All language subtitles for The Twilight Zone - S05E25 - The Masks.eng.SDH

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

NARRATOR: You unlock this
door with the key of imagination.

Beyond it is another dimension.

A dimension of sound.

A dimension of sight.
A dimension of mind.

You're moving into a land of
both shadow and substance,

of things and ideas.

You've just crossed over
into the Twilight Zone.

Oh, Jeffrey, put those in the study.

All right. It's crowded downtown?

The greatest Mardi Gras ever.
Least that's what they're saying.

How is he?

Not good. Not good at all.
The doctor's with him now,

but he wants to be advised
when the relatives arrive.

Those relatives of his.

I'm quite sure they'll
make themselves known.

Well, sawbones?

Well, it's too fast, it's too
weak, and it's too uneven.

Where were you when they were teaching
bedside manner at your medical school?

Trying out for the soccer team?

Jason, I have been your
physician now for 25 years,

and the first time I
treated you for a head cold

and I allowed myself
one compassionate cluck,

you threw a lamp at me.

That established the
pattern right then and there.

I have put up with your inept
ministrations all these years

because your candor
is a refreshing departure

from the modern medical norm.

I ask you a straight, simple question,

I get a straight, simple response.

[CHUCKLES GENTLY]

Sam.

Yes, Jason, what is it?

The oft-asked question of the
condemned man: How long?

Oh, well, Jason, you can't exactly say…

Tell me, Sam, do I have a week?

Do I have a day and a half?

Or is there no need to wind my watch

to cover the possibilities
of the next four hours?

Jason… my guess is

that you can measure
your life in moments.

It can come at any time now.

But that fact you're still here,

is a tribute to… to an inner strength

that most of us don't even possess.

Nonsense. It's attributable
to a cross-grained orneriness.

And the fact that there are
one or two things left to do

before I leave this earth.

That's why I must stay
alive at least until midnight.

All right, Jason, all right.

Doctor?

Yes?

I'll see you tomorrow.

Yes, Jason, I believe you will.

God willing.

NARRATOR: Mr. Jason Foster,
a tired ancient

who on this particular Mardi Gras
evening will leave the earth.

But before departing,
he has some things to do,

some services to
perform, some debts to pay

and some justice to mete out.

This is New Orleans, Mardi Gras time.

It is also the Twilight Zone.

WOMAN: Oh, what a ghastly
trip. I'm absolutely exhausted!

Here, take this, Jeffrey.

And these, too.

JEFFREY: Yes, sir.

Jeffrey, are our rooms ready?

Yes, ma'am, they're all prepared.

Oh, fine. Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Dr. Thorn!

How nice to see you!

Well, Emily, how are you?

Oh. I'm bearing up, Doctor,
under the circumstances.

You remember my husband, Wilfred?

Oh, yes.

Hello, Doctor. We met some time ago.

And this is my son, Wilfred Jr.

Hi.

And my daughter, Paula.

Hello.

Your father has been expecting you,
Emily. I'm awfully glad you can be here.

Oh, that silly Mardi Gras. Oh,
really, the traffic was just unspeakable.

All the shouting and screaming.
Incredibly rude people.

It's a wonder Father's chauffeur
was ever able to get us…

Emily, your father is extremely ill.

In my opinion, it is only a
matter of days, even hours.

Oh, how perfectly awful.

But, of course, we've been expecting it.

Haven't we?

Oh, incidentally, Doctor,

I've been getting these absolutely
horrible muscle spasms in my arm.

Sometimes they're just unbearable.

Perhaps you might be able
to prescribe something…

Emily, I'm sorry, but I have other
patients to look in this afternoon.

Oh, yes, of course.

If you'll all excuse me.

WILFRED: Oh, Doctor?

Yes?

I'll see you to the door. You
two take your mother upstairs.

Tell me, uh,

the old boy's in bad shape, huh?

"The old boy" is dying.

Good afternoon.

Well, Father.

EMILY: Father.

Oh! Father, you're awake.

How are you, Emily?

Oh.

I'm bearing up.

Bearing up? You sound like
job itemizing his calamities.

What's your illness this month, Emily?

It doesn't matter, Father.
I'll muddle through.

You are the four most
changeless people on this Earth.

I don't like being so ill,
Father, if that's what you mean.

Don't you? Well, I find
that hard to believe.

Considering that in the past 25 years

you've been at death's door so often,

it's a wonder you haven't
worn a hole in the mat.

Well!

Father!

And Wilfred.

How's business?

Oh, making a little,
losing a little, Father,

but I manage to keep my head above water.

You know, Wilfred, I think the only
book you ever read was a ledger.

I think if someone cut you open,
they would find a cash register.

[LAUGHING] Oh, really, Father?

Really.

And you, Paula.

Delighted to see you, Grandfather.

Now, that's friendly
of you to tell me that.

Considering that you
haven't seen me, yet.

All you've seen is your mirror image.

