The Purple Testament
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “The Purple Testament” | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Twilight Zone episode | |||||||
 Scene from The Purple Testament |
|||||||
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 19 |
||||||
| Written by | Rod Serling | ||||||
| Directed by | Richard L. Bare | ||||||
| Guest stars | William Reynolds : Lt. Fitzgerald Dick York : Captain Riker Barney Phillips : Captain Gunther Warren Oates : Jeep Driver Paul Mazursky : Orderly Ron Masak : Harmonica Man William Phipps : Sergeant S. John Launer : Colonel Marc Cavell : Freeman |
||||||
| Featured music | Lucien Moraweck | ||||||
| Production no. | 173-3619 | ||||||
| Original airdate | February 12, 1960 | ||||||
|
|||||||
| List of Twilight Zone episodes | |||||||
"The Purple Testament" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.
Contents |
[edit] Opening Narration
| “ | Infantry platoon, U.S. Army, Philippine Islands, 1945. These are the faces of the young men who fight. As if some omniscient painter had mixed a tube of oils that were at one time earth brown, dust gray, blood red, beard black, and fear—yellow white, and these men were the models. For this is the province of combat and these are the faces of war. | ” |
[edit] Synopsis
William Fitzgerald, a lieutenant serving in World War II, suddenly gains the mysterious ability to discover who is about to die via a strange flash of light across their face. After correctly predicting several deaths, he tells his friend Captain Riker what he is able to see, but the Captain doesn't know whether to believe him or not. Riker consults with a doctor, Captain Gunther, who thinks it may be fatigue and suggests that the lieutenant should take a leave of rest. Fitzgerald goes to a hospital to see one of his men, Smitty, who is supposed to pull through. But he sees the strange light across the soldier's face and knows his fate.
Later, his prediction has come true, and he makes a scene in the hospital in front of Captain Gunther. Back at their tent, Fitz reveals to Riker he has seen the light on his face. Though he tells Fitz to forget it and get ready for battle, the Captain sets out some of his personal possessions—a few photographs and his wedding ring—before he goes into combat. In the camp, the men argue about the rumors of the lieutenant's predictions, but Riker tells all the soldiers there that there are no "fortune tellers" in the camp. Fitz, seeing the men's faces and realizing he could cause mutiny, agrees with the captain.
In the ensuing battle, all return except for Riker, who is killed by a sniper. Captain Gunther brings news to Fitzgerald that he is being sent back to division headquarters for some much needed rest, but as the lieutenant gathers his gear, he sees the light flash across his own face in a mirror. A jeep driver comes to pick Fitzgerald up for the ride to HQ, but the lieutenant seems distant, as if resigned to fate.
The Sergeant sends the two off, telling the driver to be careful as they go; they haven't completely checked the area for land mines on the road ahead. As the soldiers are gathered around the camp at dusk, the sound of an explosion is heard in the distance.
[edit] Closing Narration
| “ | From William Shakespeare, Richard the Third, a small excerpt. The line reads, 'He has come to open the purple testament of bleeding war.' And for Lieutenant William Fitzgerald, 'A' Company, First Platoon, the testament is closed. Lieutenant Fitzgerald has found the Twilight Zone. | ” |
[edit] Miscellaneous
 |
Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Set in the Philippines during World War II, the episode may have been inspired by Serling's service there in the 11th Airborne Division, during which he was wounded in the battle for Manila.
- Originally cast as Lt. Fitzgerald was Dean Stockwell, who was unable to appear but would later star in the similarly themed episode “A Quality of Mercy”.
- The concept of seeing a light on the face of those who are about to die was readdressed in the second revival episode Into the Light.
[edit] Themes
Military service-related themes are also explored in “Judgment Night”, “Two” and “A Quality of Mercy”.
The episode combines the literal interpretation of Asian fortune-telling by means of face-reading with second sight. It postulates that if someone has the capability of second sight, that someone has to unconditionally submit to the inevitability of fate. The main character in the episode becomes finally aware of how and when he is going to die, and submits to it. Had he avoided it by taking different actions, he would have created a paradox.
[edit] References
- Zicree, Marc Scott: The Twilight Zone Companion. Sillman-James Press, 1982 (second edition)
