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Changed line(s) 11,12 (click to see context) from:
!!Tropest:
to:
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Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
In a particularly ratty-looking village "built of crumbling clay and rotting wood" in the Wild West, Sykes, a particularly nasty, mean-spirited merchant and peddler of goods, rides in. The town is hosting a public hanging on this day for Luís Gallegos, who got drunk, went out for a ride in his wagon, and struck a little girl. The whole town has turned out for the execution. After Sykes cruelly taunts the condemned man, he does something even more cruel. After Gallegos' father begs the townspeople for mercy, Sykes offers to sell him some "magic dust"--actually just sand Sykes scooped up from the ground--which will supposedly turn hate into love, and bring the spirit of forgiveness to the sad little town. What Sykes doesn't realize that he's more on the nose than he thinks.
to:
In a particularly ratty-looking village "built of crumbling clay and rotting wood" in the Wild West, Sykes, Sykes (Thomas Gomez), a particularly nasty, mean-spirited merchant and peddler of goods, rides in. The town is hosting a public hanging on this day for Luís Gallegos, Gallegos (Vladimir Sokoloff), who got drunk, went out for a ride in his wagon, and struck a little girl. The whole town has turned out for the execution. After Sykes cruelly taunts the condemned man, he does something even more cruel. After Gallegos' father begs the townspeople for mercy, Sykes offers to sell him some "magic dust"--actually just sand Sykes scooped up from the ground--which will supposedly turn hate into love, and bring the spirit of forgiveness to the sad little town. What Sykes doesn't realize that he's more on the nose than he thinks.
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Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
In a particularly ratty-looking village "built of crumbling clay and rotting wood" in the Wild West, Sykes, a particularly nasty, mean-spirited merchant and peddler of goods, rides in. The town is hosting a public hanging on this day for Luis Gallegos, who got drunk, went out for a ride in his wagon, and struck a little girl. The whole town has turned out for the execution. After Sykes cruelly taunts the condemned man, he does something even more cruel. After Gallegos' father begs the townspeople for mercy, Sykes offers to sell him some "magic dust"--actually just sand Sykes scooped up from the ground--which will supposedly turn hate into love, and bring the spirit of forgiveness to the sad little town. What Sykes doesn't realize that he's more on the nose than he thinks.
to:
In a particularly ratty-looking village "built of crumbling clay and rotting wood" in the Wild West, Sykes, a particularly nasty, mean-spirited merchant and peddler of goods, rides in. The town is hosting a public hanging on this day for Luis Luís Gallegos, who got drunk, went out for a ride in his wagon, and struck a little girl. The whole town has turned out for the execution. After Sykes cruelly taunts the condemned man, he does something even more cruel. After Gallegos' father begs the townspeople for mercy, Sykes offers to sell him some "magic dust"--actually just sand Sykes scooped up from the ground--which will supposedly turn hate into love, and bring the spirit of forgiveness to the sad little town. What Sykes doesn't realize that he's more on the nose than he thinks.
Changed line(s) 13 (click to see context) from:
* TheAtoner: Luis spends all his screentime remorseful and heartbroken after killing a little girl in a drunken accident. When his noose breaks via an apparent act of God, the parents of the deceased girl opt to let him off the hook, deciding that his guilt has made him suffer enough.
to:
* TheAtoner: Luis Luís spends all his screentime remorseful and heartbroken after killing a little girl in a drunken accident. When his noose breaks via an apparent act of God, the parents of the deceased girl opt to let him off the hook, deciding that his guilt has made him suffer enough.
Changed line(s) 16,17 (click to see context) from:
* DivineIntervention: Mr. Canfield theorizes that an act of God was what caused the hanging noose to break like nothing. The apparently-divine act is what convinces him and his wife to spare Luis' life.
* DrowningMySorrows: It's implied that Luis' accident occurred because he was drunk, having been drinking to try and forget the dismal state of poverty he found himself in.
* DrowningMySorrows: It's implied that Luis' accident occurred because he was drunk, having been drinking to try and forget the dismal state of poverty he found himself in.
to:
* DivineIntervention: Mr. Canfield theorizes that an act of God was what caused the hanging noose to break like nothing. The apparently-divine act is what convinces him and his wife to spare Luis' Luís' life.
