Episode 316 - MARK OF GUILT

[Episode Guide]

Date: December 15, 1968

Summary: Emo Younger cuts Hop Sing's(Victor Sen Yung) pigtail off and Joe goes to Emo's house and fights with him and gets Hop Sing's hair back. Later, Joe is framed and arrested for Emo's murder. Hoss and Hop Sing put together a defense to clear Joe of a murder charge.

Written by: Ward Hawkins and Frank Telford
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Dick Foran (Ed Gittner), Alan Bergmann (Mr. Gordon), Lou Frizzell (Jackson), Sam Greene (Emo Younger)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

[Dagburnit]

I don't understand something. Is a pigtail a natural part of Hop Sing's hair or is it merely attached to be reattached for future episodes?? It must be reattached because he could never grow another one so fast.
I always thought the pigtails were enforced by the Ming dynasty as a sign of subservience to the emperor. Liberated, modern and radical Chinese always removed them. So it's peculiar that Hop Sing would feel so terrible losing his.
Hoss tells the stage coach manager that Pa wouldn't be back from St. Louis for a month. How many episodes are covered within that month without Ben?? Or is the month skipped over by the next episode?

[Calamity]

I enjoy this episode for the way that Hop Sing matches those finger prints or marks as he calls them. There weren't many episodes in which we see him so active so this one is a treat.

[Dagburnit]

"Everybody have chap. You have chap, I have chap, everybody have chap!!"

[patina]

Hop Sing called the fingerprints "chop."

[Dagburnit]

Hop Sing know how pronounce Chinese word in Engrish! Every Chinese child know word is "chap" not "chop"!
Apparently fingerprints were as yet unknown in the USA in criminal work.....Although Sherlock Holmes must have been using them in England around the same time.......
It's really one of the best episodes, bringing out a different side of both Hoss and Hop Sing. It shows what Hop Sing could have contributed had he had a chance to be a more significant character. Hoss as lawyer shows his abilities that would have made him a good candidate for a series like Matlock or some other southern lawyer.
Ben was to be away in St. Louis for a month, so either he came back early or the trial period with Joe in jail lasted a month.
BTW, have any Chinese fans ever been able to translate Hop Sing's words when he gets upset and rambles on in Chinese?
And lo and behold, we have Roy Coffee back again, for probably only the second time so far in Season 10!

[ellie]

"Chops" as in "chopsticks".

I like this episode because Hop Sing plays such a significant roll.

[Calamity]

I wonder if there were any Charlie Chan jokes on the set while they were filming this episode.

[Fanofoldtvshows]

A great episode. It showed the closeness between Joe and Hop Sing.

[daisy60]

I love the interaction between Joe and Hop Sing. It shows what a fine actor Victor Sen Yung was. Great episode.