[identity profile] velyrhorde.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] aliassmithjones
 I'll get the ball rolling, shall I. I propose we snark ... er ... review our favorite episodes. My suggestion is to loosely use the following format:

WHY YOU CHOSE THIS EPISODE - briefly tell why this episode touches you

PLOT - summarize the episode
OPINIONS - critique the acting, directing, wardrobe, whatever
TRIVIA and/or GOOFS - list any little things you spot or know about
SNARK - anything smartass you want to add! You can write alternate endings to lines said in the show, comments about the slash potential, remarks about the hot bodies, or just list your favourite quotes

What we're aiming for is to start some comments bouncing around - as many added snarks as possible for every episode!

I chose Everything Else You Can Steal to start the ball rolling because the character of Blackjack Jenny is so intriguing for me - she and Our Boys are obviously close and loving, yet we never learn how they met. And what an actress Ann Sothern was!


THE PLOT: We first see a bank being robbed during the night. A dark figure picks the lock, opens the safe by consulting a piece of paper, and leaves with the money. Cut to an outdoor scene, where two men ride up - one is blonde and the other dark, but they are not Our Boys. The robber tells them that "the job" is done, and he shoots them in cold blood

Heyes and Curry ride into a town, dusty and obviously exhausted, throw themselves onto a bench, and stretch out. Heyes picks up a discarded newspaper (because Heyes reads everything) and gets a resigned expression. Turns out Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry have robbed another bank, this time in NM. Our Boys reluctantly drag themselves back onto their horses and head out.

They arrive in Touchstone, NM, and pass themselves off as bounty hunters on the trail of those two notorious outlaws. They run into an old friend in the saloon. Blackjack Jenny tells them that she is here on the trail of her son Billy, who hasn't gotten in touch with her in over five weeks. She is certain he is dead, along with his friend Caleb. Heyes figures that somehow, Billy and Caleb are the two being sought for the bank robbery.

They ask around town, and learn that the one "eyewitness" is a waitress who claims "Caleb White" got drunk one night and told her he was Hannibal Heyes, and his partner "Billy Black" was Kid Curry. Heyes decides they should conduct round-the-clock surveillance on the woman, and Curry ends up with the night shift. On the second night, Louise meets with the married manager of the bank, Kenneth Blake, and Our Boys are on the trail. They are now certain that the two imposters have been killed.

They bluff Louise into admitting that Blake robbed the bank and plans to run away with her, but she is stunned to learn that Billy and Caleb have been murdered. Heyes claims they found the grave, and tells her that she must report all to the sheriff or she will be arrested as an accomplice when they go to him themselves.

The next day, the banker gets a note telling him that the money is in an old house, and that Billy and Caleb are sorry they pretended to be Heyes and Curry. Louise says she will not turn her lover over to be executed, even though she is no longer going to run away with him. She suggests that Our Boys take the next train out of town because she has guessed why they were reluctant to go to the sheriff themselves.

As they wait for the train, Louise arrives. She is leaving town to live with her sister. Kid Curry suddenly spots Blackjack Jenny walking toward the bank, and Heyes has a sudden horrible premonition. He and Curry dash full speed across the plaza, arriving at the bank door just as two shots are heard inside. They wilt dejectedly against the wall as they watch the deputy escort Jenny out of the building and toward the jail. She smiles bravely at Our Boys, but says nothing.

They explain that she was Billy's mother, and convince the waitress to stay and testify. No jury will convict her once they hear the true story. She agrees, and Heyes and Curry manage to catch the train out of town.


MY OPINIONS: Ann Sothern is breathtaking in this performance. Blackjack Jenny comes alive as a spunky character making her own way in a male-dominated world. The scene where she spots Our Boys entering the saloon is fascinating in several ways. First, her evident and contagious joy at seeing them - you want to jump up and cheer, she's so damn happy! Second, the boys obviously return her affection completely. Yet we have never heard of this woman before, nor are we ever given any backstory - it just begs for fanfiction!  Ann had such talent. Her entire body shows her emotions. She didn't rely solely on her lines, as many actors do.When Jenny tells Heyes and Curry about her son, and her fears, you see a mother's heartbreak in her face, and in her voice. You notice how she is distracting herself by fiddling with her wrap, with the items on her dresser - anything to delay the moment where she has to say out loud, "I think my son is dead." And her final scene! That brave little smile she shoots Our Boys - "Don't worry, boys. I had to do it. I'm willing to take the consequences now, but don't be sad for me." All without one damn word said!

