The Twilight Zone: Season 1 Episode 14 Third from the Sun
On the eve of planetary destruction, two sets of families try to escape their doomed world.
Series Index
Characters/Groups
Jody Sturka - Denise Alexander
Character thumbnails with links to profiles
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Detailed Synopsis
At Security Gate 22, the Gate Guard calls out the names and occupations of the workers as they walk out the gate. As William Sturka is leaving, the Gate Guard mentions how busy Sturka's department is. Sturka stops to have a cigarette and Carling stops to talk with him. Carling tells Sturka that he has heard rumors that the military will attack their enemies within 48 hours. Sturka is confident that their side will win, but Sturka has less enthusiasm. Carling calls Sturka's attitude defeatist and warns him to mind what he says and thinks. Sturka goes home and is greeted by Jody Sturka. Jody notices something is wrong with Sturka and asks him what is the matter. Sturka tells her that he is feeling the weight of the years. She asks him if he likes his job and lists off the different bombs he is working on. He tells her that he is just a cog in the wheel and really not responsible for the end product. She mentions that the other teenagers have noticed that something is wrong. Eve Sturka walks into the room and listens as Jody further explains that her friends noticed that something seems ready to happen. Sturka complains about how every great idea gets subverted into something terrible. Sturka tells Eve to call Jerry Riden to invite him and Ann Riden for cards. He asks Jody to stay for cards and after she tells him that she has a date, he tells her to break it.
Sturka walks to the bedroom and Eve asks him what is wrong. He tells her that the war is coming within 48 hours and it will be the end of the world. He continues that they, Jody, Jerry and Ann are leaving that night. Jody calls up to Sturka and tells him Jerry stopped by. Jerry and Sturka walk down to the garage and Jerry tells him that they need to change their plans. He says that the guard he had bribed gets off work at 11 and they will have to adjust when they leave. After Sturka and Jerry finish talking, Carling lifts his head above the window he was listening from. During the card game, Eve, Jody and Ann go to the kitchen to get lemonade and cake and Jerry shows Sturka a simple map he made of the planet he intends to fly them to. Jerry tells them there are people on the planet which are similar to them. The doorbell rings and Carling enters the house. Carling starts asking suspicious questions and notices Eve seems nervous. Carling leaves and Sturka reveals the plan to Jody. The phone rings and Sturka answers it and tells the others that his department called him to work. They drive to the Ministry of Science and park at the gate. They receive a signal from who they think is the guard Jerry bribed, but turns out to be Carling. Carling walks up with a drawn gun and orders everyone out of the car. Jody hits him and Sturka and Jerry manage to subdue him. They all run to the spaceship and take off. As they are heading to the new planet, Jerry reveals to Sturka that the planet's name is Earth.