History Recap / TheTwilightZoneS2E64WillTheRealMartianPleaseStandUp

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/realmartian.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:350: [[Music/{{Eminem}} "We're gonna have a problem here..."]]]]

->'''Creator/RodSerling''': "Wintry February night, the present. Order of events: a phone call from a frightened woman notating the arrival of an unidentified flying object, then the checkout you've just witnessed, with two state troopers verifying the event – but with nothing more enlightening to add beyond evidence of some tracks leading across the highway to a diner. You've heard of trying to find a needle in a haystack? Well, stay with us now, and you'll be part of an investigating team whose mission is not to find that proverbial needle, no, their task is even harder. They've got to find a Martian in a diner, and in just a moment you'll search with them, because you've just landed – in the Twilight Zone."

Air date: May 26, 1961

A pair of state troopers are called in response to what appears to be to a UFO that crash-landed in a clearing in the woods. The trail left by the ship's pilot leads the troopers to a nearby diner, where they find a group of passengers aboard a bus: two married couples; a professional dancer named Ethel; a sour-faced businessman named Ross, Olmstead the bus driver, and a crazy old man named Avery. The problem is that seven people entered the diner with Olmstead, the driver himself is certain that there were only ''six'' passengers before they arrived at the diner. As bizarre occurances begin happening around the diner, the mystery grows more and more nerve-wracking as the policemen work to deduce which of their witnesses is actually a Martian.

----

!!Will the Real Tropes Please Stand Up?:

