The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 5, Episode 7 - The Old Man in the Cave - full transcript
Ten years after an atomic apocalypse, a small group of survivors manage to eke out a very difficult existence. They've managed to survive in large part due to the advice they receive from an old man who lives in a cave outside of the town. Goldsmith acts as the intermediary and the old man's advice on things like crops or the safety of a batch of old canned goods are usually correct. When four soldiers led by Major French arrive in the town, the social order is upended with the townsfolk attacking the old man's cave but not really prepared for what they find inside.
( theme music playing)
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.
BEEN TO THE CAVE, JASON?
DID YOU SEE GOLDSMITH?
DID HE TALK TO THE OLD MAN?
GOLDSMITH'S STILL UP THERE.
HE SAID TO TELL YOU
HE'S GETTING A MESSAGE
FROM THE OLD MAN.
HE'LL BRING IT DOWN
WITH HIM IN A FEW MINUTES.
IS HE ASKING ABOUT THIS FOOD?
IT'S ALL PRE-BOMB, ALL OF IT.
IT'S SAFE AS ANYTHING.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO KEEP WAITING
FOR THE OLD MAN?
WHY DON'T WE JUST TAKE
OUR CHANCES WITH IT?
WE ALREADY TOOK CHANCES.
THE OLD MAN TOLD US
NOT TO PLANT ON
THE NORTH ACREAGE;
THAT IT WAS POISONOUS.
THIS IS WHAT CAME UP.
DID THESE GROW, EVIE,
OR DID SOMEBODY LEAVE
THEM TO US IN A WILL?
THEY WERE THE BEST.
THE BEST?!
HATE TO SEE THE WORST!
I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT
TO EAT THOSE, EVIE.
I SAY WE JUST BETTER
BURY THEM WITH HONORS.
THAT'S WHAT GOLDSMITH
WENT TO THE CAVE FOR...
TO ASK THE OLD MAN
WHAT LAND WE
SHOULD TRY THIS TIME.
THE OLD MAN, INDEED.
WHO KNOWS WHERE HE GETS
HIS OMNISCIENT KNOWLEDGE,
BUT EVIE'S RIGHT.
HE KNOWS ABOUT LAND.
REMEMBER THOSE
TOMATOES THAT CAME UP?
YOU REMEMBER HE SENT
A MESSAGE TO GOLDSMITH,
TELLING US NOT TO PLANT THEM?
OH... THEY WERE MONSTROUS.
LIKE... ROTTEN WATERMELONS.
THEY TASTED... BUT, JASON,
ALL OF THIS STUFF'S PRE-BOMB.
I JUST KNOW IT.
LET'S WAIT FOR GOLDSMITH.
SEE WHAT THE OLD MAN HAS TO SAY.
WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD?
WAIT TILL GOLDSMITH
GETS BACK FROM THE CAVE.
WAIT TILL HE HAS A CHANCE
TO ASK THE OLD MAN.
I'M SURPRISED AT
YOU, ALL OF YOU.
MAN DOESN'T LIVE BY BREAD
OR CANNED FOOD ALONE,
OR FREAK CARROTS,
OR MUTATED TOMATOES.
BUT DO ME A FAVOR, WILL YOU?
DON'T ASK ME WHAT
HE DOES LIVE BY.
IN THIS TENTH ILLUSTRIOUS
YEAR AFTER THE BOMB,
I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TELL YOU.
ANNOUNCEMENT!
I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE'VE JUST HAD COMMUNICATION
FROM THE OLD MAN IN THE CAVE.
THERE'S AN 80% POSSIBILITY
OF RAIN TOMORROW.
THE WIND'S FROM THE NORTHEAST.
THIS MEANS THAT
THERE WILL LIKELY BE
A VERY HIGH RADIOACTIVE
COUNT IN THE PRECIPITATION.
NOW PLACE ALL RAIN
BARRELS UPSIDE DOWN,
AND KEEP ALL WATER
TROUGHS COVERED.
AS TO THE CANNED GOODS THERE,
THE OLD MAN SAYS THAT
THEY'RE CONTAMINATED
AND SHOULD BE DESTROYED.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT
IS A LEGACY THAT
MAN LEFT TO HIMSELF.
A DECADE PREVIOUS,
HE PUSHED HIS BUTTONS
AND A NIGHTMARISH MOMENT
LATER WOKE UP TO FIND
THAT HE HAD SET THE CLOCK
BACK A THOUSAND YEARS.
HIS ENGINES, HIS
MEDICINES, HIS SCIENCE
WERE BURIED IN A MASS TOMB
COVERED OVER BY THE BIGGEST
GRAVEDIGGER OF THEM ALL...
A BOMB.
AND THIS IS THE EARTH,
TEN YEARS LATER,
A FRAGMENT OF WHAT
WAS ONCE A WHOLE,
A REMNANT OF WHAT
WAS ONCE A RACE.
THE YEAR IS 1974, AND
THIS IS THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYONE IN CHARGE?
I'M IN CHARGE.
DO YOU HAVE A NAME?
GOLDSMITH.
HMM.
THIS PLACE... DOES
IT HAVE A NAME?
AND IF IT DOES... MAJOR?
IF IT DOES, FATHER,
WE'D LIKE TO HEAR IT.
UH... WHO ARE YOU?
MAJOR FRENCH IS MY NAME.
CENTRAL STATES COMMANDER.
WE'RE BEING SENT
AROUND TO ORGANIZE.
