The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 5, Episode 12 - Ninety Years Without Slumbering - full transcript
An old man believes that his life will end the moment his grandfather clock stops ticking.
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.
♪ MY GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK
WAS TOO LARGE FOR THE SHELF ♪
♪ SO IT STOOD 90
YEARS ON THE FLOOR ♪
♪ IT WAS TALLER BY HALF
THAN THE OLD MAN HIMSELF ♪
♪ THOUGH IT WEIGHED
NOT A PENNYWEIGHT MORE ♪
SUCH A LONG FACE.
♪ MY GRANDFATHER SAID ♪
HONEY.
♪ THAT OF THOSE HE COULD HIRE ♪
♪ NOT A SERVANT SO
FAITHFUL HE'D FOUND ♪
♪ FOR IT WASTED NO TIME... ♪
WHAT'S WRONG?
I HAVE TO GO UP TO TALK TO HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO HIM.
HE'S SO HAPPY, SINGING.
HONEY, I KNOW HOW
MUCH YOU LOVE HIM,
AND I LOVE YOU, BUT
WE HAVE TO FACE FACTS.
I KNOW.
YOU'RE GOOD FOR ME.
SOMEONE'S GOT TO TAKE CARE OF
THE HOMELY WOMEN OF THE WORLD.
HMM, THANKS LOADS.
♪ 90 YEARS WITHOUT SLUMBERING ♪
♪ TICKTOCK, TICKTOCK ♪
♪ WITH LIFE'S
SECONDS NUMBERING ♪
♪ TICKTOCK, TICKTOCK... ♪
GOOD, THAT, UH, THAT... GRANDPA?
COME ON DOWN.
OH, MARNIE.
DON'T WASTE YOUR
EYESIGHT, GRANDPA.
WELL, YOU KNOW,
ONCE A CLOCKMAKER...
AND IT'S BEEN A FEW
MINUTES OFF LATELY.
GRANDPA, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
ME?
WHY, NEVER BETTER.
WHY, MARN?
WELL, IT'S JUST THAT YOU
DIDN'T COME DOWN FOR DINNER.
IN FACT, YOU HAVEN'T
BEEN OUT OF YOUR ROOM
ALL DAY.
WELL, MY FRIEND'S
BEEN ACTING UP TODAY.
I CAN'T SEEM TO GET IT
REGULATED JUST RIGHT, YOU KNOW.
GRANDPA, WE KNOW
HOW YOU LOVE THE CLOCK.
I... BUT-BUT YOU SEE,
IT'S TICKING ALONG NICELY NOW.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY
TROUBLE FOR A LONG WHILE.
OF COURSE, WITH A
CLOCK AS OLD AS THAT,
WELL, YOU-YOU'RE BOUND TO
RUN INTO PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW.
JUST LIKE OLD PEOPLE.
OH, OH, OH.
NOW YOU IGNORE THAT.
JUST IGNORE THE
CLOCK AND IGNORE ME.
THE MAIN THING IS REALLY
YOU AND THE BABY, YOU SEE.
THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN...
WILL YOU GET SOME REST?
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
OH, YOU KNOW ME.
I-I NEVER SLEEP.
AT LEAST EAT.
WELL, MAYBE LATER.
PROMISE?
PROMISE.
OKAY.
OH, IT'S... IT'S RUNNING SLOW.
I DIDN'T WIND IT PROPERLY.
THEY'RE MAKING ME SO NERVOUS.
I'M BECOMING CARELESS.
I MUSTN'T... I MUSTN'T LET
THEM MAKE ME NERVOUS.
PLEASE, PLEASE, DON'T STOP.
I'LL NEVER FORGET
TO WIND YOU AGAIN.
I PROMISE.
EACH MAN MEASURES HIS TIME...
SOME WITH HOPE, SOME
WITH JOY, SOME WITH FEAR.
BUT SAM FORSTMANN
MEASURES HIS ALLOTTED TIME
BY A GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK,
A UNIQUE MECHANISM
WHOSE PENDULUM SWINGS
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH,
A VERY SPECIAL CLOCK
THAT KEEPS A
SPECIAL KIND OF TIME...
IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
WHERE IS HE THIS MORNING?
STILL SLEEPING, I GUESS.
I'M NOT SURPRISED.
HE MUST HAVE BEEN FIDDLING
AROUND WITH THAT CLOCK
TILL 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
DID YOU HEAR HIM?
SIT DOWN.
WILL YOU PLEASE SIT DOWN, HONEY?
IS THAT ALL YOU'RE HAVING?
I'M NOT HUNGRY.
WHAT ABOUT THE BABY?
I'M SURE YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY, DOUG.
HONEY, NOW, LET'S NOT
START FIGHTING AGAIN.
BUT YOU HAVE TO FACE THE FACT
YOUR GRANDFATHER'S
JUST NOT A WELL MAN.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN SO
ALERT, SO EASY TO BE WITH.
MAYBE IT'S JUST A
TEMPORARY THING.
MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE SOMETHING
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.
WHY DON'T WE LET
MEL AVERY TALK TO HIM,
JUST TO MAKE SURE.
YOU THINK I'M CRAZY, DON'T YOU?
MEL AVERY IS A PSYCHIATRIST.
HE'S A HEAD SHRINKER.