* DrowningMySorrows: It's implied thatLuis' Luís' accident occurred because he was drunk, having been drinking to try and forget the dismal state of poverty he found himself in.
* DrowningMySorrows: It's implied that
Changed line(s) 19,21 (click to see context) from:
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Sykes makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren Luis]] for running over a child, even if it was an accident.
* FailedExecutionNoSentence: Luís Gallegos survives his execution by hanging because the rope breaks at the precise moment that he falls. This is the moment that everybody in town decides (on top of everything else that has happened throughout the episode that was making them undecided about whether following through with this whole charade was actually a good idea) to let him go.
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son Luis has a soft spot for kids.
* FailedExecutionNoSentence: Luís Gallegos survives his execution by hanging because the rope breaks at the precise moment that he falls. This is the moment that everybody in town decides (on top of everything else that has happened throughout the episode that was making them undecided about whether following through with this whole charade was actually a good idea) to let him go.
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son Luis has a soft spot for kids.
to:
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Sykes makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren Luis]] Luís]] for running over a child, even if it was an accident.
* FailedExecutionNoSentence: LuísGallegos survives his execution by hanging because the rope breaks at the precise moment that he falls. This is the moment that everybody in town decides (on top of everything else that has happened throughout the episode that was making them undecided about whether following through with this whole charade was actually a good idea) to let him go.
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his sonLuis Luís has a soft spot for kids.
* FailedExecutionNoSentence: Luís
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son
Changed line(s) 28,32 (click to see context) from:
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child Luis accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution when the noose breaks, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, Sykes gives his gold coins to some poor children, no strings attached, after having a change of heart from the execution.
* PosthumousCharacter: The nameless deceased little girl is a major catalyst, pervading over the story. Luis accidentally ran her over while drunk and is now facing execution, and the story also takes place during her funeral.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: Mrs. Canfield, the mother of the child Luis killed, insists on letting him go after his failed execution. Her husband John reminds her that Luis killed their child, only for her to respond that through running over an innocent child, Luis has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic to Luis, chastizing Sykes for taunting him and protecting his father from the angry crowd. Koch is also depressed by the thought of Gallegos being hanged for an accident and clearly believes that he does not deserve to die in such a way, but he's still forced to complete his duty as laid down by the law.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Luis' neck inexplicably breaks, Sykes--the man who sold the rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it was supposed to be unbreakable.
* PosthumousCharacter: The nameless deceased little girl is a major catalyst, pervading over the story. Luis accidentally ran her over while drunk and is now facing execution, and the story also takes place during her funeral.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: Mrs. Canfield, the mother of the child Luis killed, insists on letting him go after his failed execution. Her husband John reminds her that Luis killed their child, only for her to respond that through running over an innocent child, Luis has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic to Luis, chastizing Sykes for taunting him and protecting his father from the angry crowd. Koch is also depressed by the thought of Gallegos being hanged for an accident and clearly believes that he does not deserve to die in such a way, but he's still forced to complete his duty as laid down by the law.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Luis' neck inexplicably breaks, Sykes--the man who sold the rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it was supposed to be unbreakable.
to:
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child Luis Luís accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution when the noose breaks, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, Sykes gives his gold coins to some poor children, no strings attached, after having a change of heart from the execution.
* PosthumousCharacter: The nameless deceased little girl is a major catalyst, pervading over the story.Luis Luís accidentally ran her over while drunk and is now facing execution, and the story also takes place during her funeral.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: Mrs. Canfield, the mother of the childLuis Luís killed, insists on letting him go after his failed execution. Her husband John reminds her that Luis Luís killed their child, only for her to respond that through running over an innocent child, Luis Luís has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic toLuis, Luís, chastizing Sykes for taunting him and protecting his father from the angry crowd. Koch is also depressed by the thought of Gallegos being hanged for an accident and clearly believes that he does not deserve to die in such a way, but he's still forced to complete his duty as laid down by the law.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied aroundLuis' Luís' neck inexplicably breaks, Sykes--the man who sold the rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it was supposed to be unbreakable.
