Night Route

"Night Route"
The Twilight Zone (2nd revival) episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 6
Directed by	Jean de Segonzac
Written by	Jill Blotevogel
Production code	102
Original air date	October 2, 2002 (2002-10-02)
Guest stars
Ione Skye Dylan Walsh Emily Perkins
Episode chronology
← Previous "Cradle of Darkness" Next → "Time Lapse"
List of The Twilight Zone episodes

"Night Route" is the sixth episode of the science fiction television series 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone. The episode aired October 2, 2002 on UPN.

Opening Narration

“

Meet Melina Croner, a young woman out for a late-night walk unaware that she's about to reach a fork in the road, where she'll face a life-altering decision that can only be made in the Twilight Zone.

”

Plot summary

English professor Melina Kroner is walking her dog, Vigo. She crosses the street and a black car almost hits her. She knocks on the hood but the driver ignores her and drives on. As she continues on, a city bus for "Route 63" appears ahead of Melina. The doors open and Vigo pulls at his leash trying to get on. The driver looks out invitingly but Melina pulls Vigo back and moves away. However, when she turns back a few seconds later, the bus has disappeared.

Melina returns home and looks at her engagement and all the photos of her happy life, including her fiancé Adam. Adam comes down and asks if she's okay. A worried Melina wonders if they have a bus route in their neighborhood. The next day she meets with her mother Devora to prepare for her upcoming wedding. Devora can't find any record of Melina's wedding registry and Melina doesn't remember who she set it up with. Later, as she walks her dog a strange woman addresses her by name. The same Route 63 bus pulls up and the passengers look out at her. Vigo pulls at his leash to try to get on board but Melina pulls him away.

That night at home, Adam asks her what's wrong. She tells him what happened and points out there's a bus bench in front of their home that wasn't there before. Adam takes her out to look at it but doesn't find anything suspicious. As they go inside, Adam starts to go into the wrong apartment but figures he's had a little too much to drink.

The next day, a student quotes Emily Dickinson and death from Melina's class and thanks the teacher for helping her. Afterward, Melina calls the transportation department, who inform her there is no Route 63. She goes back to her home and sits on the bench outside. Adam comes looking for her and Melina talks about how she's starting to forget things like how they met in college. He wonders if it's some kind of test. She goes inside but when she washes her face, a wound on her forehead appears and drips blood all over. A second later it's gone. She hears the bus outside and runs to confront the driver. He simply looks at her and she asks what he wants. The driver tells her that they're waiting for her. Melina tells him to leave her alone and he smiles sadly, then gets in the bus and drives away.

Melina meets with her mother again and explains what she thinks is happening: she died in the car collision the other night, and the bus is Death trying to claim her. Devora is understandably skeptical but Melina is worried that if she gets on the bus, she'll die for good and lose the happy life she has. Devora tells her to get a hold of herself but Melina sees the bus outside. Her nose starts to bleed but when Devora comes, the bus and the driver disappears and Melina is back to normal.

Melina calls Adam to meet her at a diner and tries to explain what she thinks is happening. However, she discovers that she can't remember meeting Adam in college. Instead she thinks he moved in next door and that's how they met. She goes to the counter to get coffee and the girl there recognizes her as one of the coffeeshop workers. When Melina turns around, she finds Adam missing.

Melina runs home and discovers that all the photos of her and Adam are gone, and her engagement ring has disappeared from her hand. Vigo runs outside to where the bus is waiting and gets onboard. The driver is there and strokes the dog, then invites Melina on board. She refuses and the driver sadly notes that the bus wasn't Death coming take her away; it was her ticket to reclaiming a better life for herself.

As the bus leaves, Melina sees herself and Vigo lying in front of the car that ran them over. The neighbors have gathered, including Adam and a blond girl who is now his fiancée. Vigo suddenly comes back to life, but Melina doesn't. No one remembers anything about Melina except that she worked at a coffeeshop and never spoke to anyone outside of work. As Adam and his new fiancee walk away, they pass through Melina, who is now fading away from existence as punishment for not grabbing her opportunity at a new life.

Closing Narration

“

Pity. Poor Melina Croner. She spent her entire life too afraid to live it and lost all hope at happiness. Making the wrong choice can be fatal in the Twilight Zone.

”

Episode notes

The episode bears a resemblance to The Hitch-Hiker from the original series.

External links

• "Night Route" at TV.com
• "Night Route" at the Internet Movie Database