The High Chaparral Episode 1.9

1.09 Young Blood Mano, Blue, Don Sebastian
The future of the ranch is jeopardized when bandits steal a prize bull and breeding stock which Billy Blue Cannon and Manolito have bought in Mexico with the last of the Cannon money.

Produced by: Buck Houghton
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Written by: Denne Bart Petticlerc
Originally broadcast: October 8, 1967

Story Line: Victoria persuades husband John Cannon to send the boys to her father's rancho for the cattle after his brother Buck Cannon is injured. Manolito bargains with his father, Don Sebastian Montoya, for his second best bull. Don Sebastian thinks the boys are pulling a prank and hires bandits to steal the bull. The boys make a desperate attempt to catch the thieves and still prove their trustworthiness.

Character Highlights: This is the last serious attempt to pair Mano with Blue and to portray him in a similarly juvenile light (note the title). In subsequent episodes it is clearly Mano and Buck who are friends and partners in most of their pursuits. Buck breaks his leg in the opener and thereafter plays only a minor role although even here he acts as intervener when he stops John from excessively berating Blue, Mano, Joe, Pedro, Reno, and Ira over the loss of the cattle. John later apologizes to Blue explaining that he wants all this for him, his children, and "all the Cannon children that come after us."

The bunk house boys are more involved in this episode than most. Reno sustains a minor gunshot wound in the battle with the bandits at the river. Provocative scene of Victoria in the bath tub and a good exchange between her and John where she explains how she is different from Annalee. Affectionate sibling interaction between Mano and Victoria where she confirms that she had a hand in The Arrangement, "Well, Manolito, if I did not want to marry John Cannon I wouldn’t have done it. I love him." Much of this episode centers around the relationship between Don Sebastian and Mano with intense negotiations and parrying between the two that concludes with Mano admitting to him that "I am the son of my father." Classic dialogue between Blue and Mano as they ponder the retribution Don Sebastian is likely to exact from them:

Complete Episode Synopsis

This episode centers around a theme employed many times during the run of "High Chaparral"; that of the ability of youth to assume the role of manhood. The action begins inauspiciously as an irritated Big John tells Buck to slow down the youthful Blue and Manolito from running their horses so hard. Buck instead joins in the race and breaks his leg in a fall from his horse, jeopardizing the cattle-buying trip to the Montoya ranch that Buck was scheduled to make.

Blue, eager to replace Buck after his injury.

Big John is in a quandary; the breeding stock must be bought in order for the Chaparral to survive, but he cannot go to Mexico himself, and he rejected out of hand the suggestion of Buck's to send Blue and Manolito in his place. Victoria champions the cause of the younger set being given the chance to prove themselves as men in this important endeavor, and John finally agrees.

Mano drives a hard bargain for the needed cattle and breeding bull.

At the Montoya ranchero, Manolito attempts to drive a bargain with his father, but Don Sebastian charges an exorbitant price for the cattle and bull. A comedy of errors ensues when Manolito uses his father's tactics, that of playing fast and loose with the truth, against Don Sebastian to get the right price for the cattle. He leads Don Sebastian to believe that John and Victoria are expecting a child, and although he is immediately suspicious, the idea is too close to his heart to disbelieve for long. He gives the cattle and his second best bull, the Bull Mariposa, to the Cannon ranch for much less than he had originally asked.

A second joke emerges two days away from the Chaparral when Manolito notices that Blue has taken the wrong bull from the Rancho Montoya, the Bull Montoya, the sire of the Montoya herd. He has a good laugh but conceals the joke from the rest of the Chaparral men. Meanwhile, Don Sebastian learns of the mix-up and assumes that it was intentional; he also has a good laugh, and immediately arranges to play a joke on Manolito. He calls in the comanchero, Miguel, who had attempted to kidnap Manolito earlier. Miguel is commissioned to steal the bull and cattle, which he easily accomplishes during an unguarded moment among the Chaparral men when they decide to take a dip in the river to cool off.

Don Sebastian makes a deal with Chavez, Miguel's henchman, to steal the cattle back.

Joe, JD, Pedro, and Reno are chagrined
at their role in the loss of the bull.

John is livid when he hears of the fiasco and he berates the entire crew for a bungled job. Blue and Manolito are especially hurt, and ache for the chance to redeem themselves. John orders them all to saddle up again, and this time he goes with them to see Don Sebastian. However, when talking with Don Sebastian, Manolito detects that he is a little too smug, and realizes that his father is playing another trick. On a hunch he and Blue stake out the local cantina and they find Miguel there, who admits to the theft and Don Sebastian's part in it.

Manolito confronts his father and demands the truth from him; he even presents the hapless Miguel so that Don Sebastian cannot deny what he has done. Don Sebastian agrees to give back the breeding stock, this time with his consent to take the bull Montoya with it, with Blue closing the deal. Not only are the prospects for the High Chaparral optimistic again, but back at the ranch, there is an unspoken acknowledgement of Manolito's and Blue's success.
(Synopsis by Lisa McKenzie)

Blue confronts Don Sebastian with Miguel.