Take Notice: You'll currently find it on YouTube (many thanks, YT) under the title, "Lost TV Gems: Scene of the Crime". Of course, such availability could change, so catch it while you can.
First of all, the cast (as recorded here on this page) is in error. Neither Angela Lansbury nor any Robert Pierce are in this particular story, nor did she actually appear in any episode of the series (as far as I know). However, Lansbury could have done an intro for its debut, since it followed her "Murder She Wrote".
Hosted by the one and only Orson Welles, "Scene of the Crime" (which only lasted eight episodes during 1984-85) consisted of two halves. The first half was usually a murder mystery of some sort, with the gimmick of halting the story before its resolution, and inviting the viewer to select the culprit, and then see if they're correct. The second half was some other type of suspense tale, related in a straightforward manner, without the gimmick.
"The Babysitter" was the non-gimmick second half of the debut episode. Not the pilot, but the very first episode shown, as I recall. In my opinion, this story is the very best of the entire short-lived series. I seen it when I was very young and impressionable, never forgot it, and recently got to finally see it again, after all these years, on afore-mentioned YouTube (once more, my thanks to YT).
On to the story itself. Patricia (Priscilla Weems) is a little girl enjoying her birthday party. Before long, the hired clown (an unrecognizable Robert Donner) takes her aside and gives her a very special and unusual gift. Cut to a scene where Patricia's parents (Anne Lockhart, and not Robert Pierce) are going out for the evening. Their daughter is anxious and withdrawn, apparently suffering from separation anxiety. As usual, oblivious TV parents do not inquire further.
Enter the babysitter, Karen (Isabelle Walker). Seems nice enough and perfectly normal, until the parents leave. Then we learn what's bothering poor Patricia. She lives in absolute fear of her babysitter. A very demented Karen takes sadistic delight in tormenting, and terrorizing the little girl, and just plain scaring her half to death.
Why hasn't she told her parents about Karen? How does the clown's gift come into play? What happens during the particularly spooky, tense scene leading to the shocking finale? Enjoy finding out.
An excellent performance by Walker. She was equally good in "The Gloating Place" episode of the resurrected Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
First of all, the cast (as recorded here on this page) is in error. Neither Angela Lansbury nor any Robert Pierce are in this particular story, nor did she actually appear in any episode of the series (as far as I know). However, Lansbury could have done an intro for its debut, since it followed her "Murder She Wrote".
Hosted by the one and only Orson Welles, "Scene of the Crime" (which only lasted eight episodes during 1984-85) consisted of two halves. The first half was usually a murder mystery of some sort, with the gimmick of halting the story before its resolution, and inviting the viewer to select the culprit, and then see if they're correct. The second half was some other type of suspense tale, related in a straightforward manner, without the gimmick.
"The Babysitter" was the non-gimmick second half of the debut episode. Not the pilot, but the very first episode shown, as I recall. In my opinion, this story is the very best of the entire short-lived series. I seen it when I was very young and impressionable, never forgot it, and recently got to finally see it again, after all these years, on afore-mentioned YouTube (once more, my thanks to YT).
On to the story itself. Patricia (Priscilla Weems) is a little girl enjoying her birthday party. Before long, the hired clown (an unrecognizable Robert Donner) takes her aside and gives her a very special and unusual gift. Cut to a scene where Patricia's parents (Anne Lockhart, and not Robert Pierce) are going out for the evening. Their daughter is anxious and withdrawn, apparently suffering from separation anxiety. As usual, oblivious TV parents do not inquire further.
Enter the babysitter, Karen (Isabelle Walker). Seems nice enough and perfectly normal, until the parents leave. Then we learn what's bothering poor Patricia. She lives in absolute fear of her babysitter. A very demented Karen takes sadistic delight in tormenting, and terrorizing the little girl, and just plain scaring her half to death.
Why hasn't she told her parents about Karen? How does the clown's gift come into play? What happens during the particularly spooky, tense scene leading to the shocking finale? Enjoy finding out.
An excellent performance by Walker. She was equally good in "The Gloating Place" episode of the resurrected Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
