The Twilight Zone (1959) s01e31 Episode Script
The Chaser
introduced us to a monster a monster so powerful he was able to make the world disappear just by using his mind.
For the residents of Peaksville, Ohio the nightmare had begun.
The monster knew their every thought could feel their every emotion and when they made him angry, which was often he would banish them into a cornfield from which there was no return.
And the most frightening thing about this monster was that he was only Now, it's 40 years later and the people of Peaksville are still in hell.
Oh, yes, there's one other thing the monster now has a child of his own and though she possesses none of her father's powers he still loves her very, very much.
Audrey, I'm bored.
Let's climb down.
You can see the whole world from up here.
Big deal.
All the way to the interstate.
My grandma says the world used to go past the interstate.
That was a billion years ago.
Come on.
Aah! You don't want Daddy to hear you, Audrey please, sweetie.
Audrey? Is something wrong? It was an accident.
They were just playing, that's all.
Audrey, I told you time and time again not to climb that tree.
You took a few spills from those branches when you were little, remember, Anthony? Please don't hurt him, Daddy.
He didn't mean it.
I know he didn't.
I won't hurt Timmy, honey.
He's your friend and he's always thought good thoughts about us haven't you, Timmy? Yes, sir, a-always, sir.
Afternoon, Anthony, Agnes.
Hey, buddy.
It's a nice day, isn't it? Oh, it's a real nice day.
Yeah.
Well, let's go, son.
Mom's waiting.
Tell me something, George.
What kind of a boy pushes a little girl out of a tree? Did you do that, son? It was an accident.
It had to be.
Timmy's a good boy.
Agnes, I told you this wasn't a good-- Told her what, George? It was nothing, Anthony.
It was nothing.
Why wouldn't you want your son to play with my daughter? I didn't say that.
No, but you're thinking it.
You're thinking it right now, aren't ya? No.
I thought you were my friend.
Anthony, I am.
Then why are you sweating? I don't know.
It's hot out here, isn't it? I'm not hot.
Mom, are you hot? Anthony, don't.
I've been around people like you all my life.
People who pretend to be my friend.
Pretend to like me but you don't like me, do you, George? Please, Daddy, stop! Well, I don't like you, either.
Aah! Aah! Aah! Send him away! Please, Anthony, please! Send him to the cornfield, please! Please! Daddy? Daddy? You better head on home, Timmy.
Your mother's probably worried about you.
I bet Timmy will never play with me again and it's all Daddy's fault! Oh, now, Audrey.
You remember how important it is to think good thoughts about Daddy? There are times I get mad at him, too but I shield those thoughts.
Remember how I taught you to do that? I don't care! I hate him! Sweetie, don't say that.
We don't want to make him angry, do we? I don't care.
I hate him! You're traveling to another dimension.
A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.
A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are only that of the imagination.
You're entering Audrey, tell me is this the first time you've ever done anything like this? Are we gonna tell Daddy? When the time is right.
But until then, you mustn't use your powers.
You can't even think about them in front of your father.
Don't worry, grandma.
Daddy can't read my thoughts.
How do you know that? Because I can read his.
Daddy, what happens to people when you send them into the cornfield? They get to stay there forever.
I know, but what kind of place is it? Oh, it's a good place.
It's a really good place and, uh, and the people that are there are happy all the time.
But if it's such a happy place why do you only send them there when you're angry? Well, I do it for their own good so I won't hurt them anymore.
I'm gonna miss playing with Timmy.
You think you could bring his daddy back so he'll play with me again? I'm sorry, honey but you know once I send something away I can't bring it back.
Audrey? Want to come for a walk with me? Don't be too long.
It's bowling night tonight.
Afternoon, Lorna.
Oh, look.
It's my favorite neighbors.
See these tomatoes? They're the best I've grown in I don't know how long.
My word! I was thinking of bringing some over to Anthony.
Oh, he does like his tomatoes but first, I've got something to show you.
Something special.
Sweetheart, see that big rock right over there? Yes.
Can you make it go away? Ohh.
Audrey, why don't you go play in the barn, honey? Lorna and I have some talking to do, OK? I don't believe it.
Agnes, it's what we've always dreamed about.
Someone with the power to-- finally get rid of that monster I gave birth to.
When I think of all the suffering all those people sent away my husband, your husband even his own wife, the entire world.
