CHEYENNE: THE ANGRY SKY (TV)

Summary

One in this series of western dramas following the exploits of Cheyenne Bodie, frontier scout of White Blood raised by the Cheyenne Tribe, who wanders the American West during the years following the Civil War. In this episode, a criminal known as Blackjack rigs a gun in a tree, and when Cheyenne appears, it shoots him in the back. Blackjack robs him and flees, and a young woman, Lilac, finds Cheyenne and offers to help, bringing him home and hiding him in her family's barn, as her sister and brother-in-law would not approve of his presence. It snows overnight, and in the morning, Lilac brings provisions and checks his injury, explaining that her brother-in-law, Granger Ward, is a famously strict circuit judge who "hates criminals." Just then, her sister Rose catches them and takes Cheyenne as her "prisoner" until Granger returns home. When he arrives, he explains that he and the rest of his posse were shot while pursuing Blackjack, whose face he did not see, as he had it covered by a kerchief. Granger appears to doubt his story, saying that Cheyenne himself could be Blackjack, especially as he was shot in the back, but Cheyenne proves himself by naming other victims in town, whose names the criminal would not know. Granger grants him a "reprieve," but Lilac privately confesses that she hates the man.

Cheyenne explains that he has no family, and Granger invites him to stay for Christmas, though when he offers to help Rose with her chores, she accuses him of "making advances." Granger returns with some game for dinner and talks about his plans to buy cattle and horses to fill his land, alluding to a wealthy relative whose fortune he will inherit. Cheyenne declines to reveal what he discussed with Lilac, which angers Granger, and Cheyenne notes that he has a shotgun, the same kind of weapon that shot him. Later that night, the family exchanges Christmas gifts, including handmade clothing items, and Granger presents Cheyenne with a pistol, which he immediately recognizes as the one taken from him by Blackjack, though Granger protests that he bought it from a stranger. Rose scolds Lilac for "throwing herself" at Cheyenne, but Lilac retorts that Rose is intrigued by the stranger as well. Rose apologizes to Cheyenne for her suspicions, and Granger discusses a legal case with Cheyenne, revealing that he has condemned nineteen men to death in his career. When Cheyenne asks, Granger says that he "hates stupidity" and admires confidence, calling Cheyenne a "hero." They talk about Blackjack and Cheyenne notes that his methods are "foolish," and though Granger seems to think that Cheyenne must have been outsmarted by the criminal if he managed to shoot him in the back, Cheyenne states that he left "clues," including his unique embroidered kerchief.

Granger tells Rose of his "strange intuition" that Cheyenne is Blackjack. At the same time, Lilac comes to Cheyenne and professes her love, but he suggests that their feelings for each other are only friendly. She asks that he take her with him when he leaves, and they both acknowledge some "evil" in Granger. She explains that he has never discussed his past nor introduced this rich relative, throwing Granger into further suspicion. Granger catches Lilac coming out of the barn and threatens her, making advances and saying it will be their "little secret," but Cheyenne intervenes. Later, Granger comes back out to the barn after Cheyenne, who is now sure that the judge is Blackjack, and they pursue one another in the dark, with Cheyenne pointing out that Granger could not resist bragging about his crimes. Rose pulls a gun on them both and reveals that she has known for a long time of Granger's secret identity and also about his actions toward Lilac. When he moves towards her, she shoots him, and then collapses in tears. Lilac, also injured, comes to Cheyenne, and they ponder their future together. Commercials deleted.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: June 17, 1958 7:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
• COLOR/B&W: B&W
• CATALOG ID: B:10065
• GENRE: Drama, western
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western; Indigenous Peoples Collection
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1955-1963
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• William T. Orr … Executive Producer
• Arthur W. Silver … Producer
• Montgomery Pittman … Writer, Director
• William Lava … Theme Music by
• Stan Jones … Theme Music by
• Clint Walker … Cast, Cheyenne Bodie
• Adele Mara … Cast, Rose
• Andrew Duggan … Cast, Granger Ward (Black Jack)
• Joan Evans … Cast, Lilac