Not to be missed.
This reminds me of a MANNIX episode, though many years beforehand. The reason is the small town location and the strange folks...
Stu gets the Mannix treatment for sure, a victim of amnesia who now has a new name, Roger Morley(?), and apparently is married to a lethal blonde named Bette, excellently portrayed by Elizabeth MacRae. MacRae is a standout, one of the craziest females Stu has ever had to deal with, and with a no good brother, played to the hilt by William Windom, add a southern accent.
These two are insane, but playing a rather clever game... There's a lot of twists and turns here. Stu does have a companion of sorts, downtrodden waitress Moxie, played by popular character actress Evans Evans. She was married to director John Frankenheimer, who also cast her in his films.
In a really bizarre scene, Bette even demands Moxie take off her clothes. Definitely a first for the series.
MacRae is best known as the galpal on GOMER PYLE, but she shines here in a far differrent role.
Top direction by Jeffrey Hayden right down the line. He later served as series director for PEYTON PLACE.
Roger Smith, who did not appear in this episode, co-wrote the script with Montgomery Pittman, though Pittman probably fine-tuned it. This is classic writing. Pittman wrote 16 episodes for the series, also serving as director, right up until his sudden death (cancer). He also wrote three top episodes for TWILIGHT ZONE. A big loss to Warner Brothers.
10 Plus Stars. SEASON 4 EPISODE 17 remastered WB dvd box set. Thanx to METV Plus for showing these super oldies, twice on Sunday nights.