I have to add a bit about Kermit Murdock, the actor who played Blodgett, the banker. The script says that the man is supposed to be horrendously ugly. Murdock really does an outstanding job of making his character revolting. He pushes his lower lip out in an odd, crooked manner when he speaks, that completely turns you off. He also speaks in an annoying drone, and whenever he finishes saying anything, pouts his lips forward as if to say, "I've finished, the conversation is over!" It takes talent to make you dislike a character that much.

On the Duel and Murphy front, both Our Boys show their tender sides admirably in this episode. Pete, especially, seemed almost in tears at several points. When Jenny told them she thought Billy was dead, Pete's voice was so raspy, as if he actually had been crying. Ben had his adorable Worried Puppy expression, with that little frown, and his eyes all large and sympathetic. I think, if you felt as bad as Jenny, you'd want the Kid to let you cry on his shoulder, and want Heyes to give you one hard hug and go get whoever made you feel that way.

As an aside, Pete continually impresses me with his total absorption into character. When Hannibal Heyes disguises himself - as a bounty hunter, a country deputy, a diamond miner, or a rich gambler - he changes totally! Pete invented new mannerisms, new ways of standing and speaking - Heyes in disguise was someone else besides Heyes!

The final scene, where they see Jenny going into the bank, is so exciting! Pete takes off first, flinging his bedroll and saddlebags willy-nilly as he goes from 0 to 60 in half a second, and Ben is right on his heels. The camera follows them, and you can see the tendons straining in their necks as they frantically race to prevent what's going to happen. When they reach the door, only to hear two shots, they just collapse against the wall of the bank. You can feel their horror and their resignation. As the deputy escorts Jenny out of the bank, Pete and Ben actually seem to have tears in their eyes as they turn away from the bank. The acting in this episode just blew me away.

TRIVIA: This is episode-wide, but the town of Touchstone - and every town in the show - is Portersville. All the towns were one in Alias Smith and Jones Land. Pay attention, and you'll see that the Bank of Touchstone is Lom's Office, and that Sheriff Coffin's office is the Portersville Bank. The train stations were all the same station.

The only goof I saw was during the search of the house (looking for the money), we kept seeing a man's arm, sleeves rolled up, pulling things apart to look. Yet none of the four men had their sleeves rolled up.

Comment if you see another goof (oh, except one I saw on a website somewhere that claims Louise isn't visible in the rifle scope during the picnic - I double checked - she is there)

Teh Snark!

Favourite quotations -

Curry: (told they would have to climb back on their horses and head for New Mexico) I got a better idea, Heyes. Why don't we just turn ourselves in?

Heyes: Kid, did your mother think you were perfect?
Curry: Yeah, as a matter of fact, she did. Did yours?
Heyes: Yeah. But yours was wrong.

Heyes: I'm Smith. The Kid is Jones.
Jenny: It makes a difference?

Lines we'd like to have heard:

Sheriff: (told Our Boys are bounty hunters) That's one way to make a living - if you ain't too particular.
Heyes: Well, we had some fangirls offer to pimp us, but we're a little nervous about agreeing.

Blodgett: You have exactly five minutes! What can I do for you?
Heyes: (exchanges look with Curry) I dunno, are you good enough to get us both off in five minutes?

Curry: (told Louise is the only suspect) You mean we watch her?
Heyes: MMM hmm
Curry: Round the clock?
Heyes: MMM hmm
Curry: (lightbulb goes off) WooHOO! I got nights! I'll bet she undresses in front of her window!

Curry: (Heyes wakes up in the middle of the night and lights lantern) Heyes, what are you doing?
Heyes: (shrugs) I like a light on when we have sex.

Louise: (asked to picnic by Our Boys) Why do they want me to go with them to somewhere I'll be alone with them?
Blake: (gives her a long look) Sweetheart, are you really that stupid?

Miscellaneous Snarkiness:

Does Blake think Hannibal Heyes would really drop one of his beloved lock picks on the ground in front of the bank?

