The Twilight Zone (r1s01e30)

A Stop at Willoughby

by Rod Serling, directed by Robert Parrish

Release: 6 May 1960
Format: TV Episode
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adults
Content: Debatable Time Travel
Original Language: English

On a snowy November evening during his train commute home from New York City, John Daly falls asleep and, perhaps in a dream, sees a simpler life with bands playing in the bandstand, people riding penny farthings through the park, and kids fishin’ at their fishin’ holes the 1888 summertime of idyllic Willoughby.

— Michael Main

Willoughby, sir? That’s Willoughby right outside. Willoughby, July, summer. It’s 1888—really a lovely little village. You ought to try it sometime. Peaceful, restful, where a man can slow down to a walk and live his live full-measure.

DEBUT

The Twilight Zone (v1s01e30), “A Stop at Willoughby” (CBS-TV, USA, 6 May 1960).

VARIANTS

1 English variant

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Time Periods

Circa AD 1800 to 1899: Willoughby, July 1888
Circa AD 1960 to 1969: presumed time period

Time Travel Methods

Unexplained Time Travel Methods: The machine retrieves Joe Caswell.

Themes

Moments Surrounding Death: Although Willoughby is never explained, we think it’s possible (though unlikely) that Mr. Williams experiences real time travel that becomes permanent only upon his death.

Groupings

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY (SPOILERS!)

From a commuter train from New York City to Westport, Connecticut, November, circa 1960 ⋙ to a train at the depot in Willoughby, July 1888. Multiple round trips. Note: Gart Williams might be dreaming or having previews of a Willoughby afterlife, but we like to think that maybe he travels for real to Willoughby.
From a commuter train from New York City to Westport, Connecticut, November, circa 1960 ⋙ to a train at the depot in Willoughby, July 1888. Round trip. Note: the final one-way trip.