"Tales from the Crypt" Retro Recap: "Split Second"

Written by Scotty

Jealousy is something that many people have to learn to get over as they get into relationships.  Knowing that your significant other had a life before meeting you is a hard thing to get used to, but you need to accept it or else you will never get over what has been done.  Even when the relationship goes to the next level, it is difficult to watch as people cannot get over having anyone else looking at their spouse, much less talk to them.  I know that there is the fear that your loved one will leave you for someone else, but you have to have some trust in the relationship that they chose you for a reason and that is why they are with you for the long haul.

Liz Kelly is stuck in a little do nothing town with no chance of escape.  Taking a waitress job to make enough money to leave, she has found that the tips that can be pocketed do not exist and she has taken to having relations with some of her patrons.  When a member of her one night stand group comes calling to take her out and will not leave her alone after she refuses, a stranger has come to her rescue.  Not expecting to have anyone stand up for her in the bar, especially with her current track record, she is magnetized to the man and allows him to buy her a drink.

Promising Liz a cozy life, Steve Dixon has been able to sweep Liz off of her feet and on the very same night the two meet, they got married.  Returning to Steve’s home in the mountains, Liz sees that her new husband is a rich man as he owns his own lumber business.  Knowing that he will do anything to keep her safe, Liz is growing accustomed to the married life with her mountain man, but she finds out quickly that this is not what she expected.  As the men in Steve’s crew start joking around about their boss getting married to one of the loosest waitresses around, Steve hears the jokes and beats the living hell out of one of his men to show his dominance and love towards his wife. 

Giving the order that no one look at her, much less talk to her, Steve is happy with the results as the men go about their daily duties without incident.  But a new lumberjack is looking for work and when Mrs. Dixon sees him, she knows that her newly boring life is over.  Ted is a hard worker and a fast chopper that will be the new ringer in the lumberjack competitions coming up, but when Steve sees his wife’s eyes wander to the new man, he knows that there will be trouble once again.  Calling Ted to do whatever she asks, Liz wants the young man more than he can imagine, and the scary thing is, he wants her as well.  Trying to leave the camp before Steve finds out, Ted is surprised to see Liz in the doorway, wearing nothing more than her underwear.  With Liz initiating the act of love, Steve walks in and finds the two bending trees and his rage boils over and he beats the young man, causing him to lose his sight.  Being blind, Ted is taken in by the other lumberjacks and they teach him a new trade with using the chainsaws, but they have a surprise for him when it comes to competition cutting one that he will never see the end result of.

I am upset that I have to be on Steve’s side throughout this episode, as his jealousy filled rage is justified when it comes to his wife.  But it is not the men that are making things worse, it is her and that is just a shame that he did not get to find out who the woman he married really was until late.  Even when beating his men up to make his point, I wanted to think he was being too strict, but in the end, he was right, but not focusing his aggression on the right person.  Starring Brion James as Steve Dixon, Michelle Johnson as Liz Kelly and Billy Wirth as Ted, this is a great showing of how paranoia can be true, even if it costs you a ring or two.  Until next time, Stay Scared.

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