History Recap / TheTwilightZoneS2E44TheLatenessOfTheHour

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_twilight_zone_the_lateness_of_the_hour.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TomatoInTheMirror "What is it? Why aren't any of my pictures in the photo albums?"]]'']]

->'''Creator/RodSerling''': The residence of Dr. William Loren, which is in reality a menagerie for machines. We're about to discover that sometimes the product of man's talent and genius can walk amongst us untouched by the normal ravages of time. These are Dr. Loren's robots, built to functional as well as artistic perfection. But in a moment Dr. William Loren, wife and daughter will discover that perfection is relative, that even robots have to be paid for, and very shortly will be shown exactly what is the bill.

Air date: December 2, 1960

Jana Loren (Inger Stevens) and her parents (John Hoyt and Irene Tedrow) live in a mansion staffed by five life-like robots (Robert the butler; Nelda, Susanne, and Gretchen the maids; and Jensen the handyman) built by her father, who serve the family's every whim and are practically indistinguishable from humans. Jana keeps trying to do things for herself, but the robots keep showing up and insisting they help out. Bored out of her mind, Jana wants to leave the mansion to experience the world beyond her pampered home life, but her father and the robots say that the outside world is too dangerous. At one point, she loses her temper and shoves Susanne down the stairs, but she just smiles and gets up like nothing happened. Her parents are incredibly lazy and indulge in having their every desire tended to by the robots. Jana begs them to get rid of their mechanized staff before they become vegetables who are completely dependent on them.

Eventually, Dr. Loren relents and dismantles the robots to make Jana happy. Now that they are free from having their whims satisifed in an instant, Jana says she plans to explore the outside world, get married, and have kids, a statement which horrifies her parents. Growing suspicious, Jana looks through the family albums and finds no pictures of herself as a child. Jana comes to the horrifying conclusion that she herself is a robot, created after her parents were unable to conceive a true child. She becomes hysterical, repeatedly slamming her arm against the wall and banister and screaming that she can't feel any pain before she faints. Jana's "parents" are left to wonder what to do now that Jana knows the truth. Sometime later, it's revealed just what the Lorens have done to Jana: they've reprogrammed her to be a maid, who gives Mrs. Loren a shoulder massage.

----
!!The Lateness of the Tropes:

* BackstoryInvader: The Lorens' android servants have "memories" implanted in their programming, as well as the belief that they have been in their positions for years. All hell breaks loose when Jana figures out that this applies to her too.
* BottleEpisode: The episode largely takes place in the Lorens' living room.
* CruelTwistEnding: Jana's parents dismantle the robots, marking the instant they finally learn to be self-reliant. Jana had [[HopeSpot hopes]] that this would mark the dawn of a new day for her family, where they can go outside and live their lives. Unfortunately, that's before she learns [[TomatoInTheMirror she herself is a robot]], and therefore can't live a normal human life like her mother and father. While they decide against dismantling her, they instead [[BittersweetEnding wipe her memories]] and reprogram her to think she's [[DeathOfPersonality Nelda]] in order to [[CruelToBeKind spare her the pain]] that the truth brought her.
* DeathOfPersonality: The end of the episode shows that Jana is gone, and Nelda the maid is put in her place.
* DissonantSerenity: Susanne's smirk after Jana throws her down the stairs shows that something is very much not right. Right after this comes the revelation that she and all the other servants are robots.
* DramaticThunder: The episode opens with a thunderstorm going on outside. Besides setting a dramatic mood, it's plot-relevant, as Jana expresses a desire to go outside and experience rain for the first time.
* FakeMemories: Once it's revealed she's a robot, Jana discovers that she has memories of a childhood that never happened.
* FeelNoPain: All of the robots, which just get right back up from whatever accidents they get into.
* FreakOut: Jana, upon learning the truth, topped off with dramatic fainting.
* GrewBeyondTheirProgramming: Jana's true identity was so deeply hidden within her artificial psyche that she came to hate other robots and desired a family and children of her own. She was presumably never meant to know the truth.
* GildedCage: Jana views her home life as this, because she is not allowed to leave for whatever reason and her parents have all but become vegetables dependant on their robot servants.
* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Jana's "parents" reprogram her when she learns her true identity, proving that she's only a toy to them. Though it's implied they at least cared enough to do this instead of outright dismantle her.
* RaisedByRobots: Inverted. Jana is a robot "raised" by humans.
* RoboticReveal: Jana discovers that she is a robot given false memories to think that she's always been the Lorens' daughter.
* StaircaseTumble: Jana pushes Susanne down the stairs, who gets back up like it's no big deal and reveals that she and the other staff are robots.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Jana finds out she herself is a robot.
* VideoInsideFilmOutside: This is the first of six episodes to be shot on videotape instead of film, in order to reduce costs.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: It's briefly touched upon after Jana's discovery that she is a robot. Her parents insist that they consider her as much a daughter as if she were flesh and blood, but she herself can't accept it.
-----
->'''Creator/RodSerling''': Let this be the postscript — Should you be worn out by the rigors of competing in a very competitive world, if you're distraught from having to share your existence with the noises and neuroses of the twentieth century, if you crave serenity but want it full time and with no strings attached, get yourself a workroom in the basement, and then drop a note to Dr. and Mrs. William Loren. They're a childless couple who made comfort a life's work, and maybe there are a few do-it-yourself pamphlets still available... in the Twilight Zone.

