CTVA - The Virginian 7.21 [196] "Eileen" 5-Mar-1969

CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - TV Western series
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7.21 [196]
"Eileen"

NBC Broadcast - 5 March 1969

Universal City Studios, Inc.
Executive Producer Norman Macdonnell
Produced by Winston Miller
Written by Don Ingalls
Directed by Tony Leader

Starring:
(shown on the ride-in)
John McIntire as Clay Grainger
Doug McClure as Trampas
David Hartman as David Sutton (not in this episode)
Sara Lane as Elizabeth Grainger
and
James Drury as The Virginian

Guest Stars
Debbie Watson [Eileen Linden]
Richard Van Vleet [Peter Bowers]

Full ending credits:
Co-Starring
Donald Barry as Hutton
#
Ross Elliott as Sheriff Abbott
Don Wilbanks as Brady
#
With
Stuart Nisbet  . . .  Bartender [Bart]
Stephen Coit  . . .  Station Master
Kres Mersky  . . .  Bar Girl
Harper Flaherty  . . .  Harper
#
Theme Percy Faith
#
Director of Photography Enzo A. Martinelli
#
Art Director  . . .  William J. Kenney
Film Editor  . . .  Edward Haire, A.C.E.
Unit Manger  . . .  Henry Kline
Assistant Director  . . .  Kenward Cosper
Set Decorations  . . .  John McCarthy and Perry Murdock
Sound  . . .  John Erlinger
Color Coordinator   . . .  Robert Brower
Technicolor
#
Editorial Supervision  . . .  Richard Belding
Musical Supervision  . . .  Stanley Wilson
Costumes by  . . .  Helen Colvig
Makeup  . . .  Bud Westmore
Hair Stylist  . . .  Larry Germain
The Title "THE VIRGINIAN" by permission of EMKA, LTD.

Series regular characters appearing in this episode:  Clay Grainger,
Trampas, Elizabeth Grainger, the Virginian, Sheriff Abbott, Harper, and Bart
the bartender

Brief Synopsis:
The Graingers have a house guest:  Eileen Linden (Watson), the daughter of
Clay's wealthy friend from Nebraska, who was sent to Shiloh in hopes of
giving the hot passion of a romance time to cool.  Eileen is distraught when
her boyfriend Peter Bowers (Van Vleet) shows up and asks for a job at the
ranch.  She implores Peter to leave because they had given their word to her
father, who disapproved of the relationship, that they wouldn't see each
other for six weeks.  Peter tells her he loves her and can't bear to be
apart from her and tries to convince her that if she loves him they should
wait no longer to get married.  But Eileen doesn't want their life together
to start as "runaways."  With her refusal to make a quick trip to the altar
Peter must set up another plan, and it becomes evident when he has her
kidnapped and held for ransom that his interest in her is purely
monetary--two men are after him, and he's running out of time to pay back
the $5000 in gambling debts he owes them

Note:  Trampas has a moustache in this episode (a cause for teasing by
Elizabeth and some of the ranch hands).  Perhaps this was a trial for his
mustached lip during the final season when the series was re-titled "The
Men From Shiloh."

Character interaction note:  Possibly starting with episode 5.11 "Beloved
Outlaw" Liz Grainger and Trampas developed a close relationship in which it
was evident they deeply cared for each other.  With a "big brother" attitude
Trampas was very protective of her yet would sometimes use her to his
advantage (such as in 5.27 "The Girl on the Pinto" when he dragged Liz away
from her chores to go with him to Amanda's to help him put out the good word
of all his many charms in hopes of wooing the girl to date him).  Even
aware of his motives Liz would go right along with his foolish requests.
There was also often quite a bit of good-natured teasing between the two
of them.  In this episode, when Eileen arrives, Trampas (as usual) decides
he wants to ask her to the Saturday night dance before anyone else gets the
chance.  Inside the house Liz is telling Eileen about Shiloh and about the
"social life" of Medicine Bow and suggests she go to the dance to find a
"beau" to pass the time with while she was at the ranch.  Eileen tells her
she's only visiting to be separated from her boyfriend for awhile and isn't
looking for another one to take his place.  To this Liz has the
solution--Eileen would love to go with Trampas because he's a good escort
and wonderful dancer.  Eileen mentions that Trampas hadn't invited her to
the dance, but Liz informs her that he certainly would and by 12:30 that
afternoon.  Eileen questions how she could be so sure, and Liz makes the
important remark "I know him."  When Trampas comes to the door with the
excuse of asking Eileen what kind of horse she would like to ride Liz stands
by looking at him with the facial expression of "yes, and what else were you
going to ask?"   Liz then reminds the cowhand that her Uncle Clay had already
told him what mount Eileen would by using during her stay, so Trampas brings up
the subject of the dance and asks Eileen if she would like to go with him.
Smugly Liz asks Trampas for the time and with great satisfaction says "with
10 minutes to spare."  In a later scene Trampas, who was unaware that Peter
and Eileen were lovers, tried to break up a kiss between them, and Eileen
confesses to him that Peter had come to Wyoming to be with her.  She also
confides in Elizabeth because she needed someone to talk to.  Eileen fears
Trampas will tell Mr. Grainger about Peter, but Liz assures her of the
confidence she herself had gained in him stating, "You can trust Trampas."
There's been quite a change over the years in the untrustworthy boy of 2.01
"Ride a Dark Trail" whom the Virginian had pegged as "a liar and a cheat." (bj)

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