EPISODE: Her Brother’s Keeper

Reviewed By Lynne Coulson

Episode 226, Season 7, Date first aired: March 6^th 1966

Guest Stars: Nancy Gates, Wesley Lau

Written by: Mort Thaw, Lee Pickett

Directed by: Virgil W Vogel

SUMMARY:

Opening Teaser: At the start of the episode, we see Ben climbing down a ladder, to get off the roof of a very imposing house. (Have the Cartwrights moved and not told us?) The answer is ‘no’, Ben is just being neighborly and helping a man called Carl Amory do some repairs to the house he is renting. (Surely such repairs are down to the landlord? Oh well, we all know how much Ben likes to help people). Carl thanks Ben for his assistance and says that Ben can do twice as much work than he can, even with the injury to his eye. (Ben is doing his Blackbeard the pirate impression, as he is wearing an eyepatch. Lorne Greene had hurt his eye, so it’s nothing to do with the plot of this particular episode). Ben just modestly replies that he is more used to this type of work, and could do it blindfolded. (That would be interesting to see).

Hoss and Joe drive up, in a buckboard loaded with shingles, and Hoss is looking very pleased with himself, as he has managed to load four shingles to every one that Joe loaded. As Hoss tells Pa this, he realizes that, once again, little brother has conned him into doing most of the work and his smile changes to a grimace. Ben suggests, which means that he insists, Joe unloads more shingles and nails more of them on the roof than Hoss to prove to his father that he can work just as hard. But Joe is still seen doing less than Hoss. (Little scamp that he is, but don’t we just love him?)

Carl, a rather sickly looking man, also tries to help, but has an attack of the ‘vapors’, or whatever the male equivalent of that is. Ben rushes to his side, and tells Carl that it does take a while to adjust to the thinner air. He also tells him that without the help of neighbors when he first arrived in Nevada, there wouldn’t have been a Ponderosa. (And there was me thinking that 10-year-old Adam had built the whole thing all by himself LOL). Carl comments that if Claire could see him, she would be surprised to see him working so hard. He goes on to explain that Clare is his sister and that she is still in their house in San Francisco. Ben can see that the man is quite ill and tells Joe to fetch the doctor.

We are now in the main bedroom of the house (Why does a man on his own rent such a huge house, one wonders? Well, this one does, anyway). The doctor is examining Carl and tells him that he must take things easy and should not be exerting himself, in such a way. The doctor wants Carl’s sister to come and take care of him, but Carl answers that he doesn’t want to take her away from her friends in the city. Ben says that Virginia City can’t compete with San Francisco, but he feels sure that Claire would want to come. (Can’t think why -- Carl has only been on the screen for a few minutes and already I can’t stand him). Ben adds he will be happy to show her around and so Carl agrees to her coming. The doctor checks over Ben’s eye before returning to town and sending the telegram from Carl to Claire.

Music and credits (A post Adam ep so I fast forward this part, as I hate to see only three Cartwrights riding up)

The episode: The opening scene has a stagecoach being driven along the road and then we see a very attractive lady, waiting in the stage depot. She asks the clerk if he’s seen Mr. Amory and is told that he hasn’t. Ben enters the building and the lady assumes he is a driver from the livery stable and tells him to put her bags in the buggy. Ben asks Clancy to do so and introduces himself to Miss Amory. When she realizes that he isn’t just a hired hand, she apologizes. They drive off and Ben stops on the way to give the horse a breather by a pretty stretch of water. (These Cartwrights are such charmers, aren’t they? Joe pulled the same stroke in Rose for Lotta). Claire says that she can understand why Ben prefers this to San Francisco and Ben agrees that it is beautiful, but then says it will soon be covered with snow. Claire replies that’s a shame, as it is so green. (But that is why it’s so green, because of the irrigation it gets, silly woman). Ben comments that it also looks beautiful when it is covered with snow and Claire says that Carl already loves it there. She then asks Ben how well he knows Carl, and Ben answers that he knows him well enough to know he is a good chess player.

We then move on to the house and Carl, sitting in a chair with a rug over his legs, is laughing at the mistake his sister made. He says it must have been the eyepatch that made her think Ben was a liveryman, as it makes him look rather sinister. (A bit of stereotyping there -- a liveryman must be unsavory and suspicious, and a landowner doesn’t wear an eyepatch) Ben explains that he received a powder burn in a hunting accident and all will be fine in a few weeks.

