Brother’s Jealousy (First Half)| The Lone Ranger (10-11-39)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Old Time Radio Westerns – "Brother’s Jealousy (First Half)" | The Lone Ranger

Episode Details:

• Title: Brother’s Jealousy (First Half) | The Lone Ranger
• Host: Andrew Rines
• Release Date: January 26, 2025
• Original Air Date: October 11, 1939

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Introduction

In this episode of Old Time Radio Westerns, host Andrew Rines presents a meticulously restored edition of the classic The Lone Ranger episode titled "Brother’s Jealousy." This installment delves deep into the tumultuous dynamics within the Circle K Ranch family, exploring themes of jealousy, betrayal, and the quest for justice in the rugged Wild West.

Note: As per the host’s programming note at [01:10], this episode is a partial rendition. Should the complete original recording become available, it will be featured in future releases.

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Main Characters

• Judge Morgan (Judd): The patriarch of the Circle K Ranch family, recently altered his will favoring his adopted son.
• Sarah Morgan: The matriarch, caught in the turmoil between her sons.
• Bill Graves: The biological son grappling with jealousy towards his adopted brother, Mort.
• Mort Morgan: The adopted son, favored in the recent will, leading to Bill’s resentment.
• Masked Man/The Lone Ranger: The legendary protector who intervenes in the family conflict.

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Plot Summary

Family Confrontation at Circle K Ranch

The episode opens with a heated physical altercation between Bill Graves and Judge Morgan inside the Circle K Ranch. The tension is palpable as both men, exhausted and marked from their struggle, refuse to back down.

At [06:14], Bill confronts Judge, declaring, “I’ve hated you for as long as I can remember.” This admission sets the stage for the deep-seated familial discord. Judge attempts to de-escalate the situation, urging Bill to take his hand, but Bill's anger escalates, culminating in threats of violence: “Blast you. Murdering skunk.” ([06:21]).

Intervention by the Lone Ranger

As the confrontation intensifies, a Masked Man, revealed later to be The Lone Ranger, enters the fray. At [06:37], he intervenes, stating, “As long as it remained a fair fight, we didn't intend to interfere. When Moore tried to turn it into murder, it was time to take a hand.” His timely intervention prevents further bloodshed, showcasing his role as a guardian of justice.

Unraveling Family Tensions

Post-intervention, Sarah Morgan interacts with the conflicted brothers. At [07:26], Judge addresses the underlying issues: “I had hopes you'd straighten up. Try to be big enough to forget being jealous of Mort.” This highlights Bill’s jealousy over Mort, who, despite being adopted, is favored in the family, especially in the newly revised will.

At [08:23], Bill vehemently denies being jealous, blaming Mort for scheming against him: “Mort, he's hung around you and Ma all mealy mouthed, telling you all the time how he'd like to be friends with me. And all the time he hated me worse than a rattler.” His accusations reveal the depth of his resentment and the fractured family dynamics.

Encounter with the Lone Ranger

As Bill decides to leave the ranch in a fit of anger, the Masked Man pursues him. During their conversation around [10:08], the Lone Ranger imparts wisdom, urging Bill to reconsider his path: “Your father's an honest man. He has a reputation of being as impartially fair in all his dealings as it's possible to be.” This dialogue underscores the theme of honor and the importance of family ties.

Bill, initially skeptical, responds at [12:28], “Because this is the straightest talk I've heard in quite some spell.” The Lone Ranger's counsel begins to resonate with Bill, hinting at a potential turning point.

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Key Conflicts and Themes

1. Jealousy and Sibling Rivalry:

   • Central to the episode is Bill's intense jealousy towards Mort, fueled by the preferential treatment in the family's recent will amendment.

2. Adoption and Acceptance:

   • Mort’s status as an adopted son introduces complexities in familial relationships, highlighting societal attitudes of the time towards adoption.

3. Honor and Justice:

   • The Lone Ranger embodies the ideals of justice, intervening to prevent unlawful actions and promoting fairness, even within a family.

4. Inheritance and Power:

   • The altered will places Mort in a position of power, threatening Bill’s standing and provoking his aggressive behavior.

5. Redemption and Transformation:

   • Bill's journey reflects the struggle between his ingrained resentment and the possibility of redemption through the Lone Ranger's guidance.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Bill Graves: “I've hated you for as long as I can remember.” ([06:14])
• Judge Morgan: “I had hopes you'd straighten up. Try to be big enough to forget being jealous of Mort.” ([07:26])
• Bill Graves: “Mort, he's hung around you and Ma all mealy mouthed, telling you all the time how he'd like to be friends with me. And all the time he hated me worse than a rattler.” ([08:23])
• Masked Man/The Lone Ranger: “Your father's an honest man. He has a reputation of being as impartially fair in all his dealings as it's possible to be.” ([11:30])
• Bill Graves: “Because this is the straightest talk I've heard in quite some spell.” ([12:28])

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Insights and Analysis

Family Dynamics in the Wild West:
The episode offers a profound look into family structures and conflicts during the Western era. The tension between biological and adopted children reflects broader societal themes of legitimacy and favoritism.

