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Title

The Unthinkable

Plot

When his wife lands a job and starts moving up the corporate ladder, an unemployed engineer's ego takes a beating. He takes matters into his own hands and finds gratification in robbing a bank-- and not just any bank but the place where she works.

Episode

0491

Air Dates

  • First Run - June 14, 1976
  • Repeat - September 29, 1976

Actors

Writer

Listen

Rating

131
118     13


12 Responses to Episode 0491

Just heard an episode called "The Unthinkable" starring Larry Haines. He played a proud husband who ends up staying at home with the kids and doing house work while his wife goes to work at the bank. This eats away at him and his "manhood" until he decides to rob her bank with a friend of his. He was so good in this role, playing the sinister crook, lol. I just loved how he portrayed this character and his voice and acting were superb. In the end, he hides the money in "the perfect place" (the garbage) and of course his wife calls the garbage collectors to have the garbage taken away. The boys run off to look for the money and at the end of the story, they still haven't found it yet, lol. The ending was so funny!

Amy

An unemployed engineer's ego is bruised when his wife gets a job and starts climbing the career ladder. He finds fulfillment in robbing a bank -- the bank where she works.

Vangie Phoebe

He is an out of work engineer and his wife is a rising star at the bank in which she works. His friend is an architect and also out of work. Their wives are both professional women and earning a good salary. Sitting in the park one day, the electrician laments his lack of funds, and the architect tells of some of his research on local architecture, particularly an underground out-of-use sewer system that runs directly beside the vault in the bank. Rob a bank? Unthinkable.

Dennis G.

Very good episode about an unlikely bankrobber- and very good commentary on the male psyche in the 1970's, when "women's Lib" was a central theme of the times!

Melanie

A pretty good story whose psychology wouldn't be the same today as I know a few men who stay at home with the kids while their wives work. My thought is they should've had a third man who was a forest ranger or something to help hide the evidence.

Alec

I rate this episode ★★★★☆ for GOOD. Sam Dann’s story was enjoyable, lot of intense dialogue between the married couple. And the title is catchy. The ending was surprising; however, I think it ended too quickly. This Climax was funny, but I think there should’ve been a 4th Act to keep the story going and end it with an ironic twist. The music tunes were perfect. Not just the tunes during the main character’s narrations, but also the dark and suspenseful track that was played at the 28:44 mark, plus the humorous track played at the 34:00 mark. The sound effects of the doors, footsteps, traffic noise, birds chirping, doorbell, howling wind, tableware clinking, phone ringing, garbage truck, and tires screech were suitable, but this mystery needed more. For instance, when the characters talk outside while watching their kids play, there should’ve been a sound effect of kids playing in the background. But more importantly, our Host and our Cast. In our Host’s Prologue, E.G. Marshall’s topic in this mystery was about “Uncertainty.” In ACT-1, questioning on our decisions and how our routines in life could change. In ACT-2, recognize that people who walk on straight narrow paths can also fool us. In ACT-3, know that people should be adaptable, flexible, willing, and able to adjust to the demands of any situation. In his Epilogue, E.G. Marshall points out that CBSMRT has something for everyone. From heists to capers, from social significance to changing roles, from standards of morality to the exercise in the unthinkable. To that, I say “Hear, hear!” And lastly, our cast: Larry Haines (as Walt Robinson), Teri Keane (as Roxanne Robinson), Russell Horton (as Phil and Ben Kennedy), and Robert Maxwell (as Pop and Police Sergeant). Both Teri Keane and Larry Haines played their parts on a splendid level; sounded like they were an actual couple. And Larry Haines is terrific in this, just like his roles in 0397-THE ELEVENTH HOUR and 0597-THE AURORA GROUP. Any CBSRMT fan that enjoys Larry Haines’ performances would also enjoy this particular one. Until next time…pleasant dreams. =0)

Russell

Walt Robinson, an electrical engineer out of work for 18 months, takes over the housework, begrudgingly, when his wife, Roxanne, gets a job as an assistant manager of a bank. While playing with his children in a park, Walt meets Phil, an unemployed architect, and together they start planning the heist of the bank where Roxanne works. They pull it off beautifully, except for one minor detail, which soon becomes a major one when the police start their investigation.

Adam

Walt Robinson, an electrical engineer out of work for 18 months, takes over the housework, begrudgingly, when his wife, Roxanne, gets a job as an assistant manager of a bank. While playing with his children in a park, Walt meets Phil, an unemployed architect, and together they start planning the heist of the bank where Roxanne works. They pull it off beautifully, except for one minor detail, which soon becomes a major one when the police start their investigation.

Adam

Walt Robinson, an electrical engineer out of work for 18 months, takes over the housework, begrudgingly, when his wife, Roxanne, gets a job as an assistant manager of a bank. While playing with his children in a park, Walt meets Phil, an unemployed architect, and together they start planning the heist of the bank where Roxanne works. They pull it off beautifully, except for one minor detail, which soon becomes a major one when the police start their investigation.

Adam

Loved this one!

TJS

Really fun episode. Definitely a dated piece from the 70s. I remember when the youngest siblings entered school and our mothers started to go out into the workplace. This episode also made me laugh along the lines of the 'Honeymooners' type humor. Very enjoyable!

Maureen

Larry Haines & Teri Keane are two of my favorites

Stephen


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