The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 4, Episode 9 - Printer's Devil - full transcript
A man sells his soul to the Devil to save his failing newspaper and gets more than he bargained for.
YOU UNLOCK THIS DOOR
WITH THE KEY OF IMAGINATION.
BEYOND IT IS
ANOTHER DIMENSION...
A DIMENSION OF SOUND,
A DIMENSION OF SIGHT,
A DIMENSION OF MIND.
YOU'RE MOVING INTO A LAND OF
BOTH SHADOW AND SUBSTANCE,
OF THINGS AND IDEAS.
YOU'VE JUST CROSSED
OVER INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
YES, SIR.
YES, SIR.
YES, I'LL SEND YOU A CHECK
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
RIGHT.
Woman: NEED SOME HELP?
NO, THANKS.
I ENJOY KICKING AROUND
BROKEN-DOWN CHAIRS.
IT'S GOOD FOR THE CIRCULATION.
OH? YOURS OR THE PAPER'S?
VERY FUNNY.
COME ON, NOW, DOUG,
THINGS AREN'T THAT BAD.
DON'T BE SUCH AN
OLD GLOOM COOKIE.
I AM NOT NOW,
NOR HAVE I EVER
BEEN A "GLOOM COOKIE."
THANKS.
OH, HI, ANDY.
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO
YOU, MR. WINTER.
HE'S TIRED, ANDY.
CAN'T IT WAIT TILL TOMORROW?
IT'S ALL RIGHT, JACKIE.
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND, ANDY?
WELL, SIR, THE...
THE FACT IS, I... WELL, I...
THAT HELP, ANDY?
YEAH, THANKS.
MR. WINTER, I... I HATE TO HAVE
TO TELL YOU THIS,
BUT I'M RESIGNING.
ALL RIGHT.
WHEN?
RIGHT AWAY.
I MEAN, I KNOW IT
AIN'T YOUR FAULT,
BUT IT'S EIGHT WEEKS
SINCE I'VE BEEN PAID.
OH, I UNDERSTAND.
I REALLY HATE TO
DO IT, MR. WINTER,
BUT A MAN'S GOT TO EAT.
ANDY PRASKINS, YOU OUGHT
TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!
JACKIE...
Jackie: THE BEST BOSS
A MAN COULD WORK FOR.
WHO SAID THAT,
ANDY? WHO SAID IT?
I DID, MISS BENSON,
AND I MEANT IT.
AND THIS IS THE WAY YOU REPAY
THE BEST BOSS A
MAN COULD WORK FOR?
BY QUITTING HIM JUST WHEN
HE NEEDS YOU THE MOST?
I SAID I HATE TO DO IT.
WELL, THEN WHY DO IT?
I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE
OF A LITTLE SETBACK...
IT AIN'T JUST A LITTLE SETBACK,
AND YOU KNOW IT.
AND SO DOES MR. WINTER.
THIS PAPER IS
FINISHED, MISS BENSON.
IT WAS FINISHED THE MINUTE
THE GAZETTE MOVED INTO TOWN.
HOW YOU GONNA BUCK
A SYNDICATE LIKE THAT?
THEY CAN POUR THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS INTO THAT OPERATION,
LOSE EVERY PENNY
AND STILL NOT FEEL IT.
THEY'VE GOT A HALF
DOZEN REPORTERS,
A MORNING EDITION,
A NIGHT EDITION.
I ASK YOU, HOW YOU
GONNA LICK THAT?
YOU'RE NOT.
RIGHT. SO I SAY, JOIN 'EM.
YOU MEAN YOU ARE
GOING TO WORK FOR THEM?
YES, MISS BENSON,
BEGINNING TOMORROW.
AND IF YOU'RE SMART...
GET OUT OF HERE, ANDY.
JUST GET OUT OF HERE.
ANDY.
YES, MR. WINTER?
GOOD LUCK.
THANK YOU, SIR.
I STILL SAY YOU'RE THE BEST.
GOOD-BYE.
OH, BOY!
THAT'S GRATITUDE FOR YOU.
AFTER ALL THE TIMES
YOU'VE STAYED UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT
CORRECTING HIS MISTAKES.
JACKIE... THE DAYS
OFF YOU GAVE HIM.
JACKIE... WELL, CAN'T
YOU EVER GET MAD
AT ANYTHING AROUND
HERE EXCEPT CHAIRS?
THAT WAS ANDY PRASKINS
WHO WALKED OUT.
OUR LINOTYPE OPERATOR.
DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT? I KNOW.
WELL, THEN WHY DIDN'T
YOU DO SOMETHING?
DO SOMETHING?!
I'D DO ANYTHING I COULD
TO SAVE THIS PLACE,
ANYTHING... BUT ANDY'S RIGHT.
IT'S TOO LATE. I'M THROUGH.
OH, NO.
OH, DON'T SAY THAT.
PLEASE DON'T SAY IT.
WHY, THIS WAS YOUR DREAM, DOUG.
WELL, RIGHT NOW,
I'M... I'M AWAKE.
MISS BENSON, WHY
DON'T YOU GO HOME?
I'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
OH, DOUG, LET ME JUST STAY.
YOU HEARD ME. YOU GO ON HOME.
I'M A VERY BUSY MAN.
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO
SEE YOU TO THE FRONT DOOR.
WILL YOU BE ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, SURE.
IT'S NOT THE END OF
THE WORLD, YOU KNOW.
CALL ME IF YOU
NEED ME, WILL YOU?
YOUNG MAN.
MIGHT I TROUBLE YOU FOR A MATCH?
YEAH. SURE.
IT'S A LOVELY NIGHT, ISN'T IT?
LOVELY SPOT, TOO.
SMELL THE PINES.
IT'S A PITY YOU
HAVE TO LEAVE IT ALL.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WELL, YOU WERE ABOUT TO
COMMIT SUICIDE, WEREN'T YOU?
THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
I AGREE.
IF A MAN WANTS TO
DO AWAY WITH HIMSELF,
I SAY THAT'S HIS
DECISION, NOBODY ELSE'S.
BUT I DO THINK YOU OUGHT
TO MAKE A GOOD JOB OF IT.
THIS LOOKS VERY
UNCERTAIN TO ME, FRANKLY.
YOU MIGHT END UP WITH
NOTHING MORE THAN A HEAD COLD.
I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T
WANT TO RISK IT.
BY THE WAY, DID
YOU FIND A MATCH?
NO, I... I DON'T HAVE ONE.
WELL, DOESN'T MATTER.
GOOD NIGHT.
AREN'T YOU GOING TO JUMP?
WHY, DO YOU WANT TO WATCH?
NO, HEAVENS NO.
BUT I WAS JUST THINKING,
IF YOU AREN'T GOING TO,
PERHAPS YOU WOULDN'T MIND
GIVING ME A LIFT INTO TOWN?
NOW, I DON'T WANT YOU
TO CHANGE YOUR PLANS
ON MY BEHALF, YOU UNDERSTAND.
YEAH.
COME ON.
WELL, THANK YOU.
WAIT A MINUTE.
I FOUND A LIGHT.
TAKE AWAY A MAN'S DREAM,
FILL HIM WITH
WHISKEY AND DESPAIR,
SEND HIM TO A LONELY BRIDGE,
LET HIM STAND
THERE ALL BY HIMSELF,
LOOKING DOWN AT THE BLACK WATER,
AND TRY TO IMAGINE THE THOUGHTS
THAT ARE IN HIS MIND.
YOU CAN'T, I CAN'T... BUT
THERE'S SOMEONE WHO CAN,
AND THAT SOMEONE IS SEATED
NEXT TO DOUGLAS WINTER RIGHT NOW.
THE CAR IS HEADED
BACK TOWARD TOWN,
BUT ITS REAL DESTINATION
IS THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOUNG MAN,
I HOPE YOU'RE NOT
PLANNING TO DRINK ALONE.
I WAS...
UNLESS, OF COURSE,
YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN ME.
I'D BE DELIGHTED.
WELL... FEELING BETTER?
NOT YET.
HI, MR. WINTER.
OH, HI, MOLLY.
GIVE ME A MARTINI, WILL YOU?
MAKE IT A DOUBLE. THE SAME.
UH, MR. WINTER, COULD I
SEE YOU FOR A SECOND?
WHAT ABOUT?
WELL, UM... OH, YES.
YES, THE TAB.
I'M SORRY, BUT MR. FOSTER
SAYS THAT FROM NOW ON,
IT'S GOT TO BE CASH.
PLEASE, ALLOW ME.
NOW, MOLLY, RUN AND GET
THOSE DRINKS, WILL YOU?
AND TELL MR. FOSTER
TO MAKE THEM STRONG.
WILL YOU DO THAT?
RUN, GIRL, RUN.
MM!
THAT'S A LUSH ONE, ISN'T IT?
FULL OF FIRE, TOO, I'LL WAGER.
I WOULDN'T KNOW.
YOU WOULDN'T? PITY.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THE DRINK, MISTER, UH...
SMITH.
UM, MY NAME IS DOUGLAS WINTER.
THE DOUGLAS WINTER, THE EDITOR?
EX-EDITOR.
WAIT, WHY "EX"?
IT'S A LONG, SAD
STORY, MR. SMITH.
YOU WOULDN'T BE INTERESTED.
OH, BUT I WOULD. I WOULD INDEED.
YOU SEE, YOU ARE THE REASON
THAT I'VE JOURNEYED TO DANSBURG.
YOU MUST BE A CREDITOR.
NO, NOT YET, ANYHOW.
NO, THE FACT IS, I'M
A NEWSPAPERMAN.
I WAS HOPING TO SECURE A
POSITION WITH YOUR PAPER.
I'M SORRY.
IF YOU'D HAVE CALLED,
I'D SAVE YOU A TRIP.
WHY?
THE COURIER IS DEAD, MR. SMITH.
I-I-I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TO UNDERSTAND.
THE BRAGG SYNDICATE
OPENED A PAPER HERE
CALLED THE GAZETTE,
AND THEY MURDERED US.
AH, I SEE.
NO, UH, KEEP IT, MY DEAR,
IN PAYMENT FOR
YOUR LOVELY SMILE.
THANK YOU, SIR.
SHE MOVES FAST FOR A BIG ONE.
MR. WINTER...
DO YOU SUPPOSE THE
GAZETTE COULD USE
A GOOD LINOTYPE OPERATOR?
I DOUBT IT.
THEY JUST GRABBED
MY BEST MAN TODAY.
WHY?
THAT'S MY SPECIALTY,
ALONG WITH THE REPORTING.
YOU MEAN YOU'RE A REPORTER
AND A LINOTYPE OPERATOR?
ABSOLUTELY.
IF I MAY DISPENSE
WITH FALSE MODESTY,
I'D COUNT MYSELF AMONG
THE BEST IN BOTH FIELDS.
PERHAPS THE BEST.
YOU WERE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING.
WELL, THEN I'LL SAY IT.
YOU PUT ME TO WORK AT ONCE,
I THINK WE CAN SAVE THE COURIER.
HOW CAN I PUT YOU TO WORK?
I CAN'T EVEN PAY MY BAR TAB.
WELL, THAT'S SIMPLE.
I'LL WAIVE SALARY UNTIL
YOU'RE IN THE BLACK.
THAT'S CRAZY.
I MIGHT NEVER BE IN THE BLACK.
WELL, IT'S A CHANCE,
BUT IT'S BETTER
THAN ANYTHING YOU HAVE NOW.
ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW HOW
TO OPERATE A LINOTYPE MACHINE?
MR. WINTER, THAT'S
LIKE ASKING PAGANINI
IF HE CAN PLAY THE FIDDLE.