Carl does a bit of shameless matchmaking and makes a date for Ben to take Claire out, the following day. Ben agrees, but as she sees him out, Claire tells Ben that he is under no obligation to take her out, but he says he wants to. She returns to Carl, who says that he can tell that Claire likes Ben. (Well, what woman in her right mind wouldn’t like him?) She replies that she hasn’t had a chance to form an opinion and Carl offers to tell her all about Ben. She says she doesn’t want to know, but Carl tells her Ben is rich and he wants her to have the chance for a happy life. (Ah ha, so they are after Ben’s money, are they?) Claire retorts that they always are rich and then goes on to remonstrate with Carl about the mess he left her to deal with, after he ran away from San Francisco. He doesn’t want to hear about it and accuses her of being a martyr and relishing being left to sort out the problems he leaves her. She tells him that she was able to borrow some money and repay Charles, at the same time as she returned his engagement ring to him. (The plot thickens. Claire is the bait for a rich man to fall in love with and then Carl borrows money off his prospective brother in law and skips town). All that Carl hears is that Claire has borrowed money and demands to know how much. Claire says it was $3,000 and was enough to pay off Carl’s gambling debts. (Told you he was no good), She is really angry and she tells him that she is not prepared to help him again.

As she goes to leave the room, he starts coughing, and immediately she feels sorry for him and starts fussing, telling him that he should take more care of himself. He talks in a pitiful voice and tells her he only wants what is best for her, then suggests that she wears her white dress when Ben comes calling the following day. (She gives a look like an animal caught in a trap and we know that she is going to do as her brother tells her to.)

Ben picks her up and she is wearing the white dress, as Carl has instructed her to. Ben takes her out to a small lake and tells her that the place is called Grey Rock, because of this one particular rock. He tells her there is an old Indian legend attached to the place. A war chief fell in love with a maiden from another tribe and their relationship was forbidden. She was taken away by her family and he never saw her again. He went to mourn for her by the lake, and he was never seen again, but in his place they found the rock. He then tells her another legend about the lake and the mountain close by. He says that the Indians believe God lives up in the highest mountain and one day He was looking down on what He had created and he thought it was so beautiful, He started to cry. His tears ran down the mountain and formed the lake, so the Indians called it the Lake of Tears.

Claire is very moved by the stories and she asks Ben if he often goes to that place. He gets a faraway look in his eye and says no, but that he used to. She asks him who with, and, with a catch in his voice, he answers that he used to bring Little Joe’s mother. (It is a lovely example of how much he must have loved her, as he is still so upset after all the years that have passed since her death). Claire can sense his discomfort, and makes an excuse to leave.

Back at the house, Ben, Hoss and Joe are eating breakfast. Ben is distracted and fails to answer Joe when he enquires after his father’s eye. Joe repeats the question and Ben says it’s fine and then leaves the table, saying he has to go into town to check on some lumber delivery. Joe remarks that Ben hasn’t finished his breakfast, but Ben goes over to the door and straps on his gun. Hoss comments they are going over to the Amory’s to finish the roof and Joe says he thought they were working on the chimney. Hoss insists the roof needs doing first, before the snow comes. Ben takes notice when the Amory’s are mentioned, and tells the boys he will meet them there. After Ben leaves, Joe remarks that Pa seems rather preoccupied and Hoss agrees, and wonders why. Joe asks Hoss if he’s taken a good look at Carl’s sister, and smiles. (That boy is very astute).

At the Amory house, Joe is boasting to Claire about the great job they have done on the roof and Hoss says she will be as snug as a bear come winter. Claire asks if she looks like a bear, causing Hoss to get rather flustered. Joe says that now he has fixed the roof, they best make a start on the chimney and tells Hoss to bring in the ladder. (Once again, poor Hoss is left with the heavy stuff; it’s a wonder he doesn’t pound on Joe)

Inside the house, Joe is standing in the fireplace and he tells Hoss that he can see that there is an obstruction. (As Carl has already told them that; it’s not like Joe has discovered anything new). He reckons that Hoss dropped some shingles down the chimney when they were fixing the roof, and Hoss says it was more likely to have been Joe when Joe was leaning against the chimney and bossing Hoss around. Joe argues that is very unlikely and tells Hoss to place the ladder up inside the chimney. Hoss tells Joe to go up and investigate, but Joe replies he can’t see, as it’s too dark, and so Hoss should go. Hoss does and he declares it’s dark, too, but he’ managed to get nearer to the obstruction and says it’s over to the right. Joe pushes the ladder with Hoss presumably still on it, although out of sight, and a huge amount of soot falls down, along with Hoss; the soot covers Joe and the entire living room.

