Enredo

"Teacher's Aide": A teacher at a tough inner-city school is possessed by a malevolent spirit. "Paladin of the Lost Hour": An old man with a special watch bonds with a tormented veteran.

Teachers Aide

The episode opens on a run down inner city school; students mill around, the grass is covered in litter, the pathways and steps are flanked with overgrown weeds.

Miss Peters (Adrienne Barbeau) an English teacher walks up the entrance steps and past a Security Guard (Al Christy) on her way into the main building.

The scene cuts to a gang, The Furies, as they walk up an alternative pathway, one of the gang, Trojan (Arthur) (Miguel A. Núñez Jr.), boasting to the rest of something he has done.

The scene cuts to a gargoyle on the roof whose eyes glow red.

Trojan continues to boast of his prowess and bravery. One of the Furies, Wizard (Theodore) (Adam Postil), points to a rival gang and comments that Danny has had it too good for too long before making his way over to start a fight. We see Wizard remove his belt and buckle, wrapping the tongue end around his hand, as the rival gang member removes a cut throat razor from his pocket. They start to circle one another as a crowd of students surround them.

Ms Peters hears the noise of the crowd and rushes out of the main building to stand alongside her colleague Hugh Costin (Fred Morsell) who then leaves in search of some help to break the fight up. The fight continues until finally Ms Peters steps in to break it up, on seeing that Wizard has got the upper hand and is about to slash his counterpart with the razor. Throwing herself at Wizard she is able to separate them. Looking skyward Ms Peters catches sight of the Gargoyle, their eyes meet and a red hue seems to permeate Ms Peters eyes and facial skin. The eye contact is finally broken when Mr Costins helps her to her feet while the Security Guard breaks up the surrounding the crowd.

Mr Costins tells Ms Peters that she shouldn't have bothered, that they (the students) are nothing more than a pack of animals. Ms Peters replies that they are just children however Mr Costins says yes, but with sharp toys, referring to the razor, and that the school has more gang fights than graduations. Ms Peters shows signs or distress but tells Mr Constin that she just has a headache and it is nothing.

The scene cuts to the gargoyle on the roof, its eyes no longer glowing red.

That night Ms Peters tosses and turns in bed, the scene interspersed with flashes of lightning and views of the gargoyles teeth and claws. Her hands and nails scratching long strips in the material of her sheets as she finally sits up in bed with an evil angry look on her face. The angry look quickly dissipates and changes to fear as she looks at the damage to her bedding.

At school the following day Wizard and Trojan enter the class late, interrupting Ms Peters lesson. The reasons they give for being late show her no respect, with Trojan looking at a non existent watch on his wrist. She tells them both to take their seats then continues with the lesson. Trojan interrupts with a stupid comment and Ms Peters tries to explain to the class the importance of having an education if they want a job or to speak to someone outside of their own community. Trojan continues to be disrespectful or Ms Peters, making personal remarks about her legs. Ms Peters walks toward Trojan with a look of anger showing on her face. She grabs Trojan from his seat and forces him against the class wall before raising him aloft with one hand while making threats. Wizard stands and tells her to knock it off so she turns, throws Trojan into his seat and then asks what Wizard has on his tiny little mind. Wizards face shows disbelief and a small amount of fear, he is unable to reply. The school bell rings and all the students depart the classroom. Ms Peters leans back against the wall suddenly looking deflated and exhausted, shaking her hand in pain she stands and appears to analyse her actions obviously not knowing why she reacted as she did.

Out in the hallway a student (Brian Robbins) kicks and bangs his locker as Ms Peters and another teacher (Sarah Partridge) walk by having a conversation. The other teacher turns to look at Ms Peters only to find that she now has the noisy student forced face first against the locker and with an arm twisted behind his back. Ms Peters then impresses on the boy that the school is older than his grandmother and therefore deserves the same respect he would give his grandmother. She then forces the boy to use the combination to open his locker, rather than the violence he was previously using.

That night Ms Peters soaks a bruised hand in cold water, her dog growling in her direction she then looks and asks the dog what has gotten into him? She then says Whats the matter with me?