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO TELL ME, I KNOW.
GRANDPA, MEL'S BEEN A
FRIEND OF OURS FOR YEARS.
HE AND DOUG WENT
TO COLLEGE TOGETHER.
YOU'VE MET HIM.
I'VE MET LOTS OF PEOPLE.
BUT I DON'T LET THEM
TINKER WITH MY HEAD.
SAM, NO ONE'S GOING TO
TINKER WITH YOUR HEAD.
ALL WE'RE SUGGESTING
IS THAT YOU SEE
MEL AND TALK TO HIM.
WELL, WHY DO I NEED
TO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST?
WELL, YOUR PREOCCUPATION
WITH THE CLOCK, FOR INSTANCE.
I'M FOND OF MY CLOCK
AND THAT MAKES ME CRAZY.
MY, WHAT A STRANGE
WORLD WE LIVE IN.
YOU HAVE TO ADMIT YOU
SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH IT.
SOMETIMES HALF THE NIGHT.
AHA! JUST BECAUSE
I HAVE INSOMNIA
AND WORKING ON THE
CLOCK RELAXES ME,
THAT MAKES ME A
CANDIDATE FOR THE LOONY BIN.
I'VE HAD INSOMNIA ALL MY LIFE.
SO DID MY FATHER.
HE DIED AT 90.
90 YEARS WITHOUT SLUMBERING...
JUST LIKE THE SONG SAYS.
GRANDPA, DOUG ONLY HAS
YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART.
YEAH, MY BEST INTERESTS.
ALL RIGHT, SON.
I'LL SEE YOUR FRIEND THE
PSYCHIATRIST TOMORROW.
YOU MAY BE SURPRISED
WHEN YOU FIND OUT
WHO THE CRAZY ONE REALLY IS.
THAT CLOCK WAS COMPLETED
EXACTLY 76 YEARS AGO.
AND IT WAS PRESENTED
TO ME THE DAY OF MY BIRTH.
YOU SEE, DOCTOR,
MY FATHER WAS VERY MUCH
IN LOVE WITH MY MOTHER.
AND IN THOSE DAYS, IT
WAS VERY FASHIONABLE
FOR HUSBANDS AND WIVES
TO BE IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER.
AND IT'S NO LONGER
FASHIONABLE, HUH?
IF IT WERE, THE WOODS WOULDN'T
BE FULL OF PSYCHIATRISTS.
SO YOU AND THE CLOCK
WERE "BORN" ON THE SAME DAY
SO TO SPEAK.
OH, NOW, YOU'RE
TRYING TO GET ME TO SAY
THAT I THINK THAT THE CLOCK
IS A REAL, LIVING PERSON.
WELL, I DON'T.
IT'S A MECHANISM.
NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS.
THEN WHY BE SO EXTRAORDINARILY
CONCERNED WITH IT?
WELL, THAT CLOCK'S WORTH
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.
IT ALSO IS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM.
WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO
KEEP A THING LIKE THAT
IN PERFECT CONDITION?
WELL, YES, BUT, UH...
YOU'RE NOT SURE, HUH?
YES, I'M SURE.
BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT MY CLOCK,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR CLOCK.
OH, SO YOU HAVE A GRANDFATHER'S
CLOCK, TOO, DOCTOR, HUH?
AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY
WIFE BOUGHT ONE RECENTLY.
SHE COLLECTS ANTIQUES.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
WELL, IT'S EIGHT FEET
TALL, HAND-CARVED,
BUILT IN GERMANY
IN 1874 BY, UH... UH...
MR. FORSTMANN, WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU.
OH, I THOUGHT WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT YOUR CLOCK.
YES, WE WERE,
BUT WE SOMEHOW
GOT OFF THE TRACK.
TRACK? ARE WE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT TRAINS NOW?
MR. FORSTMANN,
IF YOU DON'T CARE TO
TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE...
OH, I COULD TALK ABOUT CLOCKS
FOR HOURS, DOCTOR.
BUT YOUR TIME'S EXPENSIVE.
MINE'S FREE.
OH, THERE, UH, THERE
IS ONE THING, DOCTOR.
YES?
WHEN MY CLOCK
STOPS TICKING, I'LL DIE.
YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT?
OH, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
DOES THAT MAKE ME CRAZY?
WELL, CRAZY IS A BIG WORD.
BUT IT IS A RATHER STRANGE IDEA.
IF I HAD A CLOCK LIKE
THAT I'D GET RID OF IT.
OH, EITHER THE
CLOCK GOES OR I GO.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME.
I DIDN'T SAY THAT.
I THINK YOU DID.
GOOD DAY, DOCTOR.
BE CAREFUL, BOY.
BE CAREFUL.
DON'T WORRY, POPS, WE GOT IT.
RIGHT THERE.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I DON'T KNOW, POPS.
I'M NOT AN INTERIOR DECORATOR.
HEY, WAIT.
WHAT HAPPENED?
MY CLOCK!
NOW, LOOK, POPS.
TAKE IT EASY.
OH, I'M ALL RIGHT.
BOY... YOU HAD US
WORRIED FOR A MINUTE.
NOT YET, I GUESS.
NOT YET.
DOUG, LOOK.
OH, NO, HONEY...
HE'S TRYING TO MAKE
SOME COMPROMISE WITH US, DOUG.
