Prepared by
HEURISTIX
Laurie Blass and Pam Elder
Instructional Designers


"Mr. Denton on Doomsday" - Synopsis

BACKGROUND

Writer: Rod Serling; Director: Allen Reisner; Cast: Dan Duryea, Martin Landau, Doug McClure, Malcolm Atterbury, Jeanne Cooper, Ken Lynch, Arthur Batanides, Robert Burton, Bill Erwin; Original air date: First season, 10/16/59.

As the story opens, we see Al Denton, the town drunk, unceremoniously ejected from an old west saloon. Formerly a feared gunslinger, he is now a down-and-out object of ridicule to the town bullies. As a mysterious peddler, Henry J. Fate, observes the scene, a gun materializes within Dentonıs reach. Seeing the gun, one of the saloon bullies challenges Denton to a duel. As if by magic, Dentonıs skill returns and he successfully disarms the man. Dentonıs self respect also returns, he cleans up and stops drinking. When another young gunslinger challenges him, Denton becomes aware that his ability was only temporary. In desperation, he buys a magic potion from the peddler that allows him to shoot accurately for ten seconds after taking it. He realizes, however, that it was his gunslinging skills that led to his downfall in the first place; constantly forced to prove his superiority, he caused the deaths of many men. He enters into the duel with this knowledge weighing on him, only to see that his youthful opponent has exactly the same potion. The equally matched gunmen shoot each other in the wrist, making it impossible for both to ever use a gun again. As the action fades, Denton says, "Weıve both been blessed."


Focus: Using a gift for personal gain or for the benefit of others

Discussion

Before viewing "Where Is Everybody?", discuss the following questions in small groups:
1. What classic Western TV shows or movies are you familiar with? Relate the plots of any that you know. Describe the differences between the "good guys" and the "bad guys". (Consider occupation, appearance, behavior, etc.). How were female characters portrayed? Considering historical facts about the Old West, how accurate were the classic Westerns?
2. Although the theme of "Mr. Denton on Doomsday" is not rooted in any time or place, the setting of the story is the Old West. When you think of the Old West in American history, what comes to mind? How did people in small western towns make their living? What was daily life like for the people who populated the West in the 19th century? What dangers did people face in those days? If someone made a mistake or committed a crime, how likely was it that he or she would be treated fairly or get a second chance?


ACTIVITIES

During Viewing:

As you watch "Mr. Denton on Doomsday", think about the following:
1. Describe Dentonıs character. What kind of person is he? What are his problems? What was he like in the past? How do you know? Why does Denton decide to clean up and stop drinking after successfully disarming the bully? How does he feel about regaining his abilities? In your opinion, does Denton deserve a second chance in life? Why or why not?
2. Describe the other characters in the episode. What kind of people are the men who hang out in the saloon? What kind of person is the woman who works in the saloon? How does she feel about Denton?
3. What does Denton mean when he says after the duel with the young gunman, "Weıve both been blessed"?


After Viewing:

1. Do you know of anyone who has been given a second chance? In small groups, think of people who have made serious mistakes, but who have been given second chances. Consider the cases of private citizens, public figures--both past and present‹or even people you may know. Then answer these questions:

• What mistake did they make?
• How did they go about getting their second chance?
• What was the result of their second chance? Did they make the same mistake again? Or did they choose to improve their lives or the lives of others?
• Why were these people given second chances? Can you think of others who werenıt so fortunate? What was the reason?

2. In your opinion, when is it appropriate for someone to have a second chance? When is it not appropriate? For example, should we consider a personıs age, character, past behavior, background, or life experiences? Is a young person more deserving than an older person? Are some people more likely to learn from getting a second chance than others? Should we consider the nature of the mistake (or the illegal or unethical act) itself? Are some mistakes less serious than others?


In small groups, discuss each of the following transgressions and decide under what circumstances the person might deserve a second chance despite committing them. In each case, the person might face a serious consequence such as dismissal from a committee or a job, a lowered grade, or suspension or expulsion from school.

• A student turns a paper in late.
• A student on a committee fails to do a certain task by an agreed-upon deadline.
• A student steals money from his/her cafeteria job at school.
• A student cheats on an exam.
• A student brings a gun to school.
• A student starts a fight at a school game.

Think of additional examples of a person either deserving or not deserving a second chance, and explain why.

3. Afterwards, compare your ideas with other groups in class. Is there any consistency in your decisions regarding the examples in the list? What circumstances did you have in common in your decision-making?

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