I'M A VIRTUOSO.
SHOW ME.
WITH PLEASURE.
GOOD NIGHT, MOLLY.
GOOD NIGHT, MR. WINTER.
DOUG!
JACKIE.
DOUG, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I'VE BEEN CALLING YOUR HOME
ALL EVE... NING...
OH, UH, JACKIE,
I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET MR. SMITH.
UH, THIS IS MISS BENSON,
MY MOST VALUABLE EMPLOYEE.
SECOND MOST
VALUABLE, MR. WINTER.
SECOND MOST VALUABLE.
VERY GOOD, MR. SMITH.
LET'S SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU
TO COPY THIS LEAD STORY.
RIGHT OVER THERE.
CERTAINLY.
WHO IS HE, ANYWAY?
I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, IT'S NOT THE LATEST
MODEL, BUT IT'S A GOOD ONE.
NOW... AH! LISTEN TO IT HUM.
KINDLY HOLD THAT CIGAR FOR ME.
KEEP IT BURNING.
WELL, IF HE DOESN'T
PLAY CHOPIN'S POLONAISE,
I'LL BE DISAPPOINTED.
MAY I HAVE MY CIGAR BACK?
OH... YES.
PUT IT IN MY MOUTH, PLEASE.
I MAY HAVE TO MAKE
A FEW MODIFICATIONS,
BUT ON THE WHOLE,
IT'S IN FINE CONDITION.
A LITTLE STIFF, PERHAPS.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
MATTER?
WHY DID YOU QUIT?
FINISHED.
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
SEE FOR YOURSELF.
MR. SMITH... WHY WOULD
A MAN WITH YOUR TALENT
WANT TO WORK FOR A HICK
PAPER LIKE THE COURIER?
CALL IT A CHALLENGE.
WELL, MISS BENSON,
ARE YOU IMPRESSED?
NO. I'M AMAZED.
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.
WELL, I MUST CONFESS
THAT THIS IS NOT
MY TRUE VOCATION.
IT ISN'T?
NO. I'M A REPORTER.
Jackie: OH.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE A GREEN
THUMB. I HAVE A GREEN NOSE.
WHEREVER THERE IS NEWS,
THIS OLD NOSE SMELLS IT.
I'M AFRAID THERE ISN'T
MUCH NEWS TO SMELL
AROUND DANSBURG, MR. SMITH.
THERE WILL BE.
WELL, AM I HIRED?
YOU WOULD BE, IF I HAD A PAPER.
BUT I HAVEN'T GOT ONE,
AND THERE'S NO
USE KIDDING MYSELF.
THIS ALL BELONGS TO THE BANKS
AND THE FINANCE COMPANIES,
AND THEY'RE READY TO COLLECT.
AW. HOW MUCH WOULD
IT TAKE TO PAY THEM OFF?
OH, ROUGHLY $4,861.23.
OH... I MIGHT BE ABLE
TO MANAGE THAT.
UH... YOU WANT TO
MAKE US A LOAN?
PERHAPS.
WOULD YOU EXCUSE US
FOR A MINUTE, PLEASE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WELL, IF HE'D MADE THAT
OFFER TEN MINUTES AGO,
I'D HAVE THOUGHT HE
WAS KIDDING OR CRAZY,
BUT NOW I-I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, WHAT'S IN IT FOR HIM?
BEATS ME.
BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE IT A GO.
YEAH, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING...
IT'S A CHANCE TO
STAY IN BUSINESS!
AFTER ALL, WHAT
HAVE I GOT TO LOSE?
THAT'S RIGHT.
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?
GIVES YOU A FUNNY
FEELING, DOESN'T IT?
"PAID IN FULL." "PAID IN FULL."
WHO BUT THAT OLD ROOSTER
WOULD CARRY $5,000 CASH
AROUND IN HIS POCKET?
WELL, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL.
EXCUSE THE INTERRUPTION,
BUT HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE YOU
TO GET AN EDITION
ONTO THE STREETS?
WE'RE NOT DUE OUT UNTIL 4:00.
I MEAN, AN EXTRA EDITION.
A COUPLE OF HOURS
ON A SHORT RUN.
BE A HASSLE, THOUGH.
WOULD IT BE WORTH THE HASSLE
IF YOU COULD BEAT THE
GAZETTE TO A SCOOP?
DEPENDS ON THE SCOOP.
HERE.
HOLY... 10:20?
WELL, THAT WAS ONLY
A HALF AN HOUR AGO!
I'LL CHECK IT OUT.
YOU DOUBT MY VERACITY, HMM?
IT'S STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURE, MR. SMITH.
YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THAT.
UH, LET ME SPEAK TO
MR. UNDERWOOD, PLEASE.
WELL, NEVER MIND.
MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME.
WE JUST HAD A
REPORT OF A ROBBERY...
THANK YOU. OKAY,
LET'S GO TO WORK!
YES, SIR.
I TOLD YOU I HAD
A NOSE FOR NEWS!
HEY, EXTRA! BIG
BANK ROBBERY TODAY!
EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
EXTRA!
Boy: READ ABOUT
THE BIG STICK-UP!
ROBBERS TAKE $15,000!
READ ABOUT IT! EXTRA! EXTRA!
ROBBERS TAKE $15,000!
HERE YOU GO, SIR. THANK YOU.
GET YOUR EXTRA! READ
ABOUT TODAY'S BANK ROBBERY!
READ ABOUT... THANK
YOU, SIR. THERE YOU ARE.
READ ALL... THERE YOU ARE.
READ ALL ABOUT
TODAY'S BANK ROBBERY!
THERE YOU ARE, SIR.
FOLLOW ME.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
I'LL CHECK IT.
I DON'T THINK SHE TRUSTS ME.
OF COURSE, IT ISN'T MUCH,
BUT IT SELLS PAPERS.
HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUT? HMM?
HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUT?!
I TOLD YOU I HAD
A NOSE FOR NEWS.
YOU LIKE IT, DON'T YOU?
MR. SMITH, I CAN'T THINK
OF ANYTHING I LIKE BETTER.
HAROLD J. SWANSON!
"FOR 13 YEARS,
"PRINCIPAL OF
DANSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
"CONFESSED TO POLICE TODAY
"THAT HE IS MARRIED TO TWO WOMEN
AND IS A BIGAMIST."
I JUST TALKED TO MR. SWANSON.
Winter: AND?
IT'S TRUE!
HE HAS TWO WIVES.
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
EXPOSED AS BIGAMIST!
HEY, LATE PAPER'S OUT!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
SUBSCRIPTIONS!
YOU'RE KIDDING.
I AM NOT KIDDING.
DO YOU REALIZE
THAT IN TWO WEEKS,
OUR CIRCULATION HAS TRIPLED?
BEAUTIFUL!
WELL, WELL, WELL, MR. FRANKLIN.
HOW ARE THINGS AT THE GAZETTE?
THAT'S EXACTLY WHY
I'M HERE, MR. WINTER.
MISS BENSON.
I'M NOT A MAN TO BEAT
AROUND THE BUSH,
BUT YOU'RE GIVING US TROUBLE.
NOW, THIS QUICK SUCCESS
THAT YOU'VE HAD JUST CAN'T LAST.
YOU'VE HAD A FEW
LUCKY BREAKS. THAT'S ALL.
BUT I'LL ADMIT, WE'RE HURTING.
HOW DOES IT FEEL, MR. FRANKLIN?
I'M AUTHORIZED TO
MAKE YOU AN OFFER,
AND IF YOU'RE A
SMART YOUNG MAN...
I UNDERSTAND THAT
YOU ARE... YOU'LL TAKE IT.
AN OFFER FOR WHAT?
THE COURIER.
WE BUY IT; YOU AND YOUR
STAFF GO TO WORK FOR US.
NOW, HOW DOES THAT SOUND?
SORRY. THE COURIER
ISN'T FOR SALE.
NOT AT ANY PRICE?
NOT AT ANY PRICE.
NOW, YOU CERTAINLY DON'T THINK
THAT YOU CAN FIGHT US, DO YOU?
OH, WE CAN TRY, MR. FRANKLIN.
WELL, THEN YOU'RE NOT
QUITE AS SMART A YOUNG MAN
AS I THOUGHT YOU WERE.
BUT I WILL LEAVE THAT OFFER
OPEN UNTIL 7:00 TONIGHT.
IF I DON'T HEAR FROM
YOU BY THAT TIME,
YOU BETTER LAY IN YOURSELF
A GOOD SUPPLY OF TIN CUPS.
THANK YOU.
HOW MUCH DO YOU
THINK HE'D GIVE YOU?
WELL, IF THEY'RE AS
WORRIED AS FRANKLIN LOOKS,
I IMAGINE AROUND $100,000. WHY?
I WAS JUST WONDERING.
HONEY, WHAT'S THE MATTER?
THINGS HAVE NEVER
GONE BETTER, HAVE THEY?
I'M NOT SO SURE.
HERE WE ARE.
OH, HI, MR. SMITH.
I HAVE A LITTLE
SURPRISE FOR YOU.
I DON'T THINK I CAN
TAKE ANOTHER ONE.
YOU'LL TAKE THIS, ALL RIGHT.
HAPPENS TO BE THE
BIGGEST SCOOP OF THEM ALL.
YOU READ IT, AND
I'LL GET THINGS GOING.
ALMOST AFRAID TO LOOK.
Announcer: TWILIGHT ZONE WILL
CONTINUE AFTER STATION IDENTIFICATION.
LOOK, I DON'T BLAME
YOU OF BEING UPSET,
BUT THAT GIVES YOU NO REASON
TO TOSS ALLEGATIONS AROUND!
ALLEGATIONS? FACTS.
NOW, YOU STARTED THAT FIRE,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
I TOLD YOU A THOUSAND
TIMES, I DIDN'T START THE FIRE!
NOW, HOW MANY TIMES
DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?
I DON'T CARE HOW
MANY TIMES YOU TELL ME.
YOUR NEWSPAPERS
WERE OUT ON THAT STREET
EXACTLY ONE HALF
HOUR AFTER IT HAPPENED,
AND TO ME, THAT
MEANS ONLY ONE THING:
THAT YOU KNEW IT
WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Doug: ALL RIGHT, I'LL EXPLAIN
IT TO YOU ONE MORE TIME.
OUR NEW MAN WAS
WALKING BY YOUR BUILDING,
AND HE SAW THE
SMOKE, AND HE CAME IN...
YEAH, AND THEN BACK HERE,
AND IN ONE HALF HOUR, HE
WROTE THE COMPLETE STORY,
RAN OFF 5,000 COPIES
ON THAT DILAPIDATED
EQUIPMENT OF YOURS,
DELIVERED IT TO THE
CORNER NEWSBOY,
AND YOU EXPECT
ME TO BELIEVE THAT?
NOW, WHAT KIND OF A STUPID IDIOT
DO YOU THINK I AM?
WELL, LET'S NOT GET
INTO THAT, SHALL WE?
IT JUST SO HAPPENS
I HAVE WITNESSES
AS TO MY WHEREABOUTS
FOR THE WHOLE DAY.
NOW, WILL YOU GET OUT OF HERE?
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD
THE LAST OF THIS.
DOUG?
YEAH?
HOW DID WE HIT ON
THE STREET SO FAST?
I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, DO YOU BELIEVE HIM?
WHO? MR. SMITH!
DO YOU BELIEVE HE JUST
HAPPENED TO BE PASSING BY?
WELL, BOSS, WHAT
CAN I DO FOR YOU?
ANSWER A QUESTION.
DID YOU START THE GAZETTE FIRE?
I?