What is the Kid looking at so intently in the first town? When they ride in, he does a double-take to his right, and keeps glancing back that way throughout the entire scene. Was there a tour group of Swedish models just inside one of the buildings?

And I love the way, when they are arguing with someone, they both turn for the door and wait for the other to change his/her mind - then they wheel in unison and walk back.

WHY does the Kid keep letting Heyes flip the coin? You'd think he'd figure it out. Heyes is a con man - he can probably make the coin fall whichever way he wants it to!

There are a lot of gratuitous arse shots in this episode - thank you, cameramen! One fine shot is when the boys bend over to pick up the things at their picnic. Another is when Heyes turns from the mirror and reaches for the quilt.

And speaking of that scene - how did Pete make the process of Heyes shaving so damn erotic? The way he gently holds the razor with just his fingertips ... *shivers* And then he oh-so-tenderly takes the Kid's hat and covers him with a quilt ... awwwww!

Heyes is just so damn proud of the Kid knowing all about those safes when he's talking to Louise! Watch his expression. It's as if he's thinking, "I taught him everything he knows."

On the one hand, they have two beds in this episode - but on the other, we get to see Heyes in his unmentionables. Wait, does he have tidy-whities on under that thing, dammit?! I demand Historic Accuracy!

Judging from shape of the Kid's tight trousers in the first town, I'd say he dresses left just as Heyes does. He seems to have a nice little package there, too.


And what's with that final scene, anyhow? All that just to sneak in a line of poetry and explain the title? Odd.


"The only thing in life you have to earn is love - everything else you can steal" 

Date: 2011-03-23 03:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] devilshole.livejournal.com
Ann Sothern was definitely great in this - underused, but great. And what a heartbreak for her character. Shows what a good actress can do with a bit part.

This ep, like The Bounty Hunter, is so sad that it's just not a favorite of mine. Her poor loser son doesn't deserve to be murdered, and it just leaves a sad taste in my mind, so to speak.

Date: 2011-03-23 04:52 am (UTC)
ext_2144: (AS&J - labeled)
From: [identity profile] quoshara.livejournal.com
I'm never sure about Kermit Murdock. He always seems to me to be doing a poor, cut-rate version of Charles Laughton. *shrugs*

Date: 2011-03-30 01:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] devilshole.livejournal.com
He's an odd duck, isn't he? I remember him so well as the transplanted-in-time judge in Star Trek's "All Our Yesterdays."

Date: 2011-03-23 09:22 am (UTC)
hardboiledbaby: (ASJ wanted)
From: [personal profile] hardboiledbaby
And then he oh-so-tenderly takes the Kid's hat and covers him with a quilt
This makes me so happy I can't even *flails and meeps*

Date: 2011-03-23 03:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a-fallen-sister.livejournal.com
What is the Kid looking at so intently in the first town? When they ride in, he does a double-take to his right, and keeps glancing back that way throughout the entire scene.

I was going to say that maybe, as a gunfighter, Kid knows he has to stay alert and look for trouble all the time, but I just rewatched that scene and yeah, that double-take was more than just casual scoping out of his surroundings. Another forever-mystery since Ben Murphy himself probably wouldn't remember now what he was looking at! :)

Pete Duel shaving was a thing of beauty - the line of his neck and jaw is just gorgeous. And his covering Kid with the quilt and the obvious pride that shows on his face when he looks at Kid in scenes like the one you mentioned, are a big part of the reason that for me, this show seems so fresh, so many years later. I love that in this era of television, men were often shown being affectionate with each other. I guess it still happens on some shows today, but not so much on the ones I currently watch. I was a fan of the show 'Greek' which had a canonical gay couple and I find it interesting that outside of a very few kisses, Calvin and Heath weren't shown being nearly as affectionate with each other as Heyes and Kid are in this 1971 ep. (Of course, the guys on Greek were just two characters in a large cast, so I guess if more time could have been allotted to their story, we may have gotten more scenes with the two of them being a couple.)

