History Recap / TheTwilightZoneS3E81NothingInTheDark

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tz_nothing_in_the_dark.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Harold and Wanda.]]

->'''Creator/RodSerling:''' An old woman living in a nightmare, an old woman who has fought a thousand battles with death and always won. Now, she's faced with a grim decision -- whether or not to open a door. And in some strange and frightening way, she knows that this seemingly ordinary door leads to The Twilight Zone.

Air date: January 5, 1962

Wanda Dunn (veteran stage actress Creator/GladysCooper), a decrepitly-old woman, refuses to leave her dark and seemingly-abandoned basement apartment because she's afraid "Mr. Death" is waiting for her outside. When an altercation soon arises outside, Wanda peeks out fearfully. A young police officer, Harold Beldon (Creator/RobertRedford), is lying outside the door, grievously wounded after being shot. After much convincing, Wanda finally opens the door and brings him in. Harold talks to her about her fear of dying, and she tells him she has already seen Death before. She remembers how he took the form of a man, and witnessed him taking the life of a woman on a bus just by touching her. Wanda has been terrified of Death coming for her ever since.

There is a knock at the door, and a man (R.G. Armstrong) breaks into the apartment, knocking Wanda out in the process. When she comes to, the man apologizes for the disturbance and explains that he's a building contractor, set to demolish the building in one hour. He indicates that she has been given due notice and ample time to move, but if she refuses, he will have to call the police to forcibly escort her from the premises. She protests and asks Harold for help, but the contractor can't see Harold. Wanda looks in the mirror and sees the bed where Harold is lying, but not Harold himself. She realizes that Harold he is in fact Death, finally coming to claim her.

As the contractor leaves, Death explains that he set up the elaborate ruse just to get her to trust him, so she could understand that he's nothing to be scared of. At first, Wanda is livid and claims that it's not fair that he tricked her. But rather than being a monster, she is talked out of her hatred for Death when she sees him as actually being a gentle deliverer. As he asks for her hand, Wanda grabs onto him. Before she even realizes anything has changed, Wanda finds herself standing beside her own dead body. Having been cured of her fears and realizing that the end of life doesn't bring with it all sorts of horrors, Wanda and Death walk together hand in hand through the doorway and out into the sunlight.

----
!!Nothing in the Tropes:
* AnAesop: Don't let the fear of mortality ruin your chances of enjoying life to the fullest. When Death ''does'' come, just remember, there's nothing to be afraid of, as dying is just the next phase of life.
* BatmanGambit: Death pretends to be a mortally wounded policeman named Harold who begs Wanda for help. When she falls for it, he tells her that it was a ploy to get close enough to Wanda and help her understand that he isn't something to be scared of.
* BittersweetEnding: Wanda finally dies, but she goes without regret, as she's learned learning that Death is nothing to be afraid of.
* BottleEpisode: Many ''Twilight Zone'' episodes were made pretty cheaply, but this has to be one of the all-time examples, featuring only one set and three speaking parts.
* DarkIsNotEvil: Death is described as this, if one takes the second layer of meaning to the contractor's words. He exists not to cause destruction, but to allow new things to grow, to remove the tired and worn out, and finally allow them rest.
* DontFearTheReaper: Death is actually a very gentle person, even willing to take time out of his ''really'' busy job just to make sure that Wanda's passing isn't unnecessarily traumatizing.
* DoubleMeaning: Though unintentional on the contractor's part, his speech about how his job is to destroy old buildings so new ones can be built and society can continue to prosper mirrors Death's true purpose: neither are evil, but they're needed to allow the world to continue.
* GlamourFailure: "Harold" is revealed to be Death when Wanda [[MissingReflection looks in the mirror and sees nothing]], not even a shape holding up the blanket he's underneath.
* InvisibleToNormals: The revelation that the contractor can't see Harold leads Wanda to realize that he is actually Death.
* IWasQuiteALooker: Wanda grows reflective and thinks about her life before she spent all her time in a basement, saying "I was young once. People said I was pretty."
* LivingIsMoreThanSurviving: Death's lesson to Wanda, and to the viewers. Wanda fears Death so much that she shut herself away in her dark basement apartment, trying to be content on just surviving. As Death notes, this isn't the same as living in the warm sunlight.
* MinimalistCast: The episode has only three characters.
* MirrorCharacter: Death and his true purpose are not so different from those of demolition contractors, such as the one who visits Wanda. The speech he gives [[DoubleMeaning mirrors them perfectly]].
* MortalityPhobia: Wanda saw Death only once, but she became so frightened of dying that she shut herself up in her apartment and stayed there well into old age, refusing to let anyone else inside out of fear that they could be Death.
* NiceGuy: "Harold" and the contractor. The former, Death himself, exists so the old and weary can rest and the newer and younger can take their places.
* NothingIsScarier: Death says what actually Wanda fears isn't him specifically, but rather the unknown happenings that come when he visits and takes her away.
* ProperlyParanoid: Wanda fears that Harold might be Death, trying to trick her to allow him to do his work with her. She's right, but Death is a lot [[NiceGuy nicer and more gentlemanly]] than she believes him to be.
* {{Psychopomp}}: Harold is literally Death incarnate, but he's far from malicious.
* TitleDrop: During the closing narration.
* TouchOfDeath: Wanda has [[TheShutIn kept herself isolated for years]] out of fear of Death taking her away.
----
->'''Rod Serling:''' There was an old woman who lived in a room, and, like all of us, was frightened of the dark. But who discovered in a minute last fragment of her life, that there was [[TitleDrop nothing in the dark]] that wasn't there when the lights were on. Object lesson for the more frightened amongst us, in or out of The Twilight Zone.
----

