The Crossing (The Twilight Zone)
| "The Crossing" | |
|---|---|
| The New Twilight Zone episode | |
| Episode no. |
Season 3 Episode 38 |
| Directed by | Paul Lynch |
| Written by | Ralph Phillips |
| Original air date | October 1, 1988 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
|
Ted Shackelford: Father Mark Cassidy | |
| Episode chronology | |
"The Crossing" is the thirty-eighth episode and the third episode of the third season (1988–89) of the television series The Twilight Zone.
Opening narration
| “ | There dwells in this parish, a modern day apostle and master builder, who lists among his tools of trade: a Bible, a rosary, and a calculator. His name: Father Mark Cassidy. Age: 42. A fair and noble man who's about to discover one of his accounts is still open. That account is labeled "guilt" and its concealed in a ledger stored...in the Twilight Zone. | ” |
Plot
Father Mark Cassidy, parish priest to St. Timothy's Church, is again attempting to find the funds to open a children's wing at a local hospital. Maggie, his housekeeper and cook, comes in with his breakfast but he refuses except for a cup of coffee. She tells him he looks terrible and has had no sleep and if he doesn't take care of himself, he'll need a hospital bed. As Father Mark heads outside, he notices an old red station wagon that seems familiar. After it pulls away, he hears a crash. He yells to Maggie to call 9-1-1 and heads down to the sound of the crash. He looks over the edge and sees the station wagon in flames. But when Maggie joins him, the crash and car are gone.
Back at the parish, Father Mark, while working on the funds, is visited by Monsignor Perrault. Not only was he concerned about the funds for children's wing, which he has high praise for his diligent work, but Perrault also knows about what Father Mark imagined earlier. He feels Mark needs a vacation, but Mark refuses. While teaching a class of children about self-sacrifice, Mark again sees the station wagon and then it drives off. Once again, he hears the crash. This time, the children, concerned, follow him. He screams out the name "Kelly" as he sees a girl in the car choking. The children find Father Mark and when he turns to tell them to find help, he turns back to once again find nothing. Later, sitting before a fire and studying his Bible, Father Mark becomes lost in thought. He begins looking at pictures of himself and the girl he called Kelly and they are sitting around the station wagon.
At the fund raising meeting, Perrault announces that the children's wing will be built and it will be dedicated to Father Mark. Father Mark stands and accepts the honor, but talks incoherently about whether or not he deserves it. Perrault quickly intercedes and concludes the meeting. Afterwards, Perrault and Father Mark discuss Mark taking a vacation, actually ordered by the bishop to take one. Perrault tells Mark that all he's done has brought St. Timothy's and the community back on its feet and it can stand on its own again. But Mark asks what he does now. Perrault tells him to let God steer him where He needs him.
That night, at the church and alone, Mark confesses to God that he was a coward and the guilt is hurting him. When the accident really occurred, he wasn't brave enough to try to save Kelly. The next day, from his office, Mark once again sees the station wagon with Kelly behind the wheel. He goes outside and goes up to the car. He gets in and they drive off. The accident occurs. At the funeral for Father Mark, Kelly appears in black and puts a rose on his coffin. She smiles plaintively and then walks off...
Closing narration
| “ | Blessed are the pure in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. A message delivered from thousands of pulpits to millions of people yearning for peace, including one local parish priest whose road to peace and salvation crossed right through...the Twilight Zone. | ” |