WELL, CHILDREN.
HELLO, GRANDPA.
I THOUGHT WE'D
GIVE IT A TRY THERE.
TO SEE HOW IT LOOKS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I DON'T KNOW.
SAM, TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF.
IT STICKS OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB.
YEAH, I GUESS IT DOES.
SAM, WE MIGHT AS WELL BE HONEST.
THE DOCTOR SAYS
THE CLOCK SHOULD GO.
THE DOCTOR SAID THAT?
HE SAYS YOU'RE BEING
OBSESSED BY THE CLOCK.
HE SAYS IT'S BAD FOR YOU.
SENILE... THAT'S WHAT
HE REALLY SAID, ISN'T IT?
NO, GRANDPA.
AND HE WANTS YOU TO PUT ME AWAY.
NO, GRANDPA, HE DIDN'T SAY THAT.
WELL, I'M NOT GOING
TO ANY LOONY BIN.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT
I AM GOING TO DO.
I'M GOING TO SELL THE CLOCK.
I LOVE THIS CLOCK
AND YOUR NURSERY IS BEAUTIFUL.
MARNIE, IT'S JUST PERFECT.
THANK YOU.
DO YOU WANT SOME MORE COFFEE?
WE CAN TALK A
LITTLE BIT. LOVE IT.
YOU KNOW, I REFUSE
TO GET PREGNANT
UNTIL I HAVE MY
NURSERY ALL PLANNED.
GEORGE DIDN'T THINK
THAT WAS LOGICAL.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH HIM, CAROL.
MR. FORSTMANN, WHERE
WILL YOU BE LIVING
AFTER THE BABY COMES?
CAROL, HE'LL BE
STAYING RIGHT HERE
IN HIS OWN ROOM.
OH, WELL, OF COURSE, I
DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING.
I'LL BE NEEDING HIS HELP.
YOU GOING TO KEEP
THE CLOCK HERE?
JUST TEMPORARILY.
CAROL, DO YOU KNOW ANYONE
WHO MIGHT LIKE TO BUY IT?
SURE, ME.
I WISH I COULD AFFORD IT.
DO YOU MEAN THAT?
DO I?
YOU KNOW WHAT I
THINK ABOUT ANTIQUES
AND THAT CLOCK WILL
JUST MAKE OUR HALLWAY.
OH, WELL, I THINK THAT WE
CAN WORK OUT SOMETHING.
I MEAN, YOU COULD PAY ME LATER.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
ARE YOU SERIOUS, MR. FORSTMANN?
YES. IT WOULD BE PERFECT.
YOU LIVING NEXT DOOR TO US
I COULD VISIT THE
CLOCK EVERY DAY.
I MEAN, I COULD TAKE CARE OF IT.
KEEP IT IN GOOD CONDITION.
AND WE'D APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S NOT ONE OF YOUR
EIGHT-DAY CLOCKS.
IT'S SPECIAL.
YOU HAVE TO WIND
IT EVERY OTHER DAY.
GRANDPA...
I DON'T THINK CAROL WOULD
LIKE YOU TINKERING WITH IT.
IT'LL BE HER CLOCK.
BUT IT WOULD ONLY TAKE A
FEW MINUTES EVERY OTHER DAY.
OH, I WOULDN'T MIND, MARNIE,
AND HE COULD TAKE
GOOD CARE OF IT.
I'D APPRECIATE IT, REALLY.
IT'S UP TO YOU TWO, ANYWAY.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
GEORGE DOESN'T THINK
I'M A BARGAIN HUNTER.
WAIT TILL HE HEARS ABOUT THIS.
GOOD MORNING, MARNIE.
GOOD MORNING, GRANDPA.
YOU'RE UP EARLY THIS MORNING.
WELL, EARLY TO
BED, EARLY TO RISE...
YOU KNOW, BEN FRANKLIN?
OR WAS IT GEORGE WASHINGTON?
I'M OFF TO WIND THE CLOCK.
GEORGE AND CAROL
ARE OUT OF TOWN.
DIDN'T YOU KNOW THAT?
OUT OF TOWN?
JUST FOR THE WEEKEND.
YOU'LL HARDLY MISS A
VISIT TO YOUR CLOCK.
DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT THE
CLOCK WINDS DOWN AFTER 48 HOURS?
GRANDPA, ARE YOU GOING
TO START THAT AGAIN?
WE'VE ALL BEEN SO HAPPY
FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
ALL OF US.
YES, YES, WE'VE BEEN HAPPY.
TWO WEEKS OF BORROWED TIME.
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
IT'S RUNNING OUT.
IT'S DYING.
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.
LOOK, OFFICER, I HAVE TO
WIND THE CLOCK, YOU KNOW,
IT'S RUNNING DOWN.
IT MUST BE WOUND, IT MUST BE.
OH, SURE, SURE, MISTER.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
I LIVE NEXT DOOR THERE.
BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND...
I HAVE TO WIND THE CLOCK.
COME ON, COME ON.
YOU'LL WAKE THE
WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
LOOK, PLEASE, JUST
LET ME WIND THE CLOCK,
AND THEN I'LL GO HOME.
THAT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.
I CAN'T LET YOU GO IN THERE.
YOU HAVE TO!