Wanda Dunn (veteran stage actress Gladys Cooper), a decrepitly-old woman, refuses to leave her dark and seemingly-abandoned basement apartment because she's afraid "Mr. Death" is waiting for her outside. When an altercation soon arises outside, Wanda peeks out fearfully. A young police officer, Harold Beldon (Creator/RobertRedford), is lying outside the door, grievously wounded after being shot. After much convincing, Wanda finally opens the door and brings him in. Harold talks to her about her fear of dying, and she tells him she has already seen Death before. She remembers how he took the form of a man, and witnessed him taking the life of a woman on a bus just by touching her. Wanda has been terrified of Death coming for her ever since.

->'''Creator/RodSerling''': An old woman living in a nightmare, an old woman who has fought a thousand battles with death and always won. Now, she's faced with a grim decision -- whether or not to open a door. And in some strange and frightening way, she knows that this seemingly ordinary door leads to The Twilight Zone.

->'''Rod Serling''': There was an old woman who lived in a room, and, like all of us, was frightened of the dark. But who discovered in a minute last fragment of her life, that there was nothing in the dark that wasn't there when the lights were on. Object lesson for the more frightened amongst us, in or out of The Twilight Zone.

As the contractor leaves, Death explains that he set up the elaborate ruse just to get her to trust him, so she could understand that he's nothing to be scared of. At first, Wanda is livid and claims that it's not fair that he tricked her. But rather than being a monster, she is talked out of her hatred for Death when she sees him as actually being a gentle deliverer. As he asks for her hand, Wanda grabs onto him. She is finally convinced to touch him. Before she even realizes anything has changed, Wanda finds herself standing beside her own dead body. Having been cured of her fears and realizing that the end of life doesn't bring with it all sorts of horrors, Wanda and Death walk together hand in hand through the doorway and out into the sunlight.

A lonely old woman, Wanda Dunn (veteran stage actress Gladys Cooper), refuses to leave her dark and seemingly-abandoned basement apartment, because she's afraid "Mr. Death" is waiting for her outside. There is an altercation outside; Wanda peeks out fearfully. A young man at the door is lying on the ground. It's police officer Harold Beldon (Creator/RobertRedford), and he has been shot. After much convincing, Wanda finally opens the door and brings him in. Harold talks to her about her fear, and she tells him she has seen Death before in the form of a man, and witnessed him taking the life of a woman on a bus just by touching her. Wanda has been afraid of Death ever since.

Then there is a knock at the door, a man (R.G. Armstrong) breaks into her apartment, and Wanda is knocked out. When she comes to consciousness, the man apologizes and explains he is a building contractor, who is to demolish the building within one hour; he indicates that she has been given due notice and ample time to move. If she will not leave, he will call the police to escort her forcibly from the premises. She protests and asks Harold for help, but the contractor can't see Harold. Wanda looks in the mirror and sees only the bed where Harold is lying, but not Harold himself. She realizes that he is in fact Death, come to claim her.

After the contractor leaves, Death explains that he set up the elaborate ruse to get her to trust him, so she could understand that Death itself is nothing to be scared of. At first, she is very angry and claims that it's not fair, as he had tricked her. But rather than being a monster, she eventually sees him as a gentle deliverer. He says, "Mother, give me your hand." She is finally convinced to touch him. "You see. No shock. No engulfment. No tearing asunder. What you feared would come like an explosion is like a whisper. What you thought was the end is the beginning."

Before she even realizes anything has changed, she finds herself standing beside her own dead body. Wanda and Death walk together hand in hand through the doorway, up the stairs, outside into the sunlight.