* PosthumousCharacter: The nameless deceased little girl is a major catalyst, pervading over the story.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: Mrs. Canfield, the mother of the child
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic to
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around
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Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
In a particularly ratty-looking village "built of crumbling clay and rotting wood" in the Wild West, Sykes, a particularly nasty, mean-spirited merchant and peddler of goods, rides in. The town is hosting a public hanging on this day for Luis Gallegos, who got drunk, went out for a ride in his wagon, and struck a little girl. The whole town has turned out for the execution. After Sykes cruelly taunts the condemned man, he does something even more cruel. After Gallegos' father begs the townspeople for mercy, Sykes offers to sell him some "magic dust"--actually just sand Sykes scooped up from the ground--which will supposedly turn hate into love, and bring the spirit of forgiveness to the sad little town. What Sykes doens't realize that he's more on the nose than he thinks.
to:
In a particularly ratty-looking village "built of crumbling clay and rotting wood" in the Wild West, Sykes, a particularly nasty, mean-spirited merchant and peddler of goods, rides in. The town is hosting a public hanging on this day for Luis Gallegos, who got drunk, went out for a ride in his wagon, and struck a little girl. The whole town has turned out for the execution. After Sykes cruelly taunts the condemned man, he does something even more cruel. After Gallegos' father begs the townspeople for mercy, Sykes offers to sell him some "magic dust"--actually just sand Sykes scooped up from the ground--which will supposedly turn hate into love, and bring the spirit of forgiveness to the sad little town. What Sykes doens't doesn't realize that he's more on the nose than he thinks.
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Page was movedfrom Recap.The Twilight Zone S 2 E 48 Dust to Recap.The Twilight Zone 1959 S 2 E 12 Dust. Null edit to update page.
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Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
The story takes place in a village "built of crumbling clay and rotting wood", a particularly ratty-looking little village in the Wild West. Into this little town rides Sykes, a particularly nasty, mean-spirited merchant and peddler of goods. The town is having a hanging that day: a man named Luís Gallegos got drunk, went out for a ride in his wagon, and struck and killed a little girl. The whole town, which is about two dozen people, has turned out for the execution. After Sykes cruelly taunts the condemned man, he does something even more cruel. After Gallegos's father begs the townspeople for mercy, Sykes offers to sell him some "magic dust"--actually dust Sykes scooped up from the ground--which will supposedly turn hate into love and bring the spirit of forgiveness to the sad little town.
to:
Changed line(s) 11,19 (click to see context) from:
!!Tropes:
* BigNo: Gallegos Sr. gives one in the climax.
* BlatantLies: Part of what drives the plot is how Sykes exploits Gallegos Senior's gullible nature by telling him he can sell him "magic dust" that will save his condemned son.
* DivineIntervention: Mr. Canfield theorizes that it was an act of God that caused the hanging noose to break like nothing. Its what convinces him and his wife to spare Gellagos' life.
* DrowningMySorrows: It's implied that the accident occurred because Luis had been drinking to try and forget the state of poverty he found himself in.
* DyingTown: Serling's narration describes it as a town that's "waiting to die". It does look particularly dilapidated even for a Wild West town; it seems that an extended drought has basically ruined everyone.
** Even one of the ''horses'' is underweight.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Sykes makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren Luís Gallegos]] for running over a child, even by accident.
* BigNo: Gallegos Sr. gives one in the climax.
* BlatantLies: Part of what drives the plot is how Sykes exploits Gallegos Senior's gullible nature by telling him he can sell him "magic dust" that will save his condemned son.
* DivineIntervention: Mr. Canfield theorizes that it was an act of God that caused the hanging noose to break like nothing. Its what convinces him and his wife to spare Gellagos' life.
* DrowningMySorrows: It's implied that the accident occurred because Luis had been drinking to try and forget the state of poverty he found himself in.
* DyingTown: Serling's narration describes it as a town that's "waiting to die". It does look particularly dilapidated even for a Wild West town; it seems that an extended drought has basically ruined everyone.
