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.
That's the signpost up ahead.
Your next stop, the twilight zone.
Paper, paper, get your paper!
Get your paper!
Paper! Get your paper!
Paper, paper!
Get your paper!
Late sports final!
This must be your lucky day, mister.
That'll never happen again
in a million years.
You miserable, dirty, lowdown...
if liz and eddie split up, then liz can marry rock
and eddie can marry tuesday. Uh-huh.
Oh, dear! Terribly sorry.
If he hits me, i'll die.
Easy, mister.
Are you all right?
Just lie still.
We'll get a doctor.
Doctor? Oh, no, no, i don't need a doctor.
Just help me up.
No broken bones...
no scrapes or scratches.
I seem to be all right.
You can't know how sorry i am, sir.
Well, there's no harm done.
If you were hurt, i could never forgive myself.
You clumsy idiot!
I wish you'd broken your fool neck.
What did you say?
Are you certain you're all right, sir?
L-l-i think so.
Thank heaven for that.
Lamebrain!
With your asinine jaywalking, you took ten years off my life.
Mr. Hector b. Poole,
resident of the twilight zone.
Flip a coin and keep flipping it.
What are the odds?
Half the time it'll come up heads, half the time tails.
But, in one freakish chance in a million,
it'll land on its edge.
Mr. Hector b. Poole, a bright human coin
on his way to the bank.
It's 9:10, hector.
Of course, felicia, baby.
You know i love you.
But how would it look?
I can just see the headlines now:
"Prominent banker divorces wife to marry chorus girl."
Oh, no, no, no, felicia, baby, you misunderstand.
I didn't mean it the way it sounded.
Yes, yes, yes, that's right.
Look, how about this weekend, huh?
Just you and me, huh?
Yeah, yeah. Come in.
Hold on. There's somebody at the door.
Yes, uh... what is it, poole?
Mr. Bagby, i would like to explain
why i was late this morning.
Yes.
Sir, a very strange thing happened this morning. I...
well, as you know, sir,
my record for promptness is spotless.
I pride myself on my attention to duty.
Yes, poole, we're all aware of your devotion to the bank.
Get on with it, you simpering idiot.
Do you think she's going to stay on the line forever?
If you ruin my weekend,
i'll string you up by the thumbs.
Your weekend, sir? Spoil your weekend?
What are you mumbling about?
Weekend?!
Can he know about felicia?
Impossible!
I've been so careful.
So discreet.
You had something to tell me, poole?
Poole?
Poole!
Those dodgers think they can steal second
any time they want.
Well, they won't steal a bag of popcorn
with that southpaw pitching today.
Whois pitching today?
What? What did you say, hector?
Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.
Good morning, sir.
Everything in apple pie order, i trust?
Yes. Thank you very much.
I'll bet this grinning ape
is the one who sent me that overdrawn notice.
No, sir. I work over there
in the accounts section.
Poor mr. Poole.
He looks tired and pale.
Mr. Poole?
Mr. Poole.
You know mr. Sykes of ajax cement?
Yes, yes, mr. Sykes.
His loan has been approved.
Will you see
that the papers are properly signed?
Also that the check is made out?
Certainly, mr. Graham.
Won't you sit down, mr. Sykes?
Thank you.
Oh, a business loan for $200,000.
That's quite a sum.
You expanding, mr. Sykes?
That's right.
That's wrong.
Well, which is it?
Pardon me.
Oh... nothing.
Uh... mr. Sykes, you are aware
that this loan must be completely repaid
within 90 days.
I certainly am.
If i bet the money right,
it could come to well over a million.
I could pay back the loan
and have enough to keep ajax out of bankruptcy.
I'll put half of it
on lucky lady in the sixth
and split the rest
between nimble runner and crinoline at five to one.
Nimble runner?
Five to one?
What did you say?
Now, look here, young man!
Oh, mr. Sykes, i was just trying to...
what's going on, mr. Poole? Anything wrong, mr. Sykes?
Well, mr. Bagby, he just told me
he's borrowing this money to bet on the horses.
I said nothing of the kind!
Nimble runner, five to one.
He's mad!
Poole! Doubtless there's been a mistake.
Well, there certainly has been a mistake.
If you'll come into my office, i'll correct it at once.
I'll talk to you later, poole.
Mr. Bagby...
poor mr. Poole.
You do all the work around here,
and get none of the credit.
You should speak up more, and assert yourself.
But i guess that's not in your nature.
But i hope mr. Bagby is easy on you.
Good morning, mr. Poole.
Miss turner...
yes, mr. Poole?
