Silent Towns (10 Oct. 1992)
"The Ray Bradbury Theater" Silent Towns (original title)

A technician accidentally stranded on Mars by a sudden evacuation searches desperately for another human being on the desolate world. When he finds an equally lonely woman, she is not what he was expecting.

Director:

Lee Tamahori

Writers:

Ray Bradbury (screenplay), Ray Bradbury (story)

Stars:

Ray Bradbury, John Glover, Monica Parker

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Ray Bradbury	...	Himself - Introduction
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Glover	...	Walter Grip
Monica Parker	...	Genevieve

Storyline

A technician accidentally stranded on Mars by a sudden evacuation searches desperately for another human being on the desolate world. When he finds an equally lonely woman, she is not what he was expecting.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Release Date:

10 October 1992 (France)

Company Credits

User Reviews

A venus who turns out to be Venusian (and on Mars, no less)

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "If you were the last person on Earth I wouldn't marry you," or something to that effect. Well, okay. But what about if he or she were the last person on Mars, then what?

Bradbury must have been wearing a grin when he penned this tale. I know I was wearing one all throughout this episode.

As the episode opens we meet the character of Walter Grip (John Glover), riding his car into a Martian ghost town, of unpopulated streets and windblown papers tumbling about the main drag. (So they drive automobiles on Mars as well? Hm. Interesting. I wonder what they use for fuel?)

Where did everybody take off to? Reading from a newspaper headline, the Martian Chronicle, Grip learns the answer to this question. 'Earth Crisis! Rockets Recalled' reads the title.

The planet's been evacuated, leaving Grip abandoned. The startling news sinks in. "I need a drink," Grip remarks aloud to himself, and the manner in which Glover delivers this line is chucklesome.

One day amid his telephonic attempt at making human contact, Grip chances upon a real-live communicator (no, not a recording), a woman who introduces herself as Genevieve (Monica Parker). Over the phone this woman sounds pleasant and physically attractive.

The two of them are ecstatic at finding another human being yet living on Mars. They make an arrangement to meet each other and the next thing you know, the agog Grip is back in his car and racing to where Genevieve is located, some 900 miles away.

Walter Grip is all excited as if maybe this is the one.

Fast-forward to their initial encounter.

Meeting Genevieve in person shatters Grip's illusions. Genevieve is nothing like what Grip had expected. Sure, she's sweet and affable, but also homely and a little on the chubby side. (Grip is apparently a man who doesn't believe that it's what's on the inside that counts.)

Meanwhile, the happy-go-lucky spinster is all gaga over this self-perceived Prince Charming who has walked straight into her life. She can't afford to be choosy. In fact, she seems a little desperate. Why, it's love-at-first-sight.

"Now what?" the gushing romantic asks Grip upon greeting him. "Do we shake hands or do you give me a teeny-weeny peck on the cheek?"

Walter extends his hand.

And skedaddles, high-tailing it out of there.

He doesn't say why, but I'm guessing he needs his space.