* AffablyEvil: Despite being a Venusian Imperialist, Haley is actually shown to be quite friendly and cordial with his Earthling guests, with no instance of hidden malice. He's not so friendly and cordial with Ross, though, as he's from a race his people just intercepted.
* AlienAmongUs: The object of the story. A Martian spy is hiding amongst of group of ordinary people in a diner, and two policemen have to find them. The TomatoSurprise ending reveals that not only was Ross the Martian all along, there was another alien among them ''the entire time'': Haley the cook, who is a ''Venusian''.
* AliensAreBastards: Martians and Venusians are shown to be rivaling Imperialists who seek to wipe out all other races to expand their empires, including each other.
* AlienInvasion: Ross was sent ahead as a scout for the Martians so they could turn the Earth into one of their colonies. The big twist is when Haley reveals himself to be ''a Venusian'', who informs Ross that his people have already beaten the Martians to the punch. An alien colony ''is'' happening on Earth, but it's from ''Venus''.
* AliensStealCable: The officers question the passengers on recent events in United States history to determine if they're human. Avery immediately [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] what they're doing and jokes that it won't matter, as the aliens are likely using technology to spy on Earth's radio and television transmissions.
* ArbitrarySkepticism: Ross the businessman, who finds the idea of a Martian among the bus passengers ridiculous, even when strange things begin happening in the diner. In the end, it's revealed that Ross himself is the Martian, and he caused the strange happenings to throw away suspicion.
* BeneathSuspicion: Ethel points out that the married couples can be taken off the suspect list, as there's only ''one'' extra passenger in the room. Unfortunately, both couples begin to believe that their respective spouses have been [[KillAndReplace replaced]] by the Martian.
** On a more narrative level, Ethel herself is the only member of the group who is never treated as a genuine lead for the Martian, as she's the most cooperative with the cops, takes their investigation completely seriously, and tries to use logic to rule people out. Olmstead the bus driver also offers her an alibi when he remarks that, while he didn't pay enough attention to the passengers as they boarded, he [[HeadTurningBeauty definitely noticed her]].
* BizarreAlienBiology: Ross, the Martian, has a third arm. Haley, a Venusian, has a [[ExtraEyes third eye]] on his forehead.
* BottleEpisode: Except for two scenes, this episode takes place entirely in the Hi-Way Café.
* TheButlerDidIt: Subverted. Ross, one of the people from the bus, was the Martian all along. Unfortunately for him, Haley, the cook who served them all and remained very much in the background throughout the story, was also a being from another planet, and was two steps ahead of Ross the whole time.
* CloudCuckooLander: Avery. He may or may not be the alien, but he's definitely the most manic and eccentric among the group.
* ComicBookAdaptation: This episode was adapted as a graphic novel by Walker Paperback in 2009.
* CreepyRedHerring: Avery is the most suspicious member of the group, and he seems to be deliberately goading everyone by making off-color jokes and bringing up science-fiction tropes in conversation. He also has wild eyes, an unhinged voice, and a generally unsettling demeanor. He's not the alien, just a {{troll}} who enjoys teasing people.
* TheCuckooLanderWasRight: Avery is the one who hints that Ross is the Martian. He was right.
* DidntSeeThatComing: As the official episode book of the show nicely puts it: "The real Martian has stood up...only to have the rug pulled out from under him."
* DirtyOldMan: Avery hits on Ethel when she reveals that she's a professional dancer.
-->'''Avery''': How many legs?
-->'''Ethel''': I'm gonna belt you, Grandpa.
* TheDogWasTheMastermind: Haley the cook, who was quite literally in the background for most of the episode, turns out to be an alien himself. It's used in a literal sense in the short story the episode was adapted from, as the Martian turned out to be the dog that the diner's owner was keeping as a pet, but the writers decided to play fairer with the audience and used a second alien as the twist instead.
** [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] early in the episode by Avery, who points out that Olmstead, the bus driver, could be the Martian. None of the passengers acknowledged him as they boarded, so it's just as likely that he wasn't there at all.
* DownerEnding: All the characters barring Ross and Haley plunge to their deaths in a freezing river. Meanwhile, humans and Martians are being wiped out into extinction by the Venusians, who want to take over their respective worlds and turn them into new colonies.
* DrivingQuestion: Six passengers got on the bus, but ''seven'' entered the diner. The episode is spent with them and the troopers trying to figure out who the Martian is.
* DroppedABridgeOnHim: Or dropped them ''off'' a bridge in this case. After the guests and the troopers leave the diner, the bridge on the road up ahead collapses, dropping all of them to the freezing river. The only survivor is Ross, who mysteriously survives to tell the tale.
* DudeNotFunny: Avery asks if bus driver Olmstead was replaced by an alien. The [[DelayedReaction guy laughs for a bit]] until he frowns.
* EvilVersusEvil: Haley vs. Ross, representing Mars vs. Venus. Venus wins in the end.