We then see Hoss and Joe, looking like rejects from the Black and White Minstrel Show, attempting to clean themselves off at the water trough. Hoss says it will be really hard to get the rug clean and Joe replies that he’s sure Hoss will be able to do it. (Once again, little brother is leaving Hoss to do all the work). Hoss asks Joe how serious he thinks Pa is about Miss Amory and Joe answers they don’t have to worry, unless he’s buying her roses. (Not sure why he would be worried; she’s a very nice lady, and it’s not like Joe is a little boy, scared about having a step-mama).

Cut to Ben, in town, booking the private dining room in a posh restaurant, and ordering -- you’ve guessed it -- roses, to decorate the table.

We then see Ben, resplendent in his suit and silver brocade vest, still sporting the eyepatch (which I think makes him look rather rakish) seated at the table with the lovely Claire, who tells him that roses are her favorite flower. She is apologizing that Carl couldn’t accompany them. (I bet Ben was glad). Ben answers that he’s rather glad Carl couldn’t make it (see --I knew he would be) as it means that they’ve been able to enjoy a different kind of evening. (I’m not sure what he means, but they are in a private dining room, so use your own imagination). Ben says that he’s talked too much about himself, and then adds she is a very good listener, to which she replies that Ben is a very good storyteller. He then says that he hopes she now understands why the Ponderosa means so much to him, and asks her where she calls home. She tells him that Carl and she were born in New England, but after their parents died, they moved around a lot and spent time with various relatives. She admits she was married, briefly, but she was too much of a dreamer and the cost of castles was way too high. Ben asks her if she would ever try again, and she replies she doesn’t think so, but Ben proposes a toast in which he says that he hopes the price of castles will plummet.

When she gets home, she has one of the roses with her, and Carl can see that she’s had a good time. He starts quizzing her about the evening and states that he is feeling a bit better, as his pain eases when he lies down. (Touch of the guilt trip there and she falls for it, apologizing for going out). Carl asks if Ben is in love with her and she says they are just good friends. Carl is pleased to hear that Ben is taking her on a tour of the Ponderosa.

Next day, Ben is driving Claire around the ranch. It is very windy and she is wearing his coat. He tells her that it is too cold to stay out any longer and she comments it feels like winter. He says that she feels the snow on the mountains, as the wind whips across the snow and across ice packs, a million years old. She replies nothing is a million years old, but he says some things are.

They arrive at the ranch house and she falls silent as she takes in her surroundings. He asks if she likes it and she declares it’s magnificent, but it is Ben “and somebody else” (I think she means that she can feel Marie’s presence, after seeing the way Ben reacted when talking about her, at the lake). Ben goes to get the coffee and she walks around the room and picks up a picture on Ben’s desk. (It is Felicia Farr, who played Marie, in Marie My Love).

Joe comes in to say hello, and she tells him that she really enjoyed the ride around the ranch. She asks him if the woman in the picture is his mother, and he answers it is. She suggests that he was really young when his mother died and he confirms she died right after he was born and so he never knew her. She says she is sorry, but he replies as he never had a mother, he doesn’t miss her…well, almost never. (Oh boy, continuity was never Bonanza’s strong point, was it? Most of us fanfic writers go with the version as told in Lotta, which states that Joe was around 5 when his mother died).

Joe leaves and Ben brings in the coffee. Claire explains she’s been exploring, and Ben says the house is hers. Claire states that it can never be hers. She tells Ben that she thinks she is falling in love with him, but it just cannot be, and so it would be best if she left. (Oh I hate these selfless women who just back off and won’t say why). Ben persuades her to stay and asks her not to give up on them, too soon. She suggests that at least they can be friends. He agrees, and they hug, after which he says she must stay and drink the coffee or Hop Sing will refuse to cook for them anymore.

