- In literature, stories like these are often referred to as short stories.
- Bringing the same concept to television was revolutionary in the mid-twentieth century.
The Twilight Zone: 'Time Enough At Last' Ending, Explained
This iconic Twilight Zone episode tells the tragic story of the small-town bank teller Henry Bemis and his desperate desire for time.
HIGHLIGHTS
- "Time Enough At Last" explores the themes of changing expectations of men in 1950s America and the fear of nuclear warfare.
- The episode delves into the difference between being alone and being lonely, as the protagonist longs for solitude but ultimately realizes the importance of human connection.
- The memorable ending of the episode sees the main character finally having the time to read, only to have his hopes dashed when he breaks his glasses and is unable to see.
- The single episode has provided fodder for thousands of articles and essays.
- It is constantly referenced in shows and films, even being parodied in shows like Family Guy.
- "Time Enough At Last" is among a short list of episodes that even casual fans of The Twilight Zone are very familiar with.
- Its premise, and its memorable ending, are worth discussing.
What Is 'Time Enough At Last' About?
"Time Enough At Last" | |
|---|---|
Director | John Brahm |
Writers | Rod Serling, Lynn Venable |
Cast | Burgess Meredith, Vaughn Taylor, Jacqueline deWit, Lela Bliss, Rod Serling |
Original Air Date | November 20, 1959 |
Adapted From | "Time Enough At Last" (short story, 1953) by Lynn Venable |
"Time Enough At Last" follows a fragile yet determined man named Henry Bemis, who works as a bank teller in a small town. Although Henry has a stable job, is married, and lives a seemingly typical American life, all he wants to do is read. In fact, his desire for reading takes precedence over every other aspect of his life.
In the beginning, Henry is caught reading Charles Dickens' David Copperfield while working at the bank, and is escorted by the bank's president, Mr. Carsville, to his office. Mr. Carsville warns Henry that if he's caught reading instead of working again, he will be fired. Henry explains that at home, his wife Helen restricts his reading time. He reads at work because he's desperately trying to find time to read. Mr. Carsville is unchanged, and sends Henry on his way.
When Henry gets home, he sits reading the newspaper before Helen swipes it from his hands, telling him they must be on their way to a friend's house to play cards. Henry retrieves a poetry book to bring, but is caught by Helen, who prompts him to open the book. Inside the book, Helen had scribbled over every page, preventing Henry from reading a single word. She tears out numerous pages and throws them on the ground as Henry sits devastated.
- At that moment, there's the sound of an explosion and the whole vault shakes, resulting in Henry falling unconscious.
- When he wakes, he walks out the vault to see the bank — and the entire town — in ruins. He desperately shouts for someone to respond, but there is no one left, leaving him alone.
Thematic Relevance of 'Time Enough At Last'
Before the bomb went off, all Henry wanted was time for himself to do what he loved most: reading. Everyone in his life did everything they could to prevent him from spending his time reading, and so the only way he could accomplish his only desire was to be left alone. But once he gets the solitude he wished for, he leaves his books behind and desperately searches for someone who might still be alive in his demolished town.
Suddenly, Henry is overwhelmed with loneliness, even calling out to Helen despite her being an abusive partner. In the classic "be careful what you wish for," scenario, Henry considers calling it quits because he can't handle the loneliness anymore. That is, until he sees what survived the explosion.
How Does 'Time Enough At Last' End?
After searching for someone for days, Henry finds a pistol in the rubble. Seemingly out of options, he raises the pistol to his head and asks for God's forgiveness. But before he follows through, he spots the ruins of the public library. He drops the gun and rushes over to see that nearly every book that was inside the library is lying on the ground, still intact.
And the best thing, the very best thing of all, is there's time now. There's all the time I need and all the time I want. Time, time, time. There's time enough at last.
As he basks in his fortune of solitude, he looks down and sees a book below him. He reaches down, but slips, and his glasses fall to the ground and shatter. Henry's smile turns to an expression of fear, as he sits there with blurred vision and realizes that there's no way he will be able to see well enough to read ever again. He shouts, "That's not fair" over and over to no one, and cries while surrounded by the books he'll never get to read. Just as humans caused their own demise in creating the hydrogen bomb, Henry was not exempt from the same tragic fate as his fellow citizens.
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