Synopsis A man convicted of murder, Adam Grant (Weaver), tries to convince those about to execute him that the world all around them is just his recurring nightmare. The story opens up with the jury claiming that Grant is guilty. He laughs then rants that he refuses to die again. He claims the District Attorney and the lawyers are all people he has known in his waking life now playing the parts in a dream. They ask why he cares about dying if it is all a dream. He explains that he cannot get a decent night's sleep because he always wakes up screaming. He tells the District Attorney to go home; what he originally thought was for dinner will be something else. This happens and unnerves the District Attorney, who discusses the issue with a friend. The friend reasons out that the man's claims constitute reasonable doubt as to his sanity, and that the District Attorney should ask the governor to issue a stay of execution. With some reservations, he places the call and asks the governor to do so. He tells the reporter that the governor said he would issue one. A stay of execution arrives too late. We discover he was correct: the world was a dream for them, and a nightmare for him, as everything begins to vanish and the world turns to black. The opening scene recurs as he's sentenced to death for murder once again, albeit with the same people in different roles (e.g. a fellow inmate is now the judge at the trial).
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03:57 PM
Boondawg Member
Posts: 38235 From: Displaced Alaskan Registered: Jun 2003
Synopsis A man convicted of murder, Adam Grant (Weaver), tries to convince those about to execute him that the world all around them is just his recurring nightmare. The story opens up with the jury claiming that Grant is guilty. He laughs then rants that he refuses to die again. He claims the District Attorney and the lawyers are all people he has known in his waking life now playing the parts in a dream. They ask why he cares about dying if it is all a dream. He explains that he cannot get a decent night's sleep because he always wakes up screaming. He tells the District Attorney to go home; what he originally thought was for dinner will be something else. This happens and unnerves the District Attorney, who discusses the issue with a friend. The friend reasons out that the man's claims constitute reasonable doubt as to his sanity, and that the District Attorney should ask the governor to issue a stay of execution. With some reservations, he places the call and asks the governor to do so. He tells the reporter that the governor said he would issue one. A stay of execution arrives too late. We discover he was correct: the world was a dream for them, and a nightmare for him, as everything begins to vanish and the world turns to black. The opening scene recurs as he's sentenced to death for murder once again, albeit with the same people in different roles (e.g. a fellow inmate is now the judge at the trial).
Loooooooooved it! Of course, there were very few I didn't like.
But that was a really good one. It actually made you on edge, as If it was you.
One of the greatest was "The Howling Man":
The story is told in a flashback by an American called David Ellington. While on a walking trip through post-World War I Europe, Ellington becomes lost, is drenched by rain and seeks shelter in a nearby castle. He is told to leave immediately, but he collapses, shivering.
Upon waking inside the castle, Ellington hears a wolf-like howl and goes to investigate. In the bowels of the castle he finds a bedraggled, but apparently cultured and intelligent man in a cell. The man claims to be a prisoner of an insane religious order, locked up because he kissed his sweetheart.
Ellington is seen talking to the prisoner, and is taken to a meeting with the leader of the order, Brother Jerome (greatly played by John Carridine, shepard robe, staff, and all!), who explains that the prisoner is not a man, but rather the devil himself. He has been locked up in the room using the "Staff of Truth" to bar the door since shortly after World War I. He came to the village to corrupt it, but Jerome recognized him for what he was and imprisoned him. His actions have given the world five years of relative peace. Ellington becomes convinced that Jerome is insane. Fearing for his safety, he pretends to believe the incredible story. Jerome is not fooled however, and assigns another brother to watch him.
Ellington waits until his guard falls asleep and creeps down to the cell. Seeing that the staff which held the door shut was easily within reach of the imprisoned man, Ellington briefly wondered why he did not remove it himself. At the man's urging, he removes the staff barring the cell door and releases the prisoner. When the prisoner exits the cell, he pins Ellington to the floor and begins to change, taking on the appearance of the devil with each step before departing the castle in a plume of smoke.
Jerome finds the collapsed Ellington and sadly explains that the inability to recognize the devil has always been Man's great weakness.
The flashback ends. Ellington explains to the hotel maid that he has spent the time since then hunting for the devil to atone for his mistake, through World War II, the Korean War, and the development of nuclear weapons. He finally succeeded; he has him locked in a room and intends to return him to the castle and Brother Jerome's keeping. He warns the skeptical housekeeper not to remove the staff holding the door closed under any circumstances while he goes to make his final preparations.
After Ellington leaves, the curious woman, disbelieving his story, removes the Staff of Truth barring the door...
[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 08-29-2010).]
