Future Trade
Encyclopedia
"Future Trade" is the twenty-first episode of the science fiction
television series 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone
. The episode aired November 27, 2002 on UPN
.
) is a salesman at a big-box store
who has a miserable family life: his two children behave like complete brats, and his wife is often hostile and frustrated. Martin's only consolation is his computer time, where one day, he finds an ad for a corporation with the name "Future Trade." After talking to a sales rep (Dean Winters
) he subscribes and discovers that he can exchange his future with that of another. After undergoing the process, Martin finds he is now Jack, a successful CEO with a beautiful trophy wife
Francesca (Sofia Milos
). Wondering why Jack would be willing to trade his life with Martin's, he returns to his old home and sees that another man (whose face is hidden) is at his home. Unfortunately, Martin eventually discovers that Francesca is having an affair and that Jack had cheated on her. His wife poisons him with curare
, causing him to become paralyzed. Her lover arrives and dumps him face-down in the pool, where he drowns.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (2002 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is a 2002 revival of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series, The Twilight Zone. It aired for one season on the UPN network, with actor Forest Whitaker assuming Serling's role as narrator and on-screen host....
. The episode aired November 27, 2002 on UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
.
Opening Narration
Synopsis
Martin Donner (Frank WhaleyFrank Whaley
Frank Joseph Whaley is an American film and television actor known for his roles in independent films.-Personal life:Whaley was born in Syracuse, New York, the son of Josephine and Robert W. Whaley, Sr. He is half-Irish and half-Sicilian and grew up in Syracuse. He has two sisters and an older...
) is a salesman at a big-box store
Big-box store
A big-box store is a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a chain. The term sometimes also refers, by extension, to the company that operates the store...
who has a miserable family life: his two children behave like complete brats, and his wife is often hostile and frustrated. Martin's only consolation is his computer time, where one day, he finds an ad for a corporation with the name "Future Trade." After talking to a sales rep (Dean Winters
Dean Winters
Dean Winters is an American actor, who has portrayed Ryan O'Reily on HBO's Oz, Johnny Gavin on FX Network's Rescue Me, and Dennis Duffy on NBC's 30 Rock...
) he subscribes and discovers that he can exchange his future with that of another. After undergoing the process, Martin finds he is now Jack, a successful CEO with a beautiful trophy wife
Trophy wife
Trophy wife is an expression used to describe a wife, usually young and attractive, who is regarded as a status symbol for the husband, who is often older and affluent.-History:The term's etymological origins are disputed...
Francesca (Sofia Milos
Sofia Milos
Sofia Milos is an Italian/Greek actress. She is best known for her role as Yelina Salas on CSI: Miami.Milos was born in Zurich, Switzerland, to an Italian father and a Greek mother. In her teens she entered a local beauty pageant, and after winning first prize went on to win the provincial,...
). Wondering why Jack would be willing to trade his life with Martin's, he returns to his old home and sees that another man (whose face is hidden) is at his home. Unfortunately, Martin eventually discovers that Francesca is having an affair and that Jack had cheated on her. His wife poisons him with curare
Curare
Curare is a common name for various arrow poisons originating from South America. The three main types of curare are:* tubocurare...
, causing him to become paralyzed. Her lover arrives and dumps him face-down in the pool, where he drowns.