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KICK THE CAN takes place in an old folks home, and in the general vicinity of the front of this rest home. Don't worry, I WILL NOT GIVE AWAY THE ENDING. The surprise ending is one of the best of the T.Z. series, and it is a charming and satisfying one, but I WILL NOT GIVE IT AWAY. KICK THE CAN, starring Ernest Truax, and WALKING DISTANCE, starring Gig Young, are the two T.Z. episodes that concern nostalgia for childhood. The story gets off the ground when Mr.Truax makes plans to leave the confines of the old folks home, and to move in with his son. But Mr.Truax is somewhat disappointed when he discovers that his plan was really a misunderstanding, that is, his son had never invited him to move in. At any rate, Mr.Truax continues to live in the old folks home, and the viewer will be amused by Mr.Truax's penchant for running through the water sprinkler, and for amusing himself with other juvenile antics. At one point, Mr.Truax borrows a crumpled tin can that had been used by a neighborhood boy for playing kick the can, and he keeps it as a souvenir for himself. A continuing theme in this story, is that Mr.Truax continuously harps at his elderly colleagues to enjoy themselves, and to play kick the can. Russell Collins plays a cantankerous old man, who is steadfast in his refusal to engage in childish games. However, Mr.Truax is successful with persuading the other residents to "let go" and to engage in a childhood game or too. Tension is provided in this story, because the manager of the old folks home tries to prevent the old people from engaging in any childhood shenanigans. At any rate, there is a surprise ending which I DO NOT DISCLOSE HERE. Mr.Truax has an engaging, calm voice and demeanor. Unfortunately, Mr.Truax is in only one other T.Z. episode, WHAT YOU NEED, where he reprises the role of somebody who confronts a problem and responds with infinite calmness.

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS is one of the Twilight Zone episodes about ordinary office workers. For some reason, these are among the best of the T.Z. episodes, at least in my opinion. Other "office worker" T.Z. episodes include, MIND AND THE MATTER, MR.BEVIS, A KIND OF STOPWATCH, TIME ENOUGH AT LAST, and PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN. At any rate, Penny For Your Thoughts stars Dick York, as a low level banker, who is somewhat under-appreciated for his skills. Also starring, is Cyril Delevanti, who is delightful for the fact that he looks like an Egyptian mummy (he looks very old), and who is also delightful for his amazing performance in the T.Z. episode, PIANO IN THE HOUSE. Penny For Your Thoughts does not really have any surprise ending, and does not really have any ironic twist at the end, as is typical for many T.Z. episodes. In short, Dick York acquires the ability to read minds, due to his tossing of a coin, where it lands on its edge. Through this skill, he learns that a potential client at his bank is planning to use his bank loan for evil ends. Also, he learns that a mousey but lovely co-worker (or is it lovely but mousey co-worker?) would not mind being Dick York's girlfriend. Dick York benefits from both of these mind-readings, but he makes a mistake when he reads the mind of Cyril Delevanti, who is a co-worker at the bank. This episode of T.Z. is an engaging charmer, and it will invite repeated watchings, year after year. In contrast, TO PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN (mentioned above) and which is also about a low-level bank worker, has one of the most ironic endings of all of the T.Z. episodes.