One of the strongest episodes of the show: a social parable with fantasy elements and a haunting ending. This one will stick in your memory long after many other "Tales" have evaporated from it. It's intellectually complex, too: the woman (a very good performance by Maura Swanson, who, surprisingly, only has one more credit on IMDb) is not portrayed as an one-dimensional "monster". Other episodes that you might want to check out if you liked this one are "The Odds", "Slippage", "I Can't Help Saying Goodbye", "Mary, Mary" and "Sorry, Right Number": all of these are neither horror nor comedy, but more or less straight drama under the guise of fantasy. *** out of 4.
8 Reviews
Money hungry is the root of all evil it corrupts and brings down the soul and identity in the end!
blanbrn1 September 2008
This "TFTD" episode titled "Payment Overdue" is really one of the better ones not only for the way it takes a surprise identity twist in the end, and it proves it's moral that being money hungry corrupts the soul. Maura Swanson is Jeanette a single woman who lives in an upscale New York City apartment and she makes her living working behind the phone and her apartment desk. She's a collection agency type collector yet she runs schemes of printing false payments and overcharging and trying to charge items to customers as her main goal is to collect money from all. Yet it takes a strange turn when she tries to collect from a poor Spanish woman as soon the tables will strangely turn and an identity problem arises. Payback is hell and turn about is fair as the collection is now on Jeanette and the tables have turned. Great episode that teaches the moral that being money hungry destroys and corrupts the soul.
Tales from the Darkside: Payment Overdue
Scarecrow-8829 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
"Payment Overdue" has a point and is on target with it: karma has a way of serving those who have tormented others with a taste of that bitter pill they so often forced others to swallow. A manipulative, inhumane debt/bill collection company representative is skilled at scaring clients from the phone of her own apartment (central air conditioning, a nice view of Central Park, lavish furnishings, and space), actually recording many of the calls. One such client (a Spanish immigrant living in poverty with just a washer, drier, table, phone, and a brain tumor), after talking with this jerk, Jeanette (played with a cynical, distanced, harsh perspective by Maura Swanson, who is perfectly loathsome), takes a flight out her window. This victim, Rita Valdez, has a special gift for Jeanette, to be delivered by her own "representative", Michael (Lewis Arlt, a respectable, mannered character who appears understanding, kind, and polite, but all of this hides a real goal). Michael seems totally trustworthy and harmless
but he has a mission and Jeanette will truly realize (as only the Darkside and its kin could allow) what it felt like to experience the despair and agony Rita endured.
This is executed a bit predictably, but I thought successfully. I think the moment you hear the dead voice of Rita, her anguish palpable and vivid, Michael emerging with a face just too friendly and personality too acceptable, and the guardian angel card delivered (regarding balance and setting things right) into Jeanette's hands, the results of what do happen was expected. I think, though, that because Jeanette is such a despicable character (she explains she so hardened and remote in her empathy for others due to a bad marriage, rising from nothing through this rough patch to where she is), seeing the results as they conclude offers satisfaction. Yes, we get to sit back and agreeably applaud her fate, but many of us aren't in the shoes of unfortunates like Rita, taking our comfortable living conditions for granted. This episode really sets up Jeanette at the beginning, though, as someone to really despise. She is shown at work, calling up all kinds of people (including a little girl she scares by telling her mommy must pay or else, and a college student with loans!), positing veiled threats and issuing ultimatums craftily with language that insinuates trouble even though she knows (although they might not know) her company can't actually go after them. She is in her current position (from Louisville to New York City) because Jeanette is cruel, heartless, and sharp with her words. This woman has reached her spot because people are just dollar signs and stairs to gradually climb over to achieve success. So her fate is warranted, and there's clearly no doubt Jeanette has some bad mo-jo visited upon her. I think the way Michael listens to her offering her insight on those she victimizes (the lowly and poor), and how he takes her up on a comment regarding the ability to rise up unlike them from the bottom and emerge victorious won't surprise she's asking for her eventual comeuppance.
I think this was a rare case where the singular location is used effectively and how the special effects update the apartment to a more reasonable setting for someone of Jeanette's character are slight (fade effects that change Jeanette's apartment) but make their point.
This is executed a bit predictably, but I thought successfully. I think the moment you hear the dead voice of Rita, her anguish palpable and vivid, Michael emerging with a face just too friendly and personality too acceptable, and the guardian angel card delivered (regarding balance and setting things right) into Jeanette's hands, the results of what do happen was expected. I think, though, that because Jeanette is such a despicable character (she explains she so hardened and remote in her empathy for others due to a bad marriage, rising from nothing through this rough patch to where she is), seeing the results as they conclude offers satisfaction. Yes, we get to sit back and agreeably applaud her fate, but many of us aren't in the shoes of unfortunates like Rita, taking our comfortable living conditions for granted. This episode really sets up Jeanette at the beginning, though, as someone to really despise. She is shown at work, calling up all kinds of people (including a little girl she scares by telling her mommy must pay or else, and a college student with loans!), positing veiled threats and issuing ultimatums craftily with language that insinuates trouble even though she knows (although they might not know) her company can't actually go after them. She is in her current position (from Louisville to New York City) because Jeanette is cruel, heartless, and sharp with her words. This woman has reached her spot because people are just dollar signs and stairs to gradually climb over to achieve success. So her fate is warranted, and there's clearly no doubt Jeanette has some bad mo-jo visited upon her. I think the way Michael listens to her offering her insight on those she victimizes (the lowly and poor), and how he takes her up on a comment regarding the ability to rise up unlike them from the bottom and emerge victorious won't surprise she's asking for her eventual comeuppance.
