The Girl in Boxcar #3 rehash
Apr. 6th, 2011 02:00 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
dawnebeth.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
aliassmithjonesI've owned my season one DVDs for several years now and never rewatched this episode since it ranks very far down my list of favorites. So I've had a resolution to watch it again since last summer. (See how quick I am on the uptake?)
My chief complaint, of course, is that the guys separate, so there is very little of them playing off each other and enjoying each other. The opening scenes when they go see The Skipper from Gilligan's Island--uh, I mean Andrew Greer-- are the best. Greer has commissioned them to take $50,000 dollars to another town to outwit ranchers who are angry because the only bank in town has closed down.
I was struck by the fact that there doesn't seem to be any actual reason why Greer is trying to keep this money from the ranchers, or none that I could understand. Is this money actually Greer's or the bank's? Is this state money (since the governor is in on the subterfuge) Or is it the money the ranchers deposited? In that case, shouldn't they be able to get some of it? I was confused on this point.
As usual, the guys 'talk' to each other about half the time through glances (what my friend and I used to call Kid and Heyes looks) but the Governor wants them to do this job as part of their mending their ways before the amnesty, so they want to get it right.
Moving on~ Heyes and the Kid sneak back into Greer's office late at night, evading the ranchers, and carefully count the money before putting it into a valise. I loved that Kid counts about half and Heyes the rest, and both completely trust that the other has counted accurately and fairly. They get on horses and ride away, with the ranchers in hot pursuit. I am assuming that they may have discussed their plan ahead of time--but as with nearly everything else that happens in this ep--the viewer is left a little behind without actual knowledge of what is going on.
Kid dismounts with the bag of cash and Heyes rides away as a decoy with both horses. And that's pretty much what Heyes does for the rest of the episode. Rides around--I always get these, what about food, peeing and sleeping? sorts of thoughts about the middle of all that riding. Must be the nurse in me.
Kid hops a freight train and meets Annabelle, a girl who could talk the paint off the walls. She has big plans, big dreams and tries to look ultra-sophisticated. Kid's response is to grin, roll his eyes and say "Yes, Annabelle" a lot, since he can obviously tell that she's making all this stuff up. It's funny to see Kid in the 'older' brother role for once. Annabelle finally admits to being 17--which makes Kid a good ten years older, although he barely looks it. He is flat out beautiful with his smooth cheeks, Roman nose and golden hair. (later in the series, his hair is a darker, dirty blond, but here it's gold)
The story picks up speed when Kid gets off the train to buy food and misses jumping back on--Annabelle has all the money! He's oddly calm about that, almost pragmatic, which is his mood for much of the story. He doesn't ever seem frantic about losing the sum, not being able to get in contact with Heyes, or possibly losing the amnesty.
Luckily, he's able to buy a nag (Princess) to follow the train just about the time that Annabelle gets off to find him. She has the money in his saddle bag! The two of them find the house of an older couple to get some food and spend the night.
I didn't find Annabelle as annoying as I remembered her, and I was so thankful that except for one fairly amorous kiss, she and Kid don't really seem all that interested in each other. He's not romancing her, just giving advice on life which she finally takes to heart. I was surprised that they spend the day together--and Kid learns Annabelle's name early on--but he doesn't tell her his name until late that night when they are in the barn together. And then, only Mr. Jones (the world is full of people named Jones)
Princess is not a fast horse, and the next morning, the ranchers catch up to the "newlyweds" and take the saddlebags--wait a minute, there are bundles of newspaper sandwiched by one hundred dollars. So instead of 50,000, there's barely one thousand. Everyone is furious--although Kid plays it really cool under the circumstances. He suspects the old man where they spent the night. What I don't get is why the ranchers simply agree to this. Instead of taking him to any local authorities, they go back to the old man's home where Kid accuses him of taking the cash--and by amazingly coincidence, Heyes shows up just in the nick of time to prevent a shooting. (talk about being able to track someone across country!)
