IN CONCLUSION
Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztryn and Barry Tunick  (#1-5)

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Epitome
2. Getting by
3. Winds up unhappily
4. What scared hair does
5. Till they ring down the curtain
6. Honor your obligations on an agreement
7. In a confused, unsettled state
8. Last stop, as on a train or bus
9. Hair woe
10. Football position
11. Cul-de-sac
12. An attempt to avoid red tape and other obstacles
13. Remote regions
14. Common household furniture piece
15. Final destination
16. Final stages of a situation before a resolution
17. Doomsday phrase
18. "Paydirt" in the NFL

Answers:

1. Be-all and end-all
2. Making ends meet
3. Comes to a bad end
4. Stand on end
5. To the bitter end
6. Keep up your end of the bargain
7. At loose ends
8. End of the line
9. Split ends
10. Tight end
11. Dead end
12. Make an end run
13. Ends of the earth
14. End table
15. End of the road
16. Endgame
17. End of the world
18. End zone