I don’t hate this episode, but I also don’t really care when it is on. From what I can remember, a relatively bland episode. But maybe today I will see things differently. Ron Howard is in this episode, as a child, of course.
Rod Serling’s Opening Narration
Martin Sloan, age thirty-six. Occupation: vice-president, ad agency, in charge of media. This is not just a Sunday drive for Martin Sloan. He perhaps doesn’t know it at the time – but it’s an exodus. Somewhere up the road, he’s looking for sanity. And somewhere up the road, he’ll find something else.
The Story
Martin Sloan is this impatient asshole at the gas station. That’s how you make an entrance. Just honking his horn demanding to be served. 50 years later, that would have resulted in a dance competition. He needs an oil and lube change. Homewood is about a mile away and that’s where Martin grew up. He says to the mechanic: “That’s walking distance, isn’t it.” BOOM, name of the episode. Also, Homewood is where Martin grew up and it’s been 20-25 years since he’s last visited.
He visits a diner and wants a chocolate soda with 3 scoops. Is a chocolate soda like a root beer float? Ohhh, now he says it’s been exactly 20 years ago since he’s visited. It appears to be like a root beer float. What kind of soda would one use? I am looking this up. Some say club soda, some say carbonated water, no mention of actual chocolate ice cream, but rather vanilla and chocolate syrup. Well, I think we all learned something today. And the guy only charged him a dime. How peculiar because that’s how much Martin used to pay when he was a kid. We all know where this is going.
The mom that Martin meets is totally a MILF. Now, we know that we have traveled back in time since Martin is seeing his younger self carve his name in a gazebo. It takes Old Martin like 30 seconds to actually recognize himself. Now aside from that bit of silliness. I have a question. In 20 years, wouldn’t fashion have changed? WOuldn’t that have tipped off older Martin? Martin then visits his parents and they react as expected. Martin is talking to a neighbor and the guy is talking about the car being brand new. It took the car for him to have his “aha” moment. Really dude?
We are treated to some narration mid-show from Rod. “A man can think a lot of thoughts and walk a lot of pavement between afternoon and night. And to a man like Martin Sloan, to whom a memory has suddenly become reality, a resolve can come just as clearly and inexorably as stars in a summer night. Martin Sloan is now back in town. And his resolve is to put in a claim to the past.”
At night, Martin returns home and talks to his dad. Martin mentions Buffalo and Saratoga. Hooray for somewhat local references. His parents are sick of his nonsense and Martin decides that he has to talk to his younger self because that’s not going to F him up at all. We just saw a similar thing in Lovecraft Country. Martin goes to the carousel and starts chasing himself. Young Marti tries to escape and hurts himself while running away. Everything has stooped. Way to ruin everything in Homewood! So did this happen in the past or is he now recreating the past? He just wanted to let the kid know that it’s a wonderful time to be alive and to enjoy it.
Dad shows up and tells Martin that younger Martin will have a limp and he went through his wallet. He is obviously confused. Dad tells him that he has to leave. He doesn’t want this time to be shared. We only get one shot, feet fail me not. Dad suggests that he stop living in the past and look ahead.
Martin goes back to the diner and it will be 35 cents instead of a dime. Martin then changes his mind about the soda and leaves. We see him walk with his limp significantly more pronounced. So did he return to his car all on the same day and time kinda stood still when he time traveled?
Rod Serling’s Closing Narration
Martin Sloan, age thirty-six, vice-president in charge of media. Successful in most things, but not in the one effort that all men try at some time in their lives – trying to go home again. And also like all men, perhaps there’ll be an occasion – maybe a summer night sometime – when he’ll look up from what he’s doing and listen to the distant music of a calliope, and hear the voices and the laughter of the people and the places of his past. And perhaps across his mind, there’ll flit a little errant wish, that a man might not have to become old, never outgrow the parks and the merry-go-rounds of his youth. And he’ll smile then, too, because he’ll know that it is just an errant wish, some wisp of memory, not too important really, some laughing ghosts that would cross a man’s mind – that are a part of The Twilight Zone.
Final Thoughts
Yeah, this episode isn’t bad, but if I never see it again, I’ll be fine with it. Episode 4 was all about living in the past and then this one has a very similar theme. And the reality is that neither one is that great. I just turned 40 this month. And there are so many times that I would like to have back. I definitely think about them and reminisce. But I can’t stay in that mindset long because it’s important to create new memories, like sitting on my fat ass and writing about Twilight Zone episodes.
The episode isn’t bad, but I have so many questions about Martin’s intelligence. Also, I want to know if the day changed or not.
Final Rating: 3.8
Make sure to check back at the Twilight Zone section of 9 Deuce. There will be lists and rankings and other fun facts as we progress throughout the year. Find everything that I write about Season 1 right here. Also, please share this with friends and leave a comment. I always love to hear from you.