** Even one of the ''horses'' is underweight.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Sykes makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren Luís Gallegos]] for running over a child, even by accident.
to:
* TheAtoner: Luis spends all his screentime remorseful and heartbroken after killing a little girl in a drunken accident. When his noose breaks via an apparent act of God, the parents of the deceased girl opt to let him off the hook, deciding that his guilt has made him suffer enough.
* BigNo: Gallegos Sr. gives one in the
* BlatantLies: Part of what drives the plot is how Sykes exploits Gallegos
* DivineIntervention: Mr. Canfield theorizes that
* DrowningMySorrows: It's implied that
* DyingTown: Serling's narration describes
**
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Sykes makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren
Changed line(s) 21,24 (click to see context) from:
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son Luís is this.
* HarmfulToMinors: Sheriff Koch {{lampshade|hanging}}s how [[{{Deconstruction}} questionable]] it is to deliberately let children watch an execution to "teach" them the concept of justice.
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, Sykes has a change of heart and gives the gold coins he dishonestly earned to the village children.
* {{Jerkass}}: Sykes is this, at least until the end.
* HarmfulToMinors: Sheriff Koch {{lampshade|hanging}}s how [[{{Deconstruction}} questionable]] it is to deliberately let children watch an execution to "teach" them the concept of justice.
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, Sykes has a change of heart and gives the gold coins he dishonestly earned to the village children.
* {{Jerkass}}: Sykes is this, at least until the end.
to:
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son Luís is this.
Luis has a soft spot for kids.
* HarmfulToMinors: Sheriff Koch{{lampshade|hanging}}s lampshades how [[{{Deconstruction}} questionable]] it is to deliberately let children watch an execution to "teach" them the concept of justice.
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, after witnessing the botched execution, Sykes has a change of heart and gives the gold coins hedishonestly earned swindled from Gallegos Sr. to the village children.
* {{Jerkass}}: Sykes is this, at least until the end.children.
* HarmfulToMinors: Sheriff Koch
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, after witnessing the botched execution, Sykes has a change of heart and gives the gold coins he
* {{Jerkass}}: Sykes is this, at least until the end.
Changed line(s) 27,33 (click to see context) from:
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Another part of the episode's moral is to wonder: was the dust really magical all along, or is the human heart much deeper than we give credit?
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child Luís Gellegos accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son Luís just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, Sykes gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* PosthumousCharacter: The nameless, dead little girl is a major catalyst and pervades over the story. Luís Gellagos accidentally ran her over while drunk and is facing execution. The story also takes place during her funeral.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: Mrs. Canfield the mother of the deceased child insists on letting Luís Gellagos go. Her husband John reminds her that he killed their child. She responds that through running over an innocent child he has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic to Luís Gallegos. He chastises Sykes for taunting him and protects his father from the angry crowd. Koch is depressed by the thought of Gallegos being hanged and clearly believes that he does not deserve to be hanged but still performs his duty as laid down by the law.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Luís Gallegos' neck inexplicably breaks, Sykes--the man who sold the rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
* TheWildWest: A "misery-laden village" somewhere out in the Wild West, where people still travel in wagons and conduct public hangings.
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child Luís Gellegos accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son Luís just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, Sykes gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* PosthumousCharacter: The nameless, dead little girl is a major catalyst and pervades over the story. Luís Gellagos accidentally ran her over while drunk and is facing execution. The story also takes place during her funeral.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: Mrs. Canfield the mother of the deceased child insists on letting Luís Gellagos go. Her husband John reminds her that he killed their child. She responds that through running over an innocent child he has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic to Luís Gallegos. He chastises Sykes for taunting him and protects his father from the angry crowd. Koch is depressed by the thought of Gallegos being hanged and clearly believes that he does not deserve to be hanged but still performs his duty as laid down by the law.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Luís Gallegos' neck inexplicably breaks, Sykes--the man who sold the rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
* TheWildWest: A "misery-laden village" somewhere out in the Wild West, where people still travel in wagons and conduct public hangings.
to:
* {{Jerkass}}: Sykes, at least until the ending proves he was wrong about the dust not being magical.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane:Another part of the episode's moral is to wonder: was the Was Sykes' special dust really magical all along, or along? Or is the human heart much deeper than we give credit?