Eventually, Dr. Loren relents and dismantles the robots to make Jana happy. Now that they are free from having their whims satisifed in an instant, Jana says she plans to explore the outside world, get married, and have kids, a statement which horrifies her parents. Growing suspicious, Jana looks through the family albums and finds no pictures of herself as a child. Jana comes to the horrifying conclusion that she herself is a robot, created after her parents were unable to concieve a true child. She becomes hysterical, repeatedly slamming her arm against the wall and banister and screaming that she can't feel any pain before she faints. Jana's "parents" are left to wonder what to do now that Jana knows the truth. Sometime later, it's revealed just what the Lorens have done to Jana: they've reprogrammed her to be a maid, who gives Mrs. Loren a shoulder massage.

Eventually, Dr. Loren relents and dismantles the robots to make Jana happy. Now that they are free from having their whims satisifed in an instant, Jana says she plans to explore the outside world, get married, and have kids, a statement which horrifies her parents. Growing suspicious, Jana looks through the family albums and finds no pictures of herself as a child. Jana comes to the horrifying conclusion that she herself is a robot, created after her parents were unable to concieve a true child. She becomes hysterical, repeatedly slamming her arm against the wall and banister and screaming that she can't feel any pain before she faints. Jana's "parents" are left to wonder what to do now that Jana knows the truth. Sometime later, it's revealed just what the Lorens have done to Jana: they've reprogrammed to be a maid, who gives Mrs. Loren a shoulder massage.

Jana Loren (Inger Stevens) and her parents (John Hoyt and Irene Tedrow) live in a mansion with five life-like robots (Robert the butler; Nelda, Susanne, and Gretchen the maids; Jensen the handyman) who serve their every whim and are practically indistinguishable from humans. Jana keeps trying to do things for herself, but the robots keep showing up and insisting they help. Jana wants to leave, but her father and the robots say the outside world is too dangerous. Jana is bored out of her mind. At one point, she loses her temper and shoves Susanne down the stairs, but she just smiles and gets up like nothing happened. Her parents are incredibly lazy and indulge in having their every desire tended to. Jana begs them to get rid of the robots before they become completely dependent on them and become vegetables.

Eventually, Dr. Loren relents and dismantles the robots to make Jana happy. Now that they are free, she says she plans to explore the outside world, marry, and have kids. Her parents become horrified. Jana asks them why, then gets suspicious. She looks through the family albums and finds no pictures of herself as a child. Jana comes to the horrifying conclusion that she is a robot as well. She becomes hysterical, repeatedly slamming her arm against a wall and banister and screaming that she can't feel any pain. Finally, she faints.

In the final scene, Jana - now reprogrammed to be a maid - gives Mrs. Loren a shoulder massage.

->'''Creator/RodSerling''': Let this be the postscript — Should you be worn out by the rigors of competing in a very competitive world, if you're distraught from having to share your existence with the noises and neuroses of the twentieth century, if you crave serenity but want it full time and with no strings attached, get yourself a workroom in the basement, and then drop a note to Dr. and Mrs. William Loren. They're a childless couple who made comfort a life's work, and maybe there are a few do-it-yourself pamphlets still available... in the Twilight Zone.

----

* BackstoryInvader: A wealthy, reclusive couple's android servants have implanted "memories" and are programmed to believe that they have been in their positions for years. All hell breaks loose when the couple's grown daughter figures out that this applies to her too.
* BottleEpisode: This episode mostly takes place in the Lorens' living room.
* CruelTwistEnding: Jana's parents dismantle the robots, marking the instant they learn to be self-reliant. Jana had her [[HopeSpot high hopes]] that this would mark the dawn of a new day for her family where they can go outside and live their lives. But that's before she learns [[TomatoInTheMirror she herself is a robot]], and therefore can't live a normal human life like her mother and father. While they decide against dismantling her too, it's [[BittersweetEnding at the cost]] that they reprogram her to think she's [[DeathOfPersonality Nelda]] in order to [[CruelToBeKind spare her the pain]] of knowing the truth.
* DeathOfPersonality: Jana the daughter is gone and Jana the maid is put in her place.
* DissonantSerenity: The maid's smirk after Jana flings her down the stairs shows that something is very much not right. Right after comes the revelation that she and all the other servants are robots.
* DramaticThunder: The episode opens with a thunderstorm going on outside. Besides setting a dramatic mood, it's plot-relevant, as Jana expresses a desire to go outside and experience the rain.
* FakeMemories: Jana had memories of a childhood that never happened.
* FeelNoPain: All of the robots.
* FreakOut: Jana upon learning the truth.
* GrewBeyondTheirProgramming: Jayna's robot identity was so deeply hidden within her that she came to hate other robots and desired a family and children of her own. Presumably, she was never supposed to know the truth.
* GildedCage: Jana views the mansion as this, because she is not allowed to leave.
* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Jana's "parents" reprogram her when she becomes too much trouble. She's a toy to them. Though it's implied they at least cared enough not to simply dismantle her.