ORGANIZE?
YES, THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
NOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE
DO YOU HAVE HERE?
WE HAVEN'T COUNTED LATELY.
WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
THERE'S SUFFICIENT.
HMM.
YOU GROW YOUR OWN?
SOME.
WE HAVE A SUPPLY OF PREWAR
CANNED GOODS LEFT OVER.
WE'LL NEED SOME QUARTERS.
HARBER, HAVE A LOOK AROUND.
DOUGLAS, YOU STAY WITH THE JEEP.
FURMAN... STAY WITH ME.
MAJOR, UH, WHAT DO YOU WANT?
PAINLESS THINGS.
WE'D LIKE QUARTERS
FOR THE FOUR OF US,
RATIONS FOR AS
LONG AS WE'RE HERE
AND NO TROUBLE.
THAT LAST PART...
PUT IT ON TOP: NO TROUBLE.
I DON'T THINK YOU
UNDERSTAND, MAJOR.
WE DON'T RECOGNIZE
YOUR AUTHORITY HERE.
WE'VE HAD TRANSIENTS
PASS THROUGH ON OCCASION,
BUT THEY DIDN'T STAY.
LIKE YOU, THEY REPRESENTED
THEMSELVES AS AUTHORITIES,
BUT WE DISCOVERED THEY CARRIED
THEIR HEADQUARTERS WITH THEM.
THEY REPRESENTED NO
ONE BUT THEMSELVES.
WELL, THIS IS A NEW
BREED, MR. GOLDSMITH.
THIS WHOLE AREA WILL
BE ORGANIZED NOW.
IT WILL BE SET UP
INTO MILITARY SECTORS,
EACH CONTROLLED BY A
LOCAL CONSTABULARY...
YOURS TRULY.
WELL, YOU AND YOUR CONSTABULARY
CAN REMAIN OVERNIGHT
AND WE'LL BE GLAD
TO SHARE OUR FOOD
WITH YOU, BED YOU DOWN.
TOMORROW MORNING, YOU'D BETTER
DO YOUR ORGANIZING
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
MR. GOLDSMITH, THE
FOLLOWING IS UNOFFICIAL.
NOW, WE'D LIKE YOU TO
MAKE YOUR TRANSITION HERE
AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.
NOW, UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES,
WE MIGHT EVEN
ALLOW YOU TO REMAIN
IN NOMINAL CONTROL.
THAT'S ASSUMING THAT YOU
DON'T GIVE US ANY TROUBLE.
NOW, THAT'S UNOFFICIAL.
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFICIAL.
NOW, LET ME FILL YOU IN ON THE
SITUATION HERE, MR. GOLDSMITH.
BETWEEN BUFFALO, NEW
YORK, AND ATLANTA, GEORGIA,
THERE ARE PROBABLY
AROUND 500 PEOPLE ALIVE.
YOU KNOW WHY.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO AUTHORITY,
THERE'S NO DISCIPLINE.
WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU BOTH.
AND IF YOU GIVE
US ANY TROUBLE...
ANY TROUBLE AT ALL...
I'M GOING TO HANG YOU
FROM THAT BALCONY
RIGHT OVER THERE.
WELL, NOW, WHAT
ABOUT IT, MR. GOLDSMITH?
YOU WANT TO COOPERATE
OR DO YOU WANT YOUR NECK BROKEN?
WE ALREADY HAVE AN AUTHORITY.
WE'VE HAD HIM FOR
BETTER THAN TEN YEARS.
WHAT IS ALL THIS?
POISON.
IT'S CONTAMINATED FOOD.
WHO SAYS SO?
THE OLD MAN IN THE CAVE.
A, UH, OLD MAN IN A CAVE...
HAVE ANY OF YOU
LOOKED AT YOURSELVES
IN THE MIRROR LATELY?
YOU ALL LOOK LIKE
SKELETONS, YOU KNOW THAT?
JUST LIKE SKELETONS.
WHERE IS THIS OLD MAN
WHO KEEPS YOU ON A DIET?
WHEN DOES HE COME OUT?
HE NEVER COMES OUT.
HE STAYS IN THE CAVE.
WELL, I'M NOT SURPRISED,
MR. GOLDSMITH.
I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.
OFF LAKE ERIE, WE'VE GOT A
PACK OF WEIRDIES UP THERE
THAT BAY AT THE
MOON ONCE A WEEK.
AND THEN AROUND WHAT
USED TO BE CHICAGO,
MAN, WE GOT A REAL
SWINGING CULT GOING THERE.
THEY'VE BUILT
THEMSELVES A STATUE
MADE OUT OF FISSIONABLE LEAD.
THIS IS THEIR DEITY.
WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
WE HAVE AN INVISIBLE
OLD MAN IN A CAVE.
NOW, COME ON, MR. GOLDSMITH.
NOW, WHEN YOU TAKE IT OUT
AND RUN IT AROUND THE
BLOCK A COUPLE OF TIMES,
DON'T YOU THINK IT
SOUNDS KIND OF NUTTY?
WE'VE SURVIVED, MAJOR FRENCH.
THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS DIED
OF RADIOACTIVITY,
STRONTIUM 90, PLAGUE.
WE SURVIVED.
BECAUSE OF THE OLD MAN, HUH?
THAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE
OF THE OLD MAN.
HE CUES YOU IN, HUH?
HE TELLS YOU WHAT'S POISONOUS,
WHAT'S RADIOACTIVE,
THAT WHOLE BIT?
