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The Twilight Zone

Long Distance Call

Season 2, Episode 22, Aired 3/31/61

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Episode Summary

A young boy find he can communicate with his dead grandmother through a toy phone.

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Cast & Crew

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Rod Serling

Narrator/Host
Philip Abbott

Chris Bayles
Lili Darvas

Grandma Bayles

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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A boy is able to talk with his recently deceased grandmother.

7.5

"Good"

By johtob, Oct 22, 2010 Report Abuse

I found the plot of this episode predictable but the acting and writing were great. I was especially captivated by the ending and the fathers plea for his son's life. I found the mother's role to be one dimensional but I guess that was required for the story to work. As this is my first review ton tv.com I wanted to ask if any one else has an opinion on the "definitive collection" of the Twilight Zone? There are a small percentage of episodes that look like they are a recording of a tv screen, they look bad compared to the rest. Was there ever an explanation for this discrepancy?

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Billy Mumy plays a kid who says he's talking to his dead Grandmother from a toy telephone.

7.2

"Good"

By marvelfan89, Oct 22, 2010 Report Abuse

Decent episode, very preditable though. A lot is giving away when the Grandmother died and Rod Serling's introduction about life and death. Of course we get the feeling we will be hearing from Grandmother again and we do.

Billy Bayles (Billy Mumy) claims he can talk to her on his toy phone. Everyone thinks he's traumatized until the mom hears the Grandmother. Then Billy in his rage when mother tries to stop his conversation falls into the pond and appears to be dying. The twist at the end with the Dad talking on the phone asking his mom to give him Billy back was predictable but still well executed.

One of those happy endings for the show.
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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Notes
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- This episode marked the first of three TZ appearances for Bill Mumy. He would return in "It's a Good Life" and "In Praise of Pip." Edit
- Included on volume 5 of Image-Entertainment's DVD collection. Edit
- This is one of six episodes originally shot on videotape, then transferred to sixteen-millimeter film for broadcast. This was done as a cost-cutting measure. Edit
Quotes
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- Chris: (on the phone) You said Billy gave you life, Mom. At his third birthday party, you picked him up and hugged him and said he gave you life. He's only five years old, Mom. He doesn't know anything about school, or girlfriends, or wearing long pants. You said he gave you life, if you love him, give him back. Edit
- Billy: (on the phone) Hurray for Peter Pan! That was a great story Grandma. Can I have a chocolate ice cream bar? Sylvia: Billy, who're you talking to? (takes the phone from him and listens) Billy: You broke my phone! (runs out) Sylvia: Chris! Chris: (running in) What is it? Sylvia: It was her! I heard her breathing! Edit
- Shirley: This is Mr. Peterson. Mr. Peterson: I've been sitting here shaking for 20 minutes because of what happened with your son. Chris: Well what did happen with Billy? Mr. Peterson: He ran out in front of my car, it's a good thing I'm a careful driver. You should talk to him about playing out in the street. Chris: Billy never plays out in the street. Shirley: He never played out in the street, that's why I didn't think anything of it when he went out to play. Mr. Peterson: When I asked him why he would do a thing like that, run out into busy traffic in front of an oncoming car, he said because somebody told him to do it. Shirley: I would never tell Billy to do anything like that, I swear. Chris: Who has he talked to this afternoon? Shirley: Nobody, he's been up in his room all day playing on that toy telephone. Edit
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