The New Exhibit
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The Twilight Zone Original series |
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“The New Exhibit” is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.
[edit] Details
- Episode number: 115
- Season: 4
- Original air date: April 4, 1963
- Writer: Jerry Sohl
- Director: John Brahm
- Producer: Bert Granet
- Director of photography: George T. Clemens
[edit] Cast
- Martin Lombard Senescu: Martin Balsam
- Mr. Ferguson: Will Kuluva
- Emma Senescu: Maggie Mahoney
- Dave: Wlliam Mims
- Guide: Marcel Hillaire
- Henri Desiré Landru: Milton Parsons
- Jack the Ripper: David Bond
- Hare: Billy Beck
[edit] Synopsis
Martin Senescu works at a respected wax museum. His boss and good friend, Mr. Ferguson, informs him that the museum will close, to be replaced by a shopping market. Dreadful, Martin asks one request; that he can spare the five figures from his department. These wax figures are in fact replicas of five murderers. Mr. Ferguson complies and Martin takes the figures home, much to the dismay of his wife, Emma. They keep the figures in the basement, under high air conditioning and constant care. Terrified of them, Emma doesn't know what to do. She seeks the advice of her brother, Dave, who tells her to shut off the air conditioning, melting Martin's collection. She sneaks out of bed one night and tries to shut off the air conditioner, whilst being watched by the wax figure of Jack the Ripper. Smiling, Jack's knife wielding hand pivots towards Emma, who screams in horror.
The next morning, Martin discovers his wife dead and Jack's bloody knife. He talks to Jack as if the figure was a real person, explaining that what he did was wrong. He buries Emma's body to conceal Jack's crime. The next day, Emma's brother visits Martin, curious to her whereabouts. Martin nervously rushes him out of the house. Dave then sneaks into the basement through the back entrance of the house. He eyes the wet cement where his sister is buried. While examining the area, the wax figure of ax-wielding Hicks watches over. Suddenly, something kicks a cement tool at Dave. Dave's eyes bulge as he looks up in horror.
Martin comes down later only to find the carnage left by Hicks. He yells at Hicks and once again, hides the evidence.
Several days later, Ferguson comes to visit Martin. Happily, Ferguson tells Martin that the figures have been sold to a legendary wax museum in Paris. Martin is sadly forced to give up the wax figures he's so greatly cared for. Martin, although clearly disappointed, brings down tea to celebrate. Ferguson then examines the figures, measuring them to be shipped to Paris. The wax figure of rope handling Henri "Bluebeard" Landru eyes over him. As soon as Ferguson turns around, Landru lowers the rope around his neck.
Martin walks downstairs carrying a tray of cups of tea and treats. He finds Ferguson strangled on the floor. Unstable, Martin yells at the figures, saying that even through all he's done for them, cleaning them, caring for them, they had to kill his best and only friend. As he yells, the emotionless faces of the figures stare back at him. Martin grabs a crowbar, planning to smash each and every one of them to bits. He eyes Landru, saying "he's first" for killing Ferguson.
Suddenly, the wax figures get up off their feet and slowly creep towards Martin. Martin stares in horror. Their faces unmoving, they all torment him, convincing he was the one that murdered his wife, brother in law and best friend, not them. Martin backs up into a wall and screams in horror, as the figures close him in.
Some time later, a tour guide introduces the wax figures of Jack the Ripper, Albert W. Hicks, Henri "Bluebeard" Landru, Hare and Barth. However, there is a new addition to this exhibit. His name is Martin Senescu, who killed his wife, brother in law and best friend.
