"Examination Day" is the first segment of the sixth episode from the first season (1985–86) of the

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

''. The segment is based on the short story "Examination Day" by

Henry Slesar Henry Slesar (June 12, 1927 – April 2, 2002) was an American author, playwright, and copywriter. He is famous for his use of irony and twist endings. After reading Slesar's "M Is for the Many" in ''Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine'', Alfre ...

. The story was first published in ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' is an American men's Lifestyle magazine, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from H ...

'' (February 1958).

Plot

Dickie Jordan is an intelligent and curious youth. He and his family live in a dystopian future. On Dickie's twelfth birthday, he is required by law to undergo an intelligence examination. Dickie's birthday wish is to do well on his exam. As Dickie gleefully tells his parents how he was told by an older friend that the test is easy and that he's sure he will pass it, his parents appear stressed and avoid his questions. When the time comes, they bring him to a government testing facility. There he is given a serum to ensure he tells the truth and given a series of intelligence assessment questions. After the test is complete, Dickie's parents are contacted by the government and told that Dickie's intelligence exceeded the legal limit and so he was executed. The parents burst into tears as the government examiners ask them how they would like to handle their son's remains: whether his body should be interred by the government, or if they would prefer a private burial.

Reception

The ''

Evening Independent The ''Evening Independent'' was St. Petersburg, Florida's first daily newspaper. The sister evening newspaper of the '' St. Petersburg Times'', it was launched as a weekly newspaper in March 1906 under the ownership of Willis B. Powell. In Nov ...

'' wrote that the episode was "a bit predictable, but the reason for the tragic climax was a shock".

References

External links

* {{The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series) episodes 1985 American television episodes The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series season 1) episodes Dystopian television episodes Television shows based on short fiction fr:QI mortel