YOU.
I'M AFRAID I DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
I DON'T SEE WHY
NOT. IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
DID YOU START THE GAZETTE FIRE?
IT WAS STARTED BY A
FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
ARE YOU SURE?
I NEVER WRITE UP
ANYTHING I'M NOT SURE OF.
IT'S A QUESTION OF ETHICS.
OH, BY THE WAY...
ANDY PRASKINS CALLED.
HE'S THE LINOTYPE OPERATOR
I TOLD YOU ABOUT.
I THINK I'LL HIRE HIM BACK AND
PUT YOU ON FULL-TIME REPORTING.
NO, NO, NO, THAT WOULDN'T DO.
NOW, I'VE MADE CERTAIN, UH,
MODIFICATIONS TO THIS MACHINE.
I WOULDN'T WANT
ANYBODY ELSE TO TOUCH IT.
WOULD SPOIL EVERYTHING.
BESIDES, IT BREAKS
UP THE DAY FOR ME.
YOU CAN HIRE HIM BACK,
BY ALL MEANS, BUT, UH,
GIVE HIM ANOTHER JOB.
I INSIST.
OKAY.
HEY, COME ON, NOW, YOU
STILL HAVEN'T TOLD ME.
EXACTLY HOW DID
YOU MEET MR. SMITH?
OH, BROTHER.
YOU DON'T GIVE UP
VERY EASY, DO YOU?
WELL, I WANT TO KNOW.
I TOLD YOU, I JUST RAN
INTO HIM THAT NIGHT.
THAT'S ALL.
WHERE?
PINE TRAIL.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?
SHOOTING BUTTERFLIES.
WHAT ELSE WOULD
I BE DOING THERE?
WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO
GET SO SARCASTIC ABOUT IT.
I WAS ONLY ASKING.
WELL, I TOLD YOU.
I JUST MET HIM...
AND I HIRED HIM, AND HE
PUT US BACK IN BUSINESS.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
I SMELL TROUBLE.
TROUBLE?
WE JUST PICKED UP
1,500 NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS.
WE'RE SELLING OUT EVERY DAY.
I'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT
THAT KIND OF TROUBLE ALL MY LIFE.
HEY, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?
THERE'S NOTHING THE MATTER.
YES, THERE IS.
YOU'RE DIFFERENT.
YOU'VE CHANGED.
"YOU'RE DIFFERENT.
YOU'VE CHANGED."
YOU'RE BEGINNING
TO SOUND LIKE A WIFE!
WELL, I'M NOT YOUR WIFE, AND
I NEVER WILL BE, AT THIS RATE.
WELL, THAT'S OKAY WITH ME, TOO.
MR. SMITH?
WHAT'S ON THE MACHINE?
I WAS HOPING TO SURPRISE
YOU WITH IT LATER.
"E.J. MacLEOD WINS $250,000
ON SWEEPSTAKES TICKET."
"MacLEOD, FOR 16 YEARS
CLERK AT THE DANSBURG
WATER AND POWER COMP..."
UH, MR. MacLEOD?
THIS IS DOUG WINTER
DOWN AT THE COURIER.
I'M SORRY TO DISTURB YOU.
I WAS JUST WONDERING,
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING
ON YOUR SWEEPSTAKES TICKET?
I SEE.
OH, NO, NO, SIR, I-I
HAVEN'T HEARD A THING.
SORRY TO BOTHER
YOU. RIGHT. GOOD NIGHT.
MM?
I HATE TO TELL YOU...
BUT I'M AFRAID THIS TIME,
YOU PULLED A BONER.
MacLEOD DOESN'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I DIDN'T SAY HE KNEW
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I SAID HE WON IT.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
HOW CAN YOU WIN $250,000
AND NOT KNOW ABOUT IT?
BY NOT BOTHERING TO
LOOK UNDER THE DOOR
FOR A TELEGRAM.
COURIER. WINTER SPEAKING.
CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU SEE?
NOW, BOSS, WOULD YOU
HAVE A CHAIR, PLEASE?
I THINK THAT THE, UH...
TIME HAS COME WHEN
YOU AND I SHOULD HAVE
A LITTLE CHAT, HMM?
I THINK THE OCCASION
CALLS FOR A TOUCH
OF "THE CREATURE,"
IF I MAY SAY SO.
SORRY. I'M FRESH OUT.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND
YOU'RE MISTAKEN.
RIGHT THERE IN THAT
TOP DRAWER, HMM?
WITH MY COMPLIMENTS.
YOU THINK OF
EVERYTHING, DON'T YOU?
NOW, FIRST OF ALL...
I SHOULD LIKE TO ASK
WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE HAPPY
WITH THE WAY THINGS
HAVE BEEN GOING.
JUST WHAT ARE YOU
LEADING UP TO, MR. SMITH?
A SIMPLE PROPOSITION.
I HEREBY GUARANTEE...
YOU UNDERSTAND... GUARANTEE...
THAT YOU WILL BECOME
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
NEWSPAPER EDITOR
IN THE WORLD, IF...
YOU WILL AFFIX YOUR SIGNATURE
TO THIS LITTLE DOCUMENT.
"I, DOUGLAS WINTER,
AGREE TO RELINQUISH
"MY IMMORTAL SOUL TO
THE BEARER UPON MY DEATH
IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SERVICES."
"I, D..."
WHAT?
HUH?
YOU'RE THE DEVIL!
OH, MR. WINTER.
AS A SOPHISTICATED,
INTELLIGENT 20th-CENTURY MAN,
YOU KNOW THAT THE DEVIL
DOES NOT EXIST. TRUE?
TRUE.
BUT YOU ALSO KNOW
THAT THE WORLD IS FULL
OF ECCENTRIC, RICH OLD MEN...
CRAZY OLD MEN DOING
ALL KINDS OF THINGS
FOR CRAZY REASONS.
NOW, WHY DON'T YOU
THINK OF ME LIKE THAT?
HERE'S A PEN.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
YES, ISN'T IT?
COULD I, UH...
TROUBLE YOU FOR ANOTHER DRINK?
UH, YOU DON'T REALLY BELIEVE
THAT I'M THE DEVIL, DO YOU?
NO.
WELL, THEN, WHY DON'T
YOU PUT IT THIS WAY:
YOU'RE HUMORING ME.
AFTER ALL, WHAT GOOD
IS THE SOUL, ANYWAY?
IT'S SORT OF LIKE AN
APPENDIX THESE DAYS,
PARTICULARLY SINCE IT
DOESN'T EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WELL, JUST FOR THE
SAKE OF ARGUMENT,
WHY DO YOU
PARTICULARLY WANT MINE?
WELL, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT,
LET'S SAY I'M SOMETHING
OF A CONNOISSEUR,
AND YOU HAVE A VERY CHOICE SOUL,
AND AS THE VINTNERS
SAY, IT'S A GOOD YEAR.
WELL, THEN AGAIN, UH,
JUST FOR SAKE OF
ARGUMENT... YES?
WHY DON'T YOU JUST TAKE IT, HUH?
NOW, IF YOU'RE THE DEVIL
AS YOU SAY YOU ARE,
WHY, YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING.
NO, UNHAPPILY, NOT EVERYTHING.
I AM BOUND BY CERTAIN RULES,
AND I DO HAVE MY LIMITATIONS.
YOU'RE NUTS.
YES.
LET'S DRINK TO THAT, HUH?
HERE YOU ARE.
I THINK I SHOULD
WARN YOU, HOWEVER,
THAT IF YOU DO NOT SIGN THIS,
THEN THE CERTAIN GLOOMY
PREDICTIONS YOU MADE
ABOUT THE COURIER'S FUTURE
WILL CERTAINLY COME TO PASS.
YES, I'LL HAVE TO RESIGN, AND...
WELL, LET'S NOT EVEN
CONSIDER SUCH A PROPOSITION.
AFTER ALL, YOU DON'T
WANT TO GO VISITING
THAT BRIDGE AGAIN, DO YOU?
HARDLY.
NO. YEAH.
NOW... WHY NOT HUMOR AN OLD MAN?
IT'LL MEAN SUCH A LOT TO ME.
AND IF YOU DON'T SIGN IT,
IT WOULD BE ADMITTING
FEAR AND BELIEF.
YOU'RE NOT AFRAID, ARE YOU?
NO.
FANCY THAT!
A GROWN-UP MAN WHO
BELIEVES IN THE DEVIL!
GIVE ME THAT STUPID THING!
THERE.
NOW, LET'S NOT HEAR ANY
MORE ABOUT THIS, SHALL WE?
GOOD MORNING, MISS BENSON.
GOOD MORNING, MR. SMITH.
DOUG?
DOUG, WAKE UP.
HMM? WAKE UP!
HMM? OH.
WHAT, YOU SLEEP HERE LAST NIGHT?
WHAT HAPPENED?
HERE, HAVE SOME COFFEE.
OH. YEAH, I WORKED
LATE LAST NIGHT.
GUESS I FELL ASLEEP.
THANKS.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?
AH. WHAT?
OH, NO!
DOUG, WHAT IS GOING ON?
WHAT IS THE MATTER?
WHY, THESE PAPERS
WERE ON THE NEWSSTAND
LESS THAN AN HOUR
AFTER IT HAPPENED.
WHO RAN THEM OFF?
WHO DELIVERED THEM?
ASK MR. SMITH.
I'M ASKING YOU.
LEAVE ME ALONE, WILL YOU?!
LOVELY DRESS YOU'RE
WEARING, MISS BENSON.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
A BIT OF FIRE, HMM?
AH, YES.
HMM?
KEEP THEM.
THANK YOU.
YOU AND I ARE GOING TO
BE GREAT FRIENDS, MY DEAR.
Boy: EXTRA, EXTRA!
HONEYMOONERS
DROWN IN LAKE BUNDY!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
THANK YOU, SIR. EXTRA, EXTRA!
EXTRA! BANKER MURDERS WIFE!
READ ALL ABOUT IT! EXTRA!
GET YOUR LATE PAPERS HERE!
DOUG, I'M SCARED!
THESE THINGS JUST
CAN'T BE HAPPENING!
YOU'VE GOT TO FIRE HIM.
I CAN'T.
WHY NOT?
YOU PAID BACK THE LOAN.
YOU DON'T OWE HIM A THING.
I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT
I CAN'T, THAT'S ALL!
NOW, BELIEVE ME, I CAN'T!
WHY? JUST KICK HIM OUT!
ON WHAT GROUNDS?
I DON'T KNOW... INCOMPETENCE.
OH, COME ON, NOW, YOU KNOW
HE'S A VERY COMPETENT
LINOTYPE OPERATOR
AND A GREAT REPORTER.
DO YOU WANT HIM AROUND?
IT ISN'T A QUESTION OF
WANTING HIM AROUND...
THEN WHAT IS IT?!
HE'S RUNNING THE NEWSPAPER NOW.
NOT YOU, HIM!
HE'S DOING A PRETTY GOOD
JOB OF IT, TOO, ISN'T HE?
WE'RE SELLING OUT EVERY EDITION!
OH, YOU'RE SELLING
OUT MORE THAN THAT.
A LOT MORE.
GOOD-BYE, DOUG.
JACKIE?
AREN'T YOU BEING A LITTLE HASTY?
WOULD YOU MIND YOU OWN BUSINESS?
THIS IS MY BUSINESS.
I HAVE A PROPRIETARY INTEREST
IN EVERYTHING CONNECTED
WITH THE COURIER.
WELL, I AM NO LONGER CONNECTED
WITH THE COURIER, MR. SMITH.
MISS BENSON, I WISH
YOU'D RECONSIDER.