The next day in school Ms Peters recites poetry to the class, all of whom appear bored and on the edge of sleep. Suddenly music blares from a Boom Box on the floor beside Wizards desk. Wizard grins and does nothing when asked to turn the music off. Ms Peters walks tiredly to Wizards desk and turns the music off herself. The students react by asking her to leave it on and not to mess with other peoples stuff. Walking back to the front of the classroom Wizard is seen turning the music on again behind her back. Ms Peters halts and the look of anger appears once again on her face, she retraces her steps back to Wizards desk and picks up the Boom Box before crushing it with her bare hands. As she once again returns to her desk Wizard stands and attempts to attack her from the rear, she side steps his rush and pushes him face down on her desk before forcing his arm up and behind his back. She then forces him out the office and tells him to stay out. She turns back to the room and signs of weakness and exhaustion can once again be seen. The rest of the class look on silently as she returns to the English poetry lesson as though nothing untoward had occurred. On being given the page number all of the students quickly flip through their books in a hurried fearful way.

Ms Peters enter the ladies room. Students already present in the facilities rush to extinguish cigarettes and leave, when they see her. Alone she turns on the tap, massages her neck and then looks in the mirror. She reaches out to touch her reflection when suddenly a greyish hand suddenly grasps for her from beyond the reflection. Afraid, she turns and runs from the washroom.

Outside Trojan and another gang member (Richard Brainard) vent about what they would like to do to her, Ms Peters, for embarrassing them. Wizard calls them on their threats implying that they are all mouth and wouldn't follow through on their threats. Wizard walks off baseball bat in hand, ignoring pleas from Jennifer (Noelle Harling) to stop.

Ms Peters sits at her desk marking papers she glances to the wall clock, 17:43, tiredness and exhaustion show as she bows her head to her desk. Wizard is seen running up the steps and squeezing through the gap in the chained main entrance door.

The scene cuts to the gargoyle located atop the building, its eyes once again glowing red.

Ms Peters still seated at her desk sits up straight, once again under control of the Gargoyle and utters the word soon. She stands, leaves the office and makes her way down a corridor. Wizards sees and begins to follow her. She tears the handle and lock off a door and enters the room. Wizard follows behind and enters into what appears to be an old storage and file room. Wizard looks moves slowly through the room scanning the area for any sign of Ms Peters with no success. He starts to smash the bat into the surrounding shelves while shouting for her to Come out here! he moves to various parts of the room as he hears small noises, finally removing a box but to no avail. Suddenly a grey rough hand, reminiscent of the Gargoyle's paw, grasps his shoulder and on turning he is confronted by Ms Peters whose visage has changed to grey eyes, fanglike teeth and a roughened stone complexion.

Backing away Wizard raises the bat which Ms Peters with one slash of her claw-like hands breaks in two. She then lifts and throws him to the back of the room and then jumps to attack him. Scrambling over the upturned shelves and boxes he sees Ms Peters perched in a similar way to that of the Gargoyle. No matter which way he flees Ms Peters is always there ahead of him, crouched and waiting, her body becoming less and less humanlike as the chase continues. Finally Ms Peters jumps down and pins Wizard to the floor, extending her arm in readiness for a final and fatal slash of her claws she suddenly catches sight of herself in a mirror and pauses. She gets up off Wizard and backs away making loud unintelligible screaming noises until she finally reverses into an electrical box that was damaged earlier. Wizard looks on as the electrical current flows through her and the Gargoyle on the roof is seen to explode into small pieces.

Finally Ms Peters lying face down on the floor is slowly approached by Wizard. Gently he turns her over and raises her head telling her to wake up. Ms Peters opens her eyes, now looking entirely human again. Wizard asks Why didn't you kill me? to which she replies I couldn't.....I couldn't let that happen. Wizard thanks her, a sincere thank you which she accepts. Reconciled, Wizard helps her to her feet and they leave the room together.

Narration at End: We are told that damned places exist. Buildings where madness permeates the very bricks and mortar. We're told that sometimes dedication and kindness can purge the evil from those walls. This has merely been a story. Life isn't really like this, is it? A lesson to be learned in the study halls, of the Twilight Zone.





Paladin of the Lost Hour

The scene opens with an elderly man, Gaspar (Danny Kaye) sitting alone, head bowed down in a graveyard. 2 punks look at him through the railings. Punk #1 (John Bryant) turns to Punk #2 (Corkey Ford) and suggests that they rob him for his valuables, Punk #2 wonders aloud if the old man will have anything worth stealing, Punk #1 says he sure hopes so. The Punks make their way into the graveyard via an open gate. The old man is seen talking to a grave with the name Minny on it. He speaks quietly of missing her and that the pain does not ease with time. Suddenly the 2 Punks grab him, push him to the ground where they proceed to beat him up. The old man shouts Help me! Protect me! You must protect me! which is seen to be overheard by Billy Kinetta (Glynn Turman) who is visiting another grave. Punk #1 searches through the old mans pockets and brings out an old pocket watch which he looks at while walking away from the assault. The watch suddenly burns his hand and then floats magically into the air. Billy attacks Punk #1 and defends himself from the knife wielding Punk #2. During the struggle the watch is seen to float through the air, into the hand of the elderly gentleman which he then holds close to his chest.

