The Lady from Baltimore

EPISODE: The Lady From Baltimore

Episode 83, Season 3, Originally aired January 14, 1962

Guest Star: Mercedes McCambridge

Written by Elliott Arnold

Directed by John Peyser

SUMMARY:

Ben arrives in Virginia City, dressed in his best suit and vest, to meet the stage. He greets a very elegantly dressed woman who gets off the stage; the woman is identified as Mrs. Banning, who is the wife of an old friend (Old friend alert! Trouble is coming!). Even though he has never met the wife and daughter of his old friend Horace Banning, Ben has invited Deborah Banning and her daughter Melinda to come to the Ponderosa from Baltimore so they can breathe healthier air and feel less sickly (apparently, Ben is considering turning the Ponderosa into a health spa). After Mrs. Banning rather haughtily thanks the stage driver for a pleasant trip, Ben escorts Deborah to the buckboard, followed meekly by Deborah’s daughter Melinda. On the way to the ranch house, Ben stops the buckboard for the compulsory look at Lake Tahoe (no one gets on the Ponderosa without admiring Lake Tahoe first). Deborah remarks that the Ponderosa is an empire, while Melinda quietly wishes her father were with them. When Deborah responds that Horace is much too busy being the editor of a daily newspaper in Baltimore to travel with them, Ben tells Mrs. Banning he always knew her husband would be a success. Deborah looks smugly proud at this comment while Melinda seems disturbed.

Continuing toward the ranch house, Ben stops by a corral where Adam, Hoss and Joe are breaking horses. Hoss and Joe are introduced to Deborah and Melinda Banning, and Joe is instantly smitten with Melinda (she’s pretty and she’s breathing…why wouldn’t Joe fall in love with her). Joe takes Melinda over to the corral where she watches Adam riding a bucking horse, and she is instantly smitten with Adam, thinking him to be brave and daring. (uh-oh…Joe likes her but she likes Adam. This isn’t a good sign). After riding the bronco, Adam comes to the fence where he is introduced to Melinda. He politely greets Melinda (who is gazing at Adam adoringly), then tells her that its Joe’s turn to ride one of the unbroken horses (note: this is one of the episodes in Adam calls Joe “buddy” as he tells Joe it’s his turn to ride). Eager to impress Melinda, Joe rushes to ride the wildly bucking horse. As Joe is riding, Melinda expresses a fear that Joe will be hurt (as opposed to her comment on how daring Adam was when he was riding) but Adam calmly says that it hasn’t happened yet. After finishing his ride, Joe rushes back to the side of the corral where he and Adam congratulate each other on their wonderful rides, and Joe comments that the horse isn’t hurt and can now be useful. Melinda looks away and murmurs, “Not free to do what it wants but useful”. (Foreshadowing! Pay attention, people!). Melinda’s mother calls her and as Melinda is walking back to the buckboard, Joe watches her with admiring eyes.

Deborah and Melinda finally arrive at the ranch house; Ben drives the buckboard into the yard of the Ponderosa ranch house, followed by Adam, Hoss and Joe on their horses. Joe rushes to help Melinda out of the buckboard as Adam watches with an amused expression. Ben helps Deborah down and Adam and Hoss are relegated to collecting the luggage.

In the house, Melinda is taking a bath as her mother sits nearby. Deborah observes that the Cartwrights are rich and come from good family, but live so crudely. She begins to imagine what Melinda will be able to do with the Ponderosa – servants, wonderful furnishing and so on. Melinda meekly questions whether she and her mother are doing the right thing. Deborah reassures her daughter that they are; they had decided on their plan before leaving Baltimore (more foreshadowing!). Deborah insists that Melinda is entitled to an elegant life, rather than living miserably in Baltimore because of her father’s failures. When Melinda once more questions if they are doing the right thing, Deborah insists they are.

Dinner that night is a very formal affair – Ben and the boys are wearing white shirts and string ties, and Deborah and Melinda are dressed in beautiful gowns. Deborah spends the dinner telling the Cartwrights about their busy social life in Baltimore – dinners, balls, riding to the hounds. Abruptly Melinda leaves the table, saying she needs some air. Joe follows her out to the porch, and the two talk. Joe comments her mother talks much more than Melinda, and Melinda replies that her mother is so much wiser than she is. Melinda then tells Joe what a wonderful family the Cartwrights are, to which Joe complains about how rough it is to be the youngest (way to woo a girl, Joe!), and how quiet life on a ranch is compared to the busy social life Melinda lives in Baltimore. Melinda once more becomes upset and runs back into the house, confusing Joe (who has always had success in the past in getting girls by using his “poor abused youngest brother” routine).