NOW, LOOK, MISTER,
I CAN'T LET YOU GO IN THERE.
DON'T YOU SEE?
DON'T YOU SEE, I'M RUNNING DOWN.
AND IF THAT STOPS, I'LL DIE.
I'LL REALLY DIE.
OH, I DON'T THINK SO.
YOU MUSTN'T DO
THIS, YOU MUSTN'T.
JUST LET ME WIND
THE CLOCK, PLEASE.
CAN I GET SOMETHING
FOR YOU, GRANDPA?
I WON'T NEED ANYTHING.
DON'T WORRY, MARNIE,
IT'S, IT'S BETTER THIS WAY.
BETTER?
GOOD NIGHT, GRANDPA.
GOOD NIGHT, SWEETHEART.
IT IS... IT IS BETTER THIS WAY.
IT HAS TO COME SOMETIME.
AND I WANT IT TO
COME FOR ME HERE.
SAM, OLD FRIEND...
IT'S BEEN A GOOD LIFE.
BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO GO.
WELL, DON'T LET ME DETAIN YOU.
HOW THE HECK DID YOU
GET IN MY BEDROOM?
I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE
BEEN INTRODUCED.
YOUR FACE IS FAMILIAR.
I'M YOUR SPIRIT.
YOUR TIME HAS COME, SAM.
AFTER ALL, YOU ARE 76.
DON'T GIVE ME THAT
SPIRIT OF 76 STUFF.
AND WHO SAYS IT'S MY TIME TO GO?
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN
WHAT YOUR FATHER TOLD YOU?
AND YOUR GRANDFATHER?
ABOUT WHAT?
DIDN'T THEY ALWAYS TELL YOU
THAT WHEN THE CLOCK
WINDS DOWN YOU'LL DIE?
YES, AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
I USED TO BELIEVE THAT STUFF.
YOU SHOULD HAVE.
THEY TOLD YOU OFTEN ENOUGH.
BUT THAT'S SILLY.
DON'T YOU KNOW THAT?
I DO.
I'VE BEEN TO A PSYCHIATRIST.
SO WHAT?
SO HE TOLD ME HE DIDN'T
THINK I NEEDED THE CLOCK.
AND HE DIDN'T THINK I WAS CRAZY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE WAS RIGHT AND WE'RE WRONG.
YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I
NEVER TRUST THE PSYCHIATRISTS.
WELL, YOU'RE FROM
ANOTHER GENERATION.
SEE, I LIVE IN THE PRESENT.
LIVE, I SAID.
LOOK AT ME.
YOU'RE JUST A FIGMENT
OF MY IMAGINATION.
WHY, I CAN SEE
RIGHT THROUGH YOU.
I'VE GOT A
GREAT-GRANDCHILD COMING.
AND I PLAN TO STAY AROUND
A WHILE TO PLAY WITH HIM
TO, UH, WATCH HIM GROW,
TAKE HIM TO SCHOOL.
MAYBE EVEN TO COLLEGE.
I REPEAT, I DON'T
BELIEVE IN YOU,
THEREFORE YOU
DON'T EXIST, RIGHT?
RIGHT.
MARNIE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP
THIS TIME OF THE NIGHT?
I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT YOU, GRANDPA.
THE THING TO WORRY ABOUT
IS THAT
GREAT-GRANDCHILD OF MINE.
NOW, YOU LET ME UP,
LET ME OUT OF THIS BED.
MY GOODNESS, YOU
SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
COME ON DOWNSTAIRS
AND I'LL GET YOU
A GOOD CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE.
BE CAREFUL OF THE STEPS.
MUST BE CAREFUL.
IT'S MY GREAT-GRANDCHILD.
LOOK OUT.
MARNIE?
I THINK I CHEATED YOUR FRIEND.
THAT OLD CLOCK HASN'T
BEEN RUNNING RIGHT
FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS.
WHY, IT'S TAKEN EVERYTHING I
EVER LEARNED IN CLOCKMAKING
JUST TO KEEP IT GOING.
REALLY, GRANDPA?
UH, AS A MATTER OF FACT,
IT STOPPED TICKING
FOR THE LAST TIME
JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
DON'T ASK ME HOW
I KNOW BUT I KNOW.
AND A STRANGE THING
HAPPENED, MARNIE.
WHEN THAT CLOCK
DIED, I WAS BORN AGAIN.
CLOCKS ARE MADE BY
MEN, GOD CREATES TIME.
NO MAN CAN PROLONG
HIS ALLOTTED HOURS,
HE CAN ONLY LIVE
THEM TO THE FULLEST...
IN THIS WORLD OR IN
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
NEXT TIME WE ENLIST THE AID
OF A VERY TALENTED
SCRIBE, EARL HAMNER, JR.
HE'S WRITTEN A STORY
CALLED "RING-A-DING GIRL"
AND IN THE MILIEU OF FANTASY,
THIS ONE IS STRICTLY
A BLUE RIBBON ENTRY.
IT STARS MAGGIE McNAMARA
AND IT INVOLVES A MOVIE ACTRESS,
A PUBLICITY TOUR, A
STRANGE FLIGHT, AN AIRPLANE,
AND SOME OCCULT OCCURRENCES
DESIGNED TO SEND SHIVERS THROUGH
YOU LIKE A FAST SUBWAY TRAIN.
