Strange Holiday

Stevenson and three children decorate the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, a warm family moment before the story's danger unfolds. The scene sets a peaceful tone and contrasts with the looming tensions of what is to come. The ritual of lights and ornaments acts as a quiet anchor for his memories.

Stevenson climbs into a small plane with an old friend for a fishing and camping holiday in a remote area. The mood is light as the trip begins, with the promise of escape from everyday pressures. The journey through the sky foreshadows the sudden turn of events.

On Friday the 13th, they head home, hopeful for a safe return. The date adds a sense of bad luck to the voyage. The flight soon encounters trouble, setting the stage for a disaster.

The plane develops problems and crashes in a remote field. Stevenson and the others scramble to assess injuries and survival. The crash shatters their plans and leaves them stranded in a desolate landscape.

At a farmhouse, the farmer refuses to let them in or use the phone, leaving the group increasingly isolated. They plead for help, but the door stays shut and the dial tone remains silent. The refusal signals a breakdown of trust and community support.

A truck driver offers Stevenson a ride into town for $20, but he remains oddly guarded and uninformative. The driver's hostile attitude hints at a broader hostility toward the characters. Stevenson accepts the ride, hoping to regain contact with the outside world.

The main street is eerily empty, lacking the usual crowds and businesses. Stevenson encounters Miss Simms, his secretary, who refuses to talk. The silence of the town deepens the sense that something is terribly wrong.

Back at his office, Stevenson finds it deserted and abandoned. Regan, the building manager, explains that they thought Stevenson was dead but won't say why the business isn't operating. The absence of staff and activity underscores a city-wide disruption.

Stevenson goes home and cannot find his wife or children anywhere. Two men grab him when he resists going with them, and he is knocked unconscious with a cosh. The abduction suggests organized efforts against him.

He awakens in a jail cell, where another prisoner offers him water and explains that the American Constitution has been altered by those now in power. Stevenson is brought before an examiner who denies him a lawyer and demands answers.

In a methodical interrogation, he is tied to a table and beaten until he can barely rally his thoughts. The examiner outlines the new order: no religion, no free speech, and punishment for non-conformity. Stevenson realizes he has become an enemy of the state.

Locked in his cell, he dreams of an alternate future—a peaceful picnic with a different family and his daughter grown up and being courted. The dream presents a stark contrast to the oppressive reality.

The scene shifts back to the camping trip, and Stevenson wakes up, realizing the sequence was a bad dream. The nightmare twist reframes the earlier peril as a product of his imagination.