THE FACT IS, I'VE DEVELOPED
A VERY SPECIAL FONDNESS FOR YOU.
WILL YOU PLEASE
GET OUT OF MY WAY?
YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU DID THAT!
WHERE'S JACKIE?
LOVE'S LABOR LOST, MY FRIEND.
SHE'S GONE, VANISHED.
BUT DON'T WORRY... WE
CAN DO WITHOUT HER.
THE PERSON WE CAN
DO WITHOUT IS YOU.
THAT'S AN UNGRATEFUL
THING TO SAY TO A FRIEND
WHO PULLED YOU OUT OF BANKRUPTCY
AND TURNED THE COURIER
INTO THE HOTTEST
JOURNAL IN THE STATE!
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING, MR. SMITH.
IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
I HAD A NIGHTMARE
ABOUT A WEIRD LITTLE MAN
WITH A CROOKED CIGAR WHO
CAUSED TERRIBLE THINGS TO HAPPEN
SO HE COULD GET
SCOOPS FOR MY PAPER.
WELL, I'M AWAKE NOW, AND
I WANT YOU OUT OF HERE!
NOT SO FAST! WHAT
ABOUT OUR CONTRACT?
WHAT ABOUT OUR CONTRACT?
YOU SAID YOU'D DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE YOUR PAPER A SUCCESS.
I HEARD YOU. THAT'S WHY I CAME.
WELL, I'VE CARRIED OUT MY PART.
YOU ARE A SUCCESS.
IF YOU'RE NOT A NIGHTMARE, THEN
YOU'RE SOMETHING EVEN WORSE,
BECAUSE SOMEHOW YOU'VE
MADE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
YOU'VE CAUSED TRAGEDY.
YOU'VE DESTROYED
LIFE AND PROPERTY.
I DIDN'T BARGAIN FOR THIS!
OH, YES, YOU DID, BUT YOU
PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MIND.
YOU THOUGHT YOU'D GET
EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY LIFE WORKS.
WELL, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
YOU'RE NOT THE FIRST
EDITOR I'VE HELPED.
I DON'T WANT YOUR HELP.
I WANT YOU OUT OF MY LIFE!
CAN'T DO THAT NOW.
WE HAVE AN
OBLIGATION BETWEEN US.
THERE IS NO WAY OUT.
HOLD IT!
THERE'S ONE WAY, OF COURSE.
AND WHAT'S THAT?
YOU CAN PAY UP, RIGHT NOW.
I SUPPOSE THAT MEANS
THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE
MY IMMORTAL SOUL WHILE I'M ALIVE
AND WALKING AROUND, IS THAT IT?
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
NOW, WAIT, WAIT.
THIS OLD NOSE SMELLS
A STORY COMING IN.
MAY SOLVE EVERYTHING.
AH!
A SHAME... POOR MISS BENSON.
WHAT ABOUT MISS BENSON?
"AT 11:30 TONIGHT, MISS
JACQUELINE BENSON,
"FORMER SECRETARY
TO DOUGLAS WINTER,
"EDITOR OF THE COURIER,
SUFFERED GRAVE INJURIES..."
"SUFFERED GRAVE INJURIES
"RESULTING FROM A HEAD-ON
COLLISION BETWEEN HER CAR
"AND THAT OF JAMES
EDWARD SLOCUM,
"RETURNING FROM A SKIING TRIP.
THE ACCIDENT TOOK
PLACE ON BASCOMB ROAD."
THAT WON'T STOP IT.
YOU STILL THINK I'M A
NIGHTMARE, DO YOU?
YOU CHANGE IT.
I CAN'T CHANGE IT.
THE LITTLE MODIFICATIONS I MADE
ALTERED THIS
MACHINE QUITE A BIT.
WHATEVER IT WRITES
COMES TO PASS.
BUT WHY JACKIE?
WHAT DID SHE EVER DO TO YOU?
SHE SLAPPED ME.
AND YOU'D DESTROY HER FOR THAT?
OF COURSE NOT!
YOU'RE AN INTELLIGENT MAN,
BUT YOU KEEP MISSING THE POINT.
DON'T YOU SEE I'VE SPENT
TOO MUCH TIME WITH YOU ALREADY?
I HAVE OTHER CLIENTS WAITING.
I WANT TO MOVE ON.
I FIGURED THIS STORY
ABOUT YOUR GIRLFRIEND
WOULD HURRY THINGS UP.
LET ME POINT OUT THAT
THE ITEM DID NOT SAY
THAT SHE DIED OF
HER INJURIES... NOT YET.
I CAN ADD A FEW
LINES EITHER WAY.
WHETHER SHE LIVES OR
DIES DEPENDS ON YOU.
NOW, IF YOU DECIDE TO
CONCLUDE THE CONTRACT,
YOU'LL FIND THIS A LOT
SURER THAN THE BRIDGE.
QUICKER, TOO.
THAT LEAVES YOU THREE.
WHERE YOU GOING?
THERE'S GOT TO BE
SOME WAY TO STOP YOU,
AND I'M GOING TO FIND IT!
THAT'S THE SPIRIT.
NEVER GIVE UP.
BUT REMEMBER, YOU ONLY
HAVE ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES.
JACKIE?
JACKIE?
JACKIE!
Woman: HUSH!
YOU WANT TO WAKE UP
THE WHOLE BUILDING?
WHERE'S MISS BENSON?
SHE AIN'T IN.
WELL, WHERE DID SHE GO?
WELL, THAT'S NONE OF MY CONCERN.
WHEN DID SHE LEAVE?
WELL... WELL,
WHAT'S THE MATTTER?
WHEN DID SHE LEAVE?!
OH, A-A-ABOUT 15
MINUTES AGO, I THINK.
BUT WHAT'S THE... WHAT'S...?
MR. SMITH, I WANT
TO TALK TO YOU.
OH?
FIRST, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE
FOR SLAPPING YOU.
TUSH, IT'S NOTHING AT ALL.
SECOND, I WANT TO
ASK SOMETHING OF YOU.
WHAT MIGHT THAT BE?
I WANT YOU TO GO AWAY.
NOW, I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A
GREAT DEAL FOR THE PAPER.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT I LOVE DOUG.
I WANT TO MARRY HIM.
BUT THE WAY HE'S BEEN
ACTING EVER SINCE YOU CAME...
I DON'T EVEN
RECOGNIZE HIM ANYMORE.
HE'S A DIFFERENT PERSON!
YOU THINK THAT'S
DUE TO MY INFLUENCE?
YES, I DO...
AND I AM GOING TO GET
YOU OUT OF THIS TOWN,
AWAY FROM THIS
PAPER, AWAY FROM DOUG,
OR, SO HELP ME...
HOLD IT, HOLD IT!
DON'T BECOME HYSTERICAL.
WELL, I MEAN IT.
I REALLY... NO NEED
TO SAY ANOTHER WORD,
BECAUSE... I'M LEAVING
OF MY OWN FREE WILL.
YOU ARE?
OF COURSE! I NEVER STAY
WHERE I'M NOT WANTED.
I HAVE OTHER OFFERS, YOU KNOW.
IN FACT, I'M QUITTING
THIS VERY MOMENT.
YOU ARE?
CERTAINLY.
MY ONLY REQUEST
IS THAT YOU DRIVE ME.
I HAVE NO CAR, YOU KNOW,
TO DRIVE ME TO THE AIRPORT.
WELL... CERTAINLY. I'D LOVE TO.
VERY WELL. I'M READY.
WELL, WHAT ABOUT DOUG?
OH, I THINK HE CAN TAKE
CARE OF HIMSELF, HMM?
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DRIVE?
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO BY THE BASCOMB ROAD.
Molly: HI, MR. WINTER.
HAVE YOU SEEN JACKIE?
OH, MISS BENSON? NO.
SHE HASN'T BEEN
IN SINCE LUNCH TIME.
WHAT'S THE MATTER, MR. WINTER?
YOU LOOK TERRIB...
WELL, CAN I GET YOU SOMETHING?
TOO FAST!
WHY, THIS IS TOO FAST!
TOO FAST!
OH, LOOK OUT!
MR. SMITH?
MR. SMITH?!
DOUG!
OH, DOUG!
JACKIE!
OH, JACKIE!
DOUG, MR. SMITH...
HE TRIED TO KILL ME!
HE TRIED TO KILL ME! I KNOW.
WE WERE IN THIS CAR,
AND HE KEPT GOING FASTER!
AND THERE WAS THIS
OTHER CAR COMING AT US,
AND HE HEADED
STRAIGHT FOR THAT CAR!
BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ALL OVER. HE WAS SITTING
RIGHT THERE NEXT TO ME,
AND THEN... THEN HE WAS GONE!
WHAT'S GOING ON?!
WHAT HAPPENED?!
TELL ME!
LISTEN TO THIS:
"MR. SMITH, FORMER STAR REPORTER
"AND CHIEF LINOTYPE OPERATOR
"FOR THE COURIER
RESIGNED HIS POSITION
"AND LEFT DANSBURG FOR HIS HOME
"AT 11:29 THIS EVENING.
"HIS CONTRACT WITH
MR. DOUGLAS WINTER
"WAS DECLARED NULL AND VOID
"OWING TO MR. WINTER'S
INCOMPLETE UNDERSTANDING
OF THE TERMS OF THE DOCUMENT."
CONTRACT? WHAT CONTRACT?
IT MEANS THAT HE'S GONE!
GONE? AND HE WON'T BE BACK.
DID HE SAY SO?
NO, BUT...
HE NEVER GOES
ANYPLACE HE'S NOT INVITED.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, INVITED?
DID YOU INVITE HIM
HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
WELL... IN A WAY, I DID.
IN A WAY, I DID.
AND I'M GOING TO SPEND
THE REST OF MY LIFE
MAKING UP FOR IT, TOO.
THE FIRST THING WE DO IS
GET RID OF THIS MACHINE!
WHY? AND THEN WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE ON THE GAZETTE!
DOUG, WILL YOU
PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS?!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT...
I WILL, I WILL, I WILL.
I'LL TELL YOU... MAYBE TOMORROW.
RIGHT NOW, LET'S
GET OUT OF HERE.
EXIT THE INFERNAL MACHINE,
AND WITH IT, HIS
SATANIC MAJESTY,
LUCIFER, PRINCE OF DARKNESS...
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MR. SMITH.
HE'S GONE, BUT NOT FOR GOOD.
THAT WOULDN'T BE LIKE HIM.
HE'S GONE FOR BAD.
AND HE MIGHT BE BACK...
WITH ANOTHER TICKET
TO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
FOR OUR NEXT SHOW,
MR. DANA ANDREWS
MAKES HIS FIRST VISIT
TO THE TWILIGHT ZONE
IN A SHOW CALLED "NO
TIME LIKE THE PAST."
YOU'LL SEE HIM AS A
DISCONTENTED INHABITANT
OF THE 20TH CENTURY
WHO GOES BACK IN TIME...
BACK TO WHAT WE ASSUME
TO BE THE INVIOLATE PAST...
AND VIOLATES IT.
A WALLOPING PERFORMANCE, A
STRANGE AND ODD-BALL THEME,
AND AN ENDING MOST UNEXPECTED
IN THE TRADITION OF
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
YOU AND I BOTH SHARE
THIS DUBIOUS DISTINCTION
WITH SEVERAL
MILLION OF OUR PEERS
WHO INHABIT THE 20TH CENTURY.
AND YOU DON'T CARE
FOR THE 20TH CENTURY?
I DO NOT.
HOW DID YOU KNOW?
YOU DID, DIDN'T YOU?
YES, I KNEW.