* EvilLaugh: Haley breaks out into maniacal laughter once he reveals how he sprung his trap on Ross.
* FailedASpotCheck: The troopers, who don't give the people in the diner physical examinations to ensure they're all human.
* FairPlayWhodunit: It's possible to deduce who the Martian is if you follow the clues and ignore the RedHerring.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Avery singles out Ross as the "most suspicious of the bunch", and asks him if he has an eye on the back of his head. Haley himself turns out to have a third eye, albeit in the middle of his forehead. He even tells the state troopers to "check under their coats" for [[WingedHumanoid wings]]. Had they done so, they would have discovered Ross had a third arm.
** Olmstead the bus driver expresses concern that the bridge on the road up ahead is very weak and prone to collapsing.
* HeKnowsTooMuch: Ross has the troopers and bus passengers killed since they know about the presence of a Martian on Earth.
* HumanAliens: How Ross is able to blend in with the group. He looks just like the humans, aside from his third arm. Haley qualifies as well, being a Venusian with a third eye that he conveniently covers with his hat.
* HumansAreMorons: The aliens easily succeeded in making the humans [[GullibleLemmings kill themselves like lemmings]] with misinformation and illusory tricks.
* ItsASmallWorldAfterAll: A Martian comes to Earth and finds himself stuck in a diner owned by an undercover Venusian.
* KilledOffscreen: The state troopers and the bus passengers are killed when the bridge collapses, dropping their vehicles into the freezing river. Ross is the only one who survives.
* KlingonsLoveShakespeare: Ross thinks that cigarettes taste wonderful, especially since they don't have anything like them on Mars. It also seems that Martians and Venusians both enjoy human music.
* LanguageEqualsThought: Implied by Ross, shortly before revealing he's a Martian. After revealing that the bus and police car crashed into the river and only he got out, Haley asks Ross why his clothes aren't wet. Ross doesn't understand what the word "wet" means.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: TV commercials and other ads for marathons of the show often feature the WhamShot of Haley removing his cap and revealing his third eye, giving away the episode's biggest twist.
* MasterOfIllusion: Ross boasts to Haley that the weird goings on in the diner were all his doing; he also created the fake phone call that ultimately allowed him to make his escape out from under the eyes of the troopers.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: As a Martian, Ross has three arms, and he's responsible for the deaths of nine people.
* MsFanservice: Ethel [=McConnell=], the professional dancer.
* OhCrap: Ross's expression after Haley tells him that his Martian friends aren't coming, then takes off his cap to reveal a third eye.
* PopCulturePunEpisodeTitle: The episode's title comes from the famous "Will the Real X Please Stand Up" from ''Series/ToTellTheTruth''.
* TheReveal: Two for the price of one. Ross reveals himself to be the Martian, before Haley reveals himself to be a Venusian.
* RewatchBonus: Once you know that Ross is the Martian, you can keep track of him making subtle tells whenever he causes a disruption.
* ShipTease: Olmstead and Ethel. Sadly, they fall to their deaths before a relationship develops.
* TakeMeToYourLeader: Avery says this to the diner's jukebox when it spontaneously starts playing music.
* {{Technopath}}: As a Martian, Ross has the ability to control Earthly technology, turning both the jukebox and the lights in the Hi-Way Cafe off and on. He describes it as a mere parlor trick.
* TenLittleMurderVictims: A group of bus travellers gather at a diner, but one of them is an alien. It's subverted later as there actually ''was'' an alien among them, but there was also a second alien who was onto the first one the whole time.
* TomatoSurprise: When Ross returns from the bus accident to reveal himself as the Martian and gloat about his victory, "Haley" the cook springs a surprise on him (and the audience) by revealing himself to be a Venusian.
* VisibleBoomMic: During the discussion between Ross and Haley, as Haley says, "And I agree with you about what they call music," a shadow from an overhead boom mike (on Haley's hat) moves slightly.
* WhamLine: Haley drops this bombshell at the end of the episode:
->'''Haley''': I don't mind. I have to do a little waiting myself. You see, Mr. Ross, my name isn't Haley. And I do agree with you that this is an extraordinary place to colonize. We folks on Venus got the same idea.
* YouAreTooLate: Ross was assigned to spy on humankind so the Martians could wipe them out and move in to colonize Earth. In the end, it turns out that Haley was given the same mission on behalf of the Venusians, who are already [[ItsBeenDone doing the same thing]] and intercepted the Martians. It is unknown what Ross's fate is, but given that he exposed himself to an enemy, it's possible that Haley will have Ross killed, much like how [[KarmicDeath Ross handled the humans, the original inhabitants of planet Earth]].
----
->'''Creator/RodSerling''': "Incident on a small island, to be believed or disbelieved. However, if a sour-faced dandy named Ross or a big, good-natured counterman who handles a spatula as if he'd been born with one in his mouth, – if either of these two entities walk onto your premises, you'd better hold their hands – all three of them – or check the color of their eyes – all three of them. The gentlemen in question might try to pull you in – to the Twilight Zone."

