You're traveling through another dimension...
A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind, a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination.
That's the signpost up ahead.
Your next stop, the twilight zone.
Now, you listen to me, baby...
This is ace talking here... Your old loverboy, ace.
We've been together a long time, you and me, and I've been real good to you, haven't 1?
I fed you, I took care of you, gave you everything you wanted, right?
Okay. Well, I think it's about time you started paying off.
Oh, you m...
All right.
All right, sweetheart, you've had your fun.
Now let's get down to serious business.
Although, I'm warning you, you pay off, or you get out!
Only kidding, only kidding.
Kitty, another quarter.
You ought to take it easy, ace.
You're gonna blow a gasket one of these days.
That's very funny, very funny.
Wait a second.
I'll flip you double or nothing for the meal. What do you say?
You sure like to get kicked around.
Never mind what I like.
Double or nothing...
Okay.
All right, a quarter, kitty.
Do you always have to gamble...
Come on, will you, come on!
I can't keep on losing forever.
You call it.
Heads.
Hey, let me see it.
Heads. Thanks.
That's a lucky quarter.
Mind if I borrow it?
Hey!
Oh... Here's your quarter.
Thanks.
Don't mention it.
You ba...
It ain't fair, jimbo.
It just ain't fair.
Maybe your luck will change, ace.
Yeah, maybe next time, I'll get electrocuted.
Where you going?
Home and to bed. Any objections?
No, honey, I wouldn't blame you if you quit.
I can't; You owe me three months' salary.
Good night, big-time operators.
Night, kitty.
When you two going to get married?
On what?
And with what?
I got a little saved up.
You can use that.
Well, alittle ain't enough.
Girl like kitty deserves the best, and the best comes high.
Jimbo!
Jimbo!
Jimbo, there's people in there!
Come on, jimbo, lend a hand, will you?
Portrait of a man who thinks and thereby gets things done.
Mr. Jimbo cobb might be called a prime mover, a talent which has to be seen to be believed.
In just a moment, he'll show his friends and you how he keeps both feet on the ground and his head in the twilight zone.
They took them to the hospital.
They'll be okay.
The doc says it's just a few broken bones, nothing serious.
How'd you do it, jimbo?
Do what?
You know.
This business of the car up and down and then... And the sparks in the...
How, jimbo?
Come on, ace, let's forget it, huh?
All right.
All right, if you want to keep secrets.
Okay, it's your business.
Ace?
Yeah.
I'll tell you.
I can't exactly explain it, ace, but...
Well, you see...
I guess you might say it's apower I got.
I can move things around just by thinking.
What?
Well, I know it sounds stupid, but I can.
I don't know how come or why or anything, but I can.
Like since when?
Well, like since always.
I never thought there was anything special about it or anything.
I thought everybody could do it, you know, like breathing.
I guess I was wrong.
Oh, yeah...
Um, how come I never seen you doing this before?
Well, I had to give it up.
Why?
Oh, you know, it got me in a lot of trouble in school, and I started getting these real bad headaches after...
Like now.
Uh... Could you do this again?
Sure.
Like right now?
Yeah, but I...
All right, show me.
I got a headache.
Come on, come on, will you?
Come on, show me.
Come on.
Now, do something to this bed.
Go ahead.
Could you make something move that's a little smaller like a quarter maybe?
Sure. The smaller, the easier.
All right.
Give me a quarter, will you?
Now, make that come up heads.
You...
Give me a seven.
Done!
You...
Honest to...
Oh... what's the matter?
Oh, you big stupid jerk!
We've been b*ating our brains out for four years working that crummy joint.
We could've been living like kings!
We could? How?
You'll see.
Honest, when I think of all the dough that I...
Hello, kitty, kitty.
Can you get ready to go on a short trip in 10 minutes?
Never mind, I'll explain later...
But you don't have to pack.
It's a short trip, and be ready by 1:00.
All right.
$700 on number eight.
$100? Ace, that's all we've got.
Shh. Take it easy, kitty.
Eight!
Come on, give me that thing.
What's the limit?
$200.
200 on four, 200 on black, and 200 on an even.
Ace, take it easy...
Shh, please. 200 on even, black and four.
200 four, black and even.
Okay.
There we go. Time to get it back.
Four...
Black and even.
Shovel it in, kid, shovel it in.
Winner... yeah!
All right... seven again.
Get down with this lucky sh**t, folks.
Same bet, same bet.
Get down with this lucky winner, folks.
Come on, baby!
Seven... a winner, winner, winner, winner.
Come on, keep going, baby.
Seven: A winner... A frontline winner.
All right, three... Three...
Sweetheart, don't you think you ought to quit now?