Well, uh, please don't be offended but, um...
well, i, uh, i would like to thank you
for your, uh... kind thoughts.
Well, i don't think
i quite understand, mr. Poole.
Romancing the help, mr. Poole?
Well, who can blame you?
Miss turner is the prettiest girl
in the accounts section.
Which is saying absolutely nothing.
I haven't seen such an aggregation of beasts
since the last time i went to the circus.
Not much chance for socializing
around a bank, is there?
This one is probably a tiger
under the proper conditions.
All the sweet, prim types revert
to the jungle once more.
You did that deliberately.
Well...
i'll see you later about this.
Good for you!
He certainly had it coming.
I suppose i should get back to my desk.
401, 402, 403...
20 years at the same desk.
It isn't fair.
Ah, but they'll be sorry
for their treatment of me.
Yes...
at 4:30 this afternoon,
i'll go into the vault like i always do.
I'll take my briefcase with me,
and no one will suspect a thing.
I'll fill my briefcase with currency,
and be on ship to bermuda by nightfall.
They'll all be sorry.
Yes, indeed.
I wonder how long it will take them
to discover that the money is gone.
Good night.
Hector.
Well, one more day nearly done,
and no notches on the gun.
You wouldn't use that gun, would you?
What do you think i got it on my belt for, hector?
Hold up my pants?
Miss turner...
may i talk to you for a moment?
What i have to tell you is very important.
Yes, mr. Poole?
Well...
i wish we could talk someplace
where it's more private.
Mr. Jones' office is empty
since his transfer.
That is a good idea!
Is something wrong?
Dreadfully wrong.
Miss turner, i keep hearing voices - people talking.
Their lips don't move,
but i can hear their words clearly.
I've got this ringing in my head.
Miss turner, i can read people's minds.
Think something, anything at all.
This is a strange approach.
Why did it take him so long
to gather up his courage?
Well, it just happened this morning.
Now, miss turner, you may think that...
you may think that i'm crazy but, uh...
i have reason to believe
that someone plans
to rob the bank this afternoon.
Oh, well, if someone's going to rob the bank this afternoon,
you should do something about it.
But what if i'm wrong, miss turner?
You have a responsibility to the bank.
To the stockholders and depositors.
I'd better talk to mr. Bagby right away.
What is this, poole?
I'm worried about you.
I've always considered you
one of my best men.
Why, poole? Tell me why.
We lost the ajax cement account
because of your nonsense.
Something wrong at home?
Something bothering you, poole?
Come on, tell me.
I don't quite know
how to tell you this, mr. Bagby.
Speak up, poole.
We're all with you.
You won't believe it!
Nonsense. Of course, i'll believe it.
Tell me anything. Feel free.
Mr. Bagby...
mr. Smithers is planning to rob the bank!
What did you say?
Mr. Smithers is sitting at his desk right now,
planning to rob the bank.
Well, i...
old mr. Smithers?
Old mr. Smithers.
At exactly 4:30,
he's going to go to the vault,
fill his briefcase,
then he's taking a boat trip to bermuda.
Tonight!
Smithers is one of our oldest
and most trusted employees.
He was here when i came here.
I absolutely refuse to believe that...
hold it.
Wait a minute.
Who's the man who ends up stealing the company funds?
Isn't it always the most trusted employee?
The man you least suspect?
The man who's been reliable for years
until that one moment when everybody relaxes?
Good man, poole.
I wish it weren't true, mr. Bagby.
I've always admired mr. Smithers.
I wouldn't have believed it
if i hadn't overheard him planning it myself.
No time for sentiment, now.
Quick, now. What's his plan?
Well, at exactly 4:30...
it's time.
He's going to close the drawers on his desk...
close up his books...
he'll stand up.
He'll pick up his briefcase.
He'll go to the vault to check up, just as he always does.
He'll be back there alone,
only this time things will be different.
When he comes out,
his briefcase will be packed to the brim with...
jim.
Here, here. What the...?
Just open the briefcase and dump the contents here.
Your great mistake, mr. Smithers,
is assuming that we were all asleep.
A very great mistake!
As a matter of fact,
i've had my eye on you
for a long time.
Travel folders...
a sandwich...
socks.
Where's the money?
Is everyone going insane?
What money?
Poole...
where's that idiot poole?
Here, sir.
He was going to steal the money.
He was going to take a boat to bermuda.
That was the story, huh?
Well, mr. Bagby, i heard him.
And who was he talking to, mr. Poole?
Well, he wasn't exactly talking to anyone.
He was... well, he was thinking.
Please forgive us all, mr. Smithers.
I should have known immediately
that what i was told was impossible on the face of it.
Poole?