AS LONG AS HE'S
ALIVE, WE'LL BE ALIVE.
DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
NOW, I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU
ARE GOING TO DIE
OF RADIOACTIVITY.
I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO KICK
OFF, YOU'RE GOING TO KICK OFF
EITHER FROM MALNUTRITION OR
FROM BEING CONNED TO DEATH.
IF THAT'S TRUE, MAJOR, AT
LEAST IT'LL BE A PAINLESS DEATH.
MR. GOLDSMITH, CHECK THIS.
THE BOOKING ODDS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
500 TO ONE THAT YOUR OLD
MAN IS A SOFT-IN-THE-HEAD HERMIT
WHO DOESN'T EVEN
KNOW WHAT YEAR IT IS.
THAT'S NOT FOR US TO SAY.
THAT'S FOR YOU TO ASK!
ALL OF YOU!
FRIENDS, ROMANS, FARM ANIMALS,
WE ARE NOW GOING UP TO THE CAVE
AND CHECK YOUR FAVORITE RECLUSE.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING
HIM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
AND GET A GOOD LOOK AT HIM.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE
IF HE'S WORTHWHILE
KEEPING ALIVE.
COME ON, YOU'RE COMING WITH US.
ALL RIGHT, GOLDSMITH,
DO YOU WANT TO
TELL US ABOUT THIS?
HOW DO YOU OPEN IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE,
IT'S NEVER BEEN OPENED.
French: BUT THE OLD
MAN LIVES INSIDE, RIGHT?
HOW DOES HE LIVE?
HOW DOES HE STAY ALIVE?
I DON'T KNOW.
HOW DO YOU KNOW HE'S IN THERE?
HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH HIM?
HE SENDS OUT NOTES... MESSAGES.
HE SENDS OUT NOTES AND MESSAGES.
WELL, GENTLEMEN, WE
REALLY HAVE A PRIZE HERE.
WE GET THE BLUE RIBBON FOR THIS.
AN IDIOT LEADING THE IDIOTS.
DOUGLAS, THROW ME
THAT HAND GRENADE.
YOU PEOPLE BETTER
MAKE SOME TRACKS.
MIGHT MAKE YOUR EYES SMART.
( explosion)
( thud)
OLD MAN, THIS IS
JUST THE BEGINNING!
YOU HEAR?!
JUST THE BEGINNING.
( chuckles)
( chuckling)
DOUGLAS... CAR.
( loud commotion)
DON'T TAKE THIS FOOD OUT.
YOU HEAR, IT'S CONTAMINATED.
SURE, MR. GOLDSMITH.
STOP IT! LISTEN
TO ME, ALL OF YOU.
LISTEN TO ME!
THERE'S EVERY POSSIBILITY
THAT ALL OF THOSE CANS
CONTAIN ENOUGH STRONTIUM 90
TO KILL EVERY MAN, WOMAN
AND CHILD IN THIS VILLAGE.
( gasps)
( groaning)
( chuckling)
OH, COME ON, MR. GOLDSMITH,
WHY DON'T YOU TELL US HOW
DISAPPOINTED YOU ARE, HUH?
OH, MR. GOLDSMITH, YOU
ARE KOOKY, YOU KNOW THAT?
YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH FOOD
IN THAT PILE OVER THERE
TO FEED US ALL FOR
A GOOD LONG TIME.
THERE'S ENOUGH
POISON IN THOSE CANS
TO KILL US ALL IN TEN DAYS.
MOST OF IT WAS
CANNED AFTER THE BOMB.
WE'VE NO IDEA
WHERE IT CAME FROM;
WHO PROCESSED IT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S LAY IT ON
THE LINE THERE, MR. GOLDSMITH.
HERE, NOW.
COME ON, WHO'D LIKE
A NICE SQUARE MEAL
FOR A CHANGE, HUH?
ANYBODY ELSE? DIG IN.
OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE
WANT TO CONTINUE
TO PLAY KINDERGARTEN GAMES
WITH MR. GOLDSMITH HERE,
GO HOME AND CHEW ON AN OLD BONE.
Goldsmith: NO, DON'T BE FOOLS!
DON'T COMMIT SUICIDE!
DON'T LET THESE PACK
RATS INVADE OUR HOMES,
TURN ORDER UPSIDE DOWN!
STOP IT, STOP IT!
DON'T EAT THE FOOD.
HEY, LOOK AT THIS!
WE JUST REPEALED PROHIBITION!
( commotion)
JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS, HUH?
LIKE THANKSGIVING.
YEAH, THANKSGIVING, TOO.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
JASON.
JASON?
JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE.
YEAH, I'M A LITERATE
MAN, YOU KNOW THAT?
I WENT TO COLLEGE, JASON.
YEAH, I WENT TO COLLEGE.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
WELL, IF IT ISN'T THE
ILLUSTRIOUS MR. GOLDSMITH,
KEEPER OF THE LEGEND,
PROTECTOR OF THE FABLES,
AND THE LORD, HIGH
CHAMBERLAIN OF THE CAVE.
YOU LOOK HUNGRY, MR. GOLDSMITH.
AND THIRSTY.
( bottle breaks)
YOU'VE GOT 100 CASES OF
THAT STUFF OVER THERE.
NOW, YOU WANT TO
BREAK EVERY BOTTLE, MAN,
YOU'VE GOT A BIG JOB.
DO YOU HAVE ANY REMOTE IDEA
WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THIS VILLAGE?