Your luck's bound to change.
What do you mean, change?
Jimbo and I worked out a system.
And a two.
Double three.
There you are! Have we got a system, huh?
Ace, I got to quit.
My head's k*lling me.
Are you out of your mind...!
Okay, jimbo, okay.
Okay, we'll cash in these chips, huh?
And then you get an aspirin, and you lie down somewhere...
You'll feel 100% better.
Okay, pay off, will you?
Boy.
Cigars, cigarettes, chewing gum.
Honey, I'll have some of those.
Oh, I'm afraid I can't change a bill this size, sir.
Who asked you to?
Come on, jimbo.
Boy! Where's that... Boy?
Uh, get those boxes and be very careful with 'em.
All right, junior. Come on, jimbo.
You're gonna take it easy, feel like a million dollars.
A million dollars...
Well, this is more like it.
Oh, ace, it's gorgeous.
Beautiful!
Not bad, not bad at all.
But, ace, I don't think we should...
Forget it.
Junior, go out and buy yourself a pair of roller skates.
And, junior, uh, pick up some shaving cream, toothbrush, you know, all that jazz, huh?
Jimbo, how do you feel?
Ace, I'm tired. I got to sleep.
Sleep? What's the matter with you?
We're gonna do the town, have some fun.
We just got started. Come on.
Well, I'll see you boys in the morning.
Now, look, don't you fold up on me.
Honey, will you get him some aspirin?
Oh, yes, I've got some right here.
I'll get some water.
Come on, I'll fix your head.
There you are.
Ace?
Yeah.
I can't do it no more.
Can't do what?
It's wrong, ace. It's cheating.
Cheating's wrong.
Jimbo, you're right.
You mean it? We're gonna quit?
Sure, jimbo. We're gonna quit.
Ace, you promise?
Sure, kit, sure, after just one more time.
Come here. There you are, jimbo.
Okay? One more time? Is it okay?
Well, okay. One more time.
You take it easy and rest tonight, and tomorrow we'll fracture them.
Kitty, you and me, we're going out, and we're going to tear the town apart!
Ace, let's go home right now.
Home? What's the matter with you?
This is my big chance.
But I don't want to take it.
You've been very lucky.
Think of all the money you've won...
Enough to last you for the rest of your life.
Can't you leave well enough alone, honey?
Well, well enough isn't good enough for me.
Don't you understand?
By tomorrow, I'll have enough dough to own this state. You understand that?
The whole state.
Aceville, u.s.a.
Ace, you're sick.
Honey, I've never been healthier in my life.
I want you to know that by tomorrow night, I'll be able to get you...
Wait a minute.
Where you going?
Back home!
Look me up when you're through playing little caesar.
What's the matter with her?
You've been ignoring her all night.
Ain't very polite, ace.
Well, I've been busy.
A man should never be that busy.
Why don't you go after her?
Kitty's worth more than all the money in the world, isn't she?
Yeah. Yeah, she is.
Well, then go after her.
Kitty?
Kitty, will you be reasonable? Will you?
This is my big chance.
Are you going to gamble tomorrow?
Yes, but...
Well, goodbye then.
But, kitty...
Kitty!
Cigars? Cigarettes?
No. I don't...
Anything wrong, sir?
No.
Nothing at all.
What's your name?
Sheila.
Sheila, how would you like to quit this crummy job and work for me?
Doing what?
Spending money, hm?
Come on.
Here's a little salary in advance... a grand.
When do I start?
Right now.
We'll have a ball.
Something wrong here?
Are you the manager?
That's right.
I'd like to hire your cigarette girl for the evening. Would it be all right?
Why, yes, yes. I believe it'll be all right.
I thought it would.
Come on, sweetie.
Oh, one more thing.
Who's the biggest gambler in town?
Well, let's see...
And I mean big. No limits.
I believe mr. Nolan is visiting with us this week.
Phil nolan?
Right.
You tell phil nolan that ace wants to see him.
Ace?
Ace... Ace larsen. That's me. I live here.
Tell him to call me tomorrow, and bring plenty of lettuce...
And I mean this kind of lettuce.
Okay?
Okay.
Live a little.
We're going to tear this town apart, honey!
What do you say?
Great, but will you wait till I get dressed?
All right. But not too much.
Hello?
Yeah, he's here. Just a minute.
Who's calling?
Mr. Nolan?
Just a minute, mr. Nolan. Ace.
Come on. Leave me alone, will you?
Ace, telephone!
It's Mr. Nolan.
Nol...?
Uh... Um...
Hi, phil.
Good to hear from you, baby.
This is ace larsen.
From where?
From here. From nevada.
Now, wait a minute, phil. Wait a minute.
