"Tales from the Crypt" Retro Recap: "My Brother's Keeper"

Written by Scotty

They say that a brother's bond can never be broken.  I do not know this for sure as I have been an only child and never was blessed with a brother.  I do however have some good friends that I would call my brothers since we seem to have a strong bond, but I am not sure if that is really the same.  For my sake, I will say that it is, as we have always had each other’s backs during the good times and the rough times.  Fighting is just part of the bond, since when it is over, it does not matter who is wrong or right, we still know that we can fall back on each other when needed.

Frank and Eddie have been together all of their lives.  No matter what one brother wants to do, the other one is obliged to do the same thing.  Even though Eddie is more of the free spirit of the two, most of the time Frank is able to keep him civil, if only to keep his brother from making a fool out of both of them.  Frank is happy with how life has turned out for the two, but one night at the local bar, Frank has met Marie and she is about to turn his life upside down.

While on the dance floor, trying to find out more about the stunning woman, Frank gives her a spin and Marie finds out why Frank and Eddie seem to be joined at the hip…because they are.  Being born Siamese twins, the grown men have a bond between them that can never be broken.  Marie cannot handle what she has just seen and leaves the two of them.  Knowing that he cannot live like this any longer, Eddie consults a doctor that is willing to undertake the surgery and will give the brothers a fifty percent chance of surviving.  While Eddie desperately wants the surgery, Frank is not sure and does not want to leave his life up to chance that is until he gets a call from Marie apologizing about her behavior. 

Frank is able to convince the woman to come over for dinner and the two have a great time, even though Eddie is doing everything in his power to piss his brother off.  Getting drunk, Eddie knows that he is not the only one that suffers as Frank receives fifty percent of the blood flow.  But instead of hurting Frank’s chances with Marie, he seems to improve them.  Frank has fallen in love with the woman and will do anything to be with her, but Eddie has a little secret of his own that will change his brother’s outlook on things.  Paying Marie to spend time with his brother, Eddie is only trying to get Frank to sign the letter of consent to have the surgery done.  Frank will not sign for any reason and when he finds this out from the love of his life, he knows they can all work it out.  Eddie will have none of this this on his end, he paid for a service and did not receive what he was promised and takes a cleaver to the young woman.  Knowing he will not have to go to jail, much less get the death penalty because of the attachment to his brother, Frank has a little bit of a secret of his own and will not let his brother’s act go unpunished. 

Who does not want to see two brothers stay together through thick and thin and well, because they have to?  I liked how this story really focused on the differences between the two men as they are both trying to go along with their own lives.  Even though it seems that Eddie is pulling all of the strings, Frank is able to keep him partially grounded and down to earth.  When Eddie finds that there is even a chance that the two can be separated, he jumps at the opportunity, but Frank does not like the odds and will do anything to protect his brother from the most dangerous person of all, himself.  Staring Timothy Stack as Frank, Jonathan Stark as Eddie and Jessica Harper as Marie, you get to see how a group comes together for a common goal, even though it may not be what one of the three wants to have happen.  Until next time kiddies, Stay Scared.

---