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Title

The Follower

Plot

A talent scout in New York is tortured by an invisible being following him everywhere to the extent of keeping up with his every footstep, especially when he is alone. Is there something mysterious in his past?

Episode

0212

Air Dates

  • First Run - January 26, 1975
  • Repeat - April 6, 1975

Actors

Writer

Listen

Rating

136
105     31


19 Responses to Episode 0212

What a sad story.

Roger

A New York talent agent is dogged by an unseen follower who matches his every footstep when he is alone. could it be his past catching up to him?

Chiro Jr.

The main figure in this story is a Micheal-Ovitz type agent for acotrs. He's not the nicest of guys...he walks over people, doesn't care who he hurts, etc. He and his wife have no children...their relationship is deteriorating, but the wife is kind hearted and still wants to see him be happy. She feels especially sorry for him when he starts becoming very nervous - convinced someone is following him whenever he's out walking. In fact, he becomes terrified of walking alone, is convinced he hears constant footsteps behind him and will not turn his head over his shoulder to see who's there. He's sure that whomever is following him is walking in his exact footprints. His wife thinks he's near a nervous breakdown, and so he goes into therapy. In fact, he seems to be realizing that he needs to change. (The Texas connection is in the form of a former paramour with a honey-thick accent. The daughter of a very rich Texan, she wanted very much to be a successful actress and made the connection with the main character, much to her misfortune.)

Iris Marie Y.

meh... was o.k. Story of a self-absorbed s.o.b who is tortured by his own deeply burried moral sense; by the time he comes to terms with it, he perishes from the cumulative effects of a life not well lived. There seemed to be more subplots in this episode than others I have listened to recently: - the main character's marital problems - the main character's haunting by 'the follower' - the wife and doctor's relationship - the main character's past relationship I thought the ending a bit weak. Anytime a character dies of fright, I am left unsatisfied. I'm also constantly amused with the attitude toward psychiatrists and psychology. As a psychology major many years ago, I know how hard the field has had to, and continues to fight for acceptance as a legitimate scientific field.

S. Reily

I haven't listened to this episode yet, or if I have I don't recall. I was scrolling through the list of starring voices in each episode and found Jerry Orbach's name. He is now, of course, Detective Lenny Briscoe on "Law and Order". Being a Law and Order fan, I thought it would be fun to hear him in an earlier incarnation. I will be posting on my web site in the next day or two some pictures of him from about the same era. I bought a condo several years ago and in the basement storage area was a box of Playboy magazines from the 70s and early 80s. Hilarious articles and advertisements (really... I just read the articles!) One of the articles was on actor Jerry Orbach clowning around with one of the bunnies. I hope it's a good one, and look forward to the discussion about it in the week to come.

Antonel Ross

I guess my desire to quantify is symptomatic of my scientific (nerdy) nature. :ufo: The discussions that take place during these weekly show review posts are excellent for content, detail and quality. But for a quick measure of how individual shows rate to one another a numeric poll just seemed a logical approach. While this weeks show does not yet have a polling mechanism attached, I believe now that I have finished listening to it I would rate it at a 3 on a 5 point scale. Entertaining, well acted... The sound quality of my particular copy was great. I look forward to further response on the numeric polling issue. Best regards.

Q. Benedikt

Story of a self-absorbed s.o.b who is tortured by his own deeply burried moral sense; by the time he comes to terms with it, he perishes from the cumulative effects of a life not well lived. There seemed to be more subplots in this episode than others I have listened to recently: - the main character's marital problems - the main character's haunting by 'the follower' - the wife and doctor's relationship - the main character's past relationship I thought the ending a bit weak. Anytime a character dies of fright, I am left unsatisfied. I'm also constantly amused with the attitude toward psychiatrists and psychology. As a psychology major many years ago, I know how hard the field has had to, and continues to fight for acceptance as a legitimate scientific field.

Richard Allan

The Follower 1/26/75 Jim Beacher, a ruthless showbiz agent, is being followed by an phantom that he cannot see. The phantom stops when Jim stops and places it's feet directly in his footsteps so no trace of a follower is evident. A number of people could be interested in seeing his demise but his wife believes his problem is mental and recommends counseling. His paranoia reaches the point where it cannot be ignored but he eventually realizes that the footsteps are simply his past following him. This story was interesting but probably not in my top 10% of all shows. I enjoyed the plot and the acting was good but nothing really stood out as great. Perhaps "The Follower" needed to be a bit more sinister or the conclusion needed more punch but I just thought this was a concept that didn't quite meet it's potential. I might wait a week or two and give this another listen to see if my opinion changes.

