The Mayflower Women's Historical Society - Recap

In St. Louis, a young research assistant named Samantha Dunne comes to see Bret, who is locked up in prison. He’s disappointed to learn that she isn’t from the governor with a pardon from his hanging the next morning. Samantha explains that that she’s with the Mayflower Women’s Historical Society and offers him a chance at freedom in return for his cooperation. Her branch of the Society is interested in preserving history, and Samantha wants to be out in the West making history instead of reading about it. She has bribed the judge and paid off the guards, but wants him to sign off on her terms in return for her help.



Later, Bret and Samantha arrive in Sweetwater by stagecoach. They’re unaware that a man, Aaron Sylvane, is watching them from the woods. Bret introduces Samantha to Rodney and has the newsboy check her into the hotel while he goes to his room at the hotel. She insists on staying at the saloon and threatens to inform the judge that Bret is threatening a breach of contract. Bret gives in and introduces her to Tom.

Mary Lou is delivering papers to the hotel when Aaron approaches her and asks to buy a paper. She reluctantly gives him one and Aaron thanks her.

That night, Bret explains how he was arrested and sentenced to hang, and how Samantha got involved. The gambler wonders how he’s going to get out from the contract. Samantha comes down from her room and Bret tries to direct her to Tom as a historical subject. She refuses, saying it’ll take months for her to fully chronicle Bret’s life.



Mary Lou is setting type at the newspaper when Aaron comes in. She demands to know what he wants and Aaron says that he wants two minutes of her time. Mary Lou agrees and Aaron says that he needs help of a particularly smart and safe type. He asks her to meet her at the crossroads south of Sweetwater, but accepts her refusal. As Aaron leaves, Mary Lou asks if that’s it. Aaron tells her that she knows him, or she will, and informs Mary Lou that she’s the person who is going to kill him.



Bret and Samantha ride out to the Lazy Ace. While she goes in, Cy points out to Bret that she’s not Bret’s type. Bret insists that it’s just business but Cy doesn’t believe him. He isn’t interested in hearing why Bret was gone for three weeks but admits that it’s hard to plan things when he doesn’t know what Bret is doing. Bret promises not to make things harder and then introduces Samantha as she comes over. When Cy realizes that Bret claimed he was a former outlaw, he reluctantly plays along but storms off. Samantha wants to know when Bret will be running his newest game. Bret insists that he has nothing going but she doesn’t believe him.

Going through the newspaper’s wanted posters, Mary Lou finds a murder & robbery poster for Aaron. The files show that he’s wanted in several territories. Tom comes in and reminds Mary Lou that she has a photo appointment and offers to go see the sunset with him. Distracted, Mary Lou says that she has something else to do and walks off.

At the ranch, Bret is going over the contract and realizing how deep that he’s in. He discovers that Samantha has merchandising rights to her name and explains that people in the city want a taste of experiment. Samantha returns to the topic of the game and Bret insists that there is no game. He wonders why she isn’t out with some young man and asks if she’s so desperate for excitement that she latched onto Bret. Samantha takes offense but then admits that she comes from a family of people who never did anything. Guilty, Bret claims that he was testing her and that now they’re going to con a man named Bushman. As Samantha runs off to change into suitable clothing, Cy comes by and glares at Bret, who insists he’s giving the woman what she wants.



Mary Lou rides to the crossroads and finds Aaron shaving. When she asks about what he’s done, Aaron says that what happened isn’t what the stories say, and tells her to leave if she wants. Mary Lou is surprised and upset that he sees it plain and simple, and he says that he can’t make things complicated without putting his life at risk. When Mary Lou points out that he wants her to kill him, Aaron jokingly concedes the point. He then explains that he wants Mary Lou to do a story on his “death.” When Mary Lou says that she hasn’t decided, Aaron tells her to think it over and get back to him when she knows. When she points out that she could be leading him into a chance, Aaron says that he’s willing to take the chance.

Bret and Samantha ride into Sweetwater to get her new clothing and set her up to watch the stagecoach. Bushman’s advance man, Swensen, is supposed to be arriving. Mary Lou rides up and Bret introduces her to Samantha. Samantha is impressed and asks to talk to Mary Lou later, and then goes to watch the stage. An old woman gets off the stage and Samantha runs back to Bret. She warns him that the woman is Emma Crittenson, the head of the Society, and Emma finds them.

