Original Airdate: June 22, 1997
1) Needle Point
Rebecca works as a secretary for a rather atrocious employer, who always blames her when things go wrong in his day-to-day business, such as coffee that is too hot, losing clients, and misplacing airline tickets. Trying to get out of her position, Rebecca makes dolls and sells them around her office building, hoping to make enough one day to leave. What her employer doesn't know is that Rebecca also dabbles in voodoo, and once a doll of him is done, she sticks it in the arm with a pin - at the same time, he clutches his arm in pain. Rebecca muses that perhaps it won't be nearly as bad waiting this job out anymore.
This story was going pretty well, but the ending seemed rather abrupt. Just one stick with a pin, and the boss's arm is in pain. That's it. While it definitely counts as a resolution, no doubt, it occurred so suddenly, and then - boom - the story's over. What I would have liked more is to see Rebecca's reaction when she realizes that the voodoo doll actually works. When it's all said and done, it was a good story - it just left me wanting more. I rated this "False."
Rating for story: Average
2) Toy to the Rescue
Amanda's brother Kevin has been sick and prone to dizziness most of his life, only to get worse once their mother passed away in a car crash. Since then, Kevin's always held on to the last thing his mother gave him - a stuffed bear with a cape, named Superbear. One day, Amanda's worse fear occurs - Kevin collapses, and is taken to the hospital. A few hours later, he dies. Both her father and and her are stunned, but on a whim, Amanda takes Superbear to the hospital to put it with her dead brother. Seconds later, he begins to move, and seemingly comes back to life.
Toy to the Rescue is one of those segments which isn't meant to be scary, tense, suspenseful, or all of the above. It's meant to be emotional, and I would say it does a decent job. Amanda and her father both show powerful emotion after Kevin died, and while the father doesn't understand why Amanda wants Kevin to have Superbear, still helps her get to him. I rated this as "True."
Rating for story: Above Average
3) Mystery Lock
Bradley, scared that his elderly Aunt Connie's apartment is too unsafe, insists she get a new lock, one that needs a key to unlock it on the inside. Interestingly enough, though, whenever Connie is in danger, whether she knows it or not, she is unable to open her door, as though it is protecting her. This happens twice, and Connie simply doesn't understand why it occurs. The third time, Bradley comes over, frantic, needing to get into the apartment (to grab money to pay a drug dealer, I believe the reason was). Trying as hard as she could, Aunt Connie was again unable to get the door open. Bradley later revealed that the drug dealer had considered Connie a threat, and as such, were planning on killing her once inside. Again, for the third time, the lock saves her life.
This was a good story for two reasons: first, the plot itself was pretty solid. The idea of a guardian lock is pretty intriguing, and I felt that it worked out pretty well. The little vignettes of danger Connie is protected from come across as realistic also, which is useful. And speaking of Connie, her actress is the second reason this story was enjoyable. Ellen Albertini Dow is a face you may know from various cameos throughout both television (Judging Amy) and movies (Patch Adams). She has the cute, elderly act down pat, and she's a deeply lovable character in this story, and I can't help but be reminded of the stereotypical grandmother, which is oddly heartwarming. Alas, Dow passed away just earlier this year on May 4, 2015 at the age of 101. I rated this story "False"
Rating for story: Above Average
4) The House on Baker Street
Tiffany and her boyfriend Tom seemingly love each other - the only problem being that Tiffany's father has an intense dislike for Tom, partly because three years prior, he broke the law when he stole a car. He feels that Tom's a bad influence for his daughter, and wants them to break up. Tiffany, of course, being a teenage girl, is hearing nothing of it. After some strange going on's in the house, such as Tiffany believing someone was watching her sleep, Tiffany's mother finds out that years back, a family lived in the same house, the father a banker. His daughter was dating one Steven Bennett, whom he deeply disliked. When he forbade his daughter from seeing Steven again, Steven set the house on fire as revenge, and was shot by the police. Just that night, Tom sneaks into Tiffany's house with her, and are discovered by her father, who, much as the banker did years ago, forbade his daughter from seeing Tom again. Later, a figure is seen, torch in hand in front of Tiffany's, who turns out to be Tiffany, her eyes glowing, as though possessed by Steven Bennett (as suggested by the narrator).
This may be one of the few times I say this about a Beyond Belief: Fact of Fiction segment, but I personally felt this was a bit convoluted. They tried to fit a lot in there, such as a haunted house, possession, and yet, still focused on the Romeo and Juliet-like love between Tiffany and Tom. It may have been better constructed if they had more time, but as it stands, it sort of just falls flat. It's not bad, by any means, but it's about as average as a story can get. I said this was "True."
Rating for story: Average
5) The Train
An actor in the mid-1850's happens to save a young student from potential death at a train station by pulling him up from the rails once he falls off the ledge. Coincidentally, the actor in question was Edwin Booth (brother of John Wilkes Booth), and the student was Robert Lincoln (son of Abraham Lincoln). Just months later, John Wilkes Booth assassinates Abraham Lincoln.
This story was actually told to us by Brolin himself, and not preformed by actors. Why they took this route, I am not at all sure, but it's sort of a nice footnote to the episode, and a little more low-key and calming than usual. I'm a history minor at college, and as I've not heard this story before, I rated it "False."
Rating for story: Above Average
This episode borders between average and above average. Ultimately, I'll say it's above average, but it's pretty close. Some of the stories just fail to make a great impression, though as usual, all of them had initial promise. The standout segment in this episode is "Mystery Lock."
And as to whether I was able to guess which stories were based on reality, apparently I'm consistent. I got two correct again, as I did for the last three episodes. It's a winning streak of sorts. At least that's what I'll say to myself to keep me from sobbing.
For episode: 2/5
Overall (for series): 8/25
Rating: Above Average
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