Alien from another planet (Steve Kanaly; "Dallas") arrives in Possum Meadows to collect specimens to transport back home, encountering a boy (Benjamin Barrett) perusing the creek near his trailer home. This alien, calling himself Scout, befriends the boy, is asked to dinner to meet his single, overworking mom (Laura Press), and continues to confiscate animals located in Possum Meadows. Soon Scout decides to confiscate the boy and his dog! The mom soon cannot find her son, scared for his well-being, but quite fond of Scout after the dinner night together. She learns the value of her son despite the numerous complications that come with raising him alone. Scout's change of heart might just come from a communication to his home world after his family sends love back to him, awaiting his return. Kanaly is so creepy, I have a hard time imagining any mom would want him around their son. An inquisitive nature and a face that holds this rather disconcerting smile, it would be easy for some viewers to consider him a potential pedo, especially considering how he creeps about in the bushes and talks in this inanimate fashion. It looks like someone trying to adapt into a part, rather unable to hide his unfamiliarity to a world not his own yet the mother and son fail to recognize his strange behavior. The mom even seems smitten with him! I guess it is his manners
maybe she's just used to the louse. Her previous relationship produced a stepdad who left her because of the boy and she is unable to hide her disappointment from the son. The son tells Scout about it when the two converse near the creek in Possum Meadows. Kanaly does convince as a stranger from outer space, and it was probably wise of his alien to land his vessel in rural nowhere
his behavior might be seen by others as suspect. The hand of Scout is how he is able to cause animals to be held in trance and "removed" from their location to his ship. Would I be comfortable with Scout roaming around the woods behind my home, meeting up with my kid in secret? Umm, no. But at least Scout realizes the mistake he makes about taking a kid from his mother, understanding that it wouldn't be nice if that happened to him. Wisely, considering the show's budget, the alien ship is not shown, using a light show to establish liftoff.
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