He took everything, left us nothing.
If only I'd been strong enough brave enough to bash his head in years ago.
No one blames you, Agnes but will Audrey be strong enough to stand up to him? She will be.
I'll make sure of it.
Oh! That was real good, Anthony! A real good shot! I bet you've bowled at least 500, maybe 600 perfect games over the years.
You can never roll enough perfect games.
Oh, that is so true.
Oh, you're such a smart boy, Anthony.
I'm not a boy, mother.
Of course you're not.
You've always been my little boy.
All those freckles.
It's no wonder I never had the heart to punish you.
Punish me? For what? And why is everybody staring over at Audrey? Are they? I didn't notice.
Oh, they're--they're happy because she's so happy.
They're thinking good thoughts real good thoughts.
I guess.
Just keep it to yourself.
I'll be back.
Then I'm gonna keep score for you while you roll another perfect game.
Then everybody will be watching you.
You know that thing we were talking about? I just told a few people.
Are you out of your mind? I--I just wanted to give them some hope.
I mean, they've been without hope for so long.
We can't risk Anthony finding out about Audrey's powers not yet, anyway.
Please, Anthony, I'd rather not.
I'm tired of bowling by myself.
Well, but, l-I'm no good.
You should find somebody who's better.
I want to play with you.
Bowl.
This time, concentrate.
I--I will.
You'll see.
You're not even trying! Yes, l--I am, Anthony.
I'm trying really hard.
Somebody do something.
Agnes! Anthony! Please! Everyone knows you're the best bowler in town.
Well, they could at least try and beat me.
That would make me happy.
Don't you want me to be happy, like everyone else? What about you, Joseph? Do you want me to be happy? Hey, Daddy want to play a game of pinball with me? You're a good girl, Audrey.
Isn't she a real good girl? Yeah! Oh, yes! Come on over here.
Can we just go home? I'm tired.
Yeah, I'm tired, too.
You are so pretty! I can't wait to eat you! You wanna know a secret? I don't like secrets.
Anthony.
What were you and my mother talking about at the bowling alley? Were we talking? I--I don't recall.
Why don't you ask Agnes? I'm asking you.
It was something about Audrey, wasn't it? You better tell me.
You better tell me right now.
And this is when your grandpa and l went to New York.
You should have seen it.
All those tall buildings and the different stores you could shop in and the cars, oh, I never saw so many cars! Why did Daddy get rid of cars? Well, same reason he got rid of electricity and those tall buildings and the stores andall the people.
But what reason? Well, because they annoyed him or--or made him angry, or frightened him.
Oh, Audrey, will you look at this watch? Your grandpa gave that watch to me on our second anniversary.
Oh.
Nobody has watches anymore.
Did Daddy get rid of them, too? One day, he was late for supper and I guess I got a little annoyed and, uh, I showed him what time it was and That was the end of watches.
Ha ha.
Ha ha.
It looks pretty.
It was.
"To Agnes, with love, Bill.
" That's my watch.
You like it, don't you? You can bring things back? Mom? Audrey? Maybe we shouldn't tell Daddy.
It might make him feel bad you know, 'cause he can't bring things back.
All right.
Maybe we won't tell him.
Guess what I heard? People have been keeping secrets about my daughter.
What about her? Don't lie to me, mother.
Don't hurt her! I'm not gonna hurt her, but I don't know if I can ever trust her again or anyone else, except you, honey.
I got an idea.
Come here.
Let me see you send something away.
Like what? Like that photo album.
Mom, it's OK if Audrey sends away your photo album, isn't it? Of course it's OK.
It's just a bunch of silly old photos.
Did you see that?! Oh, that was good, Audrey.
That was really good! And you're not mad at me? Why would I be? You're special, like me.
I'm calling a town meeting at the bowling alley tomorrow afternoon.
What about? That's my secret.
Lorna? It's me, my dear.
Lorna? Can you hear me? I had to punish her.
She was sneaky, and I don't like sneaky people.
No one can argue with that.
Sneaky people are bad people, aren't they, honey? It's true.
See, mom? They agree with me.
Well, it turns out that Peaksville is filled with sneaky people and they all have to be punished.
But Anthony, we're your friends.
I don't believe you, Joe.
That's why you can be the first person on my list.
What? -Now, I need 3 more.
