Tooth and Consequences

"Tooth and Consequences" is the third and final segment of the sixteenth episode from the first season (1985–86) of the television series The Twilight Zone.

Plot

Dentist Dr. Myron Mandel has problems with self-esteem. He even feels the necessity to discuss it with office neighbor, psychiatrist Walter Pinkham. Myron states that it feels like his patients shrink from his touch, but the psychiatrist shoos Myron out of his office, trying to convince him to let it go. Upon returning to his own office, Myron tells his receptionist to send home the waiting patients claiming he is sick. The receptionist has had enough of his self-loathing and quits. Myron goes out and dismisses his patients, claiming he's going to do missionary work with Eskimos. In reality, however, he makes the decision to kill himself.

As Myron tries to hang himself, a patient, Lydia, comes to the office looking for a hairbrush she lost the day before. Myron actually gets up the nerve to ask her out, but she rejects him. After Lydia leaves, he again tries to hang himself, but the light fixture, to which he attaches the noose, breaks. He is caught by a burly man who identifies himself as the tooth fairy. When the "tooth fairy" asks Myron if he can do anything for him, he wishes that Lydia would fall madly in love with him and that he would have many patients who would like him. His wish is granted. However, it does not turn out as he had hoped; he becomes tired and overworked and Lydia constantly wants to make love. Myron decides to run away from his new life and boards a freight train. On the train are a group of hobos who identify themselves as ex-dentists. They tell Myron that with them not around, the tooth fairy gets more business.

Closing narration

See also

• List of The Twilight Zone episodes

External links

• "Tooth and Consequences" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Tooth and Consequences" at TV.com