It’s evening on the Ponderosa and Joe and Hoss are playing checkers. Joe thinks he has Hoss beaten, but Hoss turns out to be the victor. Joe does not like losing and starts with the gibes. Hoss tells him that he is so wrapped up thinking that he is so clever, that he failed to see that Hoss was about to beat him. He asks Pa to play, saying the competition is getting a little thin, and Joe comments that the competition may be thin but Hoss isn’t. Hoss says it’s all muscle and Joe, giggling, agrees it is -- between the ears.

Ben smiles to hear them teasing each other and comments that they all get along pretty well. Hoss agrees and Joe adds that with Hop Sing running the house and he and Hoss doing all the chores, things run pretty smoothly.

Ben says that it is a well run household, but most other houses have a woman in them, too. Joe acknowledges there is something to be said for women. Then Ben goes on to say that as the three of them have lived as they have, for a good while, they might be set in their ways and someone else joining the family might cause trouble. Joe says not necessarily -- depends who it is. If it was the right person, she would fit right in. Hoss agrees that if one of them decided to get married, he feels sure that the other two would be happy about it. Ben goes off whistling and Joe and Hoss dissolve into laughter, both knowing that Ben is referring to Claire.

We then go to the Amory house and Claire is telling Carl that it is time they moved on and found a warmer place for Carl. (I could suggest one, but I am too much of a lady). He argues that Ben is fond of her and has been courting her. She just says that it can never be and they have to leave. (She knows that her brother plans to get money out of Ben and to prevent that, she’d rather leave the man she loves. Such nobility -- it’s Sidney Carton from Tale of Two Cities all over again). Carl declares they are living on credit and can’t afford to go, but Claire says she has a little saved (not sure how, as neither of them work) and it will be enough to keep them going for a while.

Back at the Ponderosa, Ben is coming down the stairs and answers a knock at the door. It’s Carl and he has come to ask for more help from Ben. He tells him that he wants to buy the house they are living in, but his funds from his bank in San Francisco are not cleared in the Virginia City bank yet. (Liar, liar, your pants are on fire -- you don’t have any funds). The man selling the Nevada house has someone else interested and so Carl must close the deal, immediately. Ben offers to loan him the money and Carl writes a post-dated check for the amount. Carl lets Ben know that Claire will be delighted, as she wants to stay in the area. Ben wants to help, as he is anxious for Claire to stay, as well.

When Claire finds out what Carl has done, she is really angry. He states that he did it for her, to enable them to get away and for him to be able to give her a good life in exchange for all that she has done for him. But she says she has heard it all before and is not going to fall for it anymore. She heads for the stairs, presumably to pack, and Carl has another one of his attacks.

She goes over to the Ponderosa (I’m not sure why she didn’t just go and get the doctor) and Ben sends Hoss to get the doctor and goes back to the house with Claire.

Back at the house, the doctor examines Carl and says there is nothing wrong with him (he was just having a temper tantrum, because he couldn’t get his own way). Claire apologizes to Ben for Carl trying to rob him of the money. He asks why she puts up with him. She explains that one night, when they were little, she woke up and was cold. She says she poked at the ashes in the grate and sparked up the fire, but it caught the curtains and started a major house fire. Their parents were killed and the smoke permanently damaged Carl’s lungs. Because she felt responsible for the fire, she has taken care of Carl ever since. When they became adults, she put up with his gambling and his reckless ways with money. Ben hugs her and tells her that she’s been carrying the burden for too long. She says she has no choice, but Ben says she does -- she can marry him. Claire tells Ben that Carl ruined her last marriage, but Ben assures her Carl will be taken care of. However, she says she is not sure and she asks for time to think. Ben states he wants her answer tomorrow. He then kisses her (big sigh, that was lovely) and leaves.

Claire goes to Carl’s room and he starts talking about their past and about his sixth birthday, the first one after the death of their parents. Carl recalls she gave him her only toy, as no one else remembered. He says that things are going to be different (she has obviously heard this speech, many times) and that she has to stay with him.

He can see that she is standing firm, and he starts to beg her not to marry Ben, as he fears being left all alone. He reminds her (as if she needs reminding) that he is only like he is because she started the fire and that she promised him she would never leave him. (This is the bit that I don’t really understand, as I would have thought he would have wanted her to marry Ben and so ensure a secure future for them both. Ben’s rich and would, I’m sure, see that Carl was looked after, properly, so why doesn’t he want Claire to marry?) She says nothing, but breaks down in tears.