-3 more for what? To be sent away, where sneaky people belong.
Oh, my God.
Cynthia, you can be number 2.
And you can be number 3.
And you can be number 4.
Anthony, you can't do this.
Of course I can.
It's easy.
I knew about Audrey's powers before anyone so if you have to send somebody to the cornfield send me.
Stay out of this.
Grandma, you're gonna make him mad! That's not all I'd like to do! For 40 years, I did nothing while you tortured the people of this town! I--I sat back and watched while you destroyed everything I cared about everything I loved.
Not everyone.
You love me.
Love? You? Love you? I curse the day I gave birth to you.
Night after night, I lie awake in bed thinking of ways to put an end to this madness to put an end to you.
And you want to know why, Anthony? Because you are a bad man, a very bad man the worst that ever lived.
-Mom, I'm warning you.
-You are a monster.
A spoiled, vicious monster and if anybody deserves to be in the cornfield it's you! Audrey, do it.
Wish him away.
Do it now.
Do it now! Audrey? Audrey, what are you waiting for?! I can't hurt Daddy.
No! No! I heard her.
She was thinking mean things about me.
They all are.
They all don't like me.
None of them do, even Timmy.
They're all bad, sneaky people.
Audrey? What have you done? We don't need them, Daddy.
We don't need anyone.
What's wrong, Daddy? I don't know.
Just a little lonely, I guess.
I bet I know what would cheer you up.
What would that be? That's an airplane.
I brought it all back so you won't be lonely anymore.
What? You brought what back? Everything.
All the different countries, the cities.
You think we could visit New York? New York's a big place.
Lots of people.
Yeah, and they all better be nice to us or you know what we'll do to them.
Excuse me.
You folks know the way to highway 10? And after New York we can visit all kinds of places.
I've never been anywhere else but Peaksville.
It'll be fun.
You'll see.
Hey, buddy, you deaf? Are you happy now, Daddy? You bet I am, honey.
It's gonna be a good day, a real good day.
No lesson to be learned here.
No morals to be taught.
Just an update from Peaksville, Ohio where Anthony and Audrey Fremont want you to think happy thoughts and you better do as you're told.
Otherwise, you might wind up in that cornfield known as the Twilight Zone.
For the residents of Peaksville, Ohio the nightmare had begun.
The monster knew their every thought could feel their every emotion and when they made him angry, which was often he would banish them into a cornfield from which there was no return.
And the most frightening thing about this monster was that he was only Now, it's 40 years later and the people of Peaksville are still in hell.
Oh, yes, there's one other thing the monster now has a child of his own and though she possesses none of her father's powers he still loves her very, very much.
Audrey, I'm bored.
Let's climb down.
You can see the whole world from up here.
Big deal.
All the way to the interstate.
My grandma says the world used to go past the interstate.
That was a billion years ago.
Come on.
Aah! You don't want Daddy to hear you, Audrey please, sweetie.
Audrey? Is something wrong? It was an accident.
They were just playing, that's all.
Audrey, I told you time and time again not to climb that tree.
You took a few spills from those branches when you were little, remember, Anthony? Please don't hurt him, Daddy.
He didn't mean it.
I know he didn't.
I won't hurt Timmy, honey.
He's your friend and he's always thought good thoughts about us haven't you, Timmy? Yes, sir, a-always, sir.
Afternoon, Anthony, Agnes.
Hey, buddy.
It's a nice day, isn't it? Oh, it's a real nice day.
Yeah.
Well, let's go, son.
Mom's waiting.
Tell me something, George.
What kind of a boy pushes a little girl out of a tree? Did you do that, son? It was an accident.
It had to be.
Timmy's a good boy.
Agnes, I told you this wasn't a good-- Told her what, George? It was nothing, Anthony.
It was nothing.
Why wouldn't you want your son to play with my daughter? I didn't say that.
No, but you're thinking it.
You're thinking it right now, aren't ya? No.
I thought you were my friend.
Anthony, I am.
Then why are you sweating? I don't know.
It's hot out here, isn't it? I'm not hot.
Mom, are you hot? Anthony, don't.
I've been around people like you all my life.
People who pretend to be my friend.
Pretend to like me but you don't like me, do you, George? Please, Daddy, stop! Well, I don't like you, either.
