EPISODE: The Lila Conrad Story

Reviewed by Judy S.

Season 5, Episode 148, originally aired January 5, 1964

Guest Stars: Andrew Duggan, Patricia Blair, Cathy O’Donnell

Written by Preston Wood and George Waggner

Directed by Tay Garnett

SUMMARY:

The episode opens with Joe in some town loading supplies in a covered wagon. Lila, running away from a murder, sneaks into his wagon. Joe finds her later and lets her stay, not telling Adam when he rejoins him. The Cartwrights are escorting an old friend of their father’s, a retired judge and his wife.

Next comes a scene that shows Adam’s protectiveness of Joe at its best. Joe comments to Adam that he wishes he could have stayed in town as they had some pretty women. Adam just smiles, but the judge starts lecturing Joe against the evils of women, drinking, etc. It doesn’t’ go on long before Adam interrupts and asks Joe to tend the stock. Joe leaves, and Adam kindly rebukes the judge, telling him “he was crossing the line” in criticizing his brother. When the judge continues, Adam pipes up that the judge “doesn’t need to worry about his brother.” The wife starts in too, when Adam quells the argument by saying “they have a long ride and it would be best to take the Cartwrights as they see them.” 

A sheriff and posse show up threatening to search the wagons looking for Lila Conrad, a saloon girl who has killed one of the town’s prominent citizens. After they leave, Joe pulls Adam aside and confides that Lila is hidden in their wagon. Adam doesn’t yell at him, but accepts that Joe needs help. He lets the judge know what happens, and the criticizing judge won’t even let his wife give Lila some food.  (Lila the way is played by the woman who would later portray Rebecca Boone in Daniel Boone TV series).

Rest of episode is about the judge lusting for Lila but claiming he’s trying to save her.  He ignores his wife and spends all his time with Lila, eventually convincing her to give herself up, even though they been warned by the posse that she wouldn’t stand a chance. Adam and Joe try to convince her to go with them to Virginia City to get a fair trial. The judge has convinced Lila that she needs punished for her sins and her only salvation is through the judge taking her to the next town to turn herself in for her crime.

Joe asks Adam why the judge is acting like that. Adam says he can’t help himself; Adam realizing that the judge isn’t acting like a judge but as a man as tempted by Lila’s beauty and charm as any other man might be. Sure enough, the judge sneaks Lila away in the middle of the night, leaving his wife behind. Joe takes off with two of the sheriff’s supposed posse, who had returned for Lila, and Adam remains behind to take care of the judge’s wife.  Long story short, Lila realizes the judge is like any man wanting her, not wanting to save her. Joe subdues the bad guys (the judge gets winged), then returns the repentant judge and Lila back to the wagon. The judge apologizes to his wife, and they move on toward Virginia City. Joe asks Adam what they should tell Pa, and he says something to the effect that Pa’s friend was lost but found himself again.

REVIEWS:

“What impresses me most about this episode is not the moral play; it’s predictable. The judge accusing Joe of being young, foolish, and having evil thoughts about women, when it’s the judge who is lusting after Lila. What I like about this episode is the Cartwrights themselves. Throughout the episode Joe is a young, caring man whose only interest in Lila is to protect her. Adam is the caring, protective older brother looking out for Joe no matter what trouble Joe has brought to the wagon in the form of Lila. Adam stops the judge from criticizing his brother, doesn’t yell at Joe when he tells him about Lila, advises Joe when he has questions about how the judge is acting, and cautions Joe to watch out for himself when he takes after Lila, the judge and the two men from the posse. A lot is made in episodes about the supposed friction between Adam and Joe. I think this episode hints at their real relationship. Adam is a substitute father/big brother who Joe instinctively expects will help him no matter what. Adam shows the Cartwright theme that is true of most families including mine. I can talk and kid and argue with my brothers all I want but watch out if someone outside the family says something against one of my brothers. So, for the interaction between Adam and Joe only, I like the episode. Not for the predictable plot.” Judy S. 

