The Cheating Game

EPISODE: The Cheating Game

Episode 153, Season 5, First Aired February 9, 1964

Guest Stars: Kathie Browne, Peter Breck

Written by William L. Stuart

Directed by Joseph Sargeant

SUMMARY:

For this episode review, I decided to watch and write a review on The Cheating Game. Knowing how we all feel about Laura EEEWWW Dayton, I figured I would try to see it from her perspective. Then, after working 22 hrs, closing out the end of month, I plopped down in front of the TV and put the tape in the VCR at 5:30am. Well, the tape played and all I got was the images in B&W and the images were not clear. It turns out the VCR is bad, not the tape! I sat back and tried to imagine the show by just listening. It is definitely a different way to enjoy the episode, and if Adam kissed Laura, (I don’t want to know). I did not have to see it!

The Cheating Game: Excerpts from Laura Dayton’s Diary

You know it is not easy being a woman in the 1860s. On the good side,I have Adam Cartwright as a good friend and maybe if he continues to call on me, I may be inclined to find him an apt suitor. He is so handsome, and kind, and more importantly, he is a great male figure in my daughter’s life.When Frank died, he left us destitute, yet I am a woman of pride. Today,Adam stopped by, which I assumed, foolishly, was for a social call. Instead, he begins pointing out all the problems that exist here on my ranch. I am not stupid. I know the house roof leaks, the fences need fixing, and there is the mortgage overdue. Adam takes it upon himself to fire my foreman. I do not recall him offering to take on that job. Instead, he offered me money to get myself back on my feet again. He claims it is a loan, but I refuse his charity. If he has true feelings for me, then he must learn to respect my independence.

Laura

The next entry:

am so happy. I can hardly wait to tell Adam that my luck has changed. You see, an old acquaintance of Frank’s named Ward Bannister, has arrived and has a life insurance policy that my departed husband had purchased on one of his many trips to Frisco. The money will enable me to properly take care of things around here, and I will impress Adam with my decisions. Ward has even agreed to work for me, as he is currently looking for work. In the morning,

I will go to the bank and begin to make plans.

Laura

Another entry:

I just met a friend of Ward’s who has offered me an investment opportunity of a lifetime. It is an expanding rail company called the California/Monterey Line. The shares are one hundred dollars apiece, but Canfield guaranteed I would double my investment in a few months. I am eager to invest, but once again, Adam argues the risky venture. Now Ward is please with the idea at first, but later on, he reconsidered. I tell him of my dreams for what the Double D Ranch, and he made some recommendations for business opportunities I might try instead of railroad stock. Yes, there is always a market for prime timber and cattle, but I want to show Adam that I can make a sound decision on my own. I do not have a lot of time to think things over, and I am a woman of action. I cannot pass on this opportunity of a lifetime.

Laura

A later entry:

Adam and I have been fighting. Maybe it is my own pride, but I think it is due to his macho opinion he has of himself. That man made me so mad. First, he criticized me for trying to run things my way. This is my place, and therefore, I should be able to make my own decisions. He thinks he is so smart, yet he fails to understand me, and my desire to succeed. This is not the Ponderosa. Secondly, I do not need him acting jealous when he confronts my newest employee. Adam, how do I make you understand that a woman has a right to make her own decisions? Unfortunately, he made me so angry all I could do was cry and run away from him. He leaves and I sulk in private.

Laura

Peggy is so fond of Adam, and I do not want to hurt her. This past Sunday, Adam drove Peggy and me to church. I had been reluctant to go with him, and I told him that he was so good at criticizing everyone (especially me) that I worried that he would taunt the minister for his sermon. Instead, he paid more attention to me than he did the preacher. I advised him of that fact as we returned to my home. I was flattered, actually, but I did not want him to know that, at least, not yet. He is a gentleman, and he seems to be increasing the time he spends with Peggy and me. Ward and a few of the fellows had gone hunting for that annoying wolf that has been howling lately. Ward managed to retrieve one of the pups from the den, and brought it here for Peggy. She took an instant liking to the motherless animal, and named him Prince. Then Adam, once again, starts in trying to run my life. He makes it clear that a wild animal, especially a wolf-pup will only cause problems as it grows up. It is a wild animal, he says. It must be set free. Peggy runs off crying, taking the furry gift with her and Ward goes after her. I have to stand there and listen to Adam telling me what to do. I managed before he appeared on the scene. Yet, he feels obligated to offer his two cents. How dare he tell me how to raise my daughter, too? Adam seems to have ignored the fact that I was up late last night, preparing for what was to be an outing for all of us to enjoy. I not only had to get our Sunday-best ready, I also had to put together the items for the picnic. We merely stopped here so Peggy and I could change clothes, and to retrieve the special lunch I made. Now, the day was ruined. I once again, ran off in tears. Why, he did not try to follow me! Why is he so cruel and unable to admit he is wrong? Typical man, I am afraid. Yet, there are times I think his feelings towards me are more than just a friend. If he does show any romantic intentions, beyond drinking coffee and playing cribbage, I will first have to make him less stubborn and attune to my needs.

