History Recap / TheTwilightZone1959S5E1InPraiseOfPip

During UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, young soldier Private Pip Phillips (Robert Diamond) is critically wounded and doctors don't expect him to live much longer. Back in the U.S., his father Max (Creator/JackKlugman), a small-time bookie, learns this news at a delicate time: his boss Moran is annoyed at him because he refunded the $300 that George, a naive boy about Pip's age, used to bet on a horse which Max had recommended, leading George to get seriously roughed up by Moran's minions. After hearing that his son is dying, Max gets an epiphany about his lifestyle and helps George escape, but gets shot in the abdomen in the process.

During UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, young soldier Private Pip Phillips (Robert Diamond) is critically wounded and doctors don't expect him to live much longer. Back in the U.S., his father Max (Creator/JackKlugman), a small-time bookie, learns this news at a delicate time: his boss Moran is annoyed at him because he refunded the $300 that George, a naive boy about Pip's age, used to bet on a horse that Max had recommended, leading George to get seriously roughed up by Moran's minions. After hearing that his son is dying, Max gets an epiphany about his lifestyle and helps George escape, but gets shot in the abdomen in the process.

During UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, young soldier Pip Phillips is critically wounded and doctors don't expect him to live much longer. Back in the U.S., Pip's father Max, a small-time bookie, learns this news at a delicate time: his boss Moran is annoyed at him because he refunded the $300 that George, a naive boy about Pip's age, bet on a horse that Max had recommended, leading George to get seriously roughed up by Moran's minions. After hearing that his son is dying, Max gets an epiphany about his lifestyle and helps George escape, but gets shot in the abdomen in the process.

The hotel where this goes down happens to be across the street from an amusement park where Max used to take Pip as a child. Max staggers to its gates (which are locked, since it's nighttime) and begs God to give him one last chance to talk to his son. Magically, a 10-year-old Pip appears and the amusement park lights up and functions even though there's no one there. Max's wound also evaporates and the two spend a happy hour at the park, but then Pip says he must leave because he's dying. Max apologizes for his failings as a father, and swears he'll change his ways, but Pip still vanishes in the mirror maze. Max turns to God again, offering his life in exchange for Pip's. Some time later, the adult Pip (walking with a cane) visits the park and reminisces about his late father.

This episode marks the last of [[YouLookFamiliar several appearances]] of both Jack Klugman and Bill Mumy on the series, playing Max and young Pip respectively.

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->'''Creator/RodSerling:''' Very little comment here, save for this small aside: that the ties of flesh are deep and strong; that the capacity to love is a vital, rich, and all-consuming function of the human animal. And that you can find nobility and sacrifice and love wherever you may seek it out: down the block, in the heart or in the Twilight Zone.

* OutlivingOnesOffspring: Losing your son in a war that "isn't even supposed to be a war," as Max points out. Also, the general fear of being a bad parent.

->Very little comment here, save for this small aside: that the ties of flesh are deep and strong; that the capacity to love is a vital, rich, and all-consuming function of the human animal. And that you can find nobility and sacrifice and love wherever you may seek it out: down the block, in the heart or in the Twilight Zone.

* AdultFear: Losing your son in a war that "isn't even supposed to be a war," as Max points out. Also, the general fear of being a bad parent.

* BittersweetEnding: Max dies, but Pip lives, and despite everything still has fond memories of his father.

* MeaningfulEcho: "You're my best buddy, Pop."

!!Tropes:

During UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, young soldier Pip Phillips is critically wounded and doctors don't expect him to live much longer. Back in the U.S., Pip's father Max, a small-time bookie, learns this news at a delicate time: his boss is annoyed at him because he refunded the $300 that George, a naive boy about Pip's age, bet on a horse that Max had recommended, leading George to get seriously roughed up by the boss's minions. After hearing that his son is dying, Max gets an epiphany about his lifestyle and helps George escape, but gets shot in the abdomen in the process.

* {{Landlady}}: Max's landlady, Mrs. Feeney, is a kindly soul who later accompanies Pip to the park.

In UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, young soldier Pip Phillips is critically wounded and doctors don't expect him to live much longer. Back in the U.S., Pip's father Max, a small-time bookie, learns this news at a delicate time: his boss is annoyed at him because he refunded the $300 that George, a naive boy about Pip's age, bet on a horse that Max had recommended, leading George to get seriously roughed up by the boss's minions. After hearing that his son is dying, Max gets an epiphany about his lifestyle and helps George escape, but gets shot in the abdomen in the process.

* EvilDebtCollector: One gets his hands on George and leaves him with an extremely bruised face.
* GoodTimesMontage: Jack and Pip's adventure in the amusement park is shown this way.

* NeverBringAGunToAKnifeFight: Max manages to overpower both his boss ''and'' his boss's henchman with his folding knife, even though the latter has a gun. In fairness, Max does get a bullet wound.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: While Max plans to reform his life, he ultimately sacrifices it for his son.

In the UsefulNotes/VietnamWar, young soldier Pip Phillips is critically wounded and doctors don't expect him to live much longer. Back in the U.S., Pip's father Max, a small-time bookie, learns this news at a delicate time: his boss is annoyed at him because he refunded the $300 that George, a naive boy about Pip's age, bet on a horse that Max had recommended, leading George to get seriously roughed up by the boss's minions. After hearing that his son is dying, Max gets an epiphany about his lifestyle and helps George escape, but gets shot in the abdomen in the process.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Max is a con man and a flawed father, but he truly loves his son, and he takes pity on George.

* AdultFear: Losing your son in a war that "isn't even supposed to be a war," as Max points out.
* TheAlcoholic: Max. One of his regrets how he missed out on time with Pip because he was drunk.