Harsh Mistress
| "Harsh Mistress" | |
|---|---|
| The Twilight Zone (2nd revival) episode | |
| Episode no. |
Season 1 Episode 13 |
| Directed by | Brad Turner |
| Written by |
David Weddle Bradley Thompson |
| Production code | 110 |
| Original air date | October 30, 2002 |
| Guest actors | |
| |
"Harsh Mistress" is the 13th episode of the science fiction television series 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone. The episode was first broadcast on October 30, 2002, on UPN.
Opening narration
| “ | Cory Williams dreams of being a rock star and all that it brings, fame, fortune, an endless parade of women. But for some, this dream comes with a price. For Cory, that price will be something far greater than he ever bargained for. | ” |
Plot summary
Corey Williams has dreams of being a rock musician, but lacks the necessary talent. He sells his old records to a pawnbroker and buys a classic guitar. When he gets home and takes the guitar out of the bag, Corey discovers that the guitar does not resemble the one he bought at the pawnshop and eerily resembles the guitar of his rock star hero Bobby McCain. Corey begins playing the guitar and much to the surprise of himself and his friend, is exceptionally good at it.
Corey auditions for Kirsten Lovejoy's band. He does so well, the manager suggests that Corey go solo. While recording his first album Whitefire, Corey keeps demanding more takes, despite his fingers being so worn that they are bleeding.
At a party celebrating Whitefire hitting platinum, Corey meets his manager's assistant Ashley (Tangi Miller) and they get to talking and flirting. Corey invites Ashley back to his place, where Corey tries to break himself free from the guitar and ends up getting hurt. While having sex with Ashley, Corey notices that the guitar is propped up against the wall instead of thrown on the floor.
The next morning, Corey and Ashley talk about the guitar. Ashley mentions that two other wannabe musicians (C.C. Hollister and Corey's idol, Bobby McCain) had the guitar as well and both had committed suicide. Ashley laughs it off as a joke and tries to play with the guitar, only to be strangled to death by the shoulder strap. Corey tries to explain to his manager that the guitar killed Ashley, but Corey's manager accuses him and dismisses Corey's claims to the contrary as his going insane.
On a video shoot, Corey ditches the cursed guitar and tries to play another one, only to be electrocuted. Corey then takes the cursed guitar and tries to smash it against the wall. Frustrated that the guitar still shows no signs of being damaged, Corey gets into his car (with his guitar in the back seat) and speeds down the road, hoping to crash the car and be rid of the guitar forever. The car crashes in a flaming wreck, killing Corey instantly. As the police officers are investigating the accident, they find the guitar in the back seat, completely unscathed as Corey's narration claimed that the guitar picked him because it knew that he had the passion to become a star.
Some time later in a pawnshop, a woman is strumming the guitar that Corey once had and becomes the guitar's latest victim when she decides to buy it as Corey's narration states that he won't be the last to be chosen by the guitar for the passion of being a star. Forest Whitaker appears and narrates a warning to all wannabe rock stars to make sure they have the talent to back their ambitions.
Closing narration
| “ | A warning for all you wannabe rock stars, make sure you have the talent to back up your ambitions because sometimes dreams die hard. Just ask Cory Williams, currently on tour in the Twilight Zone. | ” |