This episode is different than just about every other in this series. Rather than a standard episode as might be seen on the show (that is, one produced internally), this is a short film that won the best short subject prize as the Cannes Film Festival (in 1962), and was brought over to The Twilight Zone to be shown.
The story begins with a notice posted on a burned-out tree stump:
ORDER
ANY CIVILIAN
caught interfering with
the railroad bridges
tunnels or trains will be
SUMMARILY HANGED
This notice, in turn, leads us to a bridge – presumably the one named in the episode title – and eight soldiers, who are slowly going through the paces of hanging a civilian – presumably for one of the crimes mentioned above. The pace of the hanging is horribly slow.
When the order is finally given, the soldier steps off the plank and the man drops, but instead of hanging from the bridge, he falls into the river, for it seems the rope has broken. The descent into the river is slow, as is the rise to the surface again – the episode is half over before this has even happened, but when he breaks the water, the men on the bridge start firing at him. I guess the old adage that if the rope breaks, it is a sign that you are innocent is not true.
The man then begins his journey home through a series of increasing rapids. The scenery is beautiful, and the song that plays in the background speaks to his mind – seeing each tree and hearing each word from each bird. Eventually the man makes it to the beach, and laughs that he still lives, amazed at his good fortune.
Pulling himself from the river, the man then continues his journey home, through trees and woods, running and running, finally reaching a long road leading to the house. The massive gates open, and he runs through them, to find his beautiful wife waiting for him. Just as he reaches her, the rope snaps taut and his neck snaps, ending his life. Sweet. A classic ending.
This episode is notable in that it is not in the syndication package (in other words, you aren’t going to see it on any channel that broadcasts old episodes). In this respect, it is similar to The Encounter. However, at the moment, this episode can be viewed on YouTube. In this respect, it is not similar to The Encounter. For that one, you’ll need to get a DVD.
