The Twilight Zone (1959) s03e08 Episode Script
It's a Good Life
You're traveling through another dimension- a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind, a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination.
Your next stop, the twilight zone.
Tonight's story onthe twilight zoneis somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction.
This, as you may recognize, is a map of the united states and there's a little town there called peaksville.
On a given morning not too long ago the rest of the world disappeared and peaksville was left all alone.
Its inhabitants were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only peaksville left untouched, or whether the village had somehow been taken away.
They were, on the other hand, sure of one thing- the cause.
A monster had arrived in the village.
Just by using his mind, he took away the automobiles, the electricity, the machines, because they displeased him.
And he moved an entire community back into the dark ages just by using his mind.
Now i'd like to introduce you to some of the people in peaksville, ohio.
This is mr.
Fremont.
It's in his farmhouse that the monster resides.
This is mrs.
Fremont.
And this is aunt amy, who probably had more control over the monster in the beginning than almost anyone.
But one day she forgot.
She began to sing aloud.
Now, the monster doesn't like singing so his mind snapped at her, and turned her into this smiling, vacant thing you're looking at now.
She sings no more.
And you'll note that the people in peaksville, ohio have to smile.
They have to think happy thoughts and say happy things because once displeased, the monster can wish them into a cornfield or change them into a grotesque, walking horror.
This particular monster can read minds, you see.
He knows every thought, he can feel every emotion.
Oh, yes, i did forget something, didn't i? I forgot to introduce you to the monster.
This is the monster.
His name is anthony fremont.
He's six-years-old with a cute, little-boy face and blue, guileless eyes.
But when those eyes look at you, you'd better start thinking happy thoughts because the mind behind them is absolutely in charge.
This is the twilight zone.
Howdy, anthony.
Mighty good to see you today.
Mighty good.
And it's such a good day, isn't it? A real good day.
It's a terrible hot day, though.
It's a terrible hot day.
Oh, i wouldn't say that, aunt amy.
No, sir, i wouldn't say that at all.
It's fine.
It's just fine.
It's a real good day! What are you doing, anthony? My, that's real good, whatever it is.
I was just wondering what you were doing.
I made a gopher with three heads.
See him? Yeah.
Yeah, my, he's a real fine one.
I ain't never seen a gopher with three heads before.
I'll make him dead now.
I'm tired of playing with him.
Be dead.
Gopher, you be dead! My, my, that's real fine that you done that.
That's-that's real fine, anthony.
You're a good boy, anthony.
We all love you.
Don't we, aunt amy? Don't we love anthony? We sure do love him.
We love that boy.
Howdy, mrs.
Fremont.
Howdy, bill.
Got everything? Pretty much.
Didn't have any more laundry soap, though.
All out of laundry soap.
Well, that's to be expected.
Not even the bar soap, though, huh? All out of that, too.
Oh, we've been out of that for a year.
You know that, mrs.
Fremont.
We ain't had no bar soap for over a year.
But i i got a couple of cans of tomato soup in here.
Didn't even know we had them left.
Bill and anthony just loves tomato soup, don't he? So i brought that.
Oh, bill.
You'll tell him, won't you, mrs.
Fremont? Tell him i brought the tomato soup because i heard he liked it.
Tell himibrought it, won't you? Yes, i will, bill.
Course, i will.
Matter of fact, i'll tell him right now.
Oh, no, you don't have to do that, mrs.
Fremont.
You don't have to go to that trouble now.
I got to get going.
I got to get back to the store.
You don't have to be frightened of him, bill.
He likes you.
He's told me that several times- how much he likes you.
Well, that's real nice to hear, mrs.
Fremont.
He's a real clever boy.
You know what he was doing out there? Making some kind of furry animal.
Yesterday he made one i never did see the likes of it.
He invented it all by himself.
It had real sharp teeth.
It tried to bite him.
I was kind of hoping that i got to get going, mrs.
Fremont.
But i'm real glad that anthony keeps making these things.
Oh, see you tonight, bill.
Tonight? Tonight is television night.
Anthony's going to put a nice picture on television.
And we're going to have the surprise party for dan hollis.
A real nice surprise party.
Oh, i i'll be here, mrs.
