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The Twilight Zone

Time Enough at Last

Season 1, Episode 8, Aired 11/20/59

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Episode Summary

A bank teller, Henry Bemis, longs for time alone to read books. He gets his wish...

8.9

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Cast & Crew

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Rod Serling

Narrator/Host
Burgess Meredith

Henry Bemis
Vaughn Taylor

Mr. Carsville

Fan Episode Reviews (22)

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Favorite episode

10

"Perfect"

By Brian4663, Jan 02, 2012 Report Abuse

This is my all time favorite episode. It's not too creepy but it's fun from start till well.......the ending is pretty terrible but hey it is the Twilight zone. A must see episode.

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1 0
Mr. Henry Bemis is a simple man who dearly loves to read. The only problem is he never has enough time to do what he loves. He wishes for more time and his wish comes true in a way he could not possibly have imagined.moreless

9.5

"Superb"

By meathead704, Dec 12, 2011 Report Abuse

The late Burgess Meredith has said in interviews that of the four episodes of The Twilight Zone that he has appeared in, this episode is the one that fans remember the most. See it once and you will understand why. It's just amazing to watch, the performances, the plot, the turn of events are just terrific. I think it's fair to say that nobody could have foreseen what would finally become of Henry Bemis which is another reason why this episode works so well. If you haven't already, I hope you make time enough to see this excellent episode.moreless

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bit of a letdown

7.0

"Good"

By OmarCayenne, Oct 30, 2011 Report Abuse

I've always thought this episode was overrated. Meredith is his usual fun self--whether he's playing a villain or a nebbish, he always seems to come across--but the shrewish wife is cardboard, as is the ham-handed "you're a reader" boss. The real puzzler though is provided by the ending...I mean, how on earth could anybody possibly look forward to reading about people in a world that has just gotten rid of them? The allegory wears a little thin here.moreless

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A bank teller loves to read but then something happens that lets him read all the books he wants until something horrible stops him.

10

"Perfect"

By jdmxrain, Oct 19, 2008 Report Abuse

I love this episode but I just hate how it ends, why couldn't the writers just allow this little guy to be happy? Its not fair. He had a horrible wretched wife and everyone made fun of him because he loved to read. I wish it had ended with him being able to read all the books that he wanted. I mean really, why did they have to make this episode a sad one. I felt really sorry for him, yes its a classic Twilight Zone episode but eh left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I guess its the type of episode where you can relate when you are a bookworm too.moreless

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One of the quintessetial episodes.

9.5

"Superb"

By frucheydragon, Jul 04, 2008 Report Abuse

"Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." This is one of the first "Twilight Zone" episodes I ever saw, and it's certainly the one that stuck with me the most. I always felt I could relate to Henry Bemis on a certain level. I, too, am a bookworm who would like to spend my whole day reading and discussing literature. And who wouldn't feel sorry for someone who has to work for such a rude and demanding boss and who is married to such a cruel and insensitive wife. It's an unfortunately cruel twist of fate for Harold at the end, almost a reminder not to forget to make time for positive, loving relationships.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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Notes
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- This was the first of Burgess Meredith's four appearances on the series. Edit
- Featured on the volume 2 DVD. Edit
- This episode was listed as #25 on TV Guide/TV Land's 100 Hundred Most Memorable TV Moments Edit
Quotes
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- (Opening Narration) Narrator: Witness Mr. Henry Bemis, a charter member in the fraternity of dreamers. A bookish little man whose passion is the printed page but who is conspired against by a bank president and a wife and a world full of tongue-cluckers and the unrelenting hands of a clock. But in just a moment Mr. Bemis will enter a world without bank presidents or wives or clocks or anything else. He'll have a world all to himself without anyone. Edit
- Henry: Well, at least I still have my books. And the best thing is, there's time now... all the time I need. Edit
- Henry: That's not fair! That's not fair at all! There was time now. There was all the time I needed... Edit
Allusions
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- The lead character alludes to Robert Frost - a writer who wrote famous poems and books. Edit
- The quote: "The best laid plans of mice and men" (as well as the book "Of Mice and Men") is taken from the poem "To a Mouse." Edit