YEAH.
YEAH, I BROUGHT
INTO THIS VILLAGE
THE FIRST SQUARE MEAL
THAT ANY OF THESE PEOPLE
HAVE HAD IN TEN YEARS.
AND THE FIRST SIX PROTRACTED
HOURS OF ENJOYMENT
THAT ANY OF THEM
HAVE HAD SINCE...
YOU STARTED LEADING THEM
AROUND BY THE NOSE.
NOW, WHY DON'T YOU
UNBEND, OLD MAN?
CAN YOU ANSWER ME THAT?
WHY DON'T YOU UNBEND?
YOU CAME AS INTRUDERS,
BUT NOW YOU'RE MURDERERS.
ONLY GOD KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE
WILL DIE BECAUSE OF TONIGHT.
THE OLD MAN IN THE
CAVE WARNED US
ABOUT THIS FOOD DOZENS OF TIMES.
HE WARNED US.
OLD MAN IN THE CAVE!
THE OLD MAN IN A CAVE!
( yelling): NOW HEAR THIS!
THERE IS NO OLD MAN IN THE CAVE!
HE'S A LIE!
HE'S A CONCOCTION.
NOBODY'S SEEN HIM,
NOBODY'S HEARD HIM,
NOBODY KNOWS WHO HE
IS, OR WHERE HE'S FROM.
YOU MADE HIM UP.
YOU CUT HIM OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH!
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOUR GRAFT IS, GOLDSMITH...
I DON'T KNOW HOW
YOU GET PAID OFF,
BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT'S TIME
YOU LET THESE PEOPLE
KNOW WHAT'S IN THAT CAVE.
OPEN THE CAVE, GOLDSMITH.
YOU'LL HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST.
MISTER, I HAVE KILLED
A HUNDRED TIMES YOU.
THAT'S HOW I'VE STAYED ALIVE.
JASON, GATHER UP YOUR PEOPLE
AND WE'RE GOING UP TO THE CAVE.
HE'LL OPEN IT FOR US.
HARBER, FOLLOW ME.
Jason: EVERYBODY!
EVERYBODY, HE'S
GOING UP TO THE CAVE.
French: GET HIM OUT OF THERE!
PLEASE, PLEASE,
ALL OF YOU, LISTEN.
LISTEN TO ME.
THERE'S NO REASON, NO
REASON UNDER THE SUN
WHY THIS CAVE MUST BE OPENED;
WHY YOU MUST SEE THE OLD MAN.
ALL YOU HAVE TO KNOW
IS THAT HE'S KEPT US ALIVE.
HE'S LET US SURVIVE.
GOLDSMITH, WE'VE
SURVIVED FOR TEN YEARS!
BUT WE HAVEN'T LIVED.
JASON, HE DIDN'T DROP THE BOMB.
HE DIDN'T KILL OFF THIS EARTH.
WE DID THAT TO OURSELVES.
ALL HE'S DONE IS TO LET
US SURVIVE OUR MISTAKE.
ALL HE'S DONE IS TO LET US PLANT
A SEED AGAIN AND LET IT GROW.
ALL THE COMPASSION
THAT'S LEFT ON THIS EARTH
IS IN THAT CAVE.
WELL, THEN, MAKE
HIM OPEN THE CAVE!
LET'S SEE THE OLD MAN NOW!
OPEN UP THAT DOOR!
ALL RIGHT.
( metallic click)
MY GOD!
MY DEAR GOD!
IT'S A MACHINE.
IT'S A COMPUTER.
THERE'S YOUR OLD MAN,
THERE'S YOUR TYRANT.
KILL IT.
WELL, YOU'VE GOT TO KILL IT.
YOU'VE BEEN HUNGRY LONG ENOUGH.
NOW, KILL IT!
French: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
ALL RIGHT!
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE FREE NOW.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOU'RE FREE!
( footsteps approaching)
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE
WAYS THAT MEN COULD DIE,
WE FORGOT THE CHIEF
METHOD OF EXECUTION.
WE FORGOT FAITHLESSNESS,
MAJOR FRENCH.
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT TO BLAME.
MAYBE IF IT WEREN'T YOU, IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEONE ELSE.
MAYBE THIS HAS TO
BE THE DESTINY OF MAN.
I WONDER IF THAT'S TRUE.
I WONDER.
I GUESS I'LL NEVER KNOW.
I GUESS I'LL NEVER KNOW.
MR. GOLDSMITH, SURVIVOR,
AN EYEWITNESS TO
MAN'S IMPERFECTION,
AN OBSERVER OF THE
VERY HUMAN TRAIT OF GREED
AND A CHRONICLER
OF THE LAST CHAPTER...
THE ONE READING "SUICIDE."
NOT A PREDICTION
OF WHAT IS TO BE,
JUST A PROJECTION
OF WHAT COULD BE.
THIS HAS BEEN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Announcer: AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
NEXT ON THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
THE DISTINGUISHED
SIR CEDRIC HARDWICKE
LENDS US HIS
CONSIDERABLE TALENT,
ALONG WITH THE VERY
ACCOMPLISHED MISS CONSTANCE FORD.
THEY APPEAR IN WHAT CAN
MOST APTLY BE DESCRIBED
AS ONE OF THE SHOCKERS
IN OUR SCHEDULE.
THE PLAY IS CALLED
"UNCLE SIMON,"
AND THIS WE SUBMIT IS A RELATIVE
YOU'VE NEVER MET BEFORE.