I KNEW THERE'D BE A FIRE.
BUT WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW...
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT
I WOULD CAUSE IT.
WITH THE KEY OF IMAGINATION.
BEYOND IT IS
ANOTHER DIMENSION...
A DIMENSION OF SOUND,
A DIMENSION OF SIGHT,
A DIMENSION OF MIND.
YOU'RE MOVING INTO A LAND OF
BOTH SHADOW AND SUBSTANCE,
OF THINGS AND IDEAS.
YOU'VE JUST CROSSED
OVER INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
YES, SIR.
YES, SIR.
YES, I'LL SEND YOU A CHECK
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
RIGHT.
Woman: NEED SOME HELP?
NO, THANKS.
I ENJOY KICKING AROUND
BROKEN-DOWN CHAIRS.
IT'S GOOD FOR THE CIRCULATION.
OH? YOURS OR THE PAPER'S?
VERY FUNNY.
COME ON, NOW, DOUG,
THINGS AREN'T THAT BAD.
DON'T BE SUCH AN
OLD GLOOM COOKIE.
I AM NOT NOW,
NOR HAVE I EVER
BEEN A "GLOOM COOKIE."
THANKS.
OH, HI, ANDY.
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO
YOU, MR. WINTER.
HE'S TIRED, ANDY.
CAN'T IT WAIT TILL TOMORROW?
IT'S ALL RIGHT, JACKIE.
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND, ANDY?
WELL, SIR, THE...
THE FACT IS, I... WELL, I...
THAT HELP, ANDY?
YEAH, THANKS.
MR. WINTER, I... I HATE TO HAVE
TO TELL YOU THIS,
BUT I'M RESIGNING.
ALL RIGHT.
WHEN?
RIGHT AWAY.
I MEAN, I KNOW IT
AIN'T YOUR FAULT,
BUT IT'S EIGHT WEEKS
SINCE I'VE BEEN PAID.
OH, I UNDERSTAND.
I REALLY HATE TO
DO IT, MR. WINTER,
BUT A MAN'S GOT TO EAT.
ANDY PRASKINS, YOU OUGHT
TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!
JACKIE...
Jackie: THE BEST BOSS
A MAN COULD WORK FOR.
WHO SAID THAT,
ANDY? WHO SAID IT?
I DID, MISS BENSON,
AND I MEANT IT.
AND THIS IS THE WAY YOU REPAY
THE BEST BOSS A
MAN COULD WORK FOR?
BY QUITTING HIM JUST WHEN
HE NEEDS YOU THE MOST?
I SAID I HATE TO DO IT.
WELL, THEN WHY DO IT?
I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE
OF A LITTLE SETBACK...
IT AIN'T JUST A LITTLE SETBACK,
AND YOU KNOW IT.
AND SO DOES MR. WINTER.
THIS PAPER IS
FINISHED, MISS BENSON.
IT WAS FINISHED THE MINUTE
THE GAZETTE MOVED INTO TOWN.
HOW YOU GONNA BUCK
A SYNDICATE LIKE THAT?
THEY CAN POUR THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS INTO THAT OPERATION,
LOSE EVERY PENNY
AND STILL NOT FEEL IT.
THEY'VE GOT A HALF
DOZEN REPORTERS,
A MORNING EDITION,
A NIGHT EDITION.
I ASK YOU, HOW YOU
GONNA LICK THAT?
YOU'RE NOT.
RIGHT. SO I SAY, JOIN 'EM.
YOU MEAN YOU ARE
GOING TO WORK FOR THEM?
YES, MISS BENSON,
BEGINNING TOMORROW.
AND IF YOU'RE SMART...
GET OUT OF HERE, ANDY.
JUST GET OUT OF HERE.
ANDY.
YES, MR. WINTER?
GOOD LUCK.
THANK YOU, SIR.
I STILL SAY YOU'RE THE BEST.
GOOD-BYE.
OH, BOY!
THAT'S GRATITUDE FOR YOU.
AFTER ALL THE TIMES
YOU'VE STAYED UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT
CORRECTING HIS MISTAKES.
JACKIE... THE DAYS
OFF YOU GAVE HIM.
JACKIE... WELL, CAN'T
YOU EVER GET MAD
AT ANYTHING AROUND
HERE EXCEPT CHAIRS?
THAT WAS ANDY PRASKINS
WHO WALKED OUT.
OUR LINOTYPE OPERATOR.
DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT? I KNOW.
WELL, THEN WHY DIDN'T
YOU DO SOMETHING?
DO SOMETHING?!
I'D DO ANYTHING I COULD
TO SAVE THIS PLACE,
ANYTHING... BUT ANDY'S RIGHT.
IT'S TOO LATE. I'M THROUGH.
OH, NO.
OH, DON'T SAY THAT.
PLEASE DON'T SAY IT.
WHY, THIS WAS YOUR DREAM, DOUG.
WELL, RIGHT NOW,
I'M... I'M AWAKE.
MISS BENSON, WHY
DON'T YOU GO HOME?
I'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
OH, DOUG, LET ME JUST STAY.
YOU HEARD ME. YOU GO ON HOME.
I'M A VERY BUSY MAN.
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO
SEE YOU TO THE FRONT DOOR.
WILL YOU BE ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, SURE.
IT'S NOT THE END OF
THE WORLD, YOU KNOW.
CALL ME IF YOU
NEED ME, WILL YOU?
YOUNG MAN.
MIGHT I TROUBLE YOU FOR A MATCH?
YEAH. SURE.
IT'S A LOVELY NIGHT, ISN'T IT?
LOVELY SPOT, TOO.
SMELL THE PINES.
IT'S A PITY YOU
HAVE TO LEAVE IT ALL.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WELL, YOU WERE ABOUT TO
COMMIT SUICIDE, WEREN'T YOU?
THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
I AGREE.
IF A MAN WANTS TO
DO AWAY WITH HIMSELF,
I SAY THAT'S HIS
DECISION, NOBODY ELSE'S.
BUT I DO THINK YOU OUGHT
TO MAKE A GOOD JOB OF IT.
THIS LOOKS VERY
UNCERTAIN TO ME, FRANKLY.
YOU MIGHT END UP WITH
NOTHING MORE THAN A HEAD COLD.
I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T
WANT TO RISK IT.
BY THE WAY, DID
YOU FIND A MATCH?
NO, I... I DON'T HAVE ONE.
WELL, DOESN'T MATTER.
GOOD NIGHT.
AREN'T YOU GOING TO JUMP?
WHY, DO YOU WANT TO WATCH?
NO, HEAVENS NO.
BUT I WAS JUST THINKING,
IF YOU AREN'T GOING TO,
PERHAPS YOU WOULDN'T MIND
GIVING ME A LIFT INTO TOWN?
NOW, I DON'T WANT YOU
TO CHANGE YOUR PLANS
ON MY BEHALF, YOU UNDERSTAND.
YEAH.
COME ON.
WELL, THANK YOU.
WAIT A MINUTE.
I FOUND A LIGHT.
TAKE AWAY A MAN'S DREAM,
FILL HIM WITH
WHISKEY AND DESPAIR,
SEND HIM TO A LONELY BRIDGE,
LET HIM STAND
THERE ALL BY HIMSELF,
LOOKING DOWN AT THE BLACK WATER,
AND TRY TO IMAGINE THE THOUGHTS
THAT ARE IN HIS MIND.
YOU CAN'T, I CAN'T... BUT
THERE'S SOMEONE WHO CAN,
AND THAT SOMEONE IS SEATED
NEXT TO DOUGLAS WINTER RIGHT NOW.
THE CAR IS HEADED
BACK TOWARD TOWN,
BUT ITS REAL DESTINATION
IS THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOUNG MAN,
I HOPE YOU'RE NOT
PLANNING TO DRINK ALONE.
I WAS...
UNLESS, OF COURSE,
YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN ME.
I'D BE DELIGHTED.
WELL... FEELING BETTER?
NOT YET.
HI, MR. WINTER.
OH, HI, MOLLY.
GIVE ME A MARTINI, WILL YOU?
MAKE IT A DOUBLE. THE SAME.
UH, MR. WINTER, COULD I
SEE YOU FOR A SECOND?
WHAT ABOUT?
WELL, UM... OH, YES.
YES, THE TAB.
I'M SORRY, BUT MR. FOSTER
SAYS THAT FROM NOW ON,
IT'S GOT TO BE CASH.
PLEASE, ALLOW ME.
NOW, MOLLY, RUN AND GET
THOSE DRINKS, WILL YOU?
AND TELL MR. FOSTER
TO MAKE THEM STRONG.
WILL YOU DO THAT?
RUN, GIRL, RUN.
MM!
THAT'S A LUSH ONE, ISN'T IT?
FULL OF FIRE, TOO, I'LL WAGER.
I WOULDN'T KNOW.
YOU WOULDN'T? PITY.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THE DRINK, MISTER, UH...
SMITH.
UM, MY NAME IS DOUGLAS WINTER.
THE DOUGLAS WINTER, THE EDITOR?
EX-EDITOR.
WAIT, WHY "EX"?
IT'S A LONG, SAD
STORY, MR. SMITH.
YOU WOULDN'T BE INTERESTED.
OH, BUT I WOULD. I WOULD INDEED.
YOU SEE, YOU ARE THE REASON
THAT I'VE JOURNEYED TO DANSBURG.
YOU MUST BE A CREDITOR.
NO, NOT YET, ANYHOW.
NO, THE FACT IS, I'M
A NEWSPAPERMAN.
I WAS HOPING TO SECURE A
POSITION WITH YOUR PAPER.
I'M SORRY.
IF YOU'D HAVE CALLED,
I'D SAVE YOU A TRIP.
WHY?
THE COURIER IS DEAD, MR. SMITH.
I-I-I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TO UNDERSTAND.
THE BRAGG SYNDICATE
OPENED A PAPER HERE
CALLED THE GAZETTE,
AND THEY MURDERED US.
AH, I SEE.
NO, UH, KEEP IT, MY DEAR,
IN PAYMENT FOR
YOUR LOVELY SMILE.
THANK YOU, SIR.
SHE MOVES FAST FOR A BIG ONE.
MR. WINTER...
DO YOU SUPPOSE THE
GAZETTE COULD USE
A GOOD LINOTYPE OPERATOR?
I DOUBT IT.
THEY JUST GRABBED
MY BEST MAN TODAY.
WHY?
THAT'S MY SPECIALTY,
ALONG WITH THE REPORTING.
YOU MEAN YOU'RE A REPORTER
AND A LINOTYPE OPERATOR?
ABSOLUTELY.
IF I MAY DISPENSE
WITH FALSE MODESTY,
I'D COUNT MYSELF AMONG
THE BEST IN BOTH FIELDS.
PERHAPS THE BEST.
YOU WERE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING.
WELL, THEN I'LL SAY IT.
YOU PUT ME TO WORK AT ONCE,
I THINK WE CAN SAVE THE COURIER.
HOW CAN I PUT YOU TO WORK?
I CAN'T EVEN PAY MY BAR TAB.
WELL, THAT'S SIMPLE.
I'LL WAIVE SALARY UNTIL
YOU'RE IN THE BLACK.
THAT'S CRAZY.
I MIGHT NEVER BE IN THE BLACK.
WELL, IT'S A CHANCE,
BUT IT'S BETTER
THAN ANYTHING YOU HAVE NOW.
ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW HOW
TO OPERATE A LINOTYPE MACHINE?
MR. WINTER, THAT'S
LIKE ASKING PAGANINI
IF HE CAN PLAY THE FIDDLE.
I'M A VIRTUOSO.
SHOW ME.
