One of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes is The Hunt, about an old man named Hyder Simpson and his hound dog, Rip. One night, Mr. Simpson and Rip head out for another coon hunt, despite pleas from his wife, Rachel, to stay home because she’d seen some bad omens. (“Blood on the moon, and then a bird flew in the house and lit on your side of the bed!”)
The hunters depart anyway, and it isn’t long before Rip picks up a scent. He chases his prey onto a tree that has fallen over a deep stream. The coon jumps into the water with Rip right behind. When they don’t come up, Mr. Simpson dives in to save his best friend.
Next we see the pair on the stream’s bank; Mr. Simpson is waking up while Rip sits faithfully at his side. It is now morning and the old hunter tells Rip, “We better hi-tail it home boy, That old woman will have our hides for staying out all night.”
We soon learn that the two in fact did drown in the river. But after passing two boys digging a grave and finding Rachel back at home grieving by a coffin, Mr. Simpson still doesn’t realize his fate. He and Rip follow Rachel, the preacher and the men carrying the coffin to the graveyard, but a fence keeps them out. So they follow the road and soon come upon a gate with what looks like a guard shack on the other side.
A stranger comes out and convinces Mr. Simpson that he’s passed on and has reached the entrance to Heaven. “So you must be St. Peter?” the old man asks.
“It’s true,” comes the evasive answer, “I watch the gate.”
Rip is agitated and trying hard to get away.
Mr. Simpson prepares to enter with Rip when the gatekeeper stops him, saying he can’t bring his dog. “This is folk’s heaven. There’s a place on down the road for dogs.”
Angry and in no way agreeable to parting with Rip, Mr. Simpson says he’ll go to the other place with his dog.
“They won’t let you in,” says the stranger, “it’s for dogs only.”
“A dogs got a right to have a man around just the same as a man has a right to have a dog around,” Mr. Simpson explains, “if he wants to be any ways happy.”
So the two travelers continue on, and soon come across a young man on the path.
“I’m looking for a Mr. Hyder Simpson and a hound dog named Rip,” the man says.
“That’s us.”
“Well if you’re ready, let’s be on our way.”
“Where to?” Mr. Simpson asks.
“Why, to heaven.”
“Like I told that other fellow, I’m not going without Rip. It would be a helluva place without dogs.”
The young man smiles and points, “That is hell. Heaven is up that way.”
“I’ll be darned. How come that fellow would lie to me?”
“Because they don’t ever give up.”
“Well, how come they want to keep Rip out.”
“Because Rip would have warned you. You see, a man will walk right into hell with both eyes open, but not even the Devil can fool a dog.”
“Welcome to Heaven, Mr. Simpson.”
“Thank you son. Proud to be here.”
I’ve seen this episode numerous times but never thought about the meaning of the dog’s name being RIP.
I watched it again after last Friday, which was the day we had to put our old dog and friend Gus to sleep. We had him for 13 years. Rest in peace, old Gussie.