Nightmares & Dreamscapes Season 1 Episode 4 The End of the Whole Mess

The End of the Whole Mess is the fourth episode of the first season of Nightmares & Dreamscapes, a television series based on a collection of short stories by Stephen King. It tells the story of Howard Fornoy, a man who believes he has discovered a way to end all violence and aggression in the world.

The episode begins with the narrator, Howard's brother Bobby, explaining that Howard was a brilliant inventor who made a fortune creating medical devices such as disposable breathing masks. But despite his success, Howard became increasingly troubled by the violence and aggression in the world, and he became obsessed with finding a way to end it.

Howard's obsession led him to discover a chemical compound that he believed could pacify people's aggressive tendencies. He tested the compound on himself and noticed an immediate change in his own behavior. He became calmer, less aggressive, and more empathetic.

Howard and his girlfriend, Anne, decided to test the compound on a larger scale, so they went to a small town in Texas called Bridgton. They secretly added the compound to the town's water supply, and within weeks, the town became a peaceful and harmonious place.

But as time went on, Howard began to realize that the compound had unintended side effects. People in Bridgton began to lose their memories and become disoriented. Some became permanently catatonic. Howard's own brother Bobby noticed the changes in the town and became concerned.

As the situation in Bridgton deteriorated, Howard raced against time to find a way to reverse the effects of the compound. But his efforts were in vain, and the town was eventually abandoned.

The episode ends with Bobby recounting the aftermath of the Bridgton disaster. Howard was devastated by the failure of his experiment and became withdrawn and reclusive. He eventually committed suicide, leaving behind a letter explaining his actions. Bobby reads the letter, which reveals Howard's belief that violence and aggression were an inherent part of human nature, and that there was no way to eliminate them completely.

Overall, The End of the Whole Mess is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pursuing utopian ideals without fully considering the consequences. It also touches on themes such as the nature of human violence and the ethics of scientific experimentation.