FOR A YOUNG LADY
'For a Young Lady' - first shown
The Cartwrights help a young girl who was put in the care of evil relatives
when her grandfather died. Her grandfather mined for gold on the Ponderosa, and
Ben let him keep 10% of what he found. Her new caretakers think she owns the
mine outright, and they see her as a fast ticket to a gold strike.
Guest Stars: Jewel Blanch as Carrie Sturgis, Paul Fix as Buford Sturgis,
Madeline Sherwood as Vella Owens, William Bramley as Gifford Owens, Peggy Rea
as Clara
*****
This is a Jamie/Joe/Ben episode which works really well.
Hoss has a small yet effective part at the end.
Carrie Sturgis' life is drastically altered when her grandfather is badly
injured and can no longer work an almost depleted mine which has been their
means of support. The girl is taken into the custody of her abusive aunt and
uncle, the Owens, whose sole interest is the mine, not the girl, and the plot
revolves around how Carrie can be saved.
Jamie rescues her from their clutches, Joe tries to keep her safe on the
Ponderosa only to run foul of the law and Ben finds a potential adoptive parent
for Carrie when her grandfather dies. In the end justice is done when the
Cartwrights prove that the mine is on Ponderosa land and the devious Owens accept
a share in the mine and relinquish Carrie.
Nice performances from Jewel Blanch as Carrie, Paul Fix as her cantankerous but
kindly grandfather, also Madeleine Sherwood and William Bramley as the abusive,
exploitative Owens. But for me the outstanding guest star was Peggy Rea as the
kindly humorous Clara who adopts Carrie. (Peggy Rea is a well known face and
was the regular character Rose in the later episodes of The Waltons.)
There is a tremendously funny scene between Clara and Ben when Ben goes to buy
a dress for Carrie in Clara's dress shop. Ben looks at a blue dress (not the
infamous one!) and Clara asks him if it's for Hoss or Joe LOL!!!! Ben says that
actually blue isn't Hoss's colour!!! A very memorable piece of Bonanza comedy!
There is a touching scene where Joe gently lifts the exhausted Carrie from the
sofa and holds her and comforts her so kindly – you can just imagine Michael
with his children.
The episode works well in several ways. The story can be seen on two levels –
that of the decent adults who appreciate the complications and the simplistic
view of the two youngsters. Yet both views are valid in terms of justice. The
direction alternates between those two views and moves the story at a good
pace. Above all there is really good big brother/little brother interaction
with Joe and Jamie (more Hoss would have been nice) and Ben has the opportunity
to guide Jamie as well as to still offer minor advice to Joe.
Definitely worth a view.