As Deborah is helping her get ready for bed, Melinda once more questions her mother about what they are doing. Deborah again assures Melinda that they are doing the right thing, that Deborah is saving her daughter from leading a miserable life like she did. When Melinda asks why she must marry Joe, Deborah replies that Hoss doesn’t have feelings for her and Adam is far too cunning. Joe is perfect because Melinda will be able to twist him around her finger and get whatever she wants. When Melinda replies that her mother has twisted her father around her finger and that hasn’t made her happy, Deborah bitterly replies that no one could be happy with Horace. Once more Melinda questions if she should marry Joe if she doesn’t love him (What! She is wondering whether she should marry Joe? Is the girl crazy!). Deborah assures Melinda that love has nothing to do with marriage, that marriage is only a contract between two people.

In the next scene, Melinda is cooking in the kitchen with the nominal assistance of Joe. She asks for wine to put into the stew, which surprises Joe but he forgets all about the wine as he tries to kiss Melinda. Suddenly Adam walks into the kitchen and interrupts, telling Joe the wine is in the pantry. Joe looks disconcerted at the interruption, but goes to get the wine. As Adam gets a drink of water, Melinda approaches him and tells Adam how much she has missed seeing him. Adam is now the one disconcerted and accuses Melinda of going after each of the Cartwrights in turn –wooing Joe and then going after Adam as soon as Joe’s back is turned. Melinda protests and tries to explain, but Joe suddenly returns to the kitchen with the wine. Quickly changing tones, Melinda invites Adam to taste the stew. Adam declines politely and leaves, while Joe joins Melinda at the stove, presumably to continue to try to woo her.

That evening, Joe takes Melinda for a walk in the moonlight. They kiss and Melinda tells Joe that he is very sweet and nice (not exactly a passionate declaration of love). Joe takes those words as encouragement and sort of proposes (he never actually says the words marriage). Melinda says yes, and they embrace. Melinda, however, has a rather troubled look on her face rather than appearing to be happy.

The next day, Melinda and Deborah ride out to watch the branding, because Deborah feels that women should allow their men to feel proud of their little accomplishments. Joe is thrilled to see Melinda but Adam acts coolly toward the women. He’s worried that the branding might upset them. Deborah assures Adam that Melinda can adapt to anything. However, when Adam actually brands a calf, Melinda faints. Adam rushes to help her and Melinda looks up at Adam with adoring eyes before Joe arrives to help. Joe and Adam get into a mild argument about what happened, and Joe takes Melinda away. Hoss comments to Adam that Joe seems “stuck” on Melinda (you think?) and reminds Adam that “we all have to live here together”.

Later, Adam is working by the barn when Melinda shows up again (does the word “stalker” ring a bell?). When Adam dismisses Melinda by saying he has work to do, she starts to run away but her skirt gets caught on a roll of barbed wire. After Adam unhooks her skirt, Melinda throws her arms around Adam and kisses him. Just then Ben and Joe come out of the barn and see Adam and Melinda. Melinda runs off, and Adams stalks way, giving Joe a disgusted “Oh, come on” comment as he leaves. Joe angrily starts to follow Adam, but Ben stops him. Joe then announces that he is going to marry Melinda which surprises Ben (Why? Joe has known her for at least three days. That’s long enough for any Cartwright to get engaged). Ben tries to calm down Joe by saying Adam didn’t know how Joe felt about Melinda – none of them did (they would have if they had been paying attention – Joe has this moon-struck look and is spending all his time with the girl. What did they think Joe was doing?). When Joe angrily declares he is going to set Adam straight, Ben sends Joe off to the house to cool off and then goes into the barn to talk to Adam.

In barn, Adam tells Ben that nothing happened, that he was just helping Melinda untangle her skirt. Ben then informs Adam that Joe wants to marry Melinda, which surprises Adam (these guys are oblivious to all the signs, aren’t they?). Adam tells his father the marriage can never be because Melinda doesn’t love Joe. When Ben asks Adam if he has feelings for Melinda, Adam tells him firmly no, but adds Melinda did kiss him. He tells Ben quite emphatically that she kissed him but she’s marrying Joe. Ben responds worriedly that they are in quite a situation, at which point Adam decides the best thing for him to do is go away for awhile (he can’t wait to get away from his “stalker”). As Adam is leaving the barn, he turns and asks Ben what will happen if Joe marries Melinda and then finds out she doesn’t love him. Ben doesn’t answer but looks concerned.

