Atomic Irony -- 2 Minute Twilight Zone -- Time Enough At Last

Burgess Meredith stars in this triple-tragedy, one of the most irony-laden stories in the Twilight Zone franchise (and that's saying a lot!).
Henry Bemis is an adamant reader of books, newspapers, and anything else he can get his hands on. However, his wife won't let him read at home, and his boss won't allow him to read at work. Mr. Bemis is a man who can not find any time at all in his life to devote to his love of books. But when true tragedy strikes, Mr. Bemis seems to have time enough at last.

[@hankreardenfan1019]

This is just sad. All the poor guy wanted was to read. Poor man's abused by everyone around him, and when it seems like he's finally going to read, his glasses break. His reaction is just heartbreaking to watch.

[@geor67]

True irony. He has all of the books he can read, but his glasses break and since he is the only one left standing, he won't be able to read because he can't see. I felt really sad for him.

[@Randomperson-rc5eu]

I still can't sleep because I feel bad

[@spiff8862]

Well... Mr. Beemis would have had a week or so to live with the amount of Nuclear Radiation in the air, so don't feel too bad for him... I saw this episode when it first aired in 1959. I was seven, and it scared the bejeezus out of me. I was SOOOOO scared my mom calmed me down by reading Dr. Suess's "Horton Hear's a Who". Oddly, the following August (1960. I'm now eight I'm years old), my sixteen year old brother took me to see "Psycho". The shower scene didnt even phase me. My favorite part of the movie... The very last scene when Marion's Ford was being pulled out of the pond! To this eight year old I thought it was SOOO Cool!

[@kyleenguyen9590]

HankReardenFan101 well he can put the glass up to one of his eyes and look at it there’s just a Chance to cut him

[@jalynnhayward5245]

KyleeNguyen do you know where verbal irony is in this episode and why it is verbal?

[@dannycozzi1681]

Twilight Zone wasn't a series of continuous plots. Every episode is a new story, which makes Rod Serling's writing that much better for being able to tell a new tale with the same elements in every show. The man was genius.

[@Tangento]

Your words are truth, but never forget that there were other equally amazing writers working on this iconic and prophetic TV anthology. Never forget the names like Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont, etc.

[@hankreardenfan1019]

I've also heard that this was supposed to be a deserving punishment - but to me it isn't. What did he did wrong?! All the poor man wanted was to have time to read his books, but he doesn't get to read anything.

[@Hektik2727]

That's not fair... That's not fair at all... There was time now... There was all the time I needed! That's not fair! That's not fair!

[@MyAngelsHalo]

I first saw this in the 7th grade. Its how I understood the meaning of irony.

[@rickygonzalez2519]

This episode made me get a extra eyeglasses because it scared.

[@xXdeathisanilusionXx]

this two minute version is so perfectly cut together

[@iDesacabosei]

This is one of those things that can make a grown man cry...*tear*

[@spider-boi-2189]

I feel really bad for him in this episode

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

the thing tho that doesnt work is if hes near sighted he could totally read the books but i assume they want us to assume he isnt or whoever made this episode doesnt know how glasses works lol

[@josephfrechette9916]

-Watch my playlists- he was so near sighted it was even hard to read without glasses. He was legally blind without them.

[@dafrog491]

Time to train Rocky.

[@einsteindrieu]

I don't think the word Bitch was invented back then !

[@noahwilliams8996]

There's a parallel universe where this man actually exists and is crying right now and there's nothing we can do to help him. :(

[@PoliteSir]

Probably not.

[@rangerbradchaplin]

One of the best episodes

[@FmAFrEaK1000]

Quick!get the gun before your hands fall off!

[@kevinswamp7140]

luckily he can loot a store that sells his glasses, it will take him awhile but he will find them, he has blurred vision, not blindness. or he can collect enough broken pieces of his glasses to make a temporary monical.

[@Spaced92]

According to my parent when I asked about it as a kid, it didn't work that way back then, you had to order them or something.

[@EnricoVanDamBamBam]

Fate did him a favor. Radiation poisoning would have cured him of his fetish for reading books.

[@hankreardenfan1019]

I don't think that even radiation poisoning would stop him.