* AnAesop: Don't let fear of mortality ruin your chances of enjoying your life to the fullest. And when death does come, just remember, there's [[TitleDrop nothing in the dark]] to be afraid of. Death is after all the next phase of life.
* BatmanGambit: Death must play possum and pretend to be a mortally wounded officer pleading for help to get close enough to Wanda and help her understand he isn't something to be scared of.
* BittersweetEnding: Wanda dies at the end, but she goes without regrets upon learning that death is nothing to be afraid of.
* BottleEpisode: Many ''Twilight Zone'' episodes were made pretty cheaply, but this has to be one of the all-time examples, featuring only one set (the basement apartment) and three speaking parts.
* DarkIsNotEvil: Death, if one takes the second layer of meaning to the contractor's words, is described as this. He exists not to cause destruction but to allow for new things to grow, to remove the tired and worn out and allow them rest.
* DontFearTheReaper: He's actually a very gentle person, even willing to take time out of what must be a pretty busy job just to make sure that an old woman's passing isn't unnecessarily traumatizing.
* DoubleMeaning: Though unintentional on the contractor's part, his speech about his job to destroy old buildings to allow for new ones and for society to continue to prosper mirrors Death's true purpose: Neither are evil, but needed to allow the world to continue.
* GlamourFailure: "Harold" is revealed when Wanda [[MissingReflection looks into the mirror and she sees nothing]], not even some shape holding up the blanket "Harold" is underneath.
* InvisibleToNormals: The revelation that the contractor can't see Harold leads Wanda to realize that he is Death.
* IWasQuiteALooker: Wanda starts getting reflective and thinking about her life before she lived in terror in a basement. "I was young once. People said I was pretty."
* LivingIsMoreThanSurviving: Death's final lesson to Wanda, and to the viewers, is this concept. Wanda fears Death so much, she shut herself away in her dark apartment, trying to be content on just surviving, but, as Death notes, that isn't the same as living in the warm sunlight.

* MirrorCharacter: Mr. Death and his true purpose are not so different from those of demolition contractors and specially the one that shows up. The speech he gives [[DoubleMeaning mirrors them perfectly]].
* MortalityPhobia: Wanda sees Death and becomes so frightened of dying that she shuts herself up in her apartment and remains there into her old age, refusing to let anyone else inside.
* NiceGuy: "Harold" and the contractor are both this, Harold specially.
* NothingIsScarier: Death says what Wanda fears isn't him, but rather the unknown that is to come when he visits her and takes her away.
* ProperlyParanoid: Wanda fears Harold might be Death trying to trick her to allow him entry. She's right. Mind you, Mr. Death is a lot [[NiceGuy nicer and gentlemanly]] than she believes him to be.
* {{Psychopomp}}: Harold is literally Death Incarnate.

* TouchOfDeath: Wanda has [[TheShutIn kept herself isolated for years]] out of fear of this.

->'''Rod Serling''': There was an old woman who lived in a room and, like all of us, was frightened of the dark, but who discovered in a minute last fragment of her life, that there was nothing in the dark that wasn't there when the lights were on. Object lesson for the more frightened amongst us, in or out of The Twilight Zone.
----

When there is a knock at the door, a man (R.G. Armstrong) breaks into her apartment and Wanda is knocked out. When she comes to consciousness, the man apologizes and explains he is a building contractor but that he is to demolish the building within one hour; he indicates that she has been given due notice and ample time to move. If she will not leave, he will call the police to escort her forcibly from the premises. She protests and asks Harold for help, but the contractor can't see Harold. Wanda looks in the mirror and sees only the bed where Harold is lying, but not Harold himself. She realizes that he is in fact Death, come to claim her.

A lonely old woman, Wanda Dunn (veteran stage actress Gladys Cooper), refuses to leave her dark and seemingly-abandoned basement apartment, because she's afraid "Mr. Death" is waiting for her outside. There is an altercation outside; Wanda peeks out fearfully. A young man at the door is lying on the ground. It's police officer Harold Beldon (Creator/RobertRedford), and he has been shot. After much convincing, Wanda finally opens the door and brings him in. Harold talks to her about her fear and she tells him she has seen Death before in the form of a man and witnessed him taking away the life of a woman on a bus just by touching her. Wanda has been afraid of death ever since.

[[quoteright:262:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/twilight_zone_nothing_in_the_dark_8867.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:262:Harold and Wanda.]]

A lonely old woman, Wanda Dunn (veteran stage actress Gladys Cooper), refuses to leave her seemingly abandoned dark basement apartment, because she's afraid "Mr. Death" is waiting for her outside. There is an altercation outside; Wanda peeks out fearfully. A young man at the door is lying on the ground, police officer Harold Beldon (Creator/RobertRedford), and he has been shot. After much convincing, Wanda finally opens the door and brings him in. He talks to her about her fear and she tells him she has seen Death before in the form of a man and witnessed him taking away the life of a woman on a bus just by touching her. Wanda has been afraid of death ever since.

->'''Creator/RodSerling''': There was an old woman who lived in a room and, like all of us, was frightened of the dark, but who discovered in a minute last fragment of her life, that there was nothing in the dark that wasn't there when the lights were on. Object lesson for the more frightened amongst us, in or out of The Twilight Zone.

* AdultFear: [[MortalityPhobia Fear of death]] and [[NothingIsScarier what comes after dying]]. The episode's plot deals with learning that there's really nothing to be afraid of.

* ProperlyParanoid: Wanda fears Harold might be Death trying to trick her to allow him entry. She's right. Mind you, mr. Death is a lot [[NiceGuy nicer and gentlemanly]] than she believes him to be.

-->--'''Creator/LindsayEllis''': "Death is such a cinnamon roll! What a great guy to transition people out of this life and into the next."

* NotSoDifferent: Mr. Death and his true purpose are not so different from those of demolition contractors and specially the one that shows up. The speech he gives [[DoubleMeaning mirrors them perfectly]].

* Psychopomp: Harold is literally Death Incarnate.