IT'S A STORY WITH
A FINAL CURTAIN
I DOUBT ANYONE CAN PREDICT.
NEXT ON TWILIGHT
ZONE, "UNCLE SIMON."
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.
BEEN TO THE CAVE, JASON?
DID YOU SEE GOLDSMITH?
DID HE TALK TO THE OLD MAN?
GOLDSMITH'S STILL UP THERE.
HE SAID TO TELL YOU
HE'S GETTING A MESSAGE
FROM THE OLD MAN.
HE'LL BRING IT DOWN
WITH HIM IN A FEW MINUTES.
IS HE ASKING ABOUT THIS FOOD?
IT'S ALL PRE-BOMB, ALL OF IT.
IT'S SAFE AS ANYTHING.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO KEEP WAITING
FOR THE OLD MAN?
WHY DON'T WE JUST TAKE
OUR CHANCES WITH IT?
WE ALREADY TOOK CHANCES.
THE OLD MAN TOLD US
NOT TO PLANT ON
THE NORTH ACREAGE;
THAT IT WAS POISONOUS.
THIS IS WHAT CAME UP.
DID THESE GROW, EVIE,
OR DID SOMEBODY LEAVE
THEM TO US IN A WILL?
THEY WERE THE BEST.
THE BEST?!
HATE TO SEE THE WORST!
I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT
TO EAT THOSE, EVIE.
I SAY WE JUST BETTER
BURY THEM WITH HONORS.
THAT'S WHAT GOLDSMITH
WENT TO THE CAVE FOR...
TO ASK THE OLD MAN
WHAT LAND WE
SHOULD TRY THIS TIME.
THE OLD MAN, INDEED.
WHO KNOWS WHERE HE GETS
HIS OMNISCIENT KNOWLEDGE,
BUT EVIE'S RIGHT.
HE KNOWS ABOUT LAND.
REMEMBER THOSE
TOMATOES THAT CAME UP?
YOU REMEMBER HE SENT
A MESSAGE TO GOLDSMITH,
TELLING US NOT TO PLANT THEM?
OH... THEY WERE MONSTROUS.
LIKE... ROTTEN WATERMELONS.
THEY TASTED... BUT, JASON,
ALL OF THIS STUFF'S PRE-BOMB.
I JUST KNOW IT.
LET'S WAIT FOR GOLDSMITH.
SEE WHAT THE OLD MAN HAS TO SAY.
WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD?
WAIT TILL GOLDSMITH
GETS BACK FROM THE CAVE.
WAIT TILL HE HAS A CHANCE
TO ASK THE OLD MAN.
I'M SURPRISED AT
YOU, ALL OF YOU.
MAN DOESN'T LIVE BY BREAD
OR CANNED FOOD ALONE,
OR FREAK CARROTS,
OR MUTATED TOMATOES.
BUT DO ME A FAVOR, WILL YOU?
DON'T ASK ME WHAT
HE DOES LIVE BY.
IN THIS TENTH ILLUSTRIOUS
YEAR AFTER THE BOMB,
I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TELL YOU.
ANNOUNCEMENT!
I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE'VE JUST HAD COMMUNICATION
FROM THE OLD MAN IN THE CAVE.
THERE'S AN 80% POSSIBILITY
OF RAIN TOMORROW.
THE WIND'S FROM THE NORTHEAST.
THIS MEANS THAT
THERE WILL LIKELY BE
A VERY HIGH RADIOACTIVE
COUNT IN THE PRECIPITATION.
NOW PLACE ALL RAIN
BARRELS UPSIDE DOWN,
AND KEEP ALL WATER
TROUGHS COVERED.
AS TO THE CANNED GOODS THERE,
THE OLD MAN SAYS THAT
THEY'RE CONTAMINATED
AND SHOULD BE DESTROYED.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT
IS A LEGACY THAT
MAN LEFT TO HIMSELF.
A DECADE PREVIOUS,
HE PUSHED HIS BUTTONS
AND A NIGHTMARISH MOMENT
LATER WOKE UP TO FIND
THAT HE HAD SET THE CLOCK
BACK A THOUSAND YEARS.
HIS ENGINES, HIS
MEDICINES, HIS SCIENCE
WERE BURIED IN A MASS TOMB
COVERED OVER BY THE BIGGEST
GRAVEDIGGER OF THEM ALL...
A BOMB.
AND THIS IS THE EARTH,
TEN YEARS LATER,
A FRAGMENT OF WHAT
WAS ONCE A WHOLE,
A REMNANT OF WHAT
WAS ONCE A RACE.
THE YEAR IS 1974, AND
THIS IS THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYONE IN CHARGE?
I'M IN CHARGE.
DO YOU HAVE A NAME?
GOLDSMITH.
HMM.
THIS PLACE... DOES
IT HAVE A NAME?
AND IF IT DOES... MAJOR?
IF IT DOES, FATHER,
WE'D LIKE TO HEAR IT.
UH... WHO ARE YOU?
MAJOR FRENCH IS MY NAME.
CENTRAL STATES COMMANDER.
WE'RE BEING SENT
AROUND TO ORGANIZE.
ORGANIZE?
YES, THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
NOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE
DO YOU HAVE HERE?
WE HAVEN'T COUNTED LATELY.
WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
THERE'S SUFFICIENT.
HMM.
YOU GROW YOUR OWN?
SOME.