Oh, Grandfather, you're
very naughty, really, you are.

We've had the most miserable, long trip,

and Mother hasn't stopped
complaining one instant.

Well! Do you hear that, Father?

The younger generation.

"He jests at scars that
never felt a wound."

Oh, Emily, my dear.

I believe that my trouble
is hardening of the arteries

in a very sick heart.

But if you don't stop
playing Sarah Bernhardt,

I think I shall succumb
to an intestinal disorder.

And… there's Wilfred Jr.,

looking as aware as ever.

Wilfred, dear, tell your
grandfather how nice it is to see him.

It's nice to see you again, Grandfather.

It was very nice and gracious
of you all to come see me.

Why, Father dear,

wild horses couldn't have kept
us away, even my own agony.

Oh, I hope you survive, Emily.

Now, I've planned for you all to
have an excellent dinner this evening,

and then we're going to have a surprise.

Oh, Grandfather, it's Mardi Gras,

and I was rather hoping you'd
know of some nice young man.

But we're going to
have a party here, Paula.

We're going to have a marvelous time.

And I've arranged for all of us to,

to wear masks.

What?

Masks?

How droll, Father. Masks!

I swear, you people don't just celebrate

the Mardi Gras, you
succumb to it. Masks, indeed.

That might be fun.

Oh, it shall be, Junior,
my boy. It shall be.

Oh, perhaps not the same degree

of excitement that you get
from torturing small animals

as I've seen you do in the past.

Lay off, Grandfather. Besides,
that was a long time ago.

Wilfred's getting along very
well in school now, Father.

He made the football team.

Chip off the old block, right, son?

Chip off the old block, Grandfather.

Oh, I'm sure of it.

Now, why don't you all
go and prepare for dinner?

We're going to have a
very interesting evening.

As a matter of fact, I'll guarantee it.

Anything you say, Father.

Come along, darlings.

Excuse me, sir.

Your milk, Mr. Foster.

Oh, thank you, Jeffrey.

Anything else I can do for you?

Yes. You may get the masks

and put them in the study, if you will.

Yes, sir.

[CROWD CHEERING]

Oh, really.

I think this whole
thing is too ridiculous.

It's the most exciting
night of the whole year,

and we… we sit here
in this… this mausoleum.

The whole city of New Orleans
is dancing, and what do we do?

We have a death watch
for a crazy old man.

Did you have a swinging
time in New Orleans, baby?

Oh, indeed.

We wore funny masks,

and all sat around and
looked at each other.

Oh, I'm so bored.

Ah, that'll be all, Jeffrey. Thank you.

[WHISPERS] Yes, sir.

Well, tell me, my loved ones,

did you have a satisfactory dinner?

Oh, yes, yes, yes, we did, Father.

Sumptuous, Father. Really excellent.

Do you think it wise to be up like this?

Wise?

No, no, but necessary, assuredly.

Tell me, have you examined your masks?

Our masks?

They're… They're, uh, unique, Father.

They are very unique.

You know, they are made by an old Cajun.

"Made" is inaccurate. They are created.

I am told that in addition
to their artistic value,

they have certain,
uh, certain properties.

They're worn only during the Mardi Gras,

and there's a ritual to the wearing.

One tries to select a mask that is
the antithesis of what the wearer is.

Oh, sure.

Well, that's, uh, very interesting.

Um, very interesting.

Yes, it is.

Now, shall we select our masks?

Tell me, Wilfred,

how do you fancy yourself?

Oh, uh, I don't understand, Father.

Oh, come now, be candid.

When you shave in the morning,

what looks back at you from the mirror?

Really, Father, I think we're
a little old for parlor games.

[SHARPLY] Let me be the judge of that.

Now, I want an honest self-assessment.

You're serious, aren't you?

I was never more serious.

Well, I'm an affable man. I've
always been an affable man.

Oh, you're an affable man.

Well, then, you're, uh, friendly.

You're outgoing.
You're, uh, extrovertish.

I think so.

Yes, then, along with this affability,

you have a certain rapport
with your fellow man.

Uh, yes, indeed.

Uh-huh. Now, the opposite of all this

amiability would be, uh, this face here.

Look at it.

Charming. [CHORTLES]

Wear it!

Live with it a while, Wilfred.

It has great subtlety, Wilfred.

There's greed, avarice, cruelty.

All of the character
traits that you don't have.

Ah, and my dear, brave Emily.

I'm really not up to this, Father.

Of course you are, my
dear. You're up to anything.

Your courage dictates
this brief period of sacrifice.

Now, look at this face, my dear.

The face of a self-centered
coward, a gutless flab,

in contrast to your intrepid valor.

Here, Emily.

And the one who walks
in beauty like the night.

Frankly, Grandfather, I think
this whole thing is a bore.

Oh, but, Paula, look at that beauty,

that insolent hauteur,

that skin-deep vanity.

It has none of your heart,

none of your selflessness.

