DOLLY PARTON'S HEARTSTRINGS: J.J. SNEED (TV)
Summary
One in this series of anthology dramas inspired by the songs and stories of country music legend Dolly Parton. Parton introduces the episode and briefly discusses her love of Westerns, which she notes are often lacking in female protagonists.
The story begins as adventurous Maddie Hawkins begs her guardian not to marry her off; he reminds her that she's "not Calamity Jane" and must fulfill her duties. As a fire breaks out in town, Maddie sets out on her own and soon catches a mysterious man, the outlaw J.J. Sneed, trying to steal her horse. J.J., impressed with her fiery attitude and sharpshooter skills, offers to accompany her on the road, noting that he needs a new "partner." When they come to a river, J.J. helps a frightened Maddie across the water, and she later admits that she watched her parents drown at age 12 and subsequently lost her younger twin siblings when they were shipped off to live with other relations. Elsewhere, bounty hunter Deke Fletcher questions Maddie's guardian, guessing she might have been kidnapped by the outlaw after he set the fire as a distraction; he confirms that she likely ran off to chase her "pie-eyed dreams" of adventure.
J.J. enlists Maddie as his sidekick, suggesting that she can save up to go find her missing siblings out west. He scolds her after their first robbery together, ordering her to keep a hold on her emotions. He sells their stolen goods to the dishonest Reverend Riggs and stashes his share of the money in a beaver dam out in the river. J.J. and Maddie's flirtation grows as Deke continues pursuing the pair. J.J. tells her of his plans to buy back his father's farm with his "earnings," and their next robbery is a success when he releases a snake in the nearby general store and helps himself to the cash register in the ensuing chaos. They celebrate over dinner at a hotel, where J.J. tells her that they need to commit only one more crime — a bank robbery — before they can move on and follow their respective dreams. Though he assures her that no one will be hurt, the plan goes awry and J.J. ends up shot. Maddie can't bring herself to kill the sheriff in return. She rushes J.J. back to Reverend Riggs, blaming herself for the failed robbery. She assures the doubtful reverend that there's "good in him" despite his actions.
J.J. remains resentful for two weeks as he heals from the gunshot, but Maddie comes up with a plan to rob an incoming train and drop the money onto a waiting boat. J.J., however, shocks Maddie by asking her to help free Cimmaron Rose, his former partner and lover, from jail. Maddie reluctantly agrees, but realizes the full extent of J.J.'s lies when Cimmaron Rose observes how he used the same tactics to con each of them into helping him. Reverend Riggs reports that Deke is on his way and Cimmaron Rose urges J.J. to "get rid of" Maddie. However, he decides to tie her up and leave her for the bounty hunter rather than killing her. Deke soon discovers the furious Maddie and informs her that, contrary to his claims, "firebug" J.J. has actually killed several people, including Deke's pregnant wife. She manages to escape and Deke enlists three deputies to help track her down. Elsewhere, after carrying out Maddie's train-job idea, J.J. turns on Cimmaron Rose as well and prepares to kill her. Maddie intervenes and sends Cimmaron Rose running. Though J.J. tries to sweet-talk her yet again, Maddie dynamites the beaver dam and destroys all of his stolen money, taking only $30 in reward money for herself before shooting him in the leg and leaving him for Deke. Now finally "the mistress of her own destiny," Maddie masters her fear and rides across the river to freedom.
Details
- NETWORK: Netflix
- DATE: November 30, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 140107
- GENRE: Drama, western
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western; Crime and criminals; Romance; Robbery
- SERIES RUN: Netflix - Internet series, 2019-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Sam Haskell … Executive Producer
- Patrick Sean Smith … Executive Producer
- Dolly Parton … Executive Producer, Based on the stories and songs of
- Hudson Hickman … Co-Executive Producer
- Joe Lazarov … Co-Executive Producer
- Lisa Melamed … Co-Executive Producer
- Steven Summers … Coordinating Producer
- Billy Levin … Coordinating Producer
- William Klug … Co-Producer
- Terry McDonough … Director
- Jim Strain … Writer
- Velton Ray Bunch … Music by
- Mark Leggett … Music by
- Dolly Parton … Host
- Colin O'Donoghue … Cast, J.J. Sneed
- Willa Fitzgerald … Cast, Maddie Hawkins
- David Denman … Cast, Deke Fletcher
- Vanessa Rubio … Cast, Cimmaron Rose
- Mac Davis … Cast, Reverend Riggs
- Alex Van … Cast, Caleb Chadburn
- Annie Cooke … Cast, Sara Chadburn
- Lucas Townsend … Cast, Schmidt
- Chase Anderson … Cast, Schmidt
- Rich Williams … Cast, Schmidt
- Jackson Beals … Cast, Sheriff Wheeler
- Robert Bryan Davis … Cast, Sheriff Bardo
- Shiona Shi LaChef Curry … Cast, Sybil
- Darryl Handy … Cast, Ludlow
- Dolly Parton … Cast, Balladeer
- Drew Starkey … Cast, Lookout