The BEST episodes written by John Hawkins
#1 - Incident of the Swindler
Rawhide - Season 6 - Episode 20
Straw Coleman is caught trying to steal a horse and saddle while in chains. The drovers are shocked when Wishbone pulls a gun on them and helps Coleman escape. Favor and Mushy go after them to find why Wishbone has strayed.
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Rawhide - Season 8 - Episode 12
An army lieutenant requisitions 100 prime steers and only offers a piece of paper in return. He pulls a gun and Rowdy wings him. Reinforcements come demanding the 100 head. Rowdy goes forty miles to the fort and the major says he can't pay him.
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#3 - The Five Foot Shelf
The Waltons - Season 2 - Episode 23
A traveling salesman named George Reed talks Olivia into buying a 5 foot collection of books called The Harvard Classics. George uses the down payment to buy his daughter a doll.
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Rawhide - Season 6 - Episode 30
Sam Turner steals Rowdy's horse. Sam is an escapee from the army guardhouse, charges with breaking and running in the face of fire. Rowdy's horse goes lame. Rowdy catches Sam and offers him a job. Captain Coulter and his men rush into camp and arrests Sam. Favor says things don't add up and comes to his defense.
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#5 - The Devil's Children
The Virginian - Season 1 - Episode 11
Uncontrollable 16 year old Tabby McCallum (Joan Freeman) is chastised by the Virginian for shooting a shiloh steer. In retaliation she tries to burn down the Shiloh barn but is accidentally shot by a Shiloh hand, Sam Hicks (Charles Aidman). Tabby's brother Bruce McCallum (Carl Reindell), who is from the same mould as Tabby, claims she was deliberately shot while her father, Tucker (Charles Bickford), thinks her boy friend, Dan Flood (Bert Brinckerhof), started the fire. The result is a spiralling series of events which eventually lead to murder.
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#6 - The Small Parade
The Virginian - Season 1 - Episode 21
In Coyote Wells to deliver some cattle, the Virginian, Trampas and Steve Hill encounter Martin Reese (David Wayne). Reese had lost his wife and children to smallpox, had sold his farm, and now travels giving lectures urging vegetarianism. His lectures are not received well in cattle country and when one of his hecklers is found murdered, Reese is the main suspect, is seen as a murderous loony and is pursued by a posse. On the way back to Medicine Bow the Shiloh cowboys encounter a woman, Ellen Beecher (Barbara Barrie), who knows of Reese's whereabouts. Ellen has several orphans in her care and the Virginian and crew become involved in trying to help Ellen with the children and in finding and protecting Reese from the vengeful posse.
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#8 - The Secret
Bonanza - Season 2 - Episode 31
Joe is the victim of an elaborate frame-up, accused of murdering a pregnant girl. When Ben is asked if Joe is telling the truth, he replies, "If I were to start doubting my son at this point, everything I've lived and worked for would be lost".
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#10 - A Harvest of Friends
Little House on the Prairie - Season 1 - Episode 1
The Ingalls settle on the banks of Plum Creek in Walnut Grove. To get the farm set up, Charles must take on several jobs at once. He promises one person that if he didn't get the job done in the specified time, the person could have his oxen.
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#11 - Quarantine
Little House on the Prairie - Season 3 - Episode 13
Mr. Edwards and Doc Baker help a nearby town with an epidemic case of mountain fever. When Mr. Edwards returns, a quarantine is placed on Walnut Grove. Alicia, Mr. Edward's adopted daughter comes down with the disease. Mr. Edwards tries to help his daughter. Laura, not knowing about the disease, goes to visit Alicia and Mr. Edwards. Laura ends up taking care of the both of them while they recover.
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#12 - Founder's Day
Little House on the Prairie - Season 1 - Episode 24
Walnut Grove celebrates this great day with several different competitions. There are very competitive spirits between the Olesons and the Ingallses.
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#13 - The Fatal Journey
The Virginian - Season 2 - Episode 11
After she calls for the President to bring in the army to rid the badlands of outlaws, newspaper editor Molly Wood, the Virginian's love interest, is murdered by four of those outlaws: O'Dell (Steve Ihnat), Horn (John Milford), Denver (Berkeley Harris) and their ruthless leader, Colonel Calhoun (Robert Lansing). The Virginian joins a posse but while the other posse members give up he eventually locates the villains' badlands hideout. He poses as a prison escapee, joins the gang and exacts his revenge.
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#14 - Troublemaker
Little House on the Prairie - Season 2 - Episode 17
When Miss Beadle can no longer handle the older students' bullying, she is fired. Her mean-spirited succecssor immediately clashes with Laura, and unfairly blames her for several incidents in the classroom.
