The Trouble With Templeton
Encyclopedia
"The Trouble With Templeton" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
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Booth goes to the theater at noon for the first rehearsal of the new play and meets Sid Sperry, the play's unctuous financial backer. Sperry informs him that the director has been replaced by a new up-and-comer, Arthur Willis (played by director Sidney Pollack). Booth goes in to find Willis telling everyone in no uncertain terms that he is in charge. Willis discovers that Booth is late and talks about how important it is for everyone to be there, then sees him and addresses him directly on being there on time. Pressured, Booth runs out of the theater... and finds a crowd of people congratulating him in on an evening in 1927, over 30 years in the past.
The play, "The Great Seed", is written by Barney Flueger. A stagehand tells him that Booth's wife Laura is waiting for him with the cast and crew at a speakeasy. Booth runs there and the owner, Freddie, lets him in. Laura is drinking with Barney and assumes Booth is wearing aging makeup. He wants to talk to her in private and can't understand how he's there now, but wants to have her alone. She refuses, insisting she wants "to have a good time". As she fans herself with a script, Booth tries to explain what's going on and how they're both dead in his time. They assume he's joking and insist on partying, and when Booth professes his love Laura casually dismisses him then bursts out laughing. When Booth tries to get her to leave, she dances to the band, then slaps him when he tries to interfere and tells him to "go back where he came from". Angry and hurt, Booth picks up Laura's script and storms out. As soon as he leaves, the music ceases and everyone grows quiet. Laura stares after him and the lights fade out.
Booth runs down the street and back to the theater, only to find himself back in the present. He notices the script he picked up, entitled What To Do When Booth Comes Back, and reads through it, discovering it's a transcript of everything that happened in the speakeasy. Booth realizes the "ghosts" of his past were giving a special performance, just for him, acting callously to force him from his ennui and nostalgia into going back and living his own life happily in the future. Sperry and Willis are waiting for him and demand to know if he's there to work. Booth asserts himself, overriding Sperry and demanding respect from Willis. Willis, impressed, tells Sperry to run along and listens as Booth says he'll explain what happened ... someday. The rehearsal for the new play proceeds as scheduled.
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...
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Synopsis
Aging Broadway actor Booth Templeton is at home and sees his wife at the side of their pool flirting with her new flint, Ed Page. Booth's servant Marty comes in with his daily medication and Booth ruefully takes it while noting that his young wife's infidelity is common knowledge. Booth half-jokingly wonders about what will happen on the day the pills stop working. Booth notes that he hasn't achieved any contentment and Marty suggests that perhaps he should call and tell the director of Booth's newest play that he can't make rehearsal that day. Booth insists on going even though he doesn't particularly care any more as long as he has something to do, and admits he can't remember when he ever loved his current wife. He remembers his first wife, Laura, who died after seven years of marriage. Booth reminisces over his happiness with Laura and claims that he's all right.Booth goes to the theater at noon for the first rehearsal of the new play and meets Sid Sperry, the play's unctuous financial backer. Sperry informs him that the director has been replaced by a new up-and-comer, Arthur Willis (played by director Sidney Pollack). Booth goes in to find Willis telling everyone in no uncertain terms that he is in charge. Willis discovers that Booth is late and talks about how important it is for everyone to be there, then sees him and addresses him directly on being there on time. Pressured, Booth runs out of the theater... and finds a crowd of people congratulating him in on an evening in 1927, over 30 years in the past.
The play, "The Great Seed", is written by Barney Flueger. A stagehand tells him that Booth's wife Laura is waiting for him with the cast and crew at a speakeasy. Booth runs there and the owner, Freddie, lets him in. Laura is drinking with Barney and assumes Booth is wearing aging makeup. He wants to talk to her in private and can't understand how he's there now, but wants to have her alone. She refuses, insisting she wants "to have a good time". As she fans herself with a script, Booth tries to explain what's going on and how they're both dead in his time. They assume he's joking and insist on partying, and when Booth professes his love Laura casually dismisses him then bursts out laughing. When Booth tries to get her to leave, she dances to the band, then slaps him when he tries to interfere and tells him to "go back where he came from". Angry and hurt, Booth picks up Laura's script and storms out. As soon as he leaves, the music ceases and everyone grows quiet. Laura stares after him and the lights fade out.
Booth runs down the street and back to the theater, only to find himself back in the present. He notices the script he picked up, entitled What To Do When Booth Comes Back, and reads through it, discovering it's a transcript of everything that happened in the speakeasy. Booth realizes the "ghosts" of his past were giving a special performance, just for him, acting callously to force him from his ennui and nostalgia into going back and living his own life happily in the future. Sperry and Willis are waiting for him and demand to know if he's there to work. Booth asserts himself, overriding Sperry and demanding respect from Willis. Willis, impressed, tells Sperry to run along and listens as Booth says he'll explain what happened ... someday. The rehearsal for the new play proceeds as scheduled.