Paladin of the Lost Hour

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“Paladin of the Lost Hour”

The Twilight Zone episode

Scene from "Paladin of the Lost Hour"

Episode no.

Season 1
Episode 7, Segment 2

Written by

Harlan Ellison

Directed by

Gilbert Cates
(credited as Alan Smithee)

Guest stars

Danny Kaye : Gaspar
Glynn Turman : Billy Kinetta
John Bryant : Punk #1
Corkey Ford : Punk #2
Mike Reynolds : Driver

Original airdate

November 8, 1985

Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Teacher's Aide"	"Act Break"

List of Twilight Zone episodes

Paladin of the Lost Hour is a novelette and the second segment of the seventh episode from the television series The New Twilight Zone, both written by Harlan Ellison. The novelette won the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novelette and the script won the 1987 Writers Guild of America Award for Anthology Episode/Single Program. The story is available in Ellison's collection Angry Candy.

The novelette and script were written at the same time. Although in the original story, it is not stated which man is black and which is white, Ellison wrote the script specifically with Turman in mind. The tale originally had a different ending. When the show's producers said that it needed to be changed, Ellison initially balked. It was only because the producers were also writers for whom Ellison had respect that he considered their idea. He eventually decided that they were correct, and changed both the script and the novelette.

[edit] Synopsis

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Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2008)

Mr. Gaspar is the protector of a magical timepiece, a pocket watch that holds The Last Hour. Within that hour, anything is possible, but if the hands should ever reach midnight, the universe will end. Gaspar is old and looking for someone to pass his duty on to. Is Billy Kinetta, a down on his luck Vietnam vet, the man to become the next Paladin of the Lost Hour?

[edit] Closing Narration

“

Like a wind crying endlessly through the universe, time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerers and commoners alike. And all that we were, all that remains is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment. A blessing of the 18th Dynasty: God be between you and harm in all the empty places you walk.

”