TWILIGHT ZONE: THE FEVER (TV)
Summary
One in this science fiction/fantasy anthology series hosted by Rod Serling.
An older couple, Franklin and Flora Gibbs, win an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas in a radio contest. Despite Flora’s enthusiasm, Franklin wants nothing to do with the trip; he harbors an extreme moral opposition to gambling. He attempts to dissuade Flora from partaking when she shows an interest in the slot machines, chiding her for “throwing away” her money. On his way back to his room, Franklin is accosted by a drunk who forces him to put a silver dollar in a slot machine. Much to Franklin’s surprise, it grants a small payoff. He collects the money and vows not to put it back in the machine, as he feels the other patrons of the casino would thoughtlessly do. As he leaves, Franklin believes he hears the slot machine somehow calling his name. That night, Franklin is unable to sleep, still hearing the “voice” of the slot machine and feeling an uncontrollable desire to increase his winnings. He takes the money and leaves under the pretense of feeding the coins back into the slot machine to rid himself of the “tainted” money, feeling that it is immoral to keep winnings earned by gambling.
However, Franklin cannot stop himself from playing the slot machine, and stays up all night feeding dollar after dollar into it. He cashes checks at the cashier window in order to keep playing, hoping to win back his losses. Flora grows increasingly concerned as the hours pass and Franklin grows determined to get the machine to pay off. He becomes obsessed and agitated, anthropomorphizing the slot machine into a sort of inhuman monster. At last, after many hours and countless dollars spent, Franklin believes that he will soon win the $10,000 jackpot, becoming more frenzied and disheveled. He tries his last silver dollar, but the machine becomes stuck and will not play. Franklin flies into a rage and physically attacks the slot machine. The casino staff carry him away screaming, and he is returned to his room to recuperate. Calmer, Franklin lies awake, still convinced that the slot machine has some sort of evil consciousness, believing that it broke down deliberately to prevent itself from paying off. He then hallucinates that the slot machine has entered his room and is approaching him, still calling his name. Flora desperately tries to calm him down as he flees in a panic. In his fright he accidentally falls from the hotel window to his death. A single silver dollar rolls down the street and comes to rest beside Franklin’s dead body, seemingly propelled there by the demonic slot machine. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: January 29, 1960 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:29:06
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:01975
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1959-1964
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Halo shampoo
- TV – Commercials – Oasis cigarettes
- TV – Promos – “Gunsmoke”
- TV – Promos – “The Twilight Zone”
CREDITS
- Rod Serling … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Buck Houghton … Producer
- Robert Florey … Director
- Rod Serling … Narrator
- Everett Sloane … Cast, Franklin Gibbs
- Vivi Janiss … Cast, Flora Gibbs
- William Kendis … Cast, Hansen
- Lee Millar … Cast, Joe
- Lee Sands … Cast, Floor Manager
- Marc Towers … Cast, Cashier
- Art Lewis … Cast, Drunk
- Arthur Peterson … Cast, Sheriff