Don't Open Till Doomsday

Last updated
"Don't Open Till Doomsday"
The Outer Limits episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 17
Directed by Gerd Oswald
Written by Joseph Stefano
Cinematography by Conrad Hall
Production code22
Original air dateJanuary 20, 1964 (1964-01-20)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Controlled Experiment"
Next 
"ZZZZZ"
List of episodes

"Don't Open Till Doomsday" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 20 January 1964, during the first season.

Contents

Opening narration

"The greatness of evil lies in its awful accuracy. Without that deadly talent for being in the right place at the right time, evil must suffer defeat. For unlike its opposite, good, evil is allowed no human failings, no miscalculations. Evil must be perfect, or depend upon the imperfections of others."

Plot

In 1929, a pair of young newlyweds receives a mysterious box-like object wrapped as a wedding gift with a cryptic label reading "Don't Open Till Doomsday". Unbeknownst to his bride, the bridegroom is zapped by a beam of light emanating from this object when he removed it from the wrapping, and seemingly disappears out of existence. Thirty-five years later, in 1964, an eloping couple arrives at the house in the hopes of using it as a honeymoon spot, now a half-derelict mansion owned by Mrs. Kry, an eccentric old woman who turns out to be the aforesaid bride, driven to insanity after her husband disappeared. After the new bride herself disappears inside the box, it is revealed that Mrs. Kry has been luring young couples to her house, in the hope of "trading" them for her lost bridegroom who, with an alien intelligence, is still residing inside the box. Later, the young bride's father arrives on location to take his wayward daughter back with him, and is also abducted by the alien, finding himself inside the box — actually, a pocket dimension occupied by an amorphous, one-eyed creature from an anti-matter universe, who is bent on destroying our universe. The father, his daughter and Mrs. Kry's lost bridegroom are there, as well. The creature, having become lost during his journey between dimensions, addresses them, assuring them they'll be freed on the condition that they help him to achieve his goal — reuniting him with his eight other companions, all of whom were inhabitants of their universe, each carrying an essential element which, when joined, would result in the annihilation of our universe. Facing refusal, and being further hindered by an angered Mrs. Kry, along with the father's false promise to aid in the search if freed from captivity, the enraged alien resorts to self-destruction after setting the daughter free, thus 'uncreating' himself, and obliterating the entire mansion, the father, Mrs. Kry and her bridegroom in the process, with the young couple narrowly escaping the carnage.

Closing narration

"Without that deadly talent for being in the right place at the right time, evil must suffer defeat; and with each defeat, doomsday is postponed for at least one more day."

Cast

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shapeshifting</span> Ability to physically transform in mythology, folklore and speculative fiction

In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shapeshifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through unnatural means. The idea of shapeshifting is in the oldest forms of totemism and shamanism, as well as the oldest existent literature and epic poems such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad. The concept remains a common literary device in modern fantasy, children's literature and popular culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doomsday (DC Comics)</span> Fictional comic character

Doomsday is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as one of Superman's deadliest foes. Created by writer-artist Dan Jurgens, the character had a cameo appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel #17 and made his first full appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel #18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightshade (DC Comics)</span> Fictional comic book superhero published by DC Comics

Nightshade is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics. Created by David Kaler and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in Captain Atom #82 originally published by Charlton Comics.

<i>Samson & Goliath</i> American animated television series

Samson & Goliath, also known as Young Samson, is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for NBC, where it debuted on September 9, 1967. Primarily sponsored by General Mills, who controlled the distribution rights through its agency Dancer Fitzgerald Sample, Samson & Goliath was retitled Young Samson in April 1968 to avoid confusion with the stop-motion Christian television series Davey and Goliath.

A Hindu wedding, also known as Vivaha, Marathi: Lagna (लग्न), Bengali: Bibaho (বিবাহ), Kalyanam, Kannada script: ಮದುವೆ (Maduve), Tamil: திருமணம் (Tirumanam), or Pelli, is the traditional wedding ceremony for Hindus. The wedding ceremonies are very colourful, and celebrations may extend for several days and usually a large number of people attend the wedding functions. The bride's and groom's home—entrance, doors, wall, floor, roof—are sometimes decorated with colors, flowers, and other decorations.

