KUNG FU: DARK ANGEL (TV)
Summary
One in this stylized western series about Kwai Chang Caine, a peace-loving Shaolin monk of American and Chinese parentage who flees China for the American West after killing a member of the Chinese royal family.
Caine journeys to a town called Lordsville, the place where his father was born. Along the way, he finds a man wounded by an arrow and fights off a band of Apache warriors. The lead Apache challenges him to a one-on-one fight and he defeats him; the Apaches retreat. He speaks with the wounded man, named Davey Peartree, who informs him of a great horde of gold he found, giving Caine a map to it before he expires.
An angry mob brings Caine into Lordsville, believing him to be Davey’s murderer. A local preacher, the Reverend Serenity Johnson, defends Caine in public and the mob releases him. Caine thanks him and Serenity shows Caine his congregation of the drunk and destitute of Lordsville, inviting him to stay. Secretly Serenity desires Davey’s gold, and suspects Davey told Caine the location before he died.
The next day, Caine searches through the courthouse for records of his birth, reflecting on how little he knows of his father and the importance of connecting with his family history. He finds a record indicating the presence of his family in the log of the town’s births. Meanwhile, Serenity goes to see the local assayer to confirm the authenticity of Davey’s gold.
Caine heads to the local graveyard in search of his grandfather, Henry Raphael Caine, the town’s stonecutter. He meets Henry’s housekeeper, who tells him Henry is busy at the quarry. She reveals that Caine’s father was married once before and that he has a half-brother named Danny. Danny’s whereabouts are unknown.
Serenity corners Caine alone and manages to get Davey’s map from him. He sets out to find the gold but is ambushed by Apaches on the way. Caine finds Serenity, crucified on a mountaintop. His eyelids have been sewn open, rendering him blind. Caine remembers discussing lack of sight with the blind Master Po, who maintains that sight can be an obstacle to the truth.
As Serenity recovers from his ordeal, Caine tries to teach him how to use his other senses to their full effect. Later, Caine finally visits his grandfather, but is given a cold, angry reception. Henry shows Caine the grave of his grandmother Elizabeth, and wants no part of Caine, saying his family is “tainted” and that he has ill fortune about him. He bars Caine from ever returning.
The assayer and his men corner Serenity and torture him for the location of Davey’s map, but Caine intervenes and incapacitates them, saving Serenity. Serenity laments his helplessness, but Caine seeks to prove him wrong and encourages him to construct the church he dreamed about erecting. With the help of his congregation, Serenity sets about completing that task.
With his senses at their fullest, Serenity releases Caine from his duty towards him and allows him to pursue his own business. Caine sits by his grandmother’s grave for days on end; Henry shows him no response. The housekeeper, concerned, goes to see Serenity. The next day, Serenity visits Henry and proclaims himself an “avenging angel” against Henry’s treatment of his family; he drove Caine’s father away and is now doing the same to Caine. When Henry tries to beat Serenity with a crowbar, Serenity easily deflects his attack with his new modes of perception and Henry is humbled into ceasing his attack.
Henry apologizes to Caine and gives him letters sent by Danny. He asks Caine to search for him. He also gives him items belonging to Caine’s father and great-grandfather. With that, he leaves Caine be. The episode ends in front of Serenity’s completed church as Caine and Serenity thank each other for their help, and Caine sets off to find his half-brother. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 11, 1972 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:07
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:09778
- GENRE: Drama, western
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1972-1975
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jerry Thorpe … Producer, Director
- Alex Beaton … Associate Producer
- Ed Spielman … Created by
- Herman Miller … Writer
- Jim Helms … Music by
- David Carradine … Cast, Kwai Chang Caine
- John Carradine … Cast, Reverend Serenity Johnson
- Robert Carradine … Cast, Sonny Jim
- Dean Jagger … Cast, Henry Raphael Caine
- Adrienne Marden … Cast, Coralee Dodd
- James Griffith … Cast, Joe Purdy
- Paul Harper … Cast, Davey Peartree
- Keye Luke … Cast, Master Po
- Philip Ahn … Cast, Master Kan
- Larry Duran … Cast, Lead Indian
- Chuck Bail … Cast, First Tough
- Bob Herron … Cast, Second Tough
- Bill McLean … Cast, Poker Player
- Jim Weatherill … Cast, First Vigilante
- Tim Haldeman … Cast, Second Vigilante
- Radames Pera … Cast, Young Caine
- Donald Eiber … Cast, Third Vigilante