The Twilight Zone (TV Series)

Time Enough at Last (1959)

Vaughn Taylor: Mr. Carsville

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mr. Carsville : I remember last November you spent the better part of the days reading campaign buttons on customer's lapels. You'll recall, Mr. Bemis, the young woman who took considerable offense at this and tried to hit you with her umbrella.

  Henry Bemis : I remember that very well, Mr. Carsville. She never gave me a chance to tell her that I was only looking at who she was voting for.

• Mr. Carsville : You, Mr. Bemis, are a reader!

  Henry Bemis : A reader?

  Mr. Carsville : A reader! A reader of books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers! I see you constantly going downstairs into the vault during your lunch hour.

  [Bemis tries to sit down, but Carsville slams on the desk] 

  Mr. Carsville : An ultimatum, Mr. Bemis! You will henceforth devote time to your job and forget reading or you'll find yourself outdoors on a park bench reading from morning to night for want of having a job! Do I make myself perfectly clear?

  Henry Bemis : Oh, that's perfectly clear, sir, it's just that...

  Mr. Carsville : [interrupting]  "Just that" what, Bemis? Make it quick and get back to your cage!

  Henry Bemis : [sitting down]  It's just that my wife won't let me read at home. See, when I get home at night and try to pick up a newspaper, she yanks it out of my hand! And then after dinner, if I try to find a magazine, she hides them. Well, I got so desperate found myself trying to read the labels on the condiment bottles on the table. Now, she won't even let me use the ketchup.

  Mr. Carsville : [smiling]  Unasked, I give my reaction to this: your wife is an amazingly bright woman.

  [Bemis gives a thunderstruck look]