Later or the next day or perhaps the next week (there’s not a lot of clues about timing in this episode), Deborah is admiring the Ponderosa house and yard -- obviously calculating all the changes she wants to make -- when Horace drives up in a wagon. Deborah is furious, telling her husband that he is going to ruin everything. She accuses him of being a failure and ruining her daughter’s life. However, when Melinda comes out of the house, she is overjoyed to see her father. Reluctantly Horace tells Melinda he isn’t staying, that he is afraid he will ruin things for her. Melinda becomes upset and runs into the house. Deborah once again threatens Horace and tells him to leave immediately. However, before he can do so, Ben comes out of the house and excitedly greets his old friend. Deborah immediately changes her tone and tells Ben how thrilled she is that her husband has arrived. Ben welcomes Horace warmly and invites him into the house while he gets his old friend’s luggage. Ben goes to the wagon and is surprised to see only one battered old suitcase in the back. Joe then comes out, looking troubled. When Ben asks what is wrong, Joe admits he wonders if Melinda can be happy living on a ranch. Joe says he loves Melinda but when she starts crying, he gets scared he can’t make her happy (dump her, Joe; I assure you that you could make ME happy!). As Joe walks away, Ben looks concerned (Ben looks concerned a lot in this episode).

Before dinner that evening, Ben is having a drink with his old friend Horace. Ben asks Horace if he thinks Joe and Melinda can be happy; he’s not sure that a boy who grew up on a ranch (Joe) and a girl who has lived as a social butterfly (Melinda) are a good match. Horace tells Ben that his wife assures him that Joe and Melinda will be happy. Melinda is standing on the stairs listening to the conversation, looking unsure. As Ben presses Horace about the suitability of the match between Joe and Melinda, Horace breaks down and admits the truth – that he is just an out-of-work failure, that Deborah lied about their life in Baltimore, and that the trip to the Ponderosa was designed specifically to find a rich husband for Melinda. Looking concerned (again!), Ben wonders what to do about the situation. Melinda then descends the stairs and assures Ben and her father she’s going to do what’s right. As Melinda goes off to find Joe, Ben looks concerned (he’s getting really good at this) and worries that meeting between Joe and Melinda will be rough on them. But Horace tells Ben that a rough meeting is better than a lifetime of unhappiness (he ought to know—he’s stuck with the evil Deborah). Horace announces he and his family will be leaving to return to Baltimore in the morning, at which point Ben offers to find Horace a job on a paper in San Francisco run by yet another old friend (but one who hasn’t come to the Ponderosa or he would no longer be a friend). Ben tells Horace that San Francisco could offer a new beginning and Horace agrees.

The next morning, Joe and Melinda are saying goodbye in the yard. Melinda apologizes for not loving Joe (the fool girl!) but Joe insists that he is in love. Melinda explains that he was in love with the image her mother created, and he can’t love something that doesn’t really exist (oh…I don’t know about that….I’m pretty sure I love the Cartwrights). Inside the house, Ben has one of “talks” with Deborah, trying to persuade her that there are more important things in life than money, and she should be grateful to have a loving husband and daughter. Deborah isn’t totally convinced and Ben suggests she go off to San Francisco with Melinda and Horace to find out. Ben walks out of the house, leaving Deborah behind with an undecided look on her face.

As he approaches Melinda and Horace outside, Ben admits he doesn’t know if Deborah will be joining them. Suddenly Deborah emerges from the house. Joe turns away from her with a look of disgust, but Deborah ignores him and climbs into the buckboard. Horace and Melinda smile at her but Deborah simply looks forward with a stern expression on her face. Horace drives the wagon forward and Melinda puts a hand on each of her parents’ shoulders a warm and encouraging move. Joe watches Melinda drive off without even a glance back at him (silly girl!) and his chin drops to his chest sadly. Ben puts his arm around Joe in a comforting gesture (aaah), letting his son know that he is there for Joe.