WITH PLEASURE.
GOOD NIGHT, MOLLY.
GOOD NIGHT, MR. WINTER.
DOUG!
JACKIE.
DOUG, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I'VE BEEN CALLING YOUR HOME
ALL EVE... NING...
OH, UH, JACKIE,
I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET MR. SMITH.
UH, THIS IS MISS BENSON,
MY MOST VALUABLE EMPLOYEE.
SECOND MOST
VALUABLE, MR. WINTER.
SECOND MOST VALUABLE.
VERY GOOD, MR. SMITH.
LET'S SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU
TO COPY THIS LEAD STORY.
RIGHT OVER THERE.
CERTAINLY.
WHO IS HE, ANYWAY?
I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, IT'S NOT THE LATEST
MODEL, BUT IT'S A GOOD ONE.
NOW... AH! LISTEN TO IT HUM.
KINDLY HOLD THAT CIGAR FOR ME.
KEEP IT BURNING.
WELL, IF HE DOESN'T
PLAY CHOPIN'S POLONAISE,
I'LL BE DISAPPOINTED.
MAY I HAVE MY CIGAR BACK?
OH... YES.
PUT IT IN MY MOUTH, PLEASE.
I MAY HAVE TO MAKE
A FEW MODIFICATIONS,
BUT ON THE WHOLE,
IT'S IN FINE CONDITION.
A LITTLE STIFF, PERHAPS.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
MATTER?
WHY DID YOU QUIT?
FINISHED.
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
SEE FOR YOURSELF.
MR. SMITH... WHY WOULD
A MAN WITH YOUR TALENT
WANT TO WORK FOR A HICK
PAPER LIKE THE COURIER?
CALL IT A CHALLENGE.
WELL, MISS BENSON,
ARE YOU IMPRESSED?
NO. I'M AMAZED.
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.
WELL, I MUST CONFESS
THAT THIS IS NOT
MY TRUE VOCATION.
IT ISN'T?
NO. I'M A REPORTER.
Jackie: OH.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE A GREEN
THUMB. I HAVE A GREEN NOSE.
WHEREVER THERE IS NEWS,
THIS OLD NOSE SMELLS IT.
I'M AFRAID THERE ISN'T
MUCH NEWS TO SMELL
AROUND DANSBURG, MR. SMITH.
THERE WILL BE.
WELL, AM I HIRED?
YOU WOULD BE, IF I HAD A PAPER.
BUT I HAVEN'T GOT ONE,
AND THERE'S NO
USE KIDDING MYSELF.
THIS ALL BELONGS TO THE BANKS
AND THE FINANCE COMPANIES,
AND THEY'RE READY TO COLLECT.
AW. HOW MUCH WOULD
IT TAKE TO PAY THEM OFF?
OH, ROUGHLY $4,861.23.
OH... I MIGHT BE ABLE
TO MANAGE THAT.
UH... YOU WANT TO
MAKE US A LOAN?
PERHAPS.
WOULD YOU EXCUSE US
FOR A MINUTE, PLEASE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WELL, IF HE'D MADE THAT
OFFER TEN MINUTES AGO,
I'D HAVE THOUGHT HE
WAS KIDDING OR CRAZY,
BUT NOW I-I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, WHAT'S IN IT FOR HIM?
BEATS ME.
BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE IT A GO.
YEAH, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING...
IT'S A CHANCE TO
STAY IN BUSINESS!
AFTER ALL, WHAT
HAVE I GOT TO LOSE?
THAT'S RIGHT.
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?
GIVES YOU A FUNNY
FEELING, DOESN'T IT?
"PAID IN FULL." "PAID IN FULL."
WHO BUT THAT OLD ROOSTER
WOULD CARRY $5,000 CASH
AROUND IN HIS POCKET?
WELL, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL.
EXCUSE THE INTERRUPTION,
BUT HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE YOU
TO GET AN EDITION
ONTO THE STREETS?
WE'RE NOT DUE OUT UNTIL 4:00.
I MEAN, AN EXTRA EDITION.
A COUPLE OF HOURS
ON A SHORT RUN.
BE A HASSLE, THOUGH.
WOULD IT BE WORTH THE HASSLE
IF YOU COULD BEAT THE
GAZETTE TO A SCOOP?
DEPENDS ON THE SCOOP.
HERE.
HOLY... 10:20?
WELL, THAT WAS ONLY
A HALF AN HOUR AGO!
I'LL CHECK IT OUT.
YOU DOUBT MY VERACITY, HMM?
IT'S STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURE, MR. SMITH.
YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THAT.
UH, LET ME SPEAK TO
MR. UNDERWOOD, PLEASE.
WELL, NEVER MIND.
MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME.
WE JUST HAD A
REPORT OF A ROBBERY...
THANK YOU. OKAY,
LET'S GO TO WORK!
YES, SIR.
I TOLD YOU I HAD
A NOSE FOR NEWS!
HEY, EXTRA! BIG
BANK ROBBERY TODAY!
EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
EXTRA!
Boy: READ ABOUT
THE BIG STICK-UP!
ROBBERS TAKE $15,000!
READ ABOUT IT! EXTRA! EXTRA!
ROBBERS TAKE $15,000!
HERE YOU GO, SIR. THANK YOU.
GET YOUR EXTRA! READ
ABOUT TODAY'S BANK ROBBERY!
READ ABOUT... THANK
YOU, SIR. THERE YOU ARE.
READ ALL... THERE YOU ARE.
READ ALL ABOUT
TODAY'S BANK ROBBERY!
THERE YOU ARE, SIR.
FOLLOW ME.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
I'LL CHECK IT.
I DON'T THINK SHE TRUSTS ME.
OF COURSE, IT ISN'T MUCH,
BUT IT SELLS PAPERS.
HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUT? HMM?
HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUT?!
I TOLD YOU I HAD
A NOSE FOR NEWS.
YOU LIKE IT, DON'T YOU?
MR. SMITH, I CAN'T THINK
OF ANYTHING I LIKE BETTER.
HAROLD J. SWANSON!
"FOR 13 YEARS,
"PRINCIPAL OF
DANSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
"CONFESSED TO POLICE TODAY
"THAT HE IS MARRIED TO TWO WOMEN
AND IS A BIGAMIST."
I JUST TALKED TO MR. SWANSON.
Winter: AND?
IT'S TRUE!
HE HAS TWO WIVES.
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
EXPOSED AS BIGAMIST!
HEY, LATE PAPER'S OUT!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
SUBSCRIPTIONS!
YOU'RE KIDDING.
I AM NOT KIDDING.
DO YOU REALIZE
THAT IN TWO WEEKS,
OUR CIRCULATION HAS TRIPLED?
BEAUTIFUL!
WELL, WELL, WELL, MR. FRANKLIN.
HOW ARE THINGS AT THE GAZETTE?
THAT'S EXACTLY WHY
I'M HERE, MR. WINTER.
MISS BENSON.
I'M NOT A MAN TO BEAT
AROUND THE BUSH,
BUT YOU'RE GIVING US TROUBLE.
NOW, THIS QUICK SUCCESS
THAT YOU'VE HAD JUST CAN'T LAST.
YOU'VE HAD A FEW
LUCKY BREAKS. THAT'S ALL.
BUT I'LL ADMIT, WE'RE HURTING.
HOW DOES IT FEEL, MR. FRANKLIN?
I'M AUTHORIZED TO
MAKE YOU AN OFFER,
AND IF YOU'RE A
SMART YOUNG MAN...
I UNDERSTAND THAT
YOU ARE... YOU'LL TAKE IT.
AN OFFER FOR WHAT?
THE COURIER.
WE BUY IT; YOU AND YOUR
STAFF GO TO WORK FOR US.
NOW, HOW DOES THAT SOUND?
SORRY. THE COURIER
ISN'T FOR SALE.
NOT AT ANY PRICE?
NOT AT ANY PRICE.
NOW, YOU CERTAINLY DON'T THINK
THAT YOU CAN FIGHT US, DO YOU?
OH, WE CAN TRY, MR. FRANKLIN.
WELL, THEN YOU'RE NOT
QUITE AS SMART A YOUNG MAN
AS I THOUGHT YOU WERE.
BUT I WILL LEAVE THAT OFFER
OPEN UNTIL 7:00 TONIGHT.
IF I DON'T HEAR FROM
YOU BY THAT TIME,
YOU BETTER LAY IN YOURSELF
A GOOD SUPPLY OF TIN CUPS.
THANK YOU.
HOW MUCH DO YOU
THINK HE'D GIVE YOU?
WELL, IF THEY'RE AS
WORRIED AS FRANKLIN LOOKS,
I IMAGINE AROUND $100,000. WHY?
I WAS JUST WONDERING.
HONEY, WHAT'S THE MATTER?
THINGS HAVE NEVER
GONE BETTER, HAVE THEY?
I'M NOT SO SURE.
HERE WE ARE.
OH, HI, MR. SMITH.
I HAVE A LITTLE
SURPRISE FOR YOU.
I DON'T THINK I CAN
TAKE ANOTHER ONE.
YOU'LL TAKE THIS, ALL RIGHT.
HAPPENS TO BE THE
BIGGEST SCOOP OF THEM ALL.
YOU READ IT, AND
I'LL GET THINGS GOING.
ALMOST AFRAID TO LOOK.
Announcer: TWILIGHT ZONE WILL
CONTINUE AFTER STATION IDENTIFICATION.
LOOK, I DON'T BLAME
YOU OF BEING UPSET,
BUT THAT GIVES YOU NO REASON
TO TOSS ALLEGATIONS AROUND!
ALLEGATIONS? FACTS.
NOW, YOU STARTED THAT FIRE,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
I TOLD YOU A THOUSAND
TIMES, I DIDN'T START THE FIRE!
NOW, HOW MANY TIMES
DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?
I DON'T CARE HOW
MANY TIMES YOU TELL ME.
YOUR NEWSPAPERS
WERE OUT ON THAT STREET
EXACTLY ONE HALF
HOUR AFTER IT HAPPENED,
AND TO ME, THAT
MEANS ONLY ONE THING:
THAT YOU KNEW IT
WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Doug: ALL RIGHT, I'LL EXPLAIN
IT TO YOU ONE MORE TIME.
OUR NEW MAN WAS
WALKING BY YOUR BUILDING,
AND HE SAW THE
SMOKE, AND HE CAME IN...
YEAH, AND THEN BACK HERE,
AND IN ONE HALF HOUR, HE
WROTE THE COMPLETE STORY,
RAN OFF 5,000 COPIES
ON THAT DILAPIDATED
EQUIPMENT OF YOURS,
DELIVERED IT TO THE
CORNER NEWSBOY,
AND YOU EXPECT
ME TO BELIEVE THAT?
NOW, WHAT KIND OF A STUPID IDIOT
DO YOU THINK I AM?
WELL, LET'S NOT GET
INTO THAT, SHALL WE?
IT JUST SO HAPPENS
I HAVE WITNESSES
AS TO MY WHEREABOUTS
FOR THE WHOLE DAY.
NOW, WILL YOU GET OUT OF HERE?
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD
THE LAST OF THIS.
DOUG?
YEAH?
HOW DID WE HIT ON
THE STREET SO FAST?
I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, DO YOU BELIEVE HIM?
WHO? MR. SMITH!
DO YOU BELIEVE HE JUST
HAPPENED TO BE PASSING BY?
WELL, BOSS, WHAT
CAN I DO FOR YOU?
ANSWER A QUESTION.
DID YOU START THE GAZETTE FIRE?
I?
YOU.
I'M AFRAID I DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
I DON'T SEE WHY
NOT. IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
DID YOU START THE GAZETTE FIRE?
