Rod Serling: In this corner of the universe, a prizefighter named Bolie Jackson, one-hundred and eighty-three pounds and an hour and a half away from a comeback at St. Nick's Arena. Mr. Bolie Jackson, who, by the standards of his profession is an aging, over-the-hill relic of what was, and who now sees a reflection of a man who has left too many pieces of his youth in too many stadiums for too many years before too many screaming people. Mr. Bolie Jackson, who might do well to look for some gentle magic in the hard-surfaced glass that stares back at him.
Air date: April 8, 1960
Washed-up boxer Bolie Jackson is preparing for an important fight that could lead to a comeback, and talks to his girlfriend's son Henry about his hopes to win the match. Henry promises to make a wish for Bolie to win the match. During the fight, just as Bolie is about to be counted out, Henry's wish comes true, causing Bolie and his opponent to switch places. Bolie is clearly confused and unnerved about what just happened, but he refuses to believe that Henry's wish had anything to do with it.
The Big Tall Tropes:
- An Aesop: It's good to believe you can do anything you set your mind to, but don't take the easy way to that goal.
- In Bolie's case, don't let pride and cynicism keep you from recognizing and taking advantage of fortuitous opportunities.
- Author Appeal: Boxing appears in many Twilight Zone episodes because Serling was a boxer in the Navy.
- Bittersweet Ending: Henry's wish is undone, meaning Bolie loses his comeback bout, and Henry himself, who seemingly doesn't remember the alternate timeline, tells Bolie that he's not going to make wishes anymore, as the one he made for Bolie failed to come true. However, Bolie enjoys a Relationship Upgrade and tells Henry to dream his wishes, but not wish them true.
- Clap Your Hands If You Believe: Henry's big, tall wish is undone at the end because Bolie refuses to believe that the wish is the only reason he won the fight.
- Comic-Book Adaptation: This episode was adapted as a graphic novel by Walker Paperback in 2009.
- The Cynic: Bolie Jackson, who refuses to believe that he won an important match because of a little boy's wish.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: This happens when Henry makes the wish for Bolie and his opponent to switch places.
- Jade-Colored Glasses: Henry gives up wishing for things after his wish for Bolie to win was undone, meaning it didn't work at all.
- Monochrome Casting: In an inversion of the usual application of this trope in 1960, all of the actors with speaking roles, with the exception of Walter Burke, are African-American.
- Pride: Bolie's Fatal Flaw. He believes that he was the one who won the fight doing it his way, and will not accept that it was Henry's wish that let him win. His arrogance in the matter reverses the wish, costing him the fight and ruining his comeback attempt.
- Real After All: As Bolie surmises, there is enough magic to make wishes come true, but not enough people in the world left to believe in it."Or maybe...maybe there is magic. And maybe there's wishes, too. I guess the trouble is...there's not enough people around to believe..."
- Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory: Bolie is the only one to remember the timeline where he defeated Joey Consiglio in the ring after Henry's wish is undone.
- Silly Rabbit, Cynicism Is for Losers!: Bolie refuses to believe in magic, as well as the fact that Henry's wish made him win his comeback bout, on the grounds that he's "too old" to believe in magic. His disbelief undoes the wish and he ultimately comes out as a loser, his comeback attempt failed.
- Title Drop:Henry: I'm gonna make a wish Bolie. I'm gonna make a big, tall wish.
Rod Serling: Mr. Bolie Jackson, a hundred and eighty-three pounds, who left a second chance lying in a heap on a rosin-spattered canvas at St. Nick's Arena. Mr. Bolie Jackson, who shares the most common ailment of all men, the strange and perverse disinclination to believe in a miracle, the kind of miracle to come from the mind of a little boy, perhaps only to be found in the Twilight Zone.