The Lone Ranger as a Moral Compass:
The Lone Ranger's role transcends typical heroism; he acts as a mediator and moral guide, emphasizing the importance of integrity and fairness. His interactions with Bill suggest a belief in the possibility of change and the power of righteous counsel.

Impact of Inheritance on Relationships:
The altered will serves as a catalyst for familial discord, illustrating how material gains and perceived injustices can strain relationships. Bill's departure symbolizes the destructive potential of unresolved jealousy and resentment.

Partial Episode Cliffhanger:
The episode concludes with escalating tensions and unresolved conflicts, setting the stage for further developments. The abrupt ending at [17:35] leaves listeners anticipating the resolution of these familial and external challenges.

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Conclusion

"Brother’s Jealousy (First Half)" masterfully weaves a tale of familial strife against the backdrop of the Wild West. Through rich dialogue and dynamic character interactions, the episode explores deep-seated emotions and societal norms. The Lone Ranger's intervention not only serves to uphold justice but also offers a pathway for reconciliation and understanding within a fractured family. As listeners await the continuation of this story, the episode stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of classic Western narratives and their capacity to address timeless human conflicts.

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For Non-Listeners: This episode is a compelling blend of drama and moral lessons set in the rugged landscapes of the American West. It offers an engaging narrative that delves into complex family relationships, personal honor, and the quest for justice. Whether you’re a longtime fan of old-time radio Westerns or new to the genre, "Brother’s Jealousy" promises an enriching auditory experience that brings classic tales to life with enhanced audio quality.

Transcript

[Advertiser]

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[Andrew Rines]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. And before we get into this episode, let's go ahead and do a quick programming note. This is only a partial episode, all that exists. If we ever do find the original with the beginning or ending correctly done, we will definitely bring it to you. Sorry again, this will be a shorter episode than usual. Hope you enjoy. And let's get into it.

[Narrator]

A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi O Silver the Lone Ranger.

[Advertiser]

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[Narrator]

With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the Masked Rider of the Plains fought crime and criminals throughout the early Western United States States. No one could match his courage, his strength, or the quickness of his draw, but it was his resourcefulness and daring that made him the greatest champion of justice the frontier ever knew. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the west was young. From out of the pass come the thundering hoof beats of the great horse. Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again.

[Judge]

Come on, Silver. We're heading for the Circle K. Hail, Silver. Away.

[Narrator]

Two young men, concealed from the main buildings of the Circle K Ranch by a deserted bunkhouse, fought toe to toe. Desperation and bitter hatred to be seen in their faces. Each was badly marked. Each was close to the borderline of exhaustion. But neither would quit. Finally, the younger of the two, thrown off his balance by a blow that missed its target, clutched at his opponent and both went tumbling to the ground. A quick move and the holster. The younger was empty. The elder, on one knee, aimed at the boy with his own weapon.

[Bill]

My gun. My gun.

[Judge]

I'm going to finish on no mortal. You fool.

[Bill]

I've hated you.

[Judge]

I've hated you for as long as I can remember.

[Bill]

You've always stood in my way.

[Judge]

Now it's your finish. You're finished.

[Bill]

Blast you. Murdering skunk.

[Judge]

Take my hand. Who dare Pick up that gun before he grabs it again? Close it. Oh, Scout.

[Bill]

Mask him.

[Judge]

Mort isn't hurt. Watch out for him. On your feet, Mort.

[Mort]

Let me go.

[Judge]

You should be horse whipped. Where'd you fellas come from?

[Masked Man]

How don't I watch the whole thing from behind those trees? As long as it remained a fair fight, we didn't intend to interfere. When Moore tried to turn it into murder, it was time to take a hand.

[Bill]

He'd have killed me all right. He'd always wanted to.

[Mort]

Someday I will.

[Bill]

Someday I'll fix you for good. Then it'll be by sneaking up behind my back.

[Judge]

Hold still. Let go, I tell you. Let go.

[Bill]

Let me get my hands on him.

[Masked Man]

You'll do nothing.

[Bill]

Watch out. Here comes Pa and Ma.

[Judge]

What's going on back here?

[Sarah]

Steel. Ma, You've been fighting again.

[Masked Man]

Come on, Tunnel.

[Judge]

Get him off the ground. Come on, Silver. Come on. Hey, wait. Who are them fellas?

[Narrator]

Crooks.

[Judge]

What are they doing here?

[Bill]

They were sighed when he tried to shoot me. What? Look there on the ground.