IT WAS STARTED BY A
FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
ARE YOU SURE?
I NEVER WRITE UP
ANYTHING I'M NOT SURE OF.
IT'S A QUESTION OF ETHICS.
OH, BY THE WAY...
ANDY PRASKINS CALLED.
HE'S THE LINOTYPE OPERATOR
I TOLD YOU ABOUT.
I THINK I'LL HIRE HIM BACK AND
PUT YOU ON FULL-TIME REPORTING.
NO, NO, NO, THAT WOULDN'T DO.
NOW, I'VE MADE CERTAIN, UH,
MODIFICATIONS TO THIS MACHINE.
I WOULDN'T WANT
ANYBODY ELSE TO TOUCH IT.
WOULD SPOIL EVERYTHING.
BESIDES, IT BREAKS
UP THE DAY FOR ME.
YOU CAN HIRE HIM BACK,
BY ALL MEANS, BUT, UH,
GIVE HIM ANOTHER JOB.
I INSIST.
OKAY.
HEY, COME ON, NOW, YOU
STILL HAVEN'T TOLD ME.
EXACTLY HOW DID
YOU MEET MR. SMITH?
OH, BROTHER.
YOU DON'T GIVE UP
VERY EASY, DO YOU?
WELL, I WANT TO KNOW.
I TOLD YOU, I JUST RAN
INTO HIM THAT NIGHT.
THAT'S ALL.
WHERE?
PINE TRAIL.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?
SHOOTING BUTTERFLIES.
WHAT ELSE WOULD
I BE DOING THERE?
WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO
GET SO SARCASTIC ABOUT IT.
I WAS ONLY ASKING.
WELL, I TOLD YOU.
I JUST MET HIM...
AND I HIRED HIM, AND HE
PUT US BACK IN BUSINESS.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
I SMELL TROUBLE.
TROUBLE?
WE JUST PICKED UP
1,500 NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS.
WE'RE SELLING OUT EVERY DAY.
I'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT
THAT KIND OF TROUBLE ALL MY LIFE.
HEY, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?
THERE'S NOTHING THE MATTER.
YES, THERE IS.
YOU'RE DIFFERENT.
YOU'VE CHANGED.
"YOU'RE DIFFERENT.
YOU'VE CHANGED."
YOU'RE BEGINNING
TO SOUND LIKE A WIFE!
WELL, I'M NOT YOUR WIFE, AND
I NEVER WILL BE, AT THIS RATE.
WELL, THAT'S OKAY WITH ME, TOO.
MR. SMITH?
WHAT'S ON THE MACHINE?
I WAS HOPING TO SURPRISE
YOU WITH IT LATER.
"E.J. MacLEOD WINS $250,000
ON SWEEPSTAKES TICKET."
"MacLEOD, FOR 16 YEARS
CLERK AT THE DANSBURG
WATER AND POWER COMP..."
UH, MR. MacLEOD?
THIS IS DOUG WINTER
DOWN AT THE COURIER.
I'M SORRY TO DISTURB YOU.
I WAS JUST WONDERING,
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING
ON YOUR SWEEPSTAKES TICKET?
I SEE.
OH, NO, NO, SIR, I-I
HAVEN'T HEARD A THING.
SORRY TO BOTHER
YOU. RIGHT. GOOD NIGHT.
MM?
I HATE TO TELL YOU...
BUT I'M AFRAID THIS TIME,
YOU PULLED A BONER.
MacLEOD DOESN'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I DIDN'T SAY HE KNEW
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I SAID HE WON IT.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
HOW CAN YOU WIN $250,000
AND NOT KNOW ABOUT IT?
BY NOT BOTHERING TO
LOOK UNDER THE DOOR
FOR A TELEGRAM.
COURIER. WINTER SPEAKING.
CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU SEE?
NOW, BOSS, WOULD YOU
HAVE A CHAIR, PLEASE?
I THINK THAT THE, UH...
TIME HAS COME WHEN
YOU AND I SHOULD HAVE
A LITTLE CHAT, HMM?
I THINK THE OCCASION
CALLS FOR A TOUCH
OF "THE CREATURE,"
IF I MAY SAY SO.
SORRY. I'M FRESH OUT.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND
YOU'RE MISTAKEN.
RIGHT THERE IN THAT
TOP DRAWER, HMM?
WITH MY COMPLIMENTS.
YOU THINK OF
EVERYTHING, DON'T YOU?
NOW, FIRST OF ALL...
I SHOULD LIKE TO ASK
WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE HAPPY
WITH THE WAY THINGS
HAVE BEEN GOING.
JUST WHAT ARE YOU
LEADING UP TO, MR. SMITH?
A SIMPLE PROPOSITION.
I HEREBY GUARANTEE...
YOU UNDERSTAND... GUARANTEE...
THAT YOU WILL BECOME
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
NEWSPAPER EDITOR
IN THE WORLD, IF...
YOU WILL AFFIX YOUR SIGNATURE
TO THIS LITTLE DOCUMENT.
"I, DOUGLAS WINTER,
AGREE TO RELINQUISH
"MY IMMORTAL SOUL TO
THE BEARER UPON MY DEATH
IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SERVICES."
"I, D..."
WHAT?
HUH?
YOU'RE THE DEVIL!
OH, MR. WINTER.
AS A SOPHISTICATED,
INTELLIGENT 20th-CENTURY MAN,
YOU KNOW THAT THE DEVIL
DOES NOT EXIST. TRUE?
TRUE.
BUT YOU ALSO KNOW
THAT THE WORLD IS FULL
OF ECCENTRIC, RICH OLD MEN...
CRAZY OLD MEN DOING
ALL KINDS OF THINGS
FOR CRAZY REASONS.
NOW, WHY DON'T YOU
THINK OF ME LIKE THAT?
HERE'S A PEN.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
YES, ISN'T IT?
COULD I, UH...
TROUBLE YOU FOR ANOTHER DRINK?
UH, YOU DON'T REALLY BELIEVE
THAT I'M THE DEVIL, DO YOU?
NO.
WELL, THEN, WHY DON'T
YOU PUT IT THIS WAY:
YOU'RE HUMORING ME.
AFTER ALL, WHAT GOOD
IS THE SOUL, ANYWAY?
IT'S SORT OF LIKE AN
APPENDIX THESE DAYS,
PARTICULARLY SINCE IT
DOESN'T EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WELL, JUST FOR THE
SAKE OF ARGUMENT,
WHY DO YOU
PARTICULARLY WANT MINE?
WELL, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT,
LET'S SAY I'M SOMETHING
OF A CONNOISSEUR,
AND YOU HAVE A VERY CHOICE SOUL,
AND AS THE VINTNERS
SAY, IT'S A GOOD YEAR.
WELL, THEN AGAIN, UH,
JUST FOR SAKE OF
ARGUMENT... YES?
WHY DON'T YOU JUST TAKE IT, HUH?
NOW, IF YOU'RE THE DEVIL
AS YOU SAY YOU ARE,
WHY, YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING.
NO, UNHAPPILY, NOT EVERYTHING.
I AM BOUND BY CERTAIN RULES,
AND I DO HAVE MY LIMITATIONS.
YOU'RE NUTS.
YES.
LET'S DRINK TO THAT, HUH?
HERE YOU ARE.
I THINK I SHOULD
WARN YOU, HOWEVER,
THAT IF YOU DO NOT SIGN THIS,
THEN THE CERTAIN GLOOMY
PREDICTIONS YOU MADE
ABOUT THE COURIER'S FUTURE
WILL CERTAINLY COME TO PASS.
YES, I'LL HAVE TO RESIGN, AND...
WELL, LET'S NOT EVEN
CONSIDER SUCH A PROPOSITION.
AFTER ALL, YOU DON'T
WANT TO GO VISITING
THAT BRIDGE AGAIN, DO YOU?
HARDLY.
NO. YEAH.
NOW... WHY NOT HUMOR AN OLD MAN?
IT'LL MEAN SUCH A LOT TO ME.
AND IF YOU DON'T SIGN IT,
IT WOULD BE ADMITTING
FEAR AND BELIEF.
YOU'RE NOT AFRAID, ARE YOU?
NO.
FANCY THAT!
A GROWN-UP MAN WHO
BELIEVES IN THE DEVIL!
GIVE ME THAT STUPID THING!
THERE.
NOW, LET'S NOT HEAR ANY
MORE ABOUT THIS, SHALL WE?
GOOD MORNING, MISS BENSON.
GOOD MORNING, MR. SMITH.
DOUG?
DOUG, WAKE UP.
HMM? WAKE UP!
HMM? OH.
WHAT, YOU SLEEP HERE LAST NIGHT?
WHAT HAPPENED?
HERE, HAVE SOME COFFEE.
OH. YEAH, I WORKED
LATE LAST NIGHT.
GUESS I FELL ASLEEP.
THANKS.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?
AH. WHAT?
OH, NO!
DOUG, WHAT IS GOING ON?
WHAT IS THE MATTER?
WHY, THESE PAPERS
WERE ON THE NEWSSTAND
LESS THAN AN HOUR
AFTER IT HAPPENED.
WHO RAN THEM OFF?
WHO DELIVERED THEM?
ASK MR. SMITH.
I'M ASKING YOU.
LEAVE ME ALONE, WILL YOU?!
LOVELY DRESS YOU'RE
WEARING, MISS BENSON.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
A BIT OF FIRE, HMM?
AH, YES.
HMM?
KEEP THEM.
THANK YOU.
YOU AND I ARE GOING TO
BE GREAT FRIENDS, MY DEAR.
Boy: EXTRA, EXTRA!
HONEYMOONERS
DROWN IN LAKE BUNDY!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
THANK YOU, SIR. EXTRA, EXTRA!
EXTRA! BANKER MURDERS WIFE!
READ ALL ABOUT IT! EXTRA!
GET YOUR LATE PAPERS HERE!
DOUG, I'M SCARED!
THESE THINGS JUST
CAN'T BE HAPPENING!
YOU'VE GOT TO FIRE HIM.
I CAN'T.
WHY NOT?
YOU PAID BACK THE LOAN.
YOU DON'T OWE HIM A THING.
I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT
I CAN'T, THAT'S ALL!
NOW, BELIEVE ME, I CAN'T!
WHY? JUST KICK HIM OUT!
ON WHAT GROUNDS?
I DON'T KNOW... INCOMPETENCE.
OH, COME ON, NOW, YOU KNOW
HE'S A VERY COMPETENT
LINOTYPE OPERATOR
AND A GREAT REPORTER.
DO YOU WANT HIM AROUND?
IT ISN'T A QUESTION OF
WANTING HIM AROUND...
THEN WHAT IS IT?!
HE'S RUNNING THE NEWSPAPER NOW.
NOT YOU, HIM!
HE'S DOING A PRETTY GOOD
JOB OF IT, TOO, ISN'T HE?
WE'RE SELLING OUT EVERY EDITION!
OH, YOU'RE SELLING
OUT MORE THAN THAT.
A LOT MORE.
GOOD-BYE, DOUG.
JACKIE?
AREN'T YOU BEING A LITTLE HASTY?
WOULD YOU MIND YOU OWN BUSINESS?
THIS IS MY BUSINESS.
I HAVE A PROPRIETARY INTEREST
IN EVERYTHING CONNECTED
WITH THE COURIER.
WELL, I AM NO LONGER CONNECTED
WITH THE COURIER, MR. SMITH.
MISS BENSON, I WISH
YOU'D RECONSIDER.
THE FACT IS, I'VE DEVELOPED
A VERY SPECIAL FONDNESS FOR YOU.
