Tales from the Darkside

Man lives in the sunlit world

of what he believes to be reality.

But... there is,

unseen by most, an underworld.

A place that is just as real

but not as brightly lit.

A dark side.

''Behold, the great city has fallen,

''and is become the habitation of devils

''and the hold of every foul spirit

and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird of prey.''

Hi.

l'm Sarah McBride.

l saw the sign outside.

And you'd like to come and work for us?

Good.

Tell me a little about yourself.

Sarah?

Do you, uh, hail from these parts?

No, l hail from New York.

l'm gonna be a sophomore at the college.

l'll probably major in American history.

l'd really love to work here, 'cause it's so...

really historical.

What a great old painting.

l just love the past.

Don't you?

Oh, yes.

Despite all the hardships and suffering,

life was simple and pure,

faith and virtue uncorrupted--

so unlike these modern times.

The people themselves were more worthy.

Really?

Here at Colonial Village, we live out the lives

of the early settlers, and the tourists come to watch.

We're looking for someone to sit at our spinning wheel

and give demonstrations.

Oh, rats, l really don't know anything about spinning.

Don't worry.

My daughter Jane will teach you everything you need to know.

You mean, l've got the job?

You'll begin today.

Today. Oh, l really wasn't planning...

Actually, l have to...

But we need you very badly, right now.

Well, l guess l could just make a call.

Your costume is in the closet.

Not that one!

Uh, the one on the left.

Oh, this is pretty!

Please remove everything.

No sign of the 20th century allowed.

Oh.

Okay.

l'll just be a minute.

Anything for a job, right?

''...and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird of prey.''

C-Come in.

So, do l look like a bona fide Puritan?

Not quite authentic.

You have that artificial color on your face and lips.

lt was considered a sin for women to paint their faces.

Oh. l guess l never would have made it then, huh?

Probably not.

And you have that ornament dangling from your ear.

Oh. Sorry.

l think maybe it's a little bit long.

My daughter Jane will make it right for you.

She's a very good girl.

Sarah?

Are you ready to become a part of the past?

All set, boss.

(whirring increases in intensity)

She'll work for us a short while,

and... and then likely be gone.

Where did she come from, Father?

lt's of no consequence, my dear Jane.

She's just an apprentice.

She's waking up.

What happened?

Father says you fainted.

The excitement of the day.

Oh.

Feeling better now, Sarah?

Yeah. l don't know.

Yeah, l guess so.

She's not well.

She should go home.

Oh...

Everything was spinning around.

There was this awful noise.

Maybe l should just go home.

Sarah, l regret that you feel ill,

but if you leave, l can't save the position for you.

Oh.

Okay.

l really do need the job.

l guess l'm all right.

l'll stay.

No wonder the Pilgrims got kicked out of England.

They dressed like total nerds.

The persecution had little to do with dress.

lt was a struggle for the purity of religious belief.

: Oh, save it for the tourists, Jane.

Don't take your job so seriously.

Everybody around here could use a little lightening up.

You must be the new apprentice.

Who are you?

l tend the fields.

l shear the sheep.

l mend the fences.

A man of many talents.

What does my Jane think?

lt's true, Peter.

Oh, back to work.

Yes, Peter.

There's a lot to do before supper.

Boy, he's really got you whipped.

Gotta watch out for those handsome ones.

They always turn out to be such devils.

Please, l don't want you to get in trouble.

All right, l'll give it a whirl.

l'm not the domestic type.

You've never done this before, have you?

: No way.

They have this new thing out now-- prefabricated cloth.

You just go to the store and buy it.

lmagine that.

Here, let me show you.

Now watch.

You know, l think Peter likes me.

We're going to be married next month.

Oops.

Really?

You can't be more than 16.

Why do you want to tie yourself down like that?

Father promised me to him.

That's nuts.

He can't do that.

lt's not even legal.

The Bible says, ''Children, obey your parents and prosper.''

That is the law, Sarah.

Jane, l went to Sunday school, too,

but let's keep this stuff in perspective.

l mean, if your father told you to tie a bag around your head

and go jump in the Charles River, would you do it?

l-l don't think so.

No.

l hope my father would never ask me to do anything

as unreasonable as that.

Mm-hmm. And if he told you to get a gun and shoot

the first person that walked in the door, would you do it?

Of course not.

Why not?

''Children, obey your parents and prosper,'' right?

But that would be madness.

Yes. And so is getting married at 16.

You don't really even know

if Peter's the right guy for you yet.

That yarn hasn't even been touched.

You've done no work all morning.

l'm sorry, Peter.

Her dress was too long.

Don't apologize to him.

You're not the boss.

Be careful, Jane.

You've pricked her.

She did not.

Sarah, please.

Peter, l didn't.

You did.

l saw you prick her.

Are you telling me you didn't feel it?

What is it with you?

What does it matter?

No, l didn't feel it, because she didn't do it.

So, you didn't feel it.

That's enough sewing for now.

Come to the table and eat.

Here's hoping.

Wait!

We'll say grace first.

Grace.