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the childLuís Gellegos Luis accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, execution when the noose breaks, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son Luís just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, Sykes gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
attached, after having a change of heart from the execution.
* PosthumousCharacter: Thenameless, dead nameless deceased little girl is a major catalyst and pervades catalyst, pervading over the story. Luís Gellagos Luis accidentally ran her over while drunk and is now facing execution. The execution, and the story also takes place during her funeral.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: Mrs.Canfield Canfield, the mother of the deceased child Luis killed, insists on letting Luís Gellagos go. him go after his failed execution. Her husband John reminds her that he Luis killed their child. She responds child, only for her to respond that through running over an innocent child he child, Luis has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic toLuís Gallegos. He chastises Luis, chastizing Sykes for taunting him and protects protecting his father from the angry crowd. Koch is also depressed by the thought of Gallegos being hanged for an accident and clearly believes that he does not deserve to be hanged die in such a way, but he's still performs forced to complete his duty as laid down by the law.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied aroundLuís Gallegos' Luis' neck inexplicably breaks, Sykes--the man who sold the rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it's it was supposed to be unbreakable.
* TheWildWest: A "misery-laden village" somewhere out in the Wild West, where people still travel in wagons and conduct publichangings.hangings, is the setting.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane:
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child
* PosthumousCharacter: The
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: Mrs.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic to
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around
* TheWildWest: A "misery-laden village" somewhere out in the Wild West, where people still travel in wagons and conduct public
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Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* HarmfulToMinors: Sheriff Koch [[LampShading lampshades]] how [[{{Deconstruction}} questionable]] it is to deliberately let children watch an execution to "teach" them the concept of justice.
to:
* HarmfulToMinors: Sheriff Koch [[LampShading lampshades]] {{lampshade|hanging}}s how [[{{Deconstruction}} questionable]] it is to deliberately let children watch an execution to "teach" them the concept of justice.
Changed line(s) 35 (click to see context) from:
->'''Creator/RodSerling''': 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.
to:
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* DivineIntervention: John theorizes that it was an act of God that caused the hanging noose to break like nothing. Its what convinces him and his wife to spare Gellagos' life.
to:
* DivineIntervention: John Mr. Canfield theorizes that it was an act of God that caused the hanging noose to break like nothing. Its what convinces him and his wife to spare Gellagos' life.
Changed line(s) 30 (click to see context) from:
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: The mother of the deceased child insists on letting Luís Gellagos go. Her husband John reminds her that he killed their child. She responds that through running over an innocent child he has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
to:
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: The Mrs. Canfield the mother of the deceased child insists on letting Luís Gellagos go. Her husband John reminds her that he killed their child. She responds that through running over an innocent child he has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
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Added DiffLines:
** Even one of the ''horses'' is underweight.
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Added DiffLines:
* DivineIntervention: John theorizes that it was an act of God that caused the hanging noose to break like nothing. Its what convinces him and his wife to spare Gellagos' life.
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Added DiffLines:
* PosthumousCharacter: The nameless, dead little girl is a major catalyst and pervades over the story. Luís Gellagos accidentally ran her over while drunk and is facing execution. The story also takes place during her funeral.
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* DrownMySorrow: It's implied that the accident occurred because Luis had been drinking to try and forget the state of poverty he found himself in.
to:
* DrownMySorrow: DrowningMySorrows: It's implied that the accident occurred because Luis had been drinking to try and forget the state of poverty he found himself in.
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* DrownMySorrows: It's implied that the accident occurred because Luis had been drinking to try and forget the state of poverty he found himself in.
to:
* DrownMySorrows: DrownMySorrow: It's implied that the accident occurred because Luis had been drinking to try and forget the state of poverty he found himself in.
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* DrownMySorrows: It's implied that the accident occurred because Luis had been drinking to try and forget the state of poverty he found himself in.