NEXT TIME OUT ON
THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
"RING-A-DING GIRL."
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.
♪ MY GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK
WAS TOO LARGE FOR THE SHELF ♪
♪ SO IT STOOD 90
YEARS ON THE FLOOR ♪
♪ IT WAS TALLER BY HALF
THAN THE OLD MAN HIMSELF ♪
♪ THOUGH IT WEIGHED
NOT A PENNYWEIGHT MORE ♪
SUCH A LONG FACE.
♪ MY GRANDFATHER SAID ♪
HONEY.
♪ THAT OF THOSE HE COULD HIRE ♪
♪ NOT A SERVANT SO
FAITHFUL HE'D FOUND ♪
♪ FOR IT WASTED NO TIME... ♪
WHAT'S WRONG?
I HAVE TO GO UP TO TALK TO HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO HIM.
HE'S SO HAPPY, SINGING.
HONEY, I KNOW HOW
MUCH YOU LOVE HIM,
AND I LOVE YOU, BUT
WE HAVE TO FACE FACTS.
I KNOW.
YOU'RE GOOD FOR ME.
SOMEONE'S GOT TO TAKE CARE OF
THE HOMELY WOMEN OF THE WORLD.
HMM, THANKS LOADS.
♪ 90 YEARS WITHOUT SLUMBERING ♪
♪ TICKTOCK, TICKTOCK ♪
♪ WITH LIFE'S
SECONDS NUMBERING ♪
♪ TICKTOCK, TICKTOCK... ♪
GOOD, THAT, UH, THAT... GRANDPA?
COME ON DOWN.
OH, MARNIE.
DON'T WASTE YOUR
EYESIGHT, GRANDPA.
WELL, YOU KNOW,
ONCE A CLOCKMAKER...
AND IT'S BEEN A FEW
MINUTES OFF LATELY.
GRANDPA, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
ME?
WHY, NEVER BETTER.
WHY, MARN?
WELL, IT'S JUST THAT YOU
DIDN'T COME DOWN FOR DINNER.
IN FACT, YOU HAVEN'T
BEEN OUT OF YOUR ROOM
ALL DAY.
WELL, MY FRIEND'S
BEEN ACTING UP TODAY.
I CAN'T SEEM TO GET IT
REGULATED JUST RIGHT, YOU KNOW.
GRANDPA, WE KNOW
HOW YOU LOVE THE CLOCK.
I... BUT-BUT YOU SEE,
IT'S TICKING ALONG NICELY NOW.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY
TROUBLE FOR A LONG WHILE.
OF COURSE, WITH A
CLOCK AS OLD AS THAT,
WELL, YOU-YOU'RE BOUND TO
RUN INTO PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW.
JUST LIKE OLD PEOPLE.
OH, OH, OH.
NOW YOU IGNORE THAT.
JUST IGNORE THE
CLOCK AND IGNORE ME.
THE MAIN THING IS REALLY
YOU AND THE BABY, YOU SEE.
THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN...
WILL YOU GET SOME REST?
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
OH, YOU KNOW ME.
I-I NEVER SLEEP.
AT LEAST EAT.
WELL, MAYBE LATER.
PROMISE?
PROMISE.
OKAY.
OH, IT'S... IT'S RUNNING SLOW.
I DIDN'T WIND IT PROPERLY.
THEY'RE MAKING ME SO NERVOUS.
I'M BECOMING CARELESS.
I MUSTN'T... I MUSTN'T LET
THEM MAKE ME NERVOUS.
PLEASE, PLEASE, DON'T STOP.
I'LL NEVER FORGET
TO WIND YOU AGAIN.
I PROMISE.
EACH MAN MEASURES HIS TIME...
SOME WITH HOPE, SOME
WITH JOY, SOME WITH FEAR.
BUT SAM FORSTMANN
MEASURES HIS ALLOTTED TIME
BY A GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK,
A UNIQUE MECHANISM
WHOSE PENDULUM SWINGS
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH,
A VERY SPECIAL CLOCK
THAT KEEPS A
SPECIAL KIND OF TIME...
IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
WHERE IS HE THIS MORNING?
STILL SLEEPING, I GUESS.
I'M NOT SURPRISED.
HE MUST HAVE BEEN FIDDLING
AROUND WITH THAT CLOCK
TILL 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
DID YOU HEAR HIM?
SIT DOWN.
WILL YOU PLEASE SIT DOWN, HONEY?
IS THAT ALL YOU'RE HAVING?
I'M NOT HUNGRY.
WHAT ABOUT THE BABY?
I'M SURE YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY, DOUG.
HONEY, NOW, LET'S NOT
START FIGHTING AGAIN.
BUT YOU HAVE TO FACE THE FACT
YOUR GRANDFATHER'S
JUST NOT A WELL MAN.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN SO
ALERT, SO EASY TO BE WITH.
MAYBE IT'S JUST A
TEMPORARY THING.
MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE SOMETHING
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.
WHY DON'T WE LET
MEL AVERY TALK TO HIM,
JUST TO MAKE SURE.
YOU THINK I'M CRAZY, DON'T YOU?
MEL AVERY IS A PSYCHIATRIST.
HE'S A HEAD SHRINKER.
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO TELL ME, I KNOW.
