANT
THE RETURNS TO DIMINISH.
I DO BELIEVE I MAY
HAVE LEFT MY MARK.
A FEW GAUNTLETS
OF KNOWLEDGE THAT
I'VE THROWN DOWN
THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN PICKED UP.
"BE ASHAMED TO DIE
UNTIL YOU HAVE WON
SOME VICTORY
FOR HUMANITY."
WELL, I DIDN'T WIN
THE VICTORIES,
MRS. LANDERS,
BUT I HELPED OTHERS
TO WIN THEM, SO, PERHAPS,
IN SOME SMALL MEASURE
THEY ARE VICTORIES
I CAN SHARE.
I'VE HAD A VERY GOOD
LIFE, MRS. LANDERS.
A VERY FULL LIFE.
A VERY RICH LIFE.
THIS PARTICULAR
CHANGING OF THE GUARD,
I WOULDN'T HAVE
IT ANY OTHER WAY.
(narrator)
PROFESSOR ELLIS
FOWLER, TEACHER,
WHO DISCOVERED RATHER
BELATEDLY SOMETHING
OF HIS OWN VALUE.
A VERY SMALL
SCHOLASTIC LESSON
FROM THE CAMPUS
OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
[eerie music]
(male presenter)
THERE'S AN ECONOMIC
UPSWING COMING.
HOW WILL IT AFFECT YOU?
TO FIND OUT, WRITE FOR
YOUR FREE BOOKLET
PROMISE OF AMERICA,
BOX 1919, NEW YORK, 19.