WILL YOU PLEASE
GET OUT OF MY WAY?
YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU DID THAT!
WHERE'S JACKIE?
LOVE'S LABOR LOST, MY FRIEND.
SHE'S GONE, VANISHED.
BUT DON'T WORRY... WE
CAN DO WITHOUT HER.
THE PERSON WE CAN
DO WITHOUT IS YOU.
THAT'S AN UNGRATEFUL
THING TO SAY TO A FRIEND
WHO PULLED YOU OUT OF BANKRUPTCY
AND TURNED THE COURIER
INTO THE HOTTEST
JOURNAL IN THE STATE!
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING, MR. SMITH.
IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
I HAD A NIGHTMARE
ABOUT A WEIRD LITTLE MAN
WITH A CROOKED CIGAR WHO
CAUSED TERRIBLE THINGS TO HAPPEN
SO HE COULD GET
SCOOPS FOR MY PAPER.
WELL, I'M AWAKE NOW, AND
I WANT YOU OUT OF HERE!
NOT SO FAST! WHAT
ABOUT OUR CONTRACT?
WHAT ABOUT OUR CONTRACT?
YOU SAID YOU'D DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE YOUR PAPER A SUCCESS.
I HEARD YOU. THAT'S WHY I CAME.
WELL, I'VE CARRIED OUT MY PART.
YOU ARE A SUCCESS.
IF YOU'RE NOT A NIGHTMARE, THEN
YOU'RE SOMETHING EVEN WORSE,
BECAUSE SOMEHOW YOU'VE
MADE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
YOU'VE CAUSED TRAGEDY.
YOU'VE DESTROYED
LIFE AND PROPERTY.
I DIDN'T BARGAIN FOR THIS!
OH, YES, YOU DID, BUT YOU
PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MIND.
YOU THOUGHT YOU'D GET
EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY LIFE WORKS.
WELL, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
YOU'RE NOT THE FIRST
EDITOR I'VE HELPED.
I DON'T WANT YOUR HELP.
I WANT YOU OUT OF MY LIFE!
CAN'T DO THAT NOW.
WE HAVE AN
OBLIGATION BETWEEN US.
THERE IS NO WAY OUT.
HOLD IT!
THERE'S ONE WAY, OF COURSE.
AND WHAT'S THAT?
YOU CAN PAY UP, RIGHT NOW.
I SUPPOSE THAT MEANS
THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE
MY IMMORTAL SOUL WHILE I'M ALIVE
AND WALKING AROUND, IS THAT IT?
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
NOW, WAIT, WAIT.
THIS OLD NOSE SMELLS
A STORY COMING IN.
MAY SOLVE EVERYTHING.
AH!
A SHAME... POOR MISS BENSON.
WHAT ABOUT MISS BENSON?
"AT 11:30 TONIGHT, MISS
JACQUELINE BENSON,
"FORMER SECRETARY
TO DOUGLAS WINTER,
"EDITOR OF THE COURIER,
SUFFERED GRAVE INJURIES..."
"SUFFERED GRAVE INJURIES
"RESULTING FROM A HEAD-ON
COLLISION BETWEEN HER CAR
"AND THAT OF JAMES
EDWARD SLOCUM,
"RETURNING FROM A SKIING TRIP.
THE ACCIDENT TOOK
PLACE ON BASCOMB ROAD."
THAT WON'T STOP IT.
YOU STILL THINK I'M A
NIGHTMARE, DO YOU?
YOU CHANGE IT.
I CAN'T CHANGE IT.
THE LITTLE MODIFICATIONS I MADE
ALTERED THIS
MACHINE QUITE A BIT.
WHATEVER IT WRITES
COMES TO PASS.
BUT WHY JACKIE?
WHAT DID SHE EVER DO TO YOU?
SHE SLAPPED ME.
AND YOU'D DESTROY HER FOR THAT?
OF COURSE NOT!
YOU'RE AN INTELLIGENT MAN,
BUT YOU KEEP MISSING THE POINT.
DON'T YOU SEE I'VE SPENT
TOO MUCH TIME WITH YOU ALREADY?
I HAVE OTHER CLIENTS WAITING.
I WANT TO MOVE ON.
I FIGURED THIS STORY
ABOUT YOUR GIRLFRIEND
WOULD HURRY THINGS UP.
LET ME POINT OUT THAT
THE ITEM DID NOT SAY
THAT SHE DIED OF
HER INJURIES... NOT YET.
I CAN ADD A FEW
LINES EITHER WAY.
WHETHER SHE LIVES OR
DIES DEPENDS ON YOU.
NOW, IF YOU DECIDE TO
CONCLUDE THE CONTRACT,
YOU'LL FIND THIS A LOT
SURER THAN THE BRIDGE.
QUICKER, TOO.
THAT LEAVES YOU THREE.
WHERE YOU GOING?
THERE'S GOT TO BE
SOME WAY TO STOP YOU,
AND I'M GOING TO FIND IT!
THAT'S THE SPIRIT.
NEVER GIVE UP.
BUT REMEMBER, YOU ONLY
HAVE ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES.
JACKIE?
JACKIE?
JACKIE!
Woman: HUSH!
YOU WANT TO WAKE UP
THE WHOLE BUILDING?
WHERE'S MISS BENSON?
SHE AIN'T IN.
WELL, WHERE DID SHE GO?
WELL, THAT'S NONE OF MY CONCERN.
WHEN DID SHE LEAVE?
WELL... WELL,
WHAT'S THE MATTTER?
WHEN DID SHE LEAVE?!
OH, A-A-ABOUT 15
MINUTES AGO, I THINK.
BUT WHAT'S THE... WHAT'S...?
MR. SMITH, I WANT
TO TALK TO YOU.
OH?
FIRST, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE
FOR SLAPPING YOU.
TUSH, IT'S NOTHING AT ALL.
SECOND, I WANT TO
ASK SOMETHING OF YOU.
WHAT MIGHT THAT BE?
I WANT YOU TO GO AWAY.
NOW, I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A
GREAT DEAL FOR THE PAPER.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT I LOVE DOUG.
I WANT TO MARRY HIM.
BUT THE WAY HE'S BEEN
ACTING EVER SINCE YOU CAME...
I DON'T EVEN
RECOGNIZE HIM ANYMORE.
HE'S A DIFFERENT PERSON!
YOU THINK THAT'S
DUE TO MY INFLUENCE?
YES, I DO...
AND I AM GOING TO GET
YOU OUT OF THIS TOWN,
AWAY FROM THIS
PAPER, AWAY FROM DOUG,
OR, SO HELP ME...
HOLD IT, HOLD IT!
DON'T BECOME HYSTERICAL.
WELL, I MEAN IT.
I REALLY... NO NEED
TO SAY ANOTHER WORD,
BECAUSE... I'M LEAVING
OF MY OWN FREE WILL.
YOU ARE?
OF COURSE! I NEVER STAY
WHERE I'M NOT WANTED.
I HAVE OTHER OFFERS, YOU KNOW.
IN FACT, I'M QUITTING
THIS VERY MOMENT.
YOU ARE?
CERTAINLY.
MY ONLY REQUEST
IS THAT YOU DRIVE ME.
I HAVE NO CAR, YOU KNOW,
TO DRIVE ME TO THE AIRPORT.
WELL... CERTAINLY. I'D LOVE TO.
VERY WELL. I'M READY.
WELL, WHAT ABOUT DOUG?
OH, I THINK HE CAN TAKE
CARE OF HIMSELF, HMM?
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DRIVE?
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO BY THE BASCOMB ROAD.
Molly: HI, MR. WINTER.
HAVE YOU SEEN JACKIE?
OH, MISS BENSON? NO.
SHE HASN'T BEEN
IN SINCE LUNCH TIME.
WHAT'S THE MATTER, MR. WINTER?
YOU LOOK TERRIB...
WELL, CAN I GET YOU SOMETHING?
TOO FAST!
WHY, THIS IS TOO FAST!
TOO FAST!
OH, LOOK OUT!
MR. SMITH?
MR. SMITH?!
DOUG!
OH, DOUG!
JACKIE!
OH, JACKIE!
DOUG, MR. SMITH...
HE TRIED TO KILL ME!
HE TRIED TO KILL ME! I KNOW.
WE WERE IN THIS CAR,
AND HE KEPT GOING FASTER!
AND THERE WAS THIS
OTHER CAR COMING AT US,
AND HE HEADED
STRAIGHT FOR THAT CAR!
BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ALL OVER. HE WAS SITTING
RIGHT THERE NEXT TO ME,
AND THEN... THEN HE WAS GONE!
WHAT'S GOING ON?!
WHAT HAPPENED?!
TELL ME!
LISTEN TO THIS:
"MR. SMITH, FORMER STAR REPORTER
"AND CHIEF LINOTYPE OPERATOR
"FOR THE COURIER
RESIGNED HIS POSITION
"AND LEFT DANSBURG FOR HIS HOME
"AT 11:29 THIS EVENING.
"HIS CONTRACT WITH
MR. DOUGLAS WINTER
"WAS DECLARED NULL AND VOID
"OWING TO MR. WINTER'S
INCOMPLETE UNDERSTANDING
OF THE TERMS OF THE DOCUMENT."
CONTRACT? WHAT CONTRACT?
IT MEANS THAT HE'S GONE!
GONE? AND HE WON'T BE BACK.
DID HE SAY SO?
NO, BUT...
HE NEVER GOES
ANYPLACE HE'S NOT INVITED.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, INVITED?
DID YOU INVITE HIM
HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
WELL... IN A WAY, I DID.
IN A WAY, I DID.
AND I'M GOING TO SPEND
THE REST OF MY LIFE
MAKING UP FOR IT, TOO.
THE FIRST THING WE DO IS
GET RID OF THIS MACHINE!
WHY? AND THEN WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE ON THE GAZETTE!
DOUG, WILL YOU
PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS?!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT...
I WILL, I WILL, I WILL.
I'LL TELL YOU... MAYBE TOMORROW.
RIGHT NOW, LET'S
GET OUT OF HERE.
EXIT THE INFERNAL MACHINE,
AND WITH IT, HIS
SATANIC MAJESTY,
LUCIFER, PRINCE OF DARKNESS...
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MR. SMITH.
HE'S GONE, BUT NOT FOR GOOD.
THAT WOULDN'T BE LIKE HIM.
HE'S GONE FOR BAD.
AND HE MIGHT BE BACK...
WITH ANOTHER TICKET
TO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
FOR OUR NEXT SHOW,
MR. DANA ANDREWS
MAKES HIS FIRST VISIT
TO THE TWILIGHT ZONE
IN A SHOW CALLED "NO
TIME LIKE THE PAST."
YOU'LL SEE HIM AS A
DISCONTENTED INHABITANT
OF THE 20TH CENTURY
WHO GOES BACK IN TIME...
BACK TO WHAT WE ASSUME
TO BE THE INVIOLATE PAST...
AND VIOLATES IT.
A WALLOPING PERFORMANCE, A
STRANGE AND ODD-BALL THEME,
AND AN ENDING MOST UNEXPECTED
IN THE TRADITION OF
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
YOU AND I BOTH SHARE
THIS DUBIOUS DISTINCTION
WITH SEVERAL
MILLION OF OUR PEERS
WHO INHABIT THE 20TH CENTURY.
AND YOU DON'T CARE
FOR THE 20TH CENTURY?
I DO NOT.
HOW DID YOU KNOW?
YOU DID, DIDN'T YOU?
YES, I KNEW.
I KNEW THERE'D BE A FIRE.
BUT WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW...
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT
I WOULD CAUSE IT.