GRANDPA, MEL'S BEEN A
FRIEND OF OURS FOR YEARS.
HE AND DOUG WENT
TO COLLEGE TOGETHER.
YOU'VE MET HIM.
I'VE MET LOTS OF PEOPLE.
BUT I DON'T LET THEM
TINKER WITH MY HEAD.
SAM, NO ONE'S GOING TO
TINKER WITH YOUR HEAD.
ALL WE'RE SUGGESTING
IS THAT YOU SEE
MEL AND TALK TO HIM.
WELL, WHY DO I NEED
TO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST?
WELL, YOUR PREOCCUPATION
WITH THE CLOCK, FOR INSTANCE.
I'M FOND OF MY CLOCK
AND THAT MAKES ME CRAZY.
MY, WHAT A STRANGE
WORLD WE LIVE IN.
YOU HAVE TO ADMIT YOU
SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH IT.
SOMETIMES HALF THE NIGHT.
AHA! JUST BECAUSE
I HAVE INSOMNIA
AND WORKING ON THE
CLOCK RELAXES ME,
THAT MAKES ME A
CANDIDATE FOR THE LOONY BIN.
I'VE HAD INSOMNIA ALL MY LIFE.
SO DID MY FATHER.
HE DIED AT 90.
90 YEARS WITHOUT SLUMBERING...
JUST LIKE THE SONG SAYS.
GRANDPA, DOUG ONLY HAS
YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART.
YEAH, MY BEST INTERESTS.
ALL RIGHT, SON.
I'LL SEE YOUR FRIEND THE
PSYCHIATRIST TOMORROW.
YOU MAY BE SURPRISED
WHEN YOU FIND OUT
WHO THE CRAZY ONE REALLY IS.
THAT CLOCK WAS COMPLETED
EXACTLY 76 YEARS AGO.
AND IT WAS PRESENTED
TO ME THE DAY OF MY BIRTH.
YOU SEE, DOCTOR,
MY FATHER WAS VERY MUCH
IN LOVE WITH MY MOTHER.
AND IN THOSE DAYS, IT
WAS VERY FASHIONABLE
FOR HUSBANDS AND WIVES
TO BE IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER.
AND IT'S NO LONGER
FASHIONABLE, HUH?
IF IT WERE, THE WOODS WOULDN'T
BE FULL OF PSYCHIATRISTS.
SO YOU AND THE CLOCK
WERE "BORN" ON THE SAME DAY
SO TO SPEAK.
OH, NOW, YOU'RE
TRYING TO GET ME TO SAY
THAT I THINK THAT THE CLOCK
IS A REAL, LIVING PERSON.
WELL, I DON'T.
IT'S A MECHANISM.
NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS.
THEN WHY BE SO EXTRAORDINARILY
CONCERNED WITH IT?
WELL, THAT CLOCK'S WORTH
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.
IT ALSO IS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM.
WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO
KEEP A THING LIKE THAT
IN PERFECT CONDITION?
WELL, YES, BUT, UH...
YOU'RE NOT SURE, HUH?
YES, I'M SURE.
BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT MY CLOCK,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR CLOCK.
OH, SO YOU HAVE A GRANDFATHER'S
CLOCK, TOO, DOCTOR, HUH?
AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY
WIFE BOUGHT ONE RECENTLY.
SHE COLLECTS ANTIQUES.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
WELL, IT'S EIGHT FEET
TALL, HAND-CARVED,
BUILT IN GERMANY
IN 1874 BY, UH... UH...
MR. FORSTMANN, WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU.
OH, I THOUGHT WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT YOUR CLOCK.
YES, WE WERE,
BUT WE SOMEHOW
GOT OFF THE TRACK.
TRACK? ARE WE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT TRAINS NOW?
MR. FORSTMANN,
IF YOU DON'T CARE TO
TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE...
OH, I COULD TALK ABOUT CLOCKS
FOR HOURS, DOCTOR.
BUT YOUR TIME'S EXPENSIVE.
MINE'S FREE.
OH, THERE, UH, THERE
IS ONE THING, DOCTOR.
YES?
WHEN MY CLOCK
STOPS TICKING, I'LL DIE.
YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT?
OH, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
DOES THAT MAKE ME CRAZY?
WELL, CRAZY IS A BIG WORD.
BUT IT IS A RATHER STRANGE IDEA.
IF I HAD A CLOCK LIKE
THAT I'D GET RID OF IT.
OH, EITHER THE
CLOCK GOES OR I GO.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME.
I DIDN'T SAY THAT.
I THINK YOU DID.
GOOD DAY, DOCTOR.
BE CAREFUL, BOY.
BE CAREFUL.
DON'T WORRY, POPS, WE GOT IT.
RIGHT THERE.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I DON'T KNOW, POPS.
I'M NOT AN INTERIOR DECORATOR.
HEY, WAIT.
WHAT HAPPENED?
MY CLOCK!
NOW, LOOK, POPS.
TAKE IT EASY.
OH, I'M ALL RIGHT.
BOY... YOU HAD US
WORRIED FOR A MINUTE.
NOT YET, I GUESS.
NOT YET.
DOUG, LOOK.
OH, NO, HONEY...
HE'S TRYING TO MAKE
SOME COMPROMISE WITH US, DOUG.
WELL, CHILDREN.