* KilledOffscreen: The state troopers and the the bus passengers are killed when the bridge collapses, dropping their vehicles into the freezing river. Ross is the only one who survives.

* TheReveal: Two for the price of one. Ross reveals himself to be the Martian, before Haley ireveals himself to be a Venusian.

Two state troopers respond to a call of an alien UFO landing in a remote area in the woods. The trail left by the alien leads them to a nearby diner, where they find a group of bus travellers: two married couples; Ethel, a professional dancer; a sour-faced businessman named Ross, Olmstead the bus driver, and one crazy old man named Avery. The problem is that while seven people entered with Olmstead, the bus driver is ''certain'' there were only ''six'' passengers before they arrived at the diner. The mystery begins, as the policemen have to find the alien among the travelers. Suspicion grows among the group as strange things start to happen in the diner.

* AffablyEvil: Despite being an alien imperialist from Venus, Haley is shown to be actually quite friendly and cordial with his Earthling guests with no instance of hidden malice. He's not so friendly and cordial with the Martian Ross, though.
* AlienAmongUs: The object of the story. A Martian spy is hiding amongst of group of people in a diner, and the two policemen have to find it. The TomatoSurprise ending reveals that there was another alien there ''the entire time'' -- a ''Venusian''.
* AliensAreBastards: Imperialists, to be precise.
* AlienInvasion: Ross's real goal, he was sent as an area scout for the Martians to create a Martian colony on the Earth. But the big twist is when Haley ''reveals himself to be a Venusian''. Haley informs Ross that the Venusians have already beaten them to the punch and the Martians have been intercepted. An alien colony is happening on Earth, but it's from ''Venus''.
* AliensStealCable: The cops try asking the passengers questions about recent events in United States history to see if they're human. Avery immediately [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] what they're doing and jokes that it doesn't matter, as the aliens are likely using technology to spy on Earth's radio and television transmissions.
* ArbitrarySkepticism: Ross the businessman who finds the idea of a Martian among the group ridiculous, even when strange things are happening. It turns out Ross is the Martian and he caused the strange happenings to throw away suspicions.
* BeneathSuspicion: Ethel points out that the couples can be taken off the suspect list, as there's only ''one'' extra passenger in the room. Unfortunately, both couples begin to believe that their respective spouses have been [[KillAndReplace replaced]] by alien spies.
** On a more narrative level, Ethel herself is the only member of the group who is never treated as a genuine lead for the Martian: she's the most cooperative with the cops, takes the investigation seriously, and tries to use logic to rule people out. Olmstead the bus driver also offers her an alibi when he remarks that, while he largely didn't pay attention to the passengers as they boarded, he [[HeadTurningBeauty definitely noticed her]].
* BizarreAlienBiology: Ross the Martian, has a third arm. Haley is a Venusian, with a [[ExtraEyes third eye]].

* TheButlerDidIt: A subversion. Ross, one of the people from the bus, was TheMole, but Haley the diner cook who served them all and remained very much in the background throughout the story was also an enemy alien from a different planet, and was two steps ahead of Ross the whole time.
* CloudCuckooLander: Avery. He may or may not be the alien, but he's definitely eccentric and stands out among the group.

* CreepyRedHerring: Avery is the most suspicious member of the group, and seems to be deliberately goading everyone by making off-color jokes and mentioning science-fiction tropes in conversation. He also has wild eyes, an unhinged voice, and a generally unsettling demeanor. But he's not the alien, just a {{troll}} who enjoys teasing people.
* TheCuckooLanderWasRight: Avery is the one who hints at the businessman "Ross" as the Martian. He was right.
* DidntSeeThatComing: As the official episode book of the show nicely puts it "The real Martian has stood up...only to have the rug pulled out from under him."
* DirtyOldMan: Avery hits on Ethel when she mentions she is a professional dancer.

* TheDogWasTheMastermind: Haley the cook, who was quite literally in the background for most of the episode, turns out to be an alien himself. This trope was used in a literal sense in the original short story the episode was adapted from, as the Martian turned out to be the dog the diner's owner was keeping as a pet, but the writers decided to play fairer with the audience and used a second alien as the twist instead.
** [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] earlier in the episode by Avery, who points out that the bus driver himself could be the Martian--none of the passengers acknowledged him as they boarded, so it's just as likely that he wasn't there at all.
* DownerEnding: Humans are being wiped out into extinction by Venusians (and one Martian) who want to take over Earth as their new home world.
* DrivingQuestion: Six passengers got on the bus but seven entered the diner. Which of them is the Martian?
* DroppedABridgeOnHim: Or dropped them off a bridge in this case. After the guests and the state troopers leave the diner, the bridge on the road up ahead collapses, dropping all of them to their doom. Besides Ross, who mysteriously survives to tell the tale.
* DudeNotFunny: Avery asks if the bus driver wasn't replaced by an alien. The [[DelayedReaction driver laughs for a bit]] until he frowns.
* EvilVersusEvil: Haley vs. Ross. Specifically, Mars vs. Venus (and Venus won).
* EvilLaugh: Haley breaks out into a sinister laugh once he reveals how he sprung his trap on Ross.
* FailedASpotCheck: The troopers for not doing a thorough body check on everyone in the diner to ensure they're all human.

