Ep 9. The Way up to Heaven
- May 19, 1979
- 24 min
-
7.1 (334)
The Tale of the Unexpected, season 1 episode 9, titled "The Way up to Heaven," is a suspenseful episode that twists and turns until the very end. The episode centers around Mrs. Foster, a wealthy and meticulous woman who is fed up with her absent-minded and procrastinating husband, Mr. Foster. Mrs. Foster is obsessed with catching a flight to Paris to visit her daughter and granddaughter, who she hasn't seen in six months. She's convinced that the delay will cause her to miss the flight and spends the day fussing over her absent husband's lack of urgency.
The episode takes place over the course of one day, as Mrs. Foster anxiously awaits Mr. Foster to hurry home from his weekly Wednesday golf game. She is determined to catch the 3 pm flight to Paris and is constantly checking her clock, which never seems to move fast enough. Mr. Foster's delayed arrival sets off a chain of events that propel the episode forward in a thrilling way.
The tension builds as Mrs. Foster's frustration with her husband turns into rage. She watches the clock tick by and becomes more and more anxious as she realizes that they might miss the flight. As the day drags on, she becomes increasingly obsessive, triple-checking details and planning every minute down to the second. Her husband's forgetfulness and tardiness become a source of agitation, and she begins to spiral into despair.
The climax of the episode occurs when Mrs. Foster discovers that Mr. Foster has been purposely delaying their departure. In a panic, she rushes to the elevator that will take them down to the waiting taxi. The elevator doors close, and she watches Mr. Foster's face grow smaller and smaller as the elevator ascends to the penthouse suite. Trapped in the elevator, Mrs. Foster realizes that she might not make the flight at all. The sense of helplessness and the realization that she is utterly alone in this building, with no one to help her, creates a sense of dread that is palpable.
The ending of the episode is both satisfying and unexpected. We won't spoil it, but suffice to say that the twist ending will keep you guessing until the very end. The episode is tightly written and acted, with a strong sense of tension that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Overall, The Tale of the Unexpected season 1 episode 9, "The Way up to Heaven," is a masterful piece of suspenseful storytelling. The episode explores the fragility of the human psyche and the consequences of obsession. The psychological thriller is expertly crafted, and the characters are so well-drawn that you will feel invested in their lives from the very beginning. If you're a fan of suspenseful dramas and twist endings, then this is definitely an episode that you won't want to miss.