Kindly old Mr. Ferguson ( Will Kuluva) informs his loyal employee Martin Senescu ( Martin Balsam) that changing times and dwindling profits mean that he will be forced to close his wax museum soon. Martin has spent years proudly showing the figures of famous murderers to the museum's visitors, and regards them as his friends. He asks to be allowed to keep the figures in his home until a buyer is found. Mr. Ferguson expresses doubt that Martin's wife Emma ( Maggie Mahoney) will be enthusiastic about the idea, and he is quite right.
Martin, unemployed and running out of money, becomes more and more obsessive about spending time with his " friends". Emma is shocked at the way he talks to them and says that he loves them. When she complains that she nearly has a heart attack every time she has to come down to the basement with a load of laundry, and sees Jack the Ripper, Henri Landru the Bluebeard of Paris, and Burke and Hare staring at her, Martin beams and says jovially, " Emma, they're SUPPOSED to be frightening!" When Emma sneaks down to the basement one night, to unplug the air conditioner, and let the figures melt in the heat, she is confronted by Jack the Ripper, knife in hand. The next morning, Martin finds her dead at Jack's feet, with blood on the knife and a creepy smile on Jack's face. " Jack, how could you?" Martin demands of the wax figure.
Things get more complicated from there. Martin Balsam is absolutely brilliant in his role of the devoted caretaker. He is completely into the character, and never strikes a false note. The other actors are also excellent. The script is both eerie and persuasive, and one can well sympathize with Emma's reluctance to go into the basement with the silent figures staring at her.
One of the most compelling parts of the story is the opening sequence, with a group of museum visitors being unnerved by Martin's quiet enthusiasm as he lectures about the famous murderers. The scene in which Mr. Ferguson breaks the bad news to Martin is touching and believable. You get a real sense of the long history between these men. Mr. Ferguson smiles at Martin and says gently, " You know, Martin, in thirty years, I don't think you ever missed a single day". It's a small detail, but typical of the care and thoughtfulness that went into the writing of this episode.
" The New Exhibit" is well worth seeing, for those who haven't been caught up in its eerie spell.
Martin, unemployed and running out of money, becomes more and more obsessive about spending time with his " friends". Emma is shocked at the way he talks to them and says that he loves them. When she complains that she nearly has a heart attack every time she has to come down to the basement with a load of laundry, and sees Jack the Ripper, Henri Landru the Bluebeard of Paris, and Burke and Hare staring at her, Martin beams and says jovially, " Emma, they're SUPPOSED to be frightening!" When Emma sneaks down to the basement one night, to unplug the air conditioner, and let the figures melt in the heat, she is confronted by Jack the Ripper, knife in hand. The next morning, Martin finds her dead at Jack's feet, with blood on the knife and a creepy smile on Jack's face. " Jack, how could you?" Martin demands of the wax figure.
Things get more complicated from there. Martin Balsam is absolutely brilliant in his role of the devoted caretaker. He is completely into the character, and never strikes a false note. The other actors are also excellent. The script is both eerie and persuasive, and one can well sympathize with Emma's reluctance to go into the basement with the silent figures staring at her.
One of the most compelling parts of the story is the opening sequence, with a group of museum visitors being unnerved by Martin's quiet enthusiasm as he lectures about the famous murderers. The scene in which Mr. Ferguson breaks the bad news to Martin is touching and believable. You get a real sense of the long history between these men. Mr. Ferguson smiles at Martin and says gently, " You know, Martin, in thirty years, I don't think you ever missed a single day". It's a small detail, but typical of the care and thoughtfulness that went into the writing of this episode.
" The New Exhibit" is well worth seeing, for those who haven't been caught up in its eerie spell.