I'm fired.
That's right.
Clean out your desk at once.
Mr. Smithers, i don't know what to say.
I...
i am sorry.
How did you know?
How did you know, mr. Poole?
It's true, of course.
I was thinking of filling my briefcase
with the bank's money.
Yes.
It's a little dream of mine.
Have you ever had a dream, mr. Poole?
I have.
I don't always plan on bermuda though.
Sometimes, it's siam, fiji.
Beautiful, exotic places
where there are no books to keep.
Where i'm not a little man with no future and no past.
Yes, mr. Poole...
yes.
But i'll never go through with it.
You know why?
I've lived with it too long.
I'm old and set in my ways.
And besides, mr. Poole...
i guess i'm a coward.
It doesn't matter, mr. Poole.
A man with your ability...
hearing people's thoughts- strange delusion.
But, with proper medical care,
it will go away.
Miss turner, it is not a delusion!
There. You see?
Icanread your thoughts.
Until this morning,
everything was normal. I washappy.
At least i wasn't unhappy. And now this!
It's like seeing people with their clothes off.
I never imagined people were like that.
You know, we do things
without thinking about them at all.
And we think things without having the...
slightest intention of doing them.
Well, at least i've learned one thing:
People are not like you think they are at all.
Mr. Poole! Thank heavens i caught you.
Ajax cement was just on the phone.
Mr. Sykes has been arrested...
for gambling with company monies.
Yes, i know, mr. Bagby.
I tried to tell you that earlier.
$200,000. if that loan had gone through...
pardon me.
Uh, poole... about your job.
It's still available if you're interested.
If you can really hear me, hector,
you're wasted in that job.
Everyone knows you should be in charge
of the accounts section.
What do you say, poole?
Mr. Bagby...
everyone knows i should be in charge of the accounts section.
What?!
And that would mean
he'd move into mr. Jones' old office.
That'd mean he'd...
i'd move into mr. Jones' old office.
Now, look!
This is absurd.
What am i standing here wasting time for?
Felicia is waiting for me.
Man, oh, man, what a weekend this is going to be!
Now, see here, poole!
Don't let him bamboozle you.
Stand up to him.
He needs you more than you need him.
Mr. Bagby...
let's get down to business, shall we?
Business?
What business?
The business of felicia and your wife.
Yes, i know all about it, mr. Bagby.
I know where you're meeting her and when.
Impossible. No one knows about the trip.
The trip, mr. Bagby?
A word to the wise. Am i right?
All right, poole, you win-.
In charge of the accounts division,
and office next to mine.
You won't say anything, to anybody, will you?
Not a word.
Not, not, not, not a word, mr. Bagby.
Mr. Bagby, um... there is one more thing.
At the bank's expense, i'd like you to buy
a round-trip ticket to bermuda.
I'd like you to have it made out
in the name of l.j. Smithers.
I think he'd like that.
Are you out of your mind?
Mr. Bagby, remember.
One ticket to bermuda.
Shall we leave, miss turner?
I'd go anywhere with you,
but i wish you'd call me helen.
May i see you home... helen?
Of course, you can, hector.
What do you think i waited for?
Paper! Get your late afternoon paper!
Latest stocks!
Paper!
Why'd you do that?
I've had that coin standing there all day long,
and nobody even touched it until...
oh, hey, it's you- same guy.
What do you think about that?
You're the guy who stood it up,
and you just knocked it down.
Talk about coincidence.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Listen...
it's gone.
It's gone!
Helen, helen, think something.
Think something!
Helen, i can't hear anything.
I think it's gone.
Isn't that great?
Isn't it wonderful?
Nothing.
Helen... helen!
Helen, listen.
I can't hear anything.
I can't hear a thing you're thinking.
Can't you?
One time in a million, a coin will land on its edge.
But all it takes to knock it over is a vagrant breeze,
a vibration or a slight blow.
Hector b. Poole, a human coin on edge for a brief time...
in the twilight zone.
Rod serling, the creator oftwilight zone,
will tell you about next week's story
after this word from our alternate sponsor.
And now, mr. Serling.
This is room 22.
And, on the other side of its doors lies an adventure
that is as fascinating as it is inexplicable.
It's a story that comes to us from mr. Bennett cerf,
who describes it as an age-old horror tale
whose origin is unknown.
We've dressed it up in some hospital wrappings,
and enlisted the performance of miss barbara nichols.
Next onthe twilight zone,"22."
Be prepared to be spooked.
It's that kind of story.
Captioned by media access group at wgbh access. Wgbh. Org
see the newandy griffith show each week
over most of these stations.
Consult local listings.