J. Hardy Hempstead

J. Hardy Hempstead

Background

J. Hardy Hempstead is a Guardian Angel. He was responsible for Judah Ben-Hur winning the chariot race.

During the events of The Twilight Zone: Season 1 Episode 33 Mr. Bevis played by Henry Jones

After a terrible day, James B.W. Bevis looks at a mirror in a bar and Hempstead motions to him to sit with him, but when James looks at the table, no one is there. James sits down at the table and Hempstead tells him that he is his guardian angel. He tells him that one of James' ancestors did something extremely courageous and as a reward a guardian angel is assigned to one of his descendants each generation. Hempstead offers to change James' entire day to a more positive one, but with the caveat that James has to make a few changes about himself. James' day starts all over, but the dog he normally pets growls at him. He says hello to Michelle, and she says hello less enthusiastically than usual. He is about to talk to the Landlady about his rent when she thanks him for paying it early. He tries to play football with the kids, but they ignore him and Tony doesn't give him his normal free apple. Hempstead shows him his new modern car and they drive to James' work and he finds he is receiving a raise, but his desk area is boring. James tells Hempstead that he would rather have his old life and Hempstead changes things back. James is fired again, his car is totaled, he is evicted and he goes to the bar to get drunk. He tells the Bartender all the bad things that happened to him, but lists all the things he enjoys. He goes outside the bar and his Rickenbacker appears. A Policeman is about to write him a ticket for it being parked in front of a fire hydrant when it suddenly disappears and reappears next to the Policeman's motorcycle. James notes Hempstead is still watching over him and drives away.