Shades of Guilt

"Shades of Guilt"
The Twilight Zone (2nd revival) episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 3
Directed by	Perry Lang
Written by	Ira Steven Behr
Production code	107
Original air date	September 25, 2002 (2002-09-25)
Guest actors
Hill Harper as Professor John Woodrell Vincent Ventresca as Matt McGreevy Michael Shanks as Donnie

"Shades of Guilt" is the third episode of the science fiction television series 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone. The episode was first broadcast on September 18, 2002, on UPN.

Opening narration

Portrait of Matthew McGreevey, a man who looks in the mirror and sees a decent, upstanding citizen. But appearances can be deceiving and tonight, Matt's about to get a reality check at an intersection known as the Twilight Zone.

Plot

After driving away from a black man named John Woodrell who runs up to his car asking for help, Matt McGreevey returns home. It turns out the man he left was a professor who was being chased and beaten by a group of racist thugs. The man did not survive his injuries and Matt McGreevey is haunted by his decision.

Over the next several days, his appearance slowly changes to resemble John Woodrell. At the point he is no longer recognized by his wife, he flees in his car, but is unable to get a room in a hotel due to his old face being on his identification. He then evades the police, who are now after him for car theft. Not knowing what else to do he goes to the family of the black man to apologize, but fails to find grace.

He spends the night in the street and soon finds himself in the same situation John Woodrell was in. He flees the thugs, and eventually finds someone in a car and begs him for help. The man drives away, leaving Matt McGreevey to be beaten by the racists, but then he comes back and saves Matt. When asked why he saved him, the driver says that it could have happened to him. It is implied in this scene that the man driving is Matt McGreevey and what he experienced was an alternative timeline.

Closing narration

The old saying goes "You don't know a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes." Matt McGreevey went one better. He got to walk in another man's skin. A simple lesson in compassion, courtesy of the Twilight Zone.

Themes

This episode contains a similar storyline to "Opening Day," but has a different ending.

The plot also bears a striking similarity to that of the film Watermelon Man.

External links

• "Shades of Guilt" at IMDb
• "Shades of Guilt" at TV.com