Forgotten TV: Ray Bradbury Theater- 'The Screaming Woman'

Another Episode of this all-but-forgotten Show.  Only 63 more to go after this!

Okay, I probably won't do all of them, but I will at least do this one, on account of its future Star...

After a weird, 2nd open (see the Stinger), we see the actual Story.  It focuses on a girl- Drew Barrymore- who loves scary stories and over-sized magazines.

Fun fact: the then-10-year-old Drew had already drank more than I had in over 3 times that many years.  Yea or Boo?

She is sent to pick up some Ice Cream, but hears a strange moaning sound.  She follows it to a nearby Field and hears it coming from the ground!

She tells her Parents, who jokingly-dismiss it.

Since this is by a good Writer, however, the Dad eventually plays along, but no sound happens then.

She takes matters into her own hands- '80s kids being incredibly-unparented!- and tries to dig near the sound, but is stopped by her Neighbor.

She cons a neighbor kid into helping her, but their late-night snooping (again- no parents to interfere) doesn't prove to be fruitful.

In a strange move, she goes to the creepy Neighbor's House alone and he's clearly up to something.

I figured that you wanted a break from Drew shots, but is this really better?

Eventually, the Dad starts to hear someone humming a song.  In a Chekhov's Song, he remembers it being the one that the Neighbor's Wife- who he once dated- had written for him.

He shows up to save Drew and the Police find the woman alive.  The End.

A decent tale of suspense and family.  After the last Episode's confusing Story and turn, my hopes were less high.  Thankfully, this one mostly delivers on what it promises.  It wisely focuses on the young girl and sticks with it.  As a big Star at the time, this may seem obvious, but I could easily see this with a more split focus.  This way, it makes a more consistent tale and a stronger one.  She knows that she heard something.  She knows that she has to do something.  She's only 10, but she has to help a person.  That's a strong motivation for anyone- especially a child!  The whole thing isn't perfect, but I do like that everything pays off.  Creepy Neighbor- paid off.  Random song- paid off.  It all works together nicely.  This is still Made-for-TV stuff, so it doesn't look super-expensive and doesn't do all that much with the darker elements here.  That does give it a certain charm, even as it limits it.  I'll leave you with this- why did we need this Intro (after the Show's actual Intro) with Bradbury meeting a guy and playing with a Dowsing Rod?  I mean, it kind of relates, but...why is it on this Episode?  Was it just short?

Next time, more Stars and more tales.  I doubt any of these will ever really get scary, but I'll certainly try to find one.