Song of the Younger World
| "Song of the Younger World" |
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"Song of the Younger World" is the first segment of the thirty-fifth episode (the twentieth episode of the second season (1986–87) of the television series The Twilight Zone.
Opening narration
Meet Tanner Smith, Circa 1916, disciple of a young writer named Jack London. Tanner Smith, now consigned to what is affectionately known by the Bowery boys as "The Reff", a grim sojourn into solitude, despair, pain, and sooner than he knows, a curious corner...in The Twilight Zone.
Plot
A young man named Tanner Smith, whose misfortune has landed him in a wayward home for boys, seeks out the superintendent's daughter, Amy. Although it is forbidden, they begin to meet at night and talk about their dreams and aspirations. She brings him books from the library after he tells her about his fascinations with wolves and how enlightened an animal they are. He explains why he's there. He was a good pickpocket, but he never hurt anyone. Amy claims to not care about his past, she only knows that she loves him.
One night in the barn where they meet, they are caught by her father kissing and in a passionate embrace. Tanner is beaten by her father and she is punished as well. He threatens her that if they meet ever again, he will find a way to kill Tanner and make it look like an accident. Amy is then comforted by an old ragged man, named Hokey. Hokey also looks after Tanner, by tending to the wounds inflicted by Amy's father. Hokey warns him not to try to see Amy. He says that she's in the library and he goes to her. They talk about how to escape together. Amy claims to have found a book that explains how to release two souls to be able to come together later in time in a "better world."
After a scare at the library, Amy attempts to try this "escape". As she does, her father comes behind her, surprises her, and she turns to him and growls like a wolf. He is taken aback and grabs the book, looks at it, and takes it from her. He begins ripping pages from the book and burning it. Tanner is asleep and begins hearing howling from outside. He immediately thinks it's Amy. He escapes from his room and meets her outside. She begins talking cryptically about knowing the right way to escape. They separate but she tells him not to worry.
Amy gives a message for Tanner to Hokey. This message is to help him come with her, but she will appear dead. Tanner, unknowingly, comes to Amy and thinks she is dead. He then plans to kill her father thinking he is responsible. Tanner attempts to kill him, but he fights back and imprisons Tanner. The father finds Amy, apparently dead. Hokey finds Tanner and tries to explain what Amy was really doing and what he must do to join her. Amy's father, however, decides to kill Tanner with his revolver. Hokey tries to stop him, but her father kills him. Tanner does as he is told, and Amy's father witnesses Tanner "leaving this world." Hokey, with his dying breath, tells her father that they are where he can't hurt them. The scene fades to a forest, where two white wolves run alongside each other...one wearing Amy's pendant.
Closing narration
A Song of the Younger World...a tale told on wintery nights when the moon is full, of living with wolves and learning to howl. Of love that transcends worldly pain, and running free...in the Twilight Zone.