[@hanniffydinn6019]

This ep is seared in my memory. I think now, maybe he would be able to find an opticians in that town.....🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤡🤡🤡🤡🌍🌍🌍🌍

[@ryne8034]

that really ISN'T fair, poor guy just wanted to read some fucking books.

[@hankreardenfan1019]

Yeah I know.

[@akoden2667]

This is the most iconic one, next to the plane gremlin. My fave

[@imVexedBruh]

why are people talking about the next episode do they not know how twighlight zone works

[@Mauricejonesdrew3213]

loves this. thanks

[@kyuubibomb4467]

The Art of Conversation?!

[@shazam1205]

I think she meant social interaction

[@ruthpullis9279]

After I seen his eyeglasses full of his face and break. I have a chain around mine now because . I was always losing my glasses.

[@IamGAGEhereMEroar]

I feel bad for him :(

[@shawn-pk5fl]

dont neglect what you have when you get what you want.

[@Scripturegirl.]

My BRO IN-LAW said this was the VERY 1ST T.Z. HE SAW. :0)

[@CofyjunkyPNW]

+Scripturegirl1990 Mine, too. I've been hooked ever since. :)

[@josiaharaki7310]

Okay, so people are saying he's the victim so I'll explain why he isn't. As a person who loves reading myself, I understand his love of reading. However, he doesn't just love reading, he obsesses over it, His boss isn't cruel, he's paying him to manage a bank and he's blowing it off to read. He neglects his wife and social interaction in favor of his books leaving his wife feeling neglected. Naturally, she would eventually become embittered toward him eliminate the element that is drawing him away from her. Before the bombs fall, he runs off to read again despite his boss scolding him for blowing his work off. Finally, he barely gives any regard for the lives lost. He barely even reacts when everyone else is killed and only breaks down when his glasses break. All of this shows that he prioritizes his reading above 1. His family 2. His job 3. the welfare of others 4. Social Interactions

[@shazam1205]

Thank you for clearing this up. He was kind of a jerk wasn't he

[@hankreardenfan1019]

Would you say that about Henrietta?! His wife was abusive. He was right to ignore her.

[@joshua7801]

The show should have had the last 5 seconds revealing his wife survived just to add to the pain.

[@DaveDaShrubber]

You left out the part where seconds, minutes and hours crawl by on hands and knees.

[@mrweatherby]

Apparently not, which is a damn tragedy.

[@nobloxinroblox]

The poor old guy wants to read books. Twilight Zone should atleast make one happy ending. :L

[@SBDukes51]

i remember watching this in my 7th grade English class.. lmao

[@Skellington383]

Gosh I always feel so bad for him:( Poor guy

[@DemMedHornene]

I hate when this happens..

[@CalculusVariations99]

I refuse to get lasik, and I still wear glasses, and I make sure I have like 5 good pairs of glasses. I go to those online sites like Zenni Optical.

[@NCTStudio]

How he became the Penguin

[@einsteindrieu]

Why does it always happen when you get everything just work-in fine you brake your fuck-in glasses ?

[@jessyleppert2]

Penguin

[@mashamalinina4236]

Sooooooo sad I want to watch what happens to him in the next episode

[@nightmare2x177]

What's the name of the actor that played Henry?

[@WCWindham3]

Burgess Meridith

[@dcpigpen]

@Clemmy987 that's what i always said! he did seem to have a crazy prescription though. he could've jury rigged something together.

[@ngu0061]

saw the futurama parody of this first. now i can't stop finding it amusing when i know i'm supposed to feel sad for him.

[@ludrixte1938]

How would he have time to read if he doesn’t have food to eat?

[@rustykoehler2789]

Doesnt care about food.

[@janeemkay7484]

It's be satisfying to see the full episode. Why bother to show 2 minutes ffs. It's so frustrating!!!

[@Scripturegirl.]

NU UH, NOTHING IN THE DARK IS.!!. :0D

[@einsteindrieu]

Funny I don't remember writing this ! Good video thow,thanks TheBritishBits .

[@Scripturegirl.]

I have a FRIEND who is A BOOK WORM, AND I AM 2. :0D

[@duranmark13]

He mad