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Dust is an episode of the original series The Twilight Zone.

Episode Details[]

Opening Narration[]

There was a village. Built of crumbling clay and rotting wood. And it squatted ugly under a broiling sun like a sick and mangy animal wanting to die. This village had a virus, shared by its people. It was the germ of squalor, of hopelessness, of a loss of faith. With the faithless, the hopeless, the misery-laden, there is time, ample time, to engage in one of the other pursuits of men. They began to destroy themselves.

Summary[]

In a Western town, a young man named Luiz Gallegos is about to be hanged for killing a girl while drunk. An unscrupulous peddler by the name of Sykes sells rope needed for the execution, then sells the condemned man's father ordinary dirt and passes it off as "magic dust" he claims will make the people feel sympathy. On the day of the execution, Luiz's father spreads the "dust" as Sykes laughs at his plight and just when Luiz is close to death, the rope breaks and he's unharmed. The girl's parents decide not to attempt another execution, feeling one victim is enough and that maybe God had a hand in setting Luiz free. Luiz and his father head home, while Sykes, going through a change of heart himself, gives the coins he collected to three children.

Closing Narration[]

It was a very small, misery-laden village. On the day of a hanging. And of little historical consequence. And if there's any moral to it at all, let's say that in any quest for magic, and any search for sorcery, witchery, legerdemain, first check the human heart. For inside this deep place is a wizardry that costs far more than a few pieces of gold. Tonight's case in point - in the Twilight Zone.

Preview for Next Week's Story[]

In this rather posh club, you'll see a group of men argue a somewhat metaphysical subject like time travel. One of them maintains it's possible to go back in time, make a few changes in history and, as a result, do quite a job on the present. In this case, the assassination of one Abraham Lincoln. Next week, a story called "Back There". I'd like you all to come with us. I think you'll find it a most exciting journey. Thank you and good night.

Production Companies[]

Distributors[]

  • Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1959) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Home media release[]

This episode is included on the Image Entertainment Vol. 21 DVD along with "Mirror Image", "Five Characters in Search of an Exit" and "Ninety Years Without Slumbering".

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