War is Hell, but taking it personally will send you there.
Escape is the 3rd episode in the 7th season of Tales from the Crypt.In 1945 England, a German prisoner of war finds his planned escape thwarted by a deceitful friend.
Tropes:
- All for Nothing: The entire Luger's escape: it was planned to fail by Major Nicholson so Luger can be executed (because war actually ended and all prisoners would be released).
- Asshole Victim: See Hate Sink. Major Nicholson killed him with pleasure.
- Couldn't Find a Pen: Luger slits Schlosse's throat to kill him for good and leaves him on the floor. With his last bit of life, though, Schlosse writes Luger's name in blood in the window so that others know who did this.
- Drill Sergeant Nasty: The Crypt Keeper does this to a platoon of skeletons.Crypt Keeper: What's your problem, soldier?! You some kind of mummy's boy?! That it?!
- Foreshadowing: Major Nicholson says he'd shoot Luger himself, if he thought he was worth the bullet.
- Gave Up Too Soon: Just to rub salt in the wound, Major Nicholson tells Luger that the war officially ended while he was pulling his escape and that the prisoners would've been released in a few hours.
- Hate Sink: There's no doubt about it, Luger is one of the most selfish, cowardly, and amoral protagonists EVER featured on Tales From the Crypt. For starters, he's a Nazi, which automatically gets him some hatred. But what's worse, he's a Nazi that doesn't care about serving the Fatherland. As a prisoner, he shamelessly rats out his fellow soldiers for special favors, and only cares about them when it involves a reward for himself. It makes Major Nicholson finally shooting the selfish prick, as well as rubbing in the fact that the war ended and all prisoners would be released shortly, all the more satisfying.
- Ignorant of Their Own Ignorance: Luger insisted that the stupid (and gullible) people must die and that he's most clever here. Well, Major Nicholson showed him that he's smarter than Luger'd ever be (while Luger is actually a Super Gullible Lemming himself).
- Hope Spot: Luger has one when he was riding in the truck. Then truck unloaded coffins and it was revealed it was all part of Major Nicholson's plan.
- It's All About Me: Luger insists he sold out his fellow prisoners to avoid other inmates suffering from sanctions and reprisals, but he's really concerned with just himself.
- Karmic Twist Ending: Luger finds out what it's like to be manipulated, betrayed, and shot while trying to escape.
- Les Collaborateurs: Luger is a POW with no interest fighting for his homeland and who just wants to have a ride as comfortable as possible, even if it means selling out his fellow Germans to the British.Major Nicholson: Have you no shame? Three of your own men are dead because you betrayed them. [...] I'm curious, Lieutenant Luger, what makes a man betray his comrades?
- No Honor Among Thieves: Luger ratted on his fellow inmates, foiling their escape attempt in exchange for special favors. When told they got killed because of what he did, he remarks they were stupid trying to run and thus deserved it.
- Not Quite Dead: Schlosse was gunned down with the other two prisoners, but he actually survived. He's in the prison hospital ward and expected to recover in a few days.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Major Nicholson when he learns Schlosse has been murdered. We later learn he did not mean for Schlosse to die, so his surprise and regret are genuine.
- After crawling out of the coffin, Luger when he sees Major Nicholson waiting for him.
- Pre-Mortem One-Liner: "Oh, by the way, I have changed my mind about you, Luger. You are definitely worth a bullet."
- Race Against the Clock: Luger sees that a wounded Schlosse is brought to the prison camp. In a few days, he'll be well-enough to be admitted to the general population, and Luger needs to get out immediately before his fellow prisoners learn he's a rat.
- The Reveal: German POW Albert Frye is really British Lieutenant Forsyth. Major Nicholson orchestrated this scheme to have the excuse to kill Luger.
- Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Luger sold out his comrades to another British officer for his own benefit, but Major Nicholson won't honor any such deal. He even arranged for Schlosse to be brought to the prison so that Luger could sweat over the other prisoners learning what he's done. As it happens, Nicholson manipulated Luger into trying to escape in order to give him all that he deserves.
- A Taste Of His Own Medicine: How Major Nicholson describes his scheme to Luger before killing him.
- Tempting Fate: Luger insists that stupid people deserve to die.
- Treachery Is a Special Kind of Evil: Though on opposing sides, Major Nicholson speaks well of Schlosse and the two dead prisoners because they were loyal soldiers. He condemns Luger for not sharing the same values and selling out his comrades without the slightest hesitation.
- Villain Protagonist: Luger to a tee.
- Vorpal Pillow: Subverted. Luger attempts to do this to Schlosse. After some struggle, Schlosse goes limp, but he was merely Playing Possum to get Luger to lower his guard.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Major Nicholson condemns Luger for selling out his comrades.