The Punks run off and Billy turns to help the elderly Gaspar to his feet, who thanks Billy for his help, as he picks up and returns Gaspars belongings. Gaspar assures Billy that he is fine.

Gaspar suggest they go somewhere and have a nice cup of Earl Grey but Billy turns him down as he has a few thing to take care of at the graveside. Gaspar tries to convince him, expressing his liking of Billy due to his use of the word Dad instead of the word Pop which he detests. He then hitches his arm through Billys and starts to lead him out of the Graveyard. Stopping at the railings they finally introduce themselves and Gaspar uses the meaning of his name to suggest that they both now have something to talk about.

The men go back to Billys apartment and while Billy is making the tea Gaspar has a quick look around at the small compact space. He opens the conversation with a reminiscence of the books that he and Minny had and how they couldnt bear to throw one out even if it was a stinker. He goes on to tell Billy that all the people who visited over the years asked the same dumb question Have you read all those books?, as though it was some kind of weird perversion, and that he finally came up with an answer that suited of course not, who wants a library of books that you have already read.

Billy asks if Gaspar is retired to which Gaspar vehemently says he is not. He is still active doing all sorts of things, he is a consumer advocate. The conversation turns to Gaspars visit to the cemetery and Gaspar confides that he visits his wifes grave, that she has been gone 20 years and that he still misses her, that he visits the grave every other day.

They sit and drink their tea and Gaspar ask Billy who he visits, Billy says it is just a friend and then says that he has to get ready to leave for work, as he is the night manager of a convenience store. Gaspar asks Billy a favour, to rest at the apartment for a while, to which Billy agrees and informs him, Gaspar, he wont be back until 2 am, but on leaving the door will lock automatically. Finally Billy comments that it was nice getting to know him, which Gaspar considers a mutual pleasure.

Billy returns to his apartment and is pleased and surprised to find that Gaspar is still there, and has prepared a meal of stew for the two of them. As Billy smells appreciatively at the meal Gaspar encourages him to eat, but leave room for dessert.

After the meal Billy asks Gaspar if he is homeless and then offers to let him stay with him for a while. Gaspar accepts the offer, although he tells Billy it won't be long as his Doctor has informed him that he isn't long for this world. He confesses that he is a little afraid to go but having someone to talk to would be a great comfort.

Billy later admits that he was visiting the grave of a man who was in his rifle company in Vietnam, but does not elaborate and Gaspar does not press for details.

Gaspar suggests that they watch a little TV, perhaps the news. A small black and white tv is placed on the table. They both listen as news items involving missile crises etc. are read out by the News Anchor, Gaspar watching Billys reaction closely. Finally Billy turns the TV off wishing to hear no more about war and violence. Billy admits to Gaspar that he is also afraid of death. Gaspar reassures Billy that it will never happen, that there will be no nuclear holocaust, to trust him when he tells him that it will never happen. Billy wonders if Gaspar has some inside information. Gaspar removes the old pocket watch from his pocket and extends his hand and the watch out to Billy and tells him that it will never happen as it is only 11 oclock. Billy tells Gaspar he has news for him, that the watch has stopped and that it is actually 4 oclock, but Gaspar reiterates that it is only 11 oclock.

The next day walking along the street Gaspar says he will treat Billy to a movie, as long as it doesnt have Karen Black, Sandy Dennis or Meryl Streep as they are always crying and their noses are always red.

A big flash car stops in front of them, the driver throws the end butt of his lit cigar out the window. Gaspar sees the cigar butt, goes over picks it up and tells the man he thinks he may have dropped it. He then flicks the cigar into rear leather seating of the car and walks away. The driver, in panic, tries to turn and retrieve the cigar before it does any damage. Billy leads Gaspar away from the vehicle commenting that he must be nuts. The conversation on Gaspars sanity continues as they walk along the street. Gaspar explaining that the man was guilty of causing trash and that others were guilty of many more other crimes like littering, pollution and waste dumping etc. He then goes on to tell Billy that he is responsible for each and every person, no he isnt God, but he is responsible for every person and animal as well. Billy looks at him as though he is crazy.