Fremont.
I'll certainly be here.
Where's anthony? I think he went into the barn.
I keep telling him he shouldn't go there, but he keeps on amy? It's a real good thing that anthony goes in the barn, a real good thing.
But agnes, he isn't even around even so, amy you don't have to keep saying it even so, it's nice that he goes in the barn, it's real nice.
We mustn't think anything bad about him, amy.
But he isn't even around.
Amy, dear, you know as well as i do that sometimes sometimes he can hear what we're thinking, no matter where he is.
So, you just keep thinking real nice things.
And tonight, we'll have dan hollis' birthday party, and, and we'll just have a-a delightful time, just a real nice, delightful time.
But it's a terrible, hot day.
I hope it cools off by tonight.
I wouldn't say it was hot, amy.
Why, it's just right.
Why, it's just a real good day.
Just a a real good day.
Well, howdy, anthony.
I was looking for you a bit ago.
Your mama said you was out in the barn.
I was looking at the cow.
Oh, oh, that's good.
That's real good that you were looking at the cow.
Now, uh you weren't playing any tricks on your old dad, were you? I mean, remember last year when you when we had the pigs? I turned them into monsters.
Oh, doggone if you didn't.
Funny looking things, too.
But good things, anthony, real good things and it's good that you done that.
Oh, it's real good.
Television night tonight.
I'm going to make television for everybody.
Oh, you sure are, and everybody is looking forward to it, too.
Just like they do every week when you make television.
And we're going to have that surprise birthday party for dan hollis, too.
Was you looking for something, anthony? Could i get you something, son? No kids came over to play with me today.
Not a single one.
And i wanted someone to play with.
Oh, well, anthony, you remember the last time some kids came over to play- the little fredericks boy and his sister? I had a real good time.
Oh, sure, you did.
You had a real good time, and it's good that you have a good time.
It's real good.
It's, uh, just that just that what? Well, anthony, you, uh you wished them away into the cornfield and their mommy and daddy were real upset.
About what? Well, it's just that if you wish people away like that there won't be no one left.
Maybe next week we'll talk to some of the folks about bringing their children over.
We'll do that, won't we? And i can make some of those funny animals, dad.
Yeah, yeah it's fun, it's lots of fun to do.
That's bill soames' collie.
That's that dog that comes around.
Yeah, yeah, that does sound like bill soames' dog.
Not many dogs left now, anthony.
You why, you wished them all away.
I don't like them.
They didn't like me.
I hate anybody like that.
I hate anybody that doesn't like me.
Why, everybody loves you, anthony.
Theyloveyou, son.
You're everybody's favorite.
I heard somebody think one time- i don't remember when, but sometime- that i shouldn't wish away all the automobiles and things and electricity.
They said that it wasn't good that i did that.
Somebody thought that one time.
Who? Who thought that? Oh, why, that was, uh teddy reynolds who thought that.
He owned the farm up the road.
He shouldn't have thought those bad thoughts! That's why i made him go on fire.
That dog.
That collie dog.
He doesn't like me.
He's abaddog.
Anthony? Did you do something to bill soames' dog? Did you, son? I put him in the cornfield.
He isn't outside anymore.
Bill soames' collie was out in the yard.
Why, anthony put him in the cornfield.
Isn't it a real good thing that he done that, honey? Isn't it a real good thing? Yes, it was a real good thing that he done that.
It was a real good thing.
That's all the television there is.
Oh, it was wonderful, anthony.
Wasn't it, everyone? Oh, that was real good.
That was real good.
Wasn't anthony's television wonderful tonight? Oh, it was just the best.
It was much better than the old television.
Much better.
And now, the big surprise for dan's birthday.
Go ahead, ethel.
Give your hubby the big surprise.
What's this? Oh, perry como! Why, i haven't heard perry como in years and years.
Happy birthday, darling.
Happy birthday.
Hey you better be careful.
I'm holding a priceless object.
Look, do you think we could play it? Gosh, what i'd give to hear some new music.
Well, just the first part- the orchestra part before como sings.
I don't think we'd better, dan.
After all, we don't know just where the singing comes in.
It'd be taking too much of a chance.
Better wait till you get home.