[Mort]

I reckon you know Bill's gun when you see it.

[Bill]

He was going to drill me. That's a doggone lie. You grab my ship.

[Judge]

Quiet.

[Sarah]

You two poor boys are aside. Let me get some warm water, Sarah.

[Judge]

That can wait. There's something more important to settle first. Bill, I reckon this just about finishes things. But don't interrupt when I'm talking. I had hopes you'd straighten up. Try to be big enough to forget being jealous of Mort. Though you've proved you won't. Cause you're my real son and Mort's just adopted You've counted on. On your ma and me to back you up when you pick fights with him. We tried never to favor one over the other. You wouldn't have it that way. You've acted like you wanted to drive Mort cleaner off the place.

[Bill]

That ain't so.

[Judge]

So from now on, you ain't no son of mine at all. You can pack up and get dead.

[Sarah]

No, you don't know what you're.

[Judge]

Oh, Meadow.

[Bill]

Sarah, I never picked the fight. It was Mort. I was never jealous of him a day in my life. It was always him that's been jealous of me. Been scared that cause he's adopted he won't get his full share in the reign.

[Narrator]

Silence.

[Bill]

I won't keep still. Mort's scheming that done this. I've never liked him, but I've never been afeared to say so neither. But Mort, he's hung around you and Ma all mealy mouthed, telling you all the time how he'd like to be friends with me. And all the time he hated me worse than a rattler.

[Mort]

Now, you know that ain't true, Bill. Shucks, I never had nothing agin you. There's nothing I'd rather have done than been friends.

[Bill]

Friends? Before they got here, you was telling me how you'd always hated me. Friends. When you jumped me back here without warning. Would have drilled me if the mask man hadn't drilled.

[Judge]

Is that your gun?

[Bill]

Yeah, Paul.

[Judge]

You was wearing it.

[Bill]

Now wait a minute.

[Judge]

Just answer me. I don't want no alibis.

[Bill]

Sure, I was wearing it.

[Judge]

Then that settles it. Get your duds and go.

[Bill]

Very well.

[Sarah]

Yeah? It's Bill you're saying this to. It's our boy, Judge.

[Judge]

Come on, Sarah. There's nothing more needs to be said.

[Bill]

You got your way at last. You made your scheming work.

[Mort]

You heard what your PA said. Pack and git.

[Bill]

I'm going. I'm going so far I'll never hear the Circle K again. But the country ain't so big that maybe someday our trails won't cross. And when they do, Mort, watch out.

[Narrator]

Bill Graves packed a few necessities he chose to take with him, saddled his favorite horse and set out on the trail. He had traveled only a few miles, however, when.

[Judge]

Hello, Bill.

[Bill]

What? Oh, it's a masked man again.

[Narrator]

Oh, boy.

[Judge]

Whoa. Whoa. Oh.

[Bill]

What are you.

[Masked Man]

When we rode away, Bill, we didn't ride out of view. And it was pretty obvious what was happening. Your father blamed you for that fight, didn't he?

[Bill]

It ain't the Half of it told me to get out besides.

[Masked Man]

Yes?

[Bill]

Well, I'm getting.

[Masked Man]

I see. Where do you plan to go?

[Bill]

I don't know. Don't matter much. Up north maybe. Wyoming somewhere up that way.

[Masked Man]

Don't be a fool. Don't go where your parents can't get in touch with you again.

[Bill]

I figured a write more occasional. But Paul's done with me. Reckon he won't care much where I go.

[Masked Man]

Bill, I think I understand the situation better than you do. You see, Tahlo and I have been in this section for some time. We've heard the talk we've been talking of. Yes, but the people hereabouts are on your side. Not many of them have much use for Mort. They've had him sized up for quite a while.

[Mort]

Funny.

[Bill]

Paul couldn't see what was plain to everybody else.

[Masked Man]

Then it's natural that he wouldn't. Mort always took care to be on his good behavior in the presence of your folks. Don't make the mistake of condemning your father for his mistake.

[Bill]

But he never did care for me. Was always Morty listened to. Whenever we had an argument, there was always Mort's side of the story. He believed anything I said. He just passed over.

[Masked Man]

Which it proved you before anything else? That your father thought more of you.

[Bill]

How do you figure that?

[Masked Man]

Your father's an honest man. He has a reputation of being as impartially fair in all his dealings as it's possible to be. Then why the your father must have been aware that because you were his real son and Mort adopted, he'd be tempted to favor you.

[Bill]

Never has.

[Masked Man]

I know. Because in his effort to be fair to Mort, he went too far the other way and didn't realize it. He treated you just as a judge might if his own son appeared before him as a party in a lawsuit. If you were honorable, the judge would be especially severe with his son. Just to prove he wasn't playing favorites.

[Bill]

You didn't mean to say that.