HELLO, GRANDPA.
I THOUGHT WE'D
GIVE IT A TRY THERE.
TO SEE HOW IT LOOKS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I DON'T KNOW.
SAM, TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF.
IT STICKS OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB.
YEAH, I GUESS IT DOES.
SAM, WE MIGHT AS WELL BE HONEST.
THE DOCTOR SAYS
THE CLOCK SHOULD GO.
THE DOCTOR SAID THAT?
HE SAYS YOU'RE BEING
OBSESSED BY THE CLOCK.
HE SAYS IT'S BAD FOR YOU.
SENILE... THAT'S WHAT
HE REALLY SAID, ISN'T IT?
NO, GRANDPA.
AND HE WANTS YOU TO PUT ME AWAY.
NO, GRANDPA, HE DIDN'T SAY THAT.
WELL, I'M NOT GOING
TO ANY LOONY BIN.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT
I AM GOING TO DO.
I'M GOING TO SELL THE CLOCK.
I LOVE THIS CLOCK
AND YOUR NURSERY IS BEAUTIFUL.
MARNIE, IT'S JUST PERFECT.
THANK YOU.
DO YOU WANT SOME MORE COFFEE?
WE CAN TALK A
LITTLE BIT. LOVE IT.
YOU KNOW, I REFUSE
TO GET PREGNANT
UNTIL I HAVE MY
NURSERY ALL PLANNED.
GEORGE DIDN'T THINK
THAT WAS LOGICAL.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH HIM, CAROL.
MR. FORSTMANN, WHERE
WILL YOU BE LIVING
AFTER THE BABY COMES?
CAROL, HE'LL BE
STAYING RIGHT HERE
IN HIS OWN ROOM.
OH, WELL, OF COURSE, I
DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING.
I'LL BE NEEDING HIS HELP.
YOU GOING TO KEEP
THE CLOCK HERE?
JUST TEMPORARILY.
CAROL, DO YOU KNOW ANYONE
WHO MIGHT LIKE TO BUY IT?
SURE, ME.
I WISH I COULD AFFORD IT.
DO YOU MEAN THAT?
DO I?
YOU KNOW WHAT I
THINK ABOUT ANTIQUES
AND THAT CLOCK WILL
JUST MAKE OUR HALLWAY.
OH, WELL, I THINK THAT WE
CAN WORK OUT SOMETHING.
I MEAN, YOU COULD PAY ME LATER.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
ARE YOU SERIOUS, MR. FORSTMANN?
YES. IT WOULD BE PERFECT.
YOU LIVING NEXT DOOR TO US
I COULD VISIT THE
CLOCK EVERY DAY.
I MEAN, I COULD TAKE CARE OF IT.
KEEP IT IN GOOD CONDITION.
AND WE'D APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S NOT ONE OF YOUR
EIGHT-DAY CLOCKS.
IT'S SPECIAL.
YOU HAVE TO WIND
IT EVERY OTHER DAY.
GRANDPA...
I DON'T THINK CAROL WOULD
LIKE YOU TINKERING WITH IT.
IT'LL BE HER CLOCK.
BUT IT WOULD ONLY TAKE A
FEW MINUTES EVERY OTHER DAY.
OH, I WOULDN'T MIND, MARNIE,
AND HE COULD TAKE
GOOD CARE OF IT.
I'D APPRECIATE IT, REALLY.
IT'S UP TO YOU TWO, ANYWAY.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
GEORGE DOESN'T THINK
I'M A BARGAIN HUNTER.
WAIT TILL HE HEARS ABOUT THIS.
GOOD MORNING, MARNIE.
GOOD MORNING, GRANDPA.
YOU'RE UP EARLY THIS MORNING.
WELL, EARLY TO
BED, EARLY TO RISE...
YOU KNOW, BEN FRANKLIN?
OR WAS IT GEORGE WASHINGTON?
I'M OFF TO WIND THE CLOCK.
GEORGE AND CAROL
ARE OUT OF TOWN.
DIDN'T YOU KNOW THAT?
OUT OF TOWN?
JUST FOR THE WEEKEND.
YOU'LL HARDLY MISS A
VISIT TO YOUR CLOCK.
DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT THE
CLOCK WINDS DOWN AFTER 48 HOURS?
GRANDPA, ARE YOU GOING
TO START THAT AGAIN?
WE'VE ALL BEEN SO HAPPY
FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
ALL OF US.
YES, YES, WE'VE BEEN HAPPY.
TWO WEEKS OF BORROWED TIME.
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
IT'S RUNNING OUT.
IT'S DYING.
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.
LOOK, OFFICER, I HAVE TO
WIND THE CLOCK, YOU KNOW,
IT'S RUNNING DOWN.
IT MUST BE WOUND, IT MUST BE.
OH, SURE, SURE, MISTER.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
I LIVE NEXT DOOR THERE.
BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND...
I HAVE TO WIND THE CLOCK.
COME ON, COME ON.
YOU'LL WAKE THE
WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
LOOK, PLEASE, JUST
LET ME WIND THE CLOCK,
AND THEN I'LL GO HOME.
THAT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.
I CAN'T LET YOU GO IN THERE.
YOU HAVE TO!
NOW, LOOK, MISTER,
I CAN'T LET YOU GO IN THERE.
DON'T YOU SEE?
