Summary
The concept of the anthology series has a huge rebirth in the 21st century. Many such shows have exploded into the mainstream, likeBlack Mirror,True Detective,American Horror Story, andWhat If…?, among many more. In literature, stories like these are often referred to as short stories. Bringing the same concept to television wasrevolutionary in the mid-twentieth century.
Although NBC’sKraft Television Theatreis credited as the first anthology series, the show that set the blueprint for future anthology series and inspired many stories for years to come wasThe Twilight Zone. Premiering in 1959,The Twilight Zoneoffered a hefty blend ofhorror, sci-fi, magical realism, and — for lack of a better term — utter weirdness.
One of the most iconic episodes to ever air on the classic TV show came from season 1, episode 8, “Time Enough At Last.” The single episode has provided fodder for thousands of articles and essays. It is constantly referenced in shows and films, even being parodied in shows likeFamily Guy. “Time Enough At Last” is among a short list of episodes that even casual fans ofThe Twilight Zoneare very familiar with. Its premise, and its memorable ending, are worth discussing.
Adapted From
“Time Enough At Last” (short story, 1953) by Lynn Venable
“Time Enough At Last"follows a fragile yet determined man named Henry Bemis, who works as a bank teller in a small town. Although Henry has a stable job, is married, and lives a seemingly typical American life, all he wants to do is read. In fact, his desire for reading takes precedence over every other aspect of his life.
In the beginning, Henry is caught reading Charles Dickens’David Copperfieldwhile working at the bank, and is escorted by the bank’s president, Mr. Carsville, to his office. Mr. Carsville warns Henry that if he’s caught reading instead of working again, he will be fired. Henry explains that at home, his wife Helen restricts his reading time. He reads at work because he’s desperately trying to find time to read. Mr. Carsville is unchanged, and sends Henry on his way.
When Henry gets home, he sits reading the newspaper before Helen swipes it from his hands, telling him they must be on their way to a friend’s house to play cards. Henry retrieves a poetry book to bring, but is caught by Helen, who prompts him to open the book. Inside the book, Helen had scribbled over every page, preventing Henry from reading a single word. She tears out numerous pages and throws them on the ground as Henry sits devastated.
The next day, Henry decides to spend his lunch break alone in the bank’s vault with the door closed shut, bringing with him a novel and the newspaper. As he finishes his novel, he picks up the newspaper and sees the front page, which reads,“H-BOMB CAPABLE OF TOTAL DESTRUCTION”. At that moment, there’s the sound of an explosion and the whole vault shakes, resulting in Henry falling unconscious. When he wakes, he walks out the vault to see the bank — and the entire town — in ruins. He desperately shouts for someone to respond, but there is no one left, leaving him alone.
Thematic Relevance of ‘Time Enough At Last’
Throughout the episode there are themes about both the changing expectations of men in 1950s America, as well as the fear of nuclear warfare. But the most prominent theme of “Time Enough At Last” is exploring the difference between being alone and being lonely.
Before the bomb went off, all Henry wanted was time for himself to do what he loved most: reading. Everyone in his life did everything they could to prevent him from spending his time reading, and so the only way he could accomplish his only desire was to be left alone. But once he gets the solitude he wished for, he leaves his books behind and desperately searches for someone who might still be alive in his demolished town.
Suddenly, Henry is overwhelmed with loneliness, even calling out to Helen despite her being an abusive partner. In the classic “be careful what you wish for,” scenario, Henry considers calling it quits because he can’t handle the loneliness anymore. That is, until he sees what survived the explosion.
How Does ‘Time Enough At Last’ End?
After searching for someone for days, Henry finds a pistol in the rubble. Seemingly out of options, he raises the pistol to his head and asks for God’s forgiveness. But before he follows through, he spots the ruins of the public library. He drops the gun and rushes over to see that nearly every book that was inside the library is lying on the ground, still intact.
With a child-like giddiness, he begins stacking the books, and makes enough piles to last him for years to come. Then, he delivers one of the most memorable lines from the entireTwilight Zoneseries:
And the best thing, the very best thing of all, is there’s time now. There’s all the time I need and all the time I want. Time, time, time. There’s time enough at last.
As he basks in his fortune of solitude, he looks down and sees a book below him. He reaches down, but slips, and hisglasses fall to the ground and shatter. Henry’s smile turns to an expression of fear, as he sits there with blurred vision and realizes that there’s no way he will be able to see well enough to read ever again. He shouts, “That’s not fair” over and over to no one, and cries while surrounded by the books he’ll never get to read. Just as humans caused their own demise in creating the hydrogen bomb, Henry was not exempt from the same tragic fate as his fellow citizens.
