CBSRMT Episode Information Next Episode

Title

The Intruders

Plot

Troubled by spirits that haunt her home, a woman becomes strangely attached to her ghostly housemates as she watches them go about their daily lives.

Episode

0458

Air Dates

  • First Run - March 30, 1976
  • Repeat - August 14, 1976

Actors

Writer

Listen

Rating

147
131     16


15 Responses to Episode 0458

This one has commercials.The story keeps you wondering.Touching and sad.Well written-with a twist.

Michel David

This story reminded me of The Others, the movie starring Nicole Kidman, made years later. Unfortunately, I predicted the ending from early on in this episode so the "twist" in the end wasn't shocking or unexpected. It was still a great tale and well written and performed.

Nicole

A woman is haunted by ghosts who refuse to acknowledge her presence. As she watches them play out their ghostly lives in her home, she becomes attached to them.

Sandra C.

A woman arrives home from wherever she has been only to find her precious home inhabited by a family of ghosts. After her initial outrage she learns to love them and grows fond of each one in turn. But, try as she might, she is unable to make direct contact with them. Predictable, with only a minor twist at the end.

Friedrich

I found this one a bit predictable and tedious.

Phillip

Magnificent episode-one of the best in the series!

Misha Allport

This was an okay story, but like the others, I found the ending predictable. It was a sweet episode on one level, but still not the best.

Alec

I share Nicole's point of view. This play made me think of THE OTHERS with Nicole Kidman, except Elaine, our main character, is the child & not the mother of 2 children. 4 me, this play was quite intriguing & touching as she becomes so fond of her new "ghostly" family. Has a nice twist @ the conclusion of the story. I was only 15yo when this episode aired. It brings back many a memory. I give this episode an 8.5 out of a 10. So.....I must go back 2 another adventure in the macabre. Until next time.....pleasant dreams.

Tim

After being away for seven years, Elaine comes home and is most upset to find three strangers, two men and a woman, living there. When none of them pays the least bit of attention to her no matter what she does to make them realize she’s there, Elaine assumes they must all be ghosts -- until a rose thorn pricks the woman’s finger and it bleeds.

Adam

Spoilers ahead. I don't want to spoil the ending for those who haven't heard the episode yet, but it's the whole so-called "twist" at the end that bugs me the most about this episode. It doesn't make any sense to me that the girl, (who turned out to be the ghost herself), wouldn't remember her own family who loved her. That is the part that doesn't make sense. The whole story is written in true Elspeth Eric fashion, complete with the woman's incestuous feelings of romantic(?) attraction for her relatives, (a subject that Elspeth Eric seemed to be obsessed with for some reason).

Amy

I rate this episode ★★★★☆ for GOOD. Honestly, I really wanted to rate this 5 out of 5 stars. I truly did. But the main reason why I rated this 4 out of 5, is because the twist in the final Act was predictable. I won't give away the ending, but fans of CBSRMT would easily guess which of the characters were really ghosts and which were really human. Elspeth Eric's story was truly captivating. Her set of characters were likable and none of them were Antagonists. She wrote great detailed description of the house and its surroundings. And the emotional connection her main character had with her guests, was compelling to a T! But as I said before, the ending was foreseeable. But let's move on to the best stuff. First, our Host. E.G. Marshall starts the show off with a quote about death and discuss a sense of immortality (hence, these are the topics in this episode). In ACT-1, discussing the ugly truth that our minds, instincts, and desires will one day end. After the first plot point, our Host asks what could be worse than 3 ghosts occupying a house? In ACT-2, our main character deals with her "uninvited guests." In ACT-3, our main character made slight progress with them and developed feelings for them. But after the main character acknowledges her "place" in this world, E.G. Marshall concludes with a serene factor that everyone needs a ghost to overcome a person's loneliness. In his Epilogue, more serene factors on ghosts and what they can do for the Living. The sound effects of doors, breaking the flower vase, wood crackling in the fire place, chair rocking, tableware clinking, washing dishes, birds chirping, car engine running, tires screeching, and rotary phone ringing were very supportive in this. The music, however, was super-supportive! Some of the music tunes were played many times over, but they worked effectively, particularly a track they used from the first scene of the 51st episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE ("The Invaders"). And the best part in all of this, was the cast: Lois Nettleton (as Elaine), Carmen Matthews (as Elizabeth), Fred Gwyne (as Frederick), and Russell Horton (as Fritz and the Doctor). Carmen Matthews, Fred Gwyne, and Russell Horton were great in their roles, but Lois Nettleton was magnificent in her performance! This was a role that she was destined to play. Even though the ending in this supernatural tale was predictable, it's a classic in CBSRMT history. Plus, this has commercials of John Warner of Bicentennial Times, the 1978 Buick Century, IRS publications, Carrier Air Conditioning, Foundation Church, All State Insurance, and the American Lung Association. Until next time…pleasant dreams.

Russell

Good episode. The narrative is what carried this episode through to the end. Good performances.

Maureen Maher

Wait?? How was she a ghost and alive at the same time, not to mention all that time??

Jim McNish

I just like the sound of Lois Nettleton’s voice.

Lawrence

Another imaginative episode by writer Elspeth Eric.

Ruby


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