<i>Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer</i> 1985 film by Kimio Yabuki, Bernard Deyriès

Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer is a 1985 American animated fantasy film directed by Bernard Deyriès and Kimio Yabuki. The film was produced by DIC Enterprises, Inc. and Hallmark Cards, and was released in the United States on November 15, 1985 by Warner Bros. It is the only film to feature the greeting card character Rainbow Brite; she also appeared in a few television specials prior to its release, and later in a Kideo TV series. In the film, Rainbow Brite tries to bring spring to an Earth that is already facing a perpetual winter. She must stop a wicked princess who wants all of Spectra, a planet-sized diamond through which all the light in the universe must pass.

Moonstone (<i>The Outer Limits</i>) 24th episode of the 1st season of The Outer Limits

"Moonstone" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 9 March 1964, during the first season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manakanchara Nayanar</span>

Manakanchara Nayanar, also known as Manakkanychaara Nayanar, Manakkancharar, Manakanjara Nayanar, Mankkanjara Nayanar and Manakkanjarar, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the twelfth in the list of 63 Nayanars. Like other Nayanars, he was a fervent devotee of the god Shiva. Manakanchara Nayanar is dated to the 8th century and was a contemporary of Eyarkon Kalikkama Nayanar, a Nayanar saint and his son-in-law as well as Sundarar. He is described to have cut his daughter's hair and given it to Shiva disguised as a Shaiva ascetic, on her wedding day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celsius (character)</span> Comics character

Celsius is a superhero in the DC Comics series Doom Patrol. She first appeared in Showcase #94, and was created by Paul Kupperberg and Joe Staton. She is among the very few superheroes of Indian heritage, and may be the first ever such hero created by DC Comics.

<i>DeepStar Six</i> 1989 American film by Sean S. Cunningham

DeepStar Six is a 1989 American science-fiction horror film directed and co-produced by Sean S. Cunningham. Its plot follows the crew of the titular underwater military outpost, who struggle to defend their base against the attacks of a sea monster. The film's cast includes Greg Evigan, Taurean Blacque, Nancy Everhard, Cindy Pickett, Miguel Ferrer, Nia Peeples, and Matt McCoy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marriage in Pakistan</span> Tradition in Pakistan

Marriage in Pakistan pertains to wedding traditions established and adhered by Pakistani men and women. Despite their local and regional variations, marriages in Pakistan generally follow Islamic marital jurisprudence. Marriages are not only seen as a union between a husband and a wife, but also an alliance between their respective families. These traditions extend to other countries around in the world where Overseas Pakistani communities exist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punjabi wedding traditions</span> Overview of the wedding traditions in Punjab

Punjabi wedding traditions are a strong reflection of Punjabi culture with ritual, song, dance, food, and dress that have evolved over centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoroastrian wedding</span>

A Zoroastrian wedding is a religious ceremony in Zoroastrianism in which two individuals, a man and a woman, are united. In Zoroastrianism, marriage within the community is encouraged, and is greatly favored in religious texts. The following information will detail ceremony procedures and traditional processes for a Zoroastrian wedding.

Bahaghara is a wedding ceremony performed by Odia Hindu people in the Indian state of Odisha. There are subtle differences in the rites observed by different castes. In Odia marriage rituals, the mother of the bridegroom does not take part in the ceremony. The Utkala Brahmins have their weddings only in the daytime, preferably at midday or in the morning, while the other caste weddings are done during the evening or night. There is the custom of sending betel nuts to family friends for inviting them to the marriage. The first invitation is sent to the family deity as a respect to the lord. Marriages in Odisha are mostly fixed and arranged by the parents. Marriages for serving or capturing is not common.

<i>Superman: Doomed</i>

"Superman: Doomed" is a Superman crossover story arc published by DC Comics starting in May 2014. The series is co-written by Greg Pak, Charles Soule and Scott Lobdell, with artwork by Ken Lashley, Aaron Kuder, and Tony Daniel.

Halimaw is a horror anthology Filipino film directed by Christopher de Leon and Mario O’Hara. The film is released on December 25, 1986, as part of the Metro Manila Film Festival and produced by NCV films, the film is divided in two stories; ‘Komiks’ and ’Halimaw sa Banga.’

The Horse-Devil and the Witch or The Horse-Dew and the Witch is a Turkish fairy tale first collected by Hungarian Turkologist Ignác Kúnos in late 19th century.

Yasmin and the Serpent Prince is a Persian folktale published in 1974 by author Forough Hekmat. It is related to the international cycle of the Animal as Bridegroom or The Search for the Lost Husband, in that a human princess marries a supernatural husband or man in animal form, loses him and has to seek him out.