Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room
Encyclopedia
"Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
. According to the book The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic by Martin Grams, Serling wrote the teleplay in response to a request from CBS to write scripts utilizing as few actors as possible for budgetary purposes. This episode was produced $5,000 under budget.
A puff of smoke comes out from the other side of the mirror and he sees a different version of himself in the reflection—a strong, self-assured, confident Jackie Rhoades. Jackie looks into the mirror and asks, "Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me?" Jackie and his reflection enter a lengthy argument about how badly his life has turned out as a result of him listening to others and never himself. Jackie stubbornly resists the alternate Jackie's request to take over, and tries to flee, but he sees more mirrors in the hallway, the closet and the bathroom, and his reflection continues to argue with him out of each one. Finally, Jackie backs away in terror from the doppelganger he cannot escape, Jackie's double goes closer and closer to the real Jackie and the screen goes black.
George returns, furious that Jackie hasn't done his job. "Whattaya gotta say for yourself, crumb??", he sneers. Jackie turns around, and responds confidently, "I resign! You can have your gun back plus the following." He then beats up and kicks a surprised George out of the room, along with the gun. Ringing the room clerk to check out, he addresses himself as John Rhoades. He then tells the nervous Jackie, now the one in the mirror, that they're going to make something of their life.
and Dirty Harry
, but they first appeared in this episode of The Twilight Zone. John "Jackie" Rhodes is ordered by his crime boss to murder for the first time. Jackie confronts his better self in the mirror who begins talking to him. Jackie's response was the famous lines written by Rod Serling.
Jackie: "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Oh yeah. Yeah, sure you are. Now me and the mirror we're havin' a talk. I've had it huh?. All my marbles are gone. This is how it happens."
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
. According to the book The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic by Martin Grams, Serling wrote the teleplay in response to a request from CBS to write scripts utilizing as few actors as possible for budgetary purposes. This episode was produced $5,000 under budget.
Synopsis
An insecure, unsuccessful gangster named Jackie waits in a cheap, dirty hotel room for his boss, George. George orders Jackie to shoot a barkeeper, or else he will kill Jackie on his return. George then leaves, leaving Jackie wrestling with his conscience. Terrified and frustrated, he starts talking to his reflection in the mirror. He puts a cigarette in his lips, but finds no match.A puff of smoke comes out from the other side of the mirror and he sees a different version of himself in the reflection—a strong, self-assured, confident Jackie Rhoades. Jackie looks into the mirror and asks, "Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me?" Jackie and his reflection enter a lengthy argument about how badly his life has turned out as a result of him listening to others and never himself. Jackie stubbornly resists the alternate Jackie's request to take over, and tries to flee, but he sees more mirrors in the hallway, the closet and the bathroom, and his reflection continues to argue with him out of each one. Finally, Jackie backs away in terror from the doppelganger he cannot escape, Jackie's double goes closer and closer to the real Jackie and the screen goes black.
George returns, furious that Jackie hasn't done his job. "Whattaya gotta say for yourself, crumb??", he sneers. Jackie turns around, and responds confidently, "I resign! You can have your gun back plus the following." He then beats up and kicks a surprised George out of the room, along with the gun. Ringing the room clerk to check out, he addresses himself as John Rhoades. He then tells the nervous Jackie, now the one in the mirror, that they're going to make something of their life.
Episode Notes
The Jackie Rhoades character is the first to deliver the famous lines "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?" while facing a mirror. Most people know these lines from the films Taxi DriverTaxi Driver
Taxi Driver is a 1976 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. The film is set in New York City, soon after the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro and features Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, and Cybill Shepherd. The film was nominated for four Academy...
and Dirty Harry
Dirty Harry
Dirty Harry is a 1971 American crime thriller produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan....
, but they first appeared in this episode of The Twilight Zone. John "Jackie" Rhodes is ordered by his crime boss to murder for the first time. Jackie confronts his better self in the mirror who begins talking to him. Jackie's response was the famous lines written by Rod Serling.
Jackie: "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Oh yeah. Yeah, sure you are. Now me and the mirror we're havin' a talk. I've had it huh?. All my marbles are gone. This is how it happens."