[Masked Man]

I mean you should stay in the district. Sooner or later, your father will learn the truth about Morse. And when he does, he'll need you.

[Bill]

Gosh, I. I never thought of it quite like that before.

[Masked Man]

Then it's time you did.

[Bill]

Seems funny, you, a masked man lecturing me like this.

[Masked Man]

Forget my mask. Will you take my advice, stranger? I will.

[Bill]

Because this is the straightest talk I've heard in quite some spell.

[Masked Man]

Good.

[Bill]

But I'd have done it anyhow back there by the bunk house when you shot the gun out of Mort's hand. You're Just the same as saved my life.

[Masked Man]

Now where do you plan to go?

[Bill]

To the cross Jay.

[Mort]

Down.

[Bill]

Down the trail a piece and get me a job. When Mort finds I'm still around, he ain't gonna like it. And that'll suit me just fine. Adios.

[Masked Man]

Adios.

[Narrator]

Get up. Get up there. Come on.

[Andrew Rines]

Get up there.

[Bill]

Him good fella.

[Masked Man]

And he'll get Justice Tallow before we leave this district.

[Narrator]

Come on, Silver.

[Judge]

Hit him up style. Silver away.

[Narrator]

On the evening of the following day, just outside the Circle K ranch house.

[Mort]

It looks like they're just about finished. Stand back, you fool. You want them to see you through the window? They can't see out easy. Just the same, I don't want Judd to guess I was prime. Uh huh. I think Judd's calling the sheriff. He's making motions like it likely means they've got to have witnesses. Brazos, get over by the porch. You're going to be one of them. And you're going to find out what's in that will. Grizzles that's you, Mort. Yeah. Did you find out what I sent? I seen the whole thing. If Judd dies, the whole shebang is hers to use. But she's got to keep it in trust for you. Then after her, the outfit's yours. Bill weren't mentioned. Cut off clean if Judd dies. Come on, Brazos. We're going where we can't be heard.

[Narrator]

The next morning.

[Judge]

That was a mighty fine breakfast, Sarah. There's a man good to start off the day with some solid grub under his belt. Where's Morty up yet? Morty up yet? Sarah. Sarah, did you hear me? I asked you. I heard you.

[Narrator]

Watch out for that kettle.

[Judge]

I'm watching. Well, if you heard me, why didn't you answer?

[Sarah]

I reckon you know how I feel.

[Judge]

Oh, now look, honey.

[Sarah]

Morgan, you figure you could get that lawyer fella out here last night and me not know why. Judd, you changed your will. And don't try to tell me different.

[Judge]

I did.

[Sarah]

You left Bill out of it.

[Judge]

I did.

[Sarah]

You fixed it so's everything'd go to Mort.

[Judge]

I did.

[Sarah]

I did. I did. I did. You're talking just like a parrot, Judd. How can you stand there and admit you done such a thing to your own fault and never have the grace to blush for it?

[Judge]

We won't discuss it.

[Sarah]

No, you won't discuss it. Cause you know full well you're in the wrong. Oh, Jud. Jud, you're as blind as a newborn calf. You're just like me. You think as much of Bill as I do. Only. Only you've made up your mind to be stubborn, and you won't change it.

[Judge]

You gonna carry on like this? I'll have to tell you never to mention Bill's name in this house. When Mort gets up, tell him I want him. Just as soon as he's had his breakfast.

[Sarah]

Dad, wait. Dad, you don't know what you're doing.

[Judge]

Good morning.

[Mort]

That Judd just went out.

[Sarah]

He was. Sit down and eat. Your face all laid out for you. When you're finished, Judd wants you.

[Mort]

Yeah? What for?

[Sarah]

To help him fix the windmill. I suppose you heard him say last night there was some work to be done on it.

[Mort]

Oh, yeah. I forgot.

[Sarah]

Want coffee?

[Mort]

Mm.

[Sarah]

Hold out your cup.

[Mort]

Sure. That'll be enough, thanks.

[Bill]

What's up?

[Sarah]

Well, I don't know.

[Mort]

Men are all running for the windmill.

[Sarah]

I can't see. It's dead. Something's happened to Jed.

[Mort]

What?

[Judge]

He's just laying there. He's mighty bad hurt. I let him prove. Stand back. Don't crowd too close. Somebody do something.

[Sarah]

What happened?

[Judge]

What happened, ma'am? I don't really know. Dusty. There. Seen it. Jed was near the top of the windmill, and all of a sudden he fell. One of the rungs must have let loose. No. Oh.

[Advertiser]

Oh.

[Judge]

John.

[Sarah]

John.

[Narrator]

The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger drama before the next exciting scenes. Please permit us to pause for just a few moments.

[Advertiser]

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[Andrew Rines]

This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank the following ranch hand Steve who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739 this episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.