“The only thing I really like about this episode is the interaction between Adam and Joe. One of my favorite scenes is when the posse rides up to the wagons looking for Lila and one of the posse members tries to pick a fight with Joe. Joe leaps off the wagon and knocks the cowboy off his horse. Adam is there in an instant and stands in between Joe and the cowboy (who looks like he's trying to go for his gun) and tells the cowboy to "back off".  He actually places his body in front of Joe like he's really protecting him from anything the cowboy might try.”  Gail (whoa bunny, bonanza) 

“To me, Joe is portrayed as being a bit naïve in this episode. He believes Lila based on the fact that she's pretty (well, that's not unusual, I guess) and she seems so sincere when she says she's innocent. He also doesn't understand the Judge's obsessions, first with strict interpretation of the law and then with Lila. Adam spends a lot of time protecting Joe in this episode because Joe seems a bit clueless about what's going on with the people around him. But I agree with Judy -- this is one of the few episodes where we see Adam really acting as a big brother, trying to deflect criticism and too much harsh reality from Joe.” Susan Grote

“I like that episode for the same reasons you do; the relationship between Adam and Joe in it. Their relationship there is akin to their relationship in "Hanging Posse".  It also highlighted the big difference in their ages. It would have been unthinkable for Joe to say the same thing to the judge about taking the Cartwrights as he found them as Adam was able to because of being much older than Joe.” Ginny

“I loved how Adam stood up to the Judge about Joe and told him to take the Cartwright's as he found them. I wonder why he sent Joe off first though. The kid would have enjoyed seeing his brother stick up for him. I wonder if it was because he thought he might be disrespecting a friend of his father's, who was also elder than him, by putting the man in his place. (and rightly so I might add) Maybe he didn't want Joe to think he could do the same?” Deb

“This is a great ep. and I would love to see someone re-write this story in a longer version, so that there can be more probably interaction between the brothers, etc. Since the ep. is only an hour long, it would be fun to read a fanfic story of an extended and more detailed version of this episode. Joe and Adam are very good together in this ep.!” Prairie Susan

“I think what you said about the Adam/Joe friction and how this episode really conveys the true relationship between the brothers.  I love when all the brothers stick up for one another, but especially love it when Adam comes to the rescue. He has this silent sternness that can be downright unnerving. It pretty much tells you, don't mess with me, or my brother's or else.” Nancy

“I love the bit when he tells Adam about the girl being in the wagon and Adam says 'What!' Adam does a great job in looking out for Joe and trying to reason with the judge, whilst still showing him the respect that he feels is due the man, because of his friendship with Ben I like at the end when Joe wants to know what they should tell Pa and Adam says that bit about a man losing his way. A good brother ep.” Lynne (Little Joe forever)

“While this called the Lila Conrad Story, I think the story is really a psychological study of Judge Knowlton. As a man standing for everything righteous, he is repelled by Lila and what she represents as a dance hall girl ("and Lord knows what else", as he puts it). Yet he finds himself drawn to her. I thought his internal battle was handled pretty well in this episode. They didn't overplay it like they sometimes do, but kept it subtle as his emotions evolve - from being revolted by Lila at first, to wanting to save her soul, to his running away with her. And his exact intentions in that last part are perhaps not entirely clear even in his own mind, for he doesn't actually try to seduce her directly and seems genuinely surprised at her reaction. The relationship between Adam and Joe is represented wonderfully in this episode. Adam plays the wise and caring big brother role while still managing to treat Joe like an adult. And Joe is a respectful younger brother, looking to Adam for leadership without being so darned hard/hot-headed.” Sue W.

“Poor old Sarah, the judge's wife, should have let her hair down and put some of that sinful Jezebel face-paint on! The judge ran off with Lila and Joe ran after both of them. Poor old Sarah was left home alone with gorgeous Adam "looking after her." "Whoa, Adam Honey!! You are one hunky-hairy-sensual dude!  I don't care if Judgey Wudgey EVER gets back!!"  Poor old Sarah stopped humming "Camptown Races" and started swinging to Lady Marmalade"!!” Eileen "Fluffy

“Isn't it amazing how, once again, the poor wife is told to welcome back a crappy husband like the judge?” Sorry Honey, I ditched you for the hoochie mama saloon girl," "That’s ok, Judgey Wudgey...'Tis better to have a inflexible preachy know-it-all  creep who lusts after red haired saloon wenches under the pretext of self- righteous justice than no one at all!" said Mrs. Judge. "Thems the breaks gals!  At least you don't drink to excess or smell too bad!" Robin

“I like this episode. I have the script for this one and much of the dialogue is basically the same but Hoss is with Adam and Joe, he doesn't say much though so they probably thought they might as well just use Joe and Adam. There is an interesting line when the judge says something to Adam about when Adam was a lawyer and Adam says 'That was a long time ago." Maybe the writer didn't know what Adam studied in college LOL The way they ended it is different to the script - in that Joe plans to run off with Lila - Adam knows but is not planning to try and stop him – I don't think Adam would let Joe get into trouble by doing something like that.” Helen