In the saloon, Emma reminds Samantha that she’s a research librarian and has no authority to undertake a major operation. She says that they’ve never helped a common outlaw. Bret listens in and sees Emma get out the contract. He comes over and repeats his story about the game they’re running, saying that he needs Samantha’s help. Emma walks away in disgust and Samantha complains that Bret messed up her operation. When Bret realizes that Emma could cut off Samantha’s funds and recall her, he’s eager to “help.”



At the newspaper, Estelle notices that Mary Lou distracted and asks if she wants to know about it. Her daughter tells her that she doesn’t want to know, and she’s not sure if she can handle it. Estelle assures her that she’ll be there for her if she needs help.

Tom secretly watches Mary Lou as she loads a small sack on her horse and then rides out of Sweetwater.

At the ranch that night, Bret watches as Samantha works on her materials. Cy figures that Bret is nervous when nothing is happening and goes to check on the horses. Bret brings Samantha a carafe of wine and the librarian admits that she’s worried that Emma will ruin the con. He invites her out to the patio and Samantha agrees that a recess might be in order.

Mary Lou approaches the rendezvous spot with Aaron, but the outlaw runs off when he hears Tom. Tom refuses to leave without an answer and Mary Lou snaps at him for stalking her. She says that she’s looking for stories she hasn’t heard and rides off.



Samantha shares a glass of wine with Bret, and he asks why she suddenly decided to cut loose. She explains that one day she realized she had never been on a train and never would be, and decided she wanted to take them all. Bret admits he’s glad to have a partner, but Samantha turns him down flat when he tries to negotiate the terms of the contract.

When Mary Lou returns to the office, Aaron grabs her and warns that she almost died. He accuses her of wanting the reward money, but Mary Lou denies it and tells him to shoot the gun or believe her. Aaron notices that the sack she brought had supplies and confirms that she’ll still help him. He says that he’s doing it for someone else: his boy, who lives with Aaron’s parents in Utah. Aaron wants his son to think that his father is dead so he doesn’t waste his life. However, he insists that there’s no time now that Tom is involved. Mary Lou says that Bret can help them and it will only take a day, and Aaron agrees. He tells her that if she doesn’t see him the next day, she’ll know why. As Aaron goes to the door, Mary Lou asks him to stay.

The next day, Bret tells Samantha that Bushman is arriving and she needs to keep Emma out of the game. He hands her some papers and hustles her out, but not before he complains that Cy is glaring at him. In town, Samantha goes to see Emma while Mary Lou approaches Bret and asks for help... and wants to keep Tom out of it.



Samantha tries to keep Emma busy, and Emma admits that she’s impressed with the revenue possibilities in the contract that Emma wrote. She tells Samantha that she should continue her projects and funds will be assigned, but there is one condition: the Society wants a percentage of the Bushman con.

Bret tries to convince Mary Lou to distract Samantha if the Society doesn’t send her back East. Mary Lou agrees if Bret will let her take his photo. Bret reluctantly agrees and Mary Lou rides out. Samantha arrives and tells Bret about the new situation. He has her go to keep an eye on McClusky, a (fake) man with a wooden leg and a midget assistant, and then heads out to the Lazy Ace. He and Cy dress up as marshals while Mary Lou sets up her camera. Aaron rides up and is less than thrilled to see Bret. Mary Lou tells him to get over his paranoia and then gives him ink to spread on his shirt to look like blood.



As Mary Lou sets up the death scene, Rodney rides up with Samantha. She tells Bret that she’s spotted McClusky, much to his surprise. When Samantha wonders what’s going on, Bret says that Aaron is Bushman and brings her over. However, she recognizes Aaron as an outlaw and he tells everyone to get up against the barn. Tom comes up behind him and tells Mary Lou to step aside. She refuses and tries to blind Tom with the flare, but he shoots.

Mary Lou takes the photos of Aaron’s death... but he’s alive and well, with a bullet in his arm. She gives him a new hat for his new identity as Bushman and they share a brief kiss before going their separate ways.

At the Red Ox, Tom complains that Aaron is getting another chance, but Bret points out that Aaron isn’t the first one to want a second chance. Samantha rides up, wearing clothing just like Mary Lou’s, and tells Bret that she has finally figured out that he was conning her. She explains that Mary Lou has convinced her that there are plenty of opportunities for a determined woman. Samantha plans to ride with Aaron, once she convinces him, and tells Bret that she’ll keep the contract safe. When he worries that she’s getting in over her head, she kisses him and rides off.



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