Tales from the Darkside Season 2
01. The Impressionist
An impressionist, "Mr. Personalities," is brought in by the government to try to help them communicate with an alien. Mr. Personalities is at first stumped but finally makes "contact." The alien departs and Mr. Personalities is depressed...until the alien returns for him.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Chuck McCann
Spiffy Remo / Mr. Personalities
Bobby Di Cicco
Dr. Coe
Jack Andreozzi
Pudgy
Claudia Templeton
Hoffgosh
Gene Borkan
Angel
Haskell Barkin
Teleplay
M. Coleman Easton
Story
Armand Mastroianni
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Harvey Rosenstock
Editor
02. Lifebomb
Ben Martin, a rich businessman, is contacted by a special medical firm, "Lifebomb" which offers him an expensive policy that will let him live forever. They give him an implanted device which, every time he "dies," activates and places him in a cocoon until the corporation can arrive and revive him. His wife soon leaves him and since Ben is close to death, the Lifebomb goes off constantly. Tired of life, he finds that he is trapped since Lifebomb refuses to call off the policy so that they can make money off of him.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Bill Macy
Ben Martin
Robert Riesel
Henry Harris
Samantha Harper
Mrs. Lianne Martin
Geneva Simmons
Donna Kern
Patsy Whitecotton
Kellie
Lainie Miller
Nurse
Michael P. Kube-McDowell
Writer
Frank De Palma
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Christopher T. Welch
Editor
03. Ring Around the Redhead
As Billy is waiting to be executed in the electric chair, he relates the bizarre tale of how he came to be in his predicament at the hands of an attractive woman.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
John Heard
Billy Malone
Penelope Ann Miller
Keena
Caris Corfman
Adele
Greg Thornton
Jimbo
John Snyder
Guard
Theodore Gershuny
Writer
John D. MacDonald
Story
Theodore Gershuny
Director
Jon Fauer
Director of Photography
Jeffrey Wolf
Editor
04. Parlour Floor Front
A woman becomes concerned when she discovers that a man that she and her husband rent a room to has been practicing voodoo. Although the man is good intentioned and kind, the woman regards him as a threatening and undesirable tenant. The husband sees the man as a well meaning and harmless, albeit strange individual, a view that is contradictory to his wife's feelings. She decides to hatch a plot to expel the man from her building. When the child that she has been pregnant with miscarries and her cat turns up dead, she blames the incidents on the black magic of the tenant. Guilt-ridden, the tenant hangs himself in his room. When the husband confronts the wife about the incident, the truth soon reveals itself. It was the wife that caused the miscarriage and killed the couple's cat. Disgusted by her malicious actions, the husband leaves her. Later that night, while in bed, the woman is woken by the sound of horrific groans coming up the stairs to her room....
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Adolph Caesar
Mars Gillis
Rosetta LeNoire
Miss Gillis
Donna Bullock
Linda
John Calonius
Doug
Tiffani Caesar
Annette
Carole Lucia Satrina
Writer
Ernest R. Dickerson
Director
Ernest R. Dickerson
Director of Photography
Deborah Shaffer
Editor
05. Halloween Candy
A mean old man harboring an intense hatred for the celebration of Halloween is left alone by his son to hand out candy to the neighborhood children. The old man initially ignores the trick-or-treaters, but later cruelly fills their bags with a mixture of syrup and cleaning fluid. Satisfied, the old man retreats to his armchair to watch television, when a goblin-like creature pays him a visit. The creature relentlessly asks the old man for candy and he eventually shuts himself inside the house to avoid it. He suddenly realizes that he is unable to make phone calls as the goblin continues to stalk him from outside the house. Finally deciding to confront the creature, the old man walks out to the porch, only to discover that the goblin has vanished. He goes back into the house and looks out the window one last time. As he closes the curtain, he is confronted face-to-face by the creature inside the house, who again asks him for candy. Shocked and frightened, he falls to the floor and passe
