The Burning Sky

When a new employee - a bronco buster - on the Ponderosa brings his Native American wife, Moon, to live with him in the shack, a racist neighbour (Victor French) goes out of his way to stir up trouble against them and the Cartwrights.

Soon Moon is accused of shooting the alcoholic racist in the back - the truth is they struggled for the gun and it went off, bullet went into French's stomach ... a lynch mob is on its way to hang Moon, but the Cartwright's stand in their way.

A neat little twist regarding Victor French and why he hates injuns as well as a good performance by French and Dawn Wells as Moon makes this a winner -quite engaging and well told.

The Cartwrights hire a new bronco buster in Michael Murphy and he brings his pretty new wife Dawn Wells with him. But Dawn Wells is a Paiute and some of the neighbors are offended b that.

Most especially Victor French who turns in acting honors for this episode. He savagely beats his own son for becoming friendly with Wells.

A sad commentary on prejddice, but also the solution given by the courts just wouldn't have happened in the old west.

In this typical western type story, we have another tale of Indian racism when Mr and Mrs. Holt move into a shack on the Ponderosa property. It just so happens that Ms Holt is an Indian named Moon (Dawn Wells) and some of the local are outraged. The main outrage comes from Aaron Gore (Victor French) and he has been talking big in front of the locals trying to cause problems.

Mr Gore has a blond haired boy, Britcher, that has taken a shine to the Indian woman and this will be the catalyst to not only get the boy belt-whipped, it will give Gore, and his cronies, enough spark to rid the area of the Indian lover and his Indian wife.

But when Gore ends up catching the Indian woman we learn some valuable information that makes the episode even more interesting. And when Gore is shot, the Indian woman is blamed for the killing. Then for some reason, Gore has enough respect in town where a lynch mob comes riding out to kill the Indian woman.

Even though this was a routine plot for most westerns, there are some twist that makes for an entertaining episode. Plus when you add the fine acting of Victor French and the eye-candy of Dawn Wells, you have all the qualities for a interesting view. And sure enough this is a entertaining show.