Finally, they discern that Greer swindled them all. Heyes, Kid and Annabelle go on to the town where they are supposed to meet Greer, and sure enough, he admits that he took the money himself and they were both decoys. They're a little miffed, but what can they do? And Annabelle's going off to get married to her local beau. All's well that ends well. It's all very pat and less than satisfying. Plus, the skipper is way, way too jolly about everything.
Except I was left with so many questions--just a few--how did the ranchers just allow Kid and Heyes to go on and meet Greer? Why didn't they come along? Were they discouraged now? How did Heyes manage to find Kid (we do see him tracking him by the purchase of Princess) but still, talk about deus ex machina story writing! How did Kid have any extra clothes (which he is wearing at the end after they check into a hotel) when there was only paper and one hundred dollar bills in his saddlebags?
Love Annabelle's father's name-Decoursie Considine.
Kid's amusement with Annabelle's desperate need to be special is adorable.
An amusing tale, but I far prefer the guys together.
What do you think? I'm off to work
My chief complaint, of course, is that the guys separate, so there is very little of them playing off each other and enjoying each other. The opening scenes when they go see The Skipper from Gilligan's Island--uh, I mean Andrew Greer-- are the best. Greer has commissioned them to take $50,000 dollars to another town to outwit ranchers who are angry because the only bank in town has closed down.
I was struck by the fact that there doesn't seem to be any actual reason why Greer is trying to keep this money from the ranchers, or none that I could understand. Is this money actually Greer's or the bank's? Is this state money (since the governor is in on the subterfuge) Or is it the money the ranchers deposited? In that case, shouldn't they be able to get some of it? I was confused on this point.
As usual, the guys 'talk' to each other about half the time through glances (what my friend and I used to call Kid and Heyes looks) but the Governor wants them to do this job as part of their mending their ways before the amnesty, so they want to get it right.
Moving on~ Heyes and the Kid sneak back into Greer's office late at night, evading the ranchers, and carefully count the money before putting it into a valise. I loved that Kid counts about half and Heyes the rest, and both completely trust that the other has counted accurately and fairly. They get on horses and ride away, with the ranchers in hot pursuit. I am assuming that they may have discussed their plan ahead of time--but as with nearly everything else that happens in this ep--the viewer is left a little behind without actual knowledge of what is going on.
Kid dismounts with the bag of cash and Heyes rides away as a decoy with both horses. And that's pretty much what Heyes does for the rest of the episode. Rides around--I always get these, what about food, peeing and sleeping? sorts of thoughts about the middle of all that riding. Must be the nurse in me.
Kid hops a freight train and meets Annabelle, a girl who could talk the paint off the walls. She has big plans, big dreams and tries to look ultra-sophisticated. Kid's response is to grin, roll his eyes and say "Yes, Annabelle" a lot, since he can obviously tell that she's making all this stuff up. It's funny to see Kid in the 'older' brother role for once. Annabelle finally admits to being 17--which makes Kid a good ten years older, although he barely looks it. He is flat out beautiful with his smooth cheeks, Roman nose and golden hair. (later in the series, his hair is a darker, dirty blond, but here it's gold)
The story picks up speed when Kid gets off the train to buy food and misses jumping back on--Annabelle has all the money! He's oddly calm about that, almost pragmatic, which is his mood for much of the story. He doesn't ever seem frantic about losing the sum, not being able to get in contact with Heyes, or possibly losing the amnesty.
Luckily, he's able to buy a nag (Princess) to follow the train just about the time that Annabelle gets off to find him. She has the money in his saddle bag! The two of them find the house of an older couple to get some food and spend the night.
