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The Jungle (The Twilight Zone)
Encyclopedia
"The Jungle" is a 1961 episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
.
, where Alan's company is constructing a dam. He discovers she has secretly kept several items given to her by a local shaman for protection. When he confronts her about them, she insists that they are nothing more to her than souvenirs. He decides to test her and burns them, which causes her to become upset and begs him to stop construction on the dam. He ignores her pleas and opens the door to leave for work. In the hallway of his apartment building, just outside his door, is the carcass of a dead goat.
Alan attends a board meeting, where they discuss the dam and the fact that, although the natives will benefit from it in the long run, they are upset that they will be displaced in order to build it. He warns that the local witchdoctors have threatened to use black magic against anyone associated with the project. When the other board members scoff, he points out their own superstitions: One carries a rabbit's foot
, another practices astrology- even the building does not have a 13th floor.
Later, he is in a bar having a drink with a friend before heading home, and shows him a lion
-tooth
charm his wife has given him. Supposedly the tooth will protect him against a lion
attack. Both men laugh at the idea of a lion
attack in the city.
Alan begins to head home, but finds his car won't start. He attempts to return to the bar, but it is locked and he has forgotten his lion
-tooth
inside. He attempts to use a pay phone, but it's out of order. As Alan walks away, the phone begins to ring. He answers it and hears nothing but the sounds of the jungle.
He begins to head home on foot, still hearing the sounds of the jungle all around him (including tribal drums), becoming more and more nervous and jumpy. He then tries to take a taxi
home but the driver drops down dead while stopped at a traffic light
. Alan finally meets a bum and asks him about the jungle noises, which the bum claims not to hear. He offers the bum money to escort him through the park, but, before the bum can accept the offer, he disappears while Alan's back is turned.
Alan continues on, becoming even more frightened. He finally reaches the safety of his apartment and pours himself a drink. Suddenly he hears a lion
's roar from the bedroom. When he enters, he finds his wife's body on the bed along with a lion
. The episode ends just as the lion
leaps towards him for the kill...
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
Alan Richards and his wife Doris have recently returned from AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, where Alan's company is constructing a dam. He discovers she has secretly kept several items given to her by a local shaman for protection. When he confronts her about them, she insists that they are nothing more to her than souvenirs. He decides to test her and burns them, which causes her to become upset and begs him to stop construction on the dam. He ignores her pleas and opens the door to leave for work. In the hallway of his apartment building, just outside his door, is the carcass of a dead goat.
Alan attends a board meeting, where they discuss the dam and the fact that, although the natives will benefit from it in the long run, they are upset that they will be displaced in order to build it. He warns that the local witchdoctors have threatened to use black magic against anyone associated with the project. When the other board members scoff, he points out their own superstitions: One carries a rabbit's foot
Rabbit's foot
In some cultures, the foot of a rabbit is carried as an amulet believed to bring good luck. This belief is held by individuals in a great number of places around the world including Europe, China, Africa, and North and South America. It is likely that this belief has existed in Europe since 600 BC...
, another practices astrology- even the building does not have a 13th floor.
Later, he is in a bar having a drink with a friend before heading home, and shows him a lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
-tooth
Tooth
Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...
charm his wife has given him. Supposedly the tooth will protect him against a lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
attack. Both men laugh at the idea of a lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
attack in the city.
Alan begins to head home, but finds his car won't start. He attempts to return to the bar, but it is locked and he has forgotten his lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
-tooth
Tooth
Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...
inside. He attempts to use a pay phone, but it's out of order. As Alan walks away, the phone begins to ring. He answers it and hears nothing but the sounds of the jungle.
He begins to head home on foot, still hearing the sounds of the jungle all around him (including tribal drums), becoming more and more nervous and jumpy. He then tries to take a taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
home but the driver drops down dead while stopped at a traffic light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
. Alan finally meets a bum and asks him about the jungle noises, which the bum claims not to hear. He offers the bum money to escort him through the park, but, before the bum can accept the offer, he disappears while Alan's back is turned.
Alan continues on, becoming even more frightened. He finally reaches the safety of his apartment and pours himself a drink. Suddenly he hears a lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
's roar from the bedroom. When he enters, he finds his wife's body on the bed along with a lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
. The episode ends just as the lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
leaps towards him for the kill...