Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room

"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. An insecure, unsuccessful gangster named Jackie wai... more

"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. 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, ... less