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->'''Creator/RodSerling''': 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.
Changed line(s) 25 (click to see context) from:
* TheWildWest: A "misery-laden village" somewhere out in the Wild West, where people still travel in wagons and conduct public hangings.
to:
* TheWildWest: A "misery-laden village" somewhere out in the Wild West, where people still travel in wagons and conduct public hangings.hangings.
----
->'''Creator/RodSerling''': 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.
----
->'''Creator/RodSerling''': 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.
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Changed line(s) 4,5 (click to see context) from:
The story takes place in a village "built of crumbling clay and rotting wood", a particularly ratty-looking little village in the Wild West. Into this little town rides Sykes, a particularly nasty, mean-spirited merchant and peddler of goods. The town is having a hanging that day: a man named Gallegos got drunk, went out for a ride in his wagon, and struck and killed a little girl. The whole town, which is about two dozen people, has turned out for the execution. After Sykes cruelly taunts the condemned man, he does something even more cruel. After Gallegos's father begs the townspeople for mercy, Sykes offers to sell him some "magic dust"--actually dust Sykes scooped up from the ground--which will supposedly turn hate into love and bring the spirit of forgiveness to the sad little town.
to:
The story takes place in a village "built of crumbling clay and rotting wood", a particularly ratty-looking little village in the Wild West. Into this little town rides Sykes, a particularly nasty, mean-spirited merchant and peddler of goods. The town is having a hanging that day: a man named Luís Gallegos got drunk, went out for a ride in his wagon, and struck and killed a little girl. The whole town, which is about two dozen people, has turned out for the execution. After Sykes cruelly taunts the condemned man, he does something even more cruel. After Gallegos's father begs the townspeople for mercy, Sykes offers to sell him some "magic dust"--actually dust Sykes scooped up from the ground--which will supposedly turn hate into love and bring the spirit of forgiveness to the sad little town.
Changed line(s) 12,14 (click to see context) from:
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Sykes makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren Gallegos Jr.]] for running over a child, even by accident.
* FailedExecutionNoSentence: Gallegos Jr. survives his execution by hanging because the rope breaks at the precise moment he falls, and this is the moment everybody in town decides (on top of everything else that has happened throughout the episode that was making them undecided about whether following through with this whole charade was actually a good idea) to let him go.
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son is this.
* FailedExecutionNoSentence: Gallegos Jr. survives his execution by hanging because the rope breaks at the precise moment he falls, and this is the moment everybody in town decides (on top of everything else that has happened throughout the episode that was making them undecided about whether following through with this whole charade was actually a good idea) to let him go.
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son is this.
to:
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Sykes makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren Gallegos Jr.]] Luís Gallegos]] for running over a child, even by accident.
* FailedExecutionNoSentence: Luís GallegosJr. survives his execution by hanging because the rope breaks at the precise moment that he falls, and this falls. This is the moment that everybody in town decides (on top of everything else that has happened throughout the episode that was making them undecided about whether following through with this whole charade was actually a good idea) to let him go.
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son Luís is this.
* FailedExecutionNoSentence: Luís Gallegos
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son Luís is this.
Changed line(s) 21,23 (click to see context) from:
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, Sykes gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: The mother of the murdered child insists on letting Gellagos go. The husband reminds her that he killed their child. She responds that through running over an innocent child he has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks, Sykes--the man who sold the rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: The mother of the murdered child insists on letting Gellagos go. The husband reminds her that he killed their child. She responds that through running over an innocent child he has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks, Sykes--the man who sold the rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
to:
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child Luís Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son Luís just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, Sykes gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: The mother of themurdered deceased child insists on letting Luís Gellagos go. The Her husband John reminds her that he killed their child. She responds that through running over an innocent child he has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic to Luís Gallegos. He chastises Sykes for taunting him and protects his father from the angry crowd. Koch is depressed by the thought of Gallegos being hanged and clearly believes that he does not deserve to be hanged but still performs his duty as laid down by the law.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied aroundGallegos Junior's Luís Gallegos' neck inexplicably breaks, Sykes--the man who sold the rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: The mother of the
* TheSheriff: Sheriff Koch is sympathetic to Luís Gallegos. He chastises Sykes for taunting him and protects his father from the angry crowd. Koch is depressed by the thought of Gallegos being hanged and clearly believes that he does not deserve to be hanged but still performs his duty as laid down by the law.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around
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* HumansAreFlawed: A major theme of the episode, culminating in a HumansAreGood moral.