It's good i can't play it here.
Oh, yes, it's good.
It's very good.
Uh, and now it's time for pat riley to play the piano.
Uh pat? My pleasure.
It would be good if you told me what to play, anthony.
It would be real good if you'd tell me what music you'd like to hear.
Just play- play anything.
All right.
All right, i'll play, uh i'll play "moonglow.
" That's a nice old tune.
Oh, that's a nice tune.
Oh, yes, that's a very good tune.
Don't make any noise when the music's playing.
I don't like any noise when the music's playing.
Dan dan, please.
Please what? I'm not doing anything.
I'm just drinking this peach brandy.
I'm just drinking one of my birthday presents, that's all i'm doing.
Dan, please, for the love of heaven please don't say anything.
Who's saying anything? I'm not saying anything.
I'm not saying anything at all! Go ahead, pat, play.
Go on, keep playing.
You know, this is real good brandy.
Real good.
You folks know something? There's only five bottles of real whiskey left in the whole village.
Only five bottles.
There's one rye two scotch, one after-dinner liqueur and and this here.
When that's all gone there won't be any any whiskey left at all.
None at all.
No whiskey at all.
Nuts! I can't even play my own record.
I can't even play perry como! Don't play that, pat.
That's not what i want you to play.
Play this- ? happy birthday to me? ? happy birthday? ? to me? Dan! ? happy birthday? ? dear danny? Please stop! Be quiet.
Please stop! ? happy birthday to me.
? Play it, pat.
Play it so i can sing right.
You know i can't carry a tune unless somebody plays it.
You you and her, you had him.
You had to go have him.
? you are my sunshine? ? my only sunshine? ? you make me happy? ? when i am blue? You monster, you.
You dirty little monster.
You murderer.
You think about me.
Go ahead, anthony.
You think bad thoughts about me and maybe some man in this room some man with guts somebody who's so sick to death of living in this kind of place and willing to take a chance will sneak up behind you and lay something heavy across your skull and end this once and for all! You're a bad man! You're a very bad man! You think that.
Go ahead, anthony, i'm a very bad man.
Keep thinking that.
Somebody sneak up behind him.
Somebody end this now! While he's thinking about me! Won't somebody take a lamp or a bottle or something and end this? You're a bad man.
You're a very bad man, and you keep thinking bad thoughts about me.
Wish it into the cornfield.
Please, son, wish it into the cornfield, please.
He was a bad man so i turned him into a jack-in-the-box, a jack-in-the-box that still had his bad face.
And you mustn't think bad thoughts about me, either, or i'll do the same thing to you.
Play some more music.
It's good what you done to dan.
It's real good.
That was swell.
It was just swell.
That was really good.
I kind of liked it a little bit better when we had cities outside and and we could get real television things like that.
Amy, it's it's real good for you to say such a thing.
It's real good.
But how can you mean it? Why, anthony's television is much better than anything we ever used to get.
Oh, yes, it's fine.
Why, anthony's television is the best television we've ever seen.
It's snowing outside.
Anthony, are are you making it snow? Yes, i'm making it snow.
Why, that will ruin half the crops! You know that, don't you? Half the crops, that's what that'll dad but it's good that you're making it snow, anthony.
It's real good.
And tomorrow tomorrow is going to be a real good day.
No comment here, no comment at all.
We only wanted to introduce you to one of our very special citizens- little anthony fremont, age six, who lives in a village called peaksville, in a place that used to be ohio.
And if by some strange chance you should run across him you had best think only good thoughts.
Anything less than that is handled at your own risk.
Because if you do meet anthony you can be sure of one thing- you have entered the twilight zone.
Rod serling, creator ofthe twilight zone, will tell you about next week's story after this message.
And now, mr.
Serling.
This is the lobby of an inn in a small bavarian town, and next week, we'll enter it with a former s.
s.
Officer.
It's the first stop on his road back to relive a horror that was nazi germany.
Mr.
Joseph schildkraut and mr.
Oscar beregi demonstrate what happens to the monster when it is judged by the victim.
Our feeling here is that this is as stark and moving a piece of drama as we've ever presented.
I very much hope that you're around to make your own judgment.
