Cavender Is Coming
| "Cavender is Coming" | |
|---|---|
| The Twilight Zone episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 36 |
| Directed by | Christian Nyby |
| Written by | Rod Serling |
| Featured music | Horst Jankowski's A Walk in the Black Forest |
| Production code | 4827 |
| Original air date | May 25, 1962 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
"Cavender is Coming" is episode 101 of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It originally aired on May 25, 1962 on CBS.
Angel Harmon Cavender is assigned to Agnes Grep, a clumsy woman routinely fired from work for her antics. He's supposed to improve her life in 24 hours so he can earn his wings. As he has taken longer than any other angel to earn his wings, failure in this case means demotion.
Cavender appears beside Agnes on her bus ride home. He tries to prove he's her guardian angel by changing the bus into a horse and buggy, then a convertible, and finally back to a bus. Once at home, Agnes is greeted by cookie-loving kids and neighbors who sympathize with her ongoing work woes. When she enters her apartment, she finds Cavender on her couch. He provides her a mansion, high society friends, and a large bank account to fund it all. Instead of bowling (her former social "high point"), she finds herself hosting a lavish party. She is uncomfortably overwhelmed by the high society chatter, largely incomprehensible to her, and by the obsequious affections of the men. Cavender, meanwhile, indulges himself in the alcoholic drinks.
Cavender wakes up on her mansion couch. He doesn't see Agnes anywhere and zaps himself to her old apartment where she glumly tells him that none of her old apartment neighbors recognized her. She tells him she doesn't want to go back to the mansion and wants her old life back. Cavender argues against the idea but finally gives in and zaps her back to her normal life. With excitement, she greets and jokes with all her old friends. She thanks Cavender and he realizes that she's "the richest woman I know" and money doesn't necessarily equal happiness.
Cavender goes up to see his boss who rebukes him for his behavior at the party and for making no change to Agnes's life. However, looking down on Earth the boss sees that though her circumstances are unchanged, Agnes is now happy. He realizes Cavender did complete his mission by making Agnes appreciate what she had, and instead of being demoted, he'll help "other deserving subjects". Cavender takes out a cigar and happily leaves the 3rd Celestial Division Angel Placement.
This episode was originally broadcast with a laugh track – the only Twilight Zone episode to feature one – because this episode was intended as a backdoor pilot for a regular comedy series featuring the Cavender character. The version included in The Twilight Zone – The Complete Definitive Collection DVD set has the laugh track removed. Reruns airing in the U.S. on Sci Fi Channel and ME-TV also have the laugh track removed, as does the version on Netflix.
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