WE HAVE A SUPPLY OF PREWAR
CANNED GOODS LEFT OVER.
WE'LL NEED SOME QUARTERS.
HARBER, HAVE A LOOK AROUND.
DOUGLAS, YOU STAY WITH THE JEEP.
FURMAN... STAY WITH ME.
MAJOR, UH, WHAT DO YOU WANT?
PAINLESS THINGS.
WE'D LIKE QUARTERS
FOR THE FOUR OF US,
RATIONS FOR AS
LONG AS WE'RE HERE
AND NO TROUBLE.
THAT LAST PART...
PUT IT ON TOP: NO TROUBLE.
I DON'T THINK YOU
UNDERSTAND, MAJOR.
WE DON'T RECOGNIZE
YOUR AUTHORITY HERE.
WE'VE HAD TRANSIENTS
PASS THROUGH ON OCCASION,
BUT THEY DIDN'T STAY.
LIKE YOU, THEY REPRESENTED
THEMSELVES AS AUTHORITIES,
BUT WE DISCOVERED THEY CARRIED
THEIR HEADQUARTERS WITH THEM.
THEY REPRESENTED NO
ONE BUT THEMSELVES.
WELL, THIS IS A NEW
BREED, MR. GOLDSMITH.
THIS WHOLE AREA WILL
BE ORGANIZED NOW.
IT WILL BE SET UP
INTO MILITARY SECTORS,
EACH CONTROLLED BY A
LOCAL CONSTABULARY...
YOURS TRULY.
WELL, YOU AND YOUR CONSTABULARY
CAN REMAIN OVERNIGHT
AND WE'LL BE GLAD
TO SHARE OUR FOOD
WITH YOU, BED YOU DOWN.
TOMORROW MORNING, YOU'D BETTER
DO YOUR ORGANIZING
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
MR. GOLDSMITH, THE
FOLLOWING IS UNOFFICIAL.
NOW, WE'D LIKE YOU TO
MAKE YOUR TRANSITION HERE
AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.
NOW, UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES,
WE MIGHT EVEN
ALLOW YOU TO REMAIN
IN NOMINAL CONTROL.
THAT'S ASSUMING THAT YOU
DON'T GIVE US ANY TROUBLE.
NOW, THAT'S UNOFFICIAL.
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFICIAL.
NOW, LET ME FILL YOU IN ON THE
SITUATION HERE, MR. GOLDSMITH.
BETWEEN BUFFALO, NEW
YORK, AND ATLANTA, GEORGIA,
THERE ARE PROBABLY
AROUND 500 PEOPLE ALIVE.
YOU KNOW WHY.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO AUTHORITY,
THERE'S NO DISCIPLINE.
WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU BOTH.
AND IF YOU GIVE
US ANY TROUBLE...
ANY TROUBLE AT ALL...
I'M GOING TO HANG YOU
FROM THAT BALCONY
RIGHT OVER THERE.
WELL, NOW, WHAT
ABOUT IT, MR. GOLDSMITH?
YOU WANT TO COOPERATE
OR DO YOU WANT YOUR NECK BROKEN?
WE ALREADY HAVE AN AUTHORITY.
WE'VE HAD HIM FOR
BETTER THAN TEN YEARS.
WHAT IS ALL THIS?
POISON.
IT'S CONTAMINATED FOOD.
WHO SAYS SO?
THE OLD MAN IN THE CAVE.
A, UH, OLD MAN IN A CAVE...
HAVE ANY OF YOU
LOOKED AT YOURSELVES
IN THE MIRROR LATELY?
YOU ALL LOOK LIKE
SKELETONS, YOU KNOW THAT?
JUST LIKE SKELETONS.
WHERE IS THIS OLD MAN
WHO KEEPS YOU ON A DIET?
WHEN DOES HE COME OUT?
HE NEVER COMES OUT.
HE STAYS IN THE CAVE.
WELL, I'M NOT SURPRISED,
MR. GOLDSMITH.
I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.
OFF LAKE ERIE, WE'VE GOT A
PACK OF WEIRDIES UP THERE
THAT BAY AT THE
MOON ONCE A WEEK.
AND THEN AROUND WHAT
USED TO BE CHICAGO,
MAN, WE GOT A REAL
SWINGING CULT GOING THERE.
THEY'VE BUILT
THEMSELVES A STATUE
MADE OUT OF FISSIONABLE LEAD.
THIS IS THEIR DEITY.
WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
WE HAVE AN INVISIBLE
OLD MAN IN A CAVE.
NOW, COME ON, MR. GOLDSMITH.
NOW, WHEN YOU TAKE IT OUT
AND RUN IT AROUND THE
BLOCK A COUPLE OF TIMES,
DON'T YOU THINK IT
SOUNDS KIND OF NUTTY?
WE'VE SURVIVED, MAJOR FRENCH.
THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS DIED
OF RADIOACTIVITY,
STRONTIUM 90, PLAGUE.
WE SURVIVED.
BECAUSE OF THE OLD MAN, HUH?
THAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE
OF THE OLD MAN.
HE CUES YOU IN, HUH?
HE TELLS YOU WHAT'S POISONOUS,
WHAT'S RADIOACTIVE,
THAT WHOLE BIT?
AS LONG AS HE'S
ALIVE, WE'LL BE ALIVE.
DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
NOW, I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU
ARE GOING TO DIE
OF RADIOACTIVITY.
I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO KICK
OFF, YOU'RE GOING TO KICK OFF
EITHER FROM MALNUTRITION OR
FROM BEING CONNED TO DEATH.