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Roy Poole
Mr. Killup
David Varnay
Medical Examiner
John Edward Allen
Goblin
Gary Pratt
Children
06. The Satanic Piano
Pete Bancroft is a talented pianist who has lost his inspiration, but is contacted by a mysterious inventor who gives him a piano that lets him play as never before simply by thinking of the music. Bancroft is at first relieved, but soon discovers that the piano must feed on the soul of the woman he loves to retain its powers.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Michael Warren
Pete Bancroft
Lisa Bonet
Justine
Philip Roth
Wilson Farber
Felice Orlandi
Tony
John Harrison
Writer
Carl Jacobi
Story
John Harrison
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Frank De Palma
Editor
07. The Devil's Advocate
A hate-style radio host, Mandrake, spews out venom at anyone who calls in. He soon discovers, however, after receiving calls across all of time that he is dead but that the "Boss," has kept him on since he discourages souls and make them more prone to the "Boss'" influence. Mandrake is unable to leave his broadcast booth and finds himself transforming into a demon as he has to continue broadcasting forever, and ever.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Jerry Stiller
Luther Mandrake
Todd Oleson
Engineer
Patrick L. Farrelly
Telephone Caller (voice)
Karen Shallo
Telephone Caller (voice)
Barbara Holmes
Telephone Caller (voice)
David Early
Telephone Caller (voice)
George A. Romero
Writer
Michael Gornick
Director
Steven Ross
Director of Photography
Deborah Shaffer
Editor
08. Distant Signals
A famous director is surprised when he is approached by a mysterious investor who wants him to finish up a "Fugitive"-like series that he had done twenty years ago that was cancelled before the final episodes were shown. "Mr. Smith" wants the director to put together the old cast and finish it out, for his "foreign viewers". The star, Van Conway, is a drunk but Mr. Smith mysteriously manages to sober him up. They finish up the series, where the viewers find out that the amnesiac lead character was being hunted by his jealous brother. Mr. Smith, satisfied at the symmetry, departs. It's left to Conway to explain what he believes is the truth: Smith is from a planet twenty light-years away. The aliens, which were part of a dual-planet system, became enraptured by the show and so sent their emissary to Earth to finish it so they could see the conclusion.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Lenny Von Dohlen
Mr. Smith
David Margulies
Gil Hurn
Sheila King
Amy
John Bennes
Loomis
Dog Thomas
Grip
Andrew Weiner
Story
Theodore Gershuny
Teleplay
Bill Travis
Director
Jon Fauer
Director of Photography
Brian Q. Kelley
Editor
Deborah Shaffer
Editor
09. The Trouble with Mary Jane
Two occultists are offered $50,000 if they can rid a girl of the multiple demons possessing her, but they soon find themselves in over their heads.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Anita Dangler
Mrs. Nugent
Tanya Fenmore
Mary Jane
Charlotte von Vogt
Miss Brinkly
John Marzilli
Gad (voice)
Edithe Swensen
Writer
T.J. Castronovo
Director
T.J. Castronovo
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Greg Schorer
Editor
10. Ursa Minor
When Joan finds a new teddy bear in her son's room no one seems to know where it came from. Then night after night huge claw marks are found on the walls and the sounds of something very large can be heard moving through the house. It seems that this little bear has a murderous life all its own...
