Night Gallery

welcome ladies and gentlemen to an

exhibit of the eerie in the oddball our

first offering this evening faces paint

pigment and desperation the quiet

desperation of men over 40 who keep

hearing footsteps behind them and are

torn between a fear and a compulsion to

look over their shoulders the painting

is called they're tearing down Tim

Reilly's bar

hold the line please may I help you sir

Randy not back yet

no he had several meetings outside with

some room outside martinis when's he due

back miss Olga I have to talk to him

about the Koster order I'm right on top

of that myself mr. Brittain I can give

any information you need sir

I thought Elaine was handling that well

I've pretty much taken it over mr.

Pritikin got a full report on my desk

just give me a minute now get it

where is he miss Olga well he mentioned

several meetings outside I know that

most of his business of late seems to be

outside tell him I want to see him when

he gets back at the Karsten material

right here mr. Pitkin in the office mr.

Pitkin yes today is mr. lanes 25th

anniversary its anniversary man's been a

widower for 18 years 25 years with the

company I wasn't aware of that

I only broach it sir because maybe

someone someone in the firm took him to

lunch is something just a little

celebration

antwon's

is mr. Lane there what did he come in

for lunch I see but he's not there now

well if he does come in would you please

tell him to call his office right away

yes this is a secretary thank you

how do madam can I interest you in our

line of plastics it's three o'clock so

it is inexorable time and its flight but

what does that well this is a very

special day I know on this day 25 years

ago having conquered Europe for General

Eisenhower and President Truman i doffed

my khakis and enlisted in the cause of

prett king's plastic products 25 years

miss Olga

it's quarter century so what the devil

fella can't get a little soft on that

kind of anniversary I say what good is

motherhood and the flag father any

messages

yes mr. Pritam was looking for the car

Astaire or Durand mr. dumb to get into

it mister don't tuck it into him

johnny-on-the-spot down with assistants

like that who needs assassins but you

did most of that report well what's the

difference you see before you miss

Alcott a man too old and sat in his ways

and at the moment a little too deep in

his cops to do war with the Young Turk

in the cubicle immediately to my left

you know where I've been for the past

hour standing on the sidewalk in front

of Tim Reilly's bar that doesn't mean

anything T doesn't shoot it

it's just an old eyesore that they're

gonna tear down pretty soon and put up

mmm 20 story bank building with

underground parking lot and fluorescent

lights and glass walls and and

high-speed self-service elevators and I

wouldn't be surprised if they piped in

music too right in the lobby and year

from now no one will remember that Tim

Riley had a bar right on their corner or

that he sold beer for a nickel a glass

or that he kept snooker tables in the

back or they had a big Nickelodeon on

which you could play three Glenn Miller

writers for a dime hmm it occurred to me

the thought occurred to me that there

should be some sort of a ceremony maybe

just a convocation of former beer

drinkers and Tim Reilly fans to hang

with maybe say a few words farewell

Timothy Reilly's bar meant aeroplanes

and rumble seats saddle shoes and Helen

Forrest Triple C camps and Andy Hardy

and Lum and Abner

in the world's champion New York Yankees

rest in peace you age of innocence your

beautiful serene carefree pre Pearl

Harbor long summer night we shall not

look upon your life's again bear with me

please miss out guitar yeah well they're

going to tear down Tim Reilly's bar and

no matter how silly and sentimental that

sounds I have lost some what he says for

have a good lunch dandy I took the

Carstairs stuff into the old man he was

getting kind of anxious good on you made

a few embellishments I hope you don't

mind

be my guest that sales pitch you had any

opening I had to touch that up quite a

bit touch your way lad touch away you

put me on me putting you on why would I

possibly want to do that well usually

when I try to be a little independent

you step on me usually when you try to

be a little independent you're too

flamboyant too artsy craftsy and

noticeably dishonest I step on you don't

ooh keep you within 10 feet of mother

earth now I'll admit you're a hotshot

peddler but unless you are mildly

restrained you'll soon be claiming the

moon takes a while doesn't it to do what

to get a rise out of you young master

don't who has to draw blood before the

six o'clock whistle or else he goes home

and kicks his teddy bear all right pat

yourself on the back you've gained a

point you pricked me you finally rile

the old bull but remember there is a

pecking order around here you are still

outrank you are still my assistant you

are some private altercation or uh may I

involve myself I think we might excuse

you Misaka I'm sure you have some work

to do

well done it really wasn't anything sir

mr. Lane was just reminding me of his

seniority well then perhaps mr. Lane

should be reminded the seniority doesn't

come from merely putting in time not on

this fall Club I judge a man by his

current record not last season's batting

average you mean what am i done for you

lately

precisely and what you've done for us

lately isn't very much oh you put in

time but not much else

protracted lunch periods considerable

martini drinking and Don precious little

muster cut category Lane your assistant

here has left you winning at the

starting gate I want this understood

your performance Lane has deteriorated

your sales have slipped your entire

attitude has become sloppy I suggest a

trial period during which both you and

mr. dome will share the director spot

he'll no longer be answerable to you oh

you can consult each other but any ideas

he has of his own he's free to follow

that understood clearly

incidentally I reminded this is your

25th year with the company

this little unpleasantly notwithstanding

I just want you to know that you have my

congratulations I hope the next 25 years

bring bigger and better things something

else was there perhaps you're waiting

for the funeral oration look young mr.

dhowan why don't you and I just level

with each other I'm on the way down you

are on the way up we're just passing

each other in midair I'm looking at a

threat you were looking at an obstacle

and that is a lousy basis for any mutual

friendly back scratching

can I get you something I had in mind a

fancy gold watch properly engraved on

this anointed day something like well

done good and faithful servant you know

anointed day like this a man shouldn't

have to spend the evening alone I've got

a steak in the freezer saved for special

occasions and a couple of Idaho is

suitable for baking and a great salad

dressing I make myself what do you say I

say that you are a very dear lady I say

thank you about no thanks why not hold

the syndrome of the 25-year man who did

not get the gold watch he's too full of

himself he's too sorry for himself and

he makes a lousy company another time

miss Alcott you are a good lady that's

because I work for a very good guy

that close Bobby don't I know it

yeah I know how you feel the first

arrest I ever made in tim Riley's body a