Not a satisfying ending, in that some critical threads are unresolved...however, it's not supposed to be that kind of story. Morality play, no supernatural elements.

Phil is needing money for his gas station business takes in his sick father who was recently released from prison. Phil soon develops a sharp temper and a penchant for punching people in the face. He is convinced he can squeeze the money out of his pop whom he calls Frank. Pretty good episode with a sad ending, poor Phil, poor Frank.

I disagree with Andy that the ending here is unsatisfying. While it's true that some plot elements remain unresolved, they aren't critical to the resolution. This episode is a fine morality play, with a good lesson about money's corrupting power and an unexpected ending. No supernatural elements.

An emotionally harsh drama. A lesson is learned in the bitter end.

A son brings his ailing, paroled father home from the hospital. Meanwhile, he must find $15000 to buy out his business partner or lose his business.

Kind of sappy, but well acted.

No supernatural, no unexplained phenomenon, no psychological terror... just a story of the relationship between a father and son. This is a beautiful episode. A man is called to take his elderly ailing father home from prison on a compassionate parole from his robbery sentence. His son is an honest and hard-working down-to-earth individual who despises his father for his crimes and his absence in his own youth. Reluctantly he takes him in. The son's business partner is pressuring him to buy him out and the bank is hesitant to lend him the entire sum. The son, desperate for cash, demands from his father the money he is said to have received from the robbery, but denies he ever had. Well developed characters. It sounded like the little grandson was actually played by a child actor, which was wonderful. I recall other episodes (The Hands of Mrs. Mallory) where the role of children are quite obviously played by adults, and quite unconvincingly.

Grandson was played by Ralph Carter (of Good Times fame). He would have been 13 at the time.

This is really more a family drama than a mystery, but it's effective nonetheless. Really well written and acted.

This is a sweet story that was personal to me. I had a friend who wanted nothing to do with her mother while she was dying in a nursing home. She explained that she cound not have cared less; and she meant it. Therefore, the responsibility fell to me. I was so pleased to send the septuagenarian candy, chocolate Easter bunnies, post cards, dollar bills for the vending machine, etc. It is a pleasant story, with a brilliant performance by Ralph Carter. He did a fantastic job.

I agree that the end was bittersweet and that it was a good episode. The father was able to finally give his son something after all the years of not being there for him.

Timeline doesn't seem quite right to me. Rick was in jail for 10 years. Phil has a son that seems to be around 10 years old so how could Phil have been 'denied' his childhood and not have had his father around because dad was in jail or have I misunderstood something here? Not a favorite episode and nothing mystery-related about it.

Ralph Carter played the kid. He was a youngster at the time, so that's why his acting was genuine. I like the story. Mysterious, no. But, who really knew what the end would be? Perhaps, THAT WAS THE MYSTERY!!! You wonder if Phil will go bad, you wonder if the Grandfather really has money stashed somewhere, and IF Phil would take it, Who the Old Buddy was and what He wanted. It's suspenseful. Throw in the Insurance Agent who is offering reward for the stolen money...You don't know who or what to watch for🤔🤔🤔🤔 It doesn't have to be macabre. But, it does make us wonder. As for Phil missing his dad, his father probably was a lifetime criminal. Gone all the time for one crime or another. Now, the son SEEMS to be leaning toward the family tree of crime.

I rate this episode ★★★★☆ for GOOD. For 2 reasons. ONE: Sidney Sloan’s mystery story had a lot of dramatic elements, especially the conflict between father & son. But the finale was the drawback where no money was ever found and the main character didn’t get to solve his financial problems. I was hoping that the ending would have the antagonists and ithe nsurance detective show up unexpectedly, threaten the father & son to get their hands on all of the money, the father saves his son’s life by sacrificing his own life, and the 2 would share one last bonding experience as the father refers to himself as “free as a bird” and no longer labeled as a “jailbird.” For a story about a father who got stuck behind bars and a son who gets stuck in dire financial straits, another way to title this would be “Boxed In.” SECOND: Narrations from our Host. E.G. Marshall begins with his classic opening line, followed by introducing us our main character with emotions of hatred. In ACT-1, the son’s hatred towards his father won’t dissolve. In ACT-2, bad influences arise. In ACT-3, right after the drawback finale, E.G. Marshall’s narration was too short without a Climax to discuss. In his Epilogue, his only Resolution to state was that the son found a new understanding of his father and his own son. Suitable statement, but still no information on the financial problems that had to be fixed. The dramatic tunes they played were helpful that created many themes of hesitation, stressed, and the struggle of money and family. The sound effects of the windy rain, doors, footsteps, file cabinets, radio music, kitchenware, telephone, the slap at the 10:26 mark, car engines, birds chirping, car honk, light switch, the punch at the 35:12 mark, crickets, shovels, and body thud were supportive. What I enjoyed the most in this, was our cast: William Prince (as Phil Kohlmann), Joe Julian (as Rick Kohlmann), Ralph Carter (as Harry Kohlmann), Joan Lovejoy (as Nina Kohlmann), Robert Dryden (as Prison Doctor, Sketch, and Mr. Ames), and Ian Martin (as Herbert McCauley and Mr. Karnaki). Both Ian Martin and Robert Dryden did great in their multiple roles. Joan Lovejoy was splendid. Ralph Carter was really good, it’s a shame that this was the only CBSRMT episode he ever did. Big props to Joe Julian & William Prince for stealing the show! The moment when William Prince hollered: “You fat pig!!!” at the 18:43 mark, that’s when you knew he was really into his role. Check this story out if you’re fan of William Prince’s work. Until next time…pleasant dreams. =0)

Ralph Carter was AWESOME. He was a little boy who was holding his own alongside those veterans. I was so impressed. It must have looked cute at the studio. A little boy of color fitting right in, with his Caucasian cohorts. He just did it. I thought the daughter in law's acceptance of the elderly convict into her home was so sweet. He was going to help his grandson become a Checkers champion; very nice. Oh, and I loved the jazzed up music that the grandson listened to while he did his homework. That was good and bizarre. It was a sweet story about the father who makes up with his dad. My father is dead, so I am glad it worked out well in the story. I liked that part, but I was so excited that Ralph Carter did such a good job. He had a smart agent.

I'm not too fond of the soap opera-ish episodes, and they lend nothing much to the series as a whole. This episode has too much family drama and not enough mystery for me. While it was well-acted, it's not one of my favorites.

Definitely a thought provoking episode. What would one do if in the middle of dire circumstances and the answer seems so near? Put the need for money and built up anger and hurt together and greed rears it's ugly head! But sometimes in the nick of time humanity wins out and forgiveness saves us. Great program.

Great episode, a tear jerker at the end but so well written that this is definitely one of the greats.