- This is my absolute favorite comedy episode. It is the only episode in the series that never seems to have a scene that lags or loses my interest. Even the one instance that is boring—the sheriff digging up the money—is mercifully fleeting and we go right back to an interesting moment.
- What’s with all the discombobulated voices in the opening teaser and again later as the townspeople yell and jabber about the robbers being caught? It is obvious the voices are disconnected from the scene, coming from somewhere in a sound studio, added after the fact. It is so distracting and such obvious editing it throws reality into our faces and we momentarily lose our absorption in the show, realizing we are watching TV…a real buzz kill…
- I like that Heyes scratches the nose of his horse as the boys tie them up and head off for the telegraph office. I don’t suppose men on the road as much as our boys were would become any more attached to their horses than someone in modern times would become attached to their rental cars, so I enjoy seeing the tiny moments when one of the actors shows kindness to his horse. Since Clay was Peter’s favorite horse and he used him often, I hope there was some attachment there, and what we were seeing is a real moment between Peter and Clay.
- Not knowing what “we don’t have a Sioux” meant, I cheated and asked for help. Apparently, “sou” is French for money, so say, sans le sou, means without a cent. [: AS&J Collections Board
- I truly adore the Peter moment as he writes out the telegraph message and we hear and see him place a hard dot after “have a sioux” and at the end of what he is writing. It is something I have noticed about his autograph, and even his will; Peter put dots in things he wrote, probably unconsciously, and I find it enormously expressive of a real Peter moment.
- I wonder if I am just a sucker at heart. If I were working in the telegraph office, I would have sent the telegram from the boys for free. And not because it is our boys. If someone is writing a message saying they are destitute and asking for work, I would do my best to help them out...wouldn’t you?
- Heyes presents us with a particularly nice little butt swagger as he and Kid head for the saloon to try to finagle some beer.
- I especially enjoy the smile that crosses Heyes’ face as he saunters into the saloon and first sets eyes on the bowl of eggs. We can almost see the wheels turning in his nimble mind and we know he is developing a plan.
- I get a kick out of the bartender. The actor uses some great facial expressions that make him very likable and funny. I really love the moment when he says “I ain’t ordering any beer” after Heyes asks if he has any money and opens the door for the trick to begin. And his little expression of temper when he smashes the winning egg on the bar is perfect.
- I love the whole stand-the-egg-on-its-end scene. Heyes appears supremely confident, although he shows relief with a smile and a sigh when the trick actually works. I like him confident. And he does that thing I love so much…setting up his prey by smiling along with the bartender, and then once the trap is set, with not the tiniest smile on his face, “yeah, but I can do it without even cracking the shell…” Kid looks on with dubious interest, and when Heyes has won the bet he smiles and gazes at his partner with pride. AND we get a very tasty little bonus…a fleeting glance at Heyes’ tongue, quickly and stealthily darting from his mouth to lick the egg. What’s not to love about this scene? It is very well done and appealing, from start to finish. Yes, very tasty indeed. ®®§
- I’ve tried the egg trick and it really does work. And I bet I’m not the only one who has tried it. Can we have a show of hands, please? Your confession will remain anonymous, I swear…
- Our boys always react so adorably to seeing a badge! It seems like they can never have any fun without some lawman horning in on it, though.
- I think Ben and Peter both have slight colds during this episode. I noticed Ben wiping/touching his nose a few times during the egg scene, and since he is an athlete and there have been no rumors to the contrary, I don’t think it was because he had just used cocaine, or “snuff” for that matter. After they leave the saloon and are headed to go send the telegraph, Peter’s voice sounds like he is a bit stuffed up. I could bring you some hot soup and some nurturing, boys.
- I notice something quite interesting and I believe revealing about Ben—as the boys are walking toward the saloon to play cards after leaving the telegraph office, I notice the loose way Ben carries his arms…they actually bounce as he steps along. Just like when he rides. This tells me this is a man who is extremely comfortable in his own skin, and a man not at all pulled down by concern or worry. It is a handsome quality and just gives me the feeling that in general, Ben was a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. And watch the contrast of how Peter carries his arms and shoulders. We all know for a fact that Peter wasn’t lighthearted and carefree and his slightly rigid and upright way of carrying himself speaks to that as well.
- The Kid looks particularly attractive playing poker. I really think Ben was sick, as exhibited in his glassy eyes and flushed appearance—which actually comes across the screen quite luminously.
- Hannibal Heyes is the Phil Helmuth of Old West Poker. He revels in telling disgruntled players why they are losing. After the loser proclaims, “something smells around here…” Heyes seems to delight in telling him, “Maybe the way you play poker. He opened -- you stayed on a pair of jacks…that’s just askin’ for trouble!” Smart and beautiful…what could be better?
