The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank
Encyclopedia
"The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
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in a small rural town in the "southernmost section of the Midwest". The townspeople believe that the man must be possessed by a haint (a wandering demon
), even though the town doctor declares it was more than likely a medical condition that imitated death. Jeff seems normal enough, yet he has changed: He has suddenly become a hard worker and a good fistfighter, and now he wants to marry his longtime girlfriend, Comfort, who is loyal, but unsure.
In the climax, just as Comfort is about to respond to Jeff's proposal, a truckload of angry townspeople shows up ready to take on the "demon". Myrtlebank makes an inspired speech in which he tells them they have nothing to fear from him; but if he just happened to be a demon, they had best be nice to him or else. They agree to this, and they even say they will attend the wedding.
After they leave, Jeff pulls out a pipe and a match, making the latter spontaneously ignite, thus proving now-fiancee Comfort and the townspeople were indeed correct. But when Comfort asks how he lit the match, "Jeff" laughs and says "Comfort, you have got to stop imaginin' things," and puts his arm around her shoulders to take her inside.
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
A man, Jeff Myrtlebank, wakes up at his own funeralFuneral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
in a small rural town in the "southernmost section of the Midwest". The townspeople believe that the man must be possessed by a haint (a wandering demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
), even though the town doctor declares it was more than likely a medical condition that imitated death. Jeff seems normal enough, yet he has changed: He has suddenly become a hard worker and a good fistfighter, and now he wants to marry his longtime girlfriend, Comfort, who is loyal, but unsure.
In the climax, just as Comfort is about to respond to Jeff's proposal, a truckload of angry townspeople shows up ready to take on the "demon". Myrtlebank makes an inspired speech in which he tells them they have nothing to fear from him; but if he just happened to be a demon, they had best be nice to him or else. They agree to this, and they even say they will attend the wedding.
After they leave, Jeff pulls out a pipe and a match, making the latter spontaneously ignite, thus proving now-fiancee Comfort and the townspeople were indeed correct. But when Comfort asks how he lit the match, "Jeff" laughs and says "Comfort, you have got to stop imaginin' things," and puts his arm around her shoulders to take her inside.