I didn't find Annabelle as annoying as I remembered her, and I was so thankful that except for one fairly amorous kiss, she and Kid don't really seem all that interested in each other. He's not romancing her, just giving advice on life which she finally takes to heart. I was surprised that they spend the day together--and Kid learns Annabelle's name early on--but he doesn't tell her his name until late that night when they are in the barn together. And then, only Mr. Jones (the world is full of people named Jones)
Princess is not a fast horse, and the next morning, the ranchers catch up to the "newlyweds" and take the saddlebags--wait a minute, there are bundles of newspaper sandwiched by one hundred dollars. So instead of 50,000, there's barely one thousand. Everyone is furious--although Kid plays it really cool under the circumstances. He suspects the old man where they spent the night. What I don't get is why the ranchers simply agree to this. Instead of taking him to any local authorities, they go back to the old man's home where Kid accuses him of taking the cash--and by amazingly coincidence, Heyes shows up just in the nick of time to prevent a shooting. (talk about being able to track someone across country!)
Finally, they discern that Greer swindled them all. Heyes, Kid and Annabelle go on to the town where they are supposed to meet Greer, and sure enough, he admits that he took the money himself and they were both decoys. They're a little miffed, but what can they do? And Annabelle's going off to get married to her local beau. All's well that ends well. It's all very pat and less than satisfying. Plus, the skipper is way, way too jolly about everything.
Except I was left with so many questions--just a few--how did the ranchers just allow Kid and Heyes to go on and meet Greer? Why didn't they come along? Were they discouraged now? How did Heyes manage to find Kid (we do see him tracking him by the purchase of Princess) but still, talk about deus ex machina story writing! How did Kid have any extra clothes (which he is wearing at the end after they check into a hotel) when there was only paper and one hundred dollar bills in his saddlebags?
Love Annabelle's father's name-Decoursie Considine.
Kid's amusement with Annabelle's desperate need to be special is adorable.
An amusing tale, but I far prefer the guys together.
What do you think? I'm off to work
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no subject
Date: 2011-04-06 10:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-06 10:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 03:39 pm (UTC)And where did she get that new dress? When her bag is searched, that dress is not among the clothing pulled out.
Ben Murphy was very popular in 1971, but I have no idea who was considered more popular. Sixteen and Tiger Beat magazines (my go to sources then) featured both of them frequently. I preferred Kid slightly over Heyes at the time.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-06 11:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 03:44 pm (UTC)When I was young, the scene where Kid shoots open the lock on the door and finds the cobwebby child's room was dreadfully sad, now it seems intrusive. Why do we need to know that about the old couple? I would have gladly sacrificed that scene for more with Kid and Heyes together, maybe after they figure out Greer's scheme and discuss meeting him at the train station, or whatever.
Also, Kid says he has to fix the lock on the door before he leaves--I do think that must have been sad and might make a nice, moody little fic. His thoughts on death or something.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 03:49 am (UTC)Here are some of my favourite scenes:
Heyes and Curry meet Greer, and are asked to describe the Colonel. Curry is literal - "about your height, gray hair, thin, a mole.". Then Heyes chimes in with "eyes like a couple of slugs from a 45!"
Heyes switching horses when he's leading the ranchers away, making it look like both of them are riding!
After his horse falls, Heyes, all adorably groggy from the spill, somehow looking gorgeous even when getting beaten up! And that one scene with the gun in his face, when the train whistle blows and his eyes shift back towards the track and that left hand dimple creases ... !!
And yes, the punch scene! And Heyes, hand still on the Kid's shoulder, saying that "All's Well that Ends Well" is his motto also - then winding up and slugging the crap out of
The SkipperGreer! The look that passes between Our Boys! And then Curry's head swings around with that slap, and they share another long look! Yum!And I think Heyes and the Kid always find each other. They have Radar Love!
No real Snark for this episode. Heyes had a particularly nice hair episode, flying adorably when he got hit or hit someone else. The Kid's hair seems a bit more blonde, as
no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 03:48 pm (UTC)"eyes like a couple of slugs..." is a great line, too.
Kid's amusement with Annabelle's lofty tales of the east probably were even funnier when he retells them to Heyes on the train ride afterward!