Added DiffLines:
* ThePunishmentIsTheCrime: The mother of the murdered child insists on letting Gellagos go. The husband reminds her that he killed their child. She responds that through running over an innocent child he has killed part of himself, and the overwhelming guilt has made him suffer enough.
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Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ae7ded1d_e0fa_4c4e_be6b_50b3491adc8e.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:A town in desperate need of an outlet mall.]]
[[caption-width-right:350:A town in desperate need of an outlet mall.]]
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Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
An unscrupulous traveling merchant claims he has a magical dust which will save a condemned man.
to:
----
Changed line(s) 6 (click to see context) from:
* BlatantLies: Part of what drives the plot is how the Merchant exploits Gallegos Senior's gullible nature by telling him he can sell him "magic dust" that will save his condemned son.
to:
* BlatantLies: Part of what drives the plot is how the Merchant Sykes exploits Gallegos Senior's gullible nature by telling him he can sell him "magic dust" that will save his condemned son.
Changed line(s) 8 (click to see context) from:
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The merchant makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren Gallegos Jr.]] for running over a child, even by accident.
to:
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The merchant Sykes makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren Gallegos Jr.]] for running over a child, even by accident.
Changed line(s) 12,13 (click to see context) from:
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, the merchant has a change of heart and gives the gold coins he dishonestly earned to the village children.
* {{Jerkass}}: The croocked merchant is this, at least until the end.
* {{Jerkass}}: The croocked merchant is this, at least until the end.
to:
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, the merchant Sykes has a change of heart and gives the gold coins he dishonestly earned to the village children.
* {{Jerkass}}:The croocked merchant Sykes is this, at least until the end.
* {{Jerkass}}:
Changed line(s) 16,17 (click to see context) from:
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks, the merchant who sold the rope for the noose is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks, the merchant who sold the rope for the noose is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
to:
* PetTheDog: Two instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant Sykes gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks,the merchant Sykes--the man who sold the rope for the noose is rope--is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks,
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* DyingTown: Serling's narration describes it as a town that's "waiting to die". It does look particularly dilapidated even for a Wild West town; it seems that an extended drought has basically ruined everyone.
Changed line(s) 16 (click to see context) from:
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks, the merchant who sold the rope for the noose is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
to:
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks, the merchant who sold the rope for the noose is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.unbreakable.
* TheWildWest: A "misery-laden village" somewhere out in the Wild West, where people still travel in wagons and conduct public hangings.
* TheWildWest: A "misery-laden village" somewhere out in the Wild West, where people still travel in wagons and conduct public hangings.
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* FailedExecutionNoSentence: Gallegos Jr. survives his execution by hanging because the rope breaks at the precise moment he falls, and this is the moment everybody in town decides (on top of everything else that has happened throughout the episode that was making them undecided about whether following through with this whole charade was actually a good idea) to let him go.
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Changed line(s) 5 (click to see context) from:
* BigNo:
to:
* BigNo:BigNo: Gallegos Sr. gives one in the climax.
Added line(s) 8 (click to see context) :
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The merchant makes it pretty clear how mean-spirited he is when he sadistically taunts the convicted [[FriendToAllChildren Gallegos Jr.]] for running over a child, even by accident.
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son is this.
* HarmfulToMinors: Sheriff Koch [[LampShading lampshades]] how [[{{Deconstruction}} questionable]] it is to deliberately let children watch an execution to "teach" them the concept of justice.
* FriendToAllChildren: Gallegos Sr. implies that his son is this.
* HarmfulToMinors: Sheriff Koch [[LampShading lampshades]] how [[{{Deconstruction}} questionable]] it is to deliberately let children watch an execution to "teach" them the concept of justice.
