The New Exhibit
Encyclopedia
"The New Exhibit" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
.
, Albert W. Hicks
, Henri "Bluebeard" Landru, Hare and Burke. These wax figures are in fact replicas of five murderers. Mr. Ferguson complies and Martin takes the figures home, much to the dismay of his wife, Emma. They keep the figures in the basement, under high air conditioning and constant care. Terrified of them, Emma doesn't know what to do. She seeks the advice of her brother, Dave, who tells her to shut off the air conditioning, melting Martin's collection. She sneaks out of bed one night and tries to shut off the air conditioner, whilst being watched by the wax figure of Jack the Ripper
. A smiling Jack pivots his knife-wielding hand towards Emma, who screams in horror.
The next morning, Martin discovers his wife dead and Jack's bloody knife. He talks to Jack as if the figure is a real person, explaining that what he did was wrong. He buries Emma's body to conceal Jack's crime. The next day, Emma's brother Dave visits Martin, curious to her whereabouts. Martin nervously rushes him out of the house. Dave then sneaks into the basement through the back entrance of the house and eyes the wet cement where his sister is buried. While examining the area, the wax figure of ax-wielding Albert W. Hicks
watches him. Suddenly, something kicks a cement tool at Dave. Dave's eyes bulge as he looks up in horror.
Martin comes down later to find the carnage left by Hicks. He yells at Hicks, and once again hides the evidence.
Several weeks later, Ferguson comes to visit Martin. Happily, Ferguson tells Martin that the figures have been sold to the legendary Marchand's Wax Museum in Brussels. Martin is sadly forced to give up the wax figures he's so greatly cared for. Martin, although clearly disappointed, brings down tea to celebrate. Meanwhile, Ferguson is examining the figures, measuring them to be shipped to Brussels. The wax figure of rope handling Henri Landru eyes him. As soon as Ferguson turns around, Landru lowers the rope around his neck.
Martin walks downstairs carrying a tray with cups of tea and treats. He finds Ferguson strangled on the floor. Unstabilized, Martin yells at the figures, saying that even through all he's done for them, cleaning them, caring for them, they had to kill his best and only friend. As he yells, the emotionless faces of the figures stare back at him. Martin grabs a crowbar, planning to smash each and every one of them to bits. He eyes Landru, saying "he's first" for killing Ferguson.
Suddenly, the wax figures get up off their feet and slowly creep towards Martin. Martin stares in horror. Their faces unmoving, they all torment him, convincing him that he was the one that murdered his wife, brother in-law and best friend, not them. Martin backs up into a wall and screams in horror as the figures close him in.
Some time later, at Marchand's, a tour guide introduces the four wax figures to a crowd of visitors. However, there is a new addition to this exhibit: a wax figure of Martin Senescu, who supposedly killed his wife, brother in-law and best friend.
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
Martin Senescu works at a respected wax museum. His boss and good friend, Mr. Ferguson, informs him that the museum will close, to be replaced by a shopping market. Dispirited, Martin asks one request; that he can spare the five figures from his department--Jack the RipperJack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
, Albert W. Hicks
Albert W. Hicks
Albert W. Hicks , also known as William Johnson, John Hicks and 'Pirate Hicks', was the name of the last person executed for piracy in the United States .-Confession:"The affair occurred," said Hicks, "about half past nine or ten o'clock at night, while...
, Henri "Bluebeard" Landru, Hare and Burke. These wax figures are in fact replicas of five murderers. Mr. Ferguson complies and Martin takes the figures home, much to the dismay of his wife, Emma. They keep the figures in the basement, under high air conditioning and constant care. Terrified of them, Emma doesn't know what to do. She seeks the advice of her brother, Dave, who tells her to shut off the air conditioning, melting Martin's collection. She sneaks out of bed one night and tries to shut off the air conditioner, whilst being watched by the wax figure of Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
. A smiling Jack pivots his knife-wielding hand towards Emma, who screams in horror.
The next morning, Martin discovers his wife dead and Jack's bloody knife. He talks to Jack as if the figure is a real person, explaining that what he did was wrong. He buries Emma's body to conceal Jack's crime. The next day, Emma's brother Dave visits Martin, curious to her whereabouts. Martin nervously rushes him out of the house. Dave then sneaks into the basement through the back entrance of the house and eyes the wet cement where his sister is buried. While examining the area, the wax figure of ax-wielding Albert W. Hicks
Albert W. Hicks
Albert W. Hicks , also known as William Johnson, John Hicks and 'Pirate Hicks', was the name of the last person executed for piracy in the United States .-Confession:"The affair occurred," said Hicks, "about half past nine or ten o'clock at night, while...
watches him. Suddenly, something kicks a cement tool at Dave. Dave's eyes bulge as he looks up in horror.
Martin comes down later to find the carnage left by Hicks. He yells at Hicks, and once again hides the evidence.
Several weeks later, Ferguson comes to visit Martin. Happily, Ferguson tells Martin that the figures have been sold to the legendary Marchand's Wax Museum in Brussels. Martin is sadly forced to give up the wax figures he's so greatly cared for. Martin, although clearly disappointed, brings down tea to celebrate. Meanwhile, Ferguson is examining the figures, measuring them to be shipped to Brussels. The wax figure of rope handling Henri Landru eyes him. As soon as Ferguson turns around, Landru lowers the rope around his neck.
Martin walks downstairs carrying a tray with cups of tea and treats. He finds Ferguson strangled on the floor. Unstabilized, Martin yells at the figures, saying that even through all he's done for them, cleaning them, caring for them, they had to kill his best and only friend. As he yells, the emotionless faces of the figures stare back at him. Martin grabs a crowbar, planning to smash each and every one of them to bits. He eyes Landru, saying "he's first" for killing Ferguson.
Suddenly, the wax figures get up off their feet and slowly creep towards Martin. Martin stares in horror. Their faces unmoving, they all torment him, convincing him that he was the one that murdered his wife, brother in-law and best friend, not them. Martin backs up into a wall and screams in horror as the figures close him in.
Some time later, at Marchand's, a tour guide introduces the four wax figures to a crowd of visitors. However, there is a new addition to this exhibit: a wax figure of Martin Senescu, who supposedly killed his wife, brother in-law and best friend.