The Ninth Floor

There is an old episode of The Twilight Zone which contains some very poignant symbolism. The title of the episode is "The After Hours". The story, in brief:

"When Marsha White gets off the express elevator on the ninth floor of the department store, she finds it a desolate place where the lone piece of merchandise is a gold thimble. She buys it, although the saleslady, who appears familiar, is extremely rude. As Marsha returns to the first floor, she notices that the thimble is scratched, but when she complains, she’s told that the store does not have a ninth floor. Looking around, Marsha spots the salesgirl who sold it to her, only to discover the figure is just a mannequin. Beset with panic, Marsha's assisted into an inner office where she falls asleep. When she wakes up, the mystery of the ninth floor will be revealed."

** Spoiler Alert **

Those who wish to find out for themselves how the story ends should stop reading now and view the entire half-hour episode here (you'll be allowed to skip the occasional commercial). Others may read on.

Marsha spots the saleslady from behind and goes to speak with her. To her shock, she sees that the woman is a store mannequin. She begins to hear voices that appear to emanate from other store mannequins. They are all calling her name. In panic, she stumbles onto the express elevator and is transported to the empty ninth floor once more. The story wraps up as follows:

"There, she gradually realizes that the mannequins are alive, trying to help her, and that she is also a mannequin. It is explained to her that each mannequin takes turns going out into the world to live among the humans for one month every year, but Marsha had enjoyed her stay among "the outsiders" so much that she lost her identity and forgot her true nature. Being with the other mannequins, she realizes that she is back in her natural place, which allows the next mannequin in line—the female salesclerk—to go out and live among the humans for thirty days. As the other mannequins bid farewell to the salesclerk, the sailor asks Marsha if she enjoyed her time among the humans. She says she had "ever so much fun, ever so much fun." As Marsha fondly recalls her brief sojourn out among the humans, and with a passing expression of regret, confusion, and a small sigh, she and the sailor assume their natural posing postures, and grow rigid as mannequins." 

Somehow, Rod Serling, the author of this teleplay, managed to tap into a great Truth regarding man's existence on the physical plane. The department store symbolizes the dynamic, physical world, the Seventh Cosmic Domain. The non-existent ninth floor represents the static Divine realm, the Sixth Cosmic Domain.

As microcosmic personalities, we are but temporary sojourners here in the physical world. Man was never meant to remain here indefinitely in the physical realm. Yet, due to Forgetfulness, Man believes that this world is his home, and clings to it tenaciously. Man works to make a "paradise "of this temporary domain, then cries in anguish when everything repeatedly goes up in smoke. Because he has forgotten, he does not realize that everything is supposed to fall apart in the physical realm. Nothing is lasting. There can be no permanence in a temporary realm.

Immersed in his delusion, Man will search for something, he knows not what. In the above story, that "something" is the gold thimble which, if you haven't considered it by now, represents the Divine Spark in man. Notice how the gold thimble can only be found on a floor that does not exist (i.e., a plane other than the physical plane). Also note the still, small voices that sound The Call for Marsha to "come home".

A neat little story, one that carries a message for mankind but a message disguised as a fantasy. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear will recognize that this story is not a fantasy, but a Remembrance brought into physical manifestation by Mr. Serling to stir something in the hearts of those who may happen to view the show. Understand the key point of this story:

This physical realm is not the reality. Our reality lies in what has been told to us is "not reality". Be advised that this earth-life is the dream that we must awaken from, and that our liberated brothers and sisters remain ever-watchful, waiting for us to heed The Call and return Home.

~ g
.