User Reviews

"The Devil's Necklace" is a two-parter centered around Fort Distress in Arizona. The fort is attacked by Apaches, and everyone is killed except Bart. He tells his story. It is 120 degrees in the shade and no water! Enter John Dehner as Luther Cannonbaugh! He gives Bart a ride to the fort for $10. Bart runs into Angel, an "old friend" from New Orleans. Angel's husband, Captain Score, is up to no good. Bart buys Luther's wagon with intentions of going to St. Louis. When he searches the wagon, he finds illegal whiskey, a creepy necklace and an Apache girl named Tawny, whom Luther meant to sell into slavery. Bart hides Tawny during an inspection, but she is discovered, and Bart is thrown in the guardhouse. Tawny is Bob Tallhorse's woman, and Tallhorse is stirring up the Apaches. Angel and her husband clash over Bart and ruthless ambition. Angel helps Bart escape so he can return Tawny. As Bart and Tawny head for Indian country, Captain Score stabs Angel and puts the blame on Bart. Bart teaches Tawny to use soap, and they become friends. She kisses him. Oh! Oh! Luther shows up, and so does Tallhorse. Bart is captured. He and Luther are tied up in a teepee. Tallhorse is willing to let Bart go but is going to kill Luther until Luther convinces him that the sacred bear teeth necklace is "strong medicine." To prove it, Luther puts the necklace around his neck and lets Tallhorse shoot him. Of course, the gun has blanks in it. The superstitious Indians fall for the trick, and Luther wounds Bart. The Indians will make war on the "white eyes." Tallhorse becomes jealous of Tawny's feelings for Bart and condemns him to death. Tawny frees Bart, and he takes her with him. When Bart falls from his horse, Tawny pulls him to safety. "Me friend!" Tawny rides to the fort, and Score shoots her. Luther shows Tallhorse how to get into the fort, and the Indians attack. It is a massacre, with only Bart surviving. The Indians shoot crazy Luther in the back. Bart fights Tallhorse and strangles him with the necklace. This is a movie! It may be the most poignant of all the Maverick episodes, given the bond between Bart and Tawny. At first, I thought Tawny died in Bart's arms. On second thought, I realized she must have lived to clear him of a murder charge.