"(? "theme from the twilight zone"?" ")" "(heartbeat)" "please be open." "it's got to be open." "shoot." "attention, shoppers." "satler's is now closed." "we're closed." "it's very important." "i'll only be a minute." "hey, no!" "wait!" "the galleria's closing, ma'am." "i know, but there's something i need to get tonight." "it'sveryimportant." "please?" "thank you." "i'll only be a minute." "i promise." "of course." "attention, shoppers." "satler's is now closed." "get everything?" "not exactly." "all clear." "copy." "the galleria is now closing." "please use the street exits." "the galleria will be open tomorrow at 9:00 a.m." "oh, god bless whoever." "galleria's closed, lady." "oh, i'll just be a minute, okay?" "i think they're closed, ma'am." "hello?" "hey, is your boss around?" "is anybody home?" "may i help you?" "yes. i'm so glad you're still here." "i thought for sure i'd blown it." "you're about the only store in the galleria still open." "how may i help you?" "i'm looking for one of those cornfield kid dolls." "i'm sure you know what i'm talking about." "they're very popular." "tell me about it." "that's all i hear out of my landlord's little girl." "that's who i want one for." "please tell me you still have one." "i do believe that we have a few left in the back for a special customer." "well, i don't know what makes somebody a special customer, but i'd really appreciate it if i could." "wait right here." "i'll get one for you." "(rustling noises)" "thank you." "(electric toy noises) hello, marsha." "you scared the life out of me!" "please forgive him." "i'm always reminding him not to disturb strangers." "do i know you?" "but the boy-- he knew my name." "you must be mistaken." "no, no. just a second ago, he said my name-- marsha." "not "marsha." he must have said "ma'am."" "apologize for disturbing the nice woman, and we'll go." "take me with you when you go." "please." "i'm ready." "excuse us." "wait. what did he mean?" "here you are, miss." "oh. that woman and that boy... who?" "there was a woman and a boy here." "they've got to still be in the store." "this will be cash, miss?" "yeah." "my landlord's kid is going to do a backflip." "it's the least i can do for them." "i moved in a month ago." "i didn't have the first month's rent." "i didn't even have a job." "he gave me the place anyway, and he gave me a lead on the job i got." "he's been a real doll." "so you've enjoyed this past month." "oh, yeah." "new place, new job, new friends." "(rustling noises)" "would you mind hurrying?" "of course." "it was important to you that you pick up the doll tonight, wasn't it?" "oh, very. jennifer's birthday is on saturday." "but this is wednesday." "why do you suppose it was so important that you've come for the doll tonight?" "i don't know." "um... i was sitting at home reading, and then, all of a sudden, i felt like i had to come to the mall tonight." "ihadto get it tonight." "but why?" "i don't know." "i suppose your life this past month hasn't been at all like your life before, has it?" "what do you mean?" "what was your life like before this past month?" "for example, where are you from?" "what?" "tell me." "are you from california?" "or new york?" "or tennessee?" "well, i'm from... um... i don't remember." "do you have any identification?" "i have my temporary employee card from work." "no driver's license?" "no social security card?" "i just applied when i got the job." "what are your parents' names?" "do you have any brothers or sisters?" "where did you go to school?" "why are you doing this to me?" "you don't remember, do you?" "remember what?" "my name is marsha cole, and i live at..." "artesia apartments and i work for saratoga thrift and loan." "but that has all happened in the past month, hasn't it?" "yes, but i don't see what that has to do with anything." "where were you before this past month, marsha?" "why are you doing this to me?" "think, marsha." "think." "would you mind?" "how are you, marsha?" "don't run, marsha!" "oh, no!" "no!" "marsha!" "marsha." "marsha!" "oh, help me!" "no!" "oh!" "(mysterious voices:) marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "no!" "no!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "no!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "don't be afraid, marsha." "think. think hard." "try to remember." "marsha!" "marsha!" "what do you want from me?" "get away from me!" "don't you come near me!" "marsha, open the door." "come on, marsha." "marsha!" "marsha. marsha. marsha." "open the door." "marsha. marsha." "no!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha." "let me out!" "please let me go home!" "give up, dear." "there's no use running yourself ragged." "marsha, you look so tired." "marsha." "marsha." "please, marsha." "let me out." "please let me out." "let me go home." "marsha." "please, marsha, stop running." "what do you want from me?" "we want you to think." "to remember." "i don't want to think." "i want to go home." "marsha... youarehome." "what is the matter with you?" "i'm a mannequin." "we all are." "no!" "mannequins:" "marsha!" "marsha!" "help!" "help, security!" "help, anybody!" "help!" "don't be afraid." "marsha, we're all mannequins, and so are you." "marsha!" "oh, my leg!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha... we've been waiting for you." "we want you back, marsha." "we want you back." "don't be afraid." "it won't hurt." "come home, marsha." "marsha." "stop this, marsha." "we missed you, marsha." "please." "don't be afraid." "marsha." "marsha!" "marsha!" "marsha, welcome back." "don't fight it, marsha." "you had your turn to go out and experience the real world for a month." "now it's someone else's turn." "it's only fair." "he's right." "no!" "welcome to the galleria." "all of our shops are now open for business." "we will be open until 9:00 tonight." "we'd like to remind our shoppers that the galleria offers three hours of free parking." "imagine standing forever still, unable to act, to speak, to touch a reassuring hand." "if you were released from such a fate, even for a while, wouldn't you hope to forget that, in reality, you're only on a short leave of absence... from the twilight zone." "(laughter and giggling) okay, so he's cute, but i bet he smells like a french fry!" "that's funny." "what?" "the trash." "i could have swore... okay, never mind." "never mind." "all right, where is it?" "my mug." "kathy... what is it now?" "my mug-- the mug i keep my pencils in-- it's gone." "so is the trash." "and why's this on my desk?" "it's your political science book, isn't it?" "i know what itis." "after the last test grade, i wasn't sure." "come on, there's nothing to get upset about." "so you're sloppy." "it's not a capital offense." "my mother loses her car keys twice a day." "well, i don't!" "and i'm not sloppy... (rustling)" "what are you doing?" "what is it?" "there's someone in the closet." "the white-out burglar." "come on, jen, give me a break." "this is getting out of hand." "there's no one in the closet." "here, look for yourself." "see?" "no one. nothing." "it's just... whoa." "you're not jennifer templeton." "not me." "her." "i don't believe it." "just give her the mug back, and let's get out of here." "right." "i'm sorry for the intrusion." "we didn't mean to disturb you." "not so damned fast." "i'm sorry... madame president, i mean... will you shut up and jump." "now!" "ow, damn it!" "i'm really sorry about the mug." "we weren't supposed to take anything you'd miss." "the first president of earth and she's practically in tears." "god knows what effect this will have on the timestream." "and if you go back to see cleopatra again don't bother coming home." "keep your hands off that." "let him go, kath." "thank you." "i know now why they called you the great peacemaker." "well, i'm history." "it's been nice meeting you, madame president." "jenny, what's going on here?" "i'm not sure." "but i think i better quit cutting political science."