Faith is for those who look for it, who try each day to know it better.
Worship together every week at your church or synagogue.
Your next stop, the twilight zone.
Tonight's story onthe twilight zoneis somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction.
This, as you may recognize, is a map of the united states and there's a little town there called peaksville.
On a given morning not too long ago the rest of the world disappeared and peaksville was left all alone.
Its inhabitants were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only peaksville left untouched, or whether the village had somehow been taken away.
They were, on the other hand, sure of one thing- the cause.
A monster had arrived in the village.
Just by using his mind, he took away the automobiles, the electricity, the machines, because they displeased him.
And he moved an entire community back into the dark ages just by using his mind.
Now i'd like to introduce you to some of the people in peaksville, ohio.
This is mr.
Fremont.
It's in his farmhouse that the monster resides.
This is mrs.
Fremont.
And this is aunt amy, who probably had more control over the monster in the beginning than almost anyone.
But one day she forgot.
She began to sing aloud.
Now, the monster doesn't like singing so his mind snapped at her, and turned her into this smiling, vacant thing you're looking at now.
She sings no more.
And you'll note that the people in peaksville, ohio have to smile.
They have to think happy thoughts and say happy things because once displeased, the monster can wish them into a cornfield or change them into a grotesque, walking horror.
This particular monster can read minds, you see.
He knows every thought, he can feel every emotion.
Oh, yes, i did forget something, didn't i? I forgot to introduce you to the monster.
This is the monster.
His name is anthony fremont.
He's six-years-old with a cute, little-boy face and blue, guileless eyes.
But when those eyes look at you, you'd better start thinking happy thoughts because the mind behind them is absolutely in charge.
This is the twilight zone.
Howdy, anthony.
Mighty good to see you today.
Mighty good.
And it's such a good day, isn't it? A real good day.
It's a terrible hot day, though.
It's a terrible hot day.
Oh, i wouldn't say that, aunt amy.
No, sir, i wouldn't say that at all.
It's fine.
It's just fine.
It's a real good day! What are you doing, anthony? My, that's real good, whatever it is.
I was just wondering what you were doing.
I made a gopher with three heads.
See him? Yeah.
Yeah, my, he's a real fine one.
I ain't never seen a gopher with three heads before.
I'll make him dead now.
I'm tired of playing with him.
Be dead.
Gopher, you be dead! My, my, that's real fine that you done that.
That's-that's real fine, anthony.
You're a good boy, anthony.
We all love you.
Don't we, aunt amy? Don't we love anthony? We sure do love him.
We love that boy.
Howdy, mrs.
Fremont.
Howdy, bill.
Got everything? Pretty much.
Didn't have any more laundry soap, though.
All out of laundry soap.
Well, that's to be expected.
Not even the bar soap, though, huh? All out of that, too.
Oh, we've been out of that for a year.
You know that, mrs.
Fremont.
We ain't had no bar soap for over a year.
But i i got a couple of cans of tomato soup in here.
Didn't even know we had them left.
Bill and anthony just loves tomato soup, don't he? So i brought that.
Oh, bill.
You'll tell him, won't you, mrs.
Fremont? Tell him i brought the tomato soup because i heard he liked it.
Tell himibrought it, won't you? Yes, i will, bill.
Course, i will.
Matter of fact, i'll tell him right now.
Oh, no, you don't have to do that, mrs.
Fremont.
You don't have to go to that trouble now.
I got to get going.
I got to get back to the store.
You don't have to be frightened of him, bill.
He likes you.
He's told me that several times- how much he likes you.
Well, that's real nice to hear, mrs.
Fremont.
He's a real clever boy.
You know what he was doing out there? Making some kind of furry animal.
Yesterday he made one i never did see the likes of it.
He invented it all by himself.
It had real sharp teeth.
It tried to bite him.
I was kind of hoping that i got to get going, mrs.
Fremont.
But i'm real glad that anthony keeps making these things.
Oh, see you tonight, bill.
Tonight? Tonight is television night.
Anthony's going to put a nice picture on television.
And we're going to have the surprise party for dan hollis.
A real nice surprise party.
Oh, i i'll be here, mrs.
Fremont.
I'll certainly be here.