Theodore Gershuny
Writer
John Sladek
Writer
Theodore Gershuny
Director
Jon Fauer
Director of Photography
William Flicker
Editor
11. Effect and Cause
Kate wakes up and discovers that for unknown reasons, her life is now running backwards.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Ben Marley
David
Judith Marie-Bergan
Janet
Gary Hershberger
Jeff
Jay Scorpio
Paramedic
Chip Heller
Paramedic
Michael P. Kube-McDowell
Writer
Mark Jean
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Mark S. Manos
Editor
12. Monsters in My Room
A little boy, Timmy, tries to convince his skeptical parents that there is a horrible monster beneath his bed - they learn too late that he is telling the truth.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Seth Green
Timmy
Beth McDonald
Helen
Elia Braca
Nana
Paula Trueman
Aunt Teresa
Leona Cyphers
Witch
George Kyle
Boogie Man
13. Comet Watch
Englebert Ames, an astronomer, is watching Hailey's Comet and is in for a shock when Sir Edmond Hailey himself arrives - he's been riding "his" comet all these years trying to elude Sarah, the woman pursuing him out of obsessed love.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Fritz Weaver
Dr. Fenner
Anthony Heald
Englebert Ames
Kate McGregor-Stewart
Charlene Ames
Sarah Rush
Lara Burns
Jule Selbo
Writer
Harvey Jacobs
Writer
Warner Shook
Director
Jon Fauer
Director of Photography
Deborah Shaffer
Editor
14. Dream Girl
A group of people find themselves trapped in a scenario with Otto, only to discover that he is a stagehand and they are a theater group all trapped in his dream.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Carolyn Seymour
Andrea Caldwell / Director
Jon Cedar
Syd Grossinger
Lou Cutell
Otto Schrog
Shannon Kriska
Didi
Dawson Mays
Joe D'Amico
Catherine Battistone
Person on Telephone (voice)
Barbara Paul
Story
Timna Ranon
Teleplay
Timna Ranon
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Harvey Rosenstock
Editor
15. A New Lease On Life
A man is overjoyed to find a nice apartment with all the modern conveniences at an incredibly cheap price. The eccentric landlady asks nothing more than for the man to provide her with plenty of garbage for the disposal unit. The man is puzzled when the walls ooze blood after he attempts to hang a picture with a nail and hammer. He is further disturbed when the floor shakes as he hears an ominous roar bellow throughout the building complex. He soon realizes that the building itself is a living entity that survives on the trash created by the tenants. Angered by the situation, the man fills a garbage bag full of household cleaners with the intent of poisoning the entity. He throws the bag into the disposal unit and the creature begins to roar. Suddenly, the landlady confronts the man with her two sons and they throw the man into the disposal, providing the beast with a full course meal.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Robert Rothman
Archie Fenton
Ben Frank
Al
Robert Sutton
Mac
Patricia Pelham
Helen Tanner
Michael McDowell
Writer
Harvey Jacobs
Teleplay
Adam K. Jacobs
Story
John Strysik
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Frank De Palma
Editor
16. Printer's Devil
Junior Harman is a third-rate writer who discovers that his new agent, Mr. Kellaway, can make things happen for him. All it requires is a little blood - a few animals, the occasional bum... Junior is reluctant to go along but he soon finds he has no choice in the matter.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Charles Knapp
Alex Kellaway
Kate Charleson
Brenda Hardcastle
Tony Montesion
Julio
Michael Freeman
Harry Guilford (voice)
Catherine Battistone
Ms. Garcia / Secretary (voice)
John Harrison
Writer
Ron Goulart
Story
John Harrison
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Sean Sullivan
Editor
17. The Shrine
A young woman, Christine, returns home to find her mother cold and distant, and living isolated from everyone else. The woman soon discovers that her mother has summoned up...Chrissie - Christine as a young girl, before she moved away and gained a life of her own. Christine soon finds there is no way she can compete with her mother's idealized image of herself.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Lorna Luft
Christine Matthews
Virginya Keehne
Chrissie
Janet Wood
Toni
Larry Gilman
Chuck Matthews
Jule Selbo
Writer
Pamela Sargent
Story
Christopher T. Welch
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
18. The Old Soft Shoe