[FAINT CHEERING OF CROWD OUTSIDE]

Wear it, Paula, just for a few hours.

And the timid, gentle
Wilfred Jr. over there.

Ah, come on, Grandfather.

Now, this would be your
mask, Wilfred, my boy.

It's a face of a dull, stupid clown.

In contrast to your gentle refinement,

your courteous civility.

Here.

Uh, what about your mask, Father?

Oh, this is mine.

The face of death, because
I'm alive, understand?

I shall wear the thing that
stalks me at this moment.

Father, you don't mean…

We have to wear these ugly things?

Only for a few hours.

Only till the unmasking at midnight.

Well, I won't wear mine.

Me neither. It's stupid.

Well, Father, it seems that
we're somewhat at odds here.

Not really, Wilfred.

You all came here for one purpose:

To watch me go and cry "bon voyage."

To put coins on my closed eyes

and with your free hands start
grabbing things from my shelves.

Father, that's cruel.

That's truth! You came to
reap everything I've sown,

to collect everything I've built.

Well, I shall not disappoint you.

Everything is yours. Everything
is prepared. The will is made.

The four of you inherit everything I own.

Everything.

Money, house,

property holdings,
stocks, bonds. Everything.

Father, you're breaking our hearts.

That's the most touching
thing you ever dredged up

by way of conversation, Wilfred.

But I must include this addendum,

this small proviso.

You shall wear your masks until midnight.

If any one of you should take them off,

from my estate you shall each receive

train fare back to Boston, and that's it!

Well, we won't be spoilsports.

If this is your pleasure,
Father, we'll indulge you.

And now, my dear ones,

we will wait until midnight.

[CROWDS CHEERING OUTSIDE]

Oh. Oh, this is horrible.

Oh, this is horrible, Father.

I'm suffocating.

I really am suffocating!

I've had dull times before, Grandfather,

but this is the worst. This takes it.

I don't know about the
rest of you, but I've had it.

I can't stand this thing
on my face another minute!

I'm gonna take it off! I don't care!

Stop it! You stop it!

I don't blame her.

I don't blame her a
bit! This is cruel, Father.

I have to agree, Father.
Really, this has gone far enough.

We've been here for hours
staring at these grotesque masks.

I think there is a limit.

[VOICE BREAKING] Please, Father,

please, let us take them off now.

Have you all had your say?

Paula? Wilfred Jr.?

You, Emily? And that captain
of industry you're married to?

Is there nothing else
you have to say to me?

Only that I'm… I'm feeling buried alive.

Me, too! I think you're out of your mind.

Come on, let us take the masks off!

Father, I appeal to you now.
It's more than just discomfort.

It's becoming quite unbearable.

[COUGHING]

What is it, Father?

It's, uh, what you've all been
waiting for, I believe, Wilfred.

Now you can dig deep in the treasury.

Are you feeling weaker, Father?

At last, a note of hope
in your voice, Emily.

Why must you always say such
miserable, cruel things to me?

I quite agree, Father.

Why, indeed, Emily. Because
you're cruel and miserable people.

Because none of you respond to love.

Emily responds only to what
her petty hungers dictate.

Wilfred responds only to things
that have weight and bulk and value.

He feels books. He doesn't read them.

He appraises paintings.

He doesn't seek out
their truth or their beauty.

And Paula there lives in a mirror.

The world is nothing to her

but a reflection of herself.

And her brother.

Humanity to him is a small animal

caught in a trap to be tormented.

His pleasure is the giving of pain.

And from this, he feels
the same sense of fulfillment

most human beings get
from a kiss or an embrace!

You're caricatures!

All of you.

Without your masks you're caricatures.

[CLOCK CHIMES HOUR]

[SLOWLY] And now you're all very rich.

Now you own everything that I have owned.

You kept your bargain.
You wore the masks.

Enjoy yourselves, dear ones.

I've lived a full life.

May God pity you.

He's dead.

At long last. He's dead. Good.

Now, let's celebrate!

[CRIES OUT]

Wha… What's the matter?
What's the matter with you all?

[GASPS]

[GASPS]

Oh. Oh.

I called you just as soon
as I found out, Doctor.

This must be death.

No horror, no fear.

Nothing but peace.

NARRATOR: Mardi Gras incident.

The dramatis personae being
four people who came to celebrate.

And, in a sense, let themselves go.

This they did with a vengeance.

They now wear the faces
of all that was inside them,

and they'll wear them
for the rest of their lives.

Said lives now to be spent in shadow.

Tonight's tale of men,
the macabre and masks

on the Twilight Zone.

PRESENTER: And now, Mr. Serling.

Next time out in The Twilight Zone,
we do a probe in depth

into a current cancer known as hatred.

And we tell you the story
of a little Midwestern village

which wakes up on a violent morning
to discover that there is no morning,

no light, no sun. Only a
frightening and pervading darkness.

It stars Michael Constantine and Paul Fix,

and it's called,
"I Am the Night. Color Me Black."

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]