The Scandal

[pony]

In several early interviews, David Dortort and others (including Michael Landon) related to the show made statements describing the "backstory" of Marie Cartwright - Joe's mother. As we know, "Marie, My Love" purports that Marie died in a fall from her horse in the front yard of the Ponderosa. However, apparently, Dortort's original scenario had Marie killed at the hands of a "jealous lover."

In "One Man With Courage," written in about 1966 and authorized by Dortort, the two theories are kind of mishmashed together; there is a passage in this book in which Ben ponders the "mystery" surrounding her death, supposedly from a fall from a horse but with no witnesses and the twist: "Who could say what had really happened?"

There are a few allegations scattered throughout the series (from "A Rose for Lotta" to, most famously, "The Stranger") in which it is certainly implied that Marie had "a past." In fact, it's more than implied; Ben pretty much states such as fact.

We know Joe had pretty much idealized the image of his mother ... even though he apparently had reason to know/suspect the truth. The questions: What influence might this knowledge have had on Joe? Why do you think Mr. Dortort thought this would be an important element to introduce about Marie ... and why was the story changed?