A Hundred Yards Over the Rim - Recap

A wagon train travels across the Old West of 1847 in the New Mexico Territories, led by Christian Horn and heading for California. He calls the train to a halt and checks on his son, who is on his eleventh day of fever. One of the other settlers, Charlie, insists that the others want to turn back before they die of starvation and thirst. Christian warns against it and insists he'll find them water. He heads over the nearby rim to scout out for possible supplies, and tells them to stay close. He crosses over the rim... and finds a 20th century highway and electrical lines.



Christian calls back to Charlie and the others but there's no sign of the wagon train. He comes down to the highway and a truck passes by. Christian throws himself to the side as it goes by, injuring his arm when his gun goes off. Confused, he continues down the road until he comes to a gas station and cafe. He talks to the owner, Joe, who thinks he's nuts when Christian starts talking about monsters and Indians and wagon trains. Joe takes him in so his wife Mary Lou can take a look at Christian's injury. He asks about Indians as Joe admires his "antique" gun and offers him a glass of water. As Christian stares in awe and wonder at the technology, Joe asks where he's from. Christian says he came from Ohio and is looking for water, and Joe says there's a natural spring nearby. Mary Lou offers him penicillin for the infection and Christian realizes he can use it for his son. As he explains about his wagon train, he sees a calendar showing the year 1961. He wonders who they are and where he is.



The couple call in the local doctor, who examines Christian and concludes he's suffering from malnutrition but has antique fillings and totally believes in his life and can relate it in complete detail. The doctor believes that Christian is suffering from a complete delusion and calls in the sheriff to take care of him. Christian comes out carrying an encyclopedia which shows that his son Christian Jr. grew up to become a researcher of childhood diseases and died in 1914. Christian takes the pills and leaves. When Joe tries to stop him, Christian knocks him aside and runs out and back toward the rim. The sheriff and Joe drive up toward the rim after him and Christian staggers up toward the edge, dropping his rifle... and crosses over. Joe and the sheriff arrive a second later only to discover that he's vanished.



Christian sees the wagon train just where it was before. Looking back, he sees no sign of the highway or the future. He asks his wife where they went but she has no idea what he's talking about and he's only been gone a few seconds. He gives his wife the penicillin for their son and assures Charlie that there'll be an amazing future... and they'll make it happen.



In 1961, the sheriff and Joe return to the cafe. The sheriff goes to organize a search while Joe considers Christian's rifle. He shows it to Mary Lou and they realize that it's aged a hundred years in seconds. Joe explains that Christian disappeared, and they wonder where he went. Meanwhile, Christian leads the wagon train, including his recovering son, toward the nearby natural water.



Share this article with your friends