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#15 - Blaze of Glory
The Virginian - Season 4 - Episode 15
Trampas meets local rancher and former Sheriff Bill King (Leif Erickson) and his daughter Judy (Joan Freeman) riding into Medicine Bow. Trampas asks Judy to the dance but she is reluctant to go with him even though she eventually acquiesces. At the bank, banker Bert March (Noam Pitlick) refuses Bill a loan saying he was not a good credit risk even if he had spent 20 years as the town Sheriff. He also refuses to take for credit the gold watch Bill got from the town for his service as Sheriff. Bill goes to the saloon for a drink with Emmett Ryker and afterwards, as they leave, the money wagon arrives driven by Ben Wallace (Karl Swenson), an old friend of Bill's, who announces he has been robbed of its gold shipment. Emmett organizes an unsuccessful posse to find the three robbers. Trampas picks up Judy for the dance and as they leave the King ranch they are watched by a young man, Sam Coates (Michael Sarrazin). Coates enters the ranch house with his gun drawn on Bill. He reveals he had b
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#16 - Whisper Country
Little House on the Prairie - Season 4 - Episode 15
Mary eagerly accepts a teaching job in a backwoods community, only to face the sternest test of her career and life when she meets the community's leader: an elderly woman who is totally against education but has concealed a shameful secret.
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#17 - Gold Country (2)
Little House on the Prairie - Season 3 - Episode 22
A heavy rain has been falling in Walnut Grove for two months, and it shows no signs of stopping. Farmers like Charles fear that their families will go hungry, and after reading an article in the newspaper, they take a 400-mile journey with their wives and children for a temporary new life in Gold Country. Things start out pretty well when Charles and Isaiah dig up some gold, but Laura and Carl get a completely different perspective from a new friend that they meet near their camp site. Meanwhile, Caroline opens and teaches a school in a tent, right in the middle of town, but it proves to be a less-than-ideal learning environment for everyone.
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#18 - Desperate Passage
Bonanza - Season 9 - Episode 8
Driving horses to Utah, the Cartwrights and Candy discover only two people left in a town wiped out by rampaging Paiute Indians. Together, Mary Burns and Josh Tanner must travel through hostile territory, along with the Cartwrights and Candy.
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Rawhide - Season 6 - Episode 23
The herd needs to get through Hourglass pass where the army is preparing to blast for a dam. Favor's hometown friend is married to the Post Adjutant. When she kills an officer, she lies to get Favor convicted of the murder.
#20 - Survival
Little House on the Prairie - Season 1 - Episode 22
The Ingallses have to seek shelter when a blizzard hits. There they meet an Indian who helps them out. A marshall, looking for the Indian, comes by...
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#21 - Dangerous Road
The Virginian - Season 3 - Episode 26
Trampas escorts a murderer back to a town where he knew the sheriff. There is a question of the man's innocence plus Trampas learns the sheriff died in a horse accident two days later. He decides to investigate the questionable stories.
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#22 - To Live With Fear (2)
Little House on the Prairie - Season 3 - Episode 17
Caroline stays with Mary who suddenly needs another operation. Charles leave and take on a high risk job to pay for the operation for Mary and Mr. Edwards goes with him. They take a job as a couple of Powder Monkeys making a tunnel for the railroad. But safety is far at the back of Charles' mind as he takes risks, refusing to stop even when a funeral of a Chinese worker takes place. This rush inevitably causes a cave-in where Charles and Harris are buried.
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#23 - Gold Country (1)
Little House on the Prairie - Season 3 - Episode 21
After having their crops destroyed, the Ingalls leave Walnut Grove to try their luck at striking it rich. After being at the gold mines for a while, the Ingalls realize that greed has been poisoning their minds. They leave to go home instead of looking for more gold.
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#24 - The Stronghold
Bonanza - Season 9 - Episode 31
Joe and Candy sell a herd to the Farrell Brothers in Arizona, but are paid a worthless bank draft. The widow of the man one of the brothers killed helps them get their money back, and the brothers' hatred for each other is their undoing.
#25 - Salute to Yesterday
Bonanza - Season 10 - Episode 3
When on a cattle drive on Ponderosa land, the Cartwrights and Candy find a dying cavalry officer on the trail. With his last breath, he asks them to go help his commanding officer, Captain Harris. Riding atop a slope, they see Captain Harris and his soldiers fighting off Mexican bandits who are trying to steal the four kegs of gold hidden in the Army ambulance. The Cartwrights and Candy cut right between the soldiers and the Mexican bandits, in a spectacular chase through a little valley and wind up at a high and rocky outcrop, taking cover and assisting the soldiers.
#26 - Amigo
Bonanza - Season 8 - Episode 22
A wounded comanchero sides with the Cartwrights when the rest of the gang, led by Captain Fenner, shows up to burn and rob the Ponderosa.
#27 - Black Friday
Bonanza - Season 8 - Episode 19
In the town of Chiso, Joe encounters a former Ponderosa cowhand who is now a gunfighter and expecting to be killed on Friday the 13th. John Saxon makes the first of his three appearances in the series, in this episode as Steven Friday.
#28 - The Sound of Wings
Daniel Boone - Season 1 - Episode 7
A British officer (Michael Rennie) captures Boone then impersonates him to win Indian allies; guest Frank DeKova
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#29 - Bloodline
The Fugitive - Season 1 - Episode 20
Kimble works as a kennel man for Max Bodin, a breeder of prize-winning Irish Setter show dogs, and whom is currently putting his kennel up for sale. Max's son, Johnny, and Johnny's wife Cora discover that one of the dogs has developed hip dysplasia which means all of the dogs in the bloodline will likely inherit the condition and be worthless as show dogs. But they keep the news from Max and plot to live off the sale. But when Kimble stumbles onto their plan, they have him investigated.
