Ep 4. A Thing About Machines

A Thing About Machines is an episode of the classic science-fiction anthology series, The Twilight Zone, which originally aired on October 28, 1960. The episode was directed by David Orrick McDearmon and written by Rod Serling.

The story follows a man named Bartlett Finchley, played by Richard Haydn, who is a misanthropic writer living alone in his mansion. Finchley has a deeply ingrained fear and hatred of machines, which he considers to be his rivals. He takes pleasure in breaking and smashing them, and often spends his days reading books and trying to avoid any contact with machines.

However, one day, after returning from a night out at the local bar, Finchley begins to experience strange and unsettling incidents involving the machines in his home. His typewriter starts typing on its own, his television turns on and off by itself, and his phone rings even though there is nobody on the other end of the line.

As these incidents escalate, Finchley begins to lose his grip on reality and becomes convinced that the machines are conspiring against him. He tries to destroy them all, but they keep coming back to haunt him. Finally, in a moment of desperation, Finchley tries to plead with the machines, but to no avail.

In the end, Finchley is left helpless and alone, surrounded by the very things he fears the most. The episode ends with the message that machines are not the problem, but rather the people who use them.

A Thing About Machines is a classic episode of The Twilight Zone that explores themes of paranoia, isolation, and the fear of technology. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of letting fear and distrust dictate one's actions, and serves as a reminder that even the most advanced machines are ultimately created and controlled by people.