That's not a nice way to...
All right, so you never heard of me. You will.
Now, you listen to me, buster.
I got $200,000 in this room, and I'm hot for a game.
I'm ready to bet any part of it.
Now, of course, if the stakes is too high for you, I can always call somebody else.
Ah. Well, that's better.
All right. Room 208, right away.
And, uh... Phil, uh... Bring your friends.
Yeah.
Ace, uh... That Mr. Nolan...
He's from chicago, isn't he?
Yep.
Isn't he a gangster?
Yeah, he's a gangster. So what?
I hear he's awful mean.
What are you worrying about?
You see, when it comes to gambling, these guy have their own code of honor.
What about kitty?
I can't hear you, jimbo.
I can't hear you at all.
You larsen?
No, sir. My name's cobb.
Come on in, phil. I'm ace larsen.
Who's your friends?
Let's see the stuff.
Jimbo, he wants to see the stuff.
Well, I'm going to have some breakfast while you're counting it.
Would you want something?
Cup of coffee maybe, glass of juice.
I never gamble on a full stomach.
This is ace larsen.
I want room service, and I want... ace.
A-c-e. Ace larsen. Yeah.
Uh... Your boys want anything?
They don't eat.
They don't eat?
Okay. Suppose we start off with, uh... Oh...
Ten grand.
Ten grand?
What's the matter? Too high?
No, ten grand's fine.
Now, let's...
Suppose we play with my dice, huh?
Well, be my guest.
Happy?
Now a little natural...
A natural... and a seven it is.
Well, what do you knoww?
Starting off great.
Uh... Suppose we let it ride?
You're covered.
You know, 11 would be nice now.
Just a little old 11.
11!
Seven.
Natural!
A point.
Two fours. Two fours.
Two fours.
And two fours it is.
Some days you can't make a mistake...
Go ahead.
But remember this, larsen.
People cheat on me just once.
Understand?
Sure. Now that we got that straightened out, am I covered?
You're covered.
I guess this is my lucky day.
Hi.
Hi, sheila, baby.
You ready to take me to lake mead?
Who's the dame?
My good luck charm. My sweetheart. Any objections?
Sheila, honey, these are some friends of mine.
We're playing a little penny ante game, but stick around.
Ace, there's something I...
Now, look, this is getting to be a drag.
What do you say we separate the men from the boys, huh?
So what do you say we... We sh**t the works?
Jimbo?
What's the matter, nolan?
You're supposed to be a big operator.
You chicken?
All right, larsen.
Go ahead. sh**t the works.
You're covered.
And where's the dough?
My credit's good.
Sure, it is, phil. Sure, it is.
Lot of fun, huh, honey? Right?
Win a million, lose a million.
Just like that. Right? Okay...
111s the number.
Ace, I...
You got it?
11... And this is it.
Ace...
Don't bother me.
Ace, listen. I...
11, 11, 117
11!
And there it is!
Tough luck, trouper.
Huh?
You got nerve, pal.
I like that.
Next time you want to play a little game, trouper, give us a call.
Ace, uh... Look, I'm sorry, but I was trying to tell you.
I... Something happened.
I lost the power.
I guess a fuse blew out.
You're not mad at me, are you, ace?
I mean, I couldn't help it.
You mean we're not going to lake mead?
Well, he... He blew his fuse.
You blew...
You blew a fuse.
You sure you don't want to stop them?
What are you talking...?
Who needs that hunk of junk anyway?
That's strictly for suckers.
Come on. Out, out, oout, out, out.
Go on, you one-armed bandit.
Go rob somebody else for a change.
Um... Kitty... Kitty, look, I was thinking, you know, now that that thing's out of here, I bet you that jimbo and me could, you know, we could pull enough money each month to...
After what we, you know...
will you marry me?
Why don't you be quiet!
I'm proposing, for crying out loud.
Jimbo, do you have a quarter?
Call it.
Heads?
All right, mr. Larsen, I will marry you.
Oh, baby.
Some people possess talent, others are possessed by it.
When that happens, the talent becomes a curse.
Jimbo cobb knew right from the beginning.
But, before ace larsen learned that simple truth, he had to take a short trip through the twilight zone.
Rod serling, creator of the twilight zone, will tell you about next week's story after this word from our alternate sponsor.
And now, Mr. Serling.
Next week, mr. Charles beaumont and Mr. William idelson deliver a story on your doorstep with the title long distance call.
It's uniquely a flesh-and-fantasy tale involving a small boy, a toy telephone, and the incredible faith of a child.
I hope you're around next week at the usual time...
Which, depending on where you are, varies...
And in the usual place... The one that never varies...
The uncharted regions of the twilight zone.