The Twilight Zone - Spur of the Moment

How’s this for an excursion into the Twilight Zone: the anti-romance! I think this is quite clever, a ruse on the “lady in black” (Death marching towards you!) with a before and after that explains the monumental mistake of a “spur of the moment” retreat as a young 18 year old beauty elopes with a hot-headed, hot-blooded kid willing to drop in to her house to ask her hand despite heavy resistance from her parents and investment banker fiancé. When Anne goes horseback riding, she encounters some lady donning a back cape, on a black horse, seeing her at first high up a hill. When this lady in black rides her horse down the hill towards her, Anne hurries hard and fast back home, with her parents and fiancé offering hugs and comfort after what appeared to be a terrifying experience. David (Roger Davis) insists on seeing Anne, hoping to change her mind about marrying Robert (Robert Hogan). Daddy and Mama (Philip Ober and Marsha Hunt) Henderson do nothing to show their disdain for David so obviously Anne will choose him, even though Robert cares about her and shows her complete respect. That lady in black…not Death but Age and Regret trying to warn her younger self not to make the mistake, hoping to prevent what lies in wait for her in the future! I think the bummer of the episode is revealing a close-up of the lady in black so early, clearly identifying Diana Hyland, just in a more haggard, wretched form. So one version of Anne pursing another alternate Anne lessens the potential impact once the surprise of who that screeching wench is becomes revealed. Still I thoroughly enjoyed Matheson’s spin on “true love conquering all”. It can sometimes lead to alcoholism, destitution, and misery! Love it! And the little bit of Twilight Zone time distortion that happens (past and future Annes running into each other) is a device that plays into the twist quite well, offering what currently transpires and the results of such a devastating decision made by Anne to choose someone with no prospects of a future over another seemingly put together and well-to-do. Sometimes spur of the moment doesn’t lead to long term happiness and a sunny future! Hyland's middle-aged Anne, sore and morose, just blaming Daddy for everything while Mama must suffer her disregard, as David appears--this sad sack boozer who has whittled away Anne's fortune--more than a bit worse for wear is a pitiful realization that impulsive choices have dire consequences!