Dang T.

I am having trouble writing about this show. I found it hard to follow at times . A man who says he is being followed at night tells his wife about it and although sympathetic, she tells him to see a psychiatrist. They argue over money. He works too hard and spends little time with his wife. She says he is doing well and doesn’t need the money because she has plenty, too. She reminds him that this is why he married her. ( Her whiney voice is enough to make you want to turn the show off. ) This argument repeats itself a time or two. His wife seems to be concerned about him and finally he agrees to see a doctor. I don’t think the doctor is much help to him . He is finally confronted by the follower and it is like his conscience. He is really a despicable person and he did something terrible in his past. The confrontation with the Follower evidently scares him to death, I thought this show was kind of weak overall. The woman who played his wife was irritating, One minute she is so sympathetic, calling him “Baby’ trying to help him and before you know it she wants no more to do with him and is interested in the Psychiatrist. The main character( I didn’t catch their names) is a selfish man who steps on people to have what he wants. If I listened to it again, I might get more out of it, but I doubt it.

Lanie

I finally got to listen to this one today. Well, not one of the best in my opinion. A good lesson is presented - one that we should have all learned by now. I'm surprised to hear something controversial like abotion discussed in the program. It would have been better without introducing that. Louise was not acted well and her presence annoyed me. I don't think she was realistic. All mad one minute then sympathetic the next. The concept of someone following you, then turning and no one is there ... footsteps ... I like that idea. When I first heard that I thought this would be a good program. It wasn't.

Joey Dona

I can't say I thought too much of this episode. I am a big fan of Jerry Orbach from Law and Order but radio drama doesn't appear to be his forte. His delivery in this episode seems very stilted. Was he in any other CBSRMT episodes?

Justin Ralph

"Conscience...or was it retribution?" E.G. Marshall's words at the end of this episode "Something's up ahead, hey, should I keep this same direction or go back instead? I keep hearin' footsteps baby, in the dark...why?..." from the song "Footsteps in the dark" by the Isley Brothers I'd reviewed this in my listening log earlier as one of the "Texas episodes"...interesting concept about the "big, powerful, heartless Hollywood agent" type who hears someone constantly walking behind him, in his footsteps, and becomes quite afraid to turn around and see who is following him. Is it someone pursuing him, and if so, who? The resulution was somewhat abrupt, IMO, but this was a good one to listen to. I liked Carol Teitel's portrayal of the long-suffering wife on the brink of divorce with but still sympathetic to her husband. Jerry Orbach was on the verge of caricature as the agent, but pulled off a decent enough performance.

Charles Bagget

I thought the end was a little anti-climatic. Jerry Orbach was ok in his role as the agent. Carol Titel was strong. I'm not much of a fan of alot of the psychodrama. Amatuer psychoanalysis was a real fad in teh 1970s, and like Watergate, Patricia Hearst, and mood rings, it should be left there. Ian Martin is notorious for his psychobabble. He wrote some real strong material, but when he turned into the amateur psychologist, I just groan.

Ritchelle Carmen

A good classic, tragic story with a surprise ending. Very eerie and telling. We always find out too late that we cannot change the mistakes we made.

1nicolem

I think these shows about evil agents for actors/writers are sweet retribution by the writers about the real agents that can't get them work and use them.

Scott D

This was a passable episode, but just passable. It is seen early on that the agent is a terrible person and the self-realization is way too late in the episode (of course, too late for the agent as well). This episode just seemed to be drawn out too long for me.

Alec

This episode could have been miles better with just a little more natural dialogue, and a much better lead. The already-seasoned Jerry Orbach is horribly stilted and makes an already unsympathetic character unbearable. Script quirk: Martin seems to avoid the word "pregnant" but uses the word "abortion."

jpc

This RMT play makes me think of another episode where there's a man who duznt want anything 2 do with ant1 else in existance. He's followed by a female entity which he loathes. The only other person this man has as an only friend is a priest by name of Murchison(?). Murchison believes that the female entity was sent divinely 4 setting aside human feeling as a form of punishment. I think the part was played by Howard Silva but I could be wrong. Plz.....if any1 happens 2 know which episode I'm talking about, plz let me know with a reply. I'd appreia8 very much & thanx in advance. Until next time.....pleasant dreams. :o)

Tim

An interesting tale of a guilty conscience finally catching up with you, literally. A tale of beware how you treat others for you never know how or when it will come back on you. Sad that he realized it too late to make things right. A good moral story, something needed in this day and age.

Nancy


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