EPISODE: A Woman of Fire

Reviewed by Susan Grote

Episode # 185, originally aired January 17, 1965

Guest stars: Joan Hackett, Jay Novello, Cesare Donovan, Susan Silo, Valentin De Varga, Eugene Iglesias

Written by Suzanne Clauser

Directed by William Claxton

This episode opens with yet another of Ben's old friends arriving with a boatload of problems to dump on the Cartwrights (doesn't Ben have any old friends who just come by and visit?). As Don Miguel and his daughters exit the stage, they are greeted by Ben and his sons. Margarita, the oldest daughter, immediately insults everyone, including treating Joe and Hoss as hired hands and saying the boys look disreputable when she learns of her error. The younger daughter, Elena, is immediately set upon by two young Mexicans who have followed her to Nevada in hopes of winning her hand.

The group moves out to the Ponderosa, where Margarita makes life miserable for everyone - she wants chocolate instead of coffee, the chocolate is too cold to drink, she takes a horse Joe has saddled for her sister, etc. The Cartwrights put up with her antics because they are very polite (also, they were scared what she would do if they made her REALLY mad). Don Miguel explains to Ben that his younger daughter can not marry until his oldest daughter is wed, and that Margarita has been spurned by many suitors because of her fiery temper. His last hope is to get Don Luis to marry Margarita. Otherwise, he's going to be stuck with two daughters living with him forever!

Up in her room, Margarita confesses to Elena that she is afraid that no man will really want her, and so she treats them like she figures they are going to treat her. Elena tries to convince her sister that she is a worthy person, but Margarita retorts that her sister is simply silly.

Nevertheless, Margarita tries to be nice to the Cartwrights, but her temper continues to get the best of her. She tries to teach Hoss how to play the guitar but loses patience with him when he fumbles on the strings. She smashes the guitar (which was Adam's), and that's the last straw for the oldest Cartwright brother. (OK, if Adam was that fond of his guitar, how come he left it behind when he went off to wherever he went of to?). Adam spanks Margarita, which shocks the young woman into silence. When Adam orders her to her room, she obeys with bad grace.

Amazed that someone could actually curb Margarita's bad behavior, Don Miguel, Elena and the two young Mexican suitors beg Adam to "tame" Margarita so that Don Luis will like her and marry her. At first, Adam refuses, but the begging continues (the young Mexicans literally get on their knees) while Joe and Hoss watch in amusement. Finally Adam agrees.

Using Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" as a guide, Adam kills Margarita with kindness. When she complains about something, Adam "fixes" it by making her life miserable. If the chocolate is too cold, Adam takes it away and makes sure she has none, for example. Margarita finally starts to "get it" and understands that her complaining is getting her anywhere, at least with Adam. Eventually, Adam tames Margarita and everyone is sure Don Luis will be pleased.

However, when Don Luis arrives, he tells Adam that he is looking for a wife with spirit - a woman who will argue and stand up to him. When he meets the now demure Margarita, Don Luis is disappointed and Adam realizes he has made a terrible mistake in taming the young woman.

When the whole gang - the Cartwrights, their guests, Don Luis, and Elena's suitors - goes on a picnic (Hop Sing had to fry a LOT of chicken for that group and he wasn't even invited to come along...shameful!), Adam tries to undo his handiwork. He tries to get Margarita to argue and/or lose her temper, but Adam has done his work too well. Margarita continues to act as a sweet, biddable woman, to the disgust of Don Luis. In desperation, Adam pushes Margarita into the lake. That ignites the spark, and Margarita explodes. She yells at Adam and pushes him into the lake, then turns on Don Luis and yells at him. Don Luis is both amused and enamored by this "woman of fire" (hence, the name of the episode) and immediately asks her to marry him. Margarita is surprised, then pleased that Don Luis loves her real personality and agrees to marry him.

As Don Miguel, Don Luis, Margarita and Elena are planning to leave, the two Mexican suitors ask Elena to choose between them. Suddenly faced with the reality of having to marry one of the two young men, Elena waffles, saying she's not sure. Sensing Don Miguel may want his help again, Adam backs away, making it clear he wants nothing more to do with this wacky family (and making a note to find out when Pa has more friends scheduled to visit so he can plan to be out of town).  As the guests depart, Adam walks to the house, quoting Shakespeare, much to the bewilderment of Hoss and Joe.

REVIEWS:

“This episode is obviously a Bonanza version of “Taming of the Shrew” with a twist – that being that Adam has to “untame” Margarita in order to make her happy with Don Luis (something Shakespeare never thought about). It’s not really a “ha-ha” comedy (like, say, Hoss and the Leprechauns) but it is very amusing. It’s a good vehicle for Pernell Roberts to showcase his talents and even gives him a chance to quote Shakespeare. I remember at the 1999 Bonanza Convention that Suzanne Clauser said she wrote this episode because she had a crush on Pernell Roberts and thought that writing this episode might give her a chance to meet him (which she did, I believe).” Susan Grote

“I always thought that if Don Luis were not in the picture of things, Margarita could make a very good match for Adam.  She's beautiful...feisty...and with a mind of her own.  I love the guitar scene...when Adam realizes it's his instrument that was mangled.  I am always amused by the scene where Adam is cajoled into working his magic with this "shrew."  Fun episode.”   Lillian

“I like this ep for the way the relationship develops between Adam and Margarita, and could see them as a couple, if Don Luis had not been in the picture I don't like Little Joe's part in this one, where did he get that awful laugh from? Not his usual giggle and so false. The best bit is the end, when Adam is reading out of the book and Hoss and Joe back away, mimicking Adam's actions.” Lynne (Little Joe forever)

“This was a good Adam Episode and I think he met his match in this woman. I loved the end when Adam ended up in the water -- that was a cute scene.” Deb

“I think Margarita would have been a good match for ole' Adam.  All that passion and fire.  Adam's personality is really showcased in this episode.  He wants to help her sister, the suitors and her father, but he really wants to help Margarita.  In my view, this episode is one of the few that show HIS temper.  When he first grabs the guitar from Margarita as she was getting ready to hit someone with it (I forget who) he yells "NOT TODAY" and she slugs him, then when she actually breaks it, he glares at Hoss and mutters "all the way from NY" or something like that.  He's visibly seething. OHHHH Babeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Nuff said.” Gail (bunny bonanza)

 “One of my favorite episodes.  My two favorite scenes: the one where Margarita smashes Adam's guitar over Hoss' head.  Too amusing!  Then there is the scene at the end where Adam has pushed Margarita in the pond and she is trying to swing at him and he is holding her head.  That just makes me laugh.  Superb casting for the guest starring roles all around.  Dynamic interaction between Adam and Margarita.”  Nancy 

“It is delightful to watch Adam as he reaches the limits of his patience with Margarita, then how he does his best to push her to the end of HER patience - and purposely makes it clear to her that this is precisely what he is doing.  And it's even more fun to see how he works to undo his success.  This is a most entertaining episode, and Joan Hackett is simply marvelous.  "Woman of Fire" even gives us a nice little moral (to be yourself) that evolves naturally rather than beating us over the head with it like Bonanza sometimes would.” Sue W.