Aah! Aah! Aah! Send him away! Please, Anthony, please! Send him to the cornfield, please! Please! Daddy? Daddy? You better head on home, Timmy.
Your mother's probably worried about you.
I bet Timmy will never play with me again and it's all Daddy's fault! Oh, now, Audrey.
You remember how important it is to think good thoughts about Daddy? There are times I get mad at him, too but I shield those thoughts.
Remember how I taught you to do that? I don't care! I hate him! Sweetie, don't say that.
We don't want to make him angry, do we? I don't care.
I hate him! You're traveling to another dimension.
A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.
A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are only that of the imagination.
You're entering Audrey, tell me is this the first time you've ever done anything like this? Are we gonna tell Daddy? When the time is right.
But until then, you mustn't use your powers.
You can't even think about them in front of your father.
Don't worry, grandma.
Daddy can't read my thoughts.
How do you know that? Because I can read his.
Daddy, what happens to people when you send them into the cornfield? They get to stay there forever.
I know, but what kind of place is it? Oh, it's a good place.
It's a really good place and, uh, and the people that are there are happy all the time.
But if it's such a happy place why do you only send them there when you're angry? Well, I do it for their own good so I won't hurt them anymore.
I'm gonna miss playing with Timmy.
You think you could bring his daddy back so he'll play with me again? I'm sorry, honey but you know once I send something away I can't bring it back.
Audrey? Want to come for a walk with me? Don't be too long.
It's bowling night tonight.
Afternoon, Lorna.
Oh, look.
It's my favorite neighbors.
See these tomatoes? They're the best I've grown in I don't know how long.
My word! I was thinking of bringing some over to Anthony.
Oh, he does like his tomatoes but first, I've got something to show you.
Something special.
Sweetheart, see that big rock right over there? Yes.
Can you make it go away? Ohh.
Audrey, why don't you go play in the barn, honey? Lorna and I have some talking to do, OK? I don't believe it.
Agnes, it's what we've always dreamed about.
Someone with the power to-- finally get rid of that monster I gave birth to.
When I think of all the suffering all those people sent away my husband, your husband even his own wife, the entire world.
He took everything, left us nothing.
If only I'd been strong enough brave enough to bash his head in years ago.
No one blames you, Agnes but will Audrey be strong enough to stand up to him? She will be.
I'll make sure of it.
Oh! That was real good, Anthony! A real good shot! I bet you've bowled at least 500, maybe 600 perfect games over the years.
You can never roll enough perfect games.
Oh, that is so true.
Oh, you're such a smart boy, Anthony.
I'm not a boy, mother.
Of course you're not.
You've always been my little boy.
All those freckles.
It's no wonder I never had the heart to punish you.
Punish me? For what? And why is everybody staring over at Audrey? Are they? I didn't notice.
Oh, they're--they're happy because she's so happy.
They're thinking good thoughts real good thoughts.
I guess.
Just keep it to yourself.
I'll be back.
Then I'm gonna keep score for you while you roll another perfect game.
Then everybody will be watching you.
You know that thing we were talking about? I just told a few people.
Are you out of your mind? I--I just wanted to give them some hope.
I mean, they've been without hope for so long.
We can't risk Anthony finding out about Audrey's powers not yet, anyway.
Please, Anthony, I'd rather not.
I'm tired of bowling by myself.
Well, but, l-I'm no good.
You should find somebody who's better.
I want to play with you.
Bowl.
This time, concentrate.
I--I will.
You'll see.
You're not even trying! Yes, l--I am, Anthony.
I'm trying really hard.
Somebody do something.
Agnes! Anthony! Please! Everyone knows you're the best bowler in town.
Well, they could at least try and beat me.
That would make me happy.
Don't you want me to be happy, like everyone else? What about you, Joseph? Do you want me to be happy? Hey, Daddy want to play a game of pinball with me? You're a good girl, Audrey.
Isn't she a real good girl? Yeah! Oh, yes! Come on over here.
Can we just go home? I'm tired.
Yeah, I'm tired, too.
You are so pretty! I can't wait to eat you! You wanna know a secret? I don't like secrets.
Anthony.
What were you and my mother talking about at the bowling alley? Were we talking? I--I don't recall.
Why don't you ask Agnes? I'm asking you.
It was something about Audrey, wasn't it? You better tell me.