Laura

The finale:

Ward comes back to the ranch, after a trip into town. He hands me back my check that I had given Canfield earlier. He tells me that the risk was too great, and he decided that he, too, wanted to run my life for me. I seem to have a great knack for drawing these domineering males into my life. Then, without warning, Ward grabs me and makes it quite evident that he believed we would be sharing more than a partnership in the Double D Ranch. I balk at the notion, as the most stubborn of Ben Cartwright’s sons, suddenly appears on the scene. Adam’s arrival and strong blow to Bannister’s jaw forced out the confession. Ward had killed Canfield, in my honor and thus saving me from squandering the money for the needed ranch work. He did it for me, and I realize I could have lost everything. Ward could have taken a share of the money and left. I was surprise this man, once a stranger, would be so willing to help me. I had offered him nothing more than work. Peggy appears and said that she had let Prince, the wolf-pup go free. He had caused too much damage about the ranch, and she admitted to Adam and Ward that sometimes the wild cannot be changed. Ward said he more than understood that notion and he rides off with Adam to face the sheriff.

Peggy posed these questions to me as Adam and Ward left: Will Mr.Bannister be coming back? I had told her I did not think so. Then, she asked if Adam would come back. I watched as they disappeared down the road and said I hope so.

Time will tell, my heart says. I feel so foolish and wonder why I did not listen to Adam in the first place. Why did I let my own pride stand in the way? Adam did not say a word to me before leaving; he did not condemn my poor choices. Perhaps he has started to change his ways. I suppose I could learn to do the same, if it is not too late.

Laura

REVIEWS:

"I get angry with her when Laura would start to make a point with Adam, she would suddenly run off in tears. That really bothered me. I did take note of the fact that he never chased after the sobbing female!!! Thought that was an excellent choice of the writers." Miss Maggie

"It strikes me how much the men act like, well, men (i.e., jerks!) in this episode. I thought the writer did a decent job in showing a rather complex mix of personalities (heck, I know women just like Laura!). Adam is simply insufferable for a good part of the episode. At least he finally sees the error of his ways and starts keeping some of his opinions to himself. Then there's Ward, who misunderstands Laura's offer for him to help run the ranch to mean she's interested in marrying him. Typical MAN! I don't find Laura annoying here (other than that insipid smile). I feel for her. It's not easy being an 1860's single woman saddled with all that responsibility, having to learn how to run a ranch all by herself, only to have all these men trying to push her around." Sue W.

"As much as I love Adam/Pernell, I think HE had a great deal to do with Kathie Browne's problems with Laura. If the writers had been secure in whether he was actually going or staying, they probably could have been able to produce a more coherent storyline for Laura & Adam instead of "he loves her" this week and then "no, he doesn't either" the next week and "what do we do with Cousin Zorro?" Eileen "Fluffy"

"Bonanza rarely wrote the female characters very well…I think poor Kathie Browne would have done a super job had she a better script. I also suspect the writers were under the gun as why the Laura Dayton character was introduced and what her role with Adam evolved to kept changing". Robin .

"I have always wondered why Laura would ever trust Ward Bannister, a friend of her slimy husband's, in the first place! After all, she knew what kind of company he kept! I guess she just didn't think that one through when he showed up and blinded her with all that money!" Sparky

"Your review really pointed out her stupidity. LOL" Ginny

"There are so many angles to figure out in that story line besides Laura being wimpy, vapid and stupid. She would trust any one associated with her husband, after the way he treated her? I also think she was a little jealous of Peggy because she had a good relationship with her father and Adam adored her. The wench." Gail

"I always wanted to tell Laura to grow up and be the adult here. She's just so wimpy, letting the people around her -- even Peggy -- influence her decisions. She was so inconsistent that even Adam got weary of trying to figure out what she would or wouldn't do next. If Laura had just once stood up to Adam and told him what she really felt, their relationship would have been so much better and stronger. Adam needed a woman who would challenge him from time to time and be his partner, not someone who wanted to be bopped over the head and dragged off to the cave." Susan Grote

"I'm sure it's only my small, petty, cynical nature that makes me hate her still." Sheryl

"I'm not sure if the writers were teasing trying to get one of the Cartwright's married off with these series of ep's or if they were just trying to keep Pernell Robert's happy. All in all I always felt Adam got the short end of the deal and though I am a long time Guy Williams fan, loved him as Professor John Robinson, I always felt bad when in further episodes when Laura falls in love with Will Cartwright instead of Adam. I'll say it again. I really felt Adam deserved better." Nancy