I still can't get over how much my 13-yr-old loves this show, proving to me, at least, that it just keeps working generation after generation. Her favorite bit from this episode: Kid is starting to fall asleep in the tree while on watch and we see a cat run up. My daughter said (to the TV, lol), 'Watch out cat, he's going to fall out of that tree and land on you,' and then she thought it was the most hilarious thing ever when that exact thing happened. :D
Edited Date: 2011-03-23 03:12 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-03-23 07:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dawnebeth.livejournal.com
Another forever-mystery since Ben Murphy himself probably wouldn't remember now what he was looking at! :)

Ben Murphy is also apparently very near sighted, so he might not have been able to see whatever it was very well, either! He wore contacts some of the time, but not when they were in dust or dirt--like that scene--since they would get under the hard lenses of the early '70s and hurt.

Date: 2011-03-24 02:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a-fallen-sister.livejournal.com
Aww bless. I know how that feels! Both the very near sighted part and the hard lenses with dust and dirt under them. Ouch.

Interesting bit of trivia! :)

Date: 2011-03-23 03:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dawnebeth.livejournal.com
I forget how wonderful Jenny is every time. And she knows better than to shout "Heyes! Kid!" in a saloon, which is more than some of their wanted outlaw friends know! lol. She's lovely and sweet--and they do seem to go back a long way. H&K know her son, she knows both Silky (or does he say Soapy? so similar) and Diamond Jim, so they've known each other in different cities.

Anachronism--I always wondered how Jenny keeps in touch with her son by letter and occasional telegram. (and have noticed this in other eps, too) Is she usually in the same town? Does he send it general delivery to specific places? Because if they both move around a lot--how do they ever manage to get mail to one another that often? Same with Lom suddenly telegramming the guys in a random city in other episodes--how did he know they'd be there?

LOVE Heyes stopping during shaving to move Kid's hat and cover him up. You know he's tucked Kid before. ;-D

Why DOES Kid ever go along with Heyes when he flips a coin? He knows he's going to lose. It's like he has eternal optimism that some day he'll come up heads.

Random oh, I want to know more--the mention of a job that Heyes planned during the night but ended up that they only netted seven bucks and Kid got shot in the leg.

Hate, hate, hate Jessica Walter's wig/fall. It looks like she is wearing a hat with a braid on the back of her head.

The end is so sad in so many ways. That Jenny feels this is the only option. That Heyes and Kid know she will understand that they don't stay to support her. That she'll go to prison or be hung.

I think the tag on the train is to liven up the sadness, for one thing. In the book ASJ, The story of Two Pretty Good Bad Men (I call it the ASJ bible) it says that Huggins didn't want a lot of violence, didn't want bodies on the show and wanted to keep the series on a lighter note. So there had to be a tag with a joke in it--plus, Heyes is right, he did steal that line, from Pappy on Maverick.
Edited Date: 2011-03-23 03:33 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-03-23 04:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] loyseofverlaine.livejournal.com
I'm with everybody else on Jenny Southern: her performance is great. She puts on the big act of being a blowsy old con-woman, but her privte emotions, for the boys and for her son, are deep and sincere. And the buys, who are pretty cagy with most people, obviously like her a lot.

Something else I like about this ep (and ASJ generally) is that when they're on the run, the guys *look* like they've been on the trail. None of this new-fangled cleanliness stuff. When they arrive in that first little town, Kid Curry's coat and pants look like they could stand up by themselves.

My personal snark always comes when I'm watching the picnic scene and goes something like:

Louse, honey, this is the 1870s/80s. If an unmarried young woman goes out to an isolated spot with *two* strangers for a few hours, she might as well go straight to the bordello when she comes back, because her reputation is *finished*.

Date: 2011-03-23 07:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dawnebeth.livejournal.com
Oh, yeah, V--how do you and I always seem on the same wavelength. I thought exactly the same thing about the picnic. Darling, now you'll have to move to Yuma, because if other ladies in the town liked you before, now they most certainly will not, you hussy.

And I loved that Heyes and the Kid had obviously bathed and changed clothes before they went into Jenny's room. Another copper bath tub for Kid? Lol--fanfic please.

HeyesHugs

Date: 2011-03-25 02:25 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
I think Pete was a world-class hugger. Loved the very warm hug he gives Julia as she's leaving the train station, the high-as-I-can-lift-her greeting to Clem (and Sally looks as if she always was greeted that way by Pete), and the exuberant clapping he does for Jenny to draw her to him quickly. She looks so delighted to be summoned forth (I would be, too!)

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