The Original Mannequin Challenge. THE AFTER HOURS [S1Ep34] ..."Who do you think you're fooling...?"

Well, the challenge is actually for the mannequins. 

They just want to be a real person for a time. But there are rules. It's only fair.

"Marsha?" "Who do you think you're fooling, Marsha?" "Come on dear, climb off it." "You remember." "Marsha, you know who you are."

In 'The After Hours' the mannequins are capable of fluid, not robotic movements (running, walking) seemingly at will.  They can hold conversations (with each other and humans), cry, feel terror.  The rest of the time they are confined to the department store; dressed and undressed as humans see fit, and at least by day remain perfectly still.  

But these mannequins are a little more like the Replicants (cerca the 1982, Blade Runner movie) with advanced artificial intelligence involved but to a much higher level.  However this is the Twilight Zone so it is more of a perhaps supernaturally endowed sentience that is about equal to humans.

There is an element of creepiness that has been attributed to mannequins (and dolls for that matter).  If one muses about what these very life like mannequins of yesteryear did when no one was looking - the imagination wonders.  Kind of a tree falling in the forest type of scenario.  Perhaps this is why mannequins seem to have changed - evolved if you will.  Not sure if the catalyst was efficiency or use of different materials or removing the creepy factor but I can't remember the last time I've seen life like mannequins - can you?  There are no more painted faces....or even unique face.  Many are headless now - more of a dress form. with no legs or body and no head.  There is as much attention paid to giving them individuality and perhaps some breathe easier because of that - this way there is no chance they could be walking among us.

"Marsha White in her normal natural state.  A wooden lady with a painted face who one month out of the year takes on the characteristics of someone as normal and as flesh and blood as you and I.  But it makes you wonder doesn't it just how normal are we?  Just who are the people we nod our hellos to as we pass on the street.  A rather good question to ask particularly in the Twilight Zone." [Rod Serling - Closing Narrative]

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