Ep 36. A World of His Own

A World of His Own is the thirty-sixth, and last, episode of the first season of the television series The Twilight Zone, which was first aired on July 1, 1960. It is written by Richard Matheson and directed by Ralph Nelson. The episode stars Keenan Wynn and Mary LaRoche.

The episode follows the story of a successful playwright named Gregory West (played by Keenan Wynn). Despite his wealth, fame, and critical acclaim, West is plagued by writer's block. He lives in a lush mansion, complete with a personal library and a record player in every room. His wife, Victoria (played by Mary LaRoche), is his muse and inspiration. She is beautiful and adoring, and seems to understand and support Gregory in all his creative endeavors.

One day, while discussing his latest literary project, Gregory reveals to Victoria a strange power he has discovered. He is able to bring his words to life simply by dictating them into a tape recorder. When he plays back the recording, whatever he has described appears before him, fully-realized and tangible. Victoria is skeptical at first, but soon becomes convinced by Gregory's demonstration.

Excited by his ability, Gregory decides to use it to create a perfect world for himself and Victoria. He dictates a beautiful garden, complete with a fountain and blooming flowers. He describes a beach, where they can lounge in the sun and swim in the clear waters. He even creates a herd of elephants, simply for the wonderment of seeing them in his own backyard.

As Gregory's creations become more elaborate, Victoria begins to grow uneasy. She worries that they are tampering with the natural order of things and that their tampering will have unintended consequences. Gregory dismisses her concerns, insisting that they are simply exploring the limits of art and imagination.

Things come to a head when Victoria discovers that Gregory has created a woman named "Mary" by his own imagination. Mary is intelligent, beautiful, and caring – everything that Victoria is not. Gregory insists that Mary is just another creation, and that she is nothing to be jealous of. But Victoria knows better. She realizes that Mary is a threat to their happiness and decides to take matters into her own hands.

Without giving too much away, A World of His Own is a thoughtful exploration of the power of imagination and the consequences of playing God. With its clever use of special effects and witty dialogue, the episode is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Keenan Wynn and Mary LaRoche deliver excellent performances, bringing depth and emotion to their respective roles.

Overall, A World of His Own is a fitting end to the first season of The Twilight Zone. It offers a final twist that will leave viewers thinking about the nature of reality and the dangers of unchecked imagination.