Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder
I’ve been watching Twilight Zone Episodes at 11 pm every night.
Great training for writers who want to learn to “twist” their readers all around. Masterfully written. No special effects. Just a few characters. Scary. Short. Make a social or political statement.
Last night — Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder.
A woman sits up in bed wrapped in bandages. She wants to know if she will look more presentable when the bandages come off. The nurse and doctors cannot guarantee she will become less “hideous.” She’s already had ten surgeries to alter her appearance. Folks turn away from her in disgust because of her disfigurement. You don’t see anyone’s face.
They remove the bandages s.l.o.w.l.y. The nurses recoil in horror. She is still “ugly.”
The camera pans over her. She looks like Marilyn Monroe! The camera pans over the doctors. They look like half-people/half-pigs.
She tears down the hall unable to face her own face which no one else can bear to see.
They bring her back and say she will be going to live with the other disfigured folks. A guy from that group arrives to take her there.
He looks like a model.
Makes you question our notions of beautiful and ugly, fitting in, shame, etc.
Have you ever felt like an ugly duckling? Someone who did not fit in? I spent decades feeling that way, not being able to accept my reflection. Thought I looked too “ethnic.” Wanted to be blonde with straight hair instead of brunette with curly hair.
Crazy! Thanks G.
RSS
Julie, that’s one of my fave episodes of Twilight Zone. Oh, and the one with William Shatner freaking out on the plane because there’s a weird furry thing trying to mess with the wing but no one believes him. Rod Serling was brilliant, wasn’t he?
It’s so cool you watch it every night. When I was living in NYC it was on every night at 11:30 (back-to-back episodes) and I watched it religiously. It’s deep. And although I’ve never felt like an ugly duckling, I’ve definitely felt like I didn’t fit in.
Hi Patty,
I’m glad you are a fellow TZ lover. Will look for that William Shatner episode. So many famous folks appeared in the episodes. Must have been harder to get TV kids before cable.
Yes, the episodes are really deep. That’s what I really enjoy — they skim beneath the surface to make a statement or ask a question. The episodes get me thinking, challenging every day sleepwalking, which I love to do.
Thanks, G.
It was so great to talk to you Friday, and discuss the Twilight Zone. What an interesting episode… it’s all about perception and what the herd considers normal.
Hi Angie,
Wonderful to talk with you live. I love connecting with my favorite on-line folks via tele or in person. What a great line you wrote: What the herd considers normal.
I enjoy being part of a community but making my own decisions!
Best wishes for your writing adventures, G.