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9.03 [228]
"jenny"
Original NBC Broadcast - 30 September 1970
Universal City Studios, Inc.
executive producer norman macdonnell
written by arthur heinemann
directed by harry harris
Starring:
(shown on the opening sketch sequence)
stewart granger [Col. Alan MacKenzie] (not in this episode)
doug mcclure [Trampas] (not in this episode)
lee majors as tate (not in this episode)
james drury as the virginian (appears)
guest stars
janet leigh [Jenny Davis]
john ireland [Kinroy]
charles drake [Jeremy "Randolf"]
full ending credits:
co-starring
jo ann harris as mary ann travers
#
christopher dark as mort
#
myron healey as wardlow
#
with
lew brown alfie
norman leavitt barber
jack naughton clerk
joe trela stagecoach driver
#
script consultant robert van scoyk
#
music score ralph ferraro
theme ennio morricone
#
director of photography enzo a. martinelli
(superb long shot location photography)
#
art director william j. kenney
set decorations perry murdock
unit manager henry kline
assistant director jack terry
#
film editor howard epstein
sound earl n. crain, jr.
technicolor
main title design jack cole
titles and optical effects universal title
#
editorial supervision richard belding
costume supervision vincent dee
makeup bud westmore
hair stylist larry germain
Series regular characters appearing in this episode: The Virginian
Synopsis:
In this action-mystery the Virginian finishes up his business in another
town and plans to return to Medicine Bow by stage the next day. As he
enters his hotel room he hears a woman pleading to be left alone and, going
to her aid, finds none other than Jenny Davis (Leigh)--the girl he had loved
many years ago. Jenny states "it's Jenny Gruse now," but she'd been
widowed
for awhile. She asserts she had never seen her attackers before and has
no idea why anyone would be after her. The foreman invites Jenny to have
supper with him, and during the meal the discussion gets around to the
passing of time since they had last seen each other.
The Virginian hopes Jenny's husband had given her a better life than he
would have provided as a "saddle tramp." She replies she had always thought
of him more as a "drifter" but, yes, she had indeed
had a very happy marriage. The
ramrod wants her to see a doctor and talk to the sheriff, but she refuses
because she's in a hurry to keep an appointment in Dry River.
When she learns the
Virginian is the foreman of a ranch near Medicine Bow and he'd be on the
same stage with her Jenny confesses she had lied to him earlier--she had
seen the men who attacked her before. They have been following her for
three days, but she still maintains she doesn't know why. Jenny would like
for the Virginian to escort her on the trip, but his help depends on her
being truthful with him. When asked if it might have something to do with
her husband, Jenny mentions he'd
been away on a business trip to Dry River right before he died,
and she is on her way
there because someone has information to give her. As they are
leaving the hotel the next morning the Virginian overhears a man questioning
the clerk about the stage route. Intent on looking after her the foreman
asks Jenny if this might be one
of the men who attacked her, but she doesn't recognize him. They are joined
on their journey by Mr. "Randolf" (Drake), going west for health reasons,
and excited teenager Mary Ann (Harris), who is on her way to live with her
aunt. The Virginian discerns they are being followed and suggests
the stage driver whip up the team.
As they are rounding a bend in the road the coach loses a
wheel, and the Virginian tells everyone to get out of sight in the rocks.
Because Jenny would be an easy target out in the open and Randolf is too
sick to ride the driver offers to take a horse and go for help while the
others wait it
out safely hidden among the boulders. He leaves a canteen with them and a
water barrel on the stage. That night the group hears gun shots and
discovers the rest of the horses are gone.
Mr. Randolf's health is deteriorating rapidly, so the
Virginian goes to the stage to refill the canteen for him but finds
an empty water barrel riddled with bullet
holes. Jenny is worried about Randolf's condition and wishes
she had some cologne to use to cool his fever. Mary Ann declares she has
some in her luggage and runs to the stage where she is caught by two of
the pursuers. The Virginian and Jenny shoot at the men, and Mary Ann is
able to escape. But back in
camp she cries that the men told her they would all die if Jenny doesn't
reveal the whereabouts of the money.
The Virginian wants answers, and Jenny admits her husband isn't really
dead--he's serving a prison
term for robbing a bank six years ago and has yet another year left of his
sentence. She had been to visit him recently
and figures these men might be his partners in crime
who think he must have told her where he stashed the money. But the
woman persists her husband had mentioned nothing to her about it. Even so
Jenny is concerned for the well-being of the other passengers, especially
Randolf who by now is quite ill, and decides to give herself up.
The foreman, however, will not permit her to do so. Nonetheless, Jenny
insists Randolf needs water and runs down the hill toward her assailants
with the Virginian close behind her.
As the outlaws capture them the Virginian discovers
just how much of the truth Jenny has been hiding from him . . .
Note 1: Although James Drury is credited as "the virginian" in
the 9th
season's THE MEN FROM SHILOH I have yet to hear him called by that name.
He usually refers to himself as "The Foreman of the Shiloh Ranch" or "The
Man from Shiloh." Others often refer
to him as "The Stranger," and Mary Ann was
intrigued to be in the presence of this "Mysterious Stranger."
(bj)
Note 2:
A haunting harpsichord theme accompanies the main titles on this episode.(bg)
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