IF THAT'S TRUE, MAJOR, AT
LEAST IT'LL BE A PAINLESS DEATH.
MR. GOLDSMITH, CHECK THIS.
THE BOOKING ODDS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
500 TO ONE THAT YOUR OLD
MAN IS A SOFT-IN-THE-HEAD HERMIT
WHO DOESN'T EVEN
KNOW WHAT YEAR IT IS.
THAT'S NOT FOR US TO SAY.
THAT'S FOR YOU TO ASK!
ALL OF YOU!
FRIENDS, ROMANS, FARM ANIMALS,
WE ARE NOW GOING UP TO THE CAVE
AND CHECK YOUR FAVORITE RECLUSE.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING
HIM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
AND GET A GOOD LOOK AT HIM.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE
IF HE'S WORTHWHILE
KEEPING ALIVE.
COME ON, YOU'RE COMING WITH US.
ALL RIGHT, GOLDSMITH,
DO YOU WANT TO
TELL US ABOUT THIS?
HOW DO YOU OPEN IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE,
IT'S NEVER BEEN OPENED.
French: BUT THE OLD
MAN LIVES INSIDE, RIGHT?
HOW DOES HE LIVE?
HOW DOES HE STAY ALIVE?
I DON'T KNOW.
HOW DO YOU KNOW HE'S IN THERE?
HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH HIM?
HE SENDS OUT NOTES... MESSAGES.
HE SENDS OUT NOTES AND MESSAGES.
WELL, GENTLEMEN, WE
REALLY HAVE A PRIZE HERE.
WE GET THE BLUE RIBBON FOR THIS.
AN IDIOT LEADING THE IDIOTS.
DOUGLAS, THROW ME
THAT HAND GRENADE.
YOU PEOPLE BETTER
MAKE SOME TRACKS.
MIGHT MAKE YOUR EYES SMART.
( explosion)
( thud)
OLD MAN, THIS IS
JUST THE BEGINNING!
YOU HEAR?!
JUST THE BEGINNING.
( chuckles)
( chuckling)
DOUGLAS... CAR.
( loud commotion)
DON'T TAKE THIS FOOD OUT.
YOU HEAR, IT'S CONTAMINATED.
SURE, MR. GOLDSMITH.
STOP IT! LISTEN
TO ME, ALL OF YOU.
LISTEN TO ME!
THERE'S EVERY POSSIBILITY
THAT ALL OF THOSE CANS
CONTAIN ENOUGH STRONTIUM 90
TO KILL EVERY MAN, WOMAN
AND CHILD IN THIS VILLAGE.
( gasps)
( groaning)
( chuckling)
OH, COME ON, MR. GOLDSMITH,
WHY DON'T YOU TELL US HOW
DISAPPOINTED YOU ARE, HUH?
OH, MR. GOLDSMITH, YOU
ARE KOOKY, YOU KNOW THAT?
YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH FOOD
IN THAT PILE OVER THERE
TO FEED US ALL FOR
A GOOD LONG TIME.
THERE'S ENOUGH
POISON IN THOSE CANS
TO KILL US ALL IN TEN DAYS.
MOST OF IT WAS
CANNED AFTER THE BOMB.
WE'VE NO IDEA
WHERE IT CAME FROM;
WHO PROCESSED IT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S LAY IT ON
THE LINE THERE, MR. GOLDSMITH.
HERE, NOW.
COME ON, WHO'D LIKE
A NICE SQUARE MEAL
FOR A CHANGE, HUH?
ANYBODY ELSE? DIG IN.
OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE
WANT TO CONTINUE
TO PLAY KINDERGARTEN GAMES
WITH MR. GOLDSMITH HERE,
GO HOME AND CHEW ON AN OLD BONE.
Goldsmith: NO, DON'T BE FOOLS!
DON'T COMMIT SUICIDE!
DON'T LET THESE PACK
RATS INVADE OUR HOMES,
TURN ORDER UPSIDE DOWN!
STOP IT, STOP IT!
DON'T EAT THE FOOD.
HEY, LOOK AT THIS!
WE JUST REPEALED PROHIBITION!
( commotion)
JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS, HUH?
LIKE THANKSGIVING.
YEAH, THANKSGIVING, TOO.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
JASON.
JASON?
JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE.
YEAH, I'M A LITERATE
MAN, YOU KNOW THAT?
I WENT TO COLLEGE, JASON.
YEAH, I WENT TO COLLEGE.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
WELL, IF IT ISN'T THE
ILLUSTRIOUS MR. GOLDSMITH,
KEEPER OF THE LEGEND,
PROTECTOR OF THE FABLES,
AND THE LORD, HIGH
CHAMBERLAIN OF THE CAVE.
YOU LOOK HUNGRY, MR. GOLDSMITH.
AND THIRSTY.
( bottle breaks)
YOU'VE GOT 100 CASES OF
THAT STUFF OVER THERE.
NOW, YOU WANT TO
BREAK EVERY BOTTLE, MAN,
YOU'VE GOT A BIG JOB.
DO YOU HAVE ANY REMOTE IDEA
WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THIS VILLAGE?
YEAH.
YEAH, I BROUGHT
INTO THIS VILLAGE
THE FIRST SQUARE MEAL
THAT ANY OF THESE PEOPLE
HAVE HAD IN TEN YEARS.