I think this was a rare case where the singular location is used effectively and how the special effects update the apartment to a more reasonable setting for someone of Jeanette's character are slight (fade effects that change Jeanette's apartment) but make their point.
Not bad.
shellytwade26 February 2022
I didn't fall in love with this episode like some of the other reviews have. But it's still a decent watch and nothing truly embarrassing (like half the episodes of this show). Plus it's pretty easy to turn against the main character, I mean who doesn't hate bill collectors?
Average Tales from the Darkside episode.
poolandrews30 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Tales from the Darkside: Payment Overdue is set in New York where Jeanette Simpson (Maura Swanson) lives & works in a posh studio apartment where she phones up people who owe money in an attempt to make them pay their debts. One day Jeanette receives a phone-call from Rita Valdez who apparently recently committed suicide after Jeanette's threatening & persistent calls. Jeanette then gets a visit from a guy called Michael (Lewis Arlt) who knew Rita personally, he knew how Jeanette's calls affected her & that they drove her to suicide. Now Michael has been instructed to settle Rita's debt, collect Jeanette's overdue payment & even things up...
Episode 10 from season 4 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during February 1988, directed by John Drury this is a fairly moralistic Tales from the Darkside episode. The script by Dick Benner is all about greed, the haves & have not's & selfishness & that's it's not a good thing. It's as simple as that really, Jeanette is a mean, greedy selfish person who has gotten rich on the misery of others & in a just desserts not much of a twist ending ends up knowing what it's like to have nothing & what it's like to be on the other end of the phone when someone calls you for money & threatening to sue you. Payment Overdue is a simple morality tale, it lasts twenty odd minutes & makes it's point effectively enough I suppose but it's pretty predictable & rather forgettable & I doubt it's going to change anyone's attitude in any significant way.
Like most Tales from the Darkside episodes Payment Overdue is set in one single simple location, Jeanette's apartment. There's some basic fade effects but no scares, no gore or any real tension. With only two cast members the acting is alright.
Payment Overdue is a straight forward Tales from the Darkside episode that has a simplistic moral message about greed & 80's cynicism. A bit predictable & average at best really, at least it's short.
Episode 10 from season 4 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during February 1988, directed by John Drury this is a fairly moralistic Tales from the Darkside episode. The script by Dick Benner is all about greed, the haves & have not's & selfishness & that's it's not a good thing. It's as simple as that really, Jeanette is a mean, greedy selfish person who has gotten rich on the misery of others & in a just desserts not much of a twist ending ends up knowing what it's like to have nothing & what it's like to be on the other end of the phone when someone calls you for money & threatening to sue you. Payment Overdue is a simple morality tale, it lasts twenty odd minutes & makes it's point effectively enough I suppose but it's pretty predictable & rather forgettable & I doubt it's going to change anyone's attitude in any significant way.
Like most Tales from the Darkside episodes Payment Overdue is set in one single simple location, Jeanette's apartment. There's some basic fade effects but no scares, no gore or any real tension. With only two cast members the acting is alright.
Payment Overdue is a straight forward Tales from the Darkside episode that has a simplistic moral message about greed & 80's cynicism. A bit predictable & average at best really, at least it's short.
No budget, no interest
Leofwine_draca29 June 2015
Another no budget, no interest story from the show. For 90% of the running time this episode consists of a woman sitting on the telephone in an office. A single actor and single location usually results in EXTREME boredom unless the calibre of the writing is really strong, but you'd have to be a fool to look for strong writing in a show of this type.
The main character is a ruthless debt collector who spends her days harassing people for money. That's the depth of the characterisation here. Pretty soon she's being haunted over the telephone thanks to her own over-zealous nature, but there are no scares here, no surprises, just long drawn-out conversations which do nothing and add nothing. It's a real bore.
The main character is a ruthless debt collector who spends her days harassing people for money. That's the depth of the characterisation here. Pretty soon she's being haunted over the telephone thanks to her own over-zealous nature, but there are no scares here, no surprises, just long drawn-out conversations which do nothing and add nothing. It's a real bore.
Nifty episode with a strong social message
Woodyanders16 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Ruthless debt collector Jeanette Simpson (sharply played with deliciously shameless aplomb by Maura Swanson) makes her comfortable living at other people's expense. However, Jeanette has the tables turned on her after she causes the poor and sickly Rita Valdez to commit suicide and winds up inheriting Rita's unpaid debt.
Director John Drury keeps the involving story moving along at a quick pace and builds a good deal of tension. Lewis Arlt contributes a sound performance as nice guy social case worker Michael Nelson. Richard Benner's crafty script makes a provocative central point about the bitter spiritual price of heartless greed and lack of compassion for one's fellow man as well as boasts a pleasing ironic conclusion in which Jeanette gets a fitting taste of her own nasty medicine. Robert Draper's polished and dynamic cinematography makes galvanizing use of a constantly moving camera. An on the money show.
Director John Drury keeps the involving story moving along at a quick pace and builds a good deal of tension. Lewis Arlt contributes a sound performance as nice guy social case worker Michael Nelson. Richard Benner's crafty script makes a provocative central point about the bitter spiritual price of heartless greed and lack of compassion for one's fellow man as well as boasts a pleasing ironic conclusion in which Jeanette gets a fitting taste of her own nasty medicine. Robert Draper's polished and dynamic cinematography makes galvanizing use of a constantly moving camera. An on the money show.
surprisingly creepy and well done with very little
davidmalaimo24 April 2021
Watching this in 2021. Trying to imagine how people would feel about this episode. I personally thought the ending could of easily gone wrong but i the end worked in a way that still is kind of eye opening today. Also, the phone calls sounded pretty creepy. Idk good episode but i can see why people would hate it. But i loved it.
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