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#30 - Second Chance
Bonanza - Season 9 - Episode 1
Renegade Indians have been on the rampage attacking settlers and raising havoc in the West. Joe and Hoss have gone to warn the settlers when Joe is shot with an arrow. Hoss tries to remove the arrow, but the shaft breaks and it is imbedded in Joe's shoulder, leaving Joe gravely wounded. Hoss desperately searches for help and comes upon a wagon train with an odd assortment of people. There are two women, a thief, a dying doctor, and a coward on the wagon train.
#31 - Deadly Invasion
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Season 3 - Episode 10
Faceless aliens invade Earth and try to take over an underwater atomic base. The leader takes the form of an old, deceased friend of Admiral Nelson in order to convince Nelson they mean no harm. Nelson will have none of it and leads a landing party to the base to stop the aliens, even if the cost includes their own lives.
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#32 - Chicago
Little House on the Prairie - Season 8 - Episode 8
Charles travels to Chicago to comfort a deeply grieving Mr. Edwards, whose son John Jr. had died in a tragic accident. But that grief soon gives way to rage when it becomes apparent John Jr.'s death was no accident. Charles and Mr. Edwards enlist the aid of the editor of the newspaper where John Jr. worked to uncover the truth.
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#33 - Not in Our Stars
Daniel Boone - Season 1 - Episode 12
Mingo plans to do more than protest a new treaty when he and Boone visit Virginia's governor general (Walter Pidgeon)
#34 - The Machines Strike Back
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Season 2 - Episode 12
A missile defense platform-drone malfunctions and threatens to destroy the East Coast of the US.
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#36 - The Bucket Dog
Bonanza - Season 14 - Episode 12
Jamie obtains an Irish setter pup and forms a special bond between dog and man. The dog's owner learns the puppy is at the Ponderosa and arrives to claim it ... so he can put it to sleep (since it was a runt and, according to the master, an inferior example of the breed. The dog is soon in a trial for its life.
#37 - The Peace Tree
Daniel Boone - Season 2 - Episode 9
A Scottish emigrant, a Cherokee chief s son and Israel try to prevent a war between settlers and Indians.
#38 - The Mechanical Man
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Season 2 - Episode 25
Drs. Paul Ward and Peter Omir have discovered a powerful new element -- Subterranium 116. This element can produce limitless pure energy, but Omir may have another agenda.
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#39 - The Bottle Fighter
Bonanza - Season 9 - Episode 29
Hoss is accused of stabbing a man to death, and his only hope of acquittal is a once great trial lawyer who is now a hopeless drunk.
#40 - The Dilemma
Bonanza - Season 7 - Episode 2
Ben helps a convict win a parole only to have the man later become the chief suspect in a bank robbery.
#42 - Vengeance Trail
The Virginian - Season 5 - Episode 15
Stacey is forced to kill a man who tries to rob him. He returns the body to the man's sister who asks Stacey to leave rather than see the Sheriff. She is afraid their younger brother who joins the Shiloh cattle drive will try for revenge.
#43 - The Survivors
Bonanza - Season 10 - Episode 9
A white woman abducted years before by the Paiutes is reunited with her husband, who is less than pleased to learn she has given birth to an Indian baby.
#44 - Top Hand
Bonanza - Season 12 - Episode 17
The Cartwrights are about to start a major cattle drive with other ranchers. It has been decided that Ben's foreman will be trail boss on the drive. Weatherby, a fellow rancher who is also with Ben, has agreed to have Kelly as trail boss, until he finds out that Kelly was previously on a cattle drive with him, and fired him for drinking. Weatherby also suggests that his younger wrangler take the job as trail boss, and a conflict is started between both Ben's foreman and Weatherby's wrangler.
#45 - Winter Kill
Bonanza - Season 12 - Episode 26
The foreman of a neighboring ranch shoots a special steer belonging to the Cartwrights, and his scheming boss plots to take unfair advantage of the mistake.
#46 - A Ride in the Sun
Bonanza - Season 10 - Episode 30
A pair of con artists swindle Ben out of nearly $30,000 after convincing the Cartwright patriarch to enter into a deal to buy his cattle. The brother and sister shoot Ben, rob the Virginia City Bank and go on the run with Little Joe hot on their trail.
#47 - A Darker Shadow
Bonanza - Season 11 - Episode 10
A Virginia City store clerk decides to take advantage of his co-worker's paralyzing sensitivity to bright light.
#48 - The Creature
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Season 3 - Episode 15
The Seaview is called in to help track an artificially created life form, now loose in the Pacific. The creature, which is growing at a fantastic rate, has its own agenda -- starting with a takeover of the crew.
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#50 - Sweet Annie Laurie
Bonanza - Season 10 - Episode 15
Hoss offers to help Annie Laurie, a beautiful young woman who is running away from her abusive husband, a career criminal who is determined to keep his wife under his control and travel with her throughout the southwest, any which way he can.