Changed line(s) 8 (click to see context) from:
* {{Jerkass}}: The croocked merchant is this in the beginning, especially when he taunts Gallegos Jr. for running over a child, even by accident.
to:
* {{Jerkass}}: The croocked merchant is this in this, at least until the beginning, especially when he taunts Gallegos Jr. for running over a child, even by accident.end.
Changed line(s) 10,11 (click to see context) from:
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Part of the episode's moral is to wonder: was the dust really magical all along, or is the human heart much deeper than we give credit?
* PetTheDog: Two instances. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* PetTheDog: Two instances. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
to:
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Part Another part of the episode's moral is to wonder: was the dust really magical all along, or is the human heart much deeper than we give credit?
* PetTheDog: Twoinstances.instances towards the end. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.attached.
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks, the merchant who sold the rope for the noose is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
* PetTheDog: Two
* ThisCannotBe: When the noose tied around Gallegos Junior's neck inexplicably breaks, the merchant who sold the rope for the noose is shocked, as he can vouch it's supposed to be unbreakable.
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* HumansAreGood: Part of the episode's moral.
Changed line(s) 10,11 (click to see context) from:
* PetTheDog: Two instances. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* RousseauWasRight: Part of the episode's moral.
* RousseauWasRight: Part of the episode's moral.
to:
* PetTheDog: Two instances. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* RousseauWasRight: Part of the episode's moral.attached.
* RousseauWasRight: Part of the episode's moral.
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Changed line(s) 10 (click to see context) from:
* PetTheDog: Two instances. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
to:
* PetTheDog: Two instances. First, the parents of the child Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.attached.
* RousseauWasRight: Part of the episode's moral.
* RousseauWasRight: Part of the episode's moral.
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Added line(s) 7 (click to see context) :
* BigNo:
Changed line(s) 7 (click to see context) from:
* {{Jerkass}}: The croocked merchant is this in the beginning, especially when he taunts the man convicted of running over a child by accident.
to:
* {{Jerkass}}: The croocked merchant is this in the beginning, especially when he taunts the man convicted of Gallegos Jr. for running over a child, even by accident.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Part of the episode's moral is to wonder: was the dust really magical all along, or is the human heart much deeper than we give credit?
* PetTheDog: Two instances. First, the parents of the childby accident.Gellegos Jr. accidentally ran over decide in the end to forgo the execution, seeing that Gallegos Sr. loves his son just as much as they loved their daughter. Second, the crooked merchant gives his gold coins to some poor children, with no strings attached.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Part of the episode's moral is to wonder: was the dust really magical all along, or is the human heart much deeper than we give credit?
* PetTheDog: Two instances. First, the parents of the child
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Changed line(s) 6 (click to see context) from:
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, the merchant has a change of heart and gives the gold coins he dishonestly earned to the village children.
to:
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, the merchant has a change of heart and gives the gold coins he dishonestly earned to the village children.children.
* {{Jerkass}}: The croocked merchant is this in the beginning, especially when he taunts the man convicted of running over a child by accident.
* {{Jerkass}}: The croocked merchant is this in the beginning, especially when he taunts the man convicted of running over a child by accident.
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Changed line(s) 1 (click to see context) from:
An unscrupulous traveling merchant claims he has a magical dust which will save a condemned man.
to:
An unscrupulous traveling merchant claims he has a magical dust which will save a condemned man.man.
!!Tropes:
* BlatantLies: Part of what drives the plot is how the Merchant exploits Gallegos Senior's gullible nature by telling him he can sell him "magic dust" that will save his condemned son.
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, the merchant has a change of heart and gives the gold coins he dishonestly earned to the village children.
!!Tropes:
* BlatantLies: Part of what drives the plot is how the Merchant exploits Gallegos Senior's gullible nature by telling him he can sell him "magic dust" that will save his condemned son.
* HeelFaceTurn: In the end, the merchant has a change of heart and gives the gold coins he dishonestly earned to the village children.
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None
Added DiffLines:
An unscrupulous traveling merchant claims he has a magical dust which will save a condemned man.