The Purple Testament

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Purple Testament
Series = The Twilight Zone


Caption = Scene from The Purple Testament
Season = 1
Episode = 19
Airdate = February 12, 1960
Production = 173-3619
Writer =Rod Serling
Director =Richard L. Bare
Guests =William Reynolds : Lt. Fitzgerald
Dick York : Captain Riker
Barney Phillips : Captain Gunther
Warren Oates : Jeep Driver
Paul Mazursky : Orderly
Ron Masak : Harmonica Man
William Phipps : Sergeant
S. John Launer : Colonel
Marc Cavell : Freeman
Music = Lucien Moraweck
Episode list = List of Twilight Zone episodes
Prev = The Last Flight
Next = Elegy

"The Purple Testament" is an episode of the American television anthology series "The Twilight Zone".

Opening narration

ynopsis

William Fitzgerald, a lieutenant serving in World War II, suddenly gains the mysterious ability to discover who is about to die via a strange flash of light across the person's face. After correctly predicting several deaths, he tells his friend Captain Riker what he is able to see, but the Captain does not know whether to believe him or not. Riker consults with a doctor, Captain Gunther, who thinks it may be fatigue and suggests that the lieutenant should take a leave of rest. Fitzgerald goes to a hospital to see one of his men, Smitty, who is supposed to pull through. But he sees the strange light across the soldier's face and knows his fate.

Later, his prediction has come true, and he makes a scene in the hospital in front of Captain Gunther. Back at their tent, Fitz reveals to Riker he has seen the light on his face. Though he tells Fitz to forget it and get ready for battle, the Captain sets out some of his personal possessions—a few photographs and his wedding ring—before he goes into combat. In the camp, the men argue about the rumors of the lieutenant's predictions, but Riker tells all the soldiers there that there are no "fortune tellers" in the camp. Fitz, seeing the men's faces and realizing he could cause mutiny, agrees with the captain.

In the ensuing battle, all return except for Riker, who is killed by a sniper. Captain Gunther brings news to Fitzgerald that he is being sent back to division headquarters for some much needed rest, but as the lieutenant gathers his gear, he sees the light flash across his own face in a mirror. A jeep driver comes to pick Fitzgerald up for the ride to HQ, but the lieutenant seems distant, as if resigned to fate.

The Sergeant sends the two off, telling the driver to be careful as they go; they have not completely checked the area for land mines on the road ahead. As the soldiers are gathered around the camp at dusk, the sound of an explosion is heard in the distance.

Closing narration

Preview for Next Week's Story

Miscellaneous

*Set in the Philippines during World War II, the episode may have been inspired by Serling's service there in the 11th Airborne Division, during which he was wounded in the battle for Manila.

*Originally cast as Lt. Fitzgerald was Dean Stockwell, who was unable to appear but would later star in the similarly themed episode “A Quality of Mercy”.

*The concept of seeing a light on the face of those who are about to die was readdressed in the second revival episode "Into the Light".

*In Final Destination 3, the main character sees a flash on peoples photographs to see how they'll die, likely a reference to this episode.

*In The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror, one of the episodes has Ned Flanders gaining the ability to see when somebody is about to die, possibly a reference to this episode.

*Marc Scott Zicree's Twilight Zone book makes an error about this episode not airing on the evening of a serious plane crash involving the actors and director. The episode was telecast as scheduled.

Themes

Military service-related themes are also explored in “Judgment Night”, “Two” and “A Quality of Mercy”.

The episode combines the literal interpretation of Asian fortune-telling by means of face-reading with second sight.It postulates that if someone has the capability of second sight, that someone has to unconditionally submit to the inevitability of . The main character in the episode becomes finally aware of how and when he is going to die, and submits to it. Had he avoided it by taking different actions, he would have created a paradox.

References

*Zicree, Marc Scott: "The Twilight Zone Companion". Sillman-James Press, 1982 (second edition)
*DeVoe, Bill. (2008). "Trivia from The Twilight Zone". Albany, GA: Bear Manor Media. ISBN 978-1593931360
*Grams, Martin. (2008). "The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic". Churchville, MD: OTR Publishing. ISBN 978-0970331090

External links

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* [http://www.tv.com/the-twilight-zone/the-purple-testament/episode/12603/summary.html TV.com episode page]