Where's anthony? I think he went into the barn.
I keep telling him he shouldn't go there, but he keeps on amy? It's a real good thing that anthony goes in the barn, a real good thing.
But agnes, he isn't even around even so, amy you don't have to keep saying it even so, it's nice that he goes in the barn, it's real nice.
We mustn't think anything bad about him, amy.
But he isn't even around.
Amy, dear, you know as well as i do that sometimes sometimes he can hear what we're thinking, no matter where he is.
So, you just keep thinking real nice things.
And tonight, we'll have dan hollis' birthday party, and, and we'll just have a-a delightful time, just a real nice, delightful time.
But it's a terrible, hot day.
I hope it cools off by tonight.
I wouldn't say it was hot, amy.
Why, it's just right.
Why, it's just a real good day.
Just a a real good day.
Well, howdy, anthony.
I was looking for you a bit ago.
Your mama said you was out in the barn.
I was looking at the cow.
Oh, oh, that's good.
That's real good that you were looking at the cow.
Now, uh you weren't playing any tricks on your old dad, were you? I mean, remember last year when you when we had the pigs? I turned them into monsters.
Oh, doggone if you didn't.
Funny looking things, too.
But good things, anthony, real good things and it's good that you done that.
Oh, it's real good.
Television night tonight.
I'm going to make television for everybody.
Oh, you sure are, and everybody is looking forward to it, too.
Just like they do every week when you make television.
And we're going to have that surprise birthday party for dan hollis, too.
Was you looking for something, anthony? Could i get you something, son? No kids came over to play with me today.
Not a single one.
And i wanted someone to play with.
Oh, well, anthony, you remember the last time some kids came over to play- the little fredericks boy and his sister? I had a real good time.
Oh, sure, you did.
You had a real good time, and it's good that you have a good time.
It's real good.
It's, uh, just that just that what? Well, anthony, you, uh you wished them away into the cornfield and their mommy and daddy were real upset.
About what? Well, it's just that if you wish people away like that there won't be no one left.
Maybe next week we'll talk to some of the folks about bringing their children over.
We'll do that, won't we? And i can make some of those funny animals, dad.
Yeah, yeah it's fun, it's lots of fun to do.
That's bill soames' collie.
That's that dog that comes around.
Yeah, yeah, that does sound like bill soames' dog.
Not many dogs left now, anthony.
You why, you wished them all away.
I don't like them.
They didn't like me.
I hate anybody like that.
I hate anybody that doesn't like me.
Why, everybody loves you, anthony.
Theyloveyou, son.
You're everybody's favorite.
I heard somebody think one time- i don't remember when, but sometime- that i shouldn't wish away all the automobiles and things and electricity.
They said that it wasn't good that i did that.
Somebody thought that one time.
Who? Who thought that? Oh, why, that was, uh teddy reynolds who thought that.
He owned the farm up the road.
He shouldn't have thought those bad thoughts! That's why i made him go on fire.
That dog.
That collie dog.
He doesn't like me.
He's abaddog.
Anthony? Did you do something to bill soames' dog? Did you, son? I put him in the cornfield.
He isn't outside anymore.
Bill soames' collie was out in the yard.
Why, anthony put him in the cornfield.
Isn't it a real good thing that he done that, honey? Isn't it a real good thing? Yes, it was a real good thing that he done that.
It was a real good thing.
That's all the television there is.
Oh, it was wonderful, anthony.
Wasn't it, everyone? Oh, that was real good.
That was real good.
Wasn't anthony's television wonderful tonight? Oh, it was just the best.
It was much better than the old television.
Much better.
And now, the big surprise for dan's birthday.
Go ahead, ethel.
Give your hubby the big surprise.
What's this? Oh, perry como! Why, i haven't heard perry como in years and years.
Happy birthday, darling.
Happy birthday.
Hey you better be careful.
I'm holding a priceless object.
Look, do you think we could play it? Gosh, what i'd give to hear some new music.
Well, just the first part- the orchestra part before como sings.
I don't think we'd better, dan.
After all, we don't know just where the singing comes in.
It'd be taking too much of a chance.
Better wait till you get home.
It's good i can't play it here.
Oh, yes, it's good.
It's very good.
