"Come In, Stranger" is the fifth episode of the ABC

American Broadcasting Company

The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

 television series, Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...

. The episode was the fifth episode for the show's first season. The episode was written by Alexandra Cunningham

Alexandra Cunningham

Alexandra Cunningham is an American screenwriter and television producer, most known as a writer and producer for ABC Studios' dramedy Desperate Housewives, having written more episodes of the show than any other writer besides showrunner Marc Cherry....

 and was directed by Arlene Sanford

Arlene Sanford

Arlene Sanford is an American film and television director.Sanford has directed for several notable television series and several motion picture and television films which include A Very Brady Sequel , I'll Be Home for Christmas and Twelve Men of Christmas .Sanford has been nominated for two...

. It originally aired on October 31, 2004.

Plot

After a series of break-ins on Wisteria Lane, the neighbors form a neighborhood watch to protect Wisteria Lane from would-be intruders. Susan makes a date with a police officer after she believes Mike is losing interest in her. Gabrielle's mother in law, Mama Solis arrives unexpectedly to stay for a few weeks. The reason being so that Carlos can know if she is cheating or not. After choosing not to medicate the twins, Lynette decides to enroll them in private school. The interview goes well but in order to impress the faculty and headmaster, Lynette works the children to full capacity before sending them to school. Instead of being energetic and playful, they are docile and quiet which proves to be positive—for now. While Andrew and Danielle are away camping, Bree is left alone in the house for the first time in years. To avoid the loneliness of eating alone, she invites Zach Young over and the two have an informative but fascinating conversation about the deaths of their mothers.

Note

• Although credited, Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan
  Nicollette Sheridan
  Nicollette Sheridan is an English film and television actress. She is best known for her roles as Edie Britt on Desperate Housewives and as Paige Matheson on Knots Landing.-Early life:...
  
  ) does not appear in this episode.
• Pat Crawford Brown
  Pat Crawford Brown
  -Personal life:Brown was born in New York City, the daughter of Charlotte and Thomas J. Brown. She is the aunt of folk singer Christine Lavin.She was married to Calvin B...
  
  's first apperiance on the show as Ida Greenberg

Title reference

The episode title Come In, Stranger comes from a Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...

song of the same name.

International titles

• Finnish: Vieras talossa (A Stranger in the House)
• French: La peur au ventre (To feel sick with fear)
• German: Eindringlinge (Gatecrashers)
• Hungarian: Jöjj be, idegen! (Come in, stranger)
• Italian: Inquietanti intrusioni (Disturbing intrusions)
• Spanish: Adelante, extraño (Come in, stranger)