Suspense Sundays (68) A Man in the House

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  I have a fondness for "Old Time Radio" as we call it now, and Suspense is my favorite show.  It sets up weird, dark, scary, or intriguing stories with a plot twist in the end, and all in half an hour.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.   {My archive list of episodes}

"A Man in the House"

Air date: August 2, 1945
Starring Joan Lorring and Joseph Kearns

>>Episodes here<<

Pretty young thing Emily realizes that she has become a spinsterish librarian at a young age.  Her father died unexpectedly and her mother didn't bear it well and became an invalid - querulous and difficult.  Emily cares for her, and the two lead a rather secluded life.  Emily's neighbors remark that what Emily and her mother need is "a man in the house."  Unfortunately, one evening, Emily comes home and finds one in their house.  With a gun, and preparing to stay for awhile because all he wants is food, shelter and a little hospitality.  He lets Emily go to work, with her mother as a hostage so Emily won't go to the police.  But Emily can't hold back and does tell a friend.  And they cook up a plan.

The mysterious intruder in a puzzle- they never really say why he needs to hide out, but he is awfully annoyed by Emily's mother and the way Emily puts her mother first.  I guess the real reason this scary man is there is to push Emily to become her own woman.  Which is kinda just my interpretation because the ending doesn't really bear that out.  Or rather it bears out that Emily should have asked some guy's help earlier on in this story.  This is a really suspenseful tale though, despite the lame "twist" in the end.