You better tell me right now.
And this is when your grandpa and l went to New York.
You should have seen it.
All those tall buildings and the different stores you could shop in and the cars, oh, I never saw so many cars! Why did Daddy get rid of cars? Well, same reason he got rid of electricity and those tall buildings and the stores andall the people.
But what reason? Well, because they annoyed him or--or made him angry, or frightened him.
Oh, Audrey, will you look at this watch? Your grandpa gave that watch to me on our second anniversary.
Oh.
Nobody has watches anymore.
Did Daddy get rid of them, too? One day, he was late for supper and I guess I got a little annoyed and, uh, I showed him what time it was and That was the end of watches.
Ha ha.
Ha ha.
It looks pretty.
It was.
"To Agnes, with love, Bill.
" That's my watch.
You like it, don't you? You can bring things back? Mom? Audrey? Maybe we shouldn't tell Daddy.
It might make him feel bad you know, 'cause he can't bring things back.
All right.
Maybe we won't tell him.
Guess what I heard? People have been keeping secrets about my daughter.
What about her? Don't lie to me, mother.
Don't hurt her! I'm not gonna hurt her, but I don't know if I can ever trust her again or anyone else, except you, honey.
I got an idea.
Come here.
Let me see you send something away.
Like what? Like that photo album.
Mom, it's OK if Audrey sends away your photo album, isn't it? Of course it's OK.
It's just a bunch of silly old photos.
Did you see that?! Oh, that was good, Audrey.
That was really good! And you're not mad at me? Why would I be? You're special, like me.
I'm calling a town meeting at the bowling alley tomorrow afternoon.
What about? That's my secret.
Lorna? It's me, my dear.
Lorna? Can you hear me? I had to punish her.
She was sneaky, and I don't like sneaky people.
No one can argue with that.
Sneaky people are bad people, aren't they, honey? It's true.
See, mom? They agree with me.
Well, it turns out that Peaksville is filled with sneaky people and they all have to be punished.
But Anthony, we're your friends.
I don't believe you, Joe.
That's why you can be the first person on my list.
What? -Now, I need 3 more.
-3 more for what? To be sent away, where sneaky people belong.
Oh, my God.
Cynthia, you can be number 2.
And you can be number 3.
And you can be number 4.
Anthony, you can't do this.
Of course I can.
It's easy.
I knew about Audrey's powers before anyone so if you have to send somebody to the cornfield send me.
Stay out of this.
Grandma, you're gonna make him mad! That's not all I'd like to do! For 40 years, I did nothing while you tortured the people of this town! I--I sat back and watched while you destroyed everything I cared about everything I loved.
Not everyone.
You love me.
Love? You? Love you? I curse the day I gave birth to you.
Night after night, I lie awake in bed thinking of ways to put an end to this madness to put an end to you.
And you want to know why, Anthony? Because you are a bad man, a very bad man the worst that ever lived.
-Mom, I'm warning you.
-You are a monster.
A spoiled, vicious monster and if anybody deserves to be in the cornfield it's you! Audrey, do it.
Wish him away.
Do it now.
Do it now! Audrey? Audrey, what are you waiting for?! I can't hurt Daddy.
No! No! I heard her.
She was thinking mean things about me.
They all are.
They all don't like me.
None of them do, even Timmy.
They're all bad, sneaky people.
Audrey? What have you done? We don't need them, Daddy.
We don't need anyone.
What's wrong, Daddy? I don't know.
Just a little lonely, I guess.
I bet I know what would cheer you up.
What would that be? That's an airplane.
I brought it all back so you won't be lonely anymore.
What? You brought what back? Everything.
All the different countries, the cities.
You think we could visit New York? New York's a big place.
Lots of people.
Yeah, and they all better be nice to us or you know what we'll do to them.
Excuse me.
You folks know the way to highway 10? And after New York we can visit all kinds of places.
I've never been anywhere else but Peaksville.
It'll be fun.
You'll see.
Hey, buddy, you deaf? Are you happy now, Daddy? You bet I am, honey.
It's gonna be a good day, a real good day.
No lesson to be learned here.
No morals to be taught.
Just an update from Peaksville, Ohio where Anthony and Audrey Fremont want you to think happy thoughts and you better do as you're told.
Otherwise, you might wind up in that cornfield known as the Twilight Zone.