Come In, Stranger

Come In, Stranger is the fifth episode of the first season of Desperate Housewives and the fifth episode of the series overall.

Synopsis
A break-in on Wisteria Lane leaves the neighbors feeling vulnerable; After Rex takes the kids away for the weekend, Bree finds herself bonding with Zach; Gabrielle takes drastic measures to keep Juanita oblivious to her secret.

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 and fascinating conversation about the deaths of their mothers.

Starring

 * Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer
 * Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo
 * Marcia Cross as Bree Van de Kamp
 * Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis
 * Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt (Credit Only)
 * Steven Culp as Rex Van de Kamp
 * Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Carlos Solis
 * Mark Moses as Paul Young
 * Andrea Bowen as Julie Mayer
 * Jesse Metcalfe as John Rowland
 * Cody Kasch as Zach Young
 * Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young
 * and James Denton as Mike Delfino

Guest Starring

 * Doug Savant as Tom Scavo
 * Lupe Ontiveros as Juanita Solis
 * Bob Gunton as Noah Taylor
 * Steven Eckholdt as Rick Thompson
 * Harry S. Murphy as Headmaster Lentz

Co-Starring

 * Brent Kinsman as Preston Scavo
 * Shane Kinsman as Porter Scavo
 * Shania Accius as Shonda
 * Mark Brady as Patrolman
 * Pat Crawford Brown as Ida Greenberg
 * Laura Milby as Saleswoman
 * Betty Mourphy as Mrs. From
 * Lorna Scott as Helen Vale
 * Cheyenne Wilbur as Bob Fisk

Production Notes

 * Nicollette Sheridan (Edie Britt) is absent in this episode.