One More Pallbearer
Encyclopedia
"One More Pallbearer" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
.
that he has built. One is a high school
teacher (Mrs. Langford), who failed him; the second is Colonel
Hawthorne, who had him court-martial
ed; and the third is Rev. Hughes, who made a public scandal out of a woman who committed suicide
over him.
Radin (with the aid of sound effects and fake radio messages) convinces the trio that an apocalyptic nuclear war will occur in just moments. He offers them refuge in the shelter if they do one thing: apologize for their actions. All refuse, valuing honor above life
, and exit.
Suddenly, the sound of a bomb detonation shakes Radin's shelter. He takes the elevator
to the surface and sees that a nuclear war really has occurred, and the world is in ruins (The background is similar to Time Enough at Last
). This twist ending is given another twist, however, when we learn that Radin, devastated by his hoax's failure, has lost his mind
and is only imagining that the world has ended. Radin sobs helplessly at the foot of an "art" fountain outside his intact building.
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
.
Synopsis
Millionaire Paul Radin invites three people to the bomb shelterBomb shelter
A bomb shelter is any kind of a civil defense structure designed to provide protection against the effects of a bomb.-Types of shelter:Different kinds of bomb shelters are configured to protect against different kinds of attack and strengths of hostile explosives. For example, an Air-raid shelter...
that he has built. One is a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
teacher (Mrs. Langford), who failed him; the second is Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Hawthorne, who had him court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
ed; and the third is Rev. Hughes, who made a public scandal out of a woman who committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
over him.
Radin (with the aid of sound effects and fake radio messages) convinces the trio that an apocalyptic nuclear war will occur in just moments. He offers them refuge in the shelter if they do one thing: apologize for their actions. All refuse, valuing honor above life
Life
Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased , or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate...
, and exit.
Suddenly, the sound of a bomb detonation shakes Radin's shelter. He takes the elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
to the surface and sees that a nuclear war really has occurred, and the world is in ruins (The background is similar to Time Enough at Last
Time Enough at Last
"Time Enough at Last" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It was adapted from a short story by Lyn Venable , which had been published in the January 1953 edition of the science fiction magazine If: Worlds of Science Fiction...
). This twist ending is given another twist, however, when we learn that Radin, devastated by his hoax's failure, has lost his mind
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
and is only imagining that the world has ended. Radin sobs helplessly at the foot of an "art" fountain outside his intact building.