- Narrator: [opening narration] Once upon a time, there was a psychiatrist named WIlliam Gillespie and a patient whose name was Peter Jenson. Mr. Jenson walked into the office 9 minutes ago. It is 11:00 Saturday morning, October 4th, 1958. It is perhaps chronologically trite to be so specific about an hour and a date, but involved in this story is a time element.
- Dr. Arnold Gillespie: Who's the guy in the picture?...
- Bartender at Andy's: Oh, that's Pete Jenson, he used to tend bar here. Know him?
- Dr. Arnold Gillespie: Jenson? No, he just looked familiar, that's all. Where's he now?
- Bartender at Andy's: He's dead. He was killed at Pearl Harbor.
- Host: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. Tonight we're going to see a story written by Rod Serling, and starring William Bendix. Our story begins in a doctor's office. A patient is sitting there. He walked into this office 9 minutes ago.
- Narrator: [closing narration] It is October 4, 1958. Saturday, 12:10 PM. If anyone is remotely interested in the element of time.