Uh, and now it's time for pat riley to play the piano.
Uh pat? My pleasure.
It would be good if you told me what to play, anthony.
It would be real good if you'd tell me what music you'd like to hear.
Just play- play anything.
All right.
All right, i'll play, uh i'll play "moonglow.
" That's a nice old tune.
Oh, that's a nice tune.
Oh, yes, that's a very good tune.
Don't make any noise when the music's playing.
I don't like any noise when the music's playing.
Dan dan, please.
Please what? I'm not doing anything.
I'm just drinking this peach brandy.
I'm just drinking one of my birthday presents, that's all i'm doing.
Dan, please, for the love of heaven please don't say anything.
Who's saying anything? I'm not saying anything.
I'm not saying anything at all! Go ahead, pat, play.
Go on, keep playing.
You know, this is real good brandy.
Real good.
You folks know something? There's only five bottles of real whiskey left in the whole village.
Only five bottles.
There's one rye two scotch, one after-dinner liqueur and and this here.
When that's all gone there won't be any any whiskey left at all.
None at all.
No whiskey at all.
Nuts! I can't even play my own record.
I can't even play perry como! Don't play that, pat.
That's not what i want you to play.
Play this- ? happy birthday to me? ? happy birthday? ? to me? Dan! ? happy birthday? ? dear danny? Please stop! Be quiet.
Please stop! ? happy birthday to me.
? Play it, pat.
Play it so i can sing right.
You know i can't carry a tune unless somebody plays it.
You you and her, you had him.
You had to go have him.
? you are my sunshine? ? my only sunshine? ? you make me happy? ? when i am blue? You monster, you.
You dirty little monster.
You murderer.
You think about me.
Go ahead, anthony.
You think bad thoughts about me and maybe some man in this room some man with guts somebody who's so sick to death of living in this kind of place and willing to take a chance will sneak up behind you and lay something heavy across your skull and end this once and for all! You're a bad man! You're a very bad man! You think that.
Go ahead, anthony, i'm a very bad man.
Keep thinking that.
Somebody sneak up behind him.
Somebody end this now! While he's thinking about me! Won't somebody take a lamp or a bottle or something and end this? You're a bad man.
You're a very bad man, and you keep thinking bad thoughts about me.
Wish it into the cornfield.
Please, son, wish it into the cornfield, please.
He was a bad man so i turned him into a jack-in-the-box, a jack-in-the-box that still had his bad face.
And you mustn't think bad thoughts about me, either, or i'll do the same thing to you.
Play some more music.
It's good what you done to dan.
It's real good.
That was swell.
It was just swell.
That was really good.
I kind of liked it a little bit better when we had cities outside and and we could get real television things like that.
Amy, it's it's real good for you to say such a thing.
It's real good.
But how can you mean it? Why, anthony's television is much better than anything we ever used to get.
Oh, yes, it's fine.
Why, anthony's television is the best television we've ever seen.
It's snowing outside.
Anthony, are are you making it snow? Yes, i'm making it snow.
Why, that will ruin half the crops! You know that, don't you? Half the crops, that's what that'll dad but it's good that you're making it snow, anthony.
It's real good.
And tomorrow tomorrow is going to be a real good day.
No comment here, no comment at all.
We only wanted to introduce you to one of our very special citizens- little anthony fremont, age six, who lives in a village called peaksville, in a place that used to be ohio.
And if by some strange chance you should run across him you had best think only good thoughts.
Anything less than that is handled at your own risk.
Because if you do meet anthony you can be sure of one thing- you have entered the twilight zone.
Rod serling, creator ofthe twilight zone, will tell you about next week's story after this message.
And now, mr.
Serling.
This is the lobby of an inn in a small bavarian town, and next week, we'll enter it with a former s.
s.
Officer.
It's the first stop on his road back to relive a horror that was nazi germany.
Mr.
Joseph schildkraut and mr.
Oscar beregi demonstrate what happens to the monster when it is judged by the victim.
Our feeling here is that this is as stark and moving a piece of drama as we've ever presented.
I very much hope that you're around to make your own judgment.
Faith is for those who look for it, who try each day to know it better.
Worship together every week at your church or synagogue.