DON'T YOU SEE, I'M RUNNING DOWN.
AND IF THAT STOPS, I'LL DIE.
I'LL REALLY DIE.
OH, I DON'T THINK SO.
YOU MUSTN'T DO
THIS, YOU MUSTN'T.
JUST LET ME WIND
THE CLOCK, PLEASE.
CAN I GET SOMETHING
FOR YOU, GRANDPA?
I WON'T NEED ANYTHING.
DON'T WORRY, MARNIE,
IT'S, IT'S BETTER THIS WAY.
BETTER?
GOOD NIGHT, GRANDPA.
GOOD NIGHT, SWEETHEART.
IT IS... IT IS BETTER THIS WAY.
IT HAS TO COME SOMETIME.
AND I WANT IT TO
COME FOR ME HERE.
SAM, OLD FRIEND...
IT'S BEEN A GOOD LIFE.
BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO GO.
WELL, DON'T LET ME DETAIN YOU.
HOW THE HECK DID YOU
GET IN MY BEDROOM?
I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE
BEEN INTRODUCED.
YOUR FACE IS FAMILIAR.
I'M YOUR SPIRIT.
YOUR TIME HAS COME, SAM.
AFTER ALL, YOU ARE 76.
DON'T GIVE ME THAT
SPIRIT OF 76 STUFF.
AND WHO SAYS IT'S MY TIME TO GO?
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN
WHAT YOUR FATHER TOLD YOU?
AND YOUR GRANDFATHER?
ABOUT WHAT?
DIDN'T THEY ALWAYS TELL YOU
THAT WHEN THE CLOCK
WINDS DOWN YOU'LL DIE?
YES, AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
I USED TO BELIEVE THAT STUFF.
YOU SHOULD HAVE.
THEY TOLD YOU OFTEN ENOUGH.
BUT THAT'S SILLY.
DON'T YOU KNOW THAT?
I DO.
I'VE BEEN TO A PSYCHIATRIST.
SO WHAT?
SO HE TOLD ME HE DIDN'T
THINK I NEEDED THE CLOCK.
AND HE DIDN'T THINK I WAS CRAZY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE WAS RIGHT AND WE'RE WRONG.
YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I
NEVER TRUST THE PSYCHIATRISTS.
WELL, YOU'RE FROM
ANOTHER GENERATION.
SEE, I LIVE IN THE PRESENT.
LIVE, I SAID.
LOOK AT ME.
YOU'RE JUST A FIGMENT
OF MY IMAGINATION.
WHY, I CAN SEE
RIGHT THROUGH YOU.
I'VE GOT A
GREAT-GRANDCHILD COMING.
AND I PLAN TO STAY AROUND
A WHILE TO PLAY WITH HIM
TO, UH, WATCH HIM GROW,
TAKE HIM TO SCHOOL.
MAYBE EVEN TO COLLEGE.
I REPEAT, I DON'T
BELIEVE IN YOU,
THEREFORE YOU
DON'T EXIST, RIGHT?
RIGHT.
MARNIE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP
THIS TIME OF THE NIGHT?
I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT YOU, GRANDPA.
THE THING TO WORRY ABOUT
IS THAT
GREAT-GRANDCHILD OF MINE.
NOW, YOU LET ME UP,
LET ME OUT OF THIS BED.
MY GOODNESS, YOU
SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
COME ON DOWNSTAIRS
AND I'LL GET YOU
A GOOD CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE.
BE CAREFUL OF THE STEPS.
MUST BE CAREFUL.
IT'S MY GREAT-GRANDCHILD.
LOOK OUT.
MARNIE?
I THINK I CHEATED YOUR FRIEND.
THAT OLD CLOCK HASN'T
BEEN RUNNING RIGHT
FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS.
WHY, IT'S TAKEN EVERYTHING I
EVER LEARNED IN CLOCKMAKING
JUST TO KEEP IT GOING.
REALLY, GRANDPA?
UH, AS A MATTER OF FACT,
IT STOPPED TICKING
FOR THE LAST TIME
JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
DON'T ASK ME HOW
I KNOW BUT I KNOW.
AND A STRANGE THING
HAPPENED, MARNIE.
WHEN THAT CLOCK
DIED, I WAS BORN AGAIN.
CLOCKS ARE MADE BY
MEN, GOD CREATES TIME.
NO MAN CAN PROLONG
HIS ALLOTTED HOURS,
HE CAN ONLY LIVE
THEM TO THE FULLEST...
IN THIS WORLD OR IN
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
NEXT TIME WE ENLIST THE AID
OF A VERY TALENTED
SCRIBE, EARL HAMNER, JR.
HE'S WRITTEN A STORY
CALLED "RING-A-DING GIRL"
AND IN THE MILIEU OF FANTASY,
THIS ONE IS STRICTLY
A BLUE RIBBON ENTRY.
IT STARS MAGGIE McNAMARA
AND IT INVOLVES A MOVIE ACTRESS,
A PUBLICITY TOUR, A
STRANGE FLIGHT, AN AIRPLANE,
AND SOME OCCULT OCCURRENCES
DESIGNED TO SEND SHIVERS THROUGH
YOU LIKE A FAST SUBWAY TRAIN.
NEXT TIME OUT ON
THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
"RING-A-DING GIRL."