Back at home Gaspar admits that he has been doing a lot of thinking about dying, that he is afraid to leave Minny alone. He wont be there to talk to her and she will be well and truly dead and forgotten as they never had any children. Neither of them did much to be remembered for. Billy tells Gaspar he can tell him about Minny and he will do the remembering for him.

Billy admits that he has never had to be responsible for anyone, no wife or family. He never even really knew Charlie, whose grave he visited. He then goes on to tell Gaspar about the events that occurred in Vietnam and how Charlie had saved his life. Billy becomes upset (PTSD), reliving the events and Gaspar attempts to calm him. Billy regrets never having a chance to say thank you to the man whose actions saved his life, while losing his own.

The next morning Billy awakes to find the pocket watch laid on a white handkerchief. As he reaches for the watch it floats into the air just out of reach in a teasing manner, then slowly returns to Gaspars hand as he lays stretched out on the sofa.

Billy do you know what Gaspar means? he asks. Billy shakes his head. Gaspar reminds him of the 3 wise men of the Bible, the Magi. Billy says he has no time for Bible stories but Gaspar continues Gaspar means Master of the Treasure, Keeper of the Secrets and Paladin of the Palace. Gaspar then asks Billy to come out to the Cemetery after he finishes work in the morning as he believes that he might be dying the next day. Billy agrees that he will.

Gaspar and Billy sit in the Cemetery chatting about the book Lost Horizon and how the story told of the High Llama passing on the caretakership of the secret to the hidden of city of Shangri-la. Gaspar says he is going to tell Billy a fascinating story. In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII decreed that the entire civilised world would no longer observe the Julian Calendar, October 4th 1582 was followed the next day by October 15th. 11 days just vanished from the world like that. Unfortunately the Pope got it wrong as it was 11 days and 1 hour that had to be adjusted. Now listen very carefully Billy, that hour was left to bounce throughout eternity, a very special hour. An hour that must never be used, an hour that must never Toll. removing the watch from his pocket Gaspar gazed at it and went on with the story. If it strikes 12 then eternal night falls and there is no recall, the light, the wind, the stars and this magnificent place we call the universe will end and in its place waiting, always waiting, hungry to be fed is darkness. No new beginnings, no world without end just the infinite emptiness. Gaspar explains that he is frightened as he just wants to spend his last hour with Minny, that he would sacrifice the universe to see her once more. If he dies without passing it on the watch will begin to tick. He offers the watch to Billy who backs away while asking why him, he is no-one special, certainly not a Paladin, a person to be trusted with Shangri-la. Billy does not want to be trusted with such a secret. That he has never been responsible for anyone. Gaspar corrects him by reminding him that over the past few days Billy had become responsible for him, Gaspar. Billy had taken Gaspar in as a friend despite their obvious differences and due to that he considers Billy worthy of the responsibility. Billy appears to give his silent agreement.

Gaspar then asks for a favour, 1 minute of the time, for the years of service he has given, so that he can touch and kiss his dead wife goodbye forever. Billy steps forward and tells Gaspar that it would be wrong and he knows it. Gaspar smiles and tells Billy that he had passed the final test, and that he had passed it well, that he had been testing him from the beginning and that the hour couldn't be entrusted to just anyone. Gaspar goes on to tell Billy that he and Minny didn't need the minute, but as a going away present he believes that he will gift the minute to Billy, as Billy does need it.

Gasper turns the dial on the watch, a wind whips up around them and through a mist Billy sees and approaches Charlie. The minute is soon up and the vision disappear, Charlie turns toward Gaspar who lies, apparently dead, on the ground by Minnys grave. He cradles Gaspar and tells him that Charlie wasn't aware that he was in the Fox hole, that he never knew that he saved his life. Billy had thanked Charlie but Charlie had simply replied with a Thank you of his own, for having given his death some meaning. Billy pleads with Gaspar not to be dead yet, and Gaspar opens his eyes to look at him. Gaspar tells him he will remember him to his old girl, Minnie, then opens his hand and releases the pocket watch. The pocket watch hovers then floats and settles on Billys outstretched hand. Gaspar dies with a smile on his face as Billy cradles him in his arms.

Narration at End: Like a wind crying endlessly through the universe Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that we were, all that remains is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment. A blessing of the Eighteenth Egyptian Dynasty, God be between you and harm in all the empty places you walk.