THE BRASS BOX – First shown September 26^th 1965

‘Although no one ever believes him, old Jose Ortega is always telling tall tales, including one about a Spanish land grant giving him ownership of the territory’.

Guest Stars: Ramon Navarro as Jose Ortega, Michael Dante as Miguel Ortega.

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This is a really entertaining, classic Bonanza episode in which Ben, Hoss and Joe display the "Cartwright spirit" towards a good neighbour, Jose Ortega, and his hostile nephew Miguel. The story focuses on the conflict of land owned by indigenous people and later acquired by newer settlers. Bonanza was again ahead of its time with
this topic.

In the Virginia City saloon, elderly Jose claims to have papers (in a brass box) giving him rights to much of the territory including most of the Ponderosa. When he is attacked by a local thug, Mueller, Joe defends him. Later Joe visits Jose and is amazed to find Mexican treasures in Jose's small cabin.

Staying with his uncle is Miguel who detests the Cartwrights, seeing them as arrogant land owners who despise the Ortegas as peasants. Miguel makes this clear to Joe who responds only with quiet dignity. Despite this, Ben gives Miguel a job breaking horses. Hoss displays commendable equanimity in facing down Miguel's ongoing insults at the
corral.

Miguel discovers the brass box containing land deeds and persuades his uncle to take legal action to claim the Ponderosa. Ben's lawyer confirms the legality of the claim and later offers Ben a legal loophole to retain his land. Ben's integrity shines through and he rejects the dubious action.

Very worried about their father, Hoss and Joe take responsibility and visit Jose to try to negotiate a fair land settlement but are thrown out by an angry Miguel.

Mueller and other thuggish locals descend on the Ortega home when Jose is alone and torture him to try to make him withdraw his land claim, also burning his family heirlooms. Ben finds him and cares for him but Miguel heads for Virginia City bent on revenge. Joe, dispatched by Ben, follows Miguel.

In a saloon shootout, Joe kills Mueller and saves a wounded Miguel's life. Miguel acknowledges his bad behaviour towards the Cartwrights and the Bonanza credo of giving everyone a second chance is fulfilled.

Resolution is reached when Jose burns the land deeds because they caused so much trouble to his friends.

An excellent performance by Ramon Navarro as Jose and a good, solid one by Michael Dante as Miguel. Lorne, Dan and Michael are splendid as usual and their off-screen friendship shows through in the way they relate as the Cartwrights. (When Hoss calls out "Stay with him Joe" in a horse breaking scene, I almost expected Dan to say "Mike" as he did in "My Brother's Keeper" LOL!)

A very satisfying episode where justice is done. It benefits considerably from Paul Schneider's exciting script and the very experienced William Claxton's excellent direction so that the story is fast paced. There are many interesting changes between crowd scenes and individuals, different locations e.g.Virginia City, the Ponderosa Ranch and Jose's home, indoor and outdoor scenes – the latter filmed at the Janss Conejo Ranch, southern California.

Trivia: In "Ponderosa Matador" Joe and Hoss can't speak any Spanish but here Joe converses in the language quite easily LOL! Hoss is consistent, saying that he would like to learn Spanish! Ben makes reference to Adam saying that "my son Adam is away".

Hilary