The Crossing (The Twilight Zone)
"The Crossing" is the thirty-eighth episode and the third episode of the third season (1988–89) of the television series The Twilight Zone. In this episode, a parish priest is consumed by guilt over his failure to save a woman from a car crash.
| "The Crossing" | |
|---|---|
| The Twilight Zone episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 38 |
| Directed by | Paul Lynch |
| Written by | Ralph Phillips |
| Original air date | October 1, 1988 |
| Guest appearances | |
| Ted Shackelford: Father Mark Cassidy Gerard Parkes: Monsignor Perrault Bunty Webb: Maggie Shelagh Harcourt: Kelly | |
Plot
Parish Priest to St. Timothy's Church Father Mark Cassidy is raising funds to open a children's wing at a local hospital. Maggie, his housekeeper and cook, is concerned over his not eating or getting enough sleep. Moreover, he is haunted by visions of a red station wagon caught in a crash with a woman named Kelly trapped inside. Mark was also in the car but was thrown clear during the collision. At the parish, Mark is visited by Monsignor Perrault, who is not only concerned about the fundraiser, but also knows about Mark's visions. He feels Mark needs a vacation but Mark is preoccupied with his other duties, including religious education, and says he cannot leave until the fundraiser has reached its goal.
The children's wing is fully funded and dedicated to Mark. Perrault says Mark is now free to take a vacation, and has been ordered by the bishop to do so, assuring Mark that he has put St. Timothy's and the community back on its feet and it will stand on its own. Unsure of what to do now that his mission is accomplished, Mark confesses to God at the church that he believes he could have saved Kelly and failed to act out of cowardice, and that he does not believe he can be forgiven and wants only release from his pain.
The next day, from his office Mark once again sees the station wagon with Kelly in the front passenger seat. He goes outside, enters the vehicle with Kelly, and drives away. The accident occurs, but this time Mark is killed while Kelly survives. She attends Mark's funeral and puts a rose on his coffin.