* RoboticReveal: Jana discovers that she is a robot.
* StaircaseTumble: Jana pushes the maid down the stairs. The maid getting up like it's no big deal after she was pushed down the stairs is the reveal that she's a robot.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Jana finding out she is a robot.
* VideoInsideFilmOutside: This is the first of six episodes filmed on videotape instead of film in order to reduce costs.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Briefly touched upon after Jana's discovery that she is a robot. Her parents insist that they do consider her as much a daughter as they would have if she were flesh and blood, but she herself can't accept it.

* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Jana's "parents" reprogram her when she becomes too much trouble. She's a toy to them.

* CruelTwistEnding: Jana's parents dismantle the robots, marking the instant they learn to be self-reliant. Jana had her [[HopeSpot high hopes]] that this would mark the dawn of a new day for her family where they can go outside and live their lives. But that's before she learns [[TomatoInTheMirror she herself is a robot]], and therefore can't live a normal human life like her mother and father. While they decide against dismantling her too, it's [[BittersweetEnding at the cost]] that they reprogram her to think she's [[DeathOfAPersonality Nelda]] in order to [[CruelToBeKind spare her the pain]] of knowing the truth.

* VideoInsideFilmOutside: This is the first of six episodes filmed on videotape instead of film in order to reduce costs.

!!Tropes:

* TomatoInTheMirror: Jana finding out she is a robot.

!!Trivia
* Inger Stevens also appears in "The Hitch-Hiker".
* John Hoyt also appears in "Will The Real Martian Please Stand Up?"
* Irene Tedrow also appears in "Walking Distance".

!!Tropes

* RaisedByRobots

-->'''Creator/RodSerling''': The residence of Dr. William Loren, which is in reality a menagerie for machines. We're about to discover that sometimes the product of man's talent and genius can walk amongst us untouched by the normal ravages of time. These are Dr. Loren's robots, built to functional as well as artistic perfection. But in a moment Dr. William Loren, wife and daughter will discover that perfection is relative, that even robots have to be paid for, and very shortly will be shown exactly what is the bill.

-->'''Creator/RodSerling''': Let this be the postscript — Should you be worn out by the rigors of competing in a very competitive world, if you're distraught from having to share your existence with the noises and neuroses of the twentieth century, if you crave serenity but want it full time and with no strings attached, get yourself a workroom in the basement, and then drop a note to Dr. and Mrs. William Loren. They're a childless couple who made comfort a life's work, and maybe there are a few do-it-yourself pamphlets still available... in the Twilight Zone.

* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Jana's "parents" reprogram her when she became too much. She's a toy to them.

* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Jana's parents reprogrammed her when she became too much. She's a toy to them.

Dr. Loren takes Jana and reprograms her as a maid. Now having no memory of her previous identity, Jana gives Mrs. Loren a shoulder massage.

Jana Loren (Inger Stevens) and her parents (John Hoyt and Irene Tedrow) live in a mansion with five life-like robots (Robert the butler; Nelda, Su, who serve their every whim and are practically indistinguishable from humans. Jana keeps trying to do things for herself, but the robots keep showing up and insisting they help. Jana is bored out of her mind. At one point, she loses her temper and shoves one of theHer parents are incredibly lazy and indulge in having their every desire tended to. Jana begs them to get rid of the robots before they become completely dependent on them and become vegetables.

-->'''Creator/RodSerling''': Let this be the postscript — Should you be worn out by the rigors of competing in a very competitive world, if you're distraught from having to share your existence with the noises and neuroses of the twentieth century, if you crave serenity but want it full time and with no strings attached, get yourself a workroom in the basement, and then drop a note to Dr. and Mrs. William Loren. They're a childless couple who made comfort a life's work, and maybe there are a few do-it-yourself pamphlets still available... in the Twilight Zone.

Jana Loren (Inger Stevens) and her parents (John Hoyt and Irene Tedrow) live in a mansion with five life-like robots, who serve their every whim and are practically indistinguishable from humans. Jana keeps trying to do things for herself, but the robots keep showing up and insisting they help. Jana is bored out of her mind. Her parents are incredibly lazy and indulge in having their every desire tended to. Jana begs them to get rid of the robots before they become completely dependent on them and become vegetables.

Eventually, Dr. Loren relents and dismantles the robots to make Jana happy. Now that they are free, she says she plans to explore the outside world, marry, and have kids.

Eventually, Dr. Loren relents and dismantles the robots to make Jana happy.