- As things heat up between the Kid and the loser, Kid tries all his tools to keep peace; reasoning, cajoling, compromising; even giving the contender a chance to back out with his dignity intact…and finally, the quick draw. Stops his challengers in their tracks every time! Kid’s face is lovely in such moments, and Heyes looks at his partner with pride also.
- All the facial expressions Peter uses in this scene knock me out. He is just so right on the money, almost as if he is really in the moment, truly feeling what he is expressing. He lets forth an incredulous little laugh as the loser tells them one of them will have to leave the table, letting the man know he thinks he is a fool. The look on his face when the aggressor calls Kid sonny boy is point on. And he keeps a little grin on his face for most of the encounter, then a look of bemused resignation that this will be taken to the limit…right up until he spots the sheriff enter the saloon and tries to warn Kid with a guttural groan and barely discernable shake of his head. And I love the way Heyes has a “final say” toward the loser, when with facial expression alone he just can’t resist rubbing the man’s nose in the fact that the Kid outdrew him so competently. So much spoken by Heyes in this scene, without a single word. ®
- Ben has very strong veins in his hands. Very masculine, in a blond sort of way. (Sorry to any blond man fans…this girl just prefers her men dark and sultry.)
- Is that Grant from The Wrong Train to Brimstone we see at the table as Kid stands up to face his antagonist? Do the actors playing Grant and Gaines work in tandem, I wonder? Or am I wrong and that isn’t even the right actor?
- Kid does a beautiful twirl of his gun and lands it squarely in its holster…an attractive exclamation point at the end of the encounter. Ben really became quite adept at gun twirling. I wonder if he ever still does it just for fun and to keep nimble…
- The split second glimpses we have of Monty Laird reacting to the escalating encounter between the Kid and the whiner really crack me up. Monty ALWAYS overacts, and his reactions are simply priceless. The two “extras” I love to watch for are Monty Laird and Hal Frizzell, as I have said before. And the two men are like polar opposites of each other. Monty always reacting over the top, almost animatedly, and Hal always completely deadpan and expressionless, but closely watching Peter, which in my heart I so deeply appreciate.
- I like the acting of Kenneth Tobey, playing the sheriff. I like how he speaks, and shows respect to these two strangers who surprise him with their honesty at poker and Kid’s skill with the gun. He offers them jobs as deputies, and he doesn’t seem suspicious, or challenging or in awe in any way, just matter-of-factly impressed with what he has witnessed.
- I wonder who the prop person who wrote out McCreedy’s telegraphic reply was, because I would think if I were writing out something that would be seen on screen I would be sure of my spelling. For one thing, the name of the town is Big Bend, not Big Ben…that’s a clock in England. And secondly, the word similar has only two i’s. Geesh.
- I am intrigued by the reaction the boys have to seeing the bank robbers brought in by the deputy. Their faces express sorrow for these men, and also a kinship. Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry may be going straight, and being law-abiding may be becoming a habit as the Kid will later tell the judge, but they still feel a strong connection to outlaws in general. They see themselves and no doubt have twinges of melancholy at having changed their ways to the straightened path, even though they are aware it was the right and best thing for them to do.
- How cute is the toothpick with legs [:nancye crossing the street to the sheriff’s office with the news that the boys’ job with McCreedy fell through?
- Awww, too bad the perfect synchronicity of the boys getting off their horses in unison when the sheriff offers them $100 apiece to do the job is squelched by the fact that the horses are too close together and Kid bumps Heyes’ horse and breaks the spell as he dismounts.
- This is bound to sound rude, but wasn’t there a show once about human-lizard people? It might have been a series…I don’t think it was a movie. Anyway, every time I look at the sheriff, I think of those lizard people. I believe it is the extreme ruddiness of his skin and the shape of the back of his head. Now I don’t mean that negatively. I like the man. He reminds me of a kindly grandfather, but also, I admit, of a lizard person!
- Oh, my…have MERCY…I don’t care if Heyes gets rid of that badge, the reason I break out in a cold sweat every time I look over is because I notice a special something in Heyes’ saddle. Thanks to my observant friend’s eagle eye, I have become keenly aware that one Mr. Hannibal Heyes does clearly dress to the left, shall we say. *huge, elongated sigh*. (giggle) Now, I have made my favor for Peter’s left side known for quite some time…need I say more? *another wistful sigh* ® ® § ® §
- Excuse me; I just need a moment to compose myself.
- *sigh*
- I like that cute cowboy in the John Denver glasses…at first I thought he had a ponytail, which would have given me a tiny tingle, in honor of my hippie days, but it is just his bandana. Still he is cute in this scene.
- Heyes sitting there with his knees up, sporting a silly grin on his face, aiming his gun haphazardly over his right shoulder at the interloper in glasses is so cute, I could just burst. And the Kid is sweet as the man in charge as he says, “Joshua, you know where their horses are…check ‘em out, huh?” and Heyes jumps right up and does it, with a cute retort and a smile.
