One trend in this series is encounters with arrogant businessmen, people who are used to controlling people and events. It started with Everett Sloane's Caleb Garth in "Black November", the premiere. It continues here with Edward Binns as Fred Durant and would continue with Lee Marvin, Albert Dekker and Gene Evans in episodes later in this first season.
In this one, Edgar Buchanan is the classic "old prospector" who has discovered a beryllium mine, (it's a metal that strengthens other metals when combined with it but can also be toxic: I suspect it was chosen to illustrate the varied relationships in this story). The boys befriend Buchanan and oppose Durant and his thugs who want to take over the claim. They find an ally in Durant's sexy but embittered wife, played by Inger Stevens. It ends in a wild battle in the desert where Todd rescues a staked down Buz in a sort of demolition derby of trucks, (no, not the corvette, fortunately).
In this one, Edgar Buchanan is the classic "old prospector" who has discovered a beryllium mine, (it's a metal that strengthens other metals when combined with it but can also be toxic: I suspect it was chosen to illustrate the varied relationships in this story). The boys befriend Buchanan and oppose Durant and his thugs who want to take over the claim. They find an ally in Durant's sexy but embittered wife, played by Inger Stevens. It ends in a wild battle in the desert where Todd rescues a staked down Buz in a sort of demolition derby of trucks, (no, not the corvette, fortunately).
