Again, a great twist ending to a fine modern cautionary tale.

I think the point of this story is the ending...they are going to earth, a safe haven. In the 60's I can remember people were building bomb shelters and getting ready should there be an atomic war. So the ending makes you think is the world they land on going to be any different?

Certain that a nuclear war is coming, a scientist and a pilot plot to steal an experimental spaceship and escape with their families to another planet. They are almost stopped by a government agent, but manage to overpower him and escape. The voyagers wonder what the new planet will be like. They know its name is Earth!

Looking back, I can see how some people predicted the ending. Twilight Zone was way before my time, so the usual giveaways didn't spoil it for me (I figured there may have been a phone that rang like that, or a card game played like that.) This episode really builds tension, particularly Sturka's wife's nervousness (shaking as she pours the lemonade) Very suspensful. Intriguing to watch the government agent toying with them, as he knows what they're up to but decides to play with their minds, giving out subtle clues that he knows in the process.

I agree with Irish on this one. Even as a kid I remember seeing big holes in the science. Entertaining but not one of the greats.

Sloppy science in the script always irritates me when I watch this episode. A decent, if not startlingly original concept that generally misses the boat.