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 8.22 [223]
"The Sins Of The Fathers"
Original NBC Broadcast - March 4, 1970

Universal City Studios Inc.
Executive Producer - Norman MacDonnell
Produced by Howard Christie
Written by David P. Harmon
Directed by Walter Doniger

Starring
(shown on the ride-in)
John McIntire as Clay Grainger
Doug McClure as Trampas
Tim Matheson as Jim Horn
Sara Lane as Elizabeth Grainger (NOT in this episode)
And
James Drury as The Virginian

Guest Stars
Robert Lipton . (Adam Randall)
Tim McIntire (John Wesley Hardin)

Complete Ending Credits
Also Starring
Jeanette Nolan as Holly Grainger (last appearance on the show)
#
Co-Starring
William Lucking as Sam Burns

Ross Elliott as Sheriff Abbott
#
With

Terry Wilson ... Shaker
Stuart Nisbet ... Bartender
Harper Flaherty ... Harper
Bob Gravage ... Blacksmith
#

Associate Producers ... Robert Van Scoyk
... John Choy
#
Theme ... Percy Faith
#
Director of Photography ... Enzo A. Martinelli
#
Art Director ... William J. Kenney
Set Decorations ... John McCarthy and Perry Murdock
Unit Manager ... Henry Kline
Assistant Director ... Les Berke
#
Film Editor ... Jack W. Schoengarth
Music Supervision ... Stanley Wilson
Sound ... Earl Crain Jr.
Color Coordinator ... Robert Brower
Technicolor
Titles and Opticals ... Universal Title
#
Editorial Supervision ... Richard Belding
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 -
The Virginian, Trampas, Jim Horn, Clay Grainger, Holly Grainger, Sheriff Mark Abbott and Harper. Dick and Cecil appear uncredited in the bunkhouse scenes.

Story Synopsis
Twenty-five years ago, Clay Grainger decided to go into partnership with Josh Randall in order to operate a cattle ranch. The two men bought a herd of cattle in Kansas and started a drive back to Texas. During the drive Clay learns that his partner is a vicious, short-tempered man and is forced to kill him when Randall turns on him after Grainger stops him from trying to kill an unarmed man in a saloon. Although the killing is deemed justified, Grainger is extremely remorseful and anonymously sends all the funds from the sale of the herd to Randall's widow and infant son, Adam.

Adam grows up believing his father to be a gentle, understanding man who was shot in the back by a greedy, cowardly partner and decides he must do everything in his power to avenge his father's death. He polishes his shooting skills and becomes a hired gun travelling the west in search of the mysterious CG. One day he rescues The Virginian from an outlaw ambush and hires on at Shiloh to determine if the ranch owner is the man he has spent years looking for.

Randall proves to be nothing but a troublemaker but by the time The Virginian's gratitude has worn out, Clay has figured out just who the young man is and refuses to fire him. Grainger then arranges to clear the ranch of everybody but Holly and himself in order to face the angry young man in a final gunfight. [rgm]
            
Notes
Tim McIntire is the real life son of Jeanette Nolan and John McIntire.
5.13 "Sue Ann,"    6.16 "The Death Wagon,"   &    7.12 "Nora" (rgm)
Robert Lipton is the brother of actress Peggy Lipton of "The Mod Squad" fame. (rgm)
Josh Randall was also the name of the bounty hunter played by Steve McQueen in the western series "Wanted - Dead or Alive". There is no indication in the story that there is any connection between the two characters. (rgm)

This episode reveals that the Graingers had a pair of twins who died in childhood or infancy shortly before the ill-fated cattle drive. (rgm)

Jeanette Nolan bids farewell to the series in this episode with an emotional performance that highlights the love the Graingers have for each other and the lengths Holly will go to defend her husband. (rgm)  

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