Ep 2. They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar/The Last Laurel

They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar/The Last Laurel is the second episode of the first season of Rod Serling's Night Gallery. The episode features two different stories, both of which explore themes of loss and the passage of time.

In the first story, They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar, a man named Tim Riley returns to his old neighborhood to find that his favorite bar is being torn down. As he watches the demolition crew work, he reflects on the memories he has of the bar and the people who used to frequent it. Through flashbacks, the audience sees the bar in its prime, filled with patrons who are now gone. As Tim watches the bar crumble to the ground, he realizes that the memories he has of the place are all he has left.

The second story, The Last Laurel, tells the tale of a woman named Eleanor who is haunted by a long-buried secret. When she was a child, she and her friends accidentally killed a boy while playing a game. They buried his body and swore never to tell anyone what happened. Now, years later, Eleanor is plagued by guilt and decides to come forward with the truth. But as she searches for the boy's grave, she discovers that the past is not as easily revisited as she thought.

Both stories in They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar/The Last Laurel are tinged with melancholy and a sense of nostalgia. They explore the human tendency to hold onto memories and the pain of letting go of the past. At the same time, both tales also acknowledge the necessity of moving forward and facing the difficult truths that life sometimes presents. Through their poignant storytelling and nuanced characterizations, these two stories showcase the unique blend of horror, nostalgia, and psychological insight that make Rod Serling's Night Gallery such a captivating and enduring series.