aliassmithjones | Only Three to a Bed (Reply)

Episode 50 (S3E12)

Plot summary: The guys take a vacation and help a friend round up wild horses from a herd that runs on land claimed by a proud, stubborn old man.

"Why Mr Jones, you're so graceful for an outdoor man " (Beegee)

Other characters: Beegee (JoAnn Pflug); Sam Haney (Dana Elcar); Emma Sterling (Laurette Spang); George Sterling (John Kerr); Mark Tisdale (Dean Jagger); Bronc (Paul Fix); Belle Haney (Janet Johnson)

Latent, unfulfilled sex and romance in this last episode. Heyes gets to blag Beegee, a typical sort of Hannibal Heyes woman - sophisticated, knowing, independent and quick-witted. Kid Curry gets to exchange soulful looks with Laura, a typical sort of Kid Curry woman - shy, blonde, committed Christian, constantly chaperoned by her straitlaced brother. Lots of inuendo and kissing. Fun!

Another grizzled old pal turns up, this time he's called Bronco. There are some good ride 'em cowboy moments for both the boys. The character of Beegee is very strong. She sort of oozes sex and both Heyes and the Kid want her. "There's not a man that's safe," as she joshes with Heyes (as well as the fascinating "I play a floating game"). What a woman - she plays a mean hand of poker, she sings ... and what does she sing? Aaagh, enough already!

Heyes and the Kid look very partnerly leaning on each other at the piano (for the first and last time I might add). Kid's a better dancer, and RD Heyes looks silly in his grandad shirt and suspenders.

Beegee decides that Heyes is a "family" man. She's openly looking for a husband and Heyes is a bit freaked by that, much as he wants her. Later she calls them both "conceited ninnies" (that turn her to jelly). Make up your mind, woman!

Big speech from Tisdale about land and cattle and stock etc etc. It's supposed to explain how passionate he is to hold on to the horses on his land, and the boys and Bronco are pretty cavalier in their assertion that since they're wild they belong to whoever rounds them up. I guess this was the unwritten law? Kid's stubborn streak displayed once more: "Mister, I don't step down just 'cause somebody tells me to." Uh we noticed.

Kid manages, of course, to extract a "goodbye" kiss (or two) from Laura in the barn and then we get the interesting twist of Beegee overseeing this and deciding to help herself to a little bit as well. She kisses him while holding on for dear life to the good old PDB ... and says "you're going to spoil me for other men," although this is just to appeal to his vanity. The Kid, in effect, gets both the girls, although we are led to believe that he and Heyes are well aware that Beegee is the calculating type and there is nothing serious in any direction. It is rather a satisfying coup for Kid Curry, though, who has spent much of season three being bad-tempered and put-upon. "Thank you for showing me how it's supposed to be done" she "whispers" to Kid, so Heyes can hear. Classic face from Ben at this point. Heh, heh, the revenge of Kid Curry!

The boys are both rather relieved to get away with not being snared permanently which seems to suggest they are dyed-in-the-wool bachelors and happy to carry on drifting around with each other. Or something *g*