** Avery points out Ross as the "most suspicious of the bunch" and asks him if he has an eye on the back of his head. Haley turns out to have a third eye, though in the middle of his forehead. He even tells the state troopers to "check under their coats" for [[WingedHumanoid wings]]. Had they done so, they would have discovered Ross' third arm.
** Olmstead the bus driver expresses concern that the bridge up ahead from the diner is very weak and prone to collapsing.
* HeKnowsTooMuch: Ross has the state troopers and bus passengers killed since they know about the presence of a Martian.
* HumanAliens: How the Martian is able to blend in with the group. He looks just like the humans, Well, besides his third arm. Haley qualifies as well, being a Venusian with a third eye that he conveniently covers with his hat.
* HumansAreMorons: The aliens easily succeeded in making the real humans [[GullibleLemmings kill themselves like lemmings]] with misinformation and illusory tricks.
* ItsASmallWorldAfterAll: An alien from Mars comes to Earth and finds himself at a diner owned by an undercover alien from Venus.
* KilledOffscreen: The state troopers and the the bus riders are killed later when the bridge collapses, dropping all of them into the freezing river. Ross is the only one who survives.
* KlingonsLoveShakespeare: Ross thinks cigarettes taste wonderful, especially since they don't have anything like them on Mars. It also seems Martians and Venusians both enjoy human music.
* LanguageEqualsThought: Implied by Ross shortly before revealing he's a Martian. After revealing the bus and police car crashed into the river and only he got out, Haley asks why his clothes aren't wet. Ross doesn't understand what the word "wet" means.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: TV commercials and other ads for marathons of the show often feature the WhamShot of Haley removing his cook's cap and revealing his third eye, giving away the episode's biggest twist.
* MasterOfIllusion: Ross boasts to Haley that the weird goings on in the diner was his doing; he also created the fake phone call that ultimately allowed him to make his escape from under the eyes of the troopers.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: As a Martian, Ross has three arms, and he's responsible for the deaths of the state troopers and everyone on the bus.
* MsFanservice: Ethel [=McConnell=]. She's a professional dancer.
* OhCrap: Ross's expression after Haley tells him his friends aren't coming and lifts off his cap to reveal his third eye.

* TheReveal: Two for the price of one! Ross reveals himself to be the Martian, before Haley is revealed to be a Venusian.
* ShipTease: The driver and Ethel. Sadly they fall to their deaths before any relationship might develop.
* TakeMeToYourLeader: Avery says this to the Hi-Way Cafe jukebox that had spontaneously started playing music while police officers are searching for an alien.
* {{Technopath}}: The Martian Ross has the ability to control technology, turning both the jukebox and the lights in the Hi-Way Cafe off and on. He describes it as a parlor trick.
* TenLittleMurderVictims: A group of bus travellers gather at a diner. One of them is an alien. Subverted later as there actually was a mole, but there was another enemy alien, who was onto the mole the whole time.
* TomatoSurprise: When Ross returns from the bus accident to reveal himself as the Martian and gloat about his victory, "Haley" the diner cook springs a surprise on him (and the audience), revealing himself to be a Venusian.
* VisibleBoomMic: During the discussion between the businessman Ross and the counterman Haley, as Haley says, "And I agree with you about what they call music," a shadow from an overhead boom mike (on Haley's hat) moves slightly.

->'''Haley''': I don't mind. I have to do a little waiting myself. You see, Mr. Ross. My name isn't Haley. And I do agree with you that this is an extraordinary place to colonize. We folks on Venus got the same idea.
* YouAreTooLate: Martians move to colonize on Earth by eliminating the humans, only in the end it turns out Venusians are already [[ItsBeenDone doing the same thing]] and eliminated the Martians. It is unknown what Ross's fate is, but given that Haley caught him, it's possible that Haley will have Ross killed off much like how [[KarmicDeath Ross handled the humans, the original inhabitants of planet Earth]].