REVIEWS:

“This is an interesting episode because it shows a lot of brotherly interaction between Joe and Adam - more than in most episodes. Joe, of course, falls in love immediately with someone who is not suitable for him and pursues her relentlessly. I have sort of a morbid fascination in watching Deborah manipulate both her daughter and the Cartwright to achieve her own goals. It falls again to Ben -- who got really good at looking concerned in this episode -- to save Joe from an unhappy marriage and a really witchy, manipulative mother-in-law.” Susan Grote

“I always thought that Adam was attracted to her but that is my opinion. How you could be interested in anyone when Joe is around is beyond me but I could see her being attracted to an older guy. The mother as definitely bizarre.” Deb

“I like it really only because of how good the MIB looks. He looks tall, tan and terrific and when he straddles that fence HUBBA HUBBA. I could see why mopey Melinda fell instantly in love! Those hands and fingers are gorgeous. Joe looks darn good, too! Very young and cute. I love the kitchen scene as it was something rarely seen in an episode. Where was Hop Sing? Why did he let this dizzy broad into his domain? Melinda is kind of annoying. She had absolutely no backbone and her mother was evil personified. What did mom mean by calling my Beloved “cunning??” I was also kind of annoyed at the way Joe followed her around like a love-sick puppy. I wanted to slap him myself when he accused Adam of messing around with mopey Melinda. Whatever happened to family loyalty?” Gail (whoa bunny, bonanza)

“I can see why Melinda fell for Adam - we Baltimore gals have good taste! (Not that Joe was chopped liver, mind you.) I'm sure the city folk were happy when Mrs. Banning left for the West - what a conniver!” Melissa J.

“I just could not understand this girl continually running to Adam when she had Joe right there mooning over her. Nothing against Adam, but the girl must have been nuts. I mean, Adam obviously had no interest in her and Joe sure did. Actually, the entire plan might have worked if that old evil Deborah would have allowed Melinda to pursue the Cartwright she had feelings for. But then, probably not, because Adam wouldn't have felt right courting a girl that his little brother had such a crush on. On the other hand, Joe always had a crush on someone, so he might have stepped aside if Adam had wanted her and she him (am I being wishy washy or what??? lol).” Leesa

“Was the director trying to show a bit of "neked girl" ? Was that the same tub Calamity Jane bathed in? Did she have a rubber ducky? My mom never sat with me while I took a bath... but then again she never took me a couple of thousand miles from home and made a complex devious plot to find me a rich cowboy husband. This was such a creepy scene.” Robin

“This is one of my favorite episodes because I thoroughly delight in the creepiness Mercedes McCambridge brings to the role of Deborah Banning, especially in the bathtub scene, as Robin had pointed out, and later, when her husband unexpectedly shows up. The evil look on her face, when she threatens to kill him if he ruins her plans for Melinda and Joe is scary enough, but the sudden about face to all sweetness and light, when Ben steps outside and enthusiastically greets his old friend . . . brrr!” Kathleen

“Adam is frustrated with Melinda from day one. He always manages to somehow have a bead on his brothers' (yes, Hoss and Joe) disastrous love life! I particularly like the scene where Adam says, "Oh, come on," when Joe accuses him of trying to steal his girl. The talk with Adam and Ben in the barn is indicative of Adam's concern for his brother. He steps back and agrees to leave for a while...so as not to "trespass" on Joe's property. Good show.” Lillian

“I love Adam's reaction to Melinda; you can see that he'd be rather amused if it wasn't for Joe's feelings in all of this. Once again, Ben seems happy to go along with his youngest leaping into marriage with a girl who is obviously not suited to him (this one has a crush on his brother) It's the only area in which I criticize Ben's parenting skills, the way he always approves of Joe getting married when the brides are always so wrong (Julia Bulette, lady of the night; Tirza, off her head with delusions of being Wolf Woman; Laura, about to die; Tessa pretending to be blind - was he that desperate for a son to be married that he was willing to have congenital idiots for grandchildren?)” Lynne

“I'll bet if ol' Deborah had gotten an eyeful of that little cabin "Cartwright starter house" (the one where Laura did or didn't become a woman ;-), she'd have run screaming – lol” Laurie :)

“I liked this episode because of the brotherly interaction and dynamics too! Just one comment though; why do they always pit Adam against Hoss or Adam against Joe with the same old plot...the girl is not interested in the sweet, caring, love-sick Cartwright, but that dark-haired mysterious older brother. Didn't it seem like the writers always wanted to start something...like some kind of friction between the siblings? Then what about Melinda; if she is supposed to be this determined, righteous, fair-minded woman, what is she doing kissing Adam behind Joe's back. Then what about Joe being so naive. Now come on, the Joe Cartwright I know would be a bit more worldly, especially in the female department, wouldn't you agree?” Nancy