Salesman Chester checks into a motel and makes an off-hand pass at a woman. She rejects him, but soon another, jealous woman shows up to haunt him.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Paul Dooley
Chester Caruso
John Fiedler
Arthur the hotel manager
Kathy McLain
Carol
Dorothy Parke
Glenda
Patrick L. Farrelly
Sheriff
Art Monterastelli
Writer
Richard Friedman
Director
Karen Grossman
Director of Photography
Deborah Shaffer
Editor
19. The Last Car
Stacey is on her way home from college and rides the last car on a train. She is soon perplexed by the bizarre behavior of her fellow passengers, including a woman who knows her name despite the fact they've never met. Stacey soon discovers that she, and everyone else, are dead and on a one-way trip from which there is no escape.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Begonya Plaza
Stacey
Mary Carver
Mrs. Crane
Louis Guss
Old Man
Scooter Stevens
Boy
Bert Williams
Conductor
Michael McDowell
Writer
John Strysik
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Christopher T. Welch
Editor
20. A Choice of Dreams
A mob boss suffering from a terminal illness is visited by an odd man who claims that he has the ability to offer the dying a choice of dreams after death. The mob boss is skeptical at first and threatens to kill the man for insulting his intelligence. After some contemplation, he accepts the man's offer and subjects to his medical experimentations. At first, the boss experiences nothing but pleasant memories. However, after a few days, memories of the people he has destroyed through his evil and ruthless lifestyle begin to creep into his dreams. The mob boss reports these dreams to the man and demands that these images not recur after he dies. The man assures the mob boss that the disturbing memories are only a momentary side effect that will subside after further medical alterations. As the mob boss subjects himself to the final operation which will complete the procedure, the horrible memories become permanent, completely taking the place of the pleasant ones. Inside the mob boss's
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Abe Vigoda
Jake Corelli
David Chandler
Michaelson
Ralph Monaco
Angelo
David Glen
Ross
Tracy Kolis
Marie Corelli
James Houghton
Writer
Edward F. Shaver
Writer
Gerald Cotts
Director
Ernest R. Dickerson
Director of Photography
Deborah Shaffer
Editor
21. Strange Love
Dr. Carrol visits the Alcotts and discovers that they are vampire and that wife Marie wants an escape.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Harsh Nayyar
Edmund Alcott
Marcia Cross
Marie Alcott
Patrick Kilpatrick
Dr. Philip Carrol
Edithe Swensen
Writer
Theodore Gershuny
Director
Karen Grossman
Director of Photography
Edmund Ferrell
Co-Editor
Derek Parsons
Editor
22. The Unhappy Medium
The family of a dead preacher show up for a reading of the will but discovers he left them nothing specific. Rather, he warns them on his video-taped will that he will send them a sign.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Carolyn Ann Clark
Jenny
Richard Kuhlman
Jonathan Reed
Peter Miller
Farley Bright
23. Fear of Floating
A hapless yokel, Arnold, runs into an Army recruiting office and asks for help, claiming to float. It turns out that he's telling the truth, but then Mr. Cooper and his pregnant daughter (pregnant by Arnold) show up and demand he do the right thing - it turns out that the more Arnold lies, the more he floats.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Sherman Howard
Arnold Barker
Anne Lange
Cpl. Marcia Smith
Leon Russom
Sgt. Buzz Caldwell
Yeardley Smith
Betty Ann Cooper / Good Time Rita
John Ridge
Mr. Cooper
Scott Edelman
Story
Donald Wollner
Teleplay
John Lewis
Director
Steven Ross
Director of Photography
Tom Crawford
Editor
24. The Casavin Curse
A family finds themselves cursed because of their great grandfather killing his wife, and the curse won't die until they all die too and there is no one else to carry on his name.
Paul Sparer
Narrator
Catherine Parks
Gina Casavin
John Brandon
Lt. Wright
Julie Ariola
Miranda Dean
Scott Lincoln
Dr. Jeffrey Webster
Joe Cortese
Nicholas Casavin
Edithe Swensen
Writer
Frank De Palma
Director
Gideon Porath
Director of Photography
Seth Gaven
Editor
25. The Devil's Advocate on Air with George Romero
A five-minute mini-featurette / commentary in which Romero opines on various aspects of Darkside and social life as pertaining to the "Devil's Advocate" episode. Found on the second season DVD set.
Paul Sparer
Narrator