Paladin of the Lost Hour

An old, grieving man named Gaspar is standing over a grave in a cemetery when he is attacked by a couple of muggers. As one of the muggers attempts to steal his pocket watch, it begins to glow and burns the mugger's hand. Floating through the air, it returns to Gaspar. A man named Billy, who was at the cemetery visiting, fends off the muggers, then helps Gaspar to his feet.

Gaspar and Billy go to Billy's apartment and discuss what happened at the cemetery. Gaspar tells him he was there to visit his girl and Billy tells him he was visiting a friend's grave. Billy leaves for work but allows Gaspar to stay and rest. When Billy returns, he finds that Gaspar is cooking dinner. He also discovers that Gaspar is homeless and dying, and he offers to let him stay at his apartment. Gaspar, meanwhile, discovers that Billy was visiting the grave of a man he served with in the Vietnam War.

As they watch the news, Billy worries that the world is close to a nuclear war, but Gaspar tells him it is not possible because it is only 11 o'clock. Later, when they are out walking, Billy questions why Gaspar's watch is stuck at 11 o'clock. Gaspar dismisses it when he sees a man littering from his car. Gaspar throws the man's cigar butt back in his car and reprimands the litterbug that he is "caretaker of Mother Earth". Returning to Billy, Gaspar talks about how he will miss his girl Minna. Billy tells him about his experiences in Vietnam and explains that the man he visits in the cemetery was a man who sacrificed himself to save his life. Billy has been racked with guilt ever since.

That night, while Gaspar is asleep, Billy tries to look at the pocket watch but it floats away from him and returns to Gaspar, who upon awakening tells Billy what "Gaspar" means: it is the master of the treasure, keeper of the secrets and paladin of the palace. Gaspar wants Billy to accompany him to the cemetery the next day because he believes he is going to die.

At the cemetery, Gaspar tells Billy the story of how a pope from the 16th century decreed that the entire civilized world adopt a new calendar, which advanced time by eleven days. The pope's calculations, however, were off by one hour. That hour "slipped free and bounced through eternity". Gaspar is the latest of the "paladins of the lost hour", who are tasked with preserving that one hour and preventing the end of time. If Gaspar dies before passing the watch on to another person, the watch will begin to tick.

Gaspar offers the watch to Billy, but Billy claims he is not worthy. Gaspar then asks Billy to use the watch for Gaspar to call back Minna and give him one minute with her, but Billy refuses the request. Gaspar tells Billy that his response was the correct answer and that he passed the test. As a reward, Gaspar lets the watch tick for one minute. A Marine in full dress uniform appears. Although he says nothing, Billy smiles knowingly as the Marine disappears. Billy tells Gaspar that the Marine never knew he saved Billy's life and thought he died in vain, and is happy his death served a purpose. Gaspar gives Billy the watch and dies. Finally released from his guilt, Billy leaves the cemetery as the newest paladin.

Like a wind crying endlessly through the universe, time carries away the names and deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that we were, all that remains is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment. A blessing of the 18th Egyptian Dynasty: God be between you and harm in all the empty places you walk.

The novelette, written by Harlan Ellison, won the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novelette and the script won the 1987 Writers Guild of America Award for Anthology Episode/Single Program. The story is available in Ellison's collection Angry Candy.

The novelette and script were written at the same time. Although in the original story it is not stated which man is black and which is white, Ellison wrote the script specifically with Turman in mind. The tale originally had a different ending. When the show's producers said that it needed to be changed, Ellison initially balked. It was only because the producers were also writers for whom Ellison had respect that he considered their idea. He eventually decided that they were correct, and changed both the script and the novelette.[1]

According to Joe Dante, director Gil Cates demanded that his name be taken off this episode over producer Philip DeGuere's "botched" editing of the segment.[2]

• List of The Twilight Zone episodes

• "Paladin of the Lost Hour" on IMDb
• "Paladin of the Lost Hour" at TV.com