The Talisman of Time

Lore & Background

The Talisman of Time is not a creation of science but of supernatural origin, given to a man named McNulty by a man named Mr. Cooper, who does not disappear but remains present in the scene. The watch functions by pressing a button, freezing the entire world in an instant, leaving only the user conscious and mobile. In the Twilight Zone, such artifacts often carry a moral weight, and this one is no exception—it tempts its owner into selfish acts, from petty pranks to grand theft, without thought for the irreversible nature of a paused universe.

In Their Own Story

Potts, a man whose constant chatter and arrogance have made him a pariah, receives the watch from a shadowy figure who says, 'You'll find a use for it.' At first, he uses it to humiliate his boss and steal money from a bank vault, laughing as he walks through frozen crowds. But when he accidentally drops the watch, it shatters, and time remains frozen forever—leaving him alone in a silent world, the only moving thing among statues of humanity. His final cry echoes unheard.

Reader's Guide

The Talisman of Time is a pocket watch with a single button on its side. When pressed, it instantly halts all motion and activity in the world, freezing every living being, vehicle, and natural process in place. The wielder remains unaffected and can move freely, interact with objects, and even move people or things. Time resumes only when the button is pressed again. The watch is fragile and can be broken if dropped or mishandled. There is no known limit to how many times it can be used, but each use carries the risk of permanent damage. The artifact is wielded by Potts, a talkative and self-centered office worker who receives it from a mysterious benefactor. He uses it for personal gain and amusement, ignoring the stranger's warning about its consequences. The watch's power is absolute but unforgiving—if broken while time is stopped, the pause becomes permanent, trapping the user in a lifeless world.

Did You Know?

• The Talisman of Time was originally a prop watch, but its design was kept simple to emphasize its ordinary appearance.
• The episode's title 'A Kind of a Stopwatch' was inspired by a short story by Michael D. Rosenthal, though the teleplay was written by Rod Serling.
• The frozen world effect was achieved by having actors hold still for long takes, a challenging feat for 1960s television production.
• The watch's destruction is explicitly shown on screen: McNulty drops it, and it breaks with the sound of shattering glass and visibly damaged, leaving McNulty trapped in a frozen world.