ABC Afterschool Special: Don't Touch!

               

ABC After School Special
Season fourteen, episode three

                                                 Airdate

                                         November 6th, 1985

Directed by 

Beau Bridges

Written by

Jeanne Betancourt

Starring

Kelly Wolf

Blair Brown

Niki Scalera 

John Glover

Lenny Von Dohlen

Corey Parker

Trivia

Niki Scalera later acted with Mr. Von Dohlen in the play Vanishing Act.

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Don't Touch tells the story of teenage babysitter Karen (Kelly Wolf) and her charge Molly (Niki Scalera). Karen notices that Mike (Lenny Von Dohlen), an adult friend of her employer's family, seems to have an unusual fixation on Molly. The terms Mike uses, and the way he behaves, reawaken memories of Karen's abuse by her uncle. 

When Molly's parents say they are going to leave Molly with Mike for the weekend, Karen believes she needs to intervene, but she doesn't know how. Molly's parents think of Mike as family. She fears they'll never believe her. She has no proof.

After a suggestion from her boyfriend (Corey Parker), Karen decides that she and Molly play dollhouse and have the dolls tell Molly's story. Karen finds that her worst fears are true. She tells Molly's mother (Blair Brown), who states she will tell her husband (John Glover) and inform the authorities. 

Mr. Von Dohlen said this role was one of the most difficult roles he had to perform. The character is outwardly charming and silly, educating young viewers that even an apparently harmless person can be guilty of unthinkable actions. Don't Touch helped many children simply judging by the comments on YouTube alone. 

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Don't Touch has never been officially released in physical or digital form. It is available on YouTube. 

The Special and Related Videos

A piece on Don't Touch from the New York Times. 

Episode Stills Promotional Photo

Photo: eBay

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