- It is time I confess to yet another of my obsessions about Hannibal Heyes. It is the way he walks. I could watch him all day (and do whenever I can!), and never, ever tire of watching him saunter along. One of the four best walking scenes for me in the series…yes, I said series…is Peter’s very distinctive gait as he leads the outlaws up to and between horses to start their journey to Junction City. I mean, damn, baby, where’d ya learn to walk like that? Just exquisite. ®®
- I would mortgage my house to buy Heyes’ buff jeans, hat or gloves. Seriously. *sigh*
- I believe I have truly gone off the deep end. I actually get a bit flushed as I watch Heyes drink his coffee in front of the fire. It is all the tiny nuances that do it to me. The way he puts the cup to his mouth, the way he swallows, the way he runs his tongue over his teeth inside his closed mouth…oh, my…I just savor this scene like chocolate…slow and smooth. Just what is it about this man to make a seemingly normal, intelligent, mature woman act like a swooning school girl? It is just not explainable. Now, I was married for many years. I calculate I probably saw my husband drink coffee more than 7500 times, a few of those times even in front of a campfire in the dark. And yet, I never once even particularly noticed it, let alone became aroused by it, even when we were still young and passionate. It is this man…it is Peter Duel who has something so special none of us can explain it. Either that, or I truly am nuts. *sigh*®§
- Peter’s scars are very visible in the glow of the fire light. It always moves me to notice them, because for a tiny moment, I remember he is Peter and not Hannibal Heyes. I love that his face isn’t perfect. I love the lines around his eyes, evidence that at times he has been happy and smiling. I always call him beautiful, because he is, but I am so thankful for his flaws; so appreciative of what makes him human and real.
- I love how the Kid says “got a better one?” when Heyes says his idea is a terrible one, even for him. It is like a little kid saying it, and it tickles me.
- I have never heard a man speak of another man’s tongue so much in my life! I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a man speak of another man’s tongue at all. Just a thought.
- Yes, I noticed what was noticeable to the left of the coffee pot handle just after Heyes enters Clitterhouse’s cabin. I simply chose not to comment, because I am afraid you will think I am, well, looking for such things… *giggle*
- Ugh…there are those creepy disconnected voices of the town folk again. Man, that is so distracting and irritating.
- Typical me…I feel hurt and betrayed right along with Heyes and Curry when the sheriff reveals their identities. I personally happen to believe giving your word means something, no matter who you give it to. Heyes’ shock is so beautifully apparent in the way Peter plays this scene…very, very well acted.
- I just want to go in the cell and comfort our two dejected boys.
- I love James Wainwright as “first bandit”,Ribs. [:phrase. Kyle, The Pilot I love how he speaks. I like his facial expressions. I wouldn’t call him attractive, but he is charismatic. Very good actor.
- As Heyes is talking to Ribs, telling him how to set up that creep Clitterhouse, I love the look on Kid’s face when Ribs tells Heyes he has brains. Kid just lights up with a prideful grin and crosses his arms across his chest…in his Ben way, but also almost like he is saying the word “love” in American Sign Language. Ok, maybe I am reaching now…but I just love love!!
- Kid is singing, and I find myself smiling…it seems to me Ben is actually in tune, and while he overdoes the nasal twang on a couple of notes, he holds his own. Heyes foot can be seen in the foreground, moving a bit to the music. When Kid is told to shut up by the deputy, kindred Heyes takes over. So very sweet.
- I love the look of the scene as the outlaws reveal their escape plan to the deputy by pulling the gun. The camera angle is spectacular, as we look down the row of men from the front cell to the back cell. Very imaginative and quite nice.
- I adore how smooth Heyes is as he exits the cell during the breakout…tips his hat, grins and nods. The man just has cool written all over him.
- The endless line of deputized men coming from the livery stable after capturing the escapees is hysterical. It is also very reminiscent of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when the deputies kept coming out of the railroad car. Very clever.
- Who among us isn’t grinning along with Heyes and the Kid as the crooked sheriff is brought in and jailed? He picked the wrong boys to mess with…he picked OUR boys, and there isn’t anyone smarter.
- I am embarrassed to be so nitpicky, but the deputy’s first response of “yes, sir” to the judge’s comment is the correct response. The judge is incorrect to sway the young man to change his response to “no, sir.” The judge should have known better, and would certainly be expected to speak more correctly than the presumably less educated young deputy.
- It is an embarrassment of riches in this episode as the camera gifts us with a jam-packed waist-to-knee shot of Heyes as he rises in the cell to go talk to Ribs. Slo-mo it if you don’t believe me. It is worth the repeat…® §
- Jack Albertson is just the cutest old guy. I just want to hug his neck.
- Clay did some of his best acting (giggle) in the final scene as he moves his ear at just the precise moment Heyes speaks and leaves the visual path to Heyes’ face clear. Talented horse!
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