AND THE FIRST SIX PROTRACTED
HOURS OF ENJOYMENT
THAT ANY OF THEM
HAVE HAD SINCE...
YOU STARTED LEADING THEM
AROUND BY THE NOSE.
NOW, WHY DON'T YOU
UNBEND, OLD MAN?
CAN YOU ANSWER ME THAT?
WHY DON'T YOU UNBEND?
YOU CAME AS INTRUDERS,
BUT NOW YOU'RE MURDERERS.
ONLY GOD KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE
WILL DIE BECAUSE OF TONIGHT.
THE OLD MAN IN THE
CAVE WARNED US
ABOUT THIS FOOD DOZENS OF TIMES.
HE WARNED US.
OLD MAN IN THE CAVE!
THE OLD MAN IN A CAVE!
( yelling): NOW HEAR THIS!
THERE IS NO OLD MAN IN THE CAVE!
HE'S A LIE!
HE'S A CONCOCTION.
NOBODY'S SEEN HIM,
NOBODY'S HEARD HIM,
NOBODY KNOWS WHO HE
IS, OR WHERE HE'S FROM.
YOU MADE HIM UP.
YOU CUT HIM OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH!
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOUR GRAFT IS, GOLDSMITH...
I DON'T KNOW HOW
YOU GET PAID OFF,
BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT'S TIME
YOU LET THESE PEOPLE
KNOW WHAT'S IN THAT CAVE.
OPEN THE CAVE, GOLDSMITH.
YOU'LL HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST.
MISTER, I HAVE KILLED
A HUNDRED TIMES YOU.
THAT'S HOW I'VE STAYED ALIVE.
JASON, GATHER UP YOUR PEOPLE
AND WE'RE GOING UP TO THE CAVE.
HE'LL OPEN IT FOR US.
HARBER, FOLLOW ME.
Jason: EVERYBODY!
EVERYBODY, HE'S
GOING UP TO THE CAVE.
French: GET HIM OUT OF THERE!
PLEASE, PLEASE,
ALL OF YOU, LISTEN.
LISTEN TO ME.
THERE'S NO REASON, NO
REASON UNDER THE SUN
WHY THIS CAVE MUST BE OPENED;
WHY YOU MUST SEE THE OLD MAN.
ALL YOU HAVE TO KNOW
IS THAT HE'S KEPT US ALIVE.
HE'S LET US SURVIVE.
GOLDSMITH, WE'VE
SURVIVED FOR TEN YEARS!
BUT WE HAVEN'T LIVED.
JASON, HE DIDN'T DROP THE BOMB.
HE DIDN'T KILL OFF THIS EARTH.
WE DID THAT TO OURSELVES.
ALL HE'S DONE IS TO LET
US SURVIVE OUR MISTAKE.
ALL HE'S DONE IS TO LET US PLANT
A SEED AGAIN AND LET IT GROW.
ALL THE COMPASSION
THAT'S LEFT ON THIS EARTH
IS IN THAT CAVE.
WELL, THEN, MAKE
HIM OPEN THE CAVE!
LET'S SEE THE OLD MAN NOW!
OPEN UP THAT DOOR!
ALL RIGHT.
( metallic click)
MY GOD!
MY DEAR GOD!
IT'S A MACHINE.
IT'S A COMPUTER.
THERE'S YOUR OLD MAN,
THERE'S YOUR TYRANT.
KILL IT.
WELL, YOU'VE GOT TO KILL IT.
YOU'VE BEEN HUNGRY LONG ENOUGH.
NOW, KILL IT!
French: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
ALL RIGHT!
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE FREE NOW.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOU'RE FREE!
( footsteps approaching)
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE
WAYS THAT MEN COULD DIE,
WE FORGOT THE CHIEF
METHOD OF EXECUTION.
WE FORGOT FAITHLESSNESS,
MAJOR FRENCH.
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT TO BLAME.
MAYBE IF IT WEREN'T YOU, IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEONE ELSE.
MAYBE THIS HAS TO
BE THE DESTINY OF MAN.
I WONDER IF THAT'S TRUE.
I WONDER.
I GUESS I'LL NEVER KNOW.
I GUESS I'LL NEVER KNOW.
MR. GOLDSMITH, SURVIVOR,
AN EYEWITNESS TO
MAN'S IMPERFECTION,
AN OBSERVER OF THE
VERY HUMAN TRAIT OF GREED
AND A CHRONICLER
OF THE LAST CHAPTER...
THE ONE READING "SUICIDE."
NOT A PREDICTION
OF WHAT IS TO BE,
JUST A PROJECTION
OF WHAT COULD BE.
THIS HAS BEEN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
Announcer: AND NOW, MR. SERLING.
NEXT ON THE TWILIGHT ZONE,
THE DISTINGUISHED
SIR CEDRIC HARDWICKE
LENDS US HIS
CONSIDERABLE TALENT,
ALONG WITH THE VERY
ACCOMPLISHED MISS CONSTANCE FORD.
THEY APPEAR IN WHAT CAN
MOST APTLY BE DESCRIBED
AS ONE OF THE SHOCKERS
IN OUR SCHEDULE.
THE PLAY IS CALLED
"UNCLE SIMON,"
AND THIS WE SUBMIT IS A RELATIVE
YOU'VE NEVER MET BEFORE.
IT'S A STORY WITH
A FINAL CURTAIN
I DOUBT ANYONE CAN PREDICT.
NEXT ON TWILIGHT
ZONE, "UNCLE SIMON."