In the Twilight Zone reboot, Season 1, episode 21 titled "Need to Know," a town is plagued by a mysterious illness... or rather, something that is driving everyone mad. So a special investigator is sent to find out what is happening.
Unfortunately the investigator, Edward Sayers, is about to unwillingly find out the cause of the illness--and the meaning to all existence. After traveling to Jeffrey Potts' house, the suspected source of the madness, he bumps into the man who just returned form The Orient and the following conversation takes place.
Jeffery: I am Jeffery Potts. Edward: How do you do? My name is Sayers. Edward Sayers. Jeffery: Do you like my house Mr. Sayers? Edward: Well I uh... yes. Yes I do. Very much. How long have you been working on it? Jeffery: Oh... two, three months now. Ever since I got back. Edward: Back from where? Jeffery: The Orient. I went to study. I think I was going to write a book, I don't recall exactly. But then I found out and it didn't really matter any more.
Edward: Found out what? Jeffery: The meaning Mr. Sayers, the meaning. Edward: The meaning of what? Jeffery: Everything. Man's purpose and destiny. Life after death. God. Devil. Existence. Everything. And it is so simple. It is all so very simple. You want to know?
You'll have to watch the episode to find out what happens next... but don't expect any big revelations as the audience is speared from the contagion.
At the end the narrator elaborates in classic Twilight Zone fashion.
Narrator: Man's a questioning creature. Constantly striving for answers. But there is some knowledge for which he is not yet ready. Secrets that once learned overwhelm him. Secrets that are best left for now undisturbed... in the Twilight Zone.
So what do you think? Did the Twilight Zone get it right? Will knowing the answer to the meaning of life drive us mad? Or perhaps just the search?