The next day, Ben is sat at his desk, waiting to hear from Claire. Joe comes in to tell him that Claire and Carl have left their house. Ben rides over to see for himself, and finds the place deserted. All that is left to remind him of her is the rose that she took home the night they had the meal in the private dining room. He picks it up and some of the petals fall off. He stands on the porch, holding what’s left of the rose, and then heads for home.

REVIEWS:

“This episode has complete contrasting moments in it for me. I love the scene down by the Lake of Tears, when Ben tells Claire about the Indian legend and she can see just how much he loved Marie. It is a really heartrending scene and I so want to give him a hug. I also love all the Hoss and Joe moments, when they are working at the Amory house, and get covered in soot, and when they are playing checkers and teasing Ben about his involvement with Claire. But I really don't like it when Joe says that his mother died right after he was born -- excuse me Joe, but that was what happened to Adam's mother, not yours. I also can't stand Carl, although I know that we are not supposed to, but I hate it that he ends up the winner. I would have preferred if Claire, even if she didn't marry Ben, had finally broken away from him and his emotional blackmail, and started a new life for herself, as I really liked her.” Lynne Coulson

“The Lake of Tears legend was one of the best parts.  I did not like Carl's character.  I had a bad feeling about him from the start.  His sister would have been netter off to dump him for the emotional abuse he put her through, but like you pointed out, that is not the Cartwright way.” Miss Maggie

“My favorite scene in this episode is when Claire talks with Joe about his mother. There's something a bit poignant to me when Joe ties to be off-handed about not having a mother, claiming "you never miss something you never had." Claire raises an eyebrow and says "Never?" Joe then looks down for a moment and then admits "well, almost never." In addition, I like seeing Ben having a "grown up" romance with a woman in this episode. For once, the woman isn't "an actress" or someone with an outlaw son or something. Of course, Claire has her "baggage" which ultimate leads to her leaving Ben. Foolish girl!! I also get a chuck out of Joe and Hoss in this one. They act a little goofy but aren't totally wacky in this one. Just like two brothers who are having a good time being with each other. I really like this episode. It's too bad Lorne Green had to wear an eyepatch in it because I do find that distracting, but otherwise, it's a really good episode in my opinion.” Susan Grote

“Great review! I loved this episode. It had great outdoor scenes and showed the changing of the seasons. The Cartwrights really were shown working and not sitting around the table discussing their chores. The family interaction was charming. Carl was despicable. He was the same actor who was in an earlier episode as a ranch hand who was accused of murder by Claude Akins. I wonder why Ben didn't go chasing after her? He gave up too soon. I would think Ben could have been a good match for her and set limits on Carl and whipped him into shape. My false Bonanza memory was that the sister had set the fire playing with matches and Carl threatened to turn her in. They should have hired Ezekiel from "The Mill" to be Carl's home health aid.” Robin

“This is not one of my favorites but some of the character exchanges in this episode are priceless. The bantering between Joe and Hoss are classic. I too love the scene by the lake but also love Ben and the bitter sweet romantic tone of their talk after their ride around the ranch. They are drinking coffee and Hop Sing is really charming.  Even with that eye patch Ben is pretty alluring. I also really liked Claire and think she was a lot stronger than the writers made her out to be.  It is almost like they took the easy way out by letting the two of them run off,
ending the episode.” Nancy

“I suppose this was meant to be a character study of both Carl and his sister. Carl wants to be an independent man and a good brother to the sister who has looked after him most of his life. The fact that he moves out to Nevada on his own is an indication of his sincerity to this goal. But he is a man who has never grown up and he ultimately cannot overcome his true nature, and we see his weaknesses revealed one after another. And after all is said and done, poor Claire cannot get beyond her guilt. I find the ending odd and unsatisfying. Ben told Claire that Carl would be well taken care of. I imagine we were meant to believe that Claire was afraid that Carl would run up debts as he had before, but Ben knew all this when he proposes marriage to her. In the end, Carl¹s ambivalence destroys the happiness of both himself and his sister. But thank goodness Ben didn¹t chase after Claire ­ can you imagine having Uncle Carl around for 7 more seasons? Then again, the episode where Ben finally strangles the whiner would have been most satisfying.” Sue W.