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6.26 [175]
"Seth"
NBC Broadcast - 20 March 1968

Universal City Studios, Inc.
Executive Producer Norman Macdonnell
Written by Reuben Bercovitch
Produced and Directed by Joel Rogosin

Starring:
(shown on the ride-in)
John McIntire as Clay Grainger (not in this episode)
Doug McClure as Trampas
Clu Gulager as Emmett Ryker (not in this episode)
Don Quine as Stacey Grainger (not in this episode)
Sara Lane as Elizabeth Grainger (not in this episode)
and
James Drury as The Virginian

Guest Star
Michael Burns ["Seth" a.k.a. Scott]

Full ending credits
Co-Starring
Kevin Hagen as Judd Hadlock
#
Ross Elliott as Sheriff Abbott
#
With
Richard Le Pore  . . .  Cally
Rusty Lane  . . .   Sheriff Calder
William Fawcett  . . .  Station Master
#
Mark Tapscott  . . .  Stableman
Jay Clark  . . .  Perkins
Harper Flaherty  . . .  Harper
Dick Shane  . . .  Dick
#
Associate Producer  David Levinson
#
Theme Percy Faith
#
Director of Photography Bud Thackery A.S.C.
#
Art Director  . . .  Howard E. Johnson
Film Editor  . . .  Budd Small
Unit Manager  . . .  Henry Kline
Assistant Director  . . .  Joe Cavalier
Set Decorations  . . .  John McCarthy and Ralph Sylos
Sound  . . .  Melvin M. Metcalfe, Sr.
Color Coordinator  . . .  Robert Brower
Technicolor
#
Editorial Supervision  . . .  Richard Belding
Musical Supervision  . . .  Stanley Wilson
Costume Supervision  . . .  Vincent Dee
Makeup  . . .  Bud Westmore
Hair Stylist  . . .  Larry Germain
The Title "THE VIRGINIAN" by permission of EMKA, LTD.

Series regular characters appearing in this episode:  Trampas, the
Virginian, Sheriff Abbott, Harper, Dick, and Cecil

Brief Synopsis:
While hunting for a cougar in the mountains Trampas befriends a nearly
starved boy.  "Seth" [Burns] is "closed-mouthed" about why he's alone in the
wilderness, but Trampas gains his trust and takes him back to Shiloh.  The
cowhand wants to help by locating his relatives.  However, when an uncle
comes forward to claim him Scott is reluctant to be reunited with the man.
He asks to stay on at Shiloh, but legally Trampas (who doesn't want the youngster
to go) must relinquish the boy to his only living kin.  Sheriff Abbott finds
the uncle has a criminal record and is a suspect in a recent bank robbery.
Figuring no court would give a person of his reputation custody of a minor
Abbott and Trampas ride back to the area where
Trampas had first found "Seth." There they locate him, along with his uncle
and another accomplice, digging up the saddle bags full of stolen money his dying father had
entrusted to him to hide.  Now, given a choice, it's time for "Seth" to make the decision
to follow in his father's shoes or "cut his own trail."

Notes:  This episode was a little reminiscent of 3.28 "Old Cowboy" in that
Trampas, with compassionate concern, wants to befriend someone in need even though it
causes trouble. Trampas told the Virginian that Seth reminded him a lot of himself at that
age and, during his conversations with the boy, we learn these things about
the cowhand's past: The first time Trampas ran away from home he was thirteen, and he ran "down
the river." The first time Trampas' dad laid a hand on him was when he talked back and
said, "Yes, I can." When Seth mentioned he'd been drifting all his life Trampas replied, "I did
the same thing when I was a kid.  If I couldn't swap chores for food I
wouldn't know what to do." On relationships in the series:  The Virginian wasn't eager to have Seth at
Shiloh, especially when the young man let some cattle get into loco weed,
and told Trampas, "Shiloh is a ranch, not a foundling home as you well know.
You're a top hand, he's not your burden."  Even so the foreman,
understanding his friend's concern, allowed Trampas to
try to find Seth's relatives and let the boy stay at the ranch until
his uncle came for him.  After Seth, not wanting to be reunited with his
uncle, ran away and Trampas wanted to find him the Virginian asked Trampas
if he'd like some company.  When Trampas mentioned he didn't want to scare
Seth off the Virginian packed some provisions for him to go on alone.  He
also knew how important it was
for Trampas to see Seth and his uncle off on the noon stage and had a bank
deposit for Trampas to take to town in the morning as an excuse to be there
to say good bye. One might wonder if this episode could have been a possible "entry"
consideration for Michael Burns to take over the spot vacated by Don Quine's
Stacey Grainger since we find Seth remaining at Shiloh at the end of this
show (the final of season six).  It certainly would have been a good
introduction as such.  As it were, David Hartman became the "extra hand" as
David Sutton in 7.01 "The Saddle Warmer."
Look for Michael Burns in these other VIRGINIAN episodes: 4.18 "Long Ride to
Wind River,"  5.06 "The Challenge," 5.13 "The Long Way Home,"  8.08 "The
Bugler" and 9.20 "Tate, Ramrod" (bj)

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