Children's Zoo (The Twilight Zone)

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“Children's Zoo”

The Twilight Zone episode

Scene from "Children's Zoo"

Episode no.

Season 1
Episode 3, Segment 2

Written by

Chris Hubbell and Gerrit Graham

Directed by

Robert Downey

Guest stars

Jaclyn Bernstein : Debbie Cunningham
Lorna Luft : Sheila Cunningham
Steven Keats : Martin Cunningham
Sydney Walsh : Melody
Wes Craven : Caged Man

Original airdate

October 11, 1985

Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Healer"	"Kentucky Rye"

List of Twilight Zone episodes

Children's Zoo is the eight-minute long second segment of the third episode of the television series The New Twilight Zone.

[edit] Synopsis

Debbie is a little girl starved for attention because her parents are always fighting; her mother yells at her constantly, and her father is too lazy to give her any quality time. Debbie gives her parents an invitation she received that says:

As bearer of this special invitation, you are entitled to one child's admission to the CHILDREN'S ZOO.
You will be offered all the special privileges described by the other girl who passed this.

Though her parents are reluctant, they finally relent and take her. At the zoo, they are welcomed by Melanie who asks Debbie if she understands the rules, and then directs her to the Children's Entrance. Melanie assures the parents that Debbie will be fine and takes them to the waiting room. Debbie wanders through a hallway where a cheerful voice says, "To hear the parents talk, just press the orange button on the side of the window."

Debbie is shown visiting four displays. The first couple wildly begs her to take them with her, the second make violent threats, the third try to bribe her, but the fourth reveals that their son was seven when he brought them into the zoo, and that they are very sorry. They promise Debbie that they have learned their lesson and will try to be the best parents they know how. Convinced, Debbie presses a green button, making her selection.

Melanie tells Debbie that she has made a very good choice. As the three walk away happily, they pass by Debbie's old parents — now placed in a glass chamber themselves — watching with a mixture of horror and anger as their (former) daughter goes off to a better life.