Ep 1. The Dead Man/ The Housekeeper
- January 1, 1969
Rod Serling's Night Gallery is a classic 1970s horror and suspense anthology series that takes the audience on a journey through bizarre, macabre, and otherworldly stories. Each episode features Serling's signature storytelling style, creepy visuals, and twist endings.
In season 1, episode 1, titled "The Dead Man/The Housekeeper," two different stories are told, each with its unique brand of terror.
The first story, "The Dead Man," follows a man named Carl (played by John Anderson) who is traveling alone in the wilderness. After his horse dies, he finds himself stranded in the middle of nowhere with no food or water. He is just about to give up hope when he stumbles upon an abandoned cabin. But the cabin is no refuge – it's haunted by the ghost of a man who died there some time ago.
The ghostly apparition appears to Carl, but only he can see him. The dead man appears friendly enough, offering Carl food and shelter, but there's something off about him. As the night wears on, Carl realizes that the dead man is not quite what he seems. A chilling twist ending leaves the audience questioning everything they thought they knew about the story.
The second story, "The Housekeeper," is about a wealthy and eccentric man named Oliver (played by Larry Watson) who hires a new housekeeper named Emily (played by Joanna Pettet). Emily is perfect for the job – she's efficient, quiet, and eager to please. But soon, Oliver realizes that Emily is not quite what she seems.
Emily starts to exhibit strange behaviors – talking to herself, staring at blank walls, and acting paranoid. Oliver becomes increasingly disturbed by Emily's strange behavior, but he can't seem to get rid of her. When Oliver does some digging into Emily's past, he discovers a shocking secret that will change everything.
Overall, "The Dead Man/The Housekeeper" is a classic episode of Night Gallery that showcases the show's signature blend of horror, suspense, and storytelling. It's a must-watch for fans of classic horror television.
