The Mission: Part 1

"The Mission" kicked off a three part storyline, the first episodes of BRANDED to be shot in color, later incorporated into a feature film for overseas distribution titled "Broken Saber." Kamala Devi (then Mrs. Chuck Connors) guest stars as Jason McCord's old flame Laurette Lansing, interrupting his latest inquiry into Bitter Creek to invite him to Washington D.C. to meet her father, Senator Lansing (Macdonald Carey). Legendary scene stealer John Carradine debuts as Jason's grandfather, General Joshua McCord (a total of five episodes), who discusses the circumstances of his grandson's court martial, making the correct assumption that the late commander was unfit for the position, and proud that Jason preferred that the name McCord be sullied rather than a respected soldier whose final days were not his best. The Senator's offer for Jason involves reneging on a treaty with the Apaches, which he steadfastly refuses to do, warning of certain massacre if such a thing took place. On his way out a sudden attack is foiled by the Secret Service, escorting Jason to an audience with President Ulysses S. Grant (William Bryant, repeating the same role he played on producer Andrew J. Fenady's prior series THE REBEL), who presents McCord with an even more dangerous proposition than Senator Lansing's, one that would surely brand him a traitor as well as a coward...to be continued.