Wong's Lost and Found Emporium
Encyclopedia
"Wong's Lost and Found Emporium" is the second segment of the ninth episode from the first season (1985-1986) of the television series The New Twilight Zone
. The episode is based on the short story "Wong's Lost and Found Emporium", by William F. Wu
, first published in Amazing Stories, May 1983.
), a young Asian American, has spent three years looking for a mysterious place called "The Lost and Found Emporium". He finally tracks it down in a backroom of a sleazy San Francisco porn
shop, but once inside, he finds that the place has no owner or any staff.
Browsing around, David runs across an elderly woman, who walks through a door, apparently from downtown Fort Lauderdale, looking for lost time. He is not interested in her story, but suddenly, he sees an orb of light which is trying to point him to something. Following the orb, which the woman does not see, he finds a cage with mice with instructions to rub them until they calm down. Believing that this is her chance to win back her lost time, the woman tries to do so, but mice scatter away before she manages to do it. She breaks down in tears, with David just condescendingly quipping "them's the breaks" and walking away.
The next person David meets is an elderly man, who came to the emporium by accident. He eventually admits he lost the respect of his children, and David grudgingly points him (with help of the orb) to a mirror, which he should look at for no less than five and a half minutes. The man begins this procedure, but is disgusted by what he sees - a distorted, monstrous image of him. Unable to control himself, he smashes the mirror, then realizes what he has done. And just like with the old woman, David just shakes his head and leaves.
As he's walking away from the man, David is confronted by Melinda, who scolds him for his lack of compassion. David admits that it is his compassion he's after, explaining how he lost it years ago due to racial intolerance he encountered in his life. He mentions the murder of Vincent Chin
, which was an important event for the Asian American community in the USA. Melinda offers him a deal - she will find his compassion if she finds her lost item, which she won't reveal. David agrees, and follows the orb to an old thermos, which releases a stream of vapor. After inhaling the vapor, Melinda can't stop giggling - she got her sense of humor back. She then points David to his lost belonging, in shape of three flasks, with one containing his compassion.
Unable to choose, David grabs the two biggest ones and smashes them, and gains his integrity and childhood memories back. But the third flask - a small white test tube - rolls away from him, and is lost for good. David is visibly unhappy, but soon, he realizes he did gain a lot back, and that compassion came along with it to some extent. Feeling like a man reborn, David realizes it his destiny to help other unfortunate souls find what they're looking for, and Melinda stays with him as his assistant. They start off with the ones who had their chance - the elderly man and woman - as even lost chances can be recovered.
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 is based on the short story "Wong's Lost and Found Emporium", by William F. Wu
William F. Wu
William F. Wu is a Chinese-American science fiction author. He published his first story in 1977. Since then, Wu has written thirteen published novels, one scholarly work, and a collection of short stories...
, first published in Amazing Stories, May 1983.
Opening narration
Synopsis
David Wong (Brian TochiBrian Tochi
Brian Keith Tochihara , better known as Brian Tochi, is a U.S. actor, screen-writer, movie director and producer. He was widely recognized as the most popular East Asian child actor working in U.S. television during the late 1960s through much of the 1970s having appeared in various T.V. series and...
), a young Asian American, has spent three years looking for a mysterious place called "The Lost and Found Emporium". He finally tracks it down in a backroom of a sleazy San Francisco porn
PORN
Porn is a common short form for pornography. It may also refer to:* Progressive outer retinal necrosis, a disease of the retina* PORN, a French industrial rock band...
shop, but once inside, he finds that the place has no owner or any staff.
Browsing around, David runs across an elderly woman, who walks through a door, apparently from downtown Fort Lauderdale, looking for lost time. He is not interested in her story, but suddenly, he sees an orb of light which is trying to point him to something. Following the orb, which the woman does not see, he finds a cage with mice with instructions to rub them until they calm down. Believing that this is her chance to win back her lost time, the woman tries to do so, but mice scatter away before she manages to do it. She breaks down in tears, with David just condescendingly quipping "them's the breaks" and walking away.
The next person David meets is an elderly man, who came to the emporium by accident. He eventually admits he lost the respect of his children, and David grudgingly points him (with help of the orb) to a mirror, which he should look at for no less than five and a half minutes. The man begins this procedure, but is disgusted by what he sees - a distorted, monstrous image of him. Unable to control himself, he smashes the mirror, then realizes what he has done. And just like with the old woman, David just shakes his head and leaves.
As he's walking away from the man, David is confronted by Melinda, who scolds him for his lack of compassion. David admits that it is his compassion he's after, explaining how he lost it years ago due to racial intolerance he encountered in his life. He mentions the murder of Vincent Chin
Vincent Chin
Vincent Jen Chin was a Chinese American beaten to death in June 1982 in the United States, in the Detroit, Michigan enclave of Highland Park by Chrysler plant superintendent Ronald Ebens, with the help of his stepson, Michael Nitz...
, which was an important event for the Asian American community in the USA. Melinda offers him a deal - she will find his compassion if she finds her lost item, which she won't reveal. David agrees, and follows the orb to an old thermos, which releases a stream of vapor. After inhaling the vapor, Melinda can't stop giggling - she got her sense of humor back. She then points David to his lost belonging, in shape of three flasks, with one containing his compassion.
Unable to choose, David grabs the two biggest ones and smashes them, and gains his integrity and childhood memories back. But the third flask - a small white test tube - rolls away from him, and is lost for good. David is visibly unhappy, but soon, he realizes he did gain a lot back, and that compassion came along with it to some extent. Feeling like a man reborn, David realizes it his destiny to help other unfortunate souls find what they're looking for, and Melinda stays with him as his assistant. They start off with the ones who had their chance - the elderly man and woman - as even lost chances can be recovered.