The High Chaparral Episode 1.15

1.15 The Widow from Red Rock Buck, Mano
Buck Cannon goes to work as foreman for a lovely neighboring widow, and clashes with his brother John when the job appears permanent.

Produced by William F. Claxton
Directed by Robert Sparr and William F. Claxton
Written by Michael Fessier
Originally Broadcast: November 26, 1967

Story Line: Buck falls in love with the widow, Melanie Cawthorne, and becomes her tool as she strives for quick riches and respectability. She buys stolen Mexican cattle from Romero without Buck's knowledge, setting up serious conflicts with John as water grows scarce.

Character Highlights: Episode centers around Buck’s relationship with Melanie, but also around the conflict it sets up with John over limited resources. At the outset, it is Buck who is most suspicious of Melanie’s story and intentions, but he is the one who later succumbs to her charms. Mano, however, is able to recognize how manipulative and conniving she is and intervenes indirectly to protect Buck. There is a playful scene where Mano first meets Melanie when he finds her in his bed after coming in late. Mano later woos Melanie to expose her shallowness but then makes no attempt to defend himself against Buck’s retaliation. In conversation with Mano, Melanie refers to Buck as his "best friend", so there is recognition that Mano and Buck are increasingly aligned.

Good scenes where Blue intervenes very forcefully in the conflict between Buck and John. Romero, a rather sympathetic bandit and distant relative of the Montoyas, becomes another victim of Melanie’s selfishness. Mano makes an earnest but futile attempt to save Romero. His death is unfortunate because he could have made a good recurring bandit similar to El Lobo. The bunk house boys are pretty involved here in vying for Melanie’s attention and grumbling about Buck’s involvement with her. In the standoff with John though, even the boys who have been working for Buck and Melanie side with John. After Buck has called things off with Melanie, Mano follows him out the door with a wordless tip of his hat to Melanie that makes it clear he is the one who has bested her.

Complete Episode Synopsis: The action begins as John Cannon and his hands are about to quit work for the day. A wagon rolls up to them containing an attractive redhead, who stops long enough to establish her identity as the widow of the late neighboring rancher Clay Cawthorne and to reject both advice and offers of help from Big John. Upon arrival at her new home, however, Melanie Cawthorne is confronted with several dead ranch hands and the knowledge that she will indeed need some help in getting the ranch back on its feet. She proceeds to procure that help from the Cannons in as dramatic a way as possible, conveniently fainting in Buck's arms.

The Widow Cawthorne arrives in Arizona.