Bonanza/The Pursued (2)

The Pursued (2)
Season 8, Episode 5
Airdate	October 9, 1966
Teleplay by	Thomas Thompson
Story by	Thomas Thompson and Marc Michaels
Directed by	William Witney
Produced by	David Dortort
← 8x04 The Pursued (1)	8x06 → To Bloom for Thee
Bonanza — Season Eight

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The Pursued (2) is the fifth episode of the eighth season of Bonanza, and the two hundred fortieth episode overall.

This two-part very special episode deals with prejudice and religious persecution, as the Cartwrights' rancher friend, Heber Clawson, is a Mormon and practices polygamy, having two wives. Clawson is harassed by a local minister and another man, who is after one of his wives and wants her as his own. It's up to the Cartwrights to try defend Clawson and his family, and to make peace between the two opposing sides.

Complicating matters is the fact that one of the women is pregnant with Clawson's child and is experiencing a rare illness related to the pregnancy.

Starring: Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright), Michael Landon (Little Joe Cartwright), Lorne Greene (Ben Cartwright)

Special Guest Stars: Eric Fleming (Heber Clauson), Dina Merrill (Susannah Clauson)

and Lois Nettleton (Elizabeth Ann Clauson)

Featuring: Vincent Beck (Carbo), Booth Colman (Parley), Nelson Leigh (Dr. Bingham), Byron Morrow (Rev. Blaisdale), Dee Carroll (Mrs. Blaisdale), Clay Tanner (Tex), Bill Clark (Dave)

Plot Overview

The second part deals with the aftermath of the harassment campaign. This includes:

• The death of Heber Clawson in an ambush by Mr. Carbo, who is after Susannah (one of Clawson's two wives).
• Carbo trying to sexually attack Susannah and Joe stopping him. Joe ends up killing Carbo in a gunfight.
• The pregnant Elizabeth dying of complications but giving birth to a healthy baby boy.
• After Carbo's death, the other men in the community losing their taste for the harassment campaign, with some admitting that Clawson's choice of religion didn't bother them in the least. When Rev. Parley tries to re-start the harassment campaign, the others walk away, and Ben finally telling Parley rather bluntly that he'd better worry about his own soul.
• Susannah and the baby are taken in by a new church, whose leadership vows to be non-judgmental.

Trivia

The Show

• "The Pursued" was one of three episodes that aired either in two parts or as two-hour episodes. When Bonanza entered syndication in 1973, "The Pursued" (along with "Ride the Wind," from Season 7) was available either in its original two-part form or, for TV stations wanting to air it as a "Movie Of the Week" or special feature, a two-hour "feature length" episode.