Shadow Play (1986 The Twilight Zone episode)
Encyclopedia
"Shadow Play" is the first segment of the twenty-third episode of the first season (1985–1986) of the American television series The Twilight Zone
. The episode first aired April 4, 1986.
While Grant is in his cell, the prosecutor, Mr. Ritchie, is at home, pondering the oddity of Grant and his case. His wife attempts to take his mind off it, but then Grant's attorney, Erin Jacobs, shows up. She tries to put into words that Grant may be telling the truth despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. She claims the odd circumstances have her frantic: she herself feels that she is continually being watched and that she has this feeling that being so successful is too good to be true, like in a dream. Also, Jacobs asks why there was no press in or around the court, despite this being a big murder trial. Ritchie then looks very puzzled.
Ritchie shows up at Grant's cell. He claims that Grant is just using this crazy dream theory to try to fool everyone, but he's not fooled, even though Grant can lip-sync everything Ritchie says to him. Grant tries to explain how this has to be a dream. If he is to be executed today, which is the right day for executions—Mondays at 12:01 am—how is it that he was sentenced on a Sunday. What court does business on Sundays? Grant then brings up Ritchie's wife, Carol, who is the only person who never changes—because, in reality, she is Grant's sister. Grant even quotes what Carol said earlier to Ritchie that evening. Ritchie panics and leaves.
Back at Ritchie's house, Jacobs asks Carol how long she's been married to Ritchie, but neither he nor his wife can remember. Then the execution begins: a priest visits Grant in his cell. Grant claims that the priest is his real father, who died years ago. Meanwhile, Ritchie frantically tries to get a stay of execution. Just as he thinks the governor is calling, the switch is thrown and Grant drops. But then there is no body, and everyone in the Ritchie house watches everything disappear...as they themselves do. Suddenly, the dark courtroom comes alight with Adam Grant being sentenced for the crime of murder in the first degree...again...
. There are two differences in the plot: In the original episode, Adam Grant is sentenced to the electric chair
, and although he has the same nightmare every night, he always wakes up after the execution. In the remake, Grant never wakes up—he simply relives the dream over and over again. The remake also introduces the subplot with Grant's sister, who does not appear in the original. In addition, while in the original Grant tells the Catholic priest who visits his cell that prayers are necessary only in the real world, in the remake he says that it "may be" necessary.
The New Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is the first of two revivals of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series of the same name. It ran for two seasons on CBS before producing a final season for syndication.-Series history:...
. The episode first aired April 4, 1986.
Opening narration
Synopsis
A man named Adam Grant is being judged for the crime of murder in the first degree and he is found guilty. After being told that he will be hanged, Grant just sputters and laughs in disbelief. He then walks to the judge and tells him that all this doesn't matter because he is only dreaming it. All of what is happening is only a dream of his. After being returned to his cell, Grant continues telling his dream theory. Of course, his fellow death rowers don't believe what he's saying, even after detailed accounts of how he is executed every night in his dream and yet he still comes back.While Grant is in his cell, the prosecutor, Mr. Ritchie, is at home, pondering the oddity of Grant and his case. His wife attempts to take his mind off it, but then Grant's attorney, Erin Jacobs, shows up. She tries to put into words that Grant may be telling the truth despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. She claims the odd circumstances have her frantic: she herself feels that she is continually being watched and that she has this feeling that being so successful is too good to be true, like in a dream. Also, Jacobs asks why there was no press in or around the court, despite this being a big murder trial. Ritchie then looks very puzzled.
Ritchie shows up at Grant's cell. He claims that Grant is just using this crazy dream theory to try to fool everyone, but he's not fooled, even though Grant can lip-sync everything Ritchie says to him. Grant tries to explain how this has to be a dream. If he is to be executed today, which is the right day for executions—Mondays at 12:01 am—how is it that he was sentenced on a Sunday. What court does business on Sundays? Grant then brings up Ritchie's wife, Carol, who is the only person who never changes—because, in reality, she is Grant's sister. Grant even quotes what Carol said earlier to Ritchie that evening. Ritchie panics and leaves.
Back at Ritchie's house, Jacobs asks Carol how long she's been married to Ritchie, but neither he nor his wife can remember. Then the execution begins: a priest visits Grant in his cell. Grant claims that the priest is his real father, who died years ago. Meanwhile, Ritchie frantically tries to get a stay of execution. Just as he thinks the governor is calling, the switch is thrown and Grant drops. But then there is no body, and everyone in the Ritchie house watches everything disappear...as they themselves do. Suddenly, the dark courtroom comes alight with Adam Grant being sentenced for the crime of murder in the first degree...again...
Closing narration
Themes
This episode is a remake of the original episode by the same name that starred Dennis WeaverDennis Weaver
William Dennis Weaver was an American actor, best known for his work in television, including roles on Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama McCloud, and the 1971 TV movie Duel....
. There are two differences in the plot: In the original episode, Adam Grant is sentenced to the electric chair
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
, and although he has the same nightmare every night, he always wakes up after the execution. In the remake, Grant never wakes up—he simply relives the dream over and over again. The remake also introduces the subplot with Grant's sister, who does not appear in the original. In addition, while in the original Grant tells the Catholic priest who visits his cell that prayers are necessary only in the real world, in the remake he says that it "may be" necessary.