Harsh Mistress
Encyclopedia
"Harsh Mistress" is the thirteenth episode of the science fiction
television series 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone
. The episode aired October 30, 2002 on UPN
.
Corey auditions for Kirsten Lovejoy's band. He does so well, the manager suggests that Corey go solo. While recording his first album, Whitefire, Corey keeps demanding more takes, despite that his fingers are so worn that they are bleeding.
At a party celebrating Whitefire hitting platinum, Corey meets his manager's assistant, Ashley, and they get to talking and flirting. Corey invites Ashley back to his place, where Corey tries to break himself free from the guitar and ends up getting hurt. While having sex with Ashley, Corey notices that the guitar is propped up against the wall instead of thrown on the floor.
The next morning, Corey and Ashley talk about the guitar. Ashley mentions that two other wannabe musicians (C.C. Hollister and Corey's idol, Bobby McCain) had the guitar as well and both had committed suicide. Ashley laughs it off as a joke and tries to play with the guitar, only to be strangled to death by the shoulder strap. Corey tries to explain to his manager that the guitar killed Ashley, but Corey's manager accuses him and dismisses Corey's claims to the contrary as his going insane.
On a video shoot, Corey ditches the cursed guitar and tries to play another one—only to be electrocuted. Corey then takes the cursed guitar and tries to smash it against the wall. Frustrated that the guitar still shows no signs of being damaged, Corey gets into his car (with his guitar in the back seat) and speeds down the road, hoping to crash the car and be rid of the guitar forever. The car crashes in a flaming wreck, killing Corey instantly. As cops are investigating the accident, they find the guitar in the back seat, completely unscathed.
Some time later, in a pawnshop, a woman is strumming the guitar that Corey once had and becomes the guitar's latest victim when she decides to buy it.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (2002 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is a 2002 revival of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series, The Twilight Zone. It aired for one season on the UPN network, with actor Forest Whitaker assuming Serling's role as narrator and on-screen host....
. The episode aired October 30, 2002 on UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
.
Opening Narration
Plot summary
Corey Williams has dreams of being a rock musician, but lacks the actual talent. He sells his old records to a pawnbroker and buys a classic guitar. When he gets home and takes the guitar out of the bag, Corey discovers that the guitar doesn't resemble the one he bought at the pawnshop and eerily resembles the guitar of his rock star hero, Bobby McCain. Corey begins playing the guitar and, much to the surprise of himself and his friend, is exceptional at it.Corey auditions for Kirsten Lovejoy's band. He does so well, the manager suggests that Corey go solo. While recording his first album, Whitefire, Corey keeps demanding more takes, despite that his fingers are so worn that they are bleeding.
At a party celebrating Whitefire hitting platinum, Corey meets his manager's assistant, Ashley, and they get to talking and flirting. Corey invites Ashley back to his place, where Corey tries to break himself free from the guitar and ends up getting hurt. While having sex with Ashley, Corey notices that the guitar is propped up against the wall instead of thrown on the floor.
The next morning, Corey and Ashley talk about the guitar. Ashley mentions that two other wannabe musicians (C.C. Hollister and Corey's idol, Bobby McCain) had the guitar as well and both had committed suicide. Ashley laughs it off as a joke and tries to play with the guitar, only to be strangled to death by the shoulder strap. Corey tries to explain to his manager that the guitar killed Ashley, but Corey's manager accuses him and dismisses Corey's claims to the contrary as his going insane.
On a video shoot, Corey ditches the cursed guitar and tries to play another one—only to be electrocuted. Corey then takes the cursed guitar and tries to smash it against the wall. Frustrated that the guitar still shows no signs of being damaged, Corey gets into his car (with his guitar in the back seat) and speeds down the road, hoping to crash the car and be rid of the guitar forever. The car crashes in a flaming wreck, killing Corey instantly. As cops are investigating the accident, they find the guitar in the back seat, completely unscathed.
Some time later, in a pawnshop, a woman is strumming the guitar that Corey once had and becomes the guitar's latest victim when she decides to buy it.