Originally Posted by
fuego
I mean it's been a LONG time since I've seen it. I had it recorded from this year's marathon, but it happened to be showing the SY FY channel.
I did not remember the ending as it really is. Of course know he opened the emergency hatch and shot the thing he thought he saw several times. I had even forgotten about that. I had always remembered the ended as everybody thinking he was crazy, and then the camera showing where the thing had torn open part of the engine covering. End of story, they thought he was nuts.
BUT, as he's on the stretcher, his wife says, "It's all right now darling." And he kinda lifts up with a knowing smile/look on his face and says, "I know. But I'm the only one who does know...right now." And lies back down. Then the camera pans and pulls back to where a part of the engine covering had been ripped off and Rod Serling says (leaving the first part out), "...Mr Wilson has that fear no longer (of mental breakdown). Though for the moment he is as he said, alone in his assurance. Happily his conviction will not remain isolated too much longer. For happily tangible manifestation is very often left as evidence of trespass, even from so intangible a quarter, as the Twilight Zone.
So it's actually a happy ending letting you know that soon enough they will see the evidence and know he was telling the truth and wasn't crazy. I thought it was s depressing story all these years, and it actually ends with hope. I don't think I really ever paid attention enough to the final narration to realize that. lol.