.gif)
The Mirror (The Twilight Zone)
Encyclopedia
"The Mirror" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
.
lookalike, Ramos Clemente (Peter Falk
), celebrates the victory of the "people's revolution", led by him and his four life-long confidantes. The ambitious Central American farmer faces down the overthrown leader, who warns him that he will soon see enemies everywhere, including in an ornate mirror on the wall. The former leader tells Clemente that the mirror has the ability to show him his enemies in its reflection.
When the new leader begins to use methods much like his predecessor, his four confidantes (now declared by Clemente to be the heads of the government) argue with him. They oppose an order given by Clemente for mass executions of prisoners declared by Clemente to be Enemies of the State. Clemente uses the mirror...and sees each of them reflected in the mirror as though they are about to assassinate him. He see D'Alessandro's plan to kill him with a rifle; he sees Garcia and Tabal approaching him with knives in their hands; and he sees Cristo with a poisoned glass of wine. Clemente knows that the mirror reflects their true thoughts, and accuses them of their future crimes. In spite of their denials, he takes steps to eliminates them; two die by his hand, and two by the hands of others under his command.
Finally, Ramos is approached by a priest who asks him to end the executions, which have been going on for a week. Ramos refuses, saying that as long as he has enemies the executions will continue. In the end he seeks counsel from the priest, but finds no comfort in his response that all tyrants have but one real enemy, and that this is the one they never recognize until it is too late. Ramos takes one last long look in the mirror...and sees only himself. He picks up his pistol and throws it at the mirror, smashing the glass. The priest, who is standing just outside the office, hears the glass break. As he listens at the door he hears a gunshot. He rushes into Clemente's office and find Clemente's lifeless body sprawled on the floor, a gun in his hand. "The last assassin," he bitterly observes, "and they never learn... they never seem to learn."
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 Fidel CastroFidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
lookalike, Ramos Clemente (Peter Falk
Peter Falk
Peter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo...
), celebrates the victory of the "people's revolution", led by him and his four life-long confidantes. The ambitious Central American farmer faces down the overthrown leader, who warns him that he will soon see enemies everywhere, including in an ornate mirror on the wall. The former leader tells Clemente that the mirror has the ability to show him his enemies in its reflection.
When the new leader begins to use methods much like his predecessor, his four confidantes (now declared by Clemente to be the heads of the government) argue with him. They oppose an order given by Clemente for mass executions of prisoners declared by Clemente to be Enemies of the State. Clemente uses the mirror...and sees each of them reflected in the mirror as though they are about to assassinate him. He see D'Alessandro's plan to kill him with a rifle; he sees Garcia and Tabal approaching him with knives in their hands; and he sees Cristo with a poisoned glass of wine. Clemente knows that the mirror reflects their true thoughts, and accuses them of their future crimes. In spite of their denials, he takes steps to eliminates them; two die by his hand, and two by the hands of others under his command.
Finally, Ramos is approached by a priest who asks him to end the executions, which have been going on for a week. Ramos refuses, saying that as long as he has enemies the executions will continue. In the end he seeks counsel from the priest, but finds no comfort in his response that all tyrants have but one real enemy, and that this is the one they never recognize until it is too late. Ramos takes one last long look in the mirror...and sees only himself. He picks up his pistol and throws it at the mirror, smashing the glass. The priest, who is standing just outside the office, hears the glass break. As he listens at the door he hears a gunshot. He rushes into Clemente's office and find Clemente's lifeless body sprawled on the floor, a gun in his hand. "The last assassin," he bitterly observes, "and they never learn... they never seem to learn."