BIG VALLEY, THE: A DAY OF TERROR (TV)
Summary
One in this series of western dramas about the Barkleys, a wealthy California ranching family. In this episode, Nick and Heath drop Audra and Victoria off at the church for Audra's first day as a Bible school teacher. When they enter, they encounter the Mortons, a family of criminals, the youngest of whom, Lon, has suffered a gunshot wound. The mother, Annie, orders Victoria to go find the doctor, sending son Troy along with her and forcing Audra to stay behind. Victoria learns that the doctor is out of town, but borrows his medical bag from his wife, Mrs. Merar. At the church, the other son Wes makes a pass at Audra, which she dislikes. Upon learning that there is no doctor, Annie's sons declare that they must go to the next town to seek help, but she refuses, fearing that Lon is too weak to move. Victoria offers to help him if they promise to leave as soon as he is well, and Annie agrees. Victoria works on the boy as Wes continues flirting with Audra, and she distracts the preacher when he stops by, preventing him from discovering the criminals. Thanks to Victoria's ministrations, Lon is soon out of danger, but Annie goes back on her word and refuses to leave the church, ordering Audra to carry on with the Sunday school lesson as usual and holding Victoria hostage in the balcony. Nick and Heath arrive with the children in tow and, unaware of the danger, decide to leave and drink with a friend, and Audra is unable to explain.
Annie watches from above as Audra teaches her lesson, and elsewhere, Nick and Heath enjoy a glass of cider with Leif Engstrom. Audra tells the children the story of Ruth and Naomi, emphasizing the women's familial love for another in the face of "cruelty and violence." When they go to recess, Victoria pleads with Annie to leave with her family, but she sneers at "their fancy kind" and refuses to go. Wes corners Audra again and assaults her, and Annie catches him and beats him severely, threatening to kill him, though she quickly apologizes. Victoria scolds her for raising such a violent family, and in private, Annie decides that they must "get rid of" Victoria and Audra before they depart. Back in town, Mrs. Merar visits Jarrod, explaining how Victoria borrowed the medical supplies, and sensing danger, Jarrod hurries off to the church. Lon protests against killing the women, saying that it is unnecessary, and Audra quickly hides the children when Jarrod arrives and Annie orders her sons to stop him. Jarrod soon shoots Troy and a vengeful Annie decides to kill Audra as well, but Wes finally stands up to her, and Victoria ends up gunning her down. Back at home, Nick serves cider to his family and ponders getting into the sales business, but his product soon proves to be less than profitable. Audra declares that she will continue teaching Sunday school despite the day's events, and her brother offers his praise of her bravery. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: December 12, 1966 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:39
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:06463
- GENRE: Drama, western
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western; Women's Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1965-1969
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Alka-Seltzer
- TV - Commercials - Armstrong floor and ceiling products
- TV - Commercials - Bull Durham cigarettes
- TV - Commercials - Cool-Ray Polaroid sunglasses
- TV - Commercials - Kent cigarettes
- TV - Commercials - One-A-Day vitamins
- TV - Commercials - Squirt soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - True cigarettes
CREDITS
- Jules Levy … Producer
- Arthur Gardner … Producer
- Arnold Laven … Producer
- Lou Morheim … Associate Producer
- A.I. Bezzerides … Created by
- Louis F. Edelman … Created by
- Peter Packer … Writer
- Virgil W. Vogel … Director
- George Duning … Music by
- Richard Long … Cast, Jarrod Barkley
- Peter Breck … Cast, Nick Barkley
- Lee Majors … Cast, Heath
- Linda Evans … Cast, Audra Barkley
- Barbara Stanwyck … Cast, Victoria Barkley
- Colleen Dewhurst … Cast, Annie Morton
- Ross Hagen … Cast, Troy
- Michael Burns … Cast, Lon
- Ken Swofford … Cast, Wes
- Amanda Harley … Cast, Mrs. Merar
- Tom Monroe … Cast, Engstrom
- Gene O'Donnell … Cast, Minister