Two state troopers respond to a call of an alien UFO landing in a remote area in the woods. The trail left by the alien leads them to a nearby diner, where they find a group of bus travellers: two married couples; Ethel, a professional dancer; a sour-faced businessman named Ross, Olmstead the bus driver, and one crazy old man named Avery. The mystery begins, as the policemen have to find the alien among the travelers. Suspicion grows among the group as strange things start to happen in the diner.

* EvilVsEvil: Haley vs. Ross. Specifically, Mars vs. Venus (and Venus won).

* AffablyEvil: Despite being an alien imperialist from Venus, Haley is shown to be actually quite friendly and cordial with his Earthling guests. He's not so friendly and cordial with the Martian Ross, though.

* HarsherInHindsight: Ross loves the taste of cigarettes. John Hoyt, the actor who played him, died of lung cancer.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/JackElam as Avery.

* TheDogWasTheMastermind: Haley the cook, who was quite literally in the background for most of the episode, turns out to be an alien himself.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Jack Elam as Avery.

* TheDogWasTheMastermind: Haley the cook, who was quite literally in the background for most of the episode, turns out to be an alien himself, and a BiggerBad than Ross the Martian.

Two state troopers respond to a call of an alien UFO landing in a remote area in the woods. The trail left by the alien leads them to a nearby diner, where they find a group of bus travellers. Two married couples; Ethel, a professional dancer; a sour-faced businessman named Ross, Olmstead the bus driver, and one crazy old man named Avery. The mystery begins, as the policemen have to find the alien among the travelers. Suspicion grows among the group as strange things start to happen in the diner.

* BeneathSuspicion: Ethel points out that the couples can be taken off the suspect list, as they can verify that they boarded the bus together. Unfortunately, both couples begin to suspect that their respective spouses have been [[KillAndReplace replaced]] by alien spies.
** On a more narrative level, Ethel herself is the only member of the group who is never treated as a genuine lead for the Martian: she's the most cooperative with the cops, takes the investigation seriously, and tries to use logic to rule people out. Olmstead the bus driver also offers her an alibi when he remarks that, while he largely didn't pay attention to the passengers as they boarded, he ''did'' [[HeadTurningBeauty notice her]].

* MasterOfIllusion: Ross boasts to Haley that the weird goings on in the diner was his doing, he also created the fake phone call that ultimately allowed him to make his escape from under the eyes of the troopers.

* ContrivedCoincidence: An alien from Mars comes to Earth, and finds himself at a diner owned by an alien from Venus.

* DrivingQuestion: Six people got on the bus but seven entered the diner. Which of them is the Martian?

Two state troopers respond to a call of an alien UFO landing in a remote area in the woods. The trail left by the alien leads them to a nearby diner, where they find a group of bus travellers. Two married couples, Ethel, a professional dancer, a sour-faced businessman named Ross, the bus driver, and one crazy old man named Avery. The mystery begins, as the policemen have to find the alien among the travellers. Suspicion grows among the group as strange things start to happen in the diner.

* DrivingQuestion: Six people got on the bus and seven got off. Which of them is the Martian?

* HumansAreMorons: The aliens easily succeeded in making the real humans [[GullibleLemmings kill themselves like lemmings]] with misinformation and illusional tricks.

* TheButlerDidIt: A subversion. Ross, one of the people from the bus, was TheMole, but Haley the diner cook the who served them all and remained very much in the background throughout the story was also an enemy alien from a different planet, and was two steps ahead of Ross the whole time.

[[caption-width-right:350:A mysterious Martian mystery.]]

* YouAreTooLate: Martians move to colonize on Earth by eliminating the humans, only in the end it turns out Venusians are already [[ItsBeenDone doing the same thing]] and eliminated the Martians.

* RetroactiveRecognition: “Creator/Jack Elam” as Avery.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/Jack Elam as Avery.