The Night of the Meek

Description: Season 2, Episode 11

Air Date: December 23, 1960

Plot Summary: A drunken, store Santa Claus discovers a magic bag that gives people whatever they want.

Review: It may be a bit early for Christmas but oh well. This is another classic episode although it's difficult to find a way to air the episode appropriately. In other words, you want to air the episode during marathons, but it feels out of place; at the same time, it feels odd to air at Christmas time all alone. Anyway, this story has been ripped off numerous times, quite blatantly as well, but it carries a certain, whimsical aspect to it that the ripoffs fail to capture. Also, despite this being 1960, they touch on the commercialization of the holiday; oh, if they only knew how bad it would be down the road.

At whatever random store this is supposed to be, Piglet, aka John Fiedler, is annoyed, because the Santa they hired, Corwin, is off drinking at the local bar. Corwin is played by the great Art Carney who brings a lot of conviction to this role. After getting kicked out of the bar, Corwin returns to the store in a drunken stupor where he makes a mockery of himself in front of all the kids. That'll teach you kids for believing in Santa! When Piglet tries to fire Corwin, Corwin provides a poignant speech on the state of Christmas, its loss of meaning, and a general observation regarding the suffering of humanity. TZ usually wasn't one for sugarcoating reality. Corwin further explains that he wishes he really could be Santa Claus and allow the meek to inherit the earth.

Since Corwin has just stepped into the Twlight Zone, he stumbles across a random sack, that a cat knocks over, that pours out gifts when, at first, it spilled out only trash. I have to interject, however, because the sound effects for the cat are, perhaps, the worst in film history. I mean, was someone's kid on set simply meowing? So Corwin begins running around giving people whatever gift they want out of the magic bag in the very manner of a real Santa. Corwin stops at, what appears to be, a homeless shelter, but a suspicious nun gets Corwin arrested as she believes the items to be stolen. At the police station, the cop has called in Piglet since they believe Corwin must have robbed the store for the gifts. When Piglet looks in the bag there are only empty cans and that cat again. The cop realizes something strange is going on, and Piglet asks for a random wine bottle to prove that the bag is magical. Corwin, of course, provides the specific bottle with a special note attached regarding Piglet. After a night of gift giving. Corwin realizes the bag has gone empty as one of the homeless guys observes there's nothing left in that bag for Corwin himself. Corwin says the only thing he would want would be the ability to do this every year. Shortly after, Corwin finds a sleigh with reindeer as he is in disbelief. An elf girl appears and tells Corwin he is Santa Claus, and the two fly off into the moonlight. The episode ends with the cop and a drunken Piglet shocked to see Corwin flying off in the sleigh.

Whether it's Christmas or not, or whether you practice or believe in Christmas or not, the themes are still relevant and touching. There is a sense of wonder, magic, and togetherness to the season that extends beyond any kind of religious context. And no matter how commercialized or selfish the people become, there will always be the childlike hopes and dreams that Christmas invokes. I think this episode captures those sentiments perfectly with the deeper theme of those perceived as weak rising up to help those in need. The selfless nature of Corwin is commendable especially in light of the fact that he's a drunk, cynical of a miserable world. Finally, all of this comes together well as the TZ universe is capable of many extraordinary feats, and we often forget the good parts.